Do you specialize in an industry that would add value to the real estate market? If so, CreativNess is now accepting applications to become a guest blogger and I would like you to share your voice.

I had an intense discussion over coffee the other day with a friend of mine. During our conversation, I decided to give the Guest blogger option a try. There are many people who work with the real estate industry and as such, could offer value to my readers. So, if you think you have what it takes…keep reading!

Share Your Voice

Do you have a unique take on your particular market niche directly relating to the real estate market? Have some ideas and insight you’d like to share with Sales Representatives, Brokerages and other businesses? Want to receive advertising for your own personal business?

Submit a Proposal

Prior to submitting your request for a CreativNess Guest Blogger, there are some easy guidelines I’d like you to check first.

1. All Guest Blogger requests MUST be your own content. Your own words. Your own voice.
2. Your entry must NOT be previously published. Including your personal site. You may however, link back from your site to mine and your guest post.
3. Ensure your post is visually appealing. Headlines, bullets, one picture, etc is highly recommended.
4. Submitting your request to CreativNess does not guarantee your post being published. I review your request and if I feel your post could be a benefit to my readers, I will more than likely accept it.
5. There is no compensation given for your Guest Blogging position however, you’re shown as the author of the post with a link to your website and social media platforms. 
6. Your post will appear on the CreativNess website, posted on my Activerain blog and you will also receive a mention in my monthly e-newletter as well as on my social media platforms.

Be a Guest Blogger Now

Swing on over to the application page and get started! 

I thought it would be interesting to start a 2cent Wednesday series.  Each Wednesday moving forward, we’ll discuss some not-so-pleasant experiences and share our thoughts on how we would handle them so we are better equipped for the future.

I’ve had the pleasure of listening to Real Estate Sales Representatives share their experiences with me.  Some stories moved and inspired me. While others…not so much.  I believe, sharing is a great way to learn and grow together.

Experiences Define Us

I have given a high-five to a REALTOR® during their biggest triumph and have hugged it out when a REALTOR® sadly lost a deal or even worse, a client.

Through it all, each Sales Representative’s experience and lessons learned are different. How one person handles a particular situation will differ from another. It goes without question – we are all unique.

It is important to share knowledge, learn from each other and grow as people.  The same stands true for the real estate industry.

Hypothetically Speaking

You have a client who has listed their home for sale. It has sat on the market for a while. You’ve received a few showings but overall, nothing promising. You realize the price of the home needs an adjustment. You make the decision to set up an appointment with your home seller to discuss pricing.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Let Today’s Lesson Begin! When you propose a price reduction, your client says: “If we reduce our price, will you reduce your commission?”

How would you handle this tough question?

So, here you are asking your client to agree to a price reduction.  You’re trying to sell their home and in return they ask you to reduce your commission. What would your response be?

Reduce My Commission? …NO DICE

Would you say something like this?

“…I’d like to bring to your attention, that when the sale price goes down, so does my commission. As my commission is purely a percentage of what you receive, I’m already agreeing to a reduced amount. In the meantime, my advertising and marketing costs are fixed, as are all the closing costs I absorb when you sell your property. So my potential income is already dropping along with your asking price…”

Reduce My Commission? …ABSOLUTELY!

OR…would you say something like this?

“…You are a valued client of mine and I strive to meet the expectations of my clients’ to make sure they’re completely satisfied with my services. As a price reduction is needed to leverage your home effectively in your current market, I will meet your request and lower my commission rate…”

You may or may not have already been dealt this card when working with your clients. How did you handle the situation?

Would you reduce your commission rate when asking for a price reduction?

I’d love to hear your two cents.

Happy Wednesday!

Chris Brogan popular blogger shares Social Media tips

There is no question. Social Media is where it is at now-a-days. Especially for small business owners striving to get into their target market.

"If you were at a cocktail party, you wouldn't come up and shake someone's hand and say, 'You should see what I sell. I'm amazing!' You would ask about the other person," says Brogan, president of Human Business Works, a small-business education and growth company. "The same holds true [on social networks]. You really need to build a relationship before you go for the sale."

And if you think you can skip social media and it won't affect your business, Brogan says think again.

Check out this video with Chris Brogan who discusses some tips on Social Media and how you can easily join it into your daily business.

 Watch the video now 

Happy Friday Everyone! 

I hope this day is finding you filled with peace, wealth and happiness. 

I just wanted to give a shout out to everyone using twitter and/or Google+. 

I'd love the opportunity to build a relationship with you through one of these social media avenues. 

You can either join me at the links below or comment on this post with your details and I will join you! 

Let's hug it out on Twitter 

Let's connect on Google+

Can't wait to see you there, 

Ness 

P.S. When we connect on Twitter, I will add you to the ever popular Real Estate, Mortgage Specialists, Home Inspectors, and Virtual Assistant lists that are growing fast!!! 

As we find ourselves facing a new year ahead, I figured now is a perfect time to introduce January’s Business Spotlight.

There isn’t a better time to have Fabia MacNair from Styling Spaces over for a little face-lift in your home.

Check them out. A new year brings change. Introducing Styling Space Home Staging!!

Selling or staying - We’ll make your space a better place!

Are you working on your dream home or getting ready to sell?  Either way – Fabia MacNair and her team from Styling Spaces can make your home a joy to live in and magazine worthy all at once.

Fabia has the ability to see what others cannot – a picture, a clear vision as to how a space can look if given the chance.  She also works with her clients to understand what they want to achieve in their living space, and ensures her design recommendations achieve those goals.

The Styling Spaces Team is experienced and educated in interior design, as well as architecture, so their design recommendations are guaranteed to fit perfectly in your home.

At Styling Spaces, we take the stress out of styling your home.  Call us today and let’s envision the possibilities together!

Beautified Services

Contact Styling Spaces Today

I am wondering if it is at all possible to have the option to post-date blog posts?

My life would be so much less complicated if this option was available. 

This is my wish...

That is all...

I don’t know about you, but I certainly had a beautiful Christmas holiday. I cannot however, believe how fast the time has past. I truly hope however you celebrate the holiday season, you took time for yourself and your loved ones.

New Year’s Resolution Anyone?

About this time of year, everyone starts to decide what New Year’s resolution they will undertake. You have some of the most popular…lose weight, get out of debt, buy a home…the list goes on.

Does anyone really stick to their resolutions?

After talking with family and friends over the holiday season, I determined that while most people select a resolution, not everyone sticks to them. So, why if this is the case, do we make the resolution to begin with?

I triumphantly pick a new resolution each year. I strive my hardest to attain my goal and sometimes make alternations along the way.

This year. I’m not sure what I want my new goal to be. I have a few in mind. But, I like to keep things simple. Pick one, work at it until it’s achieved and then move onto the next. I feel more accomplished when I do this.

So, I figured I would scope things out and see what everyone else has decided to pick for their resolution or if you are going to pick one at all.

A few questions to ponder…

If you could pick one thing you want to achieve for the new year what would it be?

If you didn’t FEAR…what could you achieve?

I look forward to hearing what you have to say.

Let’s hash it out together.

This holiday season remember cyber criminals aggressively create new ways to steal money and personal information. Scammers use many techniques to fool potential victims, including;

Fraudulent Classified Ads and Auction Sales

Fraudsters receive an order from a victim, charge the victim’s credit card for the amount of the order, then use a separate, stolen credit card for the actual purchase. They pocket the purchase price obtained from the victim’s credit card and have the merchant ship the item directly to the victim. Consequently, an item purchased from an online auction but received directly from the merchant is a strong indication of fraud.

Gift Card Scam

Be careful when purchasing gift cards through auction sites or classified ads. It is safest to purchase gift cards directly from the merchant or retail store. If the gift card merchant discovers that your card is fraudulent, the merchant will deactivate the gift card and refuse to honour it for purchases. Victims of this scam lose the money paid for the gift card purchase.

Phishing and Smishing Schemes

In phishing schemes, a fraudster poses as a legitimate entity and uses e-mail and scam websites to obtain victims’ personal information, such as account numbers, user names, passwords, etc. Smishing is the act of sending fraudulent text messages to bait a victim into revealing personal information.

Be leery of e-mails or text messages that indicate a problem or question regarding your financial accounts. In this scam, fraudsters direct victims to follow a link or call a number to update an account or correct a purported problem. The link directs the victim to a fraudulent website or message that appears legitimate. Instead, the site allows the fraudster to steal any personal information the victim provides.

Current smishing schemes involve fraudsters calling victims’ cell phones offering to lower the interest rates for credit cards the victims do not even possess. If a victim asserts that they do not own the credit card, the caller hangs up.

Phishing schemes related to deliveries are also rampant. Legitimate delivery service providers do not e-mail shippers regarding scheduled deliveries nor state when a package is intercepted or being temporarily held. Consequently, e-mails informing of such delivery issues are phishing scams that can lead to personal information breaches and financial losses.

10 tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim of cyber fraud:

1. Do not provide financial information directly to an online seller, Always use a legitimate payment service to ensure a safe, legitimate purchase.
2. Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) e-mail or do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.
3. Log directly onto the official website for the business identified in the e-mail, instead of “linking” to it from an unsolicited e-mail. If the e-mail appears to be from your bank, credit card issuer, or other company you deal with frequently, your statements or official correspondence from the business will provide the proper contact information.
4. Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. Scan the attachments for viruses if possible.
5. Avoid filling out forms contained in e-mail messages that ask for personal information.
6. Always compare the link in the e-mail with the link to which you are directed and determine if they match and will lead you to a legitimate site.
7. Contact the actual business that supposedly sent the e-mail to verify if the e-mail is genuine.
8. If you are asked to act quickly, or there is an emergency, it may be a scam. Fraudsters create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly.
9. Verify any requests for personal information from any business or financial institution by contacting them using the main contact information.
10. Remember if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Effective listening is an essential and valuable skill. Unfortunately becoming a good listener takes time and practice.

3 Stages to Listening

1. Hearing:  Hearing just means listening enough to catch what the speaker is saying. For example, say you were listening to a report on zebras, and the speaker mentioned that no two are alike. If you can repeat the fact, then you have heard what has been said.
2. Understanding:  The next part of listening happens when you take what you have heard and understand it in your own way. Let’s go back to that report on zebras. When you hear that no two are alike, think about what that might mean. You might think, “Maybe this means that the pattern of stripes is different for each zebra.
3. Judging: After you are sure you understand what the speaker has said, think about whether it makes sense. Do you believe what you have heard? You might think, “How could the stripes be different for every zebra? But then again, the fingerprints are different for every person. I think this seems believable.”

8 Tips for being a good listener

1. Give your full attention on the person who is speaking. Don’t look out the window or at what else is going on in the room.
2. Make sure your mind is focused. It can be easy to let your mind wander if you think you know what the person is going to say next, but you might be wrong! Most individuals speak at the rate of 175 to 200 words per minute. However, research suggests that we are capable of listening and processing words at the rate of 600 to 1,000 words per minute. If you feel your mind wandering, change the position of your body and try to concentrate on the speaker’s words.
3. Let the speaker finish before you begin to talk. Speakers appreciate having the chance to say everything they would like to say without being interrupted.  By interrupting before letting the speaker finish, you’re essentially saying that you don’t value what they are saying. Showing respect to the speaker is a crucial element of good listening.
4. Let yourself finish listening before you begin to speak! You can’t really listen if you are busy thinking about what you want to say next.
5. Listen for main ideas. The main ideas are the most important points the speaker wants to get across. They may be mentioned at the start or end of a talk, and repeated a number of times. Pay special attention to statements that begin with phrases such as “My point is…” or “The thing to remember is…”
6. Ask questions. If you are not sure you understand what the speaker has said, just ask.
7. Practice paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is the art of putting into your own words what you thought you heard and saying it back to the speaker.
8. Give feedback. Sit up straight and look directly at the speaker. Now and then, nod to show that you understand. At appropriate points you may also smile, frown, laugh, or be silent. These are all ways to let the speaker know that you are really listening. Remember, you listen with your face as well as your ears!

With Christmas just around the corner, I’m sure you’re feeling the stress.

Year end drive to meet sales goals.

Planning for 2012.

Holiday shopping.

Social events.

Phew!

This time of year people tend to spread themselves too thin – we’re trying to be everything to everyone – especially Real Estate agents – its part of who you are – trying to make everyone happy!

Something has got to give and most times it ends up being you!  Year end burnout can be a lousy way to celebrate an otherwise successful year.  If you allow yourself to be pulled in a million different directions you’re not doing anyone, least of all yourself, any favours and you may also end up jeopardizing your critical planning and forecasting activities for 2012.

Be Proactive – Manage the Madness of the Season

1. Delegate, Delegate, Delegate! – Step back and let someone else shine for a change – The end of the year is a great time to let your trusted employees/team members rise to the occasion and take on bigger challenges – they may surprise you!
2.  Don’t Over Commit!  - Between Company & Client Christmas parties, finding the perfect gift for everyone, kids Holiday Pageants, decorating the house – not to mention wrapping up yearend sales and paperwork – Sometimes I wish there were 36 hours in a day! Try and cutback on the Christmas appearances this year – you don’t have to attend every get together you’re invited to, or volunteer for everything at the office,  kids school, church, etc. You’re adoring public will forgive you!Limit yourself to 2 or 3 obligations (outside of your family). Someone else can handle the Poinsettia sales this year and I’m sure your bathroom scale won’t mind if you skip a couple of client cocktails.
3. Set Aside Enough Time for Planning! - When you make better use of your employees/team and limit your social commitments, you can carve out the planning time you need in December. This helps to avoid the frantic, haphazard planning that often occurs early in the New Year.

Don’t let the madness of the Season push you to the breaking point. By relying on the trusted partners, employees and colleagues who can offer support and setting realistic expectations for yourself, you can end the year on a high note and look forward to a more prosperous 2012 – and maybe even squeeze in that quick massage you’ve been promising yourself for the last 6 months!