We love to hear about new ideas for producing unique flyers/brochures. We are always seeking fresh approaches for our "product." We tend to use flyers that are quite traditional in look with multiple pictures, MLS numbers, bullet points for outstanding features and of course the usual contact info. Would love to have a more contemporary look. Would you be willing to share with me and others your thoughts and ideas on the subject?
Well, I suspect that many of you may feel as I do - Fay just does not seem to want to go away on her own. Many of you may still be dealing with the "re-arrival" of Fay today, eith putting up hurricane shutters and for those of you who are realtors, advising clients about getting ready for the storm.
We have a house in St Pete Beach just across from the historic Don Cesar Hotel, but this time we were lucky and my husband was very glad he did not have to put up our hurricane shutters. I hope that it will not intensify much and all will be well. Hopefully those thinking of relocating to the Florida area are not too frightened of our "Hurricane Season."
Many times Buyers need to increase their Credit Score before purchasing a home. Below are five simple methods that can help ......
1. Know your credit score and what's on the credit report. Remember to get a copy of the three major reports because information on each one can differ.
2. Pay bills on time! Even paying 30 days late a few times a year can have a serious negative impact on your credit score. Late payments can stay on the credit report for up to two years.
3. Increase the limits on your credit cards. This is probably the fastest way to improve your score and can often be done over the phone.
4.Maintain a low total debt load percentage. Keeping your total debt to approximately 20 - 25 percent of your credit card limit.
5."Repair" negative items on your credit report. Write a letter to credit reporting agencies to dispute negative aspects of your credit report, late payments etc. The agencies must address anything you report immediately and if they cannot verify the information in 30 days, it must be removed from the report.
These tips will improve a credit score drastically and help you obtain better financing terms when it comes time to make an offer.
You have probably heard that "MARKETING" is the key to a successful business. Marketing is about solid communication and is an essential skill to running a business effectively. Sell your ideas and you will be successful and hopefully make a lot of money along the way.
You can reach potential clients in many different ways - through the Internet, printed ads, direct mail (flyers, post cards, etc.), TV advertising, etc. There are, however, some basic concepts that form the foundation of Marketing of which you need to be aware. Below are a few general tips to incorporate into your business practice.
Be Honest (Clients want to believe they can trust you and rely on you to handle their business. Claims and descriptions about a particular property need to be realistic and believable. Don't exaggerate because they will find out sooner or later anyway.)
Be Accessible (If you advertise a phone number to call or an email to use, then answer that phone promptly and respond to emails in a timely manner. You'll be surprised how many agents do not do this.)
Capture Your Client's Attention (Make your ad, flyer, post card, etc. catchy and eye-appealing, and keep it as brief as possible to effectively get your point across.)
Demonstrate to Clients How You Can Help Them (Consider client's problems and think about how you can help them solve them. Offer attractive solutions.)
Follow Up! (Don't expect the client to contact you or even remember a previous conversation or post card they received promoting your property or your team.)
Carole Lhuillier Our Home Team Keller Williams Realty
Well, unfortunately a Home Warranty is not FREE, but it is certainly worth every penny it costs. Our Home Team strongly recommends always purchasing a Home Warranty for any property you list and sell for a client or that you help your buyers purchase. For those of you who might be new to the business, a Home Warranty is a service contract that helps protect homeowners against the expense of unexpected repairs and replacements of covered major systems and appliances that break from normal use. Many home warranties will also cover the Seller during the entire listing period.
What does a Home Warranty usually cover? - Electrical system - Hot water heater - Plumbing - Central vacuum system, ceiling fans, ductwork - Appliances (range, oven, cook top, built-in microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal, trash compactor) - Heating system
It usually does not cover items that are not "built-in", doors and walls, etc. though there are optional warranty "add-ons" available that cover a roof, air conditioning, pools, spas, etc. It normally excludes pre-existing conditions. The cost for a basic one-year home warranty ranges from about $300 to $500. It will give peace of mind to buyers, sellers and of course to the agent involved in the sale.
There are many reputable companies out there. Ask around your office for contact information, and pick one that comes highly recommended.
Carole Lhuillier Keller Williams Realty 404-604-3912
Condominiums can still be a good way to get into the houseing market and start home ownership.
All buyers are different and so are their personal preferences and needs. Remember that your buyers may not be able to afford to buy a house, particularly if they are first time homebuyers. Do they want to spend time doing maintenance and yard work? Perhaps not. In some areas condominiums have held their value. This is your job as a realtor to assess wisely. You need to be able to advise your buyers as to the investment potential in your market area.
It's always a good idea to work with your Sellers to make sure they have gone through a safety check list to ensure their homes are ready to show and sell in advance of placing them on the market! After all, they will eventually need to address any areas of concern before closing.
Some reminders:
Handrails should be secure and sturdy Railings on decks should be secure and meet code requirements Service all heating equipment Consider installing carbon monoxide detectors Use anti-skid material under area rugs (You don't want anyone falling down) Smoke detectors should be installed in key locations How about an automatic night light outside bedrooms Fire extinguishers handy in kitchen and garage and even on an upper floor Keep medicines and poisons in child secured cabinets Firearms should be out of site and locked away (empty of course) Properly store paints, solvents and gasoline in a well-ventilated area Install ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) in bathrooms, kitchen sink, laundry room sink and any ofther source of water near outlets
According to a recent report by the National Association of Realtors, the percentage of foreign clients is down by about 6% for the past 12 months compared to the previous year. The report said potential clients often failed to buy because of high property taxes, high cost of properties, and immigration laws prohibiting foreign nationals from living in the US year-round.
As realtors, we need to work with our sellers to ensure that properties we list are priced realistically. In addition think more about how to advertise and what markets you want to target. In Florida, we are still seeing foreign clients look for property (mainly Europeans) but more in the moderately priced homes.
Best of luck to you.
Carole Lhuillier Our Home Team Keller Williams Realty 404-604-3912 www.ourhometeamusa.com
NEED TO CONTACT GREATER TAMPA BAY AREA SPECIALISTS? CLIENTS RELOCATING?
If your clients are thinking about relocating to the Greater Tampa Bay area, we have an experienced team of realtors who work in this area of the state. We would love your REFERRAL BUSINESS. We are familiar with the area, market values and trends, schools, cultural and sporting venues and other information that will be important to your clients. We are sure you are very knowledgeable about your own market area, but call us if you need someone you can trust to work with your clients and treat them in the same professional manner as you have done in the past. We have a MULTI-STATE TEAM led by Bob Lhuillier, a dynamic Associate Broker, who consistently leads our team to be TOP PRODUCERS.
Dedication, Expertise, Integrity . . . With a Smile! That's the motto that guides us in our real estate business each and every day.
Best of luck in growing your real estate business.
Carole Lhuillier On behalf of Our Home Team LLC Keller Williams Realty
NOTHING CAN BE BETTER THAN A STRONG REFERRAL NETWORK !
WE KNOW ATLANTA AND THE GREATER TAMPA BAY AREA
Our Home Team is most certainly an energetic group of agents who fully embrace the "Team Concept." Our MULTI-STATE TEAM is led by Bob Lhuillier, a dynamic Associate Broker, who consistently leads his team to be TOP PRODUCERS. Our business is based in both Georgia and Florida with a focus on METRO ATLANTA and the GREATER TAMPA BAY AREA. We are familiar with the area, schools, cultural and sporting venues, local market values and other information that will be important to your clients. Our business is built on personal referrals from our clients, family members, neighbors and our ever-widening circle of friends. Our REFERRAL BUSINESS is quite large because those who know us best know that we are committed to providing the highest level of service possible to our clients. People are MOTIVATED to recommend us to their friends, family and co-workers because they TRUST us to deliver what we promise.
We all know it is important to know your market area, and it is our EXPERTISE in our two particular market areas of the country that shows our true value as Realtors. We believe that referring business to capable individuals within a particular market is in the client's best interest. Let us take care of your clients with the same EXPERTISE and professionalism you have shown them in your own market in the past. We will be more than happy to send you our resume, or feel free to check out our profiles on the national Keller Williams website. Please call us or send us an email if we can be of assistance. We look forward to doing business with you and your valued clients in the future.
Dedication, Expertise, Integrity . . . With A Smile! That's the motto by which we live and conduct our real estate business.
Best of luck to you,
Carole Lhuillier Our Home Team Call 877-394-4622 OR 404-604-3912
Our Home Team is interested in building our real estate business and working with other realtors to help them do the same. We truly embrace the "Team Concept" which is the reason we joined Keller Williams Realty.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
According to a recent report by the National Association of Realtors, the percentage of foreign clients is down by about 6% for the past 12 months compared to the previous year. The report said potential clients often failed to buy because of high property taxes, high cost of properties, and immigration laws prohibiting foreign nationals from living in the US year-round.
;)
;)
