Hey, I found another site that offers a quick and easy website page that can be built in a matter of a half hour or minutes. The hardest thing is just adding your advertising text, which is not hard if you know what you want to say. This site even allows for your materials to be copywrited protected under your name. You also have accomodations to add logos, photos, etc. under the upgrade section.
The website is www.Webspawn.com. It has many other features that you may opt to use if you are looking for an inexpensive way to advertise, submission of websites, etc. What I really like is the ability to link to my main website.. www.UKENotary.com.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued long-anticipated mortgage reforms that will help consumers shop for the lowest cost mortgage and avoid costly and potentially harmful loan offers. HUD will require that lenders and mortgage brokers provide consumers with a standard Good Faith Estimate (GFE) that clearly discloses key loan terms and closing costs. HUD estimates its new regulation will save consumers nearly $700 at the closing table.
The easy-to-read standard Good Faith Estimate (GFE) will clearly answer the key questions consumers have when applying for a mortgage, including:
o What's the term of the loan? o Is the interest rate fixed or can it change? o Is there a pre-payment penalty should the borrower choose to refinance at a later date? o Is there a balloon payment? o What are total closing costs?
The GFE will consolidate closing costs into major categories to prevent junk fees, and display total estimated settlement charges prominently on the first page so the consumer can easily compare loan offers. HUD will specify the closing costs that can and cannot change at settlement, and if a fee changes, HUD will limit the amount it can change.
The Department performed rigorous consumer testing and found that the new Good Faith Estimate helped consumers select the lowest cost loan 9 out of 10 times, regardless of whether the loan was originated by a lender or a broker. HUD will require the new standardized GFE and HUD-1 beginning January 1, 2010.
For additional benefits and details about these reforms to the regulatory requirements of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), click on the following links:
Have you ever wondered, "What Your Voice Says About You?" Quite frequently, we discuss the art of marketing our businesses, how to direct traffic to our websites, selecting logos, etc. However, impressions of you are formed constantly by your spoken words.
"Man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them." Adlaie E. Stevenson
Your personality is conveyed solely through your words and the tone of your voice, when using the telephone. So in essence, your telephone personality reinforces the caller's perception of both you and your company. Your company is judged by each voice that speaks for it over the telephone.
The following techniques may help polish up or develop good telephone habits.
Role play between co-workers, (someone plays the role of a client, the other plays the service provider) open discussion about the interaction amongst staff
Prepare a proper telephone greeting, which provides your company's name, your name and a question of how you may be of assistance
Learn how to enhance your listening skills.
Develop a method to handle complaints and emergencies
Learn how to work the telephone functions
Keep a mirror at your desk, to help decipher when your facial expressions are changing between a good call verses a bad call
Learn to recognize your voice images and ways to develop positive voice images
These techniques have helped me and I hope someone else maybe able to benefit from using them as well.
Telephone etiquette provides a means to develop positive telephone habits and promoting good manners. Communicating professionally means every person in your company treats every customer courteously. Becoming a better communicator is vital for all business types.
I was wondering if anyone has received an request from NNA to perform a TEA job. I started to feel a sense of uncertainly about these jobs, since completing the training in all, no activity, etc. However, I wanted to inform you all that if you went through the certification, you do have access to getting your feet in the door.
Yesterday, I recieved my first request to do a NNA Tea Job. First of all, you will only be contacted by e-mail, no contact by telephone/cell. So, if you don't a laptop or smart phone/cell that you can view your e-mail where ever you are, think about investing in one or the other.
This is how the request appeared:
From :
NNA TEA Jobs <teajobs@nationalnotary.org>
Sent :
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 6:25 PM
To :
ukenterprises@msn.com
Subject :
ID-Proofing Job Group 1098 Available in Your Area!
Dear Trusted Enrollment AgentTM,
As a qualified NNA Trusted Enrollment AgentTM, you are eligible for one or more ID-proofing assignments now available at the location below.
Your response affirms your pledge to initiate contact within four business hours of receiving the assignment and that you are available to complete the assignment within two business days.
Sincerely,
NNA TEATM Team
So, if anyone is in doubt about whether or not NNA really does call on you, doubt no more. To apply, you hit on the the Apply immediately statement. I was slow to the draw, however I was pleased just to received the opportunity to participate in rendering the services.
I must say ActiveRain is like no other...I have participated in many other blog channels and have not received a sense of belonging, a connection or a desire to read or write blogs as I do on Active Rain. It is my cup of tea or coffee in the morning, like reading the morning paper, it helps me get motivated to strive to do my best in rendering services to others.
I have met so many wonderful people here, who are willing to offer sound advice, share ideas, offer kind words and be there for others. This is a unique and wonderful site. One in which, I am happy to be involved in. I hope others value ActiveRain for all that it has to offer.
Well, the last couple of days have been some trying days! A pretty rough week to provide services....I found myself asking is this a sign to waive the white flag.
Last night, my laser printer just blew up, literally. You all know in the realty biz, it is a must to have a good reliable printer. I spent the day shopping and comparing prices for a printer.
Oh my gosh, if one more sales clerk tries to push a printer on me, I think I will scream! I know for sure that I am going to have nightmares tonight!
I heard the Ebay song and started singing it, so of course I go there and to my surprise I find one I like, so the offer was for a straight buy or for the best offer. Well, I made a offer, which was declined, so I made another, the seller countered offer, I countered offer, and the drama went on. The bottom lined I refused in the end because the person really didn't want the best offer, it was a ploy. The bait and trap game.
I looked at the Brothers, the HPs and I plum just give up for the day. So, please, please help me with my dismay and offer a recommendation, so I may rest my brain from the drama of today.
Learning to be gracious, while under fire has always been a hard tactic for me, however, learning this skill is one of the greatest things in the business world. That famous slogan, "The customer is always right," is a very arguable statement, but in theory it rains true. It doesn't matter what profession or situation that one may be in, it applies. We have all fell victim to nasty people.
Yesterday, was a day that I would not wish on anyone. I was contacted by Company X to do a purchase closing because someone else bailed out on them at the last minute. The closing was scheduled for 6:30pm and I was contacted at 4:00pm. I was informed that the docs were ready for download and I should have them shortly. The real estate office was contacted and I introduce myself as the person acting in behalf of Company X. All seemed okay. Well 4 turn to 5, 5 turn to 6, you get the hint, Company X was pulling a fast one, several calls were made to them, "they will be sent soon" was the response. Finally, I get documents, call the office to let them know that I am on my way and offered apology for the delay.
Let's just say, I walked into a mob of 10 angry people (realtors, lawyers, borrowers, brokers) They wanted blood and I was the prey. They acted very nasty and rude towards me...You see Company X failed to tell me that these poor people had been waiting since 9:30 a.m. to close the deal. Then my cell goes off and it's Company X yelling and screaming at me because I was late getting to the closing, oh yeah I forgot to mention the closing was 20 miles away from my office. I almost forgot, they also wanted to warn me that the borrowers didn't have enough for the closing costs...What the ----? I excused myself, hung up with Company X and went to the bathroom to get myself together.
I remembered there was a donut shop next door, so I went to get a box of donuts and returned to conduct the closing. The mob was enraged. So I kindly said, can we start over again and I explained that I understood their frustrations and there were some unforeseen obstacles that we all have encountered today, apologized for that and offered everyone a donut. We were able to resolve all problems and close successfully in a pleasant mannerism. The mob became sweet, some wanted to meet for drinks with me later, and some asked how was I able to charm them and my response was, "The customer is always right."
I thought of the quotes of Eleanor Roosevelt, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." and "Every time you meet a situation, though you think at the time it is an impossibility and you go through the tortures of the damned, once you have met it and lived through it, you find that forever after you are freer than you were before." I would not allow myself to adhere to barriers placed before me and fall into the trap of the blame game. My intentions was to close the deal and staying focus on my overall objective to provide services no matter what, was the winning factor which allowed me to be the better person.
When was the last time that you had a conversation with your neighbor or better yet, introduce yourself to a new neighbor? How many of your neighbors know about the services that you render? Many of us do not like to mix business where we sleep and that is very understandable. No one likes unannounced visits by neighbors or neighbors assuming that they can get services for free or next to nothing just because they are your neighbors.
What I have found over the years, marketing to thy neighbors has been very rewarding. However, with marketing to neighbors, there are rules:
1. Research, Learn, Understand and Respect the Culture of your neighborhood.
2. If you live in a neighborhood in which there is a home-owner's association, find out if there are any rules regarding solicitation. If there is, find out if it only applies to outside solicitation or amongst neighbors.
3. Marketing literature, should be placed/hung on the outside of the mailbox or doorstep, never place it inside of person's mailbox. If you place literature in a person's mailbox, you are breaking a federal law in some neighborhoods.
4. Know your local county rules for placing signage on residential properties, there may be rules even though the property may be yours.
5. Treat all of your neighbors to same, do not offer one neighbor a free or discounted service that you are not willing to offer to others. Neighbors talk and when it comes to the dollar, they all want the same treatment.
6. Let your neighbors know what your requirements are for rendering services and your availablility. Request you neighbors to always call before just stopping by for services.
7. Do not take your neighbor for granted, always remember, to show courtesy and say thanks for using your services. Neighbors like to shop to, business is business, represent yourself in a way that will keep them coming back again and again.
It is a wonderful thing, when your neighbor refers your services, not just because your their neighbor but because they value the services that you have to offer.
Urban Knight Enterprises, Inc. ** www,UKENotary.com ** 610.935.5944 or 484.682.6249
This is a good test to take, it is a little long, but good..
and the Election madness go on...
ABC has a test at the below address to see who's campaign statements, McCain's or Obama's, you agree with most. They don't tell you who made the statements, of course, but a statement made by each candidate on the same topic (economy, immigration, judiciary, etc.) will be side by side.
You just pick which statement you agree with and, after selecting all 13,
You'll find out which candidate's philosophy you support.
With all that is going on in this economy, many people losing their jobs, losing their homes, higher gas and food, etc., many ask how do I talk to my kids. I like many of you feel bad about having to say no to my kids when they reach for that special snack or that toy.
The fact of the matter, this is economy is cause families to come back to dinner table together and have open discussions together. So why not discuss the what is going on with the economy with your children. My daughter (8 years old) stated, "Mommy, I noticed that there has been a lot of people talking about money, lately. We have even been talking about it in school, some kids don't understand what's going on, some kids are sad because there parents lost their jobs." As a parent, finding the right words to say was hard.
I recalled conversations that I had with my parents as a child about the value of a dollar. So I had to put on my FDIC Speaker Hat and broke it down to my kids in a language that met their age range. Many may say you have an unfair advantage because you give "Money Smarts" seminars, well, that might be so, however, there are programs out there to assist parents with this matter.
We have got to get back to the basics of remembering the times of when we were children and how our parents had these discussions openly with us. Many children of today are being sheltered from the truth about money and the role it plays in our lives. The FDIC has information that can assist you in teaching your children about money, the banking system,etc.
Please take a look at these websites http://www.fdic.gov/ and http://www.mymoney.gov/, you will not be sorry! The website offers a free on-line seminar. You are never too old or too young to learn how to become financially literate.
The is one of the best gifts to give to your children!
Urban Knight Enterprises, Inc. * Real Estate Investment Services * 610.935.5944 www.UKENotary.com
Pamela Knight
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