travelers rest real estate: You can't BURN OUT if you were never ON FIRE!
- 01/29/09 03:51 AM
Ohh did that sound bad? Well sometimes it's a hard working Realtor's job to set the client straight on market, pricing, staging, or buying within their means and of course ..the dreaded agency issues. But that's not what this post is about. You already (I hope) know how to take care of yourself whe it comes to clients. But how do you handle YOU? During the holidays, Greenville, SC was popping, busier with Real Estate than in the past 4 months. It was exhausting and a great way to start the year, with a plethora of leads and contracts and closings. … (6 comments)
travelers rest real estate: Happy to have been BURNED?
- 01/28/09 11:04 PM
Ohh did that sound bad? Well sometimes it's a hard working Realtor's job to set the client straight on market, pricing, staging, or buying within their means and of course ..the dreaded agency issues. But that's not what this post is about. You already (I hope) know how to take care of yourself whe it comes to clients. But how do you handle YOU? During the holidays, Greenville, SC was popping, busier with Real Estate than in the past 4 months. It was exhausting and a great way to start the year, with a plethora of leads and contracts and closings. But … (4 comments)
travelers rest real estate: IMPORTANT Advice for Your Investors and FHA Guidelines
- 11/30/08 06:04 AM
If you're working with investors buying or selling properties, or if you're an investor yourself, be aware that it's becoming more difficult to move these properties. In the contentious lending arena in which we find ourselves, things used to be easier...not so now. It's the old 90 day rule. We all should know as REALTORS that you cannot sell a property within 90 days if lending is involved due to transfer of the deed. Cash can still happen. Used to be that we could write a contract during this 90 day period and close on the 91st and all was well. … (4 comments)
travelers rest real estate: Hard Lessons Learned From My Clients-A True Story
- 11/30/08 05:55 AM
Early this year I had the awesome experience of working with two of the brightest and sweetest clients in my Real Estate history. And I had the opportunity to sell them one of the most gorgeous homes in Greenville and the Upstate. But I also learned much from them that benefits all of you as well. I'll make it brief as most of you, like myself, are high I personalities which means you have the attention span of a flea and love the high pace , personal interaction and relationship of each transaction. Not the numbers so much. Thus was … (5 comments)
travelers rest real estate: Lead Conversion the easy way! Rap + Port = RAPPORT!
- 11/30/08 03:58 AM
This is one of my older blogs but I"ve gotten a lot of recent remarks on it so I'm reposting..enjoy! Ok someone has called off a sign or emailed you with a message that they're interested in buying or selling. Now what. So many in sales get cold feet at actually having a phone conversation, IE talking WITHOUT the computer. It's very easy in our day and age to let our website give our credentials. But there's so much more that you have to offer than your resume isn't there? So let's talk rapport. Webster's definition is "establishing common ground". People … (3 comments)
travelers rest real estate: Come See the Mountains of SC!
- 10/24/08 02:25 AM
Ok everyone's talking about down markets...Folks there's no such thing as a down market. It's either a buyers market or a sellers market! Ok so this is a buyers market. So if you're looking to buy, you've picked the ideal time. Prices are comparable to 2004! If Wal-Mart can roll back prices well the real estate market has done the same. Mountain and farm properties are especially rocking right now as land prices drop. This is the time to buy a home in the Upstate of SC. Thousands cheaper than NC just minutes away and incredible views and homes with beaucoups … (2 comments)
travelers rest real estate: Feedback??? HELLO??? The True Professionals Do It...so should YOU!
- 10/23/08 09:14 AM
Yesterday I blogged about the seeming plethora of unprofessional REALTORS out there who don't use Centralized Showings and you can't reach them to set appointments to show! Frustration no doubt! But what about those same REALTORS who show your listings and NEVER reply to any type of feedback! Is it me, the market, PMS or a lack of professionalism (umm does used car salesman ring a bell?) that has REALTORS tripping over themselves to gain buyers and listings but generates a total apathy to the miracle that is the telephone or email. Is there an allergic reaction to feedback. We promise … (7 comments)
travelers rest real estate: Lately the Leads are Busts!
- 10/21/08 12:43 AM
Open houses, fliers, emails, direct farming and lead generation sites. Our team of Connie Rice & Partners has all of these in place. We're doing everything we can to lead generate to get some of our listings sold. I'd love advice from all of you who went through this in the 70's and 80's. As lending has tightened, so our leads have become a plethora of unqualified kids with terrible credit scores, no down payment and just a prayer for a home.
Maybe the end of this endless election will kick start something. Maybe then lenders will ease just a … (10 comments)
travelers rest real estate: Time Management:Keeping Margin in your life..no not MARGARINE..Margin!
- 10/19/08 12:39 PM
Today was one of those messages at church that changed my life as a REALTOR, wife, mother and friend. It was about the Margin between work and the rest of your life. Time management in essence. It was so in my face, it brought tears and I hope that sharing it with you will help you keep your life within margin as well. What does that mean? Sabbath: used to be a Blue day. Everything was closed, a time of rest, of prayer and for family. That's gone by the wayside much the way of Atari and typewriters, oh and Margarine … (6 comments)
travelers rest real estate: Pricing Right in Today's Market
- 10/18/08 11:47 AM
We're all trying our best to keep up with rising and falling prices in real estate in our markets. Not to mention keeping up with the daily lending changes and laws. Let's not even talk about the DOW. So how do we make sure we're representing our sellers the best but still being completely honest in our pricing of their homes and makeing sure they understand that we're doing our best. After all, it's not OUR fault the market is wanky...we're trying to make a living too! #1 Instead of always looking at actives and solds for the past months, take … (6 comments)
travelers rest real estate: Redneck Realtors..Get Ready for Ike Refugees!
- 09/24/08 01:41 PM
Every situation needs a dose of humor. And though Ike's destruction wrecked havoc on so many and God Bless their souls..left some to Him above..we as REALTORS must still pick up the pieces to the next generation of buyers from Hurricane Ike. With that being said and as my farewell before my vacation I present.... Ike Refugees and the Redneck Survival kit needed for the next hurricane Redneck Hurricane Survival Kit Toilet Paper..............................checkBud Light.................................checkKeystone Ice...........................checkBudweiser..............................check Red Dog.................................checkMisc. other bottles of alcohol....check Piece of plywood to float your old lady and booze on........................check God love dem rednecks...see ya in two weeks!. … (6 comments)
travelers rest real estate: Are YOU as well as your clients..buying in this market?
- 09/18/08 01:29 AM
The economy is in turmoil as we all hear. Foreclosures and short sales at all time highs. It's been a great time for our buyers. But are you personally looking at this market for investments? If you're not, you could be cutting your nose off to spite your face. Why? I personally just closed on our third investment home last week. Do I have a lot of money..no. But there are still ways to do interest only loans and use other media to do repairs. And whether or not you flip the house and sell it or use it for rental … (2 comments)
travelers rest real estate: We're off to See the Monkeys! Greenville, SC Zoo!
- 09/03/08 12:31 AM
Lil ole Greenville SC in the Upstate of SC is growing. The multi-national businesses that are influxing (is that a word?LOL) here is ridiculous, new housing has slowed, but there is a plethora (I know that's a word) of resale and discounted specs out there. But what else does Greenville have and why would people want to live here? Mountains, Shopping, Arts, Culture and ....Animals of course! Four our youngins this is a must. And though the zoo is not large, it does have a wide variety of creatures great and small that amaze the young eyes. A family pass is … (5 comments)
travelers rest real estate: The Upper SC State Fair-C'mon Down
- 09/01/08 01:01 PM
This is more of a frivolous post. But there is more to being a realtor than working. But my husband, dad and I took my son to the fair today. Kiegan is almost three now so we thought it would be a lot more fun than last year. And we were right! The fair as always was great and since we went during the day it was not crowded at all, the day was overcast and muggy but not unbearably hot. Now with a three year old mind you, we weren't planning on more than 2.5 hours...we lasted exactly that! Now … (1 comments)
travelers rest real estate: A Great Buyers Agent is Invaluable!
- 08/29/08 02:11 AM
With the prices of houses being the lowest in many years you should buy a house, right? Whoa, don't put the cart before the horse! Don't get house fever. Here are 3 Good reasons to use a buyers agent to help you gain an advantage so you don't get ripped off! The media is going crazy out there telling all of us how easy it is to buy or sell a home ourselves. You might THINK you hand handle this without help of an agent...big mistake! Here are 3 good reasons why you need a buyer's agent: A buyer's agent won't … (6 comments)
travelers rest real estate: Sorry Home Stagers, I've got the SECRET to Cheap Staging!!!
- 08/27/08 03:06 AM
I have my first listings..I"m a buyers agent mostly but now I have three listings with 3 more on the way within the next week. All are vacant homes! We all know staged homes sell faster and for better prices but in this economy, my sellers cannot afford a professional stager. So I started thinking..... And I went to my local furniture companies and begged them to let me use furniture for a fee and advertising...no go. So I thought some more... And I found a solution that is radically going to change the way I stage my homes..especially my lower … (11 comments)
travelers rest real estate: Who Am I Anyway... Am I My Resume?
- 08/15/08 11:35 PM
For those of you who love A Chorus Line you'll continue the song. It is a picture of a person I don't know..... If you read my resume you'd fall over. There's a post this morning about being a jack of all trades. I certainly know I am that. But I think our former lives that led us to REALTOR are what makes us successful now. There have been at least 54 jobs in my life. I swear. I am a REALTOR now but haven'talways been so. It was not my life's ambition to be a saleperson and sell homes. My … (1 comments)
travelers rest real estate: How do You Market Homes in Very Low Price Point Areas?
- 08/14/08 11:54 AM
You guys in AR have been so incredibly helpful and I really have to beg your assistance again. I have just taken 5 listings 2 of which are in very low income neighborhoods. The houses have been almost completely remodeled and are priced to sell. I need help with delicately phrasing the member remarks and advertising. I don't want to discourage buyers, but I also am cautious about making the homes seem more than they are and representing the areas as safer ones for children. I know that sounds harsh but it's the truth. So how do you go about this. … (6 comments)
travelers rest real estate: Give me Your Extra Time and I'll KISS!
- 08/12/08 12:58 PM
Valuable lessons learned over the past few days. When out with several clients, I've learned that my time is valuable. Did I always know that, yes. But in days of no extra $$ to be had and time management an ongoing challenge, I've learned to KISS. I've learned to Kiss This:
on waaayyyy to many occasions And this:
Who can resist a redhead? But there is a meaning to KISS Keep -It-Short-And-Simple With the clients recently I can rest you assured that none of them I"ve wanted to KISS. I'm a talker and thereby, my showings and demands … (6 comments)
travelers rest real estate: My Buyers who Want a 70K Mansion!!
- 08/10/08 10:56 AM
Why does it always seem that the lower the price point, the more difficult and unrealistic buyers are? Same goes for the very high end ones as well. I am blessed (we're all blessed to have any good buyer right now) to have a buyer at all that is qualified no matter the price point. They just seem to take a little more energy and want the things and quality of a $150K house in a 70K. I actually think I"ve found one but we'll see. I've coached them regarding the transaction, the choices, the areas condusive to good resale, the … (15 comments)
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