trends: What Do Einstein's Razor and Your CRM Have in Common?
- 08/13/14 03:58 AM
“Everything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler.” – Albert Einstein Einstein’s Razor sums up the ideal system – a process that effectively covers all bases and requires minimal effort to do so. Something that un-complicates things. Something that works. In a perfect real estate world, CRM systems would do it all, thoroughly and completely, with little or no input from the agent. It’s a razor, alright. There’s a reason why CRMs “work” for some and not for others, and it’s not the CRM. All CRMs “work.” No matter who uses it – agents, mortgage pros, home … (9 comments)
DILIGENCE Work ethic and discipline. They have a written business plan, with clear goals that touch on all areas of their lives, not just real estate. Their plan is measurable, and they budget for business and personal spending accordingly. PERSEVERANCE Consistency and patience. They implement systems to handle day-to-day tasks with ease, and make habit and lifestyle changes that improve themselves and their business. They have a daily action plan that incorporates time-blocking and goal-setting. They are committed and accountable. POSITIVITY Successful mindset. They think like winners, adjusting their outlook during tough times and setting expectations that lead to positive outcomes.
… (10 comments)
trends: Your Clients Use Your Slogan When Recommending You
- 08/13/14 03:30 AM
I've loved reading some of the entries in Rich Naggar's Scratch the Itch with Rich Contest - what a fun way to get everyone to really think about how we're branding ourselves to new clients. But here's something else to consider: your clients WILL use your slogan when recommending you to others. Whenever you use a slogan (i.e. “An agent you can trust”), you’re conveying a message. When you ask a client to recommend you, give a testimonial or write a review, it’s important to equip them with words that sell your services – and many clients rely on your slogan or … (57 comments)
trends: What to Do if Zillow Says You’re a Bad Agent
- 08/07/14 04:23 AM
With the Zillow/Trulia deal and other news bees buzzing about online listing portals, it’s more important than ever to pay attention to your ratings and reviews. The best way to mitigate the chances that someone will negatively review you is to be proactive. Taking those steps will help you stay on top of those reviews, and, ultimately, help you better serve your clients. These suggestions will help you manage the risks associated with buying or selling a home, and protect you from negative reviews and/or possible litigation.
Establish protocol with every client. This goes beyond signing the contract. Review fair housing … (86 comments)
trends: When You Should (And Shouldn’t) Cash Out Your Home’s Equity
- 07/29/14 01:19 AM
It’s common for homeowners to cash out their equity when bigger expenses arise. But are these expenses really worth using a home equity loan, line of credit (HELOC) or a cash-out refinance? It depends on the situation.
Typically, homeowners will opt to cash out when they’re seeking to make upgrades to their homes. Tapping into your equity is a smart move if your home’s value has gone up, or if you bought the home with plans to renovate. Other than that, homeowners mostly use their equity in five ways – for education, investing, paying off debts, in emergencies, and during … (15 comments)
trends: NAR: Top Metros for Millennial Homebuyers
- 07/28/14 03:53 AM
With all of the cautionary news surrounding millennials and real estate, this update is much more positive. A recent NAR analysis suggests that millennials will be purchasing homes in metropolitan areas – just not where you’d expect. Instead of settling in employment epicenters like NYC and San Fran, millennials will seek homeownership in affordable metros experiencing similar job growth patterns. The best purchase markets (in no particular order): Austin, TX Dallas, TX Denver, CO Des Moines, IA Grand Rapids, MI Minneapolis, MN New Orleans, LA Ogden, UT Salt Lake City, UT Seattle, WA Madison, WI Nashville, TN Omaha, NE Raleigh, NC Washington, D.C. Austin and Salt Lake City were the … (16 comments)
Official word came from Zillow, Inc. (NASDAQ:Z) this morning that the company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire listings portal rival Trulia, Inc. (NYSE:TRLA) for $3.5 billion in stock. What had been rumored for weeks was picked up by the mainstream media Friday that the companies were in discussions about the acquisition. The release issued this morning reported the deal is expected to close sometime in 2015. According to the release, Zillow and Trulia will continue to maintain their own consumer brands, offering buyers, sellers, homeowners and renters access to vital information about homes and … (14 comments)
trends: Are You Schooled in Fence Etiquette?
- 07/25/14 01:35 AM
Are you schooled in fence etiquette? Whether your buyer wants to cordon off their new home or your seller wants to replace one that’s seen better days, Angie Hicks (the mastermind behind Angie’s List) outlines what’s important to consider before closing in on a fence. Here are the estimates of what your buyer or seller can expect to spend, based on materials used: ALUMINUM - $8,000 at $40/ft VINYL - $6,000 at $30/ft WOOD - $3,200 at $16/ft CHAIN-LINK - $2,600 at $13/ft
If safety is the main concern, any common material will work, as long as it’s high enough to stop children and pets from climbing … (21 comments)
trends: A Pint-Sized Packing Plan for Summer Travelers
- 07/25/14 01:27 AM
I can’t believe we’re coming up on August, the month where everyone high tails it away from home for some R&R. I’m having the hardest time deciding whether to check or carry on my bag. I know, I know… it’s cheaper to carry on, but in my case, it isn’t, because my carry-on bag has been lost to the airline abyss. My options are to buy a new one, or fork over the extra and check. That issue aside, I’m nowhere near as concerned about packing more or less based on the bag, because I’ve perfected my packing skills. I’ll do … (15 comments)
trends: Help Homeowners Avoid DIY Dangers
- 07/25/14 01:13 AM
Did you know more and more homeowners, regardless of income, are taking on DIY projects in order to save money?
Armed with instructions from a home improvement blog or inspiration from Pinterest, today’s homeowners are definitely DIY-happy. With adequate preparation, weekend warriors can churn out something worthy of a professional’s stamp of approval. That being said, there are DIY-ers who are unprepared to take on some projects. Help your clients avoid renovation mishaps with these tips: Take each project seriously. If you’re going to tackle a DIY project, you’ve got to commit. Before you start, read manuals and instructions thoroughly, … (21 comments)
trends: The Cause/Contest Connection
- 07/25/14 12:56 AM
Have your comments, likes and shares dwindled? Noticing that your posts are losing steam? You can point the finger at a slow summer, or you can take action. I find that when I’m in need of a social networking ramp-up, I concentrate my efforts on posting more often about the 2 C’s – causes and contests. We hear time and time again that millennials are the most socially-conscious generation, but I’d like to think that everyone cares in some capacity. What better way to feed into that than by supporting a worthy cause or hosting a giveaway? Post about your volunteer … (7 comments)
trends: 7 Superior Summer Home Staging Tips [INFOGRAPHIC]
- 07/23/14 02:10 AM
It's a fact: staged homes spend 78% less time on the market than non-staged homes. With superior staging, spring open houses lead to summer sales. Check out this awesome infographic from the folks at Point 2 outlining the top 7 ways to stage a home this summer:
Get more real estate infographics on our Pinterest Real Estate Infographics board. And for more superior staging tips, visit Montgomery County, PA stager Suzanne Otto's blog!
Spotlight Your Home's Best Side: Staging Helps Sell Faster Boost Seller Odds of Attracting Multiple Bids from Buyers Getting the Outdoors Ready for a Summer Showing
For more news … (14 comments)
trends: Plastic Product Pitfalls
- 07/21/14 04:33 AM
Ah, the health scare headline. “New Research Shows…” or “Doctors Now Recommend…” – it seems like every product nowadays comes with health risks. Recently (and actually all the time, now that I think about it), I read an article detailing the harmful effects of having too much plastic in your home. There’s definitely a growing concern with the safety of plastic, but is it really going to be detrimental to my health?
Well, yes and no.
It turns out, plastics have a recycling code number that corresponds to safety. I’ve outlined the most common ones below – abbreviations only, … (19 comments)
trends: Don’t Get Twipped Up on Twitter
- 07/21/14 04:14 AM
I love Twitter. There’s something really personal about it that makes it my go-to forum for reading news, sharing, or just venting. Who knew 140 characters could have such a vast impact? But, there’s also Twitter for real estate. You’ve read about the PR disasters following big businesses that tweeted something unprofessional. The fallout may not be as far-reaching for real estate agents, but making a mistake on Twitter could result in irritating others, making enemies, or even worse, losing out on clients! My tweeter friends, steer clear of these Twitter twiccups: Neglecting security – Twitter accounts get hacked every day – … (34 comments)
With moving season in full swing, you’ve probably got a number of happy clients packing up and shipping out. Congratulations! Be sure to remind them to take care of these extras when working with their moving company – DIY movers need the reminder, too!
These extras typically cost more and/or take more time to transport safely: Antiques Artwork Exercise equipment Flat-screen TVs Glass tabletops Grandfather clocks Hot tubs Pianos Pool tables Trophies
How many moves have you made possible this summer?
8 Things to Know about Working with Movers How to Organize … (8 comments)
trends: How Did Your Buyer Tick off the Seller?
- 07/20/14 11:54 PM
Agents everywhere lament the day they take on a buyer who does everything possible to irritate the seller. You know the story… The buyer skips appointments. Missing an appointment without calling ahead of time – is there anything worse? Inconsiderate buyers fail to realize that the seller’s spent time preparing the home, and scheduled an outing so that the buyer could view the home uninterrupted. The buyer nitpicks. The complainer. Someone who doesn’t like the choice of paint color, or who isn’t a fan of the freshly-installed carpet – easy fixes that they’ll include on a laundry list of defects anyway. … (64 comments)
trends: Is Your Client Suffering from Home Seller’s Fatigue?
- 07/16/14 03:10 AM
I hope not! But chances are, you’ve dealt with a home that just won’t sell. With a myriad of things that could go wrong between listing and closing, your client will likely suffer from home seller’s fatigue at one point or another. To combat HSF, keep in mind these three things:
1. Having to constantly keep the home free of clutter actually prepares them for the inevitable move. (And it will happen!) 2. This sale will define you. Circumstances beyond your control or not, this is your time to really shine. 3. Whether the outcome is good or bad...
You’ll have … (13 comments)
trends: 10 Years From Now, Who Will Rock Real Estate?
- 07/11/14 05:26 AM
A recent Harvard study analyzing demographic trends revealed how new households will change in the next 10 years. Put simply, if recovery continues, first-time homebuyers will be real estate ROCKSTARS! Some interesting tidbits from the study: • If rates hold, the number of homeowners in their 30s will increase by 2.7 million. And the number of homeowners aged 65+ will grow by 10.7 million. • There have been 1 million new renters every year from 2005-2013, double the avg. pace in any decade since the 1960s. • By 2025, minorities will make up 35% of all US households and 46% of … (18 comments)
trends: A Crash Course in Social Media Law
- 07/11/14 03:56 AM
Yesterday, I wrote a blog about Twitter mistakes – one of which was to protect your account from being compromised. Hackers aside, there are other ways your social media accounts can stir up trouble. Today, I’m sharing with you all a few pointers to keep in mind that will help you avoid legal hassles. Many agents have an assistant managing their presences across social media. What happens when your assistant jumps ship? Amicable or not, parting ways with any social media employee is a recipe for disaster if they aren’t well aware of your policy. Consider this: what’s to stop someone from … (15 comments)
trends: How to COPE with Blogger Burnout
- 07/10/14 06:41 AM
Blogging is definitely not something I need to “cope” with. For me, blogging is a necessary business tool, but the fact that I enjoy writing posts doesn’t hurt, either. Call me blog-crazy, but blogging isn’t some huge burden for me. However, for others, drumming up content day in and day out may seem like a chore. Add to that the stress of running all the other aspects of your business, and you’ve got a serious case of blogger burnout.
If you need to lighten the load and make things super easy (seriously, it’s a cinch), stick to the COPE … (12 comments)
“Everything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler.” – Albert Einstein 
;)
;)
