George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Ray and Joy good suggestion of questions to ask.

Welcome to AR and congratulations on submitting your firs blog here.

Jul 07, 2016 08:18 AM
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Welcome to Active Rain Ray and Joy.

Those are 7 questions to ask. A much better list than the popular 21 questions you must ask the real estate agent before hiring them. And 20 is better than the 33 questions, a few of which inquire about the agents credit score. 

There are only a few questions the owner REALLY has. That number is closer to 7 than 33.

Your list provides an excellent foundation from which an agent can build their story.

That is a lot about what Active Rain is about. Here you will find real estate professionals from very diverse backgrounds, business executives to educators. Engineers to flippers. Some arrived here by choice, others by calamity and some through tragedy. Each come with their story, their hope, a dream to find the financial liberty they need to thrive and prosper.

Each of us come, just as you did, through a small act of courage, sighing 'here goes nothing' and clicking that publish button. By that act we become community.

What is asked of you is to be your genuine self. In that effort dare to have some fun.

Play in the rain.

Umbrella optional

Best of success,
Annette

NOTE: Take time to acknowledge those who comment on your blog. Those who leave comments supportive of your blog should get a LIKE. Commenters who actually add fabric to the conversation to be FOLLOWED.

Jul 07, 2016 08:34 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Solutions - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Very informative first blog post. Congratulations and welcome to ActiveRain. Be sure to ask if you have any questions.

Jul 07, 2016 09:48 AM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Ray & Joy Rice 

WOW your first blog to the ActiveRain network is full of some great information and welcome!

Jul 07, 2016 12:33 PM
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

Hi Ray & Joy Rice, Welcome to Active Rain and congrats on an outstanding first blog post here. Best wishes with your business. This is a great place to meet and interact with awesome professionals.

Jul 07, 2016 12:41 PM
Alan Kirkpatrick
Austin Texas Homes - Round Rock, TX
Alan in Austin

Ray & Joy Rice 

Welcome to Active Rain so glad you are here! Have a wonderful week. 

Jul 07, 2016 01:09 PM
Sharon Kowitz
CRS-SRES-ABR-GRI-E-Pro-CREN Fonville Morisey Cary, NC - Cary, NC
Cary, NC Relocation Specialist ~ Buying or Selling

Welcome to Activerain and congratulations on your first post!

Jul 07, 2016 01:19 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, EXP - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Great article Ray and Joy, will be sharing these tips.

Welcome to Active Rain, looking forward to reading many more of your posts, let me know if there is anything that I can do to help as you get started here.
Bob

Jul 07, 2016 04:20 PM
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Welcome to Active Rain Ray & Joy Rice!

As REALTORS® who have been here for almost 10 years, it's well worth it!

We wish you great success with your blog posts and networking with other members of Active Rain!

We clicked the “Follow” button on your profile so that we will be alerted to your future blog posts and can read and comment on them, and we invite you to "follow us" - should you be interested - by clicking the “Follow” button you see underneath our photo to the left. There is no requirement or obligation for you to do so, but we would be honored if you choose to do so!

Being “Followed” by another member gains you 50 points, and following another member gains you 10 points.

Once you reach 500,000 points you are entitled to a FREE Rainmaker account.

More information on the Active Rain points system can be found at this post:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/4563477/the-activerain-point-system

 

This will tell you what activities in the ‘Rain earn points.

If you have a free “Rainer” account, your visibility is limited to Active Rain members.  You may want to seriously consider upgrading your account to Rainmaker if you plan to stick around in the 'Rain!

If you have a “Rainmaker” account, your blog posts will be visible to the public - a very good thing.  You will get the most “bang for your buck” if you “optimize” your blog posts. More information about how to optimize your blog posts can be found at this link:

https://activerainuniversity.com/unit/write-a-blog-post/?id=4863

Once you reach 500,000 points you are entitled to a FREE Rainmaker account.

 

If you are currently paying for a Rainmaker account - then the sooner you reach the 500,000 point mark, the better for your wallet!

As we mentioned earlier, one of the best ways to get started is to read through blog posts and questions, identify members who you like to read, follow them, comment on their posts or respond to their questions, and post or ask questions yourself!

Two final links that may be of interest to you:

The Active Rain Leaderboard:

http://activerain.com/social/leaderboard

and the Active Rain Top Bloggers:

http://activerain.com/topbloggers

We look foward to seeing your name in lights!

If you have any questions that we can help answer for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us - we’re always happy to be of help if we can!

Jul 07, 2016 10:44 PM
Harry F. D'Elia III
RentVest - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

#5 is a great question. WE have many part timers coming back into real estate because it is easy.

Jul 07, 2016 11:22 PM
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Ray & Joy Rice , Welcome to Active Rain and congratulations on your first blog.  You're off to a great start!

Jul 08, 2016 01:17 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning Ray & Joy Rice ..... it's critical for every buyer and/or seller to interview the agent who will be representing their interests....it's the most important of all of the initial steps....select THE RIGHT AGENT....

Jul 08, 2016 01:24 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

and welcome to ActiveRain....it's a great place to learn, share, market and network.....and I hope you enjoy it and benefit from all of it...

Jul 08, 2016 01:25 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Welcome Ray & Joy Rice to the rain where we all help each other and learn from each other.

Jul 08, 2016 04:24 AM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • Green • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Ray and Joy,

welcome to the Rain and congratulations on your first blog post! Keep them coming.

Jul 08, 2016 04:59 PM
Kat Palmiotti
406-270-3667, kat@thehousekat.com, Broker, eXp Realty - Kalispell, MT
The House Kat

Welcome to ActiveRain and best wishes with your blogging. Those are great questions, and that's quite a guarantee you give! 

Jul 08, 2016 10:15 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Property Manager

Hi Ray & Joy,
This is a great list from which an agent can use as a base to build a promotional strategy.  Thanks for the post.  

And, Welcome to the world of Active Rain blogging.  It is an extremely valuable platform to connect with other agents and potential clients.  If you haven't already done so, may I recommend you check out the "Resources" section and click on "Getting Started"?   

Jul 09, 2016 12:18 AM
Steve Snyder
Private-Money-Loan.com - Los Angeles, CA
310-948-8585 |100% LTV | Stated | Private Money

Hey welcome to the community. I just started as well and I think this post could really help you out. Breaks down how you can get your Rain Maker account for Free when you hit 500,000 points. Definitely worth a few minutes of your time.

 

Best of luck out there!

Jul 09, 2016 03:39 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH Real Estate - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Ray and Joy, whenever someone says they can "guarantee" results, I'd say run the other way!  Welcome to ActiveRain, and be careful not to get hooked!

Jul 09, 2016 01:59 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Welcome to ActiveRain Ray & Joy Rice .

This is The Best place to learn, share and build relationships with like-minded professionals

Jul 09, 2016 03:53 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

I like the question about negotiator - that's the best quality for real estate agent.

Jul 09, 2016 03:53 PM