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Real Estate Best Practices

Coaches, books, classes and seminars aim to capture real estate agents dollars with promises to teach them any number of ways to improve their business. From sales skills to how to close more deals to how to win with expireds (expired listings) and more, everyone has something to teach you.


There's nothing wrong with continuing education, whether it's keeping on top of new laws and regulations or learning how to be more productive. But before you spend an arm and a leg on any of those things, pull up a chair, put on your glasses and peruse the pages in this section of ActiveRain.


It is only here that you can tap into the world's largest online real estate community and actively engage with your peers. Find out what works and what doesn't from those that actually put into practice what others merely teach. Read how-to articles, advice on designations, certifications and continuing education classes. You never know where you will find the inspiration to take your business to the next level. So, pull up a chair and dig in!

Recent blogs on Real Estate Best Practices
By Mike Young, FHA 203k Consultant 916-758-1809 cell direct
(203kOnLine.com, covering the USA)
Managing 203(k) paperwork means maintaining accurate, current, and traceable project documentation from initial scope through final draw.A 203(k) file rarely falls apart because someone cannot identify a repair. It falls apart because a scope changed without documentation, a bid does not match the write-up, a draw request arrives without the right inspection record, or everyone assumes someone else has the current version. Learning how to manage 203k paperwork is how you protect the deal, your reputation, and the contractor's ability to get paid.For a HUD 203(k) consultant, paperwork is not an administrative side task. It is the operating system for the project. The consultant's work connects the borrower, contractor, lender, appraiser, and HUD requirements. When your file is organized,...
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By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
When I was younger, I thought we needed to remember the special days. Birthdays, weddings, holidays, vacations, and family celebrations.Those days are important, of course. But the older I get, the more I realize that some of the best days of our lives are the ordinary ones.The Days We Don't Put on the CalendarA quiet morning with a cup of coffee.Watching a bluebird visit the yard. A drive through the mountains without an appointment to keep. An afternoon at the farm, enjoying the trees and thinking about the people who planted them.Nothing particularly exciting happens, and yet the day feels complete.We Spend So Much Time Looking AheadWorking in real estate for nearly 40 years has meant keeping a calendar full of appointments, deadlines, showings, and closings. Something always needs t...
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By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
Buying a house and affording to live in it are two different things.I have worked with buyers who qualify for a mortgage payment that looks reasonable on paper. But the monthly payment is only one part of homeownership.The Expenses That Don't Always Make the Wish ListBefore buying, I encourage clients to consider more than the purchase price. Property taxes and homeowners insurance Heating, cooling, water, and electricity Roof and HVAC maintenance Lawn care and landscaping Driveway repairs HOA dues and assessments Septic system or well maintenance Emergency repairs and replacement costs If you are buying acreage or lakefront property, you may have additional expenses.That long gravel driveway may need maintenance. The dock may eventually need repairs. A large yard requires equipment, ti...
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By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
When a seller receives multiple offers, the first question is usually, "Which one offered the most money?"That is understandable. Sellers want the best possible return on their investment.But the highest offer is not always the one that puts the most money in the seller's pocket.There Is More to an Offer Than the PriceBefore recommending that a seller accept an offer, I want to look at the entire contract. Financing: Is the buyer preapproved, paying cash, or dependent on selling another property? Earnest money: How much is the buyer putting forward, and what are the terms for its release or refund? Contingencies: What must happen before the buyer is obligated to close? Closing date: Does the proposed schedule fit the seller's plans? Seller concessions: How much is the buyer asking the s...
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By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
Sometimes the most important thing an agent can do is be quiet.We are trained to explain contracts, discuss market conditions, point out property features, and answer questions. Those are important responsibilities.But representing buyers and sellers has another side. We need to listen.Buyers Will Tell You What They Really WantA buyer may begin by telling me they need four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a two-car garage.After spending some time together, I discover what they really want is privacy, a place for their grandchildren to visit, and a porch where they can enjoy the mountains. The number of bedrooms was not the most important part of their search. I might never learn that if I spend the entire showing talking.Sellers Need to Be Heard, TooWhen a seller questions my recommended ...
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By Will Hamm, "Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"
(Hamm Homes)
Learning at a young age, time is money.  From growing up in the restaurant business with my parents, it was important to start the day out with habits.  You must be on time and unlock the door, start the coffee, turn on the grill, cook the bacon, get the hot holding station turn on.  Put the money in the the cash register, turn on the open sign and more and more and ready to greet the customers.After that I learn from that to do routines to get what you want done.  From my time in getting to be restaurant manager to moving up to a training manager to a Supervisor to a regional manager and V.P. of a company.Funny, how Real Estate is a little different, but we all still have routines and we wear many hats to make it in this business.  I fount a great book to help me along the way.  THE ES...
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By Melodi Magness Morelli, Magness + Morelli Group | Luxury Real Estate
(Keller Williams Realty, Southlake, Texas)
The Best Real Estate Opportunities Aren’t Always the Most Obvious: What Buyers Should Know in Today’s Southlake MarketThe real estate market changes the questions buyers ask.When homes are selling quickly and competition is intense, buyers often worry about missing out. When the market becomes more selective, a different question emerges: How do you recognize a genuinely good opportunity when the right answer isn’t immediately obvious?For buyers considering Southlake and the surrounding luxury communities, that question matters more than ever.A Changing Market Requires a Different PerspectiveThe Dallas–Fort Worth market is sending mixed signals. September 2026 data from Realtor.com showed fewer active listings than a year earlier, but more than one in four DFW listings had experienced a...
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By Renee Hahn, Top Real Estate Agent Serving Naples Florida Area
(Renee Hahn, Your Naples Real Estate Expert (Alfred Robbins Realty Group))
In any real estate transaction, there is often more being negotiated than just the purchase price. One of the most misunderstood tools in real estate is the use of concessions. While buyers and sellers often focus heavily on the sale price, concessions can sometimes create a win-win solution that helps bridge gaps, solve problems, and keep transactions moving forward.In today's market, where affordability, insurance costs, interest rates, and property condition are frequently part of the conversation, understanding how concessions work can be an important advantage for both buyers and sellers.What Are Real Estate Concessions?A concession is something of value that one party agrees to provide to help facilitate the transaction. Most commonly, concessions involve the seller providing a fi...
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By Jack Cutrone, Long Island Real Estate Agent | MRP | PSA
(Patriot Real Properties)
 By Jack Cutrone, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson | Patriot Real PropertiesFinding the right home or receiving a good offer is exciting. But there are still details to work through before moving day.For buyers and sellers in Suffolk and Nassau County, addressing questions early can reduce confusion and help everyone prepare.Here are five areas worth discussing with your real estate team.1. WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE FOR FINANCING?A preapproval is useful, but it does not guarantee a mortgage. Final approval still involves the lender’s review and requirements.Buyers should stay in contact with their lender and ask:• What documents are still needed?• What conditions remain outstanding?• What financial changes should we discuss before making them?Before opening new credit, making a major fina...
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By Coral Amelia, Professional Real Estate Services You Can Trust
(https://keenanhowardrealty.com/)
Nonprofit grants do not usually pay a real estate agency’s ordinary business expenses, commissions, advertising, or transaction costs. That distinction matters. Yet they can still create meaningful opportunities for New Jersey realtors and real estate agencies when they support the community organizations, housing initiatives, and neighborhood services that shape local markets. A grant-funded housing counseling program can help more residents prepare for sustainable homeownership. A neighborhood revitalization project can improve access to services and strengthen a commercial corridor. A nonprofit development effort can create a clearer path for families, seniors, veterans, or people with disabilities to find stable housing. Realtors can contribute knowledge, relationships, and practica...
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By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
When a person takes on the responsibility of raising a child or a pet they need to put the needs of those who depend on them FIRST. In today's world that message is not drilled into peoples brains as it should be. Today's world is "all about me".It is hard to avoid the me, me, me attitude in Real Estate.Buyers, Sellers, and often Real Estate agents have the "me" attitude. While we have a fiduciary obligation to our clients we do NOT have an obligation, or a right, to take undue advantage of others involved in the transaction.I was raised to believe that a good name is more valuable than silver and gold. Screwing others in the name of the art of a good deal may serve one person but in the end it only tarnishes the name of the wheeler dealer.
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By Joe Jackson, Clintonville and Central Ohio Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty)
Real estate experience goes beyond transactions and market knowledge. Property preservation experience offers valuable insight into vacant, distressed, and maintenance-heavy homes. From identifying deferred maintenance to prioritizing repairs and presentation, understanding a property's condition can help sellers make smarter decisions. Discover why preservation experience can make a difference when preparing your home for sale. Real estate experience is often measured in transactions, years in the business, and knowledge of the local market. But there is another kind of experience that can make a difference when dealing with vacant, distressed, or maintenance-heavy properties: property preservation experience. Understanding how a property changes when it is vacant or neglected can give...
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By Coral Amelia, Professional Real Estate Services You Can Trust
(https://keenanhowardrealty.com/)
   Not every cabin trip gets better when a pet comes along—but the right one absolutely can. In Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, a getaway with your dog means thinking beyond scenery and square footage. You need a place that works with feeding schedules, walks, quiet time, and the realities of leaving the cabin for a few hours. Get those details right, and the trip feels less like managing logistics and more like bringing the whole family along for the escape.Choose the Cabin Around Your Pet’s NeedsA pet-friendly label is only the beginning.Before booking, think about your pet’s size, temperament, routine, and comfort in unfamiliar places. A calm dog may adapt well to a smaller cabin, while an energetic or anxious pet may benefit from more space and easier outdoor access.Pigeon Forge Vacation R...
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By Coral Amelia, Professional Real Estate Services You Can Trust
(https://keenanhowardrealty.com/)
Buying a property that has to serve two masters is one of the more satisfying decisions a person can make, and one of the easiest to get wrong. The home has to feel like yours when you walk through the door, and it has to appeal to strangers the rest of the year. Those two jobs pull in different directions more often than buyers expect. A mountain town like Park City attracts exactly this kind of buyer, someone who wants a place to escape to and a property that pays its own way between visits. Getting the balance right is less about luck than about asking a disciplined set of questions before you sign anything.Decide What the Property Has to Do for YouBuying a second home sits somewhere between a lifestyle decision and a financial one, and most people are not honest with themselves abou...
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By William Piotrowski, Just Call William 630-881-8655
(Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation )
🏠 HIGHER MORTGAGE RATES = LESS PURCHASING POWERIt’s pretty simple:📈 Higher mortgage rates⬇️ Less purchasing power⬇️ Less buyer demand⬇️ More pressure on home pricesSo if you’re a HOME SELLER in today’s market, don’t just think about lowering your price…💡 GET CREATIVE WITH THE BUYER!Instead of dropping the price $10,000, $20,000 or more, consider offering a SELLER CREDIT that could:👉 Help buy down the buyer’s interest rate👉 Pay some or ALL of their closing costs👉 Reduce the cash they need to bring to closing👉 Make your home more affordable without dramatically cutting the priceSometimes the best way to sell your home isn’t simply LOWER THE PRICE.It’s LOWER THE BUYER’S COST! 🔥🎯 RATE IS NOT THE STRATEGY. THE STRUCTURE IS.Thinking about selling? Let’s talk about the options that can make yo...
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Real estate agents are generally in the business of helping people move.Buy a house. Sell a house. Find something bigger. Downsize. Relocate. Start again.But sometimes I think the best real estate advice is much simpler:Don’t move.At least, not yet.   Real estate agents are generally in the business of helping people move. Buy a house. Sell a house. Find something bigger. Downsize. Relocate. Start again. But sometimes I think the best real estate advice is much simpler: Don’t move. At least, not yet. After years of selling houses, I learned that people don't always want a different house. Sometimes they simply want their current house to stop annoying them. The kitchen is too dark. There isn't enough storage. The primary bathroom hasn't changed since nobody had heard of Wi-Fi. The floor...
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By Kelly McGovern, Working with Kelly is a good move
(Realty Concierge International)
After 20 years as a REALTOR and 24 years prior in the mortgage industry, I can tell you - there is nothing more refreshing than speaking with a loan officer who has many years of experience. In a world where automated systems and rushed preapprovals have become the norm, hearing a seasoned professional confidently answer detailed qualification questions is a breath of fresh air.Whenever an offer comes in on one of my listings, I make it a point to follow up on the buyer’s preapproval. A preapproval letter alone isn’t enough. I want to know the story behind it. With my mortgage background, I ask very specific questions: Are the qualifying ratios tight? Is the credit score borderline? Is there any mattress money or borrowed funds involved? Has the file been run through AUS yet? These aren...
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By Dee Toohey, Broker, ABR, AHWD, CIPS, FMS, ePro
(Innovative Realty Solutions Group)
This is the listing from HEdoubleHockeySticks!It was pending, back on market twice. The last time was a short sale that was approved in less than 5 weeks! But the price was not approved. The offer was 19% below list which was already below appraised value. They buyer wanted a deal and released the contract.After looking around, the buyer decided the lender approved price was a great deal and it was about 15% below the appraised value. We are pending again at the lender approved price! I am hopeful this is the charm and we have a smooth closing and proves that persistence to purpose pays off.
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By William Piotrowski, Just Call William 630-881-8655
(Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation )
🏗️ THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE HOUSING MARKET DON’T GET ENOUGH ATTENTION.When we talk about real estate, we usually talk about:🏡 Buyers🏡 Sellers🏡 Builders🏡 Realtors🏡 Mortgage professionalsBut there is an entire ecosystem behind every home that often gets overlooked.According to the latest NAHB member census, approximately two-thirds of NAHB members are associate members — businesses and professionals supporting the housing industry.And here's the number that jumped out at me:🔨 42% of associate members are subcontractors or specialty trade contractors.That means electricians, plumbers, HVAC professionals, roofers, flooring contractors, concrete professionals and countless other trades are a massive part of the housing ecosystem.And these aren't all tiny operations.The median associate member h...
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By Corinne Guest, Retired Broker. FX Trader, Golden Retrievers.
(Corinne Guest)
Real estate agents are generally in the business of helping people move.Buy a house. Sell a house. Find something bigger. Downsize. Relocate. Start again.But sometimes I think the best real estate advice is much simpler:Don’t move.At least, not yet.After years of selling houses, I learned that people don't always want a different house.Sometimes they simply want their current house to stop annoying them.The kitchen is too dark.There isn't enough storage.The primary bathroom hasn't changed since nobody had heard of Wi-Fi.The flooring has seen better days.The landscaping has become something of an ongoing argument.And eventually somebody says:“Maybe we should just move.”But What Are You Actually Trying to Fix?That's the question I think homeowners should ask before calling an agent.Becaus...
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