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 Dr. Paula McDonald, Granbury, TX 936-203-0279
(Beam & Branch Realty)
Today I am focusing our series, Slab to Shingles on a very important topic–communication with your builder. As we all know, understanding how we communicate is essential. And, when building a home, it will be critical to establish how and when you will communicate with your builder.We all know there are many styles and forms of communication. Everyone has different expectations so it is vital that we clearly discuss how and when we will be conveying important discussions through the home-building process.🏡 As you narrow down your builder candidates, ask them how they intend to communicate with you throughout the process. Do they prefer a weekly phone call, a monthly face-to-face, or is emailing the best? You also need to let the builder know what your comfort level is and get that estab...
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By Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!, St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent
(Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374)
You harvest what you sow in life. Never have given thought to being owed something that wasn't earned. Mine has been a life, where the work was taken on, dutifully performed and accomplished because clients depended on the end results. In business and life in general, much thought should be given, prior to making choices and the intended consequences. Good decisions can lead to many, endless rewards. Bad ones, teach very important lessons. Bad decisions create: Immoral actions Deceptive practices Corruptive ways of thinking Marital problems and divorce Self-imposed financial difficulties They also bring about ill-gotten goods, regret, anxiety, suspect behavior, self-entitlement, bitterness, discontent and encourages bad memories. Good decisions create: High self-esteem Uplifted confiden...
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By Candice A. Donofrio, 928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text
(Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker)
HALF the battle is WON in real estate if you TIME it right! Commercial real estate brokers have always placed a strong emphasis on timing; markets, owners, hold times, economy. Sometimes, as with 1031 exchanges, timing's not just wise, it is critical. Messing up those calendar dates could cost a client big dollars.Corporate, development, trust and probate can impact the time involved to bring in a deal, then longer to close an escrow. Many moving parts necessitate allowing enough time for all the pieces to fit, and then some to anticipate issues that may not appear initially.**In residential, quite often timing a listing makes the difference between languishing on the market and making a deal quickly.Timing will depend on your market and service area.Season may matter in regional and es...
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By Alan May, A moving experience!
(Jameson Sotheby's International Realty)
I had a referral from a friend for a small two bedroom house, just across the border into Wisconsin.  I sent it to a Wisconsin agent, and didn't ask for a referral fee, because, quite honestly, there wasn't a lot of money in the sale.I asked them to go and check out the house, there had been a older tenant in place for the last 10-12 years, who had recently passed, and the house needed to be cleaned out, listed and sold.  He would have to make arrangements for a trash-out, cleaning, etc.. since there was no local family.  He agreed, and said he'd have to charge a premium.  I told him to explain to the family, and the family agreed.He got the keys, went over to the house, and I got a call.  "Did you know", he asked me "that there's a toilet in the living room?""No, I didn't.  I was told ...
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By Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!, St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent
(Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374)
Setting the Stage by Checking your Voice Message. Impressions matter greatly, as we all know. Ensuring that first point of contact is engaging can make the difference between a new working relationship or encouraging the caller to move on to someone else. Here's some advice: Check your voicemail message  Discern your intended audience  Know the purpose for the message Tell them what is wished to convey Be sure the message is helpful to all  The recording can be quirky to match a personality or more on the reserved side for a more serious approach. No matter what is decided, make it concise and clear with the overall intended message, not garbled.  Past clients already know your purpose because they have used your services. If the intent is to attract new business, let your voice speak a...
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By Denise Lones, CSP, MIRM, CDEI - Real Estate Coaching & Branding
(The Lones Group, Inc.)
Embracing Discipline Welcome to this week's Zebra Report. Today's topic is so important to being successful in anything that you do - whether that is personally, professionally, but especially for being successful in real estate! And that is, embracing discipline. Personal discipline is, by far, the one single trait that most agents struggle with because it requires you to be consistent on an ongoing basis. Successful agents have a plan that they stick to every day - that is discipline. Successful agents have mailing campaigns that they don't question every time that they don't get a call, they just do it. That is discipline. Discipline means that you get up in the morning and that you have a plan. I know for me, and I've been doing the same thing for 25 years, and that is my Hour of P...
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By Stephen Fells, Marketing, Technology, Fun and News!
(AgencyLogic)
Chances are you’ve seen the movie Top Gun before. This exhilarating film showcased the almost unbelievably intense reality of being an elite pilot in the military. And behind many of those awe-inspiring stunts and scenes was John Foley, Blue Angels pilot, entrepreneur, real estate investor, public speaker, and all-around inspiring human being. John has performed these death-defying stunts for years and successfully became the one percent of the one percent of pilots. His key to success? Failing hard. In today's Real Estate Podcast, from BiggerPockets, we hear about: Knowing your blind spots and why witnessing your weaknesses can boost your skills Why complacency kills and thinking you’re “good enough” can drag you down  The benefits of a debrief and why you always want to know what you ...
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By Stephen Fells, Marketing, Technology, Fun and News!
(AgencyLogic)
Ready to buy your first rental property in 2023? If you’re going to reach financial independence, retire early, and own your time, you better get started. But you can’t build a rental property portfolio without buying your first, second, or third deal. So, how do you go from real estate zero to rental property hero without having any experience? In today's Real Estate Podcast, from BiggerPockets, we learn from rental property investing expert David Greene, who built his financial freedom-producing portfolio in under ten years! David walks step-by-step through everything you must do to buy your first rental property in 2023. From finding the deals, getting your financing and loans set up, analyzing a property, and repeating the system. If you listen fully through this episode, you’ll hav...
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By Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP, Selling Homes Changing Lives
(DFW FINE PROPERTIES)
Inspiration comes from simple things observed. Petals falling on books on the kitchen countertop was a reminder of poetic words by Rudyard Kipling...Teach us delight in simple things, and mirth that has no bitter springs Mirth is an usual word rarely used in sentences today. It means "amusement, as expressed in laughter." Moving is no laughing matter. Agents need to realize that people don't always laugh when something is funny. People also laugh because of embarrassment, an awakening within, or nervous laughter. MOVING is no laughing matter. When a client laughs, do you laugh with them, or do you listen? Bringing closure, getting rid of personal possessions, donating prized possesions that were kept for years, an accumulation of stuff is no laughing matter.  LAUGHTER is personal. It is...
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By Endre Barath, Jr., Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties)
Wordless Wednesdays: Would you buy this house? One of my Active Rain friends wrote a post about questions you should ask your Realtor and I chimed in that not all questions are appropriate.Here is my counter point, please check out these photos and tell me if you do or do not like this house? Nothing wrong with either answer. My take is not all buyers have the same taste as their Realtor.Perfect example is, I loved this house, the client I sent the pictures to and many videos did not. No hard feelings this was a great value at $3.700,000 but he did not think this was his house.... So, with that said is if he would have asked me if I would buy this house the answer would have been yes, but he did not ask he just said it was not for him.   Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look fo...
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By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
In today's world it seems to be all about disrespect.If you disagree with someone's opinion you can trash them as a person, even if you really know nothing about them or their circumstances. Not to sound like an old fart but it seems the world is going to hell in a hand basket.I am still a suit and tie man when it comes to going to church. I am often asked why, even by the majority of church goers I know and attend with. I answer with this short explanation: You know I am a staunch conservative BUT if Joe Biden invited me to the White House for dinner I would graciously accept, use my best manors, and wear my best clothes. So how much more important is God Almighty than the President of the United States of America? I respect God thus when I am in His house I am going to be gracious, us...
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By Will Hamm, "Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"
(Hamm Homes)
Being a top producer takes hard work and dedication, but that’s not all it takes. Believe it or not, even your schedule can determine your success as an agent. Time is the most precious resource we have and how you choose to allocate your time can help build you into a top producer.You may think that in order to be a top producer, you need to dedicate all your waking hours to building your business, yes? No. Too much time focused on one thing can lead to burnout and procrastination.Being an agent means that you can create your own schedule. It is better than a typical 9-5 job because you are not tied to a set schedule. However, because you are in charge of your own schedule it means that no one is holding you accountable for what you get done except yourself. Your success is entirely de...
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Brian Sharkey, the one and only personal trainer for real estate agents and brokers. With over 30 years of experience as a business owner, personal trainer, and real estate coach, Sharkey has a proven track record of helping hundreds of clients achieve extraordinary success.Sharkey provides real estate professionals with the coaching and training they need to take their careers to the next level. Whether you're a seasoned broker or a new agent, Sharkey has the expertise to help you reach your full potential.Through leadership meetings, special events, and keynote speeches, Sharkey shares his insights and strategies for success in the competitive world of real estate. He covers everything from sales techniques and marketing strategies to leadership skills and personal development, giving...
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By Endre Barath, Jr., Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties)
Real Estate Market Observations by a Beverly Hills Realtor, Endre Barath, Jr.  Depending upon location and price point of your new home search in the Greater Los Angeles area, it could very well feel as if it is a seller’s market. This is strictly due to the simple economic principle of Supply and Demand - when there are more buyers than listings, that is what happens.  Let's not forget to add to the mix that when interest rates drop, more buyers can afford to buy based on their income.   Clearly buyers are closely watching, and when a well-priced home comes on the market, the savvy buyer jumps on it right away. What types of homes are quickly selling? The answer is relatively easy when you think about it.   The house that is well staged, well priced and appears "move in ready" is typic...
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By Dr. Paula McDonald, Granbury, TX 936-203-0279
(Beam & Branch Realty)
There are many differences between residential and commercial real estate. A large part of our code of ethics dictates that agents are competent in whatever area of business they choose to practice. Understanding the terminology, and market trends is essential.Commercial real estate has many alphabet-letter terms that can stump many. Today, I am going to focus on the CAP rate. This is a common method used to aid investors with a property purchase. It is a relatively quick method used to determine a value proposition and return.Here is a quick infographic to help understand the CAP rate. There are many methods investors use when they are searching for potential properties. The CAP rate is just one of the many methods utilized.
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By Stephen Fells, Marketing, Technology, Fun and News!
(AgencyLogic)
Single property Websites come with a long list of benefits but don't take our word for it; here are agents and brokers thoughts in less than 90 seconds: 
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By Stephen Fells, Marketing, Technology, Fun and News!
(AgencyLogic)
Yesterday we highlighted Simon Sinek's commentary about the importance of listening, giving specific examples of how real estate agents can benefit from really listening. Today we continue to share Simon's thoughts, this time with commentary on his experience with a mortgage broker asking for referrals. We are sure you will see that the advice extends to a far broader audience.
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By Peter Mohylsky 850-517-7098, Call me at 850-517-7098
(PMI. Destin)
In today's real estate market, "starter home" means something very different than it did 20 (or even 10) years ago, and finances have much to do with that.  The ideal home might be a starter home or it might be your forever home.  So, let's reframe your thinking around what a "starter home" is, and that's simply a great place to start!If you're a first-time buyer, consider all the other firsts you're about to take on; not having a landlord is a big one! Burst pipe? Clogged toilet? Broken major appliance?It's now on you to figure out these issues.In this case, a smaller "starter home" might be exactly what you want!#thehelpfulagent #home #houseexpert #house #listreports #homeowner #happyhome #newhomw #realestate #realestateagent #realtor #themoreyouknow #happyhomeowners
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By Realtyna Inc, WordPress Real Estate - IDX, RESO Web API, CRM
(Realtyna)
Like in most sectors, technology is reshaping how real estate businesses are conducted, and we’re here for it! Not only has technology made the industry more efficient, but it has also streamlined business processes, creating a better experience for real estate professionals. In today’s article, we will discuss the top technologies taking the real estate world by storm. And if you’re interested in learning more about these tools, keep reading!1. RealtyFeed APIIf you’re a real estate professional or web developer looking for fast and dependable access to property listings, RealtyFeed API is the tool for you. Developed by Realtyna, the real estate API offers top-of-the-line features, making it one of the market’s most reliable and efficient options. RealtyFeed API’s speed and security are...
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By Charles Ross - (785)-819-6944, Love To Help People
(eXp Realty LLC Salina Group)
 Do you wish you could become one of those rare morning people who wake up feeling refreshed and energized? Well, you're in luck! Here are some additional tips to help you transform into an early bird: Create a bedtime routine: Just as it's vital to have a morning plan, it's equally important to have a bedtime routine that helps you wind down and prepare for a good night's sleep. This might involve reading a book, taking a warm bath, or practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation. Practice gratitude: Starting your day with a grateful heart can significantly impact your overall mindset and well-being. Please take a few moments each morning to reflect on what you're thankful for a supportive family, a fulfilling job, or a comfortable home. Stay hydrated: Drinking wa...
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