REALTORS® know that one of the keys to successfully selling a property is presentation and attention to detail. Still, after the hedges are trimmed and the doors are painted, the eyesore of a messy neighbor can undo all your hard work.
Abandoned or foreclosed homes are one thing, unkempt properties and messy neighbors are quite another. Whether yards are littered, the home is in general disrepair, or the shrubs and trees are overgrown, the neighboring properties can significantly affect your ability to make a sale.
Not to worry. There are steps that can be taken to mitigate the damage of a messy neighbor.
Exaggerate positives of your property
Show a clear distinction between your property and the neighbor’s. Remember the saying, “Good fences make good neighbors,” and draw clear boundaries if the neighbor in question happens to be next door. This could mean adding new landscaping, adding fencing or highlighting other features to keep the attention on your property. Continue reading »
Competing in real estate has more in common with the Olympic games than you may have guessed. Preparation and determination are key to being a successful REALTOR® in any one single sale. But to be a champion in real estate, you need to be skilled in a wide variety of events — think of real estate as a pentathlon and you’ll achieve ultimate success.
100 Meter Dash: Short Sales and Foreclosures — REALTORS® face stiff competition when handling short sales. The competition is fast with aggressive inventors and salespeople who move quickly to turn over properties and game the system. To compete in this market you need to get a good jump and sprint through the finish. Don’t come up short when faced with short sales. Keep your head up and win the race. Continue reading »
As a REALTOR® it can be easy to focus on the big picture — big sales, big clients, career growth — and with a schedule that is often changing with evening and weekend showings and meetings, staying on a consistent schedule is a challenge. Still, when it’s possible, by sticking to a schedule and taming your workday, you’ll find a routine can do wonders for your productivity at work, as well as your state-of-mind. Once your routine is automatic, you’ll never have to sweat the small stuff again — just put the day in gear and focus on what really matters.
6:00 am: Avoid hitting the snooze button and just wake up. It’s the simplest action you’ll take all day, and somehow it’s the hardest. Force yourself to wake early for a couple weeks and you’ll wonder how you ever slept in.
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Selling luxury homes is about knowing your clients. What do million dollar clients expect from their REALTOR®? That’s the million-dollar question. Remember, luxury clients expect service first and foremost. In many ways you’re selling a lifestyle, and that’s a lifestyle your clients are likely accustomed to. You can cater to your clients and go the extra mile by being flexible — schedule private showings, listen to their concerns (no matter how inflated), and add touches like refreshments. You can also impress luxury clients with “free” add-ons.
Here is a collection of tips and resources to help you enter the market, understand what your clients are looking for, and maximize your earning potential — the REALTOR® Guide to Selling Luxury Real Estate.
There is a market for luxury real estate
Despite the struggling economy, in some regions luxury home sales are on pace for a record year in 2012. Buyers are coming in with strong cash offers or heavy down payments and the market is vibrant in some regions. Sales of existing homes of more than $1 million improved by nearly 17% in some regions in April over the same period in 2011. In Manhattan, buyers are snatching up co-ops and condos at top prices and some markets like Miami are attracting a wide demographic of buyers which has helped drive sales up 66% in the first quarter alone. Continue reading »
Home improvement shows on TV have made for a hyper-informed public when it comes to remodeling, staging and selling. Home buyers are more aware than ever of practices that REALTORS® use when selling a home, which makes it even more important that your staging efforts are well executed and naturally-integrated into the home — but studies consistently show that home staging works. As you stage your homes, it’s important to tie up any loose ends and to highlight the home’s best features. Here are tips on effective Home Staging in the Age of Informed Buyers.
Cover the Basics First
Take advantage of low-hanging fruit. Before you get caught up in the big-ticket items, make sure you’ve taken care of the easy, obvious things. The house should be clean and uncluttered, and you should put some thought into landscaping but not pour too much money into it. As your space comes together, down the road be aware of lighting and music. You want your buyer to be able to visualize themselves in the home, which requires the home to be clean and inviting, first and foremost. Continue reading »
An increasing number of aging Baby Boomers and empty nesters are relocating and moving into properties that they expect to live out their retirement in. Adults aged 50+ represent more than 20% of the U.S. population, and for most senior adults, the homes that they live in are their largest asset and account for most of their net worth. Moving for this demographic is often a matter of trading homes, and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist® who is experienced and knowledgeable can make all the difference in the world for seniors looking to move. For REALTORS® working with this demographic there are unique challenges, opportunities and preferences to be aware of. Here are 5 Tips for REALTORS® Who Want to Specialize in Real Estate for Seniors:
Each situation is unique
Many seniors are still in the workforce, and they’re not ready to give up their professional lifestyle. Other seniors might be completely retired and in need of some level of home care. Still others are retired and active, and looking to spend time with their grandchildren. Get to know your client’s lifestyle before putting together a list of properties. What are their priorities? Where do they see themselves in 10 years? Select appropriate listings for each client and don’t assume anything based on age or living situation. Do your homework and your clients will appreciate it. Continue reading »
You’ve got a marketing plan, you’re on Twitter, you have a website and you have a blog. Now what? Measuring marketing results in social media is essential for REALTORS® who are making their mark in the online space. According to InmanNext, “Social Media, SEO, and blogging are the highest areas of participation, but the lowest spend,” making social media an attractive and affordable resource for REALTORS®. But aside from a general feel for the tenor of the conversation, what are the best way to measure results online, and more specifically in social media? Here’s a Guide to Measuring Online Marketing Results for REALTORS®.
Social Media Statistics
If you spend enough time on social media you’ll come to understand the tone of the conversations, and you’ll be able to see the raw number of fans and followers. Aside from those top-level vanity numbers, here are a few social metrics you can easily track: Continue reading »
Making the transition from selling residential properties to selling commercial real estate can be an exciting move for any REALTOR®. But as with any professional move, the transition to commercial real estate presents unique challenges. If you plan ahead, do your market research, and apprise yourself of the latest trends, you’ll be able to break into the market and hit the ground running. To help ease the transition, here are 7 Tips for Selling Commercial Real Estate.
1. Talk to other commercial real estate agents. Ask if they have any tips for making the transition, or if they have particular expertise in your local market. You might even ask if they’ll help you gain experience by co-listing a property to start, allowing you to shadow them through the process. Continue reading »
Are you a REALTOR® looking to jumpstart your struggling or stagnant real estate blog? Maybe you haven’t been paying it as much attention lately, or maybe your traffic has been dwindling. Maybe you’ve just plateaued and started to lose interest. If you want to get back in the game and breathe new life into your blog, here are 6 Tips for Jumpstarting your Real Estate Blog.
1. Create a Content Calendar and Stick to it
Just like setting up showing dates and times or planning out any marketing activity, REALTORS® should set up a publishing schedule, whether that’s once a week, twice a week, or daily. The more your audience can count on consistent content the more likely they will be to keep coming back. Continue reading »
