Posts Tagged ‘atlanta’
November 14, 2011
Sometimes we all trip up and pull a Rick Perry. Regardless of the fact that it was just a slip up, we should never forget that perception is everything. That is true especially in our business where our primary contact is with the public. There are many ways that our customers and clients can become offended by what we say, wear, write, and display. Here are some examples of behaviors that you should avoid if you want your customers and clients to take you seriously.
I am going to start with something I did to offend. Several years ago I had a bumper sticker that said “God BlessAmerica”. Innocuous right? Wrong, I actually had another driver pull up beside me and Say “What do you mean? Why don’t you have a sticker that says God BlessFrance?” I swear that is exactly what he said and he shouted it at me. I no longer have any bumper stickers on my car AND neither should you. It’s not professional.
(more…)
Tags:atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, business, business voicemail, dana eskridge, Facebook, georgia, Metro Brokers, professional, Real Estate, real estate agent, real estate career, Realtor, success, Tips
Posted in Agents | 6 Comments »
November 7, 2011
Have you heard the news that, beginning January 1, 2012, real estate licensees who are not Realtors® (not members of a Board or Association of Realtors®) will no longer have free access to GAR Forms? All agents affiliated with BHGRE Metro Brokers and CBC Metro Brokers are required to be Realtors and will have access to GAR Forms, but this will be a big change for some other companies that don’t require membership.
Once 2012 begins, non-Realtors® will have to pay a $199 annual licensing fee for access to GAR Forms. The GAR Forms will recognize the NRDS numbers of Realtors®. When non-Realtors® try to access the GAR Forms and cannot provide a NRDS number, they will be offered the opportunity to pay the annual licensing fee online. No fee payment, no GAR Forms access. (more…)
Tags:ann bone, atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, contracts, copyrights, GAR, gar forms, georgia, Georgia Association of Realtors, Metro Brokers, non-realtors, Real Estate, real estate agent, real estate career, Realtor, success
Posted in Agents | 33 Comments »
October 31, 2011
With apologies to the Addams family,
They’re creaky and they’re spooky,
Overgrown and sooty,
They’re altogether pukey,
My REO lis-tings.
They smell and reek of urine,
Seem moldy and all furry,
They really are unnerving,
My REO lis-tings.
So get your rubber gloves on,
Your tetanus injection,
We’re going to go and check on
My REO lis-tings!
Okay, so REO listings aren’t the only scary listings, are they? I used to carry a bath towel draped over my shoulders when showing one listing in Dunwoody. The owner’s cat liked to lurk in the drop ceiling of the basement and every time I went down the basement stairs when showing the place, the cat would leap out of the ceiling and claw my shoulder. A couple of bloody
blouses later and I learned – be the first one down the stairs to spare any prospective buyers from attack and protect myself with the “towel shawl”. (more…)
Tags:ann bone, atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, Buyers, georgia, halloween, Metro Brokers, Real Estate, real estate agent, real estate career, scary, seller
Posted in Agents, Buyers, Sellers | 2 Comments »
October 24, 2011
There’s a great old comic strip about real estate closings. It shows a long narrow boat, like the crew boats you see pictures of rowing up and down the Charles River in front of Harvard and MIT in Boston. In the comic strip, there are at least 8 rowers (sometimes 10 or 12), but they’re dressed in business suits and “business casual” attire. In addition to their oars, they have briefcases and computers with them, along with 6’ levels and several file folders. The “coxswain” (the guy facing backward at the front of the boat with the megaphone) announces, “PREPARE TO CLOSE!” The rowers count off with military precision, (more…)
Tags:ann bone, atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, Buyers, closing table, coxswain, georgia, Metro Brokers, Real Estate, real estate agent, real estate career, Realtor, rower, seller, success, Tips
Posted in Agents, Buyers, Sellers | 7 Comments »
October 10, 2011
There are so many things that Realtors and their customers need to be aware of when dealing with HUD properties. And if your buyer is purchasing a HUD property and utilizing FHA financing, there’s even more to consider. The following tips will help you get to a successful closing.
Be sure to check out the HUD class we’re offering that discusses all of the changes that went into effect in October. The class is tomorrow (Oct. 11) at 10am inAtlantaor you can take it on Friday (Oct. 12) inWoodstockat 10am. Use the promo code “HUD“ to take the class for free. See details below. (more…)
Tags:ann bone, atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, Buyers, fha financing, georgia, housing and urban development, HUD, hud homes, Metro Brokers, mortgages, Real Estate, real estate agent, seller, success, Tips
Posted in Agents, Buyers, Sellers | 1 Comment »
September 26, 2011
I love real estate. It’s “matchmaking” between buyers and properties. A happy match can be very rewarding financially and emotionally. Looking through literally tens of thousands of listings, trying to “read between the lines” and “see between the pictures” to find the perfect match for a buyer can be daunting. Thank heavens so many real estate agents use humor in their listings!
Humor? Yes, whether they realize it or not, agents repeatedly use certain words or phrases to present their listings in the best possible light. We call that “puffing”. Puffing is legal and useful. Have you learned the true meaning of “puff” words? Below are some of my favorites, along with my interpretation of what those terms really mean. Add your favorites to the list! (more…)
Tags:ann bone, atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, Buyers, georgia, listing, listing comments, marketing, Metro Brokers, Real Estate, real estate agent, Realtor, seller, success, Tips
Posted in Agents, Buyers, Sellers | 13 Comments »
September 19, 2011
Homeowners who choose to go the “green” route with their homes are starting to reap the benefits. Where green building was once a seldom heard term, it is now common place for homeowners to use these techniques to improve their home’s efficiency.
If you are thinking of adding green technology to your home, make sure to check into the many tax credits that are available to both home owners and buyers. The two main green building tax credits currently available are: (more…)
Tags:atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, Buyers, energy efficient, georgia, geothermal heat pumps, green building, green house, green technology, home efficiency, homeowners, listing, Metro Brokers, Real Estate, seller, solar panels, success, tax credit, Tips, Tisha Gay, wind energy
Posted in Agents, Buyers, Sellers | 2 Comments »
September 12, 2011
Real estate is not a dangerous profession, but when you’re constantly asked to come in contact with perfect strangers or enter locations without any prior knowledge of the area, you have to keep your guard up…especially when working with foreclosed or vacant homes.
September is Realtor® Safety Month, and I thought I’d gather some safety tips that I’ve found on sites such as Realtor.org, Inman News, and Rismedia. (more…)
Tags:atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, Brenda Waters, foreclosure, georgia, listing, Metro Brokers, NAR, open house, Real Estate, real estate agent, real estate career, Realtor, Realtor Safety Month, safety tips, success, Tips, vacant
Posted in Agents | 4 Comments »
August 22, 2011
Most agents and homebuyers are not aware that the IRS is often one of the major delays to be able to meet the closing date on time. You may be asking, “How does the IRS delay the mortgage process?” Well, every mortgage lender in the U.S. today must obtain the IRS transcripts for the homebuyer’s last 2 years of filed federal tax returns.
These transcripts are provided by the IRS once the mortgage lender sends in the signed 4506-T form that allows the release of the homebuyer/borrower’s filed tax records.
The Mortgage Lenders must obtain a “Clear 4506-T Result” from the IRS before they can move the loan file forward and on to closing. There are many reasons for a FAIL result on a 4506-T request, but in 80% of the cases it is because of an “Invalid Address”. (more…)
Tags:atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, closing success, failed closing, georgia, irs, irs 4506-t, Judy Jones, Metro Brokers, mortgages, Real Estate, real estate career, Realtor, success, tax records, Tips
Posted in Agents, Buyers, Sellers | 3 Comments »
August 15, 2011
“We start out wanting to do good and wind up wanting to do well” – Michael Josephson.
Real estate is a complex business at its best. Meeting and cultivating prospective clients takes time, creativity, patience and stamina. Showing properties to prospective buyers or attracting prospective buyers to listed properties takes research, persistence and a LOT of energy. Overcoming objections to making an offer or negotiating an offer could try the patience of any of us. All this for a commission, IF the deal gets to the closing table.
The temptation to “help” this process along by either embellishing information (“This property will appreciate greatly within the next couple of years; there’s a big box store going in on the next corner.”) or withholding information (“No, the roof doesn’t leak; that’s just where someone spilled a lot of water.”) can be great. So great, in fact, that both the Georgia Real Estate Commission and the National Association of Realtors® Code of Ethics are founded upon “protecting the public”. (more…)
Tags:ann bone, atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, ethics, georgia, listing, Metro Brokers, Real Estate, real estate agent, real estate career, real estate ethics, Realtor, success, Tips
Posted in Agents, Buyers, Sellers | 2 Comments »
July 25, 2011
There have been rumors and various news reports circulating that FHA will soon be allowing unemployed Americans who have an FHA insured mortgage to miss up to 1 year of mortgage payments without being foreclosed on.
My hope in writing this article is to provide more details on this topic that is sure to prompt more and more discussions and questions.
IMPORTANT: Please note that only the customer’s current lender can give them a final answer on if they qualify under this program. The number to call is on their mortgage payment coupons or monthly statements from their current lender. (more…)
Tags:atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, Fannie Mae, FHA, Foreclosures, Freddie Mac, HUD, Judy Jones, loans, Metro Brokers, Metro Home Mortgage, mortgages, Real Estate, success, Tips
Posted in Agents, Buyers, Sellers | 4 Comments »
July 18, 2011
Color plays a big part in selling a house. How you decide to dress your walls can convince a buyer that your home is move-in ready or leave them looking elsewhere. If the goal is to see the sparkle of “love at first sight,” consider picking the right paint palette to suit a range of buyer tastes.
Proper Preparation
When you paint your walls, make sure you prepare the walls properly. Before you start, use a pre-made crack filler or drywall compound to fill in minor cracks and old picture hook holes. Lightly sanding baseboards, window frames and doors is also a great way to ensure that your paint will adhere to the surfaces properly. Make sure you are using the same base paint that currently exists on the surface you are repainting. Latex on latex, and oil base on oil base. (more…)
Tags:atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, georgia, house color, house paint, listing, listing photos, magic color, marketing, Metro Brokers, Real Estate, real estate agent, Realtor, success, Tips, Tisha Gay
Posted in Agents, Sellers | 5 Comments »
June 27, 2011
Who has $200 to $1,000 to spare these days? The Georgia Real Estate Commission is cracking down on a variety of “falsifications”, and you could receive a fine of thousands of dollars for committing only ONE of the following:
- Fill in your company and the amount of earnest money in Par. 4, but don’t actually collect the personal check, money order or certified funds from the buyer yet. Did the buyer fax you a copy of the check he intends to mail to you? Sorry, but that won’t be accepted for deposit by the bank. Oh, and be ready to pony up the amount of the earnest money, too, just in case the buyer doesn’t provide it to you later.
- Check “IS representing the Buyer” in Par. 13.A.3 but don’t get the Buyer to actually sign an Exclusive Buyer Brokerage Agreement first. Hey, they’re your friend and been riding in your car; that’s enough to establish an agency relationship, isn’t it? (more…)
Tags:ann bone, atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, Buyers, falsifications, fines, georgia, grec, listing, Metro Brokers, Real Estate, real estate agent, real estate career, Realtor, success, Tips
Posted in Agents | 4 Comments »
June 20, 2011
We all know that over the past few years, sellers have had a very hard time coming to grips with the fact that their home has probably lost considerable value. But what are buyer’s expectations like in our current market? Do they really think that they will find a luxury estate in a posh neighborhood for $50K? The answer is YES.
However, while they’re going to get a better deal than 3-5 years ago, there are limits as to what your dollar will buy you. The old adage “you get what you pay for” still applies.
What can agents do to better prepare and educate their buyers about the housing market in metro Atlanta? (more…)
Tags:atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, home price, Metro Brokers, pricing, Real Estate, real estate agent, real estate career, Realtor, sales price, success, Tips
Posted in Agents | 5 Comments »
June 13, 2011
Realtors® are expected to demonstrate competence in working with or representing buyers, tenants and owners. Ninety-nine percent sincerely try to fulfill this requirement. To do so, Realtors® must know the “rules of the game”. Imagine playing Monopoly or some other fairly involved game with someone who has never played that game before. They don’t know the rules. They have no clue that Boardwalk is a better property to build houses and hotels on than Baltic Avenue. They don’t understand the value of accumulating all the properties of one color or accumulating all the utilities or railroads. Who do you think will win the game every time? Right, the person who knows and understands the rules of the game.
In order not to be caught in the embarrassing position of “not knowing the rules” and possibly looking less than “competent” in the eyes of your buyers and sellers, check out the following MYTHS which trip up many, many agents. (more…)
Tags:ann bone, atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, due diligence, georgia, listing, listing agent, Metro Brokers, monopoly, Real Estate, real estate agent, real estate myths, real estate offer, Realtor, sales contract, short sale, success, Tips
Posted in Agents | 9 Comments »
Sometimes we all trip up and pull a Rick Perry. Regardless of the fact that it was just a slip up, we should never forget that perception is everything. That is true especially in our business where our primary contact is with the public. There are many ways that our customers and clients can become offended by what we say, wear, write, and display. Here are some examples of behaviors that you should avoid if you want your customers and clients to take you seriously.
What Are We REALLY Saying About Our Listings? (Puffery de-Puffed)
September 26, 2011Humor? Yes, whether they realize it or not, agents repeatedly use certain words or phrases to present their listings in the best possible light. We call that “puffing”. Puffing is legal and useful. Have you learned the true meaning of “puff” words? Below are some of my favorites, along with my interpretation of what those terms really mean. Add your favorites to the list! (more…)
Tags:ann bone, atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, Buyers, georgia, listing, listing comments, marketing, Metro Brokers, Real Estate, real estate agent, Realtor, seller, success, Tips
Posted in Agents, Buyers, Sellers | 13 Comments »