Posts Tagged ‘real estate agent’
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 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 29, 2011
It goes without saying that you and your real estate agent want to attract serious home buyers, but your marketing may instead be attracting Lookie-Loos.
Serious buyers want to find a home. They have criteria, a price, and a moving date. They’re usually represented by a REALTOR®. They’ve eliminated homes on the Internet and have your home on the short list. They’ve been pre-qualified by a lender, and are ready to make an offer on the right home.
A Lookie-Loo is a person who is not seriously in the market to buy a home. This could be a nosy neighbor, an open house junkie, or someone who thinks they’re serious when they’re incapable of making a realistic offer.
In determining your marketing strategy, your REALTOR knows what will work to get serious buyers coming to see your home, and what filters will discourage people who will waste your time. (more…)
Tags:atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, Buyers, georgia, listing, lookie loos, marketing, Metro Brokers, Real Estate, real estate agent, Realtor, seller, success, Tips, Tisha Gay
Posted in Agents, Buyers, Sellers | 4 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 »
August 1, 2011
I’ve attended quite a few conferences and trade shows in my time, and I think it’s important for agents to regularly attend these local events. There are several benefits of attending – first and foremost being the opportunity to get a leg up on your competition by keeping up with the latest trends in the business. It’s also a great time to network with other agents to find out what’s working (and not working) for them.
Trade shows are a particularly effective way to meet vendors whose products/services may benefit you. And let’s not forget all of the freebies and prize drawings! At the very least you’ll probably walk out with a reusable bag full of desktop trinkets, and you may even be the lucky winner of a gift card or electronic device! (more…)
Tags:Agent Reboot, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, georgia, Inman News, marketing, Metro Brokers, Real Estate, real estate agent, real estate career, Realtor, REtechsouth, showcase 2011, Social Networking, success, Tips, Tisha Gay, trade shows
Posted in Agents | 2 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 »
July 5, 2011
Realtors and smartphones go together like peas and carrots. It’s an absolutely crucial tool for agents, since it allows them to get their email, search the web, and keep in regular communication with their clients. Nowadays, the most popular smartphones are Android devices.
There are more than 50 Android phones currently on sale in the U.S. alone. In fact, Google’s Andy Rubin – Senior VP of Engineering who oversees Android – recently said that there are more than 500,000 Android device activations daily. (more…)
Tags:android, android for real estate, apps, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, camcard, dropbox, evernote, georgia, marketing, Metro Brokers, qik, qr droid, Real Estate, real estate agent, real estate career, Realtor, smartphone, success, supra ekey, Tips, Tisha Gay, weather channel, zillow
Posted in Agents, Buyers, Sellers, Uncategorized | 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 »
June 6, 2011
To most Georgians living in neighborhoods, the Memorial Day weekend takes on a special meaning: The opening of the community pool. On the other hand, some homeowners need only step into the backyard to lounge by the pool.
But does having a pool on your property help or hinder when it comes time to sell your home? The answer is neither simple nor straightforward. Truthfully, investing in a pool can benefit one homeowner while not adding an ounce of value to the next. (more…)
Tags:atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, Buyers, georgia, house with pool, listing, listing photos, Metro Brokers, pool, Real Estate, real estate agent, Realtor, seller, success, Tips, Tisha Gay
Posted in Agents, Buyers, Sellers | 2 Comments »
May 31, 2011
As a seller, you may be so used to living in your home that you may not realize that its condition is putting buyers off. For example, you may love dogs so much that you’re immune to how much their fur dander, food dishes, and bed cushions are perfuming your house.
Your home problems may also be something else – too much furniture, or a dark ambiance. All of these problems are easily correctable.
The silent market is talking to you
Three hints that your home needs some serious review is that you’re not getting showings, buyers are not making offers, and your real estate agent isn’t getting feedback from his/her peers.
If a home is priced fairly, but is dark, cluttered or smells, then many agents may assume that the home isn’t ready to show to their buyers. They’ll take their buyers to homes with more instant appeal. (more…)
Tags:atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, deal killers, georgia, listing, listing photos, marketing, Metro Brokers, Real Estate, real estate agent, Realtor, seller, silent market, success, Tisha Gay
Posted in Agents, Sellers | 3 Comments »
May 23, 2011
I just found the perfect gift for everyone on my holiday gift list! Yes, I know it’s only May but when an epiphany like this strikes, I pay attention.
The perfect gift is a special fabric pouch which blocks all incoming calls to a cell phone. The nami fabric made bags can block cell phones from receiving calls. Your numbers appear as “unavailable” or “busy network” to the person calling you. The bag also can be used as a pocket for money or cards. It works with all networks and is easy to use, just put your phone into the bag and all calls will not get through. I’ve even seen a version to be used on a date or social occasion embroidered with, “I’ve blocked my phone for you.” How romantic.
How practical in business situations, too. Have you seen the commercials on TV when an interviewee’s phone goes off at the wrong time and the (foolish) interviewee ANSWERS it? And holds her finger up to the prospective employer in a gesture telling him to “hold on”?
Here are several other cell phone turn-offs I’ve encountered: (more…)
Tags:ann bone, atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, business, cell phone, cell phone jammer, cell phone manners, courtesy, Metro Brokers, nami fabric, Real Estate, real estate agent, Realtor, Tips
Posted in Agents, Buyers, Sellers | 10 Comments »
May 16, 2011
When searching for a location for your business, one of the most viable options is a commercial lease. Rather than having to pay financing on a purchased property, a lease allows you access to a space, so that you can immediately begin doing business. The type of lease you choose could greatly affect your business in the future, though.
There are several different types of commercial real estate leases available: Net lease, modified net lease, and gross lease otherwise known as a full service lease. (more…)
Tags:atlanta, atlanta real estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, Buyers, Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers, commercial lease, Commercial Real Estate, commercial real estate agent, Dan Hinson, full service lease, georgia, gross lease, Metro Brokers, modified net lease, net lease, Real Estate, real estate agent, Tips
Posted in Agents, Buyers, Sellers | Comments Off
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.
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 »