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…)
Posts Tagged ‘Tips’
Rowing Together
October 24, 2011Kitchens: The Heart of the Home (and the Sale)
October 17, 2011
The kitchen is used more than any other room in the house, which makes it the most important room to stage in your home. Potential home buyers are looking for a kitchen that is as beautiful as it is functional.
Buyers want to view it without any unnecessary countertop appliances and clutter. By showcasing your kitchen in the best possible light, you can potentially sell your home faster and; increase the closing price. Even in a slow real estate market, making your kitchen attractive to a buyer could make the difference. (more…)
Tips to Get HUD Homes Closed with FHA Financing
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…)
Facebook’s Gone Wild with Changes
October 3, 2011
Wow! Facebook has made a lot of changes and many people don’t like it. Facebook doesn’t look anything like it did a month ago in terms of design and functionality.
But remember, most people don’t like change (at first). They have to warm up to it.
Many of Facebook’s changes are good. They didn’t take away any features you used to have. Instead, they’ve given you more options, helped organize your friends, allowed you to see what friends are posting in real time and have helped eliminate some of the spam you receive.
Personally, I like most of the changes. However, since so many people are still trying to figure it out, I thought I’d write a blog about all of these modifications. Let me know what you think. (more…)
Benefits of Building Green
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…)
Avoiding Dangerous Situations in Real Estate
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…)
Attract Serious Home Buyers
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…)
Preventing Closings From Failing Due to IRS’s 4506-T
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…)
When Ethics Come Into Question
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…)
Tradeshows are a Great Source of Info for Agents
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…)
Help is Here for Jobless Homeowners Nearing Foreclosure
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…)
What’s the Magic Color for Selling Your House?
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…)
Checklist for Buying a Business
July 11, 2011
Buying a business can seem like a daunting task. I always recommend a professional business broker, since they can help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Here are some checklist items that will be necessary to get the job done:
Get the necessary financial information
Sellers must be able to provide books and records for their business. This includes business income statements, balance sheets and tax returns. All income and expenses must be traceable to original invoices. A lack of books and records makes considering the purchase of a business impossible.
Determine the value of the business
There are numerous ways to calculate business value. One method involves rules-of-thumb specifically related to the business industry. Publications are available for this information as well as online resources. You can also ask your business broker to perform a competitive market analysis. This process requires a professional that has access to nationwide sold data. A competitive market analysis provides significantly greater detail and support of value. (more…)
Best FREE Android Apps for Real Estate Professionals
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…)
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…)
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