Putting on Your Professional Suit
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...
read moreCharging non-Realtors® to Access GAR Forms
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...
read moreMwahaha!!! Real Estate Horror Stories!
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...
read moreGreen Living: Saving Energy This Season
Conserving energy during the Fall and Winter is about more than reducing your carbon footprint. It can also save you money. In today’s economy it is crucial for families to search out easy ways to reduce their monthly expenses. In many areas of the country energy costs can become quite burdensome. Winter heating costs have risen the last few years, meaning many low income homeowners have been unable to properly heat their homes. Additionally, according to the AARP, “Because more than half (54 percent) of older households in the...
read moreSellers: Moving Forward
The decision to sell your home can come with a mixed bag of emotions. There is uncertainty and fear about how quickly your home will sell and for what dollar amount. There may be guilt about leaving behind family, friends, or neighbors. You may also feel anxiety about what is to come. A less than stellar market has done little to ease these jitters. Many would-be sellers have even decided to forgo moves for fear that now isn’t the time to sell. Many others who have made the leap are ruled by emotions of sadness or regret. How does one...
read moreYou Can’t Keep A Good Homebuyer Down
An estimated 2 million home buyers are poised to take the plunge just as soon as the economy returns from the deep. That’s because Americans still place a high value on homeownership, but qualifying for a mortgage and raising a down payment in an economy that won’t produce jobs, keeps many of them sitting on the fence. Eighty-nine percent of owners and 59 percent of renters feel that homeownership is important to the American family while 87 percent of owners and 73 percent of renters feel homeownership is an economic cornerstone,...
read moreIs a Smaller Home for You?
Is a Smaller Home for You? Studies over the past few years have shown a solid trend regarding home sizes. Buyers today want smaller homes with smaller price tags. During the boom era in the mid-2000’s, homeownership was about McMansions and spacious sprawls. The recent recession and continued ailing recovery have made many families rethink their budgets and lifestyles. A 9.1 percent unemployment rate hasn’t “helped.” So, this question is posed. How much space does your family really need? This isn’t a simple cut...
read moreWire Your Home to Sell
Home buyers are ga-ga over gadgets. A survey by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) says home security systems, home theater-wired systems, home automation management systems and energy management systems are hot selling points. “There is a strong relationship between home technologies and the real estate market. While the market needs to recover before home technologies play a more important role in home sales, the industry can help prepare real estate agents to be comfortable in discussing these types of systems with their...
read moreEnergy Tax Credit Facts
Buyers and contractors alike are looking for new ways to incorporate green technology into homes. Not only do these upgrades save money in the long run, but they also go a long way in preserving Mother Earth. Have you heard about the government’s “green” homeowners’ incentives? Take a moment to see how you can upgrade your home and get money back! There are two basic tax credits available for those interested in making energy efficient improvements to their homes. First, the Wind, Solar, Geothermal and Fuel Cell Tax...
read moreTips for Selling Your Home Before the End of the Year
The fourth quarter of the year can cause some sellers to worry if their home hasn’t sold yet. But according to Trulia.com, there is still time to sell. Typically, many buyers are eager to move and get settled in before the school year and holidays begin but that doesn’t mean you should be discouraged. While the spring is considered a peak selling period, I recall looking for a home in the winter months and successfully closing just after the New Year. However, I am on the west coast and location does make a difference. Looking for...
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