By: Anna Maria Porowska “Luxury” doesn’t mean the same thing to every buyer. Perhaps it is the location, amenities, architectural design, exclusivity or sustainability offered by a particular home or community. The definition may vary also across regions and markets or even one’s social status. The concept of luxury is vast, which means agents need to understand it’s variety to …
How to Effectively Use a Customer Management System
By: Alex Capozzolo As a real estate agent, juggling clients’ details, listings and appointments is a full-time job. How can real estate agents make their own lives easier? One answer is to implement a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system into your business. It is likely that your brokerage offers access to a CRM, and if that’s the case, you should …
Help Homebuyers Prepare for Life’s Stages
By: Barbara Ballinger Homeowners’ needs change as they ramble through life. One minute a two-story house with a landscaped yard fits their family’s needs. Before too long, they’re empty nesters who find it hard to navigate stairs and handle maintenance. They begin contemplating a condo with a small deck. Help your buyers match the type of house that will bring …
Microaggressions in Real Estate: How They Hurt Your Client and Your Business
By: Kayla Johnson Microaggressions, or “everyday slights and insults that communicate negative messages to marginalized individuals, often unknowingly perpetuated by well-intentioned people,” as defined by Harvard professor Chester M. Pierce in the 1970s, happen constantly in every industry, even real estate. It’s imperative in real estate that industry professionals understand what they are and how they manifest. Microaggressions could undermine …
Help Your Clients Decide Whether They Should Rent or Buy
By: Alex Capazzolo There’s no easy answer if you have a client trying to decide whether to buy or rent a home. They might feel like renting is throwing money away but think buying is too far out of reach. You might even feel like you don’t have any advice to offer to them since the decision is so personal. …
So You Didn’t Get the Listing. Why Not?
By: Tim and Julie Harris Fact: Of all activities in real estate, listings require the highest level of skill. Working with buyers is physical labor; working with listings is mental labor. Myth: In terms of listing appointments versus listings taken it’s okay to expect to list 50% of what comes your way. Fact: That’s NOT ok. You wouldn’t accept a …
Love Letters to Sellers: Why They’re Not a Good Idea
By: Neil Goradia Letters to home sellers from buyers may seem innocent enough, however, they pose a very real legal threat. As a real estate professional, you must steer your clients clear of using love letters during the buying and selling process. Useful Resources: Here are some resources to get you started. Use these to educate yourself and to provide …
Preparing Clients for Appraisal Gaps
By Neil Goradia House prices are skyrocketing! (YES, we already know that—old news.) Winning a bid can be tough and you need the “secret sauce,” right? (We’ve heard that before, too.) But have you put thought into how to address appraisal gaps for your clients? Appraisal Gaps Are on the Rise I’m seeing an increasing number of houses fall out …
Does Home Maintenance Deter Millennials?
By Barbara Ballinger Millennials are buying houses—many for the first time—and in doing so they’re learning that houses require maintenance, which can often be pricey. These days, repairs can also be a challenge if the homeowners are not handy since contractors can be as scarce as the houses in some communities. Puronics, a Livermore, Calif.-based company that develops pure water …
Love Where You Live and Business Will Follow
By John Donnelly, CENTURY 21 North East, Woburn, Mass. As in life, the youth in society represent the future—and the real estate business is no different. In a field where the average age is 52, younger real estate practitioners often strive for a way to connect and build relationships with home buyers, sellers, and other industry professionals. They’re seeking an …