Here are some GREAT ways to get more out of your day. I LOVE the "don't reinvent the wheel" one and always say (and try to follow) that one! I think in this day and age, we should use each other as resources and NOT competition. I also did #1 just last week! I had a past client who is wanting/needing to sell and it's going to end up being a short sale. I'm not as knowledgeable about short sales, but there is an agent in my office who is. I sent the referral to her and I feel happy knowing my client is going to get the BEST service possible!!
Eight Ways To Get More Out of Your Day
By Lisa Kanarek
RISMEDIA, July 17, 2010--As a business professional, you undoubtedly wear many hats—from that of juggler (of yours and others' projects) to firefighter, putting out the fires (crises) you face each day. Ideally you should be able to walk into your office each morning, cross everything off your to-do list and go home with a sense of accomplishment. In reality, that's not always possible. Your day is filled with tasks and interruptions that devour your time, talents and energy. There are several ways to make each minute count, starting with these tips.
1. Before you agree to handle a task from a client, make sure that you're the most qualified person to handle it. If a client wants to hire you for something outside of your field of knowledge, rather than jeopardize your reputation, recommend someone else who could handle the task better. Don't be surprised if several months later, the same client calls you again to utilize your expertise.
2. Throughout the day, ask yourself if what you are doing is the best use of your time. You may not be working on an activity you enjoy, yet if it is a top priority, continue doing it.
3. Don't assume; ask questions. When a client asks you to do something, don't do it automatically. Ask questions to ensure that you understand what your client wants and in what form. If you complete a task then realize that it wasn't what your client had in mind, you'll waste more time and energy redoing your work. Get a clear understanding of the request, then start to work on it.
4. Don't reinvent the wheel. If your client asks you to do something that you or someone else has done previously, let him or her know. Your client may have forgotten that the same project was completed the year before. There is no sense in replicating something that has been done already.
5. Get off the phone as soon as possible. When a caller keeps you on the phone longer than necessary, gently prompt him to end the call. You could tell them that you have another call, that you are on a tight deadline or, if they have requested something, tell them that you want to get started on it immediately.
6. Make your environment conducive to working. This covers two areas: your actual work space and the area surrounding it. If your office is disorganized, you will waste time throughout the day searching for files, replacing lost information and "running in place." Take the time to clear your desk of any distractions, from magazines to knick-knacks, that could be placed on your credenza or shelf near your desk. If you only use an item on your desk every few months, move it to a space that is not in the main flow of your office.
7. In retail they say, "Location, location, location." The same is true in a home office. A desk located in a high-traffic area is as welcome as a marching band in a library. If your desk is in the kitchen, you will soon notice a few of your office supplies missing. If possible, move to a new location that is away from the flow of traffic but not so far away that you feel isolated.
8. Stay focused on the activity at hand. When you're tired of working on something, move on to something else, but avoid jumping from project to project.
Home office expert Lisa Kanarek is the founder of HomeOfficeLife.com and the author of Organizing Your Home Office For Success (Blakely Press) and 101 Home Office Success Secrets (Career Press).
Showing posts with label Realtors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Realtors. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
5 Ways to Build Your Brand Through LinkedIn
I've been on LinkedIn for a few years now. I'm not sure I use it to it's fullest extent, but I am working on it. It's a great way for people in any profession to network with other business professionals. It's also a great tool for job seekers. If you are not already on LinkedIn, you should consider joining!
5 Ways to Build Your Brand through LinkedIn
By Paige Tepping
RISMEDIA, June 25, 2010--The whole point of using social media as a professional business tool is to better help you grow and spread your professional brand. While this can and should be done with a variety of social networking platforms, LinkedIn has become the most effective and far-reaching professional application.
With over 43 million members in over 200 countries, LinkedIn represents 170 different industries and helps businesses accomplish their goals. Whether you’re a job seeker, entrepreneur, consultant, or a business looking to create buzz, LinkedIn gives you an advantage in your career, and can be one of your most valuable assets.
The key then, is knowing how to successfully use LinkedIn to create and market your professional brand. The major difference between other social networks such as Facebook and Twitter is that LinkedIn is not instantaneous. Your long-term upkeep is much less, but for it to be a valuable piece of the social media puzzle, your profile needs to be updated, error-free, and effective.
Using LinkedIn for your overall business strategy and building up your individual brand image is essentially the same. No matter your goals, LinkedIn is at its best when you build contacts, network and interact with other business professionals.
Most LinkedIn users are probably already doing many of the necessary things to strengthen their brand, but for those that are not, the experts at envisionit media offer the following ways to build your brand through LinkedIn:
1. Make Yourself Accessible—If you don’t have a visible presence on LinkedIn, then it’s really of no use to you. To really be a helpful social network, you want to make yourself accessible to others as an integral part of the overall network. There are a few easy ways to do this. The easiest way is to create a custom URL and then promote it by adding it to your signature in e-mails or including it on resumes, blogs, or other works. This way colleagues, friends and potential clients can easily access your profile.
2. Build and Market Your Brand—It’s great if you are able to drive traffic to your LinkedIn profile, but if it’s not attractive and doesn’t promote the individual or company, than most people will pass on by. For starters, leave your e-mail address at the end of summaries or experiences because people cannot add you without it. Try and build up a good amount of recommendations—this will make you more attractive to potential contacts and more valued. Make sure your summaries, experiences and headlines are reflective of your current business goals and will help you to accomplish them.
3. Be Participative in Discussions—If someone in a group proposes a question, don’t be afraid to answer. This only makes you look knowledgeable and up-to-date on the industry. If you have something valuable to offer, answering a question will position you as a contributor and a good source to network with.
4. Put Time into Your Profile—I guess you could say this is similar to marketing your brand, but if you’re going to use LinkedIn to network and connect with others, you have to spend time on it. Don’t have incomplete information or missing elements. Also, just because you make your profile visible and accessible doesn’t necessarily mean others will make the effort. You have to spend time networking with others and searching for valuable additions to your business network. Also, be open to new contacts or people—that is the whole point of networking.
5. Network with Yourself—LinkedIn is one of the most effective professional business networks when it comes to social media. With that said, it becomes that much stronger as part of your larger brand image. Connect your LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook profiles together and present a unified representation of yourself. Updating all of your statuses through one spot or using one account to make the others visible can easily do this.
5 Ways to Build Your Brand through LinkedIn
By Paige Tepping
RISMEDIA, June 25, 2010--The whole point of using social media as a professional business tool is to better help you grow and spread your professional brand. While this can and should be done with a variety of social networking platforms, LinkedIn has become the most effective and far-reaching professional application.
With over 43 million members in over 200 countries, LinkedIn represents 170 different industries and helps businesses accomplish their goals. Whether you’re a job seeker, entrepreneur, consultant, or a business looking to create buzz, LinkedIn gives you an advantage in your career, and can be one of your most valuable assets.
The key then, is knowing how to successfully use LinkedIn to create and market your professional brand. The major difference between other social networks such as Facebook and Twitter is that LinkedIn is not instantaneous. Your long-term upkeep is much less, but for it to be a valuable piece of the social media puzzle, your profile needs to be updated, error-free, and effective.
Using LinkedIn for your overall business strategy and building up your individual brand image is essentially the same. No matter your goals, LinkedIn is at its best when you build contacts, network and interact with other business professionals.
Most LinkedIn users are probably already doing many of the necessary things to strengthen their brand, but for those that are not, the experts at envisionit media offer the following ways to build your brand through LinkedIn:
1. Make Yourself Accessible—If you don’t have a visible presence on LinkedIn, then it’s really of no use to you. To really be a helpful social network, you want to make yourself accessible to others as an integral part of the overall network. There are a few easy ways to do this. The easiest way is to create a custom URL and then promote it by adding it to your signature in e-mails or including it on resumes, blogs, or other works. This way colleagues, friends and potential clients can easily access your profile.
2. Build and Market Your Brand—It’s great if you are able to drive traffic to your LinkedIn profile, but if it’s not attractive and doesn’t promote the individual or company, than most people will pass on by. For starters, leave your e-mail address at the end of summaries or experiences because people cannot add you without it. Try and build up a good amount of recommendations—this will make you more attractive to potential contacts and more valued. Make sure your summaries, experiences and headlines are reflective of your current business goals and will help you to accomplish them.
3. Be Participative in Discussions—If someone in a group proposes a question, don’t be afraid to answer. This only makes you look knowledgeable and up-to-date on the industry. If you have something valuable to offer, answering a question will position you as a contributor and a good source to network with.
4. Put Time into Your Profile—I guess you could say this is similar to marketing your brand, but if you’re going to use LinkedIn to network and connect with others, you have to spend time on it. Don’t have incomplete information or missing elements. Also, just because you make your profile visible and accessible doesn’t necessarily mean others will make the effort. You have to spend time networking with others and searching for valuable additions to your business network. Also, be open to new contacts or people—that is the whole point of networking.
5. Network with Yourself—LinkedIn is one of the most effective professional business networks when it comes to social media. With that said, it becomes that much stronger as part of your larger brand image. Connect your LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook profiles together and present a unified representation of yourself. Updating all of your statuses through one spot or using one account to make the others visible can easily do this.
Rent vs. Buy
For Your Clients: Rent or Buy A Home?
RISMEDIA, June 26, 2010--First time home buyers have a lot to consider this summer when making the decision to rent or buy a home: interest rates are at all-time lows, there's still plenty of housing stock and prices are at or near their lowest in years.
Still, deciding whether to buy a home or rent an apartment can be a complicated decision. How do you know what's right for you? Potential buyers should ask themselves several key questions before making this important decision.
1. What will monthly costs be, and can I afford the payments?
Keeping mortgage payments under 30 percent of your monthly income is a good rule of thumb. If you can't keep mortgage payments below that, you may be better off renting for awhile.
2. What other debt do I have?
Total rent or mortgage payments plus credit obligations should not exceed 35 to 40 percent of monthly income.
3. What is my credit score? Can I qualify for a good interest rate?
A high credit score indicates strong creditworthiness, and that qualifies you for better interest rates on a mortgage. Maxing out on your credit lines and paying bills late will lower your credit score. The impact of a credit score on interest rates can be significant. For instance, a borrower with a score of 760 could pay nearly two percentage points less in interest on a mortgage than someone with a score of 620. Lower interest rates also mean lower monthly payments. If your credit score is low, you may want to delay buying a home until you can improve your score.
4. How much will taxes, monthly maintenance, or other fees cost?
Owning a home means you'll have to pay real estate taxes and other costs like insurance and maintenance. On the other hand, owning a home brings big tax savings at the end of the year. As a renter, the owner pays those costs for you.
5. How many years will I stay here? Generally, the longer you plan to live someplace, the more it makes sense to buy. You'll build equity in your house and its value is likely to increase over the years.
RISMEDIA, June 26, 2010--First time home buyers have a lot to consider this summer when making the decision to rent or buy a home: interest rates are at all-time lows, there's still plenty of housing stock and prices are at or near their lowest in years.
Still, deciding whether to buy a home or rent an apartment can be a complicated decision. How do you know what's right for you? Potential buyers should ask themselves several key questions before making this important decision.
1. What will monthly costs be, and can I afford the payments?
Keeping mortgage payments under 30 percent of your monthly income is a good rule of thumb. If you can't keep mortgage payments below that, you may be better off renting for awhile.
2. What other debt do I have?
Total rent or mortgage payments plus credit obligations should not exceed 35 to 40 percent of monthly income.
3. What is my credit score? Can I qualify for a good interest rate?
A high credit score indicates strong creditworthiness, and that qualifies you for better interest rates on a mortgage. Maxing out on your credit lines and paying bills late will lower your credit score. The impact of a credit score on interest rates can be significant. For instance, a borrower with a score of 760 could pay nearly two percentage points less in interest on a mortgage than someone with a score of 620. Lower interest rates also mean lower monthly payments. If your credit score is low, you may want to delay buying a home until you can improve your score.
4. How much will taxes, monthly maintenance, or other fees cost?
Owning a home means you'll have to pay real estate taxes and other costs like insurance and maintenance. On the other hand, owning a home brings big tax savings at the end of the year. As a renter, the owner pays those costs for you.
5. How many years will I stay here? Generally, the longer you plan to live someplace, the more it makes sense to buy. You'll build equity in your house and its value is likely to increase over the years.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tricks to Keep Your House Cool this Summer
Tricks to Keep Your House Cool this Summer
By Paige Tepping
RISMEDIA, June 17, 2010--As the temperatures continue to rise this summer, so does the cost of keeping your home cool. While homeowners across the country come to depend on air conditioners to keep the temperature down during the warm summer months, there are other options that will keep you cool while keeping your energy bill low.
Fans and ceiling fans
-If you’re looking for ways to beat the heat, a ceiling fan can be a great investment for your home. This one appliance can make a room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler, and even the most power-hungry fan costs less than $10 a month to use if you keep it on for 12 hours a day. Good fans make it possible for you to raise your thermostat setting and save on air-conditioning costs. Fans don’t use much energy, but when air is circulating, it feels much cooler. Ceiling fans are best, but a good portable fan can be very effective as well.
-You should remember that even mild air movement of 1 mph can make you feel three or four degrees cooler. Also, make sure your ceiling fan is turned for summer – you should feel the air blown downward.
Shades, drapes or blinds
-Install white window shades, drapes or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun (east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon) to keep the sun’s heat out and help fans or air conditioners cool more efficiently. Always remember that the best way to keep your home cool is to keep the heat out.
Internal Heat
-The most common sources of internal heat gain are; appliances, electronic devices and lighting. Be aware of devices in your home that are generating heat and if you have air conditioning, use it wisely.
Don’t put lamps, televisions or other heat-generating appliances next to your air-conditioning thermostat, because the heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer. The heat they produce will make the thermostat think your house is warmer than it really is, and your system will run harder than it needs to.
-Unless you absolutely need them, turn off incandescent lights and heat-generating appliances. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents; they produce the same light but use a fifth the energy and heat.
-You should also try to avoid heat-generating activities such as cooking on hot days or during the hottest part of the day. If you are cooking, use your range fan to vent the hot air out of your house. By reducing the amount of heat in your home, you will use less energy to cool it.
Plants
-Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units, but not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity. Deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides will keep your house cool in the summer and allow the sunlight to warm the house during the winter.
Roof and Walls
-Paint your roof white – If you’ve got a flat roof, paint it with a specially formulated reflective paint or just paint it white. The reflective effect will help to keep the rooms under the flat roof much cooler.
Other things to remember
-Humidity makes room air feel warmer, so reduce indoor humidity. Minimize mid-day washing and drying clothes, showering and cooking. When you must do these things, turn on ventilating fans to help extract warm, moist air.
-Avoid landscaping with lots of unshaded rock, cement, or asphalt on the south or west sides of your home because it increases the temperature around the house and radiates heat to the house after the sun has set.
-If the attic isn’t already insulated or is under-insulated, insulate it now. Upgrading from 3 inches to 12 inches can cut cooling costs by 10%
By Paige Tepping
RISMEDIA, June 17, 2010--As the temperatures continue to rise this summer, so does the cost of keeping your home cool. While homeowners across the country come to depend on air conditioners to keep the temperature down during the warm summer months, there are other options that will keep you cool while keeping your energy bill low.
Fans and ceiling fans
-If you’re looking for ways to beat the heat, a ceiling fan can be a great investment for your home. This one appliance can make a room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler, and even the most power-hungry fan costs less than $10 a month to use if you keep it on for 12 hours a day. Good fans make it possible for you to raise your thermostat setting and save on air-conditioning costs. Fans don’t use much energy, but when air is circulating, it feels much cooler. Ceiling fans are best, but a good portable fan can be very effective as well.
-You should remember that even mild air movement of 1 mph can make you feel three or four degrees cooler. Also, make sure your ceiling fan is turned for summer – you should feel the air blown downward.
Shades, drapes or blinds
-Install white window shades, drapes or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun (east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon) to keep the sun’s heat out and help fans or air conditioners cool more efficiently. Always remember that the best way to keep your home cool is to keep the heat out.
Internal Heat
-The most common sources of internal heat gain are; appliances, electronic devices and lighting. Be aware of devices in your home that are generating heat and if you have air conditioning, use it wisely.
Don’t put lamps, televisions or other heat-generating appliances next to your air-conditioning thermostat, because the heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer. The heat they produce will make the thermostat think your house is warmer than it really is, and your system will run harder than it needs to.
-Unless you absolutely need them, turn off incandescent lights and heat-generating appliances. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents; they produce the same light but use a fifth the energy and heat.
-You should also try to avoid heat-generating activities such as cooking on hot days or during the hottest part of the day. If you are cooking, use your range fan to vent the hot air out of your house. By reducing the amount of heat in your home, you will use less energy to cool it.
Plants
-Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units, but not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity. Deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides will keep your house cool in the summer and allow the sunlight to warm the house during the winter.
Roof and Walls
-Paint your roof white – If you’ve got a flat roof, paint it with a specially formulated reflective paint or just paint it white. The reflective effect will help to keep the rooms under the flat roof much cooler.
Other things to remember
-Humidity makes room air feel warmer, so reduce indoor humidity. Minimize mid-day washing and drying clothes, showering and cooking. When you must do these things, turn on ventilating fans to help extract warm, moist air.
-Avoid landscaping with lots of unshaded rock, cement, or asphalt on the south or west sides of your home because it increases the temperature around the house and radiates heat to the house after the sun has set.
-If the attic isn’t already insulated or is under-insulated, insulate it now. Upgrading from 3 inches to 12 inches can cut cooling costs by 10%
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Put Good Faith in New RESPA Rules for Clients
Business Building: Put Good Faith in New RESPA Rules for Clients
RISMEDIA, June 2, 2010--There has been some debate and confusion across the industry over the new RESPA rules from HUD that took effect Jan. 1 for lenders. While the key players iron out the wrinkles, you can focus on supporting the intent of the guidelines by bringing more clarity and transparency to your clients’ closings.
In November 2008, the Department of Housing and Urban Development added the new regulations to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, including new Good Faith Estimate and HUD-1 forms, along with rules and timelines for their use. You may have noticed that some lenders implemented them last year. As of the first of this year, however, all lenders must comply with the new procedures for providing GFEs and transparent accounting of closing terms.
Your role as an adviser to buyers can include informing clients of their options and helping frame proper expectations from pre-approval to closing. That said, you should definitely understand these basic points in order to appropriately educate them:
3-day Rule
Lenders now must provide borrowers with a GFE within three days of receiving a loan application. HUD does allow lenders to provide general information worksheets in lieu of the GFE during the pre-approval process as long as no specific property is identified. If consumers ask for a GFE, however, one must be provided whether the borrow is ready to buy or not.
Fee Categories
The new GFE includes three categories of closing fees that your clients need to understand. They are (1) fees that cannot change at closing, such as origination fees (2) a group of charges that collectively can increase up to 10% only, such as government recording fees, and (3) costs that are permitted to change if a buyer chooses to shop around for services, such as homeowner’s insurance.
Checks and Balances
Consumers should confirm their lender’s compliance with the new RESPA rules by carefully reading and reviewing the GFE and HUD-1 forms. Remember, your expertise can be invaluable as buyers verify the fees and other information in preparation for their closing.
These items only scratch the surface of new RESPA rules and their impacts. HUD appears to be proactive in addressing any snags in the new process through Webinars and other training materials, and you can be proactive by taking advantage of these resources to expand your knowledge of the guidelines to better assist your clients. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/respa or search “RESPA” at www.realtor.org.
Margaret Kelly (CRB) is Chief Executive Officer of RE/MAX International, Inc. For more information, visit remax.com.
RISMEDIA, June 2, 2010--There has been some debate and confusion across the industry over the new RESPA rules from HUD that took effect Jan. 1 for lenders. While the key players iron out the wrinkles, you can focus on supporting the intent of the guidelines by bringing more clarity and transparency to your clients’ closings.
In November 2008, the Department of Housing and Urban Development added the new regulations to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, including new Good Faith Estimate and HUD-1 forms, along with rules and timelines for their use. You may have noticed that some lenders implemented them last year. As of the first of this year, however, all lenders must comply with the new procedures for providing GFEs and transparent accounting of closing terms.
Your role as an adviser to buyers can include informing clients of their options and helping frame proper expectations from pre-approval to closing. That said, you should definitely understand these basic points in order to appropriately educate them:
3-day Rule
Lenders now must provide borrowers with a GFE within three days of receiving a loan application. HUD does allow lenders to provide general information worksheets in lieu of the GFE during the pre-approval process as long as no specific property is identified. If consumers ask for a GFE, however, one must be provided whether the borrow is ready to buy or not.
Fee Categories
The new GFE includes three categories of closing fees that your clients need to understand. They are (1) fees that cannot change at closing, such as origination fees (2) a group of charges that collectively can increase up to 10% only, such as government recording fees, and (3) costs that are permitted to change if a buyer chooses to shop around for services, such as homeowner’s insurance.
Checks and Balances
Consumers should confirm their lender’s compliance with the new RESPA rules by carefully reading and reviewing the GFE and HUD-1 forms. Remember, your expertise can be invaluable as buyers verify the fees and other information in preparation for their closing.
These items only scratch the surface of new RESPA rules and their impacts. HUD appears to be proactive in addressing any snags in the new process through Webinars and other training materials, and you can be proactive by taking advantage of these resources to expand your knowledge of the guidelines to better assist your clients. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/respa or search “RESPA” at www.realtor.org.
Margaret Kelly (CRB) is Chief Executive Officer of RE/MAX International, Inc. For more information, visit remax.com.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Have you "Googled" yourself lately??
I was catching up on some blogs I follow and one was about googling yourself. I won't lie, every so often I do google myself. Mostly to see what comes up and make sure it's something about Real Estate!
This blogger had a good point to her googling...to make sure the information about you is CORRECT!!
Mine all seemed to be correct. AND I learned that there is someone else with my name!! (or at least it was her maiden name!) Her facebook page came up in my search, but that was the only listing on the first page that wasn't me!
Go Google Yourself!!
This blogger had a good point to her googling...to make sure the information about you is CORRECT!!
Mine all seemed to be correct. AND I learned that there is someone else with my name!! (or at least it was her maiden name!) Her facebook page came up in my search, but that was the only listing on the first page that wasn't me!
Go Google Yourself!!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
New Scam!
I just got an email from the Kansas Realtors Association with a new scam that is out there. PLEASE be aware. Your Realtors will let you know if someone is coming to your home!! Scammers are everywhere!
New Scam in Western Kansas
A real estate broker in western Kansas has reported a new scam that everyone should be aware of and watchful for. In the potentially dangerous scenario, a woman is claiming to be hired by the real estate company and saying she is at the listed home to take photos. A similar woman has also approached sellers saying she is from the bank and needs to change the locks on the home. Please make sure to tell your clients that you will let them know before sending any workers to their homes, and if someone approaches them without your prior notice, they should contact you to verify the work before letting anyone into their home.
New Scam in Western Kansas
A real estate broker in western Kansas has reported a new scam that everyone should be aware of and watchful for. In the potentially dangerous scenario, a woman is claiming to be hired by the real estate company and saying she is at the listed home to take photos. A similar woman has also approached sellers saying she is from the bank and needs to change the locks on the home. Please make sure to tell your clients that you will let them know before sending any workers to their homes, and if someone approaches them without your prior notice, they should contact you to verify the work before letting anyone into their home.
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