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What Makes a Great Realtor

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A great real estate agent is one who is able to build rapport and establish solid sound relationships with any client. Whether the client is a real estate investor or a potential home buyer, a great real estate agent is able to make their customers feel comfortable and at ease while conducting business. The characteristics of a great real estate agent include someone who can be a professional friend to their clients. They’re able to talk about personal matters that concern their clients but also stay focused on the professional matters at hand. These types of characteristics make clients feel more comfortable doing business with real estate agents who are able to effectively balance being professional, efficient and friendly. A great real estate agent also has access to a wealth of resources that are beneficial to their clients. They are able to negotiate with home buyers and home sellers to negotiate the lowest price for a buyer and the highest price for a seller.

Getting the best deal.

The phrase getting the best deal can mean many things to many people. If you’re a homeowner looking to sell your property, getting the best deal means selling your property at the highest price. On the other hand, if you are a home buyer, getting the best deal means buying a property at the lowest price possible. The question becomes how does a great real estate agent effectively balance those two elements? A great real estate agent has to understand the current situation. They have to wear multiple hats at the same time in order to be effective at the task at hand. When dealing with a client who is a buyer, a real estate agent has to understand where that person is coming from. This is not a person who wants to spend more than what the house is worth. When a real estate agent is dealing with a seller, they have to understand that this homeowner does not want to give away their house. In both cases a great real estate agent has to be able to effectively negotiate the right price for the right client

A real estate agent who knows the market.

Real estate markets can be different for different locations. A real estate agent can be licensed in one state and ultimately deal with different markets within one state. For example, the state of Arizona has many different markets. Depending on where you live, houses could range from $100,000 to several million. On the flip side, if you’re dealing with a market that is closer to the city of Scottsdale, that same $100,000 would not go very far. Having a real estate agent who understands the market and what is possible with your budget is essential for any buyer or seller. It is always important to select a real estate agent who has a trusted knowledge of the different areas within a given state.

How does the real estate agent Market their homes?

Marketing can be tricky for real estate agents. A marketing campaign for one home may not work for every home. Marketing is not a cookie-cutter method or a one-size-fits-all scenario. Going back to the example of the state of Arizona. Homes listed in a suburban area require a different type of marketing strategy than a condominium that’s listed 20 miles closer to the metropolitan Phoenix area. Regardless of where a home is located, a great real estate agent understands the location they’re dealing with and prepares a marketing campaign that’s appropriate for a buyer or a seller.

A resourceful real estate agent is priceless.

A real estate agent who is well-connected within the real estate community is a jewel that any buyer or seller should have. If you are a homeowner looking to sell your property, you need a real estate agent who is resourceful enough to find the right buyer for your home. In situations where a home has a unique floorplan, a great real estate agent is able to take the challenges of that property and turn it into a benefit for a potential homebuyer. When a real estate agent is dealing with a potential homebuyer, having a wealth of resources to assist a homebuyer is valuable. Resources such as appraisers, home inspectors or mortgage companies are resources that come in handy during the purchase of a home.

You need a real estate agent who can solve problems.

If you’ve ever dealt with real estate, you know there are a number of issues that can arise before, during and after the transaction is completed. Having a real estate agent who is able to solve problems while utilizing the resources they have at their disposal is priceless. A prime example of this is an overzealous potential homebuyer who begins looking for homes prior to the pre-qualification process. This person will schedule an appointment with the real estate agent to look at properties before consulting with a mortgage professional. A great real estate agent would know to ask the potential home buyer if they’ve been pre-qualified. Sometimes there are circumstances where a potential home buyer will do a drive-by on a property in hopes of buying it. In those circumstances, a great real estate agent would be able to refer this potential home buyer to a mortgage professional that can get them qualified for a home.

A real estate agent who communicates.

Radio silence is not an effective form of communication when you’re dealing with homebuyers and home sellers who are faced with buying or selling the biggest investment they have. The home-buying process can be stressful for any potential buyer. A real estate agent who maintains great communication with the home buyer is greatly appreciated. Often, some home buyers are brand-new to real estate and they need as much help as they can get. A real estate agent who is able to effectively communicate throughout the entire process will make the potential homebuyer feel more at ease. For homeowners looking to sell their properties, communication is just as important. A great real estate agent needs to effectively set realistic expectations and properly inform a home owner of any changes in pricing or value estimates of their home.

A great real estate agent for negotiations.

Having a great real estate agent who is able to negotiate the highest price for a seller and the lowest price for a buyer is a major stress reliever. Often, with homeowners they typically tend to think that their properties are worth much more than they actually are. In this situation a real estate agent would have to set clear expectations with the homeowner of the true value of their home. Convincing a homeowner to sell for less than what they want takes tremendous negotiation skills. For a homebuyer, negotiation skills are just as important. A real estate agent has to be able to get the best price for potential home buyers. Often, home buyers want the lowest price for the biggest house. It is during these times when real estate agents have to inform potential homebuyers of what the true market value of a home really is. This could be a very unpleasant conversation with a potential home buyer. A great real estate agent knows how to handle that situation appropriately.

A great real estate agent is a person who wears many hats. One could even say that a great real estate agent has to be a great actor. They have to be willing to set clear expectations for buyers and sellers and be willing to have the unpleasant conversations that many people dread.

To read more on topics like this, check out the money category

How To Market Yourself as a Realtor

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Are you the owner of a real estate business? If so, one of the most important questions you should be asking is how to market yourself as a realtor. Marketing is the key to gaining a high level of exposure and profitability. You need to know the techniques that will most easily gain you the success you are looking for.

Advertising on Social Media is the First Step

The first step of a successful real estate marketing plan is to increase your level of exposure. This means making use of the power of social media to maximize your possible audience. The more people that see your posts, the better. You want your real estate business to be the best known example of its kind in your local area.

It’s a good idea to make sure that you have active and frequently updated pages on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Adwords, Google My Business, and the like. The more pages you have, the higher the chances of getting a bite from a potential client.

But it isn’t enough just to have these pages. You also need to keep them updated on a very regular basis. This means adding new listings, photos, videos, updates and corrections to previous entries, and so on. You can also use your social media profile to engage with your readers by answering questions, sponsoring polls, etc.

Market Yourself in Your Local Area

Part of your social media strategy should be to maximize your presence in your local area. This means making use of Google My Business and similar sites. As the owner of a real estate business, it’s nice to have as many fans as possible. But if you are based in Chicago, interacting with twitter fans in Malaysia should be a secondary concern.

The more info you add to your Google My Business profile, the better. And the more purely local info you add to your various social media pages, the more interest you will generate. Update your various pages with info about special events, holiday related news, and plenty of video content that highlights your area.

Make Use of Word of Mouth to Increase Your Audience

Once you have dealt with a client, it’s an excellent idea to ask them to leave a testimonial for your services. A great review from a peer is the kind of “word of mouth” recommendation that brings excellent results. The more of these you can earn, the better your reputation will be, both on the web and off.

After you have closed the deal, send your clients an occasional reminder. This can come in the form of a birthday or holiday card or an invitation to one of your future public events. This is a good way to let them know that you appreciate their business and are prepared to help them again in the future.

Of course, the very best way to get good “word of mouth” publicity is to give your clients the best possible level of service. This is the way that you can earn all of the glowing testimonials you need to decorate your site with. And it’s the best way to get positive reviews and comments on all of your social media pages.

Get Involved with Your Target Community

Another excellent way to increase your exposure is to sow the seeds of goodwill. You can do this by getting more involved in your target community. The best way to do this is to get good PR by donating to charity, sponsoring charitable activities, and giving support to people in your community that deserve recognition for their good deeds.

It can take the form of something as simple as a notice on your website and social media pages. Let your community know that you have done something or are planning to do something on their behalf. Contribute to hurricane relief or a food drive or the local blood bank. Organize a local event on behalf of your community.

The more activities of this sort that you engage in, the more credibility you will have as a responsible member of your local community. This is valuable PR that will give you a leg up on your rivals. The good will that you spread will come back to you in the form of an increased audience of loyal, long term clients.

Use Direct Mailing to Increase Your Audience

The next step is to learn how to make the maximum use of direct mail marketing. This is one of the most effective techniques for growing your business. It not only costs pennies on the dollar of other traditional marketing options it can also get the job done in a far shorter amount of time.

Modern direct mailing is much different than the old tradition of sending out realtor postcards. Wise Pelican’s goal is to help you reach a whole new audience of potential clients in a much more modern and effective fashion.

Wise Pelican is a direct mailing company that focuses primarily on the needs of real estate agency owners such as yourself. They provide custom mailing lists and hundreds of templates for anyone in the real estate industry. They also provide a host of other services that are designed to increase, and then capitalize on, your local exposure.

The best part of all is that there is no minimum order. They can help you assess just how much your first order should be. After a few orders, we are sure that your audience will continue to grow and thrive. But you can order as little or as much as you need from us at any time, with no strings and no further obligations.

Contact a Real Estate Marketing Pro for More Info

One of the best things you can do to guarantee your success is to engage the aid and counsel of a real estate marketing expert. There are quite a lot of things you can figure out for yourself. But one person can’t know it all. This is why it’s a good idea to delegate this type of task to an experienced and proven professional.

Hiring a real estate marketing pro can be the key that opens the door to a whole new level of success.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

4 Underrated US Cities You Should Visit

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Many people think that traveling to ‘The Top Vacation Spots’ means leaving the country, or squeezing into overcrowded tourist destinations with thousands of other travelers, but some of the best destinations may actually be right in your neighborhood. In this article, we’ve listed four of the most underrated US cities you should definitely visit whether it is for a weekend getaway, a long vacation, or even for work purposes.

Providence, Rhode Island

Found just south of Boston, the once gritty and impoverished city of Providence is now a creative hub for culture and the arts. One of Providence’s claim to fame is the world-renowned art school of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Aside from training some of the best artists in the world, RISD is also home to the RISD Museum of Art, which is free to visit on Sundays and on the third Thursday of every month. The museum displays a huge collection of artwork from all around the world such as Rembrandt drawings, Chinese lacquerware and couture dresses from Balenciaga and McQueen. If you want to be more in touch with nature during your travels, Roger Williams Park is the right place to go to. The impressive park spans an impressive 435 acres of land that is covered with gardens, lakes and greenhouses. You can never run out of fun things to do since the park houses the Museum of Natural History and the Roger Williams Park Zoo that will surely be a delight to visit.

Baltimore, Maryland

If you want to go on an artistic adventure without leaving the country, the mid-Atlantic city of Baltimore is where you should go. The American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) which is solely dedicated to the works of self-artists can be found in Baltimore. AVAM will provide you with an extraordinary museum experience because it lacks white walls and solemn security guards that shush children which are common in other museums. Another museum that will surely complete your artistic adventure is the Baltimore Museum of Art which is the largest museum in the city with over 95,000 art pieces. The extensive collection of the museum includes a large Matisse collection that is donated by Baltimore natives Claribel and Etta Cone. The museum requires no admission fee which makes it ideal for travelers on a budget.

Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City is fast becoming the top city for work and play, and often in the same location. Springfield News-Leader reports that the Country Club Plaza is one of the most popular places in Kansas City, as it is the city’s premier shopping and dining destination. You can find high-end retail establishments across 18 separate buildings, as well as more than 30 statues, murals and tile mosaics. The plaza is also home to Industrious’s Kansas City site, making it a good choice for digital nomads and remote workers who might need to check in on some work while in the middle of a vacation. For beer lovers out there, visiting the Boulevard Brewery is a must. During their 45-minute tour, you will learn about the company’s history and brewing process, and have a taste of their amazing beer for free.

Asheville, North Carolina

This humble town in North Carolina is the perfect place for a trip that will take you back in time. Asheville is the home of the Biltmore Estate which is the largest privately-owned estate in the United States. Biltmore has a house from the bygone era of the Gilded Age, impressive tapestries that will make you feel like you are visiting a European castle, an on-site winery and estate gardens. After basking in the beauty and elegance of the Biltmore Estate, go straight to the Asheville Pinball Museum that will surely bring out the child in you. This game museum combines history, anthropology and technology with its amazing collection of over 75 pinball machines and various arcade games hailing from the 80s. The $15 admission ($12 for kids 10 and under) gets you open access to all the machines, no tokens required.

The Top Vacation Spots

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To discover why you should plan trips to Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver and Uganda this year, continue reading to discover why all three travel destinations will surpass your wildest expectations.

The Top Vacation Spots:

Rio de Janeiro:

Although Rio de Janeiro is not the capital of Brazil it is the most visited tourist destination in Brazil. Rio de Janeiro is known for being home to two of the world’s most photographed beaches Copacabana Beach and Ipanema Beach. If you spend a sunny afternoon at Copacabana Beach you’ll be able to sunbathe, people watch and take part in a friendly game of beach soccer. As soccer is the number one sport in Brazil and Rio de Janeiro 2014. For an authentic Brazilian experience try to book a ticket to a professional soccer game at Rio de Janeiro’s largest soccer stadiums the famed Maracana Stadium.

While you’re in Rio de Janeiro it’s also well worth taking a gondola ride to the base of the Christ the Redeemer statue which is located at the top of Mount Corcovado and traveling to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain. Both of which are iconic world famous landmarks and offer stunning views of Rio de Janeiro’s glorious coastline.

Vancouver:

Vancouver is just as fun to visit in summer as it is to visit in winter. During winter you’ll be able to ski and snow board to your heart’s content at one of Vancouver’s highly accessible ski resorts. One example of which is Grouse Mountain. However, if you choose to visit Grouse Mountain during summer you’ll be able to zip-line through the mountain’s treetops, hurtle down mountain bike tracks and attend a lumberjack show and a falconry show.

If you’re fascinated by Canada’s wildlife, you’ll also be able to book a bear watching tour on Vancouver Island, that will give you a chance to watch wild bears in their natural habit, from a safe, respectful distance. Depending on the time of year which you visit, you may get an opportunity to view the Northern Lights, which is a natural phenomenon which is worth experiencing at least once in your life.

Another reason why Vancouver is an excellent tourist destination is that it boasts culture in spades and is home to numerous museums and art galleries where you’ll get to learn about Vancouver’s native First Nation tribes. All of whom have lived in Canada for generations. You may even be interested in visiting a living museum where you’ll get to see how First Nation tribes crafted their tools, homes and art work and cultivated their land.

Uganda:

If you’re up for the adventure of a lifetime it’s well worth researching the possibility of exploring Uganda. While many tourists who visit Africa spend all of their time exploring South Africa, Uganda is a severely underrated tourist destination. As not only will you be able to book a safari in order to see Africa’s big five but you’ll also be able to take a multi-day guided Gorilla trek through the Impenetrable Forest National Park.

So if you’re itching to book your next international adventure, it’s well worth conducting further research to discover if you’re more interested in visiting Uganda, Vancouver or Rio de Janeiro.

Home And Garden Inspiration

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If you’re desperately in need for some home and garden inspiration, don’t worry you’ve come to the right place. Simply continue reading to discover a few creative home and garden ideas which you may want to steal

Home and garden inspiration:

Consider placing a decorative bird bath in your garden:

If you enjoy listening to bird song and are looking for a new decorative item to dress up your garden, you may want to shop around for an aesthetically pleasing bird bath. Which will attract plenty of birds to your garden.

Place low hedges or decorative stones around your flower beds:

One stunning way to box in your flower beds is top lace low hedges around the perimeter of some of your flower beds. Just be warned that hedges take a fair amount of upkeep and it’s wise to purchase slow growing breeds of hedges, which don’t require constant pruning.

Alternatively, if you can’t for-see yourself pruning your hedges every week or paying for the services of a professional gardener, you may want to purchase some smooth decorative stones, which you’ll be able to place around the perimeters of your flower beds.

Invest in a few pieces of garden furniture to place in a quiet corner of your garden:

If you’d love to spend more time outdoors enjoying your garden, you can’t go wrong purchasing a few pieces of garden furniture, to place in a quiet corner of your garden. As an example if you enjoy reading books in your spare time, you may want to place a padded outdoor recliner under a tree in your garden. Or if you love to entertain your friends and family members in winter, you may love the idea of purchasing a solid outdoor table and chairs, so that you’ll be able to host social events such as barbecues in the warm summer months.

Drape a sheepskin rug or a faux fur blanket over a decorative ottoman:

To ensure that your lounge or home office is as cozy as possible, it’s a great idea to purchase a warm sheepskin rug or a faux fur blanket, which you’ll be able to drag over an ottoman. In order a bit of texture and warmth to your lounge or home office.

Reupholster an old chaise, ottoman or sofa:

In order to give an old chaise, ottoman or sofa a new lease on life, it’s a great idea to see how much it will cost to reupholster your chosen item with a fabric of your choice. Just imagine how stylish a pre loved chaise would look after it has been lovingly reupholstered with a navy blue velvet fabric.

Place a large ornate mirror over an old fireplace:

To draw focus to an old, well painted fireplace simply place a large ornate mirror over your fireplace. Which will also make your room look significantly bigger than it actually is.

Have a custom window seat built:

During winter you may enjoy lazing on a window seat which offers stunning views of your garden.

So hopefully you’ve found a couple of noteworthy home and garden ideas which you’re interested in trialling out. In order to create a home and garden which you love spending time in and which you enjoy sharing with your loved ones.

Lifestyle Tips That Will Change Your Life

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If you’re always on the hunt for fun, simple to implement lifestyle tips which will change your life, continue reading to discover a few new tips that are well worth implementing.

Lifestyle Tips That Will Change Your Life

Visit your nearest outlet mall in order to purchase affordably priced designer clothing and accessories:

If you’d love to be able to purchase designer clothes and accessories, without having to blow budget, it’s well worth visiting your nearest outlet mall in order to purchase high quality, fashionable items at a fraction of their initial recommended retail price. As an example, if you want to invest in well made staples such as a trench coat, a pair of sunglasses or a classic watch which you’ll use for years to come, it’s well worth browsing through the designer boutiques at an outlet mall.

Build a capsule wardrobe full of staples which you’ll wear on a regular basis:

If you waste far too much money each year on purchasing impulse buys which you end up forgetting about, it may be a clever idea to put together a capsule wardrobe. Some staple items which you can use to build a capsule wardrobe include three pairs of fitted jeans. A medium blue pair, a dark blue pair and a black pair. As well as a wool coat, a neutral sweater, a trench coat, a pair of smart black or grey trousers and three smart button down shirts. So if you frequently purchase loud pieces of clothing which you never wear, you can’t go wrong putting together a capsule wardrobe of neutral colored items.

Try to purchase clothing items which have sustainably produced:

Instead of being a slave to fast fashion, make a conscious choice to save to purchase clothing items which have been produced in ethical conditions out of sustainable fabrics. As an example instead of purchasing a cheap and nasty polyester sweater, opt to purchase a merino wool sweater. One of the advantages of purchasing sustainable fashion is that ethical clothing items will last you several years and won’t shrink in the wash or develop holes after a few washes. So you’ll also end up looking smarter and well presented on an everyday basis.

Create a vegetable garden in your back yard:

If you’re lucky enough to have a back yard, which gets plenty of natural sunlight you may want to create your very own vegetable garden. So that you’ll be able to eat your own organically grown produce. Which should also save you hundreds of dollars per year. As unfortunately most fruits and vegetables which are sold at grocery stores are more expensive than unhealthy food items. If you want to add a bit of extra flavor to your homemade dishes, it’s also a great idea to purchase a few herb plants. Such as a coriander plant, a basil plant and a thyme plant.

Make sure to keep in contact with your family members:

While everyday life can be hectic, it’s well worth making an effort to see your parents or grandparents on a weekly basis. As at the end of the day you’ll never regret time spent with loved ones.

Hopefully you’ve found at least one lifestyle tip which you’ll be able to use for the rest of your life and which you’ll share with your friends and family members.

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