Melissa T asked:


I will be working full time as an agent when my son goes back to school. I want to put my all into building my real estate business, but I also went into the field for the flexibility. I plan to work in the office 9am-2pm, so that I can pick my son up. Then I plan to work from home during the evening. I am new to the business, so I have no clients right now. When I finally do get clients, I plan to put in the work during 9am-2pm Mon-Fri and all day Sat and Sunday. I also would be able to work with clients after 5:30pm Mon-Fri when my husband gets off of work. Does this sound like a schedule for success? Do you put in more hours?
Real Estate Guy: Wow !!!! You gave a lot of great advice. I never thought of it that way. My manager wants me in the office full time. I knew that didn’t sound very productive. When I am there, i feel like I have nothing to do. I am new so I don’t have any sales to work on yet.

Erin

Latnldy asked:


My friend is going into the real estate business and I would like to get him something that he will get a lot of use from. Does anyone have suggestions?

Ida

Virginia Wherland asked:


The sale of a home is a very important transaction. It concerns several hundred thousand dollars worth of equity in most cases as well as being the haven for your family. It just makes sense to entrust this process to a professional. A real estate agent has a number of advantages at their disposal to make the sale of homes easier, faster and more profitable for the owners. Look at things this way: when you have a toothache, do you fix it yourself with a cordless drill? Of course not, you go see the dentist and have the tooth fixed; you see the professional. Why would you take a different route with an asset as valuable as your home?

When selling your home yourself, there are a number of additional costs that are incurred during the sale process. These costs are typically a part of the fees that an agent charges to sell the home. Many people make the mistake of thinking that they can save a huge amount of money by selling themselves when in reality the money they “save” actually goes to pay for services that are normally included in using a real estate agent. Additionally, selling a home is a time consuming process. There is a huge amount of paperwork that is associated with a home sale and much time spent in the actual transfer and the contracts that are part and parcel of the sale. As well, you have a life outside the sale of your home, work, and family takes up a lot of time. Are you able to drop everything at a minute’s notice to show your home?

There is also the issue of your emotional ties to the home. No matter how much you try to remove yourself from these ties, they still exist. This makes you just a touch biased when it comes to the home. It can be difficult watching a fussy buyer pick apart their “perceived” drawbacks and things they may not like about the home. At a time like this it is hard not to be emotional, especially when there is so much riding on the sale. Give your home the chance it deserves, use a real estate agent when it comes time to sell.



Alexander

Steve Gillman asked:


You probably already know how to find a real estate agent when you want to sell your house or other real estate. All you have to do is put a “for sale sign” out and wait for the phone to ring. But how do you find the right real estate agent for your property? Here are some tips to get you started, followed by the questions you need to ask.

Note which day most brokers typically advertise real estate in your local newspaper. Get that day’s issue, and also collect a few real estate guides. Find advertisements for properties similar to yours. For example, if you are selling a lakefront home, you want to look for those.

Take notes, writing down the names and numbers of the agents selling similar properties. You want to find real estate agents who have experience with your type of real estate. The woman who has all the million dollar homes listed may not be the best one to sell your vacant commercial lot. Try to find agents who have sold or are selling several properties like yours, and start calling them. Call those who are active in your general area first – they are more likely to know how to properly price and market your real estate.

Hiring the right agent can mean thousands of dollars to you. When I was a new agent many years ago, I told a couple that we should list their home for $59,000, but they insisted on $65,000. We got a full price offer within a month. In other words, my advice could have cost them $6,000 in lost profit.

Find A Real Estate Agent – And Ask These Questions

Always ask as many questions as you need to, starting with the ones below. Most real estate agents won’t like it, but this really is a job interview – and you’re the one hiring him or her. Thus you should ask questions like:

How much experience do you have, and what kind? – The importance of experience is shown in my own confession above. I wouldn’t use an agent with less than a year of experience unless he or she had experience in a related field, like appraisal or mortgage lending. As for the type of experience, you want one that has sold properties like yours.

Can you give me examples? – Get an address or two. Then you can drive by and see what kind of properties he really has experience with.

Why should I list my property with you? – An obvious question, but listen closely to what he has to say. He needs to sell himself to you for you to trust that he can sell your real estate.

What will you do to market my property? – She should do more than place an ad and put your home in the MLS listings. Is she working with any people looking for properties like yours? How will she let other agents know about your listing and encourage them to bring buyers to see it?

Other Questions For An Agent

Do you show your own listings?

Do you handle your own closings?

How much is your commission, and what is included?

Are your listings selling close to the asking price?

How long do you think it will take to sell?

How long is your listing agreement for?

How will you determine the asking price?

How To Find A Real Estate Agent – Other Considerations

Be suspicious if it takes a dozen rings for someone to answer the phone at the real estate office. Hang up and try again later, to see if this is normal. If you have a hard time getting through, buyers will as well. Note whether your calls are returned promptly when you leave a message also.

Avoid agents who just want to agree with whatever you say. They just want to get the listing, but you want an expert who will tell you what he honestly thinks. Have him go over every detail of the listing agreement, and ask many questions. The agreement is a legal contract. Suppose you get a full-priced offer, but you changed your mind about the price or about selling. You’ll probably have to pay the commission anyhow – check the contract.

Ask to review papers you’ll have to sign when your property is sold. Will you likely have to pay for inspections, or to have a survey completed? Find a good real estate agent and you’ll get the answers to these questions.



Leroy

Leigh88 asked:


I’m getting a new job soon and currently live in a house, but I would like to rent a house where I move to. A lot of homeowners are renting now in the market, but do brokers or real estate agents help you find homes to rent? I’ve never heard of that, but maybe they do?

Judy

Escapeso Austin Real Estate asked:


Some people choose to use a real estate agent and some people choose to go it alone. One thing I have noticed over the years is that a number of seasoned investors looking in a new city will seek out a good agent while novice investors will frequently go it alone. I have even had a number of successful real estate agents seek out my help when they are moving to our city. Why do some of these seasoned investors choose to work with an agent? Below is a list of 7 benefits of using an agent.

1. Understand potential restrictions of the property. I recently heard a story from a friend at the city development office in Austin Texas. A couple had saved up for their retirement. They wanted to retire and live out in the hill country. They went to the foreclosure auctions. At the auction they purchased a lot for 500,000. It had great views and they were going to build their dream house on it. They had researched the lot before the auction and found it was zoned SFR which means a single family residence can be built on it. After purchasing the lot they started plans to build their retirement house. At this time they discovered the lot was in the 25 year floodplain. My friend at the city development office explained that the lot could not be built on and was basically worthless.

2. Know about new developments that might affect a properties value. A good realtor will know of proposed new developments that might affect different properties in which a buyer is interested. Whether these developments are positive or negative can be valuable information when weighing different housing options.

3. Find potential problems with a property. It is always a good idea to have a home inspector look at a potential house. However, a Realtor is a good first line of defense to see if a house has inherent problems. A Realtor that can know about common problems, such as foundation or electrical, that affect a particular neighborhood.

4. Understand contracts specifics. Whenever you buy or sell a house you are entering into a large personal transaction. It helps to have someone on your side that deals with these types of transactions on a daily basis. A Realtor can help you understand contracts and can explain what is typical for your area. The most common pitfall into which I see unrepresented buyers fall is to become involved in an atypical contract that is not to their benefit. For instance a seller will sign an offer that has an option period that is 4 times longer than what is typical. A buyer might put in offers on multiple properties with long option periods. The buyer will wait and see if the market appreciates. If the market has appreciated the buyer buys the house at now and undervalued price. If the market has gone down the buyer walks away.

5. Misperception of a benefit of going it alone. Buyers frequently think that by not using a buyers agent they will get a better deal from the seller. In most situation the listing agent asks for 6 percent from the seller. If a buyer comes with an agent the listing agent splits the 6 percent with the buyers agent. If an unrepresented buyer comes the listing agent keeps the whole 6 percent. On the selling side, For Sale By Owners (FSBO) often think they are saving alot of money by avoiding a listing agent. Nationally, FSBO homes sell for 14 percent less than agent listed homes in the same neighborhoods. In addition alot of FSBO’s still end up having a buyers agents involved. There is also money spent on advertising. Since an agent has experience marketing homes the agent often can spend money more effectively on advertising. Agents often know which advertising sources produce the most potential buyers.

6. Save time when looking for listings. Looking for listings without an agent can take up large chunks of time. When looking with an agent you can see several homes in a few hours. When going it alone you have to call the listing agent for each house and wait at the house for the agent to arrive and open up the house. In addition agents often know houses which are not listed or may have already identified potential problems with a particular house of interest.

7. Insure Security. When a home is listed with a broker, agents coming to the house have to usually log in. This allows the listing agent to keep a record of every party coming into the house. Since their business is on the line, agents are more likely to protect the house from damage or theft. For a variety of reasons, it is generally not a good idea to have random people you do not know come into your house. Often sellers simply have a phone number, but that phone could be their house, a friend’s house, a pay phone, or even a stolen phone.

Searching for a home can be stressful and difficult but it can also be fun. Whether you choose to look for a home on your own or with a Realtor its a good idea to be a extremely careful when you seek out your dream home.



Daniel

estate asked:


Marketing For Real Estate Agents: 6 Easy Steps To Do Competent Marketing For Real Estate Agents

A lot of professionals consider that marketing for real estate agents is just about looking for clients, advertising, sites, brochures or newsletters.

There are lots of “marketing” activities that result simply inefficient, time wasting and really demoralizing. Competent marketing for real estate agents is an ongoing activity defined by a number of steps.

It is necessary that you see what true marketing for real estate agents is about; you will be amazed to witness how in 6 simple steps you create a winning strategy for your agency, one that will enhance your commercial image and propel your success.

1. Establish Aims

Effective marketing for real estate agents is achieved by recognizing where you are and where you wish your agency to go. Detailed objectives present what you desire and how to get it. These should be founded on what you visualize yourself doing, possessing and being. Question yourself regarding what you want in terms of job, lifestyle and income.

Your goals have to be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.

2. Specify Your Main Clients

You have to define, plan and target a specific group of individuals showing similar characteristics. You have to exhaustively know who your possible buyers are in order to understand why they would accept your service.

True marketing for real estate agents is about holding sincere conversations with buyers about who you are and what you offer and building mutual faith and deference. To achieve this, you have to know every detail about the individuals behind a potential sale. Just then, you are able to deliver the accurate offering to possible buyers.

3. Create a Selling Message

You have to distinguish yourself from the competitors within your arena by means of pluses, abilities and life experiences that are meaningful for your customers.

4. Train your customers

Good marketing for real estate agents lets you see that it is an ongoing training process. You have to deserve the buyer’s confidence and educate him on the facts in order to make him lastly acquire a property from you. Buyers first realize they can buy a property, then, they proceed to get facts, next they asses the different options they possess and lastly, they take action. You must recognize in which phase your buyer is in order to either begin from zero, clarify wrong ideas and get over objections or go for the sale.

5. Establish a Recommendation Scheme

Recommendations are essential in marketing for real estate agents, because these are the simplest way to get steady buyers. Tell your buyers that you expect recommendations and what sort you want. The more you remain fresh in your buyers’ minds, the more chances you possess of them talking to others about you.

6. Define a Monthly Selling Plan

Based on the five preceding points, enforce genuine marketing for real estate agents with a detailed plan.

Write your monthly objective in terms of potential clients, income or any other meaningful condition. Establish a weekly action program with events you will go to, individuals you will contact, meet or send information to, call on former buyers and writing articles.



Karen

Fernando E Oliveira asked:


A lot of people ask what the differences of buying a house from a real estate agent, or directly from the constructor or, from the owner.

In the real estate business, there are several people involved, and we should leave the constructor, right from the beginning, with the construction and nothing else.

In what concerns the owner, he should be left with his role as an owner and not as a salesman who makes is own price to the buyer, without any reference, and from whom the buyer, more often than not, buys at a higher price.

Today a real estate agent renders a series of services to the client, that guarantees:

-The price is fair, because the real estate agent is aware of the market

-Professional counselling, in order to make the best choice

-All the needed legal information for the purchase, or sale available

-Having the best information about financing for each particular situation and helping the buyer choose the cheapest financing available

-Handling the all the legal procedures, and safeguarding the buyer’s interests

-That the buyer is not buying at a higher price

Because the purchase of a house is, for most people, the biggest investment of their lives, always turn to a real estate agent.



Marie