tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33345664812605430932024-02-08T10:55:40.133-08:00Agents RealtorsAgents Realtorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541767896132146702noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334566481260543093.post-35544220703870480202011-09-16T00:44:00.000-07:002011-09-16T00:44:00.484-07:00What Are the Finer Points About Cash Flow?AppId is over the quota<br />AppId is over the quota<br /> <P>Cash is an important asset in the economic system and some industries, especially real estate, are highly cash intensive. In order to survive, any business would need to generate positive cash flow or inflows as against the negative cash flow or outflows. An instance of cash outflow is salary payments, payment against new purchases and so forth. However, cash outflow is recorded only when the money has been transferred from the company's bank account.</P><P>The opposite of cash outflow is cash inflow which indicates that a particular amount has been transferred to the company's bank account. The money that customers or investors pay to a company is recorded under cash inflow.</P><P>To make money and stay solvent in real estate, you need to have well calculated and accurate cash flow projections. All businesses prepare three types of financial statements namely; the income statement (profit and loss), the balance sheet and the cash flow statement. Overall liabilities and assets of a company are listed in a balance sheet while the income statement indicates the profit garnered during a particular period of time.</P><P>A cash flow statement (CFS), on the other hand, comprises both income and balance sheet statements. It contains the record of inflow and outflow of cash during a particular period. However, the CFS does not show future incoming or outgoing cash. That is the job of the Cash Flow Projection statement. In the cash flow statement, transactions are recorded taking into consideration operating, financing and investment activity. The statement first mentions the transactions made during operating activities. It mentions the total income at the top. After this, other items like depreciation, additional operating spending (doesn't include transactions), and profits (earned through property sale) are included. All these compose the net cash created through operating activity.</P><P>The second element in the cash flow statement is the investments. Any amount paid in order to buy an asset is counted as a capital expenditure or CapEx. It is a part of generating future income. Capital expenditure is important for sustaining and growing the business. Cash flow that takes place due to investment deducts capital expenditures from the profit garnered from these assets. Financing activities, on the other hand, focus on the movement of the cash between a company and its creditors and owners. While going through the cash flow statement, you should take note of the bottom line that mentions the total gain or loss of cash and its equivalents over the previous period.</P><P>Any real estate business includes normally two types of activities, property sales and property management. There will be changes in income as sales increase or decrease over a period of time. But, it takes mostly 60 to 90 days to before the income becomes cash in the bank and can be counted in the cash flow. In the case of Property Management (PM), both incoming and outgoing cash is easy to forecast and hence, it is considered a prudent strategy to have a property management portfolio. While training real estate agents, business coaches cover all these points about cash flow in great detail.</P><P>Most companies fail due to bad cash flow rather than lack of profits! Managing your cash flow is imperative to a well run business!</P><P>Nils Oman is a real estate agent, a buyers advocate and a long term property investor. He has extensive business experience and has worked in many industries on several continents. Today he coaches Principals for Real Estate companies in the art of running a successful business and having a life at the same time! For a free eBooklet on how to supercharge your company and put it on Autopilot - go to our website <A href="http://www.coachingrealestateagents.com.au/" target=_new>http://www.coachingrealestateagents.com.au/</A></P>View the original article <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6561926" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>Agents Realtorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541767896132146702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334566481260543093.post-54600583444521049782011-09-15T18:44:00.000-07:002011-09-16T00:39:53.397-07:00How to Handle a Market DownturnAppId is over the quota<br />AppId is over the quota<br /> <P>Downturns in any business are tough to cope up with if there is a lack of foresight and proper planning to deal with such contingencies; real estate business is no exception. In order to survive during this challenging phase of business, you need to adopt several qualitative methods such as account auditing, expense tracking, cash-flow monitoring and investment management. These are the main crucial areas and if you have complete control over these, you can certainly withstand any kind of economic slump without incurring any big losses. Let us examine these methods more closely:</P><P><STRONG>Audit Accounts Regularly:</STRONG> Since the real estate business is essentially a service based domain, most expenses and costs are fixed. Examples of fixed expenses include office rent and staff salaries. It is, however, important that you keep a track over all your earnings, outlays and cash-flow. You must ask your accountant to prepare a trading statement. Also, make sure to check all details yourself every month so that when there is a property market downturn, you don't feel lost. Keep tab on the accounts payable and receivable. Checking your accounts on a regular basis allows you to exercise better control over your business.</P><P><STRONG>Check All Unnecessary Expenses: </STRONG>You should review the performance of your real estate professionals on a weekly basis. Since employees are paid for their efficiency and output, you need to keep their performance metrics handy. Non-core staff is nothing more than a burden on the company and business as a whole. At the same time, you need to maintain balance while hiring professionals. Do not go overboard when you need a talented team in your company. Focus on quality and not quantity. If there isn't any need for extra staff, avoid it because this is nothing but an unnecessary expense. You can actually outsource all non-core work on an "as needed" basis.</P><P><STRONG>Reduce Capital Outlays:</STRONG> In anticipation of future benefits, companies often make capital investments. It's the kind of financial investment made in buying equipment and buildings. You can do this if your cash-flow is consistent and strong. Before making any investment, you first need to chalk out a plan and evaluate it from every possible angle. You need to weigh the potential profit or benefit against the investment. The proportion of the profit should be quite high compared to the capital outlay required.</P><P><STRONG>Increase Cash-Flow:</STRONG> Encourage your vendors to use section 27 deposit release claims to get the deposit before the settlement. You will of course get your commission out of the deposit before you pay the remainder to the vendor. Also negotiate better payment conditions with your advertisers. They will be keen to keep your account so it is quite probable that they can give you longer payment conditions or a discount on "normal" payment.</P><P>Nils Oman is a real estate agent, a buyers advocate and a long term property investor. He has extensive business experience and has worked in many industries on several continents. Today he coaches Principals for Real Estate companies in the art of running a successful business and having a life at the same time! For a free eBooklet on how to supercharge your company and put it on Autopilot - go to our website <A href="http://www.coachingrealestateagents.com.au/" target=_new>http://www.coachingrealestateagents.com.au/</A></P>View the original article <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6561877" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>Agents Realtorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541767896132146702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334566481260543093.post-1650678367758854182011-09-12T12:43:00.000-07:002011-09-12T12:44:15.511-07:00Why Use an Agency That Only Does Lettings<P>If you are a landlord looking for a letting agency you have two options to choose from: a real-estate agency that provides letting services or a specialized agency that does only <STRONG>lettings</STRONG>. Both types of <STRONG>agencies</STRONG> can help you find a tenant, but an agency specialized exclusively in lettings is most of the time the better choice. There are a few reasons for this.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Greater Knowledge of Letting Opportunities</STRONG></P><br /><P>An agency specialized in lettings is usually more knowledgeable about local opportunities. The reason for this is that the agency, dealing exclusively with lettings, has a wider network of dedicated local contacts as well as a vast experience in searching for the right tenants. A <STRONG>real-estate agency</STRONG>, especially if well established, may also have its fair share of contacts and experience, but the bulk of its profit usually derives from other services, so its focus is naturally on them.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Easier to Deal With</STRONG></P><br /><P>Agencies that focus on lettings tend to be smaller, and to have only a limited number of clients at a time. This can be advantageous, especially if you want to market more than one property. The logic is that the agency will be more prompt to serve you and more careful with you all-round. Moreover, if it's a small local agency, you'll receive help that will seem more like a favour from a friend, and you will be able to negotiate directly the fees with the people who run it. Larger agencies that provide various real-estate services provide less personal services and are inflexible when it comes to fees.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Additional Services</STRONG></P><br /><P>Besides basic marketing services, i.e. finding you a tenant, specialized letting agencies also provide management services. If you buy management services, the agency will do in your stead all the tasks that you normally have to do as a tenant, including organizing credit checks, collecting the rent, paying the rented property's bills, inspecting the property every three months, doing repairs whenever necessary. If you choose management services you'll have to pay the letting agency a higher fee, usually at least 15% of the rental value. Many landlords dislike management services, but there are some who find them helpful. You should consider using them yourself if you have multiple rented properties and find it challenging to manage all of them at once.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Specialized Services</STRONG></P><br /><P>An agency dealing exclusively with letting can be a better choice simply because it provides more specialized services that target specific residential areas and potential tenants. Finding the ideal tenant is easier for an agency that knows the local market well and that is experienced in marketing certain types of homes, flats for example. Often, such agencies are not those that offer letting services as an auxiliary to other real-estate services, but those focused exclusively on lettings.</P><br /><P>Priest Properties are one of the top <A href="http://www.priestproperties.com/" target=_new><STRONG>Letting Agents Nottingham</STRONG></A> offering <A href="http://www.priestproperties.com/property-management-nottingham.html" target=_new><STRONG>Property Management Nottingham</STRONG></A> for landlords.</P>View the original article <A href="http://ezinearticles.com/6545778" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</A>Agents Realtorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541767896132146702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334566481260543093.post-19958835917247747702011-08-27T09:39:00.002-07:002011-08-27T09:39:23.184-07:00Commercial Property - What to Do When Sellers Won't Listen to YouIn commercial real estate property marketing, as real estate agents we come across many different property situations. The sellers and vendors of the property can have different challenges relating to the property, tenants, financier, or marketplace. Ultimately the main challenges they want to solve relate to:<br />
More money or rentalLess trouble in transacting a dealA timely response that takes the property to the market efficiently and effectivelyWhen you focus on these three elements you will find that the client listens with relevance and focus. When you have the client's attention, the listing or the deal becomes easier. <br />
Direct questioning of the clients with a focus on these three issues usually gets to the bottom of the problem and helps you close on the deal. The solutions in your listing process should also be directed towards these three elements.<br />
Looking at these three points further, the following observations can be made:<br />
When discussing money or rental relating to the property, you must have market evidence from comparable properties nearby. Third party evidence makes the negotiation process much more effective. Vendors tend to accept the evidence of the marketplace before they accept the recommendations of the real estate agent. The evidence from comparable properties are actually stories of success or failure; these attract the interest of the client. Choose your comparable properties carefully.<br />
The client wants you to provide them with the easiest way possible to achieve the end result with the property. This means that the marketing of the property, the inspection process, and the closing of the deal should be directed towards the chosen target market that is really interested in the property. If you can show the client clearly what the target market is for the property, and that you know how to tap into it, you will have their attention. They will see how you can facilitate an early sales or lease transaction in the way they require.<br />
A timely response in the marketing of a property is best illustrated by the use of a timeline and clear stages of the marketing, inspection, and negotiation process. This is best achieved by using a timeline within your proposal and listing process. The marketing of any property for sale or for lease would normally involve some 10 stages of activity. The client does not normally appreciate this, and for this reason you should incorporate a Gantt chart process in your proposal to them.Taking these three elements above, you can simplify the listing and negotiation process with the client. You are directing their thinking to the most common challenges that concern them. <br />
On one final note, make sure that the client has no other issues that also need addressing. Well selected questions will reveal the clients complete agenda in selling or leasing their property. The best real estate agents become skillful in the questioning process. They know that the questions they ask will unlock the door to secure the property and the transaction.<br />
John Highman is an expert real estate author, conference speaker, and coach. He helps Real Estate Agents to improve their market share, listings, and commissions. You can get a free ebook of real estate tips and tools right here at <a href="http://www.commercial-realestate-training.com/" target="_new">http://www.commercial-realestate-training.com/</a><br />
View the original article <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/6307918" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>Agents Realtorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541767896132146702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334566481260543093.post-18188754098652938082011-08-27T09:39:00.001-07:002011-08-27T09:39:12.452-07:00Commercial Agents Prepare Well for Your Listing PresentationAs a real estate agent, the frequency of presenting your business and yourself as the agent of choice is high. As you do more prospecting in your local property market, you will be presenting in front of clients and prospects at least once a day. Your success in the process is therefore critical to your listing conversions.<br />
In most listing situations there will be at least one or two other real estate agents presenting to the prospect on or about the same day. You will only have a short time with the prospect to convince them that you are the best choice of agent in the current market.<br />
Preparation is the key to a listing presentation and sales pitch. Your ability to connect with and involve the other person is also critical. Here are some rules that should be adopted:<br />
Before you start the listing presentation, converse with the other person(s) to understand their focus and concerns. Draw out their comments and ideas that can impact or challenge what you may have to say in the presentation.<br />
Remember that the prospect will enjoy being the centre of attention in any presentation and will generally talk openly to you if asked. Open questions are the key here for you to use.<br />
Pick the character of the client or prospect at the earliest stages of the presentation. You will have to adjust your conversational style to suit their character.<br />
A listing presentation has to be about the needs of the prospect and their property; it is not about you, your business, or your knowledge. Always bring your presentation focus to the client and their property.<br />
Inspect the property before you meet with the client, so you can bring the property into the conversation in a relevant and interesting way. Your personal awareness of the property and the location will give you leverage in the presentation.<br />
Have a group of facts and details to use that are relevant to the sales and enquiry rate of the current market. As part of that process use newspaper clippings and other third party supporting evidence to influence the clients thinking.<br />
If you have a camera and laptop computer that you can use in the presentation, take a number of photos around the property, the location, and the competing properties before the actual presentation. These photos can be used as a slide show running automatically as you present your listing strategy to the client or prospect. Well-chosen photos of their property and location are most important and of the greatest interest to the client.<br />
Understand where the competing properties are located in the area that can impact the subject property, and then have a pricing and marketing strategy set to solve that competition.<br />
Define the target market clearly for the prospect so they can see how their property will be promoted, to whom, and why. Give current facts and figures relative to the activities and enquiry in and from the target market.<br />
Develop at least 5 selling advantages or property focus points that you can build your marketing campaign around. Those points will have relevance to the target market.<br />
Have 3 alternative marketing campaigns designed for use and the selective choice of the prospect. Run through all campaigns explaining the differences but give the prospect an opportunity to decide what campaign they require based on market impact and price.<br />
The presentation is best undertaken with at least three of the senses active for the prospect. That is sight, sound, and touch. Give them something to feel and review as you talk (a proposal will be ideal), speak about the property from the prospects base of need, and show the prospect things about the property that you see as relevant to the marketing strategy.<br />
Create some draft marketing material to show the prospect how their property will look in some of your most important marketing methods.<br />
The sales pitch and presentation strategy that you use should be as natural as possible to your character. For this reason use words and the conversational style that you are comfortable with. The most successful sales people in the industry practice their words and their presentations so they are visibly confident and relevant to the prospects to whom they present.<br />
John Highman is an expert real estate author, conference speaker, and coach. He helps Real Estate Agents to improve their market share, listings, and commissions. You can get a free ebook of real estate tips and tools right here at <a href="http://www.commercial-realestate-training.com/" target="_new">http://www.commercial-realestate-training.com/</a><br />
View the original article <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/6326601" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>Agents Realtorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541767896132146702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334566481260543093.post-56502074957331161222011-08-27T09:39:00.000-07:002011-08-27T09:39:02.672-07:00Choosing a Realtor in Aliquippa PAAliquippa is a friendly suburban community in Western Pennsylvania's Beaver County, its roots running deep in American history. 250 years have seen the area grow from a small Indian village to Beaver County's most populous borough, representing a merger of three towns and exhibiting a unique blend of American heritage. All races and nationalities have contributed through several generations, and though it's had its share of ups and downs, including the collapse of the steel industry in the 1980's, the area offers much today for families interested in living there. With the world class Greater Pittsburgh International Airport only a 10-15 minute drive away and updated major highways making Aliquippa more accessible, jobs have been generated alongside inspired new industries replacing the old. Accordingly, there is growing interest in Aliquippa homes for sale.<br />
Start With a Good Realtor and the MLS<br />
For those seeking to buy a home in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, Aliquippa MLS listings provide a good place to start. However, first finding a realtor who is knowledgeable about the area is paramount. For, while proximity to a major city offers employment and cultural opportunities, and a spirit of familiarity flavors older borough sectors where people have known each other for years, there's much to learn about Aliquippa's population of 32,000. Thus, in choosing a realtor, a family's needs should be emphasized. This ensures finding the best housing values in a market where 76% of workers are white collar, 24% blue collar, figures that reflect a contrast to past steel mill days.<br />
Aliquippa Offers Family Friendly Suburban Living <br />
Accommodating suburban lifestyles, many lovely single family homes with beautiful lawns and treed lots, often as large as a third acre, are available. Some are older and exude country charm, while others have the appeal of new construction amenities. And, as expected in a family friendly area, Aliquippa has a K-12 school district and a community highly interested in education. Therefore, if children are school-aged, a realtor can narrow down the Aliquippa MLS listings reflecting schools within shortest walking and bus route distances.<br />
While half of Aliquippa's population commutes about 20 minutes or more to work, they can find a relaxed environment when returning home. There, churches, restaurants, parks and recreational areas prevail, providing a laid back lifestyle for city commuters. Thus, when looking at Aliquippa homes for sale, choosing a realtor who understands what a family's life entails also ensures they'll have no problem finding the perfect home to accommodate it. That's the advantage of selecting a seasoned real estate professional, one who is well versed on Aliquippa and readily has access to the Multiple Listing Service, where the largest selection of homes can be found.<br />
Visit <a href="http://www.prudentialpreferred.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_new">http://www.prudentialpreferred.com/</a> for more information about Aliquippa MLS listings and <a href="http://www.prudentialpreferred.com/property/index.cfm?fuseaction=Search2&Area=BEA&type=res-res" rel="nofollow" target="_new">Aliquippa homes for sale</a>.<br />
View the original article <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/6364672" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>Agents Realtorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541767896132146702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334566481260543093.post-55282930547599378082011-08-27T09:38:00.004-07:002011-08-27T09:38:49.807-07:00Building Business and CommunityTalk to someone about Santa Cruz and the first conversation topics that come up are typical for Northern California: beaches, blondes and, sometimes, birkenstocks. Dig a little deeper, though, and you'll find a vibrant community of people dedicated to giving back to one another through volunteering. Santa Cruz is home to many unique non-profit organizations and most are always welcoming new volunteers. As a real estate agent, it is your responsibility to know Santa Cruz as well as possible and non-profit involvement is a great way to increase your knowledge as well as your public visibility.<br />
Community service offers many other benefits to Realtors. Maybe the most obvious of these is the emotional connections volunteers can make with the people they volunteer for and with. Helping people and animals in need cultivates self-confidence, happiness, and social skills. As a volunteer, you will enjoy both the personal fulfillment that comes from giving to others and the peace of mind that there are other community-minded individuals like you who could support you in a time of need. Well being in one area of life is very likely to carry over to others. Work-life balance is an integral part of a successful real estate career.<br />
From a more practical standpoint, a volunteer position can generate business leads or even a hiring prospect. This is particularly salient in times of economic hardship: losing your job does not necessarily mean losing your purpose. Volunteering is a great asset because it allows you to showcase your skills and background and keep using your real estate knowledge outside of work. For example, a pro-bono consultation with a Realtors could be very valuable to an organization trying to secure its own land or building. An annual community event or festival, of which there are many in Santa Cruz, offers the perfect opportunity for using your skills in, say, marketing or public relations.<br />
Festivals and annual events are, in fact, great for people who can't commit to a regular long-term volunteer position. There is a great deal of work to be done for these kinds of celebrations over a relatively short period, thus requiring a large group of volunteers with diverse skills and interests. Annual happenings like the Shakespeare Festival, the Santa Cruz County Fair, Mission Adobe Day and the Monterey Bay Birding Festival, among many others, cater to volunteers of many backgrounds. Perhaps one of the best things about community service for a busy realtor is that volunteer positions oftentimes allow you to call the shots. You set your hours, you decide how much (or how little) time you can commit, and you decide who (or what) you work with. Volunteering opportunities are a lot more flexible than you may think.<br />
You also don't have to be handy or able-bodied to help out with volunteering projects. Realtors with physical barriers can also enjoy the benefits of community involvement. For those skilled with numbers, boards of directors for non-profit organizations are always seeking treasurers. If you're an animal person, rescue organizations and shelters welcome new volunteers and do indeed have positions that aren't physically demanding.<br />
Santa Cruz is a welcoming place for newcomers partly because of the volunteers who support community projects. Agents are particularly well-suited to volunteering because of the exposure such an opportunity affords. Getting involved in a community service project can allow you to expand upon your knowledge and business contacts as well as discover things you never knew about the wonderful city you call home.<br />
Everything you need to know about <a href="http://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/" target="_new">homes in Santa Cruz</a> is right here at MySantaCruzRealEstate.com. Lauren Spencer, Coldwell Banker Realtor will be glad to answer your questions about <a href="http://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/santa-cruz.php" target="_new">Santa Cruz CA real estate</a>.<br />
View the original article <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/6449499" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>Agents Realtorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541767896132146702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334566481260543093.post-58953937799003578332011-08-27T09:38:00.003-07:002011-08-27T09:38:39.098-07:00A Career In An International Property ConsultancyA real estate consultant has the complex and responsibility-driven role of dealing with high-value property assets. Hence, a potent combination of technical know-how, market insight and ethical values are the cornerstones of a perfect real estate professional.<br />
In a market like India, this role compounds dramatically, since there is a huge amount of growth happening in a largely disorganized property sector. There are many challenges on the path to professional excellence.<br />
These lie primarily in understanding clearly what each client is looking for, aligning these requirements with the broader market scenario and being able to consistently deliver value in a very complex and unstructured marketplace. In developed countries, where transparency is an established norm, professional propertyconsultants may often only need to play a guiding role in a transaction.<br />
In India, however, they have to assume a greater burden of risk and responsibility attached to each transaction. A focus on ethics cannot be over-emphasized. Not only must aspiring property professionals have a firm understanding of sound business ethics - they must also believe in them.<br />
The Indian real estate market is now adapting to international best practices, and the future belongs to polished professionals - not mercenaries. The relationship of trust that reputed real estate consultancies have with serious property buyers is based on their track record and the fact that they follow an inflexible rulebook.<br />
In a highly volatile business environment such as the property market, they represent a core of steadiness and reliability. In other words, astute clients will accept the judgment of a branded real estate consultancy, since such clients know that this judgment is backed by integrity and real market knowledge.<br />
When an aspiring real estate professional joins an international property consultancy, he is expected to do a lot more than just put clients and properties together. He must be able to create a synergy by identifying and assisting clients to capitalize on their real estate deals to the optimum extent possible.<br />
He must be able to anticipate, understand and overcome the intricate angles that are part of many transactions today. If the aspiring professional is able to meet these challenges, he becomes a true asset to a real estate consultancy - and the benefits can be significant.<br />
Knowledge and expertise-driven real estate services are highly valued both by domestic and international clients, and a professional property consultancy values qualified and experienced real estate experts highly for these reasons.<br />
My advice to all who aspire for a career in an international property consultancy is to educate themselves to the maximum extent possible on all aspects of the property sector and the business world - and further, not to rely on knowledge alone but to avail of expert mentoring before actually venturing into the field.<br />
Finely-honed people skills and negotiation abilities are absolutely mandatory to succeed in this field, and these are best picked up by observing seasoned veterans.<br />
Visit the <a href="http://www.humanresourcesblog.in/" target="_new">Human Resources Blog</a> for more insights and articles on human resources development.<br />
Jappreet Sethi has over a decade of experience across various facets of HR and holds a masters degree in Sociology. He is a certified black belt in Six sigma and has certifications in various psychometric instruments like MBTI, FIRO and CPI.<br />
Jappreet has restructured a number of business processes to increase efficiency and reduce turnaround time. He brings strong project management and business partnering skills to the table. He is also extensively trained in group dynamics and leadership development using behavioral labs.<br />
View the original article <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/6329063" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>Agents Realtorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541767896132146702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334566481260543093.post-10652340985496092772011-08-27T09:38:00.002-07:002011-08-27T09:38:26.160-07:00Advice on Searching for Residential Property to BuyHow do you search for residential property these days? For most of the clients I've encountered this year the answer is universally "via the internet". Whether you're logging on at work, surfing after dinner or linking by smartphone, property websites seem to be the UK's choice for buyers and sellers. One major UK property website claims more UK users than Yahoo, a market share above 80% and over 90% coverage of UK estate agents. Seems simple, doesn't it? You're "guaranteed" to spot all the homes you want, you don't have to talk to the nasty estate agents until you need to and you can search when you want from where you want.<br />
When I first started work as an estate agent (over 15 years ago now!), buyers registered on our mailing list. What this actually meant was we filled out a 6 x 4 blue card with all of their contact details and buying criteria, then popped said card in a alphabetized drawer of about 3000 others. If the buyer was especially realistic and motivated, we kept a maximum of 30 cards on our desk (hot applicants, specials) for priority service. When our boss came through the door with a new instruction, we called our matching hot applicants first. Once finished, we might take a stab at the rest of the mailing list but boredom usually won by about the letter S.<br />
So, technology and progress definitely win. Long live the age of the machine!<br />
Or maybe not? Have you considered what happens when you try to apply human wants and needs to a robotic search program? Buying a house is a visceral and emotive process so do property websites take this into account. Here are a few issues we've come up with;<br />
1) Searching by area or point then radius is all well and good, as long as the buyer has a good grasp of local geography. If not, they could be missing out on plenty of properties because the computer has decided they are "out of range". For example, I met a client last month at a Widcombe flat whose search criteria turned out to be the city centre postcode + 1 mile. Southern parts of Widcombe are outside this radius yet under a mile from the edge of the city centre and thus well within his actual criteria. Did the flat appear on his website search? No. Did he purchase the property? Yes.<br />
2) Searches can be done on number of bedrooms only - what happens if the property has a loft room or a reception that can be used as an annexe or ground floor bedroom? Some buyers need extra receptions (working from home?). There's no flexibility or context to allow for unusual homes or unusual requirements, forcing buyers to widen their search or (what usually happens) not bother and potentially miss out.<br />
3) Using the "Added In" function? You're expecting to see only new instructions? You're actually seeing not only genuine new properties but also price reductions over 4%, properties that have changed agents and also properties that have been artificially "refreshed" by the agent to seem new (although most websites say they discourage this). How do you know the difference?<br />
4) Limited information - searching a property website means initially filtering properties on the merits of a price, a photo and 4 lines of text. I know many estate agents are awful at presentation but even the finest homes can be overlooked if you're dealing with thumbnail shots and the usual "We are pleased to present" prose.<br />
There are lots more issues we could highlight, like the current clunky smartphone interfaces or the revenue generating phone numbers some websites make buyers use to contact the estate agent, but suffice to say property websites are not the shining solution many buyers believe them to be.<br />
However, don't think because we've said this that we don't believe property websites have an important place in the process. For research into prices and availability, they are absolutely invaluable. The mistake comes when buyers continue to rely on such sites for the remainder of the search process.<br />
So, how should you search for residential property to buy?<br />
1) Use websites to research what is available and sold in the area you're looking in. Can you afford what you want? Don't just rely on the "big" websites - use sites like PropertySnake to see recent price reductions or UpMyStreet for local information. Check sold prices via the Land Registry and market surveys from the Halifax and Nationwide.<br />
2) Learn which estate agents deal in the area you're interested in and make a list of whom to call or visit. Don't ring direct from the website - it'll cost you!<br />
3) Buy several issues of the local property paper and cross check your website research with printed media - have you missed out on any agents or properties?<br />
4) If you're not from the local area, devote at least a whole day to walking or driving around your chosen area. Look for estate agents boards, pick favourite roads (and ones to avoid).<br />
5) Visit your chosen estate agents - sit down and talk through your requirements. Ask if they are realistic and achievable. Listen to advice and re-tune your criteria if necessary. Give the agent every means of contacting you. Keep checking websites in case an agent not on your list takes on the right property.<br />
6) Ask local friends or contacts their opinions - take their recommendations on agents, locations, schooling etc on board.<br />
7) Keep in touch with the agents - pop in or call regularly so they know you're still around. Make sure you're the face they remember when a new property comes on.<br />
8) Think outside the box. Widen your criteria or anticipate compromising on some elements of your wish list. Your ideal home might be exactly what you thought you wanted or something you'd never dreamed you'd like.<br />
9) Remember the estate agent works for the vendor so make sure they think of you as a good prospect for earning them some commission. Can they get hold of you easily? Are you ready to view quickly?<br />
10) Don't just concentrate on new instructions. Revisit properties that have been reduced in price or ask the agent which homes have been on the market for a long time. Never ignore a property just because you've "seen it before so there must be something wrong with it".<br />
Utilising a combination of the internet, printed media, window displays and human contact is far more likely to give a representative selection in your search. It will take more time and effort on your part than sitting in front of the screen but you're likely to end up with a better result all round.<br />
For more information on our independent estate agents in Bath, including over 100 articles on our blog, visit us at <a href="http://www.madisonoakley.co.uk/" target="_new">http://www.madisonoakley.co.uk/</a><br />
View the original article <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/6432408" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>Agents Realtorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541767896132146702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334566481260543093.post-23768763780074642702011-08-27T09:38:00.001-07:002011-08-27T09:38:12.497-07:00Selecting the Best Realtor for Your NeedsLet's face it. For most people, needing a realtor is not something that happens very frequently in their lives, but when they need one, they really do need one. For that reason, the most common course of action is to choose a realtor suggested by a friend or respond to an ad in the newspaper or yellow pages. That can be a reasonably good place to start, but you'll want to delve a bit deeper before you make a final decision. This is a very important decision, since choosing the best agent for your unique needs will save you a great deal of time and effort, and will allow you to bypass much of the aggravation that can happen in the search for a new home or when trying to sell a house at the best possible price. Here are a few things to be aware of that will help you make sure you get the best realtor for your needs.<br />
<b>Not all Realtors are Created Equal</b><br />
All realtors perform the same function, it's true. They all facilitate the buying and selling of property, but that's where the common ground ends. Be aware that you need a realtor who is an expert at buying and selling the exact type of property you are searching for, or you are trying to sell. What does this mean?<br />
Every geographic area has its own unique set of buying and selling requirements. You'll want a realtor that has done business successfully in the specific area where you are buying or selling.<br />
Real Estate is an occupation where experience is extremely important. If a realtor has done business in your area for decades, they have seen the trends, the price fluctuations and the ups and downs of the market as it relates to that specific area. They can price your property to sell at the highest possible price and they can find property for you and advise you on negotiating the lowest cost. These skills only come through living with the market for many years.<br />
<b>Realtors are Everywhere</b><br />
Let's say you just decided to sell your house. You put the word out. Maybe you put up a "For Sale by Owner" sign. You will receive calls every day from realtors who want to represent you. The challenge won't be how to find a realtor, it will be how to find the best one for your needs.<br />
<b>Signs of a Good Realtor</b><br />
A good realtor will not just tell you what you want to hear. They won't "talk-up" a house that you're thinking about buying and they won't tell you the house you're selling will get a high price in a bad market. They tell you the truth, the hard facts. That's why some of the best realtors get passed up by people who don't know better. It's also why you see so many houses in today's market that have a "Price Reduced" sign on them. These houses were not priced realistically to begin with and as a result have been on the market too long and will now be unable to pull in their top potential price. Why? It is most likely because someone didn't listen to their realtor about how to price the house or because they picked a realtor who didn't have the experience to price it correctly.<br />
<b>How to Proceed</b><br />
Find your agent first. Interview at least five realtors. If you're selling, ask them how they would go about deciding on a good price. In today's market, the best answers are not necessarily the ones you want to hear. But the best realtors take the harsh realities into consideration and give you the full story up front. They don't sugar-coat or play games with you. Ask a lot of questions and look for realtors that give you full answers that are based on current realities, not pipe-dreams. There are plenty of agents out there who will tell you exactly what you want to hear to get the job. That's not what you need. The most important factor is that you find someone you can trust.<br />
Cherie Mathews offers her services and advice at <a href="http://spokanehomesforsale.com/" target="_new">Spokane Homes for Sale</a>.<br />
View the original article <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/6495459" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>Agents Realtorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541767896132146702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334566481260543093.post-75485066292241042322011-08-27T09:38:00.000-07:002011-08-27T09:38:01.214-07:00The Differences Between Real Estate Agents, Real Estate Brokers and Broker AssociatesMany people think that real estate agents and brokers and associate brokers are one and the same. The truth is these three professions differ a lot from each other. Knowing these differences can really come in handy especially if you are considering to buy or sell a house.<br />
Real Estate Brokers<br />
In truth, brokers rank higher than agents in terms of education. They have to undergo a lot of training courses related to the real estate business before they can graduate. Brokers also have to take an exam first in order to get their professional license. Once they do, they can now handle business transactions with various buyers and sellers. Having a license also makes it legal for them to collect commissions from every successful transaction they make.<br />
One of the main differences between brokers and agents is that brokers can start their own real estate company while agents cannot.<br />
Real Estate Agents<br />
In a nutshell, agents are salespersons. They are usually the ones who deal with potential buyers face to face and show them around the properties that are for sale.<br />
The requirements in order to be an agent are more lax compared to that of brokers. You just need to be at least eighteen years old to qualify and finish at least three courses about real estate. The exams are also shorter and less difficult than brokers' exam.<br />
Agents cannot work on their own and must be under the employment of a broker. Of course, this means that all the listing agreements are owned by the broker and not by the agent.<br />
Broker Associates<br />
There are some professional brokers who choose to work for other brokers. These are called broker associates. These are usually fresh graduate brokers and are just starting out. Joining large real estate networks is usually what young brokers do in order to learn the ropes about the business.<br />
The arrangement between an employing broker and a broker usually varies. In some cases the broker pays a flat fee to the employer broker while others earn a certain percentage with every transaction they make.<br />
Hopefully this clears things up for you. Having the right knowledge about these professions and the corresponding scope of their job can really make a difference in dealing with your business transactions. Now that you know the difference between agents, brokers and associate brokers, you can now deal with them accordingly.<br />
Want to sell or buy a house? Our unique team of well qualified <a href="http://vtprop.com/" target="_new">Brokers and Agents</a> are here to help you!<br />
View the original article <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/6507351" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>Agents Realtorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541767896132146702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334566481260543093.post-32219432426642087242011-08-27T09:37:00.000-07:002011-08-27T09:37:48.180-07:00Five Mistakes To Avoid When Attempting To Sell Your House FastIn this housing market, it can be difficult to sell a house fast. These are the five mistakes you need to avoid if you want to have your house sold quickly:<br />
<b>Asking Too Much</b><br />
Setting your price too high is the biggest mistakes home sellers are making in this market. Your Realtor may give you a price that they feel the house should sell for that is higher than what it is likely to sell for. Some Realtors inflate their estimate so that the prospect of selling your house is more attractive. There is more incentive to sell your house. <br />
Make sure you have a good idea of what other similar houses are selling for in your area. You should be comparing houses with the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms, size that is within about 300 square feet of the size of your house, and similar ammenities. Other factors that should be taken into consideration is the amount of time the houses sat on the market before they sold. This brings up another point in that you really should focus mostly on houses that have already sold. Anyone can ask anything they want for a house. What someone is willing to pay for it is an entirely different story.<br />
If you want to sell a house fast, you should price your house slightly lower than the others that are on the market. Evaluate your competition. See what their houses have that yours doesn't.<br />
<b>Not Being Aware of Your Competition</b><br />
This one is an extension of the last mistake. If you do not know what you are competing with, how are you going to know if you are priced right? Your house needs to priced lower than a house that has more upgrades. These upgrades include things like granite countertops, hardwood floors, new energy-efficient windows, new mechanicals, and just about anything else that buyers will find more appealing. You can compete by offering your house at a more attractive price. <br />
Visit open houses to get a sneak peak at your competition. Take note of anything they've done to make the house more appealing that you might be able to incorporate. If there are not a lot of open houses taking place, you can have a Realtor show you the houses.<br />
<b>Being Stubborn</b><br />
Do not be the seller that is unwilling to negotiate or give concessions. Buyers want to feel like they are getting a great deal, especially these days. It is a buyer's market and if you don't accept that, you shouldn't be selling your house. <br />
Even if you feel like you are giving them a good deal, you have to be willing to give a little. It doesn't have to be price that is sacrificied, you could offer to throw in some appliances or furniture that they might like. Get creative.<br />
If you are not getting showings and you've done your homework and know the house compares favorably with your competition, your best bet is to reduce the price. Do not be stubborn and refuse to budge. Your house will just sit and the costs you accrue while your house is the on the market will likely exceed what you would be giving up with a price drop.<br />
<b>Not Having The House In Sellable Condition</b><br />
Buyers are extremely picky these days because they can be. With a high number of houses for sale and lenders tightening their lending criteria, this is inevitable. You will need to make sure that your house is in move-in condition. Replace rotted wood, repaint inside and outside, update anything that is dated (including 90's style wallpaper and fixtures). You will need to make your house stand out and make the people viewing it feel like they can see themselves living there. <br />
Some things can be done relatively cheaply that will provide big improvements. Paint is the cheapest thing you can do that will bring the biggest returns. You can update cabinets simply by replacing the handles and knobs. Clean the windows. This always helps with the impression the house makes.<br />
If you can't afford or don't have the time or energy to complete necessary repairs, you will need to adjust your price accordingly. Most of the time the price needs to be reduced more than the repairs would cost due to the fact that buyers will want a good deal because of the hassle and unknowns that come with remodeling a house. Working with contractors can stress anyone out.<br />
<b>Refusing To Consider Selling To The "We Buy Houses" People</b><br />
If your house needs repairs that will scare off buyers, you really need to consider getting an offer from real estate investment companies that advertise " <a href="http://www.webuyhousesuglyornot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_new">We Buy Houses</a> ". These companies typically pay cash and buy houses as-is. This allows you to sell without providing any warranty or doing any of the repairs. Even if the house does not need repairs, they will make an offer to buy it so that you can sell the house fast. <br />
If you've inherited a house or just evicted some tenants and want to avoid renting the house again, real estate investors may be your best best. You can have an instant buyer rather than putting it on the market and having to have showings to try move it. These house buyers will make an offer and you can either accept it or not. Why not try them out and see if you could save a lot of time and hassle?<br />
The tradeoff with using a house buying company is that they typically need to buy the house below market value as they are buying for investment purposes. It's better to know this upfront. Most "We Buy Houses" websites do not mention this. For a lot of sellers this tradeoff is well worth it to avoid the hassles of selling a house in this market.<br />
Hopefully you can avoid making these mistakes while trying to sell your house fast. Understanding what to avoid will put you far ahead of the competition. Good luck with the sale of your house.<br />
Daniel is a cash home buyer in San Antonio. His company has been buying houses for almost 10 ten years. He sets his apart by getting personally involved in every transaction. If you have a home to sell fast in San Antonio, consider contacting Daniel at his website: <a href="http://www.webuyhousesuglyornot.com/" target="_new">We Buy Houses San Antonio</a>.<br />
View the original article <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/6512021" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>Agents Realtorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541767896132146702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334566481260543093.post-47430735561978628332011-08-27T09:15:00.001-07:002011-08-27T09:15:15.184-07:00A New Agent's Real Estate Marketing Plan in a Tough Market <P>I was coaching a new real estate agent today. Jack's been in business for two months, he's new to San Diego, has never done real estate before, hasn't had a speck of business yet, and I believe he will be a top producer. Why? Because he's working hard, doing the right kind of real estate marketing.</P><P><STRONG>Working hard at the right things has always been the secret of success.</STRONG></P><P>At a time when many real estate agents are asking me "What kind of prospecting should I be doing in this market?" Jack is going old school. He's geographic farming...but with a new twist.</P><P>Jack's Real Estate Prospecting Plan</P><P>I could just say that Jack is adding web-based marketing to his geographic farming, but that wouldn't mean much. So instead, I'm going to list many of the things he's done or is doing since getting his license two months ago:</P>Got a URL for the neighborhood he wants to "farm".Bought an inexpensive, but very effective real estate website with IDX ($30/mo).Did SEO (search engine optimization) for that site so that in just two months it's on page one of Google...without spending on AdWords. (There are about 80 key steps involved in this, but he's listed them all out for me to repeat for others.)Joined the community council for his farm.Began writing articles for his website about his farm...building up to 50 pages of content.Began visiting businesses that related to his interests and needs. He talks to the owners and tells them he'd like to do business with them. Gets to know them. Communicates. Asks how he can help them.Created a Facebook Business page and connected to 800 friends. The page links back to his website.<P>Things we talked about adding to the mix: <BR>Creating a "real estate benefits" portal for his business contacts.Finding out who has a small or "hobby" business in his farm area and promoting it locally.Holding "Power Open Houses."Doing door-to-door campaigning to introduce himself.Blogging about his farm.Using a database to follow up in addition to using Facebook.Using free give-aways to entice connections.Using Craigslist video strategies.<P>Jack's big problem will be holding it all together when people start to call him and he's got several transactions running at once. But frontloading his marketing will help get it systematized before his business picks up and he has no more time for marketing.</P><P>As I was leaving the building where we were meeting, another agent, Jerry, stopped me to ask me about working short sales. He felt this was the way to go to build his business and wanted to know if I could recommend a company that would provide him with short sale leads.</P><P>Later I thought about the differences between these two agents. Both are great guys. Both are going to be very successful. But in very different ways. I suspect Jack will be more successful in the long run, because he'll end up with a large database full of personal contacts, whereas Jerry will get business faster and continue to be successful so long as the short sale market stays strong, and beyond if he follows up well.</P><P>Every agent is good at something...and finding that "something" is the key to unleashing your potential. Find your sweet spot at <A href="http://realestatebusinesscoaching.com/" target=_new>Real Estate Business Coaching</A>.</P>View the original article <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/6484201" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>Agents Realtorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541767896132146702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334566481260543093.post-21295379582974901392010-09-15T11:00:00.000-07:002011-09-15T11:01:05.116-07:00Sitemap<link href="http://abu-farhan.com/script/acctoc/acc-toc.css" media="screen" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"></link><br />
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