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10 Open House Tips: “Bringing Out the Best in the Property”

May 6th, 2010 · General

1.  LET THE NOSE LEAD THE WAY: It has to smell good when a prospect sets foot in the door. Set out potpourri or some freshly baked cookies. Make sure there are no scents from smokers or pets lingering in the air.

 door-012. SET THE STAGE FOR THE BUYER: Have the dining and kitchen tables set with pretty dinnerware and seasonal decoration. Be sure there is some activity area, such as a board game on the bed in a child’s room. Be creative. The objective is to make the prospective buyer feel at home.

 3. WIDE OPEN SPACES: If at all possible, remove a piece of furniture from every room to create open space. The furniture can be put in a garage or storage building temporarily.

 4. SHOW OFF COUNTER SPACE: Clear off all non-essential items from counters making the counters the focal point of view.

 5. A LITTLE PAMPERING ANYONE? Hang the best towels and clear away everything except décor items on the bathroom counters. Make sure the shower curtain is attractive, clean and appealing. Add some scented soaps. Make the buyer feel pampered.

 6. COLOR IT: Place some fresh flowers to add color to the central rooms. Throw a colorful throw over a chair or sofa.

 7. GENERALIZE RATHER THAN PERSONALIZE: Remove personal photos, special collections and any décor that could be distracting.

 8. FIRE IT UP: In winter light a fire in the fireplace, especially if there are gas logs that do not need tending. In spring, place something colorful on the hearth.

 9. A WELCOMING ENTRANCE: Have an attractive doormat at the entrance and seasonal flowers in strategic spots as the buyer enters.

 10. ENHANCE THE CURB APPEAL: Groom the lawn as a professional would. The first impression is critical.

 - Pat Mitchell, CRB; Real Estate Educator-Real Estate and Small Business Consultant

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Is a Real Estate Career Right for You?

March 31st, 2010 · uncatgorized

RealtorReal Estate can be a most rewarding and challenging career choice. But it is not for everyone. The freedom to set your own schedule and control your own time is wonderful for the self-motivated individual who is disciplined enough to work and manage your most valuable resource, your time. However, some find that they get sidetracked and put off the things that create income in lieu of things they enjoy more…… The end result, no sales, no income.

But let’s say you are that self-motivated, self-discipline individual. What else must you possess in order to become success at a real estate career? First and foremost would be good communication skills. Real estate is a contact sport. You simply cannot sit at home behind a computer and make a good living at real estate. You must be able to initiate and carry on a conversation with others, both face to face and on the telephone. Your biggest communication objective will be to ’sell yourself’. Those same skills will allow you to be a strong advocate, negotiator on behalf of your clients. The client has to know that you will speak with confidence on their behalf.

Second, it is very helpful to be organized. There are a lot of details in a real estate transaction. As an agent representing a client, you become responsible for keeping up with and documenting the details. Keeping good records and the ability to multi-task are both very helpful in advancing to higher levels of income in real estate.

Third, is the ability and willingness to learn.  Like most everything else in life, things change. The law, the process, the way you interact with clients, all can change. If you are willing to learn, able to learn and seek out the latest information and apply it to the best of your ability, your level of success increases.

To recap, a successful real estate agent manages their time wisely, tracks and handles details effectively, communicates with ease and constantly seeks to learn and apply new information and practices. If you feel that you can do these things, real estate could be a great choice for you.

 - Pat Mitchell, CRB; Real Estate Educator-Real Estate and Small Business Consultant

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Steps in Getting an Alabama Real Estate License

March 21st, 2010 · uncatgorized

Alabama License Law Book

Alabama License Law Book can be obtained from the Alabama Real Estate Commission's website

If you want to get a real estate license in Alabama, it is really pretty simple.

If you do not already have a current real estate license in another state and want  to get a real estate license in Alabama the requirements are as follows.  Note that if you already have a real estate license in another state, then you are eligible for a reciprocal license.  The procedure for getting an Alabama reciprocal license is different.  Getting a reciprocal real estate license is covered in another article.

 Getting a real estate license if you do not already have a license in another state:

 1. Age Requirement:

You must be at least 19 years old to receive a real estate license.  However you can begin the real estate course before turning 19 years old.

 2. Residency Requirement:

You must be a US citizen or have a permanent resident status which means you have a green card.  You must be able to show proof that you are a bona fide resident in any state in the US.

 3. Background Check:

Prior to being granted an Alabama real estate license the Alabama Real Estate Commission will conduct a criminal background check on all applicants.  In order to receive a realstate license, you cannot have been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.  What is a crime of moral turpitude?  It is a crime showing bad character like shoplifting or writing bad checks.

 Also, you cannot have had a real estate application or real estate license rejected or revoked in any state within the past two years.

 4. Education:
You are required to show proof of graduating from high school or have a GED.  Proof of high school graduation can be a high school or college diploma. 

 Additionally, you must take a 60-hour Alabama real estate course and pass the proctored course final examination.  This course can be taken online

 5. State Exam:
After completing the course you will be required to take the Alabama real estate  license exam.

6. After Passing Real Estate Exam

After passing the state real estate exam before leaving the test site, you will be given an application for an Alabama temporary real estate license.  You will have 90 days to decide what you would like to do!  You must decide whether you want to be on active or inactive status.

 If you are not ready to begin work in real estate right away, you can let your temporary real estate license be held on inactive status by the Alabama Real Estate Commission.

 If you are ready to work in real estate right now, you must choose a broker that you want to work for and who will hold your temporary license so you can begin your career!  If you have not yet interviewed brokers, read blog posting How To Select a Real Estate Company to Work For.

 Your next step is to take the Alabama post license course.  This is where you really learn how to practice real estate.  You have 6 months to complete this 30-hour post license course with an active license and 12 months with an inactive license.  This course can also be taken online

 After completing this post license course you can apply for an original salesperson’s license.

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How to Select a Real Estate Company to Work For!

March 19th, 2010 · uncatgorized

The Green Go Button to a Real Estate Career

Go Button to a Real Estate Career

Where you place your real estate license is a critical decision. The company can become your most valuable asset or your career detriment. The choice is yours and it should not be taken lightly. The relationship is sort of like owning a business within a business. You are responsible for your business but the company provides an umbrella that either strengthens your opportunities and services or leaves your career path full of holes.

Let’s consider some of the most  important issues:

♦  Company Website

  • Is it user friendly? Remember, your clients will be going there for information.
  • Is it kept up to date? How often are listings updated? The same info pages….
  • Are you provided personal web pages? Are they easy to update?
  • What does all this cost you? Do you get value for what you spend?

♦  References:

  • Do you know someone who is licensed there? Ask about their experience.
  • Ask neighbors, friends about their experiences.

♦  Office First Impression:

  • Is it warm and friendly?
  • Do you get a positive feeling when you step in?

♦  Small, Medium or Large:

  • Is Coaching/Mentoring provided and if so, at what cost to you.
  • What support services are available; technology, marketing, relocation, staff etc. 
  • Are systems in place for prospecting, listing, or contact management?

♦  Broker/Manager:

  • Selling or managing broker: A selling broker could be your competition.
  • What is the broker’s management style?
  • How much management experience has the broker had?

♦  Location:

  • Is it nearby your home making it easy to pick up and drop off  things?
  • Can technology be utilized extensively making the office location not as important?

You should interview with 3 or more different brokers. Prepare and take a list of questions to each interview. Note down your impressions during or immediately after each interview. Then trust your feelings as you review the notes. Here are some suggested questions:

  1. What do you consider to be the strengths and weaknesses of your company/office?
  2. What do you do to assist an agent in getting started at your office?
  3. What do you expect from a new agent?
  4. What will it cost me to get started and what does the company pay for on my behalf?
  5. What is the makeup of your office, i.e. # of agents, experienced versus new, diversity
  6. How often will I have an opportunity to work floor time or open houses?
  7. What will my commission split be and does it increase as my production increases?

You can develop other questions from the list of considerations shown above. The more you know, the better decision you can make. Real estate can be a very rewarding career but it can also be very challenging. Choosing the right company is one thing that can help you get your business moving.

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Important Considerations in Selecting a Real Estate Broker

April 30th, 2009 · uncatgorized

Choosing a real estate company to work for is much more than just finding a place to hang your license. It can be the backbone or structure that gives you a career worth having, and a business worth owning.

 Let’s look at some of the issues that should be considered when selecting a real estate brokerage firm.

Take a look at the company’s website. Your future clients will be making decisions on who to call by looking at websites. Why don’t you do the same? Evaluate the home page and the navigation on the site. Is it easy for a prospective homebuyer to find what they are looking for? Look at the “About Us” section. What kind of feeling do you get about the company? Look at the section that contains agent profiles. Which agent would you pick if you were a prospective buyer or seller?

Ask your friends, neighbors and relatives about experiences they have had with real estate companies or agents. Find an agent currently practicing real estate to talk to about the business.

Cold call real estate offices to get a first impression. You are looking for a productive, positive environment. Explain that you are considering a career in real estate. What kind of response do you get? Ask to speak to the agent on duty. What kind of first impressions do you get from this conversation?

How far should your office be from your home? Remember, you will be going back and forth frequently at all hours of the day and night to pick up or deliver paperwork, checks, and meet clients. Make it as convenient on yourself as possible.

What size company would you be most comfortable working for? Big, medium or small…..they all have advantages and disadvantages. Often times in a small company the managing broker is also a selling broker which means that you may actually be competing with him/her. Depending on how this is handled it may or may not be a problem. However, it should be a topic of conversation and something for you to consider.

The size of the company may dictate what kind of staff support you will receive. Strong staff support can save you time and money. Talk to the support staff and take note of the attitude and enthusiasm.

Also look for a company with good systems in place. By this I mean, systems for prospecting, listings, expireds, contact management, etc. The thought and planning that goes into these kinds of systems is the mark of a well-managed company.

What about the managing broker? What kind of management style would be most appealing to you? You should interview with at least 3 different managing brokers, more interviews would be even better. Have a list of questions ready. Most important…..is to write down your impressions immediately after the interview while it is still fresh. Even if it is just to write down adjectives that express your feelings. Trust those feelings. Also make notes during and after the meeting about company policies that were discussed.

It is important that the managing broker be knowledgeable, a great administrator, and have a take charge personality.

Potential questions might be:

1. What is the average length of time agents have been with this office?

2. How do you help a new agent get up and running?

3. How many new agents do you currently have onboard? How many new agents do you plan on hiring in the next 3 months?

4. What kind of costs will I incur up-front if I decide to work with your company?

5. Can any of this be deducted from my first commission check?

6. What business expenses will the company pay for me?

7. What kind of sales volume do you expect of new agents?

8. What will my commission split be? How will that change over time?

9. How is floor duty decided and when would I be eligible?

10. How is the relocation referral business handled?

A career in real estate can be a very rewarding one. It is important that you get off to a good start.

A lot of people are under the mistaken impression that they are going in for a job interview, but that is not the case…….you are interviewing the brokers.

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