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5 Common Contingencies When Buying a Home

March 9, 2021 By

It’s vital to understand the terms “earnest money” and “contingencies” when house hunting. Earnest money is paid up-front as a show of good faith when you make an offer on a home. It is held by an escrow company until the sale is finalized or falls through. A contingency is a condition added to a purchase offer. If that condition isn’t met, the buyer keeps their earnest money if they walk away.

Here are the five most common contingencies used by homebuyers.

  1. Appraisal: This contingency means the offer depends on a satisfactory appraisal of the property. If the appraiser decides the value of the home is much lower than the sale price, the buyer can re-negotiate or walk away.
  2. Financing: This contingency gives the buyer time to secure a home loan. It protects them in the event they cannot find a lender or do not qualify for the amount they need.
  3. Home sale: If a buyer needs to sell their current home, this contingency gives them time to do so. If they cannot sell their home, they get their earnest money back. This contingency is no longer very common, as sellers generally decline offers with it.
  4. Inspection: If the home inspection reveals any problems, this contingency gives the buyer a chance to negotiate repairs with the seller. If an agreement cannot be reached, the buyer can walk away.
  5. Title: This contingency protects the buyer if any problems arise during the title search. Common problems include contested ownership or another person’s debts needing to be paid.
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Power of Social Media Leveraging Your Online Presence to Drive Growth

March 3, 2021 By

When it comes to truly standing out in today’s hyper competitive real estate market, one of the most important factors an agent should consider is their digital footprint. Social media platforms have become an integral part of the real estate business helping agents build a strong and consistent brand presence with target consumers and generate leads. While some may consider it a form of “free advertising”, doing it well takes a different kind of investment – time and effort. The most successful agents on social media agree that you need to be selective with your content, consistent with a posting cadence and showcase your authentic self to successfully drive engagement.

We sat down with a few of CENTURY 21 Real Estate’s most social-savvy affiliates to share their insights and key things to consider when incorporating social media into your business plan.

Chris Stager, CENTURY 21 Pinnacle

Power of Social Media Leveraging Your Online Presence to Drive Growth image 1

Social Media plays the BIGGEST role in my business with over 80% of my transactions having been generated on these platforms. My business plan starts and ends with social media, I treat it like a live CRM. My goal is to build a trusted social brand by creating good and consistent brand awareness with one-of-a-kind, community-driven content. By being myself and giving my consumer a look inside of my life, from both a professional and personal standpoint, I am already establishing that unique connection with them. I believe one of the biggest mistakes agents make is too much focus on business content. There’s only one you, so BE YOU and not someone else. YOU are the one they are hiring to be their partner on this journey.

Shawn Battle, CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty

Power of Social Media Leveraging Your Online Presence to Drive Growth image 2

In today’s market, if you aren’t posting regularly on social media, you just aren’t doing your job as a real estate agent. That being said, I’m very selective with what goes on my page and what goes into my story. I’ve had the most success using video and YouTube. It’s the biggest way I distinguish myself because not as many agents are doing it. I like to put my own fun little spin on each video to show some personality and keep people engaged. I then use the CENTURY 21 CRM and email marketing tools to engage my sphere with this content at least once a week. I’ve attracted several new clients who said they saw my YouTube videos and wanted to work with me. My advice to other agents is to start with one platform and master it. Don’t just post to post, post to build a foundation and make the content consistent with your business.

Gabe Mendez, CENTURY 21 Award

Power of Social Media Leveraging Your Online Presence to Drive Growth image 3

Social media is my main source for lead generation – I use it as a form of personal branding. People connect with me and the way I do business. When they see me, hear me, get to know me, they begin to build a level of trust which makes it easy and fun to work together. Not everyone wants to do business with me and that’s okay, but the only way they can make that decision is by knowing I exist and learning more about me. Our job as agents is to get attention to our business, to capture mind share. That’s why we cold call, door knock, send mailers. Social media is the easiest, most fun, and most affordable way of doing that. But even though it may
seem casual, the biggest mistake agents make is losing the professional aspect of your content. If you wouldn’t put it on a listing presentation, do not post it on social media.

As you can see, each of these agents takes a unique and personal approach to leveraging social media to engage with today’s home buyers and sellers. As part of the CENTURY 21 brand, our network of 146,000 affiliated sales professionals has access to a suite of tools that enable them to create unique and customizable social content, promote their personal brand with key targets and connect with system leaders for the latest coaching and training to take their business to the next level.

The post Power of Social Media Leveraging Your Online Presence to Drive Growth first appeared on Century 21®.

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Power of Social Media Leveraging Your Online Presence to Drive Growth

March 3, 2021 By

When it comes to truly standing out in today’s hyper competitive real estate market, one of the most important factors an agent should consider is their digital footprint. Social media platforms have become an integral part of the real estate business helping agents build a strong and consistent brand presence with target consumers and generate leads. While some may consider it a form of “free advertising”, doing it well takes a different kind of investment – time and effort. The most successful agents on social media agree that you need to be selective with your content, consistent with a posting cadence and showcase your authentic self to successfully drive engagement.

We sat down with a few of CENTURY 21 Real Estate’s most social-savvy affiliates to share their insights and key things to consider when incorporating social media into your business plan.

Chris Stager, CENTURY 21 Pinnacle

Power of Social Media Leveraging Your Online Presence to Drive Growth image 1

Social Media plays the BIGGEST role in my business with over 80% of my transactions having been generated on these platforms. My business plan starts and ends with social media, I treat it like a live CRM. My goal is to build a trusted social brand by creating good and consistent brand awareness with one-of-a-kind, community-driven content. By being myself and giving my consumer a look inside of my life, from both a professional and personal standpoint, I am already establishing that unique connection with them. I believe one of the biggest mistakes agents make is too much focus on business content. There’s only one you, so BE YOU and not someone else. YOU are the one they are hiring to be their partner on this journey.

Shawn Battle, CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty

Power of Social Media Leveraging Your Online Presence to Drive Growth image 2

In today’s market, if you aren’t posting regularly on social media, you just aren’t doing your job as a real estate agent. That being said, I’m very selective with what goes on my page and what goes into my story. I’ve had the most success using video and YouTube. It’s the biggest way I distinguish myself because not as many agents are doing it. I like to put my own fun little spin on each video to show some personality and keep people engaged. I then use the CENTURY 21 CRM and email marketing tools to engage my sphere with this content at least once a week. I’ve attracted several new clients who said they saw my YouTube videos and wanted to work with me. My advice to other agents is to start with one platform and master it. Don’t just post to post, post to build a foundation and make the content consistent with your business.

Gabe Mendez, CENTURY 21 Award

Power of Social Media Leveraging Your Online Presence to Drive Growth image 3

Social media is my main source for lead generation – I use it as a form of personal branding. People connect with me and the way I do business. When they see me, hear me, get to know me, they begin to build a level of trust which makes it easy and fun to work together. Not everyone wants to do business with me and that’s okay, but the only way they can make that decision is by knowing I exist and learning more about me. Our job as agents is to get attention to our business, to capture mind share. That’s why we cold call, door knock, send mailers. Social media is the easiest, most fun, and most affordable way of doing that. But even though it may
seem casual, the biggest mistake agents make is losing the professional aspect of your content. If you wouldn’t put it on a listing presentation, do not post it on social media.

As you can see, each of these agents takes a unique and personal approach to leveraging social media to engage with today’s home buyers and sellers. As part of the CENTURY 21 brand, our network of 146,000 affiliated sales professionals has access to a suite of tools that enable them to create unique and customizable social content, promote their personal brand with key targets and connect with system leaders for the latest coaching and training to take their business to the next level.

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Top 2021 Design Trends to Watch

February 18, 2021 By

Our homes became the center of our worlds in 2020. As we move forward into 2021, what home design trends are expected to emerge? Here are some top predictions from interior designers. 

  1. Neutrals Mixed with Bold Colors – Neutral tones will never go out of style, but some homeowners are saying “yes” to pops of color. Pantone led the way by choosing not just one, but two independent colors for 2021: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating (a cheery yellow). As Pantone explained, the combo of a neutral and vibrant hue “highlights how different elements come together to support one another.” Now isn’t that the story of 2021? 
  2. Entertainment Spaces — “Staying in is the new going out,” says designer Brad Ford. Expect more attention paid to creating entertainment opportunities at home with bigger TVs, better sound systems, mood lighting, lounge seating, and substantial dining tables that mimic the feeling of going out. 
  3. Multi-Functional Living Rooms – Now, more than ever, living rooms need to be comfortable, approachable, and functional. Designers are refashioning these spaces by adding a games table, library table, and several seating areas for reading and relaxing that allow the family to be together in the same room no matter the activities they’re doing. 

Which style are you?

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The Outpost Economy: A New Trend

February 11, 2021 By

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many behavioral changes, not the least of which is the acceleration of the work-from-home trend. As the location of many workplaces remains flexible, there’s been a shift in the nature of work, its location and employment implications. Commercial real estate investment firm Graceada Partners has identified this trend and defined it, referring to it in a new report as the “outpost economy.”

The outpost economy is defined as the rise of a more dispersed economy and employment base away from major cities, to smaller cities with a high quality of life that draws workers who have become untethered from their offices in major cities. Clearly, this has implications for the real estate market – on both primary markets, as corporate headquarters become decentralized, and on secondary markets, as they evolve into “outpost economies.”

Takeaways from the Graceada report include:

  • Prior to COVID-19, many workers built their lives around the cities where they were employed. But, today, Millennials and younger workers are nesting, focusing on purchasing homes in smaller cities or suburbs and growing families there. The pandemic has enabled them to do this due to greater acceptance of remote working.
  • Still, the office is not dead. Many remote workers have already returned to the office, and offices are migration evolving as well. Employers may end up leasing smaller spaces in secondary markets to allow employees in those areas to work from those hubs.
  • Three outposts singled out in the report are Austin, Charlotte and Sacramento.
  • Despite the rise of many outposts, primary markets like New York and San Francisco have been economic hubs for major industries for many years and aren’t expected to go away overnight.
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How to find the right neighborhood

February 4, 2021 By

Finding the right house starts with finding the right neighborhood. After all, location is everything. However, evaluating a neighborhood can be tough, particularly if you’re moving to an unfamiliar area. Here are a few tips to help you in your search.

Consider everything

When you’re just starting out, don’t eliminate anything right away. A neighborhood you heard one bad rumor about, or that you’ve only ever buzzed past, may actually be a delightful place to live. Look at all your options with fresh eyes, so that you can make a truly unbiased decision.

Remember what’s important

Just as with home buying, choosing a neighborhood comes down to what you can and can’t live without. Research local schools, average house prices and planned developments. Consider things like traffic noise, proximity of shops and parks, and how close you need to be to work. As you think about all these criteria and more, make a list of your must-haves. If you’re on the fence about a location, use your list to help you decide.

Ask around

Once you’ve found some neighborhoods you like, it’s time for a visit. Try going for a walk in the area, eating at a local restaurant and talking to local business owners as well as potential neighbors. You may even want to rent for a while to really get a feel for things.

In-person visits are the best way to observe things like safety, cleanliness and friendliness. So make sure you take a good look around to be sure it’s the right location for you.

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Building an Online Community: The Secret Sauce

January 28, 2021 By

Let’s face it. If you’re an entrepreneur or a real estate professional, there’s almost no way to avoid marketing your business without using social media. Social has become one of the top ways business professionals connect with potential clients and bring awareness to their business.

Whether it’s through writing the perfect caption for all the photos you’ve captured for your newest listing, or, trying to find the best way to use the latest features released by your social media platform of choice, we’ve all been there. You sit there; smart device in-hand, and you think, and you think, and just when you’re ready to get past yourself and post, you talk yourself out of it.

Sound familiar?

We recently had the chance to speak with one of our #relentless that has taken the bull by the horns and elevated his social media game. Ryan Servantius of Century 21 Affiliated in South Haven, Michigan has learned a thing or two about how to build an online community via social media and how to create the dynamic content that leads to new clients. With over 10k followers, he shared some of his secret sauce in doing social, effectively.

Living and working in a small resort town in Lake Michigan, two hours north of Chicago, and three hours from Detroit, ninety-nine percent of his clients are from out of state. They often travel down the shorelines to seek a different lifestyle only smaller communities typically can afford.

Building an Online Community: The Secret Sauce image 1

“I always ask people when they come up, ‘What do you want your story to be? ‘What are you looking for?’ and ‘What makes you happy when you get away from your primary home?’

Understanding your local market is a key to real estate sales success. With these answers in hand, I can deliver first-hand experiences and a marketplace best suited for them.

I went out and purchased an electric golf cart, branded it, and spend summers showing clients different properties and neighborhoods based on their personal preferences.

Building an Online Community: The Secret Sauce image 2

The golf cart and my inflatable boat helps sell the lifestyle in person, but to get people to know and to trust me as the local market expert who can deliver the experience and the personalized service they are looking for, I started almost a decade ago a blog called, ‘Things To Do in South Haven.’ From interviews with business owners, to festivals and local cooking classes to city planning attempts to rid the community of short-term rentals, the blog serves as a knowledge-based touchpoint for others to find information and or solutions on the real estate market.

Building an Online Community: The Secret Sauce image 3

The blog helps to keep me in the public eye. Plus, by being a trusted and valuable member of the community, many in town send me referrals of people who come into their shops or spark up conversations with them. They’ll say, ‘Hey, go talk to Ryan. He’s around the corner at the CENTURY 21 office, maybe he can help you out.’ To date, ‘Things To Do in South Haven’ has 10,300 followers (more than the local Chamber of Commerce.)

People like to work with people who are like them. I am South Haven and the other second and or vacation home markets I serve. It’s important to be comfortable with who you are. It’s very simple. You do have to do your homework. Once you do that, people will trust you as the agent to go to. You’re in the know. You know what’s going on.”

Note: This material may contain suggestions and best practices that you may use at your discretion.  The views, information, or opinions expressed in any user-generated content are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Century 21 Real Estate LLC. 

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In it For the Long Haul

January 26, 2021 By

Relentless Agent Award winner, Banny “Life-Changer” Lim, didn’t get his nickname from just helping his clients with their homes. It comes from his unique perspective for what it truly means to service his clients throughout the home buying and selling experience. Banny believes that it’s all about the dream of homeownership and breaking through any barriers that would get in the way of his client’s achieving their dreams.

Looking back on his career, Banny says he never thought he’s be in a position where he would have such a meaningful impact on people’s lives, until he started his career in real estate. Helping clients to find that anchor or security, in their lives, is the driving force that keeps Banny going, but it doesn’t stop there.

 

You have to be self-driven. I’ve always had that drive to be better and, you know, and it shows with your clients.

Banny Lim

Banny’s self-drive kicked into full gear when he began an almost 5-year process of working with a client to help find them a home. Though it was one of the most challenging opportunities of his career, Banny didn’t let a little obstacle like an almost 60-month timespan damper his relentless pursuit. Banny was in it for the long-haul; taking on the mindset that he’d stop at nothing until his client found just the right home that exceeded their expectations.

 Everyone’s going to remember their first home purchase. Whether it’s $150,000 or half-a-million… they are trusting us to facilitate that and make sure everything goes without a hitch.

Banny Lim

Though Banny’s real estate business keeps him quite busy, he is excited about becoming a first-time father with his wife of over 10 years. With expansion and growth on his agenda, Banny is looking forward to giving back to his community.

His commitment, patience, and dedication are very apparent with each of his clients. They are what enable him to deliver extraordinary experiences, time after time. Banny’s focus is to ensure his clients have an unforgettable experience and memorable transaction because he believes it should be nothing less.

Note: This material may contain suggestions and best practices that you may use at your discretion.  The views, information, or opinions expressed in any user-generated content are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Century 21 Real Estate LLC.

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Attention to Every Detail

January 26, 2021 By

If you ask Relentless Agent Award Winner, Laura Ennis of CENTURY 21 AllPoints Realty in Enfield, CT, what makes her stand out from the crowd, she’ll tell you without hesitation, it’s all about the details. Known as, Laura “Overly-Involved” Ennis, Laura firmly believes in getting involved in every detail of the transaction to help transform her client’s process into an unforgettable experience.

I don’t think you’re successful by yourself. You have to have a team.

Laura Ennis

Part of what helps Laura give 121% to her clients and her community is that throughout her 25-year career, she’s managed to build key relationships. These relationships have given her the ability to become a top-tier problem solver in almost any situation, ensuring those that work with her, don’t have a thing to worry about during the home buying or selling process.

I can always fix every problem because I can call on somebody who will help me. Between my attorneys, my inspectors, contractors, plumbers, and electricians… I go the extra mile.

Laura Ennis

There’s no doubt that Laura is passionate about serving her clients and her drive to continue elevating her service is undeniable. There is an additional key area where Laura also places her emphasis on and that’s communication. Laura believes that to be successful in this business, your communication skills must be top-notch. Making it a point to answer her phone every time a client calls, Laura also works overtime to ensure she can provide just the response her clients need to ease their minds and give them accurate information to answer their questions.

A firm believer in giving back in every way, Laura spends a great deal of her time volunteering in her community, as a member of the local Elks Club, to help raise awareness for Autism. She’s also very passionate about serving local veterans and seniors during the holiday season. Laura also helps to support Kyle’s Krusade, which is a local charity that provides support for families of those being treated at the Hartford Children’s Hospital Oncology Ward.

Laura truly leaves no stone unturned and makes each little detail her priority. In business, there can be an emphasis placed on the larger things but as we’ve seen with Laura, her quarter of a century career has been spent focusing and becoming involved in each seemingly small detail that leads up to an extraordinary home buying or selling experience.

Note: This material may contain suggestions and best practices that you may use at your discretion.  The views, information, or opinions expressed in any user-generated content are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Century 21 Real Estate LLC.

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Walk a Mile in Their Shoes

January 26, 2021 By

When you think of superpowers, what comes to mind? How about empathy? Jenna Roberts, of Century 21 Platinum in Clarksville, TN has developed a meaningful way to connect with her clients through empathy. When you ask Jenna about her ‘why’ and what makes her so passionate about her real estate career, it’s very evident that her desire to serve, beyond the transaction, is what makes her #relentless. Not everyone can understand, recognize and articulate the thoughts and feelings of others but, it’s quite honestly, one of the superpowers that give Jenna her drive.

With an ability to relate to others in each of their unique situations, Jenna believes that being able to walk a mile in the shoes of her clients, is what helps her go above and beyond to defy mediocrity. And when we say, walk a mile in their shoes, we mean literally! Jenna actually walked up a steep hill with one of her clients, in heels, to tour a property.

I’ve built relationships with all my clients and try to keep in touch with them and not make them feel like it’s a transaction, but a personal relationship. It’s a decision or journey that I’m walking through with them, not just when we close on paper.

Jenna Roberts

Jenna’s thoughtfulness is key to elevating her service with her clients, for every experience. Whether she’s ordering their first meal, after a client has moved into their new home, or personally delivering boxes to the families she serves to help them with their move, elevating her game, at every touchpoint, is second nature. With a heart to serve military families, Jenna is passionate about making a meaningful impact on the lives of those who serve our country. She is a resource for them and looks for ways to go above and beyond to serve local families and those transitioning into the area, in real estate and beyond.

“I just try to put myself in their shoes and try to figure out, what would’ve been easiest for me when I was going through all of the transitions when I moved.” Jenna Roberts

Sometimes, it’s the meaningful connections in life that can leave lasting impressions. Jenna’s ability to connect with her clients, by placing herself in their shoes, has proven to be what makes her relentless.

Note: This material may contain suggestions and best practices that you may use at your discretion.  The views, information, or opinions expressed in any user-generated content are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Century 21 Real Estate LLC.

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