help Archives - CENTURY 21 MarketLink Realty

House Hacks for the Vertically Challenged

March 27, 2015 By CENTURY 21

You have high hopes. You aim high. You just can’t reach that high. Sound familiar?

You may be vertically challenged but, fear not, there are strategic solutions that will work for you.

1. Built in step stools: Install a pull-out step stool on the bottom in a hidden drawer or cabinet below hard to reach areas like high cabinets. This will make it easier to quickly get into high places without roaming the house for a step stool.

2. Sliding ladder: If you’d like to get really fancy, install a sliding ladder similar to one you’d find in a beautiful library or bookstore. Add one to your pantry so you can always reach the extra sugar.

3. Automated cabinets: It may seem like something only available to the Jetsons but automated cabinets exist in 2015. With a push of a button, the cabinets open and the shelves slide down to a level that’s easier to reach.

4. Customized counter and cabinet heights: If you’re redesigning a bathroom or kitchen, build counters and cabinets that are customized to a height that is better for you. Yes, this might make it harder to sell in the long run, but if you don’t plan on selling soon it could make daily activities more convenient.

Being vertically challenged doesn’t have to put a damper on your everyday life! Reach for the stars (or at least the cleaning products on the top shelf) with our tips.

House Hacks for the Vertically Challenged

March 23, 2015 By Alex Figliolia

You have high hopes. You aim high. You just can’t reach that high. Sound familiar?

You may be vertically challenged but, fear not, there are strategic solutions that will work for you.

Built in step stools: Install a pull-out step stool on the bottom in a hidden drawer or cabinet below hard to reach areas like high cabinets. This will make it easier to quickly get into high places without roaming the house for a step stool.

Sliding ladder: If you’d like to get really fancy, install a sliding ladder similar to one you’d find in a beautiful library or bookstore. Add one to your pantry so you can always reach the extra sugar.

Automated cabinets: It may seem like something only available to the Jetsons but automated cabinets exist in 2015. With a push of a button, the cabinets open and the shelves slide down to a level that’s easier to reach.

Customized counter and cabinet heights: If you’re redesigning a bathroom or kitchen, build counters and cabinets that are customized to a height that is better for you. Yes, this might make it harder to sell in the long run, but if you don’t plan on selling soon it could make daily activities more convenient.

Being vertically challenged doesn’t have to put a damper on your everyday life! Reach for the stars (or at least the cleaning products on the top shelf) with our tips.

Syndicated via Century 21®. Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/century21/wAvv/~3/FIQZPJYA70s/

5 Simple Twitter Tips for Real Estate Agents

May 20, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Twitter is not just a tool for posting selfies and oversharing. It is a valuable tool for business owners. Twitter is a noteworthy resource for increasing brand awareness, sharing pertinent information, and generating business. Use Twitter to generate leads, to position yourself as a thought leader, and to ultimately close sales.

Helpful Terms:

-Profile: Your profile consists of your photo, bio, and location. A good bio explains what you do and what you are interested in – a challenging feat with only 140 characters!

-Handle: You handle is your Twitter username. Shorter handles are usually better due to Twitter’s 140 character limit.

-Timeline: Your timeline is a chronological list of all of the tweets written by the people and brands you follow.

-Mentions: If you write a tweet that contains someone’s handle, but you don’t start the tweet with that handle, then it is called a mention. A mention is visible to those who follow you.

Example: Did you read the lastest @Century21 blog post? It has lots of great tips for first time homebuyers! [link] #RealEstate #Advice

-Replies: If you start a tweet with someone’s handle, it is called a reply. The only people who will be able to see it in their timeline are people that follow you and the person or people that you are tweeting to. If someone clicks on your profile they will be able to see both your mentions and your replies.

Example: @Century21 I also recommend that homeowners light the fireplace or candles at open houses to make the home inviting. #RealEstate

-Retweets: Whenever you retweet someone else, their tweet will appear on your profile and will be visible to your followers.

-Favorites: A favorited tweet is the equivalent to a Facebook “Like.” Favorited tweets won’t appear on your timeline, but others can view what you favorite by clicking on the “Favorites” tab on your profile.

-Hashtags: Hashtags are keywords used written with the # symbol to track and find specific topics, phrases, events, and more. Click on them to see what other people are saying!

Here are five beginner tips to get you started!

1. Write a descriptive profile: What do you want your audience to know about you? Use this space to give a short yet clear description of who you are and what you do.

2. Use Twitter search for social listening: Use social listening as a focus group. Learn what other realtors and potential clients are talking about. This will also help you to determine what you want to discuss when you start Tweeting. You may want to search terms like: real estate, realtor, interior design, home, sell your home, moving, and homeowner.

3. Use relevant hashtags: Now that you’ve learned about what people are talking about, join the conversation! Write Tweets about new listings, blog posts you’ve written, articles you’ve enjoyed, and tips for other agents. You can use the same search terms as hashtags. For example: #realestate, #interiordesign, #home, #sellyourhome, #moving, and #homeowner. Search hashtags by clicking on them in someone’s tweet or entering the hashtag into search (#realestate).

4. Follow and engage with industry influencers: Twitter makes it easy for you to learn from others in your industry. You can find people to follow by using search or Twellow. Twellow is essentially a Yellow Pages for Twitter! Click categories and choose a category you are interested in.

Once you choose a category, you’ll be able to see a list of people that you might be interested in following. Read the person or brand’s bio, see their follower count, and look at their location. If you like what you see you can follow them directly from Twellow!

5. Share relevant content that is not your own: A good rule to follow is the 80/20 Rule. According to the 80/20 rule, 20% of what you share should be related to your brand and 80% should be engaging with other brands, influencers, and Twitter users or sharing content that is not your own. Share your listings, blog posts and resources on your site 20% of the time and focus the rest of your time on engagement and sharing other industry relevant news. This approach will not only help you learn more, but it will also help position yourself as a thought leader.

Now you are ready to set up an account! One added benefit is that this approach will help you to reach Millennials. Millennials use Twitter for news, tips, resources, and conversation. Millennials are also often first time homeowners and, if you market yourself on Twitter effectively, they are likely to turn to you when they are looking to buy a home.

Stay tuned for more social media tips and advice.

Syndicated via Century 21 Blog. Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/century21/wAvv/~3/KgpiLYlQDVY/

Let’s Get App-y: 3 Apps for Interior Design

May 6, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Interior design? There’s an app for that. We’ve rounded up five apps that will make your interior design projects easier. These apps seem like something straight from The Jetsons, but we can assure you that they are real and really helpful!

1. Benjamin Moore Color Capture® App (Android, iPhone, iPad): This app has multiple uses that are perfect for helping you choose colors for your home. If you’ve ever chosen paint colors before you know how hard it can be to choose between two colors that look so similar, yet so very different. Use this app to share your favorite colors on social media or by email, “favorite” colors, access the full color wheel (without having to carry it around), and write down notes. One standout feature of this app, is that you can take a picture of something that you love and the app will generate the corresponding Benjamin Moore paint colors! Paint different rooms with the colors of your favorite bouquet, sunset, flower, outfit, and whatever else inspires you!

2. Furnish (Android, iPhone, iPad): Wouldn’t it be great if you could see how your furniture would look in your home before you buy it? This app allows you to do just that! Use the app to browse furniture from their partners, Target, Ikea, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, West Elm, Herman Miller, and Knoll, then upload a picture of the room where you want the furniture and see if you like how it looks!

3. Home 3D (iPhone, iPad): Use the architecture functionality to create your home’s floorplan and rearrange it so that it becomes your ideal layout. Use the interior design functionality to add and rearrange furniture, to paint or wallpaper different rooms and to test different looks. If that isn’t cool enough, you can also use the 3D dollhouse mode to virtually walk through your home!

4. iHandy Carpenter (Android, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch): iHandy Carpenter has a plumb bob, a surface level, a bubble level bar, a steel protractor, and a steel ruler all conveniently located on your phone! This is a great app for carpenters, handymen, and people who are decorating their home. No more tilting your head quizzically to see if the painting or picture you hung is straight!

5. Autodesk Homestyle (Android, iPhone, iPad): Use Homestyler to see how furniture, light fixtures, rugs, paintings, mirrors, and more look in your home! The app has 3D images which give you an accurate representation of what your home will look like. Use the app to browse and buy furniture from a long list of brands including Crate and Barrel, Ethan Allen, Jonathan Adler, and Pottery Barn. We all know that choosing paint is a huge commitment. You can try paint colors and wallpaper to see how it looks in your home! Browse the Design Stream for inspiration and ideas, share designs with friends and family, look through Portfolio Pages of professional designers, and ask the professionals for their advice.

Loving your living space is so important. Interior design can be stressful because you want everything to be perfect. These apps help you try before you buy and make sure everything is just right.

Happy decorating!

Syndicated via Century 21 Blog. Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/century21/wAvv/~3/Ahb2_cEBM_k/