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How to Sell Your Home in the Winter

February 2, 2015 By

Winter, spring, summer or fall, all you have to do is call (an agent affiliated with CENTURY 21® Real Estate) and we’ll be there. Here are a few tips for to help ensure an efficient home sale during the winter months.

1. Shovel and salt: Blizzard or no blizzard, a few flurries can freeze quickly and create an ice patch [1] in front of your home. Shovel and put out salt the moment the snow starts. Additionally, always keep a clear path from the sidewalk to the door to make it safer to walk into the home. There is nothing worse than having a buyer or agent almost slip on ice!

2. Keep it warm: Keeping your home the right temperature is an important aspect of creating a successful open house, regardless of the season. In the winter, it’s especially important because you don’t want buyers to be shivering as they walk through your home. Find a happy medium between hot and cold.

3. Let there be light: A well-lit home is welcoming. Since the days are shorter and the nights are darker, it’s crucial to make sure there is enough light during your open house. Turn on all the lights throughout the home, including the closets, to show everything off.

You can add even more lighting to rooms that don’t have as many windows by placing spotlights on the floors behind furniture to accentuate parts of the home. Make sure that walkways and outdoor areas are well-lit so that people can navigate them safely.

4. Make it cozy: People want to feel cozy in the winter, especially when they’ve traveled through the cold to get to your open house. Your home should be as decluttered and depersonalized as possible during an open house, but feel free to add a few cozy elements like throw pillows and an extra blanket.

5. Curb Appeal: You may not have beautiful blooms in the winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t upgrade your curb appeal. Paint your door with a fresh coat of paint, assemble planters with plants that do well in winter, and trim shrubs and trees so that people can walk safely.

You never get a second chance at a first impression. These tips will help you have a safe and successful open house in the winter.

 

Recommended Reading:

-Snow Safety for the Home

-Open House Oops: Don’t Make These Mistakes

-5 Biggest Seller Mistakes

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4 Books for Boosting Your Career

January 22, 2015 By

Is improving your profession one of your New Year’s resolutions? Pick up a book. You can learn so much from other people’s paths, experiences, and advice. There is a wealth of books that can provide the insights you need to make your career goals attainable.

Here are four books that can boost your career.

1. Springboard: Launching Your Personal Search for Success by G. Richard Shell:

This book will help you discover what you want out of a profession, and how you can measure your success. Filled with exercises and inspirational stories from successful professionals, this is a book that will surely help you find out how to be successful – on your own terms.

2. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg:

This is another book linked to both professional and personal lives. Duhigg analyzes why people act the way they do, both in their careers and in everyday life. It’s hard to change a habit once it’s formed. The book examines the habits of successful people and shows you how positive habits can help you. Falling into a business routine can stunt your growth. This book helps you understand why you do what you do, and how you can help change it.

3. Brag!: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It by Peggy Klaus:
Real estate is a business where you need to sell, not only houses, but also yourself. You have to show clients that you’re a leader in your field. Selling yourself is something that most people struggle with but this book helps you talk about your assets without sounding conceited.

4. Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future by Dorie Clark:

Throughout the course of your profession, it’s important to keep things fresh and new. Reinventing yourself and changing things up is a necessary step in order to keep growing, despite what stage your professional life is in. Clark gives realistic advice on how to showcase your talents and skills, and how you can constantly reinvent yourself. She interviews successful business people, offering a broad spectrum of advice.

These books are filled with knowledge and advice that can guide you on the right path, no matter the stage of your profession.

Recommended Reading:

-5 New Year’s Resolutions for Real Estate Agents

-Tech Talk: 5 Apps for Real Estate Agents

-5 Essential Networking Tips for Real Estate Agents

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5 News Year’s Resolutions for Real Estate Agents

January 2, 2015 By

Happy New Year! You make New Year’s resolutions for your personal life, so why not make them for your professional life as well. If you’ve been meaning to improve on a certain area, or want to excel in a certain niche, the New Year is the perfect time to start. Focus on these five goals and, if you’re feeling extra ambitious, add more.

1. Tackle social media: If you aren’t very tech savvy, now is the time to develop your skills. Social media will help boost business. In fact, 91% of REALTORS® currently use at least one form of social media. Our best practices for Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest can give you the information you need to promote generating leads from social media.

2. Develop goals and action items: Write out a list of goals and tangible action items for 2015. For example, your overarching goal may be to generate a certain number of leads a month, or grow your social media following by 100 followers month over month. Your action items may be to go to at least three networking events a month or start implementing social media advertising on your various social media channels. Regardless of your specific goals, this exercise will help you identify and keep track of your accomplishments throughout the year.

3. Localize business: Inman.com reported that the key to standing out from your competition is to become an “expert” in one particular location. This tactic can help improve business both online and offline; targeting a specific geographic area can push you to the top of Google searches, instantly increasing business. Focus on your area of expertise this year and you may see results.

4. Become a thought leader: People want to work with you because they trust your expertise and values. One way to generate trust is to show that you are a thought leader in your field. Write guest posts on blogs, get featured in media publications, and even start your own blog.

5. Network: Real estate is a business where referrals and testimonials matter. You are helping people with an important milestone – and they want to work with someone they can confide in. Attend networking events and keep in touch with friends, family, and acquaintances because you never know who will help you generate your next lead.

Use these goals to help improve your business in 2015. Good luck!

Recommended Reading:

-5 Ways to Reconnect this Holiday Season

-Email Etiquette for Real Estate Agents

-5 Essential Networking Tips for Real Estate Agents

 

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5 Ways to Reconnect this Holiday Season

December 8, 2014 By

As a real estate agent, staying in touch with past clients is an essential part of building your business. The holidays are a great time to send your greetings and subtly remind clients that you’re there for their real estate needs.

Here are some unique ways to reconnect this holiday season:

1. Send an email: This is the easiest way to get a past client’s attention. Sending a thoughtful message or an e-card is a good way to let someone know that you’re thinking of them. Personalize it by asking questions such as them how they’re enjoying their home and neighborhood. Although it’s better to write individual emails, it is possible to send a message to multiple clients at once (just remember to BCC.)

2. Greeting cards: If you have a client’s address, take the more traditional route and send them a holiday card. They will appreciate the personal approach and they’ll be more likely to remember you when they see your card displayed in their home.

3. Small, thoughtful gifts: Whether it’s a tin of cookies, a flower arrangement, or a homemade gift, something small goes a long way. You can send these small gifts in the mail, or even give them to current clients at an open house. Clients will always remember the real estate agent who came to their showing with a holiday gift.

4. Set up coffee dates: If you had a really great client experience with someone in the past, call them to arrange to catch up over coffee or lunch. Face-to-face contact is great way to stay in touch and show that you truly care about the relationship.

5. Host a holiday party: To go above and beyond during the holiday season, host a small get together at your office or home. Invite past, present, and future clients, giving you the chance to work the room. This will help you reconnect with people you’ve once worked with, while also giving you the opportunity to promote yourself to future clients.

As a professional, you should be following up and connecting with clients 365 days a year, but the holidays are a great way to get unique with your networking.

Recommended Reading:

-5 Essential Networking Tips for Real Estate Agents

-Tech Talk: 5 Apps for Real Estate Agents

-6 Simple SEO Tips for Real Estate Agents

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Email Etiquette for Real Estate Agents

November 7, 2014 By

Email is an essential component of every real estate career. It’s especially helpful in generating leads, in fact, 42% of businesses report that email is the primary source of lead generation. When you are using email for business, it is crucial to make sure that you are following the unwritten rules of email etiquette.

1. Subject: Always use a clear and concise subject line that clearly indicates the purpose of the email.

2. BCC, CC: CC stands for carbon copy. It is used when you want someone to receive the email even though the email primarily concerns someone else. BCC stands for blind carbon copy. When you use blind carbon copy the people you BCC can’t see each others contact information. BCC is a useful way to protect people’s privacy when you send an same email to a group of people who don’t know one another. A good time to use BCC would be if you are emailing a marketing email to all of your clients.

4. Edit: Always check your grammar and spelling before you hit send. Additionally, keep in mind that emails can be printed and saved. Email last forever. Make sure that you are representing yourself, and your company well.

5. Respond in a timely manner: Make sure to read and respond to email promptly. You may miss something important if you do not check your email often. Your clients may also have time sensitive decisions or questions that need to be responded to right away.

Email is going to be an essential form of communication in the foreseeable future. These tips will help you manage your email while maintaining a standard of professionalism.

 

Recommended Reading:

-5 Essential Networking Tips for Real Estate Agents

-6 Simple SEO Tips for Real Estate Agents

-Tech Talk: 5 Apps for Real Estate Agents

 

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Facebook Tips for Real Estate Agents

September 12, 2014 By

Facebook has become a worldwide social media phenomenon. As of June 2014, the network has 1.28 billion monthly active users. Use these tips to build your following and, ultimately, help generate new business.

1. Post helpful content: Some may think that a professional Facebook page would be used simply to promote yourself and your work, but similar to our Twitter tips, that’s not the case. Offer your followers something that they won’t get from another real estate agent. You are an expert in your field so show it; post helpful tips about buying and selling homes and other resources. This will show that you care about your followers and are a thought leader.

2. Complete your profile: Before a Facebook user clicks “Like” they will check your profile to make sure the page is qualified and worthy of appearing on their news feed. Don’t skimp on any section of your profile, from website and contact links to locations – it’s important not to leave anything out.

3. Use pictures and videos: Users respond better to photo posts; 93% of the most engaged posts on Facebook are ones that contain photos. Posting photos of a listing or posting infographics can boost your engagement and keep followers coming back to your profile.

4. Join real estate groups: Connecting with others in your field is always a good idea. Take advantage of the wide range of users and do some online networking. Join real estate agent groups to network and learn something new. The only way to grow and exceed your own expectations is to learn from others who may be more experienced. Networking through Facebook can lead to new clients, agencies or even a mentor.

5. Schedule your posts: You’re not always going to have time to be on your Facebook page constantly updating your status. Use the Facebook scheduler tool to schedule posts in advance. It’s reported that the highest engagement time is between 1pm and 3pm and that engagement is 18% higher on Thursdays and Fridays. Consider scheduling your posts for these times until your page has been up long enough to determine the days and times for the highest engagement.

Use these best practices to promote your business on the most popular social media network. If you want to learn even more about growing your social media following, read our best practices for Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

 

Recommended Reading:

-Tech Talk: 5 Apps for Real Estate Agents

-6 Simple SEO Tips for Real Estate Agents

-Home Office Essentials

-Productivity Tips for Working From Home

 

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Fall into Fall: 5 Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Fall

September 10, 2014 By

Pumpkins, cozy sweaters, and falling leaves. Fall is almost here (the first official day is September 22nd), but you still have time to prepare for the new season in a big way.

Here are four ways to get your home ready for the fall.

1. Clean your gutters: Hire someone to clean out you clogged gutters or do it yourself. Watch Lowe’s video and read their article to learn how to clean your gutters.

2. Fix any drafts: Check your windows and doors for any drafts. Hire someone to fix any problems or fix it yourself. This Old House has tips for fixing drafts without breaking a budget.

3. Buy a rake or leaf blower: Have all the necessary leaf removal tools on hand before the leaves start to fall. Get ready to jump into piles of leaves!

4. Clean the fireplace: Have the fireplace inspected to make sure it’s safe to use when the temperature starts to drop.

Now that you’re done, sit back, relax, and enjoy a hot cup of tea and your favorite pumpkin flavored pastry.

 

Recommended Reading:

-Done in One Hour: How to Install a Faucet

-Just DIY It: 5 Natural Cleaning Products

-Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bathroom Bacteria Busters

-Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bedroom

 

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5 Productive Things To Do Around the House in 5 Minutes or Less

September 5, 2014 By

There are a million excuses for your home becoming disorganized, but there’s only one way to solve it – set up a cleaning plan that works for your schedule.This includes doing short tasks outside of your regular cleaning schedule. Try these five key shortcuts that can be done quickly in-between all of the other times you’re checking off your weekly to-do list.

1. Clean out your junk drawer: There’s always a junk drawer somewhere that needs cleaning out. Whether it’s in the kitchen or in your child’s room, take a few minutes to declutter that nasty miscellaneous drawer. Think like a minimalist; throw out old papers, pens and anything else that isn’t necessary.

2. Set a timer and fold laundry: If you’re really limited on time, tackle laundry in five-minute increments throughout the week. In each instance, set a timer before diving into your laundry pile. There seems to always be laundry around the house so every bit counts.

3. Switch out dirty hand towels: This is a task that can sometimes be left off a to-do list so if you’re presented with some free time, remember to do it. A clean hand towel in the kitchen and bathroom is essential to a clean house and is super easy to do.

4. Vacuum one room: Vacuuming the house doesn’t have to be an all day ordeal; you can spread out the chore over many days. Each day that you have a little bit of free time, pick one room to take care of. When you’re done, rotate back to the original room and keep the cycle going!

5. Wipe down the stove: As you’re waiting for the family to assemble at the dinner table, cut down on clean up time by wiping down your cooking area and put ingredients. It’ll make the after dinner process a lot easier.

There are so many things that can be done in less than five minutes. Take advantage of free moments and do something productive.

Recommended Reading:

-Productivity Tips for Working From Home

-10 Incredible Home Organization Tips

-Just DIY It: 5 Natural Cleaning Products

-Home Office Essentials

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Small Changes, Big Differences: 5 Low-Cost Ways to Give Your Home a New Look

September 3, 2014 By

There are a lot of advantages to home improvement changes. They can make your space feel more modern, larger, and increase its value. And the good news is you don’t have to be an expert handyman (or handywoman) to make easy and simple alterations. Here’s how to better the look and feel of your home.

1. Install new handles and door knobs: Buy new handles for your cabinets and drawers when you’re changing the style of a room. Get a modern feel by adding steel handles, or achieve shabby-chic comfort with bright colors that contrast classic wood doors and cabinets. Though old-fashioned, using a faux-crystal option will create a delicate look in a room.

2. Replace old light bulbs or add light fixtures: If the light in a room is looking dim, try stronger wattage bulbs (within the safety limitations listed on your lamp or light fixture). Floor lamps will also help achieve a brighter effect. Don’t rely on decorative desk lamps to drastically improve the brightness of a room, though they can enhance the mood and decor.

3. Paint the front door: It’s recommended that you repaint your front door every 4-6 years. (Williams Professional Painting.) Whether it’s a neutral or bold color, if you give a door a new look, it can change the outlook you have on the rest of the house.

4. Polish floors: A weekly sweeping of your hardwood floors isn’t enough. Polish your floors every three months with a urethane-based polish, which creates a protective layer against small scratches.

5. Paint an accent walls: This design technique draws the eye to one wall instead of the others. Choose a bold color or wallpaper on the wall that features the focus of your room (e.g. a fireplace, a large painting). One accent wall technique is to keep with the tone of other walls. For instance, if your room is beige, paint the accent wall a deep, chocolate brown to keep with the neutral tone.

Make these small yet significant changes to your home, and you could be on your way to have your very own redesign at a fraction of the cost.

Recommended Reading:

-How to Style a Patio

-Dorm Room 101: How to Decorate a Dorm Room

-How to Style a Gallery Wall

-Sweet Dreams are Made of This: How to Style a Bed

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Benefits of Working With a Real Estate Agent

August 30, 2014 By

Choosing a house to call a home is one of the most important decisions people make. Working with a real estate agent can make the home buying or selling process easier and more efficient. We spoke with agents affiliated with the CENTURY 21® brand to find out why you should work with an agent.

What is one reason why a buyer should work with a CENTURY 21 Agent?

-Helen Hunt, CENTURY 21 Homes and Investments: “I can have your home marketed internationally. We are the best real estate brand in the country.”

-Sarah Gravelle, CENTURY 21 Real Estate Center broker in Puget Sound: “Access to resources at our ready – CENTURY 21 Real Estate can assist a client locally or around the world. Free phone apps allows the client to see what is on the market as it changes, drive neighborhoods, search and share listings and questions with their broker.”

-Jerry Tuscano, CENTURY 21 Elite, New Jersey: “Forbuyers we have an easy to use, full featured mobile app that we can share with a buyer in less than a minute and can start being used right away! Complete with a mortgage calculator and area stats and pictures of area where house is located.”

What is one reason why a seller should work with a CENTURY 21 Agent?

-Helen Hunt, CENTURY  21 Homes and Investments: “Professional, trained, serious about your future.”

-Sarah Gravelle, CENTURY 21 Real Estate Center broker in Puget Sound: “All the unmatched tools and forms of communication to expose the seller’s property to the largest market provide great value.”

-Jerry Tuscano: CENTURY 21 Elite, New Jersey “For sellers we have the best Marketing platform at our fingertips that can be also be used on a mobile device. Marketing their property in an instant.”

Make informed decisions faster so that you can start enjoying your new home sooner. CENTURY 21 Agents have the marketing expertise, tools, resources, and research to help you make a house a home.

 

Recommended Reading:

-Buying a Home: 5 Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Agent

-Myth vs. Fact: Home Buying

-5 Tips for First Time Homebuyers

 

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