work Archives - CENTURY 21 MarketLink Realty

Benefits of Working With a Real Estate Agent

August 30, 2014 By CENTURY 21

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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Home Offices Essentials

July 28, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a freelancer, or a student, having an office space in your home is important. (Not everyone can get work done while lounging on the couch in pajamas!) We’ve already shared some handy productivity tips, but having the right environment can also make a world of difference.

Here are some essentials for your home office:

Designated Work Space: We don’t mean the kitchen counter or your comfy bed. Set aside a specific room or corner of a room as your “office.” This will help train your brain to be in “work mode” when you sit down and “off the clock” when you leave. By creating a designated work space, you’ll be able to achieve better work-life balance.

Desk: The right desk is key. Think about what type of desk best suits both your needs and the size of the space. Do you need just a simple flat table? Will you need multiple drawers for storage? What about a conference table so that you can really spread out or have meetings?

Comfortable Chair: If you don’t have a comfortable chair that you love sitting in, chances are you won’t end up actually using your office much (and will instead head to that comfy couch or bed). Look for a chair with arm rests and the ability to tilt, swivel, and roll.

Computer, Printer, and WiFi: This is how the work actually gets done. Make sure that you have functional tools to research, create, and communicate in our modern world.

Good Lighting: Aim for having both natural and artificial light. Exposure to sunlight has been known to improve mood, sleep patterns, and productivity. And when you’re working past sundown, you’ll need good (soft, non-fluorescent) artificial light. We recommend having both a desk lamp and an overhead lamp to better adjust the light.

To Do List or Planner: Start each day with a list of specific tasks that need tackling. Make sure that the list is manageable and the timeframe is realistic. Making this a tangible to-do list (rather than using an app) gives you that extra satisfaction of crossing items off when you complete them, thus helping to spur your motivation through the work day.

Calendar: Have a place that allows you to look at the bigger picture and plan ahead. Sure, you might have a calendar on your computer or phone, but having an accessible, physical calendar that’s in plain sight allows you to easily glance at upcoming events. We like DIY chalkboard or Post-It note calendars.

Coffee and/or Tea: Whatever beverage of choice gets you going in the morning (or during that afternoon slump), make sure you have plenty of it on hand. You’ll save time and money if you don’t have to take frequent trips to the local coffee shop or store. Plus, sometimes even the ritual of making coffee or tea can help signal “work mode.”

Decorations & Inspiration: Some might call these “nice-to-haves,” but we think they’re essential. Having a window, piece of artwork, or family photo on display can give a nice reprieve from staring at your screen. Consider hanging a photo of the dream vacation you’re working toward or an inspiration quote or mantra to keep your motivated.

We hope that these tips help you create a productive work environment. An added benefit is that having a designated work area will allow you to see the rest of your home as a relaxing and fun area for spending time with friends and family. Close the door and you are done for the day.

Recommended Reading:

-Productivity Tips for Working from Home

-The Secrets to a Perfect Staycation

-5 Ways to Take Your Bedroom from Good to Great

-Good to Great: How to Take Your Kitchen from Good to Great

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Productivity Tips for Working From Home

June 29, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Working from home is not a catalyst for less productivity. In fact, it can lead to increased performance according to a recent Stanford University experiment. Regardless of studies and statistics, skeptics still argue that people who work from home will slack off.

We’ve put together tried and true tips for increasing your productivity while you’re working from home:

Don’t turn on the TV: Resist the urge to binge-watch your favorite TV shows and movies. While studies show that listening to music can improve productivity and creativity, the same doesn’t hold true for movies and TV.

Let people know that you are working from home: Email the people you work closely with to let them know that you will be working from home. Make it clear that you will be available by phone, online chat, and email. Stay accessible throughout the day.

Work at a desk or table: It is much easier to stay focused when you are working at a desk or table instead of your couch or bed. If you regularly work from home, and you have the space, you may want to turn a spare room into a guest room that doubles as a home office.

Get away: If you are having difficulty concentrating, it can be helpful to go to a coffee shop, library, or coworking space.

Dress professionally: Don’t wear your pajamas, gym clothes, or sweatpants–even if you just rolled out of bed or went to the gym. According to the clinical psychologist Dr. Jennifer Baumbartner, how you dress can affect your demeanor and performance. Wear an outfit that makes you feel confident.

Set working hours: If you work for yourself, it is helpful to set working hours. You’ll be more productive during the time that you’ve designated to be your “work day” and you can fully turn-off when that time is up. It can be hard to have your office also be your home. Setting work hours can help you set boundaries without always feeling like you should be working.

Working from home is an opportunity to get a lot of work done without distractions and interruptions. We hope that these productivity tips help you leverage the benefits of working from home.

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10 Benefits of Working from Home

March 13, 2014 By CENTURY 21

10 benefits of working from home as told by man’s best friend.

1. Go ahead and press snooze. You’re not commuting today!

2. When you finally muster the courage to get out of bed, you can work in pajamas.

3. That’s right. You don’t have to suit up.

4. You may be able to sneak out and go to a hideous sweater convention during your “lunch break.”

5. Or squeeze in a quick session with your personal trainer.

6. You don’t have to hide how you really feel about your co-workers presentation.

7. You don’t have to pretend to be enthusiastic and peppy for the meeting. It is a conference call. They can’t see you.

8. You can wear your sunglasses inside. Like a boss.

9. You won’t be stuck in traffic so you’ll definitely make it home on time for Poker Night with your bros.

10. You still bring home the bacon!

What benefits would you add? What is your favorite thing about working from home?

For entertainment purposes only.

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