Shakadoo

Everything to do with your shak.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Archives for Realtors

Warning Signs of a Bad Real Estate Agent

by Shakadoo Leave a Comment

8456188296_c28f171779_oLet me preface this by saying: if you are buying or selling a home, you should absolutely hire a Realtor to help you. You will save money in the long run, not to mention a huge amount of stress- they will make sure the transaction goes smoothly. However, that is all dependent on your agent being good at what they do. While almost all agents are great at their job and will communicate effectively, there are some that will exhibit warning signs that you should watch out for. Check out this article by Lisa at Mama Real Estate. If this sounds like your agent, it might be time to hire a new one:

-They don’t call or respond in a timely manner- if it takes them days or weeks to get back to you, they are not taking you seriously.

-They refuse to negotiate on your behalf.

-They tell others your confidential information without your express consent.

-They are extremely disorganized- Are they always late? Losing or forgetting important documents? Do they seem scatterbrained and all over the place? This type of irresponsible person is probably not the one you want handling a transaction worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Photo from Jean Pierre Gallot

+1
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Shares 0

For Realtors: How To Step Up Your Referral Game

by Shakadoo Leave a Comment

5398112759_599e51db9f_zMy mom used to be a Realtor, and she got most of her business through referrals from friends and past clients. She was excellent at networking, meeting people, and following up with them. This is pretty consistent with how almost any business works. I’m much more likely to go to stores I’ve been to many times, rather than try out a new one every day. So, are you trying to get more referrals in your real estate business? Check out this post by Debbie at Floor it into High Gear for some great tips:

-Create a database of past customers with phone numbers and email addresses, use it to market to them!

-Send out an email newsletter, or call them up! When you call, make sure you are genuine and personal. Don’t simply ask, “do you know anyone who is selling a home?”

-Connect on social media- add past clients on Facebook and LinkedIn

-Create a website or blog

-Always provide excellent customer service- it’s a guarantee that people will recommend you to others if you are the best at what you do.

Photo Credit: coolio-claire

+1
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Shares 0

Successful Realtors Do Not….

by Shakadoo Leave a Comment

successkidReal estate is a competitive field. You need drive, ambition, connections, intelligence, people skills, and a little bit of luck to make a full time income from it. That being said, there is a learning curve for beginners (like all jobs), and things that you’ll need to avoid doing in order to be successful. Check out this post by Xavier de Buck at Immoafrica for what you should never do as a new agent:

-Never avoid confrontation- accept that it will be a part of your daily life, learn how to negotiate smoothly.

-Never assume perfect circumstances- each client you deal with will be completely unique.

-Never stop educating yourself on the newest developments in the market.

-Never skimp on marketing!

 

+1
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Shares 0

For Buyers: Why You Should Hire Your OWN Realtor

by Shakadoo Leave a Comment

30264438_ce02916893_zIt’s common for curious, prospective home buyers to begin their search online. I’ve done it, I admit; it’s pretty fun to look at virtual home tours and imagine myself in various houses. But, what should you do if you’re actually serious about purchasing that dream home you found online? Call the agent who listed it?

The answer is NO, you should not. Before even beginning your home buying search, you should hire your own Realtor to represent you and your financial interests. The other agent represents the seller, and has no obligation to look out for you! I’m not saying that the seller’s agent will deliberately try to screw you over, but it’s important to have someone on your side who knows the process. For more information, check out this post by Amy Kramer on Active Rain:

I don’t know about you, but I want an advocate for my home purchase (the largest purchase most people make in their lifetime), negotiating and looking out for my best interests.

It is better for a home buyer to have their own representation. And remember, the buyer’s agent commission is almost always paid for by the seller at closing!

So why NOT hire a Realtor to represent you 100% in buying a home?

Photo Credit: Nathan Esguerra

+1
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Shares 0

For Realtors: Vendors To Partner Up With

by Shakadoo Leave a Comment

6274922159_1f58714e82_zBeing a real estate agent is all about connections: you have to connect with buyers, with sellers, with other agents, with your online audience, with mortgage lenders- the list goes on and on. If you don’t know how to network, you will probably not be a hugely successful agent. However, there is one group of people that even agents tend to overlook: businesses. Specifically, home improvement businesses. But, when you have a seller that needs to make some repairs, they certainly come in handy. They can also point you to leads for people that may be moving soon. Check out this list by the House Hunt blog for vendors that you should make friends with:

-Plumbers

-Carpet and hardwood flooring specialists

-Window installation and repair specialists

-Concrete and driveway pavers

-Painters

Photo Credit: Bradley P Johnson

+1
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Shares 0

For Realtors: How To Have A Successful Open House

by Shakadoo Leave a Comment

22904990543_dbeb1d066b_zI’ve read in several places that open houses are slowly becoming obsolete, due to the age of the Internet. Now, buyers can search for homes on their own and are able to instantly schedule private showings with Realtors with phones and email. However, some agents are still finding success with open houses. Check out this post by Samantha Reeves at the Veterans United blog for tips on making your open house a big success:

-No scent is the best scent- instead of lighting candles and spraying air freshener, encourage your sellers to deep clean their home to rid it of any scent at all.

-Encourage your sellers to declutter, clean out closets, and get rid of any pet evidence (litter boxes and pet damage)

-Sellers should never be present at a showing or an open house

-Open all the curtains/blinds, turn on all the lights

-Give physical information- they’ve already seen the home online, so don’t hesitate to hand them a postcard or fact sheet about the home.

Photo Credit: Rooky Yootz

+1
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Shares 0

For Realtors: Refresh Your Online Marketing With These Tips

by Shakadoo Leave a Comment

8583949219_f55657573e_zMost home buyers these days begin their home search online. That’s where many of them begin looking at listings, and begin looking for Realtors. As an agent, you want to be found online. The world is changing (it has already changed, in fact) and agents who don’t keep with the technology will soon be left in the dust. It’s crucial to manage your social media accounts- Twitter, Facebook, even Instagram and Pinterest are all (FREE) ways to put yourself out there. Does your online persona need a facelift? If so, check out these tips by the Adwerx blog:

-Location, location, location- establish yourself as a local expert, constantly talk about your experience in your area: Google has updated its algorithm to show searchers more local results.

-Make sure your website, blog, and social media profiles are mobile friendly

-Put your own unique voice and design into everything you put out; it’s an amazing way to instantly connect with potential clients

-Consider hiring a social media assistant or online marketing agency if you feel you are too busy to keep updating them.

Photo Credit: Jason Howie

+1
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Shares 0

Do You Have To Be Extroverted To Succeed As A Realtor?

by Shakadoo Leave a Comment

7783743_e05b39e4a5_zI’m an introvert by nature. I like staying at home, reading books, writing, and maybe hanging out with my close friends once a week or so. I make a living by doing what I love, writing, and I’m honestly happier than I’ve ever been. That being said, there are certain professions that I don’t think I’d be great at- being a real estate agent is one of them. Realtors have to be accessible, able to communicate quickly, and must be able to make connections instantly with clients they meet.

To me, that sounds incredibly difficult. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to be an extrovert to be successful in real estate! There are tons of positive qualities that introverts have that are vital for Realtors. Check out this infographic by the House Hunt blog for the pros and cons of being an introvert (or an extrovert) in real estate:

-Introverts: have effective text communication, online marketing, focus on paperwork and file management, has a more intimate network with stronger bonds. However, they may feel uncomfortable promoting themselves.

-Extroverts: great at 1:1 communication, usually make great first impressions, and thrive in negotiations. But, they need to focus on organization, and truly listening to what their clients want.

Photo Credit: Shikeroku

+1
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Shares 0

For Realtors: New Ways To Generate Leads

by Shakadoo Leave a Comment

6467544691_a978b7b589_zReal estate agents’ entire careers depend upon their ability to network and make connections with other people. Since their income is 100% commission based, they have to constantly be on the lookout for new leads… which translates to new clients. The trouble is, it can be hard to think of new ways to reach new people. That’s where this post by Tyler Zey at Easy Agent Pro comes in handy! Here’s some of his ideas for Realtors to generate leads:

-Volunteer at local events, set up booths at festivals

-Advertise on Google, Bing, Facebook, or in local papers

-Start a Meetup.com group

-Create a real estate blog and post daily

-Hand out business cards wherever you go

Those are just SOME of them! The actual post has over 100 ideas; check it out here!

Photo Credit: Festival Cultura Digital

+1
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Shares 0

The Best Apps For Real Estate Agents

by Shakadoo Leave a Comment

5540953795_617de9187f_zFor a Realtor, your phone is your lifeline. The number one responsibility of an agent is to remain in constant contact with your clients, and keep them updated on any updates to their home purchase. It’s essential for instant communication, like calling, texting, and emailing. However, smart phones are also a blessing to the modern agent. There are tons of helpful apps out there for Realtors as well; check out this post by Jaime Westman at the House Hunt Network Blog for the best ones:

Slydial- lets you leave a voicemail without calling the person

Open Home Pro- The ultimate open house app. It allows you to collect guests’ contact information from open houses, share photos, and see other listings.

Social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram- for marketing and reaching out to your followers.

Photo Credit: PhotoAtelier

+1
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Shares 0
Next Page »

Subscribe to the Shak

Copyright © 2023 · Shak Media · All Rights Reserved