Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Monday, October 29, 2018
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Friday, October 26, 2018
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Monday, October 22, 2018
Online Lead Generation
The Business “Long Tail” Concept
The Long and Short of It: In Business ‘The Long Tail’ concept states that you can sell more, ‘less popular’ items than you can of popular items.
A common example is that Netflix rents more niche movies than popular ones.
So what does this mean to real estate agents? That you can make a business in marketing niche markets and that it can be often times more profitable.
The #1 real estate related website in the United States is Realtor.com. Knowing the Google keywords people use to find Realtor.com will tell you a lot about online consumer behavior and will give you a lot to think about in your own online lead generation efforts as they relate to niche markets.
DO you want to know more: Attend our Marketing Lunch & Learns with Sara Forkel
Next Training is October 30th 11:30 -1:30....
November Training's
Wednesday November 7th 4 - 6:30
Thursday November 15th 11:30 - 1:30
Friday, October 19, 2018
Refresh Your Space: 5 Steps to Simplify Your Next Paint Project
(Family Features)--A fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your home. Whether you're revamping a main living area or freshening up your home's curb appeal, some planning and preparation, plus the right painting tools, go a long way toward helping you achieve a professional-looking finished project.Execute your paint project flawlessly with these tips and tricks from Jennie Kitchen, product manager, Valspar Applicators at The Sherwin-Williams Company, Consumer Brands Group:
Step 1: Choose Your Color
Selecting a color can often be the most difficult part of a paint project. While browsing through all the colors can be overwhelming, a resource like AskVal.com offers a variety of tools to help you select the perfect shade. You can also have paint chips delivered to your home for free, allowing you to see how they look in your space.
Step 2: Pick Your Tools
Every paint project is unique and may require different tools depending on the size of your space and type of paint you choose. However, there are a few must-haves for nearly every project such as brushes, rollers, roller frames, an extension pole, a paint tray with liner and rags.
"The quality of your paint rollers and brushes is just as important as the paint you use," Kitchen says. "For a smooth finish and easy application, I recommend Valspar's line of applicators and accessories, which are now available at Lowe's and work well with all paints and stains. Our quality painting tools make it easy for DIYers to bring their projects to life."
Step 3: Prep Your Space
Start by removing all of the furniture or pushing everything to the center of the room and covering it with a drop cloth or plastic sheet. Remove outlet and switch covers, and clean dirt, dust or grime from the walls using a microfiber duster or vacuum attachment. Don't forget to lay drop cloths, tape off trim and fill in any small cracks or holes.
Step 4: Apply Your Paint
Start at the top, beginning with the ceiling, and work your way down to the walls and trim. A tool like Valspar's Wall and Trim brush is ideal for most interior painting projects. Its thin, tapered design provides ultra-clean lines when cutting-in around windows, door frames and molding.
When you're ready to roll, start at a corner of the room in a 2-by-4-foot section at the top of the wall. Then roll downward into a narrow V shape, filling in any unpainted areas as you go. Once you are done with the top section, move down and repeat until you've reached the baseboard.
If you're painting standard height ceilings or taller, it's helpful to use an extension pole. For a seamless finish, it's important to always keep a wet edge and let the weight of the loaded roller do the work. Some pressure can be applied as the roller cover starts to run out of paint, but if you hear a "sizzling" sound, that means it's time to reload with more paint. To finish, use the roller and roll straight down all the way across your walls.
Step 5: Clean Up Your Mess
Remove tape while the paint is drying to avoid paint peeling, remove drop cloths and then rearrange furniture. Between paint projects, always clean brushes with soap and water, but don't leave brushes soaking in water. Always save the package, known as the keeper, to help the brush retain its shape.
Source: Valspar
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Cyber Secure: Staying Safe Online
Sure, you strap on your seatbelt when you get in the car, and your helmet when you hop on your bike, but what about safety precautions for getting online? CenturyLink encourages consumers to practice good online safety habits with these tips:Improve Your Passwords
- Don't use default names or passwords which can easily be hacked.
- Criminals can often guess passwords based on pet names and the people close to you. Be creative.
- Use a "passphrase" with letters and symbols rather than a password.
- Example: "I Lik3 @ppl3 Pi3"
Practice Good Cyber Hygiene
- Never click a link in an email that goes to an outside site, even if you recognize the company or individual.
- Be careful what information you share on social media and who sees it.
- Set up two-factor authentication to make it more difficult for a third-party to access your accounts.
Keep Your Devices "Clean"
- Update software regularly to make your devices less vulnerable to cyber security threats.
- Check the user guides for all internet-connected devices to see how and where your personal information is stored and shared.
- Don't join an unknown Wi-Fi hotspot; set up your own.
In addition, work with your internet service provider for advice on how to help keep personal and home internet-connected devices safe online.
Source: CenturyLink
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Monday, October 15, 2018
Where Are the Most Charming Neighborhoods in America?
By Jameson Doris
Moving out of your home is stressful. There are a million and one things you'll have to ask yourself before and during the move to a new location. "Is this the right timing?" "Did I hire the right movers?" One question that's always top of mind is: "Where will I move to next?"
We move to certain neighborhoods for so many reasons, from the school system and local restaurants, to what the climate is like and the distance to your place of work. However, one factor that so many of us discuss—but have a difficult time putting our finger on—is charm.
A charming neighborhood is something you need to experience more than have described to you. In the past, you really needed to walk around an area to know if you found it charming. That's why RentLingo—an apartment rentals search engine—created a tool that analyzes big data to show users how charming a particular neighborhood is.
The site's "Charm Index" works in every major U.S. city and takes into consideration several elements, including:
Below is an example of what RentLingo's Charm Index "Heatmap" looks like. Like standard Google Maps, it's interactive, so you can zoom in and out on any neighborhood in the country and click to reveal its rating. To use the tool and for a full breakdown of the site's methodology, visit RentLingo.com.
This appeared first on RISMedia's Housecall.
Jameson Doris is RISMedia's blog and social media editor. Email him your real estate blog ideas at jdoris@rismedia.com.
Moving out of your home is stressful. There are a million and one things you'll have to ask yourself before and during the move to a new location. "Is this the right timing?" "Did I hire the right movers?" One question that's always top of mind is: "Where will I move to next?"
We move to certain neighborhoods for so many reasons, from the school system and local restaurants, to what the climate is like and the distance to your place of work. However, one factor that so many of us discuss—but have a difficult time putting our finger on—is charm.
A charming neighborhood is something you need to experience more than have described to you. In the past, you really needed to walk around an area to know if you found it charming. That's why RentLingo—an apartment rentals search engine—created a tool that analyzes big data to show users how charming a particular neighborhood is.
The site's "Charm Index" works in every major U.S. city and takes into consideration several elements, including:
- How local are the businesses?
- How well are they liked by residents?
- What kind of local institutions and amenities are nearby? Parks? Museums? Universities?
- Is it inexpensive or expensive to live within the neighborhood?
- What is the crime rate of the area?
- What kind of emphasis does the neighborhood put on health and environmentally-friendly modes of transportation?
Below is an example of what RentLingo's Charm Index "Heatmap" looks like. Like standard Google Maps, it's interactive, so you can zoom in and out on any neighborhood in the country and click to reveal its rating. To use the tool and for a full breakdown of the site's methodology, visit RentLingo.com.
This appeared first on RISMedia's Housecall.
Jameson Doris is RISMedia's blog and social media editor. Email him your real estate blog ideas at jdoris@rismedia.com.
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Inventory Watch: Is 'Big Change' on the Horizon?
By Suzanne De Vita
The grip on inventory is loosening, with fresh listings sprouting up and the severity of the shortage starting to unwind, according to findings by realtor.com®.
On an annual basis, there were 8 percent more listings on the market in September, according to data from the site, or over 465,000 new properties. The biggest boosts were out West, in San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle, as well as in Jacksonville, Fla.
"After years of record-breaking inventory declines, September's almost flat inventory signals a big change in the real estate market," Danielle Hale, chief economist for realtor.com, says. "Would-be buyers who had been waiting for a bigger selection of homes for sale may finally see more listings materialize."
The competition, however, remains strong. According to realtor.com's report, the median national price was $295,000 in September, up 7 percent year-over-year—less than the 10 percent growth in September 2017, but significant. Moreover, homes moved in 65 days, or four days quicker than in September 2017.
"Don't expect the level to jump dramatically," cautions Hale. "Plenty of buyers in the market are scooping up homes as soon as they're listed, which will keep national increases relatively small for the time being."
For more information, please visit www.realtor.com.
Suzanne De Vita is RISMedia's online news editor. Email her your real estate news ideas at sdevita@rismedia.com.
The grip on inventory is loosening, with fresh listings sprouting up and the severity of the shortage starting to unwind, according to findings by realtor.com®.
On an annual basis, there were 8 percent more listings on the market in September, according to data from the site, or over 465,000 new properties. The biggest boosts were out West, in San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle, as well as in Jacksonville, Fla.
"After years of record-breaking inventory declines, September's almost flat inventory signals a big change in the real estate market," Danielle Hale, chief economist for realtor.com, says. "Would-be buyers who had been waiting for a bigger selection of homes for sale may finally see more listings materialize."
The competition, however, remains strong. According to realtor.com's report, the median national price was $295,000 in September, up 7 percent year-over-year—less than the 10 percent growth in September 2017, but significant. Moreover, homes moved in 65 days, or four days quicker than in September 2017.
"Don't expect the level to jump dramatically," cautions Hale. "Plenty of buyers in the market are scooping up homes as soon as they're listed, which will keep national increases relatively small for the time being."
For more information, please visit www.realtor.com.
Suzanne De Vita is RISMedia's online news editor. Email her your real estate news ideas at sdevita@rismedia.com.
Friday, October 12, 2018
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Bogged Down by Climbing Costs, Housing Sentiment Slips
By RISMedia Staff
The confidence consumers have in housing slipped due to increasing prices and rates, according to the August Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index® (HPSI). At 87.7, the Index fell 0.3 percentage points month-over-month and 0.6 percentage points year-over-year.
Twenty-six percent of homebuyers, however, were optimistic about purchasing—a five-percentage point increase from July—and 38 percent of homeowners were optimistic about selling, unchanged.
"HPSI remains flat this month as perceptions of high home prices and expectations for rising mortgage rates continue to weigh on potential homebuyers," says Doug Duncan, chief economist and senior vice president at Fannie Mae. "In September, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased for the second consecutive month to 4.63 percent—its highest level since May 2011."
According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the median national price is up 4.6 percent year-over-year. Last month, the Federal Reserve brought up the federal funds rate for the third time this year—which not only feeds the perception that rates are rising, but also can fuel increases.
"The Federal Open Market Committee members' interest rate projections at the September meeting continued to point to four additional rate increases between now and the end of 2019," Duncan says. "Still, downside risk to housing is limited by broader economic strength, which helped boost perceptions of current home-buying conditions. For consumers who say now is a good time to buy, the share citing overall economic conditions as a reason rose to a survey high."
The HPSI is derived from Fannie Mae's National Housing Survey® (NHS).
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