Admin

Real Estate Best Practices

Coaches, books, classes and seminars aim to capture real estate agents dollars with promises to teach them any number of ways to improve their business. From sales skills to how to close more deals to how to win with expireds (expired listings) and more, everyone has something to teach you.


There's nothing wrong with continuing education, whether it's keeping on top of new laws and regulations or learning how to be more productive. But before you spend an arm and a leg on any of those things, pull up a chair, put on your glasses and peruse the pages in this section of ActiveRain.


It is only here that you can tap into the world's largest online real estate community and actively engage with your peers. Find out what works and what doesn't from those that actually put into practice what others merely teach. Read how-to articles, advice on designations, certifications and continuing education classes. You never know where you will find the inspiration to take your business to the next level. So, pull up a chair and dig in!

Recent blogs on Real Estate Best Practices
By Doug Rogers, Your Real Estate Resource!
(RE/MAX Coastal Properties)
Destin Florida Real Estate-The Bad Weather Won't Stop Your MarketingWorried about the once in a really long time weather causing your Destin Florida home to linger on the market. Will folks be too busy making snowballs on the beach to see your condo? Let's take a closer look...1) Showings will cease until the snow melts-- Honestly we are not equipped for this stuff. A hint of ice will close the Mid-Bay Bridge and the Fort Walton connection.  Plus we have the same amount of winter weather driving smarts as we do championship hockey teams. But this too shall pass. 2) The online marketing doesn't stop--  Unlike our area schools, there is no "snow day" for the internet. In fact we generally see viewership numbers increase during weather events. Yes, a large segment of our buyers live out of...
Comments 1
By Doug Rogers, Your Real Estate Resource!
(RE/MAX Coastal Properties)
A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words (And A Bunch Of Money)Getting ready to sell your home around Destin Florida? Let's examine why high quality professional photos are a must in 2025. Well, even back in 2015 they were pretty darn important. But now more than ever. Attached is a condo photo I took for my benefit. When touring a Destin Florida area condo I will take photos to fresh my memory or help recall key features when writing the listing description. But would I use this in market? Let's examine why that would be a poor service to my seller...1) The likely buyer for your condo lives nowhere near Destin-- As a vacation/second home market, we get a ton of buyers from Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Houston, and believe it or not Minneapolis. Having a stack of professional photos and videos make...
Comments 5
By Dr. Paula McDonald, Granbury, TX 936-203-0279
(Beam & Branch Realty)
I was searching our MLS for a country property for a client and stumbled upon this listing! I couldn't believe the pictures that I was seeing! When I scrolled through these pictures, my immediate thought was, "No way would I even step foot in a place like this!".Now, please don't judge me and accuse me of being snobby for not wanting to show this place. But, a picture does tell a story and for me, this story shows way too much evidence that this could be a dangerous place to enter. Here are some of my observations as to an impending danger:⚠️ The exterior shows a lot of debris and evidence of neglect. The neglect is a huge clue that the interior may not be a safe place to enter. A big part of our job as real estate agents is to be aware of potential hazards.⚠️ If the interior photos sho...
Comments 13
By Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, CFSP, Serving Coastal San Diego,Veteran's & Retirees
(Big Block LPT Realty 858.232.8722)
Planning for Success: Habit Stacking & Environment - Contest Entry Week 3 of 5As you journey through my Planning For Success series, you may have noticed that my previous posts haven't delved into topics like sales, marketing, or customer relations. You might wonder why that is. The truth is, without the right foundation for success, those subjects become hollow and ineffective.The key is encapsulated in the word "planning." Effective planning isn't just about setting goals; it's about establishing a sequence of habits and systems that support those goals. In the absence of a solid plan, efforts in sales, marketing, or customer service can feel futile.What I'm sharing comes from my own experience, plus insights gained through various influential works, including The E-Myth Revisited, At...
Comments 18
By Dana (Lerner) Sparks, Satisfying You with Service Innovation & Education
(Maximum One Realty - Managing Broker)
I welcome you to watch this ENTIRE Series on the 2025 CHANGES to the Georgia Association of REALTORS (GAR) Contract Forms. In this series, I'll discuss how various 2025 GAR Contract Documents differ from those same forms that were available to Georgia real estate agents in 2024. Watch to the end for TWO BONUS Forms!Dana Sparks, Qualifying Broker, Maximum One Greater Atlanta, REALTORS® Dana@MaximumOneRealty.com
Comments 0
By Anna "Banana" Kruchten, 602-380-4886
(Retired Broker/Owner)
The real estate industry is loaded with training courses, gurus and the next 'latest and greatest' way to make your practice profitable. If I were to ask you how many times have you actually gone home and put the tools to work - what are the odds the answer would be 'slim to none?' I know what I'm talking about, here - I was one of those folks who turned into a seminar junkie my first few years in the business, and I had all the tapes, CDs, and massive books to prove it! Very rarely did I actually follow a specific plan consistently. And then I got IT. Stop this craziness, pick a plan, and just do IT consistently and methodically! I liked parts of several plans, so I made up my own plan of action, and I've been following that plan for years. From time to time, I discover other valuable ...
Comments 16
By Denise Lones, CSP, MIRM, CDEI - Real Estate Coaching & Branding
(The Lones Group, Inc.)
You Need an Edge I get asked this same question every year, "Denise, why are you so passionate about doing an entire analysis of everything: real estate, housing legislation, new construction, jobs, transportation, migration, infrastructure, and more?" The answer is simple. When you know more, you are able to share more. When you are educated about things related to our occupation - and real estate affects and is affected by nearly everything - you have an edge. That's why I do it. I do it so you and my clients can have an edge over the competition and serve your clients better. I'll give you a couple great examples. Residential Resale There's a lot going on in residential resale real estate right now. A lot! A lot is going on with compensation in this market segment, inventory shifts,...
Comments 1
By Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!, The best agent in Southern Utah!
(Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374)
Sometimes The Want Is Not A Need Prior to showing houses to potential buyers, getting down to the minutia of priorities that meet their core criteria, means less wasted time and resources. It also helps to avoid clouding true desires, and... 🏠 Keeps them focused on the 'must haves' like neighborhood amenities, total square feet of usable space, a fenced yard, close proximity to schools or medical services, instead of what the property lacks. Staying on track so frustrations are minimal for both the buyers and the agent. ⌛ Saves valuable time. Paying close attention to the details prevents overwhelming buyers, plus it encourages them to remain organized instead of getting sidetracked by details that matter little. Size of property matters greatly because sometimes, 'more' is not always t...
Comments 18
By Dee Toohey, Broker, ABR, AHWD, CIPS, FMS, ePro
(Innovative Realty Solutions Group)
Many think that real estate is an easy career that will make you wealthy. Well, it's not easy but the income potential is unlimited. You have to actually work. Motivation is key.All real estate professionals are not alike. This is from the National Associations of Realtors. When looking for an agent to help you buy or sell a property, look for experience. It matters. Rules of Engagement   The honest truth? There are no rules for long-term success! What works for Bobby may not gain traction with Julie, so it's a singular business model, intrinsically self-driven by design. Am so thankful for my past marketing and advertising career.   Making connections with potential clients takes consistent effort and time. Relationship building means gaining trust through several integral methods. Thr...
Comments 3
By Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, CFSP, Serving Coastal San Diego,Veteran's & Retirees
(Big Block LPT Realty 858.232.8722)
Discuss the Predictible Bad News in Real EstateIt Doesn't Speak The Devil 👿 Into ExistenceCan you speak truth to your clients?Do you share upfront, the predictable bad news?Can you point to the elephant in the room, or warn your clients that he may be at the door? For Buyers: You may be alerted to a home by me that goes under contract before we can get to it. There may be multiple offers, that creates an auction situation and that raises prices and reduces terms and time frames. Cash offers often dominate loan offers. Not always, but some sellers get green envy. Your offer, in order to get accepted, may be countered on price, terms, or time frames. The request for repairs may be declined completely or reduced to a few repairs or a crdeit towards these repairs for you to do on your own. ...
Comments 11
By Doug Rogers, Your Real Estate Resource!
(RE/MAX Coastal Properties)
Real Estate Sales Advice- Communicating With SellersAs a real estate agent that works with a significant number of expired listings (when the home fails to sale during the listing contract period), one of my primary questions is "what could your prior agent have done differently/better?" Based on this feedback and my own experience, I have develop a system for communicating with sellers. Let's take a closer look! Key Steps For Communicating With Sellers1) Seek feedback after EVERY showing-- In speaking with sellers, this is an area of frustration. After a showing, tumbleweeds... When I reach out to the buyer's agent I get 2 bits of information A) Their client's view/interest/perspective and B) The agent's opinion. Not all agents will provide feedback or even pick up the phone, but I ALW...
Comments 13
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
Some annoyances are easier to ignore than others. The snowblower that annoys Philemon wouldn't bother me but a lawn mower would. Of course lawn mowers are used at a time that my windows may be open. Also a snow blower has a deeper noise. As a comparison imagine a 90cc two cycle motorcycle compared to a large Harley.  BTW I owned the one on the left and I kick myself for giving it away. I think it would be worth quite a bit today.Annoyances' in Real Estate First of all, as I believe Anna "Banana" Kruchten would advise, don't sweat the small stuff. And it's all small stuff.If small annoyances drive you crazy then Real Estate is not for you. If you are bossy and everything needs to be done your way then Real Estate is not for you. If you don't play well with others in the sandbox then Real...
Comments 13
By Endre Barath, Jr., Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties)
 Sadly, here I am still writing about the fires in the greater Los Angeles area. We are experiencing record-setting wildfires.  As most of you know I have been focusing on the Pacific Palisades Fires, since they are near to us. The fires are only 19% contained.  Acres: 23,713 are covered with fires. Structures Lost: 10,000 (est.) All these fires have forced thousands of people to leave the area and find a place to stay. In addition, there are thousands of homes that have been lost. With this in mind, the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) reminds licensees and consumers that price gouging is a criminal offense in counties where a state of emergency has been declared. Now do we really need to be reminded of this? Seriously, this annoys me so much, that people need to be told abou...
Comments 18
When running a business or managing a property, ensuring the safety of everyone who enters is paramount. Premises liability claims often arise when a person is injured due to unsafe conditions on someone else's property. While there are several strategies to mitigate these risks, professional cleaning services play a critical role in maintaining a safe and hazard-free environment. Here's how hiring professional cleaners can help prevent premises liability claims.1. Eliminating Slip-and-Fall Hazards Premises liability attorneys in Fort Lauderdale explain that slip-and-fall accidents are among the most common causes of premises liability claims. These incidents often occur due to wet floors, debris, or uneven surfaces. Professional cleaners are trained to: Use appropriate signage to warn ...
Comments 0
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
It's been a while since our fridge went a bit crazy and froze veggies that were sitting in water to keep them fresh. Obviously Timmothy remembers one of the times it froze everything liquid and passed that thought on through his cartoon.Over cooling does beat having your compressor go out and forcing you to replace the entire fridge... we have had to do that twice in 5 years. Replacing a refrigerator is expensive. If yours is over cooling you may want to visit this cool site (pun intended).You just never know when a major appliance will leave you in a lerch. The real problem is refrigerators, stoves, furnaces and AC units can all be budget busters AND if you just purchased a house you may not have the funds to immediately replace the dead appliance.This is the reason I highly recommend ...
Comments 7
By Will Hamm, "Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"
(Hamm Homes)
Instead of worrying about results that are ultimately beyond your control, focus on the footwork you need to do to get those results. Rather than obsessing about closing the deal, focus on providing the exceptional service that will make it happen.   You know what works best for you. So, schedule your day around the times you’re most productive, then take breaks as needed. Optimizing your performance to your personal preferences will boost your business success.Practice focusing on completing the task at hand before starting the next one. If attention lags, take a break. If something more important comes up, focus only on that instead of trying to multitask. Break the multitasking habit and you’ll spend less time working, enjoy better outcomes, and free up more time for yourself. 
Comments 2
By Katina Hargrove 352-551-0308, Broker/Owner, SFR®, e-PRO®, GRI, AHWD, REALTOR®
(Stake Your Land Realty, Inc.)
Thank you to all my customers!🙂 You deserve the award!It is nice to receive the award via email, it reminds me of all the customers who trusted me in 2024 and the years before. I am so very looking forward to 2025 and beyond.🌟If you are thinking about selling or buying in 2025? I am here for you and ready to assist you.✨Sincerely,Katina Hargrove, Broker/Owner of Stake Your Land Realty, Inc. 352-551-0308 katina@stakeyourland.com 💫
Comments 7
By Doug Rogers, Your Real Estate Resource!
(RE/MAX Coastal Properties)
What Makes Destin Florida A GREAT Place To RetireIs 2025 the year you select a setting for life's next chapter? If so, Destin Florida should be on your radar. Let's take a look at what makes this Emerald Coast town a GREAT place to retire. 1) Mild Winters-- Okay for full disclosure I am wearing a sweater as I type this. But it's also mid-January. As the locals say it only gets cold enough, "to kill the mosquitoes. Summers can get hot, but most days there is a nice gulf breeze. 2) Access to military services-- Thanks to Eglin Afb, Hurlburt Field, and Tyndall afb (Panama City) there are a lot of services for former/retired service men and women. 3) Plenty of housing options-- We have beach front, harbor view homes, and Bayfront homes. Within this range there are single family, condos, and...
Comments 4
By Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, CFSP, Serving Coastal San Diego,Veteran's & Retirees
(Big Block LPT Realty 858.232.8722)
Erma Bombeck famously declared,"When I stand before God at the end of my days,I hope to find not a single talent left,So that I might say, ‘I used all you gave me.’”Her message resonates with me, clear and profound,Yet my hope, with a bold and gentle twist, is this:"I’ve drawn from all you’ve bestowed upon me,But stand before you, with treasures left to share,For your gifts have overflowed, abundant and vast in meThank You For My Life." ~ TJ Nelson, REALTOR®Today, I challenge you to reflect on your life thus far and and take stock in the gifts and talents you've been blessed with.Design An Extraordinary Day! I work 100% By Referral And Focus My Energy on The 5 Circles of Life!My wonderful and  experienced team is coached by the #1 businesscoaching company in North America:Buffini & Comp...
Comments 6
By Dana (Lerner) Sparks, Satisfying You with Service Innovation & Education
(Maximum One Realty - Managing Broker)
I welcome you to watch this ENTIRE Series on the 2025 CHANGES to the Georgia Association of REALTORS (GAR) Contract Forms. In this series, I'll discuss how various 2025 GAR Contract Documents differ from those same forms that were available to Georgia real estate agents in 2024. Dana Sparks, Broker, Maximum One Greater Atlanta, REALTORSDana@MaximumOneRealty.com
Comments 0
Back to Top