Real Estate Solutions

PhotoJoJo

I would guess anyone reading this blog owns a digital camera. And like the Photojojo website says “you’ve probably taken a bajillion photos with it.” PhotoJoJo offers creative ideas for your photos many of which you can adapt to real estate. (Ok, maybe not the idea of putting your face on a cupcake.) Photojojo’s twice a week newsletter is a quick read and full of cool tips, projects and even unusual photo “stuff” to buy. While their newsletters are fun and entertaining, they cover serious stuff like how to take family portraits or photos at night.

A School Widget for Your Real Estate Blog

I don't like to junk up my blog or website with too many widgets but here's one I found on the Education.com website. In addition to the widget generator, the site also offers lots of other good tools and information for those interested in education.

Ledyard Schools

• map
• school list
• find

Ledyard Schools
Connecticut Schools

Get your own Local Schools Widget

Seller Communications Binder

Sellers of real estate generally have one complaint when it comes to their agent - poor communication. You’ve heard the stories from sellers about how an agent listed their home and then never heard from them again. I’d like to think I do a pretty good job when it comes to keeping my sellers informed.

My secret weapon is The Seller Communication Binder. I present the one inch binder to the seller at the time I take the listing.

The binder is separated by dividers into 5 sections:

Listing Docs - This section is used for a copy of the listing and disclosures which I have 3 hole punched in advance.

Advertising - Copies of print advertising as well as hard copies of internet advertising are mailed every two weeks to the seller. (Again, 3 hole punched.)

Reports - Along with sending the advertising every two weeks, we send sellers copies of Homefeedback.com and Realtor.com reports as well as other website traffic reports.

Closing Information - Here’s where a copy of the sales contract and our “Here’s what happens next” letter goes.

Miscellaneous - This is a “catch all” place for everything else. We include information on closing customs in our county. During the listing period we mail interesting articles from the newspaper or the internet about local market conditions.

We also include a plastic sleeve that holds 20 business cards of local vendors that a seller might need, like a carpet cleaner, plumber or chimney sweep. We do use attorneys in our area at closings so we add the cards of 3 local attorneys.

I touch my sellers in other ways through email and the internet but almost without exception, sellers arrive at the closing with my secret weapon in hand.

Surprise someone with a note today.

I’ve attended the Howard Brinton Conferences for a number of years and have listened to his Star Power Tape Series for even longer.  One of the ideas that has stuck with me since I heard it …. Star Bob Wolff’s routine of writing notes every day to not only clients, but to average people he comes in contact with.  He has some amazing stores of how a simple note “touched” someone enough to create future business for him…a waitress, a cab driver, the gas attendant.  I’ve tried to keep up the routine of writing short notes but need a reminder occasionally. I’ll consider this my reminder for the New Year.  In the email age, people are really surprised and pleased to receive a personal hand written note. I’ve even had people call to thank me for a thank you note!