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 Lise Howe, Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC
(Keller Williams Capital Properties)
I love everything that Barbara Todaro writes and we all miss her daily dose of wisdom.  This is a sweet piece that reminds all of us of why we (if we have been in real estate for a few years) do what we do - it is really about the relationships that can turn into lifelong friendships.   Have a great week! and thanks for the friendships I have made here!                                                                                    I recently had some communication, and a surprise visit, from a past client I hadn’t seen in 30 years. He found a post I had recently written on Facebook and reached out to me via text.  He’s into politics now with the Republican party. I suggested he bring signs with him, and I’d help him plant them in my neighborhood. He and his wife both visited. What a...
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By Realtyna Inc, WordPress Real Estate - IDX, RESO Web API, CRM
(Realtyna)
The real estate industry is highly competitive. That is why real estate professionals need access to the most updated property information to stay ahead of the game. By providing access to data about properties for sale and information about market trends, MLS Router™ API presents new and advanced ways to access and use MLS data. From super-fast speed, seamless integration, and low cost to improved user experience, MLS Router™ API provides a feature-rich solution for high performance on real estate websites/applications.What Is the MLS Router™ API?MLS Router™ API is a headless plugin that allows developers to access MLS data through a standardized REST API. The headless real estate plugin allows developers/webmasters to easily integrate MLS data into real estate applications, websites, ...
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By Don Alexander
(1st Prime Realty)
Yes, Interest Rates are up and some Buyers are getting Good Rates because of Creative Financing.  As I Shift gears going after more Listings and Boosting my Nationwide Referral Network, I will use this Technology to Enhance my Listings: Enhance-Listings
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By Dr. Paula McDonald, Granbury, TX 936-203-0279
(Beam & Branch Realty)
Today I was listening to one of the March Madness coaches interviews from Furman University. This team did the unimaginable and upset a top seed in the NCAA tournament. The young man who hit the buzzer 3-point basket came out as a hero of the game.                    The coach said in the interview that his player, JP Pegues who hit the incredibly deep, 3-point buzzer shot had not performed that well throughout the game. However, he told said of the player, "This young man was prepared for THAT shot! He comes to practice early and he stays late." He continued saying, "The hard work this young man put in paid off when it was needed."Isn't this true of most things in life? The more prepared we are, the better chance we have to find success. During a clutch real estate transaction, the age...
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By Stephen Fells, Marketing, Technology, Fun and News!
(AgencyLogic)
Everyday AgencyLogic shares real estate podcasts from industry leaders and visionaries.  Here are this weeks podcasts: Real Estate Podcast: Troubleshooting Google Business Profile Issues for REALTORS Real Estate Podcast: Generate New Lead as a Local Area Export Real Estate Podcast: How to Achieve Double Digit Cash Flow Real Estate Podcast: When to Move or Improve My Home Real Estate Podcast: How to Successfully Extract The Most Value Out of Your Database
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detailed explanation of the decision-making process for selling a property: Understand Your Concerns: Before we start the selling process, it's important for me to understand your concerns and priorities. This includes understanding your reason for selling, your timeline for selling, your desired outcome, and any challenges you may face in the selling process. By understanding your concerns, I can tailor our approach to best suit your needs. Analyze the Property: The next step is to conduct a thorough analysis of your property. This includes assessing the property's condition, identifying any necessary repairs or upgrades, and determining the property's market value. This analysis helps us understand the strengths and weaknesses of the property, as well as its potential value on the mar...
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By Peter Mohylsky
(PMI. Destin)
Buying or selling a home can be trickier than finding a leprechaun's pot of gold.But a four-leaf clover won't help; only an expert agent will – like me!Consider me your lucky charm.Just message me to start your journey; I'm ready to shamrock & roll! Happy St Pats Day.  Another day at work for me.  Thanks lucky.  #thehelpfulagent #home #houseexpert #house #listreports #homeowner #stpaddysday #stpatricksday #happystpatricksday #luckoftheirish #luckycharm #lucky #househunting #icanhelp #realestate #realtor #realestateagent  
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By Brian Sharkey, SharkeyRE
(SharkeyRE LLC)
John had a tough time balancing his work and personal life. He wanted to be successful and make sure that he was able to make time for his family and friends, but he was overwhelmed by the amount of work he had to do. He decided to use a S.M.A.R.T. week to help him manage his time and be successful in both his professional and personal life. John knew that the first step to a successful S.M.A.R.T. week was to block out his pre-scheduled appointments, personal time, prospecting time, call back time, and leave room for flex time. He also used a color-coded system to help him differentiate between income producing, license required activities (green), non-revenue producing admin work (yellow), and personal time (pink). Finally, he wrote out a list of the top five priorities he wanted to ac...
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By Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!, St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent
(Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374)
A Ship Captain's Motto: Always Be Prepared! A Navy captain is alerted by his First Mate that there is a pirate ship coming towards his position. He asks a sailor to get him his red shirt.He asked the captain, “Why do you need a red shirt?”The Captain replies, “So that when I bleed, you sailor's won’t notice and aren’t discouraged.” They fight off the pirates eventually.The very next day, the Captain is alerted that 50 pirate ships are coming towards them quickly. He yells, “Get me my brown pants! Tie in to real estate:When getting the call for a listing, ensure that all avenues are researched thoroughly. When questions are asked, they are answered confidently and quickly, showing you are the person for the job! Helping buyers achieve their goals means local selling area knowledge, being...
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By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
Static electricity can be fun,it can also be shocking!As Realtors we often talk about what impresses Buyers when they visit a home. At a listing appointment we often coach Sellers on what will make a positive impression on Buyers to make them get an offer in ASAP.Some of the positive suggestions are:Curb AppealHome cleanlinessDe-clutteringneutral colors and many more.If you live in a dry climate have you ever suggested that they use a humidifier? I know some heating systems have them built in, even my first home built in the 30's had a humidifier built in. Homes that do not have adequate humidity can be shocking! I know that in my home if we do not have a humidifier running during the heating months we receive static shocks closely akin to the cover of the ELO album pictured above.Selle...
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By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
I had a few peppers the other day that made me feel like my tongue was on fire. I drank some coffee a while back that burned my mouth. Both experience did require a glass of water or two but neither of those instances called for a fire extinguisher.Facing a Real Estate Challenge? Then you are going to not only want to read this post but all the posts tied to an Active Rain Challenge called March to a Solution by Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP .Have you found that no matter what the profession when people work together in a group someone in the group has a tongue on fire... and it is not from eating peppers. It is called gossip. Before you gossip THINK.We have all heard the childhood chant "Sticks & stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me". HOWEVER we all know that th...
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By Brian Sharkey, SharkeyRE
(SharkeyRE LLC)
Here are five key tips for identifying and interpreting different types of body language: 1. Observe – Pay attention to the body language of others and take note of any patterns or changes. 2. Listen – Listen carefully to the words people are saying and the way they are saying them. 3. Ask questions – If something seems off or out of place, ask questions to get to the bottom of it. 4. Research – Research different types of body language and how to interpret them. 5. Practice – Practice using and interpreting body language in different situations. By following these five tips, you can become more aware of other people's body language and use this knowledge to your advantage.
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By Sussie Sutton, David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers
(David Tracy Real Estate)
What Buyers Want to See When They Enter A Room Imaginations run high when a buyer walks into your listed home. Some have imagination and can see how everything will be and others need help. I recently read a newsletter where this was noted. Below is a bit of what I think everyone should know:  1. Space. Buyers will often mentally fit their furniture into a room when they see it. So, make sure each room is uncluttered and staged in a way that showcases its spaciousness. 2. Functionality. Buyers want to see the room for what it is. So, if it’s a bedroom, but you’ve turned it into an exercise room, it might become a distraction to buyers. Consider restoring the room to its original purpose. 3. Themselves. Buyers want to imagine the room as part of their home, not yours. They want to see t...
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By Brian Sharkey, SharkeyRE
(SharkeyRE LLC)
The five whys - Create a vision 1. Why should I use a vision board? A vision board can help to keep you motivated, inspired, and on track to achieving your goals. 2. Why is visualizing my goals important? Visualizing your goals can help to create a positive mindset and give you an incentive to work towards them. 3. Why is it important to keep my goals top of mind? Keeping your goals top of mind will help to remind you of what you want to achieve, and can help to keep you on track. 4. Why is it important to make my goals tangible? Making your goals tangible can help to make them feel more real and achievable, and can give you an incentive to work towards them. 5. Why is it important to stay organized? Staying organized can help to make it easier to keep track of your goals and progress, ...
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By Stephen Fells, Marketing, Technology, Fun and News!
(AgencyLogic)
All successful businesses know the importance of improving their customer engagement. A fully engaged customer is going to stick around longer and spend more money. This infographic from GetVOiP has a few clever customer engagement strategies you can consider:   
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By Stephen Fells, Marketing, Technology, Fun and News!
(AgencyLogic)
Collaboration in the workplace is more important than ever, but it's making us less productive in some ways. In the following video, from the TED YouTube channel, pioneer Rob Cross says is driving us to take on way too much -- and how we can reclaim our time and our peace of mind.
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By Brian Sharkey, SharkeyRE
(SharkeyRE LLC)
Ruth had been working from home for the past few years since covid. She loved the flexibility and the freedom it gave her, but she was struggling to manage her time. She had trouble staying focused and found it hard to keep track of her tasks and deadlines. She also had to juggle her work with her personal life, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to manage her time. One day, Ruth decided to take matters into her own hands and find a way to better manage her time. She started by making a list of her tasks and prioritizing them based on their importance and urgency. She also created a schedule for herself and set realistic deadlines for each task. She also made sure to take regular breaks and set time aside for her personal life. Ruth also used various tools and resources to help ...
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By Brian Sharkey, SharkeyRE
(SharkeyRE LLC)
The referral lead generating is a 7 step system to help agents convert conversations to leads. Step 1: Identify the Prospect- Identify potential buyers or sellers with whom you can have a meaningful conversation. Step 2: Gather Contact Information- Collect the prospect’s contact information, such as their name, email address, and phone number. Step 3: Establish Rapport- Build rapport with the prospect by engaging them in a friendly conversation.Step 4: Qualify the Prospect- Ask questions to determine if the prospect is a good fit for your services. Step 5: Present Your Services- Explain to the prospect how you can help them and how it will benefit them. Step 6: Ask for Referrals- Ask the prospect for referrals to other potential clients. Step 7: Follow Up- Follow up with the prospect to...
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By Realtyna Inc, WordPress Real Estate - IDX, RESO Web API, CRM
(Realtyna)
As a real estate broker, you know that investing in your agents is investing in your brand. Your success depends on the level of professionalism and efficiency of your team. The more skilled and experienced your agents become, the better the traffic for your business. To help you maximize your agents’ performance, we’ve compiled a list of methods that will improve their performance and attitude and behavior toward work.Leverage Technological ToolsTo set your agents up for success, invest in the latest technological tools to help them perform at their best. Innovative solutions like the Realtyfeed App and White Label Web/App solution are designed to help brokerages increase productivity while reducing hours spent on cold-calling door-knocking. Providing your team with the right tools gua...
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By Bill Kennedy, Homes For Sale Greenville SC
(Keller Williams Greenville Upstate)
I have gathered some tips on how realtors can keep themselves safe while on the job. Here are five ways real estate agents can ensure their safety and wellbeing during open houses, with a touch of humor: 1) The Buddy System: When it comes to open houses, it's always best to bring a buddy along. Not only will you have someone to share snacks with, but you'll also have an extra pair of eyes to keep an eye out for any potential dangers. Plus, if you ever need to make a quick getaway, you'll have someone to run with you. 2) Set Boundaries: Before the open house, set clear boundaries with your clients and visitors. Let them know which areas of the property are off-limits and what behavior is expected of them. If someone is making you uncomfortable or breaking the rules, don't be afraid to sp...
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