The addition of Eloise & Ursula also provides HMRE with a new El Segundo location. The El Segundo branch office is conveniently located in the heart of downtown at 315 Richmond. When asked why they joined, Ursula Mix said, “Eloise [Mendez] and I joined Hunter Mason Realty because it is a strong, agent focused company that compliments our client-first philosophy. Hunter Mason Realty is geared up for the future in real estate while serving the currents needs of our community of agents with the perfect balance of personal support and technology. “

Hunter Mason Realty has been experience tremendous growth since we opened in June of 2010. This innovative, agent focused office really appeals to a wide variety of real estate professionals. Contact Courtney at Hunter Mason Realty’s main office, 310-540-3331 with any questions or email, Courtney@HunterMasonRealty.com

Here are her questions:
1. Can a real estate agent assist in leasing property or do I need to hire a property manager?  Yes, you can use a real estate agent.  Many real estate professionals will list homes for lease as well as help prospective tenants find a place to live.  I work with many clients who are relocating for work and they often want to lease prior to buying. 
2. Do you ‘show’ it like you would a prospective buyer?   Do you put a lock box on the house so that any agent would have access?  Yes, I install an electronic lockbox which records each agents entry into property.  This is not only convenient for the agents & their clients but I can then follow-up with each agent that has shown the property for feedback
3. Do you get a credit report and who pays for it?   We can require the tenant to provide a recent credit report (within 30 days) – all pages must be included with the application or we can get the credit report, with the tenants permission, and charge them a processing fee.  Usually, if another agent brings in the prospective tenant, the application is submitted to me with a credit report. 
4. Do you get a FICO score?  Is there a recommended minimum score? Yes, I get the credit report with FICO scores.  I like to see credit scores of 680+ but I also look at the prospective tenant on the whole.  Many people have lost homes in short sales and foreclosures which brings their credit score down but they otherwise have good credit & income.  These types of tenants can be great because they will usually stay long-term.  They won’t be able to buy a house in the near future and it’s embarrassing for people to have to explain their financial situation, so once their in, their likely to stay a while.  
5. Do you get proof of employment or salary, or something like that?  Yes, we fax or email a VOE (verification of employment) form for the employer to fill out and we follow it up with a phone call.
6. Once the property is rented who does the tenant call for repairs or with questions?  That is up to you, I often take the initial call from the tenant to find out what they need.  If they need information, I can often help them with that and not bother you.  If a repair is needed I gather the information so that when I contact you I refer you to an appropriate service providers.  You will approve the work and arrange to pay for it directly with the service provider, but I can assist in scheduling the work with the tenant and the service provider, if necessary.  Your most common calls as a landlord are right after a tenant moves in, there are usually a few miscellaneous items that a handyman could fix quickly.  After that your most common calls are plumbing calls. Most realtors have numerous service providers they can recommend.
7. I’d sure like to meet any prospective tenants after they’ve passed muster, so to speak, credit-wise.   Is there a way to say ‘no’ to someone even if they have good credit, or does the law require that I not discriminate at all, so that I’d be obligated to select the first eligible tenant?  There are a variety of ways to weed out tenants to find the best fit for you as long as you’re not making your decision based on discriminatory practices.
8. What laws must I comply with regarding avoiding discrimination?   Someone told me to go to the Apartment Owner’s Association (AOA) to see what my limitations are.  Do you recommend that?  Apartment associations are a great resource for landlords.  You can also get lots of info online.  Property owners as well as  real estate professionals are required to practice fair housing and comply with all relevant laws.  You can obtain information at www.hud.gov. 

I welcome any feedback or additional suggestions.

1) Plan, plan, plan.  You may be thinking I already don’t have enough time in my busy day, how can you expect me to take even more time to plan.  Taking just 15 minutes at the end of each day or at the beginning of your day, whatever words best for you, to review and plan your appointments and to do’s will save you an enormous amount of time. 

Plan to do appointments and errands that are nearby one another so that you are not driving back and forth across town.  Do some of your personal errands at off times.  Don’t go grocery shopping on Saturday morning with everyone else.  Instead, plan to do it at night or during the week while everyone else is at work, you’ll save tons of time and aggravation waiting in line. 

Plan your family meals for the week, have the kids lunches made, homework in the backpack and kids clothes set aside each night.  When I’m feeling extra motivated, I even plan my own outfit, this alone saves me 15 minutes in the morning trying to decide what to wear. Try planning just for one week, I guarantee it will help.

2) Eliminate clutter and get organized.  Again, you’re thinking I have no time to be organized, but think about the time you waste looking for things on your desk or around your house.  Clutter in your physical space will create clutter in your mind.  I keep my keys in the same place so I never have to look for them – unless my kids move them.  My office files are kept in the same place. 

I don’t profess to be perfect, I get busy and my desk starts to pile up, but that’s when I know it’s time to set aside some time to get organized. A trick I learned years ago for organizing my desk was to touch something only once.  Once you touch it you need to act upon it, file it or throw it away.  I eliminate lots of clutter using this method.

Have lots of unused items around your house?  Have a yard sale, sell them on Craig’s List or EBay or just donate them.  If you’re not using it, it’s just taking up space.

3) Be proactive, not reactive.  Set time aside in your schedule and commit to doing a few simple tasks everyday.  As realtors we need to be proactive in contacting clients to generate business.  I do handwritten notes each morning for 15 minutes then call prospects and clients for 15 minutes.  If you have a large task, rather than continuing to put it off, commit to spending a little time on it each day.  You’ll have it done before you know it. 

Stop responding to email and phone calls 25 times a day. Instead, set aside some time in the morning and in the afternoon.  I don’t answer my cell phone if I don’t know who’s calling.  Instead I let the person leave a message, find out what they want and call the person back with the information they’re looking for.  This saves both of us time exchanging numerous phone calls. In my office I hold a monthly meeting rather than a weekly one and it’s done online which saves everyone driving time. I do my client and escrow follow-up twice a week.  I used to do it daily but it was overwhelming.

4) Hire someone to do the mundane tasks.  I know it’s a tough economy and money is tight but for $10/hr you could hire a friend or family member, even a college or high school student to stuff envelopes, drop off flyers, do filing, and update your website. If you need more involved work done, you could hire a virtual assistant for $20/hr.  This way you’re not committed to hiring an assistant it’s only on an as needed basis.  I used to clean my own house, not anymore.  I hired a reasonably priced housecleaner, she even does laundry! This frees me up to spend time with my family when I’m at home rather than spending all my “free” time cleaning. It’s a tough economy for everyone; you can negotiate the fee you’ll pay for many services. 

5) Make a list.   My favorite list is “Things I can do in 15 minutes”  Did you know, saving 15 minutes a day saves you 91 hours a year!  I set time aside for bigger projects but there are many tasks that can be done in 15 minutes or less.  I do these while I wait or while I’m driving (hands free, of course).  Not getting enough exercise?  Keep a pair of walking shoes in your car or at the office, take a 15 minute walk around the block, it’s good for, you won’t feel as guilty for not going to the gym and it will clear your head.  Accomplishing several small tasks a day will boost your productivity.

6) Just Say “No”.  If you’re like me, you think you can do everything.  I’ve learned the hard way this is not true.  When people ask if I can take on a project or join a committee my gut reaction is to say yes.  I’ve had to work on saying NO for years and when someone catches me off guard I will still say yes.  If you need to work up to saying NO, simply tell the person you’ll need to check your schedule and will get back to them.  It’s not rude to say NO, especially if you will not be able to give the task or project your full attention.

I hope these tips are helpful and would love to hear your feedback and any tips you may have.

I previously had a Palm, which I loved.  I thought it was great to be able to use my Palm as a phone, lockbox key, camera and check my email – although I could not view attachments.  With my new Droid, I can take better photos, check all my email with attachments, it’s great for checking Facebook and other social media and it’s simply more fun to play with.  One drawback is no lockbox key feature. 

I welcome any comments or suggestions on apps for the Droid.

According to the International Association of home stagers, staging your home can increase your sale price by 7% percent and helps it sell an average of 100 days quicker.  So, if you want to sell your listing faster and for more money consider these helpful tips.

1.  DON’T SELL A VACANT HOUSE: I always say people have no imagination.  It’s difficult for most buyers to imagine what an empty house will look like with furniture.  Also, it may be surprising but vacant homes look smaller to most people.  Why do you think homebuilders usually furnish their model homes – so they’ll look bigger and better.

It’s a fact, empty houses simply don’t sell for as much money and they generally take longer to sell.  When you do receive offers buyers often believe the seller is desperate and will make a low-ball offer.

So how do I furnish my vacant listing?  I recommend trying to use furniture the seller already owns.  Even if they are moving they usually have furniture pieces that they are not taking with them and you could put them to good use.  If they already moved out, you can rent or buy furniture.  I own several pieces of furniture that I use on my vacant listings.  If you’re on a budget, and who isn’t these days, network with a local furniture store owner who may be willing to let you borrow some furniture in exchange for promoting his/her store.  You might also try an interior designer who is trying to build his/her business. In most cases you don’t need to furnish every room but it’s vitally important the first rooms a buyer sees are furnished i.e. entry, living room, etc…  Which takes me to my next point, making a good first impression.

2. MAKING THE BEST 1^ST IMPRESSION: When you walk into a home, or even going to a restaurant or shopping at a store, you decide whether or not you like the place in the first 10 seconds.  Buyers do too.  I always say it’s that small details that make or break an experience.  When you visit a restaurant, the food may be great but if the place looks dirty you probably won’t eat there again.  It’s the same with your listings.  If the house does not look its absolute best you will not get the highest possible price and it will take longer to sell.

• Make sure the house is as clean as possible.  Have the seller wash walls, doors, door knobs, appliances, etc…Make it sparkle.  Clean the kitchen and bathroom.  These are the 2 most important rooms in the house.  If necessary, give these rooms a fresh coat of paint, replace the old faucet and hang fresh and towels.
• Buyers want a light & bright home.  Turn all the lights on when showing, use higher wattage builds and open the blinds to let in as much light as possible
• Burn candles or have fresh flowers so that the house smells good
• Remember, people have no imaginagtion.  A buyer cannot visualize themselves and their stuff in a home if there is too much clutter.  So remove the clutter inside and out.  Remove excess furniture, kid’s toys, and too many family wall photos.  Remove or put away hoses, trim lawn, bushes and plant fresh flowers
• Make the paint look fresh and clean.  Touch up peeling or chipped paint inside and out.  In some cases you can get away with washing interior walls or power washing the exterior to freshen it up rather than painting.

3. REMOVE PETS: I love my cats and my dog but a prospective buyer might not.   Pets are wonderful but a barking dog may scare a buyer or someone may be allergic to your cat.  Even worse, your pet could accidental get let out.

I would love to hear your tips and feedback on getting homes sold quickly.

Rule#1- Organization Is A Virtue

I love Adobe PDF writer!  This program allows me to use my scanner and create an electronic copy in my computer.  I scanned all my bills and any important documents in this format.  Since I owned property in two states, this allowed me access to a “virtual” file cabinet with my laptop.  I can quickly send eviction or late notices from wherever my location.  One example was during an eviction the lawyer processing the case needed copies of the lease, the late notices and breakdown of expenses owed to me.  Since I scanned every document and use QuickBooks to organize my accounting, I was able to quickly send a package to my Lawyer and he was able to file with no delay.  We filed with the court and I was able to gain a judgment against the tenant.  But more importantly, I got possession of my property in an expeditious manner.  You can purchase Adobe PDF at www.adobe.comor download free simple Adobe writer called CutePDF.

Rule#2- Treat Every Tenant Like They Have A Law Degree

I assume that all my tenants know as much about property law as an attorney would know.  As a result, all notices are in writing and on the standard forms provided by the non-profit organization the California Association of Realtors.  There is an excellent program provided by the California Association of Realtors called WINForms (www.winforms.com).  This program has all the property and lease forms provided by the association.  This includes lease agreements, lead disclosure, check-in, and even a rental application.  If you are a Realtor, the program is included as part of your annual dues.  Otherwise the program is only available to attorneys or real estate licensees for a hefty annual price of $499.00.  Lastly, any verbal discussions that may have some legal consequences are written down and sent to the tenant.   If the subject is too small for a written letter, I then enter a log in my ACT contact program with a date and time stamp of the event.

Rule#3- Take The Time To Become Informed On Rental Laws

If you follow Rule#2, then it is critical you become knowledgeable on the current rental laws.  An example was a recent change to month-to-month termination notification.  California law requires the Landlord to give a tenant 60 days notice of termination of month-to-month lease, regardless of the 30 day notice agreed upon in the original lease.  Fortunately for the tenant, they still can give the Landlord 30 days notice.  This major change became effective the beginning of this year.  Sources to keep up to date with rental laws are apartment associations and the web site of the Department of Real Estate or like kind governing board.

Rule#4- Include Automatic Rental Increases

This rule I learned the hard way.  I noticed that it was a difficult process to increase rent on my tenants.  The tenants didn’t like the increases and depending on the timing of the notice or size they may get upset and leave to find another place to rent.  So the effort to increase rent a few dollars would potentially cost me thousands of dollars to update and advertise a vacant unit.  What I discovered is that you can include an automatic increase in rent at the beginning of the tenancy.  This way the tenant is aware of the increase and can budget accordingly.  You as a Landlord still have to provide 30 day written notice of the increase, but at least the tenant is expecting the notice. 

Rule#5- Be Fair And Direct

After dealing with 75 rental units a pattern started to appear regarding payment of rent.  Some tenants were excellent and would pay before or on the first of the month.  Others would wait for the last hour of the final day before a late charge could be added.  And the remaining tenants would always be late and pay the late fee every month.  Unforeseen events in a tenant’s life would happen and I would get that call or letter asking for extra time to pay the rent.  My response would be a respectful inquiry regarding when payment would be rendered and to remind the tenant that a late fee would be added as described in the lease agreement.  I also informed the tenant that unless payment is sent to my office by the 12^th, then a 3 day pay rent or quit notice would be served.  Honestly if a tenant in late three consecutive months, I would serve a lease termination notice.  I never try to sympathize with the tenant about my need to pay the mortgage and all the bills, because most tenants don’t care.  They see me as a rich Landlord that has endless pockets of wealth… HA!  

Of course there are other rules, but that will have to come another day.  I enjoy sharing my experiences so if you have a question or story you want to share send me an email or vist us online at www.investbig.com

Bank Owned properties called REO’s (Real Estate Owned) can be a wonderful opportunity for home-buyers and investors in today’s market.  Although all REO’s are not a good deal, in general bank-owned properties sell below current market value for their area. 

Yet many real estate professionals are reluctant to sell these potentially great deals.  Why?  There a number of reasons.  First, many home-buyers have unrealistic expectations, they think banks are so desperate to sell they will take any offer.  While it’s true they do not want to own these homes, they are somewhat bureaucratic.  Banks have a process in place and unless the property has been difficult to sell and a buyer has cash and/or can close fast they are reluctant to take low-ball offers. So, while there are some great deals out there, most banks are not going to consider an offer significantly below the asking price, especially when it’s first listed.  And, they are more likely to take an offer from a highly qualified or cash buyer. In fact, depending on the area and price, it is not uncommon to see multiple offers on a bank-owned property, some for over the asking price. 

Also, banks will not work with unqualified buyers.  I often get contacted by buyers looking far above a price range they can afford because they believe the bank will take fifty cents on the dollar.  Some even have bad credit and limited money for a down payment.  The reason banks and the rest of the country are in this current financial mess is because, in many cases, banks were lending money to unqualified buyers and loans were given to people that could not afford them.  So, after submitting a couple unrealistic offers that don’t get accepted most professional real estate agents will cut the buyer loose if they don’t start making reasonable offers.  Let’s face it, real estate agents are in the business of selling homes so they will usually work with buyers who are the most likely to close an escrow.

Another common reason that real estate agents do not like to show and sell bank-owned real estate is that they think selling an REO is a hassle.  From my experience, this is because the way typical real estate professionals operate their business and REO agents operate are completely different.  Typically a buyer’s agent will talk to, and work with, the listing agent to submit their offer and any outstanding paperwork or information can be obtained during the offer and acceptance process.  REO agents, on the other hand, do not have the luxury of operating this way.  They are often difficult if not impossible to contact by phone, many instead will only communicate via email.  The top REO agents carry 50 – 150+ listings and simply do not have the time to call a buyers agent for missing paperwork or information.  Many REO agents get into their office Monday morning and have 40 or more contracts on their desk to review and submit.  So if your offer is incomplete or missing information when it’s first submitted the offer will likely never get past the listing agents desk.  The end result is that real estate agents think the banks are difficult deal with.   

Finally, many agents are fearful of the liability.  Bank-owned homes often come with deferred maintenance and some outright problems.  These homes are sold in strictly an as-is condition and if a major problem is discovered after escrow closes who can the buyer go to but the agent that sold the property to them.

If you want to buy bank owned property make sure the agent you choose understands the process.  In part two of this article I will share tips from top REO agents to help you get your offer accepted.

June 2008, “It will get worse before it gets better.  It will get better, because the demographics are compelling.  We have more people living in homes, we have the population growing from 300 to 350 million people, immigration, baby boomers, the eco-generation, and all those are driving demand.  So long-term the value of your house will increase, but in the short-term the value of your house will probably decrease.” This is according to Henry Silverman, Realogy Corp

Aug. 14, 2008, “Foreclosure Activity Increases 8% in July”; “Activity Up 55% From July 2007”; “Nevada, California, Florida post top state foreclosure rates”, According to RealtyTrac(R)

August 25, 2008, “Sales of existing homes rose 3.1% in July, about double what economists had expected”; “Despite the increase, the inventory of unsold homes reached an 11.2-month supply matching the all-time high”, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

August 26, 2008, Jim Cramer, host of CNBC’s Mad Money called the bottom of the  housing boom, “The economy will never recover if housing doesn’t find its footing first.” when does he expect that will happen? Jim Cramer said he expects a bottom by the third quarter of 2009.

What does this mean, buy now or wait?  The housing market is one of the nation’s top concerns, its right up there with gas prices and the Presidential election. Each day brings more and sometimes conflicting news but I believe now is a great time to buy.  You’re probably thinking well of course she says that she’s a Realtor and wants people to buy homes – true.  However, the reality is that we can’t put a date and time on the bottom of the market or when it will turn around.  But everyone needs to live somewhere so why not live in the home and/or area that you want to live in and if you’re renting wouldn’t you like to own a home of your own? 

In addition, real estate is extremely localized so the answer to the question, “should I buy now or wait?” depends on what you want to buy.  My area, the South Bay of Los Angels, is small geographically yet we have every type of housing available from beach condos to high end single family homes, townhomes and investment property.  So answering that question depends on many factors.  The best way to get it answered is to talk with your local Realtor.  In my experience, most people want to wait and see what everyone else is doing before they make a move.  The smart buyers are out there right now getting deals.  I guarantee that by the time the majority gets off the sidelines and starts buying, it’s too late.  So if you buy now, yes prices may go down further, but that won’t last forever, eventually things will turn around.  The key is to buy a home you want, that suits your needs in an area you like with payment you can afford. 

Introduction:  Courtney Self: 

ü      Full-time Broker

ü      started RE in 1986

ü      Real Estate Investor

ü      Author of 3 real estate books & numerous articles.

ü      To request notes email me:  Courtney@Self.cc 

ü      Take Questions throughout presentation.

Tough Economy = Tough RE Market…Agents leaving the business

My goal today is to share what’s out there so you can properly incorporate technology into your business.  This will make your business more efficient & cost effective.  This past summer I had a great opportunity to review my use of technology.  I took the summer off & left the office I had been in since 1997 & also dissolved a long-term partnership of 7 years.  Making these two big moves in my businesses plus my time off gave me a great opportunity to review my overall business; one thing I spent some time on was evaluating the technology tools I had been using.  I found that although most of them were great products I was not fully utilizing some them in my business which made them a waste of money.  In this market we cannot afford to waste any money.

The question is where do we start?  10 years ago, technology had very little to do with our business. Today, however, it’s essential to your success.   The problem for most of us is the overwhelm we feel when reviewing what’s out there.  So, how do you choose the technology tools that are right for your business?  The amount & type may vary with you, your experience as well as your client base. 

97% of my clients are repeat & referral so the tools I choose help me to maintain that average.  Your client base may be different.  Even with the majority of my business coming to me as some sort of referral my clients still do research online before meeting with me. 

According to NAR’s 2007 Realtor® Technology Survey”, 84% of homebuyers use the Internet 84% (up from 80 percent in 2006), before they contact a real estate agent.  In the past clients came to us for information, today they already have it.  However, the good news is, in spite of all the information the consumer still needs us.  The vast amounts of information can be overwhelming to a buyer or a seller; it’s our job to translate this information for them.

Hardware:

ü      Laptop.   I assume everyone has a computer of some kind but a laptop allows you to take your office with you anywhere you go.  It’s great to-do a listing presentation; take it to an open house to show prospective buyers or just to get some work done if the OH is slow.   A wireless connection is a must if you plan to go mobile – many p[ublic places offer wireless connection. Abitly to conncet to interniet via cell phone is another great option.

o       Hardware Tips:

§         Have you’re name somewhere on the computer in case you leave it – car dealer

§         Laptop security cable

§         Password protect login & screen saver

§         Don’t leave password written down near computer

o       Lo Jack for laptops – this information provided by Len Walther, one of the audience members:  Let’s police track location of stolen

§         Adrona (open source) – dual platform doesn’t involve 3rdparties. (Fear of owner being tracked).  Takes photos of thief with MacBookPro’s iSight built-in video conference camera & let’s you know

ü      Mobile Phone & Accessories.   The cell phone is the single most important tool for a busy agent!  As I already touched upon, today’s consumers want instant contact.  Buy a smart phone, why?  Powerful business tool.  Treo is the best for real estate location of thief., Blackberry is close behind & according to my MLS will have SUPRA Ekey functions by the end of the year. 

o       PDA – Synchronize with contact managers - all your contacts with you at all time.

o       Calendar

o       IM/Texting

o       Supra eKey :  provides showing activity usually within 24 hours on your listings.

o       Real estate applications e.g. mortgage calculator or seller net sheets

o       Camera

o       Cell phone Tips

§         Take pictures to remind yourself of repair items

§         Temporary MLS photos- something is better than nothing

§         Synchronize client database

§         Don’t forget a hands-free device so you can talk on the phone while driving, some cars come equipped with it.

ü      USB Flash Drive.  If you have access to a computer at your office & don’t want to bring your laptop back & forth each day a flash drive is a powerful device.  You can transport all your files to another computer simply by plugging the USB drive into your computer & download/upload it.

ü      Digital Camera. A high resolution, good quality digital camera can be an agent’s best friend when it comes to marketing. A digital camera can be used to take photos of the inside & outside of homes, the surrounding area, & anything else that could help sell a home or purchase one. Photos can be placed on your website, posted on listing sites or MLS, used to build a virtual tour, or emailed to clients.

ü      GPS Navigation System.  Many of us have expanded the markets in which we work due to the economy.  It will save you time, gas & embarrassment when showing clients

Software & Internet Services:

Microsoft Office

ü      Word:  word processor - Use to create flyers, form letters, & drafting letters to clients or fellow agents 

ü      Excel : spreadsheets -

o       import & export mailing lists

o       Custom investment analysis form get at www.InvestBig.com

o       Seller proceeds

ü      PowerPoint- presentations

o       Seminars; Listing/buyer presentations

ü      Publisher – flyers & marketing material

ü      Outlook - contact manager

o       Organize calendar & contacts

o       Synchronizes with all cell phones

Google Docs – FREE; great for sharing

ü      Google Word-processor

ü      Google Spreadsheet

Contact Managers:

ü      ACT! Premium for Real Estate

o       My favorite for sales people

o       Built-in features & templates

ü      Top Producer

o       Specific to real estate

o       Powerful online database

o       It does everything & more for real estate sales

Personal Website.

ü      Today’s standard, much like a business card.  I think of it as an online brochure, it can tell potential homebuyers & sellers who you are & what you offer. 

ü      Evolving into customer relationship manager, CRM e.g. Top Producer – one stop shopping

ü      Lead generator - when used correctly. A key factor to lead generation success is the ability to respond quickly, & by quickly I mean within minutes. The consumer wants information NOW! 

ü      Auto-responders.  In my opinion, if you cannot set up a system to effectively respond within minutes don’t expect to use your website as a lead generator.  Home Gain &  www.Eprospecting.com can set up for you.

ü      I use mine as a resource center for my clients.

ü      Website Tips:

ü      Is your website “ego based” or is it “value exchange & informational based?”

ü      Do you have a lead capture system on your website?  Remember, the only way you will capture leads is if you have something of value the consumer is receiving in return for their information.

ü      Custom Domain Names -Makes you look professional

ü      Get a real estate specific website vendor, e.g. Superlative or Pullan Communications

ü      You don’t have to release control of domain name to web site vendor

ü      Own multiple names - I have several sites that are linked together. 

§         www.SouthBayCA.com residential real estate business

§         www.CourtneySelf.com residential real estate business

§         www.InvestBig.com  income property; resources information for landlords, FREE 7-day trial on foreclosure information which is a really hot topic right now.

ü      Domain Name Vendors:  Enom [www.enomcentral.com]; Go Daddy [www.godaddy.com]; Network Solutions [www.networksolutions.com]

MLS:  MLS access is so standard many of us take it for granted.  Remember all of our listings make it to the internet so you want to make sure your listings are as accurate as possible & they you have as many photos as your system will allow.  Studies have shown that listings with more photos are viewed for a longer period of time than those without photos. 

Zipforms™. You can be more efficient & cost effective while going green. 

ü      Zipforms will enable you to write & email contracts online.

ü      Contracts are the most up to date

ü      It’s easy to use, avoids the messy look of a fax.

ü      Using DocuSign in conjunction with Zipforms enables you to insert electronic signatures.

Homefeedback.com/Listing Widget – Buyer & agent feedback plus email marketing

ü      Go green – send Flyers & postcards sent to other agents in your area or to your database via email.

ü      Great Listing tool

ü      Fast

Web Based Email

ü      Email clients from any Internet connected device

ü      Account & messages are backed up

ü      Basic full featured accounts cost nothing

Resources: 

ü      Google Mail [www.google.com/gmail]; Yahoo Mail [mail.yahoo.com]; HotMail [www.hotmail.com]

Email Marketing

ü      Low Cost & Easy to Set-up

ü      Market to Clients & Other Agents

ü      Anniversary emails- send a yearly anniversary card on the purchase of their home

ü      Birthdays- who doesn’t like a happy birthday card?

ü      Newsletters – Factoids- send recipes, fun facts, or interesting information that your clients will want to read

ü      Valuation update- schedule CMA to be sent annually 

–       Resources: 

–       Plaxo.com

–       eProspecting [www.eprospecting.com] real estate specific, professionally written templates

–       Constant Contact [www.constantcontact.com] used by many different types of business to send email marketing to interested clients

Texting/IM.  the standard for younger consumers.  Email is considered the new “snail mail”.

ü      www.House4Cell.com

ü      Buyer sends text message & is instantly sent description of the property w/photos

ü      the buyer’s phone number is captured & sent to the listing agent

Toll Free Numbers

ü      Low-cost

ü      Callers can listen to information 24/7

ü      Great listing tool

ü      Voice blasting

ü      Ad tracking

ü      Toll Free Service Providers:

ü      Freedom Voice [www.freedomvoice.com] or [www.myagentphone.com]

Television Marketing:

ü      Spot Runner [www.spotrunner.com]

ü      Adversities on your local cable stations

ü      Template commercials are relatively inexpensive & are becoming more technologically advanced

ü      Build a custom campaign by providing information about your company, target market, location & budget

Public Relations Marketing:

ü      Cost-effective

ü      Blogging [www.blogspot.com] is a website where postings are listed in chronological order. Active Rain; Word Press – www.realestategenius.net

ü      Ezine increases traffic to your website, builds personal & business creditability.

ü      Trulia Voicesonline Q&A-connecting buyers/sellers with real estate questions to local professionals

ü      online radio shows or podcasts www.TalkShoe.com

Other Services:

Send Out Cards – send personalized, custom cards, gifts, postcards.  Great for Holiday cards & follow-up with existing clients.

USPS.com – print, address & mail postcards online

Efax – send & receive faxes via email; maintain a private fax line.

Social Networking: LinkedIn; Facebook (no MySpace – kids); Plaxo

Craigslist [www.craigslist.com] is a free classified posting service that has gained momentum & scared the heck out of the print advertisers

Melissa Data [www.melissadata.com] is an incredible resource that has over 50 free data search engines on their web site