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Sunday, December 22, 2024

customer service

    Gen X – those born between 1965 and 1976 – was the hardest-hit cohort during the 2007 Recession, with a nearly 60% drop in median household net worth. Blaire Briody, at BusinessInsider.com says that this is “the largest drop of all age groups.”

    Amazingly, this is also the generation who has seen the greatest comeback since then.

    Between 2010 and 2018, “… the median net worth of Gen X households has risen 115 percent,” according to Andrew Soergel at USNews.com, citing a researcher at Pew.

    Today, we have a new crisis (the pandemic) and it’s impacting members of two generations: Millennials (age 25 to 43 this year) and Gen Z (age 24 and younger).

    To deal with closed college campuses and the financial impact, many of these younger folks have gone home, to Mom and Dad.

    Many of their parents want to help. If you have clients who are parents of Millenials and Gen Z the following are ideas you can share with them to get their kids to finally and forever leave the nest to feather a nest of their own.

    Rent By Number Series with custom sub-heading
    How to structure the deal

    Many parents fear creating a financially-dependent, adult wanna-be by helping their Millennial or Gen Z child purchase a home.

    If their son or daughter is generally mature and responsible and just needs a bit of temporary help, parents most likely have nothing to worry about.

    A lot also depends on how they structure their assistance, and this is where you come in, offering solutions.

    The different forms of “help”

    Helping an adult child realize the dream of homeownership comes in many forms. Naturally, if your clients have the means, they may just want to purchase a condo or starter home outright and gift it to their child.

    But there are alternatives, including:

    • Loaning the money, at a lower rate than lenders charge, which will help make the mortgage payments more affordable.
    • Buy a home using a share-equity agreement.
    • Gift the child the down payment and closing costs for a condo that he or she purchases.
    The “Bank of Mom and Dad”

    The best advice you can give your clients is to meet with their financial advisor, accountant and/or attorney to obtain advice about loaning the adult child the money for the home – either the down payment or the purchase price.

    This way, they’ll understand all of the ramifications and have legal documents drawn up to protect themselves.

    Whether they will charge interest on the loan is up to them, but, again, urge them to get the advice and assistance of professionals.

    Rent By Number Series with custom sub-heading
    The co-ownership option

    Co-ownership of a condo or starter home offers parents the opportunity to share in the equity that is built up over the period of ownership.

    This option isn’t without its pitfalls, however. For instance, when the home is eventually sold, it may subject you to a capital gains tax.

    “However, if parents are going into the purchase simply to help the kids qualify for the mortgage and intend their contribution to be a gift, they can structure ownership so that their interest is nominal, and work with a lawyer to place that interest in a trust for the benefit of the kids,” according to Derrick Penner of the Globe and Mail.

    The operative words there are “work with a lawyer.” We cannot stress enough the importance of ensuring your clients get professional financial and legal advice.

    Mom and dad own it and lease it to the kid

    If your clients have been contemplating buying an investment property, this may just be the ideal way to get their child into homeownership. Your clients will retain the tax benefits of owning the condo and the rental agreement can be structured so that they gift a percentage of ownership annually until the child owns the condo outright.

    There are a number of ways to help an adult child move into homeownership. Go through your CRM and make some phone calls to parents of young adults. You may just have found a goldmine.

    Rent By Number Series with custom sub-heading
    Send a postcard from the Rent By Number Series to a prospecting list of empty nesters and get them excited about another solution for their boomerang kids.

    Need help targeting a specific niche of buyers or sellers? Use our Demographic Search Tool to create the ideal list (it’s easy). Or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!

    PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.

    1. Become a Neighborhood Brand

    Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a 12X15 marketing piece sent automatically each month to an exclusive carrier route. Watch this video to learn more or Click Here.

    2. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Real-Estate-Mailing-List-Guide2-3-D-999x1024.jpg

    The Real Estate Mailing List Guide outlines the top tools for generating targeted prospecting lists including Baby Boomers, Empty Nesters, Investors, Lifestyle Interests, High-Income Renters, Move-Up Markets, and more. The Guide also defines done-for-you marketing campaigns to match these markets. –Click Here

    3. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 2020-Planner-3D-999x1024.jpg

    The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, Niche Marketing, Get More Listings, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence. –Click Here

    4. The Free One-Page Real Estate Business Plan

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Business-Plan-3D-Book-New1-270x300.png

    Treat your business like a business it is vital to long-term success in this industry. Some agents may put together elaborate business plans, yet there’s something powerful about keeping it simple. Check out our one page Online Real Estate Business Plan.  – Click Here

    5. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

    Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

    6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is ROI-calculator-b-233x300.jpg

    Consistency and automation are the keys to success. Discover how effective direct mail marketing can dramatically increase your bottom line. Enter your statistics in our Free online ROI Calculator and click the ‘CALCULATE MY ROI’ button to see your results instantly! –Click Here

    7. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT” 

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is CRUSH-IT-Guide-3-d-298x300.jpg

    The “Crush It” Guide includes easy steps to launching an effective direct mail marketing campaign, how to create a targeted prospect list, the perfect way to layout marketing materials for success, seven opportunities available to target in your area right now. –Click Here

      To get a real estate license in most states all you need do is attend a certain number of hours at real estate school and then pay for and take a licensing exam and, possibly, have your background checked via your fingerprints.

      Voila! You’re a real estate agent, able to counsel consumers on how to buy and sell what may be their biggest asset.

      If you think it’s fairly easy to become an agent, you’re right. Compare the process to what a taxicab driver goes through to get his or her permit:

      Photo Introduction Series
      • Secure a referral.
      • Take the required classes.
      • Complete the Driver’s Awareness Program.
      • Submit the referral to the State Taxicab Authority (NTA) and take their exam.
      • Submit to the NTA’s fingerprint process to check for any criminal history.
      • Submit to a physical examination, vision exam, mental health evaluation, and drug test to ensure you meet the health requirements.

      It’s true, you do have someone else’s life in your hands as a cab driver, so maybe some of these hoops are necessary. Whereas there’s rarely a life-or-death situation involved in helping real estate consumers.

      The fact is, as easy as it is to get a real estate sales license, it’s almost just as easy to lose it. And, surprisingly, you don’t have to be a hardened criminal for it to happen.

      Something as simple as unintentionally leaving out a material fact about a listing could land you in a lot of trouble with your state licensing board.

      That board, by the way, sets the rules under which they will pull an agent’s license. Although each state sets its own regulations for agents, they are all quite similar.

      Photo Introduction Series
      1. Always be honest

      While we all know that life is unfair at times, the fact that politicians, journalists, and others can lie with impunity and real estate agents can’t is a bit unfair.

      Not that you would lie to a client even if other agents were (and getting away with it), but if you do, and you are caught, you may lose your license.

      The state boards don’t call it lying, though. They have other words for it:

      • Omission
      • Exaggeration
      • Misrepresentation
      • Ambiguity

      They’re all types of lies and Beakley says that if you are caught doing any of them … often enough, or big enough … you will lose your license.”

      2. Stay law-abiding

      If you have an active real estate license, you likely don’t have any prior felonies because it’s not possible to get a real estate license in any of the 50 states if you do, according to Paul Beakley at RealtorMag.com.

      So, what if you are convicted of a crime after your licensed? If you live in the right state and are convicted of a crime you won’t lose your license.

      In most states, however, you will. In Texas, for instance, moral turpitude is enough to get your license pulled.

      In Minnesota, your license can be suspended or even revoked for “outstanding tax or child support obligations.”

      3. Keep your client’s money separate

      We’ve all heard the stories about the hapless agent who “borrows” a client’s funds, fully intending to pay it back.

      Then, there’s guys like this:

      [Name has been omitted}, “… a real estate agent and broker from Washington, D.C., was sentenced to prison on a theft charge stemming from the embezzlement of over $100,000 of his clients’ money …” (Justice.gov)

      This particular agent was asking buyers for huge earnest money deposits and then depositing them in his operating account instead of escrow.

      Although he assured the clients the money was safely tucked away in an escrow account, “… he spent their money on himself and his expenses within a few weeks or months of receiving the funds.”

      Yes, he lost his license, and served one year and one day in prison.

      Commingling your client’s money with your own, even temporarily, is a recipe for disaster.

      Stay out of trouble with the state board, be honest, take your time when completing contracts, and get your clients’ money out of your hands quickly. This should ensure you have a long and healthy life as a real estate agent.

      Send the Photo Introduction Series postcard to an area where you want to introduce yourself as the neighborhood expert.

      Need help targeting a specific niche of buyers or sellers? Use our Demographic Search Tool to create the ideal list (it’s easy). Or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!

      PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.

      1.Become a Neighborhood Brand

      Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a 12X15 marketing piece sent automatically each month to an exclusive carrier route. Watch this video to learn more or Click Here.

      2. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

      This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Real-Estate-Mailing-List-Guide2-3-D-999x1024.jpg

      The Real Estate Mailing List Guide outlines the top tools for generating targeted prospecting lists including Baby Boomers, Empty Nesters, Investors, Lifestyle Interests, High-Income Renters, Move-Up Markets, and more. The Guide also defines done-for-you marketing campaigns to match these markets. –Click Here

      3. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

      This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 2020-Planner-3D-999x1024.jpg

      The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, Niche Marketing, Get More Listings, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence. –Click Here

      4. The Free One-Page Real Estate Business Plan

      This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Business-Plan-3D-Book-New1-270x300.png

      Treat your business like a business it is vital to long-term success in this industry. Some agents may put together elaborate business plans, yet there’s something powerful about keeping it simple. Check out our one page Online Real Estate Business Plan.  – Click Here

      5. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

      This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

      Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

      6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

      This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is ROI-calculator-b-233x300.jpg

      Consistency and automation are the keys to success. Discover how effective direct mail marketing can dramatically increase your bottom line. Enter your statistics in our Free online ROI Calculator and click the ‘CALCULATE MY ROI’ button to see your results instantly! –Click Here

      7. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT” 

      This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is CRUSH-IT-Guide-3-d-298x300.jpg

      The “Crush It” Guide includes easy steps to launching an effective direct mail marketing campaign, how to create a targeted prospect list, the perfect way to layout marketing materials for success, seven opportunities available to target in your area right now. –Click Here

        Traditionally, the market wakes up in September, after a summer lull while folks are vacationing and enjoying the kids’ time off from school.

        But once September and October roll around, agents get busy and stay busy until the winter slowdown.

        So, if the past is any indication of what we can expect in the future, you’re about to get busy again (or even busier depending on where you are in the country).

        Here’s how to plan for your fall buying and selling season, starting now.

        Football Schedule Postcards
        Offer a pre-fall photo promotion

        Plan a pre-fall photography blitz. Let your potential autumn selling clients know the best way to stand out from other listings in fall. Which is to show how their homes looked when the trees were still green and the flowers were blooming.

        Use a Community Newsletter or a Football Schedule postcard to conduct a postcard blitz and offer a “free, no-obligation exterior photo session” before everything turns brown. State the following message,

        “For the next few weeks, our professional photographer will be roaming the area. He will be taking exterior photos of our listings that will be hitting the market in fall.”

        “Just think how your home, with its sun-lit green landscape, will stand out as a buyer scrolls through listings online this fall!”

        By the way, you’ll know who is serious about selling by the responses you get from your postcard photography blitz.

        Be focused, move quickly

        “Time is of the essence” is never truer than it is during the fall real estate market. The time between putting a home on the market and that big old brick wall known as the holidays is short. Everything you do to sell the home will be condensed.

        Remind your clients that this means coming up with the appropriate price right out of the gate. An informative and helpful Direct Response Report you can provide your clients with is, “The 6 Pitfalls of Overpricing”.  It will help them understand just what they have to lose by not pricing their home right the first time.

        If they refuse, let them know that if the need for a price reduction becomes evident, they’ll need to act immediately – not wait a month.

        Yards get messy in autumn, so remind your listing clients to keep up the home’s curb appeal on an ongoing basis.

        Remind your clients that leaves will need to be raked more often and dying annuals yanked from the soil. Suggest they hire a gardener to do once weekly yard cleanups if they don’t have the time to do it themselves.

        Dangers of Overpricing Direct Response Report

        Finally, if the home is still on the market as Thanksgiving approaches, your listing client has some decisions to make. Primarily, does he or she want to remain on the market over the holidays or put the listing on hold until the beginning of the year?

        Yes, we understand that you’re hoping to high heaven they don’t yank the listing. If you can convince them to remain on the market, let them know that closings near Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve are typically slow going. This way, they can make moving plans accordingly.

        A report that makes an ideal piece to leave behind during a listing presentation is, “Moving Made Easy”. It’s available under the Resources tab on our website. Yes, this report is free for you so get a bunch of copies made and keep them on hand to give to your clients.

        Help out your buyers

        To avoid butting up against Thanksgiving, most homeowners who list their homes in the fall put their homes on the market in the early part of the season. Urge your buying clients to be prepared to be the early bird and get their loan pre-approval out of the way as soon as possible.

        They should also narrow down their choice of neighborhoods so that when a home is listed in the area, they can be among the first to view it.

        Warn your buying clients not to give in to the temptation that fall appliance sales offer. This year’s models typically go on sale in September and October to make room for next year’s. These bargains may seem irresistible additions to their soon-to-be new home.

        Let them know that the lender may pull their credit once more before closing. A large purchase on credit may either slow down closing or cause loan denial.

        You’re the expert that your clients rely on to help them navigate the real estate process. While buying or selling a home is primarily the same in fall as in the other three seasons, there are subtle differences they need to be aware of and you need to prepare for to make the season a success.

        Football Schedule Postcards
        Send out Football Schedules to your Sphere and Farm now and they’ll arrive just in time for the first NFL game of the season (September 10th).
        Even better, add a magnetic back for their frig, so the schedule (and your contact info) will stay in front of your audience all season long.

        Need help targeting a specific niche of buyers or sellers? Use our Demographic Search Tool to create the ideal list (it’s easy). Or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!

        PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.

        1. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

        This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Real-Estate-Mailing-List-Guide2-3-D-999x1024.jpg

        The Real Estate Mailing List Guide outlines the top tools for generating targeted prospecting lists including Baby Boomers, Empty Nesters, Investors, Lifestyle Interests, High-Income Renters, Move-Up Markets, and more. The Guide also defines done-for-you marketing campaigns to match these markets. –Click Here

        2. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

        This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 2020-Planner-3D-999x1024.jpg

        The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, Niche Marketing, Get More Listings, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence. –Click Here

        3. The Free One-Page Real Estate Business Plan

        This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Business-Plan-3D-Book-New1-270x300.png

        Treat your business like a business it is vital to long-term success in this industry. Some agents may put together elaborate business plans, yet there’s something powerful about keeping it simple. Check out our one page Online Real Estate Business Plan.  – Click Here

        4. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

        This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

        Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

        5. The Market Dominator

        Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a 12X15 marketing piece sent automatically each month to an exclusive carrier route. Watch this video to learn more or Click Here.

        6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

        This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is ROI-calculator-b-233x300.jpg

        Consistency and automation are the keys to success. Discover how effective direct mail marketing can dramatically increase your bottom line. Enter your statistics in our Free online ROI Calculator and click the ‘CALCULATE MY ROI’ button to see your results instantly! –Click Here

        7. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT” 

        This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is CRUSH-IT-Guide-3-d-298x300.jpg

        The “Crush It” Guide includes easy steps to launching an effective direct mail marketing campaign, how to create a targeted prospect list, the perfect way to layout marketing materials for success, seven opportunities available to target in your area right now. –Click Here

          “Before I got an agent, I would try to inquire about their services … and I’d say 90% of the time agents did not return my call,” complains a real estate client (Trulia reviews).

          If some agents can’t respond to a hot lead, how can a client expect them to communicate effectively during the listing period?

          Agents have come up with a lengthy list of excuses for why they don’t call. They run the gamut from “I don’t call if nothing is happening,” to “I didn’t get your message.”

          Which is why the biggest client complaint against agents is lack of communication. 

          So why aren’t agents working harder to provide this most in-demand aspect of customer service?

          Communicating with your client helps dispel the oft-repeated complaint that real estate agents don’t do anything to earn their commissions. It builds trust and it makes for a more relaxed working relationship.

          Here’s how NOT to be that agent.

          Examples go a long way

          Let them know you’re on the ball (available in the postcard section under Get More Listings)

          Explanations, walk-throughs, and examples go a long way in helping a client understand the complicated selling process, especially when working with first-time home sellers.

          “We didn’t know there were all these things we had to pay for,” says a real estate client at a Hear it Direct event (pity they aren’t doing these any longer).

          The gentleman went on to complain that his agent “never brought it up.”

          Yet another client was so disgusted by her agent’s lack of an explanation of the process that she won’t use any agent’s services in the future.

          “We’ll probably just do it on our own – we kind of feel like we are already,” she said.

          A real estate client who feels isolated during the sale of such a huge investment is not only in a sad situation, but it’s uncalled for in an industry that prides itself on “building relationships.”

          Take a tip from buyers agents who hold buyer consultations before showing homes. Take the time to walk your listing client through the entire process, from what happens immediately after signing the listing agreement to the closing table.

          Outline the costs of selling the home, what might go wrong during the process and their responsibilities.

          Explain the following during your consultation:
          • What happens after they sign the listing agreement – detail the process beginning to end. Don’t assume they know.
          • Describe your marketing plan and when and how you’ll implement it.
          • Explain what a broker’s open is and how important it is.
          • Show them a lockbox and explain how it works, what to expect from buyers’ agents and everything else they need to know about the marketing period.
          • How offers are presented.
          • The period after an offer is accepted. Explain the escrow process, the paperwork they’ll encounter, disclosure duties. Remind them that they’ll need to be accommodating to the appraiser and home inspector.
          • Explain the closing process.

            Keep them in on area real estate action (available in the postcard section under Content postcards)

          Even the smallest aspects of the home sale process may be completely foreign to a client, so don’t assume that you don’t need to explain them.

          Aside from an actual, sit-down seller consultation, there are a number of other ways to provide this information, from a book or e-book to a video or the plethora of information on your website (you have a plethora, right?).

          Ask and listen

          Ask questions—lots and lots of questions. How do they prefer to communicate, by text, email, phone? How often would they like to hear from you? Is once a week okay or do they want more frequent contact?

          How do they feel about open houses? What are their biggest fears about the process? Is there anything about it they would like to know more about?

          One home seller who vented his frustrations at CityData.com complained that “I figure an email a week telling me how many hits I’ve gotten on the various real estate sites, calls about my property (if tracked) and general market conditions would work, but I shouldn’t have to chase my agent down to hear what’s going on.”

          Asking questions isn’t enough. You need to listen to the answers and ask for clarification if needed. Ensure there are no misunderstandings about their expectations.

          Communicate often

          Toss the old advice about not saying anything if you don’t have anything nice to say. Homeowners crave communication so provide it as often as possible.

          Even if you have nothing to communicate, reach out to your client and let them know. I bet you can come up with something of value to communicate:

          • How many people toured the home during the past week?
          • How the open house went.
          • What type of feedback did they, or their agents leave?
          • Anything going on with the overall real estate market that they should know?
          • If under contract, let them know how escrow is progressing.
          • Find out if they have any questions such as, what comes next.

          The Merriam Webster dictionary defines “consultant” as “one who gives professional advice or services.” These homeowners could have chosen to sell the home without an agent but chose to go with you because of your professional knowledge.

          By consistently communicating with your clients throughout the sales process, you’ll make them very happy they chose you and, hopefully, more likely to recommend you to others.

          An effective way to communicate with and encourage prospective clients is to offer the Free Report “5 Sure-Fire Tips For a Quick Home Sale”.
          Include it in all of your marketing and offer it as an opt-in on your website.

          Need help targeting the perfect niche of buyers or sellers? Use our mailing list tool to create the ideal list (it’s easy) or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!

          PLUS: When you have time…here are Free killer tools to help your success this year!

          1. The 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan – NEW 2020!

          The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, Niche Marketing, Get More Listings, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence. –Click Here

           

           

           

          2. The Free One-Page Real Estate Business Plan – NEW 2020!

          Treat your business like a business it is vital to long-term success in this industry. Some agents may put together elaborate business plans, yet there’s something powerful about keeping it simple. Check out our one page Online Real Estate Business Plan.  – Click Here

           

           

           

          3. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

          Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

           

           

           

          4. The Free Online ROI Calculator

          Consistency and automation are the keys to success. Discover how effective direct mail marketing can dramatically increase your bottom line. Enter your statistics in our Free online ROI Calculator and click the ‘CALCULATE MY ROI’ button to see your results instantly! –Click Here

           

           

           

          5. Get the ALL-NEW Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT” 

          The “Crush It” Guide includes easy steps to launching an effective direct mail marketing campaign, how to create a targeted mailing list, the perfect way to layout marketing materials for success, seven opportunities available to target in your area right now. –Click Here

           

          Whether or not to give gifts to real estate clients at or after closing is an often-debated topic.

          Those in the “yes” camp struggle with coming up with a gift that is personal, but not too personal, and whether or not the gift should include the agent’s branding.

          It’s a tall order, but, thankfully, we’ve checked with our agent network and, as usual, have some brilliant real estate closing gift ideas to share.

          Stop hating on gift cards

          No, a gift card isn’t highly original and whether or not to choose one as a gift depends on your relationship with each particular client. But, it is sure to be a welcome and much-appreciated closing gift for clients on a strict budget (maybe your FHA buyers?).

          You can’t go wrong with a gift card from Lowe’s or Home Depot or any of the large home décor stores. If your client is an avid gardener, check if your local nursery offers gift cards. And, if you’re still stuck for ideas, how about a gift of delivery service with an Instacart or Uber gift card? The latter can also be used for Uber’s ride-sharing service. 

          Artwork

          Snap a photo of your clients and their kids and/or pets standing in front of their new home. Then, send it to an artist who can turn it into something family-room-wall-worthy.

          Or, have the portrait made into “Just Moved” cards for the clients to send to friends and family. Pre-stamping the envelopes, by the way, is a thoughtful step that they won’t expect.

          The internet is the best place to find talented, reasonably-priced artists who specialize in creating portraits from photographs. And, you can often find one who will do so in your preferred medium, from pencil to watercolor to oil.

          Here are several websites I found while doing some online sleuthing:

          • Paint your Life
          • Portrait Painting
          • Instapainting
          • Portraits on Demand
          • A number of artists on Etsy offer portraits from photos 
          The gift that keeps on giving, keeping you top-of-mind

          How can a former client forget you when, each month, something amazing is delivered to their door?

          No, they aren’t cheap (although some are surprisingly affordable), but subscription boxes are appreciated.

          • Meal boxes (there are a number of choices, such as Blue Apron, Plated, Hello Fresh)
          • Fresh flowers
          • Bagels
          • Bark Box or Rescue Box (for the dog “Mom” or “Dad”)
          • FilterEasy (yes! No more schlepping to Home Depot to pick up HVAC filters)
          • Gardening
          • Beauty items (for female clients, Birchbox is among the most popular)

          Find other popular subscription services at impactbnd.com.

          Consider keeping it local by gifting several hours of services that you know your client will use. These include:

          • Dog walking
          • House cleaning
          • Landscaping
          • Pool cleaning and servicing
          • Handyman
          • Organizing
          • Errand running 
          Techster clients will love these

          I joined my neighborhood’s forum on NextDoor.com and the most popular conversations among neighboring homeowners involve home security. Most of the homeowners either own or are interested in purchasing the Ring video doorbell. They’re offered at a variety of price points, with the least expensive starting at about $100.

          Google Home Mini for less than $50 (a smart speaker with Google Assistant built in) is so popular that the folks at Google say they’ve sold “more than one device every second since they started shipping in October” of last year.

          Instead of the keys to their new home, imagine handing your homebuying clients a smart lock instead. Yes, they’re pricey, but the popular 3rd generation of the August Smart Lock sells for only $129 and the Kwikset Kevo Blue Tooth Deadbolt is priced at slightly less than $150.

          While the topic of whether or not to gift your clients at closing seems to be a matter of personal preference, most agree that if you will be giving a closing gift, keep your branding off of it.

          Then, put some thought behind it. If it’s a gift card your clients truly need, then, by all means, gift them with one. If not, we hope our list helps guide you to the perfect real estate closing gift.

          With client appreciation on your mind, right now is the perfect time to all of your incredible clients with a Customer Appreciation postcard.
          Send the All My Thanks postcard to all of your past clients and let them know just how much they mean to you.

          Need help targeting the perfect niche of buyers or sellers? Use our mailing list tool to create the ideal list (it’s easy) or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!

          PLUS: When you have time…here are 2 free ways we can help you STILL CRUSH IT in 2018!

          1.  The 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan.

          The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, Niche Marketing, Listing Inventory, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence – Click Here

          2. The Free Online ROI Calculator. 

          Consistency and automation are the keys to success. Discover how effective direct mail marketing can dramatically increase your bottom line. Enter your statistics in our Free online ROI Calculator and click the ‘CALCULATE MY ROI’ button to see your results instantly! – Click Here

          Also…check out these cool tools 

           Three Click Postcards – Just snap a home photo & create a postcard all from your mobile phone

          MLSmailings.com – Automated Just Listed, Just Sold Postcards

          Market Dominator System – Become a neighborhood brand

          Want to Refer a friend or colleague? Refer them, Here. THEY get a Free $25 Gift Card and YOU become their hero. BTW, you also get a $25 Gift Card too (now that’s what I’m talking about)!

          Win Them Over With Mortgage Savvy

          Remember real estate school? What fun it was to learn about such thrilling topics as riparian rights, avulsion, and tenancy by the entirety. Unless you were planning on selling ranch, investment or water-front property, these topics were quickly pushed to the back of your mind once you got your license. Then came the real learning: how to generate leads, work with buyers and sellers and the anatomy of a mortgage.

          While you may have had a broker or mentor who walked you through the fine art of generating leads, the mortgage process is typically something we learned on our own, piecemeal.

          If, as newbies, we were confused over the mortgage process, think about how clueless your first-time buyers might be.

          Get them up to speed

          Only 30 percent of them are familiar with the mortgage process according to a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Finance Housing Agency (FHFA) survey. That’s a whole lot of buyers who are blindly entering a huge financial transaction.

          The mortgage profession, like real estate, boasts a workforce with a variety of backgrounds, education, skills, and experience. Like our industry, there are those who work hard at providing customer service and there are those who seemingly couldn’t care less.

          Sadly, as they do when choosing a real estate agent, the vast majority of homebuyers (77 percent, according to the survey above) choose the first lender they speak with.

          This offers the customer-service-oriented agent a brilliant opportunity. Make explaining the mortgage process, from start to finish (and in plain English) a part of your buyer consultation meetings. It’s customer service on steroids.

          Go beyond referring your clients to a lender

          Surf the internet for home buying advice and agent websites typically offer some form of “See a lender.” This is skimpy advice that adds nothing of value to the reader.

          Providing answers to their most frequently asked questions is valuable. What does DTI stand for and how is it determined and what role does it play in the mortgage process? Explain what “mortgage origination” means. What are “discount points?”

          Explain the different players who work behind the scenes for a typical borrower. For instance, what does an underwriter do? An infographic or even a text walk-through of the life cycle of a home loan could do the trick here.

          And, don’t neglect counseling your buying clients about protecting their credit during escrow (not making large purchases on credit, not changing jobs, not moving money around).

          How to get the word out

          While a basic explanation during your buyer consultation is a must, your website is another vehicle for spreading the word about the mortgage process. From articles in the “Buying” or “Financing” section of your site to blog posts about different aspects of mortgages (down payment assistance, what to expect at closing, etc.) can all help educate your client.

          Getting back to the buyer consultation: use handouts to cut down the amount of time it takes to explain the mortgage process. Start with an explainer sheet or infographic that walks them, step-by-step- through the process. Include a glossary of mortgage terms that they can refer to when needed.

          Include a page on various mortgage programs, such as FHA, VA and USDA and another on down payment assistance programs in your area. Then, package them all up in one of our presentation folders for them to take home with them.

          Explaining the mortgage process to your buying clients does more than add to their customer service experience. Knowing that they need to hold off on that appliance-shopping trip to Lowe’s or Home Depot prevents a common mortgage disaster.

          Also, knowing what to expect during the process allows them to relax into it. And, we’re sure you’ll agree that relaxed clients are the easiest to work with.

          Order the Free Report Chop $24,000 Off Your Mortgage and give out everywhere as a Free Offer on your direct mail pieces, at Open Houses, and in your community.
          Make sure everyone knows who the expert agent is who will be there for them, answer ALL their questions and guide them in the right direction.

          Need help targeting the perfect niche of buyers or sellers? Use our mailing list tool to create the ideal list (it’s easy) or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!

          PLUS: When you have time…here are 2 free ways we can help you CRUSH IT in 2018!

          1.  The 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan.

          The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, Niche Marketing, Listing Inventory, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence – Click Here

          2. The Free Online ROI Calculator. 

          Consistency and automation are the keys to success. Discover how effective direct mail marketing can dramatically increase your bottom line. Enter your statistics in our Free online ROI Calculator and click the ‘CALCULATE MY ROI’ button to see your results instantly! – Click Here

          Also…check out these cool tools 

           Three Click Postcards – Just snap a home photo & create a postcard all from your mobile phone

          MLSmailings.com – Automated Just Listed, Just Sold Postcards

          Market Dominator System – Become a neighborhood brand

          Want to Refer a friend or colleague? Refer them, Here. THEY get a Free $25 Gift Card and YOU become their hero. BTW, you also get a $25 Gift Card too (now that’s what I’m talking about)!

           

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