Online Buyers - How to Fill Your Open Houses

So you have a new listing and you want to hold an open house but you have been told by many of your peers that open houses are a waste of time. No one wants to waste a Saturday or Sunday afternoon sitting at an empty open house. These days with new digital tools it makes it easier than ever to get buyers in the front door. Here are some great ways to get home buyers out of their cars and in to your open house.

Attract the "Tire Kickers"

Encourage these seemingly unmotivated home buyers with your online marketing by mentioning that you will have a gift for all the folks who attend and complete your sign in form. Get these folks excited and have them post on sites like FoureSquare or Twitter. This way everyone on their networks will know they are at your open house, and you will expand your marketing reach tenfold. A good give might be a gift card or a scratch-off lottery ticket. Print fliers and remind your visitors to check in for a chance to win.

Update Your Open House Listing Information

Many DFW real estate agents mistakenly think that the details about their open house are automatically updated from one site to the next. It is paramount to make sure your open house times are updated on real estate websites like Realtor.com and other popular real estate sites. Make sure that your listing information is mobile friendly and will load properly on smart phones that are so popular today. This is important because many people are out and about running errands on the weekend.

Invite on FaceBook

FaceBook is all the rage today. It only takes minutes to set up a FaceBook Event for your open house even if you are holding Dallas foreclosures open. Make sure that you include photos of the home and selling details on the event page that will make people want to come to your open house. Once you have set up the event, you can advertise it on your FaceBook Business Page. Google + and Pinterest are great places to market your open house as well.

BackPage and Craig's List

More and more home buyers are searching for homes on BackPage and Craig's List to find open houses in their area. Marketing your open house on these sites is another simple way to spread the word online. To make sure your event stands out and increases your post's appeal, add photos or upload your online ad or property flyer.

Shout and Spread the Word

Tell everyone you know about your open house on social networks. Try making some minor modifications to your message to help keep it from getting shut off. Try some messages like these: "Baking cookies to bring to my open house at 423 Maple St today" or "Bummer, it's raining; I have my towels to protect the carpets for the buyers who brave the weather and come to my open house at 423 Maple St this afternoon." With so many people engaging online and accessing information on mobile, it's essential to use all the modern tools in your arsenal to communicate about your open house. Of course, there are many other ways to market online. Wherever you are - spread the word!

Previous Owner Costing You Money Because of Their Insurance Claim?

Some storm damage causes damage to your house and you file an insurance claim and collect a check from your insurer and then you make the repairs. You may think that it's over but it's bot. Every time you make a claim you make on your homeowners insurance the claim is recorded in a insurance industry database called a CLUE report. Most insurance companies use CLUE to check on the claims history of prospective policyholders. The CLUE report includes claims made on your house before you even bought it. This database is used by most insurance companies to check your claims history and it follows you from one insurer to another. Claims remain in the CLUE database for seven-years from the date you filed them. CLUE advises insurance carriers not to report loss information just because you called to ask a question about whether your policy will cover a particular loss. Individual insurance companies may keep a record of these inquires though.

How Insurance Companies Use CLUE

Insurance companies depend on CLUE reports for DFW real estate because these statistics show that if you have filed a claim in the past you are more likely to file another one in the future. The dollar amount of a claim is not as important as how often you have filed a claim. Each insurance company has its own formula to calculating how much a claim will affect your premium. It is safe to say that the fewer the claims you have filed the less you will likely be charged.

Homebuyers knowing what's on your CLUE report will give you an idea of whether you will need to pay extra for homeowners insurance or even if you run the risk of insurance rejection. Unfortunately, even a squeaky clean report doesn't mean you can be sure of getting homeowners insurance at the best price. This is because the claims on your CLUE report aren't the only things that affect your overall insurance risk.

Most insurance companies that insure Frisco real estate will also take into consideration your credit score, which is based on such things as how much debt you carry, whether you pay your bills on time, etc. Insurance company studies show that how people manage their finances is a good indicator of whether they will file an insurance claim. And the more likely you are to file a claim the bigger risk you are to them and more risk means a higher premium or denial of coverage all together. Other factors insurers take into consideration include the location of your home and its type of construction.

How to Understand Your CLUE Report

If you do decide to check your CLUE report, it is a relatively easy process. Under federal law, you can get one free CLUE report a year just like with credit reports. You can order the report online, by phone, or by mail.

Your CLUE report will include:

• The type of loss fire, water, etc. for each claim and the claim number

• Your name, home address, birth date, and Social Security number

• The number assigned to the report

• The name of your insurance company

• The type and number of the insurance policy

• The date of the loss and the amount of each claim

The report will also tell you how to dispute any errors you find. Because risk calculations vary by insurance company, it is nearly impossible to determine how a claim on your CLUE report will affect your insurance premium. This makes it tough for you to decide how much value checking your CLUE actually gives you. Taking less than an hour once a year to order and review your report could pay off big for you, especially if you find an error.

Finding You on the Internet - Realtors

How important is social networking for real estate agents? In today's market social networking is increasingly getting more important. What you post about yourself is really the first impression perspective clients have. Many employers have easy access to social media and use it to decide if they want to hire you or not. Are the photos you have up on Facebook something you would want a future employer to have of you or how about a future client? As a tech savvy person, you can find out practically anything about everything online.

Home buyers and sellers are doing all their research on the internet first before contacting a DFW real estate agent. It makes our jobs easier and tougher all at the same time. The act of searching for Dallas foreclosures or non-foreclosure homes is the building block for developing a working relationship. Perspective buyers and sellers have already met you online and have gotten to know your profile. You only get one chance to make a good impression. Your first chance was online, so don't screw it up when you meet them in person.

Just as your perspective client knows your profile. As an agent, you should do a little detective work and see if they have an online profile on Facebook, My Space, Linked in, Google+, etc. You would be surprised at how easy to see a photo of them and find out what their likes are. You can quickly find out who they are and it will help you relate to

Are We Living in a Renters Nation?

In a recent survey reveals optimism about homeownership rebounding as the housing market recovers. This includes young adults who were often pegged as home renters during the great recession. In the meantime, rising prices may encourage some homeowners to sell in 2013. The survey shows that today's consumers are more optimistic about the housing market and more ready to buy a home. The housing bubble burst has shaped the near term expectations about the market in general. Also, nearly all young renters want to buy a home in the long run. These consumers expect inventory to grow, and it looks like it may happen starting this year as long as prices stay on the rise. As price gains begin pushing more homeowners into a positive equity position, more will be ready to sell.

As 2012 came to a close, the DFW real estate market was looking up on all fronts. It was the very first year since 2006 in which home prices have increased. Both new construction and sales were both up significantly from their lowest point during the housing crisis. Vacancies, delinquencies, and foreclosures have come down. Job growth has strengthened, and unemployment has fallen. These trends give home buyers more buying power and confidence in the economy as a whole. At the same time both DFW short sales and Dallas foreclosures have declined.

 

Consumers are becoming increasingly bullish on buying homes. More than 27% of them are more positive about homeownership than they were six months ago. This translates into more renters being eager and willing to buy a home within the next two years:

The housing crisis looms especially for younger adults who are between the ages of 18 & 34 who have only been thinking seriously about home ownership in the recent years of boom and bust. They have no memory of the decades when home prices rose modestly but steadily, or when mortgage rates were 7%. These younger adults had a challenging time in the great recession. Their unemployment rate was very high and many of them put off their decision to buy or rent their own home. Instead doubled up with roommates or lived with parents.

 

Consumers, regardless of age, expect that both rents and housing prices will rise in 2013; they also expect more home inventory, both homes for rent and for sale along with higher mortgage rates. Younger adults have a harder time imagining price increases and higher mortgage rates than older adults who have lived through more years of rising prices and high rates. Many have higher hopes than older adults that homeownership will remain relatively affordable. Today's young renters may be overestimating what they'll be able to afford to buy when their time comes.

 

Rising Home Prices Will Encourage Sales in 2013. Nearly one third of renters want to buy in the next two years but will they find many homes for sale? The survey shows that rising prices in 2013 could trigger more sales-and therefore bring more inventory onto the market. Among current homeowners, 22% said they are somewhat likely, fairly likely, or extremely likely to sell their home in the next year. Who's going to sell in 2013? Based on the survey and local market conditions, the homeowners more likely to sell next year are those who:

• Can sell at a profit. Based on when respondents told us they bought their current home, and the sales-price trend in their metro area (according to FHFA), we estimated whether each respondent's home is worth more or less today than when they bought it. Among those whose homes are worth more today than at purchase, 28% say they're at least somewhat likely to sell in the next year, compared with 21% of those whose homes are worth less today than at purchase (among those who bought a home in the last ten years). The chance to make a profit will encourage some homeowners to sell.

• Expect prices to rise. Among people who expect home prices to rise in the next year. Homeowners who expect prices to rise are more likely to take advantage of those gains by selling.

• Bought very recently. People who bought a home in 2010, 2011, or 2012 are the most likely to sell next year. Therefore, 2013 might see a lot of new homeowners flipping their recent purchases.

If prices rise as expected in 2013, more home owners will be willing to sell. But prices and market trends aren't the only factors that determine who will sell. Many times personal reasons go into the decision whether to stay or move. Family is the top reason why homeowners might sell next year. But economics will still matter. A stronger economy could give more people reason to sell since they might find a new job worth moving for. During the recession, Americans became less mobile than in past times, but as the economy recovers, more might move for job opportunities.

 

Many consumers are more optimistic about the housing market going forward. More renters plan to buy, and more homeowners will sell. The housing crisis still hangs over the market in many regions of the country where consumers are more doubtful than others that home prices or mortgage rates will rise. But if consumers actually do what they say they will do in the next year, 2013 will be another year of housing market recovery.

Your Real Estate Business – Set Your Own Hours

Summary: This is your business. You set your own hours. Always answer your phone when possible.

Dallas Real Estate is a 24/7 job, however you don't need to run yourself ragged. This is your business! You define what hours you are going to work and set your schedule accordingly. Also, who are you targeting as your client base? Are you going to target Dallas foreclosures or high end DFW real estate, for instance? If you like working non-traditional hours then target those professions where clients will have odd hours like the food & beverage industry, airline industry, casino workers, hospital workers, firefighters, police officers, military, etc. If you like working a traditional schedule, then determine that and perhaps make alternate accommodations for clients that fall out of those traditional hours. Just because you can market to all, does not mean you should. The old saying is true, "If you aim for everyone then usually you will hit no one". If your target market is Collin County homes will you try to work a lead in Fort Worth?

 

 

The biggest complaints from clients are, "my real estate agent never answers my phone calls". Is your voicemail greeting set? Some agents update their greeting daily to reflect their schedule. Example, "Thanks for calling, it's Jan 1^st and I am out of the office today, however your call is important to me and I will return all calls tomorrow, Jan 2^nd at 10am". Don't be a secret agent, tell people you sell real estate and tell them your hours of operation.

 

 

Do your clients know that you can receive text and emails on your phone? Are you setting their expectations? Not all clients will email and text. There are still handfuls of clients that want an actual phone call. When you first meet with a client, the number one question should be is how they want to be contacted and how often.

 

 

If you always answer your phone when possible and make appointments for the times you want to work, you can actually appear to work 24 hours a day and 7 days a week when in reality you don't.

~ Jennifer Clark VIP Realty Platinum~

More Positive News on The Real Estate Market for 2013

There are many positive terms being attached with the 2013 housing climate. Terms like growth, increase, etc. There are many conversations about the good signals in the housing market which are great and more meaningful as the housing chugs along. There is much chatter about how to capitalize on this opportunity and turn the upward trends into a real profit.

Here are five trends you can profit on in 2013

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1. New Homes

According to a late December Census Bureau report, new home sales are growing at their fastest pace in two years. This report showed that new home sales are up 15% from 2011. As the market recovers, more consumers are using this opportunity to buy the new home of dreams.

 

To make the most of the surge in new homes and generate buyer leads make sure that you are sharing new home listings to catch the attention of these buyers. 2013 could be your best year ever but that won't happen unless you have a plan that includes capitalizing on the market's hottest trends. The surge in new Denton County homes and Tarrant County homes has exceeded the national average.

 

2. Mortgage Approval Rates

The main worry of most buyers is the daunting mortgage qualification process. This has many qualified potential buyers deciding to delaying purchasing Plano homes due to lending anxiety. One trend you can communicate to your buyers that will help encourage your buyers is that mortgage approval rates are up a full 11%. According to a mortgage expert "New mortgage programs with looser and simpler qualification rules have been introduced and in many cases the steps required for a home mortgage approval are more simple for today's mortgage applicants as compared to just a couple of years ago."

Not only are approval rates up but the government has taken some major steps to clear up the ambiguity surrounding the mortgage process. If you're an agent who is targeting and counseling buyer you will need to learn the new mortgage guidelines recently released and connect with a local lender who can help you qualify your leads quickly.

 

3. More Jobs

The sharpest real estate agents are always looking for the next stream of revenue and potential clients. With that said, one trend these agents should not ignore is the growing class of 25 to 34 year olds that are quickly approaching their goal of homeownership. Recent employment numbers showed that increasingly, more 25 to 34 year-olds are working. This group saw an employment rise of almost 2% according to a recent jobs report.

 

There are two things every agent should know about this group. This age bracket is one demographic that should not ever drop off our radar screens, as they are the prime age for making housing purchases. Marketing to this demographic should be continuous. The second fact is that this generation's preferences means that marketing effectively to this group will be by using online recommendations and real time information. As an agent, that means you should make getting and adding recommendations a part of your marketing strategy.

 

4. Relocaters

In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal showed that one of the major fallouts of the housing recovery has been a surge in relocating buyers around the country. While still at a low, for the fourth year in a row the number of folks moving is up, according to the most recent Census data. You need to figure out where your city or region falls on the relocation spectrum.

 

Start positioning yourself as the local area expert online. That includes not only targeted real estate online classified ads but also answering real estate questions that are asked in your area on online forums.

5. Real Estate - Never Boring

 

This next 2013 trend isn't seasonal, but it's of paramount importance. People, in general, are intrigued by real estate and will be asking you a ton of questions when they find out you are a real estate agent.

 

Getting an online visitor and getting them to become your client isn't easy. That's why, this year you should capitalize on the real estate trends and headlines to Grow your exposure in front of potential real estate leads. Share the headlines in your blogs, tweets, and newsletters with your own local twist. This is a great way to show that you are the area expert.

Get Set, Get Ready - Go in Dallas Real Estate!

Summary: Thanks to technology, we can do things bigger, faster, and more efficiently in 2013

Is your real estate bag packed, is your laptop working right, are all your documents updated and ready to go? Are you prepared for business in 2013? Utilize the slow time to get focused and prepared for the Dallas real Estate market.

 

First, set your goals for the year and quantify them. Whatever your goal is, set reminders and due dates in your calendar. Are your goals realistic? An example would be, "I am going to sell 36 homes in the Collin County real estate or Denton County real estate market in 2013".

 

Secondly, post your goals in plain sight and track your progress. Is it on your bathroom mirror? Do you have a white board or vision board? Make daily, weekly, and monthly goals that will help you achieve your ultimate goal. Example would be, "I am going to talk to 11 prospects a day" or "I am going to call 10 of my past clients and ask for referrals".

 

Lastly make yourself accountable. Have you shared your goals with friends and family? Ask one of them to be your accountability partner. This will help you stay focused and motivated. If you don't hit a goal, don't worry just re-evaluate what you are doing and modify your daily/weekly goal.

 

Thanks to technology, we can do things bigger, faster, and more efficiently in 2013. At the same time, our clients have come to expect they can buy or sell a home as quickly as they can do a search in Google. A quick search for Tarrant County real estate will bring up a host of information in just seconds. By being ready and prepared for the unexpected, you will amaze yourself at how easy it is to do more business in 2013.

 

Here are a few simple rules I follow every day to stay focused, so I can achieve my goals.

 

1. Set a timer and stick to it

2. Schedule and put events in your calendar with reminders

3. Prioritize what is important daily

4. Tackle your most important task first

5. Setup a routine for reoccurring events

~ Jennifer Clark VIP Realty Platinum