Maybe it’s been a great year for you. Maybe it hasn’t been so great. Either way, if you’ve got some free time over the holidays, it’s worthwhile to sit down and try to calmly and collectively assess your past year of work. Here are a few things to consider. What drove the most leads? In the marketing business, it’s called lead attribution. Start by making a list of how you acquired each and every lead to determine what marketing activity made it possible: networking events, advertising in the local community …

Bankruptcy filings fell 2.6 percent for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2018,  according to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The June 2018 annual bankruptcy filings totaled 775,578 compared with 796,037 cases in the year ending June 2017. That’s good news, even though the stats often go up and down. Whatever the current bankruptcy filings happen to be, you’ll most likely be working with a percentage of clients who are emerging from bankruptcy. Remember that clients who claimed bankruptcy does not mean that they can’t …

This may come as no surprise: nearly 62 percent of buyers and sellers are looking for lower fees when it comes to dealing with agents, according to a Redfin survey of 1,000 respondents. However, this part may surprise you: 22 percent of those surveyed said that low fees actually made them concerned about the quality of the service. From that same survey, buyers and sellers are increasingly finding that they want their agents to be as tech savvy as possible. Of those surveyed, 57 percent said that technology is vital. …

Even if you can sell snow to the Eskimos, your snowball business won’t be lucrative until you can find a lot of Eskimos to sell to. Convincing someone to trust you with their business, money, or vital needs is a tall order. Never leave this to chance, and don’t depend on growing your base randomly or organically. Instead– keep this checklist in mind when growing your client base: Know your industry inside and out Read websites and periodicals that dedicates its content to your type of business. Attend industry functions …

Your real estate education continues long after you pass your initial license certification test. You’re learning every single day while on the job; sharing insights with associates, and hopefully benefitting from those more experienced in the field. However, additional official certification often helps widen your knowledge and earns you additional credentials as a real estate professional. The National Association of REALTORS® and its affiliated Institutes, Societies, and Councils provide a wide-range of programs and services that help members increase their skills, proficiency, and knowledge. Designations and certifications acknowledging experience and …

Most of us simply don’t have the time to read, but reading these recommended books can strengthen your skills and focus your outlook. A career in real estate is intensely challenging, but also uniquely rewarding; if you open yourself up to advice from experts and apply it to your own journey, you can raise your prospects higher. Here are a few books we recommend: The HyperLocal, HyperFast Real Estate Agent: How to Dominate Your Real Estate Market in Under a Year, I Did it and so Can You! By Daniel …

When you sell a home, your client will be paying a mortgage for possibly 10, 15, or 30 years or more. Make sure that they remember you fondly and respectfully for recommending the right way to find a mortgage lender. Especially within the last decade, mortgages have become more complicated, diverse, and highly regulated. You can be a hero by patiently steering your client through this intimidating and often overwhelming process. Consider these tips to share with your clients: Get a head start on the mortgage process Ask your clients …

I can’t think of a more appropriate topic to end this series of posts I’ve been writing for eCommission than the closing table. After all, we have covered lots of topics related to finding and buying your dream home. But now is not the time to let up. The closing table is a critical and final part of your home purchase. Let’s begin: Make sure you bring every document you received throughout the home-buying process to the closing meeting. This includes the good faith estimate and proof of homeowners insurance. …

  Crown molding is a niche home design subject of particular interest to high-end buyers. There are a number of different materials that can be used for the moldings, all of which come at different price points and some of which require a higher degree of skill to install. This video offers a quick rundown of the key points homeowners should consider before making their decision.

Fall and winter are typically slower than the spring and summer for home listings, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on sales when the leaves start changing colors. There are always people who need to sell and there are always buyers looking for a dream home no matter what time of the year it is. One of the keys to success in real estate is knowing how to stage a home according to the season. Here are some things to keep in mind for your winter listings. Keep …