Quality Service

I work with an equal share of buyers and sellers, and I like it that way. But sometimes the workload far exceeds the number of hours in a day. When this happens, it only stands to reason that something, or some things, will fall by the wayside. While I do my best to return every call that comes in and keep my schedule as flexible as possible, I can't help but wonder what my clients think when they call me and they get my voice mail. Does this come off like I am avoiding them in any way? If so, then why? Do people actually think that an individual can in no way spend an entire day on the phone? And if not, then why are people so hesitant to leave a message, and rather, are so quick to call right back?

How does one know when they are providing their clients with the highest level of service, aside from just asking their clients? Isn't safe to assume that, if one is doing, or has done, everything that his/her client has requested, then one is providing a high level of service to his/her clients?

What message does it send his/her client when an agent is always on the phone and/or with other clients and can't answer?

When Your Relo Client is Yourself

As a Realtor, one of the things I specialize in is relocating individuals, families, and others, from across the country to Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. I assist them with their transition from "there" to "here", ensuring that it go as smoothly as possible, with as little stress as possible. In addition to my client's real estate needs, I do my best to handle most, if not all, of the little details that my relo clients might forget or not think about during that stressful time that is known as relocating. From utilities to public transportation to school attendance zones, I make sure that no stone is left unturned.

But what is a Realtor to do when faced with the task of relocating himself or herself to an unfamiliar area? That is something I must determine, as I will be relocating from Dallas to Houston in August or September 2007. I know nothing about the area, so suggestions from other Realtors are greatly appreciated.

If ever I could relate to my client's concerns, reservations, and fears, it is now. So if anyone has some feedback or input, please let me know. Thanks!

Low-Cost and No-Cost Ways to Save Energy

Did you know that the typical U.S. family spends more than $1,600 a year on home utility bills?

Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. Electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars. And as for the road, transportation accounts for 66% of all U.S. oil consumption. The good news is that there is a lot you can do to save energy and money at home and in your car.

- Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer.

- Install a programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating and cooling system.

- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.

- Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.

- Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.

- Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use, as TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power.

- Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.

- Take short showers instead of baths.

- Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.

- Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.

- Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Preventing the Most Common Insurance Claims

In 2005, the most common property claims reported to Nationwide® were related to:

1. Wind
2. Water damage (non-weather related)
3. Lightning
4. Theft
5. Water damage (weather related)
6. Ice – sleet – snow
7. Hail
8. Fire
9. Other physical damage
10. Liability and medical payments.

If you’re buying a new home or preparing your home for sale, here are a few simple things to help you reduce the likelihood of a claim, lower costs and keep you safe.

Trees: Inspect trees near your home for health. And make sure they are not growing too close to your roof. If in doubt, have a bonded, licensed and insured arborist examine them.

Roof: Make sure your roofing shingles and flashing are in good condition. Broken or discolored shingles may need to be replaced.

Gutters: Clean, level gutters are a sign of good roof maintenance. Make sure that down spouts deliver gutter water away from your foundation.

Siding: If your home has aluminum or vinyl siding, inspect it for missing pieces or disjointed interlocks. Also, make sure it fits flush to your home.

Foundation: Check your house’s foundation a few times a year for cracks and other signs of settling.

Deck: Check your deck or porch for signs of age including wobbliness, splintering or warping of planks and exposed nail heads.

Garage: Inspect your garage floor for evenness. If you have an electric garage door, check the obstacle sensor to make sure it’s operating properly. Install a carbon monoxide sensor and test it periodically.

Plumbing: Consider having a professional plumber inspect all pipes, fixtures and water heaters. Sinks and tubs should drain rapidly. Any pipes in the crawl space or basement should be properly insulated to prevent bursting during a freeze.

Weather-strips and Caulking: All windows and doors should have weather seals properly fitted. Caulking around tubs, toilets and sinks should not be excessively dried or cracked.

Electrical Outlets: Verify that your electrical receptacles have faceplates and are properly grounded. Outdoor, bathroom and kitchen outlets should be equipped with ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets.

Smoke Alarms: Be sure to have at least one smoke alarm per floor. Test each regularly. Some smoke alarms can be linked so that people on one floor are alerted if there is smoke detected on another floor.

Security: All doors accessible to the outside should have deadbolts or similar locking systems. Keep track of all house keys. Make sure spares are in a secure location – not under a flowerpot or doormat. Consider enrolling in a subscription-based security monitoring program.

Get Flood Insurance: Many people live in a potential flood zone! However, flood damage is often not covered by traditional insurance policies. Purchase flood insurance from a trusted insurance partner participating in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Keep these tips in mind when moving in or moving out. Because preparing for the unexpected can help protect you from the unimaginable.

Provided by:
Nationwide Insurance & Lowes

Real Estate and Emotion vs. Reason

If you are selling a home, Real Estate Agents tend to refer to the property you're selling as a "house." If you are buying a house, agents will often refer to it as a "home." Why is this? Because when you are buying a home, it is more than "just" a purchase. It is where you go "home" after a hard day on the job, where you raise your kids, where you watch the Super Bowl, barbecue in the back yard, or plant flowers each year to admire their blooms. You aren't buying a space to eat and sleep, you're moving into your private "safe haven" - a place you'll call "home" for years to come. Someday, you will sell that house, and when you do - someone else will call it "home". If you're still thinking of it as your home, selling is more difficult.

How do you let go?

It is very difficult, but necessary. To sell your home effectively, you need to make rational decisions. You need to let go of all the little touches you've added to the property and not be connected emotionally. Most "home improvements" don't add as much value as you might think -- they might not have as much appeal to a potential buyer as they do to you. The buyer is looking at your house and imagining it as his or her home. You need to help them. Take your photos off the walls. Remove the sports trophies from the fireplace mantle. Clean the "junk" out of those drawers in the kitchen. Remove whatever you may have accumulated in your garage, basement or attic. If you want to keep it, put it in storage and pick it up when you move.

Sell a house. Help someone else find a home.

Home Builder's Incentives

Thanksgiving Day my husband, Chris, and I decided to drive to Houston to check out some area home builders and find out what, if any, incentives they were offering (both buyer and Realtor incentives). What we found were a few nice floor plans, a handful of knowledgeable and polite sales representatives, a handful of inept and/or unprofessional sales reps, miserly incentives, and inflated prices just about everywhere we went. Why do new homes cost so much more in the Houston area than they do in the Dallas Metroplex? And why are the builders so stingy with their buyer and Realtor incentives? And what is up with those detached and/or tandem garages?

"Will You Cut Your Commission??"

I regularly visit Yahoo! Answers and there is always someone out there who asks how they go about getting an agent to cut commission. Why does he/she need to know? I understand that people like to save money, believe me . . . I do, too! But let me ask you this . . . do you work? You do? Well, you know that person that owns the company at which you work and who pays you? Not the Payroll Clerk--but the person who REALLY pays your salary or wages. Now answer this: Do you think that person has a burning desire to pay you the money that you think you'veearned?

NO! Your boss doesn't want to pay you, anymore than you want to pay your agent! So, why does your boss pay you? Because you earned the money . . . You showed up for work & did what you were hired to do (hopefully)! If your boss would've asked you to take a pay cut, would you have? Not likely! So why is it okay, in a seller's mind, to ask an agent to take a pay cut? Because you want to save money, right?! I'm sure your boss wants to save money, too, but he/she hasn't cut your pay (at least, not yet).

Real Estate is one of the few industries in which people work, and if they don't do what they were hired to do (sell homes), they do not get paid. Can you say the same for your job?

10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Real Estate Agent

Before selecting an agent to list your home for sale, you should ask certain questions to ensure that the agent you do decide to choose will give you the best possible representation, place your interests above that of his/her own, have integrity and ethics, and work hard to market and sell your home. Here are 10 questions that you should ask before hiring a real estate agent.

1.) What sets you apart from other agents that will help sell my home?
2.) What's kind of reputation does your company have in this area (and others, if applicable)?
3.) How do you intend to market my home?
4.) Has your company ever sold homes in my area/city?
5.) Are you solely responsible for the advertising you do or does your company pay for and oversee all advertising?
6.) On average, how long do your listings remain on the market before finally selling?
7.) On average, what percentage of the list price do your listings actually sell fore, when your listings sell?
8.) Do you work with buyers and if so, how many are you currently working with?
9.) Do you have references?
10.) Can I terminate the listing early if I am unhappy with your performance? If so, what fees, if any, must I pay?

These questions, or any that are similar, will help you decide which agent will be suit your needs! Good luck!

Just Starting My Real Estate Blog

I just created my real estate blog and this is my first post. I know very little about blogging, but a lot about real estate. Over the next few days, I hope to learn more about blogging, so that my blog is informative and not some snooze-fest, like this first post. This is a big step for me, so bear with me over the next few weeks!