Videos for Learning

It pays to know what’s trending in home automation, because that’s what more buyers and sellers want to know. Smart-home technology is changing the way homeowners use their homes at their most basic levels. Be prepared when customers ask questions. Find out what technologies add safety measures and value to a home. 

The best way to avoid disputes is to know the law. Start by properly classifying and depositing security money in a separate non-interest-bearing account until the end of the lease. Another smart move is to take photos and video of the property before the move-in, so it can be compared when tenants move out. Watch the video for more tips.

Everyone who walks through an open house is looking at that property and interviewing you as an agent. Both are win-win situations. Get the word out by broadcasting your open house using social media channels, email services and Internet sites in a consistent way, and use a scheduling app to auto-send the posts. Watch the video for more tips.

The most successful team leaders have a plan in place before the first team member is hired. Job No. 1 is to set standards and keep the lines of communication open so agents can be out of the office but not out of touch. Everyone wins when the team makes sales. The team leader’s goal is to keep everyone on track. Watch the video for more tips.

Videos that describe neighborhoods are great marketing tools for potential customers, and very search friendly on Google. Creating videos doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. A DIY approach can be casual and as simple as focusing on market stats such as sales and amenities. One person shoots the video and another person talks while walking through the neighborhood. Watch the video for more tips.

A database with contact information is an important lead generation tool. Bigger doesn’t always mean better, though. Limit the list to potential customers who meet specific criteria. It’s more productive to communicate more frequently with fewer people. Create action plans for specific groups — and then watch your business grow. Watch the video for more tips.

A checklist for new agents starts with building a prospecting system and building relationships within that niche. Spend six hours a day generating business and two hours learning the business. Attend conferences and board meetings. Find successful people and ask them questions. Finally, find an accountability partner who will keep you honest and on track. 

Helping customers buy condos requires a lot of information gathering, especially when a property is financed through a lender. First, find out if the buyers are investors or full-time residents. Will they need a mortgage? Then compare properties that fit those needs and read the condo association documents. With these answers in place, you can help buyers match financing and investment goals. Watch the video for more tips.

The new mortgage disclosure rules are now in effect. Watch this video as Margy Grant, Florida Realtors vice president and general counsel, reviews the changes and their direct impact on your role in the transaction.