Real Estate Best Practices

Coaches, books, classes and seminars aim to capture real estate agents dollars with promises to teach them any number of ways to improve their business. From sales skills to how to close more deals to how to win with expireds (expired listings) and more, everyone has something to teach you.


There's nothing wrong with continuing education, whether it's keeping on top of new laws and regulations or learning how to be more productive. But before you spend an arm and a leg on any of those things, pull up a chair, put on your glasses and peruse the pages in this section of ActiveRain.


It is only here that you can tap into the world's largest online real estate community and actively engage with your peers. Find out what works and what doesn't from those that actually put into practice what others merely teach. Read how-to articles, advice on designations, certifications and continuing education classes. You never know where you will find the inspiration to take your business to the next level. So, pull up a chair and dig in!

Recent blogs on Real Estate Best Practices
By R. Michael Brown, Communication that increases sales!
(R. Michael Brown LLC Digital Marketing & Public Relations)
I've notice something about successful real estate agents. I've worked with hundreds. The best help clients with life choices. They know their clients, their families, what they do for a living, what they care about - even share life as friends and partners. These agents and brokers look out for their client's interests, both long and short term. In Florida right now, I've been talking to agents and construction pros about what's the best move for most homeowners in today's market. It may not be the best for real estate agents in the short term, but it's awesome advice for clients AND agents in the long term. With this kind of advice, your clients will trust you for life.My client R&R Construction of Florida has both construction and real estate parts of their business. Even though this...
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By Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!, St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent
(Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374)
Real Estate Marketing Never Stops. Neither Does Rust! Can you see me now? If not, then apparently I'm wasting precious time and throwing hard earned dollars away! Pure strategy in all marketing efforts means a clear direction on capturing an intended target market. It pays to be: Creative Diligent Proactive Consistent Industrious Extremely detailed Purely Self-motivated Wants & needs oriented  Momentum is often achieved by discovering where strengths lie and applying them in this industry. Taking ​advantage of rewarding ​opportunities as they present is ever so important to continue moving business ahead. It's impossible to be all and do everything but instead, focus on a 'I CAN' attitude and mindset, so that consumers can see and hear you. And remember, real estate marketing never stop...
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By E. Steve Banis, Jr., https://www.SouthCarolinaHomesInc.com
(South Carolina Homes Inc.)
Smart real estate investing can lead to financial freedom and a retirement on your terms. By building wealth and earning passive income through strategic property investments, you can achieve your financial goals. However, it's important to avoid costly mistakes, and one of the biggest mistakes you can make is overlooking property defects.When you're buying an investment property, it's important to be aware of the potential property defects that could cost you money down the road. Here are five of the most common property defects to look out for: Structural defects: These can include foundation problems, roof leaks, and defective drywall. Structural defects can be costly to repair, and they can also make your property unsafe to live in. Health and safety hazards: These can include lead ...
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By Dr. Paula McDonald, Granbury, TX 936-203-0279
(Beam & Branch Realty)
I know many of you may be weary of reading my moving experience posts. But, can I just say - whew! For the past two weeks, I have been non-stop in moving mode. And when I mean moving, I literally mean - physically moving!I wear an Oura ring that tracks my steps, sleep, respiration, and more. On the first day of moving, I tracked 25,553 steps which are equivalent to 20.8 miles! No wonder my feet were on fire! Each day since then, I am averaging 11-18 miles per day! This move is getting me in shape!The lessons, however, are numerous. Life is an accumulation of millions of steps. With each step we take, we complete tasks, we meet goals, and, we continue to move forward. And, moving forward in life is key.Living life one step at a time is essential. Here are three, "One step at a time" tips...
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By Craig Lebrau, Property Geek in Upper East Side NYC
(Lebrau Property)
Air conditioner installation has become an essential consideration for homeowners, particularly in regions with hot and humid climates. Air conditioner installation provides the homeowners with respite from the sweltering heat. In cities like Melbourne, where temperatures can soar during the summer months, the demand for efficient cooling solutions is on the rise. With advancements in technology and a focus on energy efficiency, air conditioner installation in Melbourne ensures that homeowners have a comfortable and climate-controlled environment. In this essay, we will explore the importance of air conditioner installation in real estate, its benefits, and the impact it has on the overall value and comfort of homes. Let's delve into the fascinating world of air conditioner installation...
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By Will Hamm, "Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"
(Hamm Homes)
Do you have the faith to step forward, Lou Ludwig has some advice     Having the Faith to Step Forward “When you get to the end of all the light you know and it’s time to step into the darkness. of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen; either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly." Edward Teller 1908 – 2003, Hungarian-Born American Theoretical Physicist   As I see it . . . . . . .   Having the faith to step forward   There will be a time in your life that you will have to take a step into the darkness of the unknown . . . . Where the only thing you have to move you forward is your faith.   When you have a strong self-image . . . . you will have faith in yourself and in your ability.   When you have prepared yourself ...
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By Stephen Fells, Marketing, Technology, Fun and News!
(AgencyLogic)
People ask Tom Ferry all the time what his best advice for real estate agents is in today’s market.In today's Real Estate Podcast, from The Tom Ferry Podcast Experience, Tom share it with you, and you might not like the answer, but it is what it is.It’s only six minutes, so if you’re a real estate agent, now’s a good time to listen in!AgencyLogic shares the best real estate podcasts daily. Click here for more great podcasts!
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By Endre Barath, Jr., Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties)
Have you heard of the book "Holigent Solution" by A. Nicholas Frank? I have not either. It is an amazing book. Many years ago, I received an Active Rain referral to sell a duplex here in Los Angeles. I was thrilled to have the opportunity, FYI the sellers were three siblings living in three different states. I just finished showing the vacant duplex and an older couple pulled up as I was locking up the property. The driver asked if they could go look at it. Needless to say, I said sure. It turned out they ended up buying the duplex as an investment property.Three days before we closed, he and his wife did a final walkthrough, and everything was fine. He in turn turned around and gave me a book. I had no idea he wrote it and it was personalized to me. How amazing is that.Just for backgro...
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By Manfred Lewis Leslie Horne & Associates, Realtor Spartanburg and Greenville SC
(Leslie Horne &Associates )
Amidst the barbecues and festivities, let us pause and remember the true meaning of Memorial Day – to honor the fallen, respect their families, and uphold the values they fought for. Today, we salute their valor and express our deepest gratitude. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. #thehelpfulagent #home #houseexpert #house #listreports #memorialday #respectadhonor #honor #respect #thankyou 
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By Realtyna Inc, WordPress Real Estate - IDX, RESO Web API, CRM
(Realtyna)
Alt text, also known as “alternative text”, is a brief description that can be added to an image on a webpage to describe its content. By providing descriptive alt text with relevant keywords for your real estate website, you can improve your chances of appearing in image search results for your target audience. This means that potential customers looking for real estate properties in your area are more likely to find your images in their search results.When search engines crawl a web page, they cannot “see” images the way humans can. Therefore, search engines rely on alt text to understand what the image is about and how it relates to the webpage’s content. Including relevant keywords in your alt text can help search engines understand the content of your images and improve your search...
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By Stephen Fells, Marketing, Technology, Fun and News!
(AgencyLogic)
In today’s Real Estate Podcast, we hear from Kevin Ward's YES Talk, a real estate coach and trainer. Kevin, an internationally recognized speaker, delivers high-octane training on skills, strategies, systems, scripts and the success mindset for top-producing real estate agents.AgencyLogic shares the best real estate podcasts daily. Click here for more great podcasts! 
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By MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900, Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years
(Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty)
Did you know the average positive impact of a house sale on the U.S. economy is $120,500, according to National Association of REALTORS research? In 18 states, that amount is $125,000 or more. In California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia, the amount is over $200,000.It's often been noted that real estate sales impact the economy positively as in addition to the sale (and tax revenue to states), multiple other industries are affected. Sellers pay individuals and businesses to paint, landscape, repair and improve houses in preparation for sale. Real estate agents also pay to market, stage and sell these residences. New homeowners then pay to customize those homes-often with new paint, landscaping, repairs, improvements and even additions and remodels.California home s...
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By Manfred Lewis Leslie Horne & Associates, Realtor Spartanburg and Greenville SC
(Leslie Horne &Associates )
I can help you take that first step toward making your dream home a reality. Send me a message to start your search for your dream home today! #thehelpfulagent #home #houseexpert #dreamhome #listreports #house #househunting #realestate #realestateagent #icanhelp #realtor #happyhome #goals #achieveyourgoals #happyhomeowners 
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By Candice A. Donofrio, 928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text
(Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker)
Not intelligence, not professionalism, not common sense, NONE OF THATbut EGOmakes an agent inordinately DRIVEN to be a HERO for their (usually unreasonable) client."It's highly unlikely/impossible but I will do it bc I am THAT DAMN GOOD!" I turned down a listing several months ago, for more than one reason. Price. Condition. And I could not trust the seller. My realistic opinion of value was  . . . realistic. I AM an 'expert' in that particular area/market/property type! It's one of the things 'I do most' . . .The listing is now on the market with others, for almost DOUBLE my estimate. My insistence that the property be cleaned up pre-market was also ignored . . . looks just gorgeous in the pics, I tell ya . . . clutter adds a certain cachet . . . 🙄The agents are trying WAYYYY too hard ...
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By Realtyna Inc, WordPress Real Estate - IDX, RESO Web API, CRM
(Realtyna)
If you run a real estate website, you know how important it is to showcase properties with high-quality images. However, it’s not just about the visuals themselves — it’s also about making sure your website is accessible to all users. That’s where alt text comes in.Alt text, short for alternative text, is descriptive text that can be added to an image’s HTML tag. Including descriptive alt text can help make your website accessible to a wider audience, improving the overall user experience and increasing SEO value for your real estate website.Image Title vs Alt Text in WordPressAlt Text and Image Title are two different attributes that can be used to provide additional information about an image in WordPress.Image Title is an optional attribute that can be used to provide a tooltip or ad...
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By Chrissi Chapman Topoleski, Helping agents live an exceptional life!
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
"No regerts".(Yes- this was the subject line!)In the past two days, I've received emails with misspellings in the subject line. One of them immediately brought to mind a meme I've seen on social media of a man with a neck tattoo that says NO RAGRETS. I assumed the email would be a tongue-in-cheek nod to the fact the word regret was spelled wrong. No.While the article did focus on what agents wish they had done sooner in their careers, it had nothing to do with bad tattoos or the importance of using a good spellcheck program.The second email's subject line read, "Are you looking to sharpen you listing skills?" An editing program may not have caught this one (you instead of your), which begs the question, "didn't anyone read this before hitting send?" We only get one chance to make a posi...
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By Stephen Fells, Marketing, Technology, Fun and News!
(AgencyLogic)
What is real estate micro farming? When the market is slow and the listings are low, the agent who wins the listing is always the agent people TRUST. Geo farming is a brilliant way to get everyone in a given area to know you and like you… But if you want trust, you need to take it to a micro level – and that means real estate micro farming. In today's Real Estate Podcast, from The Tom Ferry Podcast Experience, Jason Pantana breaks down a style of geo farming that too few agents know about. Real estate micro farming is about lasering in on one specific section of your geo farm with ads and trust-building content that establishes you as the listing agent of choice. Jason covers how to adapt your content and marketing strategies to your micro farm and obtain permission to establish relatio...
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By Doug Dawes, Your Personal Realtor®
(Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street Topsfield, MA)
Of course, you do. But, I speak from a bias since I'm an agent. So go ahead, don't believe me. Go out and try it by yourself. Just remember, the seller's expert agent is just that...The Seller's Expert Agent, not yours. Their duty is exclusively to the seller, Not You. And representing yourself is a lot more work for you than you may desire.In the article below you will learn some of what you need to know and why you need an expert agent in your cornerWhy Buyers Need an Expert Agent by Their Side   The process of buying a home can feel a bit intimidating, even under normal circumstances. But today’s market is still anything but normal. There continues to be a very limited number of homes for sale, and that’s creating bidding wars and driving home prices back up as buyers compete over th...
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By Dawn Castell, Freelance home stager
(Freelancer)
Navigating the real estate industry requires meticulous attention to legal and administrative requirements to ensure a smooth and compliant operation. Before embarking on your real estate venture, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the pertinent laws and regulations, including taxation, licensing, and employment considerations. Taxation in Real EstateUnderstanding the various tax laws at the local, state, and federal levels is essential for your real estate business. Additionally, if you intend to establish an online presence or engage in international transactions, it becomes crucial to ascertain whether different rules or international regulations apply. For instance, if your website incorporates an online donation platform like GC wallets, you must determine whether it necess...
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By Dr. Paula McDonald, Granbury, TX 936-203-0279
(Beam & Branch Realty)
Whew! Moving is hard! I have been MIA from almost everything in my life these past few weeks due to our recent move. Everything has been in storage for over a year and a half as we awaited the home to be completed. We are finally in but facing the piles of boxes in each room.As I posted earlier about preparing for a move, this post is specific to the process of getting organized, unpacked, and out of all of the boxes. It is a daunting task. This experience certainly reminds me of the stresses both physical and mental that are involved with moving.As you are faced with your move, here are some realistic strategies to help you face the mountain of boxes: Take it one day at a time. Bit by bit, step by step is the best method.  Determine your top priorities such as the kitchen, bedrooms, et...
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