Picture
I blogged last September about my friend  Adam's company ClearHouse which offers un-biased pre-inspections. I'm a huge advocate of knowing the condition of a property upfront. It can save a deal from painful surprises & tense negotiations mid-transaction! 

In 5 months, ClearHouse was not only written up on AGbeat.com ("ClearHouse adds transparency to home inspections, improves process"), but made their top 60 Genius Brands to Watch in 2012. And now they have just given a clean crisp make-over to their website with new videos and FAQ!  Check it out. Kudos! 
Add Comment
 
 
Picture
With winter slowly melting away, eHow asked me to do a quick vlog for sellers who are prepping their homes for the traditional high season in real estate: Spring & Summer! De-clutter, de-personalize, stage & match your decor with your house style. Good luck! 

 

Decorating to Sell Your Home -- powered by ehow
Add Comment
 
 
Check out my cousins handcrafted custom made shirt company Shirtlisted. Yes, that's me in the video. (...and of course the screen shot youtube uses is a crotch shot! D'oh!) Great job cuz! I love my 2 shirts. Always get complimented at open houses when I wear them.
Add Comment
 
 
I've been in the vlogging game for a few years now, so I often get asked by realtors how to videoblog. Sold Magazine incidentally had me do an exclusive clip for their readers about this very topic. Here some quick easy tips. Don't miss the last one. It's the most important, and most hilarious, tip! 
Add Comment
 
 
According to the National Association of Realtor's latest info from Oct 2011, there are 1,024,669 Realtors in the United States.  Seems like a substantial number but let's not kid ourselves folks! A lot of these peeps are part timers. And many of these are older agents trying to catch up to real estate in 2012. (Average age of a realtor is 56, while the average home buyer is 31.)   It's often quoted amongst us real estate professionals that 80% of the business is done by 20% of the agents. If you happen to be that 20%, then good for you. You may skip this video!  

But if you are just eking out a living in real estate, you wanna promote yourself differently in 2012.  Ditch those cheesy calendars & tacky magnets. I've never heard of a seller who decided to list their house with an agent because they found her name on a Safeway shopping cart (aka "cartvertising"...yes, it's a real thing!).  Watch my new video for eHow for some promotion suggestions.   It's a new year, try something new!

Stop moonlighting at other jobs to make ends meet. Commit to going full force hocking homes! I know you can do it! Have a prosperous exciting 2012! 
Add Comment
 
 
There are special considerations when selling a condo! When you are hocking your goodies out there, a lot of it is preparation (H). Watch my latest video for eHow.com.

How to Sell My Condominium -- powered by ehow
1 Comment
 
 
Picture
My NYC friend Rebecca just snapped this hilarious pic for me. I just can't stop giggling!
  1. Honestly, why stop at a car? Why not just paint your whole damn house with your mug and website address?!
  2. If were a client, I would NOT feel comfortable stepping into this car! Clearly, it's all about her...and it should be all about me.
  3. She's got 2, count em 2 photos of herself....that we can see. I'll bet my bottom maxi-pad there's 1 on the right side, front bumper AND the roof! If her upholstery is also her face, I will flip out!
  4. Even more disconcerting is she's got lipstick on in 1 pic, but not the other. (yes, I notice these things!)
  5. She best not tick anyone off at her open house. Or else, she is just begging for someone to draw her a mustache! 

What do you guys think of agents who do this? Egomaniacs? Or savvy marketers? 
2 Comments
 
 
I've videoblogged about this before but STILL I walk into open homes and am flabbergasted by what the Realtor is wearing! One gal had on nothing more than 2 band-aids held together by some string, and mini-skirt so short it might as well have been a belt. Seriously, how do you politely ask "Are you hockin' homes or hockin' hooters!?" If clients can't tell whether the house or you is for sale, you're in big trouble. 

Here is my new video for eHow.com on how real estate agents ought to dress. (However, if you are selling a house to Hugh Hefner, then go for the daisy dukes & halter tops. Know your clientele!)

How to Dress to Sell a Home -- powered by ehow
Add Comment
 
 
I caught this Agent Genius post entitled "Shocking British Mockumentary – comedy, art, or just plain offensive?"  I think it is all the above. Love it! It's like the real estate version of "The Office." 

This UK Brokerage produces videos starring their own agents. It's probably not for everyone (slightly NSFW at end) and the British humor is sure to be lost on some, but it is certainly memorable. I'm unclear whether this is going to procure more biz for them, but hey,  it certainly makes a great reality show pitch! 

Cheerio! 
Share
Add Comment
 
 
I saw an ad for  Pumpkin Spice Latte, so you know it's official. Autumn is here!

As we dive into Q4, one of the most commonly asked questions I get is "Should I list my house in the winter, or wait til spring?" Some agents think it is suicide to list in the winter because many buyers have checked out. Vacation, holidays, and money gets diverted to gift shopping instead of house shopping.  For the most part, the market does slow down a bit this time of year, but sometimes that can work to a seller's advantage. In fact, some of my most productive quarters have been Q4.  Watch why in this vintage clip!

I think I need a slice of pumpkin pie to go along with my pumpkin spice latte. Yum!
Add Comment