Leaves are falling, pumpkins are everywhere and the days are getting shorter which surely means that fall is here. You probably feel like the holiday season is still a long way off, but it will be here before you know it. If you are planning to send out a Christmas or holiday card to you past clients, businesses, friends, family, neighbors, etc., you need to be thinking about that now. Depending on the kind of card you are sending and how many you plan to send, it may require a significant amount of time to get your cards ready to mail. Here are some great tips to help you get your card mailed by December 1.

5 Tips to Organize Your Holiday Card Mailing

Get Your FREEBIE ~ Holiday Card Checklist NOW!

First, select the kind of card you want to send. You have several options of where you purchase your cards.  You need to decide where you will purchase them.  Maybe at the local super store, order luxury personalized cards to have shipped to you, or will you use an online greeting card company to handle all the details?   You can order a custom card from many websites such as Shutterfly, Wal-Mart or Snapfish that allows you to upload photos, add a personal greeting and will then print the cards for you to pick up in the store or mail them to you. Save a step by having them print your return address or even your mailing addresses if you upload the list to them. They will even complete the process for you by stuffing your cards, adding postage and mailing them. While this may mean your cards get out sooner, it does mean you won’t be able to add a personal greeting to the card so make sure you are comfortable with that trade off. If you want these extra steps done by the company, it will take additional time over just printing your card so make sure you factor that into your time frame so your cards arrive when you would like them to.

There are also options such as SendOutCards and Ink Cards, which will allow you to personalize each individual card. They offer great card options, very quick turnaround and highly customized options but it isn’t without any effort. Sending individually customized greeting cards to everyone on your list will require a larger amount of your time so you may decide you don’t have that amount of time to put into this.

Now that you know the different options and have hopefully decided the approach you want to take, follow these steps to get your card mailed out on time and without too much effort.

• Decide what kind of card you want to send.
• Put your list together with names and addresses.
• Either purchase greeting cards or order your card online with your personal content.
• Purchase stamps if you are mailing yourself.
• Address the cards, stuff them and mail them.

While this task is broken down into just a few steps, some steps may take significant time if you aren’t organized. Locating pictures for your card, putting your address list together and even stuffing your cards if you are sending out a large quantity can take a lot of time. If you really want to send out cards but don’t have the time to invest in this task and get them sent out at the right time, we can help. From organizing your database to stuffing and stamping your cards and everything in between, we can handle as much or as little of the work as you need us to. We truly believe your holiday cards should personally represent you so we will work with you to identify the right kind of card that fits your style and your budget and execute all of the necessary steps so your cards are on time and memorable. Let us know if you would like to schedule a free consultation today.

Don’t forget…Get Your FREEBIE ~ Holiday Card Checklist NOW!

*****

Thanks for watching this weeks video and don’t forget to download your freebies.

If you enjoyed this blog, please SHARE IT, watch it on YouTube and let me know your thoughts, LIKE IT and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my Channel.

One of my most popular blogs to date is What Does Your Voicemail and Texting Habits Say About You.  Read it here

Here we are heading into the last quarter of 2018.  This blog will help you get your finances in order.  Check it out by clicking here.

You can read my other real estate business blogs and get free downloads by visiting https://www.kimhughes.com/resources/real-estate-blog/

We just launched the Real Estate Video Library.  The library offers you some of the most popular video blogs and we are constantly adding more, so make sure to bookmark the page and visit often.

COMING SOON!

The Ultimate Expired Listing System Webinar

Are you ready to get serious about working the Expired’s in your market?  Are you ready to start building your inventory and put more money in the bank?  I bet you are!  I have been asked many of times to do a webinar for agents who struggle with the Expired Listing process, so coming in August I will be hosting a Workshop to take you through my Expired Listing System that has been a huge success for many top agents.  If you would like to be the first notified just click on the link below and you will

automatically go into my private list to receive the first announcement.

YES! I WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW – SIGN ME UP!

*****

Ready and motivated to organize your life?  The 90 Day Real Estate Planner is a must for any agent,

broker, team leader to implement into their daily lives as it will help you become more productive, find more time and be better organized.  Get it today by visiting the 90 Day Real Estate Action Planner – use the COUPON CODE: PLAN18 to get your discount.  This special code is for a limited time only, so take advantage of this discount today and get excited about your life becoming more organized and structured.

Are you realizing you need to tighten up your business strategies?  Here at Kim Hughes & Company we are the experts when it comes to working real estate agents with start-ups, re-organizing, marketing, transaction management and so much more.  Visit us at Kim Hughes and Company to download our free Real Estate Checklist.  We will show you how to become a powerhouse agent so schedule a 20 minute complimentary call with Kim today and let’s get you organized and create some amazing strategies for your business.

Are we connected?:

Instagram: @KimHughesCoaching | #KimHughesCoaching
http://www.Facebook.com/KimHughes 
http://facebook.com/KimHughesRealEstateVirtualAssistant 
http://www.Twitter.com/KimHughes 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimhughescoaching
https://www.pinterest.com/kim_hughes/pins/

Image courtesy of Lee_Cannon/flickr.com

Your phone rings and you hear those magic words…”I want to buy a house”.  What is the first thing you think of when this happens?  How much commission will you make or helping the buyer find the right home and build a solid relationship with your new client?

I hope you are saying the later because in this week’s blog we are talking about taking care of your buyer, the client.

Are Your Buyers Prepared to Be A Homeowner

The biggest part of creating your Client Connection is providing them with service they will appreciate for many years to come. Having clients that value the service you provide will put more dollars in your pocket over the life of your career through repeat business and referrals than if you rush them through their buying experience and don’t educate them fully on the process.

The first chance you have to provide clients with exemplary service is when they are buying their house. You are the expert on houses, and it is your job to educate your clients on what they can expect both during the sale and even more so after the sale. Buying a house is a big responsibility but taking care of your house while you own it is the biggest responsibility. A buyer needs to be educated on everything that comes with taking care of a house. It’s important to understand what you might encounter while you own your home, so you aren’t surprised by the things that come up later.

What can you do to educate a buyer to be a great homeowner?

Impress upon your buyers the extreme importance of home maintenance and the role it can play in the value of their home. It is essential they understand how critical it is to take good care of their home. Owning a home goes well beyond paying a mortgage and utility bills, mowing the lawn and buying furniture. All homes require some maintenance, but you need to evaluate what has been done recently versus what will need to be done in the coming years. Putting together a handout for buyers with the average lifespan of the different systems in their home can be a great resource to share with them.

Buyers usually work with their lender to determine their housing budget but don’t be afraid to discuss this with them as well. While you can’t tell them the size of the mortgage they will be approved for, make sure they are building a household budget that leaves them enough money every month after all their expenses to set aside some for future needs. When their air conditioner goes out in July and can’t be fixed, they will want to have a savings to tap into so they can pay new one. If they are setting aside a portion of money each month for future repairs or upgrades they want to make, they will be better prepared to handle a new air conditioner unit or a busted water heater than someone that hasn’t planned for that.

Another thing to discuss with a buyer is a home warranty. Take the time to explain how a home warranty works and let them decide if it would be beneficial to them. It won’t cover everything and doesn’t cover routine maintenance but may cover many other items and save them some money without too much of an expense.

Are they used to calling a landlord for every little thing? Do they understand that from now on when the toilet is clogged or the roof leaks they will have to either fix it themselves or call a professional? Another way to help prepare them for the inevitable time they will need to call for help is to provide them with a list of your trusted experts that they can call when they need someone. They need the list from day one not just when an emergency presents itself.

While buying a house can be a short process, owning a home is a long-term commitment. Prepare your buyers for this and help them understand the obligations that come along with the American Dream.

When you help your buyers understand the responsibility of home ownership it prepares them for those “things that happen” so educate them, help them understand it is important to have an emergency fund set up for home expenses and maybe give them a vendor’s list of services you recommend in the area as part of the closing gift.

Another thing you can do for your buyer is to have them sit down with their mortgage lender to learn how the loan process works and what they need to focus on when it comes to buying a house.  Being a pre-qualified buyer gives them more buying power and everyone can now start seriously looking for that perfect home.

I am constantly telling my coaching clients they must get comfortable with having the potential buyer sign the Buyer Representation Agreement before they step foot in your car.  So, while you have them complete the Client Information Sheet, Wants and Needs Sheet have the Buyer Agreement together and tell them that you must have these two items before you can start showing them property.

If you take the time to educate your buyer clients for what to be prepared for in home ownership it will create a relationship that will be very rewarding in the future.

Don’t forget to download your TWO Freebies this week.  Here is the link

*****

Thanks for watching this weeks video and don’t forget to download your freebies.

If you enjoyed this blog, please SHARE IT, watch it on YouTube and let me know your thoughts, LIKE IT and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my Channel.

One of my most popular blogs to date is What Does Your Voicemail and Texting Habits Say About You.  Read it here

Here we are heading into the last quarter of 2018.  This blog will help you get your finances in order.  Check it out by clicking here.

You can read my other real estate business blogs and get free downloads by visiting https://www.kimhughes.com/resources/real-estate-blog/

COMING SOON!

The Ultimate Expired Listing System Webinar

Are you ready to get serious about working the Expired’s in your market?  Are you ready to start building your inventory and put more money in the bank?  I bet you are!  I have been asked many of times to do a webinar for agents who struggle with the Expired Listing process, so coming in August I will be hosting a Workshop to take you through my Expired Listing System that has been a huge success for many top agents.  If you would like to be the first notified just click on the link below and you will

automatically go into my private list to receive the first announcement.

YES! I WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW – SIGN ME UP!

*****

Ready and motivated to organize your life?  The 90 Day Real Estate Planner is a must for any agent,

broker, team leader to implement into their daily lives as it will help you become more productive, find more time and be better organized.  Get it today by visiting the 90 Day Real Estate Action Planner – use the COUPON CODE: PLAN18 to get your discount.  This special code is for a limited time only, so take advantage of this discount today and get excited about your life becoming more organized and structured.

Are you realizing you need to tighten up your business strategies?  Here at Kim Hughes & Company we are the experts when it comes to working real estate agents with start-ups, re-organizing, marketing, transaction management and so much more.  Visit us at Kim Hughes and Company to download our free Real Estate Checklist.  We will show you how to become a powerhouse agent so schedule a 20 minute complimentary call with Kim today and let’s get you organized and create some amazing strategies for your business.

Are we connected?:

Instagram: @KimHughesCoaching | #KimHughesCoaching
http://www.Facebook.com/KimHughes 
http://facebook.com/KimHughesRealEstateVirtualAssistant 
http://www.Twitter.com/KimHughes 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimhughescoaching
https://www.pinterest.com/kim_hughes/pins/

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As a real estate agent just starting out, it can be hard to build your business to the point where you have a consistent inventory of listings for sale. While buyer clients are great to have, they can take up a lot of time and sometimes after all that time, they decide not to buy or never find the house they are looking for. Building your business so that you maintain a steady inventory of homes for sale can help you add some consistency to your income.

When you first start listing houses, it can be overwhelming to figure out what you need to do for each house and not overlook something. If you are listing homes without a listing checklist, that’s like baking cookies without a recipe. The results will likely be inconsistent and less than desirable. Having a plan when you start the process will improve the service you deliver and allow you to manage your time better so you can serve more clients at one time.

What Does Your Real Estate Listing Checklist Look Like?

When you start putting your checklist together, think of everything you do when you list a home and try to put it all together. Some items to include are

• Putting the listing in MLS
• Scheduling photo session
• Creating brochures or fliers
• Putting up the sign
• Creating the Lockbox
• Scheduling an open house
• Preparing your Just Listed posts cards
• eBlasting the listing to your database
• Promoting the listing to your local and out of area agents
• Promotion on Social Networks
• Setting Feedback System
• Scheduling Seller Reports

You can always choose to skip some items if they aren’t necessary for a certain listing, but you don’t want to forget them when you get multiple new listings in the same week and are trying to get everything done. Don’t forget the things you need to follow up on later in the listing. Everything won’t happen just in the first few days. Many other tasks that will need to be done throughout the listing so include those as well.

Download this sample listing checklist to get you started but make sure to spend a little time customizing it to meet your needs. When you have a thorough listing checklist put together, you need to decide how you are going to manage your checklist, so you can keep up with what’s been done on each listing and when it is time to work on the next one. A good real estate CRM will have a section for managing listings where you can add your checklist then apply it to each listing. As you work on different tasks throughout the listing, you will need to be able to track what you have completed and get reminders when it is time to complete the next task. The other nice thing about a CRM is it will keep track of the items you have done so you can share the information with your sellers to keep them informed.

My very popular Listing Coordination Spreadsheet is also a tool you can use within your team to stay up-to-date on how that listing is marketed.

Like anything, a little planning can make a big difference and listing homes is no different. Take a little time to create a checklist that will take your business to the next level, and before you know it, you will be a listing machine.

Not to mention organized, excited about how your business is moving forward and your sellers are referring you to other because you are on top of it.

Need help putting together your real estate listing checklist, not sure how to set up your CRM or just don’t have the time, but understand the importance?  Reach out to me and let’s talk about how Kim Hughes & Company can help you put your business in order.

Thanks for watching this weeks video and don’t forget to download your freebies.

If you enjoyed this blog, please SHARE IT, watch it on YouTube and let me know your thoughts, LIKE IT and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my Channel.

Here is a blog I wrote that talks about Taking Listings – this would be a good one to watch

My blog “What Does Your Email Signature Say About You” is one not to miss.

You can read my other real estate business blogs and get free downloads by visiting https://www.kimhughes.com/resources/real-estate-blog/

COMING SOON!

The Ultimate Expired Listing System Webinar

Are you ready to get serious about working the Expired’s in your market?  Are you ready to start building your inventory and put more money in the bank?  I bet you are!  I have been asked many of times to do a webinar for agents who struggle with the Expired Listing process, so coming in August I will be hosting a Workshop to take you through my Expired Listing System that has been a huge success for many top agents.  If you would like to be the first notified just click on the link below and you will

automatically go into my private list to receive the first announcement.

YES! I WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW – SIGN ME UP!

 

Ready and motivated to organize your life?  The 90 Day Real Estate Planner is a must for any agent,

broker, team leader to implement into their daily lives as it will help you become more productive, find more time and be better organized.  Get it today by visiting the 90 Day Real Estate Action Planner – use the COUPON CODE: PLAN18 to get your discount.  This special code is for a limited time only, so take advantage of this discount today and get excited about your life becoming more organized and structured.

Are you realizing you need to tighten up your business strategies?  Here at Kim Hughes & Company we are the experts when it comes to working real estate agents with start-ups, re-organizing, marketing, transaction management and so much more.  Visit us at Kim Hughes and Company to download our free Real Estate Checklist.  We will show you how to become a powerhouse agent so schedule a 20 minute complimentary call with Kim today and let’s get you organized and create some amazing strategies for your business.

Are we connected?:

Instagram: @KimHughesCoaching | #KimHughesCoaching
http://www.Facebook.com/KimHughes 
http://facebook.com/KimHughesRealEstateVirtualAssistant 
http://www.Twitter.com/KimHughes 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimhughescoaching
https://www.pinterest.com/kim_hughes/pins/

 

With easy access to technology in the marketplace today, there is no need to be intimidated by video. Using video in your marketing doesn’t mean you have to hire a professional. There is room for all different levels of video in your marketing, and while you may occasionally have the need for something professional, most of your video needs can be done with your smartphone or simple online software.

For starters, grab your phone and practice shooting some video. It doesn’t have to be professional, but you do want it to look nice. Start with short videos and don’t get too long and involved. Share a quick walk-through of a new listing, a preview of the backyard at one of your listings on a nice day or a short clip of a local event you are attending. If you share your videos on social media, they will get great exposure because even if someone doesn’t watch the whole thing, they are likely to see a few seconds of it (hopefully just enough to intrigue your followers) and even those few seconds are good exposure. The quality of video you can shoot with your smartphone is more than enough for most things you will do so don’t think you need an expensive video camera before you can start making videos.

Click here to watch the video: Tips on How to Incorporate Video into Your Marketing Plan

What are some other things you can share videos of to garner some attention? Talk to your clients in your videos. One way to try and build your business is to let people get to know you. Don’t overshare but offer interesting snippets of your life that people will find interesting. You could share a review of a favorite restaurant, information about a local park that you frequent, a little bit about yourself, a monthly update on your local real estate market, a sneak peek of a coming soon listing or a few ideas about how to improve their curb appeal.

It’s a good idea to think about what you want to say before you start recording. Don’t be too rehearsed so that it sounds like you are reading a script but if you make a list of bullet points before you start recording, it will be much easier to stay on track and cover the things you want to share.

Keep your videos short and to the point. People are bombarded with so much information today that you have to fight for their attention and you will have to give them something they are interested in or they will move on after the first few seconds. Instagram allows videos up to 1 minute in length so that might be a good place to start if you are planning to use Instagram as one of your platforms and that doesn’t mean you can’t have shorter videos too. For many topics, 20-30 seconds is all you will need to convey your message.

There are many options you can use to create slideshow style videos to share in your marketing. Animoto is one program that is easy to use while still creating professional quality videos at an affordable price. This will allow you to drop pictures in, add text, background music and transitions, and have a video very quickly without having to invest too much time in learning a complicated program.

Before you post a video anywhere, always watch the whole thing to make sure it is okay so you don’t post something with too much background noise, that shows something personal or with quality issues like too much movement or poor focus. Using video doesn’t have to be time consuming or scary. Trial and error will teach you a lot so be open-minded and get started soon.

You can read my other real estate business blogs and get free downloads by visiting https://www.kimhughes.com/resources/real-estate-blog/

COMING SOON!

The Ultimate Expired Listing System Webinar

Are you ready to get serious about working the Expired’s in your market?  Are you ready to start building your inventory and put more money in the bank?  I bet you are!  I have been asked many of times to do a webinar for agents who struggle with the Expired Listing process, so coming in August I will be hosting a Workshop to take you through my Expired Listing System that has been a huge success for many top agents.  If you would like to be the first notified just click on the link below and you will automatically go into my private list to receive the first announcement.

YES! I WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW – SIGN ME UP!

 

Ready and motivated to organize your life?  The 90 Day Real Estate Planner is a must for any agent, broker, team leader to implement into their daily lives as it will help you become more productive, find more time and be better organized.  Get it today by visiting the 90 Day Real Estate Action Planner – use the COUPON CODE: PLAN18 to get your discount.  This special code is for a limited time only, so take advantage of this discount today and get excited about your life becoming more organized and structured.

Are you realizing you need to tighten up your business strategies?  Here at Kim Hughes & Company we are the experts when it comes to working real estate agents with start-ups, re-organizing, marketing, transaction management and so much more.  Visit us at Kim Hughes and Company to download our free Real Estate Checklist.  We will show you how to become a powerhouse agent so schedule a 20 minute complimentary call with Kim today and let’s get you organized and create some amazing strategies for your business.

Are we connected?:

Instagram: @KimHughesCoaching | #KimHughesCoaching
http://www.Facebook.com/KimHughes 
http://facebook.com/KimHughesRealEstateVirtualAssistant 
http://www.Twitter.com/KimHughes 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimhughescoaching
https://www.pinterest.com/kim_hughes/pins/

It’s summer, and you need a vacation.   As a real estate agent, you work crazy hours, always taking care of everyone else and putting yourself last.  Well, let’s change that up for a week.  Get your planner out and let’s pick a week for you to get some well-deserved downtime.  After all, the goal of a vacation is to relax, spend time with family and friends, sleep late and soak up the sun, right?   Get that beach bag, sunglasses and sunscreen ready because you are on your way to a truly relaxing vacation.

How to prepare for your time away from work is to get organized before you even leave.  You have planned your week, your destination and who is going.  Remember, just taking a week to stay home, read a book, work on some home projects, cook on the grill, binge watch your shows can also be a vacation and sometimes the best ones.  So, don’t feel like you have to take off to a destination.  But, do plan to take some time off!  You deserve it!

Watch my video – How to Prepare for an Amazing Vacation

The first thing to do is review your inventory, closings, any new business you need to organize before you leave?

Find the best agent to step in while you are gone.  If you are on a team talk to the team manager about this and if you’re a single agent decide who is the best agent to help you or talk to your broker to help you out.

Once you have that agent to cover you take them to lunch and discuss specifics on what you have going on, how to manage it, anything you see that might come up while you’re gone and then discuss compensation and any other particulars to make sure there is no miss understanding in the role they will play with your business.

If you have an assistant, talk to them about how they can help you while you are gone.  Do you need them to manage your email, voicemail, etc.?  Introduce your assistant to the agent in charge while you are gone and make sure they have each other’s contact information.

Create a vacation auto-respond email stating the dates you will be gone, who to contact in case of emergency, their email, and phone number.  Mention you will respond to email once a day if you want, but don’t feel it necessary.  Just be clear about what they can expect while you are gone.

Keep in mind your #1 priority is your current client.  You want to make sure you call and discuss the latest activity on their property, talk about what they can expect while you are on vacation, who to contact in case of emergency and any other important notes that they may need then follow that up with an email.

Then allow yourself a day before you leave to organize your business, get all the little things handled, pack your bags, etc.  You really should not work the day before vacation so you can get organized and get your brain acclimated.

Now it’s vacation time.  Enjoy your vacation, shut your brain off, and your body will thank you for taking this time off.

While on vacation make sure to stay off your phone and make sure those that are with you stay off their phone.  Organize your time wisely if you must work while on vacation by getting up an hour before everyone else or taking an hour after everyone is settled in for the night to perform necessary work tasks.  Do not work while your with family and friends.  Promise yourself you will shut down and take the time to reconnect with yourself.

One thing I do recommend is to give yourself some time alone to think about your life and where you are and what you might want to change.  Take a journal and write it down and allow yourself to think about your goals both personal and business – write them down, do some brain dumping, come up with some new ideas, etc.  You can and should take this time to reflect and plan.  It is good for the soul!

And once last tip…. allow yourself a day or two to get back on track once you return.  Allow one day to unpack, do laundry, pick up the pets, pay bills, sort through your mail, return emails, phone calls, etc.  When you plan before your vacation, prepare a little at a time so you are not stressed when you leave and to take a day to get back on track you will find your vacation did what it was supposed to do…. rejuvenate, clear your mind, enjoy your personal life and get excited about your business again.

Now get excited for some great time off from your busy work life, and I hope these tips help you truly relax and reconnect with life.

You can read my other real estate business blogs and get free downloads by visiting https://www.kimhughes.com/resources/real-estate-blog/

COMING SOON!

The Ultimate Expired Listing System Webinar

Are you ready to get serious about working the Expired’s in your market?  Are you ready to start building your inventory and put more money in the bank?  I bet you are!  I have been asked many of times to do a webinar for agents who struggle with the Expired Listing process, so coming in May I will be hosting a Workshop to take you through my Expired Listing System that has been a huge success for many top agents.  If you would like to be the first notified just click on the link below and you will automatically go into my private list to receive the first announcement.

YES! I WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW – SIGN ME UP!

 

Ready and motivated to organize your life?  The 90 Day Real Estate Planner is a must for any agent, broker, team leader to implement into their daily lives as it will help you become more productive, find more time and be better organized.  Get it today by visiting the 90 Day Real Estate Action Planner – use the COUPON CODE: PLAN18 to get your discount.  This special code is for a limited time only, so take advantage of this discount today and get excited about your life becoming more organized and structured.

*****

Are you realizing you need to tighten up your business strategies?  Here at Kim Hughes & Company we are the experts when it comes to working real estate agents with start-ups, re-organizing, marketing, transaction management and so much more.  Visit us at Kim Hughes and Company to download our free Real Estate Checklist.  We will show you how to become a powerhouse agent so schedule a 20 minute complimentary call with Kim today and let’s get you organized and create some amazing strategies for your business.

Are we connected:

Instagram: @KimHughesCoaching | #KimHughesCoaching
http://www.Facebook.com/KimHughes 
http://facebook.com/KimHughesRealEstateVirtualAssistant 
http://www.Twitter.com/KimHughes 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimhughescoaching
https://www.pinterest.com/kim_hughes/pins/