Friday Facts January 28, 2011

FRIDAY FACTS
January 28, 2011

RISMedia has an article by Chip Poli on 4 Tips to Ensure a Smooth Real Estate Transaction:
1. Have your client check their credit score to make sure they meet minimum requirements. Don’t waste your time showing homes to someone who can’t buyer them.
2. Have your client obtain a pre-approval
3. Make sure your client has set aside enough cash for closing
4. Your client should be prepared to pay closing costs unless they qualify for a no points, no closing costs loan.

§ Here’s an interesting response from Tara-Nicholle Nelson in Inman News to a seller complaining that her agent didn’t show their home to her own buyers, just to other agents with their clients. “You seem to be operating under the impression that your agents primary job is to personally procure buyers and show them your home herself. In fact, your agent’s primary job is to market the property, not just or even primarily to buyers, but to buyer’s brokers.”

§ Carl White, Chief Strategist for MortgageMarketingAnimals.com offers a simple 10 work email that will revive dead deals from months past for real estate agents:
Subject Line: A quick question for you
Email Body: “Are you still looking to buy a home on Cape Cod?”
He says that you may be tempted to add to this email, but don’t. It has three things going for it: It’s short, it’s personalized, and it’s expecting a response.

Here’s something to think about from a RealTrends blog: Jim Rohn’s philosophy on wealth – if you make a sale, you make a living. If you make an investment of time and good service in a client, you can make a fortune.

A new columnist for Inman News, Ken Harney wrote an article noting that the Obama administration is working on an energy scoring program for houses. They will shortly begin pilot tests of energy rating disclosures in 10 real estate markets across the country. Home sellers in France must provide their energy consumption rating scores to any interested buyer and as of January 1st, have to include their ratings in all ads whether online or in print, and at the real estate office..