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For every 100 leads, on average three will require your services right now. Conversely, for that same 100 potential customers, 90 of them will want your specific services within the next seven years. Unfortunately, for most sales people, their focus is almost exclusively on finding that needle in a haystack that needs their services immediately. The truly successful sales agent uses drip marketing to remain at the top of the prospect’s mind until they are ready to complete the sale.

Fortunately, promoting automation systems allow sales specialists the ability to sustain top of mind awareness with all of their contacts. In addition, marketing and advertising automation systems are permitting individual real estate agents the ability to fully automate every aspect of their prospecting permitting REALTORS to create a completely personalized experience with their leads while moving those potential customers quickly down the sales funnel.

These marketing automation systems are expressly designed to help agents and small businesses automate every one of their prospecting and drip marketing programs which frees up time and assets to focus on getting listings and closing sales.

As a REALTOR, there are a number of marketing and advertising automation programs that may suit your needs. Two of the systems that best suit the specific needs of real estate agents and brokers are Infusionsoft or Marketo. Marketo is a bit more comprehensive, and also more expensive, but both tools are exceptional at providing you with the ability to quickly establish a complete and all-inclusive prospecting, follow up, and drip promoting system.

Both require some investment up-front to develop your messages and the entire follow-up sequence that you want your leads to go through. However, once the initial work is done, the beauty of marketing and advertising automation systems is that you can literally set it on auto-pilot and forget about it. promoting automation systems do all of the work, sending your potential customers through the sales process. You basically pick them up when it is time to close.

For small business professionals and real estate agents, these marketing and advertising systems can effectively replace many of the disparate marketing and advertising and prospecting tools commonly in use. Instead of having campaigns going with various vendors to attract prospects, you can consolidate your lead generation and prospecting into one comprehensive tool. You then basically automate the process.

Visit the Rainmaker Masters Circle to learn how to attract more leads and prospecting tools for real estate agents. The Masters Circle is a association of leading real estate agents and brokers dedicated to helping all REALTORS succeed in business. Join the Masters Circle Today

If you do not want your Condos homes houses and real estate sitting on the market with no buyer for months, the following tips may help you to sell the property sooner. If you are able to sell the property quickly, you can use the funds that are tied up in these properties for other purposes.

For the quickest sale, you will want to make sure that your price is compatible with similar properties that are being offered. Unless there is a very good reason for a person to select your property and pay a higher price, most will choose the less expensive property. In addition, if your price is completely out of range of similar properties, you will probably not even get persons that are willing to view the property.

Properties usually move quicker if they are ready for the new owner to move right in without a lot of repairs. You may consider repainting walls and cleaning floor coverings before you have your property shown. It is usually not worth the expense to replace these items as the price is not often recovered when new owners want to install floor coverings or paint to meet their own tastes.

When showing the home, you should have some basic furnishings in place, but will want to remove personal photographs and other items so that the home becomes a blank slate where the potential buyer is able to picture their own possessions and personal items as it becomes their home.

First impressions are very important. Keep the sidewalks and porches free of snow in the winter. In the summer, keep the lawn trimmed. Flower beds should be weeded and dead plants removed. Have new plants flowering in season to help the home have a great street appeal.

Even though it is more difficult to sell Condos homes houses and real estate now than at other times, a good presentation can help to speed the sale.

Article by Condos in Edmonton. To learn

Finding the “perfect” house for sale is a matter of knowing what you want. And the more specific you can be, the better your chance of success. Your real estate agent is a great resource to discuss the following points. Talking through them will help you focus your search for condos and homes.

Some locations are great for one person, but not as good for another. Where do you want to live? Do you have small children? If so, maybe you need to be within walking distance of a park or a school. Do you mind commuting to work? If yes, then perhaps you need to live close to your place of employment. A great location is a critical factor to finding your perfect home. That’s why I’ll want to talk in detail with you about your preferences in this area. And this will be our first step in focusing your search.

What features do you need? As with buying a car, houses come with certain features. Once you’ve settled on possible locations, make a list of “must-haves” (a large kitchen, a garage, etc.) and “nice-to-haves” (a first-floor laundry, a finished basement, etc.) and “don’t needs”. Ask me for my Home Wish List where you can jot down all these features and share them with your friends and family.

What do you know about the neighborhood? “Knowledge is power,” as the saying goes. You can go online and find lots of useful information about a neighborhood and even specific houses you might be considering. You’ll learn about the school system, public services, the crime rate, demographics, etc. The Chamber of Commerce is a great resource for you, and will have free visitor packets available, chock full of useful information. Another great resource is the local newspaper. Visit their website and scan some month’s worth of headlines. This will tell you all kinds of information about the health of the area.

Do you have a realtor? Is she local? It’s crucial that your realtor be very familiar with the area you’re considering. It’s also important that you feel comfortable with your realtor, since you’ll be sharing personal information like financial data with her. You can locate a local realtor online or in the phone book.

While you can learn a lot about a neighborhood online, the only way to get a real “feel” for it is to visit it in person. Any property you’re considering may look very different in person, since you’ll be seeing it in context of its surroundings. You can also learn other things about the neighborhood that pictures just can’t tell, like what traffic is like in front of the property, or is it near a highway.

What price range of home can you afford? This figure is determined through a process called “pre-approval.” It is performed by your loan officer, who then hands you a letter stating the range of prices for which you are a serious buyer. Having this letter saves you time since you’ll only be looking at homes you can afford. It also gives you leverage with sellers.

Ready to find out what is the right house for you? Consider the points above as you start your search, and you’ll be sure to know it when you see it.

About the author: Susanne Novak is a full time Columbus real estate agent who helps home owners buy properties at discounted prices. Read her blog to find and buy the best Columbus OH Homes for Sale.

“What do I need to do to buy a house?” This is the questions I get from most of my customers, when they call me the first time.

This is a very good question. It’s really hard to know all the details and steps involved in purchasing a home, if you are not involved in real estate on a daily basis – and most of you are probably not.

After working in real estate for many years, I’ve been able to distill the process down to seven basic steps. There are many fine points in addition to these steps, but these seven will get you started.

So, let’s get started:

Proof of Financing. It is crucial that you can show a prospective seller that you either already have the cash to buy a home, or that you can obtain a large enough mortgage loan. Otherwise, you should not be house hunting in the first place. A letter from your bank stating that you have sufficient funds available will suffice, as would a pre-approval letter from a lending institution. Call me if you need referrals for loan officers.

List of Requirements: Create a wish list of everything you are looking for in a home. This includes the area you want to live in, the school district, the size of the house (bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage), if you need a yard, a basement, a garage, and most importantly what price range you can afford. Once you settle on an area, drive around the subdivisions to get a good idea of the houses available. Also, write down the addresses of homes listed for sale.

Work with a Real Estate Agent. It is best to work with a full-time realtor. This will not cost you anything, by the way. Your realtor’s commission will be paid by the seller upon closing of the property. You want to find a realtor who has been successful at closing transactions in the past and who specializes in representing buyers. Beware engaging the services of someone who works in real estate as a hobby, even if it’s a family member or friend. If you don’t have a realtor yet, give me call and let’s talk.

House Hunting: Your realtor will send or email you listings that match your requirements (from the wishlist in 2.) Take a look at these listings on the internet. Most listings come with pictures, maybe even videos and digital walk-throughs. Choose the top 5 listings and ask your agent to schedule showings. When you walk through houses you may want to bring a camera and a notepad. After looking at 5 homes you may get confused about the special features each of them offers. It usually takes 5 to 15 showings (maybe 3 trips) to find a house that meets your criteria. Sometimes you will have to be a little flexible – the perfect house does not always exist in your price range and area.

Make an Offer: If you find yourself imagining your furniture in a particular home you toured, that’s a good sign that you should make an offer to buy the property. Your real estate agent will provide a standard Purchase Agreement, and help you come up with an appropriate asking price. She will also talk you through any terms of contingencies you might want to include in the offer, including necessary repairs, responsibilities for closing costs, etc. Once you sign the Agreement, your realtor will submit it to the seller’s agent.

Property Inspection: Once a contract is signed you will go back to your lender and submit the final paperwork to get you loan approved. The bank will order an appraisal, survey, and a title policy – you won’t have to worry about that. However, you should schedule a property inspection to make sure there are no hidden defects in the house. Your real estate agent can help you find an experienced inspector and schedule the inspection with the seller. A good realtor will be at the inspection with you. It usually takes 2 to 3 hours, but it’s definitely worth your time. You will learn a lot about your new home when you walk through it with the property inspector. You will get the inspection report a couple days later. Your realtor should review it with you and may recommend to ask for remedies from the seller, if there are safety concerns.

The Closing: This is the final step in your home purchase. After a successful inspection and appraisal, your agent will schedule a closing at a title company. This is where sellers and buyers meet sign all documents to finalize the transfer of the property and where you will sign the loan documents, if you get bank financing. The title company will insure that you buy the property free and clear of any liens. They will also record your deed to the home and the mortgage you sign for your lender. A typical closing takes half an hour to an hour, and your agent and your loan officer will be there to assist you with any final questions. When all is signed you will get the keys to your new house.

After all the paperwork has been signed, you’ll be handed the keys to your new home. That’s it! The whole process may be confusing at first, but an experienced realtor can guide you and make your first home purchase easy.

About the author: Susanne Novak is a full time Columbus real estate agent specializing in helping home owners buy properties at discounted prices. Her blog shows how to find and successfully purchase the best Columbus OH Homes for Sale.

Anyone in Columbus who pays a large rent check to a landlord every month should review whether or not their money would be better spent as a mortgage payment. With record low interest rates and a large selection of homes for sale, the possibility for home ownership in Columbus has never been better.

Consider the follow points before making a call to engage the services of a Columbus real estate agent.

Taxes. Monthly mortgage payments always include a portion for interest and principal on the loan. They also often include portions for taxes and insurance. Federal income tax guidelines allow homeowners to deduct all of your interest and tax payments. This provides significant tax advantages to you.

Most people simply take the standard deduction on their income tax return since it’s quicker to file that way. Taking advantage of the tax breaks that come with owning a home requires you to itemize your deductions instead. Ironically, itemizing your deductions usually saves you money, because you can also deduct many other expenses like donations, or medical and dental costs over 7.5% of your income.

Home ownership sometimes requires upfront costs, like a down payment, earnest money and closing costs. It also requires you to budget money for regular maintenance of the property, as well as the payment of property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. Still, your total monthly cost may be similar to what you’re already paying for rent.

If you are planning to stay in one place for at least five years, then home ownership is often a better choice. Studies by the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA, also known as Ginnie Mae) show that, because of tax advantages and inflation, home ownership usually becomes less expensive than renting starting in year three.

Unlike renting, home ownership provides the benefit of building wealth, or equity, over time. Real estate has always been considered a good and safe long-term investment since property values often stay steady or rise over time and in the long run weather most economic slumps. The portion of your monthly mortgage payment that goes to principal becomes the equity you own in your home. It becomes an asset you can borrow against or leverage over time and helps to build financial security for you.

What is your life style like? Do you travel constantly? Home ownership requires some stability and regular attention. If you’re not home very frequently, then it might be a better option to rent, since the landlord will then maintain the property. On the other hand, home ownership provides some intangible benefits that renting just can’t. For instance, the property is yours. You can do what you like with it and make it a reflection of who you are. You don’t need anyone’s permission. Nor do you have to depend upon a landlord to fix non-emergency problems.

Finally, for many people home ownership provides a sense of security and stability. It taps in to the great American Dream of having your own space to enjoy and develop. It provides a sense of community and belonging to a neighborhood, because you are tangibly invested in it. Renting just can’t provide this.

About the author: Susanne Novak is a long-time realtor who helps home owners buy properties at discounted prices. Her blog shows how to find the best Columbus houses and how to buy Columbus OH Homes for Sale.