The real estate game has gone tougher this year with the low inventory and homes selling fast like hotcakes (for about 20-40% above the asking price!). It's no doubt a seller's market this year and agents commonly go through a bidding war given the low supply and the high demand. We have new agents who just boarded the ship and they may find the business in a hardscrabble season; so to keep them, and the tenured realtors motivated we researched for top tips on how to help our buyer clients around the current seller's market. Realtor Magazine published in April the article, " and we picked out 3 as our top best practices to keep in mind. 

1. Stay on top of your game. Clients no matter what the current market is will always want the best agent to represent them. Your expertise and experience will play a big role to stay competitive for them. Keeping tabs on new listings, and being proactive and consistent in communicating with your clients are your keys to success.

2. What can you do to sweeten the deal? Run the extra mile, add value by doing something to make your client's offer stand out. Google and adapt proven strategies that will help your clients win.

3. Get creative with your long game. Build your network, establish a relationship with the businesses in your community, and be involved with business organizations. We recommend cultivating an exclusive relationship with builders. With new construction homes on the rise, you can help builders create highly desirable homes that meet your clients' needs by acting as a link between the expectations you gather from home buyers and the features builders are including in their homes.

This article originally appeared in the Realtor Magazine, April 2021, 6 Tips for Guiding Buyers in a Seller’s Market

According to the NAR Member Profile highlights 2020, 64% of all realtors were women and nationwide they dominate the residential real estate market. Women have come so far in terms of making a house more than just a HOME. On International Women's Day, we are celebrating the women in real estate and their contributions to the community they serve. Scott Realty Professionals is also proud to feature its broker/owner, Sabriya Scott, and her journey to becoming a realtor, from styling hair to selling homes, and to helping young women realize their dream of having financial stability by getting into real estate. 

In an interview with The Headley Group Real Estate Show, Mike Headley asked, "What made Sabriya Scott say, I want to get into real estate?"

"I could do ten heads in one day and I could only make a certain amount of money. And I work really hard with doing hair, styling hair, and also with teaching. You know, I would work 40, 45, 50 hours because I had to after I left teaching school. It didn't matter how many degrees I got, I still could only make a certain amount of money.....so when I looked at all the time that I was spending styling hair also after work, after teaching, I still could only make a certain amount of money and it wouldn't put me where I needed to be financially" Sabriya answered.

Watch the full interview here and get to know more about Sabriya Scott and how she made it to where she is right now in real estate.

Image from Canva

Images, videos, and music make our marketing campaigns fun and engaging. The internet offers plenty of sources for these for our convenience. Before we decide to use any image, video, and music for our branding, we have to make sure we do not infringe an owner's copyright. NAR released on December 1st, 2020 a short video of risk management points to keep in mind to prevent future lawsuits and to avoid costly mistakes. So, before you play that funky music (live or recorded) at your next open house, make sure to secure a performing rights license.

Watch the video to learn more:  Window to the Law: Using Images and Music in Your Business

Image by Barry D from Pixabay

Getting the trust of sellers and buyers to do real estate business with us starts the realtor-client relationship. Adding a wow-factor takes that relationship to a whole new level. Having a piece of in-depth knowledge on the real estate tools is crucial to make our business be ahead of the game. Going out to show properties takes about 80% of our time as realtors, and if there is one tool that will make a showing appointment, feedback, and report generation easy, that will be ShowingTime that is provided by many Multi-List Services. Here are the top three reasons why realtors should use ShowingTime.

1. ShowingTime ensures that no showing request goes unfulfilled, meaning more showings and a higher chance of getting the home sold promptly. 
2. Listing agents set showing rules and restrictions on their listings for simple showing scheduling, blocking off dates and times. The "Go and Show/Courtesy Call" allow agents to schedule showings at any time without confirmation - this type of appointment setting receives nearly 30 percent more showings.
3. The system emails all agents that scheduled appointments to show your listings for a less than quick 30-second feedback questionnaire that can be shared directly with the seller with 1 click. This saves agents time and money because the listing agent doesn't have to call agents back multiple times to try to get feedback for sellers.    

Image by Reshot

2020 is a bit hellacious, but it doesn't and shouldn't stop us from spreading holiday cheers - virtually, that is. Here are our Top 3 Gift Giving Tips for this year's holiday season.

1. Shop online and ship swiftly and early. Technology and e-commerce have made it easy and convenient for busy people to still personally shop for their loved ones without having to step into the stores. For realtors, buying presents from a local business in your community and having them send the gifts to family, friends, and clients is a way to support the local economy and fostering a stronger relationship with the community and your client network.

2. Re-imagine the old fashioned. The pandemic forced creativity in many people in terms of social gathering. Topping the list is using Zoom for work and personal events. Zoom party, anyone? However, if you choose not to go this route this holiday season, a curbside drop-off, a honk of the horn and wave, or an arranged short and sweet personal greeting would be great options too. 

3. Get creative with whatever budget you have. An expensive present will definitely wow the receiver, but what will stand out is the gift wrapped in a lot of thought and love.