http://www.thefitumisite.com Making Real Estate Easier For Agents Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:42:47 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Some Realtors get a little too crazy with their closing gifts.  Most have their name emblazoned on whatever it it may be.  What I like to do is inexpensive and well received. I go to the $1 store, yes the $1 store, and I buy two small garbage can or buckets.  ... http://www.thefitumisite.com/2008/04/03/simple-closing-gift/ Agents get so much information added to their knowledge base on a constant basis that we often lose parts if not all of the information within weeks. Based on the chart below I suggest that you have a X folders. Mark them Today, Friday, Wednesday, 15th and ... http://www.thefitumisite.com/2008/04/02/memory/ Business cards are an interesting subject since there are many theories which all seem to have some sound basis. Coupons on the back.  Seemed like a good idea but I didn't repurchase. Odd shaped cards Odd textured card Cards with your hours listed Cards with a "different" photo (posing on your car, next to your ... http://www.thefitumisite.com/2008/03/26/business-cards/ From a Yahoo! article today,  Try a Range Extender or Repeater - You'll find lots of hardware like this on the market. Some of it works well, some doesn't. In general, I've had the best luck with extenders when they are made by the same company who made your router. Some ... http://www.thefitumisite.com/2008/02/23/using-a-laptop-get-better-range/ Jott.com is a clever tool that allows you to use your phone as a dictation device.  Signing up is quick and easy.  Then call Jott's phone number,  say "Me" followed by a message up to 30 seconds long and you will be sent an email in a relatively short time ... http://www.thefitumisite.com/2008/02/19/what-is-jott-and-how-can-it-help/ One of the hard parts of purchasing a property for a landlord is figuring the rental price.  Unless you are intimately familiar with a neighborhood you would be relegated to the newspaper and possibly craigslist. Zilby.com will show you an area and you can sort by duplexes, apartments and single family ... http://www.thefitumisite.com/2008/02/12/help-your-landlords/ I have been busy as finally my listings are picking up. My plan was to scribble my thought on this blog while things were slow. Every agent needs to answer their phone.  I have seen plenty of agents ignore their phone because they were telling a great story.  Do your job. ... http://www.thefitumisite.com/2008/02/05/time-flies-when-you-are-working/ According to Redfin, craigslist draws more attention to your listings than any other site. I haven't had much success with craigslist finding buyers for my listings but I know it has sold homes. One almost client wanted to wait over a holiday weekend to list while he did some repairs. ... http://www.thefitumisite.com/2008/01/29/craigslist-and-real-estate/ Showingfeedback.com has increased agent responses dramatically. It is a free service that will give you a better response rate from showing agents. Typically when you call an agent they don't remember the house and you spend awhile trying to jog their memory. By then they just want you off ... http://www.thefitumisite.com/2008/01/28/getting-quality-feedback-on-your-listings/   Don't get caught improperly using the word REALTOR ®for your web domain as in this example.  Whoever controls it now is trying to sell it for $1600 hoping to find some new agent that doesn't know better.  Here are the rules: The term REALTOR® , whether used as part ... http://www.thefitumisite.com/2008/01/25/using-realtor%c2%ae-in-your-domain-address/