Background & Reputation

Start by examining their background. Do they have experience in interior design? Are they former real estate agents? Finding out what they bring to the table can help you determine if they have what it takes to make your listings look their absolute best.

Naturally, you will also want to review the company’s reputation. Asking for references from other real estate agents and home sellers is a step that can help you narrow down your search. It’s not a step you want to skip.

Stylistic Flexibility

Homes come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. The home staging services you partner with should have experience working with the types of homes that make up the majority of your listings. Whether you are selling Craftsman’s, Art Deco’s, or Georgian Colonial’s. be sure that your partner knows how to use the architectural elements to make these properties look their best so that they match the expectations of prospective buyers of those types of properties.

When considering home staging services, ask to see examples of the scenes they have designed. Look for their use of colors, the way they maximize lighting, how they position furniture to create a strong sense of space, and all the little details they tend to. Visual examples give you a good idea of their thought process and their effectiveness at creating scenes that resonate with prospective buyers. The stronger their knowledge of design principles and possibilities, the more appealing your listings will be in the eyes of prospective home buyers.

Work Ethic & Work Style

Everyone has their own way of getting the job done. You will want to choose a partner who has a work ethic and work style that you can work with. This can help minimize conflict and reduce stress as you wait for them to complete the job. The closer their work ethic and work style matches your own, the more efficient and effective the partnership will be. This translates to increased sales and greater profits for everyone.

Most importantly, you will want to make sure that the home staging service has the ability to complete the volume of work you expect to send their way. This is crucial as you don’t want to end up in a situation where the service is so backed up that you can’t get your listings out there on your schedule.

The Brass Tacks

Home staging services can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars all the way up to thousands of dollars depending on the services required and the size of the home. You will want to drill deep into the pricing of their services and what you can expect to pay for the services you typically need. Many real estate agents are able to negotiate a lower rate for these services due to the volume of business they are able to generate for the home staging service itself.

Premier Commission can help you get the most from your real estate business. We invite you to contact us to learn more about the services we offer that can help you increase your overall sales and maximize the profits from your efforts.

1. Adjust Your Pricing Accordingly

You need to stay afloat, and that means you need to consider pricing more towards the median range of comparable properties. You may even go lower and price around the lower end of the average. This will draw attention to the property and possibly bring in some interested parties.

2. Upkeep the Property and Work On Curb Appeal

Even when things are slow, aesthetics can make all the difference. Make sure to keep the property clean and maintained, inside and out. Additionally, you can try to add a little curb appeal with a few inexpensive upgrades.

• Paint the door or trim
• Put in a new or unique mailbox
• Plant a tree, flowers, or other foliage
• Keep the yard manicured
• Consider adding path lights
• Keep the windows clean
• Keep the driveway free of debris

Small things can make a big difference to someone on the fence about which home in the neighborhood will work best.

3. Embrace Flexibility in All Things

If you want to close when the market is slow, you need to show some flexibility. This isn’t just about pricing. Although, being flexible with the terms of sale can help a great deal.

If a potential buyer says they want something a certain way before they buy, then do what you can to make it happen. If you cannot, then come up with alternatives.

Offer deals, and go out of your way to see what’s possible and what isn’t. You may have to put in a little more legwork than you’re used to, but it will pay off for you in the end.

4. Keep Working On Your Business

Keep going to the office and working on your business. Take some time to do research, stay up with changes. See if you can find other paths to selling or earning funds.

The internet is your friend when things are slow. See what others are doing. You’re not the only one in a slump; another in your field may have some real relevant insight for you. If the slump took you by surprise, educating yourself a little can help you come up with a plan for the current one and future slumps to come.

5. Actively Seek Out Buyers

No matter what’s going on with the slow real estate market in your area, there are always potential buyers. If you typically sell residential homes to families, then consider other types of buyers.

For example, there are people who want places suitable to rent out, or people who make their money doing renovations and flips. Stay alert for the possibility of a sale outside of your normal circle of influence.

6. Consider a Commission Advancement

A commission advancement can give you access to cash before you close. These types of advances can make all the difference between keeping your business afloat when it’s slow, and you having to fold. A commission advance is not a loan, but rather a way to receive your cash early.

A commission advance can come in quite handy while you work on other aspects of your business during a slow buyer’s market. If you want to know more about how commission advances can work for you and your business, contact Premier Commission LLC today.

43% of buyers choose their property online, so participating in the digital revolution is no longer optional. There are a number of ways to participate in the e-commerce realty boom. By:

• Collecting and managing clients and properties online as a sole proprietorship.
• Crowdfunding property development.
• Hosting your real estate business online while your realtors work remotely.
• Flipping properties using online resources.
• Hosting auctions online.

The Information Age

Today property records are accessible by buyers and sellers alike in a matter of seconds, and an online real estate agent isn’t a necessary part of acquiring that information anymore. Since data is freely available, realtors can now work harder at translating that information in meaningful ways.

Technological breakthroughs have created a fully integrated selling experience. Every part of the process fits into the next like a puzzle piece, from outbound marketing to administration. Data analytics put incredible power into your hands, letting you see, at a glance, which areas are offering you the best returns, which you’re investing the most time in, and which property types are delivering peak success.

Web Platforms

Managing a business using online portals and the cloud is not only simpler, but more economical as well. No online real estate agent needs to limit themselves to a single geographic area. Virtual tours and online communication make it possible to snag clients shopping outside your zone. This has caused an acceleration in the industry in several ways.

• Teamwork is easy to control when office administrators can feed all assignments into a shared platform.
• Most tasks can be carried out remotely, limiting travel costs.
• All information and clientele are at your fingertips as long as you have a smartphone in reach.
• Comparisons between properties are easily achieved.

Development

If you’re an online real estate agent who previously lacked the funds to develop your own property, the internet has levelled the playing field. Pioneers in the industry are using crowdfunding to make their wildest development dreams a reality. Any realtor willing to put time into their campaigns can participate in commercial real estate markets that were once only accessible by large institutions.

Tools

Mobile applications give you a comprehensive list of properties in any area you enter. The cloud puts your files in reach from your phone. Your new contacts can be fed into an integrated client list the moment you connect with them. If there’s a task for which there is no application, you can develop or commission it yourself. Business management has never been more streamlined.

The Client-Led Realtor

Before clients could educate themselves about everything from financing to available properties from their own living rooms, it was the realtor who was in charge. The internet has changed that power balance. 99% of property buyers begin their search online, and they’re educated enough to play a proactive role in their house hunting. For those who are passionate about real estate, the internet has shifted focus to where it’s most interesting: on the property itself.

Looking for more information about online real estate agents? Contact us today at Premier Commission!

Cover the Basics

Many first time home buyers, or buyers who have not purchased a home for many years, may not be familiar with the various steps in the purchasing process. Before you ever set foot in a single house with your client, sit down and walk them through all of the nitty gritty details and make sure they understand the financial implications of what they are about to take on. For most people, owning a home is a major part of their dream, but is also the single largest purchase they will ever make. Unease with the basics at this stage will only complicate things down the road.

Prioritize Features

To ensure that your clients are looking at the right kind of houses, make sure you narrow down your search efforts to revolve around the most important features. Make a list of their top five needs in a house. Space, location, budget and storage are typically at the top of this list. Make sure that the list is prioritized so that you have a little bit of wiggle room with the least important features, whether that means that the house is located an extra mile from work, or that it has a smaller closet than they would have liked. As long as the house meets the buyer’s expectations for their primary concerns everything else can be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Dig

Once the buyer has decided on one or two houses that they are seriously considering, your job is not done. Help them do a little bit more research about the homes in question and really dig to determine if this is the right choice for them. Home buyer’s remorse often comes into play when the owner learns about traffic, troublesome neighbors, or other issues that are not normally disclosed in a home listing. Look into insurance claims and maintenance information regarding the house, ask the neighbors why the previous residents moved away and get familiar with the area.

Purchasing a home means putting down roots for young families, and creating a comfortable place to retire for older buyers. Home buyer’s remorse can keep your client from being completely happy with their purchase if they feel like they didn’t have enough information before reaching the closing table. As an agent, your job is to walk buyers through the process and give them insight based on what you have learned from previous purchases and common issues. Asking the right questions and pointing clients toward the information they need to make an informed decision will earn you a reputation as a trustworthy agent working on behalf of your clients.

Premier Commission provides commission advancements to real estate agents who need money to get their businesses off the ground. For more information about our services, visit us online or call today at 1-866-309-5582 to speak to one of our agents.

Minimize bad experience and improve client relationships with these simple guidelines:

• Pick your battles.
  Pre-screening real estate clients to determine compatibility with what you have to offer (and the personality traits you can handle) can head off difficult clients at the pass. Think of pre-screening as a job interview: Are the clients on time? Presentable? Courteous? How’s the chemistry? What are their needs? This can help uncover issues and prevent misconceptions and misunderstandings before they arise in your professional relationship with clients, helping them understand what you need from them in order to produce a mutually beneficial, successful outcome.
• Put yourself in their shoes.
  You can’t always pick your real estate clients, but you can try to understand them by putting yourself in their shoes rather than trying to convince them to see things your way. Try communicating your position through their perspective instead to better determine how you can help.
• Air it out.
  Simply listening to difficult real estate clients can work wonders in a variety of situations. In the case of concerns, let clients talk until they finish, without interrupting, to show them concerns are valid and you care. Reassure them you understand the situation, then get back to work. In the case of unreasonable desires, listening can also help you understand the true root of the issue. For instance deciphering if “a lot of space” means a large home, large property, or simply an open floor plan. Addressing the emotional nature of the home buying or selling process with this venting technique can work wonders!
• Educate
  Sometimes in difficult client situations, you simply have to build your relationship with clients through education on how buyer/agent interactions should work. In some cases, clients are not truly difficult, simply ignorant of the industry and the process. Having this knowledge sets the groundwork for changes in behavior necessary for a successful relationship – whether they stay with you or seek out another real estate professional.
• Stand your ground.
  When all else fails, don’t be afraid to remind clients why they hired you as their real estate professional: Your skills and experience, and your track record of success. Stand calmly but firmly behind your methods and decisions, and be willing to recommend difficult clients find another agent.

Nightmare real estate clients have you in a difficult financial spot? Premier Commission can help with a commission advance. Contact us today!

Homes should be repainted so that only neutrals colors are used before selling.

This myth causes more home owners and realtors to change a look that could be not only acceptable but an advantage. Some rooms look better in a bolder or gentler color than something neutral. Instead of changing the room color, you can have other color options available for people to look at. Having a bid for repainting can also make it easier for potential buyers to feel they have options and know the cost beforehand.

Remodeling projects will pay off when the home sells.

Many people expect to get their money back when it comes time to sell their home. The important thing to know is that remodeling projects are just as likely to end up being a loss as a gain. If you or your client are going to be remodeling, make sure that you don’t do it just to sell the home. When you remodel, make sure that you have time to enjoy the rewards. It is recommended that a home be up-to-date before you put it on the market, but if updates haven’t been made already, it won’t be worth it just to sell the place.

Set a price that is higher than what you want to get so that there is room to haggle.

This real estate myth is one that most people accept as true, but there are a few things you have to consider when pricing a home. If you list the house at too high a price, people will not be interested in looking at it. The longer your house is on the market also lowers the number of viewers will get because your home will be seen as less desirable, even after you drop the price. If you live in a major city or area where housing is in demand, people tend to ask for less than what they expect to get knowing that they will get multiple bids, resulting in a higher final bid.

Going green will mean that you automatically get a higher list price.

This can be true, but you have to be really careful about how much more you ask for in relation to comparable homes. If you expect people to pay too much of a difference, they are more likely to go with a comparable home and do their own conversions if they really want an environmentally-friendly home.

Don’t have holiday decorations up when the house goes on the market.

This one might be true if it is summer, but at the end or beginning of a year, decoration that is well done can be a draw. While there may be some who object to Christmas decorations just on principal (whether religious or simple erring belief in this myth), there are many more who will feel that it makes the home cozier. It helps to give them an idea of what it will look like when it is their home.

If you have any other real estate myths you would like to ask about, or if you have any questions about our commission advance process, you can contact Premier Commission today.

Advertising and Marketing Luxury Real Estate Properties

Luxury properties definitely have a target audience of affluent buyers, so expanding your advertising and marketing to several different areas is key in order to reach this small pool of potential buyers.  Advertising online, in print formats, and in other venues will greatly increase the number of people seeing the advertisement and therefore talking about it, sharing it, and spreading the word about the property.  A potential buyer may not be living in the immediate areas surrounding the property, so utilizing online advertising can help reach buyers that may live in other areas of the country or even the world.  The target audience for this type of property is going to be high-end buyers, so networking with people and companies that can help you reach this kind of audience can help you find a buyer more quickly.

Helping the Seller Set Realistic Goals for Selling Luxury Real Estate

It is your job to help your client set realistic goals when it comes to the selling price of their property and when the property is likely to sell.  An overpriced property is sure to stay on the market, and a client that is pushing to sell the property as quickly as possible may overlook important details that are crucial in the process of selling.  Because of this, agents need to be up-front with their clients and help them set realistic expectations for selling their home.  A sense of urgency can be off-putting to potential buyers who may want to take their time considering the property and it can certainly cause unnecessary tension between you and your client, ultimately drawing out the selling process.  Rushing can also make it difficult to ensure the property is enhanced for showing to potential buyers.  If the landscaping is messy or the arrangement of the house is not optimal, potential buyers will likely overlook the property and move on.

Helping the Client Explore Their Options

If a potential buyer is on the fence about purchasing the property, adding extra incentives can help “seal the deal” and move the selling process along more quickly.  Including appliances, furniture, or art pieces can be the incentive a potential buyer needs to make a final decision about purchasing a client’s property.  Also, a client might consider whether or not their property may be able to be sold as something other than a residential home.  Could the home be converted to a business or other type of building?  This may increase the likelihood of selling.

Whatever properties you are working to sell as a real estate agent, Premier Commission can help you manage your business and cash flow with a commission advance.  You no longer have to wait until closing to receive your commission, and Premier Commission can help you advance your business without waiting for a commission check.