Archive for the 'Off Topic' Category
Home Previewing Tips
November 21st, 2009
Categories:Off Topic
Here are some of the best tips we’ve gathered over the years for home buyers to use when previewing homes.
Here are the topics we will cover:
- How to do your homework
- What to bring to your appointment
- Previewing from the “Outside-In”
- Tools to download and use
Doing your Homework
It is very common for home buyers to find a home online, fall in love with it and instantly pick up the phone to make an appointment to preview the home. This type of home searching leads to home buyers seeing hundreds of homes when in reality they could have saved themselves and their Realtor a lot of time by just doing a little bit of homework.
Step 1: Google It
Lets start with Google Maps. By dropping the home address into the search box you can quickly see satellite views and street views. The street view will allow you to move along the neighborhood as if you were driving up and down the streets. This will give you a great snapshot of what the neighborhood and surrounding shopping plazas look like. From time to time the information will be a little outdated, but we’ll get to that in the next step. Read the rest of this entry »
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Weekend Cook-off!
November 20th, 2009
Categories:Off Topic
Last weekend I decided to cook a ton of food and freeze it for future meals. I’ve found this to be a really good way to always have a tasty dinner on hand that doesn’t take hours to shop for, prepare and cook. Instead all I need to do is typically toss the meal in the oven for 30 mins and I’m good to go.
Some meals go on the grill and others are cooked on the stove, just depends on what sounds good for dinner. No matter how it’s cooked it always tastes homemade.
I’ve had a few friends ask for the list of recipes, so I’ve scanned them in and uploaded them. 11.14.09 Recipes and Grocery List
The first page of the document is a shopping list. I learned very quickly when you prepare this much food it can be easy to forget an item or two or three. And since nothing drives me more insane than making additional trips to the grocery store, I make sure I get everything the first time out. So call it OCD if you will, but it pays to be prepared!
Almost all the recipes come from a series of books titled “Don’t Panic – Dinner’s in the Freezer” I included a picture of the book in the PDF along with a table that shows you how long the meals will last in the freezer. You’ll find that pretty much everything lasts about 6 months.
I also bought a new camera recently so I had some fun taking pictures of the event. Most can be found on Facebook, but I’ve included some additional photos here.
If you have any questions, just let me know.
Cheers!
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Realtors, an Educated Crowd?
June 24th, 2009
Categories:Off Topic
Is the real estate industry filled with professional, educated and experienced Realtors? Or are they just a bunch of high school dropouts?
Arizona is home to over 63,000 Realtors. Ready for another surprising statistic? According to ARMLS, just over 9,000 homes were sold in Arizona last month… which means there are 7 Realtors for every home that sold last month. Which clearly points out there are far too many Realtors in this industry and not enough of them are serious about their career Read the rest of this entry »
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ACRE Designation
June 22nd, 2009
Categories:Off Topic
Real-estate Con-sult-ant: [rē′ əl, e stā′t, kən sult′nt] – pronoun
1. Consults with you, rather than selling to you; 2. Believes Real Estate isn’t one size fits all; 3. Offers a menu of choices; 4. Customizes a plan based on your needs, goals and budget; 5. Provides complete transparency of all fees; 6. Has extensive Real Estate and Business background;
The Accredited Consultant in Real Estate (ACRE) is a designation held by the few Realtors who understand the value of their services and want to provide their customers with more options than the standard flat rate commission structure.
While other real estate agents may refer to themselves as consultants, an agent with the ACRE designation will have a firm understanding of the meaning “Consultant”. They will have a menu of services and they will offer their customer the flexibility to choose the services that fit their needs.
Contact Flinsk Real Estate for additional information regarding the consulting services offered and how you can benefit by working with a ACRE designated Realtor.
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ABR Designation
June 22nd, 2009
Categories:Off Topic
Why should you work with an Accredited Buyer’s Representative when you’re looking to buy your home?
The answer is really quite simple.
When you work with an ABR®-designated real estate professional, your interests as a buyer become the interests of your ABR®. That’s your ABR®’s business: working with buyer-clients like you to help make the home-buying experience as go as smoothly as possible.
Your ABR can help you:
- Define what you want and need in a home
- Learn about important neighborhood resources and market information
- Find the home that best meets your wants and needs
- Formulate your offer
- Develop your negotiation strategy
- Keep track of all the details throughout the entire transaction—to closing and beyond
The ABR® designation is awarded by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC), and is the only designation of its type recognized by the National Association of REALTORS®. Established in 1988 and now numbering more than 50,000 members, REBAC is the world’s largest organization of real estate professionals specializing in buyer representation. REBAC awards the industry-recognized ABR® designation to REALTORS® after meeting the education and practical requirements.
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GRI Designation
June 22nd, 2009
Categories:Off Topic
Choose a GRI!
Make it the best move of your life… use a Realtor with the GRI designation. The designation shows the Realtor has taken an additional 90 hours of comprehensive education and passed subject exams over and above what an average licensee takes and is…
- A person committed to professionally market your home
- A person trained to understand and meet your needs and goals
- A person educated to work harder and smarter
- A leader in the real estate industry
- A person DEDICATED to QUALITY SERVICE-
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Educated. Professional. Committed. Motivated. Dedicated.
The GRI REALTOR
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CRS Designation
June 22nd, 2009
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Why Use a Certified Residential Specialist?
The Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation is recognized industry-wide as the symbol of excellence in residential sales and is the highest designation awarded in the residential real estate sales industry. The most successful real estate agents are those professionals having the coveted CRS designation. The CRS designation singles an individual out as a leader in the industry. It confers upon that individual the highest level of professional achievement and recognition as the most experienced and educated in the specialized field of residential sales.
Less than 4% of all REALTORS in the U.S. have been awarded the CRS designation.
How can a CRS help me?
Every CRS has undergone a rigorous, specialized course of detailed training aimed at making residential transactions as smooth and worry free as possible
A CRS brings special qualifications to your needs:
- Membership in a local Board, State Association, and the National Association of REALTORS. Every CRS is part of a much larger network of real estate professionals.
- Successful completion of the courses leading to the Certified Residential Specialist designation, one of the most successful residential real estate education programs in the country.
- Every CRS is a real estate professional equipped with special expertise, thanks to advanced study in listing, selling, investment, tax and more.
- A history of demonstrated sales performance through the documented execution of residential sales transactions.
- Every Realtor must conform to the National Association of REALTORS code of ethics.
What this means is that when you work with a CRS, you’re working with someone who is more connected, more knowledgeable and more experienced.
What if my needs are special?
If anything about your transaction is special, seek out a specialist. It’s as simple as that. Only 4% of all REALTORS have earned the right to be called a CRS. Only 4% have developed special residential sales skills and enhanced their residential sales knowledge through study, dedication and experience.
A CRS can help you optimize your transaction by identifying better prospects, clarifying investment potential and helping you to understand the tax ramifications of your real estate transaction. It all adds up to one thing: better service.
What special qualifications does a CRS bring to my transaction?
Your trust in a CRS is well earned thanks to these distinctive credentials:
- A professional designation of residential specialty, the highest in the country
- A higher level of education in residential sales
- Professional affiliation with thousands of other real estate professionals on the local and national levels
- Up to the minute industry information, with respect to taxes, investment, legislation, and other areas of critical importance
- Local market knowledge and special residential expertise unique to your area
Put your trust in the best.
Get the job done right with the help of a
Certified Residential Specialist
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