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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.    

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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. 

    

If you are planning to become a homeowner this year, these three facts about fall real estate will help you make an informed decision. 

Image by Jens Neumann from Pixabay

1. Price Fluctuations  Zillow reports show that around the same time last year, there is a 4.1% increase in the median home value in the USA. With Coronavirus coming into the picture, fall may see home values drop across the board, causing a bottleneck in the housing sector. While prices are forecasted to decline, experts believe that it to be temporary, and the housing market will see a sooner increase in some areas due to the restrained demand. Given the housing situation, the question for many homebuyers remains, is it a good time to buy a home? Yes, the fall real estate market may be the perfect time to be a homeowner. 

2. Low Inventory.  The low inventory levels limit the housing market from optimizing its potential; there are not enough homes to keep up with the demand. Distinctly, new construction homes are becoming more popular and are adding to the supply of housing inventory. For homebuyers who are looking for green and energy-efficient dwellings, the new construction projects would be their best option. 

3. Low Mortgages. The Federal Reserve announced that it is going to keep the mortgage rates low for the next few years. As of August, a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage carried an interest rate of 2.94%, according to Freddie Mac. Although buyers aren't sure how long rates will remain this low, today's rates are saving homebuyers a lot of money over the life of the loans and allowing them to buy more house!

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay 

Homelight recommends listing your home as soon as possible if you are planning to sell your property within the next 24 months. If the economy comes to a significant decline, it will be more challenging to sell your home in the next 6 months versus now. Some of the buyers may have come to a halt on their home search, but those who remain financially stable would be enticed by low mortgages and more balanced market conditions. It is recommended to work with a realtor you can rely on as it is key to making the plan of selling your home to fruition. You and your realtor can have meetings using teleconferencing apps such as Zoom, FaceTime, GoToMeeting, and Skype if you are not comfortable with meeting in person. If you prefer to practice physical distancing, tapping in on technology is a great way to efficiently accomplish getting your home listed and on time. There are various virtual showing tools and applications that your realtor can use to show your home to potential buyers and restrict the physical showing of the property to the most serious buyers while taking all the extra health and safety measures. You can also use this time to declutter your home, spruce up the landscaping all while adding value to your home.