GRI 104…don’t miss it!
May 27, 2008 by Monika McGillicuddy
Filed under General training classes
From the New Hampshire Association of REALTORS….
Register Now: GRI 104 is Coming Soon!
There are still openings available for the third Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) session of 2008 — GRI 104 — scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, June 3-4, at the Holiday Inn in Concord.
GRI is a REALTOR® designation given to those who have completed 96 hours of NAR-accredited coursework in seven educational modules within a five-year period. The designation helps increase income potential, develop self-confidence, sharpen real estate skills and build a strong referral network with classmates. Ultimately, it is a designation that helps bring REALTORS® to a level where they are recognized as leaders in the industry.
The subjects of GRI 104 include How to Meet, Greet and Connect; Secrets to Top Producers; Serving the Generations; and Sales and Marketing Training, and it is the third of the seven modules to be presented this year. The sessions will be taught by seasoned instructors Jim Pugliese ABR, CRB, GRI, SRES, CSP, Monika McGillicuddy GRI, SRES and Dave Millett.
To learn more about GRI and the 2008 schedule, click here. To register, click here or call the NHAR office at 225-5549.
NOTE: For future GRI classes, discounted Holiday Inn rates are available to those who reserve a room at least three weeks in advance. Call 603-224-9534.
Mortgage Fraud
December 16, 2007 by Monika McGillicuddy
Filed under Agent tips
This is a growing problem. Especially in this market…it can happen to anyone.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS2HsaBA5No&rel=1]
Need a marketing edge…don’t miss this class!
December 3, 2007 by Monika McGillicuddy
Filed under General training classes
Consumer Centric Market & Web 2.0
3 Hour Continuing Education Credit (elective) # E1000
Understanding the impact of the changing real estate market and the
changing consumer is crucial to an agent’s successful ability
to represent the needs of their clients and customers.
Contact: Monika McGillicuddy (603) 548-7685 Date: Dec 10
Windham NH
What is a Social Network?
November 23, 2007 by Monika McGillicuddy
Filed under General training classes
I saw this on Midori Millers Blog and thought it really demonstrated the concept well.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_KF7TYKVc&rel=1]
REALTOR Ethics Workshop
November 9, 2007 by Monika McGillicuddy
Filed under General training classes
This has been a busy week training wise for me. I was hired to conduct the Vermont Association of REALTORS Ethics workshop held this past Tuesday.
It was a 6 hour training session geared to those REALTORS who serve on the Grievance and the Professional Standards committee and board of directors. It is required training so most of the attendees “had” to be there. A forced group of participants is always a challenge. My goal was to make them want to be there and do it quickly. I think I succeed!
The morning included an interactive cycle two Quadrennial Ethics class and the afternoon focused on the enforcement process. The time flew by and the verbal feedback was all excellent. I had people tell me that they didn’t expect to enjoy the class…thought it would the same ole same ole and how surprised they were that it was so good and that they learned so much.
When they take the time to wait in line simply to say thank you at the end of the program…you know you reached them.
It ended up being a great day and to top it off they asked me to come back in February to do it again.
Serving Southern New Hampshire and Rockingham County
Monika McGillicuddy Real Estate Training
http://monikamcgillicuddy.com/wordpress/
603-548-7728
FEMA Maps On-Line
October 29, 2007 by Monika McGillicuddy
Filed under General training classes
This is pretty neat.
Check out the FEMA Maps online. You can zoom in and check out an area all for free.
FEMA Maps On-Line and Maps Service Center
NHAR New Agent Training Program
October 5, 2007 by Monika McGillicuddy
Filed under Agent tips, General training classes
The New Hampshire Association of REALTORS QuickStart Program is geared towards newer agents but would be a great refresher for even the most seasoned agents. Interested in learning some of the latest web 2.0 marketing techniques as well as those tried and true methods. Real Estate 2007 is a real estate year like many have never seen before and you’ll need to take advantage of all the tips available to thrive or simply survive in this market. Besides…guess who is teaching it??? Me…
QuickStart: Last Chance for 2007
The final 2007 session of QuickStart is scheduled for Oct. 23-24 and Nov. 1-2 at the New Hampshire Association of REALTORS® office in Concord. Sign up now to reserve your space, as the program will not be offered again until March 2008.
FAQ on the NEW Agency / Non-Agency Disclosure Form
October 4, 2007 by Monika McGillicuddy
Filed under Agency Q&A
Attention NH Real Estate Agents…Important Information!
FAQ on the NEW Agency / Non-Agency Disclosure Form
As many of you know, recently the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission made changes to their Rules and Regulations. These rules went into affect on May 1 2007.
Are you using the new form? Do you understand how to use the new form?
They updated the 1. Listing agreements, you click here to see the changes>>>Listing agreement changes
2. Buyer Agency agreements>>>Buyer Agency Contract
3. Dual Agency Consent agreement>>>Dual Agency
The changes are an attempt to bring the Rules in line with the Law and the way we practice Agency in New Hampshire.
The commission also required that we ALL use only ONE agency disclosure form. One that the commission created and has approved.
CMA Tips
October 1, 2007 by Monika McGillicuddy
Filed under Agent tips
Preparing a proper market analysis is more crucial than ever. Not only do we need to worry about over pricing but under pricing as well. No one wants a home to just sit on the market and become stale or become stigmatized. All the more reason to clearly understand the guidelines behind pricing. Underpricing a home without the sellers informed consent just so it won’t sit on the market is a violation of Article 1 of the REALTOR Code of Ethics. Make sure your client clearly understands where the market is at and where their home should be priced at.
How did you come up with that price…anyway?
When preparing a Comparative Market Analysis, CMA, recently I was trying to determine a good listing price. It’s not an easy job!
I had to put more weight on the “on markets” than the “sold” comps.
Traditionally real estate agents are taught to put more weight on the “solds” when trying to establish a property value.
After all, the “solds” tell us an important story. They tell us what a property actually sold for!
Not the pie in sky hopes that the listed price usually indicates but what a buyer actually paid. Very important data for sure. And in the old days that piece of data was the most important piece.
Not anymore…
When agents prepares a CMA they usually select homes that are comparable to the subject and they rate the homes they selected.
A typical rating system is much like this;
1. Equal (=)
2. Inferior (-)
3. Superior (+)
If there are comparable homes on the market that are priced at 399,900 (-), 389,900 (+) and 384,900 (+) and they have been on the market 129, 95 and 80 days respectively.
Would it make sense to price your home higher or the same as ones that have not sold especially if they are superior or equal to your home? If you were a buyer and looked at nearly identical homes in a similar neighborhood and setting…which would you buy?
Now understand that the average sold prices indicate a value of 409,000 to 419,000…but nothing has sold in the last 4-6 months. The sold data is very old in terms of market movement.
It is very important to make sure your agent has analyzed the whole market. The Days on Market are very important.
If the average days on market “DOM” is 118 days…should a seller be panicking 60 days out without an offer? Depends on the seller and their needs.
Some questions to consider…How quick do you need to move? What is more important money or time?
Do you really need to sell? If not perhaps it would be better to wait the market out and list your home at another time.
Here in lies the dilemma.
Do you test the waters, list on the high end, play catch up and run the risk of stigmatizing your property?
Do you list below your best competition and hope your home sells first?
Do you list at a fair market price and do everything possible to make your home shine?
Only you can answer those questions. Make sure the agent you are working with understands the market and is realistic…you don’t need an unrealistic overly optimistic agent. You need sound market advice and an honest experienced REALTOR.
Pricing to sell is a must in New Hampshire.
Read everything you can, there are a lot of good New Hampshire real estate blogs full of excellent information available. Education and a good agent is the key to market success.
Read also:
Multiple Offers -A Bird in the hand
Don’t stigmatize your home by over pricing!
http://www.monikamcgillicuddytrainer.com
Customer Service…more crucial than ever!
October 1, 2007 by Monika McGillicuddy
Filed under Agent tips
Service… What does it really mean? Do you know that even the little things we do impact how others perceive us. I wrote this post this past August and it obviously impacted me… in a negative way. Real estate is very much a reputation business and your reputation is very important now more than ever. Think about the little things we do each day and how we can do them better…
How about a tip…Lady??
Sometimes I have to wonder what our society is becoming! What is it with people today?
Recently I went to a small farm stand to buy some fresh produce. When I entered, there was a young woman sitting on a tall stool behind the counter.
She neither looked up nor acknowledged my presence in any way.
I was the only customer she had and I had never been there before. We’re camping at the beach and traveling back and forth to work each day.
This place is right on my way…a place I can conveniently stop in daily to pick up fresh veggies.
I carefully selected 6 ears of fresh local corn…already imagining how they would taste after soaking in water for a few hours and then grilling them with the husks still on! Simply yummy.
Satisfied with my corn, I glanced over at the girl, she still didn’t look up. I was going to ask a question about Romain lettuce…instead I took a little red basket, put my corn in it and went to check out the fresh tomatoes.
The tomatoes were plump and looked just awesome. I knew by the feel of them that they were perfect. I added one to my basket and then since she had not yet acknowledged my presence I decided to interrupt her and to ask if she had any Romain lettuce as I couldn’t see any.
She looked up and said they only had what was out on the counter, pointing to where I was standing. Iceberg I stated…I was hoping for fresh Romain.
She then pointed to a refrigerator in the back corner of the store…“what’s in there?” she asked me...she asked me the customer what was in her refrigerator and then she immediately looked back down!
Feeling pretty stupid thinking I missed seeing the lettuce, I walked to the refrigerator. I saw a bunch of spinach…but no Romain lettuce.
The young lady at the counter…she never inquired if I found what I wanted or offered me any assistance at all. She didn’t move.
I really wanted a salad with dinner so I decided to get one of the fresh heads of iceberg lettuce instead. Not what I wanted but it would do.
When I got to the counter, she never asked about the Romain lettuce, she never even looked up as I walked up to her.
She expertly rung up my 6 ears of corn, one tomato and a head of lettuce… grand total of $5.29 cents. I handed her a 10 dollar bill and notice the large tip jar sitting by the register.
She handed me back my change…just the bills and she had to reach over the tip jar to give it to me.
The coins…she held in her other hand. She looked me square in the eye as she held open her hand with my coins in it …her hand was just above the tip jar and stayed there! She never moved it in my direction…as if to say How about a tip lady?
I was dumb struck…what did she do to deserve a tip? I know I’m talking a small amount of money here but did she give any kind of service at all? She never even smiled at me!
I wanted to lecture her on customer service but instead reached over and slowly took my change out of her hand and said thank you very much and have a nice day… she didn’t say a word.
It got me thinking about service and how we are perceived by others. Do you put a smile on your face and acknowledge people when they walk in your office? Even if you are not the “Up Agent”, if you’re busy doing something else and the receptionist is there? Do you? Do you take the time?
How do you make people feel?
How about the mortgage officer that stops by hoping to drum up business or the appraiser that might stop by needing assistance? Do you take a few seconds and make them feel welcome even if you don’t feel like it at that moment?
That young lady at the counter lost business for her boss that day…word of mouth…10 days of repeat stops ( I love fresh veggies) and if she treated me that way and expected a tip for it I have to wonder how many other people she treated the same…how much business she lost due to her lousy service?
It doesn’t take much effort to smile and be polite.
I always smile before I answer the phone…no matter what because I know people can hear my smile.
People can hear yours too…make sure you have one for them.
Jay and Monika McGillicuddy
Serving Southern New Hampshire and Rockingham County
Monika McGillicuddy Real Estate Training Website
Hampstead NH Real Estate
603-548-7728