Summer and hot weather are right around the corner, which means: it's time to prepare your home for fire season. Smart fire prevention cannot only protect your home -- it can save your life. Here are helpful tips to help you prepare for the upcoming fire season. Install and test smoke alarms Smoke alarms can detect smoldering and flaming fires so be sure to install them on every level of your home and outside each sleeping area. Test them each month and replace the batteries at least once a year. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years, according to American Red Cross. Check your fire extinguishers Consider keeping a fire extinguisher in your home. It should be installed high on the wall, near an exit, and away from children and all heat sources. American Red Cross … [Read more...] about Preparing Your Home for Fire Season
Top 5 Books Every Real Estate Agent Should Read
Looking to become a better agent and master your craft? We've narrowed down the mass array of real estate books out there to our top 5 because let's face it -- between juggling transactions, clients, marketing, and "me time", agents have enough on their plate. These 5 books cover everything you need to know: personal branding, social media, communication, selling, and mindset. Here they are: 1) #GetSocialSmart: How to Hone Your Social Media Strategy Author: Katie Lance (2017) Social media is essential for agents to build brand awareness and engage clients and potential leads. Learn how to create a smart social media strategy from Katie Lance, CEO of Katie Lance Consulting. With more than 15 years of marketing and branding experience, she'll teach you the ins and outs of Facebook, Twitter, … [Read more...] about Top 5 Books Every Real Estate Agent Should Read
Patios to Pergolas: Give Your Backyard a Facelift
It's time to give your backyard a facelift! From patios to pergolas, you can transform your outdoor space into a charming oasis. Get back to spending time outside with family this summer with our favorite outdoor design ideas. Outdoor Great Room Photo courtesy of HGTV An arched pergola with bistro lights creates the perfect area for entertaining on warm summer nights. Pergolas have a flexible design, allowing you to truly customize it and bring your imagination to life. This pergola stands on its own, creating an enchanting escape separated from the home. Patio-Pergola Pleasure Photo courtesy of DIY Network This patio-pergola duo beautifully accents the home by staying consistent with the color scheme of the home's exterior. The relaxing seating area right … [Read more...] about Patios to Pergolas: Give Your Backyard a Facelift
When is the Best Time to Buy Appliances?
Who knew there was a "best" time to buy appliances? Well, it's true, folks. The saying "timing is everything" applies to buying dishwashers, refrigerators, dryers, and other appliances for your home. If you don't need a new appliance right away and can play the waiting game, you can score some serious deals. So when is the best time to buy appliances? There's more than one answer. End of the month This is the perfect time to hunt for bargains. Stores have to meet quotas and are more likely to reduce prices toward the end of the month. This opens the gates to negotiation -- if a retailer is trying to meet their sales goal, they'll be more likely to discuss adjusting the price with you. Holidays Holidays are great for big savings. Our inboxes overflow with … [Read more...] about When is the Best Time to Buy Appliances?
Top Apps for Today’s Open House
When hosting an open house, you want to have the best technology in your hand to make the process go smoothly. By using today's top apps for open houses, you can focus on what really matters: showcasing your brand and meeting potential clients. Here are the top apps to help you run a successful open house. 1) Open House Toolkit Designed by an active real estate broker, Open House Toolkit allows you to send reports to sellers and 'thank yous' to open house attendees in under 30 seconds. Now that's fast. Features include: Data management with the ability to download every lead to a .CSV file and save into your preferred CRM (customer retention manager) Fast event setup for new listings with questions, links, and photos Leads stay organized with sign-in information … [Read more...] about Top Apps for Today’s Open House