Here is a quick video on how to view the world from a new perspective and help yourself achieve the kind of success you have always imagined through the power of positive thinking.

Chris Smith, of InmanNext, did a webinar called “I suck at Twitter, please help”. The following training is based on his webinar.

MRISTV.com examines mobile tech tools for Agents

Coldwell Banker Chevy Chase Agent, Jim Downing, tells us how he makes it rain.

2011 has been a difficult year for many, but for some REALTORS they are having the best years of their career. Coldwell Banker Chevy Chase agent Jim Downing is one of these agents. Along with his partner, Chris Suranna, they have had not only remarkable results but increased client loyalty and are on pace to smash their personal records. The following is just a representation of Jim’s thoughts about his year and how others can do what he and Chris have done…

Montgomery County, MD Housing Report

Property Sales

Problems at Settlement? Real life course of action.

It happens all the time. It’s a Friday afternoon and the lender will not have the documents ready in time for settlement. The moving truck with all your stuff is parked outside the home you are supposed to own but won’t until Monday or Tuesday the latest.

Now what?

Well, if you are doing business in the Washington DC metro area there is an important form you need to know about…

It’s GCAAR Form #1307 or the  Pre-Settlement Limited Access Addendum

What does it mean? In laymen’s terms it allows those movers to access the home to put all your stuff in it. Call it the “Mover’s Addendum” .

Now, the official language from the Greater Capital Association of Realtors says:

This addendum is to be used when a buyer desires limited access to the property for a specific purpose, which does not include occupancy (i.e.. Storing furniture, refinishing floors, installing carpet, painting, etc.). The Risk of Loss paragraph is consistent with the other GCAAR Occupancy Agreements.

This form addresses the typical concerns of a seller regarding the Buyer not completing settlement; not relinquishing the property; not completing the work commenced; damage caused to the property; damage caused to the Purchaser’s personal property; injury to the Buyer or their guests, invitees, etc., additional deposit; forfeiture of deposit and more.

I hope this is helpful!

Why MLS’ and Real Estate agents need each other

Recently, I had a meeting with the person responsible for product development at my local MLS. He was looking for some instant reaction to some of what he was working on, and whether I though agents would find the tools valuable.

I will share with you exactly what I shared with him: WOW! I was wowed by his ideas, and for me, that is not exactly an everyday occurrence.

Which poses an interesting question: why are we — the Real Estate community as a whole  — so eager to throw our MLS partners under the bus for very small mistakes and not give them the praise they so clearly deserve when they truly redefine how we do things?

Now, I am fully aware that mistakes happen. Servers can go down, and some glitches cause frustration, but when you look at the overall vastness and enormity of inventory they are responsible for, I am beginning to realize just how unbelievably fortunate we are to have these organizations.

They make everything we do possible. And now, to add to that, the products they are developing have the real potential to increase our revenue several fold.

Many of these products haven’t launched yet but what impressed me the most was these talented leaders were thinking globally, and considered these enhancements vital to agent success. Furthermore, they viewed the relationship between the agent and their organization as a partnership.

WHAM.

That hit me like a Wiggles song.

Of course it is! Why had I never seen this before.

A MLS and the agents who participate with them, are partners and we NEED them as they need us! We simply could not do our job without their effort, their people, and their innovations to the marketplace.

I know there has been a lot of talk over the last months about the brave new world of open information. I understand that there is always going to be a redefining of roles and the dissemination of statistics, data, and knowledge gained from them…but it is the partnership that makes it all possible.

I am not a lobbyist, nor do I want to play one on TV. I am, however extremely grateful that I am associated with what is considered to be the strongest and most reliable MLS in the country; it makes my job as Broker / Manager easier, and simply put, without their innovation, talent, and dedication to the partnership (the same one we sometimes express frustration with) we would be dead in the water.

And that, my friends, is fact.