Instagram Tips For Realtors!

There are over 300 million Instagrammers.

Those users share an average 30 billion (yes, billion with a big whopping B!) photos per year.

What is Instagram?  According to their page, Instagram.com,

 “Instagram is a fun and quirky way to share your life with friends through a series of pictures. Snap a photo with your mobile phone, then choose a filter to transform the image into a memory to keep around forever. We’re building Instagram to allow you to experience moments in your friends’ lives through pictures as they happen. We imagine a world more connected through photos.”

Instagram’s focus on pictures and video is PERFECT for real estate.

Create a free account today and add in your website, phone number, email and other pertinent contact info.   Make sure you add a profile picture.  The best size for this is 110×110.

Share photos daily.  Gaining followers is more likely if you are consistent.  According to our analytics, the best time to post on Instagram is weekdays between 7-8 am.

Don’t have any listings of your own to share?  Preview listings of other agents in your office and share those.  Perhaps snap a photo or two of the community pool, clubhouse, playground or entry sign.

Instagram is great for videos too!  Perhaps ask your happy customers to share what they were most pleased with while working with you and capture their response on video!  Instant video testimonials!

Check out Instagram today and see how you can take advantage of this free and easy marketing tool! Once those contracts start coming in, please keep us in mind for all you closing needs!  We appreciate the opportunity to earn your business.  Thank you for reading!

State Title Partners – “A Partner You Can Trust.”

Visit Us Online at statetitlepartners.com

 

GREAT Video for Realtors about new Dodd Frank effects

Dodd Frank for Realtors – Click Here

CFPB Loan Thresholds Raised

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is raising the loan thresholds that determine points and fees on Qualified Mortgage (QM) loans.  This change goes into effect January 1, 2015.  That’s only 19 weeks away.

Last Friday’s ruling changes the allowable charges associated with a “safe” (QM) loan.  These loan limits will be adjusted annually due to inflation, as part of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA.)

CFPB now states that points & fees must not exceed:

• 3 percent of the total loan amount for any loan greater or equal to $101,953;
• $3,059 for loans equal or greater to $61,172 but less than $101,953;
• 5 percent of the total loan amount for mortgages greater than or equal to $20,391 but less than $61,172;
• $1,020 for loans greater than or equal to $12,744 but less than $20,391; or
• 8 percent for loan amounts less than $12,744.

 

Business Building Tips for Linkedin

Business Building Tips for Linkedin, Part 1

As you know, I am a big fan of Linkedin, when it comes to business building. Linkedin is a bit different than most social media sites, in that, it remains a professional networking site, instead of the more personal feel of Facebook. It is fairly unlikely that your Linkedin connections will air all their dirty laundry and post photos of what they made for dinner. (Thank goodness!)

If you have not yet created a Linkedin profile, do so. Visit http://www.linkedin.com and join for free. If you need help with this step, contact me anytime and I will be happy to walk you through it.

The first tip is, take advantage of your headline.

Your headline is the info directly under your name. Most people’s headline reiterates their job title and company name. Did you know your headline can be anything you want? This is a great opportunity to show a bit of your personality (in a professional manner, of course) while showcasing your skills and areas of expertise.

Not sure what to write? Take a moment and identify your perfect customer. Now imagine what things that customer might be looking for in their real estate industry professional. Last but not least, find a creative way to describe yourself as that person. Honesty and uniqueness are key.

Using this easy tip will boost your Linkedin rankings and help your profile get attention from would-be clients, employers and affiliates.

Stacey Hammer
Client Services Director
State Title Partners
(321)728-3836 Office
(800)806-7641 Fax
(877)818-9002 Toll Free
stacey@statetitlepartners.net Email

Successful Real Estate Closings Start Here

START:

FINISH:

State Title Partners offers honest, professional real estate closing services to Realtors, Builders, Investors, For Sale By Owners, Lenders, Buyers and Sellers.

It sometimes seems like today’s business people are sacrificing their principals and professionalism for social trends and convenience.

At State Title Partners, we believe that old fashioned service and professionalism, never goes out of style. By combining the latest tools with “old school” integrity, we offer the exceptional service our clients deserve.

20,000 Closings Can’t Be Wrong.

Contact State Title Partners today. Brevard’s #1 Title Company!

(321)728-3836 Office
(877)818-9002 Toll Free
stacey@statetitlepartners.net

Want More Referrals? Just Ask.

When selecting a person or Company to do business with, we all prefer to use someone we know.

If we don’t personally know anyone, the next best option, is someone who has been recommended to us by a friend, family member or colleague. These personal recommendations carry much more weight than say, contacting someone cold from a webpage or ad.

We all know this. Or should. This type of common sense training should be taught on Day 1 of our sales careers and we should be reminded of it often.

So how do we get referrals? Sure there are many methods; postcards, holiday greetings, networking.

There is one method, however, that trumps them all. Hands down. Bar none. The best. Are you ready? Ok, write this down…….

Ask for them.

That’s right. By simply asking the people in your circle to send you business, you increase your referrals by an estimated 55%.

“Great!” you say, but how?

It’s really much easier than you think.

First of all, the easiest way to get referrals is to send them yourself. Remember to connect your client’s with others in your circle who can provide the services they need. This is a win-win for everyone involved.

When someone praises your work, take that opportunity to say “I appreciate that. I work hard for all my clients so please keep me in mind for friends and family who might need my services.”

When the people in your circle ask you how business is going, be sure to capitalize on this opportunity by reminding them that you would love their referrals. “Business is great but I can always use more. Please keep me in mind if you hear of someone who is looking to (insert your business services here.) Do you know of anyone currently?”

The bottom line is, remember to ask for referrals and business. You are not being pushy by casually reminding those in your sphere of influence that you are good at what you do and are open to new opportunities.

By the way, do you know anyone looking for a fantastic Title Company to handle their next real estate closing? Please send them our way!

State Title Partners
300 W. Fee Avenue
Suite B
Melbourne, FL 32901
(321)728-3836 Phone
(800)803-7641 Fax
(877)818-9002 Toll Free
stacey@statetitlepartners.net

The Year Is Halfway Over!

 2014 is half over!  Have you met your production goals?

We are proud to be the #1 Title Company in South Brevard.

Realtor, Builder and Lender referrals are essential to our success.

We strive, everyday, to live up to our declaration that we are  “A Partner You Can Trust.”

It’s not too late to make your goals a reality.  Follow these steps to get back on track or boost your 2014 results:

1.  Get Moving!  You’ve heard the old saying “A body in motion stays in motion” and this is true.   This rule applies not only to our physical state but our mental one, as well.

Professor Tim Pyschyl, procrastination expert says:

“Just get started … Once we start, our attributions of the task change. Based on other research, we know that our attributions about ourselves change too. First, once we get started … we perceive the task as much less aversive than we do when we’re avoiding it. Second, even if we don’t finish the task, we have done something, and the next day our attributions about [ourself] are not nearly as negative. We feel more in control and more optimistic. You might even say we have a little momentum.”

2.  Make Specific Plans.  Don’t just say “I will do prospecting each week.”  Be more specific.  Instead commit to doing prospecting on set days at set times and stick to it!  Add your new schedule to your Google Calendar and set a reminder and alarm.   You’re far more likely to stick with it if you bug yourself a bit and have a concrete agenda.  One of my favorite quotes states “The difference between a goal and a dream is a deadline.”  Give yourself a deadline.

3.  Strategize.   An “implementation intention” supports a goal intention by setting out in advance when/where and how you will achieve a goal.  Goals state what you want to achieve (write a novel), implementation intentions layout the behaviors you intend to take and the when/where/what of your goal (when the alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m. I will make a bathroom visit, get my coffee, and then sit down and write for an hour).

4.  Hide!  Lock your door, mute your phone and commit to focusing solely on the goal at hand, during the time you’ve scheduled.  If you intend to call 5 past customers per day, from 9:00 to 10:00 am, make yourself unavailable to any other distractions during that time period.

5.  Tell people.  When you share your goals and intentions with others, it holds you accountable and gives more weight to your strategy.  Telling a friend, family member or colleague about your specific plans, makes it much harder to fail.  Be sure to proclaim “I can do this!” when you reveal your plan of attack.

6.  Never Give Up!  Thomas Edison once said “I haven’t failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”  Each time you run into an obstacle, remember that you are one step closer to success.  If you want something you’ve never had, you must do things you’ve never done so don’t be afraid of setbacks!  They are an integral part of succeeding!

 

 

Stacey Hammer

Client Services Director

State Title Partners, LLP

300 W. Fee Avenue, Suite B

Melbourne, FL 32901

(321)728-3836 Office

(321)508-5224 Cell/Text

stacey@statetitlepartners.net  Email