June 26, 2008
Cottonwood Chronicle
Linda Kaschmitter Joins Assist 2 Sell

Linda Kaschmitter has joined Team Assist 2 Sell.  Assist 2 Sell is a National franchise which originated in Reno Nevada in 1987.  Because of its new and unique marketing strategies it is currently one of the fastest growing discount real estate companies nationwide with over 630 offices in 44 states and Canada.  Each Assist 2 Sell offices are independently owned and operated.  All agents are members of the Lewis-Clark Association of REALTORS.  The Lewiston office has been nationally ranked in the "Top 5" producing offices for "small markets" 3 years in a row. 

Linda has been a licensed realtor for 12 years and is currently working on her Associate Broker License.  Linda along with her husband Kevin have lived in the area for most of her life.  They have 3 grown children and 7 grandchildren.  If you would like more information about Assist 2 Sell you can call the Lewiston office at 208-798-7822 or call Linda Kaschmitter at home 208-962-3672 or her cell 208-983-6771.  Check out the web site www.lewistonclarkstonhomes.com.

Taking advantage of a growing segment of the real estate market, Assist-2-Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty and Vicki L. Brubaker, a professional real estate auctioneer and agent, have teamed up. Together, they will sell homes and commercial properties listed with the Toledo and Waterville, Ohio, Assist-2-Sell offices through live real estate auctions.

"In greater Toledo, the market for residential and commercial auctions is rapidly growing. We're hoping to create more buzz around our listings and believe this trend will help us sell homes faster," say Tom and Kim Greive, owners of Assist-2-Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty.

Brubaker has been a professional auctioneer and REALTOR® for more than 20 years. Her experience includes estate auctions, car sales, private auctions, livestock, charities, farm land, commercial, farm machinery, antiques and business closeouts. She graduated with honors from the World Champion College of Auctioneering and has a master's degree in certified auctioneering. Brubaker has also won the Seneca County, Ohio, "Woman of the Year" award for women in business.

Says Brubaker, "Real estate auctions are a great opportunity for would-be homeowners to buy a house in Toledo and the surrounding areas for a great price. Auctions are also a great option for business owners who want to buy commercial property. A wide variety of real estate comes up for auction so buyers have a lot of options."     

For more information, including a schedule of upcoming auctions, call Assist-2-Sell at (866) 234-7871 or e-mail info@shop4toledohomes.com, or visit http://www.shop4toledohomes.com/. Assist-2-Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty is located at 5950 Airport Highway, Suite 12 in Toledo, and 18 North Third Street in Waterville.

Assist-2-Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty is owned by Tom and Kim Greive. The Waterville office opened in October 2004 and the Toledo office opened in August 2005. Assist-2-Sell, North America's Leading Discount Real Estate Company(SM), provides home sellers with full brokerage services for a low, flat fee, saving consumers more than $800 million in real estate commissions.[1] Home buyers also have access to a full range of services, including Assist-2-Sell's exclusive listings database. All brokers and agents are fully licensed and REALTORS®. 

[1] Savings based on statistics since Jan. 1, 2000, for all Assist-2-Sell offices in North America compared to paying six percent commission. Six percent used for comparison purposes only. Commissions may be negotiable and are not fixed by law.

Susan Jacobs and Dave Crumby, owners of Assist-2-Sell offices in Manassas, Va., and Tempe, Ariz., respectively, were featured in a recent MarketWatch article about the importance of pricing a home. 

06/08/08
MarketWatch
Making the Cut: Five signs that it is time to trim the asking price on your house
Amy Hoak

Sluggish housing markets are filled with listings that are lingering on the market, prompting many home sellers to ponder a price cut.

A seller's reality check may come after the listing produces very few showings or a prospective buyer is lost to a competing -- and lower-priced -- home down the block.

"It's a very price driven market," said Mike Golden, co-founder and co-principal of @properties, a Chicago-based real-estate brokerage. No longer are buyers letting their emotions interfere when they decide to buy a home -- they're looking for deals, he said.

Many sellers whose homes are sitting on the market without a buyer in sight had unrealistic expectations from the start, real-estate agents say. "We still have sellers who are in denial of the market and don't want to price properties where they need to," said Susan Jacobs, broker/owner of an Assist-2-Sell brokerage in Manassas, Va. Her clients are often shocked to learn how much prices have fallen.

How can sellers tell if their homes are overpriced? Look for the following signs:

1. Not enough showings
A home is likely overpriced if it doesn't get any showings in the first couple of weeks it's on the market, Jacobs said.

Even more proof a price cut is needed: people are interested enough to take information from brochure boxes in front of the home and there have been a substantial number of hits on its Web site listings but buyers still aren't scheduling showings, she said. A real-estate agent will often have access to data on how many hits an Internet listing gets.

If a home doesn't make a buyer's "showing cut," and people don't think it's worth the time, hassle or gas to deserve a look, it's likely overpriced, said Dave Crumby, broker/owner of another Assist-2-Sell brokerage in Tempe, Ariz.

"If you can't get people into your home, it's highly unlikely that it will sell," he said.

2. Some showings, but no contract
Perhaps the number of showings isn't a problem, yet there still have been no offers.

"If you're getting showings but not getting a contract, that means you're still not quite low enough," Jacobs said. "You're close, but there's so much competition out there."

Consider this guideline from Becky Flores, a real-estate agent at a San Antonio-based Keller Williams brokerage: "10 showings and no offer or two weeks with no showings, you are probably overpriced for the current market. This is true especially in this very competitive market," she said in an email.

3. Similar homes are now selling for less
In markets where the median price is falling, it's important to regularly monitor what homes are selling for, Golden said. Real-estate agents should provide clients with up-to-date information on the market to determine whether the home is still priced correctly.

"Historical data isn't quite so powerful anymore. You have to look at what is selling now, and what it is selling for," Golden said.

In Phoenix, there's a big difference between the average price for active listings and the average price for pending sales, Crumby said. Monitor pending sales daily, and make sure your home is competing well with the homes that buyers are taking action on, he added.

4. Repeated negative feedback
If buyers who do walk through the home have the same negative reactions to it, that could be another red flag that the price needs to be dropped, Jacobs said.

Buyer feedback, collected from a real-estate agent, may reveal that other houses in the same price range have updated kitchens or bathrooms and the home in question hasn't kept up with the times. To address the disparity, sellers can either remodel or cut the price.

"You can sell anything anywhere. If the price is right it will sell," Jacobs said.

5. You've cut the price, but not by enough
If a price cut is in order, don't cut by small increments. Several smaller decreases could make a seller look desperate, but a larger decrease will generate more interest, Flores said.

"A $2,000 price reduction is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Even on a $100,000 house, I'd lower by $5,000 at least, if it isn't moving," she said.

Again, a big mistake is pricing the home too high from the start, real-estate agents said.

Not only could overpricing lengthen the time on the market, but it could also cause the home to sell at a greater discount in the end, agents said. That's because prospective buyers often get the impression that there's something wrong with stale listings or, worse, buyers assume the seller is desperate and willing to accept a much lower price.

"Your first three weeks are critical -- you'll have your most showings with the most potential, qualified buyers, those that are out there waiting for something that matches their needs to come on the market," Flores said. "Don't blow it by overpricing."

In Sunday's edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, two home buyers detailed their recent home buying experience in a regular column called, "The Search."  In the article, the home buyers recognized Michele Feeley, owner and principle broker of Assist-2-Sell Buyer & Seller Realty Center, as being key to their success and instrumental in helping them find their dream home.

June 1, 2008
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SEARCH: Family goes from one dream home to another
By Marcia Killingsworth

Our house hunters:

Married for 30 years, Chicago natives Dan and Aimee Scanlan moved to Atlanta last year with their two daughters, Jessica, 19, and Molly, 14. Dan is regional manager for Tuff Shed, a provider of installed storage buildings and garages, while Aimee manages the family. Back in Chicago, Dan designed and built their dream home, so they were very particular about what they wanted in this house: an open floor plan, golf course view and a large garage, just for starters.

The process:

A mutual friend recommended Michele Feeley of Assist-2-Sell Buyer & Seller Realty Center in Newnan. Feeley introduced the Scanlans to Newnan's SummerGrove development and they loved it. Both Scanlans agree that Feeley was "just fantastic" and found them exactly what they wanted . . . no compromises required. Living in the area with a daughter Molly's age, Feeley was also able to help Aimee become familiar with the community and feel more connected. "She was a godsend," Aimee says.

Choice No. 1: With four bedrooms, three baths and two half-baths, this 2006 custom-built house was listed at $524,500. It was "to die for," Aimee says. "Beautiful craftsmanship." Dan was also impressed by the special touches that included a fully equipped media room and three laundry rooms, including one in the master bedroom closet. And it was right on a golf course, another plus.

Choice No. 2: Listed at $399,500, this four-bedroom, 3 1/2-bath ranch was just a year old, and all of its upgrades -- including granite in both the kitchen and kids' bathrooms, coffered and tray ceilings -- appealed to the Scanlans. They also loved the design that had all of the living space on one floor. The large corner lot across the street from a golf course and a three-car garage made this one hard to beat.

Choice No. 3: A view of a golf course was an advantage with this five-bedroom, four-bath house, making the already large lot seem even bigger. Built in 1996 and listed at $364,500, this house was "immaculate," Aimee says. Dan liked the layout that emphasized the view, as well as the gourmet kitchen and the office with its built-ins. This, too, had a fully equipped media room just right for teenagers . . . and dads.

Which home did they choose? The Scanlans chose No. 2. The open floor plan -- great room, kitchen and dining areas all connected, and all the bedrooms on one floor -- is "the type of living that we love," Aimee says. All the upgrades made it move-in ready. "It's exactly what we wanted," Dan agrees. In fact, it's very similar to the dream home they left in Chicago. "It's so comfortable," Dan says. "Every day when I get home from work, I walk in the door and it just feels like home."

Thanks to Sellsius Real Estate Blog for this tip.

I really don't like cell phone bills with a lot of extra charges, but sometimes I just have to call 4-1-1.  Which is why I think the launch of GOOG-411 is really cool!  If you need to find a business, dial 1-800-GOOG-411 (or 1-800-466-4411) instead of the standard 411.  Say the city and state and business name or type, and Google will connect you to your selection for free.  No extra charges on your cell phone bill!

Get more information, including a nice little video, at Google's GOOG-411 information page.

Assist-2-Sell, the leading full-service discount real estate company, is encouraged by the proposed settlement reached this week between the National Association of REALTORS® and the U.S. Department of Justice.

The settlement of allegations of anti-trust violations against NAR puts an end to a protracted battle that began in 2003.  It started when NAR, in response to pressure from REALTOR® members, passed new rules and regulations that blocked Internet-based real estate companies from accessing Multiple Listing Service data.  The DOJ filed a complaint because they believed these restrictions were not in the best interest of consumers.  This week's settlement, while proclaimed by NAR as a ‘Win-Win,' appears to give the DOJ what they wanted: Accessibility to MLS data by real estate companies who seek to do business primarily over the Internet.

Mary LaMeres-Pomin and Lyle Martin, co-founders and co-chief executive officers of Assist-2-Sell Inc., had these comments on the settlement:

"This week's proposed settlement between the National Association of REALTORS® and U.S. Department of Justice does not directly impact Assist-2-Sell because we have always had full, unrestricted access to the Multiple Listing Service.  NAR's past policies were obviously targeting online real estate brokerages.  While our business model certainly takes full advantage of the Internet, we have more than 500 ‘brick-and-mortar' offices staffed by full time brokers and agents.  We personally believe the best solution combines full-service ‘feet on the street,' in the form of experienced, knowledgeable local agents, with a discounted and more competitive fee.

"As a ‘non-traditional' real estate company that has received its fair share of opposition, we are encouraged by the broader implications of this settlement.  We believe it demonstrates that the industry is at least willing to acknowledge that how we buy and sell real estate is changing.  We hope this will encourage further innovation and wider acceptance of alternative business practices.

"Assist-2-Sell has consistently maintained that any new business model should have the opportunity to prove itself without interference in the form of rules, regulation or legislation that is intended to restrict competition.  Many companies, in an attempt to mirror the success of online insurance companies, stock brokerages and mortgage companies, have tried to implement business models that take the real estate agent out of the equation.  So far, no one has been successful-despite millions of venture capital that has been invested.  It seems the role of an agent is safe for the time being.

"Those who continue to resist change, though, will only damage the industry as a whole.  While it's true that the real estate industry has grown technologically over the last five years, despite the ongoing litigation, much more can be done.  If real estate brokers and agents want to avoid obsolescence, we must give consumers what they want: Full access to information and resources related to buying and selling homes, and the ability to choose how that information is accessed and acted upon.

"We believe NAR can do more to encourage innovation, competition and an improved consumer experience.  Thousands of REALTORS® have embraced ‘non-traditional' business models like Assist-2-Sell's.  Through them, NAR has the opportunity to better understand why more and more consumers are looking for alternative methods of buying and selling real estate.  Perhaps this knowledge will help ensure that consumers realize the true value of REALTORS®, despite further technological advancements that are sure to come our way."

LaMeres-Pomin and Martin are available for additional comments.  Assist-2-Sell also has franchise offices throughout the United States that can be made available to the media.  The owners of these offices can talk about the impact this settlement will have at a local and/or regional level.  Simply e-mail Assist-2-Sell Media Relations at ecampbell@assist2sell.com or call (760) 494-5979.

About Assist-2-Sell Inc.
Based in Reno, Nev., Assist-2-Sell was founded by Mary LaMeres-Pomin and Lyle Martin in 1987.  Their full-service discount business model caught on with consumers who were tired of paying high commissions.  Today, there are more than 500 Assist-2-Sell offices throughout the United States and Canada.  These offices provide home sellers with full brokerage services for a low, flat fee, saving consumers nationwide more than $800 million in commission.*  Home buyers also have access to a full range of services, including Assist-2-Sell's exclusive listings databases.  All brokers and agents are fully licensed and REALTORS®.  On the Net: http://www.assist2sell.com/ and http://www.a2stalk.com/.

*Savings based on statistics since January 1, 2000, for all Assist-2-Sell® offices in North America, compared to paying six percent commission.  Six percent used for comparison purposes only.  Commissions may be negotiable and are not fixed by law.

Deede Wockenfuss, co-owner of Assist-2-Sell Buyers & Sellers Best Choice in Gilbert, Ariz., was recently interviewed at length by Stephanie Armour of USA Today for an article about homeowners who may be facing foreclosure.  Deede was first quoted in the May 14 edition but was featured more fully in last weekend's edition.

May 23, 2008
USA Today
Help for mortgage holders in trouble
By Stephanie Armour

In and around Gilbert, Ariz., the mortgage crisis has hit hard. New homes sit abandoned to foreclosures, their windows broken and yards overgrown.

Deede Wockenfuss, with Assist-2-Sell, a realty brokerage, sees the fallout up close. She lives near neighborhoods with vacant homes, and her office regularly fields calls from homeowners who can no longer pay their mortgages.

"I have people saying, 'I can't afford this; I'm upside down,' " Wockenfuss says. "They can't refinance, and they can't move. They say, 'Please, tell me what to do.' "

Rising payments from adjustable-rate mortgages, mounting job losses and an epidemic of unaffordable loans have thrown more homeowners into a dire situation: They're no longer able to pay.

So what should you do if you absolutely can't pay your mortgage?

Housing experts and counselors offer a host of suggestions - from trying to reach a deal with your lender, to consulting credit counselors, to walking away without paying the mortgage, to trying to sell, to letting the bank take possession.

It can be hard for a confused homeowner to cut through a thicket of conflicting advice, some of which may be unreliable. Here's what experts recommend for homeowners at risk of being unable to make their loan payments:

Don't do nothing at all

The one thing not to do is to take an ostrich-in-the-sand approach, ignoring pleas and letters from lenders. Lack of communication with a lender will only exacerbate problems. Lenders who don't hear from delinquent mortgage holders often have to start legal action that can lead to foreclosure.

"The worst thing you can do is avoid the phone calls, letters and/or visits from your lender," Wockenfuss says. "The sure way to go into foreclosure is to not talk with your lender."

Ask your lender to help

Typically, lenders don't want a home to go into foreclosure, because it saddles them with both a house and a financial loss. Many lenders are willing to work out alternative payment plans with homeowners who have fallen slightly behind or are struggling to make payments. These steps might include lowering the mortgage rate, extending the life of the loan or letting homeowners make up missed payments through a payment plan.

"I'd call your (mortgage) service provider and say, 'What can you do?' " says Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Economy.com.

Try not to delay. Homeowners should contact their lenders as soon as they know they'll have trouble making their mortgage payments. And they should keep copies of all correspondence and a log of all the service providers they speak with.

Approach lenders with a plan

One mistake some mortgage holders make is simply to call their lenders and say they can't pay, says Joel Naroff of Naroff Economic Advisors. Instead, they should suggest a loan-modification or repayment plan.

"Approach them and say, 'This is what I can't pay,' and not just that you can't pay," Naroff says. "You have to have a suggestion - say, 'I can pay this much every month.' "

Expect the unexpected

Lenders are sometimes willing to make concessions to people who are several months behind on payments. But with foreclosures mounting, banks are facing more requests for loan modifications. As a result, some homeowners, even those who have never before failed to make a mortgage payment, might find lenders less flexible than they'd hope.

Critics have also complained that some of the aid programs aren't doing enough to make a dent in the vast number who need help. A February report by the State Foreclosure Prevention Working Group found that only seven in 10 delinquent home borrowers were on track for assistance. The report found a "large gap" between the number of homeowners needing help and the number receiving it.

Gary Blagdon of Gold Hill, Ore., who runs an auto wholesale dealership, bought a $350,000 home in 2005 with an adjustable-rate mortgage that required an initial $1,655 monthly payment. As his ARM has reset, Blagdon says he's been unable to pay the higher amount and has fallen behind on the mortgage. Recently, an appraiser valued his home at $80,000 less than what he'd paid for it.

Before his ARM reset, Blagdon says, he consistently paid his mortgage each month. Even so, his primary lender, Blagdon says, has refused to lower his interest rate despite Blagdon's promises to continue paying the monthly payment he was making when he bought the house.

"I asked them if they could work with me to get payments to what they were before," Blagdon says. "I've made, like, 20 phone calls."

Seek outside assistance

Outside assistance programs are an option. The Federal Housing Administration can help subprime borrowers who can afford the starter rate on their subprime mortgages - but not the higher payments once they adjust.

The Bush administration expects about 500,000 families to refinance into FHA-insured prime-rate mortgages by year's end. The relief plans allow the FHA to insure new, more affordable mortgages.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development can sometimes help those with FHA-secured loans (800-569-4287). The Hope Now alliance (888-995-HOPE) is another resource; it deploys counselors, servicers, investors and others to try to help at-risk homeowners remain in their homes.

Credit-counseling services report doing brisk business helping homeowners by serving as a liaison between mortgage holders and lenders in working out loan modifications. One such service, Novadebt, a non-profit based in Freehold, N.J., aids homeowners with both credit and mortgage concerns. Calls to Novadebt from people having trouble paying their mortgages have surged recently.

"We can take a bird's-eye view of their expenses," says Diane Gray, director of counseling at Novadebt.

For those who are two or more months behind on mortgages, lenders may agree to let them repay that money over a 12-month period or to refinance an ARM to a fixed rate at a lower monthly payment.

"The minute you feel overwhelmed and living paycheck to paycheck, it's worth it to call," Gray says. People "don't have to have an emergency. When they tell their story, they feel so much better."

A couple weeks ago I went to a conference in Dallas for the National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE).  It was a great opportunity to meet journalists who cover the real estate industry and to hear about the things they are covering.  As I was listening to the various speakers, I feverishly wrote down things that would make great posts on a real estate blog.

Here are some things that you (the real estate professional) can write about on your blog:

• Recent developments.  While in Dallas, we had the opportunity to learn about some really exciting projects, including the Trinity River Project and Victory Park.  If the City, developers, builders, retailers, etc. are doing something new in your town, do a series of blog posts reporting on it.  Who and what is involved?  How will it affect the local real estate market?  What do residents think about it?  Be sure to include pictures and maps and other visuals.
• HGTV's impact on the real estate market. How have your customers been affected by the real estate and home and garden shows they watch on HGTV or TLC? (Read House Lust by Daniel McGinn for a look at this topic at a national level.)
• Home Loan 101. Help homeowners and potential home buyers understand the various types of mortgages that are available to them. Point out some of the fine print they may overlook. What are some of the pros and cons of each loan type? Comment on the jumbo loan rule changes and the delay in implementation.
• Opportunistic home buyers. Look at the people who are going after bargains in the form of foreclosures and short sales. What should people consider before buying these types of real estate?
• Demographics of the various neighborhoods in your area. For example, who is living in your downtown? Families? Single professionals? Use a separate post for each area.
• Data overload. Each month, various organizations report on a variety of different data points. What does "existing home sales mean"? What about "median home price"? Help people understand what is being reported and how it can be translated locally.
• Soaring gas prices. What effect are increasing gas prices having on your local real estate market? Are fewer people moving to the suburbs because they want to avoid the commute? Point out some local resources that may help, including information about public transportation, etc.
• The tax man. Explain how real estate taxes in your area work.
• Buyers' Market. Go beyond "it's a good time to buy." Tell people who should be buying a home in this market and why. What do they need to do to prepare for buying a house?
• Trends. What types of things are home buyers in your area looking for? Talk about trends in terms of the features and amenities that are currently appealing to local home buyers.
• Baby Boomers. According to one of the speakers, more than 91 million people will retire over the next 21 years. Baby boomers are a huge market. What's going on in your area as far as this segment is concerned? What do baby boomers need to know about moving to your area? Warm weather and golf courses are no longer enough to appeal to retirees. (If you have a lot of baby boomers in your area, make sure you learn more about this very important audience!)
• Favorites. What Web sites would you recommend to your readers? Focus on Web sites that would be most useful to your target audiences. A great example is a Web site that allows people to hook up utilities in their new home.
• What is a REALTOR® anyway? The answer may seem obvious but a lot of people don't really know what a Realtor is. What makes a real estate agent a REALTOR®? Explain what you did to become a REALTOR®. Spend one post explaining what you do for your buyer customers and another directed at sellers. Make sure you point out the fact that you provide all of the services that "traditional" real estate companies provide, but for a lot less money-just make sure you're not too sales-y. This is a conversation, not an advertisement.

These are just a few ideas.  I've posted some other blog post ideas in my "Blogging" section (listed on the right hand side of the screen).  For more inspiration, look no further than the Internet, TV, radio, newspapers and magazines.  If you hear or read something that gets you thinking, take it to your blog.  (Hint: Look at the articles online that receive the most comments.  Oftentimes, these are hot topics that would make a great blog post!)

If you have some ideas of your own, please send them to me in a comment.

Michael Sinton, a real estate broker in Hamilton, N.J., has found a way to beat the slow housing market. Since implementing several new marketing programs and back office systems earlier this year, Sinton's Assist-2-Sell® office has experienced tremendous growth. The Hamilton Assist-2-Sell office is now expanding and hiring additional buyers' agents to handle the increased workload.

To expose their listings to as many potential home buyers as possible, the Hamilton Assist-2-Sell office is enhancing all of their listings on REALTOR.com® and posting video home tours on YouTube. Assist-2-Sell is also utilizing a call capture and response system, as well as a Web-based showing application, to make it easier for interested buyers to learn more about homes for sale in central New Jersey.

"For the first time since opening, we've been able to establish a strong foothold in the local real estate market. Sellers are excited about the additional exposure we can offer their homes, and buyers are responding positively as well," says Sinton, owner and principle broker of Assist-2-Sell Buyers & Sellers Edge. "The number of home buyers calling us has increased substantially. We're receiving more than 200 ‘warm' buyer leads each month."

Assist-2-Sell is now looking to add a few additional buyers' agents to help Sinton and his team better service their growing customer base. 

Says Sinton, "Assist-2-Sell is a great opportunity for real estate agents who want to spend more time with buyers and sellers, and less time looking for more business. Our agents pay no desk fees or advertising expenses, and compensation is as good as or better than what other real estate companies offer."

To learn more about Assist-2-Sell, call (609) 587-4227 or e-mail msinton@assist2sell.com. Additional information is available online at http://www.wesellcentralnj.com/. Assist-2-Sell Buyers & Sellers Edge is located at 2622 Nottingham Way in Hamilton Township.

Michael Sinton opened Assist-2-Sell Buyers & Sellers Edge in November 2005. Assist-2-Sell, North America's Leading Discount Real Estate Company(SM), provides home sellers with full brokerage services for a low, flat fee. The Hamilton office charges a low, flat fee of $3,995 for homes up to $300,000, with moderate increases for homes that list for more. Home buyers also have access to a full range of services, including Assist-2-Sell's exclusive listings database. All brokers and agents are fully licensed and REALTORS®. Each office is individually owned and operated.

My landlord slipped a note through my mail slot today and I immediately saw the potential for real estate pros.  In addition to some tips about protecting your home when you go on vacation (you know I love tip sheets!), there was a little contest.  Tenants can enter to win a professional cleaning service from Prestige Cleaning, which uses biodegradable cleaning products. 

Why not host a similar contest in your area?  Who wouldn't love to have someone else clean their home?  You can probably get a house cleaning service and/or a carpet cleaning service to donate a session.  After all, you will be advertising their services to all of your customers.  Or maybe they can offer those who don't win some sort of discount. 

Make a postcard or flyer that includes your logo and contact information, details about the contest, including a deadline for entering, and a form for them to fill out.  Let them know where they should send or drop off the entry.  Or you can help everyone save on postage by asking them to send you an e-mail to enter the contest.  Make sure you tell them to include their phone number so you can let them know if they win.

Print up the flyer, put on your tennis shoes and walk the neighborhoods you're targeting.  Put the contest flyer on each front door step with a market update.  It's a great opportunity to get in front of your potential customers.  Make sure you send the contest details to your past clients -- a nice excuse for getting back in touch!

Good luck!  Let me know how it goes.  And wish me luck... I want to win that cleaning session!