agents (48)

BPOA LogoThe Leader in BPO Automation
Software Since 2009 

HUGE News About Our New BPO AutoFill Software!!!!!!!

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We are a technology company that strives to be on the cutting-edge of all that we do and with the products that we offer. Since we invented BPO AutoFill software in 2009, we have learned a whole heck of a lot about our business, our subscribers needs, changes in the industy and have taken it all to heart.

We are SUPER proud to announce that we are starting to work on a new version of our BPO AutoFill software product. Although, we officially start work on October, 2nd 2017, this project is something that I have been working towards for years.

We anticipate releasing it very soon as we are currently in beta testing of the new, improved BPO AutoFill software and can't wait to see this dream come true!

More news to follow and we can't tell you all of the exact details just yet but know that this is going to be HUGE!!!!!!

Sincerely,

Nicole Ocean

  

BPO AUTOMATION GROUP-CLEARLY THE LEADER IN THE BPO SOFTWARE INDUSTRY!

Finish Your BPO Orders Faster With The Industry Leader Since 2009.

  

 BPO Automation Group

Phone: (360) 223-2482
E-mail: sales@bpo-automation.com
495 Grand Boulevard Suite #206

Miramar Beach, FL 32550
www.bpo-automation.com

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 All Rights Reserved, BPO Automation Group LLC, © 2009-2018

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Secrets to Real Estate Success for Newbies

Secrets to Real Estate Success for Newbies

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Getting started in real estate can be tough is almost like trying to learn a brand, new game. It comes with its very own set of special rules, laws, systems, standards and guidelines that you must learn. While you are trying to become more competitive in an already over-saturated field where everyone knows someone who is a real estate agent or broker, you must be able to figure out a way to hustle and be different than your competition.

As you try to balance your new career and all the responsibilities that come with us, the real test of success is seeing if you can really juggle everything in the air at once, keep it moving smoothly so you don’t drop any balls and come out making enough money to maintain the lifestyle that you desire.

All of this is possible and I know because I’ve “been there, done that” myself. I’ve been a new real estate agent and quickly learned how to carve out a niche for myself so that I could not only stay in real estate and keep practicing it but also to see to it that I was thriving in my career. The same is possible for you, even though nothing is promised to you, you have the same opportunities to succeed as everyone else, IF you are willing to work for it, learn how to play the game and keep up with your duties on a daily basis.

For me, I found out about a way to make supplemental my income by doing CMA types of reports for banks called, broker price opinions. It saved me in more ways than one, in fact it helped pull me out of poverty as a single Mom to a young, bright-eyed and very loveable boy. And I’ve never looked back!

I’m very vocal about the BPO industry and I’m in love with it. I live to help real estate professionals around this great nation of ours that want to also carve out a niche for themselves in their real estate business by doing BPO’s. I also live for coaching and teaching, it’s what makes me happiest at my core on a professional level.

If you are curious to learn more about anything related to BPO’s, I’d love to be your guide, your coach and hopefully someone that you look up to.

Learn more about my newly updated “Broker Price Opinion Basics 101” video course here:

http://bpo-university.com/courses.html

If you already know the basics about BPO’s then I’d like to invite you to learn more about how to double and triple your BPO income by using BPO AutoFill software here:

http://bpo-automation.com

Your BPO Coach,

Nicole Ocean

  

BPO AUTOMATION GROUP-CLEARLY THE LEADER IN THE BPO SOFTWARE INDUSTRY!

Finish Your BPO Orders Faster With The Industry Leader Since 2009.

  

 BPO Automation Group

Phone: (360) 223-2482
E-mail: sales@bpo-automation.com
495 Grand Boulevard Suite #206

Miramar Beach, FL 32550
www.bpo-automation.com

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In Florida, We're Having a Heat Wave This Winter At The Beach!

Enjoy Sizzling Savings When You Subscribe Today to Save 70% Off!

 

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Agent Testimonials

”I have been using BPOA for a few years now and couldn't be happier with the programs available from this great company. I use the AutoFill software for my business. I am able to be much more efficient and provide a much better price opinion to the companies I do work for.

Customer service is great at BPOA. The Tech staff stays on top of any changes that might occur with the various companies they support. Nicole and the gang are constantly improving and modifying the products they offer. From the owners on down, this is a great company to do business with.....“ - Mr. Robert Ceballos, Home Team Realty, Houston, TX

 

”I have been working with Nicole Ocean at BPO Automation Group for several years now and have enjoyed great success in using the automation software in my BPO business. Nicole stays on top of changes in the industry and has done an excellent job of adapting the BPO AutoFill software as needed to stay current and relevant.

In addition, the company Tech Support system is easy-to-use and staff responds in a timely manner to provide resolution to software issues and answer questions. The software is easy-to-use and the Group website (Member's site) is stable and secure and has rarely been offline in the past several years.....“ - Mr. Dana Yarbrough, Value Realty, Cordova, TN

Have Questions, Reach Us At: 360-223-2482 ext. 1

 

BPO AUTOMATION GROUP- CLEARLY THE LEADER IN THE BPO SOFTWARE INDUSTRY!

Finish Your BPO Orders Faster With The Industry Leader Since 2009.

 

 BPO Automation Group

Phone: (360) 223-2482
E-mail: sales@bpo-automation.com
495 Grand Boulevard Suite #206

Miramar Beach, FL 32550
www.bpo-automation.com

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Special Video Announcement12/14/2016

 

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 Doing Your Fannie Mae and/or Equator Orders By Hand?

There is a Better Way With AMNForms and Our 90% BPO AutoFill Software!

Watch our video announcement 

We've found the perfect way to help you automate filling in 90% of your Fannie Mae AMN BPO orders as well as Equator's BPO and MMR orders,  letting you complete data-entry in as little as 5-minutes.

 

Subscribe to our Enhanced Plus iMacros 10 product and Get 30% OFF for 1 Month*

*Click on the button below and use the coupon code: SAVE30

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P.S. When you choose to subscribe to one of our Enhanced Plus AutoFill software products, you will get 30% off of your total subscription price for 1 month (Max Value: $82.80) Other one-time fees may apply. For full offer details please call us (Offer Expires Dec. 31st, 2016). You will also need a seperate subscription to AMNForms.com to automate Fannie Mae AMN HECM forms and Equator forms.
 
Please call us with any questions you may have at: 360-223-2482 ext. 1 

  

BPO AUTOMATION GROUP- CLEARLY THE LEADER IN THE BPO SOFTWARE INDUSTRY!

Finish Your BPO Orders Faster With The Industry Leader Since 2009.

 

BPO Automation Group

Phone: (360) 223-2482
E-mail: sales@bpo-automation.com
495 Grand Boulevard Suite #206

Miramar Beach, FL 32550
www.bpo-automation.com

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Masses of Marginal Agents

As a licensed real estate broker and professional Realtor® with an operating brokerage here in Nashville TN, I have experienced my fair share of marginal agents in my time. Truth is, it seems to have gotten exceptionally bad here recently with the Nashville housing market exploding as Freddie Mac ranked us #1 in the nation last month. It seems with this real estate boom, everyone and their granny is coming out of the wood work to help you buy and sell a home for the promise of fast, easy money. Unfortunately, the majority of the agents here in Nashville are either ignorant, immoral or just plain stupid. These marginal agents account for such a great number of practicing agents that they have a very negative impact on the consumer perspective of our industry and essentially myself.

The really sad part of this never ending nightmare is that I am not the only one who sees this problem and yet, nothing is getting done about it.  Even NAR the National Association of Realtors, which is this country’s largest real estate trade group put out a report a couple years ago where they admitted to the fact that…..

“The real estate industry is saddled with a large number of part-time, untrained, unethical and or incompetent agents. This knowledge gap threatens the credibility of the industry”…NAR DANGER Report

 ….so, as you can see, you don’t have to take my word for it. This industry is broken and when your largest trade group, representing over 1 million individuals and over 14,000 local associations comes out and says things like the quote above, bet your bottom dollar, “Houston, we have a problem.”

Just this week, I had a very interesting email conversation that you might find insightful, take a gander below for yourself…..

From: John Doe, Buyer’s Agent
>> Sent: Friday, August 26, 2016 12:09 AM
>> To: JGonzalez@LHRLLC.com
>> Subject: 574 Joyce Ln
>> 
>> I have been trying to contact you regarding the listing at 574 Joyce 
>> ln. I have a client that would like to make an offer on this. I need 
>> lead base paint discl and property cond. discl. as soon as you can get 
>> it to me. I have a cash buyer and we are ready to roll.

From: Jesse Gonzalez, Seller’s Agent,

On Aug 26, 2016, at 8:01 AM,
>> Thanks for reaching out however, this is the first correspondence I 
>> have from you. Not sure why but, the first none the less.
>> 
>> As for disclosures, they can always be found in the multimedia section 
>> of the MLS. If they aren't I apologize however, I did check the MLS 
>> this morning after receiving your email and they appear to be there.
>> 
>> Some friendly advice: When in a market like Nashville, where Freddie 
>> Mac has ranked us #1 in the country and properties can be sold in 
>> hours of them hitting the market, it's not in your clients best 
>> interest for you to wait on communication, forms, or anything else for 
>> that matter before you send their offer in. Just so you know, there 
>> are no statutory or common laws, rule or procedures that would ever 
>> prevent you from submitting a client's offer immediately. Not to 
>> mention, even if there had been, you can always make your clients 
>> offer contingent on those forms, rules or procedures being completed. 
>> The lesson here is, never....absolutely never delay in sending in your 
>> clients offer...for any reason. To do so could be argued that you 
>> didn't represent your clients best interest and at the very least could be
> argued as negligent.
>> 
>> With all that being said, attached are the disclosures as requested. 

From: John Doe, Buyer’s Agent
> Sent: Friday, August 26, 2016 9:53 AM
> To: Jesse D. Gonzalez Jr <JGonzalez@LHRLLC.com>
> Subject: Re: 574 Joyce Ln

> Thank you for your intended guidance but as an experienced and highly
> trained ***** agent I am choosing to represent my buyer in a professional
> manner and we wanted to gather all the facts before making an offer. Thank
> you for emailing me the disclosures and will be sending an offer your way
> shortly. Thank you and look forward to working with you.

From: Jesse Gonzalez, Seller’s Agent,

> On Aug 26, 2016, at 10:30 AM, Jesse D. Gonzalez Jr <JGonzalez@LHRLLC.com> wrote:

> Ok....well, that's good to know however, I wonder what your client would say
> if in the name of "professionalism" and being a "*****" agent you lost the
> opportunity to get their bid in on the home. Not to mention, by doing
> so....it could be reasonably argued you were acting negligently. 

> None the less....good luck. 

Here’s the lesson that Mr. Professional Buyer’s Agent Extraordinaire “John Doe” seemed not to grasp. As a licensed agent, we have a fiduciary duty to our clients. Specifically, that means, we exercise the highest standard of care when representing their interest. It was in this buyer’s interest to get his offer to the seller as quickly as possible however, the buyer’s own agent threw up a road block in the name of his brokerage and professionalism. This road block demonstrates a serious lack of competency as to his fiduciary / legal requirements to present his clients best interest by submitting his buyer’s offer immediately. It’s important to note, his duty to get that offer to the seller immediately, supersedes any and all self-imposed or brokerage imposed internal processes, procedures or for that matter, expectations. I argue that the agent is actually negligent in his duty and opened his client to unnecessary risk this his clients offer would not have been seen and for that matter considered due to the fact that in the meantime, the seller could have been presented a competing offer and essentially make a decision and therefore, his offer would have been…at the very least, held as backup, if not flat out rejected.

Here's the sad part to all this, I am positive the buyer has no clue what his agent wasn’t doing for him and thinks he’s working with the best agent in town…..what a joke.  

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Industry Announcement • January 27, 2016
Learn More About BPOA

 

 BPOA LogoThe Leader in BPO Automation
Software Since 2009 

 Are You Working For The Companies That Matter?

Since 2009, my team and I have been very fortunate to have worked with thousands of BPO & REO professionals all over this great nation. During these last 7 years that my software company has existed, I try to do a special blog posting once a year, where I give my top 10 favorite BPO mills or companies that I recommend that people sign up with to do BPO work.

Below you will find a list of my absolute favorite companies. Know that I am using my own industry experience as well as that of many of our software subscribers.

Nicole Ocean, Founder of BPOA

Here is my Top 10:

1. Altisource

2. Proteck

3. RRR

4. Clear Capital

5. eMortgage Logic

6. BPO Fulfillment

7. Servicelink

8. Specialized Asset Management

9. Solutionstar

10. SWBC (fka: Equi-Trax)

 

Bonus: Honorable mention goes to: Single Source Property Solutions

Top BPO Portals: Res.net and Equator

 

There you go! Please note, I choose the above companies because they all have a combination of being:

  • A stable company
  • Around and in business for years
  • Able to maintain a positive reputation in the industry overall
  • Having a high volume of BPO work across the nation
  • Smart enough to have adopted the NABPOP's BPOSG
  • Seen in the industry as a good company to work for.

To wrap this up, I can guarantee that if you are signed up, with more than one of the above companies (and don't have all your "BPO eggs" in just one basket, you are more likely to be successful in this niche business)

Not Signed Up With All of the Above Companies Yet?

We've made it easy to sign up with the companies listed above in our FREE BPO Companies Directory. Click here to go there now!

I hope you enjoyed reading this posting and if you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to help. Simply post a comment below!

Warmly,

Nicole Ocean,
Founder & Owner
BPO Automation Group LLC

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 All Rights Reserved, BPO Automation Group LLC, © 2009-2016

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Hello,


This is really going to be good for home or condo sellers. Please contact me to get started and for more information.

Three reasons why to sell this spring.

Many sellers are still hesitant about putting their house up for sale. Where are prices headed? Where are interest rates headed? These are all valid questions. However, there are several reasons to sell your home sooner rather than later. Here are three of those reasons.

1. Demand is about to skyrocket

Most people realize that the housing market is hottest from April through June. The most serious buyers are well aware of this and, for that reason, come out in early spring in order to beat the heavy competition. We also have a pent-up demand as many buyers pushed off their home search this winter because of extreme weather. Sellers in markets where seasonal weather is never an issue must realize that buyers relocating to their region will increase dramatically this spring as these purchasers finally decide to escape the freezing temperatures of the winters in the north.

These buyers are ready, willing and able to buy…and are in the market right now!

2. There Is Less Competition - For Now

Housing supply always grows from the spring through the early summer. Also, there has been a growing desire for many homeowners to move as they were unable to sell over the last few years because of a negative equity situation. Homeowners have seen a return to positive equity as prices increased over the last eighteen months. Many of these homes will be coming to the market in the near future.

The choices buyers have will continue to increase over the next few months. Don’t wait until all the other potential sellers in your market put their homes up for sale.

3. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move-Up

If you are moving up to a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by approximately 4% this year and 8% by the end of 2016. If you are moving to a higher priced home, it will wind-up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait. You can also lock-in your 30 year housing expense with an interest rate at about 4.5% right now. Freddie Mac projects rates to be 5.1% by this time next year and 5.7% by the fourth quarter of 2016.

Moving up to a new home will be less expensive this spring than later this year or next year.

Stop by or contact us:

Mukilteo Executive Offices

8490 Mukilteo Speedway Suite 107

Mukilteo, WA 98275


Gerhard Swiderski  (Real Estate Designated Broker/Founder)
Phone: (206) 261-2440  FAX: 425-939-0820
GPlus-Realty
Residential, Commercial, Relocation, Lots and Land, Investment Properties, REO, Short Sales, First Time Home Buyers and Luxury Homes.

I would greatly appreciate your referrals and recommendations to your friends, family, and business colleagues; they are a substantial part of my successful business services.
Our Video

 

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New BPO Automation Forms & Features
 

This is Nicole Ocean, with BPO Automation Group!

I'd like to take just a few minutes of your time to tell you about new stuff that we've been doing. Just in case you haven't heard.....my development team and I have been busy brewing up lots of tasty, new BPO automation concoctions in the last few months.

 Call us to learn more at: 360-223-2482 ext. 1

We now offer our '5-Minute AutoFill' solutions for:

Call us today at: (360) 223-2482 ext. 2 to talk with my support team learn more about our newer add-on products, or click here to schedule your setup session right now!

Nicole Ocean

Founder & Owner

BPO Automation Group LLC

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Sometimes you have to search through the fog to find the best real estate agent you can. Here are seven key points you can look at to make sure you stand the best chance of finding that quality agent to help you sell your home. 

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  • Look at Reputation – Ask your potential agent to provide evidence of previous listings sold in the past year with contact information. Find out what the asking prices were and what the final selling price was.
  • Check the licensing – all states will issue real estate agents with a license and it is these licenses which can reveal if there were any complaints or problems with sales in the past year.
  • Go for a winning team – Awards issued by peers are worth taking a look at: if the local or state branch of the NAR has awarded your potential real estate agent with “Realtor of the Year” then it’s worth possibly considering this agent
  • Make sure an agent has the right credentials – just as doctors have specialist fields they study in, real estate agents may specialize in certain products. A doctor may be an expert in glaucoma, chiropractic or cancer but there are real estate agents that specialize in selling (or buying) condos, expensive million dollar-plus homes or luxury tower condo properties.
  • Check the experience of your agent – Finding out how long a real estate agent has been in business is important. There are two places where you can find this information online – one is the agent’s own website and the other is Realtor.com. It should say the year in which the agency was established. Be very wary of those agents that don’t reveal this information.
  • Check out the current listings – This is one sure-fire way of checking that the agent is selling the type of property you are wanting to sell (or buy). If you are selling a small one-bedroom apartment and the agent is listing million dollar plus homes then he or she may not be the agent for you.
  • Check their local Listings – By finding out the local listings, you will get a good feel of the homes the agent is selling in your district. If there are no local listings, you may have the wrong agent for you.

On a personal not, I have always found that just as important as the list above, is the potential agents personalities, professionalism and upfront honesty...even if it’s not something you want to hear. So don’t forget to see if you “click” with your new agent.

www.pamsvas.com - Real Estate REO and BPO Virtual Assistants

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If you are selling a home, your real estate agent may often tell you the something like – “we have to sell it fast, it’s in your best interests”, “get rid of this chapter of your life and start anew”. “make sure you clean your home thoroughly and give it a fresh coat of paint on the inside and out, and watch it sell like a hot cake.”

Real estate agents often recommend that you make use of a professional home stager, a person who will evaluate your home and tell you what it takes to make it appealing to potential buyers.

A recent survey has found that more than 50% of agents who work with buyers say that staging has an effect on the buyer's view of the home. It does tell us that staging is one sure-fire method to get buyers interested in at least looking at your home.

There is little doubt that decorating a home before putting it out there on the market, really does attract more buyers. Especially if the home is vacant or out dated. So the million dollar question has to be: “what if I have decorated my home but not necessarily in a way that will please a potential buyer?”

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A bad paint job is as bad as not bothering to clean or decorate your home at all. If you really want to make that sale then you should be looking at spending a bit of money. Depending on the size of your home, If you look at a home staging budget of say around $700, spent wisely, then you may very well get an extra few thousand in sales price.

If you have a larger home – say a house with 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, then expect that home staging budget to be higher but you can also expect a much higher return on the sale of your property when it closes and more immediate interest when it hits the market. The fact is you should be able to recoup costs associated with the decorating and paint work you do around the home, and most times, even more.

So make sure you at least consider your Realtor’s recommendation of home staging. It may shorten your time on the market and put more money in your pocket at closing.

PamsVAS.com - Real Estate Virtual Assistants

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Moving out of a huge house and into a property that is considerably smaller is taking off in the U.S. (as well as in many other countries) in an ever-increasing way. So why do people do it? The average floor space of the typical American home is approximately 2600 square feet, but compare that to a tiny house where the floor space can measure just 100 square feet and no more than 400 square feet, and suddenly you really are looking at a huge downsizing operation.

Put simply, the Tiny House Movement is a social networking group whose aim is to downsize the area they are living in and then broadcast their experiences in the transformation. Advantages include lower mortgage payments, less cleaning and maintenance, lower utility bills, lower taxes, environmentally friendly and simplified living.

So what is the main reason why so many people are flocking to join this new revolution in downsizing the amount of living space in their new homes? The main reason is definitely financial and the effect of the 2007 Housing Crisis still has a huge impact on the way we are all managing our money now.

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Indeed, the real estate down turn has changed the way most people live – which is hardly surprising when you consider that an average of around 50% of the income a person earns, is set aside for that roof over our head. Downsizing, even just a little, can reduce the portion of income dedicated to housing to as little as 30 per cent, thus freeing up some 20 per cent of our salary to spend on other luxury items or necessities.

Just calculate how much 20% of your take home pay is and think what you could do with that money: take an exotic vacation overseas, buy a new car, pay for your child’s university fees or just invest in a small swimming pool to go in your much smaller back yard. It’s a shocking statistic that some 76% of all Americans are living from one pay check to the next.

Another appealing statistic is that 55% of all tiny house dwelling people have more money in their saving accounts than the average American has (average savings is currently $10,800), so you can really bank on having more disposal income than the people trying to get by in their huge homes.

A Tiny House may not be for you and your family, but many people are learning to adapt, especially with all the advantages of a Tiny House.

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Are you like us? Seeing a decline in social media engagement over the last year? 

I have heard many say "why is my social media traffic slowing down, specifically Facebook?" and I have noticed the same with my pages, that I have built slowly but surely over the last 5 years.

So on one hand, I'm relieved that it's not just me, that there are others in the same boat. On the other hand, I want to know why. Well, there are certainly dozens of opinions across so many social media news sites and platforms.

There seems to be a consistent theory out there, that it's due to Facebook's algorithm changes in 2013 and 2014? So many people don't know what an algorithm change (or update) actually is. Depending on who you ask, the answers can be quite different. If you ask Google, they might say that their algorithm updates are to provide a better user experience for you and more accurate search results. Ok, maybe!

If you ask Facebook, they may actually respond in the same way. But is there more to it?...There always is more to it. Especially when Facebook's brand pages have seen a decline in reach of around 44% late last year, with their paid exposure/posts bringing in over $6 Billion.

It's been documented that Facebook Brand Pages use to bring in a reach of approximately 16% of their page fans. Heres the bad news... that number has come down last year to around 3%. What? Thats about an 80% decrease in our posts being seen by people who have actually Liked our page and Follow us there.

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We have all received those messages from Facebook about "Promoting our Posts" to increase our reach and our interactions, or even for more Likes. Have you tried paying to promote your posts? Did it work? Of course it did, because you paid to have people see your post.

Many Brand Page owners seem to be expanding their Social Media exposure to include Google+, Instagram and of course giving more attention to their Twitter accounts. 

We would like to know what your doing to spice up your social media interaction and presence. Have you see a rise in interaction on other platforms? Which ones? 

Mom always said to not put all your eggs in 1 basket, and I can't think of a better example of that old adage. 

Here is a great article that further explains some specialist's opinion on the current status and future of the big Social Media Platforms.  "Is Social Media Dying a Slow Death?"

http://enobytes.com/2015/01/05/social-media-dying-slow-death/

PamsVas - Real Estate REO Virtual Assistant Services

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One key component to becoming a successful real estate agent is to start getting better reviews and more of them. How does a realtor get the reviews they so richly deserve? To convert a potential client to sign on the dotted line, often the defining factor is whether the agent must be well liked or well reviewed.

Most of the time the job of the potential client is to find that perfect real estate agent who retains the key qualities they want to see written on a resume are local knowledge, negotiation skills, responsiveness and process expertise. If you have those four qualities then you are probably a successful agent. Successful real estate agents have such qualities and the reviews will come if you can tick five stars in those fields.

You cannot expect that review to be completed automatically. In fact, eight out of ten clients won’t bother actually writing or completing a review unless they have been specifically asked. An agent can email, text or politely call the client after the sale and request that they write a review.

I knew one agent who would specifically ask their client, face to face for a written review or recommendation when dropping off a house-warming gift after the close. That way the gift would be a constant reminder to make sure the review is completed. So dangle that carrot. It is not as if an agent is buying a review, just thanking the client for their time and effort in completing the review.

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An agent should mention reviews from a very early stage. If you leave it until the day after a sale has been completed, the client may believe there is little importance attached to it. Make the request for the client to complete one, part of your business practice.

It is also worth the time and effort for real estate agents to help clients fill in their review forms. When someone looks at a blank screen and tries to think of the words that will form their review, often there is a moment of writer’s block or difficulty in coming up with the right words. It is not OK for a real estate agent to write a review for the client, but it is fine for them to cite examples.

So get out there and start asking for those reviews. With so many real estate agent websites out there, you are sure to improve your reputation and increase those sale.

Pam’sVAS – Real Estate REO and BPO virtual Assistant Services.

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The Power of a Comparative Market Analysis When Selling Your Home

Most of the general public has access to various price lists when trying to sell an object. Online automobile databases offer average prices for used cars, auction sites can list recent sale of various electronics and even boats have a value listing guide. However, when selling a home it is better to get a comparative market analysis (CMA) from a local real estate agent or Realtor®. Here are some of the ways a CMA can help you.

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photo credit: nikcname via photopin cc

Price Trends

The most obvious benefit is the ability to see current price trends. The CMA report will list out homes that have sold in the past 12 months in your immediate area. By organizing the transactions by date it is possible to see if home prices are on the rise or falling.

Value Placed on Square Footage

Since the homes will be listed with the square footage of each home sold, potential sellers can find out how much their home is worth based on the usable square feet in the property. In addition, if any of the sold properties had a basement or attic that was finished then sellers can also determine how the market values additional square footage. While it is common for basements to have a slightly lower price per square foot some areas may place it higher than others due to demand.

Value of Accessory Items

Most people usually feel that particular features of their home will bring more value to their home than the market will warrant. For example, expensive hardwood floors, custom paint finishes and high end bathroom fixtures may be quite expensive when purchased but their overall impact on the price of a home is not as high. Instead, things that improve usable square footage, more lighting or outdoor items like pools and decks will do more to bring up the price of a home.

Expected Time of Sale

A comparative market analysis will also show when a home was listed for sale and when an offer was made on the property. This gives prospective sellers a realistic expectation for how long it will take before receiving an offer and how long it takes for the home to actually sell once the offer is accepted.

Avoiding Unrealistic Prices

Along with homes that have sold your real estate agent can also provide a list of homes that either withdrew from the market or the listing simply expired. If the home did not sell within a time period that multiple other properties sold then there are a couple of explanations. Obviously, the most common issue is the price was too high for that particular market. Another common problem is the presence of a major repair issue with the home that the seller is unwilling to fix prior to sale. Having this information should help you do a better job of picking a price for your home.

Getting a detailed CMA report from your real estate agent will provide you with the best source of realistic information to help you decide if your can sell your home for your anticipated price and if it might sell in the amount of time you had hoped for.

Original Blog Post: What's a CMA? Comparative Market Analysis

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Over the past few years, REO supply has fluctuated almost constantly. The REO Brokers/agents and suppliers who work with agencies like HomeSteps, see this everyday and understand the seasonal and demographical reasons behind these fluctuations. These REO Brokers know how to adapt and change with the low supplies of inventory.

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Many real estate agents that provide BPOs know what is entailed in the process. Many BPO agents enjoy doing BPOs and many that don’t necessarily enjoy them, but feel that it is necessary to supplement their Real Estate business and to develop relationships in the industry.

 

There are even companies that seem to offer BPO education, certification and lists of companies looking for BPO agents. Do these companies provide value for agents? Are their “Membership Fees” worth it? Have you had a good experience with such companies?

 

Here is a list we found that covers many of the different tasks when processing a BPO.

 

• BPO Preparation

• Review BPO Order

• Gather Information & Property Inspection

• Market evaluation

• Distressed Properties

• Accessing Public Records

• Contact Property Owner

• BPO Photos

• Neighborhood Inspection

• Exterior Property Inspection

• Interior Inspection

• Gross Living Area

• Room Count & GLA

• Rating a Property & Amenities

• House Types & Photo Examples

• House Styles & Photo Examples

• Roof Types & Photo Examples

• Comparables

• Comparable Standards and Guidelines

• MLS Searchs

• Adjustments

• Adjust Features

• Time Adjustments – How to appreciate and depreciate

• Determine Feature Value & Paired Sales Analysis

• Determine Appreciation or Depreciation rate

• Application of Appreciation or Depreciation rate

• Superior, Inferior & Equal Comps

• Pricing & Submissions

• Final Property Price

• Reconciliation Process

• Land Value

• BPO Form Common Fields

• Property & Amenity Rating

• Sources of Information

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Of course there are many different lists out there, and depending on the experience of different BPO agents, this list could be accurate or even lack other steps necessary. Let us know if you feel there are other steps worth mentioning.

PamsVAS

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Escrow is that bit that makes sure all is fair in love and war when you sell your home and both parties (seller and buyer) are satisfied and fairly treated during this most testing of processes. If you have ever sold a home before – or indeed purchased one – you will have been more than aware of the term "Escrow".

 

Once the contract has been signed by the seller and once the buyer has put pen to paper, he or she is legally obligated to go ahead with the purchase. Should the seller pull out of the deal and has already signed the contract they may be subject to an administration fee or penalty charge for breaking the contract.

The escrow officer will read the details of the contract and every piece of small print that details fully the sale of that property. The escrow officer can act as a peacemaker in any dispute, verify any parts of the contract that one party doesn't quite understand and generally make the entire process of selling or buying property go smoothly.

 

The escrow company will make sure the mortgage lender releases any monies at the same time as the deed is recorded so it will reflect the new ownership of the property at the same time. To ensure the transaction is complete and the sale of the home runs smoothly, the escrow officer must hire a neutral arbiter to handle the funds, documents and transfer.

 

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That third party can be the escrow company and in many states, the escrow company will handle the arbitration of the home sale by itself. You may choose which escrow company you hire to handle the sale of your property and in much the same way as you would choose a lender, a real estate agent or a solicitor to handle the different episodes that go with any property sale. Although, in the majority of Real Estate transactions, the seller typically chooses the Escrow Company.

 

An escrow company will open the process by assigning an account number or reference number that is unique to your sale. The escrow officer will collect the buyer's deposit funds and any other documents which related to the sale of the property.

 

The escrow officer can be your hand holder during the process and are their for both the buyer and seller, to explain the fine details that you may be unsure of.

PamsVAS - Real Estate Virtual Assistant Services

 

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The difference between a listing agent and a buyers agent can be confusing to some people. The listing agent works for the person or persons selling a property. The listing agent usually provides the seller with a market analysis of the surrounding area, opinion of listing price and property value and explain in detail all the fees that the seller will be required to pay, including commissions. The listing agent must evaluate all the local homes for sale that are of a similar size and style to the one they will help to sell. This will give the seller and the listing agent an estimate of value and how much a seller should list the house for.

Once the listing agreement is signed, the Listing agent can then prepare the property for showings and place the property on the MLS and major websites with photos and at the agreed upon list price. 

 

A listing agent has the real focus to sell a home and sorts through interested and prospective buyers and arrange to show them around the property and highlight all the good points about living in that particular property. Often the seller is not present while the listing agent shows prospective buyers around properties.

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The selling agent/Buyers agent will represent the buyer, who should have an idea of their pre-approved price range, and a wish list like: certain amount of bedrooms and bathrooms, location, amenities, etc. The Buyer's agent  can then sift through all the homes currently active on the mls and recommend properties that fit their buyers criteria and price range. The can then show the prospective buyer around the property in the same way the listing agent will do for the seller.

 

Before you sell your home or start looking for a home to buy, be sure you know the differences of the different types of agents, and choose the one that will represent you and your interest solely.

www.pamsvas.com

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Broker's Price Opinion is the way forward when hired sales agents use a method to calculate the selling price of a home that has been repossessed. One will usually find the need for a Broker's Price Opinion when a lender or a mortgage company thinks the expense of a property cannot be determined, therefore forcing the lender to order the BPO. It is the real estate broker that carries out the valuation.

The price that is determined from the BPO is issued in a report which can be a four or five page official document and includes key information such as:

• The neighborhood and property prices in the immediate ZIP code

• The price of similar properties in that neighborhood

• Regional market aspects

• Condition of the property

Sales trends are also taken into consideration and the BPO agent will also look at aspects like how much repair needs to be carried out on the property, whether the garden, fixtures, fittings and foundations are in disrepair and even crime figures which could lower the pricing opinion of the local area. 

A lender or a bank will hire an agent to carry out the BPO and there are a number of different reasons why they may order a BPO on a real estate property. These will include real estate owned properties where homes will have been repossessed following non-payment of monthly revenues, foreclosures, short sales, and sometimes just to double check a previous appraisal of a home's price.

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The estimated value of a property could be calculated by a real estate broker or a company that is certified to carry out a BPO. Another determining factor in BPOs is the cost it might take to get the home up to scratch and ready to sell on the normal market. A home that has been repossessed is more often than not in a state of disrepair, or it could have had the gas and electricity turned off. 

A home that has been through foreclosure may even require extensive work on the yard areas, plumbing, rewiring, fire or water damage, driveway repair or simply need modernization and redecoration carried out. These factors and costs are calculated in to the report by the real estate agent and then passed on to the financial institution, such as the bank, lending association or financial institution that has requested the BPO in the first place. 

If you are a Real Estate agent that specializes in processing BPOs, contact us about being your virtual assistant to help you process all your orders.

CONTACT US HERE for more information on helping you with your BPOs.

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Milton Wisconsin Home Sold

Lake-Lot-in-Edgerton-WI.jpg?width=300Just Sold! 1303 E Koshkonong Dr, Milton Wisconsin 53534

We are happy to announce a recent home closing in Milton, Wisconsin. Although, this bank owned home may be a tear down, the lot and location really were ideal. Being just steps away from Lake Koshkonong made this REO property a super buy, listed at just $34,650. Congratulations to our Rock Realty buyer, Keith! We can't wait to see what you do with this great lake lot in Milton!

If you are thinking of selling or buying a home in Wisconsin, our home buyer specialists would be happy to assist you. Give Rock Realty a call at 877-774-7625. We are a full service real estate brokerage.

 Madison Wisconsin MLS ListingsMadison, WI Homes for Sale

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