5 Tips to Market Yourself Effectively   By Paige TeppingRISMEDIA, May 29, 2010--Marketing yourself to prospective buyers and sellers is a crucial part to finding success in the real estate business. If you're having trouble reaching out to new buyers and sellers in addition to staying top of mind to your sphere of influence, real estate agent Steve Cook offers the following tips to help you market yourself more effectively. Direct mail - High gloss, customizable postcards are a great way to stay in front of your prospects. It is crucial to reach out to your prospects on a regular basis and to promote different real estate offers with each mailing. It is also important to direct your prospects to visit your website for additional information. Branded e-Tools - Create various e-mail distr... 05/29/2010

The Biggest Mistake Real Estate Agents Make And How You Can Avoid It   By Dr. Maya BaileyRISMEDIA, May 29, 2010-- THE BIG MISTAKE: "The economy is so slow and I don't even know where my next sale is coming from." How often have you heard someone say that when business is down and the economy is questionable? It seems logical, doesn't it, to tighten your purse strings?"Wait! Are you suggesting that I should invest in my business now?"Even though it seems logical to tighten up and constrict spending, this is actually based on a "scarcity" mindset. In a scarcity mindset you focus on lack in your business, and on lack in economy.The result is a constriction in the flow of energy to your business. In fact, when you focus your thoughts on lack in your business, you have a problem even before ... 05/29/2010

Tips on How to Fix Your House Up to Sell  By Paige TeppingRISMEDIA, May 27, 2010--With the summer buying and selling season just around the corner, now is the time to think about how you can create a lasting first impression with potential buyers. Here are 8 simple tips that will help your home stand out from the crowd. Open the drapes and blinds. Sunshine is the world's best decorator and nothing is more depressing than walking into a home where shades, curtains and drapes are closed. Wash the windows - inside and out. For the same reasons as above, no other small improvement will give you more bang than this.Clean up the yard. Cut back overgrown shrubs, particularly those that obscure windows or make it difficult to get to the front door. Mow the grass, rake or pick up downed leaves ... 05/27/2010

8 Tips to Use Twitter Successfully  RISMEDIA, May 27, 2010--Social media is here to stay and everyone is using social networking sites such a Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. If you're worried about how to best use Twitter, propertyadguru.com's offers the following tips for real estate agents who are looking to get the most out of Twitter.1. Understand what Twitter is and plan before you tweet. Twitter is about posting short updates of less than 140 characters. It's all about telling your followers what you're doing, so be sure to look closely at examples of how others use it before you begin. 2. Every word matters. You only have 140 characters-think carefully about how you choose to spend them.3. Personalize your Twitter account, but keep it professional. Make sure to think business an... 05/27/2010

Irked at Work? These Strategies Can Help  By Cindy Krischer Goodman RISMEDIA, May 26, 2010--(MCT) --Kadie Black, an outreach coordinator for a Miami kids agency, felt as if her co-worker didn't carry her weight on a team project. Rather than confront her, she mentioned it to another colleague who repeated Black's comments publicly. Friction soon permeated the workplace, making it uncomfortable for the two women to work together again. We all know that conflicts in the workplace are unavoidable. But now, the number of conflicts are intensifying as workers do more with less and stress levels jump to an all-time high. More than half of all employees say they lost work time worrying about confrontation with a co-worker, according to a survey by researchers at the University of North Carolin... 05/26/2010

Seniors Lose 24% of Their Buying Power Since 2000   RISMEDIA, May 26, 2010--Seniors have lost almost one-quarter of their buying power since 2000, according to the Annual Survey of Senior Costs, released by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). TSCL is one of the nation's largest nonpartisan seniors advocacy groups. In most years, seniors receive a small increase in their Social Security checks, intended to help them keep up with the costs of inflation. But since 2000, the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) has increased average benefits just 31 percent while typical senior expenses have jumped almost 63 percent, more than twice as fast. Seniors are receiving no COLA this year for the first time since the automatic COLA's introduction in 1975, and are forecast to receive no ... 05/26/2010

FREE Grants Available To All USA Citizens - Get Yours Today.   Many sites showcase people making as much as $50,000  in Grant money. Is getting a Government Grant the next big thing? For Julie Anderson it sure is. Julie, a mother from New Jersey just received $48,000 from the government after applying for a Grant.From her website: "I did not have too much hope when I applied for my Grant and was in total shock when I found out that I could qualify. It was a phenomenal opportunity I just couldn't miss out on." Julie's story is a very familiar one in these tough times. She lost her job as an account rep for a manufacturing company and a few months later her husband also was laid off from his job as part of cutbacks due to the economy. "I realized the best thing to do is instead of hoping ... 05/26/2010

10 Important Tips to Successful Real Estate Investing   By Paige TeppingRISMEDIA, May 26, 2010--When it comes to investing, everybody has certain goals and aspirations. However, we have found that there are certain guidelines every aspiring real estate investor needs to know: 1. Compare property values and rents Financial statistics only go so far; the best measure of a property's market value is often the sale prices of nearby properties. The same holds true for area rents. A low price can often be justified by a reasonable rent; renters who can afford a high rent can afford to buy instead, so reasonably priced rent is a must. 2. Pay attention to tax laws Don't base your tax investment on current tax laws. The tax code is constantly changing, and a good investment is a good investment ... 05/26/2010

Restored exterior to original tudor design. Well maintained inside and out. Within walking distance to UT. Finished Basement Crown Moldings. French Doors. Wood Trim. Hardwood Floors. Original Period Light Fixtures. Lead Glass Windows. Updated Kitchen. Fully Fenced Back Yard. Additional info about the property including homeowner contacts could be found here: http://www.fizber.com/ohio-buy-single-family-home-16659846.html     05/25/2010

Staying Healthy May Cost You in Retirement   By Robert PowellRISMEDIA, May 25, 2010-MarketWatch--(MCT)--Keeping healthy and fit when you retire should result in lower health-care costs, right? A new report says it's not so.While it's true that the annual health-care costs of healthy retirees are lower than those in poor health - $6,500 versus $8,000 for those ages 65 to 69 - the healthy face higher lifetime health-care costs, according to a report last week from Boston College's Center of Retirement Research.Over a lifetime, healthy retirees may pay as much as $105,000 more than those in poor health, according to the report, which was sponsored by Prudential Financial.Why is that?"First, those in good health can expect to live significantly longer," the report said. "At age 80, people i... 05/25/2010

The Credit Card Jungle Offers Bargain Hunters Big Game   RISMEDIA, May 25, 2010--(MCT)--A few months back, I got airline tickets for $50. Here's how I did it.Several banks and airlines were offering airline credit cards with a $50 annual fee. Sign up, spend $700 on the card, and they would give you 30,000 frequent flier miles. That's more than enough for a one-way ticket anywhere in the United States, and a round trip if you plan far enough ahead.I'll use my free flights, then I'll cancel the card before the next annual fee comes due.Credit cards remain the best way to rob a bank, if you pay the bill in full every month. Do that, and the bank gives you an interest-free loan until the due date. To top that, many cards will throw in extra goodies, or cold cash. They will pay you for the ... 05/25/2010

RISMEDIA, May 25, 2010-YouTube's popularity continues to soar. Go there, and you are sure to find a video on just about anything you can think of. In fact, YouTube is now the second-largest search engine in the world, after Google, of course. For whatever reason, YouTube may be most known for humorous videos. However, upon a deeper look, it is probably the most important place for you to leave your business footprint. Because YouTube is the second-largest search engine, you cannot afford to ignore it. To that end, here are six tips to maximize your YouTube strategy, courtesy of VerticalResponse:1. Create a channel specific to the videos. To learn more about setting up and customizing a channel, click here. 2. Optimize your videos. It is vital that your videos are optimized with the des... 05/25/2010

The Biggest Mistake Real Estate Agents Make And How You Can Avoid It   By Dr. Maya BaileyRISMEDIA, May 24, 2010-- THE BIG MISTAKE: "The economy is so slow and I don't even know where my next sale is coming from." How often have you heard someone say that when business is down and the economy is questionable? It seems logical, doesn't it, to tighten your purse strings?"Wait! Are you suggesting that I should invest in my business now?"Even though it seems logical to tighten up and constrict spending, this is actually based on a "scarcity" mindset. In a scarcity mindset you focus on lack in your business, and on lack in economy.The result is a constriction in the flow of energy to your business. In fact, when you focus your thoughts on lack in your business, you have a problem even before ... 05/24/2010

SOURCE:  http://preferredassociates.ohio.remax-classicsites.com/relocation/default.aspx  Relocating to Toledo, OH? Not sure which neighborhood is right for you?  Need information about schools, employers, local taxes, and financing?  Whether you're relocating to Toledo, OH for a new job or to retire, we can help make your move successful and stress free.   Online Resources to Help With Your MoveOur website makes it easy for you to view our featured listings and learn more about our community including important information about schools, demographics, climate, crime and much more. Contact us for all your relocation needs including: Community and school information Personalized home searches based on your needs Expert advice on local taxes and financing Referrals for movers, utilities an... 05/24/2010

SOURCE:  http://lindasabo.remax.com/communityinfo/homesales.aspx       Address Sale Date Price Bedrooms Bathrooms Year Built Distance     241 W POINSETTA AVE 04-07-2010 $57,000 3 1 1927 0.7 (mi)     252 W POINSETTA AVE 03-08-2010 $65,000 3 1 1949 0.74 (mi)     322 W POINSETTA AVE 02-19-2010 $45,000 3 1 1929 0.78 (mi)     5524 ASHDALE CT 01-29-2010 $68,000 2 1 1957 0.89 (mi)     5322 BENNETT RD 01-27-2010 $47,000 2 1 1950 0.97 (mi)     312 SUNNYSIDE DR 03-15-2010 $82,000 4 2 1962 1.02 (mi)     713 W POINSETTA AVE 01-28-2010 $76,000 3 1 1959 1.17 (mi)     5666 BENNETT RD 02-05-2010 $38,000 4 2 1904 1.19 (mi)     745 MAYFAIR BLVD 03-02-2010 $54,000 3 1 1928 1.21 (mi)     813 BRINTON DR 03-15-2010 $42,000 3 1 1925 1.29 (mi)   Listings 1 - 10 of 49, Sorted By:   Distance Date Price Bedrooms ... 05/24/2010

Compare recently sold homes in your neighborhood. The RE/MAX Neighborhood Valuation Tool allows you to compare the prices of properties that have recently sold in your area. Simply enter the property address of your choice and as much information about the property as possible. The Neighborhood Valuation tools will return, on average, the twenty nearest and most recently sold properties. Evaluate and select the comparable properties that most closely match your subject property and the RE/MAX tools will provide you with home sales trends, school information, neighborhood data, and much more! Source:  http://preferredassociates.ohio.remax-classicsites.com/Listings/NeighborhoodValuation_r4.aspx                                                         or LindaSabo.remax.com     Street Addr... 05/24/2010

 Selling Your Home - Pricing the House to Sell What is the difference between list and sales prices?The list price is how much a house is advertised for and is usually only an estimate of what a seller would like to get for the property. The sales price is the amount a property actually sells for. It may be the same as the listing price, or higher or lower, depending on how accurately the property was originally priced and on market conditions. If you are a seller, you may need to adjust the listing price if there have been no offers within the first few months of the property's listing period.What are the two most important factors when selling a home?Price and condition are the two most important factors in selling a home, even in a down market. The first step is to price your home co... 05/24/2010

Jumpstart Your Blog: A Blogging Working Regimen   By Rich BrooksRISMEDIA, May 19, 2010--Do you know what gym regulars call the surge of people who show up in January as part of a New Year's resolution? Tourists.The same could be true with the influx of businesses that join the blogosphere each and every day. Some join with the best of intentions. Others start a blog because someone from marketing twisted their arm. Still others were on a drunken bender and couldn't find a tattoo shop, so they settled for starting a blog.The fact is that because of lack of time, commitment, or a good strategy, the majority of these blogs fail. Later, when a prospect finds these abandoned blogs--either through a forgotten link on the company's Web site or a search engine result--they're left with a negati... 05/19/2010

Top Social Media Etiquette Tips   By Emma WanjikuRISMEDIA, May 19, 2010--Social media continues to be the heart of today's society. Since many people have become hooked to online platforms, there is need to consider how you behave. Some people actually think that social media stages are licensed for bad behavior and mediocrity. Just like any other undertaking, you can determine success or failure by how you act. Social media etiquette therefore comes into perspective. The following are tips and top rules you should never break no matter what you want from your social media experience.Work on your online relationshipsThrough the myriad of social sites, you will meet a sea of people and your duty is to build relationships. You need to invest time in participating in various stages and hel... 05/19/2010

4 Ways to Use LinkedIn to Grow Your Business   By Danielle C. LeitchRISMEDIA, May 19, 2010--LinkedIn has quickly become an invaluable asset to many professionals, regardless of the company or vertical you work within. It's an incredibly powerful networking tool and can also be useful from a marketing/advertising standpoint, since LinkedIn now offers paid advertising.ProspectingFrom a networking standpoint, LinkedIn offers an unlimited rolodex to choose from in building your own network. It closely resembles the theory of "six degrees of separation" by using the power of introductions and referrals to grow your inner circle. You will be amazed at how people will find you and how you will start to locate others.ConnectingOnce you have established your profile, indicating former and curren... 05/19/2010