Admin

Real Estate Best Practices

Coaches, books, classes and seminars aim to capture real estate agents dollars with promises to teach them any number of ways to improve their business. From sales skills to how to close more deals to how to win with expireds (expired listings) and more, everyone has something to teach you.


There's nothing wrong with continuing education, whether it's keeping on top of new laws and regulations or learning how to be more productive. But before you spend an arm and a leg on any of those things, pull up a chair, put on your glasses and peruse the pages in this section of ActiveRain.


It is only here that you can tap into the world's largest online real estate community and actively engage with your peers. Find out what works and what doesn't from those that actually put into practice what others merely teach. Read how-to articles, advice on designations, certifications and continuing education classes. You never know where you will find the inspiration to take your business to the next level. So, pull up a chair and dig in!

Recent blogs on Real Estate Best Practices
By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
How to Organize Real Estate Files So You Can Always Find What You NeedLet’s be honest — real estate paperwork multiplies like rabbits.One listing can have fifty different documents by the time it closes.If you don’t have a system in place, your files can turn into a scavenger hunt…And the clock is always ticking.Organization isn’t about perfection — it’s about being able to put your hands on anything in 30 seconds or less.That’s the professional standard.🗂 The #1 Rule: Organize by TransactionInstead of random folders labeled “Listings” and “Buyers,” create one folder per transaction, naming it after the property address.Inside that folder, use consistent subfolders:📌 01 – Listing Agreement📌 02 – Marketing Files (photos, flyers, MLS copy)📌 03 – Offers & Counteroffers📌 04 – Contract & Dis...
Comments 3
By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
 There are two types of agents: Those who think they will remember everything… and those who know better. Checklists aren’t a sign of inexperience — they are the tools of professionals who understand just how many details it takes to get a client across the finish line. Because in real estate, one missed detail can mean:• a delayed closing• an upset client• lost money• or even a terminated contract And all of that can happen simply because something slipped your mind on a busy day. 🧠 Take the Thinking Out of It The human brain isn’t designed to hold multiple contracts, dozens of dates, deadlines, and people’s expectations all at the same time. Checklists allow you to: ✔ Free up mental bandwidth✔ Work faster with more confidence✔ Deliver consistent client experiences✔ Protect yourself f...
Comments 4
By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
The 3 Biggest Time Wasters in Real Estate — and How to Eliminate ThemReal estate is one of the few careers where you can work all day and still feel like you got nothing done. Most agents don’t struggle with motivation.They struggle with misplaced time — staying busy instead of being productive. Here are the top 3 silent business killers: ❌ Time Waster #1 — Inbox Chaos If you start your day checking email…you’re letting other people decide what’s important. Email is a reactive task — not a business-building one. Fix it:Set scheduled check times:🕘 9:00 AM🕛 12:00 PM🕒 3:00 PM Turn off notifications in between.Protect your focus like your income depends on it — because it does. ❌ Time Waster #2 — Multitasking Trying to juggle contracts, calls, and marketing at the same time leads to: • Mor...
Comments 2
By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
Why Systems Make You Money: The Hidden ROI of Being OrganizedRunning a successful real estate business isn’t just about hustle.It’s about systems — the repeatable actions that make sure nothing slips through the cracks and that every client receives professional, consistent service.I’ve been in this business for 38 years, and here’s what I know for sure:👉 Agents don’t fail because they can’t sell.  They fail because they can’t keep up.🧩 What Systems Actually Do For YouSystems sound boring — until you realize what they give you:✔️ More time for clients✔️ More consistent marketing✔️ More repeat & referral business✔️ Less stress and fewer mistakes✔️ Predictable income instead of feast-or-famine cyclesA well-run business protects your paycheck.Your future closings are built on the actions y...
Comments 2
By Dr. Paula McDonald, Granbury, TX 936-203-0279
(Beam & Branch Realty)
If you followed my first blog post on the topic of navigating an interesting neighbor situation, this is a follow-up to that story. Buckle up, friends, as this is going to be a bumpy ride! Real estate is never boring!The neighbor did reach out directly to me yesterday, letting me know that she was interested in purchasing her neighbor's home, which happens to be my listing. While typically this could be an ideal situation, there are many "red flags" to navigate.🚩 While I would never pre-judge someone on the phone regarding "competency", it was immediately evident due to slurred speech, erratic comments, and repetitive questions. Of course, each of these situations cannot be confirmed from a phone call.🚩 The neighbor let me know numerous times on the call that she is on serious pain medi...
Comments 4
By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
Why December Determines Your First QuarterDecember can fool you.The lights go up, the calendars fill, the pace slows… and suddenly every agent convinces themselves that real estate “starts again in January.”That belief — more than interest rates, inventory, or market headlines — is what determines who hits the ground running in the new year… and who spends January trying to restart the engine.Here’s the truth:January contracts are written in December.February closings are built in December.Momentum in the spring begins… yes, in December.Most agents take this month off.But serious business doesn’t take holidays.🎯 The December AdvantageWhen the competition rests, opportunity rises. December buyers aren’t bored or curious — they need to move:• Relocations• Year-end financial planning• New ...
Comments 9
By Joe Jackson, Clintonville and Central Ohio Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty)
So, will having 5 inches of snow in early December slow down home showings in Central Ohio and Clintonville?     ✅ Why snow tends to slow things Snow and ice make walkways, driveways, and entrances harder (or even unsafe) to navigate — a real deterrent for people touring houses. lawsonandco.com+1 Winter weather and shorter daylight tend to reduce overall buyer activity, which means fewer showings and a generally slower market. National Association of REALTORS®+2searchscottsdale.com+2 Buyers who are out in winter tend to be more serious (job relocations, urgent moves, etc.), so the volume may drop but the quality/intent may be higher. Zillow+2kikoauctions.com+2 ⚠️ What that slowdown might look like locally Showings might get rescheduled or canceled if roads/sidewalks are messy or icy. Y...
Comments 3
Focus on the work that supports YOUR success.The only comparison worth making is:➡️ Are you finishing more today than you did last month? Let's finish more today!  Real estate is full of big ideas. Big goals. Big plans. Big dreams that come with a brand-new planner every January. But here’s the truth I’ve learned over 38 years:  Big ideas don’t pay you. Finished work does. We all know agents with brilliant ideas — the perfect marketing plan, the next social media strategy, the new system that will “change everything”… someday. The problem? Nothing ever makes it out of the idea stage. The Market Pays for Results — Not Potential Ideas are exciting — but incomplete work earns exactly $0. ✔ Listings that go live✔ Contracts that close✔ Follow-ups that turn into showings✔ Thank-you cards that...
Comments 0
By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
Real estate is full of big ideas. Big goals. Big plans. Big dreams that come with a brand-new planner every January. But here’s the truth I’ve learned over 38 years:  Big ideas don’t pay you. Finished work does.We all know agents with brilliant ideas — the perfect marketing plan, the next social media strategy, the new system that will “change everything”… someday.The problem? Nothing ever makes it out of the idea stage.The Market Pays for Results — Not PotentialIdeas are exciting — but incomplete work earns exactly $0.✔ Listings that go live✔ Contracts that close✔ Follow-ups that turn into showings✔ Thank-you cards that turn into referrals✔ Systems that remove chaos from your weekEvery dollar in this business comes from completion, not planning.Don’t Compare Your Work to Anyone Else’sO...
Comments 12
By Steve Vondran "Attorney Steve®, Business, Real Estate, and Intellectual Property
(The Law Offices of Steven C. Vondran, P.C.)
http://www.vondranlegal.com - Feel free to share this blog/video.  Thanks for watching!I was once a real estate broker and former mortgage loan officer.  I loved my work and the business. Then, I became a lawyer.  Particularly, an IP lawyer focusing on copyrights and trademarks and trade secret litigation.  The copyright cases deal with photo infringement, software infringement, movie infringement and more.One of our key areas of practice is photo infringement.   We represent fine art photographers that spend a lot of time and money on travel and housing to go to great places to seek to get "the perfect shot."  This takes time, energy, money, and a bit of luck to catch the perfect shot at the perfect time of day and then to edit that work into a piece of art that wins awards.We deal wit...
Comments 3
By Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!, Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.
(Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374)
💣💥 Mission Impossible: Like Herding Cats Try as I might, a 100% close rate during a 20+ year career has become mission impossible! Whether, as a listing or buying agent, through negotiations with established relationships or any collaborative effort with industry professionals. Success in the end takes patience, energy and resources to convincingly satisfy consumer's wants & needs or reach an agreement, especially when first meeting. Geography, culture, type of personality and other factors can create impediments. I've discovered a few things that can stop progress in its tracks: Those Googler ClientsThe same people, who also binge watch reruns of HGTV network shows, Million Dollar Listing and A Place In The Sun and in their minds, think they possess the same skills of a Nobel Prize win...
Comments 33
By Dana (Lerner) Sparks, Satisfying You with Service Innovation & Education
(Maximum One Realty - Managing Broker)
2026 Changes to the Georgia Association of REALTORS (GAR) Contract Package. Welcome to the series on the changes that the Georgia Association of REALTORS has made to the 2026 Contract Forms. 3 Hr CE Classes on these Changes - www.RealEstateAcademyofAmerica.com or www.MaxOneCalendar.com Dana Sparks, Qualifying Broker, Maximum One Greater Atlanta, REALTORS® Dana@MaximumOneRealty.com www.KeepMoreCommission.com - Maximum One Companies www.RealEstateAcademyofAmerica.com - Real Estate Academy
Comments 0
By Alan May, Home again, home again...
(Jameson Sotheby's International Realty)
📸 I’ve seen some pretty lazy property photos over the years—agents snapping pics with flip phones out their car windows, thumbs covering half the shot, even side‑view mirrors making a cameo. But this one… this one takes the cake.Instead of actually photographing the property, someone literally took a picture of their computer screen showing the MLS listing. You can see the address bar, Microsoft Edge, Connect MLS… and if you look closely, even their avocado‑green room and ceiling vent in the background.🙄 C’mon people! We’ve got to do better than this. My guess? They didn’t want to go out in the rain, or thought they couldn’t get a good shot, so they just recycled an old listing photo. Whatever the reason—it’s unacceptable.Okay… rant officially over. 😅#RealEstateFails   #DoBetter- 50
Comments 10
By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
Every December, I start seeing the same cycle: agents making big plans, setting big goals, and stacking ambition on top of ambition. The energy is good, until the list becomes so long that nothing actually gets finished.You don’t need more ambition. You need focus.After 38 years in this business, I’ve seen agents burn out not because they lacked drive, but because their drive was scattered across too many unfinished projects. Ten irons in the fire don’t make you productive; they heat the room.Real estate will give you more opportunities than you can chase in a lifetime. The trick is learning which ones matter.Ambition Isn’t the Enemy, Scattered Ambition IsAmbition tells you to do more.Focus tells you to do what matters.Those are two very different directions.When your ambition is spread...
Comments 13
By Associate Broker Falmouth MA Cape Cod Heath Coker, Heath Coker Berkshire Hathaway HS Robert Paul Prop
(https://teamcoker.robertpaul.com)
Mind, Body, and Relationships - The PillarsThe core message of "The Code of the Heroic Self" is that the path to business success is not just about business tactics. It is about personal strength, personal growth, after personal awareness. The true catalysts that accelerate your journey are the three pillars:  Mind, Body, and Relationships . Mind:  This is your clarity. A strong mind is focused, positive, and committed to your  Personal Script . It is the engine that drives your decisions. It is hungry. You must feed it with encouraging information and protect it from doubt and fear. Body:  This is your energy. Your body is the vehicle for your personal journey. If it is weak, your energy is low, and your daily decision to fight your Personal Enemy  is compromised. Taking care of your b...
Comments 4
By Associate Broker Falmouth MA Cape Cod Heath Coker, Heath Coker Berkshire Hathaway HS Robert Paul Prop
(https://teamcoker.robertpaul.com)
What Freedom Really Looks Like - ExtraordinaryThe entire journey - your life's personal Grit, the battle with the Ordinary Self, the focus on Mind, Body, and Relationships - is all for one purpose - to enter and live in Your Extraordinary World.Where is this world? It is inside you. It is not a place of endless luxury. It is a place of Freedom on a personal level.The freedom is not just financial. It is the freedom to own your own thoughts, to own your own actions to own your own time. It is the freedom to choose what you work on, when you work on it, and who you work with on it. It is the freedom that comes from having created personal assets that work for you, giving you leverage over challenges, obstacles, and fears.In the Extraordinary World, your business is a reflection of your fr...
Comments 2
By Richard Stewart, REO Realtor-RDCpro, CDPE Free list of Foreclosures
(REO Specialists llc)
I am doing Testing
Comments 2
By Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400, Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome
( HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400)
The Day I Became a Nurse Have you ever looked back and realized that your purpose in life started long before you were old enough to understand it? I didn’t choose nursing. I didn’t even know what nursing was. But before I was eight years old, I became one.My father was diabetic, so in our household, insulin was not mysterious or complicated; it was simply a part of our daily life. I remember a device that held the syringe and had a lever for an automatic injector. Throughout my years in nursing, I never encountered one of these devices. Recently, I did some research, and although it wasn’t easy to find, it does resemble one that I used as that little girl.                  What was unusual was who gave the shots. It wasn’t a doctor, or a nurse, or even my mother. On occasions ...It wa...
Comments 13
By Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!, Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.
(Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374)
Grow Through What You Go Through  Meaningful results matter, whether it’s a bountiful harvest or a profitable quarter. That comes from being present, following through consistently, staying dedicated when tedious and applying common sense with every step. Success is built on practical knowledge, sound judgment and the quiet discipline to troubleshoot when things go wrong and continue moving forward. Whether growing a garden or a company, both need reliable systems. Be prepared to act and rely on tried and true methods. Follow through, use facts over feelings and keep it straightforward. Though challenges will present along the way, they're normal, panic is an option but not recommended. Practice consistency in everything as you grow through what you go through. Happy Sunday all!
Comments 12
By inboundREM Market Updates
(InboundREM)
Richardson Property TaxesIf you’re researching Richardson property taxes, you are likely evaluating more than just a home purchase—you’re considering long-term affordability, local services, and the financial picture of living in one of North Texas’ most desirable suburbs. As a local realtor who works with both new buyers and established homeowners throughout Richardson, I’ve seen how property taxes influence decisions on everything from budgeting to neighborhood selection. Understanding how taxes are calculated, who collects them, and how exemptions work can help you buy confidently or prepare your home for sale with a clear financial outlook.How Property Taxes Work in RichardsonProperty taxes in Richardson are determined by several overlapping taxing authorities. Unlike a single flat ...
Comments 0
Back to Top