Category: News and Information

Top Orlando Realtors Use Realeflow

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Realeflow Gave me a Blueprint for Success

I typically don’t educate my competitors on the secrets of my success but I find myself in the Holiday spirit of giving and sharing. Also, this post serves as a long-overdue testimonial of sorts for a company that’s made a huge impact on my life and business.

By becoming a member of Realeflow, you’re becoming a member of a community of real estate professionals from all over the U.S. that are having success in their business. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten referrals or advice by networking with other members.

There’s absolutely no way that I can tell you everything that Realeflow has to offer without writing a 20,000-word post so I’m just going to give you a quick overview of some of the Realeflow tools and training that have served me well in the past few years.

You’ll quickly see that there is no other program out there that is as complete as Realeflow. From marketing to keep your files organized, to training you to be successful in any real estate market…It’s all there for you on one site!

Lead Generation

This is a big one because without leads coming into your business on a regular basis…you have no business. The system allows you to input the counties from your farm area and you will instantly start receiving lists that you can use to create mailing lists and even send postcards all right from your dashboard. You will have access to lists for buyers, sellers, bankruptcies, etc. Before I joined Realeflow I was paying a lot of money for just these lists alone. With Realeflow these lists are included with your membership.

They also have an entire library of customizable website and landing page templates that you can choose from. All you have to do is provide them with the domain names that you want them to link to. Squeeze pages have provided me with a steady flow of valuable buyer leads and still do to this day… They should call it Lead flow instead of Realeflow!

Client File Management

This is my wife’s favorite feature of Realeflow being that she’s the one that has the daunting task of dealing with demanding buyers and sellers. Our real estate brokerage specializes in Orlando short sales and if you have any experience in servicing short sale clients, you know that they want updates, updates, and more updates! Even when there’s nothing to update them about! With Realeflow this part of the business is no longer a hassle. You can update everyone single one of your sellers with just a few clicks of your mouse. And long gone are the days of having to carry heavy paper files around with you when you go out of town [I used to hate that!] Now she just logs into Realeflow and every piece of information she needs is right there at her fingertips.

 She also loves the fact that everything is time-stamped so that NOT ONLY can prove to the short sale lender that YOU DID submit everything they asked for but you also have the date and time that you submitted it. Need to submit it again? [Cause that NEVER happens…] No problem, just a click away.

Training Modules

The training modules that are included in Realeflow were the big game-changer for me. Way, way, way too much info to even start talking about but if you’re willing to go through and implement the things that are taught by Greg Clement and his team in these 8 life-changing training modules,  I promise you that it will take your business to the next level. Don’t get me wrong…you have to put in the work, but it’s worth it…at least it was for me!

 Blogging

After going through module 1 included in Realeflow, I started blogging with a “Too dumb to doubt” attitude not knowing if it would even work.  Since then my real estate blog has been the single most effective marketing tool that I have. I don’t mind sharing this information because I was posting blogs several times a week for over 2 years before it ever started to make a difference in my business. Believe it or not, statistics prove that less than 3% of Orlando real estate agents blog on a regular basis. It’s important to remember that blogging is a long-term strategy. Most realtors will start posting then quickly get frustrated and stop posting altogether.  Slow and steady wins the race. 

 The key to doing anything consistently is that you have to enjoy doing it. Have you ever known someone that starts going to the gym or dieting every day for a month or two, then they lose a bunch of weight just two end up right back where they started? They don’t stick with it because they hate working out and they hate dieting. I kept on writing blog posts because it’s something that I became very passionate about. I love the idea that I’m putting valuable information out into cyberspace where anyone in the world that is looking for it can find it just by typing a few keywords into Google. How awesome is that?!

Video Marketing

There’s a whole module that covers video marketing in Realeflow. I literally went through this module 5 times before getting enough courage to get in front of that camera. Much like blogging, I found that it was something that actually I enjoyed doing. I now use video marketing regularly and successfully in my business. Subscribe to my Youtube channel 

Greg often says… “I’ll see you on the other side” at the end of his videos and for the longest time I never understood what that meant…..Come to think of it, I STILL DON’T!  But it sounds really cool.     Do you think you know what he means? Leave a comment below.

Speed of Implementation

Greg Clement, the founder of Realeflow talks about “speed of implementation” in one of the training modules. I believe he is referring to how fast you implement something after you’ve learned it. He also says that the speed at which you implement something will be a huge factor in how successful you will be at something. I firmly believe this and I have believed it even before I heard him say it. So whatever it is that you learn through courses that you sign up for, boot camps, etc. Implement it as fast as you can because that’s the only way you’ll know if it works or not.

I can’t tell you how many real estate marketing courses that I’ve bought or signed up for in the past that have turned out to be complete BS, but I just kept on going until I found what worked for me. When it comes to marketing your business, there is no failure, only feedback. Through Realeflow I finally found what I was looking for. 

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Homeowners Association Management Guidelines

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

The first thing one must keep in mind about a homeowners association is that it is essentially a conglomerate, an organization that keeps track of the rules and upholds them in terms of condominium complexes. It is organized by property owners and its rules affect the entirety of its community. They are also responsible for enforcing their rules as well as giving advice if needed. The following tips will give you some guidelines on what you need to do to keep on track with their requirements:

  • Knowing the bylaws and sticking to them is a good way of avoiding any trouble you might have with them. It would be a good idea to read through all of their rules so you could find the ones that might prohibit things you need. You might be surprised that bylaws could completely place you in trouble. This may include fences, the car you own and park in front of your home as well as the building materials used among other things. The number of rooms in your home, the color or even the shades of the color as well.

  • Nowadays HOAs are becoming more and more common, though they are fairly different from one another, depending on the people who are in control. In many cases they can be of great help, however in others they can be a hindrance. The thing is that they can greatly vary in effectiveness and help offered, but you will be stuck with them regardless if they are responsible for a given neighborhood.

  • The great thing about living in a place with a homeowners association is the fact that you have a chance to bond with your neighbors. You may still not be able to talk to quite a few of them, however they are dealing with the same things you’re dealing with so you will have plenty in common. They have to deal with the same regulations as you do and thus you would be able to use their advise or help in quite a few matters if you want to.

  • You should also pay attention to any possible violations your homeowners association may do to its own rules. There are cases where HOAs have been known to charge large-scale fees or even pressuring them to pay. Although these are isolated cases, you should never feel obliged to stay quiet if you feel something is amiss. Talk to your neighbors and consult them if you are experiencing any issues.

  • If you happen to have a bond with your neighbors, then you will benefit from that as in many cases a single individual can attract attention to your violation rather than the HOA as a whole. If you happen to attract attention you could use some support in lowering the possible pain coming your way.

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6 Things You Should Know Before Flipping a House

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

House flipping is all the rage in the real estate industry. In fact, it is such a popular trend that there are even dozens of television shows dedicated to flipping. When done correctly, flipping houses turns into quite a lucrative business and some people actually turn flipping into their full-time careers.

If you are thinking about getting into the house flipping business, there are some things that you should know before you head out, buy a property, and begin your renovation. There may be a lot to gain, but there can also be a lot to lose if you don’t know what you are doing. Here are some important things to consider before getting involved in a flip.

Buy Wisely

The entire point of flipping a house is to make money. In theory, it seems quite simple – buy a house for a great purchase price that doesn’t require extensive repairs, and then turn around and sell it, earning a high profit. However, it often doesn’t turn out exactly like that. Know your budget before beginning the search for your house to avoid getting in over your head. Although you may have big dreams to completely renovate a kitchen, if it’s not in your budget, it won’t be profitable for you in the end.

Consider the Area

In the world of real estate, you always hear people talking about the three most important “L’s” – hint, they all involve location. This is because location really is that important. While you can change the way a home looks, you can’t change the location, which is sometimes one of the biggest things potential home buyers take into consideration

Avoid buying a house that is in a bad neighborhood or in an unattractive area (near train tracks or a junkyard, for example) because no matter how amazing you make it look, it will likely make for a very hard sell.

Get an Inspection

Don’t buy a house without having an inspection done. While the house may look like it only needs some updating, there could actually be several problems that you aren’t aware of. Structural damage, plumbing and electrical issues, mold, and other issues may be lurking unseen within the house, ending up costing an arm and a leg to repair. 

Hire Professionals

While yes, you may be able to do some of the work yourself, don’t think that doing all of the work on your own will save you a bundle of money. Unless you are a skilled and experienced contractor and know how to correctly handle all aspects of the flip, employing professionals as needed is a wise investment that will save you money in the end.

Know your limits – sure, attempting to do electrical work might seem like something you’d like to try, but when it comes to your house flip, this probably isn’t the greatest place to hone your skills.

List Wisely

Once the work is all done, it’s time to put the house up for sale. Don’t attach a huge price tag to it, simply because of the amount of work you did to the house. Take a look at comparable properties in the area and list it about 1 to 2 percent lower than what they are listed for. By staying lower than neighboring houses, the appeal of your home instantly goes up for potential buyers. What does this mean for you? A higher profit.

Assess Risks vs Benefits

Flipping a house is a very lucrative business, but it can also be a risky one. Before you invest time and money into a property and the renovations that will be necessary, make sure you assess the risks vs the benefits. Will the flip pay off? Do you think you will be able to complete the job in a timely manner? Will the house sell? If there are more benefits than risks, you stand to make a good deal of money. However, if the risks outweigh the benefits, there’s a chance you could lose a tremendous amount of time, money, and energy.

Flipping a house is a creative outlet that also serves as a way to make money if done the right way. Before jumping headfirst into the renovation project of the century, keep this information in mind – you’ll end up making wise investments and, ideally, reaping a profit.

Naomi Shaw is a freelance writer in Southern California. She enjoys doing home renovation projects and finds these tips are very helpful when it comes to flipping a house.

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Are Florida Real Estate Prices Set to Plummet with the Onset of Global Warming?

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Global warming is not an unfamiliar topic of discussion; every day we move closer to a very grave situation, that of the steadily melting polar icecaps. The water from the melting of these icecaps is slowly resulting in a rise in the sea level, and it’s not just scientists that are keenly studying this phenomenon; Florida real estate agents have also begun to consider the fact that rising sea levels may start to eat into the desirability of real estate in low lying areas.

If reports are to be believed, the onset of the first dramatically noticeable effects of global warming is just a decade away, and anxious real estate owners are looking to sell their land in a bid to avoid losing money due to the predicted drop in Florida real estate prices in areas that are low-lying, with respect to their altitude above sea level. In a situation like this, the only measure that would offset this price drop is preventive action on behalf of governments, to reduce practices that contribute to an increased rate of global warming.

Some buyers are still unaware

According to a statement given by one of the directors at the Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Environmental Studies Florida real estate agents are discretely in contact with the university in order to gain an approximate idea of how much the sea level is expected to rise over a certain time frame. What scientists are puzzled about is the small number of realtors that have actually thought of this possibility.  People are still buying waterfront property at premium prices, unaware of the possible threats they face a decade down the line.

Rising sea levels are the cause of concern

According to the calculations of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, the price drop on account of a one-foot rise in sea level are approximately four million USD, with a three-foot high rise in sea level exponentially increasing this value to thirty-one million USD. Real estate agents are speculating on how much longer such waterfront properties are going to remain desirable.

According to the projections generated by the Army Corps of Engineers, South Florida is expected to see a three to seven-inch rise in sea levels by the year 2030 and anywhere between nine and 24 inches by the year 2060. According to the Florida Atlantic University, the change in these real estate prices will be clearly visible when the region experiences a natural calamity, post which rebuilding initiatives will determine which areas are worth rebuilding and which aren’t.

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Tired of rising energy prices? Then start thinking about solar panels!

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Over the last few months, all of the major energy suppliers have increased their prices. If you didn’t take the opportunity to lock in a fixed price tariff before the latest round of price increases, then you could be facing a large increase in your quarterly bill and limited options for keeping costs down.

 If you missed the boat on changing energy suppliers, and you’ve already tried the simplest ways of reducing your energy usage, such as installing insulation or updating your appliances, then maybe it’s time to take more creative measures. Installing solar panels is an easy and efficient way to cut your energy bills. Many homeowners manage to cut their energy bills by as much as 50 percent, so it should not take long to recoup the expense of the installation.

 Solar Panels in Orlando

 One common misconception is that solar panels do not work in the UK, because the weather is cloudy and many parts of the country do not see a lot of sunlight. This misconception is based on older solar panel designs, which required direct sunlight to work. Modern photovoltaic panels are much more efficient, and will produce some energy from ambient light, meaning that they can be used in any part of the country.

 How Much Does Going Solar Cost?

 A standard solar panel set up for an average sized house typically costs £7,000, and the average household saves £150/year on their electricity bills from the energy that the panels generate. The real financial savings don’t come from that reduction in energy usage, however. Rather, they come from the Feed In Tariff payments that most suppliers offer.

 If you are a homeowner and you plan to live in your property for several years, then you could recoup £16,000 – £26,000 (according to British Gas estimates) over the lifetime of the installation, from the combination of Feed In Tariff payments and energy savings.

 If you cannot afford the up-front cost of getting solar panels installed, then you can apply for financial help via the government’s Green Deal (which helps homeowners pay for a range of green home improvements), or getting solar panels from a supplier that installs them for free. Companies such as A Shade Greener will fit solar panels free of charge, but in return they take the Feed In Tariff payments. You will still save money on your energy bills, but won’t get any cash back from having the panels.

 Solar is a Big Commitment

 One thing to be wary of with solar panels is that you may need planning permission to install them, and they are a big commitment. This is especially true if you opt for free solar panels. When you get the panels installed for free, you are effectively leasing them (and paying for them with the Feed In Tariff). You should speak to your mortgage provider to confirm that they are OK with this kind of long term lease.

 In addition, solar panels cover a large area of your roof, and this can make roofing repairs a more complex job than they otherwise would be. The panels themselves can be expected to last for 25 years if they are well cared for. If you are willing to be an early adopter, and understand that it will take several years to break even on the expense of the installation, then solar panels may be a good way to take control of your bills.

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