Real Estate Success Secrets from a Real Estate Virtual Assistant

Certified Distressed Property Expert - You Gotta Get This!

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:46:00 +0000

Alex Charfen founder of the Certified Distressed Property Expert organization is rock'n and a rollin with the CDPE course that are all over the United States. All you need to do is to find a location and attend the two day event. If you cannot travel to the course then you have the option of attending it online. But being at the course you will walk away with so much more knowledge and meet some great people who all have the common goal and that is to help our neighbors, friends, family and new friends to know there are solutions and options regarding foreclosure.

I had the pleasure of meeting Alex at the 2009 STAR POWER Conference in Denver this past July and I was very impressed with his dedication, not to mention his wonderful smile. Tee Hee! Anyway, I was happy to hear they moved their headquarters to Austin, Texas recently, which I then saw on the tour schedule Austin will be holding a CDPE class and I am going.

Now you are probably wondering why would Kim Hughes a Real Estate Virtual Assistant needs to invest in the CDPE? Right now homeowner's need all the help they can get to resolve their foreclosure issues and by having this designation I can help my clients achieve their goals, which is to help today's homeowner's find a solution to their foreclosure crises. When you earn the designation of a CDPE you have so much given to you to market yourself as well as information to ensure you have the tools to successfully help resolve the problems.

Agent's today need to take advantage of the tools offered by the CDPE organization, which below is just a couple of things you need:

Set-up and manage their micro-site
Prepare and submit press releases
Incorporating the CDPE information to their website and marketing material

Today, the CDPE offers a micro-site for those that want to go a step further with their designation to become and Advanced CDPE, then there is RealPro Systems that offers Foreclosure and Short Sale Stealth Sites not to mention custom pages that you can add your own content regarding foreclosures and short sales. Pro Step Marketing recently got on the board to offer stealth site on the same.

Agents now have options on where they feel they will receive the most exposure and they do not have time to create the content, submit the sites to the search engines, etc., not to mention the marketing strategy that needs to be implemented. So, by attending the class I will gain the knowledge on the best way to assist my clients achieve their goals and that is to dedicate themselves in helping homeowner's resolve their current situation so they can relax and get their lives back track and start focusing on what it really important and that is their life and family.

To give you some idea of what the CDPE Advanced micro-site looks like visit Brian Schantz - www.stopnorthernvirginiaforeclosures.com.

If you would like to learn more about the CDPE please visit www.CDPE.com and then visit www.KimHughes.com to see how I can assist you.

The IRS Posts Ten Facts about the First-Time Homebuyer Credit

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:08:00 +0000

If you are an agent or maybe a first-time homebuyer you might be interested in what the IRS has to say about the 2009 Tax Credit. This article is from the IRS newsletter and could answer a lot of questions for you or your client.

Many taxpayers who purchase a home this year will qualify for an $8,000 federal tax credit. The refundable first-time homebuyer credit is a major tax provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. But time is running out to qualify for this credit.

Here are ten things the IRS wants you to know about the first-time homebuyer credit:

1.To be considered a first-time homebuyer, you – and your spouse if you are married – must not have jointly or separately owned another principal residence during the three years prior to the date of purchase.

2.You cannot claim the credit before there is a completed sale and purchase of the residence. The sale and purchase are generally completed at the time of closing on the purchase.

3.To qualify for the credit, the completed purchase must occur before December 1, 2009.

4.The home must be located in the United States.

5.The credit is either 10 percent of the purchase price of the home or $8,000, whichever is less.

6.The amount of the credit begins to phase out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is more than $75,000 or $150,000 for joint filers.

7.The credit is fully refundable. A homebuyer with no taxable income, who qualifies for the credit, may file for the sole purpose of claiming the credit and receive a refund. The credit will be paid out to eligible taxpayers, even if they owe no tax or the credit is more than the tax owed.

8.The credit is claimed on IRS Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyers Credit.

9.Taxpayers can claim the credit for a qualified 2009 purchase on either their 2008 or 2009 tax return. For those who have filed a 2008 return, a Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return can be filed in order to get a refund in 2009.

10.The credit for qualified 2009 purchases does not have to be repaid, as long as the home remains your main home for 36 months after the purchase date.

Qualified taxpayers who have been considering a main home purchase may find extra incentive from this tax credit to buy now so they can complete the purchase before the December 1 deadline.

For more information on this and other key tax provisions of the Recovery Act visit the official IRS Website at IRS.gov/Recovery.

Links:

• First-Time Homebuyer Credit
• YouTube Video - First-Time Homebuyer:
• Audio File for Podcast - First-Time Homebuyer Credit 2009
• The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Information Center
• Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit (PDF)
• Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (PDF)

Social Network Marketing for Real Estate Agents

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:57:00 +0000

Daily I am reading about new opinions, tricks and new applications with social networking. Sometimes I think "this is consuming my life" - But, really it is the best marketing you can do for yourself and your business, if you do effectively.

Because I work with so many real estate agents across the country in building their social networking presence I find real estate has its own social networking niche. What works for other businesses or industries is not necessarily the case with real estate.

You need to constantly work on re-crafting your talent and message to your target audience. Your audience already knows you help buyers and sellers with their real estate needs, so get creative in keeping them focused on you because you don't necessarily focus on your real estate marketing, but focus on local charities that need attention, local events, local issues. Ask yourself - Why would the local community connect with you? Yes, you should throw some real estate in there on occasion, but you will receive more positive exposure by focusing on what your audience is craving. Be unique and supportive. Get to know your audience and engage with them.

Believe me - this has a bigger impact and makes your audience want to see what is next or rely on you to have the information about what is happening in the local area.

As for who your audience is. You need to focus on your community. Sure connect with other agents (Keep them private, if you can) and learn from their posts and hopefully build a great network for referrals, but engage your neighbors, local businesses, etc.

I made this suggestion to a client and we re-focused and he even went as far as hosting a social networking event to help his community to involved in social networking. This was unique and a big-big hit!

Another client hosted a church networking event and again - huge hit.

I discovered the principal of our high school was following me on Twitter. I told him I would be happy to build a background page for the high school. He was very appreciative. After I created the background I would get stopped at events by people saying they saw the page. I thought to myself "WOW! Word sure gets around!" So, remember people talk and share information, so do something that gives your community something to talk about and WANT to connect with you.

Social Networking is about socializing. You have a wonderful opportunity to offer so much more than just real estate, but make them remember you when it comes to their real estate needs.

Tip - You might want to have two Twitter accounts - one for real estate connections and the other for your local community. I have two and it is amazing how well this works.

If you are attending the 2009 STAR POWER Annual Conference look for me and let's see how I can help you make this social network marketing concept will work to your advantage.

5 Tips to Teaming with a Real Estate Virtual Assistant

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:24:00 +0000

You love the idea of finding a virtual assistant who specializes in real estate, but you are just not sure where to begin finding the right one for you.

Over the years I have found that any real estate agent, real estate coach or the entrepreneur wants is to have someone to assist them in organizing, maintaining and creatively assisting in building their business with them. Someone who will have an interest your success. One thing about a virtual assistant is they are a business owner and they are successful only when their clients are successful.

So, when you are ready to find the right real estate virtual assistant to assist you keep these 5 tips in mind.

1. Decide what you need a virtual assistant to help you with. What skills and abilities do you want your VA to have? What projects/tasks do you want to delegate to them? Do they have the knowledge and experience you need? Visit their websites, view client testimonials, view the services they offer and get to know them through their profile.

2. Jack-of-all-trades. Although VAs primarily offer administrative support, many are now specializing in specific industries/niches. If you’re looking for someone who offers listing coordination, lead management, website assistance, copywriting, blogging, marketing, social networking and/or transaction management look for a VA that specializes in these areas. Most real estate virtual assistants offer these unique real estate services, but it is important that they have the knowledge and experience.

3. Cheaper isn’t always better. Even though you are on a budget that does not mean to find the VA who has the lowest fees. I know it is tempting, but in the long run it could cost you more. Why… if a VA is charging less than the average rate, think about how many clients are they going to contract with before the break even in their business. The last thing you want to do is not have the deadlines met, too busy to call you and give you personal attention, mistakes because they are rushing. This will leave you with a bad experience. Remember, you get what you pay for and in most cases the higher the fee the more experience the VA will have and in the long run will save you money.

4. Virtual Assistants are Business Owners. The virtual assistant is a business owner and should run their business like a business. They may work all hours of the day and night, but they have a business and should run their business like any other successful business. Virtual assistants are organized professionals and they have systems in place to ensure their business runs smoothly so they can take care of their clients. When contacting a VA keep this in mind. This is to your advantage. They have a process of scheduling appointments for client consultations and will offer to try to meet your timeline, but may not always be able to, so work together on this. They are giving you their time for free to consult with you and to discuss your specific needs. Each client is different and will require at least an hour to determine if there is a good fit to work together, making sure they can accommodate your needs, etc. You should never work with a VA until you have spoken to them and confirmed they can handle your tasks and projects. This is the most important part of the process when working with a VA and if the VA determines they cannot meet your needs they will be happy to recommend someone who can. Everyone wants to have a positive experience and it is important to remember that the VA has your best interest.

5. Sign the dotted line. Once you and the VA decide to move forward with your working relationship they will send you an agreement, which you will be required to sign. Make sure to read it. It is important to know and agree to exactly what is expected of each other. The agreement will include information about the fees, terms & conditions etc.

And remember to schedule weekly, bi-weekly or monthly conference calls to stay on target and comfortable with the relationship.

Having a real estate virtual assistant on your team is a great asset and the return on investment in priceless. They can help you to become more organized, help you focus on what is important and allowing you to have the time you need for your business or personal life.

Your Virtual Assistant will help you plan, strategize and achieve the goals you have set for yourself. And if you have worked with a virtual assistant and had a bad experience don’t let that leave a bad taste in your mouth. Find another one. I guarantee if you work together and communicate the possibilities are endless.

Social Networking - Where You Need To Be NOW

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 04:54:00 +0000

All the buzz among today's conversations is social networking. Are you constantly being asked "What is your Twitter profile?, What is the link to your Facebook profile? Are you on LinkedIn?" You might answer yes to all these questions, but deep down thinking "I don't have a clue."

Everywhere you turn you are seeing the new term "Social Marketing Expert", but is anyone really an expert? The Social Networking phenomena is just now catching on and those like me who have been at it for months I suppose can be called the experts, but the question you should be asking is "What makes you a Social Marketing Expert?" "What can you do to help me get to the next level?"

The first thing you need to understand is by just setting up an account and a creating a profile does not do all that much for you. Sure, your on the network, but unless you really get involved it does not all that much for you in the way of search engine optimization, exposure, etc.

This is where you need someone that understands how to work each network for you and your business.

As a virtual assistant specializing in real estate assistance I have seen this new way of marketing work, but only if it is done correctly. It can be a very time consuming task if you don't know what you are doing, so you have to research each network to see how it will benefit you and what steps you should take to make that happen.

Because I am a virtual assistant my job is to stay on the leading edge of technology. As part of my services I offer today's business owner the help they need in setting up their social marketing action plan and making sure it is implemented to benefit you and the industry you work with.

If I may plug my services here - I think it is vital to your business to get on board with social networking even if you don't "get it" just yet. This is where I will help you and save you the trouble learning what I already know. Save time by having Kim Hughes & Company put in the forefront with your peers, industry leaders, clients, and more.

You can view my profiles on each one of the social networks in the left column to see I do know what I am doing and I do know how to help you.

So, get on the social networks today! My in-depth action plan is one that I have spent hours putting together and it is exclusively for my clients and know that your return on investment is unbelievable.

Feedburner Moving to Google

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:46:00 +0000

If you have not heard, Google has acquired
FeedBurner. In order to maintain your feeds you will need to move your FeedBurner account over to Google no later than February 29, 2009.

If you are wondering why do I need to do this take a minute to visit the FAQs Transferring FeedBurner Accounts to Google Accounts FAQ.

If you already have a Google Account, then you would use that username to make the transfer, if you don't have an account with Google you can open one by visiting Google.

Once you move your feeds your old FeedBurner feeds with automatically redirect traffic to the new address.

This is a very quick and painless tasks, but if you are not sure what to do ask your virtual assistant to assist you with this very important tasks. Just another way your virtual assistant can help you with your everyday business.

10 Things to ask when Getting a Mortgage Loan

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:17:00 +0000

As a member of several groups across various social networks it is my responsibility as a real estate virtual assistant to know what is going on the the real estate industry. I came across this article today and though this would be something of value to my readers. Let me know what you think.

We know that buying a home is a big and important decision. Selecting a good Loan Officer is a key part of your financial success. You will find our way of finding a good Loan Officer may be different from other blogs or postings. I am seeing quite a few blogs or posts that are saying the same thing and I find the questions do not really pertain to finding a good Loan Officer. Also, I find it interesting to learn that a company is selling the data.

What we have below did not come from any source that we paid for but comes from the heart and after being in the industry for a long time. At LendingLadies.com, we find character and experience plays a large part in finding a good Loan Officer. Therefore our questions are based upon that. If someone is a smart and truly caring person, they will end up being a good Loan Officer. It does not mean that everyone will agree with us, but some of you will. Please see our suggested list of questions to ask below. As always, LendingLadies.com encourages you to ask us the questions below.

Please pass this along to anyone who will be obtaining a loan in the future.

Do you guarantee your fees on a Good Faith Estimate? (This is important. You do not want to work with someone who will last minute add an additional charge. Please do get this in writing)
Have you won any national or local awards? ( If someone is good, they will be recognized)
Do you volunteer in the community? (We suggest you also ask in more detail. If a Loan Officer is a truly caring person, it will show in their efforts in the community. If they care about their community, they will care about finding you your best home loan. You do not want to work with one who only helps a few hours a year but does so on a monthly basis)
Do you have any references or testimonials? (A good Loan Officer will have these available)
How long have you been doing this? (You want to ask this since experience does pay)
What makes you different from the other Loan Officers? ( It is good to learn their own perspective on how they perceive themselves)
Do you prefer a fixed mortgage or an adjustable? Why do you choose so? (Write down what they say and really think about their answer)
Can you shop several different banks local or non local, or do you close loans for one bank? (You do not want to work with someone who is limited on their products or rates. You want to work with someone who can shop different financial institutions and find the best loan for you)
Do you have any specials? (You just never know what they may have going on that they would not tell you without you asking)
Are you willing to speak to my accountant or financial advisor to insure I will receive the best home loan? (You want to look for someone who is willing to work with your team of experts)

Written by Jessica Peterson with Lending Ladies.

5 Tricks to Managing Your Time as Real Estate Agent or Real Estate Virtual Assistant

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:09:00 +0000

With a new year comes new goals, so I tweeted on Twitter tonight a tip to write down your top 6 important to-dos for the next day then do them! As a real estate virtual assistant with multiple clients I have to be organized, but when things get crazy I cannot be as organized as I want, but I always get things under control be the end of each and then sit down and plan my next day.

So, this evening I saw that someone replied to my tweet - very cool - I like it when people chat with me. This twitter's profile name is twitter.com/trontastic - Levi Wardell. He tweeted back that he also wrote an article about staying organized so after I read his article I was so excited to share with my clients and anyone that read my blog. You do read my blog, right?

Anyway, Levi gave me his blessing to re-blog the article so here it is.

5 Tricks to Managing Your Time as an SEO

f you’re like me and have 100 different tasks that need to be done on a daily basis, it is critical to manage your time carefully in order to get it all done. Personally, I’ve always struggled with this so like I usually do, I took the bull by the horns and made conquering this obstacle a pet project.

In doing so I found a few ways to manage my time that I thought I’d share with you. Is this going to be an eye opening, never before revealed super secret blog post? Not unless you have been asleep most of your life, no. None the less, these are steps that have helped me in a huge way and might warrant reviewing from time to time. So, here we go…

My 5 tricks to managing my time as an SEO -Use 10% less Time to Complete Tasks

Review the processes you go through to complete your regular tasks in order to reduce the amount of time it takes to get them done. For instance, if it takes you 30 minutes to filter through your email every morning, look at why it takes that much time. Perhaps creating filters for your email will help you get to the important emails faster or delete trash emails without having to do it manually. Remember, we’re only talking about 3 minutes being saved from this one task. Add those up for every task you do on a regular basis and you’ll probably end up with a significant amount of free time.

When I did this, I evaluated the time I spend every morning looking at my analytics, going through my email, and planning out my day (ironic, huh?). I recommend you don’t try and tackle all of them at once. I took a few days to approach each task and get my processes down before moving to the next. When all was said and done, I added about 15 minutes to the clock. Not too shabby for only three tasks, right?

Email Is The Devil! Keep it at Bay And You Will Win - The Second Trick

Okay, its not the Devil, but it can suck the ever living life out of your day if you let it get out of control. The best way to keep control of your inbox is to keep it clean. Here is what I do to keep my inbox clean:

Answer emails right away that only take a minute or two.
If answering an email takes longer than that, I’ll let them know I will be getting back to them by day’s end. IF it is urgent, just do it.
Delete what can be deleted as soon as it can be deleted. Don’t let junk pile up!
Create folders to put ‘keepers’ in rather than keeping them all in your inbox.

Sounds easy right? That’s because it is. The problem most face is the lack of time to organize it. Well, that’s on you, but I recommend you find the initial time it takes to clear out the inbox, set up your folders, and get rid of the junk. You’ll feel more organized and won’t run the risk of letting things get buried.

Manage Your Time With a Calendar

Get a desktop calendar, use Outlook, Use Google’s calendar, hell, get a Dallas Cheerleader/fireman (what ever your preference) calendar to put on the wall… I don’t care. Just use a calendar that works for you.

Obviously you’ll want to stay flexible but it is important to schedule out the time you have. Not only that, but try and plan your day out by the times that you know work best for some of your campaigns. Let me esssplain Lucy…

You know the best time to submit an article to Digg is between 9am and 10am so make sure you plan to write your article the afternoon before and have the time in the AM to publish it.

You have noticed that you get the best response from your email campaigns if you send out Thursday afternoon. Mark your calendar to send at 3pm and work backwards, scheduling all the items you need to accomplish before you can send it out. This accomplishes a couple different things: A) You have planned out everything you need to do in order for the email to go out so you won’t have to worry about forgetting anything and B) Allows you to hit your target without it consuming all of your time at once.

Build a Squeeze List

Along with your list of “to-do’s” for the day (I’ll get to the to-do list in a second), create what I call a ‘squeeze list’ of items that only take a few minutes to accomplish and can be done between larger high priority projects. Keep this list with you so when you’re waiting on that article from your copywriter you can knock a couple of them out or while your boss pontificates during a marathon conference call you can use the list to keep you awake.

Build A To-Do List Before Leaving For The Day

Before you leave for the day, review and scratch out what you accomplished and build a new list for the next day. It is important to do it before you leave because you may not remember everything the next day. Also, this way you will come in the next morning with a list already created. Usually you will have a couple things to add once you go through your emails but at least 90% of the work is already done in tasking out your day.

Like I said, none of these are revolutionary, but they are effective; and that is what it’s all about. I’d love to hear ways that you have managed to put hours on the clock, manage your to-do list, or conquer the ever growing pile of requests on your desk so shoot me an email or drop a comment!

Cheers

I want to say thanks to Levi for being so generous with his article and I invite you to visit his blog for some additional tips, etc.

Change The Way You Think in 2009

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:55:00 +0000

Well, here we are moving into a New Year! I am thrilled to leave 2008 behind, but take the experiences of 2008 with me. On the eve of the New Year I always look at the good and the bad that I experienced in the previous year, feel the experience again and then decide what I take with me that will improve my life into the new year. 2008 is no exception. I had some crazy things happen - as the movie is called "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly". Can't we all relate to the title? We all have experiences in life, but which one's are you going to take with you in to the new year. Make sure you take the positive experiences with you, but remember the not so positive one's - these will keep you grounded.

So, this morning I am reading Chris Brogan's blog and thought is was great, so take a minute to visit what he has to say about going into 2009. Then take a minute to reflect.

One thing I know I will take from 2008 with me into 2009 and that is the friendships I made, my clients appreciation, the knowledge and the ideas that I generated that will make such an impact on my life.

Wishing you a wonderful new year! Make it count and take time to help others - even if it is just to say hi to a stranger. It is amazing the impact we all can make by just smiling and showing compassion towards one another.

ActiveRain Tip - Make It Work For You

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:04:00 +0000

If you want to know the #1 benefit of working with a real estate virtual assistant is we are constantly educating ourselves with the daily changes to how the Internet and Technology works. In the 10 years of being a real estate virtual assistant I have built some very solid friendships with REALTORS across country. We chat about what is going on with the real estate markets and by having this relationship with so many I am kept informed of what is going on everywhere.

So, today I am talking with my friend and client Sam Miller in Knox County, Ohio about Social Networking and how it has impacted our business. During this call we are going over some projects for the first quarter of 2009. One of the goals is to make sure his social networking sites are reviewed and updated. This lead to a conversation about Active Rain.

Active Rain has over 126,000 members today and membership continues to grows. As with any program you have to stay educated on what changes/updates are being made.

When viewing ActiveRain blogs have you ever noticed the "View all Real Estate listings in your area" field, which is up in the left corner of the screen, and a field for the consumer to enter their "city". If you have never noticed this go to your blog on Active Rain then look for this field then put in your city. Notice where the link takes you - JustListed.com - all the leads from Active Rain are being passed along to HOUSEVALUES.com participating agents! Why? I have no idea, but thanks to Sam I can show you how to make sure you get the lead.

Here is how to correct this issue:

1. First make sure the home search field does not already point to your IDX. If it doesn’t then follow these instructions:

2. Log into your AR Control Panel, click on Settings, scroll to the bottom of the page and UNCHECK the box that says "Show the Listing Router search box". Then click "Update" to save your changes

3. If you have an IDX system, follow the instructions below to set up the Listing Router Search to utilize YOUR IDX system for the cities in your MLS area. When you go into Listing Router, go down to the second item to set up...."My Markets" to route inquiries to your own IDX search for that town. You will need to add the direct link on your IDX for every town you want included, but at least the result is that those leads will come to YOU! Once that is completed, you can go back into your Settings and re-enable the search box.

4. Make sure to add your "custom link", the very last Settings item. This will appear to the right of your name at the top of your blog. Another way to capture the leads you are generating.

5. Be sure the IDX site you are directing visitors to has a good lead capture system in place. The "Find Homes For Sale" search box will now appear at the top of your screen and will "Float" as visitors scroll through your Blog, your profile, and your individual posts. Searching for property is literally just one click away now."

If you are not a member of ActiveRain, send me an email Kim@KimHughes.com and I will send you an invite.

Real Pro Systems Gold 3

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:44:00 +0000

It just keeps getting better and better! If you are a member of the RealPro Systems Family and you have not upgraded your system to Gold3 - now is the time to make the change.

When you make the upgrade you don't have to worry about finding the time or have the knowledge to do this, just ask your real estate virtual assistant to assist you with implementing the new system.

I love Real Pro Systems! As one of the first real estate virtual assistants to use the program with my clients I will say that there are so many success stories with this program that you will just have to call me so I can share them.

Real Estate Virtual Assistants are the solution to working with the RealPro Systems Team. They are so helpful, patient, and fun to talk to. I don't think I have ever called and an answering system picked up - I have always reached a live person. That right there is a huge benefit and the help is immediate.

Because Real Estate Virtual Assistants have many clients using the program we are experienced in setting up your system quickly.

Visit RealPro Systems TODAY! This is the best investment you can make for your business. OH! Tell them Kim Hughes sent you.

The Law of Attraction for Real Estate Professionals

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:13:00 +0000

I just read the below article in Dr. Maya Bailey's Real Town Articles - I think it is worth sharing.

Did you know that your thoughts and intentions play a big part in your success? Not only that, but what you choose to focus on determines what you'll attract?

This article describes the Law of Attraction and why it's so important to master this Law. By learning how to implement the Law of Attraction you'll be able to create your Ideal Income.

The 5 steps:

Step 1: Get clear on what you don't want.

It sounds strange doesn't it to focus on what you don't want? However, that's what most of us do all the time, unconsciously.

In my 30 years of empowering people to reach their goals, I have discovered that most people are focusing on what they don't want . So, for example, if they have a pile of bills, they'll focus on their pile of bills and their lack of money. What do they get? More of what they are focusing on.

Step 2: Get clear on what you do want.

For everything that you don't want, ask yourself, "So what do I want?" By doing that, you are sending signals to your conscious and subconscious mind to bring you more of what you do want. If money is your concern and there is a big contrast between the money you have and the money you want, put your focus on the money you want.

Step 3: Create your desire statement.

So after you begin focusing on what you do want, write a paragraph describing what you desire. If it's about money, then write out a Desire statement describing you Ideal Money Situation, as if it were happening right now. For example, "I now have an abundance of prosperity. Every month there is more coming in than going out. I am happily buying what I need and I have money left over......" and so forth.

Step 4: Clear your beliefs.

What would block you from manifesting the prosperity that you want? When I ask my clients that question, I usually get answers like, "I don't deserve it". "No one in my family makes that amount of money." "If I have that money everyone will want some of it and I'll never know if people like me or they like my money." "I don't' have what it takes to succeed at that level".

So what self-limiting beliefs do you have? What stops you from having your ideal income? What self sabotaging strategies do you use?

Step 5: Allow it to come to you.

In other words, suspend all doubt and just trust that you'll be guided into inspired action. By following your hunches and keeping your focus on what you want, you become increasingly magnetic.

A tip: Read your desire statement each day out loud and feel what it feels like to have it. Really allow your self to experience it so that you magnetize it to you.

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Dr. Maya Bailey, author of, Law of Attraction for Real Estate Professionals, integrates 20 years of experience as a psychologist and 12 years as a business coach with her expertise in the Law of Attraction. Her powerful work creates a success formula for real
estate professionals ready to double and triple their incomes. Get Dr. Maya's free report, 7 Simple Strategies For More Clients in 90 Days, by visiting . Also, check out her new Success Program, designed to help you get focused , motivated, stay on track and create a Positive Mindset, no matter what.
www.90DaystoMoreClients.com

Managing Twitter - Great Add-ons

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:34:00 +0000

Most likely you are Twittering and if not then why not? It is a cool way to social network with others in your industry and to get referrals, new business or just to stay in-touch.

Being a real estate virtual assistant, I have been twittering for a while now, but found it took to much of my time, so I did not focus on using it until I found two great add-on tools. If you are like me you want what works and is effective. So, try these two add-on programs to Twitter and then follow me. I will follow you back.

Twitter Deck - The only add-on I have found useful in managing my time with Twitter. TweetDeck enables users to split their main feed (All Tweets) into topic or group specific columns allowing a broader overview of tweets. Make sure to set up Groups! You can set up groups for real estate agents, virtual assistants, friends, family, etc. and keep everyone organized.

Twitter for Blackberry Users - Have everything set up on your Blackberry so you can manage your tweets anywhere - anytime.

If you are using a different PDA and want to install Twitter, just do a Google search and you will find a program for that PDA.

And, don't forget to follow me - Kim Hughes - Real Estate Virtual Assistant

A Word to the wise, don't just twitter about silly things, make your tweets and eye-catcher. The more you have to offer the more followers you will get.

NJAR Triple Play Realtor Convention in Full Swing

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:38:00 +0000

When attending the NJAR Triple Play Realtor(R) Convention this week you will find more than 7,000 Realtors who are taking the time to invest in their business by attending classes, seminars, checking out the latest real estate programs and best of all learning how a real estate virtual assistant can help them take their business to the next level.

Just how savvy are these Realtors? Well, yesterday during a seminar on real estate virtual assistants a Realtor called me from his Blackberry after doing a Google search and found me at the top of the list. While he was sitting in the seminar we discussed the virtual assistant services he would need as the speaker gave his presentation. During this time I sent him the information he needed and we are well on our way to taking his business to the next level.

When considering the services a well qualified real estate virtual assistant offers ask them more in-depth questions and be very clear as to what your specific needs are. Every Realtor is different and require different needs. The last thing you want is a real estate virtual assistant that cannot walk the walk.

Real Estate Virtual Assistants offer the knowledge and experience every Realtor needs and we can take an idea to the next level or take your request and enhance it. Real Estate Virtual Assistants are a vital part of your business, so take the next step and ask one how we can make 2009 your best year yet.

The #1 Question Asked By Today's Homeowner

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:42:00 +0000

In the real estate industry the #1 question is.... What is my home worth in today's market? Now you can get the latest quarterly median home price for your market, and its percentage change from the previous quarter by clicking here.

Real Estate Virtual Assistants offer you the tools you need to succeed in today's economy. Real Estate Virtual Assistants are creating ideas for you to use in your business so you do not spend valuable time in research. I have been offering virtual assistance to real estate professionals for 10 years now and if you are interested in the services of a REVA, but not sure how you would use the skills of one, then ask another agent that actually uses one or better yet ask a real estate virtual assistant how they can assist you.

Are Your Photos Legal?

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:19:00 +0000

Something interesting happened today, I was contacted by a past real estate client today that the images I used on his website were being used illegally! I, of course, did not use any photos for his website or any other clients website illegally. As a real estate virtual assistant I know better than that and I responded to him that any photo that I personally used on his website were purchased through www.istockphotos.com and I have receipts to verify this and was happy to produce them at a given moment to anyone challenging this fact.

Since I started my company in 1999, as a real estate virtual assistant, I knew right away to always buy your photos or at least get permission from the photographer, not the person who has the photo, but the person who took the photo. This is important because if you get permission from anyone other than the original owner this does not mean anything in court. So always go to the source for permission.

It took me a matter of 5 minutes to open my archives on past clients, pull his folder and review the photos and review the invoice with the photo. I then told the client if anyone was challenging him on this have them contact me to resolve this situation.

In a matter of minutes this problem was resolved, so lesson here people, get a receipt and save it where you can find it. This was a project I worked on over 3 years ago. The IRS says they can legally request your past 7 years of tax returns, but if you need to prove you have the right to use an image, an article, etc. make sure you keep very good records on everything you purchase.

My personal opinion of the online photo company is they are bullies and they are looking for ways to take your money. I researched this company only to find out that they are notorious for sending these emails, but when challenged they back-off. So, don't panic if you get this type of letter, just make sure you can prove it and if not make them prove you do not have the rights. Don't just send them money, make them prove it to you.

And, be careful in the way you use images from Google Images, Flickr , etc. Check to see if the image or photos are copyrighted and if you do find a photo on the Internet ask them where they got the photo and then get permission.

This also goes for articles. Do not take an article without written permission from the author and when you have permission make sure you link back to them for credit.

We all can play nice in the sandbox, just know the rules.

Are You Prepared to Send Your Holiday Cards?

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:44:00 +0000

Well, another task that a virtual assistant can assist you with is preparing your holiday cards. How can a virtual assistant help you with this important task you ask? Well, all you need to do is send the virtual assistant your holiday cards, database, postage and the message you would like to include along with your signature. The virtual assistant will write the message in each card, include your signature, prepare it for mailing, place a stamp on the envelope and take it to the post office for you. And, if you would like to include a gift, your virtual assistant can order it for you.

But, what if you don't want to delegate this important project to a virtual assistant, but you still do not have the time to get this together. Well, you might want to consider Send Out Cards to help you out. Once you open your account you can upload your database, choose your card, include your message to each one of your recipents, choose your gift, choose the date to send the card and gift and then SUBMIT.

Or, you can have your virtual assistant handle this for you as well. All you need to do is open the account. This literally takes 5 minutes at the most.

By having this incredible time-saving, cost effective program you can send cards on a whelm. Send a birthday card, thinking of you card, congratulations on your new home card, thank you for the referral card and the list goes on. This program offers you unlimited possibilities and one that is becoming the must have program for any real estate agent or for any business for that matter.

Want more information on how this program works? Easy, go to Send Out Cards and take a look around. Want a personal walk-through on how this program is going to benefit you and your business? Then let me take you on a tour of the back-end. If you have 20 minutes - it could be the best 20 minutes you ever spent on your business.

Have a Great Weekend!

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:43:00 +0000

Heading to Nacogdoches to see my son, Phillip play in the yearly Rugbyfest at Stephen F. Austin University. Go Lumberjacks! Phillip has the ball. #12!

Listings That Have The WOW Factor

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:03:00 +0000

Here's the scoop on how to make the seller go "WOW"! In today's real estate market agents need to step up their game when it comes to listing presentation. You need to make yourself stand out when you are going through the pre-listing stages and the bottom line with any seller is "What are you going to do for my property to give it the exposure it deserves?"

You need to have your real estate virtual assistant create some very impressive marketing pieces - both direct and Internet. Here is a sample checklist of what you should be showing the seller what you will do for their property.

Create the content for the listing. Of course, mention everything that is special, updated and unique, but you might also have the seller write a few paragraphs on why their home is special. They will mention features that maybe you have not, talk about the neighborhood, etc. Then you can incorporate this in your marketing.

Take lots of photos and make sure they are in a high resolution for printing. You will also want to walk through the home to have the seller remove items to make the home have less clutter. You might consider bringing in a stagger at this point, but the bottom line when taking photos of the inside and outside is to make sure the home is clean and clutter free.

You might also consider taking photos of the neighborhood, shopping areas and anything other points of interest.

Create impressive flyers that can be distributed in the neighborhood, placed in the home and for the Broker's Tour.

Create Just Listed postcards that are colorful and that will get noticed.

Create virtual tours that is not only going to WOW the seller, but any buyer that sees it as well.

Once you have all the information on the home, your photos, and any other important information then you can send it all to your real estate virtual assistant and she can then begin the putting the WOW on all your marketing, virtual tours, adding it to your websites, creating e-blast to your database of buyers, past clients, etc., and don't forget the agents in your database. You just never know where that buyer will come from.

Create a Single Property website on the listing. This is where you purchase the address as the domain name and you have the ability to add photos, content, documents, etc so the buyers can see everything at once.

Make sure you as your real estate virtual assistant to submit the listing to all the free real estate submission sites. There are quite a few and some of these submission site will feed to others. Some are free and some are fee based. An example is www.Craigslist.com, www.Trulia.com, www.GoogleBase.com

Once the seller becomes a client you need to set them up on your birthday card campaign, put them in your database and set them up on your Current Seller Plan and Seller drip campaign and you monthly newsletter.

Now that the listings marketing is completed and everything is up and running you need to make sure you send your sellers a monthly report on what is going on, what you are doing to market the property and share the feedback with them. This is another area that your real estate virtual assistant can assist you. Seller Reports are so important to your listing plan and one that is expected by the seller.

If you do not have some of the pieces to the above in place for your listings, now is the time to act. Get organized on what you will do for the seller and set a plan in motion.

Kim Hughes & Company's clients use Agency Logic to create their Single Property websites. Agency Logic has been the leader when it comes to setting your properties apart from the others and they very cost effective. The best thing about this program is you can send seller reports straight from the control panel to your sellers.

Visit Agency Logic for a special price when you click here.

With a slow down in the real estate market now is time to take action and get yourself organized with your listing procedure. Step-up to WOW today's seller with the marketing you offer and with the assistance of a real estate virtual assistant there is no reason you can't.

Ready to Find a real estate virtual assistant? Go to www.REVARoundtable.com to review over 30 real estate assistants profiles or submit an RFP outlining the services you need assistance with.

If you need more information on how to work with a real estate virtual assistant, please contact Kim Hughes. Kim will be happy to discuss the benefits of working with a real estate virtual assistant and even help you find the one that is right for you.

Shadow a Successful Real Estate Agent!

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:43:00 +0000

Ever wonder how the top real estate agents in the industry became so successful and how do they continue to be successful? Well, now you can shadow these successful agents and learn how they do what they do and create a successful plan for your business.

Craig Lerch, Jr. who is probably the nicest person you will ever meet and I can certainly vouch for this since I have worked with him personally as his real estate virtual assistant. Read his testimonial about my services. This is one testimonial I am very proud to have in my portfolio.

Anyway, Craig and Melissa Crockett Willis - both Howard Britton Star Power Stars have joined together to offer Virtual Shadowing to you and you do not have to pay thousands of dollars to "shadow" those amazing real estate professionals.

Mike Reid, Melissa Crockett Willis and Craig Lerch, Jr. have come together to create an experience that will rock you and your business to the next level.

Learn more about this amazing virtual shadowing program and be sure to Sign Up for Email News!

Have you hear of "Hour of Howard"?

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 06:44:00 +0000

Being one of only two real estate virtual assistants that has received the honor as a Star Power Recommended Supplier I am always excited to see what Howard is going to bring to the real estate agent today.

I just receieved his special announcement of a webinar that is coming up next week, which I am sure you do not want to miss. Check it out! You will be glad you did!

Join Howard Britton of Go Star Power for the Hour of Howard educational webinar "Marketing: YOU – Top of Mind With Today’s Consumer!". Howard Brinton and STAR POWER Stars Tami Spaulding and Heidi Hines will reveal the secrets of...

How to generate steady referrals
That, YES, Farming still works
How to make easy contacts with your market How to utilize the Press to your advantage Many Time Tested Winners!

Send me a quick email after the webinar and let me know what you got from it. I would love to hear your opinions.

Get The Exposure You Deserve... Constantly!

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:00:00 +0000

In today's real estate market it is vital to market your services so your potential, current and past clients remember you when they are ready to buy or sell.

The Newest Internet Tool Available is a MUST for Any Business owner, but it has proven to be a great success with today's Real Estate Agent.

Just imagine that every time someone conducts a search online for a product, service, etc they see your branding. This will remind them of you and what you have to offer.

I was introduced to this cleaver tool at a real estate convention back in September and it is the hottest thing going.

Interested in knowing more about this great marketing tool? Download the tool here and then look at my branding when the toolbar comes up when you conduct a search on the internet.

This is what is called "Smart Marketing"!

National Association of Realtors Convention - Check Out The Expo!

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:56:00 +0000

If you re planning to attend the National Association of Realtors Convention this year in Orlando, Florida then you must have on your list to visit the NAR Expo. This is where you will find a huge amount of excitement. New products and programs to help you build your business and run it more effecently. Here are my top 5 programs to check out.

www.Gooder Group.com - Booth 1821
At last, there is a 4-in-1 integrated system that includes lead-capture web forms, plug-in website content and automated drip e-mail (new "green" e-HomeNews) all in one easy-to-use system you can plug into as many websites as you have. RAINMAKER E-CENTRAL® helps you generate more leads...enrich all your websites...and follow up every prospect without lifting a finger. All this, PLUS unlimited Rainmaker Microsites™ included. Maximizing referrals and generating repeat business now is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3.

www.RealProSystems.com - Booth 3960
Real Pro Gold is the complete agent system that provides all the essential tools you need to take your business to the next level. Five tools integrated in a single system gives you a productivity advantage, so you can spend more time selling real estate!

www.TopProducer.com - See the latest upgrade 8i - Booth 2821 or booth 4434
op Producer helps you manage day-to-day communication and activities with leads, customers, employees, or anyone else that matters to your business. With Top Producer 8i you know exactly who you have talked to, what you talked about, and what you need to do next.

www.SettlementRoom.com - Booth 3851
If you participate in, manage, or coordinate real estate listings or transactions, then SettlementRoom's web-based real estate software will impress your clients with online status reports, while simultaneously managing, tracking, and archiving every transaction.

www.VisualTour.com - Booth 2331
The VisualTour Marketing System is a complete, turn-key system that includes everything that you need to create, host and display your own web or CD based virtual tours complete with your own branding using nothing more than your own digital camera. Your VisualTour System includes UNLIMITED toll free telephone training and support ensuring that you can learn to use your system productively and profitably very quickly.

While visiting these real estate vendors remember that you do not really need to know how each program works in detail or become frustrated in having to learn a new program. Why? Because a real estate virtual assistant can run each and everyone of these programs for you. This will save you time and money and the beauty of all this is - take your business to the next level.

If you have questions about how a real estate virtual assistant can help you in your business you will find a lot of information at Kim Hughes and Company or visit REVA Roundtable. REVA Roundtable is the newest and becoming the best place to find a real estate virtual assistant.

Have fun at NAR and let a real estate virtual assistant help you implement the programs and strategies when you return.

Host a Home Buyer Seminar

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:41:00 +0000

I have a real estate client in the state of Iowa that is gearing up to hold a Home Buyer Seminar. With today’s economy and the stale real estate market you, the real estate virtual assistant, can offer to put together the details so the seminar goes smoothly and is a huge success. If your a real estate agent looking to conduct your first seminar you need to be organized and ready to answer some tough questions.

So what does it take to put on a successful buyer’s seminar? The steps are easy to do. They include lining up your speakers, selecting their topics, setting a date, selecting a location, arranging prizes for attendees, advertising your seminar, watching your seminar budget and offering a valuable information-filled program to the attendees.

Have Industry Speakers

You invite whom you want to participate, and you decide what they will talk about. You will want to have about four speakers including yourself to complete a two-hour program. Choose your speakers from among a mortgage broker, an attorney, a title company representative, a home inspector, and an appraiser. Draw on your experience and ask your speakers to address the most common questions you face from your prospective clients.

Most popular topics are consistently:

* How a Buyer Agent Can Save You Money
* How A Buyer Agent Find’s The Perfect Home For You
* Home Inspection Horror Stories
* The Reason You Need A Lawyer
* How To Get A Downpayment
* What You Need To Know About Qualifying For A Mortgage

Set a Time and Date

Once you have your speakers, you need to set a date; Hold your seminars every 6 weeks (in a town of 26,000), and promote them for 3 weeks before the date. The best days to hold a seminar are Tuesday & Thursday. Start at 7:30 sharp, and make sure everyone is out by 9:30, although you can be available for one-on-one questions after that time. I’ve found 7:30 to be the best start time as the majority of the population here commutes at least 45 minutes, and they need time to get dinner, etc. before the seminar.

Find a location

As far as location is concerned, I suggest that you use someplace that is:

* Easy to find
* Lots of parking
* Room for your projected attendance
* Decent Acoustics

Some examples of nice, low-cost places to stage a seminar are:

* Library
* Conference Center
* Community Hall
* High School Auditorium
* Restaurant / Hotel Meeting room

Limit attendance

A trick I figured out after helping my real estate client prepare for his first seminar (for which 63 people signed up) is to limit the attendance. I would set a limit to 24 people, and require advance registration. Once the limit is reached, you can either get the people in for a private session, or offer to sign them up for the next seminar. I chose to limit the attendance for 2 reasons

1.It creates a more immediate call-to-action on the part of prospective attendees
2. The question period can get far too long with more attendees

We find that only a few of the people who sign up in the first week of advertising will show up, and nearly everyone who signs up in the week of the seminar will show up.

Gifts & Incentives

All attendees are entered in a drawing for a free appraisal when they buy through you. Also, everyone who attends and buys through you gets a free home inspection and free title insurance. (you pay a discounted fee for the home inspection and the title insurance.) The mortgage broker pays for 30% of the advertising, and I pay all the other expenses. You may not want to charge the lawyer to be a speaker, because you probably get lots of free service from him as it is.

Insuring attendance

Once someone signs up, mail them a coupon for their free gifts (only valid if they buy through you) to be authorized at the seminar, a coupon to enter the draw-prize, a newsletter, and a letter thanking them for attending. We send all this in a 9″ x 12″ white envelope with a color logo on it, promoting the seminar, and listing the same information as the newspaper ads.

You can have your virtual assistant call all registrants the night before the seminar, to remind people. If someone says they can’t make it, you can call one of the people who had to be put off until the following seminar.

Advertising the seminar

Start running a 4.5″ x 6″ ad in the weekly real estate section of your local paper 3 weeks before the seminar. The ad costs us $92 per insertion, and is 3 color. I outline the speakers; topics covered; the gifts to attendees, and the location/date. For my next seminar on May 11th, I am running a 1/2 page ad, in full color, at a cost of $350 per insertion. This ad will contain a testimonial letter from one of the past seminar attendees who I have sold a home to; the other half contains what I’ve previously outlined.

We also distribute 8.5″ x 11″ posters to all the stores and businesses in the area. These are on obnoxious neon paper, and outline the same thing as the newspaper ads.

Other venues for advertising that we use are:

* Web site ( www.desmoineshomesource.com)
* A fax cover sheet that is used exclusively for the week prior to the seminar
* An insert into all the mail my company sends out

Another advertising source I have considered is having mail delivered to all the apartments in town; the postal service offers a discount for this, but it would still cost $470 for 1440 apartments.

Controlling costs

* Hall: $60
* Refreshments: $25
* Newspaper Ads: $276 - $92 paid by mortgage broker = $184
* Posters (incl. delivery) $25
* Binders: $420
* Giveaways: $70
* Total: $768

A couple of notes here: we don’t include the amount we pay for the inspection & title insurance, because it is not an expense until they buy. Also, the binders cost me $30 each because they are custom Better Homes and Gardens binders with lots of color pages in them; again, ask your real estate virtual assistant to put together 30 of them. The she can mail them to me.

You might think that the binders are an excessive cost, but they are well worth it; people are amazed that they get to keep them, and they bring it with them whenever we are looking at houses.

Is putting on a buyer’s seminar worth the planning and expense. I think so.

If you are considering a Home Buyer or Home Seller Seminar, ask your virtual assistant to help you with the planning of what is becoming a popular way to get in front of leads and explain the process.

If you would like more information, please let me know. Email me at Kim@kimHughes.com or leave a comment on this blog.

Certified Distressed Property Expert Designation

KimDHughes@gmail.com (Kim Hughes) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:35:00 +0000

A brand new and very timely certification now available to REALTORS®: Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE).

A homeowner in distress needs to have th confidence in their licensed REALTOR(R) that they have the tools to help them find the best solution for their situation.

Foreclosure is a devastating financial and emotional process for a homeowner to go through, and in many cases they do so alone and without help of any kind. It is the goal of the Distressed Property Institute to give agents the tools and information they need to avoid foreclosure and move forward with their lives.

If you are attending the Star Power convention in July you will want to take note that Star Power is offering an exclusive preview regarding the CDPE designation.