11 Poisonous Plants in Home Gardens
There's no denying their beauty, but if these plants are ingested, or in some cases merely touched, reactions can range from discomfort to death. It pays to know these potentially poisonous plants, so... »
Business Partner Tips
The Path to Career Satisfaction
If you find yourself daydreaming about finding a career you're actually passionate about, you're not alone. The following TED Talks may help you dig deeper and reveal why finding or creating a satisfying... »
The Domino Effect
Did you know that a single domino is capable of bringing down another domino that is actually 50% larger. With this random fact in mind, think of this... If you started with a single... »
An Agent’s Guide to Lower Car Expenses
As a real estate pro, chances are you spend a great deal of time in your car traveling to open houses, driving clients to showings and familiarizing yourself with neighborhoods. Here are a... »
Six Checkout Line Hacks
It's frustrating to make your way to grocery or retail registers only to find long, winding lines that await you. And, sometimes it feels like you get stuck in the slowest one. These six... »
Everyone Makes a Difference
Do you add to or take away from the experience of your customers and colleagues? Do you move your organization closer to or further from its goals? Do you perform your work in... »
Beware of These IRS Audit Triggers
Now that tax season has come to a close, there's no better time to get organized for next year while everything is fresh in your mind. As a real estate agent, there are many... »
Construction Junction, What’s Your Function?
New Home Sales and Housing Starts posted high marks recently, and homebuilder sentiment was positive too. The Commerce Department reported that sales of new homes in February hit a seven-month high, rising 6.1 percent... »
Now Presenting!
You can't win all listings, but you can win more with a cue from these top listing presentation techniques: Pave the way. When potential sellers call, asking intake questions about why they want to... »
Apps for Busy Agents
These great apps help busy real estate pros be more productive. Doodle ends back-and-forth appointment scheduling hassles. It synchronizes your personal and work calendars, then allows others to select a mutually convenient time. Free... »
Improving Leadership Wherever You Are
It is such a joy to join a team like HomeBridge. For most of my career I have been in various leadership and management roles. A few years ago I began writing about... »
The Right Pro for the Job
Whether buying a fixer-upper or updating their home to sell, clients may be interested in home renovations. If it's their first renovation-rodeo, give them some guidance on where to start when hiring a... »
Six Principles to Perfect Persuasion
Highly persuasive people don't fall into a single personality type, but they all share some fundamental skills. Here are six key principles to follow to be more persuasive: Present the positive. Always position your... »
Helping Prospects Who Have a Friend in the Business
Don't let objections scare you off. In fact, each objection you hear is an opportunity to get valuable information and help move a step closer to gaining authentic trust with clients. While "I... »
Timing Testimonials
As more and more homeowners head online for real estate information, getting great testimonials and reviews needs to become a key component of a well-rounded marketing plan. Since you already provide stellar customer service,... »
A New Take on Old Tech
It used to be that electronics and devices performed a single job. But at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), manufacturers unveiled a host of products that expand our notions of what household... »
You Gotta Have Heart
February is American Heart Month, and a perfect reminder to make small changes that can have a big impact in your heart health. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the... »
Dessert in 6 Ingredients or Less
Dive into dessert with these simple recipes in no time flat—all requiring six ingredients or less. Trouble-Free Tiramisu (Serves 2) 14 vanilla wafers, divided 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules 2 tablespoons hot water 2 snack-size... »
Break the Ice Like a Networking Star
Opening up a dialogue at a networking event, and keeping your intentions for business development clear, is easier than it may appear. While the most effective opener is, in fact, saying "hi" and... »
FHA Reducing Annual Insurance Premiums
As the nation’s housing market continues to improve, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro announced today the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will reduce the annual premiums most borrowers will pay by... »
Bad Habit Busters
Establishing habits is how our brains simplify tasks, saving time and energy for more important matters. The only problem is not-so-healthy patterns can develop into habitual behaviors we would rather not have. Here are... »
Beat the Winter Break Blues
Taking a little extra time to make days off more special for kids doesn't have to cost a lot of money. Use these activity ideas as a winter fun springboard! Fortify the fun. A favorite... »
Delightful December Drinks
Even if the weather outside is not so frightful, there's nothing like curling up by a fire with a good book and a nice warm beverage. We've chosen three special concoctions perfect for... »
Case Study | How HomeBridge Establishes Customer Satisfaction as a Key Differentiator
HomeBridge had a mission to be the most highly recommended mortgage company in the country. So they set out to achieve it by working hard to satisfy every customer’s needs, going beyond merely... »
Holiday Hosting Hacks
We all love having family and friends home for the holidays, but most of us wish we could spend more time chatting than being on kitchen detail. The following time-saving tips and holiday... »
Instagram Updates Realtors Need to Know
The latest changes to Instagram allow your followers to get in touch with you without leaving the app—and allow you to promote posts with preset calls-to-action (for a nominal fee) from within the app, instead... »
WOOP Your Goals Into Success
Dr. Gabriele Oettingen, psychologist, researcher and author of the book "Rethinking Positive Thinking," says we've been inundated with advice to think positively or visualize success. While visualizing the achievement of our goals may feel good, those... »
Take a Thank You Walk
This week on Chasing Excellence we take another look at The Energy Bus. You might find "The Thank You Walk" to be a bit silly, but I think it's a great idea! Watch this... »
Reclaim the Hours in Your Day
The average workweek in the U.S. is almost eight hours longer than those in the rest of the world. One Harvard Business School study showed 94 percent of subjects worked over 50 hours per week, and of... »
5 Memory Boosters to Learn More in Less Time
Here’s how to quickly commit new things to memory. Take a break. To retain something, you have to pay attention and be deeply engaged, but after awhile, the mind wanders. Take a break every 30-60... »
3 Big Brand Marketing Tips Anyone Can Use
Big brands offer us more than a product (or service). It’s something intangible—from the lifestyle image of Coca-Cola to the creative aura of Apple products; from the timeless luxury of Louis Vuitton, to... »
12 Life Hacks for Social Success
Be confident. People like confident (not cocky!) people. Fake it till you make it. Not confident? Believe you are and eventually you will be. Stay relaxed meeting new people. Nervous? Imagine you already know them. To remember a new... »
5 Tactics for Effective Prospect Follow Up
How we get prospects has changed, but how we follow up has not. It’s easier to close someone you know, a “prospect,” than a stranger, a “lead.” You turn leads into prospects by... »
Do you read industry publications?
It really surprises me how few people read publications that are focused on the industry they are in. By not reading industry publications, you're really being left out of the loop. It's like... »
How to Fact Check the Internet
“Facts” pop up on the Internet and often sound like they’re from a credible source. Here’s how to check them. Fishy headlines. Search the exact headline on Bing or Google. If it’s fake, you’ll see... »
Dreaming Up Ways to Meet Our Goals
"Results aren't the criteria for success - it's the effort made for achievement that's important.” This may be my favorite quote by John Wooden, and it comes from Mortar Quality 5 of Coach... »
4 Keys to Old-Fashioned Customer Care
Today, it’s often called customer service, but the big idea is customer care. In times gone by when local merchants greeted customers by name and doctors made house calls, caring for customers wasn’t... »
Surprisingly Useful Windows Programs to Have on Hand
Here are some Windows apps, which you won’t launch every day, but are incredibly helpful to have. Speccy. This program scans your PC and tells you all the specs—model numbers, fan speeds, how much RAM... »
Four Navy SEAL Tips to Boost Mental Toughness
he Navy SEALs (Sea, Air and Land Teams) are the principal special operations force of the United States Navy. These elite warriors are famed for pushing their physical limits—from dropping out of helicopters... »
Six Ways to Block Distractions at Work
The more productive you are at work, the more time you’ll have to pursue personal interests and take care of your other responsibilities. Nothing cuts into productivity like on-the-job distractions. Here's how to... »