Careers in Real Estate: Working on Commission

1. To close off a deal, they have to establish rapport with the buyers. Moreover, they have to ensure the sellers they are representing are set on selling the property.

It doesn’t help when the owners keep changing their mind each time the economy drops a few points in three months.

2. Clients, in particular couples, will disagree on a LOT of things. 

Husbands and wives will find fault on a counter top, the front door, the ceiling, the windows… the list goes on. It’s such a relief to have them agree on a property after months of looking at showrooms and model units.

3. When they do settle on a property, it’s the one you visited a while back. It can also be the house you visited MONTHS AGO which they insisted on never getting.

Can’t they decide on their dream home sooner?

4. When they finally settle on a home, they get super excited that it becomes your job to keep them in line and act normal in front of the listing agent. Because you know, they may reject your clients.

5. Next, comes the waiting game.

The lending company won’t call you or the company back. Do they even know how long it took these buyers to make up their minds?

Then you have to wait for the listing agent for the disclosure. It may take weeks. Months even.

6. If you ask anyone the most fulfilling part of being in this job, it's getting the offer accepted.

IT’S THE BEST FEELING EVER. 

You own the world. You feel like Jack on Titanic minus the part where you die because you still have a list of stuff for worth catching up.

Finding a listing client, for example. I mean, do you know how difficult it is to convince a seller? Clients can be hard to budge. They often don't know what they're doing. More reason to seek your service so you can offer them guidance. 

7. Still, you need patience. 

You have to tell them how listing prices are determined. They don’t understand how they can be ripped off by, say, online listing companies who didn’t even see the place in person.

8. You quote, "A responsible professional like me will visit your home even on WEEKENDS. That's how much I love my job. Endless inquiries on Friday, open house on Saturday and catching up on readings on Sunday. I LIVE FOR MY JOB," end quote.

9. Even though you’ve spent all your Saturdays working your butt off, your clients still think you're upping the price for you (partly because you worked for it) but it’s more of placing the right value on the property.

Moreover, your expertise and hard work can get them to sell the house much faster. *wink*

10. After all the hard work, the client decides to cut your commissions, so you go in for the kill. The offer you usually reject? IT'S GOING TO BE THE ONE.

Once again, you’ve closed another deal. 

These are just a few of the inner workings of the people in the real estate industry. But, the industry and the people in it are so much more than that. Each person has their manner and perspective on how they handle things so they may not necessarily be in this state of mind while on their job.

These are merely depictions of how real estate agents are when working on commission. The article's purpose is to provide entertainment and insight to its readers.

5 Mistakes Landlords Make

If you think that landlords are always right, then you better think again. Just like any normal people do, landlords also commit mistakes – whether they are aware of it or not. There are actually a lot of ways on how to handle tenants effectively.  However, there are just times that some landlords tend to do things without even thinking if it is for the betterment or not. As a result, misunderstandings between the landlord and the tenant may arise. As a landlord, I'm sure you don't want to disappoint your tenant, right?

Basically, if you want to invest in an income generating property in BGC or any Ayala land properties, you have to know what and what not to do when it comes to handling tenants. Yes, as a landlord, you have the authority to make some decisions on how you want to manage the property. However, you also have to be mindful of the things that can make or break your career as a landlord. Of course, a tenant will trust a landlord when he or she is also good when it comes to the management of the property. And to give you some ideas, here are some mistakes most landlords make that you need to avoid.

1. Not running credit/background check

When it comes to choosing the right tenant, one of the many things you need and must consider is to run a credit/background check. Of course, you definitely don't want to accept someone who is not trustworthy enough, especially when it comes to the payments of their monthly dues and other fees that they need to pay. And if you do not want to have some financial problems later on, then you better have some credit check before deciding to accept that potential tenant.

2. Not counting on vacancies

As a landlord, if you are not careful when it comes to the schedules of moving in or moving out of your tenants. Usually, there will be a gap in time between the date a renter moves out and stops paying rent and the time a new renter is found and starts paying the rent. That means you have to be mindful when it comes to that matter for as not to confuse your tenants on when they would move out or move in.

3. No written rental agreement or lease

This is one of the things a landlord should never forget. Of course, every transaction that you make with your tenant must be put into writings to make sure that there is a formal deal between both parties. Moreover, the written document can also be used as a proof especially when there will be some misunderstandings that will possibly arise later on. Well, you must go over with the document to double check and remind you that there is a written agreement that he or she must follow the guidelines according to the documents.

4. Not inspecting or neglecting the property

One of the duties of the landlord is to inspect the property before a potential tenant would rent the property. However, if one failed to check the property whether there are any damages or some renovations that need to be addressed, then this might be one of the reasons why there will be misunderstandings between you as the landlord and the renter. Of course, you definitely do not want that to happen, right? That is why, before you let your tenant move in, make sure that the property is ready for occupancy already. With that, your renters would not have any problems later on.

5. Delaying legal actions/evictions

Whether you like it or not, there are just some people who tend to do things that are not that pleasing. Perhaps, your tenant damaged something important on the place, then you have to make sure that there will be an immediate action before it is too late for you to mend the damage.

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The Search Is On: How to Pick the Right and Stylish Front Doors

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How lovely it is when we have a stylish front door that we can be proud. Agree? Who wouldn't? Whether you are living in Amaia Scapes Laguna single home or any other real estate property, you will be impressed on how front doors can add beauty to our home. Yes, our front door is one of the things people notices it first. And yes, if you have a stylish door, they will also be impressed by its beauty.

Some of you here might wonder how and why front doors can add beauty to our home when, in fact, they are all the same – doors? Yes, they might be front doors, but there are already a lot of stylish front doors that we can choose. Of course, there are various styles of a different type of property. Well, if you are one of those people who are still struggling in picking the right and stylish front door for their home, then you might want to refer these tips below on how you can choose the right front door.

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Determine your budget

First and foremost, before you can decide on what kind of front door that you will have, it is a must for you to consider your budget. You have to determine whether or not you can afford that particular door or not, or whether you are comfortable spending money for a particular door or not. If you do, then it will be much easier for you to choose what kind of door you will have.

Moreover, if you want to do a DIY front door, you have to make sure not to commit a lot of mistakes for you to avoid spending a lot of your money. If you think that you don't know how to install, you better consider hiring an expert to complete the installation, rather than committing costly mistakes.

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Materials matter

A good material used for front door would also mean a good door.  Moreover, using a good material can affect its performance such as its durability, maintenance, and appearance of the door.  However, choosing a poor material would also mean a disaster and can cost you a lot. Whatever you choose, you have to make sure that every material that you choose has a good quality.

One of the factors that you should not miss is whether you are going to have a wood, steel, or a fiberglass door. If you choose to have wood, it will appear beautiful, natural and warm than doors made from other materials. When you choose a steel door, it is more affordable than the other materials. However, it includes and insulated core to help with energy efficiency. And if you decide to have a fiberglass, you also won't regret choosing it since it can give you a durable, dent-resistant, won't rust or corrode and it is easy to maintain door.

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Size

The size of your entryway is one of the most important factors for you to consider. If you don't know what size it is, then it is impossible for you to know what will also be the size of your front door. You have to know its length and width for you to determine the size of your door. Moreover, if you don't know how to get the sizes, don't hesitate to contact a professional for help or any other people who know how to get the size of your entryway.

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Style

Choosing the right style of your home would play a big role in your home. You have to consider styles that would complement with the other designs of your home. Remember, the design of your front door will also represent you or your family's personality. If you are a person who likes simplicity, then choosing a simple yet an elegant style of your door will add overall beauty and personality of your home.

Moreover, if you are one of those people who are artistic in anything, then having a stylish front door will suit you best. You just have to make sure that you will not regret the style that you have chosen later on.

To Have Pools or Not: Pros and Cons of Backyard Pools

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Pools are appealing to the eye! For some, it's already a dream come true to have one in their backyard. When you have a pool at home, you'd definitely feel the fun and excitement that comes with it. But before you can have your own pool, you have to remember that it takes a huge investment – not just with money, but also your time and effort as well.

When you plan of having your own pool, most real estate brokers would advise that investing in Ayala land lot Cebu or any real estate lot is a good idea in order for you to own your pool. And as a homeowner, it is a critical thing for you to understand that installing a pool in your backyard is a permanent condition to your home. That is why, you should be certain when it comes to the decision making on whether or not to install a pool.

Of course, having a pool on your backyard doesn't just have an advantage, it also have some disadvantage that you might want to avoid. However, if you are a person who is willing to take some risk on having one, then you might as well know the pros and cons on installing and having a pool on your backyard. Of course, that is for you to avoid regrets later on.

Pros of backyard pools

Aside from the fun and excitement of plunging yourself in the clear water, there are actually a lot of advantages when you have one:

Perfect for parties

Talking about parties, it's definitely more fun when you got to include swimming pool. If you want to have a formal party on your home, pools are there to add beauty to the venue. It attracts people to enjoy more even if it's a formal event. Of course, pool parties would definitely not be called such when there is no pool at all. This is the time where you got to be wet while enjoying the party. And of course, kids are not just the only one who got to enjoy it, adults, too!

Great for exercise

Swimming is a kind of exercise, and it is such an advantage when you got your own pool. You don't need to go far just to swim. Whenever you feel like swimming, you got to swim anytime for as long as you want. With that, you are not just having fun swimming, but you are also exercising as well.

Be the cool house

Believe me, when you have your own pool, your friends and relatives would definitely love to visit your house again and again. Of course, what else? – that is to enjoy the pool. You definitely can't say "NO" to that since it is going to be fun too, that unless you are going to be out of town.

Home investment

When the time you decide to sell or rent out your home, the value will be much higher than an ordinary house. Thanks for having the pool, you can definitely raise the rent and/or price of your home higher without hesitating since you know that the house is worth the price.

Cons of backyard pools

 
Installation cost

Before you can decide or whether or not you are going to have a pool on your backyard, you have to make sure that you have enough budget for installing it. Of course, it doesn't just end up with the materials used for the installation, but you also have to have the budget for the fee on the people who will install it. Moreover, you should also know that you should have enough space on your backyard for you to have your own pool.

Daily maintenance

You definitely don't want to swim in a pool full of dirt, right? However, it is not enough that the water in the pool is just clean. You have to check the pool's pH balance daily to check on the acid and alkaline levels. Plus, you also have to consider the maintenance especially when your pool is made of concrete, which is more prone to cloudy water and algae growth. Well, you better check your schedules for you to have the time in cleaning your pool.

Pool accidents

Accidents are inevitable, especially when you have a pool at home. When you have your kids, you have to secure the area for the kids not to immediately go near the pool. And when it comes to pool parties, you have to make sure to announce that parents with kids should be careful for them not to be slipped and drowned. You definitely don't want to see someone's drowning. Definitely not!

Top 4 Effective Techniques in Saving while Paying your Rent

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How easy is it for us to save? It is definitely not an easy task for us to do, agree? If there is anything that is a more frustrating thing to experience, it is when we don't have enough budget to save. Considering the fact that we have an obligation to pay our monthly dues, saving is going to be a bit challenging on our part. And that is one of the reasons why most homeowners are financially troubled since they don't have savings at all.

Technically speaking, you can still have your own savings. For as long as you are just strict enough on budgeting your money, then savings would definitely not a problem after all. Some of you here might wonder and ask; how come you can still save money when you got to have a lot of payments to make? Well, if you are that curious, here are the top four effective techniques you can do to save while renting.

Negotiate your rent

Basically, before you can move to your new home, it is a must for you to know how much is your monthly rent. If you think it is expensive enough for you to handle the payments, then you can politely ask your landlord that if possible, you can negotiate the cost of your rent since you still can't afford it. Well, it is a good news if your landlord will approve your request. However, there are landlords that would not consider it – this is the time for you to move out and find a new place to stay. It is better that way than enduring a costly rent.

Moreover, before deciding on the place to stay, you have to make sure that you can afford the rent in order for you to avoid financial problems later on. Don't force yourself to avail a particular thing when in fact, you are not certain if you can have it until the end.

Alternative source of Income

There are just times that the income that you can get with your current job is still not enough, especially when you have a lot of obligations to think of – your monthly rent, water and electric bills, and so on. With these, there might be a need to for you to find a part-time job. Well, it doesn't have to be that hard, for as long as you are earning your extra income, then it might be enough to suffice your everyday needs and savings.

Have a garage sale

Having a garage sale is also one way you can have your extra income. If you think that that particular thing that you have is already not useful for you, then why not include it in your items in a garage sale? Of course, you also have to make sure that the things that you want to sell can still be of use for other people. With the things you have included, it might be a lifesaver for others. Of course, you are not just making an extra income, you are also helping people who want to buy things at an affordable price.

Monitor your spending

If you are a kind of person who usually spend on the unnecessary things, then this is the time for you to stop doing it now. Yes, if not now, when? If you continue to spend your money on the things that are not that useful to you, then you might find savings a challenging thing to do. Unless you have a lot of money to spend, then you better keep your money and save it for emergency purposes.

When you know how to discipline yourself when it comes to money matters, you will eventually realize that saving your money is not as hard and bad thing as your think it is. And if you have enough savings, then renting is definitely not a problem.

Why We Always Have a Messy Home?

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One of the problems most homeowners encounter is having a messy home. It applies to all even if you are living in a house and lot in Cavite, Laguna or any township in the Philippines. Even if we clean our homes every now and then, it is just undeniable that our home will eventually become in a messy state. Well perhaps, some of you have kids who always run around the house and tend to mess things up, or you are just too busy to tidy things up one by one. Of course, it's not just you, but we all do experience having a messy home. Who hasn't?

But have you ever wonder why we tend to have a messy home? Why is it that it keeps getting messy even if we do our cleaning regularly? Some of you here might disagree, but having a messy house is just normal. Especially when you are living with someone, you have to expect that things would definitely turn out to be in chaos. And sometimes, this is one of the reasons why we feel embarrassed having our friends and/or families come over to our house.

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Just because your house is in a messy state, it doesn't mean that you are also a messy person. Agree? Well, it is definitely not always be the case. Moreover, it will always depend on who are we referring to, right? For instance, when you are a businessman, and you have a tight schedule, and there is a need to strictly follow it, then there is a possibility that you don't have enough time to clean up your own home. Moreover, when you are living alone, finding time to clean your home is also one of the things that we find it hard to achieve. Since our mind is so focused on the things we need to do at work or in school, tidy up things is the least we have in our minds.

How much more when you have kids. When you are a parent, finding some time to arrange whatever things that you need to organize might be difficult to have. Cleaning their mess every single minute can also be dead tiring. Sometimes, there are even parents who tend to let their kids roam around for as long as they want, and when the kids are tired, that is the time parents would clean up the messy things in their home.

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We may not know what your daily routine is like – waking up, having some breakfast, preparing for work or school, then you are out of the house. Well, unless there is someone who will be left at home, then there is a reason to clean and tidy things up. But if you are alone, no one will do it for you – then it is one of the reasons why we sometimes have a messy room and/or house. Why is that? TIME – we just don't have that.

Yes, we all do have our own reasons as to why we don't and can't find the right time for us to clean our home. However, it is still not reasonable and acceptable enough not to clean your house. And yes, we usually have the time management as one of the reasons why we can't achieve the desired outcome. However, if you just know how to manage your time – when to do a particular task in a given time, then you will definitely be able to organize your thoughts on to what things you need to do; whether that task is for your work, school or your daily routine at home. Finding time would be easy for you to have.

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Generally, if you are a kind of person who hates to see a home that is too messy and you don't usually have enough time to clean a messy home, then it is your call to tidy things up one by one. If you see a particular thing that is not in their proper place, then you have to put it in the right place where it belongs. Also, isn't it nice to see and feel that your house is really a home? The feeling of satisfaction, whenever you see that the things you have at home are all in order, is one of the best experiences that we want to have.