Customers today are more educated than ever, and they expect stellar customer service, especially when dealing with an expensive, emotional, and even stressful transition like buying and selling real estate.“They know what good customer service is and they aren’t just comparing you to your direct competition,” says customer service expert and business coach Shep Hyken. “Anyone that has delivered a stellar customer service experience—in
The Federal Housing Finance Agency is asking for input on a possible change to its credit scoring models.Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are weighing an update or switch to its credit score requirements from Classic FICO to possibly another scoring model. The assessment is limited to mortgage loan applications received from lenders and mortgage loans acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.Some lenders call the FHFA’s move long overdue.“The FHFA’
The winter may bring colder and cloudier days ahead, but you can still make your listing look inviting, bright, and cheerful. HouseLogic recently featured several ideas, including:Take the screens off your windows. HouseLogic notes that you’ll get 30 percent more sunlight shining indoors without the screens on your window. Store your screens where they won’t get damaged so you can put them back on in the spring.Change your bulbs. Replace in
The time homes spent on the market hit an all-time low in 2017 at just three weeks, the National Association of REALTORS® reports. A low inventory of homes for sale mixed with strong buyer demand has helped to keep market times low from 2014 to 2017.During the height of the housing boom from 2001 to 2005, homes sold within a month of being listed. But as the housing market began to slow in 2006, the median time jumped to six weeks, and then to 1
Unlike giant companies, smaller businesses have a local connection with their communities. Seventy-five percent of small businesses partake in charity donations each year, according to the U.S. Small Business Association. Charitable giving is a smart move for businesses to give back and invest in the community that supports their operations.“People want to … shop at a small business because a small business cares about them, as individuals,
Lists can be a powerful organizational tool. But they can also be overwhelming and bog you down. Don’t let a never-ending list ruin your life. Whether it’s your to-dos for the day or your goals for the year, professional organizer M. Colleen Klimczak, owner of Peace of Mind Professional Organizing, wants to help you turn lists into action plans that are more than words on a page.Make a “not today” list. You’ve probably got a lot to do.
Scented candles may be a way to entice a potential buyer at a showing. After all, there's nothing better than “walking to a room and smelling a beautiful aroma that enhances the aesthetics of the space,” Sue Phillips, a fragrance expert with Scenterprises, told realtor.com®.But you need to choose the right scent and be careful where you use it. A recent article at realtor.com® includes some of the following candle mistakes:Using a scented
California housing markets were the all-stars in 2017, claiming more than half of the top 20 spots for booming markets this year.But recent wildfires in the state may be taking a toll. Santa Rosa, which faced destructive blazes this fall, dropped seven spots and fell out of the top 10, landing at number 16 on realtor.com®’s top housing market list for 2017.Realtor.com®’s research team identified the hottest metro housing markets in the coun
Counter to seasonal trends, demand for home showings posted a strong increase in November amid steady consumer confidence and low unemployment, according to the ShowingTime Showing Index, which measures buyer demand based on showing appointments. The index showed an 8 percent year-over-year rise in November.“Although the residential real estate industry has entered its regular seasonal slowdown period, demand continues to be strong relative to
Mortgage financing giant Freddie Mac announced a new plan to tackle the affordable housing crisis by financing more rural and manufactured housing and preserving more affordable housing for home buyers and renters across the country. Its Duty to Serve plan will include increasing loan purchases in such underserved markets.Freddie says it will team with the mortgage industry, community nonprofits, organizations, and government officials to expand
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