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We often hear our real estate friends say they’re short on time and can’t handle regular posting to social media. So, each month, we collect a full month’s worth of posts for you to pass along to clients, friends and family.

Summer Fun

How To Throw the Ultimate Pool Party (The Spruce)
What Kind of Summer Gathering Should You Host? (Better Homes and Gardens)
These S’mores Boards Will Take Your Next Summer Gathering to the Next Level (Better Homes and Gardens)
How to Pack a Picnic Basket for the Perfect Outdoor Feast (Real Simple)
Can’t Get a Pool This Summer? Beat the Heat With These 6 Creative Alternatives (Realtor.com)
I’m a Mom and Epidemiologist: Here’s How I Suggest You Travel With Kids This Summer (Parents.com)
The Country’s Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens (House Beautiful)
13 Grown-up Popsicles That You Won’t Find in the Freezer Section (Total Beauty)

Texas Living

Texas Named Best State For Business For A Record-Smashing 17th Year In A Row (Texas.gov)
Meanwhile, in Texas: A Woman Fed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to Monkeys at the Zoo (Texas Monthly)
15 Best Swimming Holes in the Texas Hill Country (Wide Open Country)
The 8 Best Scenic Hiking Trails Around Texas (Wide Open Country)
H-E-B: The Three Little Letters That Changed Texas (Texas Hill Country)
The History of Brisket (Texas Humor)

Around The House

10 Best Shrubs That Flower in Early Summer (The Spruce)
4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have (Better Homes and Gardens)
If Your Home Smells Funny, Check These 8 Problem Areas (Real Simple)
8 Houseplant Myths Most People Think Are True—Debunked (Realtor.com)
The Worst Outdoor Living Area Mistakes (House Beautiful)
5 Easy and Affordable Updates You Can Make to Your Outdoor Space This Summer (Southern Living)

Decor Inspiration

How to Select the Right Lighting for your Closet (The Spruce)
10 Ways to Add Tropical Style to Your Home (Real Simple)
3 Ways to Curate Your Kitchen Countertop (Domino)
40 Lively Green Rooms Filled With Verdant Surprises (Veranda)
How to Create an At-Home Coffee Bar (Veranda)
Follow This One Rule To Perfectly Mix Patterns (Southern Living)

Buying And Selling

Can Memories of Grandma Help Win Home Buying Battles? (The Balance)
0% Down home loan proposed for teachers, first responders (The Mortgage Report)
How to make a winning offer on a house: 7 Strategies (The Mortgage Report)
The Post-COVID Home: How the Pandemic Has Made Us Rethink Everything (Real Simple)
It’s All About Affordability: The Hottest Markets for Real Estate, May 2021 (Realtor.com)
$280K Ohio Windmill Home Seeks New Owner—and Windmill (Realtor.com)

Isn’t it great that the world is starting to get back to normal? After over a year of social distancing, people are itching to be more active and social. There are so many opportunities in the summer months to make your mark with prospective clients and old friends. With Independence Day behind us and the start of school just a few weeks away, it’s time to plan your next move. What can you do this month to strengthen your future business?

Celebrate With Some Late Summer Holidays

Holidays can be the perfect excuse to connect with current and potential clients, and August is full of them – if you know which ones to look for. There may not be any big, widely recognized holidays in August, but there are a few good once that make connecting a breeze. Look ahead to Friendship Day (July 30) to be your perfect icebreaker. And who wouldn’t love to receive chocolate chip cookie mix in a jar as a pop by on National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day on August 4. Other fun holidays include National Garage Sale Day (August 10), National Relaxation Day (August 15), and National Dog Day (August 26). See more at www.NationalDayCalendar.com

Back To School

August means kids are heading back to school, and unfortunately, some are heading back with a lot less than others. A great way to give back and encourage others to do so is by holding a back to school supply drive. You may want to collect traditional school supplies, or think outside the box and collect money for school lunches, or ask for donations of new shoes. Add your office as a drop off point and you’ll be able to connect to new friends as well.

Block Party!

If your neighborhood doesn’t already have an annual block party, it might be time for you to get the ball rolling. There are some great ideas here to get you started. Use the opportunity to help your neighbors get to know you and each other. You’ll love being seen as a connecting point for others.

Social Media Challenge: Neighborhood Know-how

Part of selling yourself as an agent is selling your expertise about the areas you live and work in. This month, use social media to highlight your favorite parts of town, from restaurants to museums to family spots to free activities. You want your audience to know that you are the best source for information! And when they’re ready to buy or sell, they’ll certainly want an area expert like yourself to guide them through the process.

We often hear our real estate friends say they’re short on time and can’t handle regular posting to social media. So, each month, we collect a full month’s worth of posts for you to pass along to clients, friends and family.

Summer Starters

How To Organize Your Home for Summer (The Organized Mom)
24 Cheap Summer Activities for Kids (Parents.com)
Easy Summer Decor Ideas (dengarden.com)
10 Summer Hazards (The Spruce)
45 Best Weekend Getaways in Texas (Vacation Idea)
11 Beach Songs for the Best Summer Roadtrips (Wide Open Country)
41 No-Bake Desserts to Add to Your Summer Lineup (Southern Living)

Texas Living

Meanwhile in Texas (Texas Monthly)
Texas Personality Quiz: Which Texas River Should You Float Next? (Texas Humor)
This Texas Family Farm Offers 20 Acres of Various Wildflowers (Wide Open Country)

Just For Fun

How to Build a Regulation Cornhole Set (HGTV)
Burrata Boards Are the Ultimate Summer Entertaining Dish (Better Homes and Gardens)
32 Free DIY Plant Hangers You Can Make (The Spruce)
How to Create the Perfect Summer Party Playlist (Real Simple)
10 Outdoor Entertaining Mistakes to Avoid (The Spruce)

Around The House

40 Outdoor Structures That Bring the Indoors Out (HGTV)
How to Remove Water Stains from Wood (The Spruce)
How Much Does It Cost to Renovate Your Outdoor Space? (Better Homes and Gardens)
Discover 10 Do’s and Don’ts for Your Garden (Home Depot)
14 Show Stopping Plants that Attract Hummingbirds (Country Living)

Decor Inspiration

25 Clever Bathroom Storage Solutions Everyone Should Know (House Beautiful)
These Aren’t Your Typical 1950s Pink-Tiled Bathrooms (Domino)
The Essential Ingredients for Creating the Ultimate Home Bar (Veranda)
Follow This One Rule To Perfectly Mix Patterns (Southern Living)

Buying And Selling

Are You Truly Ready To Downsize? 9 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Giving Up Space (Realtor.com)
What Does ‘Under Contract’ Mean in a Real Estate Listing? (Realtor.com)
2021 First Time Home Buyer Guide (The Mortgage Reports)
What to Know Before Buying a Condo (investopedia)

Earth Day is here, and there’s never been a better time to take a good look at your home energy habits. You’ll be lowering your bills and helping the environment all at once! Small changes can make a big difference for the planet – and your pocketbook.

Lighting & Electronics 

1)  Switch to Energy Star CFL bulbs, which use 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer than standard lightbulbs. This small change will make a big impact on your utility bill. 

2) Replace light switches with dimmers to save big throughout the year. Better yet, purchase lights for your home with sensors and timers. These are particularly helpful in places like closets, bathrooms, and pantries, where we often forget to turn off lights.

3) Turn off electronics completely before going to bed. Many electronic devices, like computers, have a standby mode, but by powering down completely, you’ll help prevent the draw of extra electricity.

Water

1) Run a full dishwasher when you can. You’ll use less water than if you wash by hand, and you won’t be wasting water on an half-empty load.

2) You can purchase a faucet water filter for around $30. Give up bottled water and use refillable bottles instead. 

3) Replace your shower head to a unit with a lower flow – it could save up to $45 each month!

4) A leaky faucet could be wasting over 50,000 gallons per year! Fix it and save!

5) Washing machines use a large amount of energy on heating water – set the machine to cold to save energy!

Reuse and Recycle

1) Roll up old magazines to stick inside boots to help your footwear keep its shape.

2) Old jam and baby food jars are perfect for storage for small items like nails and screws, bobby pins, thumb tacks, and other small items – plus they look a lot nicer!

3) Coffee Grounds can promote healthy plants! Spread your old grounds over your flower beds and watch your landscaping flourish!

4) Before you throw out an old t-shirt, considering donating it or turning it into cleaning rags for regular household cleaning.

Mean Green. Regal Purple. Moody Blue. Mellow Yellow. Blood Red. We’ve heard over and over again that color affects mood and even reflects personality. So, what do your color choices say about you? Why are you drawn to those colors? And, if you’re up for a change, what can a new color do for your sense of peace, productivity, or energy level?

RED

People who have energy, passion, and a zest for life often choose vibrant colors like red for their walls. If you’re drawn to this color in your home, you are most likely warm, energetic, and ready to conquer whatever life throws at you. The color red traditionally calls to mind power and drive. It can also be the sign of someone impulsive, outgoing, or even aggressive – or someone who might wish for those attributes. If you’re looking to embrace your own strength and ambition, consider using red paint to inspire your mind toward these traits every day!

ORANGE

Not many people gravitate towards orange for interior walls. It’s a tough shade to get “just right”. Orange evokes youth, fun, curiosity, and courage – something you might need if you’re painting your walls orange! People who choose orange in their homes are usually friendly, nurturing, and love hosting others. 

YELLOW

We often associate the color yellow – the color of sunshine, daffodils, and baby ducks – with optimism and happiness. The color can activate our memories, stimulating the nervous system and promoting our innate creativity. If you’ve chosen to embrace the color yellow on your walls, from deep gold to citrusy lemon, chances are you have friends who describe you as content, with a sunshine personality.

GREEN

Green paint is usually chosen by people who appreciate affection, compassion, and loyalty. Depending on the shade, it can call to mind peace and harmony, or the energy of the natural world. Green is a great choice for your office, bedroom, meditation space, or any room that might need a little booster shot of peacefulness.

BLUE

True blue suits people who have (or desire) a soft and soothing demeanor. Calmness and tranquility are usually associated with blues, especially in more muted tones. Blue walls make a great addition to the space that welcomes you home at the end of a hectic day. Introverts are also drawn to blue, but extroverts can also appreciate its calming effects.

PURPLE

Purple is a creative color. If shades of violet are your choice, you may have a confident and outgoing personality to match. Of course, it also evokes glamour and royalty! Purple is a bold choice – people who love this color may also be a little eclectic in their design tastes – unconventionality goes along with creativity. 

BROWN, BLACK, and GRAY

Believe it or not, brown is one of the most comforting colors, which makes it a top choice for any living space. People who appreciate shades of brown and tan on their walls are intent on making their homes seem inviting. It’s warmth evokes a cozy feeling!

Black and gray aren’t just for Kardashians and other glamorous celebrities. People who choose a dark wall color have sophisticated taste and may like focused order, direction, and intentionality in their personal and professional lives. Entering a room with these colors can be like entering a dark and comforting sanctuary.

Autumn is here! Things might look a little different these days, but in Texas, the fall months usually mean football, unpredictable weather, and the chance sighting of a leaf changing color. There’s still a distinct feeling in the air throughout the fall months, and with some of the ideas below, you can use it to your advantage when it comes to lead generation.

Give Back

This is a great time to sponsor a food or clothing drive for the less fortunate, and there are more people in need than ever before. Partner with a local business and spend a day collecting items for those in need. Bring along some refreshments to hand out to your new friends.

Refer Your Fall and Winter Weather Vendors

Remind your mailing list about your favorite gutter cleaners or lawn clean up crew. As your clients prepare their homes for colder weather, you’ll be able to keep yourself in the top of their mind by helping them find good help quickly.

Help Your Clients Prepare

Create a Winter Weather Prep checklist or ebook that visitors to your site can download by signing up for your email list. The information will be useful, and you’ll be able to keep their attention with future emails.

Beat Them to the Punch

Every business sends Christmas greetings, and most homes are so inundated with cards that promotional mailing gets completely overlooked. Get a step ahead by sending a Thanksgiving card and recipe to your mailing list!

Sources and Further Reading:
Fall Real Estate Tips
20 Fresh Fall Ideas for Generating More Leads
3 Fall Marketing Ideas for Real Estate Agents

Even if you’ve been in business for a while, you might find yourself struggling to feel “at home” in your career. If this sounds like something you’ve experienced, it may be time to identify your niche. In real estate, there are so many to choose from. And, while you may want to keep yourself available to a large audience, tightening your focus could unlock much bigger success.

From first-time buyers to seniors to luxury buyers and sellers, there are benefits to finding and developing your particular market. But where do you start?

Entrepreneur.com advises to ask yourself the following 4 questions for starters. Now, this is no quick quiz. They suggest taking a full hour to process each question, 15 minutes for each one.

1. What do you do best?

Make a list. What are your best talents and skills? Determine both what you do best – and what you don’t. It takes maturity and confidence to take an honest look at yourself and your business.  If there is something you don’t do well but would like to, is it worth whatever time and money it may take to develop the skill? It may be more beneficial for you to focus solely on what you already have.

2. What about your job do you enjoy the most?

With this question, your goal is to make sure that your heart and head are in the same place. You may be great at something that you don’t particularly enjoy. You may really enjoy something you aren’t particularly suited for. Your aim is to find that “sweet spot” where you heart and brain agree. Take a look at your list from Question 1 and rank your skills in order of most to least enjoyable.

3. What do people need?

Back to your list of skills – now take another look at determine which skills are most needed in your industry. If you’ve got a great skill that isn’t needed, it won’t do you or your clients any favors. Think about the questions your clients ask and the needs you see in your current audience – which needs can you match with your skills?

4. Where can you find the most financial benefit?

Consider the different niches in which you can see yourself. First time buyers make up a whopping 37% of the market while luxury homeowners are in at just 8%. Seniors make up 50% of the home buyers and sellers market. You’ll need to match your skills with the market and financial set up that brings you the most benefit.

With these 4 questions answered honestly, your niche should become clear to you, giving you the information you need to market yourself properly and reach an audience that needs you the most.

In the not-so-small Real Estate World, it’s easy to feel lost in the crowd. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or ready to make a splash as a newbie in the industry, the competition is fierce. How can you set yourself and your services apart from the rest?

Find A Niche To Call Your Own

If you’re new to the world of real estate, this one might not come as easily as it would to a more experienced agent. However, focusing on mastering a sub-section of the market is important. Just as in any other business, potential clients are looking for someone who can understand their unique needs, whether it’s a veteran, a luxury buyer, a senior citizen, or a first-time buyer. General knowledge is fine, but finding your niche allows you to shine.

Newer agents may want to focus on a particular neighborhood or zip code, a specific type of property, or a specific kind of client. Seasoned agents can look at their past clientele and transactions to find both their strength and source of joy to find a niche.

Highlight What Makes You Different

In both personal and professional circles, your personal characteristics, hobbies, and relationships are the most interesting thing about you. Take advantage of any memberships you hold in social organizations, churches, or academic environments and look to serve your fellow members. On social media and on your website, highlight your passions. You may love rescue dogs, local theater and art, or running marathons. These differentiators certainly won’t hurt you, but they will absolutely make you easier to find for a potential client who shares your interests.

Become An Expert

One great way to separate yourself from the crowd is to offer training events or workshops that connect with the public in a meaningful way. Local libraries often offer space for free and these spots make great locations for community classes. You don’t have to stick to the classic first-time home buyer class either. If you’re an expert stager, offer a course on staging a home to sell. If you’ve found a niche working with seniors, offer a class in helping elderly parents move. There are a wealth of topics to teach that could both help the public and help your business.

Anytime you meet a new client, or even a colleague, you want to make a great first impression. Here are a few commonly used words and phrases you probably want to avoid. These phrases make you sound like you have less experience than you do.

“I Don’t Know”

None of us have all of the answers all of the time. But by replying to a question with “I don’t know” make you look uninformed and less than capable. Instead, let your clients know what you do know. Try “I can tell you that…” or “Let me confirm some things before I answer that question.” Even “I want to have more information before I give you an answer on that” is a completely honest answer that lets your clients know you’re on their side.

“Is That OK?”

This question sounds like you’re not sure if you’ve given the right recommendation. Instead of looking for reassurance, try “Let me know what you think of that.” It puts the ball in their court without sacrificing your knowledge and confidence.

“Very ________”, “Extremely ________”, Etc.

Remove unnecessary words from your language. Remember the scene in Dead Poets’ Society where Robin Williams’ character says “So avoid using the word ‘very’ because it’s lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted.” Remember this rule and find a better word for what you’re trying to say. OR eliminate the excess words altogether and simplify your statements.

“My schedule is wide open.” or “Let me know what time is convenient for you.”

Admitting that your schedule is empty is a sure sign that you might not have all the business you need or want. Instead, offer windows of time, like “I could meet you on Tuesday or Thursday morning” and see what they reply with. If the time doesn’t work, they’ll let you know and you can open up another time slot in your schedule to meet.

We often hear our real estate friends say they’re short on time and can’t handle regular posting to social media. So, each month, we collect a full month’s worth of posts for you to pass along to clients, friends and family.

Halloween Tips

36 Stylish and Spooky Halloween Decorating Ideas
A Ghosthunter’s Guide To Buying A Real Haunted House
81 Cool Fall Table Decorating Ideas
Decorating For Fall…A Love Letter to October
“You’ve Been Boo-ed” Neighborhood Game

Food

Pumpkin Bread Truffles
11 Scary-Easy Halloween Cupcakes
Indulgent Caramel Apple Desserts
6 of the Best Types of Apples for Cooking

Just For Fun

Laundry Secrets From 5 Star Hotels (Bright Side)
Where To Travel for the Best Fall Foliage (House Beautiful)
5 Tips For Making Guests Feel At Home (Luxe Daily)

Around The House

Oh So Organized Kitchens (HouseLogic)
Keep Your Home Clean When You’re Short On Time (HouseLogic)
The Best Houseplants for the Bathroom (The Spruce)
Cleaner Linens for Better Dreams (Better Homes and Gardens)
6 Things Your Should Never Flush (Bright Side)
DIY Firepit Ideas (Better Homes and Gardens)

Decor Inspiration

How To Find A Headboard that Suits Your Style (Good Housekeeping)
Redecorate for Better Sleep (Real Simple)
Get A Farmhouse Style Kitchen (Houzz)
6 Reasons To Consider Wall Paper (Houzz)
Paint Colors You Need For A Happy Home (Elle Decor)
19 Designs That Blossom (Luxe Daily)

Buying And Selling

Avoid Overspending When You’re House Hunting (HouseLogic)
Would You Crowdfund Your Downpayment? (The Mortgage Reports)
Home Buying Costs That Veterans Should Keep In Mind (Realtor.com)
Credit Score Comebacks to Give Buyers Hope (Realtor.com)