Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips - Thomas Becotte - iPro Real Estate

Kitchen Updates That Don’t Require a Remodel

If your sellers are looking for ways to improve their kitchen before listing, or if your buyers want to make cost-effective updates to a dated kitchen in their newly purchased home, professional organizer Colleen Klimczak, owner of Peace of Mind Professional Organizing, has five tips. Install under-cabinet lighting. This simple project is low in cost and leaves a big impact, giving the whole kitchen a beautiful glow. Try LED rope lights that pl

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Housing Boom Is Officially Back

Housing prices have returned to the “boom levels” of a decade ago, but this time around, the fast appreciation is being fueled by strong supply-and-demand dynamics rather than predatory lending practices, investor speculation, and too much construction, according to new realtor.com® data released Monday.“As we compare today’s market dynamics to those of a decade ago, it’s important to remember rising prices didn’t cause the housing c

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Real Estate Agent vs. Rattlesnake

A real estate agent in Scottsdale, Ariz., was trapped inside an open house recently when a two-and-a-half-foot-long diamondback rattlesnake greeted him at the front door in an aggressive stance and refused to budge. The unidentified agent recorded the frightening encounter and posted the video to YouTube under the name “Our Simple Adventures on Tuesday.”In a written message at the beginning of the video, the agent explains that he was carryin

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REALTORS: 5 Reasons You’re Getting Few Online Leads

Many people may be visiting your website or blog, but if they aren’t moved to contact you, it’s time to rethink your lead conversion strategy. Jayson DeMers, a columnist for Forbes.com, points out several ways marketers are unknowingly sabotaging their conversion rates.Serving up mediocre content: “If a visitor comes to your site and starts reading your content, but finds it to be thin, unoriginal, or inaccurate, they’ll instantly lose t

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Use Aluminum Foil to Strengthen Wi-Fi Signal

Researchers at Dartmouth University have discovered that you can improve a wireless network’s range and increase Wi-Fi security by using aluminum foil as a reflector on and around a router’s antenna. “With a simple investment of about $35 and specifying coverage requirements, a wireless reflector can be custom built to outperform antennae that cost thousands of dollars,” Xia Zhou, an assistant professor at Dartmouth, told technology news

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REALTORS: Buyers Want ‘Sold’ Photo Shoot After Closing

Instead of popping the champagne after your clients officially become new homeowners, how about setting up a photo shoot to help them document the occasion?First-time buyers are showing greater interest in sharing their status as new homeowners with their peers online, so many real estate pros are staging photo shoots to help them capture and share the moment on social media. The photos may include props such as a “First Home” sign, or the bu

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Foreclosure Fears in Aftermath of Hurricanes

Housing experts worry that millions of foreclosures will surface in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico after recent hurricanes forced owners from their homes. Though many lenders have extended grace periods for affected customers, consumer advocates fear that many will simply walk away from their mortgages.“I’m anticipating a wave of problems coming in February,” Amir Befroui, a foreclosure specialist with Lone Star Legal Aid in Houston, told

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REALTORS: 9 tips to dominate video marketing

Video is the future, dive in now and avoid playing catch-upDo you hate the feeling of playing catch up? I know I do.It’s an awful feeling — you already have a million tasks to perform every day, but then in the back of your head you also know that big picture changes are needed in your business because you’re slipping further and further behind the competition.Ugh.So here’s an opportunity, or a warning. It all depends on how you act on it

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REALTORS: 4 tips to raise your real estate business’s online profile

As a real estate professional, you know how important it is to get your name in front of prospective clients. With the modern digital world increasingly mobile, the opportunity to create real impact and grow your business is yours for the taking.Increasing your online visibility can seem daunting, but there are some relatively easy ways to accomplish this.With that we outline four tips to increase your business’ online visibility when consumers

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REALTORS: 4 open house mistakes only rookies make

Don't believe what some agents say -- they aren't a waste of timeKey Takeaways When done right, open houses attract buyers and potential clients for a savvy agent.Not only do open houses create opportunities for sellers to find buyers, but they also create future business opportunities for real estate agents — when they’re done right.Despite the fact that open houses can be excellent for both sellers and their agents, many real estate r

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