Why use a Realtor

If you are buying, a Realtor will show you available homes matching your criteria. A Realtor can help you determine the right price of a property. A Realtor can serve as an emotional protection (buffer) between you and the buyer/seller. A Realtor is the difference between your property being "For Sale" and being "SOLD". A Realtor is the difference between receiving the highest price possible for your property and receiving too low a price. A Realtor will sell your house (on the average) at 16% higher than it would have had you done it on your own according to NAR statistics. A Realtor will save you days on the market. A Realtor makes sure you have a legally binding contract and complete the proper disclosures so you are treated fairly and you do not get sued. A Realtor is an excellent negotiator and makes sure you do not get eaten up in fees that reduce your bottom line. A Realtor has excelent relationships with lenders and can help qualify buyers. A Realtor will manage the hundreds of phone calls involved in selling and/or buying a property. A Realtor will develop a marketing plan to sell your property. A Realtor will spend money and effort in the sale of your home before he/she gets paid. A realtor will show you the flaws you don't see in your home so you can fix them rather than have no offers come in. A Realtor follows up during the transaction process to ensure the deal gets to closing. A Realtor represents your best interests. A Realtor will schedule all of your appointments. A Realtor is a real estate professional. A Realtor can reach a lot of buyers due to his/her targeted marketing methods and realtionships in the industry.
If you are still not convinced of the value of a Realtor, see what the National Association of Realtors has to say...click

Business Travel Tips

It's that wondreful time of the year, when we get to spend time with our families and take that well deserved vacation. While some of you may be able to get completely unplugged while you are away, some of you may need to bring you laptop or PDA along for the ride. For those of you that simply cannot leave technology behind, here are a few tips to ensure that your information remains safe while you check your e-mails, fine-tune that business proposal or just browse around the web either at the airport, your hotel room or an internet café.

Security Software: this may seem like common sense, but do not forget to update your anti-virus before you travel. Make sure your computer is password protected. Even a basic password can help protect your information if your device is lost or stolen.
While most wireless networks have some level of security, the more protection you have on your device, the better.

Keep it Simple: Take only what you need. Sometimes security can get very complicated at the airport and you may have to check you laptop. An alterante idea is to make sure that the hotel or the place that you are visiting has public computers and internet access. You can log onto your home or office computer using a remote server and a third party vendor, such as gotomypc.

Protect Yourself: Back up your data in case your laptop is stolen. Copy your essential files in a flash drive.
Hotspots: Software programs called packet sniffers can allow people to look at wireless transactions and capture the information being transmitted between the laptop and wireless access point. To avoid having someone hack into your system, turn off your bluetooth device and make sure your soft firewall is turned on.
Beware of Public Computers: Just as you need to protect your privacy on your own hardware, take extra precautions if you use a public computer. Remove all traces of your work by deleting any documents you have viewed, clear the browser cache and the history file, and empty the computer's recycling bin before you walk away. There is also a risk that a password-capturing program may have been loaded onto the computer. If you check your e-mail using hotmail, yahoo etc make sure you log out or sign out before you leave the computer.

If you leave your laptop at the hotel room or in any way unattended, use a cable lock, and be sure to lock your computer bag in the trunk rather than leaving it in the front or back seat. Taping your business card to the laptop helps ensure your computer can be easily returned to you in the case that it is lost.

Great Tools for real estate professionals

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Plan for 2007

Right About Real Estate - Plan for 2007