By Angela Epps
Air purifiers can help.
They reduce air-born bacteria from mold, fungi and household chemicals found in many cleaners used in day-to-day house cleaning. These pollutants in your home’s air can aggravate asthma, allergies, and sinus problems, especially if your household has children or seniors. The EPA (Environmental Protection Association) estimates that the air inside your home can be up to ten times more polluted than the air outside the house. Along with reducing air-born bacteria, many air purifiers remove irritants such as pet dander, pollen, smoke, and dust (less house cleaning!) from your home’s air and make the air smell cleaner by noticeably reducing odors. Which air purifier is right for you?
When considering using an air purifier in your home, make sure that you check the purifier’s CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate). The CADR is not tested by the company manufacturing the air purifier but by an independent laboratory based on three different particles. Smoke, pollen and dust are released into a room and the ratings are based on how long the air purifier takes to clean the surrounding air. Basically, the larger the room in your home, the higher the CADR rating has to be for it to clean the air in the whole space and for you to receive the health benefits of using it.
Air purifiers don’t help with everything.
It is important to know that most air purifiers, unless you buy an expensive industrial one, do not remove gases such as carbon monoxide or radon from your home’s air. Your house should have separate devices that test for these health risks.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Selling Your Home
By Sally Aquire
Setting the right price is crucial when selling your home. If you overestimate the value of your house, you risk alienating potential buyers who will not be able to afford to buy it. On the other hand, pricing your house at far less than it is worth can leave potential buyers wondering whether it has hidden problems. Having your house professionally valued can help you to set a fair price, but what happens if this price is not fetching any buyers? At this point, homeowners often toy with the idea of lowering their asking price to clinch a sale. However, some homeowners would be better off waiting for the difficult market to ride itself out, especially if the house in question is desirable in terms of size, location and amenities.
Selling Seasons
The selling season in which you first put your house up for sale can have an impact on how long it takes to sell. The housing market typically starts to warm up during the winter months and reaches a first 'peak' from April through to June. After the summer passes, the selling season tends to slow down again until a second 'peak' begins from September to Thanksgiving. Between Thanksgiving and New Year, the housing market slows down again.
Listing your house during one of the 'peak' selling seasons is a good way to ensure that it will receive as much interest as possible from potential buyers.
Standing Your Ground
In a difficult market, houses can take up to a year to sell as the number of sellers is greater than the number of potential buyers. In this situation, it is often unrealistic to expect a quick sale, so try not to panic if your house does not sell quickly after first going on the market. If your house is in a location 'hot spot' or is particularly desirable, it makes little sense to lower your price, as this type of house is likely to attract plenty of interest from potential buyers unless it is grossly overpriced.
Cutting Your Losses
If your house has been on the market for a year or more without a sale, it is probably time to lower the price. As some time has passed since it was put on the market, you may need to take a significant hit on the asking price to interest potential buyers. This is obviously not ideal, but it may be the only way to clinch a sale if you have been unable to secure a sale at the current asking price.
Many buyers look upon price reductions as an indication that you have admitted defeat on the previous asking price, and will often come in with an offer that is below the new asking price. In this situation, you need to decide whether you can afford to accept the reduced offer or whether you are prepared to wait for a different offer. The latter can be a risky gamble as a higher offer will not necessarily be forthcoming, especially in a difficult market.
Setting the right price is crucial when selling your home. If you overestimate the value of your house, you risk alienating potential buyers who will not be able to afford to buy it. On the other hand, pricing your house at far less than it is worth can leave potential buyers wondering whether it has hidden problems. Having your house professionally valued can help you to set a fair price, but what happens if this price is not fetching any buyers? At this point, homeowners often toy with the idea of lowering their asking price to clinch a sale. However, some homeowners would be better off waiting for the difficult market to ride itself out, especially if the house in question is desirable in terms of size, location and amenities.
Selling Seasons
The selling season in which you first put your house up for sale can have an impact on how long it takes to sell. The housing market typically starts to warm up during the winter months and reaches a first 'peak' from April through to June. After the summer passes, the selling season tends to slow down again until a second 'peak' begins from September to Thanksgiving. Between Thanksgiving and New Year, the housing market slows down again.
Listing your house during one of the 'peak' selling seasons is a good way to ensure that it will receive as much interest as possible from potential buyers.
Standing Your Ground
In a difficult market, houses can take up to a year to sell as the number of sellers is greater than the number of potential buyers. In this situation, it is often unrealistic to expect a quick sale, so try not to panic if your house does not sell quickly after first going on the market. If your house is in a location 'hot spot' or is particularly desirable, it makes little sense to lower your price, as this type of house is likely to attract plenty of interest from potential buyers unless it is grossly overpriced.
Cutting Your Losses
If your house has been on the market for a year or more without a sale, it is probably time to lower the price. As some time has passed since it was put on the market, you may need to take a significant hit on the asking price to interest potential buyers. This is obviously not ideal, but it may be the only way to clinch a sale if you have been unable to secure a sale at the current asking price.
Many buyers look upon price reductions as an indication that you have admitted defeat on the previous asking price, and will often come in with an offer that is below the new asking price. In this situation, you need to decide whether you can afford to accept the reduced offer or whether you are prepared to wait for a different offer. The latter can be a risky gamble as a higher offer will not necessarily be forthcoming, especially in a difficult market.
Friday, January 8, 2010
GREATEST BUSINESS RISK TODAY - LOSS OF EXISTING CUSTOMERS
We are finding the greatest risk in today’s business is the loss of existing customers. And we all have known the best opportunity for growing sales is through your existing customers... would you agree?
You must know who are your core customers and find out which satisfied customers can become loyal customers. There is a big difference between satisfied and loyal.
Nothing beats meeting a loyal customer for breakfast, lunch or a cup of coffee. Second is picking up the phone and talking for a few minutes with your grade A customers. Third and just as important is a consistent way to create value added benefits and consulting services for customers to differentiate you from those trying to erode your customer base.
But first you must know your customers well enough to know which are "core loyal customers" and which could be "cultivated" to become core loyal customers. How do you accomplish that? "DEEPER" KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS BEYOND THE "OUTER SHELL"
Your customers do not always want to hear about real estate! In fact most of the time you they do not have any interest in real estate. You must trigger their work-life interests, home-life interests and lifestyle interests.
There are companies that offer services and or programs to help you accomplish just that. Seek them out and find companies that specialize in customer relationships.
Arnie Goldberg .. Loyalty Builder, LLC ... agoldberg@loyaltybuilder.com
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Loyal Customers - How Many Do You Have?
We are finding the greatest risk in today’s business is the loss of existing customers. And we all have known the best opportunity for growing sales is through your existing customers
The key is to discern who are your core customers and find out which satisfied customers can become loyal customers. There is a big difference between satisfied and loyal.
• Nothing beats meeting a loyal customer for breakfast, lunch or a cup of coffee.
• Second is picking up the phone and talking for a few minutes with your top flight customers.
• Third and just as important is a consistent way to create value added benefits and consulting services for customers to differentiate you from those trying to erode your customer base.
It is not enough to be good in today’s business climate. You need to be creative and a true consultant for your customers both new and existing. Everyone is shopping every purchase with more and more scrutiny.
You must become a resource for not just real estate but for life in general. Helping a customer replace a washer and dryer, helping them with green initiatives, or even giving a customer a business lead can help you differentiate yourself from the daily tumult.
Follow through is critical. So you must engage, act and consistently communicate in helpful ways.
Arnie Goldberg, Co-Founder VP, Loyalty Builder, LLC
Loyalty Builder is a relationship management and marketing firm that I believe is dramatically different from the standard industry focused firm. We are driven to generate relationships to grow your real estate business.
The key is to discern who are your core customers and find out which satisfied customers can become loyal customers. There is a big difference between satisfied and loyal.
• Nothing beats meeting a loyal customer for breakfast, lunch or a cup of coffee.
• Second is picking up the phone and talking for a few minutes with your top flight customers.
• Third and just as important is a consistent way to create value added benefits and consulting services for customers to differentiate you from those trying to erode your customer base.
It is not enough to be good in today’s business climate. You need to be creative and a true consultant for your customers both new and existing. Everyone is shopping every purchase with more and more scrutiny.
You must become a resource for not just real estate but for life in general. Helping a customer replace a washer and dryer, helping them with green initiatives, or even giving a customer a business lead can help you differentiate yourself from the daily tumult.
Follow through is critical. So you must engage, act and consistently communicate in helpful ways.
Arnie Goldberg, Co-Founder VP, Loyalty Builder, LLC
Loyalty Builder is a relationship management and marketing firm that I believe is dramatically different from the standard industry focused firm. We are driven to generate relationships to grow your real estate business.
Friday, January 1, 2010
TEAMWORK LEADS TO GOOD CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES
I believe one step owners and managers can take to help their agents is to bring three top notch (world class) mortgage brokers into their office (one at a time) for a very detailed interview.
Let's face it, closings depend upon teamwork between an agent and a mortgage person.. Why not be proactive to find the very best mortgage people in your area to work with your agents... Let them compete for the business, but also create some loyalty with them. Often they have different specialties that are critical in getting deals to the closing table.
Good teamwork is not just closing the deal, but making sure the experience is topnotch and it takes coordinated effort to accomplish that. Good communication amongst the team and the client is crucial. Remember the attitude has to be "what is best for the client."
Arnie Goldberg, VP Loyalty Builder, LLC agoldberg@loyaltybuilder.com
Let's face it, closings depend upon teamwork between an agent and a mortgage person.. Why not be proactive to find the very best mortgage people in your area to work with your agents... Let them compete for the business, but also create some loyalty with them. Often they have different specialties that are critical in getting deals to the closing table.
Good teamwork is not just closing the deal, but making sure the experience is topnotch and it takes coordinated effort to accomplish that. Good communication amongst the team and the client is crucial. Remember the attitude has to be "what is best for the client."
Arnie Goldberg, VP Loyalty Builder, LLC agoldberg@loyaltybuilder.com
Janet Guilbault Article - OPPORTUNITY 2010
This is the best description of business employee attitude I have seen. Of course this is not all companies, like USAA, and Nordstrom where customer service is world class.
Quoted by Janet Guilbault:
In the so called "new economy" of 2009, business strategy revolved around this miserable mindset:
1. Let's fire everyone we can, cut the pay of those left (they're lucky to have a job, after all), then try to operate normally with one third of the staff.
2. Let customers figure it out. Send them to our website.
3. Let customers wait on hold forever or go straight to voice mail jail.
4. Let customers wait in line.
5. Let customers stand at the front desk and ring a bell if they expect service. We fired our receptionist months ago.
6. Heaven forbid we should pay anybody to talk to anybody! If they need support they can e-mail us.
7. Why should we be friendly or nice? We're in a recession after all.
8. Let's make our product worse to save money. Half the size, half the warranty, half the quality. No one will notice. If they do it will be too late.
9. Let's cut our hours, close locations, and turn down the heat.
10. If we absolutely need to hire someone, let's hire a part time employee, pay no health insurance, no benefits, and give them no training
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOU CAN BUILD AND ATTRACT MORE BUSINESS BY THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS
Again quoted by Janet Guilbault
Simply make these resolutions:
1. I will grant customers the ability to talk to ME (not to my voicemail and not to my e-mail)
2. I will call them before they call me.
3. I will have live, face to face meetings with my customers whenever I can (what a concept!)
4. I will remember that a crabby customer needs my sympathy more than anything else.
5. I will go out of my way to show I genuinely care by asking directly what the customer wants and needs.
6. More than anything, I will cause my customers to believe they matter, and they are important.
7. I will never allow my customers to know I am feeling crabby, overworked, or underpaid.
8. I would rather have fewer customers that are lavished with attention than many customers who get no service, or poor service.
9. In a world where service is getting worse, mine will get better.
10. I will know my stuff.
Quoted by Janet Guilbault:
In the so called "new economy" of 2009, business strategy revolved around this miserable mindset:
1. Let's fire everyone we can, cut the pay of those left (they're lucky to have a job, after all), then try to operate normally with one third of the staff.
2. Let customers figure it out. Send them to our website.
3. Let customers wait on hold forever or go straight to voice mail jail.
4. Let customers wait in line.
5. Let customers stand at the front desk and ring a bell if they expect service. We fired our receptionist months ago.
6. Heaven forbid we should pay anybody to talk to anybody! If they need support they can e-mail us.
7. Why should we be friendly or nice? We're in a recession after all.
8. Let's make our product worse to save money. Half the size, half the warranty, half the quality. No one will notice. If they do it will be too late.
9. Let's cut our hours, close locations, and turn down the heat.
10. If we absolutely need to hire someone, let's hire a part time employee, pay no health insurance, no benefits, and give them no training
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOU CAN BUILD AND ATTRACT MORE BUSINESS BY THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS
Again quoted by Janet Guilbault
Simply make these resolutions:
1. I will grant customers the ability to talk to ME (not to my voicemail and not to my e-mail)
2. I will call them before they call me.
3. I will have live, face to face meetings with my customers whenever I can (what a concept!)
4. I will remember that a crabby customer needs my sympathy more than anything else.
5. I will go out of my way to show I genuinely care by asking directly what the customer wants and needs.
6. More than anything, I will cause my customers to believe they matter, and they are important.
7. I will never allow my customers to know I am feeling crabby, overworked, or underpaid.
8. I would rather have fewer customers that are lavished with attention than many customers who get no service, or poor service.
9. In a world where service is getting worse, mine will get better.
10. I will know my stuff.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
TRULY UNDERSTANDING YOUR CUSTOMER
UNDERSTANDING what your customer expects from you as a service provider has become multi-faceted. It's not just enough to know the demographic profile of your customer. Providing good customer service and giving your customers what they expect means understanding every aspect of their lifestyle, especially when marketing to different age consumers. It will become more and more important to know what kind of music they listen to, and where they purchase clothing and auxiliary items, business software and various lifestyle factors. Additional information needed will be sports followed, children and what their children like to do, and so many more.
It is becoming more important to align yourself with third party companies that can help you gather and analyze this critical information regarding your customers in their work life, home life and lifestyle. Social media has become a useful tool also in discovering more information about customers and even providing ways to keep existing customers as loyal repeat customers.
Arnie Goldberg agoldberg@loyaltybuilder.com 317-489-5337
It is becoming more important to align yourself with third party companies that can help you gather and analyze this critical information regarding your customers in their work life, home life and lifestyle. Social media has become a useful tool also in discovering more information about customers and even providing ways to keep existing customers as loyal repeat customers.
Arnie Goldberg agoldberg@loyaltybuilder.com 317-489-5337
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