Through The Lens – May 2019 Edition

Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices Mother’s make for their children. While versions of Mother’s Day are celebrated worldwide, traditions vary depending on the country. In the United States Mother’s Day is celebrated by presenting mothers with gifts and flowers. Families also celebrate by giving mothers a day off from activities like cooking and household chores. Mother’s Day is the busiest day of the year for restaurants in the US and according to Hallmark around 162 million greeting cards are sent out making it the 3rd largest card sending holiday in the world. About one quarter of all flowers purchased throughout the year fall on Mother’s Day with carnations being the most popular. As for calling Mom about 122 million phone calls are made each Mothers’s day to Moms all over America.

Check out these time saving Real Estate Blog Post Ideas that just might bring life back to your blog posts…..

You’re always answering a number of questions on a daily basis from home buyers and sellers you work with and meet with so why not answer these queries with responses on your blog?

There are a seemingly endless number of subjects you can write about to give more insight into the buying and selling process. From what the process is typically like for home buyers to secure title insurance to understanding what an appraisal entails. Even the most experienced buyers and sellers need a refresher course from time to time.

If you use local dry cleaners, frequent local restaurants, attend shows at local theaters and consume an array of other products and services in your market take 10 minutes and write down your general thoughts on each business or organization. No business in your community is too small to cover.

Becoming a real estate agent means working with an array of different people in the home services field. Take advantage of your relationships by picking their brains to learn the top interior and exterior decorating trends and best practices.

Here are a few Memorial Day facts that you might not have known….

1. Memorial day was originally known as Decoration Day which was first celebrated on May 30, 1868

2. Cities all across the country host Memorial Day parades, but some of the largest take place in Chicago, New York and Washington DC. In Washington DC the National Memorial Day Parade hosts audiences exceeding 250,000 people.

3. The President requests that all governors and citizens of the United States direct the flag to be flown at half staff until noon on all buildings, ground vessels and homes.

4. Multiple cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day but according to the Library of Congress Lyndon B Johnson declared Waterloo New York to be the birthplace of Memorial Day because it hosted a community celebration on May 5, 1866 in which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

5. Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30th until 1971 when Congress designated that it take place on the last Monday in May.

 Out of all the seasons, summer is the peak season for selling a home. There are lots of things you can do to distract would be buyers even when it’s too hot to venture out to view homes. Here are 5 tips for getting buyers to brave the heat and squeeze your listing into their summer schedule……

1. Choose alternative time frames to have your open house. Weekends out of town are the stuff summer dreams are made of, but they are also the reason why many Saturday and Sunday open houses are empty. Choosing an alternative day like a Thursday evening creates an opportunity for buyers to view your listing at a time that might be more convenient.

2. Plan a Summer Party open house. Heading to a BBQ or pool party sounds a whole lot more fun than an open house. If you cant beat em’ why not join em’? Advertise your listing as a party instead of an open house. Serve up refreshments like lemonade or iced tea or fire up a grill and serve summer-themed appetizers or sliders. Rather than holding your gathering in the middle of the day wait until evening when the temperatures are bearable.

3. Accentuate the outdoor space. Nothing is more appealing on a scorching summer day than a backyard pool party. Take additional effort to keep patios extra clean and incorporate props such as cushions, towels and pool toys to help convince buyers this is the backyard oasis they deserve and need to have.

4. Enlisting the help of neighbors is sometimes all you need to get a home sold. Host a summer block party at the front of the property.  Have a theme such as a Luau or Summer BBQ with entertainment for kids. Pass out fliers around the neighborhood and maybe consider renting a snow cone or ice cream truck. As you mingle with the guests invite them in to tour the property.

5. Advertise…. Summer is a crazy season. Spreading the word about an open house is always the key to getting people in the door. Advertising online well in advance will help give people the heads up to clear their schedule for your day.