JJ ELEK REALTY BLOG

New to Real Estate? Here's How to Become Successful.

A successful real estate career can be more rewarding than you can imagine, but getting there can seem like a mystery. From joining the right brokerage to choosing effective technology and other strategies, here are the practical steps you can take to find your way.

5 Steps to Success

Step 1: Choose a reputable brokerage
Start by researching and finding a quality real estate brokerage to join. While commission splits are important, your first brokerage should offer the training and mentorship you need to grow.

Ste...

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The most successful real estate agents are those who can generate a constant stream of quality leads. Your ability to manage appointments, negotiate deals, and serve clients is essential as well, but without leads, you won't get very far. Here are some tips to help you find them.

1. Build a business plan

Put together or revisit your business plan at the end of every year. This forces you to analyze where your business came from, as well as what worked or failed, so you can plan for the following year.

2. Categorize your contacts

As a new real estate agent, it's common to throw every contact we meet into our data...

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The Latest Info on Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates have been on a general upward trend for over a year, and in the last few months, they've taken an even bigger jump higher.

As the economy recovered from the pandemic, low interest rates fueled increased spending. At the same time, supply chain issues created shortages for items like microchips, building supplies and certain food items. These factors combined to drive inflation higher as supplies failed to meet demand. According to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI), 12-month inflation hit 8.5% in March, the highest it's been si...

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What's Hot and What's Not in Home Design

From dark hardwood flooring to home offices hidden away in closets, we're taking a look at what's hot and what's hot in-home design trends in 2022.

Not hot: The Cloffice

Early on in the pandemic, people started turning their closets into a home office. Coined the "cloffice," these makeshift offices served their purpose at a time when we all needed a quiet place to work. Homeowners are no longer looking for temporary workspaces, and if they are still working remotely, they're now looking for a more permanent, clearly defined home office (with windows!).

Hot: Light-colore...

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Soft Skills Real Estate Agents Need to Succeed

Successful people usually have specific expertise in their field. For real estate agents, knowing the intricacies of project financing, contract writing, and building codes is key, but if you can't close a sale or get referrals, those hard skills won't take you far. This is where soft skills come into play.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills have more to do with who people are, rather than what they know. They play a key role in demonstrating how an individual interacts with colleagues, performs work-related tasks, c...

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Home Cleaning Tips That Can Help You Sell Faster

Selling a home can be difficult, but one of the easiest and most important steps is to make sure your space is spotlessly clean for potential homebuyers that walk through the door. Whether you hire a professional cleaning service or do it yourself, a few simple tasks will help your home look and feel brand new.

Emphasize the entrance

With any home tour, it's important to make a strong first impression. Consider replacing or painting the front door to liven up the outdoor entrance. Clean and polish any door knobs and fix...

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3 Traits of Successful Real Estate Entrepreneurs

A successful real estate agent is like the conductor of a symphony, coordinating the different players to make a successful transaction a reality. At different points in the process, you're an analyst, salesperson, marketer, buyer's advocate, business manager, consultant, and negotiator, among other roles. You'll find that there are a number of qualities and traits that successful real estate entrepreneurs share.

1. An insatiable thirst for knowledge

Once we leave school, additional education becomes a choice. Many people cho...

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Should You Stage Your House to Sell It?

When you decide to list your house for sale, you may wonder whether or not to stage it. How much does staging cost? How do you do it right? Will it increase buyer interest? Let's take a closer look at the process.

What is home staging?

Home staging is the art of decorating your house to appeal to potential homebuyers. It allows potential buyers to envision themselves living in your home, which could increase the number of offers and size of the offers you get. Staging has many benefits that can lead to a successful sale without having to pay t...

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