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Real Estate Best Practices

Coaches, books, classes and seminars aim to capture real estate agents dollars with promises to teach them any number of ways to improve their business. From sales skills to how to close more deals to how to win with expireds (expired listings) and more, everyone has something to teach you.


There's nothing wrong with continuing education, whether it's keeping on top of new laws and regulations or learning how to be more productive. But before you spend an arm and a leg on any of those things, pull up a chair, put on your glasses and peruse the pages in this section of ActiveRain.


It is only here that you can tap into the world's largest online real estate community and actively engage with your peers. Find out what works and what doesn't from those that actually put into practice what others merely teach. Read how-to articles, advice on designations, certifications and continuing education classes. You never know where you will find the inspiration to take your business to the next level. So, pull up a chair and dig in!

Recent blogs on Real Estate Best Practices
By Corinne Fitzgerald, Realtor/Broker/Owner, FITZGERALD Real Estate
(FITZGERALD Real Estate)
When homeowners talk about the value of their home, I often hear the words appraisal and assessment used interchangeably. And now, with online home values everywhere, there are even more numbers competing for our attention.But an appraisal, a town assessment, and a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) are not the same thing—and understanding the difference can help you know which number actually matters for your situation.What Is a Home Appraisal?An appraisal is a professional opinion of value completed by a licensed appraiser for a specific purpose.Most commonly, an appraisal is ordered by a lender to verify the value of a property when someone is purchasing or refinancing a home. Appraisals may also be needed for other purposes, including:❖ Estate planning or settlement❖ Divorce proceedi...
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By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
Five Things to Check Before Buying Mountain PropertyMountain property offers privacy, natural beauty, cooler temperatures, and opportunities to live closer to forests, waterfalls, and hiking trails. However, buying in the mountains requires a different kind of evaluation than purchasing a home on a level subdivision lot.A beautiful view may capture your attention, but these five practical details can determine how comfortably and affordably you enjoy the property.1. Driveway AccessDrive the driveway yourself rather than judging it from photographs or the road.Is it paved, gravel, or dirt? Is there enough room to turn around at the house? Could a delivery truck, moving van, ambulance, or fire truck reach the property? Look for steep sections, sharp turns, loose gravel, washouts, and low ...
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By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
The Best Real Estate Skill May Be Knowing When to ListenReal estate professionals spend a great deal of time learning how to explain contracts, market homes, negotiate terms, and answer objections. Those skills matter, but one of the most valuable skills cannot be measured by how much we say.Sometimes the best thing an agent can do is listen.Buyers Often Tell Us More Than Their Wish ListA buyer may begin with a list of bedrooms, bathrooms, acreage, and price range. Those details help narrow the search, but they do not always reveal what the buyer truly needs.If we listen carefully, we may hear that the buyer wants a quiet place after years of city living. A couple asking for an extra bedroom may really need privacy for an aging parent. Someone requesting acreage may want room to garden,...
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By Debe Maxwell, CRS, The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!
(Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310)
🏡 TIMELY HOMEBUYER TIP: Compare the Whole Loan—Not Just the RateWhile I am NOT a lender, nor do I give 'detailed' lending information to clients, we do have an obligation to point out what is obvious to us when it comes to our clients obtaining a mortgage. So, let's talk a couple of basics to mortgage lending! Mortgage rates have been doing what mortgage rates love to do—moving just enough to keep everyone guessing! The average 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.76% on September 10, up slightly from 6.71% the week before, according to Freddie Mac. But buyers should not make a major decision based solely on one national average—or one lender’s advertised rate. Two lenders can quote the same interest rate and still offer very different loans.The difference may be hiding in: Origination and unde...
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By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
Online photographs are one of the first things buyers study when searching for a home. Good pictures help buyers understand a property's layout, condition, and features, but photographs can never tell the whole story.A home is more than a collection of rooms. The land, neighborhood, road, and surroundings are part of the purchase, too.Photographs Cannot Show How a Property FeelsPictures may show a mountain view, but they cannot capture the quiet of the setting or the breeze across the porch. They also cannot tell buyers about nearby traffic, barking dogs, or other sounds they may notice in person.The feeling of a home often begins before buyers walk through the front door.Slopes and Distances Can Be MisleadingCamera angles can make yards appear larger, flatter or closer to the water tha...
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By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
Let's discuss the differenceWhen buyers begin searching for a lake property, they often encounter descriptions such as lakefront, lake-view, lake-access, and near the lake. These terms may sound similar, but they can describe very different properties.Understanding the difference can save buyers time and help them choose a property that supports the lake lifestyle they have in mind.What Is a Lakefront Property?A lakefront property has land that directly adjoins the lake. However, owning land beside the water does not automatically guarantee that an owner can build a dock, clear vegetation or use the shoreline in any way they choose.Dock permits, shoreline management rules, property restrictions and environmental requirements may affect how the waterfront can be used. On some lakes, the ...
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By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
The House Is Only Half the Purchase: Why Buyers Need to Study the LandBuyers naturally focus on the house. They count bedrooms, examine the kitchen, picture their furniture in the great room, and decide whether the porch is large enough for a few rocking chairs.When buying rural or mountain property, however, the house is only half the purchase. The surrounding land can influence the buyer’s enjoyment, maintenance costs, and future plans just as much.Start With the Lay of the LandA beautiful mountain setting may include slopes, terraces, creeks, retaining walls, or low areas where water collects. Buyers should walk as much of the property as possible and pay attention to how the land changes.A steep backyard may provide privacy and beautiful views, but it may not offer enough usable spa...
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By David Alan Baker | Laveen & South Phoenix Realtor, Your local Expert
(eXp Realty)
What 10 Years of the Laveen AZ Housing Market Has Taught Me as a RealtorAfter more than 20 years working in Phoenix real estate, one lesson I’ve learned is that housing markets rarely move in a straight line.That is especially true when I look at the Laveen AZ housing market over the last decade.I recently reviewed nearly 8,800 Laveen home sales going back to 2016. The numbers are impressive: the median sale price went from approximately $200,000 in 2016 to $470,000 in 2026.But the bigger lesson isn't simply how much Laveen home values increased. It's how we got here.Lesson #1: Extraordinary Markets Don't Last ForeverThe biggest change occurred between 2020 and 2022.In 2019, Laveen's median sale price was about $259,000. By 2022, it had reached approximately $460,000.As a Realtor, those...
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By Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!, Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.
(Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374)
Going Out Like a Wrecking Ball! It's amazing to observe the behavior of some people when inspections uncover egregious problems, negotiations stall, schedules get delayed, closings take time or money is not wired upon demand. Industry professionals understand that if anything can go wrong, it usually does! Some people come out swinging through manipulation with ear-piercing, erratic, emotional outbursts, much like a spoiled child in a candy store who is not getting a sugar-infused treat. This foolish behavior bodes poorly but handling them with as much patience that can be mustered, is best. A few sellers might attempt to take the whole conversation, relationship and goodwill with them. Scenario #1Potential buyer orders a home inspection. The result is a rolling list of repairs, mostly ...
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By Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL, Tallahassee Real Estate
(Joe Manausa Team at Xcellence Realty)
Good communication and cooperation between agents can make a big difference in getting a transaction to the closing table. We may represent different clients, but we’re still working toward a successful closing. The Other Agent Is Your Real Client Real estate is often described as a business built around buyers and sellers. That is true, but another relationship can make or break a transaction. The other agent. Once a property is under contract, the agent on the other side becomes one of the most important people in getting that transaction to closing. You Do Not Have to Agree on Everything The listing agent and buyer's agent represent different clients. Their responsibilities differ, and they will often disagree. That does not mean the transaction has to become difficult. Professional ...
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By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
The Other Agent Is Your Real ClientReal estate is often described as a business built around buyers and sellers. That is true, but another relationship can make or break a transaction.The other agent.Once a property is under contract, the agent on the other side becomes one of the most important people in getting that transaction to closing.You Do Not Have to Agree on EverythingThe listing agent and buyer's agent represent different clients. Their responsibilities differ, and they will often disagree.That does not mean the transaction has to become difficult.Professional agents know how to advocate for their own clients while still treating the other agent with respect.You may disagree over repairs, dates, inspections, financing, personal property, or contract terms. The key is to keep ...
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By Carol and Tony Marino, Realtor, Associate Broker
(Carol and Tony Marino Team,LLC a Member of Charles Rutenberg Realty)
After 20 years with Real Living Real Estate Solutions, Carol and I recently found ourselves at a crossroads.It wasn't one we necessarily planned... but one we saw on the horizon.Sometimes in business, you reach a crossroads because you decide it's time for a change. Other times, circumstances, companies, markets, or decisions made by others bring you there.Either way, you still get to choose the road you take next.For Carol and me, that moment came when Real Living's franchise system came to an end. After 20 years with the company, we suddenly had a decision to make.And after 25+ years in real estate and more than 1,200 properties sold, we weren't interested in simply finding another sign to put behind our names.We took the opportunity to ask a much bigger question:If we were building o...
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By Coral Amelia, Professional Real Estate Services You Can Trust
(https://keenanhowardrealty.com/)
 Important design information often gets trapped in inconvenient formats. It may exist as a paper plan in a filing cabinet, a scan attached to an email, or a photograph of a drawing taken during a site visit. The information is still valuable, but editing it can require time-consuming manual tracing. For small teams, that delay can make simple decisions feel more complicated than they should be.An jpg to dwg workflow provides a practical bridge from a raster image to a more editable drawing environment. A JPG is made from pixels, while a DWG-oriented workflow is intended for technical linework and drafting. Converting the reference does not make it automatically accurate, but it creates a starting point that can be cleaned up, measured, and shared more effectively.This is useful for hom...
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By Coral Amelia, Professional Real Estate Services You Can Trust
(https://keenanhowardrealty.com/)
 You build a strong small claims case by organizing verifiable proof before court. A free demand letter generator forces you to outline dates and amounts clearly. The National Center for State Courts stated in June 2023, "Properly formatted demands prevent unnecessary docket congestion." Structured pre-filing demands increase early settlements significantly.Why Does Curation Beat Volume in Small Claims Evidence?Judges want clarity over boxes of messy receipts. Curating small claims evidence means selecting only documents that prove a specific legal element. Most legal blogs tell you to gather every possible document. This consensus is wrong. Over-collecting buries the facts. Many pro se litigants dump unorganized papers on the bench. This frustrates the court. Per the American Bar Assoc...
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By William Piotrowski, Just Call William 630-881-8655
(Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation )
THE CONSUMER EXPECTS MORE. SO SHOULD REAL ESTATE.Amazon taught us to track the package.Uber taught us to see the driver.Airbnb taught us to compare options, read reviews and understand pricing.Apple taught us that complicated technology can feel simple.Yet somehow, when it comes to buying or selling a $500,000+ home, the industry can still operate on:“Trust me. I’ll explain it later.”I think consumers deserve better.And here's the important distinction:Better service doesn't necessarily mean cheaper service.It means more transparency. More communication. More education. More choices. And more accountability.Before you hire an agent, you should understand:🏠 What you're paying📋 Exactly what services you're receiving💰 What your alternatives are📊 The agent's actual track record🤝 What they w...
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By Coral Amelia, Professional Real Estate Services You Can Trust
(https://keenanhowardrealty.com/)
  Most vacations ask a lot of the people taking them. There are tickets to hold onto, schedules to keep, and a general sense that the days have to be filled in order to count. A stretch of shoreline works differently. The water sets the pace, the light changes on its own schedule, and the whole trip settles into something slower without anyone having to arrange it. That is the appeal of the southern Gulf in Texas, where the beaches run long and flat, the wind carries salt inland, and afternoons stretch out further than they do anywhere else. Planning a getaway here is less about building an itinerary and more about giving yourself room to enjoy one.Settling In Close To The ShorelineWhere you sleep shapes everything else about a coastal trip. Guests who stay well inland spend a good port...
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By William Piotrowski, Just Call William 630-881-8655
(Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation )
🏡 5 THINGS BUYERS TELL ME BEFORE THEY BUY A HOME…I hear these conversations EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK.And before you decide that homeownership is completely off the table, there’s something I want you to know:The answer is often not “NO.”Sometimes, you just need to look at the problem differently. 👇1️⃣ “THE MONTHLY PAYMENT IS TOO HIGH.”Okay. Then let's start there.Not with the maximum you qualify for.Let's start with the payment that actually feels comfortable to YOU.Then we'll work backward to determine what purchase price, down payment, loan program, and overall structure may fit your budget.2️⃣ “I’M WAITING FOR RATES TO FALL.”Okay… but here's my question:WHAT RATE WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE THE PAYMENT WORK FOR YOU?If you don't know that number, you're not necessarily waiting on a strategy.You mi...
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By William Piotrowski, Just Call William 630-881-8655
(Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation )
🚨🏠 ARE YOU PAYING MORE FOR YOUR MORTGAGE THAN YOU NEED TO?Here's a mortgage statistic that should get every homebuyer's attention…New Bankrate research analyzed 3.2 million mortgage originations from 2025 and found that a large majority of borrowers in the nation's biggest metro areas paid more than what Bankrate considered competitive pricing.And yes…CHICAGO MADE THE LIST. 👀According to the analysis:📍 Chicago–Naperville–Elgin💰 Average annual difference: $4,457📊 Borrowers affected: 88%💵 Estimated 30-year difference: $81,810But here's the part that REALLY matters…🧐 THE LOWEST RATE ISN'T ALWAYS THE BEST LOAN.When you're comparing mortgages, don't just ask:“What's your rate?”Ask:🏦 What's the APR?💰 How much are the closing costs?📌 Are there discount points?💵 What are the lender fees?📆 What'...
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By William Piotrowski, Just Call William 630-881-8655
(Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation )
🏢🚨 CHICAGO CONDO BUYERS — YES, THESE NEW RULES CAN AFFECT YOU!I’ve been getting questions about the new Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac condo lending changes and whether what we're hearing about Florida is going to impact the Chicago market.SHORT ANSWER: YES — BUT THERE'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.These aren't simply “Florida condo rules.”Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have made national changes to their condo project review requirements, and those changes can affect condo transactions here in Illinois too.Beginning with applications received August 3, 2026, Fannie Mae retired its Limited Review process, while Freddie Mac also changed its review options.That means lenders may need to take a much closer look at the CONDO PROJECT — not just the borrower.We're talking about things like:🏢 HOA finances💰...
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By Coral Amelia, Professional Real Estate Services You Can Trust
(https://keenanhowardrealty.com/)
  Facilities teams rarely go looking for a seal problem. They notice a door that needs a push to latch. A painter has bridged a groove. A strip is hanging loose near the bottom corner. A cleaner reports that the edge looks chewed up. Those small observations are usually the first clue that something around the opening has changed, and this intumescent and smoke seal placement guide is a useful starting point for making sense of what you are looking at before anything gets replaced.The wrong response is to reach for a roll of generic weather strip and make the edge look tidy again. On a fire door, that narrow strip of material at the leaf or frame can be part of the documented opening. Maintenance starts by identifying what is actually there and why it was put there in the first place.In...
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