For Maximum Email Productivity, Try These Tips

 
You sort through your personal snail mail, why not your email?

Email is both a blessing and a curse, and in many ways, it's become today's to-do list. In "Work Smarter, Rule Your Email," published by Harvard Business Press (HBR.org), author Alexandra Samuel shares top email productivity tips. By instructing your email client to follow rules, filter and sort, you can place priority emails where you need and want them, and handle the rest later.

Here are just few ways you can use sort and filter rules to get the most out of email:

1. Create a folder labeled "Not quite junk mail" and instruct your server to filter in any emails with bulk-mail phrases like "to unsubscribe click," "please unsubscribe," "sale," and "deal." Then, sort through this folder at your leisure.

2. Setup your smartphone to receive forwarded emails. Then create a rule to forward only very important emails, say, from certain senders or with certain subject lines, as a text message when they arrive. Here's the forwarding address set-up for major carriers:

Sprint: T-Mobile: Verizon: Virgin Mobile:

phonenumber@messaging.sprintpcs.com    phonenumber@tmomail.net    phonenumber@vtext.com    phonenumber@vmobl.com

3. Sort for VIPs. Scared of missing an email from your VIPs? Set up a filter, placed at the very top of your rules list, to bypass all other rules and highlight emails from your boss or other very important people.

4. Setup multiple email addresses for multiple purposes. When signing up for newsletter subscriptions or purchasing items online, use a different email address than your personal address for correspondence. Off the bat you'll know which folder you want to check ASAP! 

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Insurance Insights Is Your Roof Covered?

Most people don't read too deeply into their homeowner's insurance policies, especially when it comes to the roof. Most of us expect that, if the roof were to sustain damage from a storm or other event, our insurance will pay the costs to repair it (minus the deductible, of course).

But that's not necessarily the case. Insurance carriers have moved to an underwriting approach that, while it tends to keep premiums down, can lower the total amount available for roof repairs in the event of a claim. This method is called "actual cash value."

Here's how it works: A roof needs to be replaced every 15 to 20 years, making roofs a depreciating asset. From an accounting perspective, their cash value is highest when they are new, and they gradually decrease in value through wear and tear. An old roof is simply less valuable than a new roof because replacement is both nearer and inevitable.

If your homeowners insurance uses "actual cash value" method rather than "cost to replace" method to calculate a claim, depreciation will be deducted from your settlement amount, resulting in lower compensation from the insurance company in the event of a claim. While the upside of this is a lower monthly premium, the downside is that if you're not putting something in savings to replace your roof, you could eventually be stuck covering the rest of the repairs yourself.

It's worth a quick call to your insurance agent to double-check your coverage and make any appropriate adjustments.

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The Race for Equity Choosing the Right Loan Program

Those who take property ownership seriously often look for options to build equity at a faster pace. An aggressive approach is to  select a 15-year loan program over a 30-year mortgage. A 15-year loan works well for home buyers budgeting time and  money, those who are possibly looking forward to a debt-free  retirement, or those who plan to upgrade to a larger home  within 15 years. But this requires a sincere commitment to  making substantially larger monthly payments. Provided the homeowner can afford the financial commitment of a 15-year loan, they will pay significantly less money in  interest simply because the life of the loan is spread over  a shorter period of time. This will result in a smaller tax  deduction over a shorter period of time. However, they need to be aware that unless they are extremely financially  secure, even a minor setback can have a tragic impact on their ability to make mortgage payments on time and in full.  The bottom line is that it's probably not a good idea to put all available cash into a mortgage payment and lose any hope of a financial cushion in the event of emergency. A less vulnerable approach is to consider making principal prepayments on a 30-year loan, or to invest the extra dollars into another type of asset accumulation account. Here the  compelling question is, is it better to take the risk of a non-guaranteed investment, or bank on the guaranteed savings on mortgage interest? Making prepayments on a 30-year loan is often deemed to be the safer route, and the borrower can make the extra  payment when they want to, rather than through obligation.  If the homeowner has made less than a 20% down payment,  principal prepayment offers them the ability to have their loan reviewed by the lender for the purpose of removing any private mortgage insurance payment (PMI) earlier than expected. First, the borrower needs to discuss prepayment procedures  with their lender, and take into consideration whether there is  any prepayment penalty associated with their financing before initiating prepayments. They should also note that principal  prepayment reduces mortgage interest, which is tax deductible. Depending on what their tax bracket is, this may or may not be  beneficial to them. If the extra money is invested in some other vehicle, the earnings will be reduced by taxes (unless the money goes into a tax-exempt fund).  The borrower should compare the mortgage rate to the rate of return on another type of investment, and decide if it makes more sense on an after-tax basis to invest the extra money somewhere else and have  the ability to liquidate those assets if necessary. Bi-weekly mortgage plans are another option for building equity at  a faster rate, but consumers should be wary of companies that ask for a setup fee and monthly charges. The most important thing  to note is that each client has different goals. These are just a few  options for building equity. WWW.TRIADLENDING.COM

Should You Automate Your Social Media Posts?

 
Any doubts regarding the effectiveness of social media for generating new listings and buyers were dispelled long ago—and a recent poll from The News Funnel found that 98 percent of agents have adopted social media in their marketing mix.

With the explosion of social media comes a host of complimentary social media automation tools.

While these tools are great timesavers, you won't want to lose sight of the real-time social aspect of social media. In fact, a balanced approach of automation and engagement is the best strategy.

So how do you take advantage of technology and engage, real-time?

STEP 1: Automate a few of your posts per week with applications like Hootsuite or Post Planner that can free up time for more selling and less marketing. Just plan and write your posts, then schedule them for the coming week. Your effort on Monday morning could pay off for the entire week.

STEP 2: Like or follow and comment on those posts, as well as post one or two "on the fly," perhaps in response to others' live posts each week. Continue to engage with comments from any contacts or friends who follow you.

Remember that social media is supposed to be social! Automate posts for marketing efforts, and then add a human touch with your real-time engagement. 

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Lead Follow-Up Campaigns
Never Give Up On a Lead!

 

You might wonder, "When is a lead no longer a lead?" A lead is always a lead until the person tells you to stop calling. The key to success in sales is professional persistence. Take time to earn the loyalty of prospects by showing them that you add more value to the equation than anybody else in your field. One critical element to remember about a successful lead follow-up campaign is that it should be easy to implement.

Build a series of letters (i.e., templates) and load them onto your computer. With a few clicks of your mouse, you will generate an outbound correspondence that encompasses your prospective client list and helps them realize that you are sincerely interested in working with them. You must leave an indelible imprint in their mind, which will give you a competitive edge if they have not yet decided with whom they will work. You must rouse prospective clients to wonder:

"What will I miss out on if I don't work with this person?"

Once you motivate the prospect to ask that crucial question, your battle has been won. How can you prompt prospects to ponder this question? It's simple: Teach them! People instinctively want to learn, especially when it comes to "big ticket" transactions like purchasing real property and financing homes. The more you teach them, the more they will want to work with you, so it is important to establish yourself as a consultant.

Many subtle changes occur regularly during real estate transactions that can make buyers feel vulnerable and anxious. They're filled with all types of questions and they look to you as the expert. How do you read an appraisal? What are key components of a home inspection report? What are the various non-recurring fees associated with buying a home? What is tax deductible during the loan process? What are some characteristics to look for when selecting a skilled real estate agent? The list never ends. Draft documents that address consumers' concerns before they even ask.

By maintaining contact with your prospects on a weekly basis using a drip campaign that contains valuable educational material, you will have made yourself invaluable to them. You'll be amazed by how much your conversion ratio from prospect-to-client will skyrocket! 

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The Fine Art of Referrals

 
"Just asking" for referrals doesn't work for everyone. Follow these simple tips to make getting referrals easier.

Start here. Getting new business from new business is up to seven times more costly than getting new business from existing customers, according to data by 3D Issue. Make sure your existing clients are the first place you go for new business—you can do this by staying in touch on a regular basis to ensure they think of you first!

Be consistent. Make sure to block time each week for calls, follow ups, social media posts and marketing. This will keep your pipeline from gushing one month and trickling the next. Get training on marketing and learn the ropes on one strategy at a time—for e.g., social media, seminars, or postcard marketing—before moving on to the next.

Create a system. If you treat clients to a mind-blowing experience, you may never even need to ask for referrals. Automate or delegate as many rote business activities as possible, so you can spend time developing your new business ideas.

Be tactical. Create specific opportunities for referrals:

• Hold a topical webinar or "Lunch and Learn," and ask clients and referral partners to invite their contacts.
• Let clients know it's fine to forward your newsletters to friends and family.
• Focus on a niche market—when you become known for specifics, referrals are almost a given.

Don't be discouraged if you don't see immediate results. Generating reliable referral streams isn't difficult—it just takes time and patience.

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Finance of America- "Home Financing Made Simple"

Double Your Productivity with 1 Simple Trick

 
Do you dread replying to emails because they take too much of your time? Do you put off giving your staff or clients feedback because you fear typing out pages of text? Do you realize it's often easier to call someone on the phone, but fear losing your workday tied up in chitchat?

If you answered yes to one or more of the above, try something different: record your messages! With a headset and an easy to use audio recording app (or even the voice recorder feature on your smartphone), you can record voice replies to all of these scenarios and more, and then simply email the files with short intro notes. You can deliver the same amount or more information than you intended to write with only three to four minutes of audio.

Audio replies can also help you avoid miscommunication in the tone of your messages, which can frequently happen with emails. You'll also appear more personal and engaging. Best of all, the complex email-writing tasks will become a thing of the past. And because you can record from practically any device, you'll save a tremendous amount of talking time.

So, say it with audio and reclaim your day with one of these helpful software solutions:

Vemail - Automates the task of recording and emailing on your PC or Windows phone. $30
Audacity - Audio recorder makes exporting files easy. Mac and Windows. Free
Easy Voice Recorder - Record any sound and email it instantly. Android. $3.99
(iPhone users: The built-in Voice Memos application already allows you to email or text your recordings.)

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I provide lending solutions for purchasers of primary, secondary and investment properties located in North Carolina. I also work with current homeowners in need of refinancing primary, second homes, investment properties.

"Putting Customers First" is our motto. We pride ourselves on providing superior customer service and creating satisfied customers. We work hard to satisfy the mortgage needs and exceed the expectations of our customers. Lower mortgage costs through cutting-edge mortgage origination technology our customers save money and close their loans quickly because we employ the most advanced mortgage technology available. In a rush? We welcome you to try our mortgage calculators! The Internet, advanced mortgage processing software, and automated mortgage underwriting systems are coordinated to speed the mortgage process and deliver the best rate and terms. Highest Quality Mortgage Services (HQMS) from mortgage processing and underwriting, to loan closing and funding, our expert mortgage staff will efficiently expedite your entire transaction. We'll keep you informed every step of the way. We're committed to building rewarding, long-term customer relationships. With that in mind, you'll receive the highest quality mortgage services. Meeting Every Challenge we rapidly respond to new opportunities made available in today's dynamic mortgage markets. As a result, the requirements of our mortgage customers are consistently met through mortgage underwriting flexibility and delivery of unique mortgage programs. We often identify niche mortgage programs that are essential to satisfying individual mortgage customer needs.

Specialties

• Residential
• Relocation
• Condos/Townhomes
• Luxury Homes
• REO/Bank Owned
• Investment Properties
• Short Sales
• Vacation/Resort Properties
• Oceanfront/Investment
• Self Employed Borrowers

"The mission of Finance of America Mortgage is to be America’s preferred choice for home financing options by being the industry leader in responsible lending."