Certified Distressed Property Expert

A brand new and very timely certification now available to REALTORS®:

Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE).

A homeowner in distress needs to have th confidence in their licensed REALTOR(R) that they have the tools to help them find the best solution for their situation.

Foreclosure is a devastating financial and emotional process for a homeowner to go through, and in many cases they do so alone and without help of any kind. It is the goal of the Distressed Property Institute to give agents the tools and information they need to avoid foreclosure and move forward with their lives.

If you are attending the Star Power convention in July you will want to take note that Star Power is offering an exclusive preview regarding the CDPE designation.

Do You Know Your Flag Etiquette?

Summer, with its bevy of patriotic holidays, is a great time to wave the American flag. But lots of people don't really know the right and wrong ways to display and care for their flag. There is actually a legal set of instructions for the care and handling of the American flag, set out in the Federal Flag Code, which became law the year after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Here's what you need to know to show the flag its due respect.

You can fly your American flag any day of the year, but most people enjoy putting out the flag on patriotic holidays. The flag can fly from sunrise to sunset. The only way it can be left out all night is if it is illuminated the entire time. The flag shouldn't be left out in the rain or in other inclement weather. Give it plenty of room to hang free so it doesn't flap into any foliage or walls. It always flies with the union, or canton (the blue area with the stars), side up. If you are going to fly the flag at half-staff, first raise it to the peak of the pole and then lower it; raise it again to the peak to take it down.

When you're not flying your flag, store it in a moisture-proof container in a safe spot. Make sure the flag is dry and clean before you store it (a damp flag may get moldy). If it's dirty, hand-wash it in cold water with mild detergent and then air-dry it before storing — or take it to a dry cleaner. Fold the flag in half width-wise twice. Then fold up a triangle at a time, starting at the striped end. When you have only the end of the union (the area with the stars) left, fold it down into a triangle and tuck it inside the other folds.

If your flag is frayed or beyond repair, you should retire it and get a new one. The Federal Flag Code suggests that an old flag be ceremonially burned, but this isn't recommended today (particularly since some all-weather flags are nylon, which shouldn't be burned). Instead, you could box up and bury your flag. Better yet, call a local veteran's organization or Boy Scout group; either would be glad to retire the flag in a respectful manner. There is a rule that the flag shouldn't touch the ground, but if yours does accidentally, it's not necessary to retire it. Just clean it and continue to use it respectfully.

The flag is a symbol of the United States, not a decoration. That's why the Federal Flag Code lays out such strict advice about how and when the symbol can be used. If you are entertaining and want to go with a patriotic theme, avoid paper products with flag images. Instead, choose red, white and blue bunting or items decorated with stars. The flag should always be displayed on its own staff and be larger or more prominent than other flags. Never carry a flag horizontally; it should always be held aloft so it is able to hang freely. The only time it's appropriate for a flag to be flat or to cover anything is when it's placed on a coffin.

What Services Do You Offer As A Real Estate Virtual Assistant

As the real estate market changes, so do the responsibilities of a real estate virtual assistant.

If you have been offering your services to real estate professionals for sometime now you might notice that when the market is busy, you are busy coordinating listings, leads, handling the transaction to ensure a successful closing. This might lead to not enough time to maintain the real estate professionals daily tasks or special projects.

When the real estate market is slow you might find yourself with a little more time on your hands. This is a great time to accomplish those long-term goals your clients might have had on the back burner.

Here is a list of some of the projects you can update or begin for your client to get them ready so when the real estate market turns around they are ready and they have the exposure to get the listings or the buyers.

1. Update their pre-listing package
2. Update their listing presentation
3. Update the content, photos, resume, and keywords/meta tags on their website
4. Review designations that might be of a benefit to them. There are news one coming out and you should be aware of them.
5. Organize and update their contact management program
6. Organize their computer files - You will need a program to access their computer. Something like www.LogMeIn.com or www.GoToMyPC.com are good one's.
7. Review and update their buyer and seller campaigns.
8. Create a blog & Submit to various blog directories.
9. Update their newsletter with new photos, new designations, market stats, etc.
10. Review programs that might prove to be a tremendous benefit to the real estate professional.
11. Set up their profile on social networking sites.
12. Review the direct marketing program.
13. Create templates for flyers, postcards, etc.
14. Update their testimonials. If they don't have any request them from past clients.
15. Explore other areas of their business to create a powerful marketing campaign for the local market as well as for the Internet.

As you can see there are a variety of ways that the real estate professional can use your services in a slow market. And, it is important to know how to do any of the services you offer or requested to perform.

Anyone can say they are a real estate virtual assistant, but can you walk the walk and talk the talk? If not, then you have a responsibility to learn and learn on your own time, not the agents.

If you are looking to add real estate services to your resume, but not sure where to begin then this is a good time to have a virtual assistant coach who can mentor you through the services you would like to offer.

And, if you are looking to offer real estate services now is a good time to focus on adding this to your resume and to your website.

The real estate market is slowly turning around as it always does, so get your real estate client ready so they stand out above the rest. They will truly appreciate your efforts.

Craigslist May Limit HTML In Listings Ads

As a real estate virtual assistant - if you are using Poslets or VFlyer to create professional listing ads you might be interested in reading this article from INMAN News.

Craigslist is considering a proposal to limit the use of HTML when posting listings on the site.

They are considering the use of basic HTML though, but there seems to be issues with CSS.

Read this article by clicking here.