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WESTWORDS DECEMBER 2023

I AM WEST USA

TROY ROYSTON

UPDATE ON COMMUNICATION!

FROM BOB STEPHENS

MAKE YOUR

REAL ESTATE

BUSINESS

SHINE

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

HOW TO BUDGET FOR UNEXPECTED HOME MAINTENANCE

COSTS

12 DAYS OF SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM WEST USA

DECEMBER

CALENDAR Watson Lake, Prescott

I AM

I AM TROY ROYSTON I AM DEDICATED I AM SINCERE I AM DILIGENT I AM KNOWLEDGEABLE I AM PASSIONATE I AM WEST USA

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING Troy Royston provided the necessary professional support to understand our options in selling our Phoenix home. We planned to relocate to another state and needed to undertake this task pretty quickly. Troy not only helped us sell our home here in Phoenix, he also did some extensive research to locate a reputable sales person in South Carolina where we planned to relocate to. Troy was able to obtain an exceptional price for our Phoenix home, allovving us to move vvithout the stress of being unable too sell our home quickly at the price we were asking. We would definitely recommend Troy for anyone looking to sell their home with the needed professionalism and support typically needed when undertaking such an enormous task. We met Troy Royston 4 years ago at an Open House he was holding. We had recently moved to Arizona and thought we could downsize from our previous home, but after 6 months in a smaller home, we realized it wasn’t working for us. We started attending open houses for ideas on how to make our house work better. After meeting Troy, we asked him to help us list our home and find a new one. Troy had a fee structure that made selling quick and painless, keeping us from having to add extra money to the sale. He sold our first house quickly, and although we hadn’t found a new one yet, Troy made the process smooth,

setting a good sale price and negotiating with buyers. We ended up moving into an apartment while he helped us search for a new home, even though it was a competitive market. Troy patiently showed us over 80 homes, helped us make multiple offers, and never gave up. He always made time for us, and even after buying our home, he continues to stay in touch. He also helped my parents find their home in Arizona, working with me as their proxy. Troy truly cares about his clients and goes the extra mile to help them find their dream home. We were lucky to have met him at that random open house. In our first meeting, Troy Royston provided a professional folder outlining his real estate services. We ended up working together for over a year due to changing moving plans caused by my father’s hospitalization. Troy was incredibly helpful, going above and beyond to assist me during a challenging time. He took charge of preparing the house for the market, did a fantastic job, and taught me how to set the right price. When we listed the house, I received four offers within three days and eventually sold it for my desired price. I highly recommend Troy Royston as a reliable, honest, and compassionate real estate agent. I plan to work with him again when buying my snowbird home in Arizona. Give Troy a chance; you won’t be disappointed.

BROKER BLOG FROM BOB STEPENS UPDATE ON

COMMUNICATION! Of course, we all know that communication is all you have to sell and that is what you are paid for. You do not have inventory in a store to sell to customers and must get an agreement to represent someone that needs to sell or rent whatever it is that they own in real estate, which thereby becomes your business. Now then, if you become an irritant to someone enough to enrage that person who knows that you are a real estate agent at a certain brokerage, they will call the Broker of the agency and throw their rage at the Broker, EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT A CLIENT! I remember a time when an agent cut in front of another car in a line at the outside teller of a bank. This agent had car signs on his car. It took me over 3 weeks to get the lady to give it up and it was if I sent this guy to do this egregious act and now she will NEVER do business with West USA Realty. So ALL of our agents become the culprits but they do not even know it. Recently a beautifully wrapped car advertising the agent prompted another driver to call the Broker and complain about this car not stopping at a RED stop sign and just slowed up and rolled on through it. So I contacted the agent and discovered that on the date this happened, she was in another country and was not driving her car. BUT, it may have been her husband! Now back to the most recent call that did not leave a phone number, he was screaming at me, the Broker, about someone that recorded himself on the phone, flipping him off, and sent it to him. He then gave me some violent swearing, and I have just 10 minutes to have our agent call this person back to apologize to him. I asked if he were a buyer or a seller and he said no and quickly reiterated his demands and repeated 10 minutes. By the way, I suspect that West USA Realty stands out in the minds of these complainants. So please remember to hold back your personal feelings especially on social media and the ability to text someone a "flip off'. Then you will need to answer to me!

QUESTIONS, CONTACT: Managing Broker, Bob Stephens | 602-942-4200

MAKE YOUR REAL ESTATE BUSINESS

SHINE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON BY WISE AGENT Working in the real estate industry during the holiday season typically means a lull in business, but what if you could take advantage of this slow time to generate standout marketing? The holidays don't have to mean a sleepy season. Keep reading for tips on taking advantage of the festive season and capitalizing on the holiday cheer. SEND A HOLIDAY CARD People want to enjoy their holidays and put their home buying or selling needs aside to spend time with family. Instead of continuing to contact your leads about their real estate projects, take this opportunity to stay visible without talking business and send a holiday card. With our real estate postcard solution, you can design and print a holiday card right from your CRM! Let your clients know you are thinking of them without pressuring them for business. LIGHT IT UP A special way to draw attention to a property during the holidays is to add holiday lights. Adding some tasteful lighting on a neutral theme, such as a snowflake or icicle theme or even basic red and green decor, will catch the eye of potential clients. Holiday lighting will not only draw attention, but the extra lights can also help better illuminate your property exterior during the darker winter days. Remember, however, that different clients will celebrate different holidays, so you might not want to add a religious spin to your theme - instead, be an open book. If in doubt, avoid the giant inflatable Santa and skip the extra string of twinkle lights. If you want extra drive-by traffic, add your lighted decorations to neighbor holiday maps. You'll add

to community spirit while gaining some excellent advertising but don't forget the "For Sale" sign. CREATE A HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE A holiday gift guide is a fantastic service to customers and businesses alike. Holiday gift guides allow brands to showcase their goods while helping consumers ﬁnd the right products for their seasonal needs. These guides are also reminiscent of the old toy catalogs many of us remember from our youths - a demographic that is very active in the housing market right now. If your real estate agency is putting out its own gift guide, you'll already have some excellent branding, but if not, you can always purchase a spot in another guide, like your local chamber of commerce. The key is to offer a service or information that will be useful to prospective buyers and sellers and, like the best gifts, require nothing in return. SPREAD THE HOLIDAY CHEER ON SOCIAL MEDIA Now is not the time to take a break from social media. Keep your posts holly and jolly so your clients know you are around and ready to work! Be authentic, and remember to showcase your personality by sharing holiday favorites or family traditions that your audience can relate to. There are many different approaches to holiday advertising, so don't let the season pull you away from your leads. Approach this holiday season with a plan so you don't get caught off guard and let important clients and tasks fall through the cracks.

HOW TO BUDGET FOR UNEXPECTED

HOME MAINTENANCE COSTS BY DEREK RILEY Buying a home is a financial goal that many Americans You may not be able to spare an extra few hundred dollars a spend years working toward. It is a huge accomplishment month to save for home maintenance costs, but that doesn’t to see your hard work pay off with a new home investment. mean you shouldn’t make a column in your monthly budget However, if you are a first-time homebuyer, make sure spreadsheet for home maintenance. Put aside whatever you to do your research to understand the hidden costs of can afford to save— even $20 a week will add up to more homeownership. than $1,000 in a year. Learn some ways to tighten your household budget so that you’ll have the funds to pay for What exactly are the hidden costs after buying a home? potential home maintenance issues without the stress. In addition to your down payment and closing costs, you may also have to pay for a home inspection, potential 2. KEEP YOUR APPLIANCES AND SYSTEMS IN GOOD SHAPE renovations, furniture, or even just new odds and ends that Staying on top of regular maintenance tasks by getting you didn’t realize you needed until you start to settle in. Most ahead of breakdowns before they happen is another good new homeowners find themselves strapped for cash in the way to minimize repair expenses. An easy way to remember months after a new home purchase—and that’s without even when to perform easily forgotten maintenance tasks is to considering the unexpected expenses of home maintenance. make a seasonal to-do list that includes things like flushing your water heater once a year, changing your A/C filters While it may seem like a lot to handle, don’t worry just yet. regularly, and cleaning your gutters in the spring and fall. Home maintenance costs are part of owning a home, and Take good care of your home and the systems and they are totally manageable, even for homeowners on a tight appliances that keep it running smoothly, and you’ll have budget. Staying on top of home upkeep costs simply takes fewer repairs and maintenance expenses. some planning and foresight. You can take charge of your home maintenance costs with 3. CONSIDER GETTING A HOME WARRANTY a three-pronged plan that includes saving for unexpected Of course, no matter how diligently you care for your costs, keeping your home (and its appliances and systems) in home, its systems and appliances will eventually fail and good shape, and getting a home warranty. require repair or even replacement. For ultimate budget projection, consider purchasing a home warranty, which can 1. SAVE FOR UNEXPECTED COSTS help you defray the out-of-pocket costs of those inevitable You never know when some vital component of your home, breakdowns—saving your finances and peace of mind. such as your water heater or refrigerator, will fail. It could American Home Shield provides complete home warranty happen after years of diligently saving or the day after coverage for parts of your key home systems and appliances closing on your home. that you rely on every day. If something breaks down, just The go-to rule of thumb when creating your yearly home submit a service request, pay your Service Fee (which is maintenance budget is to set aside one to two percent the fee you pay for the Pro to come out to your home), and of your home’s cost each year to cover repairs to or we will send out a qualified Pro to repair the appliance or replacements of home systems and appliances. So, if you system—and if it can’t be repaired, we’ll replace it, subject to purchased your home for $450,000, you should set aside the limitations and exclusions of your contract. $4,500 to $9,000 a year, or $375 to $750 a month, to build Each of our plans helps protect your budget from up a cushion for any unexpected costs. unexpected expenses related to the covered parts of your The reality is that many Americans don’t have an extra hardworking household items. By budgeting for home couple hundred bucks to set aside each month. About 56 warranty coverage, the hidden costs of homeownership percent of Americans don’t have enough in their savings become things we can help you manage. And if your budget accounts to cover an unexpected $1,000 expense. Typical ever changes, you can change your plan. yearly repair or maintenance expenses can easily be two or three times that amount, if not more.

Derek Riley, Market Manager Cell: 480-286-1996 • Email: derek.riley@ahs.com

12 Days

of Christmas 12 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS FOR REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Day 1

Day 7

Client Testimonials: Share heartwarming testimonials Local Holiday Events: Create a list of local holiday and success stories from your clients who bought or events, such as tree lighting ceremonies, holiday sold homes with your assistance. markets, and parades. Let your followers know what’s happening in the community.

Day 2

Home Staging for the Holidays: Offer advice on how to stage homes for holiday showings. Share beforeand-after photos of staged properties.

Day 3

Holiday Home Buying Tips: Offer valuable tips and advice for buyers who are considering purchasing a home during the holidays. Discuss the advantages of buying in the winter season.

Day 4

Day 8

Year-End Market Updates: Provide a year-end market update for your local area. Share statistics, trends, and predictions for the upcoming year.

Day 9

Festive Home Decor: Share photos and videos of beautifully decorated homes in your area. Highlight unique holiday decorations and lighting that make these homes stand out.

Day 10

Heartwarming Stories: Share heartwarming stories Holiday Home Safety: Offer tips on keeping homes of families who found their dream homes during the holiday season. Personal anecdotes can help humanize safe during the holiday season, including advice on preventing break-ins and fires. your brand.

Day 5

Local Holiday Recipes: Share your favorite holiday recipes or collaborate with local restaurants to showcase their holiday specials.

Day 6

Day 11

Home Maintenance Tips: Provide tips on preparing homes for winter, such as weatherproofing, checking heating systems, and insulating. Show that you care about your clients’ well-being.

Day 12

Local Charities and Giving Back: Promote local Virtual Home Tours: Host virtual home tours of charities and volunteer opportunities in your area. Highlight the spirit of giving during the holiday season. properties, allowing potential buyers to explore homes from the comfort of their own homes.

WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A HAPPY AND SAFE

Holiday Season AND A JOYFUL

New Year! FROM ALL OF US AT

WEST USA REALTY

M O N DAY

T U E S DAY

W E D N E S DAY

DECEMBER 2023 T H U R S DAY

F R I DAY

9:00am - 10:00am / Webinar West USA Weekly Podcast

9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom ProStart November Session 2 10:30am - 12:00pm / Zoom West USA Agent Orientation

9:00am - 10:00am / Webinar West USA Weekly Podcast

9:00am - 12:00pm / Zoom FREE REMOTE CE CLASS: Secrets to Unprecedented Growth and Referrals (3Hrs RE Legal Issues)

9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom ProStart November Session 2

9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom ProStart November Session 2 10:30am - 11:30am @ Chandler Office Lunch & Learn: Running Comps Like An Appraiser (1HR General CE Credits)

3:30pm - 4:30pm @ Goodyear Office Goodyear Accountability Group

12 9:00am - 12:00pm @ Mesa Office LIVE CE CLASS: Advanced Contract Writing MHCA Mobile & MFG Home Purchase Contract (3Hrs Contract Law) 10:00am - 10:30am @ Scottsdale Office Investment Economics and Investor Networking 10:00am - 11:30am @ Goodyear Office Goodyear Office Meeting & Potluck 1:00pm - 4:00pm @ Chandler Office LIVE CE CLASS: Homes with Solar Energy and AAR Contract (3Hrs Contract Law) 3:30pm - 4:30pm @ Arrowhead Office Arrowhead Accountability Group 3:30pm - 4:30pm @ Goodyear Office Goodyear Accountability Group

9:00am - 12:00pm @ Surprise Office FREE LIVE CE CLASS: To Be Or Not To Be Paid, That is the Question (3Hrs Contract Law)

9:00am - 10:00am / Webinar West USA Weekly Podcast

3:30pm - 4:30pm @ Arrowhead Office Arrowhead Accountability Group

10:00am - 11:00am @ Chandler Office East Valley Property Management Meet-Up

3:30pm - 4:30pm @ Goodyear Office Goodyear Accountability Group

9:00am - 12:00pm / Zoom FREE REMOTE CE CLASS: Duties to Clients and Customers (3Hrs Commissioner Standards)

9:00am - 12:00pm @ Chandler Office FREE LIVE CE CLASS: Disclosure and the Law (3Hrs Disclosure Law)

10:00am - 11:00am / Zoom Coaching Essential Learning

9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom ProStart November Session 2 10:00am - 11:00am / Zoom iFound Agent - Ask the Pro Workshop

10:00am - 11:00am / Zoom iFound Agent - Ask the Pro Workshop

10:00am - 1:00pm @ Scottsdale Office LIVE CE CLASS: The Code of Ethics (3Hrs Commissioner Standards) 10:30am - 11:30am @ Ahwatukee Office Ahwatukee Office Meeting

9:00am - 12:00pm / Zoom FREE REMOTE CE CLASS: Agency and Industry Related Issues (3Hrs Agency Law)

10:00am - 11:00am / Zoom iFound Agent - Ask the Pro Workshop

10:00am - 11:00am @ Goodyear Office Property Managers Roundtable 10:00am - 11:00am @ Chandler Office Chandler Office Meeting

25 ALL OFFICES CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY

27 10:00am - 11:00am / Zoom iFound Agent - Ask the Pro Workshop

3:30pm - 4:30pm @ Arrowhead Office Arrowhead Accountability Group 3:30pm - 4:30pm @ Goodyear Office Goodyear Accountability Group