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WESTWORDS FEBRUARY 2024

I AM WEST USA

LOIS & LARRY RUBINO

REPRESENTING CLIENTS IN SALES OF REAL ESTATE FROM BROKER BOB STEPHENS

HOW TO GENERATE LEADS &

ESTABLISH YOURSELF

AS THE LOCAL REAL ESTATE EXPERT

10 EASY

DISHWASHER TIPS TO HELP YOU SAVE MONEY

JANUARY & 2023 MARKET STATS

HEART FUNDRAISER FROM WEST USA CARES

FEBRUARY CALENDAR

WE ARE

LOIS & LARRY RUBINO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING... These people are UNBELIEVABLE. In a good way. The care and service they provided in selling my dad's home was so unexpected, surprising, and appreciated. Lois and Larry truly go above and beyond with personal touches that made us feel appreciated as well, and their goal was to help us sell the house and not focused on "how much would they make." I've never encountered REALTORS® who work like this very exceptional team who cares about their clients like they would family. Thank you, Lois & Larry! Lois & Larry were great to work with. They explained everything on how they would handle the description and sale of my mother’s house. They held several Open Houses with success. I was pleased with all they did to get my mother’s home sold in a short time while they had it listed. I highly recommend them if you need help selling or buying a home. We would like to thank Lois and Larry for all your help in getting us into our new home. You went way out of your way to see that purchasing the house we wanted went as smoothly as possible. I don't know of many REALTORS® that would have gone to the extent you did. We really appreciate all the time and effort you took to get us here. We are truly enjoying the house and can't thank you enough. We highly recommend you, Lois and Larry!

RESOURCEFUL • FRIENDLY • LOYAL • KNOWLEDGEABLE • TRUSTWORTHY

7& 8 YEARS

BROKER BLOG FROM BOB STEPHENS REPRESENTING CLIENTS IN SALES OF REAL ESTATE As a profession is a wonderful and satisfying business. Here In time, will experience the same Issues. They all wonder are some reasons that I hear from agents as to why they what they could have done to have prevented this problem. believe this. Actually, nothing! They help others to achieve their desires in housing for their family in the area they want to live In or near, usually near their employment areas. Their children desire to go to certain schools, churches are a factor along with shopping and recreation. Many other Items may be factored into the client's choice for housing Including pricing. Also at hand Is the personalities of all concerned. These Issues sometimes test the resourcefulness of the agent, but they get the job done and enjoy a great amount of satisfaction in doing this job that parallels the skills of a lawyer, which of course they are in matters of real estate according to Article 26 of the Arizona Constitution. Many of them make a lifetime career of doing this and I know many that have exceeded 40 years or more In this profession. HOWEVER, there can be a sad time of this business and I will relate a certain Issue that happened, and I received a call, regarding this Issue, from an agent. The agent sold the current residence of the clients that were moving up to more expensive housing. This occurred and closed escrow. They move into their newest home and a week later, water Is coming out of the celling of the upstairs bathroom. The buyer makes a frantic call to the agent who Is not a plumber but does say, turn the water off and call a plumber. Of course, an Inspection of the property by a professional inspector had not found any Issues at the time it was Inspected. So maybe the home warranty would take care of the issue? Nope, there is a 30 day wait period before such coverage becomes valid. Maybe homeowners Insurance will take care of it-I don't know. Certainly, the owners will solve this problem and get it fixed but first they call the agent. But now, a different problem occurs with the agent who now begins to wonder why she does this business that sometimes causes her to feel so terrible. I have heard many similar stories as I work in Broker management, but these stories are rarely passed on. I suspect that nearly all agents,

Here are some of the wonderful things that AAR with agent work groups do to cover items such as this, but probably clients sometimes fail to read all paperwork and are not aware of all the possibilities of buying a home. Our paperwork Is complete and followed up on with signatures. We have wonderful agents, escrow folks and lawyers taking part In compelling the correct forms at AAR that Includes legal help to put It all together. Part of It includes the "BUYERS ADVISORY" with 139 different sites that give information about buying a property, that Is also advised to consult by the AZ. Dept. of Real Estate. Then, there are lines 252-258 that state, we are not qualified to do due diligence of a property and that should be done by licensed professionals and the buyers. Then comes the Release of Brokers on 428-258. And of course, buyers must do the final walk through, before closing the escrow. I spoke with the agent, I am speaking of, for a long time to assure her that she did a perfect job and I hope she feels better about the issue of the water leak. BUT, I know that she still questions herself and feels bad about these issues. Agents seldom express these feelings, but I have talked to many of them and know, It weighs heavy on them when it happens. But this Issue is rarely a discussion by any critics of this great process and the amount of giving that an agent puts out. Many times, but not in this case, agents are blamed and made into the villain of the problem, although they were faultless. So, agents need to know that this may become a problem someday and learn to handle their feelings by at least calling their Broker and having a discussion of the contract process that they just went through. We are always willing to have that conference with you to double check your process in the transaction.

QUESTIONS, CONTACT:

Managing Broker, Bob Stephens | 602.942.4200

HOW TO GENERATE LEADS & ESTABLISH YOURSELF AS THE LOCAL REAL ESTATE WITH WISE AGENT

Expert

As the new year and the real estate market pick up pace, many agents look for original strategies and techniques to generate new leads. The goal, however, should not only be to create new business opportunities, but also establish yourself as a leading real estate expert in your community. Here are three creative ways to find new clients as well as promote yourself as the go-to agent in your neighborhood.

Geographic Farming as a Lead Generation Strategy Geographic farming is a well-known and successful lead-generation strategy. But why does it work? Simple—consistency and familiarity. By focusing on a particular community, you become a familiar face and name. This familiarity breeds trust, which is vital to any successful real estate transaction.

HOW TO IMPLEMENT GEOGRAPHIC FARMING EFFECTIVELY: 1. CHOOSE WISELY: Research demographics, market trends, and competition before deciding on your target farm.

3. PROVIDE VALUE: Don't just sell properties; sell your expertise. Offer insights about real estate trends or home maintenance tips that homeowners in your farm will find valuable.

2. CONSISTENCY IS KEY: Inconsistent efforts yield inconsistent results. Regularly engage with the community through newsletters, open houses, 4. LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY: Use tools like your CRM to track interactions, local events, or door-knocking. send consistent newsletters, and follow up effectively.

Lead Database

Leverage Your Existing

A great way to generate leads while also promoting yourself as the local expert is by leveraging your existing database. You already have a trove of information at your disposal about each lead: their preferences, past interactions, and even their hesitation points. Harnessing this data is like having a roadmap to success in real estate lead generation.

STRATEGIES TO TURN DATA INTO DOLLARS: 1. RE-ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGNS: Have leads gone cold? Heat things up with targeted re-engagement campaigns. Personalize communication based on the info you already have.

2. SPECIAL OFFERS: 3. REFERRAL PROGRAMS: Who doesn't love a good deal? Use what you Happy clients make the best advocates. know about your leads to create tailored offers Encourage satisfied customers to refer new they can't refuse! leads for incentives.

Remember, the value of an existing lead database is not just in volume but in the quality of relationships you've built. It's all about cultivating connections and transforming them into conversions.

Partnerships for Passive

Lead Generation

Partnerships for passive lead generation are win-win situations where you collaborate with another business or individual who can help bring potential leads to you. In return, you may provide them with leads or other benefits.

TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS FOR AGENTS

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS

1. AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS: You might recommend the products or services of a company in return for them doing the same.

1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT PARTNER: Look for businesses that align with your brand and have a similar target audience.

2. CONTENT PARTNERSHIPS: Collaborate with bloggers, influencers, or local businesses to create content that gets shared on multiple platforms.

2. COMMUNICATE REGULARLY: Keep the lines of communication open and ensure both parties benefit from the partnership.

3. EVENT PARTNERSHIPS: Join forces with other local businesses to host events that will attract potential leads.

3. PROVIDE VALUE: Ensure you're providing as much value as you receive.

EMBRACE THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS! They can become an invaluable tool in your lead generation toolkit, creating seamless avenues for potential leads without any extra effort on your part. With these strategies in mind, showcasing your unique skills and knowledge to prospective clients and establishing your brand as a leading real estate expert in your community will be much easier.

10 EASY

ASHER TIPS HWHELP ISWILL DTHAT YOU SAVE MONEY Dishwasher maintenance is essential. Cleaning your dishwasher and looking out for early signs of trouble saves you from spending hundreds of dollars on repairs - or even more on a premature replacement. Follow the tips below to keep your dishwasher in top shape, otherwise you might have to hire a repair professional.

CHECK THE SPRAYER ARM

Sometimes, the way you load the dishwasher can put utensils or plates in the way of the sprayer arm’s rotation. The holes of the arm can also become clogged; use a toothpick or another item to dislodge whatever is stuck.

CHECK THE DRAIN

Look in the bottom of the dishwasher and remove any food or other clogs from the filter. Then, run the garbage disposal to clear out the drain they share.

CHECK THE WATER HEATER'S TEMP

Make sure your water heater is between 120- and 125-degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, your dishes are not being washed appropriately. If it’s too high, your dishes will not be flash dried, and the dirt won’t come off.

TEST THE WATER

There’s a chance that minerals are making your water hard. This includes salts like magnesium chloride and calcium chloride or other ground minerals. It leads to cloudy residue on your dishes and the washer itself. If that’s the case, you should have a softener installed for about $850.

CLEAN THE DISHWASHER TRAP

In the very bottom of the dishwasher, under the sprayer, is a removable trap that will likely contain pieces of food that didn’t make it through to the drain. Sometimes, the tray will come out completely, and sometimes it won’t. Clean it out regularly.

CLEAN THE DISHWASHER SEALS

Over time, your dishwasher seal (i.e., what keeps the water from getting out during the wash) accumulates debris around the rubber. Clean the rubber gasket with a damp towel so the grime doesn’t build up and break the seal.

CLEAN THE INSIDE

Inside your dishwasher, there’s the potential for grease, detergent residue, and calcium buildup. Use vinegar to wash all of that away. Run a cycle of the dishwasher with vinegar only (no detergent) every few months. It helps to keep the dishwasher clean.

SCRAPING VS. WASHING

Never throw dishes in the dishwasher with food on them. And don’t just rinse them with water either. If there are hard-toremove food scraps on your dishes, use a utensil to remove them. The dishwasher won’t always be able to remove them, and you don’t want to clog the drain.

DON'T OVERCROWD

While you may want to get all the dishes you can into your dishwasher, you also don’t want to block the sprayer arm and come out with dirty dishes. Organize it well by compromising and hand clean a few dishes.

10 DON’T OVERUSE DETERGENT It’s not always necessary to fill the detergent cup. Some dishwasher manuals will tell you fill it only one-fourth or onehalf of the way. Check your dishwasher’s manual.

Hopefully these 10 tips will help with your dishwasher needs. If you need professional help with your dishwasher, consider getting an AHS Home Warranty to help keep you covered when unexpected break downs happen!

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

BE PERCEIVED AS THE EXPERT BY UNDERSTANDING MARKET STATS PT. 2 WITH TODD MENARD

In the last issue, we discussed the Market Stats Graphic, useful for high "D" and "I" types, and the Market Comparison Spreadsheet for high "C" types. This issue focuses on the Market Comparison Spreadsheet.

JANUARY 2024

This spreadsheet compares current and previous weeks, as well as the last two months with the same periods in the previous year. This comparison helps understand market movements and trends. During our Tuesday Webinars, I delve into these comparisons in detail. The layout of the spreadsheet includes week-overweek, month-over-month, and year-over-year comparisons, highlighting percentage changes. This layout helps you become an expert in market analysis. The data is updated weekly for accuracy. The spreadsheet shows percentages of different property types in total inventory, helping identify market trends early. Weekly comparisons reveal the market's ebb and flow, while monthly and yearly comparisons show the results of specific periods, aiding in forecasting market trends. The year-over-year comparison helps understand current market performance against the previous year, aiding in personal performance evaluation.

NEW HOME INVENTORY VS. ARMLS RESALE

2023 MARKET STATS

The spreadsheet also includes red and green indicators to show negative and positive trends, respectively, helping interpret the data quickly. Finally, the spreadsheet is designed to be shared across various media, helping you understand and communicate market changes effectively. Join our Tuesday Webinars at 9am for more insights. Register at www.westusawebinar.com.

Q3 2023

NEW HOME INVENTORY

WEST USA CARES

$ 20

A N NUA N UAL

Heart Fundraiser

$10

$ 10

West USA Cares is spreading love during our Annual Awareness Month. Please join us by making a donation on your A100 at closing or making a donation in your local branch to receive a heart on the wall. Our goal is to fill each office with so much love, it covers each office in hearts.

Donations go directly to benefit the Monthly Giveback program to help organizations in our communities and our Emergency Needs Resource Fund to help our own agents in time of need.

Share the love this February! FEBRUARY 1 - 29

$7 $1

M O N DAY

T U E S DAY

W E D N E S DAY

FEBRUARY 2024 T H U R S DAY

F R I DAY

10:00am - 11:30am @ Arrowhead Office Arrowhead Office Meeting

10:00am - 11:30am @ Arrowhead Office Aligned Showings Training

10:00am - 1:00pm @ Scottsdale Office LIVE CE CLASS: Elevating Professionalism in a Changing Industry (3Hrs Commissioner Standards)

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

9:00am - 3:00pm / Zoom REACT

10:30am - 12:00pm / Zoom West USA Agent Orientation

10:00am - 12:00pm @ Surprise Office Surprise Office Meeting

12:00pm - 1:00pm @ Chandler Office 1031 Exchange - Lunch Provided

1:00pm - 2:30pm @ Scottsdale Office Elevate Your Referral Game... It’s a Referral Rescue Mission!

1:00pm - 2:00pm @ Chandler Office Are you ready for Tax Season?

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

10:00am - 11:30am @ Scottsdale Office Mastermind Meeting with Great American Title

13 10:00am - 1:00pm @ Mesa Office FREE LIVE CE CLASS: Mastering the AAR Residential Purchase Contract (3Hrs Contract Law)

07 9:00am - 12:00pm / Zoom FREE REMOTE CE CLASS: Advanced Contract Writing (3Hrs Contract Law) 9:00am - 3:00pm / Zoom REACT 10:00am - 12:00pm @ Chandler Office Chandler Headshot Event

9:00am - 3:00pm / Zoom REACT

10:00am - 11:30am @ North PHX Office Coaching Essential Learning

10:30am - 11:30am @ Ahwatukee Office Ahwatukee Office Meeting 1:00pm - 2:00pm @ Chandler Office Valentine’s Day Pop-By Event

10:00am - 1:00pm @ Scottsdale Office LIVE CE CLASS: Understanding the Appraisal Process for the Real Estate Agent (3Hrs General Credit)

9:00am - 12:00pm / Zoom FREE REMOTE CE CLASS: Disclosure and the Law (3Hrs Disclosure Law)

10:00am - 11:00am @ Goodyear Office Goodyear Office Meeting

10:00am - 11:30am @ Scottsdale Office Scottsdale Office Meeting

12:00pm - 1:00pm @ Surprise Office Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning L&L

10:00am - 4:00pm @ Arrowhead Office Hearts & Cupcakes

4:30pm - 6:30pm @ BIG’s Arrowhead Social Hour

1:00pm - 4:00pm @ North PHX Office LIVE CE CLASS: Fiduciary - The Trust & Care of Real Estate Investors (3Hrs Agency)

19 ALL OFFICES CLOSED PRESIDENTS DAY

20 10:00am - 11:00am @ Mesa Office Reversed Mortgage Class 10:00am - 11:30am @ Palm Valley CC Aligned Showings Class 10:00am - 1:00pm @ North PHX Office LIVE CE CLASS - Duties to Clients and Customers (3Hrs Commissioner Standards) 1:00pm - 4:00pm @ Scottsdale Office Scottsdale Media Day

26 9:00am - 10:00am / Webinar West USA Weekly Podcast

27 9:00am - 2:00pm @ North PHX Office American Red Cross Blood Drive 10:00am - 1:00pm @ Scottsdale Office LIVE CE CLASS - Agency and Industry Related Issues (3Hrs Agency Law)

21 9:00am - 12:00pm / Zoom FREE REMOTE CE CLASS: Secrets to Unprecedented Growth and Referrals (3Hrs RE Legal Issues) 10:00am - 11:00am @ Chandler Office Chandler Office Meeting 10:00am - 11:00am @ Goodyear Office Property Managers Roundtable 2:00pm - 4:00pm @ Surprise Office Fairway Marketing Workshop

10:30am - 11:30am @ North PHX Office North Phoenix Office Meeting Love Your Business Potluck: Social Media Audit & Showing Your Clients Some Love 2:00pm - 3:30pm @ Scottsdale Office Trusted Advisor University with the Cromford Report and Tina Tamboer

4:30pm - 6:30pm @ State 48 Brewery Surprise Happy Hour

9:00am - 12:00pm @ Chandler Office LIVE CE CLASS: Mastering the AAR Listing Contracts (3Hrs Agency Law) 10:00am - 11:00am @ Goodyear Office Goodyear Monthly Coaches Meeting 10:30am - 11:30am @ Mesa Office Mesa Office Meeting 2:00pm - 3:00pm @ Goodyear Office Transacation Coordinator Meeting