Improving Your Business

Stories, articles and advice aimed at improving your business

COVID-19 Can’t Stop Me!

Acknowledging the vast opportunities that real estate does offer, a former Los Angeles wedding planner, a Chicago Mercantile Exchange trader and a suburban Chicago millennial all launched their real estate careers just before the onslaught of the worldwide deadly virus.

Agent Advice

Everyone starts somewhere. We polled our readers — fellow Chicagoland agents — to find out what advice they would give their rookie agent selves! Have a look at what they said.

d’aprile properties co-CEO Lindsay Miller says training is key when it comes to rookie success

The biggest so-called “rookie mistake” she sees in the industry is not asking enough questions.

New automated valuation model introduced by CoreLogic

“In 2020, the appraisal industry saw an immediate need to shift from traditional in-person appraisals to consistently precise and dependable digital valuation tools — a need that continues to grow and has no end in sight.” — Frank Martell, president and CEO of CoreLogic

True colors: A room-by-room color guide

Most Realtors know a fresh coat of new paint can transform a space, but do they know which colors will attract buyers? A new study has the answer.

What buyers see: A new study used eye-tracking hardware to find out

A new study reveals the areas of the home buyers are most interested in when looking at a property.

Are referral fees hurting consumers?

A new report by the Consumer Federation of America reveals that referral fees paid by real estate agents result in higher commission rates and reduced customer service.

The professionalism problem: Raising the bar in real estate

Under the new Real Estate License Act, new licensees have a post-license education requirement of 45 hours dedicated to professionalism.

Real estate agents and brokers on professionalism

Professionalism is more important than ever these days. See what Chicago-area brokers have to say about professionalism in the industry.

Bad reputation: How professionalism can help, or hurt, your brand

When it comes to professionalism in residential real estate, Frances Simons, designated managing broker at Baird & Warner’s Lake Zurich office, doesn’t pull her punches.

Updates and changes to the Real Estate License Act

Mario Treto, director Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Division of Real Estate, shares the highlights of the changes to the Real Estate License Act.

Tech tools: How agents keep pipelines full and build their brands

With a new app popping up seemingly daily, how do agents know which tech companies to trust to make their lives easier while also staying true to their own brand? We spoke to some of today’s most revolutionary tech companies to find out how they’re helping agents both build and strengthen their businesses.

What brokers think about lead generation

We asked Chicagoland brokers everything they know about lead generation technology in this issue’s survey.

Talking About Tech

“From the perspective of agents, brokerages and venture capitalist firms alike, our cover story discusses which tools agents should use on a day-to-day basis, as well as how tech companies decide to leverage investments.”

Homebuyers: ‘We want green homes’

Sustainable practices in real estate can increase sales and boost the community, according to a new study.

Staying safe on social media

The National Association of Realtors and the Massachusetts Association of Realtors are encouraging agents to take a closer look at their social media presence for Realtor Safety Month.

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