“It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.”-Yogi Berra Wouldn’t the real estate business be so much easier if we all had crystal balls? Well, you do have a crystal ball. I have one, too. We all do.

Cell phones and email may make communication more convenient, but they pale in comparison to the most traditional form of all – in-person communication. Few industries are more reliant on clear communication than real estate. As any agent will

Find out how people search for real estate agents on Google and other search engines. It’s no secret that people are searching for real estate agents online. They pull up Google on a laptop, iPad or cell phone and

The spring homebuying season is traditionally the most active time of the year for real estate agents, and these three trends will define 2013’s season. Though the weather may not be cooperating here in Chicago, the spring season has

If you’ve been following along with my monthly blogs, your social media program should be coming together nicely. You’ve learned about the importance of blogging, Facebook, Twitter and even YouTube. However, while those are the big four, you shouldn’t

There are numerous avenues available to today’s agents for advertising their businesses, but what methods are the most popular? Advertising is an integral component to any real estate agent’s business, and never before have so many advertising models been

Technology is a wonderful thing, but there are moments when ignoring technology can be a good thing. We’ll start with an uncontroversial claim – technology is wonderful. From the limitless information available on the Internet, to the boundless opportunities for

According to a massive study from CareerBliss, real estate agents are the happiest professionals on the planet. Real estate agents may have dealt with a tough economy the last couple years, but that’s done little to quell their enthusiasm

Your online brand should be an extension of your real estate business, but it must adapt to the confines and nuances of the Internet. In real estate, your brand is everything. If clients do not trust your brand, and

By April 30, 2013 Illinois managing broker licensees must have completed the continuing education (CE) requirements and applied to renew their license through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). What’s required? That depends on how you

Web design can be a complicated beast, but all real estate agents should cut through the fat and ensure that these three features are on their sites. Web design, next to fascism and peas, is one of those eternally

Landscaping is something we often take for granted or overlook when it comes to selling homes, but a new study from Line/Shape/Space finds serious value in good landscaping. Spring officially began this Wednesday, and few images more perfectly complement

Today’s agent needs to stay aware of technological developments now more than ever – regularly browsing Chicago Agent magazine’s website, Inman News, The Verge and other similar sites will keep you informed. Some of these sites focus exclusively on how

In real estate, knowing your audience – and knowing how to reach them – is paramount, and the tools found in Google Analytics allow agents to do both. Real estate is an industry built upon relationships, and how successfully

Real estate is a demanding industry, and to truly succeed, you must be absolutely sure that all the facets of your business are as refined as possible. Let’s start with the obvious – real estate is a difficult, demanding

Millennials represent the new frontier for homeownership, and a new survey from BHG offers some key insights in what kinds of homes they’ll be looking for. Millennials, the current wing of the U.S. population that is roughly composed of