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Agent Highlights Home Selling Tips

FYI: What Realtors® Need to Know About Drones

Beginning on August 29th, 2016, small unmanned aircraft systems [ called drones ] will have new regulations and orders from the FAA.

Rector Hayden REALTORS® understands that aerial, stabilized video is a great tool for marketing your listings, however we want our agents and their clients to make sure they are within the laws of operating these new devices.

If a Company Does a Drone Video/Photo service for you, they SHOULD:

  • Be a sUAS operator that has either a current remote pilot certificate with a sUAS rating or a current pilot’s license and succesfully completed the necessary training courses;
  • Have umbrella insurance coverage in the event of an accident or other related legal issue;
  • Use a contract that indemnifies you for any claims related to the sUAS operation, including privacy, personal injury, and property damage claims.

If YOU FLY A DRONE YOURSELF, Here’s what you need to know:

  • No more pilot’s license or Section 333 exemption required
  • Must not weigh over 55 pounds
  • Must fly no higher than 400 feet
  • Must fly no faster than 100 mph
  • Drone must be in visual line of sight at all times
  • Drone must abide by all privacy laws in the state
  • May only be flown during daylight hours
  • Must be registered if over .55 pounds
  • Licensing – required to have Remote Pilot Certificate with sUAS Rating

To become licensed:

  1. Be at least 16 years old;
  2. Be able to ready, write, and understand the English language;
  3. Be in physical and mental condition that allows for the safe operation of the sUAS;
  4. Pass an initial aeronautical knowledge test
  5. Pay $150.00
  6. Your certificate is valid for 24 months.
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Inspiration: Articles from the Net to Give your Your Best Season Yet!

My apologies for the cheesy title.  But sometimes, the best Tips for Top Agents are already out there!  This week I’ve compiled a list of some great articles from around the web on marketing and real estate.  Let me know if you find any of them helpful!

Best of Luck!  And don’t forget about tomorrow’s BBQ – Cook-In at the Beaumont Office!

~ June L.

 

Tips for Top Agents

For the Agents: Easy Ways to Reconnect and Build Your Contact List

I subscribe to this blog on Real Estate Marketing Ideas called “Agent Inner Circle.”  While the blog itself isn’t much to look at, they provide an invaluable FREE resource for agents including strategies, tips, tutorials, and templates!  This week’s article is about how to re-connect with people you may have lost touch with and turn that connection into a lead or a referral.  The article even gives you a FREE LETTER TEMPLATE to help you get started!

http://real-estate-marketing-articles.agentinnercircle.com/

Tips for Top Agents

For Your Client: 7 Factors that can make re-building costly

Especially with the new group of “boomerang buyers” entering the market, many buyers fit into a group of avid DIY-ers.  But, there are many unforeseen factors to consider when you’d need to rebuild a damaged home.  You and your client should check out these 7 Factors from the Trulia Blog before you take on searching for that “fixer-upper.”

http://www.trulia.com/blog/home-insurance-coverage/

Tips for Top Agents

For Your Client: 9 Things to Ignore at an Open House

Your competition out there is using these resources, and you shouldn’t count it off either!  Trulia and Zillow both have their own industry related blogs with content geared toward the home buyer & seller.  You should not only keep up with their content, but you can use their information to back up your story as well when you share this content with your clients.

This article explains clearly about certain things potential buyers shouldn’t worry about when viewing a home.  Especially if your buyer may seem finicky – this article could help them see the potential in other listings that they were turned off by at first.

http://www.trulia.com/blog/9-things-to-ignore-when-house-hunting/

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Tips for Top Agents: Lighten Dark Interior Photos

Most Real Estate Agents wear many hats; the salesperson, the staging coordinator, the organizer, the negotiator – and many times the photographer. Sometimes, no matter what kind of camera you use – some photos are tricky to capture without using professional equipment of having professional training.

table

How many of you have had the following image happen?

It’s a gorgeous dining area with french doors or a lovely picture window – and your point-and-shoot digital camera can’t quite capture what the eye is seeing!  Well now it’s super easy to lighten dark interior photos using this FREE tool called Lunapic!

DSCN0401


lunapic-76

A few minutes spent using the FREE LunaPic tool
online can easily turn quick listing photos into professional shots!

Step 1: Go to LunaPic Photo Editor

The URL is: http://www192.lunapic.com/editor/


 

Step 2: UPLOAD A PHOTOmenu bar - upload

Click the UPLOAD button on the left of the menu bar.
Or, click on the BROWSE BUTTON under Edit a Photo on top of the major image.

It should open a new dialogue window where you can browse for the image you’d like to adjust.


 

Step 3:  ADD A FILTER TO YOUR IMAGE

Your photo will now open up in an image editing area – it looks similar to the Paint Application or Photoshop.  In order to lighten dark photos, you’ll be adding a special filter to your image.

★  Click on the Filter Tab in the Menumenu bar - filters

★  Choose the HDR Lighting Filter from the Drop Down list    listing

★  If your photo is still dark, you can apply the filter again.  Continue selecting that filter from the filter list to brighten the photo more.  


 

Step 4: SAVE YOUR NEW PHOTO

Under the photo is a link to save the photo to your computer OR you can right click the image and choose “Save Image as…”

DSCN0401_edit

And TA DA You have a beautiful listing photo!

Questions or issues?  You can always contact June Laves – junelaves@rhr.com for assistance!


Save this article for later – or check out other Tips for Top Agents on our Pinterest Board!pinterest_lightendarkphotos