How The Car You Drive Can Impact Your Real-Estate Business

Just as a home’s curb appeal and exterior make the initial impression on home buyers, the real estate agent’s car is usually the first thing buyers see when meeting for the first time. If you are a realtor, your car can have a strong impact on your client’s perception of your work and capabilities, but also to your attention to detail and personality. Keeping your business car in the top conditions whether you need it to reach remote properties on time or fill in the papers on the roadshows clients that you’re handling the situation. 

Initial considerations

For many realtors, the car is an extension of their office, and conversely an extension of their client relation policy. The personality of the car needs to make the client feel safe and comfortable. A sporty Corvette, especially a visibly used one, can give off a shady realtor who’s mainly interested in flipping properties for profit. Instead, look for a car that breathes confidence and success without being pretentious. Perhaps a European mini-van in a high trim level, or a comfy BMW 5-Series estate. Some agents view their cars as mobile billboards, helping to spread the word wherever they go. If the nature of your office calls for driving all day long in the city, you should consider a smaller and more convenient smart car which is comfortable to use in the city rush, but also capable of quickly reaching out-of-town clients. 

How The Car You Drive Can Impact Your Real-Estate Business 1

What car?

If your clients are mostly upscale property owners, nothing less than pure luxury, strength, and comfort would convince them that you’re the one for the job. A large sedan like Mercedes Benz S550 as well as several alternatives would be just fine. On the contrary, some agents put a lot of effort into advertising themselves as environmentally conscious entrepreneurs, choosing a Tesla to show their commitment to the latest trends. A Range Rover Sport is the perfect car for an agent who’s mostly handling business clients. It’s roomy, comfortable, and has lots of glass, so clients can better survey the neighborhood they want to invest in. Such a thoroughbred SUV also comes handy in harsh winters, when mobility often means the difference between success and failure. 

Keeping it client-friendly

It goes without saying that the car in which you drive the clients around, looking for properties, needs to be spotlessly clean. As a complimentary service, keep some water bottles and a few packs of snacks in the air-conditioned storage if the property hunting draws on. You can equip it with an extra iPad for clients to use, and load it with info on properties you’re listing. You should also consider the comfort of the ride and safety, which means you should keep your tyres in top shape. If the tread depth has worn off past the tread wear indicators, you should replace them with a new set. It shouldn’t set you back a lot, especial now since many online vendors offer promotions on new tyres with cashback and buy 3 get 4 deals. Finally, keep an extra USB free, so clients can charge their phones and turn the radio down so you and the client can talk. 

When to replace the car

As a rule of thumb for a business that relies on the direct agent to client contact, you should replace your vehicle every three years. Not only would you be sure that your car will always be reliable, but it also sends a powerful message to your clients – that your business is growing as a result of your professional skills. Also, technology is changing quickly and if you spend a lot of time in your car, you need the latest style and comfort experience for your clients. You shouldn’t splurge on a premium category every time, but having a well-packed quality car is an indicator of your success as a real estate agent. 

How The Car You Drive Can Impact Your Real-Estate Business

Pragmatic and secure

Visual impact aside, your vehicle should provide a sense of security, which then translates to you offering reliable services and working in the client’s interest. Driving a car that is known as unsafe can potential let you down in the client’s eyes, telling them that you don’t care about your own safety either. So, make sure to drive a car that not only feels like a tank but has the NCAP ratings to back it up. Besides, the vehicle you drive your clients around needs to be practical, with enough space for clients od all sorts, couples, families even. Driving a practical and functional vehicle indicated dedicated to your business practices and keep the things real. 

Not unlike the manicured lawn, freshly painted siding, and replanted flower beds speak of the house and the owners, the realtor’s car speaks volumes about them and the way they run their business. Whether you’re a seasoned agent or a rising star, you need a vehicle that evokes success and professionalism on one side and pragmatism and care for the client on the other.

Protect Your Rental: Tips to Keep Your Rental Property Safe

A rental landlord’s obligations don’t end with providing a home for your tenants and picking up the rent each month. Their welfare, as well as the safety of their belongings, is partly your responsibility, not to mention your rental’s security. 

You need to make sure you put into effect all necessary measurements against burglary and break-ins. Providing a space where your tenants feel safe will probably result in them settling there for a longer period. Here are a few tips on how to keep the burglars at bay and your tenants satisfied.

Fix what needs to be fixed

Take a turn around the house and analyze the potential risks – are there any places that can give burglars easy access? If you know that the window latch in your bedroom is faulty, don’t wait another minute to replace it. Are there any bushes which can provide good cover for an uninvited guest? There are things we know that ought to be dealt with but somehow, we get used to them and forget that the particular state is not common. However, ignoring the possible risks is careless, so it is vital to do all that we can to ensure the safety of your rental and your tenants as well. 

1

Add more light

Common sense tells us that a well-lit house is not an eligible target for a thief. Without the cover of darkness to hide their criminal activity, they will not be able to sneak up on your tenants. So, investing in additional outdoor lighting is probably one of the most practical ideas to provide a clear view of what is going on around your house. Motion-sensor lights are bound to scare off any unwanted visitors, and if the tenants aren’t fast asleep, it will also be a type of an alarm for them that allows them to know that someone is prowling around the house.

Take out an insurance policy

If you want to be completely certain that everything will be taken care of in the case of some event, you can opt for an insurance policy. However, mind you, you need to read the small print to know for sure what the policy covers. To be safe, always choose more comprehensive policies, such as Youi home cover landlord insurance, which encompasses natural disasters as well as damage caused by people. It even covers the content of the property, so you can be at peace even if your keys get stolen or any furniture or furnishings are damaged due to the insured event.

Secure doors and windows

For better security, equip your door with a double-cylinder deadbolt, especially if your doors have glass panels or windows that are close by. This kind of deadbolt cannot be opened from the inside, so it won’t be easy for a burglar to break the glass and reach inside. As for the windows, you can go with locks, which will probably make the perpetrator re-think whether to attempt to get in by breaking the window. Naturally, if you had an unpleasant situation and you had to evict the tenants, don’t forget to change the locks, just in case. 

3

Keep private

Curtains and blinds are not there just to protect you from the sunlight. They also serve as protection from unwanted attention, so advise your tenants to keep the curtains drawn, especially when they are not at home. When the property is not being rented, it is advisable you keep the blinds down. Shielding your privacy in this manner will prevent the burglars from spotting any valuable items that you or your tenants might keep in the house. Also, don’t disregard gossip: if you have any valuables in your rental property, don’t inform the neighbors since you never know who that information may reach.

Renting your real estate can be quite a profitable scheme but it is also a responsible one. Every landlord wishes to have a long-term relationship with their tenants – nobody wants to have shady people marching through the house every month or so. 

In order to achieve this rapport, you need to communicate openly but also to ensure their safety. This includes securing doors and windows, installing external motion-sensor lights, and also taking out an insurance policy. By protecting your rental property, you are protecting your tenants and your relationship with them.

Factors We Must Consider while Choosing the Right Organic Crib Mattress

Mothers are always looking for buying the best things for their babies. Once you start looking for the right crib mattress, you are sure to be spoilt for choices. Many health-conscious parents wish to purchase non-toxic or organic crib mattresses for promoting a healthier nursery ambiance for their little one and give the baby a relatively safe start from the very beginning. There are certain significant features that include surface fabric, support, allergy considerations, breathability, and absence of harmful chemicals.

Examine the Surface Fabric Properly

Often crib mattresses have a nice and organic surface made of cotton but the materials that are used inside the mattress may not be organic and could prove to be toxic and hazardous for your baby. So it is best to buy crib mattresses that are totally certified by the GOTS or the Global Organic Textile Standard.

Organic crib mattresses could be waterproof or non-waterproof. Organic mattresses are different from the standard mattresses in terms of the high-quality, organic, and safe materials that are used for waterproofing and the organic fabric used on the crib mattress surface for your baby’s health and safety.

Waterproof

Waterproof crib mattresses are definitely more hygienic. They are easier to clean, require lesser maintenance, are spill-proof and deal with messes, allergens, and dust mites relatively better than standard ones.

Quilted

Quilted surfaces are pretty common with normal full-sized mattresses, and there is no reason for them not to exist on baby-sized mattresses either. They are made of fabric and feel good to the touch but are not waterproof and can be a bit of a challenge to keep clean. If you are going for one of these, it may be a better idea to go for a waterproof organic protector crib pad, which goes a long way in making your job easier.

Check the Breathability of the Crib Mattress

Breathable mattresses and crib bumpers are very important for safety and also the comfort of your child. Flat and firm support is still the most important factor, but a breathable crib pad and mattress will maximize the airflow, keeping your little one well-rested and comfortable all night long. These crib pads are typically made from cotton fibers with a polyester mesh that allows air to flow beneath and around the baby for a much cooler mattress and dramatically improved sleep quality. You may browse through valuable resources such as https://www.countingsheep.net for important information on sleep issues, health, and mattresses.

Look for Crib Mattress Support

The most crucial feature of the baby’s crib mattress is a flat and firm support. Babies would be requiring a firm mattress. The mattress has to be firm enough to remain flat despite the baby’s weight on it. According to the crib safety tips provided by the ‘Consumer Product Safety Commission’, baby crib mattresses must be tight-fitting and firm without any comforters, pillows, or soft bedding items.

Ensure that the Harmful Chemicals Are Absent

Harmful chemicals could easily be avoided by choosing the organic and non-toxic crib mattress. However, you need to be alert because sometimes you could come across dangers where you are least expecting them. Consider checking if there are flame retardants or any other harmful water-proofing chemicals, adhesives or glues present in the crib mattress that you are buying for your little one.

Conclusion

You must always buy an organic crib mattress for your baby as they are chemical-free, non-toxic, hypoallergenic, breathable, and has much superior temperature control as compared to the standard mattresses. Moreover, you must choose an organic crib mattress for your baby because these mattresses are biodegradable and sustainable ensuring a healthy environment for your baby to grow in.