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I wonder how many of us use all the tools that we have in our tool belts?
There are so many, it is easy to forget about them. I thought I would write about a few that you may have forgotten about or maybe did not know existed.
I first realized that there were many tools I did not even know about after hearing the keynote speaker at REALTOR® Rally a few years ago. His name was Terry Watson, and he talked about how he canceled his subscription to the Wall Street Journal after finding out that it was available online as part of his NAR membership. That's just one tool NAR offers to save us money and provide a world of education. There are so many others.
A wealth of information, assistance
Did you know that there is a lending library on the NAR website? Books are available that have been on the New York Times Best Seller List such as Eat, Pray, Love; Heaven is For Real; and just added, Failing, Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success. There is a large selection of books on investing, business management, and social media – almost anything you can think of, just waiting for you to check out. You can also purchase books at a discount at the NAR store, either hard copy or e-book formats, most at a discount from other retailers.
Are you using the Lowe's REALTOR® Benefits? This benefits you and gives you a perk for your clients. Sign up at www.LowesRealtorBenefits.com and set up an account using your NRDS number; from there, you can set up your clients to receive a Lowe's Creative Ideas brochure that gives them ideas, a 10 percent discount, and the chance to order gift cards for a five percent discount. There are both Buyer and Seller versions. Clients who purchase a foreclosed home can also receive an additional 10 percent off coupon. It is a great program that I have used for several years; my clients really appreciate the discount.
HouseLogic.com is another great tool in your tool belt. On this site, you can find many interesting and useful articles that REALTOR® members can repost on blogs, Facebook, or in newsletters. It is an easy-to-use source for articles on a wide variety of topics including titles like Home Trends to Watch, Money Saving Tax Tips, and Plant your Garden Now.
Help at home
Our own local Association, AAR, also has a lending library of books that you can check out. They're right next to another little-known asset: floor plans on housing developments across the city, from Aurora Hills to Village East, Saddle Rock to Sterling Hills; and even Green Valley Ranch. They are great for websites, flyers, or just for familiarizing yourself with all the available floor plans in a neighborhood.
I hope that this has helped to remind you of a few tools that are available to you as a REALTOR®. I am sure you can put them to good use! And be sure to go in search of the many other tools you get as a benefit of REALTOR® membership.
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