If Father time is an infant on January 1 he must be a middle-aged man by March. For many their New Year resolutions have lost some steam too. So what is the shelf life of a New Year resolution? For most it’s a one day proclamation discussed as a call to action or a goal to change to better their life. But for too many, our milk has a longer shelf life.

Well, for those of you that have lost track of your New Year goals and resolutions it’s not too late. “CLEAR”!  Bring the paddles of life and restart those goals! Here are some tips to help you follow through on your goals. 2011 can still be your year.

1)      If you are off track don’t feel bad, feel good and recommit yourself now!

2)      Review your goals and break it down to what kind of daily routine is need to accomplish those goals.

3)      Build winning habits.

4)      Darren Hardy – Read any and all books on Darren Hardy. Download ‘The Compound Effect” and “Living Your Best Year Ever”
These two books changed my life and got me back on track!

5)      Build a support group of people who are achievers and have a positive outlook.

6)      Plan and review your goals a little each day.

7)      Approach your goals and resolutions with a well thought out plan.

I know you can do it! Please share with me your success stories and I hope you make all your dreams come true, one day at a time!

By: Alexander R. Chaparro

Alexchaparro.com

There is true excitement in the air as the market is coming back to life. Showings are being made and offers are being written. But we are looking at an extensive oversupply of inventory in our markets throughout the country.

These units need to be sold and it will take what our industry is built on, cooperation.  One of the easiest but most effective way you can help is to give feedback when asked. This feed back can be very helpful to your fellow agent and could help them guide their clients to a price reduction, proper  repairs or decorating modifications. Your professional insights, options and ideas could help the sale of a unit and build a lasting professional friendship.

Here are some important tips about agent feedback

1) Be kind
Remember the listing agent will share this feed back so use your words wisely. Once you say something you cant take it back. Be professional and speak constructively with insights that can improve the property and show-ability.

2) Be honest
In a professional way really share your thoughts on price and condition and location.

3) Respond timely
You should not make people wait, I respond as soon as I get the request, but 24 hours I think is the latest.

I hope you find these tips helpful. There is a lot written on www.realtor.org on showing feedback automation check it out.  Happy selling and remember feedback and cooperation.

Alexander Chaparro
www.alexchaparro.com

Below is a repost of a blog from noted author, speaker, and teacher Victor Antonio. He speaks about the need to find a virtual mentor. During these trying times I have to say this is right on target and is a must read for anyone in sales. Enjoy and please share with me your thoughts on who your hero is and how you’re going to use your vital mentor!

Alex Chaparro

Hire a Free Virtual Sales Mentor Like Zig Ziglar
Sales Training Articles on Influence and Persuasion

By Victor Antonio, BSEE, MBA

Success can be difficult.

It can also be painful and scary if you don’t know what you’re doing.  Many years since having graduated from college with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and an MBA, I’ve come to the conclusion that institutions of higher learning are great at teaching students ‘ABOUT’ money, but they get an “F” when it comes to teaching students ‘HOW’ to make money.

For instance, students graduating from a college or university can probably recite from memory the following about money without missing a beat:

• R.O.I. is the Return On Investment that is calculated by in terms of percentage to see how much one receives in return for an investment.
• Profit is calculated by taking the difference between total revenue and total cost.
• Diminishing Marginal Returns is the point at which producing a product will begin to cost you more than you are making on the product.
• Breakeven Point is the magic revenue point at which you have recovered your total cost of the investment.

Take these same students and tell them to go out into the real world and make a living for themselves and you’ll inevitable find that they are ill equipped or unprepared to ‘KNOW’ how to go about it.

Knowing how to make a living is far different from understanding how money works.   This is the most important and pivotal lesson I’ve learned since deciding one day to the leave the comfortable confines of corporate America and go it alone (i.e., become an entrepreneur).

Many years after having made that fateful decision, I now have a deep sense of admiration and respect for entrepreneur who risk it all with no guarantee of success.  Now I don’t suggest anyone just go ‘cold turkey’ by simply quitting their job and ‘going for it’ like I did.  That route is littered with risk and uncertainty that only those with the toughest of stomachs and deepest of pockets can handle.

Instead, let me suggest the following strategy for getting off track and getting back on track with what you really what to do.  I’ve found that the best way to mitigate risk is to find mentors who are willing to help you.  The difficulties with this approach are that:

1) Few are willing to help.  Not so much because they’re mean spirited, but more so because they’re too busy themselves building their careers and can’t stop and help the hordes of people who are constantly asking for their help.

2) If you do find a mentor that is willing to take the time to help, you will most likely have to pay a hefty price for that attention.  This is often called ‘coaching’ and can get quite expensive very quickly.  We’re talking thousands of dollars for their time.  If you have the means to pay for their information and time, good for you; go for it.  Having a mentor there to point out the pitfalls of any business is a good business decision with a good chance of a R.O.I. in the long run.

(Note: I’ll explore the pros and cons of hiring a coach in a forthcoming article)

But what if you can’t afford a coach, a mentor, who can show you left from right and right from wrong?  Well, let me share with you one of my closely guarded secrets on a strategy for success without going broke!  Ready?  Find a virtual mentor!  What’s a virtual mentor?

Victor’s Definition: A virtual mentor is a successful person doing what you would like to be doing who is helping you become successful without them being aware of it and you having to pay them.

For example, Zig Ziglar the GREAT sales motivator and trainer is one of my virtual mentors.  Zig is so famous that I’m sure he wouldn’t have enough time to sit down with me and layout a master plan for my success.  Not because he doesn’t care, but because it wouldn’t be feasible given the demands put on him by his adoring public and the business he runs, Zig Ziglar International.

Nonetheless, I don’t let the above facts stop me from adopting him as my ‘virtual mentor’.  Whether Zig knows it or not, whether he likes it or not, he is my ‘virtual mentor’.

7 Keys to Adopting the Right Virtual Mentor

1) Find a successful mentor who is doing what you would love to do

2) Make sure the mentor has the same values you have

3) Buy (or consume) all of their products

4) Study their website and literature

5) Understand their business model by studying all their marketing material

6) If you can go see the person live, do so.  Study how they conduct their seminars and events; understand the business

7) Study what products or services they are offering to generate revenue

They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery.  I’d like to add a caveat to that statement; never imitate people, only their successful business practices.  I will never be a Zig Ziglar because there is only one Zig.  The best I can hope for is to learn as much as I can from my virtual mentor Zig and then take what I’ve learned and become Victor Antonio G.

If you find a virtual mentor, consider yourself fortunate that someone else is lighting the way towards your success.  Mentors not only show us the way, they also demonstrate that it IS possible to be successful doing what we love to do.  Learn from them so that one day you’ll be in their position.  They’ve already charted the course so all we need to do is take action.  Study, Study, and then Study them some more!

Victor Antonio

p.s., If you don’t have a virtual mentor, I suggest you start looking for one ASAP.  They’ll save you both time, money,…and some of your sanity!

http://www.victorantonio.com

My Loan Pro Chappie Sartino Sales Manager  of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage just sent me this and I think you may enjoy it too!

Creating the Perfect Home Office

These days, more and more people are working all or part of the time from home, making a home office a necessity. Here are some tips for creating the perfect home office.

Layout – There is no bigger mistake you can make than purchasing office furniture or equipment without knowing exactly where you’ll be placing it in the room. Before you buy any new furniture, make sure you measure and plot where each piece will go, and don’t forget to account for electrical and cable outlets.

Furniture – A desk that’s roughly 60-inches wide, 30-inches deep, and 29-inches high is not only conducive to work, but it’s highly functional in terms of storing the items you use regularly. Your chair should be comfortable, but its primary function should be to promote healthy posture. Good posture will facilitate strong mental focus and will help to alleviate back and neck pain.

Lighting – Don’t underestimate the importance of quality lighting. If you’re lucky enough to have a window in your office, this should serve as your primary light source during the day. Natural light is easy on the eyes and promotes physical energy as well as a good mood. It’s also free. Large lights like floor lamps and ceiling lights should have the ability to be dimmed. Also, make sure your desk lamp is equipped with a light bulb that’s easy on the eyes. These “soft” light bulbs can be found anywhere, from office supply stores to grocery stores.

Storage – Identifying the type of items you need to store, as well as the quantity, will help you to determine an appropriate course of action. Here are a few helpful hints.

* Closets are great for storage. Not only can they house filing cabinets, but they are also perfect for storing the items you don’t need to access on a regular basis. This helps to maximize the actual workspace of your office.

* Shelving is one of the most versatile options for storage. Shelves can be purchased cheaply and come in a variety of sizes. They are easily installed and take up zero floor space.

* Don’t forget about your garage. When it comes to older files or anything that is rarely accessed, a garage can provide ample storage space. Word to the wise, however, the garage can be a dirty place. Plan accordingly by storing paper items in boxes and wrapping equipment in protective plastic.

* Visit a store that’s dedicated to home organization. Nowadays it seems like nearly every mall has a store of this kind. You’d be surprised at some of the inexpensive, space-saving storage options available.

Wall Organizers – Dry erase boards, chalkboards, corkboards, and magnetic boards are fantastic tools for keeping clutter off your desk. They are inexpensive and available everywhere in a variety of sizes. There are even combination boards that provide countless options.

Cords – Never underestimate the importance of power strips as they provide the ability to plug multiple devices into one outlet. The better power strips also provide surge protection to the equipment that’s plugged into them. In addition, cord covers are a great way to not only hide cords but to keep them from becoming a tangled mess. They can be purchased quite cheaply at any electronics store.

Décor – Last but not least, once you’ve got all the necessities in, don’t overlook decor. Certificates, diplomas, awards, trophies, and pictures not only complement an office, but they also help to personalize it.

Follow these simple steps, and more organization, function, and focus could be right around the corner.

Thank you for visiting the ALzone
Alex Chaparro

Taking better images of your listings can sell.
By Alexander Chaparro

It’s a well known fact that listings that do not have enough images will be clicked over by the consumer. The term sticky is commonly used to indicate how attractive an individual post will be to a web surfer but one pet peeve to consumers and Realtors alike is the actual quality of the image. As a trained “fotog” I would like to share with you some tips to make your listings become stickier and as a result sell faster.

Tip #1: Lighting is everything. It’s important to take the picture of the property at the right time of day. Before you schedule the shoot keep in mind what direction the property faces such as N, E, S or W etc… be cognizant of the time of the day, when the property will be in direct sunlight or shadow. On an average sunny day high noon will give you the harshest direct light, it’s not recommended to take pictures at this time. The magic hours are between 9 and 11:30 am and between 3 pm and sunset. These hours provide the softest light, rich with great color saturation. Never take exterior shots at NIGHT!

Tip #2: Clear the clutter. For both the exterior and interior, pay close attention to what’s in your view finder. Make sure the scene is clear of debris, trash, toys and anything that makes the shot too busy or seems out of place.

Tip #3: Tell the story of the home. Start with the outside and walk through the home capturing the images in the same order you would if you were showing the home.  You may want to start with the outside, living room, kitchen, bedrooms, baths followed by basement, backyard and garage is a good ways to wrap it up. Don’ts: Don’t upload multi shots of the same image such as the same 3 shots of the outside.

Tip #4: All images MUST be 100% in focus if they are not they should not be uploaded. If you have issues with this and I see 100′s of images like this on the MLS please read your user manual or get glasses.

Tip #5: Make sure no one is in your shot. Remember it’s about the property.

Tip #6: Shoot for the right resolution. Most camera settings have a high, medium and low resolution setting in the menu. Most flyers and print media will need to be shot in the highest resolution. On your computer you can always make a high resolution shot lower if needed. But you can not make a low shot higher. So think this out before you leave the shoot. Make sure you have enough space on your sim chip before you go out.

Tip #7: You can never take too many pictures. Overshoot and take more photos then you need. Remember you can always edit. But having to go back to the listings for retakes can be a waste of your time. On a good shoot of a 3 bedroom SF home you should be able to make 25 – 75 images.

Tip #8: Thou shall not Photo Shop….well maybe its ok. Photo Shop or other photo editing tools are great for fixing exposure, cropping and turning color into black and white. There are other cool effects you can use too. BUT YOU SHOULD NOT ALTER the image. Remember you still need to adhere to truth in advertising so be careful about photo shopping out the train next to the property or my favorite; a real estate agent photo shopped the cemetery next to the home out and photo shopped in a lovely park. NOT COOL FOTOGS!

Tip #9: Know your equipment. Most 8 mega pixel cameras are great and there are some great point and shoot cameras out there that will work just fine for you. But if you’re in the business of Real Estate you need the right tools and an SLR camera is really what you need. Get a nice wide angle lens to shoot those tight spots like bathrooms and a nice telephoto lens for the close ups. Both Canon and Nikon have great pricing starting form $499.00 Come on RE Fotogs that’s 3 months of Starbucks make the investment!

Tip #10: Read a book, take an online class or start a user group and take better photos of your listings. It’s proven that the better the images you post the more showings you’re going to get.

Stay tuned for more tips from your resident RE fotog Alex Chaparro

Alexander Chaparro
alex@alexchaparro.com

I recently twittered, “Bad credit verses good character, is the fico scoring system a roadblock to recovery?” This statement was also my status on Facebook. The response was very interesting. For the most part some people’s responses to the post immediately blamed Americans with low fico scores for the collapse of the economy and no assistance in raising individual’s fico score was needed because they were the culprits that caused the problems. I can not say for certain who or what caused the collapse in the housing or mortgage markets, I would venture to say it was not just people with low fico scores. Too often in this country we take a lynch mob mentality and move from one extreme to another. Too often we seek to lay blame without fully understanding the circumstances. So let’s look at my post, bad credit good character. For many Americans who have enjoyed good credit ratings throughout the years that have been impacted by job loss, short sales or foreclosures have lost a valuable foothold on their future by loosing their fico score rating.

How is your quality of life connected to your fico rating? Picture this for a moment, you lost your job and due to that you had a few late payments on your mortgage. You took the responsible steps to short sale your property but in the background your fico score has suffered as well as drastically reduced. So here you are looking for an apartment and applying for jobs and having difficulty doing so because you have a low fico score. This number now is impacting the quality of your life and your future. Because you may not be getting that job or the apartment you were hoping for.

First lets talk about the number, FICO. The magic number, the secret number, what is FICO?  From many of the Facebook responses I received I found many people don’t understand what fico is and how it truly impacts our lives. Here is wikipedia’s 411 onFICO……  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FICO_score#FICO_score

A credit score in the United States is a number representing the creditworthiness of a person or the likelihood that person will pay his or her debts. The Fair Isaac Corporation, known as FICO, created the first credit scoring system in 1958, for American Investments, and the first credit scoring system for a bank credit card in 1970, for American Bank and Trust. A credit score is primarily based on a statistical analysis of a person’s credit report information, typically from the three major American credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

When the dust has settled and the crisis is over credit scores will be victim #1. The question of the day is how do we rebuild and will this loss of American credit power slowly recover. Do we need to start looking at new ways of assessing risk in credit such as Vantage Score? www.vantagescore.com. The key here is education and advocacy, because in the land of opportunity you need the right number to move forward like 680 and up.

Alexander Chaparro
alex@alexchaparro.com

10 years and growing like the demographic it serves: National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals

by Alex Chaparro, NAHREP Vice Chairman / President-elect on September 14, 2009

In today’s changing market, the need for REALTORS® to better serve their communities has never been more needed. Experience, credibility, trust and ethics are commodities which REALTORS® and professionals of all fields who are involved in the real estate transaction can find in a strong real estate trade association.

REALTORS® have a long history of pursuing a strong Code of Ethics and political advocacy in protecting private property rights. But the need for more specialized trade groups, such as the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) has grown over the years and become valuable partners in the real estate industry.

Consider these statistics:

• The Hispanic population is the largest minority group in America, encompassing more than 40 million people, and projected to grow to more than 15 percent of the total U.S. population by 2010. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2004, “U.S. Interim Projections by Age, Sex, Race and Hispanic Origin.”) As this segment grows, Hispanic buying power and homeownership are on the rise.

• The average age of a Latino homebuyer is 24 compared to 32 among Caucasians. (National Association of REALTORS®)

• Over the next 20 years Hispanics are expected to make up 40 percent of all first-time homebuyers. (Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies)

This year marks NAHREP’s 10-year anniversary as an advocate for Latino American homeownership in America. Its mission is to increase the sustainable Hispanic homeownership rate by empowering the real estate professionals that serve the community. Education is an important driver for the association, which was founded in 1999 by Gary Acosta and Ernest J. Reyes. The association offers NAHREP University, an online learning center with two designations: the NAHREP NCP and the NAHREP Code of Trust Certified Practitioner. Learn more at www.nahrep.org and get details about NAHREP’s Hispanic Marketing Conference to be held this year in Las Vegas.

NAHREP and the other minority trade groups have brought great value to the REALTOR® family with their leadership and partnership in advocacy.

Alexander Chaparro
The ALzone

www.alexchaparro.com
www.NAHREP.org

This Blog post was first posted on The IAR Blog

http://www.iarbuzz.com/2009/09/nahrep/

Grab your video camera! See how social media is impacting the way we do business and how we promote events and activities. Power up your YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook for a wave of NAHREP on the internet. Over 15,000 members are about to talk about NAHREP and our upcoming Hispanic Marketing Conference. As the NAHREP 2009 Vice Chairmen I look forward to seeing some great videos and seeing you in Las Vegas!

Alexander R. Chaparro
NAHREP – Vice Chairmen

NAHREP members: Show us your stuff…on video!

Submit a 30-60 second video promoting the AREAA/NAHREP Conference in Las Vegas on October 24-27 and your name will be entered into a drawing for $500 in spending cash and TWO FREE conference registrations. If yours is the most creative and clever, your video may also make it to the big screen and be shown to thousands of conference goers.

The conference is coming soon so don’t delay.  Submit your conference videos today.

NAHREP Be A Star Contest Instructions

• Create a 30-60 second conference commercial (This is a “family friendly” contest so please avoid offensive content.)
• Upload your commercial on Youtube.com
• Email NAHREP your contact info and the link to your Youtube.com video to Publicsynergygroup@gmail.com by October 9.

The NAHREP Conference Committee will review the submissions and select a winner based on originality, promotional value and style. Winners will be announced on October 16.

Prizes Include

• Grand prize $500 Vegas spending cash and 2 free registrations.
• Second place 2 free registrations.
• Third place 1 free registration.

Register Now!
https://www.signup4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=AREA16E&OID=130

2009 AREAA/NAHREP Real Estate and Marketing Conference
October 25-27, 2009

The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino
3325 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV

See the complete conference agenda at:
http://www.areaa.org/convention/agenda.html

Members: $249*
Non-Members: $399
Until September 16, then prices go up to $299 and $449 respectively.

Business Tips | Networking | Cultural ConnectionAll In One Event!

Alexander R. Chaparro
alex@alexchaparro.com

First and foremost I welcome you to my first post of, “The AL Zone”. It’s a snappy name for what I hope will be a source of quality information regarding housing, policy and real estate news.

On my maiden voyage into the vast sea of blogs I would like to discuss the impact of blogging and social media on business and our lives.  About a year ago, a colleague of mine told me I should get a Facebook and MySpace account. I was not too interested. But I took the plunge and I, like the rest of the world, have felt the impact of social media. The first thing I found is that I needed to brand Alex Chaparro. Not Alex Chaparro the Realtor, but just Alex Chaparro the dude. I found that just being me has opened me up to over 3,700 contacts on Facebook and growing.

Let’s get social in a digital way and look at what Facebook and the many other sites like it are, and what they will become.  Is this the birth of a new platform of communication intergraded with education, entertainment, and social contact?  Facebook and sites like it have made cyberspace 3 dimensional.

But let’s talk about impact. Facebook with over 200 million users has the population of some countries. Because of how the site is now being used it is far more important to the good of society then just a plain chat site or a place to post your summer vacation pics. Has Facebook risen to the level of a public utility? Think about when that little idea of the telephone was created. Did the people of the day realize the impact and how it would forever shape the world? Only time will tell if Facebook will rise to the level of Ma’ Bell?I am a believer that social media is a turning point in the way we communicate, learn and express ourselves. Tell me what you think, how impactful has the wave been in your life?

Thanks for joining me on the maiden voyage of The ALzone. Please check back for more news and updates.