Top 10 Most Popular Articles of June

School may be out for the summer, but there's still learning to be had here at RE Technology. Last month, our most popular articles included words of wisdom (see #1 and #4 below), a lesson in inexpensive listing photography (#2), and a bit of intriguing research (#5 and #8).

If you're an advanced student, check out the essay at #3 on the future of the buyer's agent, or swing down to #7 for a crash course on marketing strategy. For the rest, check out our list of the most popular articles of June below!

1. 5 Quotes that Will Motivate You to Become the Most Successful Real Estate Agent
Want to experience more success in your career? Sometimes all it takes is a few motivating words of wisdom. Check out these five quotes for motivation to kick your career into high gear.

2. How to Shoot a House for Under $16
Real estate photography can quickly become expensive, which is less than ideal. However, creating high quality professional images can be achieved at a fraction of the cost. To demonstrate this, we're going to shoot a property with a smartphone. You'll learn the key tips on the most important areas in the home so your listing will stand out.

3. Will Buyer's Agents Survive?
The buyer's agent is a hard-working agent, especially in an inventory-constrained market. They represent the person bringing the money to the transaction and, yet, they are often unappreciated, undervalued, and under-compensated for their efforts. Some would suggest that the buyer's agent may not survive the next 10 years in our industry, but I am bullish on them remaining a vital contributor to real estate transaction services.

4. How to Handle Tough Conversations with Clients
You don't want a client to forego working with you again or sending a referral because of tough conversations that could have been avoided or handled more smoothly. In fact, by handling those difficult conversations well, you might earn a strong Google review for your transparent, honest approach. Getting through the challenges can require some difficult talks with clients, but here are some ways you can help them through it.

5. [Infographic] Best Seasons to Sell a Home
Ask most anyone which season is the best to sell a home, and likely, with little hesitation they will respond, "Summer." This stands to reason. Schools are out, giving families a clean break to transfer children to a new area. The weather is much nicer for attracting people to open houses. But is it the BEST time to sell? We wanted to know, so we consulted the data. Here's what we found. Take a look—the answers may surprise you.

6. 3 Outside-the-Box Marketing Strategies that Worked
The importance of having a consistent and diverse marketing strategy for your real estate business cannot be underestimated. Along with implementing marketing fundamentals, a number of agents are finding success using out-of-the-box marketing strategies to appeal to a broader audience, garner free press coverage and generate viral buzz. Here are three examples real estate agents have used that got results.

7. Listing Tips and Strategies to Stand Out and Sell More Homes
Every top agent knows the number one source of business is word-of-mouth recommendations and repeat customers. Every real estate professional needs a marketing strategy to intentionally give people a reason to talk about you and to make it easier for them to have that talk. Try these tips to help you do just that.

8. Study Reveals How Long It Really Takes for Each Step of the Home Buying Process
On average, it takes just over half a year for a home buyer to move into their new home. The research that revealed this also broke down the time spent on individual steps -- and pain points experienced -- along the way to closing a deal.

9. Is It Time to Update or Replace Your Computer?
What year did you buy the computer you use most for your work? If you can't easily recall the answer, there's a strong possibility that it is time to update or replace your computer. Here's a brief checklist to help determine if updating your computer's software is enough or if it's time to replace this vital technology that helps you do your job.

10. 7 Secrets to Owning Your Area
As a Realtor, you have many responsibilities. One of the most important responsibilities is to find prospects and convert them to leads. In the most recent Secrets of Top Selling Agents webinar, Nick Baldwin and Tristan Ahumada shared seven ways for you to do just that.