Our Top 10 Most-Read Articles of August

Few things are more important to your business than good communication skills, and our list of last month's most popular articles covers that topic in spades. Scroll down to article #2 for advice on texting etiquette. Then check out #3 for follow-up rules, and over to article #5 for scripts for for handling objections.

What else were agents and brokers reading last month? Check out our full list of the most-read articles of August below:

1. Mortgage Rates Just Dropped Below 5%. What's Going On?
In the past six weeks, the mortgage rate rise of 2022 has begun to reverse. In fact, for the first time since April, the average 30-year fixed mortgage is currently under 5%. In some ways, it's befuddling. The Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates, and traditionally, rising interest rates mean rising mortgage rates. So what's going on? How could mortgage rates possibly be falling? Will it continue?

2. Textiquette for Real Estate Agents 101
‍With mobile devices, the lines between professional and personal worlds get a bit blurred. And as a real estate agent, you may be wondering how your texts should look, sound, and when to send them. In this post, we'll get down to the do's and don'ts of texting as a real estate professional.

3. 5 Real Estate Follow-Up Rules You Need to Be Following
We're sharing five must-follow rules to expand, grow, and scale your real estate business. Agents that successfully follow these guidelines typically see more transaction sides, more closings, and more revenue. It's not magic — it's a data-backed approach based on findings from a study conducted by RealTrends. Let's explore how marketing practices and contact database size may impact performance.

4. Listing Photos Your Smartphone Can't Take
Because smartphone cameras are so powerful and deliver such beautiful pictures, some agents are forgoing hiring a professional photographer to shoot their listing photos. However, there are many listing photos your smartphone can't take. Here are a few examples where professional cameras exceed the capabilities of even the most intelligent smartphone with the most advanced camera.

5. Friday Freebie: Scripts for Handling Objections
If you've been a real estate agent for any length of time, it's likely you've encountered objections before. But what you do after being rebuffed determines whether that person converts into a client or languishes in your database as a cold lead. This week's Friday Freebie takes the guesswork out of that conversation. That's right, we're highlighting a free guide full of scripts for handling common real estate objections.

6. Friday Freebie: The Simplified Homebuyer Guide
Leverage it as a lead gen magnet, or use it to educate clients—this week's Friday Freebie offers double the utility. This free guide can be placed behind a lead capture form, or given to buyer clients to help guide them through the home purchasing process. Learn how to download your free copy.

7. 7 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do in Google Sheets
There's a powerful tool available to real estate agents that's free to use. That's right, we're talking about Google Sheets. Sheets can do everything from making managing your database easier to creating eye-catching charts. This video shares seven tips that will make Google Sheets easy to use.

8. 3 Tips to Submit a Competitive Offer in Under 120 Seconds
Quick! What does it take to make a competitive offer in a competitive market? The answer? Swift action! Today, we'll show you how to achieve exactly that with three tips to help you write and submit offers in under two minutes using your transaction management solution. Ready, set, GO!

9. 5 Things Every Agent Needs to Know About 5G
Today, more and more technology has become integrated into the daily workflow of real estate agents. Even the pandemic had a positive impact, if there is one, as it accelerated the adoption of more digital tools by brokers and their agents to empower remote work and remain connected to clients. Now, the next generation of technology is upon us. It's coming from the advent of a new service for your smartphone called 5G.

10. Tips and Tricks for Selling Your Listing for Top Dollar
It is the little things that are often overlooked when putting a house up for sale, so before placing the call to your real estate photographer to capture 3D images and virtual tours, here are a few tips and tricks to getting top dollar for every listing.