Author Archives: trevorspear

You’re busy. Really busy

You’re busy. Really busy. Stuff piles up. Daily. And out of all the places you need to check messages, the biggest nightmare is often email. Let’s talk solutions. First of all, ignoring the onslaught is a temporary, and let’s face … Continue reading

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A Flood of Confusion

Confusion is still swirling about regarding the potential impact of the recent presidential order on Federal Flood Risk Management Standards (FFRMS) – and NAHB has been testifying at hearings, making our members’ voices heard atlistening sessions, talking up federal officials, … Continue reading

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Home Warranties: Great with the run-of-the-mill mishaps, terrible in emergencies Home warranty plans are designed to help you repair or replace the mechanical systems in your home that malfunction because of regular wear and tear. These warranties aren’t required, since … Continue reading

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Don’t Melt Down in a Crisis

Will your business ever face a crisis situation needing careful and strategic communication? Quite possibly. (You can’t control everything.) And the degree of the fallout will largely depend on your timely and clear response—and a precise execution. A good example … Continue reading

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Get it Right: It’s Sell, Not Tell

Selling a product or service—verbally or through marketing efforts—shouldn’t be a one-sided, pushy endeavor. Since small business owners believe in what they’re selling, there’s a strong desire to tell potential customers everything all at once. But being bombarded with features, … Continue reading

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Maximize Your 20 Percent

You’ve no doubt heard of the 80/20 rule. It’s the old adage that says 80 percent of your business comes from 20 percent of sales. What you might not know is that this philosophy can be applied all across your … Continue reading

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Goodbye HUD-1 Form. New Home Closing Rules Take Effect Aug. 1

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureauwill institute new rules Aug. 1 regarding disclosures under the Truth in Lending Act andReal Estate Settlement Procedures Act that will affect all home builders, particularly those with a real estate lending arm. Under the new … Continue reading

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Racing to Buy Homes Sight Unseen

ATLANTA—It took Akuansa Graham seven minutes on a recent morning to craft a $124,000 bid for a three-bedroom Buford, Ga., home he had never seen. The Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust executive went to public auctions in the years after the … Continue reading

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More Cities Post March Homes-Sales Gains

March continues to look better for home sales as additional reports from across the U.S. roll in. On Friday, the Atlanta Board of Realtors reported 3,993 finalized home sales in March, up 13.8% from a year earlier. The San Antonio … Continue reading

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Where are Home Prices Headed?

Two major measurements of the rise in home prices show annual growth rates of 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, most mortgage executives and consumers believe that prices will continue to rise this year, according to a recent national survey. NAHB’s … Continue reading

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