Preview of AgentNation and beta info.

If you are interested in participating as a beta tester e-mail JTurner@AgentNation.com with your information. We are looking for a number of Agents to load their listings and provide feedback about the processes and functionality.

Beta Testing Has Begun

Agent Nation has begun beta testing. Utilizing a group of professionals in the real estate industry across the nation, Agent Nation will work to identify current strengths and accept any suggestions from actual users of the network. Feedback to date has been positive as we make minor changes based on user interaction. We want to thank the individuals that have taken the time to join the beta group and provide ideas for this exciting professional network connecting agents to opportunity. We look forward to the full launch to occur soon!

Photo Taking Tips

We all know how important it is to take photos of your listings. Statistics show that listings without images on line receive fewer views than those listings with not only photos, but virtual tours. You do not need the most expensive or state of the art photography equipment to take great photos of your listings. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Show Natural Light

Dark house pictures are always annoying, and buyers want to see natural light. You can always turn on a lamp or two to create artificial illumination, but natural sunlight makes for better pictures and will show buyers just what they are missing. Before taking pictures of your home for sale, open the blinds, remove the curtains, and let the sunlight in! Just make sure that you're always taking pictures with the light behind you to avoid glare.

Minimize Furniture

A cluttered house is almost as obnoxious as a dark house, so even if your home for sale often looks like a museum, move the furniture for pictures. The living room, for example, should contain only a couch, a love seat, a coffee table and an entertainment center to be entirely effective. Move everything else into another room while you shoot, if not for later showings. Furthermore, a room with a color theme will always photograph better than one without.

Show Off Your Yard

As well as taking pictures of the interior of your home for sale, consider taking a few shots of the front and back yards. Prospective buyers will want to see what you've done with the landscaping, and those with children will feel better knowing there's a place for the kids to play. House pictures should be as well-rounded as possible. Furthermore, make sure you snap photos of unique landscaping, such as a deck or pool.

Clear the Clutter

No one wants to see last night's pizza boxes in pictures of your home for sale, nor do they want to know that you have six-inch-thick mold growing on your bathroom sink. Before you start to take house pictures, hire a maid or learn how to clean up yourself to avoid the embarrassment (and lack of buyers) that is certain to ensue if you don't.

Avoid Corners

People don't want to see the corners of your bedrooms, living room or kitchen; instead, the want to see the entire room, or as much of it as you can fit in one shot. Standing in door ways to get the majority of the room in your house pictures is the way to go. If that doesn't work, open a window and snap the shot from outside.

Get Close-Ups

In addition to taking the room-at-a-glance shots (see above), your home for sale should also showcase close-ups of the important stuff. The sink and appliances, for example, and the shower in the master bath are appropriate. I'm not saying that buyers want to see the individual rings on your stovetop burners, but be realistic and liberal with the camera.

Get on Board!

According to a survey by California based staffing firm Accountemps, Keeping employees up to speed may be the best way to boost their moods during hard times. The survey polled 150 senior executives from the nations 1,000 largest companies, and nearly half of all respondents said that better company-wide communication is the best remedy for low morale. Thirty-three said a lack of open, honest communication in the workplace had the most negative effect on workers' attitudes.