Reynolds Bickerstaff 
How Many People Live, Work, & Play in Uptown Columbus
Posted on February 5, 2015 Leave a Comment
Download PDF version here: UPTOWN PROFILE_2014 (4) (1)
How To Get a Real Estate License in GA
Posted on January 3, 2015 Leave a Comment
The first step in becoming a real estate agent in Georgia is obtaining a sales person license. Each state has their own specific requirements, but some offer reciprocal licenses, depending on which state you obtained your primary license. So if you obtain a sales person license GA, you could qualify for an AL license by completing a 6 hour course and passing the State Portion of the AL real estate exam. Georgia’s licensing requirements are determined by the Georgia Real Estate Commission & Appraisers Board.
Getting a real estate license in Georgia requires two steps. Successfully completing 75 hour course and scoring 70 or above on the state exam. It looks simple on paper, but it is actually an intense process filled with hours of training, tests, and fees. So first and foremost, you must truly want to become a real estate agent. And second, you must be over 18. If you meet these two requirements, then continue on!
Next, you must attend a real estate class. There are two types of educations approved by Georgia. You can either receive 75 hours of real estate training (check this list for officially licensed and state approved schools, and most of the courses are online), or you can take six hours of classes at an accredited university course. The most important thing here is to find a reputable school. These courses are meant to build a foundation of real estate knowledge, but do not teach you how to build a successful business. Understanding this puts you one step closer to working for a company like Waddell Realty.
After you complete the requisite hours of training, it’s time to take the sales person exam. The exam is offered several days a week, and all you have to do is find a testing location nearest you. Georgia has created a study guide to help you prepare. It’s important to note here that all applicants are required to have a Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) report. The Georgia exam costs $91.
Congratulations! You studied, you passed your test – now it’s onto buying and selling homes in Columbus, right? Well, not quite. If you pass your test, you can do two things – keep your license inactive, or activate it through a broker. If you choose to activate your license within three months of the exam, you must pay another $170 (the fee doubles if you apply more than three months after).
So now, you’re all done and ready to go…right? Umm, you’re getting closer. Your real estate license is good for four years in Georgia, so yes, you are now free to begin your rockstar real estate career at Waddell Realty. But you’re still not done training. You are required to take a 25 hour post license course during your first year of being a licensed real estate agent. In addition, you are still required to go through 6 hours of training a year each year for the next four years to renew your license. Phew!
The key to receiving, and maintaining a real estate license in Georgia is training. And just because you got your license doesn’t mean you’re free of these responsibilities. Keep that in the back of your mind, and you’re on your way to a successful career in real estate, four years at a time.
4 Tips for New Real Estate Agents
Posted on December 12, 2014 Leave a Comment
The journey to becoming a rockstar real estate agent begins with a strong foundation. In the beginning you may lack clients, a referral network, and experience. Even rockstar agents are constantly building their client base, networks and learning from each experience. A strong foundation will help grow your business and keep it rocking. So how do you build a foundation and maintain a foothold in the real estate industry?
Before we get to actual tips, it’s important to set realistic goals at this phase in your real estate career. Of course, your aim is to become a successful REALTOR, one with plenty of contacts, a pipeline full of leads, and known for keeping your pulse on the market. But first things first – you must build a strong foundation early in your real estate career. This goal should be accomplished in the first 6 months. Here are four tips to get you on your way to real estate success:
- Find a Mentor – Research the top real estate companies in the area, like Waddell Realty for West Georgia and East Alabama. In the same vein as building a network, and similar to real estate meetings, meet agents who are working for the top REALTORS in your area and pick their brain for advice. They were once new too, and they can give you tips in all areas, from career to local markets. Understand what you need to do to become a successful real estate agent, and build your network at the same time. Like the homes you’ll help clients buy and sell, your successful real estate career starts with a solid foundation. Of course, you’ll want to meet new clients and get in on markets. But take the beginning part of your career to build and refine these important skills and relationships. Your future real estate rockstar self depends on it.
- Research Up and Coming Areas – On the housing side, you must study local prices and especially look for two things: first, find areas where housing prices are improving faster than others – this denotes markets of high demand. Second, look for signs of up and coming areas. Infrastructure is a giveaway, so be on the lookout for areas with new schools, roads, or even shopping centers. Become familiar with these markets before anyone else, and develop an eye for recognizing areas with potential!
- Build Your Network – Your network is the most important piece of your foundation. Your network consists of past clients, future clients, friends, and family, among others. You should always be focused on growing your network – this is a career endeavor. But you must start to build it now! A simple way is to find a local real estate club in your area, like the Georgia Real Estate Investors Association, and attend meetings. Meetings like this are great for meeting like-minded people.
- Develop Your Online Brand: The moment you decide to start a real estate career, your name can become a brand built to attract clients. There are traditional ways to build your real estate brand, but those require years of work to penetrate the market. One of the most effective ways to build your brand in the digital age is to start a blog and create content, like we do at Waddell Realty. Our blog, featuring tips for realtors and property owners, allows us to reach an entire world with our content with practical advice. The contents on your blog will differ, of course. It might be about the ups and downs of being a new real estate agent, or learning a new housing market. Either way, blogging is your introduction to the world, and the world’s introduction to your brand.
Your online brand should reinforce your physical brand. You will be viewed online by prospective clients and when the meet you for the first time, your physical brand must match the online version.
7 Insider Secrets on Showcasing Your Home For a Successful Sale #7
Posted on October 9, 2014 Leave a Comment
Tip #7 Go With a Pro
Even though today’s home seller has access to more information than sellers in the past, you should still think twice when selling your home without the help of a real estate professional. Placing a home on the market is a full-time job that requires the experience, time and expertise to help make the most of that sale. According to the National Association of Realtors, two-thirds of people who have sold their homes themselves say they would not do it again.
Why? Money
Simply put, having a Realtor could get you more money in the long run, even when it means handing over a small portion of the sale. Real estate professionals know what home buyers are looking for and can help your home stand out, especially in a HOT market.
Here are just a few of the reasons why you should hire a real estate expert to help your home stand out:
- Let your home shine
- Realtors know exactly what home buyers are looking for in today’s market.
- They have a good handle on what your home can sell for and what buyers really want in a home.
- A real estate agent provides a buffer between the seller and the buyer.
Preparing your home for sale can be a daunting task, but with the help of a professional at Waddell Realty and the insider secrets they have to share, it can be done quickly and easily.
To order a FREE Copy of this special report, click here.
7 INSIDER SECRETS on Showcasing Your Home for a Successful Sale #6
Posted on July 16, 2014 Leave a Comment
Tip #6 : When Coloring Perceptions, Be Neutral
Everyone loves color. The problem is, everyone loves different KINDS of color. Therefore,, when preparing your home to sell, you need to adjust your home’s color scheme to a more neutral palette. The goal is to make it easy for the buyer to see their own belongings within your home. If you have bright walls and ll of their furniture is understated, they are not going to see your home as a match for them. It just won’t meet their style. Seeing a neutral color on the walls provides that buyer with the blank slate they need to imagine their own possessions within your home. It allows them the opportunity to form that important attachment.
Here are some easy, inexpensive ways to adjust the colors in your home and prepare it for sale:
- Walk through your home and take inventory of all the walls that are painted and what color they are.
- Consider Removing all wallpaper.
- Use paint to accent features you want to stand out.
- Pay special attention to smaller rooms, as color and presentation there are very important.
To order a FREE Copy of this special report, click here.
