Author Archives: Katie Glaser

Memorial Day Party Ideas for Clients! Download Your FREE Customizable BBQ Entertaining Guide

Posted on by

Fire up the Grill and Fire up Your Business!  Memorial Day weekend is upon us and your clients and prospects are getting out the grill for the first big outdoor bash of the season.

Homes.com is here to help with planning a Memorial Day bash, or any other summer party, a breeze with our Red, White and BBQ Entertaining Guide! Chock full of barbecue tips, recipes, outdoor decoration ideas, plus more.   This guide is a great resource and can be downloaded for free! Our CUSTOMIZABLE VERSION is a perfect way to brand yourself!

Continue reading →

[Infographic]: Home Buyer Search Habits

Posted on by

Spring is here!  Birds are chirping, the air is warmer, flowers are blooming and the beginning of a busy real estate season is upon us.  To help prepare real estate pros for another busy season of “wheeling and dealing,” Homes.com would like to share some valuable insight on homebuyer search trends.  Recently, we surveyed consumers about their home search habits and have compiled them into this handy Home Search Habits infographic.

Homes.com Survey-Consumers Home Search TrendsHighlights: 

  • Make sure your properties are on national listing sites like Homes.com.  Almost 70% of consumers reported that they search for properties here.  Not only that, 40% indicated that they search online for homes every day!
  • Get your fingers nimble because over half of consumers (52.8%) prefer to communicate via email.
  • “Deal breaker alert” - be sure to showcase eye-catching property photos as a whopping 90% reported that they’re less likely to see a home in person if the listing has no photos.  No photos. No deal.

We hope that these trends will help you with your leads and client growth.  Do these results represent your clients?  We would like to know if these results are helpful and related to your own database demographics. Comment below or discuss with others on our Facebook page.

‘We LOVE Our Customers’ Survey – $500 Drawing rules

Posted on by

How to Play:

Click the link found in the contest email message (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HCLoveOurCustomers)
Then complete the survey with required information including your contact information to be entered to win.
One (1) randomly selected prize winner will receive $500 VISA® gift card
JUDGING: Contest finalists will be randomly selected.

The total list of all participants who have completed the “We LOVE Our Customers” survey between February 8, 2013, 09:02 a.m. EDT and February 15, 2013, 09:02 a.m. EDT will be eligible. The lucky prize winner will receive a $500 VISA® gift card.

Official Rules
Please read these Official Rules before entering this Promotion (“We LOVE Our Customers”). By participating in the Promotion, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and represent that you satisfy all of the eligibility requirements below.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION.
1. Eligibility. The Promotion is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States or District of Columbia, age 18 or older (or the age of majority in entrant’s state of residence), and if asked, you are to provide an affidavit of eligibility following the drawing. If you do not meet these requirements or any other eligibility requirements in these Official Rules, you are not eligible to win a prize, and Homes.com reserves the right not to award prizes to you. Employees and their immediate family (parent, child, sibling and spouse of each) and individuals residing in the same household (whether or not related) of Homes.com®, United Advertising Publications, Inc., or Dominion Enterprises, and any of their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and all other entities or individuals associated with the development, administration, or fulfillment of the Promotion (collectively, the “Entities”) are not eligible to win. The Promotion is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited.

2. Promotion Period. The Promotion starts at 09:02 a.m. (all times Eastern Daylight Time) on February 8, 2013 and ends at 09:02 a.m. on February 15, 2013 (all times Eastern Daylight Time). All entries must be received during the Promotion Period to be eligible to win a prize.

3. How to Enter. To enter at any time during the Promotion Period, just visit the link provided in the “We LOVE Our Customers” email. Then complete your information on the entry form to be entered to win. Only one (1) entry per person during the Promotion Period. Entries become the property of Sponsor. Use of any automated system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification. In the event of a dispute as to any registration, the authorized account holder of the email address used to enter will be deemed to be the registrant or player. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address. All Entries (including all material embodied therein) submitted to Sponsor shall automatically become the sole and exclusive property of Sponsor immediately upon submission.

4. Prize: One (1) grand prize winner will receive one (1) five hundred dollar gift card. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received.

5. Winner will be randomly selected by the Homes.com marketing staff. The prize winner will be announced by February 19, 2013 and will be notified by email or other available communication platform by the following day after the relevant drawing. The prize will be awarded within thirty (30) days after winner verification. If a prize notification is returned as undeliverable or if the winner does not respond to the notification within seven (7) calendar days, it will result in disqualification, and the prize will be awarded to an alternate winner in a separate random drawing for the prize. The prize winner may be required to execute an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within seven (7) days following the date of attempted notification. Prizes are not assignable or transferable, except to a surviving spouse.

The prize is awarded “AS IS” and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose), except that the prize will be subject to its manufacturer’s standard warranty (if any). No substitutions or exchanges (including for cash) of any prize will be permitted, except that Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. Winner is responsible for all federal, state, local, sales and income taxes associated with receipt and/or use of any prize. Entry and acceptance of any prize constitutes permission to use winner’s name, prize won, business affiliation, hometown and likeness for online posting and promotional purposes without further compensation, except where prohibited by law. Unless prohibited by law, winner will be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility, liability release, publicity release, tax forms, and other reasonable documentation provided by Sponsor before being awarded a prize. If winner does not execute such documentation upon request, their prize will be forfeited and the prize will be awarded to an alternate winner. All prizes are guaranteed to be awarded.

PRIVACY AND PUBLICITY. Sponsor will collect personal data from Participants, and this information may be used for the purposes of administering the Promotion, publicizing the Promotion, and other promotional purposes that benefit the Sponsor. Unless prohibited by law, participation in the Promotion constitutes each Entrant’s consent for Sponsor to use the Entrant’s name, age, hometown, and state of residence for Promotion or promotional purposes in any media now known or later developed, without payment or consideration to the Entrant. You are providing your information to Sponsor. Information collected from Entrants and voters is subject to Sponsor’s Privacy Policy available at http://www.dominionenterprises.com/main/do/Privacy_Policy. To opt-out of receiving future offers, notices or other mailings from sponsor, please write to http://www.dominionenterprises.com/main/do/DE_Email_Opt_Out_Form. Be sure to provide your name, email and specific information about the website or subscription(s) that you no longer wish to receive. Please allow a few days for your request to be processed. If you “opt out” of receiving further promotional materials or notices, the only communications you will receive from us will be about transactions that you initiate. By opting-out, residual information may nonetheless remain in our database and other records, which may not be permanently deleted.

6. General: Homes.com and Dominion Enterprises will not be responsible for late, lost, illegible, incomplete, damaged or misdirected entries and accepts no responsibility for any injury, loss or damage of any kind resulting from an entrant’s participation in the Promotion. By entering the Promotion, each entrant agrees to these Official Rules and waives and releases Sponsor and Sponsor’s parents, subsidiaries, and affiliated companies, and all other businesses involved in this Promotion, as well as the employees, officers, directors and agents of each, from, all claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Promotion or delivery, mis-delivery, acceptance, possession, use of or inability to use the prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory. Sponsor reserves the right to amend these Official Rules or to terminate this Promotion. Any provision of these Official Rules deemed unenforceable will be enforced to the extent permissible, and the remainder of these Official Rules will remain in effect. Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of any Promotion materials, administration of the Promotion or in the announcement of any prize. The Promotion and these Official Rules will be governed, construed and interpreted under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Any dispute with respect to this Promotion will be resolved in either the federal or state courts located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects.

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY. Neither Sponsor nor any other Releasee shall be responsible for non-conforming, lost, late, stolen, misdirected, illegible, or incomplete entries. Neither Sponsor nor any other Releasee shall be responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Sponsor, Releasees, Entrants, tampering, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Promotion, and neither Sponsor nor any Releasee shall assume responsibility for any error, omission, defect, theft, destruction, or unauthorized access to the materials related to the Contest, or for any damage to the Entrant’s computer related to or resulting from participating in the Promotion. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to disqualify any individual found to be tampering with the entry process, the voting process, or the operation of the Promotion; to be acting in violation of these Official Rules; or to be acting in a non-sportsmanlike or disruptive manner; or with intent or apparent intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, embarrass, harm, or harass, in any way, any other person. If for any reason the Promotion is not capable of running as planned by reason of, but not limited to, business or market circumstances, force majeure, public health concerns, tampering, unauthorized intervention, actions by entrants, fraud, or any other causes which, Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion, deems could corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Promotion, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Promotion or any portion thereof by posting a notice on the websites. If the Promotion or any portion of the Promotion is terminated before the end of the Promotion Period or the Voting Period, Sponsor will select winner from all eligible entries received as of the termination date of the Promotion. All prizes are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

7. Winner List; Rules Request: For a winner list, send a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope after February 19, 2013 to Sponsor at the address listed below, Attn: Contest Rules Request (Amber Alcaraz). Residents of WA and VT may omit return postage. Sponsor: Homes.com 150 Granby Street, 16th Floor, Norfolk, VA 23510. Confidentiality: By entering, you may be contacted by Sponsor with future promotional offers.

Century 21 Kick-off 2013 BIG Contest Rules

Posted on by

Official Rules and Regulations of this Drawing: 

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE ODDS OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. 

SPONSOR: Homes.com, LLC

Promotional Period:  Entry period begins December 28, 2012at 12:00AM eastern and ends January 25th 2013 at 12:00 PM eastern.  Entry forms received after January 25th 2013 will be disqualified.  Five (5) winner(s) will be selected by a random drawing on or about January 30, 2013. 

Eligibility Requirements:  Contest open to Century 21 offices and brokerages owners and operators.  To be entered into the “Kick-off 2013 BIG with Homes.com $350.00 Apple gift card giveaway”, contestants enter their name, title, office name, city, state, email, and phone.  Purchase of Homes.com products is not required to enter or win. Entrant must be a legal resident of the 50 United States or District of Columbia and eighteen (18) years of age or older to be eligible for this contest (or the age of majority in their state of residence). This offer is void wherever prohibited or restricted and subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Employees of Dominion Enterprises, Landmark Media Enterprises, LLC and their divisions or subsidiaries, and immediate family members (or those living in the same household with an employee, whether related or not) are not eligible to enter or win.

HOW TO ENTER: Entry forms can be found http://connect.homes.com/content/century-21-showcase-special/  or can be requested by mail from Homes.com, 150 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510.  Limit one entry per person. Photocopied facsimiles of entry forms will be accepted.  Sponsor will not be responsible or liable for lost, late, illegible, damaged, misdirected, incomplete, or garbled entries.  All Entries become the property of Sponsor.

PRIZES:

FIVE (5) Apple $350 gift cards: Five winners will each receive Apple gift cards (ARV $350).

WINNER SELECTION:  At the conclusion of the Entry Period, Sponsor will select the name(s) of the potential winner(s) by random drawing from all eligible entries received during the Entry Period.  The odds of being selected as a potential winner depend on the number of eligible entries received during the Entry Period.  Potential winners will be notified via contact information supplied on Promotion Entry and will be asked to provide their full name, age and mailing address within a specified time period.  If a potential winner does not respond within the timeframe stated in the notification, the Sponsor may select an alternate potential winner in his/her place.  Any portion of a prize not accepted by the winner will be forfeited.  Winner is responsible for the reporting and payment of all state, federal and local taxes applicable to the receipt of this prize.  The winner acknowledges that the prize is taxable and agrees to provide information for, and verify by signature, the appropriate IRS and other forms as determined by Sponsor.  Odds of winning will depend on the number of entries received. The winner(s) will be notified via contact information supplied by the Entrant when entering the drawing.  Any winner who does not respond to notification within 15 days  of receipt of notification will be disqualified, and an alternate winner(s) will be selected.  No transfer, assignment, cash redemption, or substitution of a prize is permitted except that Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to substitute a prize (or portion of a prize) with a prize of comparable or greater value or cash value. In the event that a prize cannot be awarded for any reason or a winner is not capable of redeeming a prize for any reason, Sponsor shall not be obligated to award any prize.  If, for any reason, more than the stated number of prizes are available and/or claimed, Sponsor reserves the right to award the prizes in such category by random drawing from among eligible prize claimants in such prize category or in a manner to be determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion.   All decisions of Sponsor relating to this contest will be final.  All entry materials submitted become the property of Sponsor.

Winners will be required to complete, sign, and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and, where lawful, a Liability/Publicity Release within ten (10) business days of receipt of notice of such winning status in order to accept and receive the prize. If the required forms are not signed and returned by the time indicated on the documents, or if a Prize Winner does not meet the eligibility criteria, declines the prize, cannot be contacted within the time frames set forth herein, or is otherwise unwilling or unable to comply with these Official Rules, an alternate Prize Winner may be selected at and in a manner to be determined in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion.

GENERAL CONDITIONS:  By participating in the Promotion, Entrant fully and unconditionally agrees to and accepts these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor and/or Administrators, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Promotion and releases Sponsor and its affiliates and subsidiaries from any and all claims and liabilities. The Sponsor and its agencies are not responsible for technical, hardware, software or telephone malfunctions of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, incomplete, inaccurate, garbled or delayed electronic communications caused by the user or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Promotion or by any human error which may occur in the Promotion. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel the Promotion if any aspect of the Promotion becomes technically corrupted, and determine the winners from eligible entries received prior to cancellation. The Sponsor reserves the right at their sole discretion to disqualify any individual that tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Promotion; violates the Official Rules; or acts in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner.  All decisions of the sponsor are final.  Winner agrees, by acceptance of the above-mentioned prize(s), to the use of their name and likeness for advertising and publicity purposes at the discretion of management of Sponsor and agrees to be bound by these rules.  Winners will be required to complete, sign, and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and, where lawful, a Liability/Publicity Release within ten (10) business days of receipt of notice of such winning status in order to accept and receive the prize. If the indicated forms are not signed and returned by the time indicated on the documents, or if a Prize Winner does not meet the eligibility criteria, declines the prize, cannot be contacted within the time frames set forth herein, or is otherwise unwilling or unable to comply with these Official Rules, an alternate Prize Winner may be selected at and in a manner to be determined in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion.

PRIVACY AND PUBLICITY: Sponsor will collect personal information from Entrants, and this information may be used for the purposes of administering the Promotion, publicizing the Promotion, and other promotional purposes that benefit the Sponsor. Unless prohibited by law, participation in the Promotion constitutes each Entrant’s consent for Sponsor to use the Entrant’s name (or username), age, hometown, and state of residence for Promotion or promotional purposes in any media now known or later developed, without payment or consideration to the Entrant. If you do not wish to receive future offers, notices or other mailings from sponsor, please complete the form at: http://www.dominionenterprises.com/main/do/DE_Email_Opt_Out_Form.   Be sure to provide your name, email and specific information about the website or subscription(s) that you no longer wish to receive.  Please allow a few days for your request to be processed. If you “opt out” of receiving further promotional materials or notices, the only communications you will receive from us will be about transactions that you initiate.  By opting-out, residual information may nonetheless remain in our database and other records, which may not be permanently deleted. Sponsor is committed to protecting personal information they collect about you.  Information collected from Participants is subject to Sponsor’s Privacy Policy:  http://www.dominionenterprises.com/main/do/Privacy_Policy

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY. Neither Sponsor nor any other Releasee shall be responsible for non-conforming, lost, late, stolen, misdirected, illegible, or incomplete entries. Neither Sponsor nor any other Releasee shall be responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Sponsor, Releasees, Entrants, tampering, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Promotion, and neither Sponsor nor any Releasee shall assume responsibility for any error, omission, defect, theft, destruction, or unauthorized access to the materials related to the Contest, or for any damage to the Entrant’s computer related to or resulting from participating in the Promotion. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to disqualify any individual found to be tampering with the entry process, the voting process, or the operation of the Promotion; to be acting in violation of these Official Rules; or to be acting in a non-sportsmanlike or disruptive manner; or with intent or apparent intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, embarrass, harm, or harass, in any way, any other person. If for any reason the Promotion is not capable of running as planned by reason of, but not limited to, business or market circumstances, force majeure, public health concerns, tampering, unauthorized intervention, actions by entrants, fraud, or any other causes which, Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion, deems could corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Promotion, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Promotion or any portion thereof by posting a notice on the websites. If the Promotion or any portion of the Promotion is terminated before the end of the Promotion Period or the Voting Period, Sponsor will select winner from all eligible entries received as of the termination date of the Promotion.

Participant agrees that Sponsor and its agencies and each party’s respective affiliates, officers, directors, agents, and employees (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) will have no liability or responsibility for any claim arising in connection with participation in the Promotion or the awarding of prizes. Winners hereby release and hold harmless  Indemnitees  from any and all claims, damages, expenses, costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and liabilities (including settlements), brought or asserted against any of the Indemnitees due to or arising out acceptance  or use of any prize, or use of Participants name, likeness or photograph.  Without limiting the foregoing, all prizes are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. Some jurisdictions may not allow the limitations or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages or exclusion of implied warranties, so some of the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you.  Check your local laws for any restrictions or limitations regarding these limitations or exclusions. Any attempt by a participant or any other individual to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the promotion is in violation of criminal and civil laws, and should any such attempt be made, sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law.

This Promotion will be administered in the State of Virginia, and by participating, all Entrants hereby agree that the laws of the State of Virginia will apply exclusively to the Promotion and that any dispute with respect to this Promotion will be resolved in either the federal or state courts located in the State of Virginia.

DISCLOSURE OF WINNER(S). To receive a list of winners,Katie.glaser@homes.com and/ or, send self addressed stamped envelope marked  “Kick Off 2013 Big with Homes.com” on the back of the envelope to Homes.com, 150 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510.

SPONSOR: Homes.com, Inc., 150 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510.

ADMINISTRATOR: Katie Glaser, Marketing Manager, Homes.com  

 

Homes.com Partners with ‘The Steve Harvey Show’ to Shelter Family Impacted by Hurricane Sandy

Posted on by

Homes.com Partners with ‘The Steve Harvey Show’ to Shelter Family Impacted by Hurricane SandyEveryone has a story and life event that shapes who we are.  Homes.com recently asked real estate professionals to share stories that captured your successful moments that have shaped your career.  And, at this year’s National Association of Realtors Expo in Orlando, we shared our story, “Discover the Dream,” with you to empower you with the tools to help homebuyers discover their dream of home ownership.  As real estate professionals, you play a key role in helping others establish that new beginning.

Like you, Homes.com helps people find a home…even when Mother Nature takes it away.  In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, our purpose never rang so true.  Homes.com and ForRent.com teamed up with actor and comedian Steve Harvey to help a Staten Island family, the Correas, whose home was wiped out by Hurricane Sandy. We committed to cover the cost of rent for the family’s new rental home over the next 12 months, surprising them with the donation during The Steve Harvey Show episode, which aired on  December 6.

No stranger to challenges, Pedro Correa, an Iraq War veteran and 9/11 first responder, and his wife Jessica returned to their home after the storm to find next to nothing. Dozens of family photos, their wedding video and baby books were destroyed.

“We help people find homes,” said Terry Slattery, president of Homes.com and ForRent.com. “There are a lot of special families that deserve our help. Pedro has a history of service to our country, and it was nice to be able to give back to his family,” said Terry. “America has not forgotten about the people who are still struggling, and we encourage people to continue to donate.”

We are grateful to be able to help the Correa family establish a new beginning.  Do you have a compelling story to share about giving back or paying it forward to someone in need?  Homes.com and ForRent.com encourages you to give back to the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Watch the video below to learn more about this story and how you can help Hurricane Sandy victims. Please consider a donation to the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org/charitable-donations.