WestWords - June 2023

WESTWORDS

I AM WEST USA RODNEY

FARIA

REAL ESTATE PITFALLS

FROM DEAN BECKER

HOW TO GENERATE NEW LEADS WITH DIGITAL ADS

5

WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR WATER BILL

MAY MARKET STATS

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE

JUNE CALENDAR

Grand Canyon, Arizona

I

AM RODNEY FARIA

I AM PATIENT

I AM KNOWLEDGEABLE

I AM PASSIONATE

I AM RELIABLE

I AM EXPERIENCED

I AM WEST USA

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Rodney is experienced, honest, and delivers! We’ve had Rodney help us buy several properties and recently had him help sell our primary residence. Even in this challenging market he walked us through the whole process, helped set timelines, prepare our house to show the best, and sell our home! We will partner with Rodney to sell our condo in the near future and he’s already helped find our next dream home. We’d recommend Rodney Faria to anybody who is looking to sell or buy a home.

Making the decision to sell your home is a big one. So is considering who you will pick to represent you during the sale process. We selected Rodney Faria from West USA Realty and we are so happy that we did. The real estate landscape is going through many changes and Rodney

calmly navigated us through the entire process. He is very experienced and knowledgeable, which helps immensely. We are very happy and would recommend Rodney to anyone looking for an excellent agent when either selling or looking to purchase a new home.

Rodney went above and beyond in my opinion. We were moving and moving fast and were not going to be in town for the bulk of the time the house was on the market.

Rodney helped connect us with a great landscaper who could monitor our yard while gone and Rodney would stop by to check on the house in our absence. Communication was always spot on. We knew what to expect and when. It really made the process as smooth as it could be. Thanks Rodney and Team!

REAL ESTATE PITFALLS

Real estate can be a great investment opportunity for those who are well-informed and strategic in their approach. However, there are also several potential pitfalls that can cause investors to lose money or experience other negative outcomes. Here are some of the most common real estate pitfalls to be aware of:

1. OVERPAYING

One of the biggest mistakes real estate investors make is overpaying for a property. This can happen when investors get caught up in bidding wars or fail to do thorough research on the property's value.

2. POOR LOCATION

The location of a property is one of the most important factors in real estate investment. Properties located in less desirable areas, such as high-crime areas or those with limited job opportunities, may have a difficult time attracting tenants or buyers.

3. POORLY TIMED INVESTMENT

The real estate market can be unpredictable, and investing at the wrong time can lead to financial losses. It's important to pay attention to market trends and indicators before making an investment decision.

4. LACK OF DUE DILIGENCE

Failing to conduct proper due diligence can lead to unforeseen issues with a

property. This may include discovering problems with the property's title, zoning restrictions, or building code violations.

5. UNDERESTIMATING EXPENSES

Real estate investors need to consider all of the expenses associated with owning a property, including maintenance costs, property taxes, and insurance. Underestimating these expenses can lead to financial difficulties down the line.

6. INADEQUATE FINANCING

Real estate investors need to secure adequate financing to cover the cost of a property. Failing to do so can result in missed opportunities or the need to sell the property at a loss.

7. POOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Once a property is acquired, it needs to be managed effectively in order to maximize returns. Poor property management can lead to high vacancy rates, delinquent rent payments, and other issues.

Overall, real estate investing can be a lucrative opportunity, but it's important to approach it with caution and avoid these common pitfalls. Thorough research and planning can help investors avoid potential pitfalls and make the most of their investments.

HOW TO GENERATE NEW LEADS WITH DIGITAL ADS

BY WISE AGENT

Today's real estate landscape is competitive and ever-evolving - agents now must work harder to market themselves and make their businesses more visible. The key to successfully advertising your business is to promote it where your clients are: online and on social media. According to a study by NAR, in 2020, 97% of homebuyers used the Internet in their home search. On top of that, the average American now spends more than an hour a day on Facebook and Facebook-connected platforms. As a result, advertising your business with digital ads has become a great way to acquire new leads.

The easiest part? Everything can be done from one site: your CRM. As the first step, you can pull property information from a real estate listing and automatically generate detailed ads with photos, listing info, your agent photo, and logo. When setting up a new ad in your CRM, you can even create an ad that will run on both Google and Facebook at the same time. Then, new incoming leads are directly added to your CRM, and lastly, you can also set up an automated follow-up with these new leads in your CRM.

Instead of being frustrated and confused when managing your real estate ads, be in control, knowing that you have the tools available to create ads quickly, saving you the time and hassle of dealing with other complicated ad platforms.

Testing your ad is the best way to determine what

• SHOW OFF YOUR LISTING, SERVICE, OR BRAND

People scroll through Facebook and Instagram quickly. Show what you're selling, your brand, or your logo to communicate your message efficiently. Using exterior home imagery from listing content as the main image on your ad tends to be standard across the best-performing ads.

• USE HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGES

Use the highest resolution images available to avoid your picture appearing blurry or pixelated. For images with a link on desktop 479 x 246 pixels, and on mobile a minimum width of 320 pixels. We recommend 1,080 x 1,350 pixels.

• AVOID TOO MUCH TEXT ON THE IMAGE ITSELF

We've found that images with less than 20% text perform better, though there is no limit on the amount of text that can exist in your ad image.

• KEEP THE CHARACTER LIMIT IN MIND

One of the most important things to consider for ads is whether your copy is too long for display and will therefore be truncated when your audience sees it.

• PLAN FOR A BIG ENOUGH BUDGET

Giving Facebook enough money to work with allows it to learn enough to maximize performance. We've seen the best results when allotting a minimum of $5 - $10 media spend/day.

5 WAYS TO SAVE ON YOUR WATER BILL

BY DEREK RILEY

Warmer weather means you’re bathing more, watering plants, filling swimming pools and making gallons of iced beverages. Despite all that extra water usage, you can help reduce your water bill by following these simple tips.

1. STOP LEAKS

Check all your faucets for leaks. A month of drips can add up to anywhere from 200-250 gallons of wasted water. Also, be sure to check your toilet. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank and waiting 15 minutes before flushing. If any food coloring appears in the bowl before flushing, you have a leak. If you decide to buy a new toilet, look for one with the EPA WaterSense label. They use at least 20% less water than a standard toilet.

2. SHOWER POWER

The EPA reports showering saves significant amounts of water. A bathtub can use 30 gallons or more, depending on the water depth. If you DO soak in the tub, use the bath water on your plants. Try to limit your showers to 5 minutes or less. Also, think about getting a water-efficient showerhead to save even more.

3. GO EASY ON THE DISHWASHER

Run the dishwasher only when it’s fully loaded and use the economy setting. Newer models run on different cycles, so check your manufacturer’s recommendations for the most efficient setting. Also, scrape dishes rather than rinsing them before placing them in the dishwasher.

4. GARBAGE DISPOSALS: CASH DOWN THE DRAIN

Want to know how to lower your water bill even more?

Garbage disposals use as much as 4 gallons of water per minute! Consider disposing of food waste by composting or by wrapping it and placing it in the trash.

5. OUTDOOR WATER USE

It’s okay to let the soil dry out between waterings. Water your vegetables and annuals as soon as they start to

wilt. Perennials are tougher and only need water when they get droopy. Water during the cooler parts of the day to reduce evaporation. Make sure your sprinkler is only watering plants and grass, not your sidewalk. Check hoses for leaks and collect rainwater in barrels to water plants. The EPA suggests using soaker hoses because they use less water than sprinklers.

EYE-OPENING FACTS

These facts from the EPA may inspire you to do a few things differently.

• The average family of four uses about 100 gallons of water per day.

• Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth twice a day can save over 100 gallons a month.

• A high-efficiency toilet saves 2.2 - 5.7 gallons/flush.

• Letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as leaving a 60-watt bulb on for 22 hrs.

• Less than 1% of the water on earth is available for people’s everyday use.

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

These tips not only provide you with ways to save water at home but also help you save money, time, and our planet! A few small changes can make a big difference.

To further protect your budget, consider signing up for an American Home Shield® home warranty. Our home warranty plans cover up to 23 major systems and appliances. Plus, you can select add-on coverage for things like your pool and spa, roof leak repair, and a guest unit. We understand that there are many costs involved with being a homeowner—and rising utility bills are just some of them. That’s why we’ve created three plans at different price points, so you can have peace of mind that your budget will be protected when a covered system or appliance breaks down from normal wear and tear.

Derek Riley, Market Manager Cell: 480-286-1996 • Email: derek.riley@ahs.com

TODD MENARD’S REAL ESTATE MARKET STATS MAY 2023

NEW HOME INVENTORY VS. ARMLS RESALE

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE SUMMER 2023

ARROWHEAD

PEORIA SCHOOL DISCRICT

AHWATUKEE

KYRENE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER

CHANDLER FOR OUR CITY

MESA

TOWN MEADOWS

NORTH PHOENIX

H.E.L.P.

SCOTTSDALE

SAVE THE FAMILY

SURPRISE

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