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Houlihan Lawrence Receives Global Recognition

0 Comments By Elizabeth Nunan on April 5th, 2011
Tags: , , , ,      Categories: Houlihan Lawrence News, Relocation

Though I returned from our annual Leading Real Estate Companies of the World Conference over three weeks ago, the excitement has yet to wear off. Over 800 real estate brokers from around the world were in attendance at the brand new Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas for nearly a week of outstanding educational sessions and fun networking opportunities. The event culminated with an awards dinner and I’m proud to say Houlihan Lawrence was recognized for numerous achievements.

Here are the highlights:

Our COO, Chris Meyers, was appointed to LeadingRE’s Board of Directors, joining an illustrious group of market leaders who oversee LeadingRE, Luxury Portfolio, and the many programs and services that help independent brokers like Houlihan Lawrence, deliver truly global marketing solutions to their clients.

Karen Benvin Ransom, of our Katonah Brokerage, won the Top Blogger Award for her significant contributions to our agent blogs which include: GuideMeHome2Westchester and GuideMeHome2HudsonValleyNY.

LeadingREAward 150x150 Houlihan Lawrence Receives Global RecognitionIn the luxury market, Houlihan Lawrence was awarded the Most Outgoing Closings Award for the Million Dollar Club, which is presented to the one member with the most outgoing closed referrals with a sales price of $1 million or greater.

Our website, HoulihanLawrence.com, earned the Website Quality Certification (WQC), presented to LeadingRE companies that have demonstrated excellence in website design, functionality and execution.

And finally, yours truly received the LeadingRE Hall of Fame Award for my contributions to the network throughout the years. It was a delightful surprise!

Not a company to rest on our laurels, we are busy working toward even greater achievements in 2011.

Around the World in a Day

0 Comments By Elizabeth Nunan on March 29th, 2011
Tags: , , ,      Categories: Buying, Dutchess, Putnam, Relocation, Selling, Westchester

LeadingRE Vertical BW Around the World in a DayWherever our clients have real estate needs, Houlihan Lawrence can help. Our affiliations with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, Christie’s International Real Estate, Luxury Portfolio International and Mayfair International offer us experienced and capable partners all around the World.

Just today we’ve:

  • helped a client get one step closer to his dream of owning a vacation home in Puerto Rico.
  • received word of a closing on a client’s property in the Bay Area of California.
  • arranged for rental assistance in Singapore for a client’s daughter.

These types of referrals happen every day in real estate and being so connected means that our clients will work with the best agents in any given area. So if you need real estate assistance outside of the Westchester, Putnam or Dutchess County areas of New York and you don’t know who to call, call Houlihan Lawrence. Let us put you in touch with the perfect agent…anywhere in the World.

For assistance, please call or email our Global Referral manager, Julie Prete, at 914-273-2800 or jprete@houlihanlawrence.com.

Houlihan Lawrence’s Nunan and Lafreniere Present at Global Real Estate Conference

0 Comments By Frederick Romley on March 16th, 2011
Tags: , ,      Categories: Events, Houlihan Lawrence News, Relocation, social media

Elizabeth Nunan, Vice President of Global Business Development at Houlihan Lawrence and Andrew Lafreniere, Director of Information Technology, were both presenters at last week’s 2011 Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE) conference March 8-10, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in Nevada. The conference was attended by over 800 top real estate brokers, managers and relocation professionals from around the World.

Lafreniere Nunan1 150x150 Houlihan Lawrences Nunan and Lafreniere Present at Global Real Estate Conference

Andrew Lafreniere and Liz Nunan

Nunan presented in two educational sessions: It’s About Marketing – Getting Agents to Use Technology and Social Networking 201 – The Newest Recruiting and Business Development Strategy.

Lafreniere presented on Houlihan Lawrence’s community video series in a session titled How We Did That: Practical Applications of Technology.

“We applied our 2011 conference theme of ‘Engage. Innovate. Lead’ quite literally to develop a program that inspires our members to compete at a higher level, create better ways to connect with consumers, and generally raise the bar in the real estate industry,” notes LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “Ongoing shifts in the housing market, technology and the way people communicate make it essential for real estate professionals to continuously build their competence. This annual showcase event brings together the best minds in the business to do just that.”

The Oscars…for Real Estate

0 Comments By Elizabeth Nunan on February 9th, 2011
Tags: , ,      Categories: Dutchess, Houlihan Lawrence News, Putnam, Relocation, Westchester

This is the time of year when everyone is buzzing about awards…did their favorite movies get nominated and who will win the Oscar?

clip image001 The Oscars...for Real EstateWell, the awards that we’re buzzing about are the Annual Awards presented by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. Leading RE is a global network of 600 premier real estate firms with 5,000 offices and 150,000 sales associates in more than 30 countries around the world. I’m proud to say that Houlihan Lawrence has been nominated for the following Awards:

  • 2010 Award of Excellence – Sales Production
  • 2010 Award of Excellence – Referral Production
  • 2010 Performance Awards – Peak Producers Pinnacle Award (Recognizes the top member sending the highest quantity of outgoing revenue-generating closings)
  • 2010 Million Dollar Award (Presented to the member with the most outgoing closed referrals with a sales price of $1 million or greater)

Congratulations to our Global Business Development Team and all of our Houlihan Lawrence agents for another outstanding year within the Network! The awards will be presented in March at the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World Annual Conference.

Preparing for an International Relocation

0 Comments By Elizabeth Nunan on January 26th, 2011
Tags: , , ,      Categories: Relocation

world globe 3d ellipsoid pic 150x150 Preparing for an International RelocationYou’re about to join a world-wide community of roughly 6 million Americans who live and work in a foreign country. An international assignment is one of the most exciting life experiences that an employee and his/her family can have. The challenges and frustrations are many, but the rewards and personal growth are limited only by the preparation of the entire family and the enthusiasm you bring to the experience.

Preparation is key. Even if you consider yourself a veteran of domestic corporate relocations, you will find an overseas transfer to be very different from any other move you have made. One of the first things you will need is an overview of the specific country you’ll be calling home. It’s important to read up ahead of time so you’ll have an understanding about business etiquette, cultural manners and other protocol.

While you may think a real estate brokerage can only assist you with the housing aspect of an international move, be sure to inquire as to their other services and/or tools that could prove helpful. For example, at Houlihan Lawrence, our global relocation division can supply you with timely tips in preparing for your international move. It lists things you’ll need to do six months, three months and one month prior to the move. Additionally, we offer a reference guide that highlights conversions in everything from clothing sizes to measuring distances and weights.

Expect the experience to be rewarding, anticipate the opportunity of a lifetime and enjoy the fulfillment of personal and family growth. And look to a real estate brokerage that can help you find appropriate housing as well as be your go-to source for information and assistance.

Have you ever moved overseas for a job assignment? What did you find to be your biggest challenge?

You’re Being Relocated, Now What?

0 Comments By Elizabeth Nunan on January 5th, 2011
Tags: , , ,      Categories: Buying, Dutchess, Putnam, Relocation, Westchester

Excited for the new opportunity? Nervous about how your family will adjust? Overwhelmed with the thought of starting over in a new community?

These emotions are completely natural, and likely heightened if you aren’t receiving relocation assistance through your employer. If you’re relocating on your own, or your employer doesn’t have a formalized program, you should search for a real estate brokerage in the new area that offers relocation assistance. You need to partner with someone that will hold your hand throughout the entire process. You need a relocation counselor.

Your goal is to become well educated on the new area so you can make a smart buying decision for you and your family. Look for a company that offers free services such as:

  • Pre-arrival consultation with a relocation counselor to assess your family’s needs
  • Area information package tailored to your family’s requirements
  • Home search tour with an agent that is certified as a relocation specialist
  • Cost of living reports
  • School reports and comparisons
  • Research personal needs such as daycare, summer camp, etc.
  • Mortgage counseling
  • Assistance in finding temporary housing

At Houlihan Lawrence, we work with numerous corporate clients to provide services like these to relocating employees. We also provide these services to families and individuals that aren’t offered a formal package through their employer. Let’s face it, relocating can be exciting but at the same time really stressful. Be sure you’re working with a real estate company that will help make the experience a positive one for you and your family.

If you need relocation assistance, feel free to call me at 888-454-7356. Our experienced Relocation Team will be happy to facilitate a seamless relocation for you and your family.

Have you relocated for an employer without a formalized relocation program? What was your experience?

Listing Your Home For Sale During the Holidays

0 Comments By Elizabeth Nunan on December 21st, 2010
Tags: , , ,      Categories: Dutchess, Putnam, Relocation, Selling, Westchester
List now or wait

I’ve been asked a few times recently whether I thought it was worth it for someone to list their home now as opposed to waiting until after the New Year. I’m reminded of my own experience when I relocated to New York nearly 15 years ago.  I was hired by Houlihan Lawrence and my start date was January 2nd. I listed my home for sale in Annapolis, Maryland three weeks before Christmas. I didn’t think there would be any activity until after the New Year. In fact, I almost waited until after the first of the year to put my home on the market. Good thing I didn’t.  calendar 150x150 Listing Your Home For Sale During the Holidays

Serious buyers in December

There were showings almost immediately. That’s when I realized that anyone looking at homes in the last few weeks of the year, is likely a serious buyer. I was in the middle of negotiations when I started on the 2nd and I closed on February 28th. Of course it was a different market – a different time and place. But I’ve often wondered, had I gone with my initial plan of not listing my home until after the New Year, those buyers may never have seen my house. They may have decided on something else based on their timeframe before my house was ever for sale.

Fear not

So, If you’re one of the many sellers who’ve just put their home on the market and you’re second guessing your decision, fear not. There are buyers that need to buy now. Everyone’s circumstances are different. Just don’t go too crazy with the Holiday decorating.

Have you had an experience, good or bad, in selling or buying during the Holidays? Feel free to share with us in the comments section.

61 Reasons to Send a Referral to Houlihan Lawrence

0 Comments By Elizabeth Nunan on December 8th, 2010
Tags: , ,      Categories: Buying, Dutchess, Market Area, Putnam, Relocation, Selling, Westchester
High Conversion Rate

61%. That’s our closing percentage of  all incoming broker referrals in the past 12 months. General talk in the industry says the average is about 25%.

It’s common practice for real estate agents to refer clients to one another. How do you choose a company to receive your referral? How will you know the agent on the other side will treat your referral with care and provide you and your client with exceptional service?

Team Effort

At Houlihan Lawrence we take pride in each and every successful referral. It’s a team effort – from the referring agent or company to our relocation division staff to our assigned agent to the client themselves. We’re all working together for the same goal – a closed transaction and a satisfied client whether a buyer, seller or renter. Year to date our closed referrals range in price from the lowest – a $115,000 co-op that we listed and sold, to the highest – a buyer that purchased an $11,450,000 home. And everything in between.

High Standards

Several years ago we developed a minimum standard that agents must meet in order to work with our referral clientele. The criteria includes a minimum number of years of experience, a certain number of closed transactions, relocation training and signing a pledge of service agreement. When a real estate agent sends a referral to Houlihan Lawrence they can be assured that we’ll make the best agent selection based on the clients needs and that we’ll pull from a pool of talented agents who’ve met or exceeded our requirements. Additionally, a relocation team member stays in touch with the referred party all the way through until closing, to be sure their needs are being met.

We think we’ve raised the bar in servicing our referrals, and it’s confirmed with a 61% conversion rate. What’s been your experience when referring to another brokerage?

REALTORS® Help Rebuild New Orleans

0 Comments By Elizabeth Nunan on November 18th, 2010
Tags: , , ,      Categories: Dutchess, Houlihan Lawrence News, Putnam, Relocation, Westchester

In 2006, my friend, Terry Kirkwood of Duffy Real Estate, and I were part of the REALTOR team that worked on a Habitat for Humanity project in New Orleans during the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Annual Convention held a year after Katrina struck. So when NAR announced we’d be returning to New Orleans for their annual convention this fall we jumped at the chance to participate again.

We donned our jeans and t-shirts and joined about 100 other Realtors from around the Country to help rebuild in the parts of New Orleans that were hardest hit. Our volunteer day was largely spent in the Upper 9th Ward working on homes on Frenchmen Street. The homes we worked on had just recently been built. In fact, they still lacked flooring, appliances, plumbing, etc. We were put on exterior painting detail which was great because it was such a beautiful day. And truth be told it’s probably best they didn’t trust us with hammers!

It was a truly rewarding experience. When our work was done for the day, the Habitat team led us on a tour of the Lower 9th Ward as well as a tour of the neighborhood and homes we helped rebuild in 2006. To see those homes, some decorated for Halloween, being enjoyed by families years later is heart warming.

It was a day I will always remember and if I’m ever going to be back in New Orleans I would do it all again. Check out some of my photos!

Did you know that there are families in need of housing and help throughout Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties of New York?

For more information on how you can get involved, visit: Habitat for Humanity Dutchess County, Habitat for Humanity of Westchester, or Habitat for Humanity of Putnam County.

Talking Technology at the LeadingRE Regional Workshop

0 Comments By Elizabeth Nunan on October 4th, 2010
Tags: , , , , ,      Categories: Houlihan Lawrence News, Relocation, social media

I recently had the privilege of being a speaker at the recent Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Fall Workshop in Providence, RI. The meeting attracted brokers, managers and relocation professionals from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, a global network of 600 premier real estate firms.

In the session titled, “What You Need to Know About Technology for Sales Associates”, I shared insights on social media to help educate fellow LeadingRE members. Technology is changing the way we do business. It’s important for brokerages and agents to stay on top of what’s available to them to help increase their business and provide the kind of service today’s consumer expects and deserves.

The session was part of the larger meeting program, which addressed a variety of real estate topics on ways to best meet the needs of home buyers and sellers in today’s challending market.

IMG00740 20100914 1344 300x225 Talking Technology at the LeadingRE Regional Workshop

The opening session with LeadingRE

“Although the core principles relating to effective real estate services have not changed, other factors – such as market conditions, technology and communication preferences – are continuously evolving,” Pam O’Connor, president/CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® said.  “Our Fall Workshop series gives members the opportunity to share with other top real estate professionals the best strategies to create exceptional customer experiences and remain market leaders.”

The agenda also featured a preview of new LeadingRE programs that further support the professional development of member firms:  the network’s online learning platform, Institute 2.0, and “OUR WORLD”– an industry-first program that leverages social media for business results.

Houlihan Lawrence is the local representative of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, the largest network of 600 premier locally-branded firms producing $250 billion in annual home sales.  LeadingRE provides a broad range of brokerage services to its affiliates, including lead generation, branding support, luxury marketing, web exposure and technology systems, and state of the art learning and credentialing. We’re honored to be a part of such a distinguished organization.

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