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Whether it is between friends, spouses, business acquaintances, or coworkers, if history is any indicator, when two people respect each other, they are usually much happier, as well as much more successful than those who don't show any respect to anyone.
Today, we live in a world where everyone is different in their own unique way, and even though that is completely normal, the problem usually shows up when two or more people show hostility to each other. But when you have an open mind, and when you know how to appreciate other people's opinions, not only do you feel happier, but you strengthen the connection between you and the community that you live in as well.
We strongly believe that everyone should always look for unique talents in each person that they encounter throughout their life, as well as to be respectful of their differences. Generally speaking, we learn much more from our failures and mistakes than our successes as we go through life. It is always interesting that no matter how high the level of organization is, if there is no mutual respect and understanding, the friendship can quickly fall apart.
Although you probably think that the organization that is smarter, more talented, and better funded will always win, it doesn't have to mean anything if there is no mutual respect and gratitude between the employers and their employees. However, companies like https://fivestargaragedoorservice.com that make positive relationships between owners and employees, will instantly see positive relationships with their customers as well. Employees that are respected, empowered, and treated well, will show the same type of gratitude and respect toward the customers they work with.
That being said, if you would like to improve the relationship between you and your relatives, friends, or neighbors, here are top three ways you can do just that!
Be Helpful
If your neighbor ever happens to be in some sort of trouble, be the first one to help them out. This doesn't mean that you have to take on half of their business project or anything like that, but you can at least offer them a piece of advice. This is especially the case if your neighbor has helped you in the past, because helping them back is always a nice way to show them how much you respect them.
Although it sounds easy, truly listening to someone while they are speaking is actually a pretty hard skill to master. If you really want to show your neighbors how much you respect them, you really need to tune into what they are saying. So, put down your phone, look your neighbor in the eye, and listen closely to what they have to say.
Have you ever had a bad day in your life? If you have, then you already know how much a little bit of encouragement can mean. With this in mind, always do your best to put smile on your sad neighbor's face.


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South Manchester Credit Union Awarded £19,000 through Lloyds Banking Group Development Fund
South Manchester Credit Union has been awarded a £19,280 grant by Lloyds Banking Group to fund costs and equipment for a Business Development role.
South Manchester Credit Union offers savings accounts and affordable loans to everyone living or working in South Manchester. The money will resource the credit union to further extend the reach of services within their local communities.
Sheenagh Young, CEO of South Manchester Credit Union said: "As a successful community credit union we are looking forward to applying our award from LBG to further raise our voice and encourage a deeper appetite for credit union services in our local communities. We have focused strongly on marketing over the last year and have been building our presence on social media as well as strengthening our online services offer. This award enables us to resource a business development role to build partnerships with local employers to open up easier access to credit union services for their employees."
South Manchester Credit Union is amongst 21 credit unions across the country that are benefitting from £1m in grants from Lloyds Banking Group, delivered through the Credit Union Foundation. Lloyds committed to provide £1m each year for four years and today's award is the fourth wave of funding to be released. In addition, Lloyds have also announced they will commit a further £1million of funding in 2018 on top of the £4million they have already delivered. The investment between 2014-18 should enable the credit union sector to lend an additional £25million to their members 1.
Nick Williams, Group Ambassador for the North of England, at Lloyds Banking Group said: "Credit unions play a crucial role in helping people access finance in a safe and responsible way. This support means that more consumers who need small loans have another lending option available to them. Over 66 credit unions have benefitted from the Fund's support to date, helping over 400,000 members across the UK, and underscoring our commitment to Help Britain Prosper."
Liz Barclay, Chair of the Credit Union Foundation says: "The partnership with Lloyds Banking Group has been transformational for the Foundation and is providing support for the credit union sector that is unparalleled. From funding websites that allow new digital services for members, to building capital reserves that are supporting significant growth, the Development Fund is supporting credit unions, large and small, to achieve sustainability."

subset: commoncrawl


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Ludo Playing Pieces with two dice
Ludo Playing Pieces with two dice:
- A set of 16 ludo playing pieces suitable for games like Ludo.
- Includes 4 red, 4 blue, 4 yellow and 4 green counters as well as two white 16mm spot dice.
- Pawns also called halma pawns are good for games that need pawns.
- The Ludo playing pieces are made from wood.
- All wood utilised in the production of the playing pieces is from sustainable sources.
Additional Information
- All the ludo playing pieces meet CE requirements and come from Europe.
- Pawns are about 12mm diameter at the base and 24mm tall and can be used for many old games that need pawns and dice.
- Choking hazard – the pawns and dice are not suitable for children under the age of 36 months.
- For schools that have a lot of board games these may be suitable as replacements playing parts.
- We do higher volumes at a discounted school rate so contact us to find out prices.
We can source a wide range of playing parts so contact us to see what we can do for you.
Adrenaline Brush make games and board games. We make a wide range of retail games but also make board games for businesses and inventors. We deliver board game design days for schools and organisations. These days are good for team building and give participants the opportunity to be creative and design their own games.
In the team we have artists and graphic designers and people who are keen board game players and bring this enthusiasm to their work. The work of the artists/graphic designers is available at www.adrenalinebrush.com
Contact us if you would like to know more about our wide range of services.


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You've Heard of Ear Candling But What is it?
Looking for a good way to clean your earwax? Whatever you do, don't do this.read more
When You Really Need Hearing Protection
Your hearing is at risk, even when doing everyday routine things. When do you really need to protect your hearing? Read on.read more
When Will The Ringing in My Ear Stop?
Is your tinnitus permanent? Or will it go away on its own?read more
Will my Sleep be Improved by Wearing Hearing Aids?
Research reveals doing this can help improve the quality of your sleep.read more
Why Can't I Hear in a Crowd?
Trouble making out what people are saying in noisy restaurants? It's a sign of this.read more
In All Demographics Hearing Loss is on The Rise
Hearing loss is on the rise across all demographics. This is one of the reasons why.read more
The Connection Between Tinnitus And Food
Ringing in your ears driving you nuts? Make sure you're not eating this.read more
This is The One Thing About Hearing Loss You Should Take Note of
You may get an annual physical, but have you checked this recently? This is one thing you shouldn't ignore.read more
Small Changes in Hearing Can Affect Your Brain
Even small changes in your hearing have been linked to these changes in your brain.read more
Hearing Aids Sounding a Little Weak? Try This
If your hearing aids sound weak and already changed the batteries, it could be this.read more


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Today was an important day in our house as Thomas ate his first food. He ate homemade carrot purée. Thomas was not sure at first but I think he enjoyed it. Tomorrow we are trying pea purée and will move forward from there. If you have any tips about weaning please let me know. Any help and advice is much appreciated 🙂
I love the picture! He definitely looks not sure about it – but I'm sure he will get used to it soon. 🙂


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We just wanted to let you know that we are OPEN for business.
Holden Towels remains dedicated to providing the best service to our customers and doing everything we can to meet your product needs. We will continue to support you in any way possible while ensuring the safety of our employees by having our team work from home during this time.
Better days are coming! Together, we can get through this. Stay safe and healthy!
Microfiber Color Fitness Towel / Fitness Towels & Rally Towels
Product / Microfiber Color Fitness Towel
Quantity / 90
Color / Lime Green
Date Delivered / October 02, 2019
Imprint / 1 color imprint
Imprint Colors /


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Hello everybody,
I hope no one minds me asking for some input. Fairly long story, but I will try to keep it short.
In November I felt perfectly 'normal', got up on 4th November and had an attack of vertigo and fell over. Hospital did a ct of Brain which was normal and I was sent home saying it was a virus. A week later I started to get really bad pins and needles in one foot, started twitching all over, vibrating internally, still had vertigo and felt horrendous. Then got patches of numbness on arms and my whole left side felt weird .Back to A&E where all functions/ blood tests were normal aside from vitamin D which was extremely low. I was treated by my GP for this. The twitching has become intermittent, but is there most days and is sometimes awful at night. My whole body feels like it pops all over.My side still felt wrong and then I started to get a crawling sensation on the back of my thigh, burning in my hip and all down the side of my left thigh. It was so bad I could put any clothes on it. It's very painful .Back to GP who ordered MRI of head and lumbar region , all normal. I still have all the symptoms down my left side, but now I feel like I can't walk properly as my legs feel like lead/ jelly. They don't feel like they are mine if that makes sense.It feels like all the strength has gone out of them, although I can still stand. My left arm feels heavy too. I can no longer go out independently and have been referred to a neurologist.
As MS has been ruled out, does this sound like MND to anyone? I know generally sensory nerves aren't affected, but reading some of the stories on this site that's not always the case.
I'd be grateful for any input. Thank you. X


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Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga
Publisher: Kawaguchiya Uhei
(Marks 232 - 21-142)
Censor's seal: kiwame
Related links: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Indianapolis Museum of Art - another early Kunisada on the theme of killing the ten retainers; Art Institute of Chicago - pdf file on James Ensor print partially inspired by prints by Kunisada like this one - click on fig. 15 at the end of the article;
This is a scene in the tale of revenge of the Soga brothers who waited 18 years before killing Kudō Suketsune, the man responsible for the death of their father. The jūban of the title refers to the 10 men loyal to Suketsune that the Soga brothers slew.
There is also another copy of this print in the Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde, Leiden.
There is a file online from the Art Institute of Chicago analyzing the imagery in a James Ensor (Belgian, 1860-1949) print of the Temptation of St. Anthony. It cites the battle scenes of Kunisada, and this print in particular, as one of the points of inspiration for this composition. We have added a link to that file above.


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Thanks for stopping by! Always free shipping on orders more than $150 with code FREESHIP
A simple geometric cross body bag, in the softest leather. Adjustable strap for over the shoulder or cross body use. Exterior pocket and two interior pockets. Fully lined.
8.5 in. H x 8.5 in. W x 2 in. D.16.5-22 in. strap drop.Brass zipper.Natural milled leather.Made in the USA.
Color: Saddle


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Tagged: Toscana Towers
GREAT VALUE in the luxury oceanfront community of TOSCANA NORTH in Highland Beach Florida 33487!
Serene views to the gorgeous resort style pools & Toscana grounds from this RECENTLY REMODELED condo that shows like a model! Peek at ocean & Intracoastal. MINIMALISTIC DESIGN! Open floorplan w tons of natural light. 2 BE + den. Modern looking kitchen with a recently installed white stone counter top, custom backsplash, sink, & faucet. European kitchen cabinets & top of the line stainless steel appliances. Custom paint, crown molding & closets. Marble floors in every room! Newer washer/dryer, custom BOSCH A/C, Toto toilets & bidet, modern powder room sink with under sink lighting, frameless shower doors, custom built in overhead lighting in living room & den, & much more! Full service building. RECENTLY RENOVATED LOBBY. Private beach club! Pets of all sizes welcome! Listed at: $1,000,000. The Toscana North Condo fee is: $3,319 P/QTR. The HOA fee is: $1,561.59 P/QTR. Combined, both fees come out to $1,627 per month. Read more about condos in Toscana Highland Beach Florida 33487 below…
The MODERN $1,200,000 Toscana North lobby has a Coffee Café and a Game Room with a pool table, a ping pong table, and a poker table! The lobby was completed in 2020! The Toscana North high tech gym was renovated in 2016 and it is more modern and better equipped than the gyms at the other two Toscana Towers. The gym renovation cost was about $560,000. The Toscana North roof was partially replaced in 2019. There were NO assessments to residents for any of these improvements! Toscana North has a media room, a social room with a catering kitchen, a card room, a business center, and a library. Toscana North has private coded elevator access to each apartment, underground parking, valet parking, 24-hour concierge service, private air conditioned storage & bicycle storage, and on-site maintenance & management. Toscana North is the building closest to the Toscana private beach club, a HUGE plus!
This is your opportunity to enjoy a life of luxury here in Toscana Highland Beach Florida 33487! Toscana Towers is a three building luxury oceanfront community located on the west side of A1A between the Intracoastal & the Atlantic Ocean. Toscana North has 17 floors and 143 units, Toscana West has 16 floors and 118 units, and Toscana South has 18 floors and 159 units. There are 422 total units in Toscana. Toscana is a 24-hour manned gated community with 3 pools, 2 hot tubs & cabana baths with attendants, 2 clay tennis courts, a bocce ball court, a shuffleboard court, and private beach, with a recently remodeled beach club. The Toscana Beach Club has a social room overlooking the ocean, lockers, a kitchen, showers, a BBQ area with tables with an awesome ocean view, beach chairs by the sand, & more. The Toscana beach attendant will provide you with towels and ice water! Each Toscana building has 2 electric car charging stations! Pets of all sizes welcome, but tenants cannot have pets. Units can be rented right after they are bought, twice a year for 90 days minimum each time. This is great for investors! Year round social events for Toscana residents! Toscana North is a VERY social building. The Toscana North and Toscana HOA Social Committees organize events such as: holiday parties, bagel brunches, game nights, trivia nights, Valentine's Day party, Halloween party, & much more. In addition, residents organize card groups, a Toscana Book Club, and more. There is so much to do when you live in Toscana!
There are lots of things to do nearby! The Highland Beach Florida 33487 library, which is walking distance from Toscana, has concerts, yoga classes, dancing lessons, card groups, a book club, Current Events Discussions, kid's parties, & much more. Highland Beach is just 5 minutes away from famed Atlantic Ave. in Delray Beach, and Boca Raton's Downtown. The quaint coastal town of Deerfield Beach is located just 10 minutes away, and the exclusive city of Palm Beach is just about 20 minutes away. Visit the Town Center at Boca Raton, Mizner Park, Atlantic Avenue, and Worth Avenue. Rent a boat for the day, or go on a cruise through the Intracoastal Waterway. You can go surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, or just take a relaxing walk by the beach & stop by to eat breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner or happy hour at the Delray Sands beachfront restaurant! Go take a Brewery tour, visit the local parks and museums, try the many restaurants in the area, go golfing, go play tennis or Pickleball at the Delray Tennis Center, and more! The possibilities are endless when it is sunny outside! Location, location, location!
Highland Beach Florida 33487 is located in the southern portion of eastern Palm Beach County, which is in the southeastern part of the State of Florida. The Town is 1.1 total square miles and is bounded on the north and northwest by the City of Delray Beach and on the south and southwest by the City of Boca Raton. The Atlantic Ocean lies adjacent to the Town on the east and the Intracoastal Waterway lies to the west. Highland Beach Florida 33487 is a residential community with a year-round population of 4,150 which increases to approximately 8,500 during the winter months. The roughly three mile stretch of beach in the Town of Highland Beach provides our residents with a place to relax and recreate. Our beaches also serve as critical nesting grounds for endangered sea turtles. The Town of Highland Beach has a Post Office, Fire Department, Police Station & Public Library overlooking the Intracoastal.
Highland Beach Florida 33487 is a very quiet little coastal town ( http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/florida/safest-places-fl/ ) and it has lower crime rates compared to other cities in Florida and the USA. Ranked #2 in the 2015 Safest Cities in Florida Study prepared by ValuePenguin.com . Other websites such as CityRating.com also provide data about the low crime rates in this quaint coastal town. Voted one of the most Livable Cities in Florida and the USA by AreaVibes.com and one of the best cities to live in Palm Beach County by Livability.com . Highland Beach Florida 33487 is ALSO one of the most exclusive coastal towns in the US. It is one of the highest income per capita towns in the USA. Highland Beach's zip code 33487 ranked #24 on the list of the wealthiest zip codes in Florida by the South Florida Business Journal. Many wealthy people have bought second homes in Highland Beach, Florida. Foreign buyers come to the area looking for more stable investments and a good value. Here in Highland Beach, it is sunny most of the year! Escape the cold during the winter months! Toscana Highland Beach Florida 33487 is 30 minutes away from 2 major airports and 10 minutes away from the Boca Raton Airport.
Click here to view MLS link:
Can you help us find a buyer? If so, please, let us know!
Call Ben & Mayra Stern with Stern Realty at 561-908-2474 or text 561-715-0314!
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com / Add subject "Toscana" to the email
Featured listing: 3700 S. Ocean Blvd. #509. Highland Beach Florida 33487
#Toscana #ToscanaHighlandBeach #FloridaRealEstate #HighlandBeachRealEstate #ToscanaNorth #FL #HighlandBeach
Toscana in Highland Beach Real Estate Market Update
Our July 25, 2018 Toscana Real Estate Newsletter is ready to view here! It includes: information about the current real estate market in Toscana, such as Toscana condos for sale, condos sold, condos under contract, Toscana condos for rent, condos rented, statistics, Highland Beach real estate market information, real estate articles, and more!
What do Toscana residents think about our Toscana Real Estate Newsletter?
"You have the best newsletter….very detailed and informative."
"Your stuff is the best I have seen."
Just Listed!
Best deal in Toscana for a furnished seasonal rental with stunning ocean & Intracoastal views!
Modern/elegant furniture. 2 huge balconies! East balcony has ocean & Toscana grounds views. West balcony has long Intracoastal views. This condo has 2 bedrooms, 2.1 baths, and over 2,369 sq. ft. of living area. Bright open floor plan, Saturnia marble floors everywhere! Impact glass windows, custom built-ins, granite counters in the kitchen, custom entertainment center, surround sound, & custom soundproof wall unit. Master suite has closet built-ins, marble master bath w/hot tub, dual sinks, & separate shower. Guest suite w/private bath. Large laundry room. Private elevator entry to each unit. Unit was recently painted. 24-hour manned gated, luxury oceanfront community, with 2 tennis courts, bocce ball court, shuffleboard, and a private beach with beach club. Each Toscana building has a heated pool and hot tub with attendant, cabana baths, fitness center, sauna, steam room, locker room, billiard's room, social room, TV room, business center, kitchen, private coded elevator access to each apartment, underground parking, valet parking, 24-hour concierge service & staff, bicycle storage, and on-site maintenance & management. Come see what the Toscana Lifestyle is all about! 5 min. away from trendy Delray Beach and famous Boca Raton. Highland Beach is a small exclusive beach town located just south of the City of Delray Beach and north of Boca Raton in Florida. The Town is 1.1 total square miles. This condo is available December 2018 – April 2019. 3 months minimum. $9,500 per month. No pets allowed for renters. MLS#: RX-10450366.
For more information, contact Ben & Mayra Stern, Realtors with Stern Realty and Toscana residents, at 561-715-0314 or by email at email@example.com.
For more pictures & information, please go to:
If you want to get our Toscana Real Estate News monthly by email, or if you want to sign up to get automatic alerts when there is a new listing for sale, for rent, under contract, or sold here in Toscana, please email us at: firstname.lastname@example.com .
> Please, add our email address to your email contact's list so our Toscana Real Estate Newsletter does not end up in your Spam or Junk Folders. Also, check your Spam/Junk Folder filters to make sure you can get emails from us. Add our email address there too as safe senders/safe mailing list!
Click here to view the most current Toscana Real Estate Market Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3dEZlAciRciT3dBMld5emNEdUk/view?usp=sharing
Stern Realty Reviews: Ben & Mayra Stern, take pride in giving excellent service!
Thinking about using our services? There are many things we can say about the high quality of service we provide to our home seller and home buyer clients, but probably none would be as credible as testimonials from some of our clients themselves. So please take a moment to read the following testimonials from past clients. We hope they indicate our experience and integrity, as well as make it clear how much we enjoy helping people with their real estate needs.
Stern Realty in Highland Beach, FL Reviews: over 25 years of excellent service!
"This letter will serve as our highest recommendation for Mayra & Ben Stern. Over the years, we have worked with many real estate brokers and agents and can say with confidence that Mayra & Ben are truly the best of the best. They have the professional and ethical qualities that make their team extremely successful and effective. They hold themselves to a high level of integrity and are very conscientious and tenacious, always keeping the client's best interest in mind. They prepared extensive research to assist with defining a fair market value of the property and then, when the time comes, utilizing their market research and analysis, they negotiate effectively with the opposing broker on behalf of their client. "
Lorene & Michael K. – Toscana North Seller/Unit 504
"When we were ready to sell our condo, we contacted Ben & Mayra Stern to represent us. Based on sales in our building complex we expected to sell in 7 months. Ben & Mayra found a buyer in 2 months thanks to their unbelievable marketing efforts. They walked us through every step and assisted us in getting a lawyer to handle the sale. Whenever we had a question, they were extremely quick to respond. Their knowledge and guidance in pricing our apartment correctly from day one really made a difference. I would recommend them to anyone looking to buy or sell in South Florida. Thank you, Ben & Mayra!"
Eileen Swindling – 1107 Toscana North Seller
"My family and I have used Mayra and Ben Stern for rental properties. They are knowledgeable, reliable, warm, friendly and diligent. They provide info about the community, the town and the city. They are hard working and will do a great job for you! Highly recommend them!!!"
Anna T. – Toscana North in Highland Beach, FL
"Ben and Myra Stern have represented us on both the buy and sell side.We found them to be effective, hardworking, reliable and totally trustworthy brokers. They are very knowledgeable about the market and have extensive marketing skills using the internet. It is a pleasure to work with them."
Eric D. – Highland Beach, FL
"I have known Ben and Mayra Stern for nearly 7 years through their work with my non-profit animal rescue, All For One Pet Rescue. Their support has been invaluable and greatly appreciated. Beyond their dedicated work as a foster family and their financial support of our mission, their business sense and intuition has been of significant benefit to the operations of the non-profit as they are always willing to bring great ideas to the table and tirelessly network the rescue for greater exposure and support. It is a pleasure to work with people who are so very passionate about our cause and are as honest, straightforward, and savvy as Ben and Mayra. Their ethics are beyond reproach and I have no doubt that anyone that works with them in any capacity will experience the same."
Lisa B. All For One Pet Rescue
"I have used the services of Ben and Mayra Stern to both sell and buy properties. They are the most honest, hard-working real estate agents you will ever come across. They will give you the best information to get your home sold or bought quickly."
Ellen S. – Highland Beach, FL
"Mayra and ben stern are the most ethical and honest real estate agents I have met. Over the past 30 years I have moved and bought and sold 6 properties so I have experience with many agents, not all good, many self serving. They have offered concrete advice on how to sell my ny property that languished in finding a buyer although they had no financial gain. Their advice was correct, I adjusted the price and it sold very quickly. I would highly recommend them without hesitation to sell/ buy your property."
Helen M. – Highland Beach, FL
"Ben and Mayra Stern were the listing brokers for the condominium we purchased in Toscana in Highland Beach. They did an excellent job; not only were they highly professional and capable, but also they went above and beyond what other realtors have done in terms of providing support during the transaction, assisting us throughout the transition (including during renovations) and following up with every single concern or issue that arose, even after the closing. Moreover, they provide support for the wider community through a social media page they maintain that offers information about a broad range of Toscana-related topics. I offer my highest recommendation of Ben and Mayra Stern as professional realtors committed to their clients and their community."
Alexander E. – Toscana North, Highland Beach
"I have used Stern Reality both Mayra and Ben. They are two of the most courteous knowledgeable and helpful people I have worked with. If anyone is looking for a home it is definitely worth giving them a call."
Pat F. – Highland Beach, FL
"I could not recommend Ben and Mayra Stern more highly. They helped us sell our unit in Toscana and purchase another unit in Toscana. They were the consummate professionals and went above and beyond what any other realtor would have done. The fact that they live in the community made them accessible on a moment's notice to show our unit. When we wanted to look at other units at Toscana to purchase that were listed by other brokers, we had to go through a whole process just to make an appointment and schedule times for the broker to travel to the community to show us their listing. It was never as easy or or as convenient as it was when we used Mayra and Ben Stern. Why is this important? Many people looking at Toscana are in town for a short period of time and don't have much flexibility regarding visiting potential properties. With Mayra and Ben living in the community, they made themselves readily available to potential buyers for our unit on a moment's notice. This made a big difference and got our unit sold in under two weeks for a then record price."
Peter S. – Highland Beach, FL
"Dear Ben and Mayra,
It has been a pleasure working with both of you for the sale of my Toscana unit. You have both been extremely professional, thorough, and very knowledgeable throughout the entire process. In addition, you have also been of the highest integrity, and this is a quality often lacking in realtors and brokers. As a team, you have exceeded my high expectations from listing to closing. Most sellers know that there is quite a lot of competition for listings in Toscana. And any educated seller knows that there is one realtor who has the majority of the listings. Had I not interviewed your team, I would have gone with this realtor, and based on my research, been very disappointed. He creates unrealistic expectations on pricing, and does not show the home personally most of the time. You guys did not promise me a fantasy price for my unit, but a realistic price. You also were present for all showings, and very patient with potential buyers. You were also available on very short notice to show the unit. Because of this, we were able to sell the property on a very timely basis, and for a price very close to asking. At my ripe old age of 63, I have been through many real estate transactions. I can say from the bottom of my heart that you guys represent the highest level of service I have ever experienced. You should both feel very proud of Stern Realty, and your individual efforts. Again, thanks for your attentive and caring service."
Bill Goldberg – Toscana North Seller/Unit 505
"It is my sincere pleasure to write this letter in regards to the outstanding service provided to me by Mayra and Ben Stern in selling my condominium at 3740 South Ocean Blvd. Highland Beach, FL. The service they provided went above and beyond all my expectations and was truly out of the ordinary. Since my primary residence is out of state, it was desirable that I found a broker that had the ability to pursue and follow up on prospective buyers using pertinent data and timely execution of marketing strategies. Mayra and Ben used expert discretion when it came to communication and information gathering to pinpoint what I needed and when to involve me for necessary decisions and input. Their marketing techniques exceeded even the most seasoned brokers. They use every outlet imaginable including traditional print, lead farming, website ads, and social media. Their methods are seamless and relentless in nature, constantly moving toward that final goal of the sale. My gratitude is boundless for the work they have done for me and I have no reservations whatsoever in recommending them to anyone looking to sell their property quickly, easily and for a maximized profit."
Gerald Musano – Toscana South Seller/Unit 1609
"Mayra and Ben were wonderful to work with when it came to selling my FL condominium in Toscana, Highland Beach, FL. At our first meeting, they suggested a very fair marketable price for the listing. They were very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions. I had great confidence in them. Among the many things that they did for me were:
· They personally showed the condo (and sold the Toscana Lifestyle) 13 times. They accommodated the showings, even the ones that were short notice, 7 days a week.
· They did tons of online marketing, mail outs, and a Broker's Open.
· The property was on the market 113 days (a little over 3 months).
· They provided me information about other condos for sale, under contract, and sold, that helped with my decision making about the price.
· Compared to the commission many other real estate agents charge, they saved me about $13,000 (5% vs. 6%, on a $1,300,000 sale).
· They notified me of each showing appointment and gave me feedback each time.
· They gave me regular updates.
· They helped all parties obtain any information they needed, assisted with the appraisal & inspections, scheduling and meeting the charity organization that came to pick up the furniture, meeting with repairmen to fix the sliding glass door locks, & much more.
I would not hesitate to recommend them."
Elena McTighe – Toscana North in Highland Beach Seller/Unit 601
"Ben & Mayra did it all while we were up North. Their service was excellent, seamless, and detail oriented. Less than two weeks and the condo was sold. Could not be happier."
Jack Stein, Toscana North in Highland Beach, FL Seller /Unit 1210
"Almost 2 years ago, we were recommended by an employee to use an agent who was supposedly the best in Toscana. One and half years later, with our place sitting vacant, hardly any showings, and no offers, we decided to hire Ben & Mayra Stern, who live right here in Toscana. In only a few short months, they showed our place 17 times during the slow Toscana off season, brought us 4 offers in writing, and were able to get us a full price offer. They helped us with everything, including the inspection, cleaning and emptying our home, the walk through, and the closing, all without us ever needing to go back to Florida. Their service is unbelievable and they saved us over $10,000 in commissions. We could not have sold our place without them. Thank you so much, Ben & Mayra! I want to express our appreciation for everything you have done for us".
Betty Shames – Toscana South in Highland Beach, FL Seller/Unit 809
"Dear Mayra and Ben, I wanted to thank you so very much for the professional way in which you handled my real estate. I felt very comfortable with you both . I would gladly recommend you to my friends or anyone that needs real estate assistance in the future. Thanks again for all your help and for renting out my place so quickly. Warm Regards."
Frank Mannarino – Toscana in Highland Beach, FL Owner
"We love Stern Realty-very knowledgeable-honest and friendly."
Nancy W. – Toscana in Highland Beach, FL Buyer
"Thank you both for all your hard work. The help with the small details was of tremendous value and will never be forgotten. Hopefully we can send business your way."
Jack S. – Toscana in Highland Beach, FL Seller
"We have used Ben and Mayra on both the buy-side and sell-side of our condo transactions and can highly recommend them for their effectiveness and skills. They are very knowledgeable about the local market and make effective use of on-line technologies in advertising their listings. They are hard working, energetic and accommodating to other brokers – even on short notice. They are very communicative, keeping us informed of all developments and feedbacks. They are very friendly and a pleasure to work with."
Eric – Highland Beach, FL Buyer & Seller
"We hired Stern Realty as our listing agent for our condo at Toscana in Highland Beach and as an agent for the purchase of a new condo in Florida. We could not have made a better choice. Ben and Mayra were a complete pleasure to work with, responsive, always willing to go the extra mile, and most importantly – nice people! They sold our condo in 10 days and found us a new home. We would highly recommend them to someone looking to buy or sell a home."
Peter Spirgel – Toscana in Highland Beach, FL Seller and Buyer
"Dear Mayra and Ben:
I could not have found better agents to handle the sale of my condo apartment. I greatly appreciate your concern, guidance and thoroughness. Your help in every respect was above and beyond my expectations. Not only was your performance most efficient, but you made every effort to conclude the transaction to the satisfaction of all involved. It is without hesitation and with pleasure that I will recommend your services to others. Again, many thanks. It was marvelous dealing with you.
Judith Weitzmann – Toscana North in Highland Beach, FL Seller / Unit 1603
"Mayra & Ben are both warm and caring people who possess a tremendous knowledge of the South Florida Real Estate Market! They are such nice people to work with! Thanks so much for all of the great advice and help you've given to my kids!"
Jeff C. – Toscana in Highland Beach, FL Owner
"Ben and Mayra are very hard working knowledgeable people. They are very familiar with the local real estate market and are a 'class act'. We were trying to rent our apartment and did a lot of work to help us in this effort. We unfortunately had to cancel the listing and they were very understanding. "
Peter Bass – Toscana, Highland Beach, FL Owner
"Although I did not know them when I bought my Florida property 8 years ago the Stern's were great with accurate and appropriate friendly advice on the sale of two of my Homes in NY over the past two years when I was having difficulty with each of these homes' sales even though they had no vested / financial involvement in the sales. I listened to their professional advice on proper listing, staging, pricing and subsequent appropriate reduction of the prices based on review of the areas comps. They walked me through the process and steps how to avoid the loss of the sales. They could anticipate every possible roadblock to the closing and advise me how to prevent and / or deal with each issue . They were right on the mark to help me get the offers and subsequent sales. I just closed on my last NY property on 9/29/17 that had been on and off the market for 3 years. If I were to sell my Florida property or purchase a new property here I most certainly would hire them as my agents."
Helen – Toscana, Highland Beach owner
"As a first-time condo owner, I had a significant adjustment period going from a large single family home to condo living. Even after the transaction concluded, I needed help navigating rules and protocols of condominiums. I asked numerous people for assistance, but it wasn't until I met the Sterns that I was able to get the resources I needed. While they did not act as my realtor, they were extremely helpful in providing resources making it so much easier to get settled. Their knowledge of the area makes them my go to for almost anything I need. I have never paid them, and I have no plans to sell, yet they continue to provide resources that make my life easier and better. I have never met a realtor who does so much for their community while getting nothing in return. I would have no hesitation in recommending Stern Realty."
Eileen – Toscana, Highland Beach, FL
"Ben y Mayra,
Ha sido un placer trabajar con ustedes los últimos dos años en los que pudimos rentar nuestro apartamento a un precio razonable y ha personas muy agradables. Ustedes son personas muy profesionales y diligentes en su trabajo y es por eso la efectividad en los negocios. Esperamos poder seguir haciendo negocios con ustedes y con las personas que recomiendan como clientes.
Familia Velez- Toscana West Owner/Unit 907
"Went overboard to help and was able to provide an end product that was very appreciated. Would no hesitate to recommend with 5+ stars. Even went out of their way for many little things that made everything very convenient." Jonathan Kameros – Highland Beach Landlord
"Services provided were excellent!"
James Fink – Highland Beach, FL Rental
"My wife and I have been extremely pleased with your professionalism along with your prompt help, locating rental property for us. Thank you for always keeping the lines of communication open. We have, and will continue to recommend your company to anyone that wants the name of a realtor that will get the job done. Thank you."
Paula & Richard Avon – Highland Beach, FL Rental
"Last year we worked with Stern Realty Co. to sell our house in Parkland. They are simply AMAZING! They guided us throughout the entire process, and as you can imagine, we had thousands of questions and worries, and they were there to answer all of them efficiently. They made the process very smooth, and they helped us since the first day with all the necessary tips to sell our property quickly and at a good price. We received 3 offers in the first 2 days after putting our hou…se on the market, and ended up selling for even more money than what we were asking for! Ben and Mayra are seasoned brokers with a vast knowledge of the local market. They won't make you waste your time. They're very honest about the market prices, which is something that most realtors lie about. They went above and beyond our expectations. Very professional, very communicative and nice people. We even got recommendations for lawyers, moving companies, inspectors and a plumber. Ben and Mayra are a great team, and they treat clients like friends. Highly recommended company!"
Ana O. – Parkland, FL
"Ben and Mayra were so helpful in our house search! They showed us multiple homes at times that were convenient for us. They always had our backs and were patient throughout the process. We finally found the home that was perfect for us and they were a big part of it. Thank you!!" Andrew Cooper – Boca Raton, FL Buyer
"Your service has been top-notch. You are a real professional – efficient, concise "on the case", which is most appreciated! Thank you!"
Virginia H. – Boca Raton, FL Rental
"Realtors who did a superb job! I recommend them to everyone. They are the best. They are the most knowledgeable, professional & always do much more than expected."
R. Thomas – Ocean Ridge, FL Buyer
"Thank you again for all of your help! You guys are the best!"
Shanan K. – Boca Raton Rental
"Mayra and Ben helped my mother sell her house in less than one week. Mayra was able to sell the house in less time than expected and for more money than expected. The biggest benefit of working with Mayra is that she knows the market and all the necessary steps in the selling process. We had no idea how to sell a house and all the details that you need to consider from picking the right pricing, preparing the house for the pictures, and preparing the taxes and other documents. Mayra was able to connect us to the right people for each steps of the process and she helped us all the way until the end. For us the process was seamless and she delivered. Mayra managed the whole selling process from A to Z. Super recommended!!"
Gerardo Sarmiento – Coral Springs, FL Seller
" Mayra was a referral from a colleague at the office that worked with her several years ago. This colleague told me that I should have Mayra as my Realtor as she was very responsive and customer oriented. After working with Mayra to buy my first home I can say that "responsive and customer oriented" is a huge understatement, Mayra takes responsiveness to a new level by being almost immediately available to answer any question or concern you might have and her customer orientation is more akin to the care and patience of an old friend or family member than any service provider. I could not recommend anyone better to a first time home buyer. If you want a stress free experience and true outstanding customer intimacy there is no one better than Mayra. "
Elias Albino & Fernanda Lima – Plantation, FL Buyer
"Mayra, we both want to thank you for helping us find a rental property in Boynton Beach, FL. You worked quickly, and the communication with us was wonderful all along the way. You were professional in every way. We will recommend you when ever we get the chance, and are looking forward to working with you in the future. Thank you so much."
Elaine and Harvey Stern (not a family member!) – Boynton Beach, FL Rental
"While working at Motorola Mayra and Ben assisted our Company with our expatriate housing. They managed short term and long term rentals as well as purchases and sales for our permanent transfers. The level of service they provide is superior and they always go above and beyond for their customers. They treat every client with TLC and I would recommend their services to anyone who is looking to buy or sell. I always received calls from my expats commending them for the level of service they provided."
Natasha Maldonado, former Motorola Human Resources employee.
" You are reliable, honest and intuitive. These are great skills that aren't easy to find." Mónica Coronel – Parkland & Weston client
"Mayra fue nuestra guía en el momento de la venta de la casa. Nos ayudo paso a paso. Siempre estuvo presente cuando la necesitamos. Es una persona que domina cada aspecto del mercado y entiende las necesidades de sus clientes. Gracias por tu ayuda."
Luis Pestana – Boca Raton, FL Seller
"Mayra has helped us on more than one occasion understand the intricacies of Real Estate. She is trustworthy and dedicated to the interests of her clients."
Danny Perez – Plantation, FL Buyer
" Escribo esta recomendación para las personas de habla hispana. Mayra es la mejor Realtor de la zona. Es una persona muy intuitiva ya que supo interpretar nuestros gustos a pesar de la poca información que le pudimos proporcionar, superando nuestras expectativas. La recomiendo un 100%. Muy honesta y sincera. Gracias por ayudarnos!"
Oscar Fuenmayor – Weston, FL Rental
"Ben and Mayra are great to work with! They are knowledgeable, personable, fun and get the job done!"
Kathleen Peterson – Boca Raton, FL Rental
"Hi Ben and Mayra. We wanted to thank you once again for all of your effort during this process. We truly appreciate the many things you did to keep the house presentable and ready for showing. We are grateful to you for making this process so smooth given everything we had going on as well as being across the country. You have certainly surpassed anyone's expectations. We wish you all the best."
Joe and Meri Nikolson – Parkland, FL Seller
"We wanted to thank you for the wonderful job you did in selling our home in Parkland Isles. We were very impressed with the efficiency and professional manner in which you handled every aspect – from listing, to showing, through closing. From our first meeting you gained our confidence, as your extensive experience was obvious. Helping us determine a fair selling price, guidance in showing it to its best advantage, arranging all showings based on our convenience, helping with negotiations when we received two full-price offers on the third day, scheduling and attending inspections, communicating with the buyer up to and through closing….the list goes on! The whole experience was a pleasure thanks to your professional and confident manner. We have already spread the word among our Parkland Isles' neighbors and will continue to give you our highest recommendations."
Richard & Dorothy Turk – Parkland, FL Seller
"Thank you again for another job well done! It truly has always been a pleasure doing business with you both. We appreciate your "special treatment" and your "old fashioned" neighborhood business manner; it's nice to know there is still some of that out there. Once again, it was smooth sailing!"
The Castillo Family – Parkland, FL Seller
"We recently listed and sold our home with the Stern's and their service was great! They were very professional and dedicated in getting our home sold. From the day we listed the property until closing, they both were there every step of the way. We especially liked the weekly status reports which kept us up-to-date on everything going on. We would highly recommend anyone listing a home to consider Ben & Mayra. They won't be disappointed."
The Ferbers – Parkland, FL Sellers
"We are so grateful for the excellent service you provided in selling our Parkland Isles home. Your extremely efficient and highly professional service resulted in the sale of our home IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS FOR MORE THAN OUR ASKING PRICE! We are very pleased with the amazing service you provided — it far surpassed our expectations. We have tremendous confidence in your capabilities and have already recommended you to our friends. Please add our names to your list of extremely satisfied customers!!!"
Gladys & Wolfgang Weihrer – Parkland, FL Sellers
"…Mayra & Ben did a great job of keeping me informed. Everything went very smoothly and I am sure it was due to a large part of how thorough and dedicated they both are".
Dean Ehrlich – Parkland, FL Seller
"Awesome! The perfect word to describe how husband and wife teamwork sold our property in 3 days at list price. Due to the negligence and incompetence of previous Realtors, for 8 months we were preoccupied and unconfidant with our property upholding its value. However, Mayra & Ben rose our hopes with honesty and total professionalism and sold our home for more money than we anticipated. Spectacular performance!"
John & Patricia Porrata – Parkland, FL Seller
"We have sold many homes in the past, and have never had such hard working Realtors help sell our home".
M. Sheaff – Parkland, FL Seller
"We would like to express our gratitude to Mayra & Ben Stern for all the support and help given to us to successfully complete the sale of our former home in Parkland Isles".
Maria Luz Caballero and Hernan Mejia – Parkland, FL Seller
"…Your hard work, dedication, brochures and time really made the difference! Having my own real estate license (in another state) I know that you both went "beyond the call of duty"…"
Karen Berg – Parkland, FL Seller
"…thank you for brilliantly handling the listing and sale of our home. Your attention to detail and constant communication made us feel confident in our decision to sign with you. It was fun seeing the review of our home on realtor.com. You did an excellent job providing a detailed description and selected wonderful photos that represented our home well. What amazed us the most is that we sold our home in ONLY THREE DAYS for 98% of our asking price! We have already recommended you as realtors to several of our friends and neighbors. We know that they will receive the same excellent service that we received."
Deanna Remmich – Parkland, FL Seller
"…I would like to say that having you as the listing realtors for the sale of our home in Parkland Isles made the process enjoyable. You always kept your word about anything that you said to us. You did such a great job of advertising our home that it was sold only four days from the time that we signed a contract with you. We were also able to negotiate a sale price that worked for us, especially in light of the fact that the price we received was the highest to date for our particular model. During the sale process you answered any question posed by us. You always returned our calls in a timely fashion. We had a great experience with two professionals from the time of listing until the time of closing. We could not have gotten any better service. We wholeheartedly recommend you two to list any of our former neighbor's homes in Parkland Isles".
Neil & Michele Fogel – Parkland, FL Seller
"Thanks again for a wonderful job! I would recommend you HIGHLY to anyone that was thinking of putting their house on the market! You were very professional and were always available to answer any of our questions".
Katie Swenson – Parkland, FL Seller
" …During the time of the sale of my old house in Parkland Isles and throughout and after the purchase of my new house also in Parkland Isles, I found Mayra & Ben to be exemplary in every aspect of business. The two are absolutely the best I have ever worked with on the purchase and sales of 6 other homes."
Michael Swann – Parkland, FL Buyer & Seller
"…Ben and Mayra have been excellent realtors to work with. They have helped us on more than one occasion to look for new homes and have recently helped us with the sale of our home in Parkland Isles. They are easy to get a hold of, up to date on what is happening in the market and most of all know what they are doing. We can strongly recommend Ben and Mayra as realtors and have been more than happy with the help and services they have provided. They are a great team and we have loved working with them and will continue to work with them as the need arises in the future."
Jim & Melinda Caldwell – Parkland, FL Seller
"…We have sold 5 principal residence homes since our marriage 34 years ago… and we must say that working with you two has been a pleasure. Never any pressure on us to modify or change anything we requested is a big plus in our minds – just good sound advice coupled with working with us to make sure all aspects of this sale came to fruition was a testament to your professional and personal desire to "make things happen" for your clients. All in all – we have to tell you that you rate a 2 thumbs up with us!"
Bob & Jessi Lieberman – Parkland, FL Seller
" Dear Ben and Mayra: Thank you for being so helpful in the purchase of a beautiful house. You guys kept in touch with us every step of the way. We felt very well oriented and confident through the whole process…We would definitely use your services if needed either in sale or purchase".
Hidalgo & Ivette Batista – Parkland, FL Buyer
"… I just wanted to send a quick thank you for helping me purchase my home. You two did everything you could to make this purchase happen. It was a great experience and could not have gone better. You were so on top of everyhting I asked. I will certainly use you both again and will give your name out as often as I can."
Robin Meinders – Parkland, FL Buyer
"…We can't thank Mayra & Ben enough for all your help in selling our home… Mayra for your thorough research behind a record appraisal, and Ben for everything from offering assistance with repairs to calming our nerves during a stressful move. Your combined utmost professionalism with personalized attention, and for that we gladly recommend your services to potential sellers or buyers in Parkland Isles!"
The Omenson Family – Parkland, FL Seller
"…We wanted to thank Mayra & Ben again for the wonderful job they did selling our Parkland Isles home. Their professionalism, organization and confident, calm demeanors made, what can be a stressful experience, a very pleasant one. One of the things that impressed us the most was how quickly they responded to any question or issue that arose. We have bought and sold many homes and have the stories, none of them good, to tell. Stern realty Co. was by far the best experience we had, but the first one that didn't inspire more moving stories!"
Sandy and John Costello – Parkland, FL Seller
"Both Yasemin and I also want to Thank You. Not only was it a pleasure doing business with you, it was also our pleasure seeing you in a most professional manner. Well done from both of us and we hope that our paths will once again cross for all the best reasons. We like doing business with good people and creating a friendly and positive relationship, as I feel we have done here. Good job and thanks for being there when we needed you the most. Do stay in touch.
Frank and Yasemin Pressley – Parkland, FL Seller
"Mayra helped us get the right house for our needs. She will help you with all the questions that may arise during the search and negotiation of your house. Thanks Mayra!"
Gerardo Sarmiento – Coral Springs, FL Buyer
Happy Holidays from the Sterns YouTube Video
Looking to diversify your portfolio? Do you want to also buy a second home in Florida?
This is your chance to do both! Florida's best kept secret to the elite is Highland Beach! Compared to other exclusive zip codes in the US, wealthy buyers get more for their money in Highland Beach, Florida, find out why when you watch this YouTube video .
Watch a YouTube video of this featured listing here: Toscana North Unit 601 YouTube video
http://www.ToscanaRealEstate.info Ben & Mayra Stern with Stern Realty Co. 561-715-0314
Toscana South Condo for Sale! Magnificent Ocean & Intracoastal Views!
Just listed in Toscana South by Ben & Mayra Stern with Stern Realty Co.! Impeccable Arezzo model on the 16th floor! 2be + den, 2.1 baths, and stunning views of the Intracoastal, ocean, and the Toscana Grounds from every window of this spectacular condo! Shows like a model with about $100,000 in recent upgrades! Custom marble floors & painting throughout, crown molding, recently built custom bar area, beautiful built-in cabinet in the den (could become a 3rd bedroom very easily), custom lighting, kitchen with granite counter tops & backsplash, finished huge walk in closets, master bath with hot tub, double sinks, a separate shower & more. Toscana is a full service luxury building by the beach in Highland Beach, FL . Pets of all sizes are allowed! Priced to sell at $1,500,000. Contact Ben & Mayra at 561-715-0314 or by email at email@example.com for more info or for a private showing! http://www.ToscanaRealEstate.info
View more pictures of this condo and the Toscana community here: https://goo.gl/photos/nc9TSjZaVyuaoTut9
3740 S. Ocean Blvd. #1609. Highland Beach, FL 33487 – MLS # RX-10242890
Toscana Owners, Did You Know?
"We believe that an educated consumer makes the best customer."
Costly mistakes that you should know about…we are spilling the beans!
It is easier to get a listing when you tell the seller what he/she wants to hear. Many agents tell prospective sellers a sales price that is not that realistic so that the property owner is more willing to list with them than with another real estate agent interviewing for the same listing. As nice as it sounds to hear that you can get a higher price for your home, not listening to the agents that are being more honest & giving you a more realistic selling price based on the price of actual sold properties, will probably not do you any good. Your property will sit for months on the market without selling, while you help other comparable properties sell. Buyers in this market are very knowledgeable and computer savvy. With all the information out there, they will know which properties are a better value, and those will be the ones that sell. Many overpriced homes will never sell, they become expireds. It has been proven, that if you price your property right from the beginning, you will sell it faster, and in many cases, even for more money than you would have gotten if you overprice your home. A property that has been on the market for so long makes buyers think that there is something wrong with it, or they will think that the owner is just not realistic, so they will pass and not even bother. As a seller, you might know that you will be flexible & negotiable once you get an offer, but all those buyers and agents out there do not know that. So, do you want to list with an honest agent that told you the truth from the beginning, or the one that did not?
Zillow Zestimates Are Usually Not Accurate. For years we had people tell us that Zillow estimates, made their home be worth this or that. The problem with the estimates that Zillow gives, is that they do not take into consideration many things that a Realtor would know to take into consideration when giving an estimate of value.
- Is the home a foreclosure?
- What is the condition of the home?
- What are the upgrades of the property?
- Does the home back to a main road?
- Does the home have a huge lot?
- Is that floor plan typically more desirable than another in the same community?
- What kind of views does the property have? Does it have a lake or a garden view? By the beach area, a condo on the 15th floor will not sell or rent for the same price as one on the 2nd floor. Does the property have an ocean view or an Intracoastal view, or both? They are stacks of a building that have better views than others.
- Is the property rental price for an annual rental or a seasonal rental? The same property can rent annually for just $6,000 per month, but when it comes to a short term rental during season, the same property can go for $12,000 per month.
So, next time you want an accurate estimate of value, please, contact us! We will tell you what your home is worth based on accurate data and your property specific characteristics.
Real estate commissions are completely negotiable between the listing broker and the seller. These two parties can agree on any amount whatsoever.
The real estate commission is not always split 50% – 50% among the real estate agents involved in the transaction, as many people believe, this too can be negotiated. If two different real estate companies are offering to sell your property for the same commission, it does not necessarily mean that the terms will be the same. A listing agent might split the commission in half (2.5% to the listing agent, and 2.5% to the selling agent that brings the buyer). The other listing agent (like Stern Realty Co. does) might keep only 2%, and give 3% to the selling agent. Why should you care? And why do we keep less money and offer more to the selling agents? The answer is simple. We want to motivate all other agents in the MLS (10,000+) to bring a buyer and sell our listing. If the commission offered to them is much less than what other listings for similar properties are paying, we might not have as many motivated agents trying hard to show and sell our listings. Therefore, your listing might never sell, or might sell for a lot less than it should, costing you thousands of dollars. If there are 25 listings for sale in your community, and most of the listings are offering the agents that bring the buyer 3% commission, and your agent is only offering to pay them 2.5%, there might be a good chance that some real estate agents might not show your listing at all with so many others to show that are offering to pay them more in commission. True, some agents will do the right thing, and show all the listings that fit their customer's criteria, but many might not do the right thing. This mistake, can cost you thousands and valuable time on the market! 11 condos sold in Toscana: 10 of the condos that sold were paying 3% in commission to the selling agent, and only 1 condo that was paying 2.5% to the selling agent sold in 2016. That condo took 355 days to sell. We want to give our customers a fair commission rate that will save them some money (compared to a 6% commission), but at the same time, we don't want to sacrifice on the exposure that our customers will get. We are a full service real estate company with low commission rates. We pass on the savings to our customers! What if the listing agent brings the buyer? Most agents get paid the whole commission. If we sell your condo to our own buyer, we will charge you ONLY 4% commission! With Toscana listings, that can mean thousands of dollars for the sellers.
When you hire an agent, you might not get what you expect. Many owners list with an agent thinking that they will only have that one "very qualified" agent to handle their transaction, but some agents might have their assistant, or other less qualified, new, real estate agent doing some of their work. We were all new in the business once, but, just make sure that you know who will be working for you, and know what you are getting for the money. Ben has been doing real estate since 1990, and Mayra got her license in 1996. Combined, we have over 40 years experience in the real estate business. When you hire Ben& Mayra, we are the only ones working for you. Having someone in the team that is not that qualified or experienced, might cost you thousands. And you might be even paying more in commissions but getting less customer service& experience.
About franchise, company, and processing fees. Before the internet took off, paying more in commission to a "global" real estate company with thousands of offices worldwide made sense. It was not that easy to get international buyers without that. These days, with so many internet real estate sites such as Realtor.com and Zillow.com, the need to be part of a big company is less. Because we own our real estate company, we do not have to pay franchise fees, company fees, etc. we can pass the savings on to our customers. We never charge our sellers a processing fee either. Many companies out there also charge their clients between $299 – $500 in addition to the real estate commission when selling. Why pay more to get the same or even more service?
More showings means a faster sale, and maybe even more offers and a higher price when selling! The easier a property it is to show, the more showings you will have, the faster it sells, and the more money you might get. We accompany the showings of all of our listings in Toscana. Since we live here, it is very easy for us to accommodate the showings that other real estate agents request, even on moment's notice. Requests that you can only show between this time and that time on specific days of the week, or the need to give 24+ hours notice to show a property, is a turn off for other agents trying to show listings to a customer during a specific time of the day. Most agents will not go back to show those hard to show listings another day when it is convenient for the owner or the agent to show it. Even if an agent tells you that they will accompany every showing, chances are that if the agent does not live in the community, the showings will not be as easy as someone that lives in the community. With the two of us living in Toscana, chances are, we can accommodate every single showing request.
Who represents you? We represent YOU as "Single Agents", unless we bring our own buyer – then we become "Transaction Brokers" to be fair to both parties involved in the transaction. Please, keep in mind that we reduce our commission if we procure the buyer of the property. Most other real estate agents are "Transaction Brokers" from the beginning, even if the buyer comes with a different agent that represents them. "Single Agency" duties includes: loyalty, confidentiality, obedience, and full disclosure, which are not included as "Transaction Broker" duties. A Transaction Broker provides you with a limited form of representation. Would you pay an attorney a high fee to NOT fully represent you?
How about double dipping? Some real estate agents want to double dip (they want to find the buyer of the property they listed on their own, that way they keep the whole commission for themselves) as much as possible and to do so, they might make some of their listings hard to show to other agents. Only towards the end of the listing agreement (when they are about to lose the listing), they start making more of an effort to show their listings to other agents. We will charge the sellers less total commission if we procure the buyer of the property, but many other agents don't. The more showings a seller has, the more chances they will receive multiple offers. We make it easier for other agents to show our listings, even on moment's notice. We also try to show it to as many of our own buyers as possible. We want to get the most exposure for our listings so the sellers can choose the best offer for them based on their particular situation.
Being a good real estate agent comes with experience and years in the business. Many people might not be aware that getting a real estate license in Florida is not that hard to do. After you take the "63-hour Sales Associate Pre-License Course" and take the state exam, you can go sell a home. This course, as informative as it is, does not cover many of the important day to day issues a real estate agent can expect to encounter in a transaction…most of what we have learned in our combined 40+ years in real estate came from experience. Even if a new agent is with a well known national real estate company, he/she is still new, and the inexperience & mistakes can cost you thousands of dollars. Choosing a real estate agent because he/she is a friend or a family member's friend, does not make them the most qualified agent to sell your home. Your property is probably one of your biggest assets, and you should only trust your property to someone with enough experience.
Listing length matters. Some real estate agents try to lock a seller into a long term 1 year listing. We have flexible terms and our listing contracts are for less time. If we need more time and you are happy with our service, we can extend the listing agreement as needed. If you sign a 1 year listing agreement right away, you are now locked into a long term contract with an agent. If you are not satisfied with the service or results for any reason, you might not be able to get out and you are stuck with an agent that you might not be happy with.
Beware of kickbacks! Don't be stuck with bad service! We get so many calls of people that are stuck with a real estate agent that gives them bad service, and they can not wait to get out of the contract. We tell this people, that unfortunately, until that contract is either cancelled or expired, there is nothing that we can do to help them sell or rent their property. Please, before choosing a service provider, do your homework.
Did you know that for a real estate agent to give back a kickback to someone unlicensed as a real estate agent for referring her/him a customer, is not legal in the state of Florida? See Florida Statutes 475.25.
Florida Statutes 475.25 Discipline.— (1) The commission may deny an application for licensure, registration, or permit, or renewal thereof; may place a licensee, registrant, or permittee on probation; may suspend a license, registration, or permit for a period not exceeding 10 years; may revoke a license, registration, or permit; may impose an administrative fine not to exceed $5,000 for each count or separate offense; and may issue a reprimand, and any or all of the foregoing, if it finds that the licensee, registrant, permittee, or applicant: h. Has shared a commission with, or paid a fee or other compensation to, a person not properly licensed as a broker, broker associate, or sales associate under the laws of this state, for the referral of real estate business, clients, prospects, or customers, or for any one or more of the services set forth in s. 475.01(1)(a).
When someone refers you to a service provider, please make sure that the referral comes from the heart, because that person gives exceptional service, not because they are getting a kickback for the referral. The best referrals come from past customers or people you truly know and trust. To read our customer reviews, please visit our website: www.BenAndMayraStern.com . Go to the "About Us" tab, and then to the "Testimonials" tab.
Magazine & newspaper ads most of the time don't help you sell your home! While most people read magazines and newspapers, statistics show that 92% of the buyers go online to search for properties (2014 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers), and real estate agents were viewed as a useful information source by 98 percent of buyers who used an agent while searching for a home. By the time ads on a magazine come out, chances are the property is already sold, or the price changed. Most of those ads don't mention if the community is pet friendly, how much the monthly maintenance is, or if the home is in a membership required community, among other important information that the buyers will need to know to proceed. The online description of the properties includes that information. Many real estate companies use these ads to show sellers why they are a better choice. In reality, most serious buyers are either looking online, and/or using a real estate agent to help them find a home. Chances of a buyer buying a property from an ad in a magazine or the newspaper are slim. Many real estate companies justify charging a seller more in commissions to compensate paying for the ads that, in reality, just promote their business and not a property. Most listings sell through the MLS in collaboration with other real estate agents; that is why we place over 100 pictures of a property in the MLS, and compensate the selling agent as much as possible to make sure your property sells as fast as possible, for the best possible price. Because we do not spend thousands of dollars on magazine ads that don't really help sellers sell their property, we can pass those savings on to our sellers and give them a big break in the commission. So, ask yourself, do you want to pay more in commissions just to promote someone's business?
Make sure your Realtor gives you a signed copy of the totally executed Listing Agreement right away. Some real estate agents do not give a copy of the listing contract to their sellers. We immediately email a signed copy to our sellers. In the State of Florida, you are required to provide your client with a copy of the Listing Agreement signed by all parties. We would be very concerned if an agent did not take the time to go over the listing contract with you, and give you a copy of the Listing Agreement. Make sure you write the expiration date of the contract on your calendar. This will help you keep track of the listing period. If you are happy with the service this agent is giving you, then you could sign a listing extension, if not, you have the right to find an agent that will give you better service and results.
If you are thinking of selling, please make sure you do not make any of these costly mistakes!
Please contact us at 561-715-0314, and we will save you money and give you honest, excellent service!
Do not list with anyone else until you watch our Toscana Listing Presentation!
View our Listing Presentation as a PDF Document Here!
Come See What the Toscana Lifestyle Is All About!
Toscana, also known as Toscana Towers, is a three building luxury community located on the west side of A1A between the Intracoastal & the Atlantic Ocean in Highland Beach, Florida. Toscana has spectacular Intracoastal, ocean and city views. Toscana North has 17 floors and 143 units, Toscana West has 16 floors and 118 units, and Toscana South has 18 floors and 159 units. There are 422 units in Toscana. Toscana is a 24-hour manned gated community with 2 tennis courts, bocce ball court, shuffleboard, and private beach with beach club. The Toscana Beach Club has a social room, lockers, kitchen, showers, BBQ area, and beach chairs with umbrellas. The Toscana attendant will provide you with towels and water! Each Toscana building has a heated pool and hot tub with attendant, cabana baths, fitness center, sauna, steam room, locker room, billiard's room, social room, TV room, business center, kitchen, private coded elevator access to each apartment, underground parking, valet parking, 24-hour concierge service & staff, private air conditioned storage, bicycle storage, and on-site maintenance & management. 2, 3, 4 & 5 bedroom units. 2 Huge Balconies! A few pets (no size restriction) are allowed in Toscana, except for tenants renting a unit. Toscana has lots of social gatherings. The price range of condos for sale in Toscana is $600,000 – $7,100,000. The price range of units for rent in Toscana is $4,000 -$12,000 per month. Highland Beach was voted second safest city in Florida by ValuePenguin.com . Come to beautiful & exclusive Highland Beach, Florida to escape from the cold, the noise, and the crime!
***Toscana Condo for Sale*** – Listed at $750,000
Immaculate condition! Hardly lived in! Beautiful view to the Toscana grounds, the fountain, and the beach club! 2 bedrooms + den, 2.1 baths, 2231 sq. ft. of living area, marble floors throughout main areas, custom paint, Jacuzzi tub, new stainless steel faucet and water heater, hurricane impact glass windows, and 2 oversized patios. The HOA fee is $1,401.86 per qtr. and Condo fee is $3,081 per qtr. (Total maintenance fee is $4,482.86 per qtr.). Call Ben & Mayra Stern with Stern Realty Co. at 561-715-0314 if you would like to see this condo or any other condos in Toscana.


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Posted by Kristin Mccarthy on March 18, 2016 in Blog
AAI compiles a weekly roundup of election news tracking key races across the country as well as legislation that will impact voting rights ahead of the 2016 elections. For AAI's coverage of presidential candidates and races, make sure to check out our profiles over at #YallaVote's Election Central. And for more state specific information, head over to our election map and click on your state. You can read previous editions of our 2016 Election News Roundup right here at its headquarters.
Van Hollen & Edwards Neck and Neck in Maryland Senate Race
The inter-party competition between Maryland's Democratic U.S. Representatives Donna Edwards and Chris Van Hollen continues to tighten ahead of the primary on April 26th. By voting for the US Senate seat vacated by Barbara Mikulski, Van Hollen and Edwards will debate each other tonight (March 18th) for the first time. Just last week, Edwards was polling in the lead, even thought Van Hollen enjoys the backing of party establishment leaders like Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and Van Hollen just received the endorsement of Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.. With both candidates having huge support in their home districts and their own unique trove of cash and allies – Baltimore is expected to be the key battle ground for the Senate race. Candidates are spending a lot of time and money in courting Baltimore support, having each made over 100 appearances there since campaigns began. Read more about Maryland.
Pennsylvania's April 26th Primary Important for the GOP
Pennsylvania's 71 Republican delegates are looking like a major prize for the GOP candidates' delegate spreads, especially those hoping for a brokered convention in Cleveland. Trump is unlikely to perform well enough to get the required plurality of delegates, and has since argued that the candidate with a simple majority of delegates should be the nominee. But Pennsylvania's 71 delegates – if given mostly to Kasich or Cruz – will make the majority argument less convincing. Read more about Pennsylvania.
California Updates: Census Announces Testing in Los Angleles, California
The U.S. Census Bureau announced that it will launch a pilot program ahead of the 2020 Census in Los Angeles in the coming weeks. Picked for its multi-ethnic population – including the largest Arab American community nationwide – 225,000 LA homes will be mailed test questions asking people to go online to answer them. The Bureau is testing the online system, particularly it's multi-lingual services. The Census Bureau hopes the 2020 survey will be more accessible to non-English speakers, and will even have an option to answer questions over the phone in Arabic. You can read more about AAI's initiative to add a "Middle East North Africa" box to the 2020 Census online here. Read more about California.
Illinois Primary Results: Senate Match Up is Decided & State Attorney Anita Alvarez is Unseated
Illinois Republicans and Democrats picked their Senate candidates in last week's primary. U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth fended off her primary challenger to secure the Democratic nomination without much spending, and incumbent Senator Mark Kirk beat his Republican primary challenger without a challenge. The Senate race is expected to be one of the costliest of the cycle. In an embarrassing but predictable defeat, incumbent State Attorney Anita Alvarez lost her reelection primary to her former assistant, Kim Foxx. Alvarez was heavily criticized for how she mishandled the murder of Lequan McDonald, and most commentators saw the election as a referendum on the McDonald shooting. Alvarez lost every predominantly African American ward. Read more about Illinois.
Retiring Florida House Member Creates Even More Florida Races
Eight-term U.S. Representative Jeff Miller (R, FL-1) announced in early March that he will retire at the end of his current term. Miller is currently serving as the Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Miller has once considered running for the Senate seat vacated by Marco Rubio, but recently indicated he will not seek the higher office. Likely candidates to fill Millers seat include state Senator Greg Evers and state Representative Matt Gaetz. If either or both members decide to run for Miller's seat, additional races will take place to fill the seat they leave behind. Read more about Florida.


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Top Backpacks Little Newborns With The Padded Camera Bags
April 4, 2016 | Uncategorized | No Comments|
It's to see what I show you now. You perhaps don't believe it but it is the best way for some photographers. It's also a padded camera bags which we can carry it out with their precious photo equipment. It's strange to see but it's a perfect protective and soft backpacks for care your little baby safely. It's easy for photographers to take photos anywhere that they like. A lot of photographers like it so much and take it with when they go out. I think you like it as me. See more boredpanda (h/t: petapixel)


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Black Flowers Baby Girls' Long Sleeve Shirt
Black Flowers Baby Girls'
Long Sleeve Shirt
Made with 100% soft cotton knit.
White long sleeve shirt lined in soft white pointelle.
Pretty black flower print.
Opens in the front,
nothing is pulled over your baby's face.
Velcro closure on front for easy on/off access.
Four Sizes!
Micro preemie fits babies weighing 0-3 pounds
Small preemie fits 3-6 pounds
Small infant fits 5-8 pounds
0-3 months fits babies up to 12 pounds.
Please select size when ordering.
Handmade with love in the USA
by Jacqui's Preemie Pride, Inc.
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Winter in New York City can be hard to love with its frozen sidewalks, dirty snowbanks, and bare trees. But this winter I'm counting on my new cold weather friend, the Purl Bee Penguin, to help me through! Its happy ovoid shape and graphic palette are sure to remind me that joy really does exist in January. Just ask an Emperor Penguin!
I used our new Penguin Fat Quarter Bundle, a lively mix of black and white dots, stripes, and prints, to sew up this quirky little trio of penguins. I loved seeing how each one developed its own personality as I sewed, becoming more and more alive with each stitch! They are also real crowd pleasers. Even my non-sewing thirty-something friends all oohed and aahed when they saw my penguins lined up on my ironing board.
The Purl Bee Penguins are pretty addictive to make, and I don't think that I'll be able to stop with just these three. Check back in a few weeks; I may have amassed a penguin colony!
To make three penguins:
- 1/4 yard each of seven dots, stripes, and chicken wire in black and white.
- A piece of bright yellow felt. I used Sunshine (01) but Sun (03) and yellow (02) would look great too.
- 100% cotton sewing thread in color 1040 (ecru) and color 1001 (black)
- DMC embroidery floss in color 310 (black)
- Six small white buttons in white
- A Purl Bee Penguin Pattern Template, available for free download here, printed and cut out.
It will also be helpful to have a size 3- 7 straight knitting needle or a similar pointy object for stuffing.
9-inches tall
Cut out the fabric according to the directions on the template. You can mix and match the patterns however you like. When cutting the side body and wing pieces make sure that you are cutting two opposite facing pieces. Do this by cutting one piece with the right side of fabric facing and the next one with the wrong side of the fabric facing. Make all of the marks with an erasable marker or a pencil on the wrong side of the fabric.
You will have:
- 2 side body pieces
- 1 front body piece
- 2 light colored wing pieces
- 2 dark colored wing pieces
- 4 felt feet piece
- 2 felt beak pieces
With the right sides of both the body pieces facing up pin the beak pieces to the flat area directly above mark A so that the point of the beak is facing inward as shown above.
Note: For all of the sewing in this section you will be using the ecru colored thread and your machine.
Sew the beak along the pinned area with an 1/8-inch seam allowance. Press it flat with the seam allowance facing towards the side body piece and the point of the beak facing out as shown above.
Pin the two side body pieces right sides together just from mark A to mark B. Sew them together with a scant 1/4-inch seam allowance. Start at mark A an sew up along the outside of the beak to its point, then down the opposite side of the beak and along the top of the head to mark B. Back stitch at the beginning and end of the seam. Trim the seam allowance around the beak so that it's very close to the seam.
Turn the sewn portion right sides out and push the beak out. This is the most tricky part of the whole sewing process. The beak is very thin so it takes a bit of patience to get it totally tured right sides out. Use a knitting needle and or tweezers to help with this step.
Turn both pieces so that their wrongs sides are facing out but keep the beak portion inside with its right sides out. The beak will not be visible as in the picture above.
Pin the two pieces together from mark C to mark D. Sew along this edge with a scant 1/4-inch seam allowance and backstitching at each end. This sewn side is the back of the penguin. There should be an unsewn gap between mark B and mark C.
Open the front, unsewn side of the penguin side pieces as shown above. You will be pinning the front body piece (which is shaped like a surfboard) along both sides of this opening right sides together.
Pin either side of the front body piece to either side of the side body pieces right sides together as shown above. Start pinning at mark A and pin all the way down the curve of each side until you reach mark D. If the front body shape is a bit longer than the sides you can trim it once it's been pinned onto both sides. Since you're pinning along a curve it's a good idea to use a lot of pins and go carefully and slowly.
Sew both pinned sides with a scant 1/4-inch seam allowance backstitching at the beginning and end of each seam. Pay special attention to not sew into the opposite side where the two seams will meet at mark A.
Turn the body right side out through the gap between mark B and C. It's beginning to look like a penguin!
Pay special attention to the area under the chin where the front body piece starts. It should look like a neat upside-down "V" shape. If you accidentally sewed over into the opposite side on this section do not despair. You can just rip out the offending section of the seam and re-sew that section making sure to back stitch at both ends of the new seam.
Sew each dark wing piece to a light wing piece right sides together with a scant 1/4-inch seam allowance leaving an unsewn gap in-between the two marks. Turn the wings right sides out through the gap.
Sew two of the foot pieces together with an 1/8-inch seam allowance just along the webbed foot shape, leaving the top curve, in-between the two marks, unsewn. Turn the foot right sides out through the unsewn section. Press the points of the foot out with your knitting needle. Repeat this for the second foot.
Stuff the feet tightly so they are puffy. Push all of the stuffing towards the sewn part of the foot and away from the open curved area.
To close the feet sew a line across the bottom of the open curved section from one mark to the opposite one, backstitching at each end and thus encasing the stuffing. Use your sewing machine and the ecru thread for this seam.
Stuff the body of the penguin tightly. Use your knitting needle to get the stuffing into the smaller areas like the beak and the point of the tail. One of the tricks to making a nice stuffed animal is to stuff it really tightly, just keep on adding stuffing until you can't anymore.
Pin the back gap closed with the raw seams tucked to the inside. Using the black sewing thread stitch up the gap using a slip stitch. Tie a small knot at the end of the seam.
Then pass your needle through a section of the stuffed body and pull it out. Cut the thread just at the exit point thus hiding it.
Stuff the wings tightly and hand sew the gaps shut with the black sewing thread using a slip stitch in the same manner as you did for the body.
Sewing Together
You will now have the following pieces:
- 2 opposite facing wings. The penguin's right wing is pictured on the top and the left wing is pictured at the bottom.
- 2 feet
- 1 body
Note: You will be using with the black embroidery floss in this section. This type of embroidery floss is six strands thick. You will only be using three strands for the sewing in this pattern so separate each length of thread into two three-stranded lengths before you begin sewing.
Pin the left and right wings to the opposite sides of the body about 2 1/2-inches below the top of the front body panel just behind where the front panel and the side panels meet. They should be parallel to one another and be curving towards the back of the bird.
Using a length of the black embroidery floss sew them on at the same time by passing the needle through the middle of the body to the opposite wing. Use a long needle and squish the penguin as much as you have to to get the needle to come through to the opposite side. You can always re-fluff the body later, stuffing is pretty forgiving. Keep going back and forth through the body like this and attach the wings with a doubled cross stitch. Tie a knot on the inside of one of the wing joints and hide the thread end by passing it through the stuffing as illustrated in the stuffing section.
Pin the feet onto the flat section of the bottom of the body so they are a bit splayed.
Stand the penguin up. If it doesn't stay standing on its own re-pin the feet in different positions until it does.
Using the black embroidery thread whip stitch the curves of the feet onto the bottom on the body.
Arrange two of the buttons on the opposite sides of the penguin's head. Using the black embroidery thread stitch them on at the same time passing through the center of the head with your needle.
Your first penguin is all done… repeat all these steps to make him some friends!


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Alhamdulillah, our convention is offering a full range of accessibility services for the third year. Our aim is to promote all members of our community to come out, enjoy and benefit from this special gathering.
We are dedicated to the word equity in all its forms and would like to ensure that we promote a welcoming and accessible environment for all members attending this event!
We have worked hard to ensure ASL interpretation, designated seating and attendant care are made available for those who require accommodation.
We look forward to learning and growing together as a strong, fully represented, and accessible community!


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It's no secret that there are a wealth of difficulties facing the modern independent retailer, mostly due to the advent of online shopping. Here, CEO at Lightspeed, Dax Dasilva, tells retail owners how best to make the switch online.
Customers are able to order products online that arrive within hours rather than days, large conglomerates are now able to target their marketing with surgical precision, and an increasingly globalised market means that offering competitive prices can be almost impossible.
On top of this the average consumer is getting savvier, with a recent BrightLocal report stating that 90 per cent of customers are checking out reviews for shops and products before they decide on a purchase.
Yet, taking an independent retail business online also creates opportunities, as long as the retailer is able to create an online presence.
The irony is that actually taking an independent retail business online is probably the easiest step of all the things you need to do to ensure you've got a strong online presence.
You can now purchase omnichannel solutions that do much of the technical heavy lifting, but many brick and mortar stores fall well before this first hurdle. Here are some lessons small company owners could do with learning.
Pick your niche and optimise for it
Coming up with a strategy for your search engine optimisation (SEO) is possibly one of the most important steps when you first take your shop online. SEO is a huge part of getting your website noticed, and there's a real issue of balance when it comes to making sure you've got the right plan.
If your strategy aims for too wide a market, you risk not getting any traffic as the larger more established sites will take your customers, but if you cast your net too small, you risk not getting enough customers to keep your business afloat.
Despite the diversity of offerings within your brick and mortar store, it's always wise to consider what sells the best and then tailor your SEO towards that. Once your online store is established and successful, then you can start to branch out and optimise for your other offerings.
Optimising for mobile
It's no longer acceptable to have a desktop-only site. 47 per cent of customers say they expect a website to load within 2 seconds, and whilst mobile users are a little more forgiving, with increased 4G speeds, this will undoubtedly change.
Retailers need to be certain that their sites cater to their mobile audience as well as the desktop. Mobile internet usage is the fastest growing audience, and having a website that people can access on the go, or visit after they've interacted with your physical store could be the key between getting a sale or your potential customer losing interest.
Make sure you're on social media
Social media is an incredible way to not just connect with customers, but alert them on promotions and help establish your identity online. Don't be afraid to inject a little bit of your own personality into your brand, nobody wants to see a Twitter profile that just advertises product after product, so share things you think your customers might find interesting, be it topics about your industry, or other stories that are trending.
Every company will have its own target audience and want its own distinct feel, so make sure you look at competitors in your industry to see how they interact with their customers.
Creating a content and email plan
The final hurdle most independents face is that they don't have a basic email marketing plan in place. Email marketing is an incredibly effective for targeting customers who have already shown an interest in your products.
Yet independents need to be aware that you have to have certain elements in place in order for your campaign to be effective. The content needs to be easily understood, it needs to be consistently branded throughout, and it needs to have clear calls to action that encourage a customer to visit your store again.
This could be a discount for revisiting the store in the next month, or simply a competition where a customer can win a prize by entering.
These are just some of the issues faced by independents when trying to take their store online, but having a good handle of these will undoubtedly leave your store in a much stronger position. None of these problems are easy fixes, but they're certainly requirements for standing out in a market that is continuously evolving.
Dax Dasilva is CEO at software firm Lightspeed
Autumn Statement 2016: Property sector stunned as chancellor bans letting fees
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