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Looking for reliable internet speed for your new home? Utility Helpers has expertise in setting up internet service with notable providers to make your move easy. Let's begin by understanding how internet speed is measured. Internet speed is measured in either megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps). Which is faster Mbps or Gbps? A higher Mbps rate equals a faster connection speed. For example 500 Mpbs is higher than 100 Mbps. When it comes in terms of Gbps (gigabit) is composed of a 1,000 Mbps (megabits). Gbps is higher than Mbps. The abbreviations Mbps and Gbps are commonly mistaken for megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB); both megabytes and gigabytes are used to measure the capacity of data storage, in example your computer's hard drive. How much internet do I need? A way to determine what internet speed is needed, first list all the things you use the internet for. How many devices are running on your network? If you are using multiple devices in your home, it is suggested to use "gig-speeds" to reduce loading times. Are you using streaming services (such as Netflix)? When using streaming service, it is suggested to take into consideration how many devices are consecutively streaming in your home network. Most clients stream from devices such as smart TV's, tablets or smart phones. Suggested speeds are 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps. Are you running a small business or work from home? Working from home requires a more consistent connection or speed to upload documents, send emails, use a fax machine or answer work calls (only if you have a phone that works off the internet; commonly known as Voice Over Internet Protocol or Voip). Suggested speed is 1Gbps. Does your home have a security system with cameras? Investing in a security system is one of the first things we do when buying a home. Security systems do not demand high speed internet. However, if you have cameras with your security system and they are recording 24/7, a higher speed might be required to experience minimal buffering and to avoid the cameras from missing an important event. Suggested speeds are 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps. Are there any gamers in your family? Surprisingly, gaming typically does not demand high speed internet bandwidth. However, a reliable FIBER connection is recommended to prevent congestion in your home network. An ideal fiber internet speed for gamers is above 300 Mbps and an ideal coaxial internet speed is at least 500Mbps to 1 Gbps. Fiber vs Coaxial Data Connection The main differences between a fiber and coaxial wire is that a fiber cable comprises of glass optical fibers and uses light to carry data, therefore it enables a fast and consistent internet speed. Meanwhile, a coaxial cable comprises of copper and uses electricity to carry data. Coaxial often times is noticeably slower than a fiber connection. One of the biggest differences comes with bandwidth symmetry; Fiber has uniform download/upload speed (i.e. 100 Mbps upload / 100 Mbps download). Whereas a coaxial connection is asymmetrical (i.e. 100 Mbps / 20 Mbps upload). To avoid any interruption in service, we recommend you contact Utility Helpers to allow our professional representatives to assist you in getting connected with the best internet provider available at your new home .
Everything Doesn't Have To Be Expensive In Florida
Why should you allow Utility Helpers to set up your Utilities and Home Services?
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Top producing agents know the power of referrals and word of mouth. They love being able to add some wow factor, and really love it when it doesn't cost them or their client anything.
Setting up utilities can be a real hassle, especially when you are in the middle of purchasing a new home or moving to a new property. This only becomes more complicated if you are moving to a different county, state or across the country. Here are some insights that we've learned while activating utilities and home service for thousands of homeowners across the country about why we should schedule your utilities early and why it is so important to adhere to that timeline. One of the biggest questions we are asked when setting up utilities for our customer is: why do we need to set up the services so far in advance? There are several reasons why you should set-up services at least 5 days in advance. You will need services when you move into your new home, the seller might shut-off services on their move date (even though this is not recommended, it happens often). If the service is turned off, you will typically incur reconnection and/or additional service fees. It could take up to 5 days for a request to be processed. Most utility companies do not work weekends, so if you are closing late on a Friday you might not be able to request service until Monday, which could cause other issues during your move. In hot or cold temperatures you could end up with mold or broken pipes and water damage to your new home. By scheduling early we can coordinate installations that require you to be present in the same time-frame. Waiting 'til closing day to put a service request for any of the services, you might not be able to get a quick turnaround. Another issue with a last minute request is that you might need to pay an additional deposit that you haven't budgeted for.
Do Utilities require a credit check? One of the questions we are asked the most is, will the utilities credit check affect my credit score or my Mortgage? The simple answer to that question is NO!. While most utility companies require a credit check prior to setting up your services, their credit checks are a soft pull. What does soft pull credit check mean? According to *Experian, utility bills do not affect your credit because utility companies do not report on-time payments to credit bureaus. Soft inquiries don't impact your credit scores or create hard inquiries, because they aren't attached to a specific application for credit. Purchasing a new home is a very stressful process. Which is why setting up your utilities should not be. Utility Helpers is here to help your clients. Call us at 813-291-3600 to inquire about a Partneship. *https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/can-inquiries-from-utilities-impact-your-credit-report/#s3
In the current reality of coronavirus, most companies don’t have the time or resources to come up with a brand-new product or create an innovation incubator. Luckily, innovation doesn’t require a stroke of genius, endless time, or unlimited funds. If you have a deep understanding of your customer relationships and priorities, you're already on the right track. Here are six ways that you can innovate through this crisis: 1. Delight customers with Value/Savings Exceed customer expectations while giving them unmatched Value or Savings, when applicable. For those of us who aren’t Amazon, Adding value while keeping customers interested is critical right now. Real Estate transactions aren't usually a place for cost savings but the service you provide your client and their entire home buying experience is a huge opportunity to knock their socks off. Offering them stellar, memorable service will serve you in the future, hopefully in the form of referrals. Leverage relationships you've built in your network to offer your clients any extra's you can. Now is the time to pull out all the stops... but we will elaborate on that in the next paragraph. 2. Band together with others Personnel shifts are happening on two extremes: companies like Domino’s are looking to hire 10,000 people to keep up with demand, while airlines and hotels like Marriott are laying off tens of thousands. In China, we saw more than 40 companies band together and create an exchange to combat this trend. A group of hotels, restaurants, and cinema chains that had all taken a significant economic hit shared a large proportion of their staff with Hema, a supermarket chain owned by Alibaba that desperately needed help meeting demand for deliveries. While the ratio of employees needed to employees lost is not even, innovative strategies like this could help slow the bleeding. In the Real Estate Market, we are already used to partnering up with brokers and home inspectors etc. Now is a great time to expand your usual network and share leads where you can. It goes back to adding value for your client. You have to be familiar with the client experience, know their needs and what the next steps will look like for them. Position yourself as an expert by taking the guess work out for them, while boosting another business when you refer them. If you already partner with Utility Helpers, they do a great job of thinking through those irritating parts for your client- garbage set up, utilities and cable companies. Soon, Utility Helpers will also be expanding the network even more and offering exclusive coupons to help foster a community vibe and band together, supporting our local restaurants and small businesses in select beta markets. 3. Keep your customers loyal Why bother driving to your family-owned health food store when you could order what you need online on Amazon Prime? Customer loyalty. Keeping customers close is always critical, but it’s especially so when everyone else is offering convenience, job security is low, and spenders are holding on tighter to their wallets. Small businesses in particular need to deeply understand their customer bases. Small business often times have the advantage of connecting on a different level, and what people that have largely been effectively confined for about 6 weeks now are craving connection more than ever. Don't undercut your unique ability and position to connect and provide a great service for your client. Reach out to your past clients. Sending them a little card in the mail probably stick in their mind better than it would have a year ago. 4. Spot re-prioritized Jobs to be Done Knowing your clients and going above and beyond, making small adjustments along the way will go far. Consider what roadblocks they may face. Is it their new schedule? How can you adjust the process to make it work for your client? Keeping kids entertained is one task that’s taken on quite a new level of importance while trying to occupy them in the background of Zoom meetings around the world. Companies like Audible recognized that priority shift early and are adjusting offerings to reflect the most urgent needs of the moment. Recently, the company announced the launch of Audible stories, which allows anyone anywhere to listen to over 200 children’s stories for free. Leverage those offerings- instant value add! 5. Adjust and Adapt to new consumer habits With the innovation of Virtual Showings, Docusign and things of the like, it's never been easier to complete a transaction with almost zero contact with another human. There have been countless articles on the affects of Covid-19 and all of the innovation around home buying durring this time- time will only show us what "sticks". Adjust and adapt to new customer buying habits. Think of all the gasoline and milage savings of the future! 6. Rethink Customer Experience The entire concept of customer experience is changing dramatically in the coronavirus world. It’s not a small undertaking for restaurants, hotels, and other experience-driven businesses to completely rethink how they’re delivering their services. People are on social media more than ever, maybe it's time to rethink your strategy. Go Live more often, get your face out there. Talk about your available listings, talk about the value in the service you provide- be solution oriented and relatable. We all have a lot more in common right now than we ever have before. While we won’t be living between house and car and working from our couches forever, the convenience of pickup, online, and remote alternatives is powerful. Business owners might realize that a fully remote workforce means less overhead, and home buyers might decide that on-demand virtual tours are a better option than crowded open houses. All companies should be thinking critically about which of their customers’ newly adopted habits might stick in the long run. Using the information you have about your customers’ priorities and needs, a little creativity and a lot of flexibility will go a long way toward making innovation happen.
Prospecting for new real estate clients If you want to make money in real estate, referrals are an essential part of the job. Imagine if you could cut down on the amount of time you have to spend searching for new clients—because you receive a direct link to new leads, or because the clients come directly to you. If that sounds too good to be true, you are seriously underestimating the value of real estate referrals. In conjunction with other prospecting efforts, referrals can contribute big time to the growth and overall success of your business. However, you can’t just expect the real estate referrals to come flying in without you putting in a little effort. Read on to learn what you must do to build and sustain your referral business. Be really good at your job Current and past clients and other contacts will not refer you to their family, friends, and acquaintances if you do a terrible, or even just mediocre, job. You must provide consistent and excellent services and be committed to giving your best to your clients each and every day. It takes more than just a winning personality; you have to go above and beyond to meet clients’ needs. When you start to work with new real estate clients, ask them what they expect from you and the process, and do everything in your power to meet those expectations. Perhaps most important, though, is that you keep clients’ expectations in check by being honest with them about the market, their budget, and what you can realistically do for them. If you let them believe the impossible is possible, they will be disappointed in you and the experience. That is no way to gain real estate referrals. Set referral goals While it certainly takes time to build real estate referrals, you should decide how many you want to obtain each month or year. Setting a goal will ensure that you continue to make them a priority. Admittedly, as a new agent, figuring out that goal can be difficult, so talk to other agents about their own experiences to establish a benchmark. As you gain experience, you will be able to set more realistic goals for future periods, so be sure to monitor and document your referral numbers—and the results of each referral. Expand your pool of referrers No doubt friends and family can be allies in recommending your services to others. However, also consider these three sources of real estate referrals: Satisfied current and past clients – Chances are, they are already talking about you when they discuss selling or buying a property, and they have a first-hand account of how effective you are at your job. Business associates – You’re in constant contact with so many professionals, including mortgage brokers, bankers, appraisers, inspectors, attorneys, title officers, property inspectors, and so on. Once you can vouch for their work, refer them and ask them to return the favor. Just be sure that you know your broker’s policies regarding conflict of interest or referral fee prohibitions first. Social, personal, and professional contacts – Create a comprehensive list of all additional personal and professional contacts you come across in your daily life. Your child’s teacher, a personal accountant, your doctor, and so on can all support the growth of your real estate business. You just have to ask. Establish a ranking system for referrers Some referrers are just more important because they generate leads that result in sales. You want to make sure you are putting in the effort to foster those relationships, so create and maintain a referral list. Then, as you organize your real estate referral sources, identify their priority level like this: Level 1 Sources – Past and present clients who will likely send real estate referrals to you because you have a good rapport; relatives, friends, and other contacts who send you leads regularly; and associates in influential social/professional positions. Level 2 Sources – People who will probably send referrals to you, but require additional work such as repeat requests or additional interaction. Additionally, these sources may also place certain limitations on their referrals to you. Level 3 Sources – People who may send you new business because they have heard about you, but you do not know when or how they will do so. Note: You should have twice as many real estate referrals from Level 1 as you do from Level 2, and twice as many from Level 2 as you do from Level 3. Obtain quality real estate referrals Even the very best salespeople can come across as pushy when they ask for business referrals. Plus, it’s all too easy to make people think you are only contacting them because you want something. That’s why it’s important that you do the following: Contact referrers regularly – If someone contacts you out of the blue asking you for a favor, it’s annoying. Find ways to stay in contact with those referrers, whether it’s by checking in periodically via phone call or by sending them a link to an article you just wrote. Allow time for the conversation – Don’t ask people for the referral in the first few seconds of a conversation. Chat for five or 10 minutes, and leave plenty of time to make the request and talk about it. Reach out to them personally and directly – Especially for those Level 1 referrers who consistently bring in business, meet face-to-face as much as possible. Treat them to dinner or lunch, for example, to show that you value the relationship. Ask for referrals directly – Don’t beat around the bush with phrases such as, “It would be great if people could recommend me to their friends and family.” Instead, say “I would really appreciate your help in growing my business. Who should I contact …” Or “Please refer me to ….” Make the home buying and selling process easy for people People are busy, so if you want them to willingly offer up leads, make the process as easy as possible. First, educate them on the life events and situations that signal the need to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, including: A growing family, as a result of pregnancy or adoption Children leaving home for college or other pursuits Marriage or divorce Job change or retirement Ill or aging family members who bring about the need for different accommodations Additionally, describe your ideal candidate, specifically if you are wanting to serve a particular niche market. If you are feeling bold and you have rapport with the person, request time to go over their contact list with them, for example, over lunch. Finally, if referrers just aren’t ready to offer leads, ask them to keep you mind—and follow up with them later. Determine leads’ readiness, willingness, and ability to move forward Referrers, with the best of intentions, sometimes send people your way who have no interest in or ability to make a real estate decision. To rank referrals—which you need to do to determine how much time to allocate to each—ask referrers, “On a scale of one to four, how would you rank this person’s readiness, willingness, and ability to act in the immediate future?” Prioritize real estate leads who seem particularly motivated. Gain some insight on promising leads Ask a few additional questions to learn how best to approach the person, for example: Will you describe a few of this person’s favorite interests and activities? What is this individual’s personality so I know best how to approach him or her? May I use your name when I make contact? That last one is critical, because you want to confirm that you have referrers’ permission to contact the person. Reward and follow-up with real estate referral sources Show appreciation to your sources each time they send a referral your way—not just when the lead results in a commission. If you only acknowledge the referrals that turn into sales, you limit the number of referrals you receive—and you kill people’s motivation to put in the effort to send you leads. Mail referrers a handwritten thank you note or a small show of appreciation, such as a gift card (if and when your budget allows). Without being negative or jeopardizing confidentiality, let sources know what is happening with the referral. If the referral does not work out, still thank your sources for their time. Connect with real estate leads for the first time So you have a great list of leads. Now what? First change your mindset. You are contacting people to offer them a valuable service—not to pester them. Additionally, have some confidence. If you go into the conversation acting apologetic or unsure of yourself, the leads may lose confidence in your abilities. So take a deep breath, relax, then call them up and do the following: Use the name of your source to break the ice – When you make initial contact, likely by phone or email, saying something like “Billy B. suggested that I call you …” provides a reason for your call. Request a face-to-face meeting – In-person contact is ideal, so ask a referral if you can treat him or her to a cup of coffee to talk things over. Discover the referral’s expectations – Ask questions and listen carefully to learn what leads are looking for, the limitations and must-haves, and so on. Convey your expertise, knowledge, and reliability – Answer their questions when you absolutely know the answer, and for any information you don’t know, tell them you will get back to them with answers. Never try to flub your way through a conversation or pretend you know something you don’t. If you provide the wrong information, you could damage your credibility. Establish an ongoing relationship with your real estate leads Even if the lead is not interested in doing business right now, don’t abandon the relationship altogether. The person could turn into a client or another source of referrals down the road. Instead, keep the possibilities open by asking questions, such as: May I contact you again in one/three/six months? Would you be interested in receiving my newsletter, market statistics, and other updates? Would you please give your contacts my information so I can help meet their real estate needs? While it seems like a great deal of work, it’s not in vain. Real estate referrals become clients more often than leads generated from other promotional avenues. If you play your cards right, the chances of landing more business is high.
