Bluetooths, Butt Dials & Blockheads

By Brian Copeland

Two things are true of mobile phone headsets.  One, they conserve your phone’s battery life.  Two, you may look and sound like a Spencer Pratt when you use one incorrectly.  We have this one guy in my office, who I PRAY is reading this, who paces the office (especially near the front desk) talking extremely loudly around the receptionist.  Thank you, sir, for your inspiration for this blog.

Check your quality. The old school, early generation Bluetooth headsets typically sound like you’re in a open wind tunnel in a convertible with a rock band in the background.  This can leave your caller in Hearing Issueville with a bad taste in their mouth.  Additionally, you never know when that person on the other side may have a hearing impairment.  The Jawbone is viewed by many as the cream of the crop, with its ability to translate the vibration of your jaw to enhance the words.  I personally love my Plantronics Voyager PRO with it’s mouth piece that gets as close as possible to my noise maker.

It is NOT an fashion accessory. Nothing says toolbag than a business card-pushing, headset-wearing REALTOR.  The joy is they are built for comfort and light-weight feel.  The drawback is that you forget that it is in your ear.  The stigma with wearing these in public is that you’re a poser.  When you get to a public place, make a concentrated effort to take it out.  I always hook mine on my top button of my shirt or around my collar, which hides it well. Read more

Finding The Time To Blog

By Travis Broadwater

Dear Blog,

I must apologize for my lack of commitment lately. Between prospecting for new clients and trying to keep my closings on track I just haven’t had time to fill you in on my day-to-day activities. I promise I can change, can you forgive me?

Sincerely,
Travis

Now that I have taken care of the apologies, lets get to the point! I often find myself “blogging” great topics in my head, unfortunately I must admit, not even half make it to my laptop and ultimately to the internet where they belong. My problem lies in finding the time to actually sit down and just get to work.

Well this year I have finally decided to make blogging a priority as so many of you already have. In my “planning” I have made a list of three ideal times and places where I might be able to sneak a few paragraphs without effecting my day dramatically and I would like to share them with you. Read more

You Never Know Who is Shopping Your Open House

By Heather Soldonia

In the current real estate market I have heard both brand new practitioners and veteran brokers express that they are resorting to some basic prospecting strategies and among those is… open houses.

When I first began working as a REALTOR® my broker advised me to go to at least 10 open houses “to learn what not to do.”

Indeed, I had some interesting interactions. The most noteworthy was at a brand new condo development. I was asked to complete an information card upon which they posed the question, “What reasons are you looking to buy?” I wrote, “First time homebuyers programs.”

Apparently that wasn’t a response they were interested in because the sales agent immediately informed me that the developer is absolutely not accepting less than 10 percent  down, which would exclude the 3.5 percent FHA program. Taken aback by his brazen manner, I took a moment before replying, “This is an affluent area and you would be surprised how many people my age have parents who are happy to supplement down payments so that is not something you need to concern yourself with; that’s simply one of the reasons I am looking to buy.”

Around this time, a couple (appearing to be in their 60s) had also come into the sales office and my sales agent informs the receptionist that she doesn’t need to call a different sales associate to help them, he would be happy to tour them… with me in tow. Read more

Out With the Old and In With the New…

By Lincoln Crum

We’ve all heard this statement enough over the past month as we’ve entered a new year and a brand new decade.  There’s a ton of talk, within our industry about new trends, technology, updates, Web2.0 and now 3.0. Lots of “new” speak these days.

Being a 20-year veteran of the industry, starting when I was a teenager, I’ve seen a lot of things developed that make us better REALTORS®, especially within the realm of technology.  The key is for all of us to use the new technology and tools to enhance our business, serve our clients better and hopefully allow us to make more money.

I have a REALTOR® in our hometown who always has the newest computer, coolest cell phone earpiece, and is always talking about technology and how it has allowed him to achieve higher levels of success.  Out of curiosity, I did a little research and learned he barely closed enough deals over the past two years to stay alive.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I am knocking him a bit. But if you don’t have those good old fashioned selling skills, there’s a good chance you aren’t going to survive in this business, regardless of how fast your new laptop is.  Read more

Pants On The Ground: Beyond Your 15 Minutes

By Brian Copeland

I’m really tired of “Pants On The Ground” from American Idol.  It was a moment of time that a few cool people jumped on and then it was over.  Now, seeing the late-to-the-party-people start talking about it just makes me pull out my southern statement of, “Bless Their Heart.”  All that aside, we face the same eminent 15-minute reputation as YPNers.

Many agents today WILL SEE lacking staying power as a trend, thanks to our pop culture influences of trends and passers-by.  Here are four things to remember to ensure you last beyond your 15 minutes in this career.

Change Your Technology Talk. Technology is simply an accent or complement to what we already do.  The basic principles of listings, buyers and referrals need to stay central with technology as a secondary.  View Web strategy and social strategy with other agents and consumers as common as a TV remote.  No one today says, “I have this amazing button box that when you touch it, a magic light comes on a beam people from Los Angeles into your living room.”  The consumers are not impressed as much with your tech talk as much as they are impressed by your ability to apply the tools to the basics.  Integrate your technology plan in your listing and buyer meetings smoothly without trying to be overly impressive on the tools.  Make them a part of real estate life. Read more

Are Your Old Lovers Lurking Out There?

By Stefanie Hahn

As I was teaching a new agent class in one of our offices last week I was stopped by an agent with the following assertion…

“Social media is for single people, I don’t need it.”

Fascinated, I detour the training for a deeper look inside his mind.  After all, Facebook has more than 350 million users – and I know of at least one who is married – so I have to know perhaps the message I missed along the way.

It turns out his belief is that social media is like a giant “meat market” where single people go to find love and eternal happiness, and that the only people likely to friend each other on Facebook are those who used to date, or apparently who want to date in the future.  According to his belief, because he is married there is no reason for him to create the opportunity for his old girlfriends to find him online and open the door to his dating past.

While I am not about to delve into the nuances of his personal life, he does have a point that he didn’t even know.  Read more

Taking a Lesson From the Grammys

By Brian Copeland

Watching the Grammys is always a highlight in my year.  As a former music publisher with still interest in a few companies, I still get to vote!  This darn REALTOR® addiction and the constant need to find applications for my business and profession in everything I see drives me nuts; so, of course, I have to comment on the things I noticed on the Grammys that we can apply to our business.

1.  Collaboration is key. Lady Gaga and Elton John’s opening duet was a perfect blend of classic and new.  As a “Gaga,” who are the Eltons you are including in your life for a duet?  One of my biggest learning experiences came from a veteran agent in my local market who owned a competing brokerage, Christie Wilson, of The Wilson Group. We co-listed several things when I was new in the industry, and I learned so much from her wisdom.

2.  Your recognition will eventually come. Kanye West made musical tacky history with his scene steeling moment with Taylor Swift at the VMAs. Beyonce held her own smoothly and classily and saw her song rise to the top for Single Ladies.  If you don’t get the position/thanks/whatever you expected from your association, clients, brokers, etc., hang in there it may come in another way, a little further down the road. Read more

What Would It Take to Get You to MidYear?

By Nobu Hata

What would it take to get you to MidYear this year?

It’s a serious question.

And no, I’m not going to use any replies in some insidious way.

Seriously though, what is it about NAR MidYear that makes it so abhorrent to the average REALTOR®?  What makes the alternative shows so much more appealing in comparison?  Is it boring?  Intimidating? Does it have zero value in our business?

InmanConnect, RE Tech South, REBarCampMongolia, Triple Play — the list goes on and on and each year we pick and choose which of these trade shows to spend our hard-earned credit card miles on; sometimes a combination of them, almost all in consecutive years.  I can’t help but think that the niche’ness of these events is the draw. But how much social media information or tech training or blogging workshops can one attend before the content becomes, well, boring?

Then again, I see the same thing happening at MidYear.  Every year I go I – literally – see the same the same REALTORS® and Association Executives hamming it up.  And to be honest with you, the biggest appeal of going to Washington, D.C. in the spring for MidYear was that –ahem– I was going to D.C. in the spring.  (Beautiful city and the food rocks, in spite of my allergies.)

But tell you what, talk of “Raise the Bar” and increased REALTOR® activism has lit a fire in many, including myself.  Read more

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

By Jeremy Williams

I heard the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin played over the radio on the way home from the office.  How relevant could this song be as the theme song for the thousands of real estate business owners across the United States?

Running your own real estate business can at times be stressful and create worry.  Like the lyrics from the song say, “In every life we have some trouble, when you worry you make it double.  Don’t worry, be happy…”.  How often do we let the little things in our business get under our skin to the point it becomes an agitation?  The agitation festers and bitterness can follow.  We know that it is inevitable that troubles will come, but it is how we deal with the troubles we face that will determine the outcome.  So don’t worry because we know that challenges will come; instead be happy that we can prepare ourselves to deal with them.

Here are a few steps to prepare how to deal with challenges that may evoke worry:

1.       When faced with worry, know that in the grand scheme of life the challenge you are facing is more than likely minimal though it may not be pleasant while you are in the situation.

2.       Always know that someone has more than likely been through what you are going through in your business.  Seek the advice of seasoned REALTORS concerning your business situation.

3.       Avoid becoming a rain cloud to those around you.

4.       Don’t forget the past, but don’t remain in the past.

5.       Remember that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile.  A smile can change the attitude about the situation you are in, and a smile can also positively impact those around you.

So don’t worry, be happy as you set out in your business today.  What are your thoughts on this?

Jeremy Williams of Keller Williams Realty NE in Kingwood, Texas specializes in the residential real estate market of Kingwood, Atascocita, and Humble, Texas.  Visit his Web site at www.williams4yourhome.com.

Don’t Be My Friend on Facebook if…

By Dan Iampieri

Hi, I’m Dan Iampieri! I love real estate, movies, and tennis. I would love to be your friend on social media websites like Facebook. However, don’t be my friend on Facebook if…

1.)    … All you do is play Farmville, or any of the other silly games on Facebook. Seriously, I think I could live without a steady news feed of who fertilized whose crops. I know I can hide you from the news feed, but when I look at your profile and all I see is Mafia Wars being played all day long I get a little worried! Maybe you should consider getting a Nintendo Wii!

2.)   You are a fellow REALTOR® and all you are going to do is post information about your listings. Thanks, but no thanks. By the way, this is not interesting to consumers, either — and they may have already hidden you from their news feed. I’ve yet to run into a consumer who has indicated that they would prefer to find listings on Facebook instead of Realtor.com. So, let’s keep the real estate stuff on the real estate sites and the social media stuff on the social media sites. It’s called social media, not real estate media. I certainly hope you don’t go to cocktails parties and talk about your listings the whole time to people you barely know? Of course you don’t, so, if you don’t do it there, don’t do it on Facebook either. Read more

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