Drew Burks
By Drew Burks. 2009 NAR Conference Blogger
Downtown San Diego had a special electricity in the air this morning. As I was pulling up to the Stingaree, location where RE BarCamp is being held, I immediately noticed small groups of people buzzing around. The energy was similar to small children waiting to open gifts on Christmas morning, anticipation and enthusiasm oozing from every person there.
It was a who’s who of the Social Media and Blogging world. One person commented to me that this was his first barcamp and what he immediately noticed was the positive attitude from everyone there. He was correct, there was no negative attitudes or haters.
Maybe it’s all the hard work put in by the volunteers or the beginning of a “movement” as Jim Marks stated in his opening comments, but I am not sure there was a better group of people in the world to be around than the group of people who were at RE BarCamp San Diego this morning.
That’s it for now…I gotta get back to the bar camp and learn more from all these great people.
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland, 2009 NAR Conference Blogger
After a too big portion of pancakes at The Broken Yolk, AcStevia and I made it across the street to register for NAR’s first BarCamp. YPN’s Rob Reuter was on hand early on to say hello. I’ll keep you updated later today on the top things shared in the morning session, then later in the afternoon session.
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland, 2009 NAR Conference Blogger
As I entered Conference Hall B, the fresh smell of new carpet smacked me right in the face. It was like stepping into a new car…very nice. I have to admit, however, there’s also a new aroma and attitude in the air this year in comparison to last year’s Orlando conference. A refreshed energy of positive market seems to be the topic of every conversation I walk into. Just this week, the Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS released that our sales are up a whopping 22.7 percent. The San Diego ABC affiliate is reporting that foreclosures in market are down 3 percent. At the CRS welcome reception last night, energy was high with nothing but happy talk.
As you enter this time, I encourage you to do the following: 
1. Search out the positive agents in our industry and spend time listening, recharging and learning.
2. Walk the other direction when that ONE gloom-and-doomer corners you on the Expo floor. You don’t need that energy.
3. Find one great idea on the Expo floor and try it for at least two years.
4. Connect with two or three agents, set a time at the end of the day, then meet for 30 minutes to discuss and energize what each of you learned that day and want to implement/take home (hat-tip Julie Beall, Dayton, OH and Jake Marsh, Denver, CO…my YPN peeps).
5. Go to The Good Neighbor Awards presentation and watch the videos. TAKE KLEENEX! It’s an Oprah reunion moment!! They are inspiring, moving and amazing! Saturday Nov. 14 at 4 p.m. General Session ( http://www.realtor.org/convention.nsf/pages/schedule )
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland, 2009 NAR Conference Blogger
Entering the Westin, you definitely get the Wizard of Oz Emerald City feel that its known for. As mentioned in my other blog, the interesting architecture abounds in San Diego.
I made my way to the Council of Residential Specialists (CRS) pre-conference meetings. This morning’s topic, International Affairs, lead by Jed Smith, Managing Director for Quantitative Research for NAR.
Takeaways from Mr. Smith presentation:
1. Economy and housing is getting substantially better from this time last year domestically. Our market reacts with the international market.
2. Economics, Government and People Some Forecasting Issues:
a. Modeling The Economy. Did we get it right?, Government. What’s the government going to do? People. Are they scared to act? Are they rational?
b. Risks and Uncertainties: The world is recovering from recession
c. Domestic and International Interactions: commercial real estate is a huge factor or the “iceberg.” Residential mortgages and rolling over of those mortgages.
3. Some Federal incentives have been delayed but will be coming to fruition. (Home Affordable Refinance Program, Home Affordable Modification Program, Upside down mortgages, removing toxic assets from balance sheets.)
4. Guessing a 2.4 percent GDP growth in 2010 as opposed to 2009’s –2.7 percent decline.
5. Many foreign purchasers pay with cash. If you have international buyers, you can confidently tell them that in two to three year, they can look back and say that perhaps they purchased “at the bottom.”
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland, 2009 NAR Conference Blogger
I have officially picked up my conference book, expo guide, all the additions to the program and spamilicious bag of goodies. Perhaps it’s an eco-friendly thing, but I’m loving the idea of the iPhone app. Everything seems to be there in real time. I’ll be updating you throughout the week on how the iPhone App is jelling. Here’s a list of the things I’m looking forward to most with this new tool.
1. It’s great to see the @NAR2009 tweets to keep me connected with everyone around.
2. While I haven’t witnessed it yet, the Expo floor guidance looks like a winner.
3. As a chubby guy, the dining guide rocks!
If you haven’t downloaded it yet, you can search the App store under NAR 2009 or link HERE.
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland, 2009 NAR Conference Blogger
Coming from one of the “land locked” states, Tennessee, I sometimes forget the perks of coming to a place like San Diego. As the sun rose over the bay outside my hotel this morning (a rarely seen site for me since I’m a late sleeper and this time change is killing me), I reminded myself of the opportunities I need to take-in while I’m here.
1. Architecture: Walking from the Holiday Inn to the Westin this morning, I had to take pause at the the Spanish influenced buildings that seem to just pop up. On your walk from session to session, hotel to hotel or cocktails to dinner, don’t forget to look around and check out San Diego’s amazing architecture.
2. Public Transportation: As a REALTOR, I also see myself as a city/county advisor. Oftentimes, I find myself called by a media outlet or a public official to ask my opinion on something. Take this opportunity to sample San Diego’s public transportation (rail and bus) to articulate the pros and cons when you are called on for input in your city. I’m amazed at the convenience to get from downtown to the staple Fashion Valley Mall (home of the Apple Store). The bus makes it super easy to get to from the airport to any hotel near NAR for approximately $2.00. Any city like Nashville, Louisville, Charlotte or Kansas City can take cues from a city with a strong mass transit.
3. Eat Seafood: The lobster and steak I had last night on the bay would have cost me EASILY $50+ back home in Nashville. Accessible oceans don’t rise every day outside my town! $24 later, I’m full…uh…really full of yumminess from the sea. When you’re tempted to order your normal chicken and salad, don’t forget you can actually afford fresh seafood here.
As we “Chart A Winning Course” over the next few days together, I thought the site outside my hotel window was a great way to symbolize the time, the huge cruise ship. While we’re technically not on vacation, you still have the chance to live it up like you’re on a cruise and learn from those you normally don’t see. I can’t wait!
Dan Iampieri
By Dan Iampieri
Generation Y REALTORS® have written the obituary on colleagues who fail to utilize social media - I respectfully disagree. I know too many top producers who are doing just fine without spending every waking minute checking their status update on Facebook or tweeting their every move to the world.
Don’t get me wrong, I use social media more than most. But, it isn’t a make-or-break tool. I went on a listing appointment recently and the sellers didn’t know what YouTube was. How important is the video tour then? As the son of two REALTORS®, I have seen the obituary written on the older generation, over and over, by the younger generation.
Here are a few times when older REALTORS® were declared “dead in the water” by younger REALTORS®:
1.) When the multiple list system went from binders delivered to the office to a software-based program on the computer.
2.) When contracts went from carbon paper to computer-based programs.
3.) When the “talking house” was the it fad.
4.) When virtual-tours came online in the early 2000s.
5.) When social media became the latest craze around 2005-2009.
An agent asked me the other day if Facebook meant the end of her. I replied “NO!” Facebook and Twitter aren’t for everybody and they aren’t for every buyer and seller. YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT SOCIAL MEDIA!
What’s most interesting is that according to a 2008 NAR Member Profile the average age of REALTORS® climbed from 52 to 54. What does that tell you? Facebook hasn’t ended the need for skillful, seasoned REALTORS® who know what they are doing! Younger generations have much to learn from those who have been around the longest. Sure, my parents could learn a thing or two from me about Facebook, but I need to learn far more from them!
Dan Iampieri is a REALTOR® with WEICHERT, REALTORS® – Caton Properties in Ellicott City, Md. Social network with Dan at www.TheHouseMan.tv.
Jeremy Williams
By Jeremy Williams
I had lunch last week with a friend from church at a quaint diner called Country Roads in Conroe, Texas. When looking at the menu, my friend suggested ordering off menu. Usually I am not the type to do this, but I was intrigued when he mentioned chicken fried meatloaf. It sounded dangerously good and definitely outside the box. I trusted my salivary glands and not my heart health and took the plunge. I walked into the restaurant expecting the result of eating a good meal and being satisfied. What I had not anticipated was trying something outside the norm and the results being much more than I could ever expect.
How many times do we catch ourselves operating our real estate business within the “norms” and not thinking how to go outside the box to achieve better and more sustainable results? Share with REALTORS®, by posting a comment below, your chicken fried meatloaf approach in business. What marketing techniques do you use that might be outside the “norms” that net great results?
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.
Drew Burks
By Drew Burks
Very few REALTORS® are following their true passion!
Make your own rules, be authentic, transparent and have fun …
Real Estate can be a challenging business and the majority of licensed REALTORS® struggle to succeed, but it doesn’t need to be this way. In fact, real estate can be a great deal of fun and rewarding when you are following your passion.
Yet when I speak with REALTOR®S, I find that most are frustrated and tend to share the below problems.
- the inability to generate leads consistently
- inconsistent income
- keeping up with technology
- knowing what daily activities to do to get real results
It’s no wonder that so many are struggling to succeed as a REALTOR®.
After reading the book, Crush It, I realize why so many are having these problems…
Why you ask? Continue reading »
Stefanie Hahn
By Stefanie Hahn
When you work with new agents (or any agents for that matter) one of the constants seems to be that they are looking for ways to get the best of everything, and are trying to get it for free. If I shared with you some of the MacGyver strategies I have seen over the years you would … but you already know.
So when I sit with these agents there are a few constants – the first of which is to get on board with Google. Not the search engine Google (we can discuss the joys of that later) but the super-cool-productivity-tool-creating Google. That’s right; the team at Google is creating all sorts of wonderful stuff to make your business more productive; and best of all they’re giving it all away for free!
Here is a rundown of some of my must-haves from the Google toolkit. There are so many more, but this is a good starter package for you to consider before stepping into the big time:
1. Google Profile – http://www.google.com/profiles
I know I said I wasn’t talking about search, but who honestly doesn’t want to come up on that first page when their name is Googled? We all do – and setting up a Google Profile should be the key to getting you on that coveted first page of results. How? Your name, a small thumbnail photo and a link to your Google Profile will appear at the bottom of the first page of results. As a bonus, you can tie in all of your other sites, social and otherwise, as well as your photos. If you don’t have a Google Profile yet, stop reading this and go set it up … then come back (please)! Continue reading »
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