Crystal Webster
By Crystal Webster
Do you ever feel like you’re back in high school and trying to get your college application all put together? At least for me, during the final push for college grades didn’t matter, classes were out the window, and books were only for propping open your door.
The extracurricular section of the application got 100 percent of my attention the last semester of high school (even though it was probably too late at that point to matter)…
Anyway, sometimes that’s how I feel – as though all the “extras” are more important than the grades and classes. Especially going into the “slow time” it seems like everyone wants to know: “What else do you do?”
I DO do lots of other things: volunteer my time, sit on boards, blog, administer a networking website, manage residential property, spend time with my friends and family, help old ladies across the street, nurse stray dogs back to health…but don’t you want to know about my grades? Don’t you want to see my stats and just how good I am at what I actually do?
Come on, it’s not like every time you go to your doctor you ask them about their “second job.” (in fact, I think I’d be a little scared if they had a second job).
Do you get this question often? Do you steer clear of answering it or how do you answer it? What do you WANT to be known for?
Crystal Webster is a REALTOR® in the Kansas City area. Visit her networking site at www.kcyoungprofessionals.com and her Web site and blog at www.theheritagehometeam.com.
Stefanie Hahn
By Stefanie Hahn
Agents will often ask me to check out their real estate website. They want to know how it looks, do I like it and are they doing it right? I love when I get to peek into an agent’s website and get a glimpse of what is important to them. Many agents opt for a template site – and that can be okay, as long as the site has a few key elements. I like to see that the agent has some control over the site, too: content, placement, headers, page titles and link structure – but mostly content. You can have the most search engine optimized site out there but, if you content stinks, the consumer won’t stay long. Bonus for fresh content, because we know how much Google loves fresh content. Here is my “must have” list:
1. I want to see “search for homes” or something similar on the first page, right in front of me. I see so many sites that bury the home search behind pages and pages of pointless content. Consumers expect to be able to search for homes on your real estate website. Keep it front and center. Two other things that would be so great: keep your home search unencumbered. Don’t make me fill out a resume before I can see what homes are available in my desired school district. Just let me search on my own. And, secondly, please give me all the listings. Not just yours, your office or your company listings. I want them all.
2. Give me market snapshots – there are tons of cool tools that will help you do this … Altos, Top Producer, or do your own through your MLS data. I want to know what the market is doing in the area where I am buying or selling. Give me data. Continue reading »
Kelly Reark
By Kelly Reark
I have been representing a buyer since June of this year when he made the decision to put in an offer on a short sale. We aren’t closed yet, and it has been a bumpy road. Our journey actually began in January of 2007, but who’s counting?
There are many ways that this deal could die along the way. Here are my top five buyer bail scenarios that could stop you in your tracks.
1. Before actually writing the offer, counsel your buyer on what a short sale will likely involve. Make sure they are prepared for the waiting game. It is up to you to keep them interested and excited about their purchase.
2. Buyer’s remorse. Are the buyers seeing other properties sell for the same amount or less than the one they have the offer in on? A longer waiting period between the offer and the acceptance can issue a set of military spec cold feet. Keep a working CMA for your buyer that you can update during the waiting period. Point out the benefits to the home they have chosen.
3. Work with the lender to get your buyer’s finances in order ahead of time. If they are serious about making a purchase, they should begin the paper trail for their loan package long before hearing back from the seller’s representative. State your contract in such a way that there will be ample time to complete a mortgage after the seller’s approval comes back. (And lock in that great rate!) In the case that their offer is denied, they will be ready for the next one. Continue reading »
Toby Boyce
By Toby Boyce
I am the technology director for my office and have been doing a lot of teaching and developing new continuing education classes to assist those agents that are still struggling with technology and harnessing it to improve their business.
To develop a sense of what was needed, I spent a lot of time talking to top-notch agents … you know, those who make up the “cherry on top” of the Central Ohio real estate industry. It became very apparent that I was neglecting a key piece in the business.
Evaluating myself.
Of course, just like the majority of agents, I have the business plan in the corner gathering dust written in an hour of inspiration to be looked at every May to see what goal I missed on or never achieved. But when was the last time you really had an evaluation?
You evaluate your leads as they come through the pipeline … usually on a “can they or can’t they” buy basis. So why aren’t you doing the same thing with yourself?
These top-notch agents all had teams. They had multiple buyer’s agents and make no bones that they ranked their buyer’s agents based on ability to achieve the ultimate goal – close the deal in a way that is consistent with the team’s values and objectives. Ouch. That seems harsh doesn’t it in this world of “competing is good enough,” but isn’t it a refreshing thought? Continue reading »
Laura Rubinchuk
By Laura Rubinchuk
Blog for business. SEO on steroids. Tags, Meta Tags, video blogging, photo blogging, keywords and content…I could go on and on about all of the things we’re taught when we explore the online world as a lead generation method. Do you need to consider all of these things if you’re spending time on them as viable methods? Of course. Should this be the only thing you keep in mind? That depends.
Lately, I find myself more and more engaged with other local bloggers who have absolutely nothing to do with real estate. They’re not potential buyers or sellers (at the current moment, anyway), they’re not competitors; they’re just regular people trying to bring information to the community.
I live in Arlington, Va., and I write a blog called Arlington Real Estate News. So it’s no surprise that I’ve struck up a friendship with a fellow Geek (aka blogger) who writes Arlington Now. I hang my license in McLean, Va., so it should also be no surprise that I’m now contributing real estate news and gossip to The McLean Ear, written by a journalist and resident in McLean who just wants people to know what’s going on. They call and e-mail me when they have questions…a recent D.C. Housewife put her house on the market, while I’m (sadly) not the listing agent, they called me for information on price, pictures, etc. etc. When a bunch of trucks were parked on a street outside of a condo building for a few days, I got an e-mail to find out what was going on. Continue reading »
Jessica Hickok
By Jessica Hickok
Nothing is more frustrating than when you can’t find the inspiration to update your social media statuses or knock out that blog post. I have spent many nights staring at a blank computer screen trying to search deep within myself to write something engaging for my blog readers. That’s because I’m a REALTOR®, not a writer.
But everyone says that blogging is so important for your real estate career and that it’s “so easy to do.” While I do agree with the first part of that, I believe the second part I can only partially agree with.
However, I do have some tips for finding that blogging inspiration you need:
1.) Scan your RSS feed reader headlines as if they are questions. Write your post as a response to the article you just read. This also creates great link juice for that original article you read.
2.) Flip open a magazine and scan the table of contents. Take a magazine headline and replace it with your own. For example: a magazine article reads “Computer Help 911”. Change it to “Short Sale Help 911.” Use it to write about how you are working a short sale transaction and share the tips you use to save a dying deal. Continue reading »
Drew Burks
By Drew Burks
Video Marketing Attracts More Clients!
With more than 2 billion videos viewed on YouTube each day, it’s obvious that video is HOT! So why aren’t more real estate pros using video marketing to attract quality home buyers & sellers to their business?
Most REALTORS® tell me that they don’t know where to start or how to create content, so I decided to write a short post to help those who are struggling to move past this obstacle.
- Client Testimonials – think about it! How cool to have past clients on video telling the world what a great REALTOR® you are and how much they enjoyed working with you. I can already hear the objections … “my clients aren’t comfortable doing this or being on camera“. I understand, not everyone will be … BUT a few will be happy to do so.
- Home Buying Tips – record a series of short videos to educate home buyers to important / helpful tips when buying a home. A brainstorm ideas to get you going: explain why they need to be pre-approved.
- Home Selling Tips – record a series of short videos to educate home sellers to the important / helpful tips when selling a home. A few brainstorm ideas to get you going: importance of staging a home, packing up clutter/personal items and removing from the house before putting on the market, establishing the best price, etc… Continue reading »
Nobu Hata
By Nobu Hata
I’ve never had the stomach for the political end of things during my years in the real estate industry, and for those of you who know me well, my left-of-center views didn’t exactly mesh well with the political climate that has made up the bulk of my tenure. It was always my opinion that politics was best left for the folks who know how to play the game. My contributions consisted of pressing “Send” on the e-mail call to actions.
But the one realization I’ve made the last couple years has been with RPAC, our political action committee. These folks, based in the incredible NAR offices in D.C., have fought the good fight, not only for us, but our current and future buyers and sellers and the legislation that affects them; plus our industry initiatives locally and nationally regardless of politically party currently in power. Recently, our national PAC has kept the banks out of the buy/sell facet of our industry and kept the tax credit going, among other things I’m missing – shelving your personal opinions of both for a sec, you have to admit that those two issues alone was for the greater good of our industry.
Locally here in Minnesota, they’ve helped my clients by protecting the mortgage interest and property tax deductions, helped to ban private transfer fees, and defeated several attempts to increase recording fees and an attempt to increase the state deed tax, plus passed legislation to increase industry professionalism. That’s a ton of consumer protection in a very bipartisan town.
That’s where you come in. Wednesday is National RPAC night, where local groups get together and raise funds for the coming year. Why don’t you attend? Inform and educate yourself by asking your AE about what RPAC means to your business locally, ask your peers (YPNers Aaron Wheeler and Brian Copeland are major donors) what RPAC means to them first hand.
Nobu Hata is a sales associate for Edina Realty in Minneapolis, and a founding member of the Minneapolis YPN group, the YoPros. Visit his Web site at www.nobuhata.com.
Brooke Wolford
By Brooke Wolford
So, I have to be honest. I really didn’t get the gist of networking off the bat. I attended a couple of networking events, tweeted with some folks and simply tried to keep up. At first, it was a little much for me. I understood that maybe, if I exchanged a conversation and a business card, someone may end up using my services or asking me for advice.
The simple thing of exchanging information is not what it’s all about. It’s more about sharing, learning, and support. The dots finally connected with me recently when my business and some of my personal dreams began to sync together.
I realized how I got here. It was because of the support of people I networked with and the support I have given to them. I have huge aspirations of being a superstar agent but also being a resource for agents in my blog and my community.
My blog , on which I write my experiences as an agent, has hit home with people. I’m honest and willing to share it all. I have been getting a lot of comments about it and I think the people that read it, appreciate it.
Some of the people I have networked with have supported me professionally. Just to name a few… Continue reading »
Jason O'Neil
By Jason O’Neil
In today’s day and age of hyper-competition and hyper-information, consumers are looking for substance and relevance. They are looking to buy but not be sold. But how is that possible? How does one buy if they aren’t sold?
Bill Gates wrote in his 1999 (but still relevant) book Business @ the Speed of Thought, ”The most meaningful way to differentiate your company from your competition … is to do an outstanding job with information. How you gather, manage, and use information will determine whether you win or lose.”
Sounds easy enough — but showings are almost nonexistent, sign calls have dried up, and football season starts this weekend. No one will be going to my open houses.
True, and the fact of the matter is that a potential home buyer can see virtually every angle of your home online…in most cases they can find out the details and the price on their smartphone in half the time it would take to call the number on the sign and hope for a live person.
In the spirit of the aforementioned Gates quote, I propose that we, as REALTORS®, incorporate the following to make certain we are winning in the eyes of the public:
1. Be accurate. Continue reading »
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