Laura Rubinchuk
By Laura Rubinchuk
Has anyone told you recently that you may sell real estate, but you’re actually in the lead generation business? Yeah, it struck a chord with me too. Your next closing could be, and ideally would come from, your next lead. So how are you generating leads?
I like to the think of it as a big circle with spokes from different methods generating leads. The beauty of real estate is that there are so many different ways to be successful; you just have to find what works for you. So as an example, my “spokes” include:
- My Blog
- Social Media (primarily Facebook, Trulia, and Twitter)
- My Sphere (people I know)
- Open Houses
From Flickr: kr-crew
Your spokes may look different – calling FSBOs or expireds, newspaper ads, etc. But if you take out one of those spokes by not committing to them, the wheel will go flat!! Flat tires mean the bus goes nowhere, much like our business when we stop lead generating. It’s so easy to get caught up in babysitting current clients and contracts when things are busy, but if you don’t lead generate now, you’ll feel it in a few months.
Figure out your strengths and what will work for you and your personality. Stay true to what you pick because things may take a while to take off, but when they do, all the effort will be worth it! Get busy!
Laura Rubinchuk, GRI, is a real estate practitioner with Keller Williams Realty in McLean, Va. Visit her blog at www.ArlingtonRealEstateNews.com or her Web site at www.TheLJRGroup.com.
Heather Soldonia
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. Continue reading »
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