Sunday, March 25, 2007

Free Money

I found this on the Broker Agent News website - if you are a new agent and want to get some free money check this out!

The Real Estate Apprentice™ Foundation - is a non-profit venture created to assist new licensed agents entering the real estate and offers 20 bi-annual grants, totaling $250,000 are awarded with no strings attached.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Realtor.com Is Wonderful

I am not sure that everyone think that Realtor.com is wonderful, but maybe they do not have the great Customer Service rep that I do. Take a bow Adam! Today he called to let me know that they would be processing my card - BEFORE they did it and was totally understanding and helpful when I let him know that I was experiencing technical difficulties and would have to wait a few days to pay.

He then sent me a handy dandy sheet with tips to making the most of my enhanced listing package, and made sure that I would have the correct number to contact next week when he would be out of town. Holy cow was I impressed!

I also like the enhanced listing features that Realtor.com offers. I can add photos, beef up the descriptions and plug in a virtual tour. We have been pretty successful in generating leads this way and so I consider this to be a part of my entire marketing package. There is also a sliding scale so that when you have more listings you pay more and when you have fewer you pay less. If you are a new agent sign up TODAY before you get 5 listings and the price jumps way up!

If you would like Adam's contact info please email me and I will be happy to get you his direct line so you can share in the great service!

How do you know when it is working?

So I have been an official realtor for well over a year now and I started in what has been termed a "down market" - meaning that inventory was not flying off the shelf in days for thousands over the asking price! Before that I worked for a 20-year agent and learned A LOT that told me I would like the business BUT that it is hard work and there is famine before the feast.

Since then I have been doing the activities (Keller Williams speak for farming, working FSBOs and Expireds, doing LOTS of open houses, sending just listeds, etc.) and it seemed like I was having some success. Well this week was a very good week!! My listing partner and I had 3 closings and added over 2 million dollars in inventory. We are now making sure that we have the hard talks about pricing right up front so that we have the best possible chance of positioning the homes to sell quickly (which now means between 3-6 months). We also are working on making sure that we have more communication with our sellers and buyers so that they do not feel left out in the cold.

I met with one of my favorite Realtors this morning who started last September after a 4 year hiatus, and she said that she felt like it was sort of working and that she hoped it would break soon. I believe it will and that if she just keeps on doing what she is doing everything will work out just fine.

I would love to know how everyone else is doing out there - if you are having success with something please let us all know so that we can just keep getting better and better!

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Try Really Really Hard!

So this weekend I spent A LOT of time working on a contract for one of my listings. I worked at the office for about 4 hours Saturday and on the phone for a couple of hours Sunday. Then it fell apart (nothing I did and my client was really great about it - disappointed but great).

So how did I wind up feeling good about it? Well I spent some time last night talking to my client and showing her the virtual tour, photos and her enhanced listing on Realtor.com. I also have sent just listed cards and will be featuring her home in an upcoming newsletter. I advertise all of my listings on a rotating basis in print advertising and do open houses. I have also held a broker's open house.

If a house doesn't sell it is not because of lack of effort! The one thing that my clients get when they get me is dedication - dedication to selling their house! Most people just want to know that the person they hired to to sell their house is making an honest effort to get it sold - just make sure you are making that effort and the rest will take care of itself.