Archives of real estate blog entries for August 22, 2006 (Page 2)

Blog posts


Relationship Improvement Focal Points - 09:09 PM
Some of us have a sixth sense for relationship building, it comes easy for those who do. But others must study and practice their technique before they are truly comfortable with it.  Practice makes perfect it is said and it holds true for any activity that we are not 100% comfortable with, doesn't it?
Only by doing, evaluating and critiquing those efforts can we perfect them.  If you have not established a comfort level with your relationship techniques, consider the following key elements as improvement focal points as you move towards the perfection zone you desire:
Respect people's time always. ALWAYS!
Give them … (0 comments)

The Gambler's Wisdom - 09:47 PM
Kenny Rogers sang a song several years ago that has a verse in it that says, "You have to know when to hold 'em, Know when to fold 'em, Know when to walk away, Know when to run!"  Do I have the words right? Do you remember it?  I think it was one of the songs in his Gambler series, not sure about that as I am not a country music fan, but the song was catchy and it had a good message.
I've often thought about breaking into this verse when I hear an agent doing one of the following things:
1)Blasting a … (3 comments)

Call me at 555-SOLD ! - 10:02 PM
I love creative stuff! And those phone numbers that spell out the product or service that a company provides are really cool...but they are a pain to spell out on the keypad sometimes.  Studies do show, however, that people have a very high retention rate of words over numbers and that phone numbers that are words rank very high in the memory bank. 
Phonespell allows you to type in your phone number and have it translated to words that make up that phone number.  Just type in your number and it will run the possible options for you.
The service is … (5 comments)

You Can't Handle the TRUTH! - 12:33 AM
Remember Jack Nicholson's famous line, "You Can't Handle the Truth?"
That's how I feel when I get a call from an "investor" who is just starting out. They just woke up the morning after watching a late night, "Make a Million Flipping Real Estate Part Time With No Money Down, in Less Than Month" cable TV presentation.  They are still waiting for The Tapes to arrive in the mail, but want to get started Right Now, by golly.
How can I tell?  Well  they usually tip their hat and give me a clue by asking to buy real estate "at wholesale".  Usually part of … (8 comments)

Dangers of Top Position - 12:45 AM
In Real estate that is...
For some reason because I have a website that is visible, I get people calling me asking the darndest questions.
Today someone called asking if this was the Denver Answer Desk.  No, it's actually a car in Denver, but what's your question.  "OK, well who are you?"  You called me to ask me who I am?  "No, I called to ask a question".  Oh, ok, I'm a Realtor in Denver.  "Cool, do you rent apartments?" no.  "Can I ask you a question?" sure, I'm still here.  "Can a person survive in Denver with Asthma?" I guess, but maybe … (5 comments)

Rookies>>>>>>The Secret of Success in Real Estate - 09:44 PM
Many embark upon a career in real estate dreaming of big money, lots of free time and an easy life. All this can be yours if you are a master at Prospecting.
Learning the real estate business is easy, but learning how to prospect (for many) is not.  If you are willing to break through the barrier and learn how to prospect you will be a success.  Real estate is a people game.  Are you ready willing & able to play?
Realtors fear rejection, so many times they avoid prospecting.  Popular culture today tells us that sales people are annoying, pushy and to be … (4 comments)

Cyberspace Carpetbaggers? - 10:07 PM
Jim Lee had another good post and a great new coin name for the awful aggregators.  Our industry is constantly being invaded by a seemingly endless stream of people who want a piece of our action.
Today I got a call from a mortgage broker in a different part of the country.  He said his regular agent in Denver retired (meaning quit the business) and he saw my site and wanted to refer business to me.  Usually I hang up before  they get this far, but something about this guy said he wasn't one of Those Calls.
We talked and it actually sounds … (8 comments)

Creating Hot Links - 10:46 PM
Recently someone asked in a comment section "how do you make a link to a site?"
I'm assuming they were talking about linking on a blog post. It's quite easy, look above at the "chain" in the tool bar where you enter your blog.  This is the icon you will be clicking on to insert the url you wish to link to.

Typically, I will surf to the page I want to link to, cut and paste the URL on my clip board, then surf back to my blog entry.

First highlight the "link text" you wish to link … (5 comments)

Fear of Technology - 10:22 PM
Fear of technology still surprises me because I consider myself a late tech bloomer. I remember when my mother suggested I get a laptop to track my expenses when I was pipelining. My response was "I don't need no stupid computer". The irony of that statement still gets my family to chuckel. It never dawned on me that technology may become an intergrated part of my life.
Since this those days, college had a big influence, I have become some sort of cyber geek, actually a proud cyber geek. Loosing my fear of the unknown and the worrying that I might break it … (0 comments)

A Mobile Connection . . . Or Not! - 10:46 PM
I had to make a call yesterday to Cingular and went through a frustrating series of commands till I was told there would be approximately a four minute wait to speak to a customer representative.  True to their word in just about that time a human voice said "how may I help you?"  I told the disembodied voice at the other end that I was sure this was going to be the strangest call she'd ever received.
I went on to explain my problem.  I had just received a bill in the amount of $145 and change for service to my blackberry.  The … (5 comments)

Turnabout is fair play - 08:29 AM
After enduring dozens of e mails from the "Reverend Franks" of the world wanting me to help them find real estate, received their 'over invoiced' oil revenues, loot fictional dead people's bank accounts, etc., etc., ad naseum, it's time to fight back with a little dose of their own medicine.
"August 21, 2006
My Dearest Reverend Frank,
Thank you for your recent missive looking for an American Realtor to help you buy property in this country for your flock.
Unfortunately I can't help with that task right now because I'm busy with another, much bigger project that maybe you could help me … (7 comments)

I'm confused - 09:14 PM
I read Mr. Tomato's post about what a good thing it seems to be to have our listings displayed in as many places on the www as possible and now there's even a service called "Postlet" that will help you do that by distributing them for you among 9 or 10 different locations.
And then I read this from NAR about how it's a bad thing and all these guys are "cyberspace carpetbaggers".
Who do you believe, who can you trust???
http://www.realtor.org/educsess.nsf/PagesLUNew/06ConfDaltonIIII
"The real estate industry is being attacked by non-real estate, cyberspace carpetbaggers who are working to become the first point of … (7 comments)

Technology Reclamation and Equipment Issues - 08:41 PM
PC World has a resource artcle entitled, "Green PC: How to dispose of unwanted tech equipment without hassles, and where to find great new environmentally friendly gear". Getting rid of old technology equipment is not as easy as you may think due to hazardous materials found in some of the equipment and current environmental laws at the local, state and federal level. This article helps you to properly and legally dispose of old equipment, provide practical suggestions for energy conservation, cutting energy costs and finding new environmentally friendly equipment.  It provides introduction and links to Earth 911's online recyling tools to … (0 comments)

Internet Rumors - An Example - 09:15 PM
In a prior blog article I provided resources ("Rumor Control - Hoaxes Debunked") for finding out if information you come across that is being circulated via the Internet is fact or fiction.  As an example, I just received an email from a close relative who was sharing a health-related alert (see below for original text of message, which I've included for your convenience). It's not necessarily something that at first viewing triggered a warning in my mind as it seemed reasonable, after all it was from Johns Hopkins, and I quickly forwarded it on to my immediate family.  Then I realized that I had … (1 comments)

Consumers Across the Country Eligible for Free Annual Credit Reports - 09:55 PM
All consumers are eligible to obtain a free annual credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com, which is a centralized service for consumers to request annual credit reports and the only official website for the service.  It was created by the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.  AnnualCreditReport.com processes requests for free credit file disclosures (commonly called credit reports).The free reports were mandated by Congress in The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA), which requires the nationwide credit bureaus to provide consumers with a free copy of their credit report, at their request, once every 12 months. Consumers who want … (0 comments)

Curb Appeal Can Kill - 07:09 PM
The curb appeal of your house can kill the sale.  After having driven all over the town in my real estate career, I am still amazed at the people who don't seem to think curb appeal matters when they are selling their house.  I've seen cars parked in the yard, dead flowers in the flowerbeds, weeds above the knee, and many other things that tell the buyer the seller isn't ready to sell.  That's right; buyers sometimes don't even go into a house if the curb appeal is bad.  The buyers feel if the curb appeal is that bad; I wonder … (2 comments)

How Many Photos Make A Tour - 07:13 PM
I'm always amazed when I click on the tour button of an MLS listing and find a photo of the front, back, and side of a home.  I may be wrong, but I thought to be a tour, there should be some photos of the inside of the house.  Also, I thought that having a picture of the kitchen, living room, dining area, family room, and possible a bedroom or two was enough.  That's probably true, but let's talk about those rooms for a minute.
Kitchen - Does a picture of the kitchen make sense when all you can see is the … (4 comments)

Utah Home Seller Specialist - 07:17 PM
When it's time to sell your home, your biggest investment in your life, who do you want representing you?
In today's modern world, everyone is looking for a specialist when they need something done right the first time.  If you have a car accident, you look for an attorney who specializes in auto accidents.  If you need surgery you look for a specialist.  In real estate the same is true.  If you are selling a home, you need to be working with a Home Seller Specialist.  A Home Seller Specialist represents you the seller and not the buyer.  The Home Seller Specialist's … (0 comments)

Thanks for the Help, Active Rain! - 01:15 PM
A while ago I wrote a blog when I was having trouble with my listing presentations.  I was scheduling lots of them, but having trouble converting them into listings.  I solicited your advice, and you all gave me some good stuff.  That being said, I've since converted EVERY SINGLE listing appointment into a listing.  That's a 100% success rate. 
I wanted to offer a sincere thanks to all of you who are taking the time to help me develop my real estate tradecraft.  I won't forget you when I need to send out referrals.
… (5 comments)

What does your car say about you? - 04:44 PM
I've had the opportunity to ride in a few fellow agents cars. I'll just shoot from the hip on this one:
If your car is dirty, it's says (to me at least) that you're lacking in attention to detail.  If you car is smelly, it says that you don't care.  If there's stuff in the passenger seat, it says that you don't value me as a person. If the gas guage is on empty, it says that you failed to plan accordingly. 
While I'm at it....
If you drive too fast, it says you're in a hurry to get rid of me.  If you … (6 comments)

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