Lake Highlands Broker

What is the rule on publishing my post on several blogs?

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:31:43 -0600

Dear Blogthority,

I am relatively new to blogging and am learning a ton every day. I need to know if it is okay if I use the same post for more than one of my blogs. I'm writing the posts, so it is my material. Help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Todd Tramonte

http://www.4dallashomes.com/

http://www.bigdblog.wordpress.com/

www.a2stalk.com/DallasA2S

Young, not Dumb.

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:27:12 -0600

How many times have you heard someone say that they made this mistake or that mistake when they were "Young and Dumb?" Too many if it is as often as I've heard it. I believe very strongly in learning life lessons from those who have gone before you. I'm struggling with this a bit in the area of residential real estate. There seems to be a code that says "Do it like it's always been done or don't do it at all." I refuse to follow that logic. I'm building a growing residential business based on innovation and creativity.

If you have been in the residential real estate business for more than 10 years and consider yourself full time and successful, let this blog be a place that you post a little nugget of your earned wisdom. Those of us who are younger will greatly appreciate it and be better for your generosity.

Thank you very much, and I'm looking forward to the comments.

Todd Tramonte

Broker - Dallas, TX

How to earn zero commission and love doing it! 11 helpful hints...

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:47:27 -0600

I HAVE NO FREAKING IDEA, but I see agents doing it all of the time. What is it about real estate that makes it so cool to say "I'm in real estate?" What is it about 100% commission that doesn't motivate people in to action? Here is a list of techniques to employ if you want to be "in real estate" and make "NO MONEY!"

Stay in the office all day long (not on the phones.)
Don't follow up with anyone ever.
Make it abundantly clear to your prospects that you really really need the commission from their deal.
Don't use any systems, ever.
Hire an assistant as soon as you can find one. Even if you don't need one, it looks great!
Remember, long expensive lunches are a right that Realtors have fought for for years.
Forget a client's name (forgetting the wife's name is a big winner here.)
Stop working every day right at 5:00, after all, you are self employed and you were sick of the 9-5 thing.
Bug your friends and family, always whining that they don't send you referrals.
Avoid social interaction.
Spend lots of time on your business card photos and calendar magnets.

For more great ideas on how to avoid making any money in residential real estate, visit your local bar or pub where you'll catch up with many other agents who will tell you that "business is great."

For those who didn't catch the satirical nature of the previous post, I WAS JOKING. It is time in most markets for good old fashioned business sense. Treat people well, work hard, pay attention and you'll do okay.

Good luck,

Todd Tramonte

www.4DallasHomes.com

Be MORE Entrepreneurial?

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:57:28 -0600

As entrepreneurs, real estate professionals must be creative, competitive, communicative and sharp. Many of us have avoided "normal" jobs deliberately to preserve our autonomy and freedom of choice. Many of us have also felt the negative results of staying as free as a bird all of the time.

Systems and structure are not t be feared. I am constantly telling my team and reminding myself that the most successful real estate professionals are not necessarily the smartest, but they are the most disciplined and dedicated. Great systems can actually provide MORE freedom than shooting from the hip all of the time. If you are reinventing the wheel with each new client, the road tends to get pretty bumpy for all involved.

Take this time in a slow, wet, cold market and invest your time in creating some effective systems to better serve your clients, fellow agents and your BUSINESS. You do own a business remember. Allow your systems and good habits to give you more freedom instead of less. Knowing your transaction has a plan should give you additional confidence and less worry.

More on this later.

I have to confess...

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:24:11 -0500

...my last blog post was an experiment in creating activity through a little controversy. I did get to post a video from Office Space though.

RANDOM CHANGE OF DIRECTIONS TO FOLLOW:

I love finding new referral partners. Most of the time this starts when I find someone who would benefit one of my client friends. I truly enjoy being the guy who "has a guy," or "knows somebody" for this or that. I have great contacts with locksmiths, insurance agents, lenders, title companies, HVAC techs and on and on. No pool guy right now though. (Let me know if you have a reliable and affordable pool service company in Dallas, TX.)

Not only does this approach to business relationships feed my need for information, it is a tremendous resource to offer my consulting clients and friends. You never know when a good referral to a carpet store will turn into a listing. I refuse to keep someone on my list who does any of the following:

over charges for anything
shows up late or doesn't complete a job on schedule
fails to tell the truth
communicates poorly
appears unprofessional
puts profit before client friend relationships

Go Baylor Bears and Big XII football.

http://www.4dallashomes.com/

If you are not full time, QUIT!

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:49:20 -0500

Dear NAR,

Please require that "REALTORS(R)" can walk and chew gum at the same time. If not that, at least be able to spell their own name...

Time and time again I have had clients tell me that they thought REALTORS(r) were all irresponsible unresponsve idiots. So, if you are not full time, committed to your clients, and constantly learning, I ask you now to please let your license go inactive. It does not serve the client, your character or the industry well at all if you try to pass as a professional any more.

Would you tell an airplane full of passengers that you were a pilot if you didn't know how the controls worked? (Please say no.)

Then, why do so many real estate agents tell clients that they can handle everything when they barely know anything about the process?

How many of us have had to answer questions for another agent in a deal that scared the heck out of you because he or she didn't know in the first place? How often do you find yourself telling another agent how to do his or her job, or better yet just doing it for them to save your client from possible problems?

This job is not easy. It requires expertise, communications skills, research and so much more. Please take it seriously so that our clients get what they deserve for their money.

Thank You.

www.4DallasHomes.com

He said, "This is the best site I've ever seen..."

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:58:17 -0500

I'll tell you up front that the SEO professional with whom I was speaking wasn't trying for flattery.

I'm trying to figure out how in the world to combine the functionality of a template real estate site with the SEO capability of a custom site. I've been trying to figure it out for over 2 years. After an hour's worth of tech talk and me clarifying my expectations and goals, we got down to it. He said, "This is the best site I've ever seen from someone who is doing their SEO all on their own."

That little qualifier at the end is where the real punch is packed. Those of us trying to shoe string a budget for Internet marketing know how hard it is to get folks to our sites. We can build highly valuable sites with great info and search capabilities, but if nobody knows that the site is there, WHO CARES? This gentleman was basically telling me that if I wanted to compete as a racecar driver, I would be one of the very best drivers out there who is wearing a blindfold.

I'm doing all of the things that I know to do; blogging, updating content, using specific keywords, page titles, site headings and more. In a market like Dallas, TX, the competition for the most searched keywords is unbelievable. I am committed though to improving on our 120,000 hits per month.

Stay tuned for updates on our SEO progress and new findings. Check it out at www.4DallasHomes.com or www.DallasHomeRealty.com

Free School Supplies

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:06:26 -0500

When we moved our Assist 2 Sell office about a year ago, we decided that we wanted to adopt a nearby school in order to give back to the community. We chose Sky View Elementary School. Then, we did something a little weird.

We waited until after school started last year and asked the teachers what school supplies they needed. This allowed us to really provide what they needed. Many of the children are not able to get all of the supplies that they need, and many of the supplies that are donated from other sources are the typical paper, pencils and glue. We delivered pencil boxes, dry erase markers, back packs, book bags, binders, and all sorts of other requested items. THEY LOVED IT, and we did too.

Soooo, we are at it again. We will be delivering school supplies about two weeks into this years Fall semester in order to help our friends at Sky View continue to improve both in the education that they provide, and the culture that they create for their kids. If you would like to contribute, please contact us through our website at www.4DallasHomes.com. We also collect turkeys and hams at Thanksgiving for families from Sky View that don't have a traditional meal. More on that later.

Thanks.

What other agents are saying about us! Oh Wow!

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:29:29 -0500

As a flat fee brokerage, we are not always met with open arms when a transaction starts. Usually though, by the time the transaction is complete we have a great friend on the other side of the deal. We regularly get great feedback from other agents who say that they "loved working with" us,

or "...if other full price brokers worked as hard and as smoothly as Assist 2 Sell does, the industry would be a lot better off." We hear it all of the time. The key is HEAR IT. We don't get much of this stuff in writing. I would love to post it to our website and on blogs so that folks in our area would see how hard we work to serve our clients and our peers in the business. Maybe I'll get more bold and start asking these folks if they'll email me something. I don't want to do anything without someone's permission though...

Check us out at www.4DallasHomes.com. Maybe we will get the green light to post some agent testimonials.

Do you know your numbers? What percent of your target market do you have?

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:49:23 -0500

I have a team of agents and support staff that I work extremely hard to motivate, train, equip and support to dominate our market. We aren't the clear leader in our market yet, but after 18 months we have made great strides in that direction. I would love to hear some feedback from offices that have achieved a significant portion of the listing inventory in your market.

Have a great day, and visit us at www.4DallasHomes.com

Slightly Misquoted in the Chicago Tribune

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:21:21 -0500

I work pretty hard at generating PR for our company. I do it because we have a tremendous service that home sellers need to know about. Last week, a syndicated columnist who regularly comments on real estate topics wrote a piece about what causes most real estate deals to fall through. Many agents were quoted, and I ended up with the following...

"...indicates that hardheaded sellers are just as much to blame. So does Todd Tramonte in Dallas, who says sellers "are unwilling to deal with problems."

I'll take any quote in the Chicago Tribune, even if it is only six words, but was actually commenting on situations where sellers respond stubbornly to buyers who ask for too much in response to inspection reports. Buyers seem to think that an inspection report is a shopping list and the seller is paying the tab.

Agents need to do a better job of setting expectations before the inspection.

Check us out online at www.4DallasHomes.com

View the entire article below:

August 5, 2007

Chicago Tribune

Prime deal killers? Home inspections

Agents surveyed say contracts can break over minor repairs

It used to be that "buyer's remorse" was the No. 1 deal killer. Not anymore.

Buyers still get cold feet. Frequently, it's nervous rookies who have never made such a large purchase -- often at the urging of well-meaning parents who scream "You're paying how much for that hovel?" -- who still blow up their share of sales.

But nowadays, according to a survey of Assist-2-Sell agents throughout the country, independent home inspections seem to be the chief reason otherwise perfectly good contracts between otherwise willing buyers and happy sellers never reach the closing table.

"In my opinion," says Doug Howell, an Assist-2-Sell agent in O'Fallon, Mo., "the biggest deal killer is a building inspection." Sandra Marsinelli, who works in Revere, Mass., seconds that.

Of course, there are other reasons. Financing falls through, especially if the buyer is using an inexperienced or less-than-honest mortgage broker, or the funding lender refuses to follow through as promised. Or the buyer simply does not qualify.

"The weak link is the mortgage process," says Andy Spatafora in Boca Raton, Fla.

In other instances, the buyer's agent doesn't know how to draw up a contract, can't handle counteroffers or is incompetent.

"We are continually astounded by the inability of agents who do not know how to write a contract or to logically negotiate a transaction," says Howard Harris in Fountain Hills, Ariz.

Assist-2-Sell agents -- the Reno, Nev.-based company has 600-plus offices in 44 states -- stress that overall, few contracts fall through. But when they do, it's usually because of the home inspection.

Sometimes, an overzealous inspector writes up a laundry list of minor items, a list so long that buyers believe the place fell for will fall down around them once they move in.

Other times, it's the buyers kill the deal by demanding that the seller fix every little thing on the inspectors' list. Or the responsibility lies with the seller, who balks at repairing anything, no matter how minor.

Listen up, folks: The inspector's report should not be taken as anything more than what it is, a statement on the condition of the property the day it was examined.

If the inspector is doing his job properly, you will be told what doesn't work properly and what kind of life is left in the appliances and major components.

An inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house, from roof to foundation. It is not an appraisal, which determines market value. It is not a municipal inspection, which verifies building-code compliance. And it cannot pass or fail the property.

While an inspection clause should be part of the sales contract, making the deal contingent on the inspector's findings, the clause should specify the terms and conditions to which both parties are obligated. And there should always be a little give-and-take after that.

"Our job is to provide a thorough and objective inspection of a home's condition so that a homeowner or buyer can make an educated purchase decision," said Frank Lesh, president of the 6,000-member American Society of Home Inspectors.

Buyers and sellers need to stop beating each other over the heads with the inspector's report, but that's not to say they shouldn't have the place inspected at all.

Indeed, sellers should consider having their houses examined before they put them on the market so they can fix whatever is wrong, and buyers should determine the home's condition before proceeding with the sale.

But they also need to put themselves in each other's shoes:

*Buyers: The only things you should be overly concerned about are major flaws that will interfere with your ability to live comfortably in the house.

If the air conditioning doesn't work or is on its last legs, yes, the buyer should fix it or have it replaced. But if a window is stuck or a door squeaks, get over it and move on.

In other words, don't sweat the small stuff. You can take care of the little things after you move in, at your own pace and your own cost.

*Sellers: Your place ain't the Taj Mahal. No matter how much you love it, it has issues you overlook. So don't be too stubborn. Sure you've dropped your price to far below what you think the place is worth, but give a little bit.

Think about it this way: If you were buying your house in the shape it is now, wouldn't you demand that the rotted laundry-room floor be replaced or the breaker panel be fixed?

But, that's not what's going on out there, according to the Assist-2-Sell agents.

"One of the problems I see is with the home inspection and the weight that is put on it," said Eddie Wockenfuss in Gilbert, Ariz.

"When someone buys [an existing] home, it will have some mileage, just like a used car. Too many buyers use the home inspection to create a grocery list of repairs they ask the seller to pay for.

"The main purpose of the inspection is to look for latent defects and structural problems," Wockenfuss said.

"I fault home inspectors for striking fear in buyers," he said. "If a home is 10 years old and nothing has been done other than routine maintenance and cleaning, that is what you are buying.

"If the buyer wants a new home, then they should buy it."

In some cases, according to Howard Harris, buyers are trying to take advantage of sellers in a down market. Because they anticipate that prices may continue to slide, he says, buyers have become "very demanding" about the property's condition.

"They know that if the seller does not want to fix things, they can go elsewhere," Harris says. It's the same thing in Portland, Ore., where Cynthia Prestrelski works. "Repair issues, without a doubt," she said.

"As it becomes more of a buyers' market, buyers are many times pushing the envelope. Many of them seem to want a brand-new house out of a resale," Prestrelski added.

But Edmond Lavi in Beverly Hills, Calif., indicates that hardheaded sellers are just as much to blame. So does Todd Tramonte in Dallas, who says sellers "are unwilling to deal with problems."

Sellers are unreasonable, agrees Doug Dhuse. When faced with "picky" buyers, the Madison, Wis., agent says, "sellers become stubborn and won't budge, thinking they have already given the house away, even though it's been on the market for a year. When sellers do give in, they sure resent it."

Such reluctance of either party to bargain is another big deal killer.

"I have seen sellers choose not to sell over $100!" says Keith Wettstein in Jacksonville, Fla.

"For reasons unknown to me, some sellers would rather go through the entire sales process [again] than spend an extra $100, which is ridiculous. Some sellers will place their attitudes as top priority, just so they can be right as opposed to making a smart business decision."

A little Starbucks go's a long way!

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:07:08 -0500

Whenever I can, I like to celebrate life's good news with my client friends. Last week through a friend, I found out that one of my sellers had been promoted at work. I simply sent her a card with a Starbucks gift card in it and said how happy I was for she and her family.

She hasn't stopped thanking me for a week. That's worth ten bucks every stinkin time. It doesn't hurt that we show her house every day either.

Good Luck.

Visit us online at www.4DallasHomes.com

Realtor / Broker Selling My Own Home.

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:44:07 -0500

Only when selling your own property can you truly appreciate the emotional ride of a home seller. I work with 25 or more sellers at all times and see and hear the wildes stories out there. I see them lose all hope when a bad inspection report comes in. I see them go through the roof with elation when a full price offer comes in. I see them get skeptical when a buyer finances 100% and I see them overlook important details when they are making a big profit.

I am feeling most of those things right now as my wife and I sell our home in Lake Highlands (Dallas, TX.) We have a first time buyer with 100% financing and we're selling after a total remodel at the high end of our development. She is nervous as she learns the necessary steps to owning a home and we are trying to temper our expectations as we (I) see deals fall apart and get saved and all over again every day.

Right now I'm sitting on my couch as the inspector checks every nook, cranny and junk drawer to try to kill my deal. We are getting along swimmingly. I've found that in the last week or two I've had much more empathy for my clients. On that note, I propose that all dedicated agents and brokers sell their personal residence every few years just to stay on top of their game.

Ha!

You can see us online at www.4DallasHomes.com

Proud to be a Texan in Lake Highlands (Dallas, TX) Real Estate

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:39:48 -0500

I just wrote a long entry about how the Lake Highlands market is doing well relative to the down turn in the national real estate market and when I went to post it it was gone. FRUSTRATED.

Here is a synopsis

Texas doesn't fit the "real estate bubble is bursting," mold.
Texas is a slow and steady market
We don't envy the booms and busts of other markets
Lake Highlands is a great market and will be better when sellers learn to ignore news out of Phoenix and California and Florida
Our business is growing: Partially due to excellent service and flat fees, but also due to a good market
I'm once again Pround to be a TEXAN.

Check us out at www.4DallasHomes.com

BuyHomeSellHome.blogspot.com

Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:18:36 -0500

What makes a good real estate site? I think it is your home search feature. Do you go with a highly functional template site that is easy to use and update, or do you spend a boat load of money on a custom site that is difficult to manage, but can support advanced searching methods? I'm wide open to feedback on this one.

Feel free to check my site out at www.4DallasHomes.com