Do you Leverage Your Own Online Visibility and Your Whuffie, when competing for projects?

What's Whuffie?

Whuffie is your social capital, included with that is also, your reach.

(There's an excellent book on the topic if you want to explore it in it's original form.)

I ask this question, because it's an important asset you may not know you have that can help you close more business.

Since most sophisticated stagers today use social media tools to market their business, many have developed contacts, relationships, friendships and in some cases, even, a following.  The linking, commenting and relationship building has earned goodwill along the way, which can in turn be considered social capital. All of which sums to the concept of "reach".

When you complete a project and begin to share the story with your online "sphere", you are providing exposure for listing and the realtor as well.  Do you offer Online Visibility as one of your value-added services?

You could, you may be able to trounce anything the realtor has, and help promote the property quite substantially.

For example, let's look at your Twitter Reach.  When you visit the little gizmo TweetReach, it will tell you not only how many followers you have, but what your total reach is.  I've been pretty lazy with Twitter of late, and so they don't have a lot of data to analyze for me.  However, my last 13 posts created 50, 261 impressions.

That's a fair number of impressions, no?

And how many Facebook friends do you have? "Likes" on your page? How many groups do you interact with here, on LinkedIN, on other forums? What about your blog - how many subscribers? And all the other sites you're on?

You see one of the wonderful thing about social media tools and networking sites is the metric capability they offer to go along with one.  So you can always see what your total "reach" is.

The beauty is that you are doing all of this blogging, posting, updating, uploading photo collages, etc. ANYWAY!!  So, why not use it, leverage the time and effort one step further, as a way to close more business?  The new stager-du-jour in your patch can't possibly compete with your whuffie.  He or she can only compete on price.  And we all know what happens when you compete on price...any concept of VALUE goes out the window!!

There is a fascinating project underway, courtesy of Deluxe (yea, the check people), where 9 small businesses were selected to receive a marketing revamp, $5,000 marketing dollars, marketing consultant and some coaching from SCORE. 

ProjectRev is a "vital read" for anyone intrigued by marketing... and of particular interest to home stagers. Why?  Coz there's one in it!

Felicia Frazier is a creative soul, who was downsized out of Limited 2 and is now a home stager in Ohio.  The biggest surprise about running her own business?

“That I actually had to go out and get the business!” Frazier laughed.

“And the hardest part of that is knowing where to go, determining who that key customer I need to target is. What I learned from Project Rev was that I needed to be going after an older market. I was focusing on late twenties and mid-thirties, and I needed to be targeting homeowners in their late forties and up, along with Realtors.”

This has consumed me this morning!

1.  Yes, "asking for the business" is the hardest and least liked aspect of a stager's life.

2.  We have all long been confused as to who the target customer is - the realtor or the home-owner.  After all, the home-owner pays you, yet more often than not it is the realtor that gets you the work.

3.  Then this aging statement -- 'I needed to be targeting homeowners in their late forties and up, along with Realtors.”

Do any of you agree with this?

I put it up on my Facebook page and Michael Fortuna, a man I think of immeasurable discernment, wrote 

     ""IMHO: I get more hands-on business from 50-65, but more vacants from 30-50..."

WOW!  Really?  I never noticed or thought to look at it this way.  My clients were always just folks who wanted to sell their home.  They seemed to be all over the place.  Looking back I can't think of a through line among them!  Except that many became friends along the way.

I'd love to hear your opinions on this ~ 

Myrtle Beach Home Sales May have Bottomed Out, according to statistics from the CCAR (Coastal Carolina Association of Realtors)

"Myrtle Beach" encompasses the entire Grand Strand area

Newly interpreted statistics for July suggest that Myrtle Beach real estate is seeing less price erosion but a slow down on volume.  For while we are still up, 24.1% year to date, in volume for July we are 5.3% lower this year over last year - 2009.

Pricing, for single family homes, seems to have stabilized and in some cases even rebounded some over the summer months.  We all knew this without the statistical reports because at new construction sites, the signs showing base prices have mostly moved upwards, in some cases by as much as 10%. 

Condo sales, however, are down for the 3^rd month in a row.  Pricing is thought to have “bottomed out” on the basis of median sales remaining at $120,000.  So we’re selling fewer of them, yet, finally, at similar prices.  Since 40% of condo sales are distressed sales, this might suggest that the banks are standing firm on what they’ll accept.  A responsible position for the banks to take, in my opinion.  Someone had to step in and stop continually declining prices.

Inventory levels in both homes and condos remains unchanged.

5702 Canterbury Lane, Myrtle Beach

Fabulous Pine Lakes 4 Bedroom home for $424,900.

Do join me, I'll be there from 1 - 4 p.m this Sunday, August 1, 2010

Juliet Johnson | Prudential Burroughs and Chapin Realty, Inc. | (843) 315-0226 5702, Myrtle Beach, SC Fabulous Family Home 4BR/3+1BA Single Family House offered at $424,900 Year Built 1963 Sq Footage 2,600 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 full, 1 partial Floors 1 Parking Unspecified Lot Size 28,298 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Beautiful 4BR/3.5BA all brick home on Canterbury Lane in prestigious Pine Lakes section of Myrtle Beach. This home has it all. Hardwood floors, familyroom with built-ins and brick wood burning fireplace. Formal living room which is open to a spacious dining area. Large master bedroom and large masterbath with double sinks and whirlpool tub. Large walk-in closet in master bedroom. Huge guest bedrooms with large closets. Security System, lawn well and irrigation, two HVAC units (one specifically for the master suite and the other is approx 1 yr old), two water heaters, side loading garage, and the roof is less than seven years old. Covered front and back porch. 24x10 heated and cooled sunroom/Carolina room. Private setting in backyard with patio. Twoplayhouses in backyard, window treatments, and surfboard ceiling fan in guest bedroom (seller will replace with another fan) do not convey with sale. see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES - Central A/C - Central heat - Fireplace - Walk-in closet - Hardwood floor - Tile floor - Family room - Living room - Office/Den - Dining room - Breakfast nook - Dishwasher - Refrigerator - Stove/Oven - Microwave - Washer - Dryer - Laundry area - inside - Balcony, Deck, or Patio - Yard   OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES - Much Sought-After Pine Lakes Community   ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Welcome Home! This is our Living Room Dining Room Family Room Kitchen Carolina Room Contact info: Juliet Johnson Prudential Burroughs and Chapin Realty, Inc. (843) 315-0226 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Jul 30, 2010, 7:40am PDT

Prices are not exactly coming down; it's just that cheaper stuff is selling!

Every day, someone asks me if the market is picking up. 

What's going on?  What's happening with prices?

I try to explain what I see:  the market is definitely coming back.  There is a lot more activity, but, it's still in the lower end of the marketplace.  Where in a neighborhood 8 homes sold over the last year, only 2 have sold in the last 6 months, and what did trade was those that were listed lower.

In this neighborhood here in "midtown" of Myrtle Beach - where there are some modest homes, some very swanky places and all of them are within 1 mile of the beach, within walking distance to the shops, etc. - here what has sold is homes in the upper $200s where within the last 12 months, the average sales price was $50,000 higher. 

While this might suggest prices are falling 11%, it is simply more likely that those homes in the lower price points are the ones that are selling right now.

Another trend we're seeing is a narrowing gap between what a home is listed for vs. what it sells for.  Where 12 months ago, sellers were negotiating on their list price; now -- their list price is cut to the bone, just to get buyers to LOOK at the property.  Therefore, there is much less room to negotiate.  Sadly, buyers aren't on the same page here....yet.

~

I'd like to invite you to connect with me on these other places:

Juliet Johnson serves Jacksonville, FL realtors, home sellers and small business with social media strategy, online visibility and product creation services, that include training if you want to do it yourself. 

"If your social media activity isn't a revenue generator for you, you're doing it wrong."

 

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Myrtle Beach Home for Sale, not in a Subdivision, within easy golf cart distance to the beach!! OPEN SUNDAY!!

This Sunday, I'm going to be holding an open house in one of the houses - downtown in Myrtle Beach - where you can walk to the beach!  I'm so excited!!

Much of what we see and sell here is in sub-divisions.  There are quite a few homes not in subdivisions in the blocks back from the beach, but many - if not most - appear to be dated, rather 50s-ish but not in a cool way - and not terribly fun for today's buyer unless they love the idea of customizing it excatly to their own taste.  This can be a great journey or a nightmare depending upon your tolerance for home improvement stress!!

Enter 610 61st Avenue North - a contemporary, cute 3 BR withing walking distance to lots of things... not the least of which is the ocean!!  OR you could get a handy tax credit on your electric car from President Obama ...for your golf cart / electric car, that is!!

Here's more details on this home.  I'll be here from 1 - 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 18, 2010. 

Juliet Johnson | Prudential Burroughs and Chapin Realty, Inc. | (843) 315-0226 610 61st Ave North, Myrtle Beach, SC Cute 3 BR within walking distance to beach! 3BR/2BA Single Family House offered at $279,900 Year Built 1989 Sq Footage 1,900 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking 1 Car garage Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Just perfect if you are looking for a home within walking distance to the beach, shopping & a great park for the little ones. This home is in move-in condition. 2 master bedrooms, wood flrs, tile, nice size rooms for entertaining, SS Appliances in Kitchen, granite countertops, a lovely back yard & a large deck for those outdoor parties or just enjoying your own solitude. We have priced this home to sell. see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES - Central A/C - Central heat - Fireplace - High/Vaulted ceiling - Walk-in closet - Hardwood floor - Tile floor - Family room - Living room - Dining room - Dishwasher - Refrigerator - Stove/Oven - Microwave - Granite countertop - Stainless steel appliances - Washer - Dryer - Balcony, Deck, or Patio - Yard ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Welcome Home! Lovley Kitchen Breakfast Area/Dining Family Room Wet Bar in Family Room Garden Contact info: Juliet Johnson Prudential Burroughs and Chapin Realty, Inc. (843) 315-0226 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Jul 16, 2010, 5:38am PDT

The Dunes Club
Established, exclusive, elegant and yet, a warm family neighborhood.

There are currently 13 homes on the market for sale at the moment in the Dunes Club.  This is an unusually high number for them, given that only 2 have traded in the last 6 months, and only 5 over the last year!!

In the last 12 months, 5 homes have sold, ranging in price (original price listed) $445,000 - $649,000.  The average selling price was $414,480, with each home averaging a closed price within 7% of asking.  The average days on market were 128 (range: 32 - 228).

The majority of homes sold in the Dunes Club, including the 2 that are pending tend to be 4 bedroom properties.   [Those pending transactions, by the way, have an average price of $362,500, with an average of 206 Days on Market!]

Myrtle Beach Homes For Sale

The Mid-Year Report - 2010

Good news, apparently.

"Market Analyst Tom Maeser says single family home sales have gone up 29%, and condo sales have gone up 19%."  Largely, because we have a lot of 2nd home buyers in on the Grand Strand.

“We’re running 45% cash sales, so these are people that don’t need financing.  They have been helping to make the Grand Strand market not too bad, we’re actually seeing a lot of activity,“ said Maeser.

The black tube is the 2010 total solds which compared to 2009's orange tube shows that gains were only made in Carolina Forest and Surfside.

Sales outpace inventory/supply in Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, Surfside and Murrells Inlet - which should help reduce our absorbtion rates.  The pending numbers look gloomy to me, but that could just be that closing periods have narrowed , which would make sense if most of our current sales are CASH. Those deals can close in 28 days or less!

Bargain hunters?  Why not take a look at Garden City and Surfside - look how much they've got to move!

I was happily enjoying the Washington Post's snarky write up of Sweden's Royal Wedding this morning, when suddenly I noticed that friends of mine had also read the Post recently,  "liking" and commenting on various articles. 

I know people in Washington?  Nope.  Just another example of Facebook's clever way of keeping you in touch with your friends, in such a way that you have stuff to talk about!  Sooo clever.  Check it out:-

It won't be long, I have been saying for a while now, that Facebook will totally replace email. It's already replaced social emails for my friends and family.

But what a great way to keep track and interact with clients in a non-salesy, yet honestly relational way! By noticing and keeping up with their concerns and interests as you go about following yours. Way cool.

My new buyers this week thought they wanted to buy a 55+ Active Adult community in Myrtle Beach.

I didn't ask why initially, I just looked for what few were in the price and then what they could afford at other sub-divisions.

It has been a surprising journey; if there wasn't a beautiful home on a fabulous lot with water and golf course views my guys would not be up for 55 + at all!

My folks thought they wanted the following benefits:-

1. quiet
2. no kids next door practicing their garage band in the, um, well, garage, right next door
3. organized activities
4. lots of like-minded retirees

2.  As to no kids, there are restrictions on the length of time grandchildren can stay, and if, God forbid, something were to happen where the grandparents get custody, special dispensation would have to be applied for.  And depending upon the age of the child, there are no guarantees....