real estate: Don't just list advantages...Show Value & Add Value! - 06/17/08 11:04 AM
Below is a recap of a Jeffrey Gitomer eZine for this week. I found it refreshing and gained something from it. I thought I would share it with you.
Most companies train 90% product knowledge, 10% sales knowledge.
Big mistake.
The percentage should be: 20% product or service, 80% sales, personal development, attitude, and presentation skills.Salespeople spend 80% of their time OR MORE trying to explain their product. Why their button is different than the competition's button. Why their product is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
It is referred to as "educating the customer," and some see it as an … (4 comments)
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real estate: Where would Cracker Jacks be? - 06/16/08 02:20 PM
If it wasn't for Take Me Out to the Ball Game and baseball's 7th innings stretch.
Did you know Take Me Out to the Ball Game is the number 3 sung song in America? Behind "Happy Birthday" and "The Star Spangled Banner?" OR it was written by a man that had never been to a professional game? It was about a baseball crazed girl he liked.
Also,
Take Me Out to the Ball Game turns 100 this year! That is right, it is the Centennial birthday of our favorite 7th inning stretch song...but did you know that singing take me … (7 comments)
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real estate: Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. - 06/16/08 12:09 PM
Below is the text of the Commencement address by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivered on June 12, 2005. I thought I would share this with you today, in hopes that you gain a personal insight, possibly answer a few questions or at least hopefully think and understand how precious, beautiful and short life is.
Life it too short to do something you don't love. Live, Laugh, Love and Learn. CARPE DIEM!
Stay hungry. Stay Foolish.
"I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in … (4 comments)
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real estate: 22 Helpful Links for real-estate and business professionals (Part 4 of 4) - 06/12/08 10:50 AM
Here is the last set 22 links that you may find value in. Take your time and don't be overwhelmed. They all contain a good amount of information, free services, marketing ideas or other helpful ideas! Maybe tackle 3-5 a sitting and see if they can help you out. I hope a few help you guys!
•1. www.classifiedflyerads.com - provides a free blog
•2. www.digg.com - place for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the web
•3. www.flickr.com - upload and share your photos - view the world.
•4. www.incredibleagents.com - Make sure you are listed!
•5. www.mayorofyourzipcode.com … (6 comments)
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real estate: 22 Helpful Links for real-estate and business professionals (Part 3 of 4) - 06/11/08 02:16 PM
Here is the 3rd set of 22 links that you may find value in. Take your time and don't be overwhelmed. They all contain a good amount of information, free services, marketing ideas or other helpful ideas! Maybe tackle 3-5 a sitting and see if they can help you out. I hope a few help you guys!
•1. www.ebates.com - register your clients and they get a free gift card
•2. www.floodsmart.gov - check the flood zone on any property
•3. www.hyplet.com - free online contact widgets
•4. www.Igoggle.com - create a personalized and user friendly browser home page
•5. www.imagechef.com- customize signs … (4 comments)
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real estate: 22 Helpful Links for real-estate and business professionals (Part 2 of 4) - 06/10/08 12:35 PM
Here is the 2nd set of 22 links that you may find value in. Take your time and don't be overwhelmed. They all contain a good amount of information, free services, marketing ideas or other helpful ideas! Maybe tackle 3-5 a sitting and see if they can help you out. I hope a few help you guys!
•1. www.mozy.com -- for only $4.95 a month, they automatically back up your pc and laptop while you're sleeping every night. The back up is not just data---it's all my programs, emails, etc. If your computer goes down or needs to be replaced, just … (1 comments)
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real estate: 22 Helpful Links for real-estate and business professionals (Part 1 of 4) - 06/09/08 05:35 PM
Here is the first set of 22 links that you may find value in. Take your time and don't be overwhelmed. They all contain a good amount of information, free services, marketing ideas or other helpful ideas! Maybe tackle 3-5 a sitting and see if they can help you out. I hope a few help you guys!
•1. www.Slide.com - Creates Free slide shows. Great for Website, Listings, Family and Friends etc.
•2. www.Meebo.com - A Free Online Chat Module for your website or ActiveRain Profile Page
•3. www.twitter.com -- communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers … (12 comments)
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real estate: JUNE is National Homeownership Month! - 06/03/08 01:15 PM
TIME TO CELEBRATE!
Homeownership is the American Dream! For those of you who own your home, celebrate! And for those of you who still rent, don't fret! There are options for you! Despite the current market turmoil, Bank of Whitman is in solid shape: They have plenty of liquidity, sensible underwriting standards, and are ready to lend! - factors essential to keeping our community strong and families secure in their homes. Today, Spokane is a buyers market and if you are looking to purchase antime soon you have a few things going for you!
1. We have money to lend and programs to fit … (3 comments)
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real estate: Competition, Love it or Hate it... - 06/02/08 05:25 PM
IT IS HERE TO STAY!
Competition as defined by wikipedia: "Competition is the rivalry of two or more parties over something. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which coexist in the same environment. For example, animals compete over water supplies, food, and mates. In addition, humans compete for attention, wealth, prestige, and fame." -- and business
It goes on to say (I love this):
"Competition gives incentives for self improvement. If two watchmakers are competing for business, they will lower their prices and improve their products to increase their sales. If birds compete for a limited water supply during a drought, … (0 comments)
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real estate: Of the 89,376 AR Members, How Many are Active? - 05/29/08 03:08 PM
About once a week I notice the AR member's number in the top right part of the website. The growth that is shown on a weekly basis is amazing, but it also got me thinking...
How many of these 89,376 Members are still active in the real estate industry?
How many have just logged in and created a profile b/c their friend/co-worker sent them an invite - but never came back?
I know there are A LOT in my community -- and we are a small town compared to the big cities. I have seen people just pop-in make a … (22 comments)
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real estate: More Mortgage Mess... - 05/28/08 12:48 PM
According to the article below it looks like Fannie and Freddie will begin to force Banks and Mortgage Companies to buy back their loans. This could spell major disaster to the Lending institutions that did great amounts of sub-prime lending and could lead to more doors closing and further job loss. Just when you think the worse is over, this comes along and has the potential to soak up even more liquidity in the market. Tough pill to swallow for the lenders out there.
The Strong will Survive!
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that mortgage lenders are facing an assault … (4 comments)
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real estate: Is your MLS giving listings to independent websites? - 05/14/08 11:12 AM
An article in the NY Times on Monday peaked my interest and I thought I would share it with you all. Great article that makes you think about the future of the real estate market.
What do you think about sharing your listings with independent webistes?
Do you think it will be or is helpful or is it adding more competition to an already competitve market?
"AS if home buyers do not have it good enough already, finding a house for sale on the Web is becoming easier.
The triple threat of a weak market, legal pressure and increasing competition has … (4 comments)
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real estate: I Love Spokane! - 04/14/08 03:57 PM
Why you ask? Well while the 4 seasons, generally nice people, good schools and the entrepreneurial flare of the city are nice, the main reason I love Spokane is that it is different. Take for example the article below. If a person from Spokane was to read this and really think that the reasons for not buying a home, applied to our outlook they would be making a huge mistake! Not only has the Spokane market not depreciating, it never has had a depreciating year since they started tracking the statistic in this market. That said we aren't going to see … (0 comments)
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real estate: Random Facts from a Credit Scoring Seminar I attended... - 04/10/08 05:56 PM
I attended a credit scoring seminar this morning in attempts to learn something new and I am glad I did. Now most of the seminar was review for me, some info jogged my memory and some of it was new. Below I have listed a few topics that I thought you could benefit from knowing.
WHAT GOES INTO A CREDIT SCORE?
The approximate makeup of the FICO score Fair Isaac discloses to consumers
Credit scores are designed to measure the risk of default by taking into account various factors in a person's financial history. Although the exact formulas for calculating credit scores are … (10 comments)
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real estate: It has been 1 Month since my first Blog...I have learned a TON! - 04/07/08 01:05 PM
March 7th 2008
This was the date of my very first blog...EVER. Since that date, contributed 30 blog posts and this will be my 31st. I thoroughly enjoy reading other people's blogs as much as I like to post my own. During these past 30 days I have found numerous professionals and have learned a great deal on this site. I have an unquenchable thirst for learning my craft. I can't get enough. As I have stumbled across professionals that seem to add something to my life with every read of their blog i have subscribed. I have subscribed to blogs that … (25 comments)
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real estate: Five Questions That Change Everything - 04/07/08 10:49 AM
I waited a few days to post this blog, to see if the "hype" that comes from a live demonstration was just just that. I wanted to amke sure that if I was to post on this, that i still beleived in it after the initial hype had faded. So here goes!
Last Thursday I had the unique opportunity to go and listen to John Scherer speak about his upcoming book. I am in the process of reading his 1993 book Work in the Human Sprirt and it is definitely an amazing read so far. John, himself, seems like a well spoken … (14 comments)
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real estate: My Trip to the Gas Station... - 04/05/08 02:36 PM
So...I went in to fill up my car this morning as I had driven almost all of yesterday with the gas light on. As I pulled into the station I noticed gas was $3.49/gallon. I am not sure about the rest of the country but that is the highest I have EVER paid per gallon. Now as I stood there filling up my 2000 Jetta I see the total creep and creep and CREEP up over $40 dollars - which was how much it cost to fill up last time, but this time the pump had no intentions of stopping there. … (17 comments)
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real estate: Do you have a living will? - 04/04/08 10:16 AM
So I met with my financial planner yesterday and he mentioned getting a living will now that my wife and I have begun a family and my assets base is growing. Personally, I have heard of it before, but never given it any real consideration - partially due to the fact that I don't think of dying all that often. It is probably my naïveness that hasn't allowed me to really look into it. This is something I am going to do, b/c I do not want to be in a situation wheere machines are my only hope of living. If that … (11 comments)
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real estate: My perspective on the Bankrate.com Mortgage Rate Index - 04/03/08 03:31 PM
After reading the Bankrate.com's Mortgage Rate Index (posted below) this morning I fell into a slight depression...but quickly snapped out of it. Granted the survey is based on a popular vote, but most of the people that read these surveys and participate in them I like to think are pretty well educated in the mortgage market...Maybe I am giving too much credit, I don't know. The survey asked what we thought rates would do in the next 30 days...as a mortgage professional you are taught to think that rates will increase...regardless if that is the case. You are dealing with other people's … (3 comments)
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real estate: The Little Red Book of Selling -- A Must Read! - 04/01/08 11:31 AM
Have you read this book written by Jeffrey Gitomer yet? If not, I highly recommend you going out and buying a copy today. You can find them for under $14 on sites such as eBay, and Amazon.com. Even people who don't like to read books will find that this is not only an easy read, but it is enjoyable as well. It is an amazing book packed full of sales information. I have read a lot of sales and networking books, but this one has to be my favorite. He cuts to the chase, with his in your face approach and down to … (28 comments)
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