You Can Live an Extraordinary Life When the Evidence Doesn't Support It - 09/29/09 10:17 PM
A fellow coach, Kim Ades, recently gave a seminar with a provocative title: How to Live an Extraordinary Life when the Evidence Doesn't Support It.  Every time I read that title, I find myself structuring a blog.  Maybe all of us coaches think alike and promote a similar brand of positive thinking, but her title sums up my philosophy.
How do most people measure success in life? With money and prosperity? Fame? Children? A nice home and car?  What is it for real estate agents?  Awards from the franchise? Ever increasing sales volume?  Industry designations?  Invitations to speak at conference?  Regard … (2 comments)

Making Sure Your Customers Are Really Satisfied - 09/28/09 09:16 PM
Have you ever thought of using a satisfaction questionnaire to keep in touch with your clients? According to Businesstown.com, most unhappy customers will not complain directly to the business they are unhappy with. Instead, they will complain to everyone they know while taking their business to a competitor. To counteract this possibility, businesses are increasingly making follow-up calls or sending out satisfaction questionnaires after a sale is made.  If you go to Walgreen's, Red Lobster, or JC Penney's, you will find a number on the receipt to call to complete a customer satisfaction survey.
You might consider sending out a survey … (3 comments)

A Heartfelt "Thank-You" Paves the Way to Referrals - 09/25/09 08:51 PM
No matter how old you are, you probably remember what happened every time you received birthday gift from Grandma.  Your mother would sit you down with a box of notes and a pen, and tell to you write her a thank you note.   
These days, the computer makes writing "thank you's" easier and email may have even replaced the mailing phase.  The important thing is that the message was delivered, but an actual thank you note, maybe even handwritten, makes the gratitude seem a little truer. 
How often do you get anything handwritten in the mail these days? How about … (4 comments)

Your Brochure Should Show You're a Problem Solver - 09/23/09 06:31 AM
When you think about spreading the word about your business, a brochure automatically come to mind.  Even though customers may find out about you and your services on the Internet, when people meet you, they like to come away with something more substantial than a business card.
Brochures can give a good "snapshot" of your business. Aside from presenting your logo and your contact information (address, phone/fax number, website, email address) - business card content- the brochure gives you a chance to tell the client what to expect from you.  It usually lists the things you can do, but offers you … (41 comments)

Make Your Customers Feel They Need You - 09/22/09 08:50 PM
It costs six times as much to get a new customer as to keep a customer you already have. Anonymous Business Sage
I have heard several versions of this quote with different math.  The point is the same.  Marketing for new customers is more is expensive that developing past or current ones. In real estate, people do not buy homes all that frequently, so you can‘t just work old customers for new business from them. However, they might be ongoing sources of referrals between purchases. This is why keeping in touch with past clients can reap benefits for you.
In addition, … (4 comments)

Turn Yourself on to the New Light Bulbs in Real Estate - 09/16/09 10:59 PM
"Genius is 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration."  Thomas Edison
You remember the old saying about the balance of perspiration vs. inspiration in most endeavors of life.  That 99:1 ratio reminds us that after the light bulb has come on, the implementation and the follow through are what matters.
In real estate, blogging and social networking are two of the biggest light bulbs illuminating the field.  Both give potential clients an insight into who we are.  Blogging, the more time consuming effort, requires more time to prepare, but offers more space to state the case that we are experts in the field and … (4 comments)

A Call to Arms from the NAR - 09/15/09 10:57 PM

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke may think that the worst of the economic crisis is probably behind us, but anyone out in trenches knows we have a way to. Anythign that helps, including the $8,000 first time homeowners tax credit needs to be extended , not ended.
 This is why the recent Call to Action by the National Association of Realtor is right on time.
Subject:  Call for Action - Extend and Expand the Homebuyer Tax Credit
Earlier today, the National Association of Realtors issued a Call for Action to its 1.2 million members in support of this same objective. … (4 comments)

Driving Your Business While Distracted - 09/14/09 09:42 PM
Personally, I like to talk on my cell phone in the car when I am not in a busy area.  However, some cities and states have recently banned texting while driving and even using you cell phone while driving.  We've all seen examples of where people cut it too close or made a risky turn with their phone in one hand. Yet most of us are double-minded when it comes to banning such distractions.  We say, many drivers can't handle it - I can.  Or, I need these wasted moments on the road to conduct my business...
Cell phones enable high … (5 comments)

Just Looking: Part 2 - 09/12/09 10:13 AM
We all know that some clients have no idea what they want.  Many do, but they are just not showing their hand.  So, when some people  say they are just looking, they may be:
Actually looking with plans to buy.  Some concrete information and little a nudge might get them going. The $8,000 credit might do it.  Talking through their situation might do it.  Finding them a more affordable home (or one with special features the want)  might do it.
Looking for the future to get a better idea of what's out there.  They may know that their credit is whacked, that they … (4 comments)

Just Looking: Part 1 - 09/12/09 10:01 AM
Recently, we were helping a consulting client find a website package that would help them promote a particular segment of their business.  We researched several sites on line and made a couple calls so we could give the client a brief overview of what was available in certain price ranges.  
We were, literally, just looking - window shopping, so to speak -for the client to help him narrow down what he needs.  One company gave no information about the pricing on line, so we filled out a form.  A few days later, we got a call from this vendor.
"What's … (8 comments)

Race to Win - But don't Forgot to Steer - 09/10/09 09:51 PM
Someone once asked auto racing legend Bill Vukovich the secret of his success. "There's no secret," he replied. "You just press the accelerator to the floor and steer left."
That is about as simple as you can get. Stop for a moment and ask yourself if you can boil down your real estate business to something equally as simple.
Having trouble? Then it is time for a peek under the hood of your business.
Have things become unnecessarily complicated at your office?"
Has bureaucracy crept in and started making your operations messy?
Do you feel like you have lost focus?
If … (0 comments)

Pick No Fruit Before Its Time - 09/09/09 05:17 AM
Remember that old Paul Maisson wine ad?  The tagline was "We'll sell no wine before it's time."'  This was, of course, parodied in numerous comedy skits, where the comeback was "It's time, it's time!"  However, anyone who's ever made homemade wine knows that fresh made wine is virtually undrinkable; hence, the wisdom of the famous line...
This has application when considering calling expireds from the MLS hot sheet.  It's tempting to call as soon as the time is up.  Expireds are hot prospects who want to sell.  They are low handing fruit.  But, is it time to call as soon as … (8 comments)

Labor Day: Time to Refocus for a Great 4th Quarter - 09/07/09 05:16 PM
Labor Day marks the end of summer. In many places, this summer was cooler than usual, which makes it harder to believe than usual that it is all over.
In the old days, when real estate was "normal," fall marked the beginning of a slower season.  Many buyers gear their housing purchases to the school schedule.  This year, with the first time homebuyer's credit, part of the target market is families buying their first home.  Eagerness to get the credit may supercede the desire to wait for a school break!  This means a couple busy  fall months for agents.
For agents … (2 comments)

Milk or Cheese? - 09/02/09 10:51 PM
Sometimes things strike you funny  but they are so true.  As I was reporting some of the span comments that are plentiful on Active Rain these days,  I noticed this gem among the nonsense the makes up these comments.
Cheese - milk's leap toward immortality
What do you do with milk? You drink it, you spill it, you keep it too long and let it spoil and throw it out.  No matter how delicious it is, especially when teamed with chocolate cake, you seldom ever think of it after it's gone. It's the cake you remember.
Cheese, on other hand, is … (2 comments)

 

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