Real estate blog entries tagged with business building tips by Dean Moss, Dean's Team Chicago IL Real Estate Team (Dean's Team - Keller Williams Realty Partners Chicago IL)

Home : Blogs : Dean Moss : Dean's Team Chicago Real Estate Blog : Tag "business building tips"

business building tips: VOIP . . . VOIP . . . Do You Use VoIP? It has Saved our Team a Lot of Money! - 03/02/08 02:36 AM

Happy Sunday, from Chicago!
There seems to be a lot of controversy on the following word, but it has saved our Team about $100 a month. Ready for the word? Here it is -
VONAGE!
We started using this VoIP Phone Service about 18 months ago, after using a similar service, now defunct, for the previous two years. Here's how it works, in layman's terms, since I am not a techie.
You buy a special phone adapter, or combined phone adapter/router, and connect it to your high-speed broadband (cable or DSL) connection on your computer. You then connect a standard cordless phone to the adapter - … (10 comments)

business building tips: STARBUCKS - The "BREAKFAST OF REALTORS" - In Need of a Face Lift? - 02/27/08 05:44 AM

Hope you're having a productive afternoon, everyone! The snow is beginning to melt here in Chicago!
I'm sure you've heard by now of Starbucks publicity-laden move to close their stores last night for three hours to "re-educate" their barista crews and other staff on how to make better coffee, and make visiting a Starbucks a better customer experience. Read "The Stew," the Chicago Tribune Food and Wine Blog, for reader comments and related video.
Competitor Dunkin Donuts countered the Starbuck's publicity stunt by offering free latte drinks most of the afternoon and late into the night yesterday - I tried a cup, and it was … (8 comments)

business building tips: "TRIM THOSE EXPENSES!" What's YOUR Big Trim for 2008? - 02/23/08 10:15 AM

Hey, everyone, from icy Chicago!
Many years ago, my very rich uncle from St. Louis gave this young kid some valuable pieces of business. One,"You don't get rich by WORKING HARD - you get rich by MOTIVATING OTHERS TO WORK HARD with you!"
Today, however, let's focus on the classic saying, that I bet your rich uncle gave to you, too - "It's not what you MAKE, it's what you SPEND!"
How many of our clients earn a lot of money each year, but, net-net, they are actually BROKE. (One physician client of mine comes to my mind here - his and hers BMW's, … (52 comments)

business building tips: CELL PHONE WARS - Unlimited Minutes Plans May Change the Landscape of Telecommunications! - 02/19/08 10:46 AM

Hold the Phone, friends (sorry, no pun intended)!
Verizon, AT & T Wireless, and T-Mobile have just introduced new Unlimited Monthly Plans - only $99.99 per month, including, in unlimited long distance and roaming. T-Mobile users will have unlimited Text Messages included, Sprint's plan, being tested in several markets, but not yet introduced, would also include unlimited data services.
Personally, I have an old Nextel National Unlimited Plan, for $149 per month plus $10 for data, plus 10 cents a piece for text messages - but these new plans are an even bigger bargain for us mega-user Real Estate Practitioners (over 3.500 minutes … (8 comments)

business building tips: Professional Partners - Your LIFEBLOOD! What if One of Them Lets You Down? - 02/16/08 02:30 PM

Just a crazy guy, working here in Chicago on a Saturday night!
Here's a bummer of a story, this one involving a challenging short sale. It's bothering me, but I feel it could happen to any Real Estate Practitioner who produces in volume, and works in today's real estate market.
We all know, sometimes, we can do our best, and work very hard to keep a deal together. Most times, we can't do it alone. You often propose a lender, a contractor, inspector to handle these critical functions within the transaction. In specialized situations, you sometimes need specialized partnering professionals. If that partner … (4 comments)

business building tips: Lil' Buddy's Blog - Why I am a Keller Williams Dog - AR EXCLUSIVE! - 02/14/08 09:39 PM

THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!
Woof, y'all! Just got back from Hot-lanta, and Keller Williams Family Reunion, with our Human Team Members Dean & Sue Moss. What a Great Time! What a Great Town! What Great KW People (the best I could tell, I was the only Little White Dog in attendance). Next year - Orlando - and maybe I'll finally get to meet that Big Mouse down there!
You know, just over a year ago, right after Christmas, 2006, Team Leader Dean packed us all up and … (1 comments)

business building tips: BUYER'S AGENTS: When is that Lowball Offer . . . TOO Lowball? - 02/13/08 02:59 PM

Hey, folks!
Our Buyer's Specialist, Kathleen Weaver-Zech, wrote an offer on a short-sale property while we are out of town at Keller Williams Family Reunion. And it's not that simple to figure!
The house the buyers wanted was a large, 1929 four-bedroom brick Chicago-style Bungalow, in the upper-middle-class Gladstone Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side of the city. Condition was average. The current owners purchased the house about a year ago for $372,000.
Their current asking price, a short-sale situation with lead paint disclosure issues - $279,900 - nearly $100,000 less than when they purchased one year ago!
Kathy's clients offered low-$250's - by any objective … (13 comments)

business building tips: HARDBALL? SOFTBALL? Have YOU Changed Your Negotiating Stance in 2008? - 01/30/08 04:28 PM

Here's one for all you Listing Agents out there! C'mon - I know there are a couple of you out there - let me hear you!
HAVE YOU CHANGED THE WAY YOU HAVE COUNSELED YOUR CLIENTS WHEN NEGOTIATING AN OFFER ON THEIR BEHALF THIS YEAR? Tougher? More Flexible? Somewhere along the middle? Or, no change!
In the past 14 years sellilng residential real estate in all Chicago Neighborhoods and Suburbs, I built a career on pricing right, selling close, and staying fairly true to the reasonable market price. In the dark days of the early 90's (by twist of fate, I was selling … (3 comments)

business building tips: IT'S SNOWING OUTSIDE! Is it OUR Fault? - 01/22/08 03:09 PM

Good Evening, from Chicago, folks!
We just experienced the highest one-day Fed Funds Cut in 24 years, and survived what was predicted to be a crazy day on Wall Street, but actually turned out to be not so bad. Indeed, we are survivors!
Hey, are we responsible for EVERYTHING that happens to our client's real estate transaction, and to the house afterwards? Every little pebble along the road? Every wise-crack remark the other party or agent says? Every ridiculous repair request? Every walk-through credit requested? Every normal maintenance repair after the house closes?
Man, it sometimes feels that way!
What is the general perception about Real … (10 comments)

business building tips: SCHEDULE Your Time Off - RECHARGE, or Else You Will BURN OUT! - 01/19/08 05:57 AM

It's COOLLLLD here in Chicago - going to 5 below tonight! Thank goodness the boiler still works, and I have a wife to snuggle with!
When I got into the real estate business 14 1/2 years ago, my first broker asked me what attracted me to the industry. Without hesitation, I responded - "Better Hours!"
Of course there were other reasons - no limits to what you can achieve, you determine your own income level, being an independent business person with less risk, and so on. But really, the hours seemed better!
You see, before real state ("BRE"), I owned a Subway sandwich franchise … (6 comments)

business building tips: Some Agents Take Things PERSONALLY - Why? - 01/18/08 08:07 AM

All set for the weekend, folks! It's going to be COLD here in Chicago - sub-zero! Bundle up, if needed.
I am in supposed mid-negotiation for one of my listings. As is the case these days, the offer from the Buyer's Agent came in way too low, but the deal had a large component of cash to it, and my client countered. Two days later, we were close on money, agreed on dates and terms.
I got a call, out of the blue, from the Buyer's Broker - an older, independent owner of a smaller office who has some time in the business, … (4 comments)

business building tips: THE POWER OF MENTORING - in a Nice, Compact Package! - 01/17/08 02:51 AM

Good Morning, Everyone!

Several years ago, Floyd Wickman, our mentor, trainer, and friend, introduced the concept of R-Mentor Groups. It built on his earlier, established concept of Realtors Professional Association Groups of between six and twelve members.
The Mentor Group would meet each month, to review good things that happened over the last 30 days, a review of production stats, sharing of ideas on how to do your job better, a "Fishboning" of problems each group member may have, to help solve their problems, and a commitment from each member on what they will achieve before the next month's meeting. … (0 comments)

business building tips: WICKMAN-ISMS to Live By - Some Thoughts and Notes from Master Sales Academy in Chicago - January 11-13, 2008 - 01/16/08 02:33 PM

Hi, Gang!
What an incredible weekend 350 of us had at last weekend's Master Sales Academy, 2008 - with Floyd Wickman and his highly-skilled trainers here in Chicago last weekend. It's easy going to a convention, or a conference, and learning from the speakers on the platform. What makes Masters different than the rest, however, is that you learn just as much from THE PEOPLE WHO ATTEND!
Sharing with other Wicki Students is the key. Here, I would like to honor Dee Nofziger, from Maumee OH (near Holy Toledo) and Danbury Company Realtors. Dee won the award for the MOST USEFUL IDEAS COLLECTED … (7 comments)

business building tips: HOLD THE PHONE! Do you have a SYSTEM for Managing and Returning Phone Calls! - 01/14/08 09:55 AM

Hey, gang!
What SYSTEM do you use for handling the phone?
Many agents today use their cell phone almost exclusively. In our opinion, this could create problems. We'll tell you why we feel that way, and then provide a great resource - GoSolo.com - that can inexpensively provide you with a better way to manage the phone.
Earlier today, I posted a comment on Mike Norvell's Leesville FL Blog. He posed the question - do you answer your phone? He said "NO", and observed that many of the top-producing agents in his area leave their cell phone off of their business cards and … (2 comments)

business building tips: MINIMUM AGENT PRODUCTION STANDARDS - Does Your Office Have Them? - 01/08/08 03:33 PM

Big Debate in Our Office Earlier Today -
Should agents be required to live up to minimum production standards to continue to affiliate with our office?
The Top 20% of agents in each Keller Williams Market Center (office) are charged with leading many business and cultural elements of the office, through the office Agent Leadership Council (ALC). I thought it only made sense to apply minimum standards to the agents working here. After all, we are all in a SALES business - and any sales business has to have minimum production standards and accountability - right?
No, we're not trying to be hatchet men here! … (20 comments)

business building tips: WANT A GREAT, VISIBLE, INEXPENSIVE PROMOTIONAL ITEM? Look on the FLOOR! - 01/07/08 09:56 AM

Good Afternoon, Everyone!
I think the Team and I found a great marketing item, fairly inexpensive, very practical, and incredibly impactful, in every locale and climate, but especially where it gets cold and snowy each winter (like here in Chicago, for example) -
PERSONALIZED FLOOR MATS!
We have placed three of these with our new listings so far, with rave reviews from clients, showing agents, and potential buyers alike. Sellers like the fact we are providing a professional mat for folks to put their wet shoes on, or wipe them off. Buyers think it's classy. Co-op agents are just jealous.
We place them automatically in a seller's … (16 comments)

business building tips: COMPENSATION CONNUNDRUM! Are We Worth More Now? - 01/07/08 01:55 AM

Happy New Week, from Chicago!
Just a question - Are we Realty Professionals worth more to clients now?
A couple of years ago, may agents around Chicago were discounting, some heavily! We resisted, and maintained our fee (NEVER call it "COMMISSION" Levels) at the same moderate rates they had been for many years, and our business continued to grow.
Now, in a transitioning market, slanted heavily in the buyer's favor, prospective listing clients are looking far less to the "cheapest folks in town." I am getting far less resistance to what we charge - and clients seem to know, more than ever, that they get … (2 comments)

business building tips: WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER ONE, FOLKS - Your # 1 Goal for 2008? - 01/05/08 03:05 AM

Hope you're enjoying the weekend, folks - record warmth (50 degrees) expected here by tomorrow!
Hey, of all your goals for the New Year - what tops the list?
For me - it's "NO MORE BABYSITTING!" Clients, staff, Team members, co-op brokers, etc. I'm raising my standards, my integrity, my efficiency, and my level of delegation to others I trust, so I can do the things I'm best at - Listing and Selling Real Estate!
What about you? Perhaps we can build a long list, for all to share. So far, we've gotten these -
1. NO MORE WORKING WITH CLIENTS WHO DON'T RESPECT ME!
2. NO … (2 comments)

business building tips: ASSISTANCE, BEFORE ASSISTANTS - If you want to REALLY SUCCEED in Real Estate! - 01/03/08 10:53 AM

Greetings from Chicago!
New Year's Resolutions still intact? Good, you're ahead of 98% of the population (you know, those having that second piece of cake after dinner tonight!)
Years ago, when I started in Real Estate, my first broker told me -
"You never become a millionaire doing $5 per hour work."
I'm somewhat dating myself here - $5 per hour is now about $12 per hour, but the concept is the same!
From the day I started in real estate - I always delegated the non-revenue-generating activity to someone clerical. Printing Mass Mailings. Stuffing Envelopes. Addressing. Distributing Flyers. The list goes on. At the same … (4 comments)

business building tips: WE'RE ALL AT THE SAME LEVEL TODAY! Now, Work Your Plan! - 01/01/08 11:33 PM

Good Morning, All!
Top Producers, Medium Producers. Weak Producers. NON Producers.
We're all at the same level, today, the First Business Day of the New Year! Right now, it's not quite 7:30 here in the Midwest, 8:30 in the East, 6:30 in the morning in Denver, and the un-Godly hour of 5:30AM out West.
To the best of my knowledge, no one, and I mean NO ONE, in North America . . .
. . . NO ONE has yet closed a sale yet in 2008!
Now, you have to separate yourself from the pack. This is where the Top Producers work differently than everyone … (6 comments)

Related Links: