Gabrielle Jeans Laws of Real Estate: The Negotiation Do-Not's Part 1 - 07/28/11 04:14 PM
1. Talking too much - Skilled Negotiators listen attentively more than they speak. They also plan what they are going to say and limit their discussions. A knowledgeable approach, sticking with the facts and applying helpful problem-solving techniques, while using as few words as possible, is always the best way to arrive at an agreement.
2. Getting too friendly - I have seen salespeople focus too much attention on trying to become "buddies" with their clients. These salespeople mean well, and they believe that friendly overtures will make clients trust them more. However, clients need helpful information, sound advice, good service, … (10 comments)

Thriving In Tough Buyer Markets: A Study of “Shift” by Gary Keller - 07/28/11 02:53 PM
Wait For The “Tourists” To Leave
“With relatively few barriers to entry the real estate industry can become flooded with practitioners during a prolonged sellers’ market (an upshift).  Larger and larger numbers of agents are attracted to the industry and this increases the competition for the existing business.” – from Shift
I call people who get into real estate purely because of a hot seller’s market tourists.  They’ve got the same mentality as people who blindly invest in real estate during these markets.  They act based on media hype: their decisions are purely based on fleeting emotion, not logic or research.  Like … (3 comments)

How To Get a Million Comments On Your Blog - 07/28/11 01:50 PM
For Real Estate Professionals that may possess a sense of humour, check this post out. It was posted by Craig Rutman and i thought it was funny. Thanks for posting Craig
Via Craig Rutman Raleigh/ Cary/ Apex area Realtor (Home Buyer and Seller Specialist):
How To Get a Million Comments On Your Blog! You just wrote a blog that your certain is nothing short of Pulitzer prize worthy! You hit that submit button, expecting hundreds and hundreds of comments, dozens of re-blogs, a Featured post, and, of course, accolades from everyone you've ever known! And there you sit, waiting.... and waiting.... and waiting. … (1 comments)

6 Step Real Estate Selling System - 07/28/11 01:43 PM
As a real estate sales manager, broker owner, and real estate trainer, I’ve worked with thousands of real estate salespeople.  After accompanying these people on sales appointments, I’d counsel them afterward on areas they needed improvement in.  I eventually distilled the real estate selling process down to 6 basic steps.  Once I adopted this selling system, I found my sales and the sales of these people I counseled increased as long as the 6 steps were carefully followed.  This step by step selling system real estate is just like any blueprint for building or achieving anything.  Just follow the steps and … (5 comments)

Real Estate Guide: Will Texting Replace Email? - 07/28/11 09:56 AM
If texting evolves and becomes useful in more ways than it serves today it may replace email.  But right now there are many areas where texting is no threat to email.  No one is texting a cover letter and resume to a job posting.  No one is getting newsletters sent to them via text message.  No one is forwarding humorous videos or pictures via text.  No one sits down and writes a lengthy, thoughtful message via text.
But we are starting to see text messaging used in the real estate business.  Some real estate professionals are building up a following on Twitter … (9 comments)

Using ActiveRain SideBar Links in Your Favor - 07/27/11 10:51 AM
As an Active rain newbie, I never really made use of the sidebar. I recently started using it and I got a comment saying the video on my sidebar was great. Thanks for the reminder Tammy
Via Tammy Emineth (Personal SEO - Website SEO and Real Estate Marketing):
Are you using the ActiveRain sidebar link location to the best of it's ability? Did you know every time you post a blog those links are counted as a back link? Granted, they are not as heavy on the back link scale as say a back link from a .gov or .edu site but they … (3 comments)

Buying into a Neighborhood - 07/27/11 10:06 AM
Today’s home buyers are buying a home just as much as they’re buying into a neighborhood.  So it’s not enough to just sell people on the features and benefits of your listings.  You need to sell them on the features and benefits of each listing’s neighborhood as well.  You do that by becoming a neighborhood expert.  But if you are currently working several different farm neighborhoods, it’ll be difficult to establish yourself as an expert in all of them.  So focus on one particular neighborhood (ideally the one you live in) and design your website strictly with that neighborhood in mind.  … (0 comments)

Is Print Media Still Relevant to Real Estate Marketing? - 07/27/11 09:39 AM
I believe Print Media will still be relevant at least for the next 50 years. There are still some clients that will not go online to search real estate because that is not what they are used to. These are the people that still need the print medium. Great Blog.
Via Mona Gersky, GRI, ABR~MoonDancer Realty~ Buyer and Seller Representation (MoonDancer Realty):
Since getting involved with the ActiveRain real estate community, I often wonder about the differences and similarities of real estate markets and marketing in our various regions. Is print media still a relevant way to market real estate?
 
 
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Real Estate Guide: How to export Facebook Contacts to Google Plus - 07/26/11 01:19 PM
Here is a step by step process on how to export your facebook contacts to Google Plus.
Real Estate Guide: How to export facebook contacts to google plus View more presentations from WebTech Dezine … (0 comments)

Real Estate Benefits of Google Plus - 07/26/11 12:49 PM
Here is a post on some benefits for Real Estate Professionals using Google Plus.
Real Estate Benefits of Google Plus View more presentations from WebTech Dezine … (0 comments)

Be a Top Producing Real Estate Agent - 07/25/11 01:06 PM
In these videos, I talk about Marketing strategies to use to become a Top Producing Real Estate Agent. Hope you enjoy the videos and feel free to comment about it to and share some ideas you may have.



 Watch the Rest of the Videos here
… (1 comments)

Albert Einstein and Real Estate - 07/25/11 12:16 PM
This is definitely not gibberish. Real Estate Agents need to learn to do things differently. A lot of good comes from thinking outside the box. It helps you succeed in the Real Estate industry as doing things differently would grant you outstanding results
Via Peter Lavelle, GRI 267-348-4008 Greater Philadelphia Real Estate (Next RE):
Diary of a Whimpy REALTOR
 
Whether you believe in a religious aspect of creation, or evolution, one thing is certain, the Universe is constant and it is ever changing. That also refers to the Real Estate Profession and our personal lives.
Albert Einstein stated, "The definition of insanity … (3 comments)

What Real Estate Negotiators do. - 07/25/11 12:13 PM
Great negotiators are highly attuned to other people.  They understand each prospect and client’s needs and wants and those of both the buyer and seller.  They’re acutely aware of a room’s atmosphere and its effect on a listing presentation.  They’ve refined their listening skills, are patient and flexible, and change when required.  They exemplify awareness, listening, patience and flexibility.
Awareness
The definition of awareness is “a direct or intuitive perception of intangibles or emotional states”.  It’s a sixth sense all good real estate sales people need to have and develop for several important reasons:
- Gauging if the words or signals you … (3 comments)

Ways to Market in the Real Estate Industry - 07/25/11 10:37 AM
Properties Wanted
A real estate website need not be all about showcasing your listings.  One innovative sales rep has a section where they put details about the specific types of properties their current buyers and regular investor clients are looking for.  They include city, neighborhood, type of house, # of bedrooms, etc. along with price range.  This sales rep has a form where buyers can submit what they’re looking for, and it gets posted here.
Twitter
One top achieving Toronto rep has his Twitter postings relayed to his website’s home page.  He posts updates on what he’s doing, where he’s traveling, … (2 comments)

SEO for Realtor Websites- Real Estate Marketing Tips - 07/25/11 10:30 AM
How To Lists
How to go about buying or selling real estate can be mystifying to many people, especially first time buyers.  So you can help make different parts of the home buying process as easy as possible for your website visitors by providing step by step instructional lists.  One creative real estate professional put a 10 step list of instructions first time home buyers can follow step by step for the entire process of home buying.  You could also have step-by-step lists for things like getting a mortgage, how to choose a pre-construction condo, or how to prepare your outdoor … (0 comments)

Are Real Estate Buyers Liars? - 07/22/11 11:39 AM
I’ve been recently watching a real estate reality show on TV called Agent Vs. Agent that pits veteran real estate professionals against rookies.  The contest on each episode was having both of the reps show a given buyer homes they might want to buy.  The winner was the rep who successfully negotiated a home purchase for the buyer.
In one of the episodes one of the rookies remarked “there’s a saying in the real estate business: buyers are liars”.
I’m betting a lot of real estate professionals say this, especially rookies.  They spend a lot of their time showing buyers homes and are … (8 comments)

Real Estate Professionals: Are You Different from your competitors - 07/22/11 11:34 AM
Differentiating yourself from your competitors in various ways is an important step toward being a top producer.  It’s because differentiation is the foundation of branding yourself and your business.  We all know it’s no longer all about what company you work for as it used to be.  Today, who you are and what you bring to the table are paramount.  The more unique your offerings, the better. 
When you follow the pack and do all the conventional things you think real estate professionals should do, you’re little more than a face in the crowd to most prospects.  But when you’re different, … (0 comments)

Real Estate Law of Reciprocity - 07/22/11 10:04 AM
I believe in a concept I call reciprocity.  This concept is called by different names in different walks of life.  Each version of this concept sheds new light on what the underlying principle means, but essentially they all mean the same thing.  You could state the concept as simply as “what goes around, comes around” or “you get what you give”.  Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Physics states “To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction”.  In Hinduism and Buddhism the concept of karma is defined as “the total effect of a person’s actions and conduct during the … (3 comments)

Three Strategies For Success in TODAY'S Markets! - 07/21/11 09:58 AM
This post contains great strategies on how to handle buyers and sellers in challenging markets. These are indeed successful strategies in Today's real estate market. 
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Via Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group):
 In these challenging times, going back to basics, as many suggest, just doesn’t cut it! While many of the foundational prospecting activities are still important, most agents are finding they need to be thinking creatively, emploing innovations and new strategies to create a thriving business.
With every challenge, comes real opportunities.  Every year,my clients do annual business planning with a review of the … (0 comments)

Forget pepper spray....use your smartphone as your weapon! - 07/20/11 12:54 PM
Great Tips in this post. Realtors and Real Estate Professionals can learn a lot from this post.
Connect with me on my social media accounts
Become a Fan of Gabrielle Jeans
     
 If you need a Google plus invitation as well make sure to like the facebook page and we would send you an invitation.

Via Pacita Dimacali - ePRO, SRES, CDPE, Alain Pinel in Northern California (Alain Pinel):
Ladies and gentlemen, choose your weapon
In case you missed it, here's a fabulous article from the July 2011 issue of REALTOR Magazine:
"Feeling threatened? How to use your smartphone as a weapon."
… (1 comments)

We have been Ranked #! for our Google Plus for Real Estate post. - 07/20/11 10:54 AM
Hi Active Rainers,
I had previously shared a post with my active rain family on Google Plus for Real Estate Agents and I am pleased to announce that it has reached the number one spot on Google. Feel Free to check it out.
Google Plus for Real Estate Agents View more presentations from WebTech Dezine  
… (3 comments)

Real Estate SEO Marketing : What Your Real Estate Website should be - 07/20/11 09:38 AM
Design Around Target Markets, Not Search Engines
You should make your website interesting to your target markets, and search engine friendly.  But your visitors’ ability to navigate your site easily is more important than search engine friendliness.  If you create a content rich, search engine friendly web site that people can’t get a clear sense of how to navigate within a few seconds of visiting it, you risk losing them just as much as if you’re website was content barren and boring.
Earlier I talked about what your real estate website shouldn’t be.  This is as just as important as what … (2 comments)

Google Plus Humor - 07/19/11 12:19 PM
… (2 comments)

Real Estate Marketing : For Sale By Owners Marketing Online - 07/19/11 10:09 AM

The longer the conversation goes via email, the more rapport and trust you build, and the more information both of you will exchange.  At some point it will be more efficient to discuss things over the phone, so if they don’t request doing this ask them after you’ve exchanged a few emails.
You may want to take a more automated approach to this process rather than trying to engage in lengthy email dialogues with all of the FSBOs you find.  The more automated approach is just mailing all of these people the same information every week or bi-weekly (no more than … (2 comments)

Google Plus for Real Estate Agents - 07/18/11 04:35 PM
Google Plus for Real Estate Agents View more presentations from WebTech Dezine … (0 comments)

Real Estate Tips : Don’t Leave Relationships On The Table - 07/18/11 09:59 AM
 
I must create a system, or be enslaved by another man’sI will not reason and compare; my business is to create- William Blake
We’ve all heard the phrase “leaving money on the table”.  For those who haven’t, it means unnecessarily giving up money in a situation when you don’t have to.  One of the biggest shortcomings of real estate professionals is leaving their business relationships on the table.  Once the closing documents are on the table, drawn up and ready for signing, the one thing most sales reps consistently leave behind on that table is the relationship.  The common thinking … (5 comments)

The Psychology of Real Estate Searches - 07/18/11 09:49 AM

Understanding How People Search Online
Before delving into the finer details of everything to do with Google Adwords let’s step back for a moment and take some time to understand the psychology of how people search for things online.  Understanding this psychology is a critical part of a successful Adwords campaign because how our ads are displayed to searchers is closely and directly tied in with how people search.  So if we have a keen understanding of how people search, then we’ll understand how to get the right ads in front of the right people at the right time.
First, … (0 comments)

Real Estate : Passion + Planning = Momentum - 07/18/11 09:36 AM

Every real estate professional needs momentum for achieving a successful business.   Now what do I mean by momentum?
Let’s define momentum. Momentum is defined as a “strength or force gained by motion or through the development of events”. Momentum is when things are moving along to the degree that there’s no more stopping. Things just keep going.You have momentum when you find yourself consistently spending time and effort on your business. No more fear and procrastination. When you have momentum with your business, you’re motivated and fully engaged on a daily basis to work on your business.  No one (not … (1 comments)

Real Estate : Advanced Listing Presentation - 07/15/11 10:21 AM
Yesterday I had the priviledge to speak to Real Estate Agents about Advanced Listing Presentation. Even though it was a course requirement for most, I factored in the importance of giving a Wow listing presentation. The Wow factor always has to be present. There were a lot of questions and answers and some talk on Social Media by my Director of Social Media Atim Ukoh. It was a successful seminar and I look forward to the one in september. If you live in the GTA and need credits to renew your Real Estate License, Look out for my next course; Building … (2 comments)

Real Estate Professionals : Still Skeptical about Google Plus? - 07/13/11 11:07 AM
The buzz of Google plus has been all over the Internet this past few weeks. Many real estate professionals are skeptical about it. This skepticism however does not change the fact that potential customers are joining this social network and this would be a new way to engage them. The Real Estate agents that got a head start with social networks a few years ago are reaping the benefits of their hard work because they have a strong social media presence. This is the chance for Real Estate professionals to get in early and start working hard on their Google plus … (1 comments)

Google Plus Real Estate : The New Cool - 07/12/11 12:12 PM
Real Estate Agents contrary to popular behavior are joining the newest Social network Google
Plus. Real Estate agents in the past have shown a lot of resistance to Social Media but it seems
this theory is different with Google Plus. Since its still in its Beta stage, you require an invitation
to join. If you want an invitation Message me on here, leave a comment or Contact me through
the social media accounts and we would send you an invitation.
 

Become a Fan of Gabrielle Jeans
     
 
 
 
… (6 comments)

Branding for Success in Real Estate - 07/11/11 04:57 PM

Today, all real estate professionals must create their own business identify through their branding.  Long gone are the days when we could rely on our company name for our branding.
One of the most important aspects of branding is consistency.  You should be using the same wording (eg. business name, slogan) and graphic design elements for your business identity in all areas of your promotional material.
So here are some of the things you can do for building your branding:
Unique Selling Proposition – this is where you define your competitive edge.  It’s really the heart of your business branding and … (1 comments)

Real Estate Back Linking and Craigslist - 07/11/11 03:32 PM

Your Back Linking Strategy & Craigslist
For your back link strategy on Craigslist, you ought to post ads in other areas of Craigslist, but these ads shouldn’t be your listings.  For instance, you should regularly post ads to the Real Estate Services section.  Be creative with the content you post here.  For instance, if you have a blog, you could include an excerpt of an article here with a link to the whole article on your blog.  You could try doing a cross-post wherein you describe your services and at the end mention you have a new listing and provide … (3 comments)

The Walkability measurement in Toronto Real Estate - 07/11/11 09:52 AM

For many people living and/or working in population dense parts of major cities, transportation means something completely different than for suburbanites.  An associate of mine recently saw Rick Mercer, a well known Toronto journalist and comedian with his own TV show, someone presumably fairly well off, get on the subway and sit near him.  Many urban core dwellers choose not to own a car partly because of the cost but also because they don’t really need one.  They can find most anything they want by walking, by bicycle, or public transit if absolutely necessary.
So a growing consideration in real … (6 comments)

Two Big Online Moneymakers For Real Estate Agents - 07/08/11 11:50 AM

Become a Fan of Gabrielle Jeans
    

 
… (2 comments)

A Real Estate Career Part time? - 07/06/11 09:50 AM

The debate about whether people should be allowed to be real estate professionals on a part time basis rages on. What interests me about this issue isn’t so much who’s right and who’s wrong but what motivates the points of view from either side.  I believe when we look closely at the people arguing against part-timers we find they’re usually motivated by self-interest borne out of their own waning competitive edge in this business.  They mask their elitist, anti-competitive views in essentially hollow rhetoric.
People on the “no” or “nay” side of the question usually stereotype part-time real estate professionals.  … (35 comments)

Negotiation Mistakes Real estate sales people make part 3 - 07/05/11 04:50 PM

Making Statements
Whenever a real estate rep uses a direct statement for overcoming objections or expressing a point,  the sales person automatically creates an opportunity for disagreement .  If  a disagreement does, it’s less likely you’ll close the sale.  We all know how much clients love disagreeing with us!  For instance,  if I say ”it is cold in here”. I am automatically opening myself up for a potential debate. I am also psychologically saying Me! Me! Me!
Closing is all about asking questions.  If I instead ask the client “Do you find it cold in here?” There is no potential for a … (2 comments)

Negotiation Mistakes Real estate sales people make part 2 - 07/05/11 03:48 PM

Poor Presentation Skills
Sales are usually lost due to untrained real estate professionals.  Their biggest shortcoming is poor presentation skills.  When negotiating, the better your presentation skills, the more you’ll close sales.
Good presentations have three components: a visual component, a factual component, and an emotional component.  Integrating all three components is essential for developing your negotiating skills.
Visual Components: skilled negotiators use visual aids (pictures, diagrams, videos, sounds) for making their points more memorable.  An internet-ready laptop is a great platform for your CMA and any online resources you want to show.  For example, you could login to MLS and … (0 comments)

Negotiation Mistakes Real estate sales people make - 07/05/11 03:39 PM

Most sales professionals try too hard getting heard by their prospects and don’t listen nearly enough.  They don’t understand the most important reason for listening to someone is learning what motivates them.  The more you listen to someone, the more you show you want to help them, and the more they’ll want to work with you.  By listening you’ll understand their concerns and might learn something that’ll help you in negotiating.  They might even tell you what you need to close the sale. Listening to someone is the greatest compliment you can give them.
Creating Arguments
The old cliché “the customer … (2 comments)

Ways Real Estate Agents Can Win New Listings - 07/05/11 03:20 PM

Become a Fan of Gabrielle Jeans
    

 
… (0 comments)

Negotiation Tactics for Real Estate Agents - 07/05/11 11:33 AM

Become a Fan of Gabrielle Jeans
    
 
… (6 comments)

Creative marketing strategies for Real Estate Professionals - 07/04/11 04:18 PM
How To Lists
How to go about buying or selling real estate can be mystifying to many people, especially first time buyers.  So you can help make different parts of the home buying process as easy as possible for your website visitors by providing step by step instructional lists.  One creative real estate professional put a 10 step list of instructions first time home buyers can follow step by step for the entire process of home buying.  You could also have step-by-step lists for things like getting a mortgage, how to choose a pre-construction condo, or how to prepare your outdoor … (3 comments)

Real Estate Website Strategies to avoid - 07/04/11 01:59 PM
Website Content And Strategies You Should Avoid
Your real estate website is your face on the Internet.  Prospects judge your site very quickly (as do search engines), so it’s just as important to have the right ingredients as avoiding the wrong ingredients.  So make sure your website doesn’t the following blemishes:
The Me-Me-Me Website
When people visit your real estate website, they’re mainly looking for listings (especially pictures of listings) and secondarily any helpful info you can provide for helping them find their dream home.  So don’t bog your site down with info about “you”.  All you really need is an … (4 comments)

Real Estate Website Domain Names : How to choose domain names - 07/04/11 12:12 PM
You should have both a generic name for your real estate website (eg. Mississauga-condos.com) and your own name (JohnSmith.com).  A domain with your own name is part of your personal branding.  But when the day comes to sell your website domain, unless you’re a famous person, no one is going to be interested in buying your JohnSmith.com website name.  But they’ll be interested in Mississauga-condos.com.  This could become a valuable piece of “dot.com real estate” that could eventually be worth tens of thousands of dollars when you retire or leave the real estate business.
Some companies specialize in buying domain names … (3 comments)

Real Estate Blogging to improve SEO - 07/04/11 09:49 AM

Real Estate Blogging & Site Content – Best Practices
Most real estate professionals who try their hand at blogging for their business write sporadic, very general articles on real estate.  This actually does little to help your real estate business.  There are two basic reasons to have a real estate blog: demonstrate your real estate expertise and help your website’s search engine optimization (SEO).  When you write very general real estate articles, you’re really not giving your prospects any information they can’t find on the next real estate website they visit.  So why would they sign up for your mailing … (13 comments)

 

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