JC Melvin's Blog

RED DAY 2010 with Keller Williams....WOW!!!

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Sat, 15 May 2010 15:28:17 -0700

What an incredible day of giving across North America...

Click the link below to view a quick video recap of the two project our Market Cener was in volved with .

1. was at an at risk elementary school and the other was a neighbor in need in henderson....

It is truely an enjoyable video... Thanks for all the KW associates and staff and vendors that joined in and helped make this such a GREAT day.

Nigerian scam grabs $60,000 in EMD in Atlanta

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:38:17 -0700

This is a note from a friend of my who owns several KW offices to his agents.... Check out this true story that just happened... Talk about goofy in Real Estate! YIKES

A Message From Shaun Rawls - OP of The Rawls Group Share Today at 6:10am If you want to know why the Southeast region has been the number one region for KW in every category for the past several years, you need to look no further than the leadership. Shaun Rawls is not only the OP for my office, but The Rawls Group owns many offices in the Southeast and now in the New York region. If it was not for Shaun's support and the amazing culture of my office that he helped inspire, I never would have been inspired to attract agents to this amazing company. - AK

Superstars...

If you like REALLY interesting stories about what NOT to do in real estate, then this message is going to make your day. Today, I was made aware of one of the most unique violations and criminal acts that had occurred in a transaction, and it involved one of our agents. Thankfully, the improprieties involved the OTHER company in this particular transaction and not "us."

It appears that our agent successfully negotiated a binding contract on a piece of property, the terms of which included our buyer placing $10,000 of earnest money with the listing broker. That's the good news.

Check out the bad news:
1. The listing agent fraudulently signed the contract on behalf of the seller without the seller's consent;
2. The listing agent also (and fraudulently) signed two other contracts on behalf of the seller without the seller's consent, none of which were made to believe that their contracts were anything other than primary contracts;
3. In addition to the $10,000 of earnest money that our buyer paid to the Listing Broker, there was an additional $50,000 of earnest money paid by the buyers of the other two contracts;
4. All of the earnest money was cashed. However, not by the Listing Broker.
5. When I questioned "How in the world an earnest money check made payable to "Company X" could be cashed by anyone other than Company X?", the broker explained that the agent had opened a bank account under the name "Company X," which allowed the agent to deposit the earnest money funds into this account.
6. Even more unfortunate is that the Listing Broker informed me that his agent was "duped" into taking the earnest money by an internet scam that led the listing agent to send all of the $60,000 of the buyers' earnest money to Nigeria in hopes of receiving untold amounts of riches. I kid you not.
7. The listing agent stole $60,000 of earnest money, sent it to Nigeria and has nothing to show for it. And even better, the listing broker doesn't have it either.
8. Our Team Leader, our agent, our buyers and the broker for Company X are all freaked out.
9. Did I mention that the listing agent is 62 years old, married and an associate broker with his firm?

More Good News:
1. After getting off of the phone with the listing broker and realizing that he doesn't have the funds to do the right thing, I immediately called our client to let them know (a) of the thousands of real estate transactions that I've been involved in over the past 20 years, his is, perhaps, one of the top 3 most interesting, and (b) The Rawls Group is going to write him a check for his $10,000 so that we can bear the burden of getting the money back from the listing broker, not him. This will allow him and his family to get back to work finding their next home without any stress or delay.
2. When I called our agent to let her know of my conversations with the listing broker and her buyer, she tearfully told me how she's always read that "I got your back stuff" and just sloughed it off, never realizing that I really did have her back until I had an opportunity like this to prove it.
3. Under the circumstances, I don't really see covering our buyer's loss from this freak incident as anything more than the right thing to do.

The Morals of this story are:
1. Agents should never take earnest money from buyers that they deposit into their own accounts only to send those funds to Nigeria to cash in on a get rich quick internet solicitation. If you do, then you'll probably go to jail like I believe the listing agent will.
2. Who you are in business with and who you do business with matters.
3. Doing the right thing is sometimes expensive. However, the right thing to do has nothing to do with profit or loss.
4. I recommend that we (Keller Williams Realty - The Rawls Group) hold earnest money as often as possible because it will always be held and disbursed appropriately and legally.
5. Just when you think you've seen it all, you're wrong!

Please, please, please use your common sense out there. Operate with the highest level of concern for your reputation, your integrity, your profession and your broker. The liabilities and the risks that we take everyday are staggering. No transaction is worth your reputation, regardless of the amount of commission you could earn.

Thanks for always being a shining example of the integrity and the professionalism that I want The Rawls Group to be known for. I appreciate you, and...

I really do have your back!

SHAUN

Balancing Nevada with Real Estate Fees???

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 08:54:32 -0700

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Nevada-Association-of-REALTORS/318556647164?ref=ts

Nevada Update: All Real estate agents in Nevada should immediately become a fan of the Nevada Association of Realtos Facebook page. This will provide you the most up to date news, tax and fee issues affecting our business during this upcoming 2011 legislative session in Carson City. There are many areas that we may need to lobby against and one of the quickest ways to get the word out is via social networks.

We are looking to get to 10,000 fans by the end of 2010...This will provide us with the ability to share information quickly and effectively during the 2011 session....Get youself signed up as a fan and mention it at your office meetings.

Thanks,

JC Melvin

Two months down - ten to go! 1/6 of the year is over -

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:07:16 -0800

Here is the cool thing about Success....It's a choice! Anybody can choose to enjoy massive success or....they can choose to wallow in the reasons why success has eluded them...either way, it's still a choice...1/6 of the year is over... Are you on track for 2010? All the best....You Deserve Success...so, go get it!

As we approach the end of winter and move towards the spring where most of our businesses tend to pick up and increase...it's really time to examine what the heck we have accomplished in the first two months of the year....It is gut check time...We've got to ask ourselves, "If I keep doing what I've done for the first two months of the year, what will my end of year really look like?"

This is really the last shot to break out, change our daily habits (if we are not on track) and create new momentum for 2010...We all deserve success...let's go get it! JC from Vegas

Only 89% of the year left to go!

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:25:41 -0800

That's right....11% of the year is already behind us and we've got about 89% of the year to go... Time to check progress... I've got a few agents in my office that are still formulating their 2010 plan???

This is time for a quick gut check...How are we doing after the first bit of the year is over... Not to worry if we find ourselves behind...Let's just reorganize and get ourselves set for the coming spring and summer months....

With 11% of the year behind us, it's a simple reminder that our career is really a day to day business. So, the question is -- what am I going to do TODAY to enhance and grow my business? What will I accomplish the rest of this week? What can I do before the end of this month?

I am still a believer that 2010 can be one of the greatest real estate years of our career...It is the new normal and this door of opportunity is HUGE! We simply need to open the door and walk through it!

Just some food for thought. JC from Vegas!

"Resolutions" Make more money - Lose more weight! What's new?

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 10:28:24 -0800

Our mutual friend on facebook, Larry Bergstrom, says that new years resolutions last, on average, about 19 days!!! Here is a thought--More health club memberships are sold between December 15th and January 15th than at any other time of the year. By Feb 15th the crowds have left the clubs and the regulars return to their normal workout schedule....

On the "Making More Money" resolution...it also requires work and commitment which is why it is often left behind and/or lost in the "life gets in the way" category....

To succeed in either one of the top two resolutions for any given new year, it takes a bit more than a wish and verbal declaration on our part.....You are welcome to read our new book called "Reinventing Yourself in Today's Economy."... It's a free pdf download on my profile page... It's a fun, quick and easy read which addresses how to change ones mindset and how to change ones financial future. Enjoy and Happy New Year!

activerain responsible for new book-FREE now to all ar members

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:46:47 -0800

YEP...it's true. I wrote a blog post on July 26, 2009 called, "Is the country Depressed?" In writing this blog and giving thought to the answers it stimulated the idea that I should write a book. SO...My wife Minnie, my daughter Julie and I wrote a book called "Reinventing Yourself in Today's Economy." It's based on the research we did after writing that simple blog on activerain! The result is a fun and quick read which has some valid answers for many in our business as well as for many others. Many business leaders such as Robert Kiyosaki, Donald Trump, Gary Keller and others are quoted in this fast moving read about Reinventing Yourself. It truely has some great concepts for 2010 and beyond. It is FREE to our entire activerain family. Just click on the FREE ebook on my profile page for the pdf version. JC Melvin

OMG....It's December!

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:43:54 -0800

Wait a minute, I thought the year just got started. Do you find yourself saying that each year? I do and one of the things we may all becoming aware of is this; The older we get...the faster the time seems to go! At the end of each year I, like everyone else, begin to question my business success over the year and often times come to a realization that I did not accomplish what I had originally set out to do for the year. For years I kept saying to myself, "I've got to work harder and smarter next year and stick with it."

Then these last two years came along and kicked me in the teeth! OUCH! I don't want to sound like a victim here but wow...really...I just didn't see it coming and I got caught like many others in the real estate business. My wife and one of my daughters are also in the real estate business and all of us experienced some massive frustration...We just completed writing a book called "Reinventing Yourself in Today's Economy." Whether you are in the real estate business or any other business for that matter, it may be a great read for you...and we gladly share it with you for FREE. Simply go to my profile or see my link , "FREE ebook" and click on it. All of our active rain friends may have it for free. It's a pdf download...Writing the book really got us refocused on the correct way to think and ultimately on creating a very strong financial base.

Asking for a favor for a family friend- Voting ends today

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:48:45 -0800

PLEASE VOTE TODAY: We have a family friend who is one of the two finalist to be A Victoria Secret Angel this year. Her name is Kylie Bisutti. Every vote counts..1. go to http://cbs.com 2. go to bottom of page and click on Victoria Secret Home page 3. Click on watch and vote 4. Click on Vote now for your favorite 5. Vote for Kylie Thanks, JC

FREE ebook - Reinventing Yourself in Today's Economy

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:09:11 -0800

As we wrap up 2009 and put it behind us, it's time to prepare for 2010. While I am one of the most optimistic people you will ever meet, I was slammed financially in 2008....YES I know it's now the end of 2009 and we are heading for 2010...Just giving some background....

I love the new slogan that Realty Executives has come up with describing our real estate market as "The New Normal." Although I am not with them, I believe they have nailed it... We are now getting adjusted to the new normal and it's different than before.... My wife, daughter and I have just completed writing our newest book called "Reinventing Yourself in Today's Economy." While I have been sucessful in the real estate industry in the Las Vegas market for some 28 years, 2008 and 2009 woke me up!

We will provide a FREE ebook version of our new book to all of our Active Rain Family...Simply go to my profile here on active rain and click on the FREE ebook or CLICK on FREE ebook from my links. It's a quick read designed to help reinvent yourself! Happy Holidays to all... It is our gift to you!

Happy Holidays to all. JC in Vegas

2009 NAR Convention Report - Green & Opportunity

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:32:19 -0800

It was great to spend four days in beautiful San Diego at this years annual convention. The message was, "think Green" as our new normal continues to unfold and be open to the vast opportunity that exists in this market. Prices are low and investors are on the move....It is likely that more millionaires will be made over the next few years in real estate than we have seen for a long, long time.

Think about getting two designations which will serve you well over the next bunch of years. 1. I'd immediately recommend that you pursue your SRS designation from the SRS council. This is the new Seller Representative Specialist and is a fairly elite group... The cost is reasonable and the benefits of the program will provide you with the tools for massive success in 2010 and beyond. Go to www.srscouncil.com

for more info or a two day program near you!

2. I'd suggest that you strongly consider obtaining your GREEN designation from NAR before the middle of 2011 if you do not already have it....The consumer is beginning to become more globally and socially responsible and will be looking to work with an agent who understands and can communicate the benefits of GREEN living. To get information on the designation or find a course near you, go to: www.greenresourcecouncil.org/

Kicking Butt in 2010!

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:52:45 -0700

Well boys and girls, here's the deal! There is no free lunch in our real estate market this year and there won't be next year either. The only way agents will be kicking butt in 2010 is by starting that process by November 1, 2009... If we have not yet reinvented ourselves in this "new" economy, it's time to do so right NOW! The banks did not flood us with REOs in the second half of 2009 and won't flood us at all in 2010...

It's time to excel in Buyer Agency or become a Short Sale Listing expert if you are not yet an REO listing agent. In any case, we'd better set the business plan in motion for an early jump on 2010. Today's open escrows are January and February closings. I notice that the most successful agents in the business all have an outstanding fourth quarter when it comes to productive activities. This launches them in the first quarter of the coming year... I see this year in and year out with top producers. Repeat after me...."If it's going to be - it's up to me." JC in Vegas

Is the Country Depressed?

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 14:15:46 -0700

My good friend and mortgage broker, Mark Stephan, shared a theory over dinner last evening which makes perfect sense.

He suggested that because of the unemployment numbers, slow retail sales, slumping real estate business and all the associated downturn affecting the nation's economy that the "collective people" of the country are in a state of depression!

He went on to suggest that it is very apparent based on the lack of action on the part of the population to change their personal circumstances to move out of this economic stumbling block....

I tend to agree with his analysis as I have known for a very long time that confused people do nothing...I have co-workers and friends that seem to be frozen in their tracks and virtually refuse to take any kind of productive action to change their current situation.

Here is the question and I would love to get your quick response to it: Do you believe that most folks around you are waiting and hoping that "something will happen" or are you seeing people "putting together a business plan" and aggressively attempting to change their lives?

I originally wrote this post in July of 2009 and the questions are still valid...Beginning at the writing of this blog, it forced me to think and the result was a new book called "Reinventing Yourself in Today's Economy." This was published in December and in a way it was the Activerain community that got it started......so for the FREE ebook version, simply click on the FREE ebook link on my profile. Merry Christmas! JC

Mesquite Nevada - The magic of Mesquite-90 miles from Las Vegas

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 08:43:59 -0700

With a population of 25,000 people it is a different world 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas in Mesquite. Watch this video to learn all about what is happening there. A new international sports facility, Del Webb's Sun City project and much much more. A fast moving interview with JC Melvin of Real Estate Live and Jon Lyon of Keller Williams in Mesquite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WkcxSeqxLI

BYE BYE 8.33333% - 326 shopping days left!

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:22:11 -0800

YIKES, 8.33% of the year is gone if we are counting by months. Does this mean that I should have already achieved almost 10% of my annual goals by now?

Guess if I was waiting for all the new changes to take place with the new administration before I really got started.....I may want to re-think that strategy. Not that I am disappointed with what's happening in DC...I just think it's time to remind myself that "If it's going to be, it's up to me."

If you are anything like me you may have just come to the realization that we are less that 11 months away from Christmas already and the year of 2009 is moving forward at a rapid rate. I think we all know that the older we get - the faster time seems to move.

I'll be re-committing to my goals and revisiting my plan this week...If you have any tricks on how you stay focused - PLEASE share them!

Thanks,

Am I Too Late for REOs? An Interview with CEO of NFSTI (National Foreclosure Sales Training Institute)

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:21:44 -0800

Am I too late for the REO wave? Should I have gotten into that game a year ago? I heard that the asset managers are looking for people with experience... Do I need to get certified?

All of these questions are answered in this short video interview with Dan Waterman, the CEO of The National Foreclosure Sales Training Institute (NFSTI, llc.). I was fortunate to catch up with Dan immediately after he completed one of his two day "REO Certification" programs in Henderson, Nevada. Looks like the number of foreclosures will more than double in some areas of the country in 2009 although that's not all bad news. For the real estate agent, it is what it is.... In some areas of the country, such as Las Vegas, nearly 80% of all the closings for the last quarter of 2008 were REOs. Can you say "OUCH!"

While there are several REO Certification programs in the country right now, NFSTI, llc. appears to be amoung the most recognized by the banks and asset managers. Waterman brings asset managers into the program and the participants workshop the nuts and bolts of the process. The program involves a complete online follow-up system and national network system you can plug into once you've been certified. Hope you enjoy this fast moving interview by JC Melvin. Archived shows can be seen at www.RealEstateLive.TV

2008 Recap of Las Vegas Market-Video Report by JC

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:29:08 -0800

The Las Vegas market, after taking a beating in 2007, showed some significant signs of improvement over the course of 2008. While we recognize the number of foreclosures may, in fact, rise in 2009 over the 30,000 foreclosures of 2008, we are still bright on the future of real estate in Las Vegas.

The median price of single family homes dropped 33% from December of 2007 to December of 2008 according to the re-sale data provided by the Greater Las Vegas Assiciation of Realtors MLS service. The interesting thing is that the sales volume rose by 63% over the previous year to almost 25,000 re-sales.

If you click to watch the video below, you will see the complete recap of the Las Vegas Market along with the expectations for 2009 provided by JC Melvin. Also included are comments and prospects of the mortgage rates for 2009 provided by Metro Cities Mark Stephan. Enjoy the report. I'd love to get your feedback.

Thanks,

Snow fall on Video in Las Vegas

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:06:19 -0800

This is our home and yard and CAT in Las Vegas, Nevada. We have lived here for over 30 years and never seen anything loke this!!!! Enjoy. It was on December 18, 2008. About 3.5 inches at the house while just south of us in Henderson they got 8 inches.... Happy Holidays to all... Looks like a white Christmas....

Vegas Real Estate Update-December 2008-includes 3 1/2 minute Video

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:06:10 -0800

The Video is a fast moving 3 1/2 minutes update on both the current Las Vegas sales numbers and what's happening in Washington DC with use of the "bailout" monies to ease the credit crunch and move things forward. JC also talks about the closing of the Oasis Hotel in Mesquite (500 hundred jobs lost) and the opening of the Encore Hotel by Steve Wynn on the strip. Happy Holidays to all of Active Rain and God bless! JC

Time to sharpen your saw!

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:53:34 -0800

By JC Melvin, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRS, PMN

With all that has happened and continues to unfold in this now admitted recession, we've got some serious considerations to ponder and quickly I might add.

There are many real estate professionals that will absolutely flourish over these next several years and will likely reach new heights in their real estate businesses, never before achieved.

The question is what are they doing?

I recently interviewed a husband and wife team, who I personally know well, from Henderson and Las Vegas Nevada, Rick and Teri Brenkus. As I write this article, they are currently carrying 131 listings which is not up to par for them, especially in this market. In 2004 and 2005 this team brought in over three million in commissions annually, in 2008 they will end up closer to one million.

Everyone is bracing for more market bad news and more foreclosures even with the promise, excitement and hope that comes with a new President and the winds of change.

This particular husband and wife team may have the best year of their lives in 2009. This is also true of top producer, Chris Heller, from San Diego, California.

These agents are business people first and have taken the time to contemplate the markets in their area, forecast the change they must make, and then acted upon their plan, plain and simple.

Yep, it's time to sharpen the saw we are all working with so that we get the best of ourselves and staff, if applicable, for the time we invest in our business.

Talk about who moved my cheese? It's time to make the necessary adjustments and get on a business track to excel or to exit the business gracefully. Either one of these outcomes will cause a degree of relief and renewed excitement.

If an associate sees all the turmoil, which you'd have to be six feet under to miss, and chooses to do nothing except be a victim of perceived circumstances and market conditions, it's a choice to fail. My recommendation for this choice is to acknowledge the choice quickly and move to another line of work ASAP.

If, on the other hand, one seeks success in their real estate career and they are learning based and are willing to commit some resources to that success, have I got some suggestions for you!

First, wake up your life and make several modifications to your current routine.

If you don't exercise or workout at all, commit to walking 30 minutes every morning before 7:00 am. Second, if you are not a reader of books, commit to reading at minimum, a book every two weeks. Set aside an hour in the morning or an hour in the evening to read. Third, consider changing your diet to a more healthy diet in some way and lastly, consider cutting down on your alcohol consumption. If you're already good with all of the above I admire the heck out of you and you're well on your way, just make some modification in your life.

Next, get a hold of the book Shift by Gary Keller, Dave Jenks and Jay Papasan. You can buy it anywhere, online, books stores, garage sales, street corners, and almost any Keller Williams office. It is the single most comprehensive yet simple instruction manual written for a shifting market.

What ever you do, don't get concerned about the book being authored by Keller William's people. It's not about recruiting and could change your real estate career forever. The feedback from agents across the board has been incredible. From RE/MAX, Prudential, Coldwell Banker, CENTURY 21, ERA and many many others.

For more information and opinions on the changing face of real estate see the Inman news article link below.

Click on the link below

A call for expertise, 'de-cruiting' in real estate
by Inman_News

Green Homes - Energy efficient, ecologically sound, here we come!

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:28:13 -0800

Do green homes have to cost a lot more money than regular homes? No says Green Built home expert Bob Sluys. Bob says that it starts with a social awareness which this and the upcoming generations seem to possess.

Wait a minute....who cares about "Green" right now....we just want the economy to get back to half way normal. "Ah" says Sluys in his interview...This slow down period may be the perfect time to get your eco or green certification. Once we get back to a more stable government and financial outlook understand that Green will be the talk of the nation. Green cars, green appliances, green houses. It will be the social duty of the American home buyer in just a few short years, says Sluys.

Bob has build a website where the consumer can searh for only green homes and he talks about it currently being the only site like it in the country....Hard for me to believe but I guess it's possible.

In any event, he makes some great points and and utilizes some common sense in this interview with JC Melvin of RealEstateLive.TV It is a fast moving and fairly entertaining video blog which lasts a short 12 minutes plus. Hope you enjoy....I'd love to get your feedback. Simply go to www.RealEstateLive.TV and go to the Green Built Homes Show. http://www.RealEstateLive.TV

Real Estate Update from Vegas - H4H FHA loan program

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:24:19 -0700

Thought I would include this weeks show in my blog. With all the uncertainty in DC our clients and customers are not sure what to do or not do.... Buy or sell or do nothing at all.

Unfortunately many are choosing to take the "wait and see" position. The show enclosed is a fast moving piece which looks at the new H4H FHA Loan program, REO concerns, short sale tips and addresses the question of - Is it time to buy?

Active Rain Hosts Cocktail Reception at Vegas BlogWorld Event!

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:19:04 -0700

Wow, what a way to kick off a Real Estate Blogworld event. John Novak of Las Vegas and Henderson helped to coordinate the cocktail reception on the outdoor patio of Gordon Biersch less than a mile off the fabulous Las Vegas Strip. We could see the hotels lit up in the background.

The reception was hosted by none other that "Active Rain" and site builder Rich Jacobson and it was awesome!

As a new player in the blogging world and a fairly new player to Active Rain I was not sure who all the people were but was made to feel very comfortable.

There were authors, publishers and many people you might recognize from the Active Rain Community.

Daniel Rothamel of the Real Estate Zebra. Com and his wife were there. Daniel will be a featured speaker at this years event.

Michael Price was there and will also be a featured speaker.

In total there must have been close to a hundred that came and went.

I am sure there will be many blogs and posts about the convention......so...keep your eyes open.

New Salespeople VS Experienced - Survival or Success?

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:08:29 -0700

I cannot believe that we have almost worked our way to the last three months of the year once again. The kids are back in school, the weather is cooling off and before you know it, it will be the holiday season.

Have you noticed the older we get - the quicker time goes by?

For many years I would wait until the end of year period between the middle of December and the first week of January to set my goals for the coming year. Sometimes those goals would be accompanied with a plan and some years they would not, consequently some years I would reach my goals and some years I wouldn't.

Needless to say with this "sometimes approach" peak performance and desired results were not always being achieved. I sensed that I needed a revision and overhaul to the entire process to make it more rewarding.

This is what worked:

Long before setting any goals for the coming year, an evaluation of the current year was needed and it really had to begin early in the fourth quarter (October/November). This provides a fresh look at what just happened during the hot summer months (I mean the hot business in the summer months), what worked for me, what didn't work for me and the why things did or did not work and there is no blaming the market.

Most sales people start out a new year with a fresh attitude and lofty goals, unfortunately most goals go by the wayside by midyear for two primary reasons.

•1. A real self assessment of the prior year was not properly completed.

•2. The plan to attain the new goal was not property formulated.

Once the focus on the goals is gone, many sales people revert to survival mode. It's the survival mode that's responsible for 70% or more of the new agents in the business getting out of the business by their first renewal. Most will tend to go back to doing what they did prior to entering real estate. Many will keep their license active with a license hanging company, however, will never use their license again.

The real question here is why is the failure rate so high?

The industry offers a variety of training for newer agents. Much of the training provides for CE (continuing education) credit and even newer agents are taught to go and get their CE credits. In fact, if a program doesn't offer CE credits, many agents will not attend.

Even as I mention the above, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that the very successful agents will spend thousands of dollars flying out of town and booking hotels to attend NON-CE programs that enhance their business.

One of the differences between the new agent and the seasoned agent is that the experienced agent has clearer vision as they have already been through the fog associated with newness in the business.

My advice to newer agents is this:

•A. Get focused as quickly as possible.

•B. Trust in yourself quickly, you have brokers and trainers to call if you have questions.

•C. Utilize a written plan with time lines to follow.

•D. Invest in yourself, get the right training.

•E. Find a mentor to communicate with (this would be someone that is very successful that agrees to mentor you).

Put it all together and create a fabulous career!

The "Shift Tour"

JC Melvin (JC Melvin, Expert Witness & Keller Williams) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:54:27 -0700

The new book, "Shift" is out and it is on the money in terms of our real estate business.....The book and "Shift Tour" is in full swing. It is dedicated to sales professionals everywhere who are committed not just to having a great day, month, or year, but to a great real estate career.

These are the same authors that generated the best selling book, The Millionaire Real Estate Agent, including Gary Keller, Dave Jenks and Jay Papasan.

The tour has been selling out to crowds of 1,500 in two days... The cost to attend the full day program is only $15.00 and includes a copy of the book which retails at $21.95. This is a screaming deal and the book is on the money! You can sign up for the Shift Tour at www.millionairesystems.com . I have included the posted schedule below. For those of you in Las Vegas and Phoenix, you will note that you do not yet appear on the schedule... Looks like you will both be on November 11^th based on what I hear. Where ever you are I suggest that you get signed up quickly, some venues are already sold out.


09/04/08	Los Angeles, CA	Gary Keller	8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
09/05/08	Oakland, CA	Dave Jenks	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
09/10/08	Detroit, MI	Gary Keller	11:30 a.m. - 5:00p.m.
09/11/08	Chicago, IL	Gary Keller	8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
09/18/08	Vancouver, BC	Tony DiCello	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
09/19/08	Toronto, ON	Tony DiCello	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
10/02/08	Baltimore, MD	Tony DiCello	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
10/03/08	Virginia Region - TBD	Tony DiCello	10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
10/15/08	Columbus, OH	Gary Keller	1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
10/16/08	Boston, MA	Gary Keller	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
10/22/08	Denver, CO	Dave Jenks	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
10/23/08	Kansas City, MO	Dave Jenks	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
10/24/08	Minneapolis, MN	Dave Jenks	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
10/30/08	Southern CA - TBD	Tony DiCello	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
10/31/08	Houston, TX	Tony DiCello	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
11/05/08	Atlanta, GA	Dave Jenks	9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
11/06/08	Ft. Lauderdale, FL	Dave Jenks	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
11/07/08	Charlotte, NC	Dave Jenks	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
11/08/08	Orlando, FL	Gary Keller	11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
11/13/08	New Orleans, LA	Tony DiCello	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
11/19/08	Secaucus, NJ	Dave Jenks	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
11/20/08	Seattle, WA	Tony DiCello	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
11/20/08	Philadelphia, PA	Dave Jenks	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
11/21/08	Salt Lake City, UT	Tony DiCello	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.