Are we going to be taken to the cleaners? - 08/31/07 11:28 AM

The annoucement that there will be relief for borrowers is goodnews, I guess. But, here we go again--more and more government involvement trying to clean up a mess, usually results in more of a mess.
Maybe I am wrong.
Think about what you can do. Miss three or more mortgage payments. Ask for Uncle Sam's help. Get debt forgivness--not have to pay tax on that forgivness--and who knows, maybe you can even get a new car!
I love cartoons. Often, they contain so much wisdom.
(BZTOONS offers this any other cartoons free to be posted to web sites, emails etc.)
… (8 comments)

What Kind of Foot Prints Will We Leave? - 08/29/07 07:36 AM
Last week the wall street journal carried a story about the real estate mogul, Leona Hemlsely's passing.  When we see her name or say her name, for those of us who do remember her, what do we recall? Do we recall her success in the real estate world? Do we think of her as rich and famous? Maybe. Or, do we remember that she was sent to prison for juggling the books and not paying taxes? Maybe.
But, I have a feeling she will be remembered most by how she treated people. Her reputation was that of a taskmaster; a tough … (13 comments)

Withdrawn Listings: A Sign of The Times? - 08/28/07 10:47 AM

It's one thing to take listings, it is yet another to market them. Yes, I know the market is a difficult one. But, who is culpable? The Agent? The Home Seller?I say both. And I know it could happen to anyone of us.
First--if you want to sell your home--price it right. Second, if you're an agent--don't take overpriced listings.
Third, learn the business of marketing listings. Under-promise and over-deliver. It's more than sticking a sign in the ground and putting the listing on the MLS.
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Contact Manager Redux--A Prodigal T.P. User Returns - 08/22/07 09:53 AM
I tested--last week and this week
All ClientAvidianEurekawareTopazSimple Remote Various CRM online platforms--not real estate relatedI use Sharper Agent infrequently because I really don't like it. I've used Act and Gold Mine before. I am a recovering TP user and quit it last year.Since then, my contact program has been spotty (using outlook, Sharper Agent) and I have a stack of cards  that haven't been entered into my database...
I subscribed to TP today for a couple of reasons (not to mention, I am not happy with what I've tested or what I've been using--)
Top Producer gives me a  "Real Estate Business … (0 comments)

Contact Manager Redux--A Prodigal T.P. User Returns - 08/22/07 09:43 AM
I tested--last week and this week
All ClientAvidianEurekawareTopazSimple Remote Various CRM online platforms--not real estate relatedI use Sharper Agent infrequently because I really don't like it. I've used Act and Gold Mine before. I am a recovering TP user and quit it last year.Since then, my contact program has been spotty (using outlook, Sharper Agent)
and I have a stack of cards  that haven't been entered into my database...
I subscribed today for a couple of reasons ( not to mention, I am not happy with what I've tested or what I've been using-- 
Top Producer gives me a  "Real Estate Business Dashboard"  … (5 comments)

Another One Bites The Dust Redux: You Inspire Me - 08/22/07 09:21 AM
 
 What great comments about "Another One Bites The Dust" post of yesterday.  I appreciated all of them,--you all really inspire me--But I selected this response as one I thought was tops from Brad Snyder. Thanks Brad.
"John,
I agree with some of the comments, it really is too easy to become an agent. That is part of the problem, if its too easy to get in, its too easy too get out. Your really not invested. The other problem is for the past couple of years a monkey could have sold real estate. You now have to have:
The right attitudeGood work ethicand a … (3 comments)

Another One Bites The Dust - 08/21/07 06:28 AM
I  ran into a good friend and fellow Realtor yesterday  at the post office. The conversation quickly turned to market conditions.  "Real Estate Agents are dropping like flies", He said. "The person who brought me into the business just took a job!", He said.
It's easy to quit. To be frank, I've thought about it many times. 
But I am still here.
I am curious to really get your feedback on why  you think so many who  come into the real estate business with such great enthusiasm and excitement, LEAVE  the real estate business--in droves--it seems.
What is it that those who … (14 comments)

Attract And Retain The Best and The Brightest - 08/16/07 01:46 PM
If you are interested in "recruiting" (Sponsoring) people into your business, then you must have something to "recruit them to!" Otherwise, they may join you for the better-than-average commission split--but, if the environment in which they have to operate is stifling, they won't stay--no matter how good their deal might be. There are some who use "a survival of the fittest" strategy. They recruit as many people as they can, and then "throw them against the wall to see who sticks." Perhaps that explains the high attrition rate for the profession of real estate sales. What kind of culture would you … (0 comments)

To Schmooze or Not To Schmooze - 08/15/07 11:33 AM
Ok. Ok. I am going to a Chamber card exchange tomorrow night!. I will stand by the food! Drink in hand. Why will I be by the food? Well-- it is there I will meet a lot of people. And, without having to move around a lot. After all, where will most people who come to the card exchange eventually go--to the food! Like bees to honey! I am preparing my witty openers, now--"wow, this is quite a spread!". Or, "gee that crab meat tastes like the shell was cracked a minute ago!" When, I speak I won't have any food … (6 comments)

To Do More Prospecting Go With Your Strengths - 08/14/07 07:07 AM
I think we can get hung up working on strengthening a perceived weakness. It used to be that you were not "a real salesperson " if you couldn't sit down at the phone and dial 100 phone numbers to talk to people who didn't want to talk to you.
This was the only thing considered REAL prospecting...have people hang up on you or tell you to buzz off.
We are all built with personality strengths and imperfections. Some of us are more relational. Others are more task oriented. Some or more passive and others more aggressive.
If you hate door … (6 comments)

Which Contact Manager? - 08/10/07 06:06 AM
 Which Contact manager do you use and why?
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Major Dread: Self-Promotion (Sales Call Reluctance) - 08/09/07 08:55 AM
  … (6 comments)

What is Your Greatest Self-Promotion Challenge ? - 08/08/07 08:11 AM
When it comes to person-to-person marketing, (self-promotion)What is the one thing you dread or don't like to do? 
Why?
How do you overcome it?
Or do you just avoid it?
… (6 comments)

A Place to Grow Thank You - 08/03/07 08:53 AM
Thanks so much for the wonderful comments I received in response to my post "A Place to Grow..." Thank you for making me feel at home. BeBlessed
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a place to grow - 08/02/07 08:53 AM
I am new to this community, but I gotta tell ya, this is a place that will help you grow, not only professionally, but in other ways. I won't get "gushy." I've been reading some of the profiles (and life paths of some--there are some extraordinary stories...What a wonderful resource for , not only expressing yourself, but also to learn from others, meet, greet and grow.
BeBlessed this day. 
… (11 comments)

Ancient Marketing & The Power of Word of Mouth - 08/01/07 07:29 AM
"Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed." (From The Message, Matthews Gospel Chapter 4 verses 18-20)From a tiny fishing village....The two prospects, went out and got a few more, that turned into 75 new takers … (4 comments)