Prevent "Sick Stomach, Empty Wallet" Syndrome - Kumbaya With Buyers - 04/29/08 02:36 PM
Do you get sick to your stomach when YOUR buyers buy without YOU?
Those porcelain hugging  days can end forever.
Would you like them to end?
Tomorrow morning, Wednesday, April 30th @ 9:07am, here in my office, I will share the secrets of Top Producers.  The subject specifically, “Working With Buyers”.  How to build loyalty, trust, value.  How to create commitment, shared expectations and clear communication.  How to create perpetual repeat and referral business.
It’s all in the approach and delivery...in 57 minutes we’ll change everything, forever.
Join me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
… (1 comments)

Is The Real Estate Market In The Woodlands, TX As Sunny As The Sky? - 04/28/08 11:37 AM
Here's what's happening in The Woodlands Real Estate Market - View Point, by Ken Brand.
For SellersFor Sale/Listing Inventory is up 7.9% compared to last year's inventory.  In January (see graph) For Sale/Listing Inventory was up 21.9%.  Considering angst fueled by national media and the fact that every year 100's of newly constructed homes are added to the overall pool of potential listings, a small increase of 7.9% is nothing to be concerned about. In The Woodlands, foreclosures,lost jobs and declining real estate values are NOT a problem (thankfully).
Are you thinking of selling?   The peak season is here, your … (0 comments)

Make The Mundane Memorable.... - 04/25/08 06:25 AM
This is a line from Scott's blog post.
Because they make the mundane memorable.Do you?Can you?Will you?Flip the switch on your "pay attention" scanner, look for people who make the MUNDANE MEMORABLE.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"The secrets of telling a story well are three:1. How to end2. Where to begin3. What to leave out."- Roy H. Williams
… (2 comments)

Floods Suck - Use Protection - 04/24/08 04:55 PM
In Houston, mother nature can drop a drench faster than the Donald can say, "You're Fired".
Flooding sucks - it sucks less if you're protected. Flood Insurance is super affordable, let's pray you never need it...but if it floods, you'll blunt the pain and recover faster with flood insurance.
Our good friend and uber-pro, Mitzi Fox shared some information on Flood Insurance.  I thought it was worth sharing with you.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Good Afternoon Agents,
I have attached a copy of the new flood rates for the preferred flood policy that will go into effect 05/01/08 for new business and renewals.  I have also … (0 comments)

The Magic Three People Principle - 04/24/08 03:39 PM
Magic, Power and Leverage...come in 3s.  The Trinity, Three Blind Mice, The Three Magic Beans, The Three Wishes, The Three Musketeers, The Three Stooges, The Three Amigos, The Three Bears and for a real estate agent, The Three People Principal.  How many  3s examples can you think of?
My friends, do not focus on whether or when people you know will need your services.  If you are respected, trusted and positioned...you will naturally attract those opportunities.
Everyone you know, knows at least three people who move every year.  They know someone at work, someone in Bunco, someone in Church, someone at … (7 comments)

Meatball Sunday on a Wednesday in The Woodlands - What are you eating? - 04/23/08 02:23 PM
Meatball Sunday...bet it would taste as horrid as it sounds.   
Is that what we're servin these days?  Maybe?
I've finished eating Seth Godin's newest Bestseller. 
Seth's books are thought provoking, all of them, Meatball Sunday included.
If you're a real estate agent, wondering how you're going to stay relevant..read this book...read all his books.  Really.
I keep a small 5"X8" black moleskin journal.  In it, I scribble my reading notes...thoughts, quotes and odd ideas that I know I want to refer to down the road.
Here's three such from Meatball Sunday:
1.  Middle of page 25. "New marketing is … (4 comments)

Inspiration, Desperation & Parilization - 04/22/08 08:03 PM
You may be familiar with Maslow's Motivational Theory, the Carrot and Stick shtick and the Fight or Flight Response.
Ken Brand's Motivational Theory is a mashup of fact, speculation, observation and sandy experience. 
My real estate adventure began in San Diego, California.  My newly minted real estate license arrived in the mail December 1978.  I have inky memories of two rouge real estate recession waves...the late 70's, interest rates at 22% and the mid 80's...Austin, TX rolled over. Today's market...while no picnic...compared to the earlier mentioned HGH enhanced rogues, it's punk sized.
Anyway...I digress, back to Response Theory.
… (0 comments)

Cookies, Chocolate, Real Estate Success and you. - 04/21/08 08:41 PM
The adventures of a fully engaged Realtor include stressful and sometimes pretzel twisting emotional control.  It's a fact of life, when dealing with issues of home, family and finance...things will spiral, cascade and meltdown. If there were no problems, who'd need a Realtor to help?  It's part of the job.
How do you interact and communicate with people who are angry, aggressive, combative, irresponsible, unreasonable and emotional?  What you really like to do is wheel and stomp off or bitch-slap back (fight or flight). Instead you stand, listen, solve and exert monumental self control...because you're a professional.  Amen.
Why is it … (5 comments)

Clarity is the new creativity. - 04/20/08 05:26 PM
At a Writing Workshop I attended, Roy H. Williams said,  "Clarity is the new creativity".
Hmmmmm....think about that - slice through the BS, no posers - nice.
Hugh MacLeod slices like a Hattori Hanzo - what you need to know about how to be successful in real estate.


The End - ken brand
… (1 comments)

Share Your Powerpoint Preso - Golden Lump Nuggets - 04/18/08 07:40 AM
Earlier I shared my thoughts on Twitter and Wakerupper. 
Here's another gem - Author Stream.  Upload your Power Point Preso and display your handiwork on the web, embed it in your web page or blog as well. 
Man-o-man there are some wicked smart people creating FREE "WOW" tools. They're like golden shiny lump-nuggets scattered on your pathway....don't step over them, reach down, pluck'em up.
I see this as a way you could share Listing Presentations, Buyer's Presentations and whatever imaginings you have.
These are my slides for Fast Start Training.  It's a two day class on the subject of … (0 comments)

The US Postal Service, Corporate Relocation & Choices - 04/17/08 06:56 PM
Postage is going up by one copper penny - May 12th.
You want to do something nice for your friends.
You want everyone to know you're approved to help them with any Corporate Relocation, they don't have to work with a stranger.
Here's a solution:
REALTOR ICONS – 7 Easy Steps To An Electric Future
Send this letter to everyone you know.  Do it today, illuminate tomorrow.
Step 1:  Open this, type in your name at the bottom.
Step 2:  Print one copy on stationary. Sign your name in colored ink, make copies for every person you’ll mail to.
Step 3:  … (0 comments)

Clarity is the new creativity. - 04/16/08 09:05 PM
At a Writing Workshop I attended, Roy H. Williams said,  "Clarity is the new creativity".
Hmmmmm....think about that - slice through the BS, no posers - nice.
Hugh MacLeod slices like a Hattori Hanzo - what you need to know about how to be successful in real estate.


The End - ken brand
… (0 comments)

Twitter, Wakerupper & Real Estate in The Woodlands Texas - 04/15/08 10:35 AM
I'm reporting live from my living room.  Squinting eyes, synapses sparking and fingers tap-tap-tapping.
Twitter
I've had a Twitter account for more than a year. I never really used it till now.  Suddenly, I've been reading, hearing and watching more and louder Twitter buzz and use.  You can investigate at Twitter.com. 
You can follow me and my Twitters ( www.Twitter.com/kenbrand ) if you're so inclined, it's sorta like micro blogging and instant broadcast.
Social media and web 2.0 stuff, it's not for everyone - yet.  But here's one way I think the Twitter application would come in handy.  Suppose … (1 comments)

Real Estate Success, Chaos Theory, Duality, Unintended Consequences & Laws of Nature - 04/12/08 05:16 PM
Consciously or subconsciously, you're aware of Duality, Chaos Theory, Newton's Law and 3rd Gravitating Bodies.  Willingly or not, we all bathe in intended or unintended consequences. 
For a Realtor to achieve transformitive success,  remarkable action is the key catalyst - then Duality, Chaos Theory and a whole boatload of seen and unseen forces and universal laws of nature waterfall into action.
The only thing we can control is what WE do.  What others do or not, when they do it or not, how they do it or not, why they do it or not....it's out of our hands.  We can … (0 comments)

Johnny Bunko & Your Real Estate Career - 04/12/08 05:13 PM
I was never a comic book reader, even when I was Kenny Brand the kid.
Now, at 51, I am...sorta.
Comics as an art form and story telling have been around forever, recently becoming main stream.  Sorta.
I just finished Daniel Pink's new book - The Adventures of Johnny Bunko.  It's a career guide in comic book form, Magna form specifically. 
In the last year or so, I've also been referred to Scott McCloud's two books , Making Comics and  Understanding Comics. I've finished Understanding Comics and Making Comics is sitting in a growing stack of what … (0 comments)

Blah, Blah…Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors Forest Crossing Office Named One Of The Leading Offices In North America…Yada, Yada - 04/12/08 05:10 PM
Prudential Gary Greene Realtors, The Woodlands
NEWS RELEASE
For more information:  Ken Brand, Sales ManagerPhone:  281-367-3531email: KenBrand@GaryGreene.comPictured:  Ken Brand, Sales Manager & Linda Sawyers, Administrative Manager
Blah, Blah…Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors Forest Crossing Office Named One Of The Leading Offices In North America…Yada, Yada
(The Woodlands, TX)  We bet you’re numb to the we’re NUMBER ONE yammering?  Who cares right?  It seems that every real estate broker sez they’re NUMBER ONE.  We think it’s kinda lame?  We don’t think we’re NUMBER ONE, but our team has been recognized for the 6th year in a row as one of the top offices … (0 comments)

The Woodlands Real Estate Market Report - January to April, 2008: By Ken Brand - 04/07/08 02:36 PM
The first quarter of 2008 delivered oddly.
Listing Inventory - Real Estate Report, The Woodlands, Tx.
The number of Active Listings continues to grow, but not alarmingly -  we're well below 2005 inventory levels. The Average Number Of Days on the market for active listing is 83 days.  The Average Number Of Days for listing that closed in April was 72 Days.  What we see are buyers clamoring for properties that really shine or stand out, if it's average, it sits for while.  Merchandising/Staging, Pricing and Marketing are more important than ever. Oddly, there are fewer sales, but prices … (0 comments)