We are getting ever so close to the new Mellow Mushroom pizza breaking ground on 1A in Wake Forest! Everyone seems really excited about the idea of having another place in Wake Forest to sit outside and enjoy the incredible NC weather! In addition, I see that they are working quickly to clear the land for the new Kohl's on Capital Blvd in Wake Forest. This will be located right next to Lowes Foods. There is so much happening here everyday. The fact is that we used to have to go to North Raleigh for nice restaurants, movies etc...that is no longer the case as Wake Forest offers so much in the way of shopping and dining. Let's not forget the quaint, yet very cool, downtown area of Wake Forest.
We are very excited to be hiring our first employee! When I first came to Coldwell Banker HPW and real estate in general I made it a point to always speak as though I was running a much larger organization...We instead of I. Our instead my. Fact is that I believe that one must first believe and feel before one can achieve. I knew early on that we would be hiring staff and that we would make a successful business in the Raleigh real estate market! Lo and behold that time is now....it has become apparent that I cannot run my business the way I want it run by myself. I recognize that I need help doing the things that I do not like doing. These are the types of tasks that I procrastinate on because I would rather be with people or making it rain! Many of you know already that we really are not in the real estate business, rather, we are in the lead generation business. Do not fool yourself into thinking otherwise. We all know people that would be incredible agents...maybe even better than ourselves...if they had clients. By hiring an assistant, I am now able to focus more on marketing and making it rain!
Does anyone have any advice for a 1st time hiring?
We here at www.WelcometoCarolina.com and Coldwell Banker HPW are excited about what 2008 holds for real estate. We have come off of yet another record breaking year and anticipate 2008 to be even better. There are many factors as to why the real estate market in Rlaeigh and Wake Forest, North Carolina has been so good. We are very fortunate in that the weather is traditionally fantastic. Not as hot as Florida in the summer and not as cold as the northeast in the winter. Our proximity between Atlanta and Charlotte to our south and Washington DC to our north all along the I-85 corridor is an eviable position to be in. We have a wonderful growing little airport. The Research Triangle Park is home to many Fortune 500 comapnies. North Carolina State University sits only 13 miles from The University of North Carolina which in turn is only 8 miles from Duke! There are many wonderful things to enjoy in north Carolina including the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Smoky's, and the wonderful coast! The Outer Banks may be the most restful place for a vacation.
I invite you all to visit or relocate to our wonderful state.
Be sure to understand that ALL states have wonderful things. This was an explanation as to why North Carolina real estate, Raleigh and Wake Forest in particular, is doing well. Tell me about your part of the country. I look forward to learning.
2008 is almost 1/12th over and if you have not invested the time to write your real estate business plan you are already behind the 8-Ball. I don't mean a few goals on a napkin or on the back of an envelope. I mean a well thought out road map for 2008. Set your goals. Write them down. Put them in a place that you can and will see them everyday! After you set your goals, determine how you are going to get there. If you wanted to drive from Orange, Massachusetts to Wake Forest, North Carolina and had never made that trip before, then you would plan your journey. Your goals for 2008 should be treated the same. Set deadlines on this roadmap as well. Be sure to include the most important part of the plan....time for you and your family. When I wrote my very first business plan in real estate I thought I was something let me tell you! It was crisp, lean and mean! Coming from a corporate background I thought I was the hottest real estate ticket to be had. no one had ever written a better looking business plan. I proudly handed it to my mentor who promptly turned to the last page and sighed. He then took 3 additional sheets of blank paper and stapled to the back and handed it back to me without even reading the rest! I was shocked. He explained that I had a 1 year old and a beautiful wife at home. That no where in my plan had I made time for them or ME! This has stuck with me. When I write my plans now, I begin with me and my family!
It has been said that goals that are not written are not goals at all. They are wishes.
Tiger Woods keeps a number "18" circled on his office wall. Why? Because he wants to be the best golfer ever. Jack Nickolaus won 18 majors. That has long been Tiger's goal. I argue that "19" should be on his wall. One more than Jack. What is on your wall?
Well, North Carolina's largest Open House event just ended. Whew....I love Parade but it sure is a lot of work! Do many other cities around the county host a Parade? For those not in the know or if you call it something else....Parade of homes is when builders can showcase their wares throughout the county over a 3 weekend period. People will fly in from all over the country to come see homes. It is a wonderful time to pick up clients and learn about about builders. Agents will inevitably hold open these homes in hopes of locating buyers and sellers. There is a large publication printed that lists all of the homes with a cut sheet and builder info. This year there were over 400 homes!
Fill me in, do you have something like this in your area? If so, what have you done to capture leads?
It seems as though I daily have to take calls from various organizations wanting to sell me leads! Ugh. It can be overwhelming. There are many legitimate lead purchasing options out there and I know of several agents currently using those and it is working out well. How do you decide which is the best? Many say they scrub their leads. Some even guarantee business???? HOW? Either way, are any of you using one of these programs? Have you used one? Do they work? Good and bad? Please help.
Located in northern Wake County, Wake Forest is a progressive community of over 25,000 residents with a vibrant downtown that boasts more than 100 businesses, including several outstanding restaurants and specialty shops. Mindful of its rich heritage, the town is also an officially registered historic district. Representative of its academic history, the town is the home of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Southeastern College at Wake Forest.
Incorporated in 1909, the town continues its emergence as a major player in the phenomenal growth and activity witnessed throughout the Triangle. Wake Forest maintains its small town character, however, by captivating newcomers and long-time residents alike with its incomparable warmth and charm. (taken from http://www.ci.wake-forest.nc.us/)
Originally the home of Wake Forest College (now known as Wake Forest University), Wake Forest the town has thrived after finding it's identity as THE northern suburb to Raleigh. The small town atmosphere with big city ammenities makes Wake Forest a destination for many. So to answer the question so many ask...Yes, Wake Forest the town used to be home to the University. However, in the 1950's the university made the decision to move to Winston-Salem, NC.
In the time following the move, Wake Forest was successful in attracting new business and therefore residents to the town. The leaders at the time had a challenge on their hands as there obviously was no I540 and the travel to Wake Forest from Raleigh was a day trip! The 1970's saw the development of the RTP (Research Triangle Park). The high tech park brought jobs to the region...including Wake Forest. By the end of the 1980's our little borough had grown to the all time high of 5000 residents! Good times had by all. In the 1990's many publications throughout the country named the Triangle one of the best places to live, work, be single, be married, have children, you name it. The population grew. Then it grew some more. And when no one was looking, it grew again! 10,000 people. Then 12,000. Today the town is home to over 25,000 residents!
Do you like activities? Being active is easy to do in a town like Wake Forest. The events hosted in town seem endless at times. Whether it's Lobster Bingo held twice anually by our wonderful Kiwanis Club (yes, you actually play bingo for live lobsters and other prizes. This alone shows the influence our friends moving from the north have had!), or Meet In The Streets (a street festival held every May attended by 10,000 people), or even Hot Hoops (a fantastic 3 on 3 street basketball tournament held at The Factory) there always is something going on.
A very good friend of mine (a Mortgage guy) here in Raleigh and I are about to begin a campaign that will include direct mail marketing AND a way to give back. Give Back? Yes, give back to the community that gives to me each and every day. You see, we are going to ask our farm to go to my website and sign up for us to come by their front porch to pick up coats and jackets for the needy this coming winter. Our thought is that why wait until it's cold to get jackets? It's too late then. Let's clean out those closets now and be prepared for the upcoming winter months.
Are we doing this because I am a real estate agent and want business? No. We are doing this because I am a real estate agent and human. We all have needs. Some people need to stay warm this winter. I can help.
When one joins a prominent real estate organization is a progressive area it is likely that he/she will be faced with the decision to either take advantage of a mentor or to forego this opportunity. A mentor program, for those do not know, is when a newer agent essentially hires an experienced agent to "lead the way". In other words for the giving of time and knowledge the experienced agent will recve 10% of the newer agent's income on the first 3-5 closings (this is for example purposes only. I realize that every program can be different. This is an example). The concerns are these....what if the 2 personalities to not mesh well? Will the experienced agent have the time? Will the experienced agent make the time? Will the newer agent ask for help? And, the newer agent may not be able to afford to give up 10%.
These are chellenges I hear people discussing in our office daily. Your thoughts?
Peter Kima - Wake Forest Real Estate Agent. Raleigh Real Estate Agent.
We are known of course for our 3 major Universities in the area and all they have to offer:
Univerity of North Carolina, NC State, Duke
Let's not forget about our museum selection however! The North Carolina Museum of Art, which offers in excess of 5,000 years of artistic history, from the very latest in modern art to ancient Egyptian artifacts. Our downtown district also offers a pair of renovated mueums...the Museum of Natural Sciences and the Museum of History. Day camps are offered K-8 for the latter.
MALLS??? Did you say shopping? Endless! Featuring the fabulous North Hills Experience. Chicago has the Miracle Mile, we have North Hills! Also try Cameron Village, Streets Of Southpoint, and Triangle Town Center.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Peter Kima (Coldwell Banker HPW - WelcomeToCarolina.com)
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