Not knocking it! - 04/30/10 10:04 AM
 
« Top Ten Skills of great businessmen 8707 Arborside, Lake Highlands, TX 75243
I physically prospect my farm area three times a week.  It takes me about an hour and a half to deliver 100 postcards to 100 front doors.  I speak to anyone in their yards, anyone walking a dog, or getting into or out of their car.  I have an opening phrase I have used, while true; it still brings a smile to their face.  “My wife suggested a crazy New Year’s Resolution for me this year,” I start.  I wait to see if I have them engaged, … (0 comments)

Top Ten Skills of great business people - 04/29/10 07:01 PM
« Permission to Fail During my  career as a commercial photographer I was privileged enough to have been hired to capture hundreds of executives from companies like Fidelity Investments, New York Life, Gillette, Genzyme, State Street Bank, Yankee Candle and , many other Fortune 500 companies.  While all these various companies selling different products and services are different in their own way, I began to notice some similarities in their executives.  Here is a list of the top ten skills each of these executives I met share.
They develop plans for their business. They set goals for themselves and their business. … (0 comments)

Permission to Fail - 04/28/10 08:35 AM
 
« Goodbye Tax Credit, Hello?   Photo:©Larry Lawfer
No one wants to fail, but fail we must if we are going to succeed.  Yesterday I was calling on my prospects.  Tom, the husband, had told me in a conversation last week that his wife, Sheila, was going to be making all the decisions on the home purchase.   They share an email address.   When I called Sheila yesterday she was beyond rude and hostile, I didn’t really understand.  I kept trying to work through her anger when she screamed into the phone, “Never call me again.”
When I got off the … (6 comments)

Goodbye Tax Credit, Hello? - 04/27/10 08:55 AM
 
« In Search of a Role Model Lake Highland North
Last week of the month, is this the end of the Homebuyers Tax credit?  Sales did rise in March and are sure to have risen in April, but what about May?  The further we move through the economic crisis that has been devastating for so many families and communities, the better we seem to be with figuring out what to do.  One thing to understand is that the home buying and the home loosing are a process. The process is a moving target right now due to new rules, new … (3 comments)

In Search of a Role Model - 04/26/10 11:34 AM
 
« Why let them control you Andy Anderson, Broker, Muscian
Did you join this industry because of a role model? You met someone who you respect and admire, they are in the business and you thought you would be just like him or her?  Did the money that can be made fascinate you?  Are you essentially unemployable because of your work habits and approach to corporate systems so a commission based career was an only option?  Do you say you love people and that is why you think you would make a good realtor?
It makes no difference how you … (5 comments)

Why let them control you - 04/24/10 09:44 AM
 
« Procrastination on my list For me this month is whizzing by a little too quickly, but I know time is a constant I am the variable.  I have been wondering recently about how others can affect my performance and why I let them.  I am the kind of worker who rolls up the sleeves and gets things done.  I focus not just on my own work, but the work of those around me just looking for a way to add value to my colleagues.  As you might realize this help makes me popular and a “go to” when there … (27 comments)

Procrastination on my list - 04/23/10 10:39 AM
This morning was a bit harder, maybe because I left the office yesterday at 6PM feeling elated that I had been in personal touch with 112 people about real estate during the day.  In this banner day of reaching out, I was able to get it all completed in the normal workday.  I left the office with the sun still up and a chance to sit in the backyard and pet the dog and talk to my friends and neighbors.  It was an exciting evening in that way.  This morning when I woke I felt less motivated, less driven to get … (4 comments)

The new Breed of Realtor-Short Sale skills - 04/22/10 10:42 AM
 
« Looking for the trigger  Working in short sales and witnessing the new regulations, the confusion at the banks to get their systems in place, the fear and loathing of the banks on the part of homeowners who, through no fault of their own, are being forced to make decisions they don’t want to make is not the easiest for Realtors®.  It demands a new type of agent.  An Realtor® who crosses all the T’s and dots all the I’s is just one of the skills needed. They also need to be empathetic, not sympathetic towards the situation.  What I … (9 comments)

Looking for the trigger - 04/21/10 09:06 AM
By Larry Lawfer | Published: April 20, 2010 |  
©Tortoise and the Hair_flickr
There are times in our careers when we know what gets us started on the straight and narrow path towards a goal; there are times when we are looking for the trigger to pull.  When you are looking almost anything can happen.  You can be triggered by the boss ignoring all your good efforts, so you stop making them. Does this help your cause?  You can be triggered by weather; did the rain fall just to be a problem to your today?  You can also be triggered … (4 comments)

The decision to be a Champion - 04/20/10 09:47 AM
 
« Goal setting vs. goal achieving By Larry Lawfer | Published: April 19, 2010 | Survey the field
The decision to be a Champion sounds easy doesn’t it? All you have to do is decide and then you are there, right?  You know that answer is wrong.  To be a Champion at anything takes a decision to start, but a plan to fulfill.  In that plan are the steps that must be taken on a daily basis to get there.  Steps to prospect, steps to educate you on the ever-changing rules and laws.  Steps to stay in front of the … (4 comments)

Goal setting vs. goal achieving - 04/19/10 09:18 AM
 
« Building a way, Direct Income Producing Activities By Larry Lawfer | Published: April 18, 2010 | Note to self.
The successful set and achieve goals, we know, but it is not that simple. Successful people rarely will talk about their failures, the times when it was so hard for them they didn’t feel as though they wanted to go on. They don’t talk about the bad market, the lack of capital to market, the doubt, and the loneliness or lack of support, why? Because they are not thinking about it, they are thinking about the door that will open … (1 comments)

From the Children, I've learned - 04/18/10 10:46 AM
In a former career I was a commercial photographer who specialized in portraits.  What I have brought along with me to real estate is a love of photography and a love of story. 
These portraits were taken for Children's Hospital in Boston, MA to highlight the new treatments and statistics for helping children survive various life taking diseases.  What I have learned from each of these survivors is that what you think, and how you live is important each and every day.
These people are powerful, strong, aware children facing very difficult odds and they are surviving.  This is a testament … (8 comments)

Building a way, Direct Income Producing Activities - 04/17/10 03:13 PM
 
« Excuses, Excuses, Excuses No More | Published: April 15, 2010 |
Today’s buyers and sellers are a bit like spoiled children.  They have access to information and because of this access they feel as though they know it all. Like children they don’t know what they don’t know and it is our first task to help them understand that fact.  Building a way into direct income producing activities starts here.  Since the fishing is harder than it has ever been it is vital that we agents to spend a great deal of our time each day on activities … (27 comments)

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses No More - 04/15/10 09:54 AM
 
« Cash for Keys story | Published: April 14, 2010 |  ©trwolter_flickr
Do you Time Block each and every day, or do you just wing it?  Have you read a good book, but not fully deployed its lessons to your own activities? Have you purchased a program and not taken it off the shelf?  Probably, most of us have.  Short Sales are not new, but they are changing daily right now.  Bank of America now demands that we use their Equator System to supply them with al the pertinent information.  Each lender will have their own way in which to … (2 comments)

Cash for Keys story - 04/14/10 09:04 AM
 
« Older posts | Published: April 13, 2010 |   
ERMD_barbaralynn63_flickr
Early this month, April 5th, some new programs became available for homeowners in distress with their mortgages and banks looking to come to terms with the millions of homes in their inventory that are behind on payments.  Like many other agents I have been working some of the REO properties already.  I got an assigned REO on Thursday of last week and headed out on Friday to look the property over, change the locks and get a sense of what needs to be done to put the property back … (9 comments)

Finally a Database - 04/13/10 08:21 AM
« Silent Sunday | Published: April 12, 2010 |  ERMD_©TobyA_Flickr
I have been slugging through all the details of our work without a database system since the beginning of the year. I have finally settled on a product and am thrilled with it’s results.  And, even better, the price point is miserly compared to other programs like Top Producer. The down side for all you non-EXIT agents is that it is one of the many benefits of being an EXIT agent.  The price point for a year was just lowered to below $200.00. This is amazing considering it has many of … (4 comments)

How do you add value? - 04/12/10 01:15 PM
« What was I thinking? Silent Sunday » By Larry Lawfer | Published: April 10, 2010 | http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathyprints/2817862973/
I am sitting with Dirk Zeller and was just asked how I add value for my clients.  This is a great question because it takes the conversation away from how I think I am great and really care about people (the agents usual answer), to what can I do for you today.  Clients only care about what you can do for them, that is all.  Our benefits and values must be defined in a way that drives home our value to them, not … (2 comments)

Silent Sundays - 04/11/10 11:47 AM
I have blogged every day for 100 days.  In this time I have learned and shared; I will continue this process, but I am taking the weekends back for myself and my family.  As I learn more and experience more I realize that having balance in my life is just as important and getting the next call made or the next offer sent.  All in good time.  I will share some of my photos from my vacations and trips.
Venice is an amazing city.  It was at the heart of the China Trade and many a pirate spent time there.
San_Marco_Venice … (5 comments)

What was I thinking? - 04/10/10 11:31 AM
 
« Short Sales are not REO’s | Published: April 9, 2010 |  I have a confession to make; I am not always listening to what client’s voice they think is their best interest.  Let me be clear.  I don’t loose sight of what is best for the client ever, but sometimes me knowing what is best for them in terms of price and value is enough for me, I don’t listen intently when I hear minor objections.  I just quickly answer the objections with their price/value win in my mind.  I have to stop and realize that what I know … (3 comments)

Short Sales are not REO's - 04/09/10 09:50 AM
 
« Lake Highlands Client Testimonial What was I thinking? » | Published: April 8, 2010 |  ERMD_©sirscooter_flickr
The difference between working short sales versus REO’s is significant in many ways. With Short Sales you are working with a homeowner, with the REO’s you are working with some bank representative. Identifying a potential short sale is much easier than landing one. There is a public posting of delinquent accounts that take a bit of work to obtain (you have to go somewhere and actually write the names and addresses down, unless you buy the list from some entrepreneur like Roddy here … (0 comments)

Lake Highlands Client Testimonial - 04/08/10 09:57 AM
« Older posts | Published: April 8, 2010 |   
While I love getting commission checks when a transaction is completed because it pays my bills, provides me the ability to take care of my family and friends, I actually love another aspect of the business more.  I just really feel proud of the work we have accomplished when our clients want to provide us with a testimonial for our work.  It is very interesting to me to listen to what they have to say about my services.  What I feel is one of my strengths, they may not. They may … (1 comments)

Short Sales training and letters. - 04/07/10 06:46 PM
| Published: April 6, 2010 |   
ERMD_©Lochaven_Flickr
This month I will begin a deep study of the short sales process and obtain some names and addresses, create a package to drop off and get to helping people who need the help getting through this horrible situation in their lives. The objective is to keep the houses from being vandalized by the foreclosure process which only lowers the prices on that house and all the houses in that neighborhood.  This is an area that is going to be around for quite some time and so it makes sense to be familiar … (2 comments)

Goals Achieved. 90 Days to Starting Over - 04/06/10 08:40 AM
 
On January 6, 2010 I started a 90-day program If I Could Start Over Again by Walter Sanford.  Today is day 90 and I have completed the course.  The amount of information I have been given these last 3 months is a career’s worth.  I can go back and re-mine this book for all kinds of support as I move forward with my career.  While I will go back to use some of the promotional and marketing efforts I couldn’t afford during these first three months, I will also move on to other guru’s and systems.  My desire is to … (6 comments)

90 Day Program Wrap-up. - 04/05/10 11:23 AM
 
« Dallas Top Producers | Published: April 5, 2010  dallas-texas-real-estate
Along with Walter’s book If I Coud Start Over Again, I was reading a number of others at the same time to give me some perspective.  Dirk Zeller’s book, Champions was really the other book I read along with the Sanford book.  Dirk organizes the day differently, and has different priorities, but both know the bottom line is listing properties and closing deals.  The way you develop your own habits must fit your life and patterns. When do you make your calls in a day, what days do you promote … (0 comments)

Top Producer_Dallas_Juanita Couch - 04/04/10 12:56 PM
 
« Lake Highlands by the numbers Dallas Top Producers | Published: April 3, 2010 | Juanita Couch, Larry Lawfer
Periodically I will share with you an interview I have conducted with a top producer in this market.  I am interested in how they accomplish what they do, what are their daily habits, how do they deal with the stresses and the disappointments?  I ask about 20 questions and spend maybe half an hour with the interview.  Juanita Couch of Couch Realty here in Dallas is certainly a top producer.  Having been born and raised, as well as schooled all the … (5 comments)

Lake Highlands by the numbers - 04/03/10 02:24 PM
Lake Highlands by the numbers By Larry Lawfer | Published: April 2, 2010 | Edit Lake Highlands census information.  The total land are for this community is 14.8 square miles.  In that area some eighty four thousand people reside according to the last census.  I know that this number has grown since then.  There are 46 neighborhood communities within the area and each cares about their little piece of heaven.  As I mentioned yesterday many of the schools in this area, and particularly the elementary schools are listed as “Exemplary”.  If you are looking for a community that is both stable … (2 comments)

Lake Highlands by the numbers - 04/03/10 02:04 PM
 | Published: April 2, 2010 | 
 
Lake Highlands census information.  The total land are for this community is 14.8 square miles.  In that area some eighty four thousand people reside according to the last census.  I know that this number has grown since then.  There are 46 neighborhood communities within the area and each cares about their little piece of heaven.  As I mentioned yesterday many of the schools in this area, and particularly the elementary schools are listed as “Exemplary”.  If you are looking for a community that is both stable and growing Lake Highlands is a good choice.  … (0 comments)

Lake Highlands, RISD Schools - 04/02/10 12:21 PM
« Lake Highlands Community Schools and some more dancing | Published: April 1, 2010 | Good schools systems make good communities and the Richardson Independent School District (RISD), which includes Lake Highlands High School, is considered one of the best in the country. Founded in 1854 the RISD has been the focal point of the communities it serves since its inception. RISD has received a “Recognized” rating from the Texas Education Agency for four consecutive years. Since RISD is one of the largest, most diverse districts in Texas this award are a significant accomplishment. The success of this system is attributed … (0 comments)

Lake Highlands Community Schools and some more dancing - 04/01/10 02:08 PM
 
« It’s all coming together | Published: March 31, 2010 |  The community of Lake Highlands is not homogeneous, but it does share some strongly held beliefs.  Their school systems are important and they are supported with taxes and participation.  This kind of commitment that a community shows through the years keeps the values of the homes within the community high.  Families are usually the basis of a strong community so the schools for those children are important.  Since we are in Texas high school football, or sports in general, are also very important.  While the goal may be a … (3 comments)

 
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Larry Lawfer, Realtor®, I.R.E.S. CLHMS

Keller Williams

Wellesley, MA

More about me…

Keller Williams

Address: 680 High Street, Westwood, MA, 02090

Office Phone: (617) 774-8292

Cell Phone: (617) 690-3919

Email Me

What would you do today, if you knew you could not fail? What actions would you take, what would you share and how would you treat the people around you. Storyteller Marketing in Real Estate by Larry Lawfer will explore the real estate industry in MA and beyond through the eyes of the community it's people and stories.


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