What do you want in a mentor? Active Rain Makeover 2 Takeover Contest

The Makeover 2 Takover contest has me really thinking about my business, again!  I started blogging at the beginning of Project Blogger and reeeeallly wanted to be an apprentice.  Instead, I followed along and learned a lot about blogging and social media along the way.

When this contest was first announced my first thought was "How Cool".  Then I got to thinking (watch out scary road ahead) and realized I'd love the opportunity to be mentored by someone like _____________ (any of this list would suit me fine & Jim Crawford is just down the road). 

I planned a month off from blogging on Active Rain to redefine my business plan, it sucked but I needed that couple of extra hours a week.  I still read and commented, just chilled on the posting.  And I'm actually breaking my AR fast one day early for this post.

That said, I would love the opportunity to mentor someone beginning their real estate career.  You see, I was a managing broker for a larger franchised company with 3 offices until a few years ago.  I now own a niche independent brokerage with approximately 60 less agents, those who are with me now are all experienced and I really miss the excitement of working with "rookie" real estate agents. 

It was a good step for me personally, but what I miss most about working with new agents is:

• Initial Enthusiasm
• Willingness to try anything before judging whether or not it works
• Someone having more "time" than "money" to dedicate to their business
• An absolute dedication to a 100% effort  in having a SUCCESSFUL career in real estate
• Enjoying the natural high produced by enthusiastic new agents taking large leaps with their business

And most importantly, I miss the things I learned on my journey along with new agents!

I don't have all the answers, but maybe together we can discover some of them, if you are interested in being mentored by and working with a broker from Georgia in this contest, read my profile for more info and  get in touch with me.   Let's see if it you think you can stand to work with me!

For all you other newbies out there, please let us know in the comments what YOU are looking for in a mentor!

Athens Georgia Named Greenest City #33 in Popular Science Magazine

Is Athens Georgia on Your Mind?

RE Tech South Wrap Up - You should have been in Atlanta 3-27-2008

I have proof and confirmation that Rain gods, along with many other industry technology experts were in Atlanta, Georgia this week at RE Tech South!

Much of the value in any conference or seminar is in the personal contacts and connections made.  I had the pleasure of meeting speakers Mary KcKnight, Pat Kitano, Dustin Luther and many more bloggers I had "met" online only.

Much of the initial information was basic and targeted to agents who didn't know yet what RSS, social media, Web 2.0, or any of the other jargon we casually throw around in the Rain is yet.  I am pretty sure there will be some new AR members from the South soon, after a day packed full of great infomation.

What I really walked away impressed by was the fact that Brad Nix managed to pull this together in 16+- days, proving that viral marketing  in a Web 2.0 world works with incredible response.  The speaker talent pool was fantastic and the turnout was good with an interesting mixture of web experienced agents and web rookies.

It was great:  to see Mary McKnight's passion in person; meet Project Blogger Alumni Kevin Tomlinson and hear words of wisdom from Dustin Luther (speaking to organizer Brad Nix above).

The panel discussions were excellent and I'll share some hints on the social networking platforms that I gleaned in upcoming posts.  The afternnoon breakout session with Pat Kitano was fabulous, just as I expected. 

Hopefully this will become an annual event and next year I would love to see "tracks" with some sessions targeted to agents wanting basic information and some for more advanced topics.

The "Team" Dilemma - How Do You Handle It?

I recently read a post by Seth Godin call "The Bad Table" that struck a real chord with a problem I keep facing.  Seth talks about "who should get your best effort?".

I spend considerable time and energy attracting relocation buyers, who I love to work with.  The contact becomes very personal and I feel as if I know these buyers long before they ever get to town - and obviously I hope they feel the same way.

The dilemma comes into play when I cannot personally be of service to them, due to conflicts in scheduling or multiple buyers coming to town in same week. 

When and or how can I gracefully transition these buyers to working with my team members, who are excellent, but ultimately - not me? 

Seth states "you need to figure out how to improve your lesser offerings"  but I have no idea how to answer this question as it applies to the relocating buyer.  Every time I consider transitioning one of these buyers to another team member, I feel that I risk offending them, it just feels tacky to me!

What would you do?

Athens Georgia Economy - More Positive News!

Awesome Atlanta Blogger Event - RE Tech South

On March 27, 2008, some of the finest bloggers in the nation plan to descend on Atlanta, Georgia! 

 Billed as 1 day -$100 dollars (it's actually only $99.00), RE Tech South is promised to be "not a seminar, a collaboration"!

An awesome local opportunity for Georgia Bloggers featuring speakers:

• Pat Kitano
• Kevin Boer
• Rudy Bachraty of Trulia
• and more

Have you heard?  Are you planning to attend?  Hat tip to Dustin for the news!

AGAIN - I beg, hey lady, mister can you spare a minute?

Athens Georgia - No Recession Here!

It's been an interesting few weeks in the mortgage market with rates fluctuating and the scary, but thankfully temporary, disappearance of 100% financing in Georgia due to being rated a "declining market" for the entire state by several risk management (PMI) companies.  However, spring market is just around the corner and happily, buyers are leaving their winter hibernation behind and starting to search for homes in Athens, Georgia.

In a recently released report from Georgia State University's Economic Forecasting Center, it's predicted that  Athens, Georgia will avoid a full recession this year and grow at twice the rate of the rest of the state of Georgia. 

It's predicted that Athens will add 1.6% more jobs than the rest of the state's predicted 0.8%.  The growth can be attributed in a large part to the stability that the University of Georgia brings to the Athens metro area.

Real Estate and Housing has remained mostly stable in the Athens, Georgia area as documented by Success Realty in our most recent Athens Georgia real estate market statistics.

As for the rest of the state:  At the Georgia Economic Outlook luncheon held in Atlanta in Deccember 2007, Dean Robert T. Sumichrast of the Univeristy of Georgia's Terry College of Business stated "Our economy is still growing, but what appeared to be a soft landing for Georgia's economy has morphed into a protracted landing -- characterized by considerable turbulence."  

Ken Heaghney, Georgia's official state economist told state leaders at a meeting of the House and Senate Appropriations committees in January that "We're expecting ... Georgia could do no worse than the U.S. as a whole, and probably better".  He went on to assure state leaders any recession should be mild, and the economy could turn around as soon as the middle of the year.

If you would like to see what is available for sale in the Athens Georgia and surrounding area real estate market, please search our IDX via the multiple listing service, just click on the "search for homes" button below.                                                      

706-207-2502  cell                           706-543-1553 office

For more information about homes for sale and real estate in Athens, GA or to request a Relocation Package by mail for Athens, GA and the surrounding areas , please visit our website at Success Realty or email Michelle DeRepentigny at Michelle@SuccessRealtyGa.com for more information.

Athens Georgia Relocation Package