recr: Time To Dump The Desk?? - 09/23/09 05:50 AM
With the real estate industry evolving at the rate that it is, many agents have adapted to include the ability to be as mobile as possible.  Gone are the days of meeting at the office or heading back to the office in order to get anything done. In fact, a good number of agents don’t even have an office. Their office has 4 doors, not just one…and it sports 4 wheels and bucket seats. There is a mindset that needs to be adapted in order to effectively go mobile. You have to be really self-motivated. And, you have to realize that … (192 comments)

recr: Memories At ActiveRain -- Being Thankful Isnt Bragging!! - 09/16/09 12:42 AM
After reading Robert Swetz's contest post, I knew exactly what post I wanted to enter with...Robert....Awesome contest.  Happy to be a part of it....and best of luck to all that enter!!Being Thankful Isnt Bragging, Is it??!!
 
First and foremost, this post really has nothing at all to do with real estate...more about life in general.  So, I hope no one is offended by the fact that I'm thankful as all Hell about what I have and I'm not afraid to tell the entire world about it.  Negative people be warned. 
Secondly, you may learn more about me than you ever … (57 comments)

recr: Confessions of a Tweetaholic! - 09/15/09 12:29 AM
Ok...I have a confession to make: I am a Tweetaholic. 
More than that, I'm a BAD Tweetaholic.  I don't mean that I'm highly addicted to social networking (although that is certainly true).  I mean that I am guilty of using Twitter incorrectly. 
Yup.  I'm a bad tweeter.
Twitter was originally designed as a micro-blog - a short snip-it of what is occurring in your life at this exact moment stylized in 140 characters or less.  So...nothing worth of a full-blown blog...but, a snapshot of what is happening right now.
"I'm at Starbucks meeting with clients"
"Just closed on a $372,000 home! … (67 comments)

recr: Is It Time For You To Start Anew?? - 09/02/09 02:35 AM
Anyone with any form of connective brain tissue has seen that the way real estate used to be is over.  “Times”, as they say, they are a-changin’.
Correction: Times have changed!!
And, if you have any hope of moving forward and being a viable part of this ‘new’ version of real estate, then it is time to reinvent yourself.
Sure, you can cut expenses in order to help survive.  But, cutting expenses wont generate more leads.  It surely wont help you attract the right agents to your team or brokerage.  And, it definitly wont help you or your existing agents be … (96 comments)

recr: Are Buyers Really Liars? What Saying This Really Says About YOU! - 09/01/09 06:19 AM
 
I follow Kevin on Twitter...and think this is one of the best things I have read in weeks!! 
Im reposting this because I think it needs said.
 
 
Is The Pot Calling The Kettle Black?  
I've been watching a particularly interesting post, and more so the comments.  A couple of commenters made the statement:  "Buyers Are Liars" as a part of their comment.
I was particulary intrigued and appalled with their comments, so I Googled the term and came up with this CAR SALESMAN LINGO post.
"Buyers are liars": Car salesmen know they have a reputation for dishonesty. But … (8 comments)

recr: Are "Open Houses" Dead In Your Area? - 08/25/09 12:41 AM
Working where I do, I have an opportunity to speak with agents all over the country about their local markets and the trends that are happening there.  One conversation I had yesterday prompted me to pose a question on our facebook page about open houses. 
I was curious to know, "Are open houses were still a viable option for marketing a home?"  Or, are they are simply an avenue by which home owners feel special?  Are they really worth it?
I had an amazing response by several fans of the site...And thought it was worth sharing. And, as a result, I … (146 comments)

recr: Scribd -- Intant Google Juice! - 08/11/09 08:45 AM
I was recently playing around with services that allow you to post presentations online...companies like SlideShare and Scribd.
I posted this to Scribd a few days ago...and in that time, it has climbed to about #7 on Google for some of our primary search terms!!! 
In my mind, that is AMAZING!!
Feel free to check it out...
 
Real Estate Client Referrals Presentation
If you would like more information on Real Estate Client Referrals, contact me at 800-977-7058 or follow me on Twitter.
… (11 comments)

recr: AAACCHHOOOO!!!! (And other bodily functions...) - 07/30/09 02:41 AM
Like many people, I suffer from seasonal hay fever.  And, like many people, I start stocking up on drugs, Kleenex, and eye drops in about March so I have enough on hand by May that I can survive until September.  The medicine cabinet in my house looks like the allergy aisle in Walgreens.
Allergies, as a whole, are a pain in the butt.  I have had them my entire life.  I had them so bad that, from the time I was 5 until I was 17, I had to have shots weekly to help build up my immune system enough to … (14 comments)

recr: The Sins Of A Seller - 07/23/09 04:38 AM
 
Many of you know that I recently bought a home. 
And, for those of you that don’t know that I recently bought a home…I recently bought a home.  Here’s proof.  
Although we are very happy with our home we did purchase, during this process, I happened to notice that as we viewed house after house, I kept seeing the same things happen over and over.  And….not good things.  Bad things.  Bad things that were blatantly obvious to me.  Bad things that literally turned me off.  Bad things that were keeping this otherwise fine house I was standing … (219 comments)

recr: Press Release - Real Estate Client Referrals 7.19.09 - 07/21/09 05:17 AM
Real Estate Client Referrals – A small lead generation company based out of the heart of the Rocky Mountains providing ready to act buyers and sellers to real estate agents in all 50 states of the US and 7 provinces of Canada. While the large “lead generation” companies are struggling, Real Estate Client Referrals LLC (RECR) is doing better then ever. Started in 2003 then RECR has wisely managed itself to larger gross revenues and more importantly larger profits EVERY YEAR since the start. The company has even managed to grow its profits through the recent down times in real estate. … (4 comments)

recr: Dont Tie Your Shoe Laces Together & Expect To Get Very Far - 07/16/09 12:35 AM
"Dont tie your shoe laces together and expect to get very far."
Seems like excellent advice, doesnt it?  My dad taught me that statement many years ago.  I never really knew what he was talking about until I was old enough to figure it out.  And, I think it makes more sense now that I'm in a commission-based sales position than it ever has in my entire life.
See...It amazes me on a daily basis how many agents that I deal with actually set themselves up for failure by making simple, yet deadly, mistakes in their business.  Some of these mistakes … (12 comments)

recr: How To Get People To Say Yes...Or, Wanna Buy My Dishwasher?? - 06/17/09 04:58 PM
I have a confession to make.  I hate to do dishes.  And, I don’t mean that I just don’t like doing them…I freaking HATE to do dishes.  And, up until about 3 months ago, I had no choice but to do them.  By hand.  In the sink. 
Nothing caused more seething hatred within my very soul than scraping dried Sugar-Frosted Cocoa Bombs off of the bottom of a cereal bowl in scalding hot water and caustic grease-removing chemicals surrounded by mountains of plates and silverware and glasses all chortling at me secretly while I fry the outer layers of my … (79 comments)

recr: 10 Ways To Blow It - 06/03/09 01:55 AM

Regardless of how often Brokers or Sales Managers say not to do it, there are certain phrases that continually pop up during the course of a presentation/phone call/appointment that simply take a client's confidence and shake it to the very core.  Sometimes even to the point of losing your listing to another agent...losing that big sale...or even driving away an existing customer.
Having said that, I ran across a blog written by Brad Trnavsky, a sales and management blogger and all around guru on the subject (and if you don't believe me, go to his blog at www.salesmanagement20.com), that listed … (114 comments)

recr: Marketing To The "Younger Set" - 03/19/09 02:17 AM
Before we get into this, let's take a quick look at the current situation in the housing market.  All indicators point to the fact that interest rates will be dropping further.  This is going to lead to a rapid increase in refinancing for existing mortgages and, I believe, a significant increase in first-time home purchases as buyers that have been "riding the fence" finally feel that it is time to jump into the pool.
The kicker with the majority of these new buyers is that they are either younger GenXers or even GenYers.
What does this mean for you??
First, a little … (38 comments)

recr: Social Media -- Numbers Dont Lie! - 03/09/09 06:31 AM
The world needs another blog about how important it is for agents to build and maintain a positive social media presence like Eskimos need ice. 
But, I'm a big fan of technology.  I figure anything that is out there that can help me do my job better, more efficiently, and with less effort on my behalf has to be a good thing.  Plus, I'm a numbers junkie.  Numbers and statistics to me are undeniable proof that certain truths exist. 
And, I guess I'm not the only one that feels that way.
The 2008 Use of Technology Survey tracks the current trends … (86 comments)

recr: A Testiment To Working Your Leads! - 03/02/09 11:09 PM
I have never made any secret of the fact that I work for an internet lead generation company.  And, having been at this company for nearly 5 years, I do believe that, when worked properly, internet leads can and will make you money.  But, as with anything in life, there is no "magic pill" that will allow you to automatically be successful.  This remains true for anything in life, but is especially true when discussing real estate...more specifically, internet-generated leads.
 
Really, what it boils down to is this: If you suck at follow up...internet leads are not for you.  (By … (17 comments)

recr: Death of a Salesman - 02/24/09 11:42 AM
I decided I needed to get a new pair of shoes.  The ones that I have are a couple years old and, quite frankly, a bit worn out.  So, I decided to head to the local ShoeEmporiumMart and get myself some shoes.  I knew exactly what I wanted...and in what section of the store to find it.  As I entered the store, I saw a couple customers browsing and 3 sales attendants by the cash register. 
As I stroll past them, one of them says, "Hi. I will be right with you."  Assuming she was discussing something important and required time … (132 comments)

recr: 6 Ways To Soften Your “Hard-Sell” Approach - 02/17/09 01:38 AM
I have been involved in sales for the better part of 20+ years.  I've sold everything from advertising to insurance and have set sales records in the process.  But, I never really tried to sell anything.  What I tried to do was show people that what I had to offer to them was of value and explain to them how it can help them.  And, that style hasn't let me down even today.
So, it goes without saying that the one thing that I have always disliked about sales is the standard "hard-sell" style.  You know...that pushy, in your face, unrelenting … (75 comments)

recr: 5 Ways To Kill Your Business in 2009! - 01/25/09 11:20 PM
It's a new year! New business plans...new budgets (shoestring, though they may be...). New attitude attributed to a new year.  But, none of that will mean a thing if you continue down the same destructive path.
It amazes me on a daily basis how many agents that I deal with actually set themselves up for failure by making simple, yet deadly, mistakes in their business.  Some of these mistakes seem to be so simple to overcome.  Yet, time and time again, they repeat the same thing expecting a different result.  That is the definition of insanity. 
So, in the hopes that I … (94 comments)

recr: You're Not Doing It Wrong...I'm Just Doing It Different! - 01/20/09 01:15 AM
This one a little different for me...
As you all know by now, Im a Twitter-a-holic.  And, by being such, I have developed relationships with some of the best agents around the country.  I currently interact online with nearly 700 real estate professionals in all walks of the industry.
One of the people I interact with regularly is a wonderful young woman in Fredericksburg, VA, by the name of Sarah Stelmok.  Sarah is a wonderful person, a consummate professional, a continuing education trainer, and a dang good blogger.  (She is also currently taking referrals from www.recr.com in several areas...which means I like her … (27 comments)