Jersey Blogging

Using Gooder Products

Vickie Marton (RE/MAX Classic Group) — Mon, 19 May 2008 22:31:52 -0500

I've been using Gooder eCentral Products for years and very excited about the creative things you can do with it. Is anyone else using this product, and would you like to exchange and share ideas? Let me know!

Open Houses - Are they "working"?

Vickie Marton (RE/MAX Classic Group) — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:22:35 -0500

That depends upon what "working" means. At my most recent Open Houses, I've usually had about 5-7 visitors. Most are typical buyers waiting for the great deal. If I stopped there, I guess I would say that my Open House was "not working", but that's very short sighted. After my Open House, I send a hand written note with my business card and ASK for their business. I put them into my data base AND look them up on the tax maps to find out if they may also have a house to sell. If they are in my data base they will receive quality monthly mailings from me. Longterm, I think I stand a chance to get their business. That's why I do Open Houses. Not for short term business, but for long term business through my data base. How about you? Are you doing Open Houses? Are they "working"?

Micro Stealth Sites

Vickie Marton (RE/MAX Classic Group) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:48:58 -0500

Does anyone know if we can use more than one web address for our Stealth Sites? For example, my primary Stealth Site is www.NJHomeValues.Net but if I'm doing a "JUST SOLD" Postcard in "Califon, NJ" I'd like to use www.CalifonHomeValues.com . Has anyone used more than one address with RPS?

Micro Stealth Sites

Vickie Marton (RE/MAX Classic Group) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:46:47 -0500

Does anyone know if we can add more web addresses to our Stealth Sites? For example, my RP Stealth Site is www.NJHomeValues.net . If I am promoting "Just Sold" Postcards in a specific neighborhood or town, I'd like to use www.CalifonHomeValues.com . I do this with my Gooder Site, but was wondering if anyone has done it with RPS.

Make Money with Referrals and Outlook!

Vickie Marton (RE/MAX Classic Group) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 16:50:25 -0500

In this buyer's market, I've found that referrals are a great way to make extra income! I spread the word to my data base that if they know of anyone moving out of state I can research a top producing Realtor anywhere in the USA!

When I get a lead, here's how Outlook helps:

I right click on contacts and create a contact folder for Referral Agents and another for Referral Buyers.

I put all of the contact information I have in each of the appropriate folder and save. Then, on the Referral Agent Contact information I click contact at the bottom of the screen and cross reference the Referral Contact (or customer). Once all this is done, While the specific Referral Agent Contact screen is still open, I click Action (at the top) and create a new Task. My task is "Follow-up on Referral". I usually date it for 30 days from the time I gave the referral. Before saving the screen, I press reoccurance and request a reoccurance for every 30 days. Save and Close (or as I say "click it and forget it!") YOU MUST HAVE THE CONTACT SCREEN OPEN before creating the task; otherwise, you won't know what customer is referenced to the task.

Every 30 days my task come up to follow-up on the referral. All I do when the task comes up is open the contact information at the bottom of the task, which is the Referral Agent info. On the Referral Agent Contact Screen I click action and new message to contact. That automatically opens a pre-addressed email to the agent from me. I type a little note asking how things are goining with XYZ customer that I referred.

That way, I can monitor the progess of my referral and know when to expect my check. BTW, I can always go back and search all emails to the contact just by clicking the activities tab and using the drop down select email. Outlook will search every email sent to or received by that contact.

Using Outlook for Transaction Coordination

Vickie Marton (RE/MAX Classic Group) — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 14:12:28 -0500

So Glad to see this group!! I thought I was all alone out there. Never could understand why Realtors were paying per month to use Top Producer, when Outlook does more and is more flexible in its usage.

I actually use it for my Transaction Coordination. Here's how it works:

I actually have more then one contact folder in Outlook (just be right clicking contact and then create a new folder). I have attorneys in one folder, title companies in another, appraisors, etc. I enter all contacts in the applicable contact folder. I then cross reference all these contacts to my cusotmer's Outlook contact information by simply clicking on the contact tab at the bottom. Now, whenever I pull up my customer I have immediate access to everyone involved in the transaction!

Step #2. In a word document, I have all the steps from contract to closing. I pull my customer contact in Outlook, and create a new task. I enter each task from my step by step word document, and I'm done. Everything is traced to a date based on the contract, and whenever it comes up so does my customer's contact info, and all applicable contacts under that.

Does anyone else use this system?

Is it getting tougher out there, or is it just me?

Vickie Marton (RE/MAX Classic Group) — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:23:32 -0600

I've been showing a customer townhouses in the $270,000 range, which is the lower in of units in our area. I had her qualified and pre-approved. No problem. On our third visit to the complex she put a reasonable offer on a property. The next day she withdrew it and said she got scared, and could not sleep worrying about the monthly payments (which her mortgage person said she can well afford). So I showed her smaller townhouses in another town at $60,000 less. She emailed me later in the day and wanted to put on offer on one. Gave me details about her offer, and wanted me to write it up that night. The next morning, she called to say that maybe she wanted to look at the other unit again before submitting the offer. She was not sure, again.

I'm thinking either I should see the writting on the wall and cut my loses, or I should get a (younger-more patient) buyer's agent to work with me, and just stick to marketing listings. Is anyone else struggling with what seems to me to be more and more challenges? Any thoughts?

The Best of New Jersey

Vickie Marton (RE/MAX Classic Group) — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 17:29:24 -0500

When most people hear New Jersey, they think of factories, conjestion, and polution. My Real Estate Area is quite different. I sell Hunterdon & Warren Counties. We are just over one hour to New York City, yet most towns have 3 to 10 acre zoning per house. I actually live on 40 acres and am only 1 hour and 15 minutes from Manhattan via non-stop bus service that runs 24 hours daily. I describe it as Norman Rockwell Setting with many historic colonial homes, hills and streams.

Come See Us!

Rent A Country Retreat!

Vickie Marton (RE/MAX Classic Group) — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 22:17:34 -0500

Escape to the country, just 1 hour from NYC! Pefect year-round rental $2,800 monthly-1 year lease required.

2 bedrooms 1 bath and lots of charm on an historic estate.

View Details of this Cottage at www.HouseWebTour.com/2316759

Incredible Buy!

Vickie Marton (RE/MAX Classic Group) — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:58:00 -0500

$279,900!!! Granite Countertops in Kitchen & 2 Luxury Bathrooms! New siding, All New Windows, New Wood Floors. Impossible to find this quality of home at this price anywhere else in New Jersey! Hurry, it won't last!

View details of this home at www.HouseWebTour.com/2327325

Custom Designed Home with Pond & Stream Plus 40X60 Outbuilding!

Vickie Marton (RE/MAX Classic Group) — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:45:30 -0500

Enjoy one floor living in the custom rebuilt ranch home with gourmet kitchen, custom woodwork thoughout...

Hand Layed Stone Fireplace in Family Room Open to Kitechn

Plus 40X60 Workshop in Separate Building!

On over 8 acres for only $649,000! visit www.HouseWebTour.com/2286031

Baby Boomer Special!

Vickie Marton (RE/MAX Classic Group) — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:31:03 -0500

One of a kind 3,000 square foot ranch home and in-law suite with separate entrance on over 3 1/2 acres within developement of newer homes in Hunterdon County NJ - 10 minutes off exit 11 of I-78. $599,000!.

View this home at www.HouseWebTour.com/2329375

Where Are Your Marketing $$$ Going?

Vickie Marton (RE/MAX Classic Group) — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:20:53 -0500

In this challenging market I've changed my focus from prospecting sellers to prospecting buyers. I'm creating a new web address targeted to Open Houses in my area: http://www.openhouseinhunterdoncounty.com

and pointing it to my website where I've posted my Open House schedule. I'm advertising the new web address in my local paper. I'm doing many more Open Houses this year to meet buyers and to give my listings more exposure. Where are your marketing $$$ going?