The new office is located in a small town just west of Storm Lake Iowa, the town of Alta. I am in the office today, good traffic so far, new store opened in the building next to mine and it is drawing a lot of people. Many are stopping in or at least reading the sign.

My tasks today:
Follow-up with 3 prospective sellers and 2 buyers,
Complete and print the business newsletter
Review a transaction closing on Monday
Move sign frames to office and storage
Set-up showings for Monday and Tuesday
Review next weeks schedule (taking Thanksgiving off - family in)
Prepare listing forms for 2 new properties
Work on 7a loan application
Approve proofs for advertising next week
Develop ads for new listings

Yesterday we added some of the new signage to our building front, it should help people see our signage better.

 

Below are the beginning business statistics:

1) Started my own Brokerage October 27, 2009
2) Experience - real estate (licensed 5 years), Associate Broker 3 years, CRS, GRI, AHS, BS Ed, investor 8 years, previous experience building and running my own company 5 years, corporate management 9 years
3) Location - good for foot traffic, abundant parking, good signage visibility, office space remodeled to fit new needs, remodel completed by us and we own the building
4) Equipment - Utilized some existing and purchased some - signs, office furniture, computers, printers, cameras*
5) People - Myself and an Administrative person who plans to get licensed6) Marketing experience - 10 years, Internet, web development,print, photography
7) Financing - Start-up, Self financed(approximately $12,000), next phase -  expansion with a loan (looking into a SBA 7a Loan)
8) Time Committed to generating business and running business - approximately 60 hrs a week
9) Time required to be able to open office and do business - approximately 6 months, financial planning, office layout, remodeling, marketing plan, business plan, signage, accounting, legal, state, federal, supplies, other.*

*Used many local persons for work and supplies (signage, beautiful, unique and reasonable) but also found many great deals online.

Hey Everyone,

 This blog is a record of the day-to-day workings and issues inside a new brokerage. I am writing it to help others make the leap successfully or decide to stay where they are after seeing what it takes to be successful and through your advice and input help me grow a new company 

I see this as a journey, and every journey needs preparation, resources and a destination. Sharing this with you will help me, I do hope to help you too. If you have questions about things as I blog please put them in the comments, any advice is humbly and gratefully received.

Next blog will be my beginning business statistics - Thank you

My hat is on and I have taken to the open road - high mountains in view but level path and sunshine straight ahead.

 

 

Check out the new Home Buyer Tax Credit Reference Chart if you haven't already gotten one. Click on the link and go -  Home Buyer Tax Credit Reference Chart. Once there click on the red box with that info. on the page. I haven't been on in a while because I have been sooooo busy opening my own brokerage :)

We are Weaver LLC Realtors, great office, working with some really good Buyers and Sellers. A little nervous but staying the course and pushing on. One thing I am so thankful for is all the people who have supported me in this decision, helped me get the office, books, forms, files, advertising, marketing, and so many other things organized and on track. And a very special thank you to my husband, Ronnie.

Brand new real estate brokerage now open in the Storm Lake MLS area. Want more information - call Georgia Weaver the owner of Weaver LLC Realtors. Pilot Tribune newspaper covering our new brokerage, the services we offer, our philosophy on doing business and the Top 10 Reasons You Need to List Your Properties With US. If you need real estate services please consider us, we are experienced, ethical, and posess great marketing and negotiaion skills. Our business is not like any other in the Storm Lake MLS area, call us to experience a very refreshing difference.

Pilot Tribune newspaper article and picture showing our new brokerage sign, Dusty Rydstrom (Office assistant and me  posing. No I'm not a poser I AM THE REAL THING! Just ask me :)

 

http://www.stormlakepilottribune.com/story/1584806/photo/1287165.html

http://www.stormlakepilottribune.com/story/1584806.html

We are very busy getting the office up and going, all the property books made, forms developed, printed and filed, accounts complete, license, insurance, accounting software and of course training, and the office looks great - same colors we used on our house on Peterson St.

This week I finally opened my own brokerage, Monday I went to Des Moines for my license and have been working in my own space since then.  This weekend we put some of the finishing touches on, setup the computer for the assistant and hang our big sign. We officially open to the public this Monday, November 2, 2009.

Weaver LLC Realtors -

Only one Focus -YOU
We do only one thing - REAL ESTATE

YOU are our top priority, NOT Number of Sales, Number of Listings, Number of Agents, or Number of Dollars - YOU!

Our new location is 113 Main St., Suite 3, in Alta, Iowa
Call our office at 712-200-4663
Call or text me direct at 712-574-5426

Call me or come by to see how I can help YOU.

 

 

Weekly
Storm Lake MLS
Market Statistics - 9/16/09 to 9/23/09

  Storm Lake
  Available Residential Properties - 71 homes
  Sold in last 30 days - 14 homes

  Alta
  Available Residential Properties - 16 homes
  Sold in last 30 days - 5

Properties are listing and selling, waiting till "the market improves" DOES NOT APPLY to our market. Personally as a real estate investor, I am buying and selling.  4 Closings this month so far!

http://www.slrealtycheck.com/ for more information on the Storm Lake and Alta Iowa real estate market or call me 9Georgia A. Weaver) direct at 712-574-5426

 

2008

40 total properties with the above criteria sold in this period

Days on Market in this period - 27.5% marketed 0 to 30 days, 35% marketed 31-60 days, 2.5% marketed 61-90 days, 7.5% marketed 91-120 days, 27.5% marketed120+ days

Average Days on Market (DOM) was approximately 80

 

 

2009

36 total properties sold within the above criteria in this period

Days on Market in this period - 22.2% marketed 0 to 30 days, 33.3% marketed 31-60 days, 8.3% marketed 61-90 days, 13.9% marketed 91-120 days, 22.2% marketed 120+days

Average Days on Market was approximately 87

 

Summation:

The striking thing about this 3-month block of sales is what little difference there is from last year to this year. None of the numbers are greatly significant, it shows our local market (Storm Lake and Alta) are very stable and have not been negatively impacted by the national downturn.   Real estate is a good investment in general, a number of people are purchasing, and selling, we (Realtors) have seen a good year to date. The Storm Lake and Alta housing market is gaining ground overall.

As of August 31, 2009 we had 2.59 months of housing supply for sale in the above markets, this is referred to as the Listing/Absorption rate.  2.59 months is an excellent inventory compared to many markets that have over 12 months housing supply for sale.  The supply and demand scenario in our area is excellent at 2.59 months of inventory, this gives buyers a number of properties to choose from but there aren't so many available that it drives the prices down like it has in Minneapolis, Kansas City, Des Moines and most cities in Arizona in general.  However, these markets also offer many opportunities, if you are an investor, looking for a second or retirement home or want to move up now is the time to do it in these markets.

Help,

A small town I serve is allowing property owners to remove sidewalks. This is a big problem, the area is northwest Iowa, we get a lot of snow and many children still walk to school. No sidewalks is also a problem if you are handicapped, I think it could lead to some accessibility problems for the city when it comes to their streets and the ADA. Anyone have any input as how to proceed, I hope to be talking to the City Council October 5th and I would like to go in with some input from other Realtors. Thanks for the Help!