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My Last Update For Growth Leader/Vision Program

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to share some thoughts on the Growth Leader/Vision program that many of us have been/are testing.  My "trial" period will end the end of July, but I have some comments on the program:

FIRST:  Allow the change of passwords, or allow the one that signs on to choose their own. I've had complaints on the passwords, but have learned I cannot change them. When you have ajiihilll password, or something to that effect, it can be a challenge to read and enter correctly let alone remember it.

SECOND: Though I have had PLENTY of those that have signed on and registered, and I've contacted the prospect via email or telephone, NOT ONE of them has actually scheduled appointments, met with the lender, or purchased a home. Many of the phone numbers were bogus, many that I was able to contact said they were just "looking," and a HUGE number were looking in the low, low price ranges of $40,000, $35,000, etc. While I will work with those in that price range, there simply isn't really that much available, and if they are, they're mobile homes or really run down places.

As a result, I do not believe I will continue the program. In my opinion, there are myriad reasons for no tangible buyers.

1.  Our market is rather topsy turvey right now
2.  There are a lot of lookie loos trying to figure out how to purchase a home with no money down. That isn't going to happen - unless - it's a VA of course.
3.  Many just are not qualified to purchase a home.
4.  Investors (many cash buyers) have again entered into our market and have purchased a ton of homes and have put the homes up for rent, so we have a glut of rentals right now;
5.  Listening to the news would scare anyone away from signing onto purchasing a home right now; and, last but certainly not least,
6.  Our unemployment rate is nearing the 10% mark!

All of that said: I still receive viable leads via my blogs and my websites and via referrals - such as Active Rain. I've appreciated the opportunity to work with this program, and would seriously consider using it in the future should it become feasible to do so.

 

More Information about Growth Leader

 

Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.216-3334 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: HomesAzRE.com, ServingMesaArizona, MoveToMesaAz.com or MoveToSunnyAz.com. Or stop by my blogs at: MesaAzRealEstateVoice; or Phoenix Valley Real Estate Blog

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Comments(25)

David M. Childress
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services - Akron, OH
I would love to be your Realtor® in Akron Ohio!

Thanks for the heads up. I have been following all of you testers and I agree, it looks like 50-50. I talked to a wonderful agent in KY and she is having great success with it and kept the program after her trial was up. I think a lot of it has to do with your market area also.

Jul 17, 2009 10:24 AM
Terry & Bonnie Westbrook
Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner - Grand Rapids, MI
Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re

I have been watching the program and feel it is very labor intensive for the benefits received.

Jul 17, 2009 01:32 PM
Sidney Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula
Realty Works Temecula - Temecula, CA
Realty Works Temecula

Hi Terrie, This was my first experience with internet leads also.   They are definately a different animal. I just wrote a post and will keep the program because I like the site and I can be flexible with the cost.  If I don't want to spend much on advertising I don't have to.  I have checked into Zillow and Realtor. com and they are much more expensive.   I know GL is not perfect but I like some of the features enough to keep it.

Jul 17, 2009 02:46 PM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

Hi everyone! Appreciate your comments....I definitely agree about the market right now. Each market IS different, so we have to make the decisions as to what is best for each of us.

Jul 17, 2009 02:53 PM
Sheila Moran
RE/MAX Access (Garden Ridge, San Antonio, New Braunfels) - New Braunfels, TX
SanAntonioSheila.com, RE/MAX Access, 210-32

Teri,

As they always say (and looks like you are doing)...

keep plugging along!

Jul 17, 2009 03:02 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

Teri, I felt a little bad that I wasn't invited to use growth leader in the period where you didn't have to pay.  I finally realized that I was doing it myself so got over it. They have called me several times now but it seemed pricey (especially when I am doing it myself).

Jul 17, 2009 03:28 PM
Leesa Finley
RED Properties - Wake Forest, NC
RED Properties - Raleigh NC Real Estate

Teri - Wow, thanks so much for your candid and honest feedback regarding growth leader.  Most of the posts I have read sound more like a BAD sales pitch for the program.  This was refreshing.  I, somewhat like Marchel, feel that I am already doing this and can get much farther keeping it this way,

Jul 17, 2009 11:53 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I refer out a lot of buyers who hit my web site because, as you say, many are lookie loos, super low price points that don't warrant my time or unqualified. And I don't use Growth Leader. This comes from my online advertising. But I do get great leads from Active Rain and my About.com site and my blog. I'd say it depends on how active an agent is online and where they work. Results probably differ all over the country.

sacramento short sale agent

Jul 19, 2009 03:37 AM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Teri--I thought that my results were just due to the problems in the area. I had similar results of lots of low value leads and few that were able to be qualified. I receive much more qualified leads directly from blogging. I do think GL can work in some areas but it so didn't pan out so well in mine.

Jul 19, 2009 03:09 PM
Janie Coffey
First Coast Sotheby’s International Realty - Ponte Vedra, FL
Uniting Extraordinary Homes w/ Extraordinary Lives

HI Teri, my experience was pretty similar, far too many low low lookers (those are the ones who actually returned calls and even stalked me to a point) who were, on average, both far below our normal client pricerange and out of our specific area.  I am working with Vision one more time to see if they can "fix" the problem and we'll see, but I won't continue if we can't, as great as the produce is and the backend, if the clients are the kind we are targetting it doesn't help our business. 

Jul 19, 2009 09:45 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

All the reasons you listed above and the fact that I was being forced to write about it week in and week out, which isn't my style. I can't write on a topic, I have to write what is in my head at the time.

Todd Clark - www.LivingBeaverton.com

Jul 19, 2009 11:39 PM
Jennifer Lew
DocuSign, Inc. - Seattle, WA

Hi Teri, thank you for the post. I appreciate your honest feedback. As you know, you were invited to participate in this trial program shortly after Growth Leader was initially launched. Your feedback, along with that of other agents, have been invaluable in helping us continually enhance the product.

Specific to your feedback on the passwords, that will be improved in one of our future upgrade releases. As for the quality of the prospects, there are some things that we can tweak in your advertising campaign to improve results, although the specific market, as you've indicated, also plays a role.

Growth Leader has been successful for a number of agents in the trial program. I hope that you will consider Growth Leader again in the future if market conditions improve in your area. We appreciate your participation in the program very much.

Jul 20, 2009 01:08 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Teri  I was a "trial" user and am now in "paying" status.  In the past 3 months I have gained 4 prospects to whom I am showing homes - 3l are $300K plus and one is $200K plus..  I did write a contract on a short sale for one of my prospects, but they were not the winning bid. I have at least 4 prospects with whom I am in email contact, but no personal contact as yet,  Karen

Jul 22, 2009 06:43 AM
Eric Murrietta
Homeowners Financial Group USA, LLC - Scottsdale, AZ

Teri - Sorry it wasn't working for you.  But trying and knowing it doesn't work is better than the alternative.  Never trying and not knowing either way.  Good luck as you keep trucking along!

Jul 24, 2009 11:03 AM
Ricky Khamis
EPiQ Lending - Gilbert, AZ
NMLS 173141 | CADOC 173141 - 602-758-7425

Teri just taking into consideration that you are even looking into programs like this, I applaude you.  I have been a Lender for 10 years in valley and have come across your name quite a bit so what you're doing is working.  The internet is the absolute best form, and more specifically getting down to the actual buyer that is ready to buy, not the one who types Arizona Real Estate in Google search. I hope you thrive because this market is crazy right now, gotta love it.

Jul 26, 2009 02:49 PM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

All of you! Thanks for commenting and sharing your thoughts and insights. This is just one of many reasons Active Rain is such a huge help!

 

Jul 26, 2009 04:29 PM
Renée Donohue~Home Photography
Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI
Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer

I had issues with quality also.  We do have one hanging on but she keeps disappearing and reappearing.

Jul 27, 2009 03:01 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Oops - I just realized I've been her before to comment  :)  Karen

Jul 28, 2009 08:48 AM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

Renee, I'm thinking there are many that feel that rock bottom prices are still available. Not around here, that's for sure.

Karen, nice to see you again. ;-)

Jul 28, 2009 01:28 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Thanks for posting your honest opinion of Growth Leader.  It's interesting to see the different opinions.

Aug 01, 2009 10:43 AM