Todd Bates "The Real Estate Success Program"

DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS PROGRAM, IT IS A SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I signed up for it six months ago and they STILL haven't gotten my website finalized and I haven't received ONE lead. I have tried to cancel and called and left multiple messages for Todd Bates and Joseph Casey and have been ignored. COMPLETELY UNPROFESSIONAL!

I also had signed up with Todd and the twin brothers, on Dec 09, and it's been a disaster. It took them 3-4 months to finish the websites after I spend weeks of my time to correct the zillions of mistakes they made on the sites. For the past 2 months I have received 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! leads with no phone number for the cost of $50.00 each on Google ad words. They are not capable of delivering their end of the bargain. Keep your money and run away from them. 

Not sure if you've signed up for it yet, but for anybody else thinking about doing it, I would stay away from them. Like other people have said, Bates' stuff is extremely outdated along with the "Proquest" 800 number system. When I ordered my personal 800 number, Proquest gives you what seems like a pretty good package. You get a nice booklet of expired and FSBO letters and 4 CD's to listen to. When I popped in the CD's, I realized I was listening to a conversation that took place in 2002! I couldn't believe it. I immediatly took out the CD and haven't listend to it since.

The whole idea with the 800 number is to pre-record information about listings to be less threatning for interested buyers that just don't feel like talking to real estate agents. Then, we are supposed to follow up with them within 15 of them listening to our pre-recorded info. Here's where the problem lies. Buyers can call your number, listen to your information and just hang up. But when we call them back, don't be shocked when they pull out the "I dialed the wrong number" card. 

The solution? Keep the 800 number if you'd like but don't pre-record anything and make all the calls go directly to you.

If there is one thing that I learned from Todd Bates is that you must stand out from the rest of the agents in your market (which is easier said then done). Bates reccommends you use something like his marketing campaign "I'll sell your home in 39 days or I will sell it for free". Unfortunately, this doesn't work. Nobody responded to our marketing effors so I asked serveral family members and friends about what they would think if they received something like this. The first words that came out of their mouth were either "scam" or "what's the catch"? 

Don't waste your time and money on his marketing slogans.

However, you must come up with a compelling reason for people to do business with you whether you going after expired listings, FSBO's or Buyers. And no I don't mean offer a free CMA, "I'm the best Realtor in town", "everybody likes me" or I'm an honest person". Give them something in return for doing business with you. One reason why you must give buyers and sellers incentive is because it's becoming more and more difficult to compete with people's mothers'-brothers'-uncles'-sister. You know what I mean? Too many people are allowed to get a real estate license.

My recommendation? Find out who the best agent is outside of your desired market and copy him/her. Go to his/her website and see what he/she is doing. Sometimes it's difficult to find out because their website may look exactly like everyone elses. Worst case scenerio, call them if you can't find the info your looking for.

Last but not least, the Bridges brothers. I've looked them up to see how legit they are and they do not exist in the soCalMLS. However, they do hold a real estate license so I don't know what is going on here. But this was the first red flag that went up.

I hope this helps anybody that is interested in getting into this program.

DO NOT SIGN UP WITH TODD BATES OR THE BRIDGES BROTHERS

I went to a seminar and was promised three custom web sites, training, coaching calls with Todd, and tons of leads. EWven the Bridges promised all kinds of assistance and training. After paying the $3,500 (reluctantly) I waited for someone to call me. We were told the full program woould be up and running in 3 weeks. After a couple of months I began to make several calls to different people and eventually a rep from the Real Estate Success Program called me. I have got nothing but a run-a-round. They ask for infomration and after you send the infomration, they ask for more and more. Then they say they need more money to do additional things. Beside the fact they are unethical in what they promise. All their gauranteed programs are false adversing. Nothing is gauranteed except misleading potential clients: not the way to build a reputable business. It's going on a year and I have yet heard from Todd Bates after sending several voice and email messages.

I made the mistake of joining the Todd Bates program a few weeks ago.  I don't know that I would necessarily characterize it as a scam, but I think his material is very sloppy and unprofessional.  All of his forms need to be carefully proofread and cleaned up before I would dare send any of them to a prospective client.  His 201 point marketing program is a crap - it's not a marketing program - it's a "to-do" list for agents: things like "put copy of contract in file."  Are they kidding me?  Many items are exact duplicates of others, and many are the same as previous items, just re-worded.  I'm paraphrasing here, but it has things like "enter listing into MLS," and then a separate item will be "enter photos in MLS."  I would advise brokers to NOT let the Bridges twins or Bates in their office - there are many other coaching programs worth the money.  This one is a joke. 

People often post negative comments because they are angry.  If you look for negative comments, you will find them.  And, if you look at positive comments, you will find positive comments as well.  When was the last time you Google'd something positive?

Visit http://www.toddbatessystems.com/todd-bates-scam/ for a different prespective and notice the POSITIVE comments along the right side of the website, including an audio testimonial at the bottom right.

This system is a joke. Their marketing pieces look like they were done by a child. And Rhonda is right, their "201 point marketing plan" is hillarious! No seller is going to take the time to read a list of 201 things a realtor does. As California Realtor said, the Bridges brothers are a joke. They're not even listed in the SoCal MLS. Spend your money on Kinder Reese.

DO NOT PUT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION ANYWHERE ON THE TODD BATES EMAIL SYSTEMS, YOU WILL RECEIVE COUNTLESS SPAM EMAILS AND HAVE NO WAY TO UNSUBSCRIBE, ALL REQUESTS GO UNANSWERED.  WHAT A HACK!

Wow!  I was googling something else and this thread came up.  I am flabergasted at the comments.  I signed up with Todd Bates about 6 months ago.  It has been a fantastic experience.  My business is way up - they have provided everything that they said they would provide and then some.  When I started the calls were with Todd, but now I coach with Jamie every week.  The calls always arrive on time each week and the volume of material available on the site is unbelievable.

I have done many coaching programs before and this one was the least expensive monthly fee and by far the most effective.  My business has increased tremendously and the systems allow me to feel that I' m in control of where my business is coming from and that it will be consistent. 

One difference for me may be that I threw myself wholeheartedly into this system.  I didn't second quess anything, just followed instructions.  It almost immediately started working so I just kept doing that when I moved onto the next system.  In the past, I had always second quessed the systems my previous coaches gave me and consequently they didn't really work that well.  But this time around I was at a do or die situation so I just threw myself in.

Any way - just my opinion.  Remember when researching things online that they say more people dissatisfied will post things that people who are happy.

I just finished up spending $ 500 dollars with Todd Bates a couple of months ago.   He told me I needed 5 sessions to really get me going.   What a bunch of bull......his program is.   I wish I would have drove down the street and threw 500 dollars out the car window.....At least I would have been helping the homeless.  Instead of being totally ripped off by this guy.   His program is a scam, I got zero out of it.  I really wanted to increase my real estate business sincerly, and sincerly, I hope your enjoying my money Todd......  Just remember what goes around comes around.    I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND HIS RIP OFF PROGRAM TO ANYONE, NOT EVEN MY WORST ENEMY......

Ray, under Todds program I became the number one most productive agent in southern maryland. Todd and I designed the "guaranteed" ad or "you can fire me" etc.. I consistently made $500k a year or more. he was an incredible coach and was the best money Ive ever spent. Unfortunately Todd passed away one month ago so I guess some of you don't have to worry again do you?

Todd Bates Ruled! double my 24 a year listings to 48 - scott west Using his system again combined with updated technology that he would have been on! so i'll let you know how it goes starting over again