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Would You Join a Leads Group?

By Donna Foerster

Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart Realty Group

July 21, 2012 01:03 PM

Would You Join a Leads Group?

I've been part of 2 leads groups in my 8+ years in Real Estate. One was with a local chamber. You had to pay to be a member. It was very structured. The only bad thing? I never passed or received a lead! Why, you might ask? Good question. I believe it's because I didn't take the time to build relationships with the other members.

Bottom line? Whether you are in a leads group or not, it's still all about building relationships. Let's face it. We are in the PEOPLE business!

My broker challenged us to START our own leads group. Based on my past experience, I made a frowny face. However, my frown soon turned upside down! After a bit of research (I emailed someone who started her own group), I had a good idea about how to get started:

Put on a happy face! (Check)
Identify GOOD partner businesses, such as lenders, accountants, caterers (Check)
Research some potential partners (Check)
Start meeting people (Check)

On Thursday night we attending a Business After Hours networking event at a local restaurant. I went in with a positive attitude and a mission to meet NEW people to invite to our leads group. I spent QUALITY time with 4 people and invited all of them to join the group, 3 of them said yes. I plan to meet with each of them for coffee so that I can get to know them better. I'm going to take the time to build the relationships this time around. I will be successful!

I'll be sharing each step of the journey. Who knows? Maybe you'll decide to start a leads group too!

Would You Join a Leads Group?

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Susanna Haynie

CO-RE Group, LLC -Real estate sales and services - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs Realtor GRI CNE MCNE ePro MRP

Thank you for introducing me to "leads group" I was not familiar with it. Thank you. I also believe that building relationships with other professionals is crucial in our business. Have a great week.

Jul 22, 2012 11:46 PM

Sandy Acevedo

951-290-8588 - Chino Hills, CA

RE/MAX Masters, Inland Empire Homes for Sale

I attended a leads group about five years ago. And one particular member still sends me one client per year. One of them included a million dollar small apartment building.

Jul 23, 2012 12:54 AM

Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi

NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL

708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Donna: Good for you! I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you "got" out of the one leads group, what you put in. I think that's they key. If you're active and give leads, you will receive them. Finding the right group that you feel comfortable and happy to pro-actively provide leads for is crucial. Be selective ... and you'll reap the results. How could anyone not like YOU???? Give it some time and you'll be the Queen of the group ...

Gene

Jul 23, 2012 02:41 AM

Lyn Sims

Schaumburg, IL

Real Estate Broker Retired

Interesting. I prefer not to pay to join anything.

Jul 23, 2012 03:23 AM

Jennifer Prestwich

Henderson, Thornton, Broomfield and Westminster - Henderson, CO

Madison & Co Properties

Good for you, Donna! I have joined leads groups, and even been the "head" of one group. What I found when I was at the healm was that I never had time to actually talk and get to know the folks in the group, as I always seemed to be doing admin stuff for the group. I would rather be a part of the group and leave the "paperwork" to someone else. That way, I can get to know the people and build the relationships!

Jul 23, 2012 05:11 AM

Donna Foerster

HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Hey folks, we were out all day, so I'll respond to comments (individually) on Tuesday. Thank you for your understanding! :-)

Jul 23, 2012 12:16 PM

Mary Douglas

United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO

REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Donna, I'll be interested to see how this works for you. Good luck!

Jul 23, 2012 03:14 PM

Bob Crane

Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI

Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Hi Donna, it sure makes a difference to go into things with a plan, I am very happy for your success, I hope these leads continue to expand for you and your network of new contacts.

Jul 23, 2012 03:35 PM

Carol Faaland-Kronmaier

Weichert, Realtors; Hillsborough - Hillsborough, NJ

PhD, e-PRO, Manville, Hillsborough, Somerset NJ

Donna, I started a leads group when I was in Syracuse, NY and it's still active with a friend of mine taking my Realtor spot. We tried to go BNI, but they didn't want us to meet at breakfast which was better for us. So we started LINC ourselves. I really would like to be in another group since it was so sucessful for me!

Jul 23, 2012 08:22 PM

Evelyn Kennedy

Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA

Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Donna:

Sound like a good idea. I am very active in our local business association. Most of the members are working hard to improve their businesses. I am not sure they would be interested in starting a leads group. I will check it out though and keep reading your blogs about your progress. Good luck.

Jul 24, 2012 02:34 AM

Donna Foerster

HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Thank you Jon. I agree that attitude can make all the difference and hopefully, my attitude is contagious and the rest of the group will get excited too!

Gita~ The group is growing little by little. Our insurance person committed to joining us yesterday. I'd like to start the group with 8-10 people and then grow from there.

Ed~ I've never heard of a Chamber disbanding. I would say that you should accept the invitation, what do you have to lose?

Susanna~ A leads group is really just a group of professionals from various walks of life joining together to build relationships and refer business to each other. I'll be sharing more as I move forward in the process. Who knows, maybe you'll want to start your own group.

Sandy~ Thank you for sharing your positive experience! :-)

Gene~ Of course I'll be the QUEEN. That's a given!

Jul 24, 2012 02:54 AM

Donna Foerster

HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Lyn~ Our group will be FREE, unless we decide to have a lunch meeting somewhere, then we may have to have a price to pay for the meal.

Jennifer~ Just sent you an email. I want to be sure I can balance the admin of the group and still participate.

Hey Mary~ I never dreamed I would do anything like this, but I'm rather enjoying myself!

Thank you Bob! Hopefully my success will be contagious and other members in the Rain will benefit from my story!

Then I encourage you start a group Carol! You've done it before! :-)

Evelyn~ I've decided that I want part of our meetings to be dedicated to improving our businesses too. I've come up with the idea of asking a though provoking question at each meeting so that we can brainstorm some good ideas.

Jul 24, 2012 03:01 AM

Susan Neal

RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA

Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Hi Donna - I say Good for you! There are almost as many kinds of leads groups as there are leads groups, and since you are starting this one, you can make it what will work best for you, and with your great attitude about it, I'm sure it will be successful for your other members too! I look forward to hearing about your successes in the future.

Jul 24, 2012 01:15 PM

Donna Foerster

HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Thank you for the encouragement Susan. I have my first one-on-one meeting tomorrow with our lender. I plan on meeting with EVERYONE one-on-one prior to the first group meeting. Hopefully I'll have some time on Thursday to blog more about this endeavor. Just too dang busy!

Jul 24, 2012 01:22 PM

Jordon Wheeler

The Jordon Wheeler Group - Fairburn, GA

J W Group Real Estate Sales and Service

Hi Donna,

I may try this exercise to better build relationships. Best of success to you this year!

Jul 24, 2012 05:28 PM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

I appreciate your attitude and often that is the biggest component to success. Just believe - and then do - right?

Jul 25, 2012 06:36 AM

Donna Foerster

HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Hello Jordon~ I encourage you to give it a try!

Debb~ I am the capitan of my own ship. It's up to me to believe and MAKE it happen!

Jul 25, 2012 06:43 AM

Teral McDowell

Referral Patners LLC - Murphy, TX

Donna, judging from our first meeting in Texas I am confident that you will find success in your new group. You go girl!!! I'll be cheering for you :)

Jul 26, 2012 12:04 PM

Debbie Laity

Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO

Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I'm looking forward to hearing more about this venture of yours. I think leads groups are great, but I haven't seen where they've really worked in my area. I think it's because the area is so small, and most people already know somebody else. One leads group, a broker I use to work for started, worked for a while. He didn't get any leads, but they stayed together for over a year. Now no one shows up.

Jul 26, 2012 10:50 PM

Donna Foerster

HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Teral~ You are too kind. We'll see what happens. Next week I'm going to sit in with another group to watch and learn from their format.

Debbie~ I can understand why a leads group wouldn't really work in your neck of the woods. Your town is just one big leads group!

Jul 27, 2012 04:11 AM

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