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A Different Approach..

By
Real Estate Agent with Real Living Realty Group

I know everyone is down on the Real estate Market these days. Here out in the Middlesex, Worcester County area things are simply, no different. I try and tell the agents around me that enthusiasm goes a long way. Every day people look to REALTORS to be different, get their property sold when they are 1 of 35 in their price range. I am just curious how many of us feed into that doom and gloom and just never try anything different?

I try and be a bit different. After a very long personal year, I have realized, the same old principles of Real Estate apply. How many of us are willing to work that extra 5 hours a week to prospect? How does prospecting effect our business? Do you think 10 extra listings in 2 months would increase or decrease our sales? How will sellers react when one agent says "I am positively going to work to get your home sold" to the flip side of "Nothing is selling, so let's just give your home away". I know who I would list with and so do you.

An example of trying something new..my team the PRU POWER TEAM, opened 4 homes on Superbowl Sunday. Basically we had a Superbowl Party. Inexpensive food, and a little fun. Yes I know a daring move. We did however pick up 4 active buyers, 2 new sellers, and managed to get 27 people through our properties in January. I do not believe it could have gone any better.

I try and live with the philosophy of WAKE UP - DRESS UP - SHOW UP. Does it mean you will sell 5 homes tomorrow? Probably not..but what it does do, is give you that advantage. An advantage over the competition and the tools to give you those 5 extra sales pretty quickly.

Just for giggles, try prospecting 10 expired listings. Ask the seller what happened and why they think their home didn't sell. Do me a favor before you go, pull how many listings are in the town versus how many listings have sold...you may even surprise yourself. Maybe just maybe while we were moaning and complaining 100 homes sold with 110 on the market in the past 3-4 months. Wouldn't it be a shame if none of those 100 sales were yours?

DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT THE PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS.

When you hit those 10 homes, do not be afraid to ask for their number. Guess what if they give it to you, you have a better then 60% chance of getting that listing (IF you follow up). Besides, people on the DO NOT CALL LIST, are not on the list if they give you their number.

Now remember who would you want to work with..Eeyore or Tigger. Maybe it's not always the market, maybe just maybe if we change our attitudes, buyers will change theirs. Wouldn't we all like a 10-30% increase in our productivity right away? Try it, you may even find you like it.

Laurie Ann

 

 

 

Tony & Darcy Cannon
Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT
The C Team
Laurie, good reminder!  Thanks for posting it.
Mar 14, 2008 09:08 AM
Michael (Mike) Elliott
Nottingham Real Estate Group - Hamilton, NJ
Good post, Laurie Ann. We need to stay positive, while most other agents have slowed down and taken their foor off the gas. (I'm a Red Sox fan in NJ).
Mar 14, 2008 09:08 AM
Chelle Gassan
RE/MAX Regency and Staged Homes VA - Bristow, VA
NOVA Realtor and Stager
When does negativity ever win?  The power of a positive mind is amazing.  Great suggestions!
Mar 14, 2008 09:15 AM
Gary J. Rocks
Juba Team Realty - Jefferson Township, NJ

Laurie Ann

I wish my entire office could have just read your post, but they are set in their ways and it drives me nuts. Thanks for that up lifting post.

Mar 14, 2008 09:55 AM
Christopher Hills
North Andover, MA
Managing Dir. Lending
Thanks laurie I wish my loan officers could also read this. Stay positive
Mar 14, 2008 10:09 AM
Billie Dalessio
Home Run Realty, LLC - North Haven, CT
Laurie-thanks for the pick me up. I just had a conversation with one of my agents yesterday, She pulled some expireds,looked up their phone numbers, wrote it all down neatly in a notebook, but hasn't taken the most crucial step-actually contacting them. She asked "when's the best time to call?" I said whenever you're ready to pick up the phone. It's like Nike "just do it".
Mar 14, 2008 01:13 PM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate
Laurie Ann - Welcome to Active Rain! A positive attitude will take you not only far in business but in life in general. I try to stay as far away as possible from negativity. Best of luck in 08 :)
Mar 15, 2008 01:30 AM
Laurie Ann Babbitt-Strapponi
Real Living Realty Group - Franklin, MA

Thanks Everyone!

It amazes me how easy it is to let other people's negative energy rub off on us. Let's all have an absolutely awesome 2008.

 

 

Mar 16, 2008 12:37 AM
Shane Trotta
CT Appraisal Group, LLC - Guilford, CT
Great post, great attitude. Houses are selling; you've got to make them your houses that are selling. Set yourself apart from the crowd, it's not as easy as it was in the past to sell a house! A good way to set your listings apart is to offer more than the other agents; I'm a service provider for www.floorplanonline.com and these tours are a great way to set yourself apart from the rest of the crowd...especially for the higher end properties. But with the way buyers are searching online these days, these tours are great for getting them a good look at the house before going there!
Mar 16, 2008 06:16 AM
Sharon Harris
Keller Williams Keystone Realty - Hanover, PA
Realtor

great post. You make some very good points!!

Mar 16, 2008 06:20 AM
Jenn Beilmann
Coldwell Banker Gundaker - Mehlville, MO
St. Louis MO Realtor

Great post, Laurie. I've been regularly dropping of information to area expired listings. It worked great at first - of the first 25 I dropped off, I got 3 phone calls that led to 2 appointments and 1 listing. However I've had NOTHING since then (it's been 4 months now). I've tweaked my packet so much trying to find that 'magic' again, but it still eludes me.

Of course I do realize that dropping something off at the door, no matter how great the packet is, does NOTHING unless you actually KNOCK on the door and speak to someone. I'm not sure why the face to face fear is so hard for me to overcome.

I'm sure you've encountered people with this mental block before - any suggestions on how to overcome it?

I really, really want to be a Tigger !! ;-)

Mar 17, 2008 08:12 AM
Laurie Ann Babbitt-Strapponi
Real Living Realty Group - Franklin, MA

Hi Jenn,

just like the Nike commercial...

Yes, many people have this block..those 25 would have potentially been numerous more listings. Take a peek and see how many of those homes relisted.

Suggestion: Make a flyer of one of your current listings. Go to the 100 nearest homes of the home you have listed and ask if they can help you pick their neighbor. It will get you out there with a little less then hey, let me sell your home. I bet by the 40th house you start asking who they know wants to buy or sell real estate.

Ever heard of Mike Ferry? www.mikeferry.com (take a peek and gooooooooooooooo TIGGER!)

Laurie Ann 

 

 

 

 

Mar 17, 2008 08:57 AM
Maggie Kent
Front Door Interiors - Bethel, CT

Hi Laurie Ann,

I don't think it just applies to Realtors either.  With so many Stagers not in the business for the long haul (prospecting, giving face to face presentations, following leads, purchasing inventory, physically moving) because it all got too much too soon, I think staying positive and remembering the basics of business are SO important.  Thanks for the reminder!

Maggie

Mar 20, 2008 12:34 AM