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Announcing Activerain's "MakeoverToTakeover" Event - The Call for Entries!

Whether your Real Estate career has just begun,

or is in dire needed a complete overhaul,

here's your chance!

Think "Top Chef," less the cooking.

Or "Extreme Home Make-Over," but without Ty and his annoying megaphone.
The Biggest Loser, only you're a Winner!

From the same folks that brought you 'Project Blogger" comes the latest reality 'realty' event....

The Contest is simple: We will be selecting up to 15 'Makeover' Teams, comprised of one (1) seasoned real estate veteran (Mentor), and their chosen apprentice. Over the course of the next 8 weeks (leading up to the 2008 SF Inman Connect), the Mentor/Apprentices will face a series of weekly challenges, aimed specifically at developing the apprentice's image/abilities as a top performing real estate agent.

The mentors and apprentices will be chronicling their experiences on the 'MakeoverToTakeover' ActiveRain blog.

Each of the selected teams will receive a free Flip Video Camera to help document/share their progress.

M2T Team Submissions Deadline: Monday, May 12th. MakeOver Teams shall submit an application with the following information:

Names of both Mentor and Apprentice.
A short description of the why the apprentice feels their business needs to be made over.
Send email entries to Rich Jacobson (his first name @ activerain.com)

Competition Begins: Friday, May 16th

Competition Ends: July 18th. The Winning Team will be announced at Inman's SF Blogger's Connect 2008

Judging: Each week the contestants will be given challenges for that week. Our panel of judges will review the contestants entries for each competition and in true 'reality' show fashion, teams will be eliminated each week.

Scoring: The last three teams standing will be invited to join us at Inman Connect in San Francisco where the winning team will be announced. In addition to the final challenge, the overall body of work will be evaluated to determine the winning team. So if your team doesn't fair well one week, but you avoid being eliminated, you have the ability to bounce back and still make a strong showing toward the final announcement.

Judging Criteria: Each week, when that weeks challenge is announced, judging criteria for that particular challenge will be spelled out. The overall judging criteria will look at the how far the makeover of the Apprentice has come and how their participation has changed the face of their business. We will talk more about the criteria as the contest unfolds.

Prizes: We will award small weekly prizes to the first place team for each challenge. The grand prize will be a Web2.0 Marketing package worth many 1000's of dollars. You can look forward to prizes from the who's who of online real estate.

EDITED: The nature of some of the weekly challenges will make it such that it may be an advantage to have the Mentor and the apprentice in the same geographical area. Depending on the number of applicants we get, we may give preference to teams where the Mentor and Apprentice are in close geographic proximity. Having a team that is not in the same geographical area will not completely disqualify you, but it may make the process more challenging. However, some of the veteran members of our community are extremely gifted, technology-wise, and could probably mentor from any location!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

UPDATE: We are extending the deadline for Team Submissions until Midnight (PST) Wednesday, May 14th. We have had a good turnout of applications so far, but in talking with a number of our members, we felt additional time was needed to allow some further entries. The competing Teams will be announced later in the week. If anyone is looking for a Mentor or an Apprentice, you can pair up at the Makeover2Takeover Group. Best of Luck!

Posted by ActiveRain Real Estate Network on 05/11/2008 02:51 PM

Comments (108)

activerain contests, makeover2takeover contest

108 Comments on Announcing Activerain's "MakeoverToTakeover" Event - The Call for Entries!

MAY

2008

hmmmmm now that's worth thinking about

So how do you put the teams together?? Do you just pick somebody to work with or what?? How do you know who is interested in doing this?

What type of challenges will there be ?? maybe I am slow but i want to make sure my mentor is the best in the field ..

If we lose do we get voted out of the industry?

Aloha Active Rain,

What fun, a very intersting idea that I'm looking forward to watch unfold. Good luck contestants!

Peace,

Wow.....this sounds like a survivor game show. I can hardly wait to play.

Ok, I also want to know how the teams get put together...This would be fun. And I need a makeover in more ways than one. LOL.

Oh this is going to be fun stuff! Now we have Realty Reality AR...sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!

Parked and waiting for instructions on how to sign up.

This is Reality RE if I've ever seen it! How fun is this. I'm all in as long as I don't have to eat worms, skydive or swim with the alligators! How cool!

Later in the rain~Deb

You put your team together. You find someone that is willing to mentor you (or someone that you might consider mentoring). You submit your team to us.........

Karen,

The instructions to sign up are as follows:

M2T Team Submissions Deadline: Monday, May 12th. MakeOver Teams shall submit an application with the following information:

Names of both Mentor and Apprentice.
A short description of the why the apprentice feels their business needs to be made over.
Send email entries to Rich Jacobson (his first name @ activerain.com)

So the apprentice is responsible for finding their mentor or vice versa.....Sorry, that may not have been entirely clear.

I am SOOOOOO pumped up about this one! I think many of us could use a 'makeover' right about now!

If anyone has any questions or needs clarification on anything, just shoot me an e-mail....

Rich, what a fantastic idea! This sounds like great fun, great prizes, great competition, and a great makeover for many people's businesses.

Thanks for the clarification. I'm assuming the mentor is someone here on AR, right? Or, can I recruit a mentor to start a blog here for the purpose of this contest?

I want in!!!

Rich, sounds like a great idea. I am still not clear about finding mentor/mentee. Wouldn't everyone want Broker Bryant, or Lenn as their mentor?:)

Karen,

You could certainly recruit a mentor to ActiveRain for that purpose.

WOW I can't wait to be mentor.. I beleive that my business needs a makeover... Thanks for the COOL idea...

I like the idea of the contest, but think we need some clarification on a few items. At what point (number or years in the business, number of closed transactions, number of posts written, etc) is someone not eligible to be an apprentice? Could a top AR blogger with an outside blog be mentored by someone like Seth Godin or Guy Kawasaki?

Are the challenges all geared towards blogging (written or video), or will there be other makeover activities like building a database, creating a brand and marketing plan, etc.?

How will you establish a baseline from which to judge "how far the makeover of the Apprentice has come and how their participation has changed the face of their business"? I know that's really subjective, but really think it will help the participants (and help the contest run more smoothly) if this is defined ahead of time.

How fun - I loved project blogger can't wait to see this one roll out!!

Project Blogger 2008...nice prelude to Inman. With over 86,000 viewers, I am sure you have some serious competition.

Good luck to all involved.

John,

In our selection process, we will do our best to determine the qualifications of the apprentice and how far their business has to grow. I guess it is conceivable that a situation like you described could occur and we would have to take a long hard look at something like that for consideration. However, part of the final judging will be based on much the Apprentices makeover has changed the face of their business. Does that answer anything? haha, maybe not..........

The challenges will be geared toward the complete business. Creating a brand, marketing plan, building a database are all potential challenges. We will have a wide array of challenges targeting a wide array of aspects of an agents business, not just blogging.

We will have a more definitive explanation of the judging in place once we finalize the participants.

I just love reality TV and I love AR. What a great mix. Would appreciate a place they would all be able to hijack with updates, triumphs, frustrations, etc. so I can get my update fix. Or, perhaps they can just twitter their progress?! Will they then be required to go on to Inman Connect, or is it just a good time line?!

I'd love to be an apprentice. It's been a difficult move on me and I had never dealt with sellers before until here. I don't seem to work very well with them. I don't convey enough or something. May be it's cuz I'm too nice and laid back! So if someone wants to mentor me...hehe....I'm all for it!

Natalie,

The finalist won't be require to attend Inman. Of course it would be great if they can. But if they win, they will still get the cool prize even if they can't attend. If they can attend, they'll get to come up on stage and face any fears they have of speaking in front of large crowds though :-)

What a great segway for Connect! Will the winner (aw....they're all winners) be announced at Bloggers Connect or at the end of Inman Connect?

Geez, you throw out the geographical thing... I guess that means that I can't try to get Jessica (the inside track) Horton as a mentor...

This sounds like one sweet contest to me. I can not wait to see all involved and the results.

very creative!! I am glad you guys are setting up the stage for another great competition. Project Blogger may have gotten a lot of beef for how unclear the rules and parameters were, but I'm not complaining. Can't wait to see what comes out of this and will keep a close eye.

This sounds like so much stinking fun! Ok, who wants to mentor me?

This will be awesome, I just got an email from Jonathan and it looks like ActiveRain is taking it to the next level! I am stoked about the whole idea and looking forward to the fun and success that will be generated from this. Great job guys!! On a side note, I may be staying in Memphis if David Saks gets me my own set of keys to the Graceland Mansion. :-))))))))

Very cool idea. We can all learn from this, as we did from Project Blogger. Looking forward to seeing who the teams are.

Jeff

Ok this is absolutely cool, I just cannot figure out whether I'm an veteran or an apprentice type :)

Is there a GA area rookie agent that wants to try for this out in the Rain somewhere?

Sounds exciting! I hope you keep us all well posted so we can check their progress.

This is a great idea and I really want that flip video camera, but I know this is too much work for me to tackle right now. *sigh*

This is a really cool idea. I'm curious how the uberagents and makeover candidates will find each other. It only seems to make sense if you are working together in the same office.

I am looking forward to following this one. You folks know how to liven things up.

MAY

2008

Bo - I think there would be obvious advantages if the Mentor and Apprentice worked in the same office, or at least worked in the same market area, but that's not a requirement.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE FUN!

Here is a newly formed Group: Makeover2Takeover

We'll post any updates for this event in the Group.

In addition, any potential Mentors that are looking for prospective Apprentices, or vice versa, can feel free to post to the Group and promote their willing availability. Kinda like standing in the line at the ski slope...."Single!"

Don't be shy! It doesn't cost you anything to submit your entries. You could be one of the lucky 15 M2T Teams!!!

Lane - GO FOR IT!!!!!!! Ya better hurry, though. She'll probably get LOADS of offers!

Rhonda - At the Blogger's Connect!

This is a great idea! It will be a great learning experience for the chosen teams. I'm all for it, Northwest season real estate veterans, I am looking for a mentor, ARDELL are you listening?

Should Active Rain succeed in orchestrating a true mentoring adventure/experience, other than 'get out and sell,' 'send out those mindless emails and postcards,' 'set up those open houses with the neon signs that say 'I can't sell this !@#$ house,' 'go knock on doors first thing in the morning and really irritate those people who slipped into the expired list last night,' etc., etc., etc., then, in my humble opinion, they will be doing the industry a huge favor. This has touched on a pet peeve of mine... but I won't rant - - yet.

You guys are great. This will definitely be interesting to watch.

I love this idea. This sounds like a lot of fun. I will be looking for someone to mentor.

Sounds like an opportunity for for agents to get a make over but I'm confused as to how the teams are put together and who pick s them and what they have to do.

way cool. i am sure we will all learn just by following along

Neal - anyone really could assemble a team. All it takes is a Mentor (an agent/broker with proven experience), and an apprentice (someone who is new to the business, or is in dire need of a business overhaul. They can be from the same office, or working in the same market, or even a long distance relationship developed here on AR.

We, the AR Staff, will review all team submissions, and will pick the Top 15 based on their applications. We will assign weekly challenges, taskes aimed at developing the apprentice's knowledge and abilities as a Top Performer.

Susie - our Team Challenges will most likely incorporate some 'old' and 'new' school approaches to developing an effective real estate business. If you have some specific thoughts on what elements you feel would be most helpful/beneficial, shoot me an email...

Too cool to be true! Can't wait!

Tina in Virginia

Don't Just Sit on the Sidelines 'watching' this Event....

...Grab a Mentor or Apprentice, and send in an Application!

At this point, You have absolutely 'nothing' to lose!

Someone just posted in the 'Makeover2Takeover' Group looking for a Mentor!

What if your mentor works for a different company in the same town you work in? Is this competition going to p... off competing local brokers? Oh and when we're talking same geographical location, can you elaborate on that. Are we talking one town over, same town, can work in the same state? What say you Rich?

I put up my post on the group too!

I like the idea and wish there was a little more lead time. Do you have to be planning on attending the Inman Connect show in order to participate. I'll check out the group "makeover2takeover" as well. Whether I get the chance to find a mentor or not, I suspect following the winners will be extremely helpful to us all which makes this such a great idea!!! You guys rock!

This sounds cool - i am going to see if my mentor will be into it!

I would love to be involved in Reality Realty. My business needs a makeover and it would be a challenge. I would definitely be the struggling apprentice. Any mentors available in the central Florida, Lake County area?

Sounds cool!

Rich,

You edited the post to say we need to be in the same geographical area. I snagged someone in Maryland as my mentor and we've started communicating on this. I'm in the Atlanta area.

Define geographical area. Eastern seaboard? or 1-hour driving distance?

Parking...

For the points but I will be back :)

Shhhh...I did not say that out loud :)

Lemon? Okay. So the Code Monkeys saw me coming :)

TLW...ROAR!

By the way...

Which one of you Guys has been messing around on my Blog after I go SNORE at night? :)

You forgot to put the seat down ya know :)

TLW...ROAR!

I have no idea what you're talking about!

Being in the same geographical area will not disqualify you from consideration. Obviously, it may be an advantage for a particular team, but some of you might be able to make it work remotely....

Rich,

This looks like a lot of fun and will help many AR members out in a very big way....I'm looking forward to following the teams as they go through their challenges !

Oh my gosh, this sounds like a fabulous idea! Looking forward to it. Can the apprentice be an experienced agent that has recently relocated, starting over? Would there be a benefit for the apprentice fitting that mold? Sounds like a great challenge!

Well, just when I thought I had seen it all, you boys go and really show out.

What a great concept! Awesome name - it's just so catchy! Excellent branding opportunity! Suspense. Intrigue. Readership.

I can't wait to see what you guys think of next...

First I have to decide whether I'm apprentice or mentor!?

This sounds like a very cool competition idea. i can't wait for the results!

Sounds like a fun challenge for many here on AR. As for me I have sworn off contests. All the best , it will be fun to comment on the participants efforts.

What a great opportunity! There is no such thing as losers in a competition that makes us focus on improving the way we all do business!

MAY

2008

guys.... sounds great. looking forward to this.... but are we discriminating against loan officers? The mortgage industry? ;o(

I'm parking for this one. Will be fun to watch!

i am very interested in doing this. how do i get a mentor?

I am SO excited. We should have started a year ago with 15 teams from each region and worked it down. 15 from the US. I see at least 75 posts above with people waving their hands to be included. Be sure, mine is up the highest.

Maybe you could set it up with one mentor and many apprentices, that way it would be more like Hell's Kitchen! Just kidding... sounds like a fun contest. I'll be watching from the sidelines.

Awesome...I'm off to find a good apprentice. I hope I can enter!

Interesting concept. I haven't seen anything quite like this before. I'll look forward to seeing how this turns out.

MAY

2008

I would love to be a mentee - however there are no blogging mentors in my area.... bummer -

I wish I could find a mentor.. I have terrible writing skills. This is both an interesting and exciting new idea you have!

I would love to be an apprentice any body want to be amentor

Excellent idea, Guys! Good luck on competition.

Rich,

Ok...gotcha..thanks...unfortunately I'm not a mentor material nor new... so I guess I'll be on the sidelines watching.

In need of mentor http://activerain.com/blogsview/503667/Makeover-to-Takeover-The

I have put my name out there for MentEE, let's see if SW Missorui gets on the list. cheryl www.ozarkcastle.com

Wow, this sounds really fun and kool.

MAY

2008

I'm a little to busy to give 100% and win so I'll pass on this one.

Wow active rain guru's you have truly out done your self. I am so excited about this contest I can not wait even if Im not selected. Good luck to everyone.

this is something we could all learn from and have fun. Will be be able to participate in the voting or at least foll the teams?

This is great fun, would love to be someones apprentice I am a hard worker:)

After further consideration, maybe I should be a mentor instead of a mentee...I do this in my office already for real estate....I was thinking I need a mentor from the standpoint of being able to grow my blogging success and internet presence even more. But, if it is making transactions happen, maybe then I am perfect to mentor others... My father & I who work together as a team are top agents in our company for many years and have also trained some of the top agents around Myrtle Beach over the past 6 years!

Mentor, found (I'm still stunned that she agreed!) Application, we're working on it. Fingers, crossed until I find out who the contestants are!

MAY

2008

I am trying to put a team together. I hope we can submit application before Sunday night. Do you think team of 4-6 people would be big enough?

Thank you.

Welp, seems as though I will not have a team together for this one...whatabummer

This sounds awfully time-consuming. And I'm a little bit confused as to what you actually want to see as the results.

MAY

2008

Looks like you learned a lot from last year. What fun

I'm sure I need a makeover takeover to just get organized. Hopefully, I can at least pick up some tips as everyone gets going.

MAY

2008

wouldn't it be more fun, to get a list of mentORs and mentEEs and randomly match people together- share the love, in my mind that would really bring out the 'best' in people AND for fun throw in a RINGER to stir thing up. can't wait to see how it comes together. My mentor hasn't confiremed that she is up to playing the game and I don't want to be a stalker so I am thinking my only chance to participate is signing up to be drafted- any takers? give me a hollar cheryl www.ozarkcastle.com

MAY

2008

Not sure how I missed this, late to the party again. This should be interesting, I like the concept:-)

OK - I left town on the 9th and returned on the 15th, so missed the message and the conclusion. That should make me lose sleep in the future.

you should showcase your decorating tips and style on Radcribs.com http://hometour.radcribs.com

MAY

2008

Just an fyi for anyone that moderates this post. The tags aren't lining up. I had to dig for this post from the other because the tags must not be spelled right.

MAY

2008

Guess I missed the submission. This would have been a ball watching the development of the contestants.

Looks like I arrived at the party late. I would love to be an apprentice on this one. It's always good to get some fresh ideas for our business. Good luck everyone!

Geez, I was sick way too long... I wish someone would have poked me to let me know about this...

MAY

2008

This is a great idea, Rich! You should get some good stuff.

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