[ALL M2T APPRENTICES AND MENTORS: EDIT THIS POST TO ADD YOUR OWN PERSONAL THOUGHTS, OBSERVATIONS, AND EXPERIENCES DURING THIS PAST WEEKS COMPETITION]

One of the primary benefits of this contest is the helpful & practical information our collective membership can derive/learn from those Teams who are participating in the contest, and apply to their own business practices. Here is another opportunity for our Teams to share their individuals journeys.  

WEEK FIVE

Kimberly Grant & Elizabeth Ramsey Cooper:  This was a great challenge because when you get so busy with all that happens in the life of real estate it can be easy for things to slip through the cracks.  As we worked on this week's challenge we both saw things that we had forgotten in our systems but together I think we caught all the details.  I will definitely keep this and incorporate into my business so that I miss nothing.  Right now I have a big board in my office with a checklist and even on that board there are steps missing that I discovered while working on this week's challenge.  It is easy to copy for each client and just check when each step is completed.  Excellent challenge and I enjoyed it! --Kimberly :-D

This was another great challenge this week.  Just when we thought we had each and every possible step of the buyer or seller process, one of us would think of one more.  I don't know how I ever made it without the list we just created, really I don't. No more post it notes for me!  At the last minute, I remembered new construction buyers, as they do have another step or two. These check lists will really add to our business, and keep us in check!  Elizabeth ;)

Liz Carter & Josh Lazaro: Having a policy & procedure Manuel is a MUST for any co. and even a single agent, but especially if you have one or more assistants...you must have all your guidelines spelled out in detail.  I have spent several years on mine, and in it is everything from how to answer the phone (so it's always down the same way...and with a smile) to the checklist to follow for closings.  I come up with new forms all the time as the need arises.  One of the BEST CHECKLIST/FORMS I came up with several years ago is the Offer/Counter checklist.  When negotiating contracts I used to (many years ago), just write down the conversations on scratch paper, in the file, wherever, but when someone comes back and says, "I never said that, I had nothing to back up where I had written down the price, terms, or the other million things that go on during counter, counter, counter your counter offers.  Now I do, and no matter who is doing the contract the same form is used and it has a place for everything on one piece of paper that is color coded.  What the original offer was, what the seller #1 counter was, what was the next counter by the buyer, #2 counter/counter from the seller, to the dates, option period, earnest money, which title co., exclusions, etc.  YOU MUST use the form when presenting an offer, and it MUST stay with the file forever...even if the deal does not work out, you might need it for the nest offer...to remember who said what, when.  I will be posting that and a link to my entire entry.  I have someone who has posted it on their server and gave me a URL for it so I can post it in it's entirety.  Which I wish everyone would do.  Liz

Darleen McCullen & Penny Robinson: Week 5 was a good one for us - Penny had quite a few systems in place already but this challenge was a great way to put them down on paper - and to figure out how to improve on the systems. Systems are great - but if we're not careful, we'll go through the transactions like robots - and just check off things without much thought. Sometimes that's good - but it's important that clients not think that they're just a number. So one of the things we decided to add to Penny's system was a post-closing party for buyer clients with guests to include the new neighbors, as well as friends. (This gives the buyers a chance to show off their new home and introduces the real estate team to new faces.This business is all about lead generation and continuing to feed the database - and communicating with it in a systematic way during and after the transaction.) ~ Penny and Darleen

Debra Brooks & Melissa Grant:  When I read of the Week 5 Challenge I thought I would have an anxiety attack ! System - I had none ! My system looked like my Database did in Week 1. A bunch of post it notes, scrap, torn papers and a peg board ! Imagine that ! Deb was great. She explained what a broiler plate was, my theory a baking sheet..so wrong ! Seriously, that is what came to mind. Her Mentoring skills really shined last week as she walked me through step by step what I need to do. I truly started at ground zero and I am very proud of our accomplishments. I had a busy week with my sellers and Deb and I worked hard through the wee wee hours of the morning for several nights to get our entry in and have a really busy day with buyers and sellers on Saturday. It was a great week of learning and I am grateful to have a system !

Desiree Daniels & Brian Block: I have to say that this contest has been a great inspiration for me to revamp a lot of my "stuff".    I met with my team this morning and re-did our buyer booklets and edited our current seller and buyer system.     I am looking forward to week 6!!!  - Desiree

Meanwhile, I've had a busy week with buyers, a new listing, a contract, oh yeah and this contest!  Desiree has been a big help in keeping me on track each week and reviewing my drafts.  As the competition heats up into Week 6, we're helping each other with ideas.  -- Brian

Hank Perry & Vickie Nagy:

When I read the Week 5 Challenge my heart quit beating. I considered just dropping out based on the magnitude of the challenge...but only for a moment. After having practiced in Florida, I find things very different here in California. Paperwork and disclosures are more significant in quantity in California and transactional practices vary greatly. Take, for example, the idea in Florida that an agent does not comment on the home, other than drawing the buyer's attention to any visible defect seen during the first showing. In California an agent must complete an AVID (Agent's Visible Inspection Disclosure) noting every defect and cosmetic defect in every room, the yard, the entry, the garage. It's necessary to note every crack and stain. It's ill-advised to comment on the type of stain. For example, one does not say oil stain in driveway. One says stain in driveway (as we have no way to be certain as to cause.) Each agent involved in the transaction must complete an AVID and present it to both buyer and seller for acknowledgement. My entry went some 15 pages and I truly ran out of time and words. - Vickie Nagy

I think it's just incredible how much we all are learning about our respective markets and about our processes to achieve quality results with customers. As Vickie says, we really work hard to treat people as individuals - but the reality is that we need systems so that we can scale and reach lots of people who are in the process of making decisions about real estate.  I watched Vickie really do a deep-dive into her systems and learn and retrain on what was most important from a customer's point of view.  Congrats to all for their efforts on this important area of our business!
-Hank Perry

Midori Miller & Jeannette Neerpat: Week 5 challenge-big struggle.  Maybe because Jeannette had trouble understanding the terms.  Although she has systems in place it was the things she needed to do and never really looked at it as SYSTEMS!  Currently Jeannette is on vacation so this challenge was difficult..with preparing for her vacation and myself moving my parents..glad we made it through..I was a doubting Thomas!  Sorry Jeannette! ..2 pending rentals and still staying on top of all the tasks that I have required her to do.  Such as still growing her sphere of influence by adding 5 per day.  She obtained a new listing and has an offer in on a short sale.  I do hope these numbers are accurate..vacation mode, you gotta love it and sometimes..REALTORS forget to turn in and pay attention to their numbers. 

Missy Caulk & Kim Wood: Systems? What are those? Missy was a great help this week in filling me in - and we got two nice lists together for Buyer and Seller. I even got to print out a Buyer System Checklist today to add to my new sale!!! Yay! 

This challenge has been so great.... I've gotten to send my PreListing Package (electronic) to three different clients this week! Before I would have sent a quick email and showed up at their house. I'm hoping to have a record time appointment on Friday, cutting down on a lot of the time spent going over things!
~Kim~

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