activerain: How Choices...Wants...Needs Affect Your Life! - 06/23/07 06:09 AM
Do you ever get an "Ah-Ha"?  Sure, you do! I recently came upon a realization that makes sense...one that can simplify how one looks at their life and in what direction they want to go in versus just floating along in life.The 3 words of importance here are: CHOICES......WANTS......NEEDS We are where we are today based on the "choices" we have made up to this point in our life.Read that statement again and let it sink in.From the smallest choices to the largest, we all make hundreds of choices every day.  Some of them we do automatically, because we've done them thousands of times, … (0 comments)

activerain: Why Smaller Is Better - Part 2 - 06/09/07 11:10 AM
Take a moment to review my last post and this will tie the two together much easier.I write these "Agent Success Tips" LIVE and up to the minute and then I post them, but sometimes I have ideas that I've come up with earlier, so I write them down to remember them.Anyway, "on with the show" as they say.For example.......If you have an income goal of $250,000, but have never earned over $100,000, you need to figure outwhat you need to do more of and what you need to do less of.(Plug your own numbers in here.)Jumping from $10,000 per month to … (1 comments)

activerain: Why Smaller Is Better - Part 1 - 06/07/07 01:57 AM
You might disagree with what I'm about to tell you and that's OK.Many "so -called experts" would think I'm wrong for thinking this way and I'm fine with that.But what I want to share with you can make a HUGE difference in your life.Even though it's one of the simplest things to do, it's also one of the toughest to do on a consistent basis. Not even I have mastered it.  I continue to work on getting better with it day by day.What am I talking about?You see, I used to "Think BIG".Now, there's nothing wrong with having a BIG VISION...something to strive … (6 comments)

activerain: When a 3 Bedroom Home Really Isn't One! - 06/04/07 01:57 PM
I don't know about you, but why do home sellers and their agents insist on calling a 2 bedroom home a 3 bedroom home when you go upstairs and have to walk through one open area (called a bedroom) to access the real and only bedroom upstairs.  This is most prevelent in cape cod (1.5 story) homes.
At the very least, it's a study or den area.  That is NOT a bedroom.
They usually don't show you photos of the upstairs, so you can't determine it prior to viewing.  I even called the listing agent to find out and didn't get a call … (11 comments)

activerain: Maniac On A Mission! - 06/04/07 03:41 AM
How important are the next 30 days in your life?
Well, you won't get them back once they're gone.
Will you just go through your daily routine...half-heartedly and with no sense of urgency?
How much can you implement in your real estate business and complete in that time?
Today is a new day for you. It's just the beginning. You're at the beginning of something amazing.  You just have to realize it.
If you're not happy with where you are right now, it's because of all of the decisions you have made. You may not be willing to admit your made … (1 comments)

activerain: Increase Your Open House Conversion Rate! - 05/25/07 01:57 PM
What is your mindset for having open houses?
Do you eagerly anticipate lots of buyers walking through or do you dread the thought of another wasted day?
Well, whichever way you feel about open houses will come true most of the time. So if you're going to hold an open house, you might as well do it right and then you'll benefit from it most of the time. Here are a few ideas that may help you connect with more buyers (and many of them are sellers too, who need their homes listed):
Think about what other agents do at their … (3 comments)

activerain: What Are Your Daily Thoughts? - 05/21/07 03:30 AM
The thoughts you think before dozing off to sleep at night - as well as the thoughts you think first thing in the morning, are extremely powerful.Yet, the average person is often unaware about what they think about during these very important time frames.What you say when you talk to yourself in the early morning sets the tone for how you will feel - and what results you will get - for the rest of the day.And what you think before you go to bed at night has a major influence upon what you will dream about - and how you … (1 comments)

activerain: 5 Vital Elements Every Classified Ad Must Have! - 05/14/07 05:45 AM
I was scanning the real estate classified ads in the local paper yesterday and what I saw was absolutely amazing.
There were a lot of ads that looked like they were written 5 minutes before the ad deadline.
Did they put the ad in the paper just to appease the seller?
"Oh, Mr. & Mrs. Seller, I put another boring ad in the paper.  I didn't get any calls from it, but I did it any way.  I hope you liked it."
Did they expect to get any calls from their ads?
I wouldn't think they would.
What's the purpose of an ad?
Well, I've heard a lot of … (5 comments)

activerain: Cincinnati Home & Condo Buyer Class - 05/08/07 09:15 AM
http://www.HomeBuyingClass.com:
May 16th & June 13th
Cincinnati Ohio Real Estate
If you plan on starting your home search within the next 12 months, NOW is the time to start your learning process! So before you start looking, get 'educated' in the home buying and mortgage process - from start to finish.
I've been teaching this FREE Home & Condo Buyer Class for over 18 years!
Do you have any family or friends who've recently talked about making a move this year? They may have been wondering exactly how the home buying process works. Do they have a bit of 'fear of the unknown' perhaps holding … (0 comments)

activerain: Being A 'Jack-Of-All-Trades' Will Cost You $$$! - 05/08/07 03:38 AM
I recently attended a seminar, where at one point, agents were sharing which target markets they were working in and how they were doing in them.  
I was shocked by many of their responses.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Most of them were naming all of the different target markets as though they were going through the alphabet......listing up to ten or more different categories that they "SPECIALIZED" in.  It was incredible!
My question to them would have been, "How can you be a specialist in ALL of these areas?"
Do top brain surgeons also market themselves as a General Practioner or OB/GYN?
Do … (6 comments)

activerain: INSTANTLY Improve Your Business! - 05/03/07 05:11 AM
If you haven't done this yet, you're costing yourself thousands of dollars and tons of time that you could be spending with your family and your hobbies.Often, it's the simplest things that when done over and over again, make the biggest difference in our lives and our pocketbooks.So why don't we do them?Lack of focus and constant distractions!Isn't that the truth? I can't count on both hands how often I get distracted every day by thoughts in my head and phones ringing in my ears. Make an A-B-C list every night of what you need to do the next day and … (4 comments)

activerain: Are You Giving Your Best? - 04/30/07 02:46 AM
Are you giving your real estate business 100%?Before you read below, take a few minutes and watch this amazing video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vB59PkB0eQ Don't NOT watch it, because it shows football players. Look for the important messages behind this powerful video! It can make a difference in your life!.................................................................Now that you've watched the video, what did you get out of it?Let me know your thoughts. Send me an e-mail at: dan@agentsuccesscoach.com.Here's what inspiration I found from the video:1) If you don't think you can do it, you're right! It's that simple!2) Who are you accountable to? Who can help motivate you? Who can tell … (0 comments)

activerain: Are You Wasting Some Minutes & Hours Of Your Life? - 04/26/07 08:15 AM
If I were to walk into your office today, would you be able to show me a copy of your business plan or a list of activities that you strive to achieve on a daily basis? Isn't it true that if you don't have a road map, how will you know when you have arrived? I once heard someone say that if you want to earn a certain amount of money in 12 months, why not increase your daily activities and achieve it in 10 months or less and take the rest of the time off throughout the year.One of the ways to … (0 comments)

activerain: When Is The PERFECT Time To...... - 04/24/07 04:27 AM
When is it the perfect time to touch base with your clients?Right now!Why now?Because your clients may need help and you don't even know it. They normally won't raise their hand and tell you.It's a great way to make a quick call to your past clients and say "hi". Ask them how their family is and ask them if they have any repairs or home improvements they plan on doing soon. You can provide them with reliable home improvement contractor's names.Also, go a little deeper with them and see how things are going with their mortgage situation.With the mortgage financing industry … (1 comments)

activerain: Awoke In The Middle of the Night! - 04/17/07 05:03 AM
It's 2:57am, Tuesday morning!I just returned from an Internet Marketing Conference in Atlanta tonight. I drove home from the airport at 12:35am.I've been asleep for a little while and...I rolled over in bed and now I'm wide awake, thinking about real estate strategies that can help other agents. Since I'm not able to fall back asleep with my mind racing, I thought I'd take time to write down my thoughts.
I've been a successful Realtor for 22 years now and have also been coaching real estate agents for over three years. There are so many thoughts running through my head right … (4 comments)

activerain: Ohio Senate Bill 185 - 04/09/07 03:58 PM
Ohio real estate agents,
This information was recently presented to agents in our real estate office by Terry Monnie of Classic Title Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236 (513) 256-4779.  He gave me permission to re-print this information here. 
Much of what follows you have heard before, but the impact of this new "Homebuyer's Protection Act" is so far-reaching that it bears repeating.  This legislation is the most significan for the title industry in years.
The "Homebuyer's Protection Act" has five primary facets:
Owner's Title Insurance Disclosure: For all residential transactions involving a purchase in which a lender's policy of title insurance is bing issued, but NO owner's policy … (0 comments)

activerain: Where Is Your Road Map Taking You? - 04/09/07 03:40 AM
I want to share a success strategy with you that can make a huge difference in your life.One caveat, though...It will only work for you, if you DO it!I was recently talking with an experienced agent, who had done very well over the years, but in the past year or so he was struggling in his real estate business.His transactions were getting harder and harder to close and it seemed like people were more difficult to work with. (Can you relate to this?)After feeling beat down for so long, it's now hard for him to get excited in his business. He … (1 comments)

activerain: When Millionaires Talk, Are You Listening? - 04/06/07 07:56 AM
I recently listened to a 45 minute call, where 6 MILLIONAIRES were sharing their thoughts about what it takes to become a millionaire.The host of the call was John Assaraf.  He may be familiar to you, because he's been involved as Regional Director of RE/MAX of Indiana and also was co-owner of Bamboo.com before it was bought out by IPIX (a virtual tour product).  John is now a success coach in San Diego.  I met him awhile backat a local Barnes & Noble at a book signing.I took several pages of notes, writing as fast as I could to keep up.  I want to … (5 comments)

activerain: Give "Value" When Writing A Comment! - 04/02/07 05:09 PM
I love how the ActiveRain format allows us to communicate with each other.
But there is a simple concept can greatly increase the value of  what ActiveRain members and readers can learn from this network.
When you read a post that inspires you to take time out of your day or night and write a comment, why not add your opinion about it or share a different way that something may work or tell a story that's goes along with the post. 
I believe that a comment that only says "Good job" or "Way to go" and you get some points is a … (11 comments)

activerain: 3 Great Reasons For An Open House & How To Collect... - 04/02/07 01:20 PM
Agents hold houses open for many reasons. Some of them are more self-serving than others, but it's important to know why people do open houses. You really need to decide why you're doing them. It's not a good reason, when it's just to satisfy your seller, you come unprepared and you stick an open sign up 5 minutes before the open house. Reason #1: To sell the listing! You actually have to work at this strategy...from the staging of the property to knowing the facts about the property to being mentally prepared to give all of your energy to the prospects … (3 comments)