real estate sales: Success is found in DESIRE
- 06/13/12 12:33 AM
At the age of 19 my dad had me read a book by Napoleon Hill, "Think and GROW RICH". It was first published in 1937, the first of its kind. A self-help book for those seeking success in whatever the endeavor may be. The book was revolutionary and to this day remains one of my top 5 business books of all time. It taught me DESIRE and provided me the inspiration and confidence I needed. It helped me realize that I can accomplish anything in life that I DESIRE. It first sold for $2.50 a copy. Today you can get it for an … (5 comments)
real estate sales: Gaining trust and reducing risk
- 03/12/12 12:56 AM
Some of my best memories are time spent with grandma VanNatter who passed away 20 years ago. Her life and stories are with me to this day. She never had material wealth or the fanciful things this world can offer. Nor did I care. She always made me feel welcome and loved in her very modest home. I trusted her with every fiber of my being.
I’ve thought about the trust I have in some people and why. The #1 reason people will choose to work with you as a realtor or choose someone else comes down to trust and … (4 comments)
real estate sales: Take Pride in Getting Help
- 02/26/12 11:17 PM
Last month my 8 year old son Parker told us he was struggling with his math work. He said other kids in the classroom seem to finish their work earlier and he didn’t know why it was so much harder for him. We called his teacher and she recommended he come in for some tutoring. This weekend while preparing to head out to my softball practice Parker said he wanted to come with me. I could see from his facial expression that he didn’t just want to watch me play either. There was something on his mind. As soon as I … (3 comments)
real estate sales: What did you learn yesterday that you will never forget?
- 02/13/12 01:17 AM
In real estate you have to deliver the numbers. Of greater long term importance, is to be a student of the game. We have to think back each day for the lesson of the day. Reviewing positive accomplishments is perhaps the most important learning skill you can acquire.
Last week I showed up to a client meeting, pen and paper in hand with a set plan. The agenda was to review the Realtors business plan, determine how I could be of help, and set forth a strategy going forward. As the meeting started however I could sense we were headed in a different direction. The … (8 comments)
real estate sales: Take care of the bugs before they arrive
- 02/07/12 01:16 AM
Some of my best memories as a kid were visiting my grandma and grandpa Rose in Maine during the summers. Even as an 8-year old I could appreciate the difference in weather between muggy Houston and the cool summers of Maine.
My grandparents had acres and acres of apple orchards, hay, and a garden that seemed to go on forever. They knew that if you grow great fruit that the bugs will come. My grandpa could predict when the bugs would arrive and what type of damage they would do. I have some great memories of flying overhead with my uncle in a crop … (5 comments)
real estate sales: Success is in the DETAILS
- 01/23/12 02:08 AM
Many years ago while working undercover as a narcotics Police Officer I was given the opportunity for a promotion that would have provided me with the additional income my young family needed so badly. My Lieutenant asked me to provide him some information on a particular neighborhood that I had worked for many years. I knew all the important facts about the neighborhood, or at least I thought I did. I quickly went to work and the next day I provided him the report. One week later it was announced that another officer would be given the position that I so … (4 comments)
real estate sales: 2012 can be your best year ever... just identify WHY
- 12/19/11 08:40 AM
I know I know. You might be thinking that I have lost my mind. After all, economists are saying we’re in for another bad year. Is it possible for you to overcome all odds and find success in these trying times? My grandpa VanNatter died when I was eight years old. To date, it is the most difficult death I have ever dealt with. My grandpa lived just a few homes down from me when I was a young boy and just about every day I spent a few hours with him as he’d build bird houses, carve apples, feed the chickens, and … (0 comments)
real estate sales: The "Not-So" Spirit of Giving ...
- 12/13/11 02:12 AM
Two years ago for Christmas we thought it would be a great lesson to our children if rather then indulge ourselves in Christmas gifts that we "adopt" a family and give our entire Christmas to a less fortunate family. Knowing that giving up Christmas gifts would be a challenge for everyone (especially me) we sat the kids down and taught them a biblical lesson on love, charity, and of taking care of the poor and needy. We thought we had struck a grand-slam when one of the older kids who could perceive where this lesson was going said, "We could give up our … (3 comments)
real estate sales: Tomorrow Will Never Be Yesterday Again
- 11/28/11 03:18 AM
There was a time, not too many years ago, when we all hoped for the economy to get back to "normal". A time when everyone seemed to be making money, housing could be had for everyone, and creditors would give you anything you asked for. If there's one thing I've learned over the past few years it's this; things will never be the same again. I just spent a week back in Arizona for Thanksgiving. Going back was a reminder to me of how great we have it in Texas. I was also able to see how "fighters", those with … (6 comments)
real estate sales: The Difference Between Winning and Losing
- 11/15/11 01:38 AM
Last week, Thursday at 4pm my cell phone rang.... it was my wife calling to deliver the news. Did my 12-year old daughter, Kendall, make the middle school basketball team or not? I dreaded answering the call. I was bracing fo a "no", that would be followed by the broken heart and sobbings of my sweet Kendall in the background. Earlier in the year Kendall tried out for and missed the cut for the volleyball team. She's been playing for years and missing the cut was totally devastating. Rather than completely giving up, Kendall decided to be the team manager which entails the same schedule as the players but with the … (4 comments)
real estate sales: One Ridiculously Necessary App for Realtors... and everyone else
- 10/13/11 02:31 AM
Last month we launched a new program, "myFirstAm". In a nutshell, First American has implemented a new system to process title and then did something amazing, they released and end-user version that mirrors our internal system. Our clients can see the progress we're making on their files in real time, receive automatic text and/or email notifications as updates occur, view docs & surveys from prior orders, and more. Very cool and it's free. To get the word out I started the engine and did what almost always works to move a new product; one-on-meetings, phone calls, emails, texts, etc. Something unexpected has happened however... I'm having very slow … (5 comments)
real estate sales: How To Avoid a Terrible Prospect Phone Call
- 10/07/11 02:53 AM
As we head into the slowing 4th quarter, many will lay down and give up. Others will step up their efforts to win new business. One way to build new business is by reaching out to prospects on the phone. Yes, I'm talking about actual phone call conversations, not made through social media. An all too common and serious mistake people make on the telephone is using opening statements that build resistance. Within the first 15 seconds of a call, you create one of two emotions; resistance or interest. Unfortunately, most people create resistance. The result is as a morale-killing rejection and an early exit from the phone … (4 comments)
real estate sales: Sell yourself, not against your competition
- 10/03/11 03:44 AM
Last week I had a day in which three client appointments in a row told me nightmare stories about my competition. When I bumped into a client at the end of the day, the stories were still ringing in my ear. The client then made a comment about a particular competitor and then it happened, it just came out, in reference to the competitor I said, "Lipstick on a Pig".
Immediately upon saying it I knew I had crossed the line. My job is to listen, not provoke the conversation. I should know better. This is no way to win customers. … (5 comments)
real estate sales: Kids... If Only They Lied Like Adults
- 09/27/11 02:22 AM
My eight year old's Sunday School teacher just couldn't resist letting us know how much fun Parker is to have in class. She started the conversation by saying, "Parker always tells it how it is". The lesson on Sunday was on recognizing when there's a need and then helping out. The teacher asked the question "What do you do if you notice your mom is really tired and needs some help" and then gave every child an opportunity to reply. In turn the kids gave answers such as "give her a hug", "tell her I love her", "ask her how I can help". The … (34 comments)
real estate sales: You Have an Unbelievable Body ... The Secret to Success
- 09/13/11 07:06 AM
You should have seen me during the years from 2004 to 2009. I had an unbelievable body (the guy winning the race is me). Before you delete this email and say, "Wow that guy is conceded", let me explain. Eight years ago I decided that it was time to get into shape. One failed attempt after another left me feeling hopeless. During this same time I was going through a career change. That too had left me with feelings of inadequacy. I knew I wanted to be successful but wasn't quite sure how to go about it. I'll never forget the straight talk my father gave me. "Son, … (0 comments)
real estate sales: Change Your Stars!!
- 09/06/11 03:01 AM
One of my families all time favorite movies is "A Knight's Tale" with Heath Ledger. It's a story about a young kid whose peasant father sends him off with a Knight, to serve as a squire. His father tell him that he's done all he can for him now. The boys needs to watch and learn from this knight and then "Change his Stars". If you haven't seen it yet it's a must see. It's funny, romantic, and has a rock-n-roll upbeat tone throughout. As I enjoyed this past Labor Day weekend with the family we watched the movie... again. I found myself distracted … (3 comments)
real estate sales: Take your Pie and Eat it too!
- 08/29/11 04:31 AM
Right now I believe we are riding a real estate wave, with interest rates now at 4.2% on a 30yr fix. For many agents, the party is quickly coming to an end now now that the summer rush is over. This weekend I received two reports indicating the Housing Market continues to shrink and will only tighten over the next several months if not years.
As this market continues to shrink with summer officially coming to a close, we will find ourselves in a challenge if we don’t do something now.
Five years ago while living in Phoenix AZ I … (3 comments)
real estate sales: Fabulous 5 Apps for Realtors
- 08/23/11 03:58 AM
I do a lot of education related to technology and social media and am therefore often asked, "What are your favorite iPhone apps for real estate. My answer is simple "The ones that save me time and make me money!" Facebook and LinkedIn are a given and I'm particulary fond of LinkedIn's latest update. In no particular order: Bump - remember my blog, "Business Cards Going Dinosaur"... probably not! Rather than exchange business cards you can immediately exchange contact information, request Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc connections, and share pictures if desired.
Task Pro - this app allows me to … (6 comments)
real estate sales: Getting Outside the Box
- 08/18/11 01:35 AM
Box!! Who me? I'm not inside the box, or am I? While visiting a real estate brokerage a successful realtor yelled out, "If we're going to be successful we have to get outside the box". Later the same day a good friend of mine said, "Max, doing the same ol' thing over and over again is insanity. If we're going to make it as realtors in this economy we need to start thinking and acting differently!" As I tend to do, I took my work home last night and put the adage to the test.... literally. I explained to my five kids that … (33 comments)
real estate sales: How are you feeling?... a sure fire way to earn customer loyalty!
- 08/04/11 08:04 AM
Upon returning home from work last week I was greeted by my glowing 8-yr old son, "Dad, I just got the best haircut ever". Mom took him to Sports Clips and as it was his first time in they gave him a free "MVP Haircut". He talked about it all night and giggled every time he described the massage and special white towel treatment. Needless to say he sold me. On Monday for lunch I went to SportsClips to see what the hype was all about. The greeting was appropriate, the wait time was 5 minutes. My new stylist "Bern" noticed I … (2 comments)
At the age of 19 my dad had me read a book by Napoleon Hill, "Think and GROW RICH". It was first published in 1937, the first of its kind. A self-help book for those seeking success in whatever the endeavor may be. The book was revolutionary and to this day remains one of my top 5 business books of all time. It taught me DESIRE and provided me the inspiration and confidence I needed. It helped me realize that I can accomplish anything in life that I DESIRE. It first sold for $2.50 a copy. Today you can get it for an … (5 comments)
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