CALLING MY OWN SHOTS! Plus a Few Others that the AR Gods Missed this Week – 010812

Well, this week there were so many really great posts here in the rain by some of my fave bloggers as well as some newbie bloggers that I’ve recently come across.  First and foremost, I just want to give a shout out to my fellow rainers for their gold star features that I was happy to "call the shot" on them.

The Client Looking for a "Deal" by Connie Goodrich

Family Member Who Is a Real Estate Expert! by newbie blogger, Randy & Jenny Thomas

Does the Stripper Pole Convey? by newbie blogger, Lorelei Bennasar

These were excellent posts that had some really great comments, which is one of the best things I love about great posts.  With some posts, the comments can actually be better than the post. Check them out.

But there were some other really great posts that I suggested but the AR Gods must have missed them this week when they were bestowing those little gold stars. Check them out and see for yourself.

First their was What improvements would you like to see Active Rain make in 2012? by Debbie Gartner.  I really liked the way that Debbie outlined issues that so many of us are already hoping we see some improvement in.  On numerous occasions, I have had prospects and clients ask me about something or to resend something I had previously sent them because when they went to my blog to find it, they couldn't. 

While I agree with Debbie that improving the SEO for all of our blog posts should be a number one priority, it's kind of pointless driving consumers to our blogs if once they get here they can't find what they want.  Making sure consumers find what they are looking for should be just as important as getting them to our blogs.

While we have access to the tags widget to help find something we are looking for, visitors to our blogs only have our archives to dredge through when they want to find something.  Needless to say, this can be frustrating for a visitor and I this is why the AR staff has got to make this a priority.  Don't you agree?

Then there was Scott & Lisa Loper with their post, Our "Best" and "Worst" Posts of All-Time.  Lisa reminds of something that we all should be doing periodically.  We need to be building our blogs with the content and info that our visitors are looking for.

While we can and should still be blogging about topics and subjects that interest us or ones that we enjoy doing, however, if we joined AR in order to increase our internet presence and grow our business, then we need to know what it is that is driving visitors to our blogs.

Lisa actually discovered something I've known for a long time now - consumers want hyper-local info!  Even though our hyper-local posts may get little to no comments, they're the ones that will typically get the most views/click throughs and this can be attributed to the fact that consumers will rarely comment on blog posts.  Check out your top ten for 2011 - that's what you need to be doing more of.

Next was Yes! I want that in writing! by William Feela.  This is something that I've been thinking about for awhile now, especially as I begin to transition from mortgage lending into real estate sales.

After a nine year mortgage career, I have worked with hundreds of Realtors around here.  While there are many that I have thoroughly enjoyed working with and some I have even become good friends with over the years.  However, there are also way too many that I hope I never have to work with again; once was enough!

It's these folks that I will be wary of if I should ever find myself across the table from again in my new capacity.  On that note, as William says "once bitten, twice shy".  Some mistakes I won't make twice.  How about you?

Then there was Pacita Dimacali with her post, For goodness sake, you’re a BPO agent but you don’t have a lockbox key?.  Pacita brings up an issue that is become all too common and that is not a good thing.

While I don't do BPOs or even work with BPO agents, I have heard enough horror stories from my Realtor friends and associates about some of the horrible and incompetent BPO agents they have had to deal with.  The worst part is that there are some really professional and competent Realtors out there doing BPOs who don't deserve to be lumped in with the morons that are out there too.

This issue just really illustrates that the banks issuing these BPOs have no idea who they're hiring sometimes and it's really up to the Realtors in the field to make sure that the banks are aware of what is happening.  Banks really need to be qualifying BPO agents a lot more closely than they have been - right?

Lastly, there was 10 Things That I Would Like to Avoid in 2012 by Holly Kirby Weatherwax.  I loved this post because it reminded me of the things that I made a vow to avoid this year. 

One of the things that Holly and I had in common were impossible short sales; short sales that have no chance of closing.  Fortunately, I don't have a lot of clients who choose to pursue short sales - THANK GOODNESS!!!  I'm so glad that most of my clients are smart enough to know that short sales are not for them.

However, for those that do choose to pursue short sales, I'm so sick of wasting my time, energy and resources on transactions that my clients have no business being in.  I know, some of you are thinking that you don't really know that until you're do everything you possibly can.  BULL$#^!

After nine years in the mortgage industry, I've come to learn in a matter of minutes if a borrower has a chance in #%!! of ever getting a loan.  I think I've now developed the ability to be able to tell if a transaction has a chance in #%!! of ever closing.  Maybe not in minutes but definitely kind of early in the transaction.

From now on, if my clients want to pursue short sales that have no chance of closing, they can work with someone else because I can't waste my time on them anymore.  I'm done with loser transactions.  I need to reserve my time, energy and resources for clients and transactions that actually have a good chance of closing.

As always, I love "calling the shots”. I’m pretty picky and selective about whom I suggest. I intentionally highlight my fave bloggers and then I look for new bloggers or bloggers that aren’t on the feature board every other day.

Anyone can suggest all the popular bloggers but finding the hidden treasures and gems is so much better. I hope you check them out and enjoy them as much as I did.

 

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 Donne Knudsen

Realtor® - CalState Realty Services

DRE#: 01364050 / NMLS#: 249822 

 

805.2069123

 

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Serving low-medium income individuals and families as well as first time buyers with both their real estate as well as their mortgage needs including down payment assistance

Los Angeles County  --  Ventura County

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