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Ask An Ambassador: You Don't Have To Reinvent The Wheel

By
Real Estate Agent with Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com SAL.2002007747

If you've been in real estate for more than a day, you'll find common elements with every other agent:

1.  Time just might be your most valuable (and scarcest) commodity

2.  There's always someone with a bright shiny promising to save you time and send avalanches of new clients your way

3.  You'll need an entire closet full of hats for all the different roles you'll have

But you should also find that there a lot of fundamentals to this business, so you don't need to reinvent the wheel.

How to blog?  There are many different ways to blog successfully and you have to identify what works best for you and your market.  While niche blogging about Cincinnati patio homes works for me, it's not going to fly so well in downtown Manhattan, or for that matter in sparsely populated areas!  Maybe the right path for you is more social than business blogging.  In any case, there are members in the Rain making many different approaches work for them.

Want to save time?  Ask the key questions of prospects up front.  Using your preferred question set, determine if they already have an agent.  They do?  And I'm not the listing agent?  Nice to know that my IDX pages work, but (waves hand), "this is not the client I am looking for".

Got a major life change?  I'm not the first to find out that a job change/retirement is coming a bit earlier than expected.  My Rain friends and engineering co-workers have provided plenty of solid advice in the last week.  I don't need to start planning in a vacuum, the wheels have already put some deep ruts in the road to provide some guidelines.

Pick a topic, chances are someone in the Rain has already blogged a tutorial, a market review, how to build a team, choose a broker, fire a client, how to exit the business, etc.  There's a blog post or two or 20 out there to help you evaluate your next steps.

And you can always post in the Q&A section and let the answers come to you.

No need to reinvent the wheel.

Until next Tuesday, just Ask An Ambassador if you need help,

Bill & Liz aka BLiz

Posted by

Serving Warren County Ohio & Adjacent Areas

The Liz Spear Team of Transaction Alliance
Elizabeth Spear, ABR, Ohio License SAL.2002007747

William (Bill) Spear, Ohio License SAL.2004011109  Kentucky 77938
Ask for us by name if you visit the office!

EHO
Bill Direct:  513-520-5305
Liz Direct: 513-265-3004     
Fax: 866-302-8418

MailTo:  Liz@LizSpear.com

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Comments(16)

Jeffrey Richman
Immediate Home Solutions - Myrtle Beach, SC
Creative Real Estate Specialist

Hi Bill,

You're correct in that there's no need for reinvention when all is there just for the asking.  Thanks for the reminder

Aug 27, 2024 06:03 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

My issue early on was not listening to someone that already had a perfectly functional wheel :)   Once I learned to listen and implement, results followed.

Aug 27, 2024 08:13 AM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

I often get ideas from a post someone else just wrote. This is how we formulate our ideas!!

Aug 27, 2024 06:42 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

No doubt, many a blog post has been sparked from another's post or comment.

Aug 27, 2024 08:14 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

You are absolutely correct. In most cases, reinventing the wheel isn't needed. I hope your next steps are becoming clearer.

Aug 27, 2024 06:43 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Steadily gaining more information so I can firm up my plans.

Aug 27, 2024 08:14 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Bill (and Liz too) - you're so right about the time factor in our daily lives.  And a skill of asking the right questions may not only lead to better connections with clients, it's also a valid way of creating blogging opportunities.  

Aug 27, 2024 07:15 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

I have too many hats to wear to be ineffective with my time management, or it's just more to do tomorrow and the next day...

Aug 27, 2024 08:15 AM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thank you, Liz and Bill, for sharing such valuable insights on navigating the real estate industry. Your emphasis on avoiding the need to reinvent the wheel and leveraging existing resources is incredibly helpful for agents at any stage of their careers.

Aug 27, 2024 08:06 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

We need to protect our time, but not be afraid to try new things too.  Dabbling with Night Cafe for images is a mix of fun and purpose.

Aug 27, 2024 08:16 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Bill,
One of th greatest benefits of The Rain is the braintrust that it is. Ask a question and you'll probably get a whole bunch of answers... as you well know!

Aug 27, 2024 09:29 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

I have relied on the expertise of the people of this community many times.  It's just a matter of knowing people well enough to know who is who and what they're about.

Aug 27, 2024 09:49 AM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
The Grit and Gratitude Agent

Good suggestions and as much as things change they remain the same.

Aug 27, 2024 10:02 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

The fundamentals don't go out of fashion.

Aug 27, 2024 04:09 PM
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

I love this post. There aren't a lot of agents out there writing about the unique aspects of my markets- so I would actively encourage newer agents to read my posts- and I am happy to engage with them further on aspects my posts don't touch on. For more experienced NYC agents- if they still post here (it doesn't seem like many do) - I would encourage them to write up something that will be useful for others. 

Aug 27, 2024 10:16 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Adam, I was specifically thinking of you and the differences in your market and ours when I got to that paragraph.  I'm a big fan of providing unique, relevant real estate information tailored to an individual agent's market.  It's what the consumer is looking for, and if they find it, there's a good change they're much closer to making a final decision than a typical ZTR/lead company contact form.

Aug 27, 2024 04:11 PM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

The Realtor's Google - Active Rain, just search your question for the answer!

Aug 27, 2024 10:42 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

The challenge I sometimes have is finding a post I KNOW I wrote on a particular topic.  Getting cute with a title can make it harder to find :)

Aug 27, 2024 04:12 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Bill oh this is so true. No need to re-invent the wheel! Years ago (eons ago back in the early 2000's) while in a CRS class I told the professor I was so bored with sending out postcards, just listed, just sold etc.  He looked at me like I had 2 heads!  Really?   So, tell me Anna are they working to bring in clients?  Yes, of course, they work great!

Then why on earth would you stop doing them?  

Gee....cause I was thinking stupid perhaps!  Yup!  No need to re-invent that wheel!

Aug 27, 2024 11:42 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

If it works, it works.  We still have to evaluate if it makes sense.  E.g. we used to do monthly snail mail newsletters, but they were very time intensive and postage (yyyyyeeeeezzzz), and while they gave us some additional listings every year, there reached a point we decided the return just wasn't there.  Blogging more was a better return.

Aug 27, 2024 04:17 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Featured in BananaTudes!

 

Aug 27, 2024 11:43 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Thanks for the Tude feature!

Aug 27, 2024 08:03 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

You are so right about creating posts. Don't reinvent the wheel! There is plenty out there to post about..just look around you!! Thanks for your suggestions and I'm certain you will have this early retirment thing figured out real soon!

Aug 27, 2024 12:12 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

Dorie, Getting closer to working out all the details, but a lot of hurry up and wait too!

Aug 27, 2024 08:03 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

I say this a lot. There are so many nuggets of information to pick up from others. Thank you for always sharing your wisdom.

Aug 27, 2024 01:13 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

Happy to help!  I had some Texas weather today for a little bee work, mid-90s and had the full suit :)

Aug 27, 2024 08:04 PM
Patricia Feager, ABR,CRS,GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Liz and Bill Spear,

What a clever image and topic for discussiosn! After 21+ years in the real estate business and nearly 14 years on ActiveRain, I have discovered AR offers a plethora of wonderful educational information. Also, agents drive others to stay motivated by inspiration. Others who have been in the business write creative stories that provide examples of a balanced life illustrating their many different skills and life experiences. 

Drawing from your analogy, no matter how busy or hard business gets, there has to be continous improvements. "You don't have to reinvent the wheel." Agents should keep that in mind and always reassess how their business plans are going, deciding  what needs to be improved.

Thinking of Henry Ford, one needs good wheels for transportation, and the intellectual ability to to steer their own business in the right direction being ethical working with integrity. Hire help when needed. When something doesn't work or becomes obsolete, make smart decisions. In other words, there is continuous education and plenty of opportunities for everyone!

Aug 27, 2024 02:57 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

Patricia Feager, ABR,CRS,GRI,MRP , no doubt, there's always room to examine and determine what works and what doesn't, and move away from what doesn't (assuming we were doing it properly in the first place).  I prefer to make new mistakes rather than repeat ones I've already experienced :)

Aug 27, 2024 08:05 PM
Patricia Feager, ABR,CRS,GRI,MRP

Liz and Bill Spear - Good point!

Aug 28, 2024 02:53 AM
Matt Brady
Watermark Capital - San Diego, CA
San Diego's Equity Advisor

Always a good reminder Liz and Bill. Is that a run-flat tire in the photo :-) 

Aug 29, 2024 10:50 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

I think that could run over a boulder :)
Ironically there was a guy the other night at the corner gas station that was having a tire problem.  He didn't realize he had run flats and could probably just drive it home without too much of an issue.

Aug 29, 2024 11:07 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

All sage advice, Bill! I'm hopeful the 'change' you want comes to fruition.

And, great job on the image!!

Aug 29, 2024 08:08 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

No word yet, but I haven't asked for an update either.

Interesting playing around with Night Cafe.  My first query was more a wizard, so changed the prompt to include Neanderthal and got a result I could use

Aug 30, 2024 06:00 AM