Being a committed professional Realtor, dedicated to ones profession, usually means that you have that obsessive feeling that you must be on call 24/7 - 365 days a year.
As deals become harder to get to the closing table, and buyers expectations for immediate services becomes ever more increased, we find ourselves being on call all of the time. I for one do not want to miss that one buyer who is actually qualified to buy and is looking at one of my listings, and nor does the sellers I represent.
But for anyone who does not have a parent with them anymore that they can call on Mother's Day or Father's Day, they soon realize that it is OK to take a day off and spend that time with your kids. Create with your children the memories they will carry with them for their lifetime - long after you leave this earth. I know that when I am gone I really want my kids to remember more about me than 'Daddy worked all of the time'.
So today I leave my phones in a lonely corner somewhere, along with my laptop and Real Estate folders and swimming pool and cold beverages - here I come! Happy Father's Day everyone!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Looking Fresh And Easily Recognizable - A Realtor's Survival
When I first became a Realtor a few years back and entered my local market, I was excited at the possibility of working alongside many friendly faces that I felt I already knew, having almost gone through the home buying process myself a year before. Whilst not actually purchasing a home at that point, my wife and I did tirelessly look at many that were on the market and during that time we viewed and became acquainted with many of the Realtors in our area, not actually meeting them in person, but through their various sign riders, newspaper advertisements and Internet listings.
It was to my surprise that when being introduced to agent after agent, I was aghast at the fact I did not easily recognize many of them at first. I remember thinking, "Oh, you're ???"
Whether it was the nostalgic 1980's black and white photographs that were sometimes used by them or the not so recent color photographs that featured a dramatically different hairstyle, the issue remained that these people I thought I knew so well suddenly could not be picked out in a line up, or worse, the local Walmart check-out line.
As a rookie I knew one fact, this could not be helping their business. Why, aren’t these Realtors not spending incredible amounts of money in advertising so that prospective clients WOULD recognize them?
It has always been a top priority of mine that I always have a current photograph of myself in all of my Real Estate advertising and listings. I am often recognized when I am out and know that this simple, yet conscious decision has paid volumes in commission checks. In today's social media society that we live and work in, I know that these agents are quick to update their Facebook profile photos, so why not their Realtors ones? Smile...
It was to my surprise that when being introduced to agent after agent, I was aghast at the fact I did not easily recognize many of them at first. I remember thinking, "Oh, you're ???"
Whether it was the nostalgic 1980's black and white photographs that were sometimes used by them or the not so recent color photographs that featured a dramatically different hairstyle, the issue remained that these people I thought I knew so well suddenly could not be picked out in a line up, or worse, the local Walmart check-out line.
As a rookie I knew one fact, this could not be helping their business. Why, aren’t these Realtors not spending incredible amounts of money in advertising so that prospective clients WOULD recognize them?
It has always been a top priority of mine that I always have a current photograph of myself in all of my Real Estate advertising and listings. I am often recognized when I am out and know that this simple, yet conscious decision has paid volumes in commission checks. In today's social media society that we live and work in, I know that these agents are quick to update their Facebook profile photos, so why not their Realtors ones? Smile...
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Real Estate Listings With One Or Less Photos Might As Well Be FSBO!
Searching through our local MLS, it amazes me as a Realtor just how many listings are presented with one, or in a few cases - no photos at all! If this makes me want to click onto the next listing, I can only imagine how a prospective buyer searching for their next dream home feels!
I admit, I have had listings in the past where it takes all of my creativity to find five or more photos that will spark the interest of a buyer. Or there is the listing that you really don't want to show all of its features as you fear it will drive a buyer away, but we owe it not only to our fellow Realtors but to the sea of buyers out there to inform them of the true listing's beauty - however it looks.
Speaking with a buyer yesterday confirmed this ... they told me that there are a lot of homes currently available on the market - far too many to see personally for them to make their choice. I agree! When I asked them how they decide which ones to look at, they confirmed what I already knew! They choose to look at the ones with multiple photos.
I have personally had many successes selling my own listings. If I can upload 10 photos on a listing - then it's 10 photos. If I can upload 25 photos - then it's 25 photos. I receive no greater compliment than an out-of-town buyer walking into one of my listings that they have viewed many times on the Internet prior to the showing and saying "Oh, it looks just like it did on the Internet" - well maybe the only greater compliment is the contract that follows.
I know my seller is nowadays quiet a Real Estate savvy individual, after all they usually have had a little experience as a FSBO prior to listing with me. The reason they made their decision to move from being a FSBO to listing their valued home with me is the fact that I spent my time convincing them that the sale of their home would come quicker if they used my professional expertise and that includes the marketing of their home. After all, I don't ever want them feeling like they are once again a FSBO with a Real Estate sign in their yard!
I admit, I have had listings in the past where it takes all of my creativity to find five or more photos that will spark the interest of a buyer. Or there is the listing that you really don't want to show all of its features as you fear it will drive a buyer away, but we owe it not only to our fellow Realtors but to the sea of buyers out there to inform them of the true listing's beauty - however it looks.
Speaking with a buyer yesterday confirmed this ... they told me that there are a lot of homes currently available on the market - far too many to see personally for them to make their choice. I agree! When I asked them how they decide which ones to look at, they confirmed what I already knew! They choose to look at the ones with multiple photos.
I have personally had many successes selling my own listings. If I can upload 10 photos on a listing - then it's 10 photos. If I can upload 25 photos - then it's 25 photos. I receive no greater compliment than an out-of-town buyer walking into one of my listings that they have viewed many times on the Internet prior to the showing and saying "Oh, it looks just like it did on the Internet" - well maybe the only greater compliment is the contract that follows.
I know my seller is nowadays quiet a Real Estate savvy individual, after all they usually have had a little experience as a FSBO prior to listing with me. The reason they made their decision to move from being a FSBO to listing their valued home with me is the fact that I spent my time convincing them that the sale of their home would come quicker if they used my professional expertise and that includes the marketing of their home. After all, I don't ever want them feeling like they are once again a FSBO with a Real Estate sign in their yard!
I Have Almost Seen It All - The Redneck Ceiling Fan!
It never ceases to amaze me ... human ingenuity! While showing a house in the downtown area of Jackson, Tennessee, I was amazed when I was asked the question "What is that?" and I did not have the answer. It appeared to be a simple box fan that was suspended from the ceiling, with a power cord that stretched to an electrical outlet on the wall. Folks, I believe I found the 'Redneck Ceiling Fan'.
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