New Residential Real Estate Brokerage Offers Innovative Marketing Services
September 13, 2008
RE Savvy is offering a new approach to real estate brokering in Chicago by proactively marketing properties to ensure more qualified buyers, higher prices and quicker sales.
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) September 13, 2008 — RE Savvy, Chicago’s innovative new residential real estate brokerage firm, recently opened their doors to the public and has already made their mark on the local real estate market. RE Savvy is providing clients with a high level of integrity, judgment and knowledge, with agents who are experienced and state-licensed. The company is a division of Apartment Savvy, which is a rental locating service for Chicago apartments.
In as little as three months RE Savvy has accumulated more than $4.5 million worth of listings, including a development project, condos and a number of 2-4 unit investment properties. RE Savvy attributes this success to their new approach to selling small investment properties in the Chicagoland area. While other real estate companies take the listing, place it on the MLS and wait for investors to call, RE Savvy proactively markets the property through direct mail, email and personal phone calls to a database of more than 1,000 investors that own or are looking to own small investment properties in the Chicagoland area and whom Apartment Savvy Chicago, LLC has longstanding relationships with.
This process of proactively marketing the property not only produces a more qualified buyer, but in most cases brings a higher price in a shorter amount of time.
Along with helping a client sell their property, RE Savvy is also looking to help current owners better operate their investments by supplying quarterly sales and rental comparables for the local areas. These comparables help investors reach maximum rents and keep investors up-to-date with the market as a whole.
For more information about the company responsible for this innovative new approach to residential real estate, visit www.ApartmentSavvy.com.
About RE Savvy:
RE Savvy is a division of Apartment Savvy Chicago LLC, one of the premiere rental agencies for Chicago apartments. RE Savvy helps current renters become first-time home buyers, and helps investors realize cash flows on real estate purchases. They work with a number of local and national mortgage companies to help their clients get the best financial package on their new homes.
The team of agents at RE Savvy provide the most detailed and up-to-date information on the real estate market and residential neighborhoods. From explaining the buying process to helping clients find the right moving company, attorney and inspector, RE Savvy agents can help from the beginning to the end of the purchasing process, regardless of the type of property.
RE Savvy also assists clients in selling a wide variety of properties ranging from condos to single-family homes to investment properties in the Chicago-land area, with intelligent analysis of the property as well as a detailed comparison of other properties in the area.
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Online Auction of Homesites at Lake Havasu Promises Results in Midst of Recent Real Estate Slump
September 10, 2008
With online auction of eighteen ready-to-build homesites in Lake Havasu, online real estate auction company, LFC Group of Companies, presents an innovative way to buy and sell residential lots in a slow economy.
Newport Beach, CA (PRWEB) September 10, 2008 — LFC Group of Companies, a leading real estate auction company has launched an auction campaign to sell eighteen ready-to-build lots in The Refuge, a gated community located a half mile north of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, on its residential auction website, Freedom Realty Exchange® (FRE.com®). With just under two months left to bid before the deadline of October 30, 2008, buyers still have plenty of time to visit www.FRE.com/277R2 and register to begin bidding.
The Refuge at Lake Havasu is surrounded by the natural calm of the American southwest, making it an ideal location for building your own private retreat. Ranging in size from +/-7,700 square feet to well over 13,000 square feet, the ready-to-build homesites in the gated, master-planned golf community are situated adjacent to the protected National Wildlife Refuge and along the shores of the Colorado River and Lake Havasu. Several lots have lake views, while others have views of the Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course.
The lots, with suggested values of up to $300,000, have minimum bids ranging from $40,000 to $138,000. The convenience of the online auction format means that buyers from everywhere have a chance to bid. Adding to the ease of purchase, the seller has secured special financing for these homesites, something difficult for buyers to find these days.
“This is a unique community. There aren’t many places that offer golfing, boating, swimming, and hiking all right there in your backyard.,” says Bill Lange, president of the LFC Group of Companies. “The attraction of Lake Havasu to visitors from all over makes this online auction the best way for buyers to own a piece of ‘The River.’”
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With more than 300 days of sunshine every year, Lake Havasu is the ideal location for taking advantage of countless outdoor activities like jet skiing, camping, and fishing. Residents of The Refuge have access to incredible community amenities, including the elegant restaurant and bar at the Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Club. Spectacular views of the southwest scenery leave no wonder why visitors flock to Lake Havasu each year from places like Chicago, San Diego, Seattle, and even Canada.
Lake Havasu City, famously the site of the London Bridge, boasts a growing population, while maintaining a small-town charm. The Refuge is conveniently located only minutes away from local schools, shopping, and first class dining and entertainment. Situated perfectly for weekend excursions, Lake Havasu is only an hour trip to Laughlin and a three hour drive to the Las Vegas Strip.
Potential buyers should act quickly and visit www.FRE.com/277R2 for specific property documents, more photos and auction information. The initial bid deposit for a piece of southwest bliss is only $2,000 and the bid deadline is October 30, 2008.
Freedom Realty Exchange - part of the LFC Group of Companies
For more than 30 years, the LFC Group of Companies has served numerous Fortune 500 companies, real estate developers, investors, financial institutions and government agencies by auction-marketing thousands of commercial, industrial, land and residential properties with an aggregate value well in excess of $5 billion. www.FRE.com
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The Top 10 Reasons Properties Do Not Get Offers
September 6, 2008
Have you ever asked yourself why you’re not getting any offers on your property? Well, if you let us bottom line it for you, the answer is pretty simple. Odds are it is due to one of two things: Either you, as the Seller, are not doing what your real estate agent has advised you to do or your real estate agent has not given you proper advice.
In spite of what you may have read or heard from the media, homes in Naples, Florida and throughout Southwest Florida are indeed selling. Maybe not at the feverish pace of a few years ago and maybe not at the rapidly appreciating prices we enjoyed during that time, but they are most certainly selling.
So… just how do you get to join this exclusive club of successful homeowners who have accomplished a sale? If you read the Top 10 Reasons below, and recognize any of these points as being applicable to you, you might just want to make a few changes that will position you for success. Often that change might just need to be a change in brokers. If you would like to consider such a change, please allow us the opportunity to interview for the job. We specialize in marketing and successfully selling properties that have previously failed to sell!
Here they are…..the Top Ten Reasons
Reason #1. Failure To Recognize That It Is A Buyer’s Market: Have a good cry, wish you would have sold in 2005, throw a tantrum or go out and click your heels three times with your red ruby shoes. But don’t stay in denial. In other words do what ever it takes so that you and your agent understand the kind of market we are in. Make sure you have accurate facts and statistics and know the current market absorption rate and how it impacts your ability to sell your home. (If your agent does not know this and can not provide you with good solid information, it might be time to make a change and find someone who does.)
If you call us, we will make sure you get accurate up to the minute market data, as well as an interpretation of that data, for your neighborhood.
Make a decision that either you are going to sell and do what it takes or you are going to revert to plan B (hold onto your property for a couple more years, rent it out, etc.). Don’t sit on the fence. This is not a time to “test the market”.
Reason #2. Failure to Acknowledge That, In This Market, It Really Is Mainly About Price! Has your agent performed a true market analysis of your property? Do you know exactly where you are positioned in the market and are you one of the best buys out there? Here’s a hint, the CMA they prepared, or offered to prepare, isn’t worth the paper it’s written on if they can not tell you how you really stack up against your competition. Has your agent previewed all of your competing listed properties?
Does you agent knowing where the market is and where it is headed? This is critical. Often the single biggest reason your home is not getting the showings it should, and not getting offers, is because the market is rejecting your home at its current price.
If you have not properly priced your home, you will be left without a chair in the real estate version of musical chairs. Price your home right and it sells. Don’t and it sits. Eventually your agent will keep trying to get you to lower the price until it eventually sells. If this happens to you for months and months, when you finally get to closing, it will be a safe bet that your final sales is much lower than it would have been if priced right from the beginning.
Reason #3. You Never Worked Properly With The Low Ball Offer: Repeat after me. This is a Buyer’s market. All offers should be respected and considered. Don’t get hung up on your asking price-it is virtually meaningless. If your price is in the ballpark, you will get an offer. It may be a low offer and not what you want. However, if you get a low offer, be glad you have something to start with. If you get an offer, any offer, remember it is better than the one you did not have yesterday. These buyers actually want to buy your home. Don’t be upset with them. If you are going to be upset, be upset with all of the people who came through your home and did not even bother to make an offer!
All offers should be reviewed and then addressed. Pretend you are in a tennis match…bat the ball back and forth over the net. Sellers who accomplish a sale (and tennis champions) never let the ball die on their side of the net. Even if your counter offer is only a slight compromise, even if your price stays firm but you give on something else, it is important to keep it alive. And, if you don’t really need to counter, then don’t. Think long and hard before you do. In our market now, 50% of the buyers will walk away and go to another property if the Seller counters their offer. This is in stark contrast to what we see in a more balanced market, where 80% of buyers always stay in the game and expect to receive a counter to their first offer.
So, please take note: if your agent acts insulted by a low offer and can not keep negotiations alive, especially because of emotions or egos, I suggest you tell them to drop down and give you 20. If your agent is not experienced, or acts like that, they can lose you a deal that you wished you had taken, when six months later your home is still lingering on the market. Remember, an offer is a good thing. All offers should be considered. FIND AN AGENT WHO IS A DEAL MAKER!
(By the way….Jo Ellen Nash has more than 26 years of experience and close to 1,800 transactions under her belt. She actually coaches agents across North America on negotiating techniques and is a known transaction strategist and deal maker. When she is involved in putting a deal together, it almost always happens and is a win for her clients)
Reason #4. No One Knows Your House Is For Sale: Ever go to a show? Or a clothing store? Or eat at a new restaurant? Of course. How did you know to go there? You knew because the business advertised and let you know they wanted your business!
How come it is so different with real estate marketing? When aggressive exposure to the market place is so critical, it amazes me that most agents have no budget to market their listings and no specific marketing plan. Isn’t the main reason you hired your agent, and agreed to pay them 6% of your hard earned money, because of their ability to bring buyers to the table? Buyers can only buy what they know is for sale. This sign in the ground…is that marketing? The open house no one shows up for?
In reality, these techniques are very out of date. We hate to break the news to you, but most agents out there get your listing, enter the data on the MLS, put it on a couple free web sites, make a flyer on their home computer and call it a day and wait around to see what happens. Most agents consider their sale done. We have another term for this. We call it the 4 P’s (and this is what you normally get) ….Put up a sign, Put it in the MLS, Put an ad in the paper, and PRAY!
These agents got you to sign on the dotted line. They have locked you up and that is money in the bank to them. If your house sells, by some stroke of luck, they will get paid. If it doesn’t well, it is the luck of the draw and it least it did not cost them anything. These people are called “listers”, not marketers, and their only job is to get you to list your property with them and then hope that someone else will sell it. Hey, don’t blame them; it has worked that way for decades. If you really want to test the water, ask your agent to bring over a specific and targeted marketing proposal for your review. Tell them you want to see how they intend on finding a buyer for your property.
We prepare a full and complete Seller’s Package, which we can mail to you quickly with our compliments and no obligation. Simply email us at Requests@JoEllenNash.com or visit www.NaplesSeller.com or call Jo Ellen or any of her Realtor Partners at the office-239-692-8174.
Once we are selected to list your property, we strategize and prepare a specific Market Proposal which is targeted to the buyers who are most likely to buy your home!
Reason #5. You Are Competing With Foreclosures, Distressed Sales And Bargains: Everyone wants a deal when they buy something…or at least the appearance that they got a great deal. Here’s a scary statistic we bet most people don’t know…over 40% of the homes being sold today are foreclosures or distressed sales.
So, now that the market is flooded with banks and sellers ready to aggressively make deals, how are you going to compete? It is important to think about your market strategy and have an agent who can help you be properly positioned in the market.
Reason #6. You Don’t Have Adequate Pictures, Videos, and Virtual Tours: In no other business, except maybe advertising or modeling, does the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” mean so much. In real estate it has been proven that prospective buyers love pictures and lots of them. Many buyers won’t think twice about homes they can not see pictures of on line.
Since we all know this, are you sure your home has been professionally photographed and videotaped so that buyers can preview your home? Don’t just assume it. Look for your home on line and see what you discover. Go to Realtor.com (the largest real estate website) and see what your property looks like. Does it have at least 8 photos and a link to your property’s custom website? You may be surprised at how many agents take no pictures, or take just a few, and how only a handful actually presents their listings on custom property websites. And also check out the quality of the photography. Is it of the “homegrown” variety or clearly professional?
Our standard procedure is to feature our listings on custom websites, with the best professional photography in Naples. For an example of one of ours, visit www.28346AltessaWay.com.
Reason #7. Your Real Estate Agent May Not Have A Major Presence On The Internet. Because over 85% of all home searches start on the Internet, it is vitally important to hire a tech-savvy real estate agent. Homes for sale in Naples need to be marketed online and they must be searchable so that prospective buyers may find them. International buyers must also be able to easily find them and obtain Naples area information, as well as information that pertains to international financing and transaction processes.
A large part of our buyers are now coming from the UK, Germany, Canada and Eastern Europe. We show up very high in the search engines for the key words that International buyers are using. We have a full –time specialist on our staff that is an expert at Search Engine Optimization!
If you are trying to compare Realtors, see how yours is doing. They may tell you they have a website. So what, everyone has a website. Some have two or three or more. The problem is no one goes to their websites. Theirs are basically tombstones on the Internet superhighway. Google them for “insert city name” real estate and other key real estate search words for your area and see how many they show up for. If they show you how they pull up under their name only, pay no attention. Because no buyer ever searches by using an agent’s name. They search for properties and they search for areas. Did you know that over 25% of all Home Buyers FIRST saw the home they eventually purchased on the Internet? So it is where you need to be!
Bottom line ….you absolutely MUST have a major presence online and you need to have an agent who knows what they are doing in the on-line world. Less than 2% of ALL real estate agents even have a blog…so that really makes it easy for you to weed out the non-savvy real estate agent.
Jo Ellen Nash and our company has over 100 websites, including our popular blog site, www.NaplesBuzz.com.
Jo Ellen records a monthly National Podcast with the latest statistics and market trends and she actually trains the top agents across North America on marketing and Internet strategies.
Reason #8. Your Home Isn’t Presented Well To The Market: We all know that competition is fierce right now. Buyers have many choices and can be very picky and demanding. Many do not want a fixer-upper (investor’s excluded). They want a home that is ready to move into with toothbrush in hand.
What that means to you is, if your home does not show beautifully and is not staged well, it may be passed over. Is your home really market ready? Are all necessary repairs completed? Is all the clutter gone, the home squeaky clean and furniture staged for maximum market impact? These are key items that will eliminate your home from contention if not addressed. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. Would you buy your house over the others in the marketplace? Why?
Will your agent be brutally honest with you and tell you what it will take to showcase your home to its maximum advantage? Most won’t, because they don’t want to hurt your feelings. They are not even sure what to suggest making it better. And they don’t have experts at hand who will step in to help.
We have professional stagers and resources to help our Sellers properly present their homes to the market place. There is no additional charge for consultation-it is part of our “added value” services! It is what we do as a normal course of action during our listing process.
Reason #9 Is your agent marketing to the other agents in your area to keep your property top of mind? Are they creating a comprehensive package about your home that agents can download or pick up in brochure format or pass along to their potential buyers? Or, after the property tour, something that the buyer can take with them to remember your home after looking at 15 others?
We prepare custom Home Tour Books which are a minimum of 8 pages, and sometimes 20, which itemizes every feature, specification and detail of our listed properties. We even have the ability to customize this marketing piece with the names of the buyers touring our listing or their agents. For a copy, email requests@JoEllenNash.com.
Reason #10. Your Home Isn’t Available When It Needs To Be: One of the biggest challenges that occur with properties that fail to sell is when Sellers hire an agent who attempts to be all things to all people and are trying to work with buyers and sellers and transactions and listings…all at the same time. They may be out with a buyer and not available to answer agents or buyers questions when they call. They don’t field calls or return calls in a timely fashion. They can not do it all and they can not afford, or don’t want, to hire help. These general agents can manage to juggle it all only if they have just one or two deals at a time. This type of operation, however, does not make the phone ring. Successful agents understand the power of having a team of professionals to help them leverage their professional reach and handle more business. They understand a key principle… that success breeds success and business brings more business!
Many real estate agents have left the business altogether and many who have remained have other jobs to try and make ends meet. That’s fine but the problem occurs when a prospective buyer, or an agent representing a buyer, tries to get information about the house. How much business gets lost simply because agents don’t answer their phone calls or don’t return phone calls? The home must be able to be shown and agents must answer the phone and return calls and emails or your home will be passed over and removed from consideration.
Our team of professionals makes sure that every client is served at the highest level. There is always someone who is there to respond to calls and emails promptly. Everyone on our team knows your property and can represent it. Contrary to most real estate companies, our agents work together to collectively serve our clients versus competing with each other.
10 creative ways to help sell your house faster in a slow market
August 19, 2008
1) First Impressions…..add curb appeal and make them want to come inside!
a. Clear away leaves and add inexpensive wood chips
b. Refresh the landscaping - add color with inexpensive but well placed flowers
c. Does your exterior paint need a touch up?
2) Weekend bathroom renovations
a. Switch out the faucets and the shower head and re-caulk the bath and sink
b. Update the hardware – New handles and towel rails
c. Add a new shower curtain, a new rug and towels for style and color
3) Go Neutral
a. Create a blank canvas that prospective buyers can personalize
b. Choose a light, inoffensive color scheme – No Primary colors
c. Convert kids rooms to “anyone” rooms, remove posters and cartoon wallpaper etc
4) Light up your life
a. Add carefully placed lights to small rooms to give the appearance of spaciousness
b. Warm lighting can cast a comforting glow in lifeless rooms
c. Let natural light do its job…remove coverings on windows and doors
5) Less is more – Remove the clutter by renting a storage unit
a. Remove all kids’ toys, or it gives the appearance your home lacks storage space
b. Stage the living areas with minimal furniture; try to make your rooms look larger
c. Put personal items away; remember your things are your style not theirs, so get rid of them until you sell, including photos
6) Know what its worth – be realistic
a. Find a good Real Estate Agent that knows your neighborhood for advice
b. Do your own research on the internet
c. Don’t try to over value and leave it sitting on the market for months
7) Use Mobile marketing – use any advantage you can get over the competition
a. Every lead is vital. Capture their contact information every time someone enquire about your house for easy follow up
b. Don’t rely on an empty flyer tube or an unavailable agent to satisfy someone who wants information about your house
c. Saves you time and money and results in a faster sale
8 ) Money to spend? Do it wisely.
a. Updated kitchens and bathrooms are the first place to put your money
b. Give your home the right upgrade for its age and the neighborhood
c. Think about holding some money in reserves for repairs after an inspection
9) You’re out of there
a. People will feel more comfortable looking around your house without you there
b. Take all pets with you and clean up any evidence of them in the house and the yard
c. Mentally detach yourself from the house; it’s no longer your home, it’s a product to be sold
10) Cleanliness is next to sold-liness
a. Try to make everywhere look fresh, just like you would expect a hotel to be
b. Make sure to dust furniture and clean all windows inside and out
c. Light some scented candles to create a pleasant aroma
Brought to you by www.mycityphone.com
Visit us to learn more about the latest ways to use technology to separate your home from the rest and sell your home faster.
Montana Luxury Waterfront Ranch Owners Get Creative to Market Property Online
August 19, 2008
Reaching Trophy Home Buyers and Conservation Property Investors in the Internet Age
Hamilton, MT (PRWEB) August 19, 2008 — In today’s market, luxury property buyers are relying more and more on the Internet to search for that special dream property to call home. With this in mind, high-end sellers in Western Montana have launched an aggressive online marketing campaign to sell their historic waterfront Hamilton, Montana home and ranch on 40 acres sitting at the foot of the Bitterroot Valley. Visit estate ranch video at http://www.realestateshows.com/show.php?id=312009&code=cf8b04c9.
The one-of-a-kind completely restored home with a tree-lined creek cascading though the property for over one-quarter mile is located between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. While the owners engaged well-respected Montana real estate broker, John Payne of Montana Prime Properties, to offer their pristine Western Montana estate home, they didn’t stop there. They created a web site to highlight the fully restored historic craftsman home with wraparound porches, breathtaking 360 degree mountain views and a private stream.
The sellers have taken advantage of the ease of using the Internet to get the word out about offering the estate ranch by posting a dream retreat video to showcase the monumental beauty of the surrounding Bitterroot Mountains, professionally landscaped grounds and original wood restored floors. After spending six years meticulously restoring this lodge with everything from a wine cellar, to fine finishes and energy-saving measures, they want to share its beauty and convenience with as many people as possible.
“This property is one of the most desirable and largest undeveloped tracts of land located close to Hamilton, Montana,” said John Payne, expert real estate broker in the Bitterroot Valley region. “This beautiful home on a trout stream with 40 acres with its approved septic sites and its preferred treed building sites along the stream has enormous development and conservation potential. The bonus factor is that the owners are offering a separate 20-acre parcel, including irrigation. Now that’s the approach if a buyer wants ultimate privacy,” he noted.
To get the word out efficiently, they listed the home on key real estate web sites such as Landflip and published press releases about the dream home offering.
Prospective buyers can tour the large one-of-a-kind Western Montana home and request information by visiting Montana Dream Property Web Site or contacting John Payne at (877)-666-8262.
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FSBO Expert Fizber.com Shares Easy Secrets to Sell Your House Faster
August 2, 2008
Fizber.com breaks down five important steps to sell a home in the current slumping market.
Miami Beach, FL (PRWEB) August 2, 2008 — If you’re trying to sell a house in this incredibly tough market, you will likely need some help. Fizber.com breaks down five important steps to sell a home in the current slumping market.
1. Declutter.
“One of the most important things you can do to make a home more appealing is to declutter the rooms,” says Julia Foster of Fizber.com. “Clear out as much furniture as you can. Put it in storage, give it to Goodwill Industries or have a garage sale. Hallways and doorways, in particular, need to be clear and open.”
2. Stage your home.
“Most owners aren’t seeing bidding wars the way they were a few years ago,” says Foster. “But with the right staging, you can get close to your asking price.” For those in need of help, Homestaging.fizber.com has contact information for professionals well versed in the art of making a home look appealing.
3. Take quality photos.
Homes that have one photo are passed by. Homes with dozens of photographs get noticed. “Take several photos of the kitchen,” recommends Foster. “The kitchen is generally the most important photo. Before photographing the dining room, set the table.”
4. Get a home inspection.
Most buyers will have one done anyway. “Do it now — and make any needed repairs before you put the home on the market,”says Foster. Depending on where the homeowner lives, the service will probably run about $200 to $400.
5. Entice buyers with money.
Pay a percentage of buyers’ closing costs. “Most buyers today that have to buy are struggling to get the down payment, to get another 3 to 6 percent for closing costs — they don’t have it. So the seller usually ends up contributing at least 3 percent,” Foster said.
About Fizber.com
With home listings throughout the United States, Fizber.com strives to connect buyers and sellers more effectively. The site offers to list for-sale properties on a multiple listing service for a $349.95 flat fee, to submit property ads to a variety of property search engines for a $299.95 flat fee, and a package of both services for $499.95. Prospective homebuyers can browse property database, available at www.Fizber.com, at no charge.
If you are a certified realtor and would like to be represented within Fizber Real Estate Directory, sign up today.
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Group Mortgage Speaker Blog Launches
July 28, 2008
A new Mortgage Sales and Marketing Blog was launched July 21, 2008, which will feature the raw messages from top mortgage speakers, educators, and experts.
“As real estate professionals continue to integrate advanced Internet technology into their daily networking and marketing routines, it is vital for industry leaders to embrace social media as a way to connect with the mortgage professionals they serve.” Mark Madsen
MortgageSalesBlog.com was designed by a Las Vegas loan officer to give mortgage innovators the opportunity to share personal insights in a group blogging atmosphere. By centralizing the content on one platform, the contributors will have the flexibility to write valuable articles as their schedules permit, without being burdened by the commitment of maintaining, marketing or having to regularly post on their own blog.
Since MortgageSalesBlog.com is a “Commercial Free” zone, readers can be confident that the free information they read will have no hidden agendas or require registration. This blog is purely focused on Mortgage Sales and Marketing strategies for loan officers.
Real Estate’s Top Performers Do the Right Things More Often
July 17, 2008
Real Estate Marketing Innovator, Success Coach and Bestselling Author, Ray Wood reveals the 50 Top Success Ideas Used by Real Estate’s Best.
Queensland, Australia (PRWEB) July 17, 2008 — Ray Wood’s Bestselling book (How To Sell Your Home For More) has sold more than 50,000 copies but that is just part of his enterprise. Ray is CEO of Bestagents, a marketing company for real estate teams and individuals. His unique system uses innovative tools, like his book, to bring real estate professionals and property sellers together. He believes Relationship Marketing is the key to real estate success. He also believes that many in real estate could quickly improve and more than double their income simply by doing the right things more often.
In a recent interview with business writer Martin Williams, Ray shared his ideas about real estate’s top performers and how they are able to stay in the top 5 percent of the industry.
The following answer was in response to Martin’s question: “Is it possible for a newcomer in real estate to become quickly successful and can you give me an example?” Here is Ray’s answer:
“About six months ago, I started working with 2 real estate newcomers. I remember it clearly because they both had the same first and last name. And although they worked in real estate offices 1000 miles apart, it was the same brand. But that was where the similarities stopped.
I gave both rookies my getting started kit and asked them to study the 50 Free Success Ideas which are available as a download from my website.
I noticed almost instantly that one guy was eager to learn and had the discipline to stick to the right success actions that would let him hit the ground running. He asked all the right questions and when we set deadlines, goals and targets, he never missed a beat.
The second guy was enthusiastic but tried to ’second guess’ almost every task and function we set. His Direct Mail Letters missed critical components, his telephone follow up was non-productive because he completely ignored our guidelines and tried to ‘reinvented the wheel’ at every opportunity.
So what happened? Some six months later, David is number two in his office averaging 6 listings and four sales month in month out while trhe other David is doing less than half that.
I believe there are only really two major breakthroughs to revolutionise the real estate industry. One is the telephone, the other is the internet. These tools are tailor made for real estate and make it easier for us to communicate. The rest is simply doing the right actions to produce predictable and consistent results”.
To Download Ray’s 50 Free Success Ideas click on this link: http://www.raywood.net/2008/50_free_success_ideas.html
Realtors Returning to Relationship Marketing, Says Real Estate Newsletter Expert
July 9, 2008
As the housing market in the United States shifts, successful Realtors are focusing on traditionally effective marketing techniques to make sure they thrive, says a real estate newsletter marketing expert. He provides 5 important tips to help Realtors succeed in these changing times.
Toronto, ON (PRWEB) July 9, 2008 — As the housing market in the United States shifts, successful Realtors are focusing on traditionally effective marketing techniques to make sure they thrive, says a real estate newsletter marketing expert.
Simon Payn, of Ready to Go Newsletters, says he has noticed an increase in the number of Realtors subscribing to his real estate newsletters.
“Realtors who want to continue being successful understand the need to build a relationship with their clients, past clients and sphere of influence,” says Payn.
“Now that the market has slowed, the smartest real estate agents and brokers are investing in tools to build and maintain that relationship.
“They understand that people like to do business with people they know and trust, so it is becoming crucial in this competitive market to build trusting relationships with householders.”
While the number of subscribers to his real estate newsletter service continues to grow, Payn says he has seen several real estate agents leave the profession.
“There are two things happening,” says Payn. “Some are going back to their old careers and leaving real estate but others are digging in, investing in marketing tools, and working hard to make a successful real estate business in these challenging times.”
–Essentials of Relationship Marketing for Realtors–
Payn advises Realtors to do the following to build a strong relationship with their farm:
1) Develop a way of communicating regularly with people, using print newsletters, email newsletters, postcards or greetings cards. Write and design communication devices yourself, or choose an off-the-shelf product.
2) Make sure to provide valuable, interesting and entertaining information to prove your expertise and to be of genuine service to your clients and prospects. Beware of cookie-cutter newsletters that don’t allow you to customize the content. To build a genuine relationship with your farm you need to provide relevant, personal information to your readers.
3) Communicate on a regular basis — at least every month — in order to build and maintain that relationship. People have short memories, so it’s important to have a continual presence in clients’ lives to maintain a strong connection with them.
4) Be aware that building relationships with householders in your farm and with clients is a long-term project — keep communicating with them on a regular basis for months and years to get the best results.
5) Understand that marketing is an investment, not a cost. If, for example, you close just one transaction per year as a result of your newsletter program you will have paid for it many times over.
A strong relationship with your farm and clients is like an insurance against a slow housing market, according to Payn. Realtors who invest in these relationships will thrive during tough times.
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LuxuryProperty.com Breaks New Ground in Online Real Estate Marketing
July 6, 2008
It can be hard to find objective information about real estate amongst the welter of self-serving advertorial being dished up by real estate companies. One company has taken the innovative approach of employing a professional real estate blogger to provide a breath of fresh air to its corporate web site: The Luxury Property Blog.
(PRWEB) May 22, 2008 — Responding to the market trends of growing internet usage and a decline in the consumption of traditional media, Luxury Property.com have taken the unprecedented step of hiring an independent professional blogger to drive their new media marketing strategy, the Luxury Property Blog - Mark Knowles
Corporate blogs have historically been dull and self-promotional, perhaps because producing content has been left to traditional marketing departments. Effective blogs, which attract thousands of readers daily, require a completely different skill set from traditional marketing, but attract a demographic which is very difficult to reach through mainstream media.
This applies to the wealthy consumer also, and, according to the Luxury Institute, “wealthy-consumer participation in online social networks is on the rise. Whilst Unity Marketing, a luxury market research firm, states that the internet is playing an increasingly larger role in influencing luxury consumers.
Michael D Murphy, CEO of Luxury Property.com said, “Building, maintaining, and promoting a corporate blog is part of our strategy to usher in an era of advanced online marketing for the luxury real estate industry.”
According to homestomper.com, 77% of home buyers begin their research process online.
The term “Blog,” is short for “Web log,” a specialized site that allows an individual or group of individuals to share a running log of events and personal insights with online audiences. Bloggers tend to be highly-opinionated mavericks and the term “Executive Blogger,” almost seems like an oxymoron. When asked if the corporate environment would stifle Mark’s creative thought process, Mr. Murphy responded:
“Absolutely not. Mark is a professional and an expert, and he has to be able to call it like he sees it, or the blog loses all its value to the readers. We think he had a fair point when he criticized our failure to properly launch the Luxury Property main site within our projected time frame. Unfortunately that was outside our control due to a poor choice of contractor for the site’s construction. We have since moved these operations in-house and will be re-launching this summer.”
Mr. Knowles is a long-time blogger with experience both of blogging and real estate. He has written and operated several internationally recognized property blogs. His past experience also includes managing a successful photographic processing laboratory servicing real estate marketer’s needs.
His plans for the blog include creating a number of foreign language versions, including a Chinese version of the luxury property blog with guest bloggers from around the world contributing regularly. When interviewed about the becoming the world’s first executive blogger, Mark said:
“This job fits very well with my skill set, and LuxuryProperty.com is an extremely progressive website with a good grasp of the future, both in the luxury real estate world and the marketing possibilities of Internet Video. I am very happy to be a part of this team and looking forward to taking blogging, and Internet Video Marketing to the next level. With a little luck, I might even be able to cut down on the amount of horrible real estate videos I see posted to YouTube.”
When asked about this aspect, Michael D. Murphy said:
“In my opinion, what most internet users enjoy about blogs is their authenticity. If Mark wants to make an example of the poor quality real estate videos on YouTube, we’re certainly not going to stop him. If anything, such a practice should serve to raise the standard of online marketing - and that is what our company is all about.”
The job description, “Executive blogger,” is not widely-used, and only time will tell if this becomes as mainstream as blogging has done recently. Technocrati claim to be tracking over 112 million blogs, not including the estimated 73 million Chinese-language blogs, although the Blog Herald asks “Have we reached such a great amount of blogs that we no longer feel the need to count them?
About:
Mark Knowles is a pro-blogger and has, in the past, written for several other well-known property blogs including the International Property Investment Blog. For quotes, photos and more information, please email.
LUX, based in Denver, CO and Chicago, IL, specializes in the development and operation of a growing network of luxury-themed websites and services: LUXURY PROPERTY, LUXURY SOIREE, LUXURY FILM, and an international network of luxury blogs.
