By Ken Brand on February 8, 2010
Wise Words
“What ever is happening to YOU now, YOU either created it, YOU allow it or YOU promote it.” ~Unknown
Reread that. It’s stark truth and reality for 97% of what is going on with our real estate careers. Success and challenges alike.
Setting things right is simple…take personal responsibility and embrace The Fix It or Fire It Method.
Fix It or Fire It
Current Listing Inventory Not Selling? Fix It or Fire It?
Fix how the property shows compared to the competition. Sellers won’t help themselves? Fire them.
Adjust the price to a competitive level. Sellers won’t help themselves? Fire…
Posted in Coaching, Coaching, Lead Generation, Marketing, Marketing, Public Relations, Real Estate, Service, Social Media | Tagged Choosing your friends, Embrace Chang, Fit It or Fire It, Leaderhsip, Qualifying Buyers, Right Priced Listings
By Gwen Banta on February 5, 2010
Beware all agents: My loyal spies and I are watching everything you put in print. Why? Because real estate ads can be more fun than a whoopee cushion! We found another batch of blatant bloopers that will set February into full swing. Here we go again – jump onto the MLS Malapropism Merry-go-round and enjoy the ride:
The Demise of Webster and Roget
“House near Malibu Whinery” (Buy a bunk near the Drunk n Funk)
“Bambo floors” (Bimbo Agent)
“Paneling made of imported Europein wood” (If you’re a peein,’ Ima leavin’.’)
“Delicious abbatizers served” (Cue the Abba music: “You are the…
Posted in Friday, Highlights, Marketing, Marketing, Opinions, Real Estate, Realtors, Silly | Tagged humor, Marketing, MLS, Real Estate, Realtors
By Lesley Lambert on February 4, 2010
What a surprise…
I have this amazing listing that is priced WAY below market value because it is a: dunh dunh dunh DAH…..Short Sale.
It gets shown twice to three times a day and the feedback is all good, yet no offers and why not?
Because it is a: dunh dunh dunh DAH…..Short Sale.
I get it. I respect it. I even advise some of my buyers that they shouldn’t look at short sales, but not ALL of them. Which brings me (in a round about fashion) to my actual point:
Who should (and should not) buy short sale properties?
Now remember,…
Posted in Economy, Mortgage, Real Estate | Tagged buying a short sale home, distressed home, real estate short sales
By Melanie Wyne on February 4, 2010
A View from Inside
In the past month or so that I’ve been writing at Agent Genius, my employer, NAR, its volunteers and staff have taken a lot of heat. I’ve watched mostly from a distance but this week I thought I’d offer my perspective from the inside. I offer my personal perspective both as NAR staff and as a professional who spends her days as an advocate—someone who endeavors to get a large, tradition-laden, often intractable organization to do what I want them to do. I’m talking of course about Congress, but the lessons can be applied universally.
Most…
Posted in Real Estate
By Lani Rosales on February 4, 2010
HUD steps it up
Earlier this month, the Housing and Urban Development Department which oversees the Federal Housing Administration stepped up their effort to curb the foreclosure crisis by vowing to speed up the resale of foreclosures. This week comes the announcement making it official that from February 1, 2010 through February 1, 2011, the FHA is lifting the rule that prohibits insuring a mortgage on a home owned by the seller for under 90 days. This rule has been informally called the “anti-flipping rule.”
The change was made to speed up sales of renovated homes in communities with too many…
Posted in Real Estate | Tagged FHA, lending, Mortgage
By Matt Stigliano on February 3, 2010
…but this isn’t about pointing fingers.
When I became an agent, I thought I was insignificant as far as the larger world of Realtors® went. Seriously, who was I compared to the juggernaut that is the National Association of Realtors®? Heck, who was I even in the San Antonio Board of Realtors® realm? Or even just my broker’s office? An absolute nobody. The new guy. An agent who still had wet ink of his license and a head full of finance, appraisal, and contract information that is hardly useful today, because they’ve changed the rules fifty times since I passed my…
Posted in Real Estate | Tagged association, Committee, involvement, National Association of Realtors
By Brandie Young on February 1, 2010
It’s nice that we enjoy “Freedom of Speech”, but we are still responsible for our speech, and lawsuits are a reality when an individual must protect him/herself from abusive or inflammatory allegations.
Read a definition of Defamation:
Defamation is the issuance of a false statement about another person, which causes that person to suffer harm.
Slander involves the making of defamatory statements by a transitory (non-fixed) representation, usually an oral (spoken) representation.
Libel involves the making of defamatory statements in a fixed or medium, such as a newspaper or blog post.
So, if you make derogatory statements that result in…
Posted in Real Estate
By Ken Brand on February 1, 2010
Good News! Your Raise Is Effective As Soon As YOU Are.
No Brown-Nosing, glass ceilings, boot licking, politics, nepotism, seniority, annual performance reviews or begging for a raise.
In our real estate world, YOU are your own boss. That’s good news for hard persistent faithful smart committed motivated workers, bad news for slackers.
Why?
Because the real estate business is pure pay-for-performance. Want a raise?
“Your raise is effective as soon as you are.” Marilyn Eiland
3 Questions You Have To Ask Yourself:
When do you want it?
What do you need to do differently? Doing nothing is not an option.
When…
Posted in Coaching, Coaching, Lead Generation, Marketing, Marketing, Real Estate, Service, Social Media | Tagged Asking for a Raise, Business Development, Don't Get Stuck in Stupid, Embracing Change, Wagging Your Long Tail
By Bill Lublin on January 31, 2010
Benn & Lani have always allowed the writers to write from their own opinions and positions. But Agent Genius became a sadder place today when a personal attack on an individual was disguised as a video post by Greg Cooper.
Video posts have some benefits – you don’t have to worry about spelling – and they have additional emotional bandwidth for things like this flaming attack – In other words your voice (and Greg’s voice is well trained) can be used to add significance and weight to words or phrases that they would not have had in a written form. Most people tend…
Posted in NAR, Opinions, Real Estate | Tagged NAR, National Association of Realtors
By Melanie Wyne on January 29, 2010
Believe it or not, something other than healthcare and jobs was on the minds of policymakers in Washington this week. For tech wonks, the week was largely about privacy. Events on both coasts demonstrate that privacy policy is moving in all directions and that there are many cooks in this kitchen. While Congressional lawmakers seem intent on regulating privacy based on the musty concepts of notice, choice, opt-in and opt-out, the FTC appears to be setting its sights on where the debate is moving –think… cloud, social media and wireless—with industry groups weighing in too.
First up was Congressman Rick Boucher…
Posted in Politics, Real Estate
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