PRETEC

I have witnessed many changes in the real estate industry over the past 31 years and have always embraced them as good for our industry. What we are experiencing right now with Web2, social networking for business, and micro blogging is not a fad. These are exciting times, and I see opportunity for those who buy into it and get re-educated to relate to the e-consumer.

I threw this question out on LinkedIn last week and had so many excellent answers that I had to select “No Best Answer” I selected 8 as good of the 13. I would like to share a few points from each answer for you to ponder.

Alex Romanovich a Sr. International Marketing and Technology Executive focused on Demand Generation, Online and Social Media Marketing said in reference to social media: The need to listen, communicate, engage, and educate is there and RE Professionals can deliver if they start using the same tools that a consumer is using already.

Simon Ackland who is an Entrepreneur, Business Developer, Marketing and Digital Marketing, Wine Industry said: There is no doubt about it, the advent of web based marketplaces saves a lot of time, fuel and rubber. And a social network can allow an agent to communicate more quickly and effectively, giving more people the opportunity to take advantage of an offering than the old “hours on the phone” approach.

Mark Spiveya Provider of cost-effective streaming media and email marketing tools indicated: The Real Estate agent of the future will need to become far more Internet aware then ever before and will use all the tools mentioned above in order to gain a foothold in a highly competitive market.

Jose I. Perez, Jr. an Innovative Leader and Real Estate Industry Expert said: Those that “get it” will move forward and succeed. Those who don’t will eventually struggle.

MAJ Jamie Huggins, Space Operations Officer / Real Estate Broker said: I believe that real estate online is going to become “Googlefied”. I can see open source real estate listings online where clients post their own stuff and prospects comment and blog about specific properties. Customers will tell real state professionals what they need. It’s happening on the social networks right now.

Pat Soltysan owner at Soltys Inc. is a business and technology consulting company said: In real estate it is not only the agents who must change but also the leadership of all companies. At the brokerage level, this will be a defining point in the growth, dynamics, operations and philosophy that drive the bottom line.

Marcus Cage Business Management Consultant said: There will be a diminishing of real estate companies, due to a lack of effective marketing, service and structure.

Rose Hart, Realtor with Coldwell Banker Burnet said: The market has numerous variables for clients to consider other than just the style and price of the home. I think the web is extremely important now and in the future of real estate, because clients need and want as much information as possible to make informed decisions on pricing their properties for sale and also those looking to buy.

As you can see, all the above professionals have one thing in common which is the consumer. This is still a people business, however we are experiencing a paradigm shift with the tools and services that we provide. You can read the answers of all respondents in there entirety on LinkedIn.

What are your thoughts? More important than that, what are you doing to be better prepared? By the way, are you LinkedIn?

“Expect the Best” Mike

As a real estate trainer and consultant, I am available to assist you in all your marketing plans, technology, in addition to helping you take your real estate career to the next level. Contact me if you’re interested in hiring a personal coach and consultant to help develop your business.

 BrokerAgentSocial.com is a community open to real estate professionals of all types: Real Estate Sales, Mortgage, Title, and all those who provide support to the Real Estate Industry with over 19000 members. 

Some of the best real estate sales and marketing information available can be found on this site including: current trends, coaching, sales ideas and Blog posts. I make it a point to visit this site very often for some of the best minds in the business.

Once you establish your free account, make it a point to build your profile, join a few groups and enter your Blog posts into the links section for thumbs up rating system.

 With over 150 real estate trainers, experts and coaches supplying information, in addition to contributions by members, you have an opportunity to sharpen your saw, year-round.

“Expect the Best” Mike

Do you think the real estate industry is apathetic or becoming proficient in technology and Internet marketing?

I should rephrase that to ask, with all the tools, opportunities, and wonderful programs being provided for our real estate industry to market homes, network, build relationships, and syndicate listings, are we getting on board soon enough and grasping the big picture of a paradigm shift in our industry?  I believe most real estate agents, brokers and ancillary support services are not taking advantage of the changes that are expected from the e-consumer.

Do you think the rules of business are changing?

Do you think our industry needs a wake up call to get on board?

Maybe I can ask a few other questions that will give you an opportunity to take a personal inventory of where you are presently.

1. Do you have a domain name?
2. Do you have a personal website?
3. Are you offering IDX on your website?
4. Are you syndicating your listings to major portals and other key websites?
5. Are you providing 20-30 pictures on each listing?
6. Are you providing a virtual tour or video on your listings?
7. Do you utilize an email-marketing program with professional looking flyers?
8. Can you provide a hyperlink via email, social network site or newsletter that connects to your listings and or website?
9. Have you setup a profile page on all the key locations like: Trulia, Zillow, Google, Yahoo, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter?
10. Are you Blogging yet? To promote goodwill and promotion of the community you sell homes in and drive traffic to your website?
11. Do you understand keywords, search engine optimization, and RSS?
12. Have you setup a reader program on various subjects to organize your favorite sites, Blogs and news updates to stay abreast to our industry changes?
13. Do you understand the power of StumbleUpon, digg and del.icio.us. and have a profile of your business setup on  each?
14. Are you Pinging you Blog post and understand what pinging does?
15. Are you taking classes or attending seminars to re-tool your career?

These may be some tough questions for some to answer, or you maybe saying, I could add dozens more. Please do so. We are all in this paradigm shift together and need to change the way we do our business. Yes, it can be overwhelming, frustrating, and require many hours of setup. It’s like eating an elephant, one bite at a time!  As Saint Nike says: Just do it!

 ”Expect the Best” Mike

As a real estate trainer and consultant, I’m available to assist you in all your marketing plans, technology, and taking your real estate career to the next level. Contact me if you’re interested in hiring a personal coach and consultant to help develop your business or just want to network.

Marketing a seller’s home requires many skills in today’s market, in addition to a series of events; duties and service oriented follow up; by the listing agent. The old days of popping a sign in the yard, putting it in the MLS and waiting for an offer are history.

Here’s a suggested list of guidelines that may very from market to market, however will give you an idea of why you, as a listing agent should expect a full service fee for your services being offered to a seller, in the mist of a buyers market.  The products and services suggested below are only what I use and by no means are being suggested for you to change providers of comparable products. I can only tell you what works for me.

I follow these guidelines, however, I also have expectations of getting a full fee for service, I expect the seller to price the property at market value based on my findings, and I expect a 180-day marketing agreement.  The services and activities below are only what they can expect up to the time an offer is placed on the property.  Handling the pending sale is another post for another day that would include an equal amount of effort and service that requires hard work and persistence.

Prior to Listing Appointment:

1.  Drive the neighborhood, identify other properties, conditions, amenities and overall market area.

2.  Take a photo of the subject property to use in your presentation

3.  Research MLS for previous sale, listing or expiration of subject property. If found: run history, previous pictures and line side

4.  Run Realist and print property tax and mortgage details

5.  Visit the county websites for property information, Tax history, legal etc.

6.  Do CMA, using ToolKitCMA, linking comps from MLXchange for Sold, Active, and Expired, Select presentation topics needed, including price adjustment sheet.

7.  Go to: Transaction Desk to Input client information, property information, DocBox contacts, and Select forms needed for listing.

8.  Do a net sheet for seller based on suggested list price

9.  Run a copy of Point2Agent Listing Presentation to add to Tool Kit CMA.

10.  Separate your Marketing material into plastic folder for seller to review from your CMA Material for discussion. Separate your personal resume and the letter of how you arrived at value to give them at presentation.

11.  Print all listing forms completely with exception of price, with additional copy to leave the seller.
12.  Take your personal real estate sign (that has your website address and phone in addition to companies) with riders, and lock-box with you to install when listing is completed.

Keep in mind, that I am doing all the above prior to even getting a commitment for a listing agreement. You win some, you lose some. By coming in prepared, with the right tools, marketing agreement, and comparables, you will win most of the time. It is better than going in blind to facts that are needed to give the best service.

 Congratulations, you have now listed the property at the right price, now the work begins. Here’s some follow up duties, assignments, and procedures I suggest you follow for good service, risk reduction, and reaching your goal of SOLD:

1.  Listing Contract with complete Legal Description, terms, ALL required fields filled in, explained and signed

2.  Net Sheet Review, explain and have signed

3.  Agency Relationship Disclosures
4.  Seller’s Disclosure Statement and Addendum
5.  Lead Based Paint Disclosure explained and signed
6.  Home Warranty Signed – Accepted or Waived
7.  Concierge Form – Accepted or Waived
8.  Open House Release Form explained and signed
9. Complete Point of Sale Addendum for well and septic (currently required Ingham, Eaton, Shiawassee, Barry counties)
10. Title Affiliated Business Arrangement Disclosure, explained and signed
11.  Addendum to Listing Contract explained and signed
12.  Obtain a copy of seller’s previous title commitment, survey, and mortgage details. 
13.  Title Support Documents (Death, Divorce, Personal Rep., etc.) Questionnaire completed & signed
14.  Mortgage Payoff Request Form 2^nd Mortgage or Equity Payoff Request Form, completed, and signed
15.  Sign Installation Form
16.  Ad Request Form

Duties after the marketing agreement is completed:

1.  Install sign and lock-box
2.  Take 30-50 pictures of the house, including close-ups on special features.
3.  Complete MLS Double Brochure
4.  Have Listing entered into MLS, with completed folder and required forms
5. Load Pictures into MLS
6. Give email or word format of double brochure to staff to load double brochure in MLS
7.  Load listing information into Point2Agent website (what it looks like)
8.  Load minimum of 20-25 pictures of property in walk through order
9.  Scan the disclosures, survey etc to load as attachments on Point2Agent and MLS
10. Select Blog new listing when loading property information
11.  Syndicate to Craigslist from Point2Agent for professional looking ad
12. Copy and paste virtual tour and send to staff to load on MLS
13.  Go to Point2Agent Blog and touch up Blog Post and post with proper key words.
14.  Ping the Blog post and listing on www.KingPing.com  and ping your blog,
15.  Do flyer ad on Postlets, SawItOnLine and GoogleBase
16. Go to www.Postlets.com , copy and paste listing and post to twitter, share listing with Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter from Postlet’s site.
17.  Go back to ToolKitCMA after listing is complete design and print flyer for property either to have in the house or in a flyer box out front.
18. After Listing is posted in MLS, it should go within a few days to your compny site, Trulia, Zillow, or Realtor.com, Go to these sites and claim your listing, brand it, promote any upcoming open houses. Better yet, is to load these sites yourself from your Point2Agent web address and link listing information, virtual tours etc back to your own Domain.
19.  Develop promotional folder to be displayed at Sellers home during showings to include unique features, utility costs, any benefits, repairs & updates.
20.  E-Mail a MLS printout to Seller to review information and confirmation in addition to a copy of Website home description; for their review and additions so you can update with additional features
21.  Submit copies of listing to sales staff for their potential purchasers via Constant Contact or VerticalResponse
22. Telephone your seller regularly to discuss showing activity and/or prospective buyers.
23. Tweet properties, price changes, open houses, sold properties, and other related items on Twitter throughout the day, with settings set for posts to forward on to Facebook, Friend Feed, Plaxo, and others. Ping.fm is a great program for distributing posts to a variety of social networking sites.

I am sure there are additional services and activities that could add here. I am a student of learning and open minded to always look at new technology, ideas and suggestions, so please feel free to offer your comments or email them to me.

“Expect the Best” Mike

TwitDoc.com is the easy way to share your documents on twitter.
The ability to easily ‘tweet’ your documents and pictures is an essential part of sharing information with your Twitter network.

TwitDoc.com, located in Littleton Colorado, is a privately funded startup founded by Bob Brinker and Michael Ormsby. The central idea behind TwitDoc.com is to make it easy to share your documents on Twitter.

I downloaded TwitDoc and sent a few test “Tweets” out. Here’s how they look. This will be a handy tool for flyers, forms, Sldeshows, and other items you want to share with your friends.

TwitDoc.com is primarily built around the idea of sharing documents (PDF, DOC, XLS, etc.), they also handle many image formats (JPG, GIF, PNG, etc.) and expect to support other file types in the future.

How will you use TwitDoc in the future for your real estate business?

“Expect the Best” Mike

As a former broker/owner/manager I thought it might be good to take a risk and stick my neck out on the limb to shake up the real estate agents who are not part of the real estate company’s team of players. You know the ones that never show up for sales meetings, educational classes or company sponsored events, parties and rap sessions.

Independent contractor or not, I expected my agents to come to a meeting every Tuesday a.m. and go on home inspection afterwards for 2-3 hours. Now those days of home inspection are gone with the Internet and virtual tours, however there should still be a meeting to communicate updates, law changes, financing, policy and any other agenda item that informs both the agent and the company. In addition to the above, agents should show up to meetings for the following reasons:

1. Out of respect for the broker/owner/manager
2. To be informed of your business
3. To contribute to the other team players
4. To show support for the company

In a traditional office that pays the bills, like: telephone, desks cost, heat, advertising, provides conference rooms, computers, and support to help you keep your transactions together, you should at least have the respect to show and participate at company meetings.

You may be saying, well that’s hogwash. Putting on my other hat as an agent, I think the broker/owner/manager’s are to chicken to demand enough respect to say, I provide this, this and that for you and I expect this, this and that from you.

Ok! you may be saying, we don’t need meetings with today’s technology, we can read the email, watch the podcast, or video, or pick it up on Twitter. Yeah Right, on last count it took an average of 55 hours before a real estate agent opened his/her email and 50% of them never did read them. (That’s a post for another day.)

In today’s challenging market, it has never been more important that the communication lines in a real estate company become open, honest and sincere. If the meetings you have attended are boring, non-productive, or just a complete waste of time, maybe you could be brutally honest with your broker/owner/manager and discuss some solutions. The meetings held in any company are only as effective as you are.

Hey, as long as I am on a roll, waiting to have a sales meeting once a month is insane. How can you run a company by never communicating with the people who bring in the listings and sales, who are out there in the trenches every day, and who have to put up with a changing market and expect to communicate in a way that is going to be win-win!

Nobody is smarter than all of us, what you think?

“Expect the Best” Mike

retaggr offers some great opportunities to place all your social media, Blogs and other contact information in one small cube. You can also display your profile link:  http://www.retaggr.com/page/mbowlersr  for friends and contacts to view your profile.

 
 
Want to learn more? Visit retaggr’s little 4 minute video for a tour.

“Expect the Best” Mike

eRealEstate.com is the Place to Network for all Real Estate Professionals! Real Estate Brokers, Agents, Mortgage Professionals, Title Companies, Appraisers…. I would like to encourage you to check it out. With your updates, videos, Blog posts, and other contributions, you have an opportunity to tags the article for great search engine activity and also share what ever you post on Facebook, Twitter and many other sites.

I setup a Michigan group in eRealEstate.com If you’re from Michigan, I would like to encourage you to become a group member. If not, there are several states available to sponsor or join. You are welcome to contribute positive news, events and real estate happenings, for your area and anything else that promotes the good will of Realtors and your community.

Visit eRealEstate

Check it out, I’m sure you will see the benefit, plus it’s FREE.

“Expect the Best”  Mike