By Jessica Hickok I recently got an e-mail from my Flickr photo sharing account stating that a map company had requested to use a photo I had taken. The photo was a tourist-y pic of Fremont Street in Las Vegas that was taken on a recent trip we made there last summer. The map company was requesting to use it …
Let the Statistics Do the Talking
By Kelly Reark This week, I thought I would share some striking real estate statistics from my small local market area. Gasparilla Island is only a snapshot of what is happening locally, and hopefully what is or will be happening across our state and country. In the first quarter of 2009, only two contracts closed on Gasparilla Island. The second …
Don’t Be a Secret Agent
By Crystal Webster Insert the popular 60’s song here. My mentor reminds me of this on a regular basis. What’s the use of being in real estate (or insurance, or sales, or anything for that matter) if no one knows? You’re not a super spy, you’re not doing covert ops, and you’re not incognito. Be proud of what you do, …
The Future of Google, Real Estate: Collaboration
By Nobu Hata Has anyone else started having the “Google” question pop up during their listing presentations? Not your website, nor your blog, or your Facebook page inquiry – the “can you make our home show up in Google?” question. It may be just that my clients tend to be a little more tech-savvy than your average buyer or seller, …
Staying True to the Home Team
By Jeremy Williams You wouldn’t believe how many times I was asked who I wanted to win the Super Bowl last weekend. My response was the Houston Texans. With a look of confusion, one person said, “Yeah, do you not know that Houston Texans are not in the Super Bowl? In fact, they did not even make it to the …
You Never Know Who is Shopping Your Open House
By Heather Soldonia In the current real estate market I have heard both brand new practitioners and veteran brokers express that they are resorting to some basic prospecting strategies and among those is… open houses. When I first began working as a REALTOR® my broker advised me to go to at least 10 open houses “to learn what not to …
Out With the Old and In With the New…
By Lincoln Crum We’ve all heard this statement enough over the past month as we’ve entered a new year and a brand new decade. There’s a ton of talk, within our industry about new trends, technology, updates, Web2.0 and now 3.0. Lots of “new” speak these days. Being a 20-year veteran of the industry, starting when I was a …
Taking a Lesson From the Grammys
By Brian Copeland Watching the Grammys is always a highlight in my year. As a former music publisher with still interest in a few companies, I still get to vote! This darn REALTOR® addiction and the constant need to find applications for my business and profession in everything I see drives me nuts; so, of course, I have to comment …
Watch for the Signs: Look into Your Crystal Ball
By Dave Robison How many times have your clients or friends asked you about your crystal ball? My clients ask me all the time. It’s almost daily you hear, “If I buy this house, how much do you think it will appreciate in the next 2 years, or 5 years?” or “How much more money will I make on my …
SeatSPAM: Greening Your Conference Experiences
By Brian Copeland I recently attended a conference. I had six straight days of travel and one tiny bag to take me on the multiple city flights; so, I had no room for anything extra. At the end of each day, I found myself swimming in “SeatSPAM.” It wasn’t in my e-mail box, my Facebook inbox, or even my Twitter …