By Anand Patel There are two great apps that I have been using for more than a year or so now that have served to be very helpful. I share these (and many more) apps with my agents during our company meetings and several of them also found these two apps in particular to be very practical and useful. Glympse …
To Serve and Be Served: A Once in a Lifetime Transaction
By Christian Zarif I almost didn’t answer my phone. I was in San Francisco for our national REALTOR® convention and rushing to get out of my room to an engagement (running 5 minutes late, of course). The strange number called twice in a row so I figured it must be urgent. When I answered, I could hardly make out the …
You Don’t Need Experience To Gain Clients
By Sam DeBord When I started out in the real estate business, my biggest fear was probably the same as many other agents’: “What if they ask me how many homes I’ve sold?” There was an almost inescapable fear that every new client I met would find out that I hadn’t been selling for very long, and abandon me for …
My $25,000 Commission From a Rental Call
By Lynn Minnick When I was a new agent back in 2000, I took a rental call. It was a young couple, around my age, looking for a rental in town. Once we started talking, they told me they could spend $1,400 per month. That was higher than my mortgage payment at the time, so I asked them if they’d …
You Can’t Pay for Experience
By Brooke Wolford In the past year since I started my real estate marketing company Organamx, I’ve noticed one growing trend: Many people have the notion that you can pay to somehow prove that you’re successful. While you can pay for an amazing website, for placement on Google, and even for leads, spending money will never prove that you have …
Tips for Working With Friends
By Scott Newman So you just found out your buddy got a big promotion and is now ready to buy a sexy luxury condo in downtown Chicago. He’s your boy–you’ve known him since grade school–of course he’s going to give you first crack at the business, and you’ve already started spending the commission check. But before you blindly agree to …
Working With Your Clients During the Gov’t Shutdown
By Dave Robison In the midst of the government shutdown, we are still working with our clients to get their deals closed. Yes, the FHA is still committed to getting loans processed, but other government entities are closed, including the IRS. Lenders require a 4506-T form, but the IRS is now unable to fulfill requests. So what does this mean? …
Understanding Client Psychology, Managing Expectations, and Communicating Effectively
By Sammer Mudawar Buying and selling residential real estate is one of the most emotional transactions consumers conduct. Understanding client psychology, managing expectations, and using effective communication are the three most valuable skills that a real estate professional needs to develop for a successful career with less stress. Client Psychology Understand the psyche of your client and your chances of …
Is Your Customer Service This Good?
By Dave Robison My brokerage had one crazy month a few months ago. We had five buyers who failed to perform on a contract and lost their earnest money. Now in Utah, getting the buyer’s earnest money is supposed to be as easy as the buyer’s broker writing a check in about 24-48 hours. But in all five cases it …
Spice Up Your Networking to Boost Business
By Scott Newman Every real estate professional has experienced it: those slow times, the off-months, the hot streaks that suddenly go cold… call them what you will but when things turn sluggish at the office, it can not only be a confidence and momentum-killer but also a disaster for your business plan. So how do you avoid the roller coaster …