By Jason O’Neil Last week, I received an unusual call from a seller. As a REALTOR®, getting a call from a seller is not out of the ordinary. However, when this particular seller explains that he has developed a list of questions to use for a “prescreening” of potential REALTORS®, I really perk up. Despite what some may think, the …
‘You’re My REALTOR®, I Just Didn’t Use You.’
By Melissa Krchnak You’re really lucky if this hasn’t gone down with a friend before: Friend: Melissa, can you answer this mildly vague real estate question? *insert excitement* Melissa: Of course, Friend. I’m happy to help with all of your real estate needs. Friend: Awesome! So, we’re buying this house and our agent said… *insert face palm* Have you ever …
Gen Y Agents and Boomer Clients: Getting Beyond ‘You Look So Young!’
By Michelle Flaherty Philbrook A while back, I got a call on a condo listing of mine. The potential buyers were a retirement-age couple looking for a new place just large enough for their kids to stop by for a visit, but just small enough that their fledglings couldn’t fully return to the nest. I showed the condo, and when …
Smart Marketing: Makes All the Difference
By Dave Robison The Average Marketing Scenario A couple years ago a loan officer asked me a brilliant question that they should have asked themselves before they spent $30,000 on a failed marketing campaign. “Dave, I have had a billboard for the past year on I-15 and I don’t get any calls off of it. What is going on?” I …
Is the Market Shifting?
By Jennifer Klein and Derek Sandoval There is a shift toward a seller’s market in many areas of the country. Placer County Association of REALTORS® YPN members Jennifer Klein and Derek Sandoval discuss contributing factors, including lack of inventory and fewer distressed properties. Jennifer Klein is a REALTOR® in Northern California who is experienced in short sales, investments, and property …
Determining the Value of a LinkedIn Endorsement
By Stefanie Hahn I loved the idea of endorsements on LinkedIn. A fast, easy way to show someone what you are truly great at in your career. When I dove more into endorsements, seeing how LinkedIn displays and asks your first level connections to endorse your skills and expertise, I was a bit disappointed in the not-so-random nature of which …
Are You Skipping Over the Commercial?
By Anand Patel The invention of the DVR was a beautiful thing. According to ACNielson, the marketing research firm, by 2011 more than 40 percent of U.S. households had DVRs giving families the ability to breeze right over TV commercials and get right back into their favorite shows. Who wants to watch annoying commercials for products and services you have …
To That One Person, You’re Pineapple
By Melissa Krchnak For everyone who laughs at a joke a comedian makes, there’s that one person that doesn’t get it. And yet the comedian doesn’t change his joke. For every person who appreciates you being on top of it with your follow-up, there’ll be that one person who thinks you’re too aggressive. Don’t stop your pursuit of success. I …
Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
By Dave Robison Have you ever received a letter after a closing from the other brokerage thanking you for the successful closing? Have you been bombarded by e-mails stating that XYZ Brokerage has the best broker and systems to help you be successful? There are literally hundreds of brokerages to choose from, and yet I feel they say the …
Are You a Smart Casual or Business Casual?
By Dolores Esanu It’s 2013 and we’re revamping our lives and even our closets. Some things fit, some things don’t, and some we hope will fit again. In business, the thinly veiled line of what’s acceptable is becoming even more transparent. One hundred years ago, for a businessman, nothing less was expected than a tailored three-piece suit. Post-war American, working …