Title

Blogging with Activerain

Why use ActiveRain as your Blog?

">/0.jpg" alt="YouTube Preview Image" />

ActiveRain currently has a membership of over 160,000 RE Industry members averaging 200 new members daily.  There are more than 1.3 million articles posted, with an average of 10,000 new posts monthly.  Two million+ visitors traffic the ActiveRain network each month, over 80% are consumers.  Only Rainmaker upgraded accounts receive Google traffic to their blogs and posts.  ActiveRain Members blog posts receive more than 500 views on average.  Activerain provides a wide of variety of tools, services, and solutions to the Real Estate community and to the consumer.

So you think this might be a good resource for your business?

• Think about building your realtor base nationwide
• AR is a cost effective way of starting a blog
• Access to Localism  you can sponsor your community ( if it is available )

Here is the link to an ebook that will guide you through ActiveRain

 

Home Buyer Tax Credit Expanded & Extended

Great Information for Your Homebuyers!

The $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, will be extended for contracts signed before May 1, 2010 and that close before July 1, 2010. First-time buyers, who are in the process of closing now, no longer have to worry about qualifying for the $8,000 tax credit if they do end up closing after the Nov. 30 deadline. The new legislation also increases the income limit for couples with income up to $225,000, a nearly $55,000 increase above the current level.

Buyers who already own a home are also now eligible for a tax credit and the purchase of a home. The $6,500 maximum credit will be available to existing homeowners who have lived in their current residence for five of the prior eight years. The legislation does set forth several provisions including, limiting eligibility for existing homeowners to homes worth $800,000 or less, as well as making both credits available only for primary residences, not second homes or investment properties. ( Information obtained from Keller Williams website )

Here is a chart that may help with the information:

	Current	New
Effective Date	·        January 1, 2009	·        November 7, 2009
Deadline	·        Close on or before  November 30, 2009	·       Contract signed before May 1, 2010, must close before July 1, 2010·       Members of the uniformed services, foreign services, and intelligence employees who served an extended service of 90 days will have until April 30, 2011 and June 30, 2011.
Amount	·        First-Timers: maximum of $8,000  or 10% of sales price ·        Prior Owners: $0	·        First-Timers: Unchanged·        Prior Owners: $6,500 if lived in prior home for at least 5 consecutive years of past 8 years.
Income Limit	·        Individual: $75,000·        Couple: $150,000	·        Individual: $125,000 ·        Couple: $225,000
Other   Restrictions	·       Home must be primary residence for at least 3 years. If home is sold or buyer moves before 3 years, must re-pay full amount of credit.	·       Buyer must be at least 18 years old and not classified as a dependent for tax purposes·        Home must cost less than $800,000·       New Home must be primary residence for at least 3 years following purchase. If home is sold or buyer moves, before 3 years, must re-pay full amount of credit. Exception for military, foreign services, or intelligence with extended 90 days service overseas.
How to claim	·       If purchased in 2009, by amending 2009 tax return or claiming on 2010 tax return	·       If purchased in 2010, by amending 2010 tax return or claiming on 2011 tax return

The Mind is a Powerful Tool

From Dianna Kokoszka’s Journal

Dianna Kokoszka is the president of MAPS Coaching for Keller Williams Realty. I was at a BOLD training and came across this statement from Dianna.

• When you want it means you lack. The brain hears you want & helps keep you in the wanting.
• Want = lack
• When you want money the brain says give them what they ask for-They ask for wanting money so keep them wanting money.
• Want control – never get it.
• Wanting control means you are lacking control & you’ll always lack.
• We cannot stand up & sit down at the same time
• You cannot want & have at the same time. 
• Release the want & you’ll receive it.

We must change the way we speak to ourselves in order to change our circumstances. This is the start of changing our limiting beliefs.

Why Look at Zappo’s Core Values ?

What are your Core Values ?

Zappos is an online store that sells shoes and other items. They have a huge selection and are very efficient. I heard Alfred Lin speak at the Real Estate Connect Conference in San Francisco in August of this year and I was very impressed. He talked about what his company sells, which one would imagine was shoes but instead he said that Zappo’s sells happiness. Zappo’s mission is for their customers to be happy. So everything they do is with this in mind!

This led me to think of the real estate business and what we sell . One might think it is property but I would say we sell the experience. Think about what your customers experience with you. What sets their experience with you apart from the rest?

These are Zappos 10 Core Values. We can use them for our business as well. I encourage you to take a look at them and think about how you can utilize them to better attend to your own business. or better yet come up with your own.

Send me a list of YOUR values.

1. Deliver WOW Through Service
2. Embrace and Drive Change
3. Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
4. Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
5. Pursue Growth and Learning
6. Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
7. Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
8. Do More With Less
9. Be Passionate and Determined
10. Be Humble

The Value of Blogging

 Are you Part of the Conversation ?

In the video below Seth Godin & Tom Peters talk about the value of blogging. Never before has it been so easy to reach the masses and get your message out. Are you sitting on the sidelines or contributing to your profession, community and the greater good?

">/0.jpg" alt="YouTube Preview Image" />

Is Social Networking Important to your Business ?

Seth Godin on Social Networking

I read Seth Godin’s blog everyday. He is a true inspiration to me and I love to share his wisdom! The video below is an interview from AMEX’s Open Forum where Seth Godin talks about the value or lack thereof, of social networking for business.

 

">/0.jpg" alt="YouTube Preview Image" />

Seth says , “Networking is always important when it’s real and it’s always a useless distraction when it’s fake. What the internet has allowed is an enormous amount of fake networking to take place.” 

Using social media as a marketing tool in your business works when it is real and authentic. Yhose people out there that are constantly trying to sell some thing are quite annoying. Networking is about building relationships. People  work with people theylike and feel comfortable with and trust. If you are constantly pushing your products or services that will be a turnoff.

Those that are using social media correctly are responding to others comments, answering emails promptly, answering phone calls & responding to status updates. In other words they are developing relationships.

Tech or Touch ?

Which is it going to be ? Or Both…..

Ok , so I know you’ve heard from me, your broker, and everyone else that technology is key in the real estate business. And it is very important.

Technology… things that you need to have

1. A website with an IDX feed
2. A  blog
3. Facebook
4. Twitter
5. LinkedIn

On your Way toTouch… things that you need to do

1. A database with your contacts & sphere of influence
2. A plan delineating ways you will communicate with your customers & sphere of influence
3. Contact your sphere by phone to keep in touch
4. Mailings
5. Birthday cards ( email)

We’ve left the most important thing out!

The most important thing you can do is build rapport with your customer. After you do this everything is easy! How do I do this you ask ?

1. Be interested in them ( forget about yourself & your commission)
2. Ask questions, get to know what they are looking for, not only in a property but also in a real estate agent
3. Listen to what they are saying and what they are not saying, both will give you lots of information about how to work with them.
4. Hear them… many times we listen and do not hear. They can tell the difference.
5. Exceed their expectations – think of a time that someone exceeded YOUR expectations How did you feel?

So I guess you can see where this is going… it’s all about building relationships.

These small things can make a customer for life ! Its the small things that count.

Neuro-Linguistic Psychology & your Business

Pathway to Success in Self Development, Business & Leadership

Facilitator: Janet Konefal, Ph.D Assistant Dean of Complementary & Integrative Medicine UMMSM

This course is designed for those who want to produce change in their lives. The course is open to business professionals, lawyers, educators and those interested in self-development.

You Will Learn How to :

• Communicate effectively
• Provide leadership
• Achieve desired behavior changes
• Enhance realtionships
• Understand other’s model of the world

The course begins October 10 and will end on January 17. It is held  two weekends per month at:

 University of Miami / Clinical Research Building

Medical Wellness center 1120 NW 14 St

Miami , Fl 33136

call for more information 305-243-4751 or email jkonefal@med.miami.edu

or visit the website www.cam.med.miami.edu

Realtors Think Like a Business & Become One

Do you Know your Numbers?

We get into the real estate business with little business training. All businesses must have goals and a plan delineating how they will achieve their goals. In other words, you must know the steps to take to achieve the goal.

To achieve the income you desire you need to know:

• How many leads you need to generate
• How much money you need to generate those leads
• How much support staff you will need to service your business
• How many contacts it takes to get an appointment
• Your average sales price / commission earned

You must have appointments with buyers & sellers and you must convert these appointments to listings and then to sales. There are a set of skills you must master to be successful in real estate; the skills to convert leads to appointments & appointments to listings.

 Lead Generation is Key

Here are some ways to begin lead generation:

• Call your sphere of influence
• Call expired listings in your farm area
• Contact past clients
• Meet with banks
• Develop relationships with allied businesses
• Walk neighborhoods
• Attend community & social events
• Hold seminars

Most importantly talk about your business. Listen to the people you are talking with and ask for the business. So many times we do everything right but then never ask for the business!

 

What Business are You In?

The Real Estate Business ?

Ok, you’re going to tell me you are in the real estate business. And I am going to ask you what makes you different then the real estate agent at the office next door? Anyone can open a door and show a house… what makes you different? And what is your customer’s experience of you?

In the book, Peak, by Chip Conley, he talks about experiential happiness, suggesting that once the customer’s base needs have been satisfied (they have seen the house ), they look for more  intangible benefits of working with you. Can you deliver on those higher needs? If you can you very well may create a customer “evangelist” for life!

Look around at the top agents in your office

• What is different about what they do?
• What type of customer experience are they creating ?
• How do they present the information ?

Customers are loyal to people they feel offer them something more…

• Do you help customers reach higher goals?
• Do you allow customers to express themselves more fully through using your service?
• Do you connect the customer with a larger cause?
• Do you offer something completely different than the customer ever thought was available?

One agent in the Miami area comes to mind Todd Nordstrom of the Nordstrom Network , Keller Williams, is a prime example of this, he holds events for his customers that many times benefit charities.

I am sure there are many more that go above and beyond and create great experiences for their customers. This is what it is all about. Creating “Raving Fans” that spread the word about you!

So what business are you in ? Please let me  know …