Archive for August, 2008

Real Estate Marketing: Get More Out of Your Blog

Saturday, August 23rd, 2008

When it comes to real estate marketing, what many professionals are finding is that having a daily blog draws in more buyers and sellers, helps them to share their knowledge of the communities that they work in and to start conversations about what different buyers and sellers are looking for. The challenge is that many blogs that are used for real estate marketing are not being used to their full potential.

When you’re working with a real estate assistant who can help you out with your real estate marketing, you’re going to find that it’s possible to get more out of your blog. With the right assistance, you will find that:

  • You are able to have someone else take care of posting to your blog so that you don’t need to focus on one more task within your work day
  • You will be able to take advantage of the search engine optimization benefits that blogging creates for your web site
  • You will be able to create categories that appeal to varied target markets and to ensure that you are communicating with your prospects to gather better real estate leads
  • You are able to focus on the parts of your real estate business that you enjoy more than keeping a blog

Real estate marketing, after all, is only as effective as your ability to take advantage of it; when you are getting more out of a real estate blog, you’ll see for yourself what all the hype has been about.

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Establishing a Relationship with Your Real Estate Virtual Assistant

Friday, August 22nd, 2008

When you’re working with a real estate virtual assistant, one of the things that you’re going to discover is that there’s a lot of value; rather than having to give direction, for example, you’ll find that your real estate virtual assistant just “gets it” and then gets the job done. Of course, in order to take advantage of all that a real estate virtual assistant can do for your business, you’re going to want to be sure that you are able to establish a solid relationship with your real estate VA.

In order to establish a relationship with your real estate virtual assistant, you’re going to want to be sure that:

  • you have a sense of which projects the VA you are working with will be able to run with right away
  • you have a plan in place for establishing and maintaining communication
  • you understand that your VA isn’t an employee, but is another small business owner who knows the ropes of running a business (and that, as a result, she will be able to provide some business insights that you may not have considered)
  • you have reasonable expectations

In other words, when you want to be sure that you are able to benefit as much as possible from working with a real estate virtual assistant, the best thing that you can do is to focus on building and maintaining a strong relationship.

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Choose a Real Estate Assistant Who Can Help You Do Research

Thursday, August 21st, 2008

When you’re working in the real estate field, sometimes it’s going to feel like you might as well be back in college (or attending for the first time, of course): rather than having time to get out in the field and interacting with buyers and sellers, you are going to find that there is a lot of time that you’ll be spending simply doing research. Of course, when you are working with the right real estate assistant, you’re going to find that it’s possible to get more research done without being the one who is spending time scanning newspapers and public records.

When you’re preparing a CMA, you’re going to want to be sure that you are using the most current data; when you let a real estate assistant tackle that project, you will find that you are able to spend less time finding the info you need. When you need to prepare a report for your buyers or sellers and you’re looking to create a comprehensive look at what you have done for them, you’ll be able to count on your real estate assistant to find the details that you need.

In other words, the short version is simple: when you’re working with the right real estate assistant, you’re going to know it right away – and immediately you’ll be able to reap the benefits.

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A Real Estate Assistant Can Help You Communicate with Sellers

Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

When you’re working in real estate with those who are selling their homes, one of the primary objectives of your business is going to involve communicating with sellers. In order to do so effectively, you’re going to want to be sure that they understand the market, that they are able to see what they can do to help sell their home and to focus on what they can do to speed up the process of moving forward.

Your real estate assistant will be able to work with you to create guides and reports that will help you to communicate with sellers. Whether you’re focusing on reporting market conditions or you are looking into letting them know how their home is doing, whether you are looking into letting them know what simple home staging tips or you are looking to help them understand which renovations will enable them to sell their home for more, you’ll find that your real estate assistant can help to convey the message.

In other words, when you’re working with a real estate assistant, one of the things that you are going to find is that it’s easier to communicate overall – simply put, you’ll be able to get the message across clearly.

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Are You Taking Advantage of Your Real Estate Marketing Database

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

When you’re looking into real estate marketing for your business, one of the things that you are going to want to consider is simple: how are you going to maintain the database that you build of prospective buyers and sellers in the area who could take advantage of the services you have available? When you’re working with the right real estate assistant, you’re going to find that maintaining a real estate marketing database is a lot easier than it otherwise could be.

When you are working with a real estate assistant who can help you to consolidate databases – the database that you’ve built from referrals from clients, the database that you’ve developed using your real estate marketing web site and the databases that you have purchased filled with real estate leads for individuals who meet your target demographic.

Similarly, when you are looking into using new and different tools to market your real estate business, you are going to find that working with a real estate assistant can help you to keep everything in perspective. After all, once you have your real estate marketing database in order, you are going to want to be sure that you are able to fully take advantage of it.

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NAR National Association of REALTORS(R) 2008 Convention?

Monday, August 18th, 2008

I think I might head down to the NAR convention this year in Orlando FL. with some friends and clients. I went last year and had an amazing time in LV. Met a lot of great agents and saw some really neat products.

This year I am thinking of new creative ways I can promote myself at NAR. I am not the kind that can sit at a booth for 8 hours on end… ( I think I secretly have “EXPO A.D.D.”) I love to walk, talk, learn, and explore so I have amazing things to take back to all of my clients.

What do you think?? Think this will get Real estate agents attention?
NAR Convention 2008 Orlando Florida
Send me your ideas or how you get noticed.. I would love to hear them!

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Your Real Estate Assistant Can Help Market an Event

Monday, August 18th, 2008

These days, real estate agents are finding themselves working harder to compete for those buyers who are ready to act as well as those sellers who will be putting their homes on the market despite market conditions; as a result, many are turning toward event planning to draw people in. A real estate assistant can help you to plan and market events that can be used to promote your business and to connect with prospective clients.

When you’re working with a real estate assistant, one of the things that you are going to find is that it’s finally possible to start looking at the grand scheme of things. When you aren’t the only one planning an event, you will find that you are able to look at creating better materials for the conference and marketing the event on a wider scale. In other words, you’ll find that, when you have the help of a real estate assistant, you can be sure that you are creating a top notch presentation or event – one that will be noticed.

Gathering leads is extremely important for your real estate business; knowing that you are reaching out to both buyers and sellers who are getting ready to act on a real estate decision is crucial. When you’re working with the right real estate assistant, you’ll know that you’re putting your best effort forward.

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Goodbye Godaddy.com

Sunday, August 17th, 2008

I recently had a website scare.. you know, the kind that leaves your heart throbbing out of your chest. Okay, well if you have never been that fortunate to have that happen.. it’s frightening.

I switched passwords on my database and to my HORROR my website and Blog went down. Now, I know better than to do this, but the wee hours had me not thinking the way I should.

My thoughts during my panic? Who you gonna call?? Customer Support!
Conversation went somewhat like this:
Me- I have re-set my database password and can you walk me through how I can retrieve it or how I can find it.
Response- If you have changed it we do not have a way to retrieve it.
Me- I have Filezilla open and I know there is a way to recover it.
Response- Ma’am, Filezille is an FTP program and that will not assist you with your password
Me- I know what Filezilla is and I know there is a way I can retrieve the password from a file.
Response- Sorry Ma’am- you will have to find out where your database passwords are stored on all of your programs and change them and I cannot assist you with this
Me- Okay Thanks

Now I was thinking.. what in the world does this guy get paid to do?
Then onward and upward. I took a 5 minute break and then it came to me! Config file.. Found it! Re-set it and whala! Bingo! YES! We are back in business!

I thought I would call back Godaddy and let the guy know who assisted me what an easy fix this was so he could assist someone in the future with this problem. I sat on hold for almost a half an hour and didn’t get the information across that would assist this man with doing his job.

So my experience with Godaddy tonight has been awful customer service! Customer service is the foundation of any business.. does Godaddy know this?

My solution? MOVE! I am taking my ball and bat and going elsewhere to play!
Good Riddance Godaddy.com!
Let’s hear it.. How’s your customer service and what do you do to keep your clients happy?

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A Real Estate Assistant Can Help You Get Results

Sunday, August 17th, 2008

When you are working in real estate, one of the things that you are going to find yourself doing is setting goals for your business and what you hope to accomplish with it; the challenge is that it can get a little bit difficult to get the results that you’re looking for when you go it alone. Working with a real estate assistant can help you to know that you are working towards the goals that you’ve set for yourself and that you are on the right track for reaching them.

For example, let’s say that you have set a real estate goal that includes getting more listings. Your real estate assistant will be able to help you to create a more solid listing presentation and can work with you to focus on developing a better list of leads. Or, let’s say that you’ve set a goal to sell homes that you’ve listed more quickly. Your real estate assistant can help you to look at your marketing efforts and to improve them so that you’re reaching out to the right prospective buyers and can be sure that the MLS listing and other details are as solid as they can be.

No matter what your real estate assistant focuses on for your business, it’s important to recognize that your real estate assistant can help you to get the results that you’re looking for. What you will find is that working with the right real estate assistant can ensure that you are able to focus on the finer details of your business and still know that everything is being done to help you to reach your goals.

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Finding Real Estate Administrative Support

Saturday, August 16th, 2008

In the real estate business, it doesn’t take long for even the top producers to get a little bit overwhelmed by everything that needs to be accomplished. Having an assistant who can take on real estate administration tasks is something that can ensure that you don’t fall behind.

Simply put, there are plenty of real estate administration tasks that most who are in real estate don’t always get to as frequently as they should. Rather than taking the time to update contact information for their best prospects, they let the addresses get entered into the database without including key qualifiers – such as whether the person is looking to buy or sell a property. Rather than staying on tip of answering emails quickly or returning phone calls the same day, many people find themselves thinking that they will “get around to it tomorrow.”

When you’re working with a real estate assistant who provides real estate administration services, you can be sure that you’re able to stay on top of things – mostly because you will not be the only one trying to stay on top of them.

Finding real estate administrative support is one of the most important steps that anyone in real estate can take: the more that you’re able to keep up with phone calls and emails, the more up to date and accurate your leads are and the more that you can stay on top of your schedule, the better off you’ll be.

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