Lisa is an accomplished marketer with years of expertise in direct response marketing, digital marketing, data analytics and business development working with both B2C and B2B.
1.Congratulations Haeyoon Jacobus on winning our 1st Prize $250 ProspectsPLUS! Gift Card!
Haeyoon shares the following experiences with ProspectsPLUS!
“I can’t wait to see the results of the Market Dominator System I’m using with my co-advertiser. I am also using postcards to market to my neighborhood. I’ve had a great ROI!
I love the easy, breezy process and the great customer service! I’ve dropped all of my other postcard marketing companies.
We understand why Sue likes door hangers, they’re the ideal tool for branding yourself as the neighborhood expert.
In addition, they catch attention, provide the perfect reason for canvassing, and are an easy and effective leave behind. It looks like Sue’s last door hanger choice (below) was meant to target FSBOs.
Need help targeting the perfect niche of buyers or sellers? Use our mailing list tool to create the ideal list (it’s easy) or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!
As a new agent, you no doubt learned that, in many states, home sellers have a legal obligation to disclose known problems with the home.
As well, home buyers have an obligation to perform due diligence. The law, however, understands that home buyers, even with the best due diligence, are inexperienced and may not understand what to look for.
Enter, the real estate agent – the third side of the disclosure triangle. While states differ in their agent disclosure requirements, most make it pretty clear that an agent has a duty to disclose any known material facts that may impact the value of the home.
In California, for instance, the Civil Jury Instructions state that:
“A broker must disclose these facts if he or she knows or should know that the buyer is not aware of them and cannot reasonably be expected to discover them through diligent attention and observation.”
Legal duty aside, helping your client make a wise buying decision is basic, good customer service. The stuff that referrals and glowing testimonials are made of.
As you advance in your real estate career you’ll learn that most houses have problems, from the tiny to the gigantic. Yes, even newly-constructed homes.
Some are obvious, while others lurk behind very scant evidence of their existence. With experience, you’ll get to know the clues – the red flags that something isn’t right.
Compel fence sitters to call (Available in the postcard section under Fence Sitter Buyers Series)
In the meantime, we’ve gathered some of the more common clues to look for when showing homes to your buying clients.
The electrical system
Old homes are notorious for their electrical system problems. Outdated or damaged wiring, too few electrical outlets and burned out or loose connections are common.
Before buying into your client’s desire to buy a home that needs to be rewired, let him or her know that they can “expect to pay $8,000 to $15,000 to rewire a 1,500- to 3,000-square-foot home,” says Angie Hicks of AngiesList.com.
A chief complaint of many owners of old homes is that there aren’t enough electrical outlets to meet their needs. While the cost of adding new outlets isn’t as high as replacing the home’s wiring, it can still be costly, depending on the electrician’s hourly fee.
“. . . adding a new electric outlet can range from $100 to $800, with the average cost around $350,” according to the pros at ImproveNet.com.
As you tour a home, especially if the home is more than 50 years old, do a bit of snooping. Flick all the switches in the home to ensure they’re operating.
Help the move-up market understand the process (available in the postcard section under Move-Up Market)
Take a look at the electrical outlets for obvious signs of trouble (scorch marks, etc.). Run your hand over the outlets. They should be cool to the touch. Warm outlets are “strong indications of an unsafe wiring condition,” according to Donna Boyle Schwartz at BobVilla.com.
How’s the plumbing?
Don’t be shy – turn on the water at the taps and check the pressure. Low water pressure may signify a leak somewhere in the lines.
It may also be a sign of less serious problems, including:
A water softener that needs servicing
A pressure reducing valve that isn’t set properly
Clogged aerators
Check the pressure while running the hot water only. If it’s lower than the cold-water pressure, there may be a problem with the water heater.
Press your toes on the flooring surrounding the toilet. If it feels soft, the toilet may have a leak.
Finally, in multi-level homes, look at the ceilings on the floors beneath bathrooms for signs of discoloration. This may indicate a leak somewhere.
Maintenance Red Flags
You’ll be hearing the term “Deferred maintenance” a lot during your real estate career. Some folks find home maintenance too easy to put off. As the years go by, problems don’t go away, and many tend to get worse.
Deferred maintenance is often easy to spot. It’s the overflowing gutters, the chipped paint, the dripping faucet and the toilet that rocks when someone sits on it.
While some of these may seem like minor fixes, taken as a whole, you’ll need to wonder what else was deferred that you can’t see. It’s something that you definitely need to share with your client.
Check out the floors
While your home-buying client is marveling over the gorgeous hardwood floors in a home, you should be checking to see if they slope.
Especially if the home isn’t vintage, sloping floors may indicate foundation problems.
The two most common include “ . . . uneven settling in the outer foundation, or uneven settling of the support columns beneath the floor system. Either way, it’s not a problem that fixes itself, but it is a problem that will get worse over time,” warns the experts at BDry.com.
Buying a home with foundation problems isn’t something you want to encourage. HomeAdvisor.com claims that the national average cost to repair a foundation is $4,158.
Centex Foundation Repair in Central Texas gives us a better idea of cost by looking at their client’s bills: $2,162.42 on the low end to $13,705.19 on the high end.
“. . . so far this year our average price of repairs has been $5,911.70,” they claim on their website.
Excite Fence Sitters to take the first step (available in the postcard section under Fence Sitters Series)
Run this by your client before he or she falls madly in love with those Brazilian walnut floors.
Send at least 100 The Time is Now postcards from the Fence Sitter Series to an area where you want more buyers.
Need help targeting the perfect niche of buyers or sellers? Use our mailing list toolto create the ideal list (it’s easy) or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!
PLUS: When you have time…here are Free ways we can help you have an INVINCIBLE 2019!
1. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook
Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here
2. “Get More Listings” Free Online Webinar
“Get MORE Listings & Begin to Dominate Your Market!” Free online webinar. Learn the 3-7-27 strategy for explosive growth, why 95% of agents have less than 20% market share, and how to become the agent everyone competes against. – Click Here
3. The 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan
The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, Niche Marketing, Get More Listings, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence. –Click Here
4. The Free One-Page Real Estate Business Plan
Treat your business like a business it is vital to long-term success in this industry. Some agents may put together elaborate business plans, yet there’s something powerful about keeping it simple. Check out our one page Online Real Estate Business Plan. – Click Here
5. The Free Online ROI Calculator
Consistency and automation are the keys to success. Discover how effective direct mail marketing can dramatically increase your bottom line. Enter your statistics in our Free online ROI Calculator and click the ‘CALCULATE MY ROI’ button to see your results instantly! –Click Here
That period from winter into mid-spring is typically akin to a drought followed by a raging storm for real estate professionals.
It’s just as the drought is ending, however, that our fingers ache from clinging to our wits and our wallets.
Yes, it will end. Business will pick up, if it hasn’t by the time you read this.
We have some suggestions to consider if you’re still dealing with a snail’s pace real estate market.
1. Take action
Regardless of how few clients you have right now, there are actions you can take to advance your business that don’t involve showing homes or chasing listings.
In fact, taking just one action each day can get you out of the doldrums and into motivation.
A good first action to take is getting away from your desk. A change of scenery is an excellent way to get your brain moving in another direction.
Take a walk (in a different location every day). Take a few hours off just to think. Or, work from your favorite coffee shop that offers Wi-Fi.
Make lunch or coffee dates with former clients or vow to meet colleagues after work for cocktails.
If you must remain tied to your desk, get back to the basics that have kept you in business. Think back: which activities have delivered the most successes?
If you once did well with door-knocking but ditched it for the next shiny object, pick it up again, dust off your skills and start knocking for dollars.
2. Get help from the great motivators
Some of the world’s greatest motivational speakers are just a book, DVD or CD away.
If you prefer reading, check out some of our favorites:
“Shift: How Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times” Gary Keller
“The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure” Grant Cardone
“Better than Good: Creating a Life you can’t wait to Live,” Zig Ziglar
Turn off the radio in the car and pop in a CD or listen on Audible. Here’s a few we think you might like:
Engage your audience with Free Reports (available under the Free Report tab)
3. About that stuff you’ve let fall through the cracks
As a small business owner, you know that even when you’re not working directly with clients or on ways to do so, there is still work to be done. When you’re busy, those are the things that typically fall through the cracks.
Website – how are those neighborhood pages coming? Is it time to localize your home page and feature a testimonial or two? Also, don’t forget to add a Free Report offer on your website in exchange for an email address.
Testimonials — Do you have a system to generate them? Agents use various methods, from hiring a company who specializes in collecting your testimonials to putting together a questionnaire that you offer your clients at closing.
While the latter is a good way to collect testimonials for your website and other marketing materials, aim to convince them to leave you one at the online review sites.
Then, consider reaching out to past clients who didn’t leave a review. This contact also serves to put you back on the front burner of their memories.
Buyers’ consultation – Does yours need some work? Update any area that needs it. Anything you can do to add value to your consultations helps boost your customer service.
The key to pricing your listings right (available under our Objection Handling Flyers tab)
Listing presentation – If your listing presentation is hit-or-miss, consider taking some time to fine-tune it. Don’t know where to start? You’ll find a goldmine of ideas online, from coach websites to YouTube videos to social media groups where other agents hang out.
Don’t forget the magic of using a Merchandise Review at your listing appointment to help get your listings priced right the first time. Download the Merchandise Review now and keep copies on hand to use as part of your listing presentation.
Get involved – In case you haven’t heard, the generations aging into the real estate market say they check a business’ level of social responsibility before deciding to work with them. What are you doing to better the community at large?
Start small if you need to. Find a cause you can put your heart into and volunteer your time. Plan on promoting your cause on your website, social media and anywhere else you can.
The market is changing from what we’ve grown accustomed to over the past few years. Who knows what the spring and summer market will bring? At least now you won’t be at wits’ end should you experience a lull in business.
Free offers drive interest (available in the postcard section under Free Offer Series)
Start stirring up activity by sending at least 100 Free List of Homes postcards from the Free Offer Series to an area where you want more listings.
Need help targeting the perfect niche of buyers or sellers? Use our mailing list toolto create the ideal list (it’s easy) or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!
PLUS: When you have time…here are Free ways we can help you have an INVINCIBLE 2019!
1. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook
Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here
2. “Get More Listings” Free Online Webinar
“Get MORE Listings & Begin to Dominate Your Market!” Free online webinar. Learn the 3-7-27 strategy for explosive growth, why 95% of agents have less than 20% market share, and how to become the agent everyone competes against. – Click Here
3. The 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan
The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, Niche Marketing, Get More Listings, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence. –Click Here
4. The Free One-Page Real Estate Business Plan
Treat your business like a business it is vital to long-term success in this industry. Some agents may put together elaborate business plans, yet there’s something powerful about keeping it simple. Check out our one page Online Real Estate Business Plan. – Click Here
5. The Free Online ROI Calculator
Consistency and automation are the keys to success. Discover how effective direct mail marketing can dramatically increase your bottom line. Enter your statistics in our Free online ROI Calculator and click the ‘CALCULATE MY ROI’ button to see your results instantly! –Click Here
THERE ARE 2 GIFT CARD WINNERS IN FEBRUARY’S CONTEST. SEE WHO WON BELOW!
1. Congratulations MaryEllen Roy on winning the 1st Prize $250 ProspectsPLUS! Gift Card
MaryEllen shared the following experience with ProspectsPLUS!
“I’ve used several post card designs and love each one. I love the mailing labels and the notecards.
If you haven’t inquired about the Market Dominator, you should make this a resolution for 2019.
With ALL of the pieces I’ve ordered from ProspectsPLUS! the customer service has always been the BEST. No matter the question, they are ready and willing to help.“
Need help targeting the perfect niche of buyers or sellers? Use our mailing list tool to create the ideal list (it’s easy) or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!
Haeyoon shares the following experiences with ProspectsPLUS!
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