Friday, October 10, 2025

Agent Tools

    Those brake lights you see up ahead? Some are from home prices, while others are from buyers and sellers, confused as all get out about what’s in store for the housing market.

    What we do know is that home prices are decreasing, homes are remaining on the market longer than we’re used to, and mortgage rates are rising. 

    As of this writing, the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is 7.24%. We’re looking at 5.62% for a 5/1 ARM, which many buyers are pursuing right now. The current inflation rate is 7.75% (the long-term average is 3.27%).

    So, what is in store for next year? As we all know, no economist has a crystal ball, and most are all over the place when it comes to predicting the 2023 economy and, specifically, the housing market.

    If things have slowed down a bit in the days ticking down to the start of 2023, use this time to prepare your business as if the ‘busy season’ promises to be gangbusters. 

    In other words, “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.” 


    The Get More Listings Scheduled Campaign is shown above. To learn more, Click HERE.


    Clean up your CRM

    Even the most robust CRM is ineffectual if it’s brimming with bad information. While fixing the problem is time-consuming, the importance of doing so can’t be overstated. Here are a few steps to consider:

    • Get rid of any duplicate entries. There’s nothing more unprofessional and impersonal than sending duplicate information to the same recipient.
    • Now go through the database and rid it of entries for which there is no contact information. 
    • Pull up all contacts with whom you have a personal relationship, be it friends, family, former coworkers, etc. Have any of them had a change of address? A divorce? Automated emails to couples when they are no longer couples not only make you look out of touch but also insensitive. If you’re unsure of any contact information, reach out to them.
    • Get rid of the wild-goose chases. This isn’t easy to do, we know. Take your time with this part of the process, studying each entry to determine how much time and effort you’ve expended and what you honestly think you’ll get out of it in the end. Any that seem like a waste of time should either be placed in a “barely breathing” category or deleted.
    • Think about marketing campaigns for the leads in your CRM. This one, too, sounds easier than it truly is, especially if you haven’t yet completed your 2023 business plan, but it’s still doable. Remember, your SOI and ‘hot leads’ require a different approach than those folks you don’t know and/or are still on the fence about buying or selling. Once you’ve settled on the campaigns, get them scheduled so that touches are delivered consistently throughout 2023.

    Nothing you do now is set in stone, so relax. Your CRM requires input all year, but now you will have a plan to nurture new contacts.

    Happy 2023!


    PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

    1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

    Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts and engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

    Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here


    2. The Free 6-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

    The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 6-Month Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

    3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

    The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks these boxes but is also a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

    4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

    The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closings, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

    5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

    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

    6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

    Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here


      Anyone who has been a listing agent for more than a minute understands that the number one priority for your clients (as well as yourself) is to get their homes sold for the most money possible in the least amount of time.

      But what do they expect their agent to do to accomplish this? Many first-time sellers may have no idea, while repeat homeowners most likely have a range of experiences on which to base their expectations this time around.

      For the answers, we turn to the National Association of Realtors, which asks homeowners what they want from their listing agents each year.

      The number one home seller expectation for the last decade is to help the seller meet their timeframe for selling.

      The second and third top “wants” are to help achieve a competitive price for the home and help market the home.

      Seller timeframes

      Listing agents understand that the time it takes to sell a home varies according to certain factors and that the home’s price is chief among them.

      Other factors include:

      • The type of market. For instance, currently, the typical home spent 51 days on market. According to Realtor.com, this is 6 days more than last year at this time.
      • Condition. with inventory remaining low, the current buyer pool still shows interest in even substandard homes. In a balanced market, however, there may be a different story.
      • Location. Another factor that buyers are still ready to compromise on right now is location. It won’t always be this way, as you well know.

      Once you understand your client’s timeline, communication is key. Be honest about how realistic the timeline is, according to the market, the home’s condition, and the location.


      The Get More Listings Campaign is shown above. To see more, Click Here.


      Pricing your client’s home

      The one nugget of information that all homeowners wait for during a listing presentation is your suggested list price.

      Many don’t know how you arrived at this figure, and some don’t care. Agents we’ve spoken with suggest that listing agents ask their clients what they’re hoping to get for the home before compiling the CMA.

      This way, you’ll have time to lay out a plan to explain why your clients’ estimation is so far off the mark (if that is the case) rather than be blindsided by finding out during the presentation.

      Marketing

      That marketing is in third place regarding seller expectations should be no surprise. In the present market, not as many homes require an in-depth marketing campaign.

      If your clients’ home only requires a basic marketing campaign, let them know that and the reason why. Even if you think it’s common sense that everyone knows, communicate what you’re thinking and planning.

      Communication, in fact, is key in meeting all three of these home seller expectations. That, and following through on your promises, is one of the best ways to build referrals.


      PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

      1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

      Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

      Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here


      2. The Free 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 and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

      3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

      The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes but is also a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

      4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

      The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

      5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

      This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

      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

      6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

      Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here


        Craving a piping hot Cinnamon Dolce Latte? It’s fall, after all. At least until December 21. Between now and then, there is lots to do in most towns. Read on as we offer fodder for your fall direct mail/newsletter campaigns.

        1. Fall content to attract sellers

        Consider some of these fall topics of interest to potential home sellers:

        • The burning question most potential home sellers currently have is “What’s the market like right now?” They’re no doubt reading the gloom and doom the media dishes out, so this is your opportunity to present a more positive side. Add a few words of inspiration to the back of your postcard to ease their fears.
        • Because of the recent interest rate hikes, many homeowners worry that they may not be able to buy another home when the current home sells. Let them know that the corresponding downward trend in home prices may just even out the equation for them. 
        • How’s the local economy? If there is anything in the works, such as a new employer moving to town, let them know and educate them on how new businesses positively impact the local economy.
        • Fall ends just before the winter religious holidays. Talk to people in your sphere and farm and ask them if their neighborhood decorates their homes. Then, in your December mailings, include a list of the area’s holiday-decorated homes.
        • The potential sellers on your mailing list should understand what they need to repair before fall showings. Trim dead tree branches, clean out gutters, and have the HVAC system serviced and the fireplace/chimney cleaned. Send the Fall Maintenance postcard from the Content Card Series as a reminder.

        The Content Card Series is shown above. to see more, Click Here.


        2. Fall content to attract homebuyers

        What do folks on your mailing list need to know about buying a home in the fall? Is it different than buying during the other seasons?

        Consider the following topics as well:

        • What’s going on in the local housing market? Are homes staying on the market longer? Many price reductions? How’s the inventory of available homes? Remind them that, despite higher interest rates, now is a good time to buy.
        • Compile a walk-through of the mortgage pre-approval process or a list of low mortgage rate options. The Direct Response Report, “4 Low Mortgage Rate Options with Low Down Payments,” is a perfect solution. See it HERE.
        • Veteran’s Day is November 11, but vets are celebrated throughout the entire month. Offer a description of the VA loan, the appraisal process, and how to go about applying for the loan.
        • Let your readers know that, according to a 2017 Trulia study, starter home inventories increase, on average, 7% from October through December every year.
        • Provide a list of the “Best Places” to work remotely via Wi-Fi while enjoying a hot beverage; view fall foliage; volunteer to serve the less fortunate; watch a football game on a big screen; go on a fall bike ride; pick apples; dine out on Thanksgiving. This super, hyper-local topic will be much appreciated by your readers.

        There are a ton of topics that both buyers and sellers will find valuable. Now is not the time to become invisible and direct mail is one of the most effective ways to communicate and create brand recognition.


        PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

        1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

        Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

        Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here


        2. The Free 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 and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

        3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

        The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes but is also a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

        4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

        The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

        5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

        This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

        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

        6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

        Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here


          Call it something fancy, such as a “Concierge Service,” or for what it is, a vendor referral service, but if you plan on offering this service to your real estate clients, learn how to avoid legal and other problems.

          First, however, head on over to part one in this series. You’ll find it here.

          RESPA refresher course

          The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, or RESPA for short, contains several land mines for agents that you’ll want to avoid at all costs.

          One goal of the Act was to crack down on kickbacks and other “abusive practices” which were common in the industry.

          While the heaviest regulations fall on those in the mortgage and title industries, real estate agents can run afoul of the rules.

          It’s a wise agent who will make the following a steadfast practice.

          I will not request, require or accept “a payment for the referral of business” from anyone for making a referral.

          The word “payment is used synonymously with the giving or receiving of a ‘thing of value,’” according to the experts at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).


          The Content Card Series is shown above. To see more, Click HERE.


          It’s a fine line you’re walking

          Consider not publishing the list until you have at least two companies in each section. For instance, two landscapers, two electricians, etc.

          Then, cover your backside with an additional layer by displaying a disclaimer on the vendor list and anywhere it is published, such as on your website.

          “When offering vendor recommendations to clients, include in writing that it is their responsibility to review vendors and select one that best fits their needs. Add language that indicates you’re providing a few recommendations for consideration, but you advise they review additional options to find the right fit,” cautions the pros at cresinsurance.com.

          We found several disclaimers online, including “We do not require a fee to be on our preferred vendor list. Instead, we require a proven track record of customer satisfaction.”

          Also, check out this disclaimer at sarealtywatch.com

          Let’s call it something else

          Dump the word “preferred” in the title’s list and never refer to a mortgage service provider by that word.

          Ken Trepeta, president of the Real Estate Services Providers Council Inc. (RESPRO) told Inman.com that he thinks “… the term ‘preferred’ has become a minefield.” 

          “Do not designate a settlement service provider as the broker’s or agent’s ‘preferred’ company.” 

          Continued due diligence is a must

          A one-time vetting of vendors isn’t enough. In fact, they should be vetted on an ongoing basis. The last thing you need is to have one go sour and provide crummy customer service to one of your clients or former clients.

          These people reflect on your professionalism, so follow up with clients who use them. If in doubt about any vendor’s responsiveness and overall customer service, dump him/her. 

          While actual closing gifts are still a “thing” in real estate, we believe that brilliant customer service is the best gift you can offer. A vendor referral service is a gift that keeps on giving.


          PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

          1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

          Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

          Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here


          2. The Free 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 and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

          3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

          The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes but is also a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

          4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

          The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

          5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

          This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

          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

          6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

          Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here


            Here’s a truism: Escalating mortgage interest rates freak out potential buyers and sellers. Especially those in the younger age brackets who have only known the low rates we’ve enjoyed over the past several years.

            And, it looks like money may become even more expensive to borrow in the near future, at least according to some economists. 

            How this is impacting real estate professionals

            While we hope that you haven’t been a party to a canceled real estate deal, many agents have. In fact, in July, “… 63,000 home buyers backed out of purchase agreements,” according to a Redfin study. 

            That represents more than 16% of pending contracts, “… the highest share since March and April 2020,” according to Kaitlyn Koterbski at Fortune.com. She goes on to blame “… higher mortgage rates coupled with high prices” as the reason that many buyers have chosen to wait for a better time to buy.

            What’s an agent to do?

            Now, more than ever is the time to nurture prospects through your pipeline and to encourage anyone in your CRM that has even a smidge of motivation to buy or sell.

            Remember, they are most likely getting their housing industry news from mainstream media. To counteract the clickbait and negative Nellies requires that you become more accessible to your sphere of influence. Increase “reach-out” frequency with positive information and answers to the questions that are most likely plaguing them right now.

            Hopefully, you’ve made note of how each person in your sphere prefers to hear from you, be it by phone, text, email, or direct mail.

            Concentrate on current homeowners, not first-time buyers. The former will have more cash to buy another home, while many of the latter, what’s left of them in the market, typically don’t have a lot of cash on hand and are struggling with finding a decent mortgage rate.

            If you have no idea how they like to be contacted, stick with direct mail. It’s the least intrusive method, and it’s also more likely to be seen by the recipient.


            The Joke Series is shown above. To see more designs, Click HERE.


            What should I say?

            Think like someone who wants to buy or sell but is taking the negative housing market news to heart. Give them some positive news.

            Educate them on the various aspects of buying and selling that they may not be considering.

            1. Interest rates are higher than they have been in the recent past, but historically, they’re still low. A lot of us can remember when a 6% mortgage interest rate was cause for celebration. “Historically speaking, we are still on the lower end of the interest rate environment,” according to Jon Reed at Time.com.
            1. Explain to members of your sphere that it’s not wise to try to time the market. By the time it changes, it may be too late to get what they had hoped for in their home. Buyers who try to time the market may be faced with even higher mortgage rates.
            1. “High prices and higher mortgage rates have slowed down the pace of how long houses stay on the market, which opens up supply,” according to Lindsay Moore at MLive.com. Buyers will be facing a more relaxed market, which should encourage those who can afford to buy to get out there and look at homes.
            1. Renters. Now that is one angry group of Americans. The eviction moratorium is a thing of the past, and rents are rapidly increasing. Now, more than ever, tenants are wondering if it’s cheaper to buy a home instead of continuing to rent. 

            Crunch the numbers in your market and decide if it’s better to buy and send postcards targeted at renters or property flyers to middle-class and higher-income renters, urging tenants to beat the rent increases and start paying a mortgage, not their landlords.

            If you’re a seasoned agent, the state of the current market is nothing you haven’t dealt with before. For those agents who are experiencing their first market correction, however, understand how well the basics of marketing will serve you right now.

            Think like your potential clients and serve up some knowledge and advice. Consistently.


            PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

            1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

            Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

            Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here


            2. The Free 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 and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

            3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

            The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes but is also a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

            4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

            The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

            5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

            This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

            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

            6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

            Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here


              Have you ever had something bad happen to you only to find out later on that the event was actually a blessing in disguise?

              Jackie, for instance, was fired from her job. Sure, she panicked during the first few days of unemployment, but a month or so later, she was doing something else for a living. Something she dreamt about but never had the courage to pursue.

              Had she not been fired from her previous job, she may have never gone after her dream.

              The transitional real estate market is a lot like that. What appears to be a time of challenge or, at the least, discomfort may turn out to be an amazing time for real estate agents.

              Coming back down to earth may mean “crashing” for some clients

              Home price gains are shrinking, and sellers are starting to come back down to earth. However, coming back down to earth doesn’t happen overnight, as you seasoned listing agents know.

              After years of media reports of rapidly escalating home prices, multiple offer situations, and uber-quick sales, those sellers who choose to wait until the tail end of the sellers’ market to jump in are hard to convert.

              They’re not going to get that their home is no longer the belle of the local real estate market, that their hoped-for price is now a fantasy, and that it may take longer than 24 hours to get it under contract.

              And, those sellers who put big bucks into the house to ready it for the market are going to be more than a bit upset

              Especially when buyers start nit-picking them over price, terms, and more.


              The Call To Action Series is shown above. To see more, click HERE.


              Then, there are the buyers

              If you’ve been a listing agent for more than a minute, you can recall the last buyers’ market. Newbies, on the other hand, are in for a rude awakening.

              No longer can you chuckle over seemingly stupid requests in an offer because you have three others that are cleaner-than-clean. You will actually be expected to negotiate on your client’s behalf.

              “Good grief, how do I do that?” you may ask yourself as a new listing agent.

              Very carefully.

              While price is the typical hot button in a contract, “the devil is in the details”.

              Details are important

              “Details” when it comes to a real estate purchase agreement are the terms. If this turns into a full-blown buyers’ market, contract terms are where listing agents can work their magic during negotiations.

              And, if you have examples of how you’ve done this in the past, use them for all they are worth. From your clients’ testimonials to full-blown case studies, let potential listing clients know how you’ve met with success in the buyers’ market.

              Now is the time for all good listing agents to figure out how they are going to deal with the oncoming buyers’ market. Don’t put off your planning. Face it and go for it.

              We’ll be with you all the way, so keep checking back.


              PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

              1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

              Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

              Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here


              2. The Free 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 and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

              3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

              The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes but is also a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

              4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

              The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

              5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

              This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

              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

              6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

              Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here


                From billboards to Google ads, there are so many ways to expose a real estate brand to more eyeballs. Some of these, most of them digital, are hit-and-miss. Viewing your Google ads, for instance, relies on users clicking on your ad.

                A compelling direct response report, however, offered on social media, in an email, or on your website has a much better chance of gaining those all-important eyeballs in a way that’s not confrontational.

                Quit relying solely on a digital marketing strategy that may or may not be effective. Make your strategy multi-pronged (and far less expensive) with direct response reports.

                Digital marketing is an overcrowded space

                Let’s face it, especially in real estate, it’s tough to compete online.

                It takes a lot of effort and, typically, money to stand out from the crowd online. First, you’ll need a digital marketing strategy; if you don’t hire an agency or try a DIY strategy, the learning curve is a monster.

                For the average agent, real estate business marketing dollars can only go so far. Make efficient use of your time and budget by marketing to your target audience with engaging reports.

                How to win with direct response reports

                You’ll first need to decide which topics you want to cover with the flyers. If you’re a listing agent, there is no end to topics you can use:

                • 3 Critical Steps to Take When Ready to Sell
                • Dangers of Overpricing
                • Should I buy or sell first?
                • How Likely is a Real Estate Market Crash

                To see the direct response reports listed above and any of our 50 Direct Response reports, click HERE.


                A few of our Direct Response Flyers are shown above. To see more, Click Here.


                Looking for buyers? Targeting renters is a brilliant strategy, and you can find many of them in condos and apartment complexes. Here are a few topics to consider:

                • 4 Mortgage Options with Low Down Payments
                • Rent vs Own
                • Common Reasons Home Purchases Fall Apart
                • How to purchase a fixer-upper

                Check out the four buyer Direct Response flyers mentioned above HERE and many other reports targeted specifically for buyers.

                If you decide to go the DIY route, use basic online formatting on your handouts. Keep your real estate flyers simple and employ:

                • Lots of white space (don’t try to cram your bio, for instance, on marketing handouts).
                • Use bullet points.
                • Use short sentences and paragraphs.
                • Use a compelling, colorful, attention-grabbing photo.
                • Keep a digital copy of your creation that you can include in your newsletters, emails, blog, and on social media.
                Get them out and start generating motivated buyers/sellers

                Although flyers work great in a door-knocking campaign, you aren’t limited to that marketing method. Consider using one of the most effective marketing techniques ever: direct mail. Offer your “free report” on your direct mail piece and provide an easy way to get it either through a link to a download (in exchange for an email address or by text).

                Now you’re able to follow up with your new prospect via their email address or phone number to make sure they received their report and to ask if they have any questions. 

                Branded flyers containing interesting, valuable information, delivered consistently, is a brilliant way to expose your brand as the area specialist to the right audience.

                If you’re looking for a way to stand out in a competitive market, consider adding them to your arsenal.


                PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

                1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

                Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

                Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here


                2. The Free 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 and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

                3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

                The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes but is also a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

                4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

                The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

                5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

                This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

                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

                6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

                Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here


                  There seem to be two camps when it comes to using CRM’s the “believers” and the “non-believers”. Even NAR has weighed in with their own statistics on CRM use and success.

                  Now we want YOUR opinion! Please make sure you’re voice is counted in this nationwide survey by responding below!

                    QR codes are everywhere—in magazines, on supermarket shelves, and even in TV ads.

                    While QR codes (quick response codes) have been around since 1994, they have only recently become an integral part of advertising and marketing for businesses.

                    Fast forward to 2022—QR codes are more ubiquitous than ever in business marketing. But can QR codes be an effective marketing tool in real estate? You bet!

                    Here are five ways to effectively integrate QR codes into your real estate marketing.

                    1. Hyperlink Your Signs

                    Most smartphones can read QR codes and immediately route the user to a landing page or website.

                    Listing your agent website on the For Sale sign may generate some online traffic, but placing a QR code on the sign, as well, is more efficient. It will quickly send potential buyers directly to where you want them, such as an appointment signup form.

                    2. Show the House to Anyone, Anywhere

                    QR codes enable prospective buyers to instantly arrive at a virtual tour they can take anytime, anywhere.

                    Real estate agents can use virtual tours to show homes to a limitless number of people any time, day or night.

                    More people are buying homes they have never seen in person than ever before. QR codes bypass several steps and funnel people exactly where they want to go.


                    Call To Action Postcards with QR Code free offer URLs added. See more designs, HERE. Add a Free QR Code to your Photo Gallery, HERE.


                    A strong call to action is the foundation of high ROI marketing.

                    Use a QR code on your marketing as a quick and easy way to send people to a free home market analysis offer.

                    Check out the Call to Action Series of postcards for done-for-you templates that have free offers already included, HERE.

                    3. An Interactive Aspect in Advertising

                    Adding a QR code to a traditional tool like a business card adds dimension and fully engages prospective buyers’ attention.

                    In the last three years, nearly three-quarters of people surveyed stated they turned to their phones to gather information before making a purchase. For many, a smartphone is an indispensable tool that can help them compare and contrast home features and details. Even in-person visitors will scan a QR code to ‘revisit’ the home later.

                    4. Make Mailers More Dynamic

                    Recent studies show that 70% of consumers say mail is more personal than the internet and 40% say they will try a new business after they’ve received direct mail. Clearly, direct mail marketing continues to be one of the most effective ways to generate interest.

                    Recipients who receive your direct mail piece now have an opportunity to capture your QR code and store your contact information for future use.

                    Additionally, QR codes on direct mailers can deliver critical information to real estate agents, who can then capture this data and determine the campaign’s effectiveness.

                    5. Gather Feedback for Retargeting

                    Placing a QR code at a home showing or after bringing buyers in for a tour can encourage more honest feedback about what worked and what didn’t.

                    Potential clients may be reticent to talk in person and prefer leaving their impressions online. A QR code that takes people directly to a simple feedback form offers the opportunity to gather essential data, leading to more conversions.


                    Get More Listings II Postcard with QR Code contact info added to front & back. See More designs, HERE. Add a Free QR Code to your Photo Gallery, HERE.


                    Adding QR codes to your marketing toolbox can help you reach a wider audience and connect buyers and sellers more quickly. QR codes allow people to skip extra steps, saving time and making them more likely to complete the action or task.

                    Power up your current marketing tools like business cards and postcards with a QR code.

                    In the most competitive housing market in years, QR codes could give you the edge you need to beat out the competition and close the deal.

                    HOW-TO: Watch the “How to add a QR CODE to Your Marketing” Video, Below.

                    FOR YOU: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

                    1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

                    Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine, with rich, full-color content, and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts, combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

                    Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and, it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here


                    2. The Free 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 Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

                    3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

                    The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes, but it is a business building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

                    4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

                    The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

                    5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

                    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

                    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

                    6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

                    Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here


                      We recently conducted a survey asking real estate agents nationwide if they were on track to meet their 2022 goals.

                      The results were surprising.

                      16.8% said they will surpass their goals. 25.5% said they will meet their goals, 21.7% said they will be within 20% of their goals, but a resounding 36% of agents stated they may not even get close to hitting their goals.

                      We Want to Help with the Following Free Resources

                      The following are three tools that will help you lay the foundation for some attainable six-month goals and then help you stay on track for the rest of the year.

                      As the late Yogi Berra has said, “If You Don’t Want to End up Someplace Else you need to
                      know where you’re going”.

                      Unless, of course, you want to spend the rest of this year flailing about for leads, clients, and income.

                      Therefore, decide on your six-month goal to shoot for achieving by year’s end. Whether that’s a specific GCI or a certain number of closed deals, this goal should define how you run your business for the remainder of the year.

                      And, how about making a vow that the journey to that destination is one that you enjoy regardless of where the market goes?

                      Learn from the Past and Build for the Future

                      To get started, dig out your business plan from the beginning of the year and take time to ask yourself some questions:

                      • Did you reach your goals for the first half of the year?
                      • If not, why? Were they unrealistic, not clearly defined? Understand why.
                      • What is within your power to change so that you hit your year-end goals?

                      Then, get clear on how many contacts you need to make to get the closings required to hit your income goal.

                      The free One-Page Business Plan is a quick and easy way to figure out what you need to do every week to reach your year-end income goals.

                      Just plug in a few easy numbers, and you are pointed to the weekly contacts, listing appointments, and closings needed to make your income goals a reality.

                      6 Months of Marketing Strategies Made Simple

                      Another survey question that we asked agents was what marketing challenges consumed most of their time on a monthly basis.

                      39.5% of these agents stated that “deciding what to focus on each month” was their biggest time stealer. The second highest response at 27.2% was, “creating new marketing materials”.

                      This is not the first time we’ve heard these responses to this question. That’s why we created the 2022 Real Estate Marketing Planner (and made it available to you for free).

                      The 2022 Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful guide that defines what marketing to do and when. This planner offers a monthly calendar with holiday observances and weekly SEND, CALL, SEE activities.

                      Four key market segments are included in the weekly plan: Niche Marketing, Get More Listings, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence, along with their recommended corresponding campaigns.

                      Set Your Marketing Budget Based on Revenue Goals

                      Determining how much to allocate for your 6-month marketing budget can be challenging. However, understanding this number can dramatically increase your chances of achieving your bottom line.

                      The Free Online ROI Calculator, allows you to discover how much to
                      spend on your marketing based on your revenue goals.

                      Outlining your goals and how you will reach them financially is the backbone of any successful real estate business plan.

                      The time is now to let go of areas you fell short of your business goals in the first half of this year and move forward armed with the resources and a plan to dominate for the rest of this year!


                      PLUS: When you have time…below are some more marketing tools to help support your success.

                      1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

                      Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine, with rich, full-color content, and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts, combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

                      Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and, it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here


                      2. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

                      The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes, but it is a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

                      3. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

                      This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

                      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

                      4. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

                      Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here


                        Summer and books – why reading has its own season is a mystery. Perhaps it’s because we supposedly have more leisure time in the summer. You know, lounging by the pool, sunning ourselves on golden sands next to the sea, or lazing away the day in a hammock at home.

                        We know that although real estate agents love to keep up with the latest book trends, and crave ways to improve their work-life balance and lead generation, they don’t have a lot of time to devote to reading longer works.

                        So, we’ve narrowed down our choices to books that won’t take you months to finish reading but offer tons of value in as few pages as possible. 

                        “The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick),” Seth Godin

                         “Winners never quit,” right? In “The Dip,” Godin makes the claim that it’s a “spectacularly bad piece of advice.”

                        “Never quit wetting your bed?” he asks. Never quit “… that job you had at Burger King in high school?”

                        His advice is to “… never quit something with long-term potential just because you can’t deal with the stress of the moment.”


                        Content Card postcards, shown above, are on sale 10% off right now. Use promo code: SPHERESALE (offer expires 5.28.22). Click Here.


                        For many agents, the stress of the moment may be that there’s no commission check on the horizon, or converting leads seems impossible.

                        Don’t quit until you consider Godin’s “3 questions to answer before quitting.” 

                        “The Dip” isn’t one of Godin’s more recent offerings, but we think it’s one of his best. At only 96 pages, it’s a quick summer read.

                        Find it at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

                        “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity,” David Allen

                        Another oldie but goodie, New York Times best-selling author David Allen shows the reader how to become better organized and, thus, more productive.

                        A few of the reviews claim that Allen seems to be stuck in the past with some of his tips—advocating the use of actual file folders rather than using the cloud or your hard drive. Overall, however, he garners 4.5 out of 5 stars at Amazon.com with glowing reviews.

                        Learn how to get things done in 352 pages. Heck, you can read this over at your Starbucks tomorrow morning.

                        Find Allen’s book at BarnesandNoble.com and Amazon.com.

                        “Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time,” Brian Tracy

                        For me, it was picking up the phone to make that first cold call of the day. For you, it may be something else, but agents seem to all have one thing they need to do that they just don’t like doing.

                        Brian Tracy has the cure with 21 strategies to get around procrastination. “Read the book, eat your frog by 10:00 a.m., and then feel free to find a restaurant that serves cocktails at lunch,” sums up Laura Vanderkam at FastCompany.com.

                        Tracy teaches us how to avoid common distractions, especially prevalent when so many agents are working from home.

                        All that, in 144 pages. 

                        By the way, get the 3rd edition (published in April 2017) because it contains two chapters that the previous editions don’t offer.

                        Buy Tracy’s book at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.


                        PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

                        1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

                        Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine, with rich, full-color content, and a sharp, professional esthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts, combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

                        Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and, it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here


                        2. The Free 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 Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

                        3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

                        The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes, but it is a business building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

                        4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

                        The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

                        5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

                        This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

                        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

                        6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

                        Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here


                          A couple of years ago I watched an online video about things that buyers do that “Realtors dislike”.

                          The writer opens the video with this statement: “… there are things that buyers do that I absolutely hate.”

                          Yes, those are her clients and potential clients she is talking about.

                          To this day I still can’t quite wrap my head around why an agent would post something like this. Can you imagine the CEO of Olive Garden or JCPenney dissing his or her “bread and butter” in this manner?

                          Instead of bemoaning the things that real estate consumers do that drive agents nuts, why not think about what agents do that drives them nuts and vow to not be like those agents?

                          1. Work on your empathy

                          When you’re empathic, you have “… the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling,” according to Greater Good Magazine, published by the University of California at Berkeley

                          If you feel yourself slipping into an empathy void, try to look at the situation from your client’s viewpoint. For example, the agent in the aforementioned video thought that her clients were being petty when they voiced displeasure about the color of the tile in the bathroom. 

                          Take a deep breath and consider this:

                          • These people are considering paying hundreds of thousands of dollars by going into decades of debt to purchase a home.
                          • The down payment and closing costs alone most likely represent every penny they’ve been able to save for years. 
                          • Re-tiling a tub surround can cost up to $4,000 according to the pros at Angie’s List. Tiling a walk-in shower costs from $2,500 to $5,000, but “some companies charge up to $10,000.”

                          How long do you imagine they’ll have to save for that? Would you be willing to live with unpleasing aspects of a home for that long?

                          There ya go! That’s empathy at work.


                          Life Event Series postcards are shown above. To see more designs, Click Here. Send them out to older baby boomers and downsizing seniors.

                          Need a baby boomer prospect list? Right now get the first 100 prospects on a baby boomer list for free with promo code: BOOM100.


                          2. Avoid making excuses – for anything

                          This may sound rude, but it’s nevertheless true: Real estate clients, unless they’re family or friends, don’t care what is going on in your personal life. They only care about ONE THING: buying or selling a home. 

                          It’s not their problem that an agent’s teenage son is acting up and she had to miss an appointment to deal with him. 

                          The most unprofessional thing you can do is proffer a lame excuse for not following through on something you promised. If life happens (which it does) and you can’t perform, hire someone else who can. Pay another agent in your office to do it. 

                          3. Become an excellent listener

                          In the digital age, the word “listening” encompasses both the spoken and written word. Nine times out of ten, not listening to a client will result in wasted time and frustration for you, your client, the listing agent, and the sellers. 

                          Then there are the rest of the folks in the domino chain that might be affected, from the title rep to the lender to the inspector.

                          Slow down, and take your time when speaking with or reading texts or emails from a client. 

                          If you listen to your client, with empathy, if you always show up and refuse to make excuses, you’ll have a client for life.

                          And they will be happy to share your name with others.


                          PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

                          1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

                          Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine, with rich, full-color content, and a sharp, professional esthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts, combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

                          Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and, it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here


                          2. The Free 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 Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

                          3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

                          The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes, but it is a business building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

                          4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

                          The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals.  – Click Here

                          5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

                          This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

                          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

                          6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

                          Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here