Vancouver Wa Real Estate - Elite Realty NW

365 Tips To Becoming A Successful Realtor®

Tip #68 - Networking. Never give Out Your Card Until You Are Asked

Ever walk through some type of convention where there are vendors handing out a flyer to everyone who walks past without ever talking to any of them? Usually the next trash can along the path is filled with those exact flyers! It seems like they could cut out the middle man and just throw them in the trash themselves.

Now think about a networking event that you may have recently attended. Notice anyone randomly handing out their cards to anyone within arms' reach? Breaking in to conversations to "Introduce" themselves and passing out a grip of business cards before they quickly head to the next group? Where do you think those cards end up?

One way to be certain that your card will be appreciated is to make them ask for it. Rather than shaking someone's hand then stuffing a card into it, it is more effective to get to know them. Ask them what they do and see if you might be able to refer business in their direction. Once you have built rapport, ask them for their card. They will most likely ask for yours in return. If they know that you are able to send business their direction, they are more likely to hang on to your card and refer business to you.

Business cards are a valuable tool and should be treated as such. Handing them out to random passers-by just devalues them in everyone's' eyes.

365 Tips To Becoming A Successful Realtor®

Tip #67 - Help Other Agents to Become Successful

As a Keller Williams agent, helping other agents comes second nature for me. We have a close and supportive office that shares everything. We gladly share ideas and information and everyone prospers. Here are a few things that have helped my business in the past few years:

I volunteered to help an agent with his model home. He had been working with a demanding builder and had not been able to take a day off for several months. We worked together for two years on various projects. When he left the business, he gave me the builder and subdivisions.

I helped an agent in our office with her marketing plan. The plan turned into a successful lead generating machine. She took a vacation a few months later and forwarded her phones to me. In essence, she gave me 5 leads in that week's period of time. I turned those leads into 3 closed deals.

I help agents across the country every day by writing this blog. In the past 66 days (since I started this series) I have received 3 buyer leads and 5 listing leads from agents who are reading it. Thank you guys, you should be getting your split of the commission soon!

I never ask for anything in return. I help because I like to. That is enough for me. Try it. You might be surprised what comes of it.

I thought that you might enjoy this post that was written by Sonja Patterson, a Realtor friend in Texas. We have never run across this delay but you can bet that it just got added to our pre closing checklist!

Internet Thieves and Facebook Pirates

Janice is the social media expert in our relationship. She is the one who dragged me onto Facebook kicking and screaming. She is the one who put together our fan page. She is the one who sets up the apps that import this blog onto our page. She is the one who sets the clock on the microwave (Nobody has a VCR anymore!) when the power goes out.

Today she called me over to her computer to show me something. I could tell she was irritated by the tone in her voice. What she showed me had me a little bit peeved as well. I am usually the calm one in our marriage.

She wrote this...

It seems that she friend requested someone a few months back who never accepted her invitation. She explained to me that once a person is friend requested, they have access to view your account, regardless of whether or not they accept you as a friend.

She was drawn back to this person's page because they used the exact same verbiage for a status update that she had used about 30 minutes prior. Thinking it was a strange coincidence, she went to his home page. What she found was disturbing to say the least - he had completely stolen several updates that she had made and he actually copied and pasted a section of her bio into his own page! Since he never accepted her friend request, his friends never knew that he had stolen the content!

and he posted this.

How pathetic is it that someone can't even write their own original bio? Since Facebook is the equivalent to a digital version of the wild west, there isn't much anyone can do but What the HECK?!

I am sure that he isn't the only one doing this sort of thing. How are you guys dealing with this type of behavior?

365 Tips To Becoming A Successful Realtor®

Tip #66 - Always Take Time To Make a Sale!

I had a strange call this week from a newby agent in the area who had buyers writing an offer on one of our listings. He was very anxious to present the offer to my sellers in person and he called to make an appointment. As we compared calendars with all of the parties involved, it became apparent that there was only a small window of time that worked for everyone. Everyone except the buyer's agent that is!

It seems that he signed up for a class at his office on lead generating. The class is only offered every few months and he missed the last one. The only time that my clients can make it (before the offer expires) is at the same time that the class is being held. He really struggled with his situation and called me back several times.

Finally, on his 4^th call, I asked him, "Which is more important to you right now? Learning to do the business or actually doing the business and making a sale?"

He let out an uncomfortable laugh.

I finished with, "Always take time to make a sale."

Crazy Times - Vancouver  Washington Real Estate

The past few weeks have been crazy for our real estate business. We are the premier realtors for the Clark County BIA and, once again, we sponsored this year's Clark County Parade of Homes. In a nutshell, that means about 17 days of working onsite at the parade without a day off! This year was fairly slow but we managed to sell 2 properties and take 5 listings that can be tracked directly the parade. For those of you who couldn't make it, here are a few blogs that I posted from the parade location:

2010 Clark County Parade of Homes - Sneak Peek at The Winlock
2010 Clark County Parade of Homes - Sneak Peek at The Foursquare
2010 Clark County Parade of Homes - Sneak Peek at The Prairie Ranch
2010 Clark County Parade of Homes - Sneak Peek at The Prototype A

Even good things cause stress and these 5 new listings were no exception.

Vancouver Washington Home for Sale. Gardeners Delight in Felida!

Vancouver Wa Home for Sale

Historic Home For Sale in Vancouver Washington - Felida home for sale

Single Level Ranch for Sale in Vancouver Washington

Home for Sale in Felida. Vancouver Washington

This Saturday will be the first day that I have had off since July 9^th and I have a month's worth of chores to do! I think I need a day of fishing as sort of a "mental health" day! I wonder how that will go over with Janice...

365 Tips To Becoming A Successful Realtor®

Tip #65 - Buyers Step 6 - On To Closing

"Second star to the right, and straight on till morning." That, Peter had told Wendy, was the way to the Neverland.

That may be the shortest way to Neverland and one of my favorite quotes of all time but can the trip to a successful closing be as simple? How about,

"A signed around contract and a clean inspection, then its straight on till closing."

Once the inspection is finished and negotiations have satisfied everyone involved, there is generally a week or two of stand-by time while the lender get things lines up and the title company does their work. Seems pretty simple, right? Well... maybe!

During this time, it is very easy for buyers to get bored and start doing things that might be dangerous to the closing of the sale. Anything that can affect their credit should be considered dangerous and should be avoided. The primary culprit is SHOPPING!

It is imperative that you consult your buyers about the dangers of shopping and how it can affect the deal that they are in. New credit cards, 90 day good as cash deals, and No Payments for a Year deals are deadly!

Many home buyers will fill the time that they were spending with you for the past weeks looking at homes with trips to furniture stores. Furniture salesmen are really good! Talk to your clients early and keep them away until after closing.

Vancouver Washington Home for Sale - Felida

Vancouver Washington Home for Sale - Felida

Enjoy this meticulously maintained original owner home. Remodeled kitchen w/slab granite. New: appliances, roof, high efficiency furnace, EE windows, hot water heater. Gorgeous yards & gardens on XL lot w/tons of fruit trees, complete with white picket vinyl fence in front. 16x26 attached shop,12x12 garden storage, beautiful covered Trex deck, RV pad, central air. Welcome home!

For more details go to:

Vancouver Washington Home for Sale - Felida

WANTED!

This is too funny. I found it this morning and just had to share it with you.

KATU News reported that the above pictured gang of "outlaws" have been passing phoney $100 bills in the sleepy beach town of Seaside Oregon. This is like buying a house with counterfeit loot. I am surprised that they didn't leave photo copies of their driver's licenses! This one will surely be included in the Dumb Criminal Hall of Fame!

Read the whole story here:

Counterfeit Bills Used to Buy Keepsake Photo

365 Tips To Becoming A Successful Realtor®

Tip #64 - 8 Simple Words With GUARANTEED Results

Today's tip will be quick simple and easy. It will probably take me longer to write this post than it will take you to implement this great idea. I have a really busy day today so it won't even take me two minutes to finish this post. Yes, it is this easy!

1. Comb through your database and find all of your buyer leads. It doesn't matter how old they are or if they have gone dead.

2. Send them an email that simply says. "Are you still planning to buy a home?"
You can add "in City, State" if you want.

You will be surprised at the response that you get. Give it a try. You will be surprised.