Archive for Insider Insight
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This guest post was contributed by Pavel Webb, the affiliate manager at TextMagic,
a bulk SMS software company based in United Kingdom.
There is something irresistible about receiving an SMS text message. We tend to treat our phones as a member of the family (and sometimes better than we treat our family members!).
Research shows that over 95% of text messages are opened by their recipients. So, as a method of connecting with clients, property owners and leads, it’s got to be the medium of choice.
Here are four ways you can use SMS messages to build your business and connect with your clientèle.
1. Owner notifications
You know the scenario. You have a potential buyer who wants to view a property but you can’t seem to reach the property owners to check that a time is suitable – sometimes for days!
By sending an SMS text message, you can be sure that apart from being (rarely) out of range, your property owner will get the message. The response can be easier to get too, as the owner doesn’t need to talk to you to confirm. A simple SMS response is all that’s needed.
Telling property owners that you use SMS to manage these kinds of details and that you’ll send out a reminder before the appointed time is great customer service and makes property owners feel like they are more involved in what is happening.
2. Get instant requests from online searchers
You are out often and it’s not always possible or convenient to receive email notifications from the online property services.
You could set SMS notifications for when online users request more information via property portals. SMS text messages can reach your phone even when voice might not be available. Plus, it’s more discreet to check your messages than answer the phone.
Best of all, you’ll be able to follow-up faster, often while the lead is still engaged in the viewing and searching process.
3. Fast follow-up for hot leads
By gathering the mobile numbers of your leads, you’ll be able to follow-up for a quick ‘thank you’ and include your contact information and v-card.
Making yourself reachable via SMS text message shows your lead that you’re open to multiple methods of contact; something that mobile users report valuing in their relationships with businesses.
4. Reminders and service messages
These kinds of SMS messages are the most welcomed of all by the end-customer. Acting as a service message, you can remind renters when it’s time to pay for the rent or their utilities.
Crafted as a polite reminder, you’re able to get the message to your renter without having to ‘trouble’ them with a phone call, potentially saving you and your landlord much hassle later on.
SMS use by businesses is on the rise, and savvy agents can benefit from the personal touch that mobile text messaging services offer.
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I know a lot of real estate professionals who are doing a lot of short sales. For many, it’s necessary for survival. Their markets are heavily populated with short sales, and it’s either do short sales or quit.
Unfortunately, not everyone who is handling short sales today likes it. Short sales can be frustrating, time consuming and just downright miserable.
If you see yourself in that position, you need to forget how much you wish your market was different and focus on your client. The emotional impact on a homeowner facing foreclosure is extreme.
What can you do to help your client and make a short sale process as smooth as possible? Well, first, of course, you have to learn how to do a short sale and have confidence in your ability to get your client out from under their mortgage.
Once you’ve accomplished that, the next order of business is to break the cycle your client has been running around and around in. A hopeful short sale client is much easier to work with through a difficult process.
Read this short post on Active Rain by Philip Faranda. The simple assurance he gives a short sale client comes right before he hops in a telephone booth to don his super hero cape.
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This guest post was contributed by Sam Chapman.
Sam specializes in Lake Travis waterfront homes.
I have worked hundreds of open houses and most have produced up no clients. Then I heard from a very experienced agent the trick to picking up buyers from open houses.
Five Steps that Make Open Houses Pay for Themselves!
1. Choose a great house at a great price in a high traffic location. It helps also if it is advertised. Select an agent you enjoy working with to work the open house with you. Learn everything about the house.
2. Select 4 other homes for sale within 10 minutes by car or in the same neighborhood. Pick one that is at a lower price, one at a higher price and 2 that are similar. Make sure the homes are vacant and not shown only by appointment. Print out the MLS information and have it with you.
3. Start with business as usual. When buyers walk into the open house, take turns with your partner greeting them. Do your usual open house script and let them wander.
4. A call to action! When your visitors are about to leave, ask what they thought about the house and what they are looking for. When they tell you AND if they are not already working with an agent, select one of the 4 vacant homes and tell the buyers that you know of a great home close by that might work for them. Ask if they would like to see it and get them in your car.
5. Develop a Relationship. Then you will have the opportunity to develop a relationship and learn about their needs. I worked an open house with a friend just west of downtown Austin and got a lady in my car. I ended up showing her million dollar Lake Travis waterfront homes.
As you alternate with your open house partner talking with prospective buyers, one of you may get buyers in your car. If your partner ends up with people in his or her car, no big deal. You continue to work the open house. If you end up with buyers, your partner continues with the open house.
If you do this every other weekend for a couple of months, you will most likely end up with one or more buyers. Try it – it works!
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This guest post was contributed by Show Appeal Realty, an Arizona real estate brokerage selling Scottsdale Homes and Gilbert real estate
We all know the importance of first impressions, but have you considered the impression your closing gift makes? Closing time has come, and the deal is done. Now it’s time to thank your client for their business with a meaningful closing gift. It’s also the perfect time to make a lasting impression that will ideally bring more business your way. You’ll be missing out on an outstanding marketing opportunity if you underestimate the significance of a meaningful closing gift.
3 Tips to Selecting a Meaningful Closing Gift
- Select a gift that’s personal: Your buyer will not only recognize the extra thought you put into selecting their gift, they’ll be more likely to enjoy it, and boast to their friends about it.
- Don’t be cheap; While the sale price of the home will undoubtedly guide how much you spend on a closing gift, never give a closing gift that appears cheap. According to the National Association of Realtors, an average of about $55 is spent by REALTORs® on closing gifts. Many states limit the amount a REALTOR® can spend on closing gifts, so be sure you’re gift falls within state law.
- Go for the unforgettable: Give a closing gift that will be seen or used often. An unforgettable gift will remind your client of you over and over again and have their friends and family inquiring!
5 Ideas for Unique Closing Gifts
- Monthly club memberships. Chocolate, coffee, flowers, plants, wine/beer and even meat and seafood are wonderful monthly club memberships. Each month, for three, six or twelve months, your client receives a special treat in the mail, with a thank you card from you. This closing gift will surely have your client talking!
- A gift certificate is a sure bet closing gift, but it can come off as a bit dull. For a twist on the hum-drum, consider a certificate for a housecleaning service, personal chef service, or lawn care service.
- A high-end doormat with the owner’s last name or monogram will have your client thinking of you daily! Best yet, it greets potential customers as they enter your client’s beautiful new home.
- A tasteful jewelry store key chain engraved with the owner’s last name screams “personal touch.” It’s a great closing gift for the client who has everything.
- Gift basket of household supplies. Everyone needs household supplies to get them started in their new home. Consider crafting a basket with common cleaning materials, and everyday needs such as laundry detergent and paper towels. Adding a ‘Dust-Buster’ style vacuum raises the bar on this unique closing gift and your client will remember you for years to come.
We all realize that the real estate business is one built on return customers and enhanced by word of mouth. Selecting a meaningful closing gift that makes a lasting impression requires some thought and a small investment, but the payoff can be grand. If you’re ready to stand out from the crowd, don’t let this outstanding opportunity to shine slip past you.
Real Estate Business Tools ** Closing Gifts that Last
10 Ways to Increase Your Internet Networking
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This guest post is from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes
on finance, insurance, and related topics for the Car Insurance Blog.
There are a number of different sites online that can help real estate professionals promote listings, grow business, and connect with potential clients and other agents. Here are 10 professional and social networks you can explore to expand your online presence.
1. Zolve – Zolve is a free networking tool that was specifically designed for real estate professionals. You can use the tool to create a peer-to-peer referral network, share knowledge with home buyers and sellers, or create your own personal real estate blog.
2. Trulia – Trulia allows you to connect with more than 8 million home buyers and sellers each month. You can create a profile on the site, promote listings, and post open house notifications.
3. ActiveRain – ActiveRain is a free online real estate network with nearly 200,000 registered members. You can use the site to create a profile, read and write blogs, network with other professionals, and connect with potential clients.
4. Homethinking – This consumer site helps home buyers and sellers find an agent. Homethinking works well for agents who want an online profile or would like to upload listings and have them automatically syndicated to Craigslist, Trulia, Zillow, and similar sites.
5. HomeFinder – HomeFinder is geared toward home buyers, but the site also offers a number of resources for real estate professionals. With a free account, you can link to your listings on the site, see how many times your property listings have been viewed, and get access to industry-related articles and white papers.
6. RealtyTimes – This real estate site is designed for both consumers and professionals. You can use the site to get news, promote your business and listings, and get agent advice.
7. Biznik – Biznik is a professional networking site that caters to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The site helps members increase visibility and find more clients and customers.
8. Fast Pitch – Fast Pitch combines business networking with marketing. Members share referrals and help everyone’s business grow.
9. Ziggs – Ziggs is a unique professional networking site that allows you to create an online brand while connecting with other people. Ziggs also works well for people who want to get listed in professional directories, organize contacts, and join groups of like-minded people.
10. Twitter – Although many people look at Twitter as a communication tool for friends and family, the site’s capacity for business networking should not be ignored. You can use Twitter to promote listings, notify buyers about open houses, network with other real estate professionals, and connect with potential buyers and sellers.
