The Zebra Blog

In the News

Rolled up Newspaper

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Producer Price Indexes (PPI) for April. The index shows that there have been declines overall, but after sharp increases it was nice to see the price of lumber finally coming down.

The recovery has not been kind to the price of lumber and this recent decline could mark the turn in builder confidence. Builders should stock up on lumber as there is no doubt that the market is clearly on a strong comeback.

Ask Denise: Do I need to Blog?

Denise Lones

Q:  Denise, do you think I really need to be blogging? I feel like I should be, but I’m not sure about it …

A:  Blogging is an excellent way to get your name and your ideas and opinions out there. However, if you don’t like to write and you are not consistent about it, then blogging may be more than you can handle. The key to having a successful blog is to be consistent with your content and to provide ongoing engagement. You will also need to answer all comments and questions that come your way. And you have to diligent about taking care of your blog. Blogging is a wonderful business builder and lead generator when done correctly.    Read more »

Agents Beware … Our Image is Being Badly Tarnished on TV!

Hand and Remote pointed at TV

I have always been extremely interested in real estate all over the country. Whether it is real estate in Miami, Vegas, Houston, or Hawaii, I love to see what the different real estate markets are like.

And so do many other people. Which is why I was so horrified by what I came across on TV last night that portrays our industry in a horrible light.

Million Dollar Listing is a show on Bravo that follows the lives and careers of several high-producing real estate agents in a number of large cities in the US. In a recent episode I was shocked – SHOCKED! – to see agents drinking while on the job, discussing legal contracts and shooting back straight vodka while on a listing appointment. In the meantime, two other agents held dueling open houses in the same condo building that resulted in one agent swearing profusely at the other, accusations flying regarding stealing clients, and even a physical attack. Yes, I said physical attack! In front of open house attendees! Rather than work together to make it an exciting event for clients, they both acted like immature juvenile delinquents. One agent even abruptly demanded that certain buyers leave the open house to attend his open house. After that agent left, the other agent told everyone to grab another drink and ceremoniously asked for the music to be turned up. This was certainly not behavior that I would be celebrating.    Read more »

Inventory … Finding the Needle in the Haystack!

Needle in a Haystack

Oh, how the times have changed! From just waiting for the buyers to appear … to dealing with multiple offers from numerous buyers vying for the same property! There is no denying that in many markets the buyers have come out in full force and they are in the mood to buy. Consumer confidence is up while interest rates are down which makes for a perfect buying storm.

While this is can be an exciting time for real estate agents, it is also a frustrating time as well. More and more I am hearing stories from agents about how they have been unable to help willing and able buyers buy a home, because there just isn’t any inventory out there for them. With our past seven year deficit of new construction inventory, it will take some time for the market to balance out. And with the recent decline of short sales and foreclosures we have found the inventory problem has become magnified.     Read more »

In the News

Rolled up Newspaper

According to REALTOR® Magazine, 25% of transactions last year were by single home buyers, with twice as many single women purchasing homes than single men!

To read more about it, Click Here to view the rest of the article.

Ask Denise: Best Advice Starting Out

Denise Lones

Q:  Denise, can you tell me the best advice anyone ever gave you when you first started selling real estate?

A:  I still remember the moment when the light bulb went on for me. I was speaking with my real estate trainer, Garth, and he told me that if I wanted to be successful in real estate, I had to do what everyone else wouldn’t do.

Then he told me that most agents don’t follow up with their sphere database and past clients. AND most agents don’t do consistent lead generation. He guaranteed that if I could simply be a contrarian and do the opposite of what most agents do, that I would be hugely successful. So, when I started I focused on lead generation and database follow-up. Garth was right! I did have great success.

Damsels in Distress

Wrenches next to decorative element

A funny thing happened on my way to teach my EVOLVE class a couple of weeks ago and I can’t wait to share this story of exceptional client care with you.

My CEO Shauna Naf and I were on our way to teach EVOLVE when we noticed a strange sound coming from the right front wheel well. The noise continued to increase and become more ominous, and soon we knew that we would have to pull over and get help. But where do you go for help at seven in the morning with a car problem – especially, when you have to be at location an hour and a half away? We had no time for this breakdown and no idea where we were going to go to get this fixed. Not to mention we had 25 people waiting for us to begin our program and there was no doubt that we were in deep trouble.     Read more »