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The Power of a Strong Brand

I must admit that I am a bit of a brand snob. I have my favorites and I’m fairly loyal to those favorites. Note that I did not say that I am completely loyal because there have been times when a good deal or a lower price enticed me to try another brand. A great […]

Polly Wanna… CARROT?

For years, I have listened to agents complain about the unresponsiveness of their potential clients or online leads. When I question them about what they think is going on, they usually respond with, “they never return my emails or calls.” The truth of the matter is that people are busy and may not have time […]

What Do You Know About Real Estate Investing?

Real estate brokers lose tens of thousands of dollars every year because they don’t know enough about investment real estate. While they may help buyers and sellers in the traditional real estate format, they miss out on working with investors who could become life-long multiple-transaction clients. Almost every real estate broker I’ve ever spoken to […]

Time and Money

Forgive me, I am feeling a little spicy today so this article is a little more blunt and to the point than usual! I have talked with a lot of stressed out agents this week who are doing too much themselves and not taking advantage of opportunities to leverage their time. If that sounds like […]

Market Conditions – Not New Carpets – Determine Market Value!

Real estate professionals get asked on a regular basis by sellers about what improvements sellers should make to their homes to get them in tip-top shape and ready for the market. While things like cleaning the house, improving curb appeal and getting rid of clutter are obvious answers, that is not what this article is […]

Time and Money

Posted by Denise Lones on March 28th, 2019

Forgive me, I am feeling a little spicy today so this article is a little more blunt and to the point than usual! I have talked with a lot of stressed out agents this week who are doing too much themselves and not taking advantage of opportunities to leverage their time. If that sounds like you, this article is dedicated to you and your business!

AGENT: “Denise, can you help me make more money?”

MY RESPONSE: “Yes! But the first step is to help you make more time. You need that time to provide amazing service and the money will come!”

AGENT: “But I’m willing to work hard to make money! I don’t have time!” Read more »

Ask Denise: Prospecting Innovation

Posted by Denise Lones on March 28th, 2019

Q: “Denise, I am looking for an innovative way to get more business. I am not looking for a farm or an open house system. I really want something that will help me get more business when I need it and turn it off when I don’t. And I don’t want to go after expired listings. In my market, agents are swarming them. I am looking for something different even if it means I need to learn something new. Any suggestions?” Read more »

Branding Spotlight: Melissa Harris

Posted by Denise Lones on March 28th, 2019

Melissa Harris’s new Mastery Brand combines her understated style with a hint of artistic patterns for a bold and unique statement. The tone-on-tone geometric pattern in the header draws the eye towards her hand-written monogram logo. Melissa’s tagline “helping you find home sweet home” is a nod to her Midwestern roots. The powerful combination of red, navy, and slate blue give her an eye-catching and colorful palette. Melissa loves her community of Issaquah, and she is the one to help you find that perfect home or investment opportunity in the Greater Seattle area.

Read more »

Market Conditions – Not New Carpets – Determine Market Value!

Posted by Denise Lones on March 21st, 2019

Real estate professionals get asked on a regular basis by sellers about what improvements sellers should make to their homes to get them in tip-top shape and ready for the market. While things like cleaning the house, improving curb appeal and getting rid of clutter are obvious answers, that is not what this article is about today. Today, we need to address the liability that you may be opening yourself up to by making claims about improvements that will increase the sale price – when in fact they may not. Read more »

Ask Denise: Spring Cleaning

Posted by Denise Lones on March 21st, 2019

Q: “Denise, I know you aren’t a fan of “fluff” mailers like setting one’s clock forward. But what do you think about information on spring cleaning?”

A: A timely question! If you can put it in the context of real estate, that is just fine. Remind homeowners that ongoing maintenance will put money in their pocket when it is time to sell. Improving curb appeal such as installing a new door is not only good for giving your home a fresh look, it can increase the value. Provide a few ideas about what buyers are looking for in homes today that should be on the top of homeowners’ spring cleaning list.

Spring cleaning does relate to real estate. Share that info!

Branding Spotlight: Neressa Carr

Posted by Denise Lones on March 21st, 2019

Neressa Carr’s love of the Pacific Northwest coastline was the key inspiration for her new Mastery brand. Neressa chose imagery of our local coastline, beach strewn pebbles, sun-bleached driftwood, and Adirondack chairs with a view. Even the white-washed wood texture in her footer conveys the modern and easygoing Puget Sound lifestyle. Her hexagonal monogram is filled with colored wood grain as a nod to the iconic forests in our area. A flood of deep turquoise on select pieces is eye-catching and calming, which matches Neressa’s cool personality and cutting-edge professionalism. She’s ready to take on fresh challenges with her natural and understated marketing style.

Read more »

March Client Mailer Content has Arrived

Posted by Denise Lones on March 19th, 2019

Every month, Club Zebra Pro subscribers receive ready-to-mail content that they can send, attribution free, to their client database.

This March we have three new articles, each in long form and with shortened versions suitable for a jumbo postcard. First up, what your clients should know about leased property and the different kinds of leases, with room for additional information for your market. Next, we have Water-Wise Home Ownership, with advice for buyers on water conservation technologies. Finally, We have a piece for your seller prospects highlighting the power of photography.

Get your March mailer content right here! Not a subscriber? Become part of the herd!

The Number One Client Communication Mistake

Posted by Denise Lones on March 14th, 2019

Do you ever wonder how some people seem to have such a way with words and have absolutely no problem talking to anyone?  Others, however, stumble and find it hard to engage potential clients in a conversation that is anything more than superficial.

When I think about my own real estate journey over the years and evaluate which agents really connected with me, I can pinpoint a very common theme. Some of them just bombarded me with sales tactics and questions that felt scripted, while others really listened to me and engaged me in meaningful conversation.

If you don’t know someone well, or if you have just met them at an open house, don’t overwhelm them by trying to get them to answer questions. Instead of pushing for answers they may not be ready to give you, you are far better off trying to get their thoughts. Read more »

Ask Denise: Reporting the Highs and Lows

Posted by Denise Lones on March 14th, 2019

Q: “Denise, although I am not too worried about this since buyers seem to be back out in droves, prices in our market did make an adjustment over this time last year. I always report on year-over-year stats, but what do I do if prices have adjusted downward? Do I still report the information?”

A: This is a question I have been getting a lot lately because in some markets, we did see a small price adjustment. No matter if it is a small adjustment or a large adjustment, your job is to report the facts and provide your expertise. Read more »

Branding Spotlight: Teresa Willard

Posted by Denise Lones on March 14th, 2019

Teresa jumped into her custom mastery brand with both feet and came away with an incredible customized icon collage to tell her story.  As an expert in matching unique houses with the perfect owners, this personal pattern includes horses, keys, doors, windows, houses, plants, mountains and more. It is colored with muted tone-on-taupe shades to avoid overwhelming her content. With so much going on in the structure of her design, she opted for a single font for her headlines and body copy with a signature font used sparingly for a personal touch.  With a vintage key logo that elegantly ties in her love of horses, her new branding is sure to help Teresa make her mark.

Read more »

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