I have always believed that real estate is an industry that provides opportunities for both buyers and sellers at different times of the year and in different seasons. This year, December is an exciting time for both buyers and sellers in many regions including the Pacific Northwest because of recent shifts in inventory. Rarely do […]
When I was a new agent – and I mean a brand new agent in my very early 20s – I was called to go out on a listing presentation. I had not met the seller before nor been on his property. I got to the house and briefcase in hand, began walking up to […]
I want to take a moment to discuss the importance of learning how to instill calm communication and conflict resolution at a listing presentation, especially when it comes to talking about price and handling objections. Too many agents make the mistake of rushing to present all their research and show all their marketing that they […]
Agents already list confidence in pricing as one of the biggest challenges in their business. But throw a property in the mix with few or no current comparables and you might throw up your hands and declare a, “comparable calamity!” But armed with just a few pricing tools, you can walk into a seller’s home […]
One of the hardest parts of your job as a real estate agent is the ability to price a seller’s home correctly. There are so many variables that go along with accurate pricing and if agents do not consider all of these, they may be costing their sellers thousands of dollars in lost potential sales […]
Agents already list confidence in pricing as one of the biggest challenges in their business. But throw a property in the mix with few or no current comparables and you might throw up your hands and declare a, “comparable calamity!”
But armed with just a few pricing tools, you can walk into a seller’s home with confidence, knowing you have done absolutely everything you can to provide the seller with a price or price range that could be supported by the market. Read more »
This week’s design spotlight features our Semi-Custom Pro branding design template #143. This brand features a semi-transparent footer over a water-mark photo in the background and a unique sidebar graphic. In our rich and dark sample, we feature a wooden wine barrel in the background, complimented with glossy leather braids. To add to the rustic charm, the headline and name treatment uses a rough handwritten font while the content uses a utilitarian sans-serif font. For every dark brand, we also include a few light-colored letterhead pages Read more »
Q: “Denise, I have been mailing to a farm area now for years and another agent has begun sending postcards to the same area. One of my clients collected a couple and gave them to me. I was shocked! The cards blatantly said she was #1 in sales for the last year. I don’t know where she could have been #1 as her stats do not support that claim. What would you suggest I do?”
A: I assume that the postcard doesn’t give you any clues as to where that number came from. I always suggest leaving what we call “breadcrumbs” that allow someone else to arrive at the same numbers you do and it may even be required by the DOL or the MLS. Read more »
One of the hardest parts of your job as a real estate agent is the ability to price a seller’s home correctly. There are so many variables that go along with accurate pricing and if agents do not consider all of these, they may be costing their sellers thousands of dollars in lost potential sales revenue. More often however, because of the inability to price correctly agents walk away empty-handed without ever having the opportunity to sell the home because the price the agent came up with is not consistent with the seller’s expectations. Agents can spend hours doing CMAs only to find that what they are presenting to the potential seller(s) either wasn’t enough information, the right kind of information, or the information the seller wanted or expected to hear.
Today’s Branding Spotlight takes a closer look at the Black & Gold palette. Many clients love this classic color combo. It’s a high-contrast section that carries implications of luxury, wealth, and sophistication. But did you know that there are many different shades of black and gold? In its elemental form, gold can take on rose and silver tints that deviate from the usual yellow. Black is the “timeless classic” but it can be tinted and lightened ever so slightly to better compliment the overall palette. Together, it’s a high-contrast selection makes a confidant and definitive statement. Read more »
A: “Denise, my office is doing a business planning session in a couple of weeks which I am very excited about. I have no problem with the planning. In fact, every year I make a plan. But how close does my actual year come to my plan? That can be measured in light years. I really want to make 2019 different. What do you suggest?”
A: Great question! Many agents are thinking about business planning this time of year and what you are experiencing is similar to what a lot of others experience – a challenge of turning plans into actions. Read more »
This week I had the pleasure of teaching my two-day in-depth business-building class, Safari. I am always delighted to see real estate agents returning to Safari year after year.
“What an honor,” I thought. The fact that there are some agents who come back even though they had already been to the class in the past touched me.
At the end of the day I asked everyone if the two-day experience was worth it and one of the agents said, “I have been to Safari many times and every time I learn something new.”
Whatcom local Cindy Clark has an understated and eclectic brand style, and wanted marketing templates that would convey her passion for serving. Cindy loved the combination of a rich blue with a fresh, cheerful orange to convey her warm, approachable nature. Her ornate logo is repeated in a subtle tone-on-tone pattern inside the strong and simple linear layout, which frames her content perfectly. On many pieces, Cindy’s brand showcases a warm, inviting image of a waterfront Lake Whatcom home, paying homage to the beauty of all Whatcom County has to offer.
Denise, I am frustrated! I have been in the business for 15 years and each year my business has gotten a little better and a little better. I was on track at the beginning of the year to finish the year a smidge higher than last year, but several clients have had a change of heart regarding timing and are waiting until next year and I actually had my first cancelled listing in years due to the seller not being able to get the price he wanted. I am going into the last two months of the year with an empty pipeline and a deflated ego. Now I am freaked out! What if next year is even worse than this year? Read more »
This November 5-6 we invite you to come on a real estate Safari in Bellevue, WA. Safari is our premier real estate coaching event, led by nationally recognized coach, Denise Lones. Experience this year’s Safari, Total Transformation: Proven Systems – A Customized Approach.
Attend both days for only $29. Fifteen Washington State continuing education credits are also available.
Safari is one of our favorite things that we do. Every time we see agents transformed, energized with new ideas and more confident going out than when they came in. Every time!
This is an interactive event, not stuck-in-your-seat education. This Safari we will be covering building a referral based business without cheesy gimmicks, overcoming client and prospect objections, connecting with different client personalities, how to win presentations and building on your unique strengths. Prepare your business for success in this exciting, challenging real estate market with Denise Lones! See you there!
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