When An Interview Goes Bad: “Technology” And How You Can Hurt Your Perception

Consumer confidence often hinges on perception. The perception of competence, expertise, and professionalism are vital to a Realtor. If your consumer targets do not believe you have any of the above you will lose every opportunity to remain in business.

The Real Estate industry, primarily agents, faces an uphill battle everyday to prove that they are technology savvy, progressive, and willing to provide the most up to date information to their clients. The perception remains, even though their are more tech savvy Realtors, that this industry is far behind.

An interview with 2007 NAR President Pat Combs, as featured on therealestatebloggers, does nothing to dispel this perception. Unfortunately it perpetuates it. The trouble begins at the 2:05 mark of the following video when a fax, copy machine, scanner, and typewriter are featured tools and uttered in the same breath as the word technology:

Newsflash: Ed Okun’s Bond Hearing Postponed To May 9

This just in from the Department of Justice and one of our train wreck friends Elizabeth, Ed Okun’s bond hearing scheduled for today (April 29) was canceled. The new date for Okun’s bond hearing is Friday May 9 at 2pm. The reason for the postponement? Okun’s appointed public defender asked for the postponement so your guess is as good as mine: preparation issues?

How do you represent a criminal like Okun to a court of law in hopes of gaining his freedom-even if it is a short lived freedom?

Here are the challenges Okun’s attorney faces

1. Ed is reportedly flat broke
2. Ed may have hidden funds offshore
3. Ed is definitely a flight risk
4. Ed has embezzled, without recovery to victims, at least $132million
5. Ed’s credibility and word are worthless

Against All Odds: Cases That Attorneys Represented the “Unrepresentable”

1. The OJ Case–Simpson walked to the amazement of the world
2. The “Nightstalker”— Richard Ramirez sits on death row the best he could have ever gotten
3. Polly Klaus—Richard Allen Davis how could anyone represent this piece of _hit?
4. Scott Peterson–Did anyone and I mean anyone ever believe this punk?
5. Rodney King’s Cops–just change the venue and everything goes bye-bye

Department of Justice Approves deansguide: One of Three Sites Approved To Provide Contact Information To Okun Victims

In a request from the Department of Justice, deansguide has been approved as one of 3 sites that will be allowed to present contact information, to the victims of Ed Okun’s 1031 Tax Group rip off. The reason this contact information is so important to victims is that the DOJ wants to make sure they have all of the victims accounted for in this nightmare.

If you were a victim of an Ed Okun 1031 exchange and If you want to attempt to collect any type of recovery this is the contact information you need:

Kim Ulmet Victim/Witness Specialist
United States Attorney’s Office
Toll Free (866) 287-5410
Email Kim at USAVAE.VAR@usdoj.gov

Realtor’s Marketing Strategy #5: Media List Power To Connections

Realtors and brokers should consider purchasing “Guerrilla Publicity”,a joint effort by Jay Levinson, Rick Frishman, and Jill Lublin, a comprehensive guide to ” Hundreds of sure-fire tactics to get maximum sales for minimum dollars.” One of the most powerful tactics is GP’s guide to compiling Media Lists.

7 Media List Tactics

1. Now not Later: Begin creating your list. Compile names of media people and interesting people and how they may help you

2. Habits that Win: Form the habit of making notes, collecting names, and recording ideas. Carry a pen, notebook, laptop, or any device you can utilize to record information–everywhere at anytime

3. Sphere of Influence: List the names of everyone you know who might remotely help: writers, reporters, editors, radio, and TV producers. Be industry specific

4. Your People: Ask friends, family, or business colleagues for contacts to add to your list

5. Local Angle: Call or email local radio shows, television stations, newspapers, and blogs who cover your niche

6. Business Cards: Always request a card from everyone you meet

7. Organization Time: Create a specific time slot in your schedule to update and add all new contacts you collect over the course of a week

Realtor’s Business Diagnostic Test #1: A-E-I-O-U And Sometimes Y

How often do you perform a diagnostic test on your business, it’s processes, and the overall health of your organization? Now might be a great time to take on this task; the results may surprise you as well as provide areas to improve upon. When learning the English language one of the first concepts was your vowels. Borrowing from this lesson, try applying the “A-E-I-O-U and sometimes Y” diagnostic test to your business.

A-E-I-O-U And Sometimes Y

A- Alternatives: How often do you research different solutions (alternatives) that could be applied to your business processes or mission that would improve what you already do well?

E-Education: Do you seek to educate yourself, your staff, and your customers with the most up to date, cutting edge industry specific information on an ongoing basis?

I-Intelligence: I am not referring to your intelligence or smarts but rather industry information about trends, competitors, products, services, or changes that will effect your business and the consumer

O-Observation: Observation testing according to act.org “measures the skill people use when they pay attention to and remember work-related instructions, demonstrations, and procedures.” Do you pay attention and more importantly do you pay attention to detail within your business?

U-Understanding: Don Clark’s “Continuum of Understanding” has a great quote: The greater one understands the subject matter, the more one is able to weave past experiences (context) into new knowledge by absorbing, doing, interacting, and reflecting. Total Awareness of your business!

Sometimes Y-You: You and only You are the difference between your accomplishments and your failures. Your thoughts and your ability to dismantle doubt are the most important part of this exercise. If you feel intimidated then you will be but if you feel open to success then success will follow you

Kurt Vonnegut’s 8 Basics Of Creative Writing: Tips For Marketing Your Business

The real estate industry, any business for that matter, could take note when searching for marketing ideas and strategies. American author and icon Kurt Vonnegut’s “8 Basics of Creative Writing” provides a few nuggets of wisdom that carry over nicely from his intended target-book readers to consumers.

Kurt Vonnegut’s Marketing Advice

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted
KV: Give consumers value for free, often, and consistently with blogs, keynotes, and workshops

2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
KV: Be sympathetic to your audience by being likable, honest, and authentic

3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
KV: Your marketing plan should have a goal that is measurable

4. Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
KV: Your writing must reveal your character or advance the reader’s knowledge

5. Start as close to the end as possible.
KV: Make your messages short with impact; do not waste your audience’s time

6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
KV: Challenge the status quo. Be willing to take a stand no matter how unpopular with your peers

7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
KV: If you do not stay interested in your message how will anyone else

8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.
KV: Make your message one of “Radical Transparency” allow all to see everything to build credability

Realtor’s Marketing Strategy #4: Top 10 Reasons Why Consumers Should “Buy” You

FoxBusiness.com published this deansguide article on April 23, 2008

In deansguide’s series on strategies for Realtors we have utilized the marketing ideas of book publishing houses and best selling authors. Staying with this theme, strategy #4 utilizes Jon Kremer’s, author and best selling book marketing strategist, idea of identifying the “Why Someone Should Buy Your Book:Pros and Cons” as a platform for Realtors. We will apply author Susan Hanshaw’s “Inner Architect: How To Build The Life You Were Designed To Live” as an example you can follow with your own real estate practice.

Top 10 Reasons To Buy My Book or Services

1. You need to find courage to acknowledge your pain and dissatisfaction with your work-life
Realtor: I am an expert in the real estate niche___

2. You want to embrace awareness of your ability to change but you don’t know where to begin
Realtor: I can help identify your needs and we can create an action plan together

3. You need a method to identify what lies between you and change
Realtor: Let me show you new ways to make progress toward your real estate goals

4. You want a Step by Step guide to changing your career and life
Realtor: I can show you how I have helped families just like yours create their dreams

5. How to Discover your passions and purpose
Realtor: I can provide numerous choices that you may not even be aware exist in the market

6. Help in giving yourself permission to believe in you
Realtor: No market is without challenges; let me show you how we can navigate them together

7. How to Identify and break the Cycle of Fear
Realtor: We can review solutions to any problem and find the answers that best fit your needs

8. Learn how to create an Action plan of change from someone who has walked the path of change
Realtor: I have _ years of experience lets put a plan together that addresses the challenges we face

9. Understand the Power of your Words and Thoughts
Realtor: If we remain positive we together may find the solution that is available in this market

10. How to Mentally Claim your New Life
Realtor: Within every challenge is a key to opportunity–lets find our key together

Realtor’s Sales Dream #3: Top 10-Earning Towns In America

If Realtors are wondering where the wealth is these days they look no further than CNNMoney.com Jeff Cox’s article “Best Places To Live: 25 top-earning towns.” Residents of these towns have the highest median household incomes in the country. If there is ever a hit list this is it.

The San Francisco Bay Area scores high with Hillsborough (Mid Penisula), Los Altos Hills (Silicon Valley), and Blackhawk (East Bay) reflecting the better than average economic conditions for this area.

Top 10-Earning Towns In America

1. Hillsborough, CA Median Income $263,456

2. Scarsdale, NY Median Income $219,317

3. Los Altos Hills, CA Median Income $199,370

4. Winnetka, IL Median Income $195,879

5. Chappaqua, NY Median Income $189,741

6. Glencoe, IL Median Income $187,043

7. Blackhawk-Camino Tassajara, CA Median Income $185,354

8. Great Falls, VA Median income $181,318

9. Weston, MA Median Income $180,549

10. Travilah, MD Median income $177,477

Realtor’s Sales Dream #2: Top 10 Cities To Find A Job

Are you ready to prosper after a long preparation period called your “whole life”? Did college prepare you for our current economic situation? If you are a recent college graduate then you will benefit from a list of the best economic areas to get a job in the US. The following list was compiled from Hannah Clark’s beautiful article in Forbes.com “The Best Cities To Get A Job.”

The numbers represent a small part of why these cities are considered the top 10 cities for college graduates to find a job. Each city’s economy is outlined with new companies or industry highlights. In addition “affordability” ratings for housing (NAR calculator) and cost of goods (Cost of Living Index by infoplease.com) should be areas that students investigate on their own.

Top 10 Cities

1. Washington D.C.: Unemployment rank: 4 and Job growth rank: 12

2. Phoenix, Ariz: Unemployment rank: 17 and Job growth rank: 8

3. Las Vegas, Nev: Unemployment rank: 12 and Job growth rank: 1

4. Orlando, Fla: Unemployment rank: 5 and Job growth rank : 6

5. Bethesda, Md: Unemployment rank: 2 and Job growth rank : 32

6. Richmond, Va: Unemployment rank: 6 and Job growth rank : 28

7. Raleigh, NC: Unemployment rank: 18 and Job growth rank: 22

8. Jacksonville, Fla: Unemployment rank: 13 and Job growth rank: 20

9. Oklahoma City, Okla: Unemployment rank: 21 and Job growth rank: 44

10. Virginia Beach, Va: Unemployment rank: 16 and Job growth rank: 25

Realtor’s Sales Dream #1: The Top 10 Zip Codes And Real Estate

Reuters.com published this deansguide article April 20, 2008
Chicago Sun Times published this deansguide article April 20, 2008

Realtors have many challenges in a down market like we are experiencing today. Even in the finest neighborhoods in America, the slow down can be felt. Yet one thing is certain-the higher the price point the higher the commission check. With that in mind, MikeLiebner.com presents a fun look at America’s best “Most Expensive Zip Codes and Real Estate 2006.” Mark’s stats come from Forbes.com. 2006 gives us a look at a market 2 years removed from the aberration we are experiencing now:

Top 10 (Counties) And Cities Median Price By Zip Code

1. 11962 Sagaponack (Suffolk), NY $2,787,500
2. 92067 Rancho Santa Fe (San Diego), CA $2,445,000
3. 92662 Newport Beach (Orange), CA $2,397,500
4. 94528 Diablo (Contra Costa), CA $2,266,00
5. 94957 Ross (Marin), CA $2,247,500
6. 11976 Water Mill (Suffolk), NY $2,150,000
7. 93108 Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara), CA $2,050,000
8. 90402 Santa Monica (Los Angeles), CA $2,005,000
9. 92661 Newport Beach (Orange), CA $1,996,500
10. 33109 Miami Beach (Miami-Dade), CA $1,942,500