What Sets You Apart?

Feb. 6, 2012 – What sets you apart from other real estate agents? I’ve asked this question to a few agents and the response varies. It’s either: “I’m organized” or “I’m tech savvy” or “I’m on a team where one of us is always available”. These are all great attributes but are they really setting you apart?

RISMedia proposes that it is getting harder to make yourself unique. A lot of fingers point toward social media and encourage agents to join Facebook and Twitter in order to be on top of their client’s minds. But when does top of mind become extremely annoying? And what do you post?

Remember the Head On commercial? All you heard was “Head On – apply directly to the forehead”. If you don’t remember, it’s posted below. I warn you, it’s gives you a headache.

It’s memorable although I’m not sure how effective the marketing strategy actually was. I don’t recommend you standing in front of a camera and repeating “Your Name, a great real estate agent”, I do want you to be memorable.

RISMedia proposes agents should post pertinent real estate information on their social media sites like “should I remodel or sell ‘as is’?” Information that grabs readers and doesn’t make them resent you for taking up room on their news feed.

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Information is Power…Again

Smaller Homes: The New Trend

Small homes are in. Photo Source: tinyhousefloorplans.com

Feb 3, 2012 – There was once a time when most people wanted a big house. It was sort of a status symbol. Scratch that – it was a status symbol and still is in some towns. A bigger house meant the family had more money and distinguished them from the working middle class.

Based on developer surveys, that desire has now dropped. 43 percent of Americans want a big house while the rest, 67 percent, prefer smaller houses like condos and apartments, according to Chris Nelson, head of the Metropolitan Research Center at the University of Utah.

The decrease in demand is partly due to the desire for shorter commutes and walkable neighborhoods.

Nelson proposed that there is a need for more small homes, 4,000-square-foot or less, to meet future demand.

What’s your take on it – Go big or go home or is small the new big?

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Small homes pique your interest? Contact one of our REALTORS® today and inquire about this new eco-friendly trend! Call 915.834.4000 or visit www.cbelpaso.com.

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Did Builders Overbuild Oversized Houses?

U.S. Overbuilt in Big Houses, Planners Find

 

 

Are You Recognizable?

Feb. 2, 2012 – As an independent business owner, you have to be unique yet recognizable in your marketing strategy. As a REALTOR®, you have to be unique, recognizable and approachable in your marketing strategy.

What is recognizable? I’m not talking about your face in a crowd. I mean, if I looked at your logo, would I know you’re a real estate professional or would I need to play the guessing game? Is it unique enough that I would know you buy and sell residential real estate? Do you look welcoming and reachable? These are attributes that people want in their real estate agent (link to what people want).

Check out the following video from AGBeat.

Some of those logos represent companies that do business worldwide. Would you be able to recognize them?

Take a look at AGBeat’s article, Impressions of Brand Logos from a Five-Year-Old for a eye-opening comparison on real vs. cartoon figure.

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Impressions of Brand Logos from a Five-Year-Old

What People Want in Their Real Estate Agent

Nurture Leads into Clients

Feb. 1, 2012 – As a Dream Home Matchmaker or a Super Seller, you continuously receive leads. Now it’s time to focus on what you do with that lead to turn it into a client.

First off, there are different types of leads. For an easy example, let’s break that down to Warm and Hot.

Nurture your leads. Photo Source: corporatewellnessmagazine.com

Think of Warm leads as though you need to incubate them until they become Hot! AGBeat  proposes the following incubation process:

1. Add lead to your Contact Management System (CRM)
2. Assign lead to nurture program or marketing campaign (this should contain relevant and useful information that’s catered toward that specific lead. For instance, you don’t want to send put a Buyer Lead into a group with Seller Leads).

Hot leads are those that need sell or buy their house NOW. AGBeat says that you’ll want to “win their business right away”. Once you understand they are looking Hot, suggest (firmly) that they work with you. If you don’t get a clear decision, start them on the nurture program/marketing campaign as you would a Warm lead.

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Nurture Your Leads to Turbo-Charge Your Business Growth