Individual Property Websites

So, you're getting ready to go on a listing presentation and you want to know how to determine the right domain name for your Individual Property Websites (IPW) so you can tell your seller. What is it? What's the address? How's it typed in? Are they working yet? What did you say?

Yep, I get those all the time. Here are some of the answers and a slick way to know EXACTLY what the web address is to your listings IPW.

(1) YES, the IPW's are up and working, they have been for the past few years, but we changed the addressing scheme to match the address of the listing and a really cool, new look and feel.

(2) The standard address for your listings IPW's is www.address.cbtulsa.com

(3) The "address" part of the domain name is determined by how it is typed into MLS. If "street" is spelled out, then it will be in the domain name. If it is "st", then that's how it will show up.

Here's the easiest way to find the actual domain name for your listing's IPW:

(1) Go to www.cbtulsa.com and go to the details page of your listing.

(2) Click on the "View Property Website" link to the right of the photo. This will pull up the IPW of your listing.

(3) Look at the address bar of the website. SHAZAAM - There it is.

I hope this helps, especially if you are getting ready to go on a listing presentation, emailing a link to your seller, or inserting these links into your e-newsletter or flyer.

Text or Call - Let the Consumer Choose

Well, here we go again. At Coldwell Banker Select, we like to think of ourselves as "Technologically Advanced". Fancy term for simply providing the latest tools to our agents to help them grow their business. The latest development to our HomeFacts system does just that.

You can now TEXT the property code to (918) 990-0660 on your phone and receive a text message back with the basic information on the property, the listing agents name and contact info, and a link to the property listing on the agent's mobile website. The agent will be notified with the consumers phone number, the address of the property, and whether it was a text from the yard sign, Select Living, or whatever the source. Pretty slick. Even if you call the number, it will let you put in the code, just like the normal HomeFacts number.

The nice thing is when the consumer clicks on the mobile site link, they get to see all of the photos of the property. It's a great way to drive someone to the agent's mobile site, without having to do a lot of advertising.

Maybe, they'll even come up with something that will ask the consumer if they want a text with the property information, even if they call. (hint, hint, wink, wink!)

Engaging on Facebook

I've had a number of questions lately about Facebook and how would I recommend an agent "Engage" people on the site. Well, the short answer is "It Depends!" What do you want to accomplish? If you want to post your listings to other agents, then you need to have as many other real estate agents as your friends as you can. If you want to engage your LOR (List of Relationships), where most of your referrals are going to come from, then you need to have them as your friends.

Try this . . . create an A+, A, B and C list in Facebook and categorize your Friends, just like you do in your database. Then, every week, go into the A+ and A Group and look at each of their posts to see if there is anything that you can "comment" on or engage them with. Look for signs like, "My mother is moving to Seattle" - BAM - Engage and get the referral. or signs like, "We're having a baby" - BAM - larger home needer - Engage and work on the business. Remember that these are your A+ and A groups so they will more than likely refer to you anyway, as long as you care and pay attention to them.

You might also share your new listings with this group and ask if they know of anyone that would be insterested in the listing. Keep it personal and not too generic like most of the direct posts from MLS.

The other thing that I would do is post "something of value" at least every 2 weeks. Maybe a link to an article you've read about homeownership, low rates, etc... Or something that is going on in the community that you are involved with to show that you are "giving back".

Spend the time, but not tooooooooooooooooo much time. It's easy to get lost in it and then your day is shot.

LOR - A Change Taking Place

In the past we have put a lot of stock in what is termed the "Center of Influence". Some people use circle or sphere of influence. Well, I've been reading the Work by Referral book by Buffini and I've decided to change my vocabulary, or atleast the acronym, to LOR (List of Relationships). I think it better describes what we need to continuously do with those who are on our list - Build Relationship.

If you don't have one, start from scratch. You can use the following to help you develop that list:

• Friends and Family - These are people who are on your Christmas Card list.
• Current Clients - This group is often overlooked as a referral source.
• Past Clients - An easy one, but remember, 82% of people who sold a home said they would work with thier agent again. Let's not give them a chance to forget us.
• Groups and Associations - These are you church groups, PTA's, Hobby groups, teams, etc...
• Business Associates and Networks - Local Chambers, Contractors, Inspectors, Lenders, etc...

For those who already have a COI, the first step to converting it to an LOR is to evaluate the people that are on it.

Organize your list and group the relationships into 5 categories (A+, A, B, C, D)

• A+ - These are the people that send you multiple referrals a year.
• A - People most likely to refer you.
• B - People who would refer you if they were asked and shown how.
• C - People who MAY refer to you in the future.
• D - Difficult and Demanding people. I call this the "Ritual Removal Group"

All of the people in your LOR should fall into one of the above categories. Once you have them all categorized, it is imperative that you verify their information is correct (Address, Phone and Email).

There will be more to the story after Labor Day, so remember to take some time off, but also use your time wisely. It shouldn't take you more than an hour to come up with you names and categorize them. Then starting Tuesday, start verifying the info.

The Annonymous Client

Have you ever wondered why so many people (into the 90 percentile) who are looking for homes, use the internet? Especially when they can utilize a Realtor and have us do most of the work for them? Crazy isn't it. Well, we're salespeople, and one of the stereotypes of a "salesperson" is high pressure sales. Most of us have experieinced it. Some of us like being in that environment, we know how to handle it and navigate our way through it, but most people don't like it at all. They would rather have the "I'm just looking" approach and then if they have any question, they contact you. Which brings me to... (Dum Dum Duummmmmmmm) - The Internet Lead.

When someone's looking for homes on the internet, which almost everyone is, they remain anonymous, until they need a question answered. Once they ask a question, we have an opportunity to shine to that potential client. We may not know their financial situation, their motivation for buying, how long they've been in the market, or when or if they actually plan on buying, but as professionals, part of our job is to provide information to every possible buyer in the market for our listings. The question is this, if you were in a store "just looking" and had a question about a product that you were thinking of buying and yelled "Can somebody help me? I've got a question." and no one responded, would you move on to the next store where they possibly have a similar product? Would you be frustrated? What if someone heard you and said, "I can help, but I'll get to you in an hour." How would you feel then?

What if someone came right up and said, "I can help you with that, answer any questions you may have, AND if you're interested in anything else in this store or any other, I know all about that as well." Now how would that make you feel? Would you be more willing to work with that person? I know I would. If that's how we feel over an item that's $20 - $100 dollars, then how much more would we have those feelings with a $150,000 purchase.

So, I know Internet leads are tough, they come in at wierd times, and sometimes we don't know what to say, so we just don't do anything with them at all. PLEASE, Don't do that. In a market that is slower than we are used to, it is imperative that we handle these leads different than we have in the past.

I would argue, JUST RESPOND. Answer their questions and follow it up with a question of your own, like "Did you know I can answer any question you may have on any home on the market?" If they like you, you're in.

Just my thoughts. Please comment on this if you think I'm off base, or right on the money, or if you want some further help with what you might say to an Internet lead.

Incredible Potential - the iPad

OK, I finally was given the opportunity to get my hands on one of the new Apple iPad's. All I can say is "WOW"! This thing is the real deal. It doesn't take long before you are tapping, typing, drawing, surfing, reading, watching, etc... like a pro. Alot of people say, "well all it is is an iTouch, only bigger". That maybe true to some degree, but where the iTouch, and even the iPhone are lacking is the screen size.

I'm so excited about the opportunitites that this tool has for our industry, I am already thinking a million miles an hour.

So here's what I want you to do... sit back, close your eyes (after you've read this), and imagine with me. Imagine a world where all you need to do your real estate is your iPad. Imagine your calendar reminding you that you have a listing presentation. Imagine walking into the sellers house and being able to "hand-write" your notes about the property on your iPad. Imagine quickly opening your listing presentation on your iPad and "flipping" through all that you and Coldwell Banker Select have to offer. Imagine being able to present the listing documents that you can fill-in right on iPad. Imagine closing the deal and having your seller's sign the documents on your iPad and you emailing them a copy of it right then and there. Imagine those documents being copied to your office admin for processing. Imagine the full-color photos of the properties that you can show your buyers at the tips of your fingers.

Imagine, just imagine the potential.

Is all of that possible right now, NO, but will it be in the future...You Bet.

So, as I try to get this thing figured out, stay tuned.

Do you need some Margin?

In all aspects of our life, we need to have "Margin". Margin looks and feels different for every person, but it is needed. Margin is what keeps us from having the engines burn out, the plane dive and start into a flat spin that we can't pull out of. What does margin look like?

In your real estate life, margin may be the time you set aside to learn something you don't know how to do to make you better. It may be going to a conference and be motivated or inspired. It may simply be having coffee with a past client.

In your personal life, margin may be the time you spend at the lake just "chillin". It may taking a walk with you son or daughter, playing with your grand kids, taking a long-needed trip, or simply dressing up and going on a date with your spouse.

There are lots of other areas of our lives that we need margin. It is critical.

So for Memorial, take some time to have some Margin in every aspect of your life. Rejuvinate, get inspired, spend time with those you love, and come back ready to take on the world.