Club Chaos Agents - All Things Hollish, Wacked, and Jacked

You Think Your House is Worth WHAT? Pricing Your Home to Sell

O.k., so you've looked on the Internet, you've checked the Real Estate Weekly - and you've talked to your Neighbors.  You're pretty sure you know what you WANT your home to be worth.  Next step?  You call the Realtors in.

Everyone says you should interview 3 Realtors - so that's what you do!  And sceptically you await their Verdicts!  Does the highest Bid (because that's what it often is)  win your Vote?  Well it shouldn't and let me tell you why.

 

 

                                                      

                                                              

                                                  BUT Your neighbor's house just sold for XXXXX!

 

First of all, Realtors have access to the same information Online.  By doing a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) they should be able to come very close to the Range of Your Home's Value.  They will see which homes are currently Listed, those that will be in direct competition with Your Home; they will see which comparable homes have Sold recently; and they will ALSO see which homes have 'Expired'....(Listed But Not Sold). That's the Starting Point!

If you use a Local Realtor - which is what I Recommend- they'll also be able to take into consideration different factors about your neighborhood - like development, schools, safety, proximity to transport etc.     

                                                            BUT Your House has been upgraded!

                                                                 

Now where no 2 homes are exactly alike - chances are we've seen most of the homes for sale in your area and have an inside view that you may not have seen.  Even online photos won't give you a complete view of how these homes compare. 

In many ways - it's the Buyer that ultimately determines the value of your home. A house is worth what somebody will pay for it.  It's important to try and anticipate what MOST buyers will pay for it. If the price is too high - you may just end up remaining THAT Buyer!  If your home should by some chance sell for more then the estimated value, remember the home still needs to be Appraised for the Buyer's Bank, and if it's overpriced it just may not!

                                      BUT That's What INEEEEEEEED to Get for My Home!

There is the odd time that a home is unusual and there are not direct comparables, sometimes this requires a trial and error strategy where we have to gage potential buyer responses in order to fine tune the price. 

Another factor is the current 'Real Estate market'.  Is it a  Buyer's market or a Seller's market - or is it balanced? What kind of standing inventory is in the market in your price range. These will all factor in to your pricing.

The value of a home can also be estimated in part by using the price per square foot calculation.  But you do have to use a sliding scale of adjustment.  The 'core' of the home is worth more then the peripheral square footage. ie. the price per sq. foot for a 1000 sq. foot rancher will be higher then that of a 3000 sq. ft. basement home. 

Should you start higher - after all - you can always come down??? No! If you do that you should be charging your competitor a fee for helping them sell THEIR home!

Remember the most critical time for selling your home is in the first 30 days.  Longer then that you can bet your bottom dollar, (and unfortunately that's probably what it will end up being) that the Buyer will be paying attention to your 'days on market' when making both their buying decision and price point! 

How do you know if your house is priced right?  Feedback! Your Realtor will be calling to get feedback on showings from both the Buyer and their Realtor.  If you've had over 6 showings and have been on the market for 3 or so weeks  that should give you some idea of what the market thinks.  Unusual or high end homes could be the exception here though. 

Sometimes the most important factor is YOUR motivation. How motivated are you to sell?   I know a lot of Seller's like to tell us that 'they don't HAVE to sell'.......and in most cases that's true - you don't!  But if you do want to sell your home call a Realtor that knows your market and will be honest with you - because that's what a professional does - they Help you Price Your Home to Sell!  

 

                         

                                          

 

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz  Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.     

Copyright © 2009 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. All photos taken by Liz Moras and copywritten.  Please do not use without permission.   Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive.  It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd.   

                                                  

                                                                    

 

What's Your Commission? On Hiring a Realtor Based on their Fee... 

I always say (oh well maybe somebody did say it before me) - if the Realtor cannot negotiate their own Commission then how are they going to negotiate the best price possible for your home? Negotiation skills. I would think, given a choice - you would want an aggressive negotiator, not someone that either doesn't believe in their own ability or the value of your home!

The question that begs to be asked is....Why do some Real Estate Agents offer Discounted Fees?  Is it because they're the Good Guy?  They just want to see more money in your pocket then theirs?  

 

                                       

Well there could be a number of reasons:

- they feel that's the only way they can compete

- they have poor negotiation skills

- they have trouble justifying their own worth

- they're hoping to make up for it in volume 

- the agent is desperate - any commission is better then no commission

- qualifications/experience of the Realtor

- you're willing to do the marketing instead

- they feel sorry for you

- they believe in pro bono

- having a sign on your lawn is more important then the commission

 

                                        

So let's do a little review.

Did you know that the commission the seller pays is split between the Selling Agent (the person with the buyer) and the Listing Agent (the person with the seller). So if the commission is 6% then typically 3% will go to the Selling Agent and 3% will go to Listing Agent.  Sometimes we Realtors assume that you know that!  However I'm pretty sure that some of you think we get the whole kit and caboodle!

Do you know that there are Real Estate Companies out there that Do Not put your home on The Mutiple Listing System (MLS)?  They have this 'exclusivity' thing happening.  They think that their paycheque might be a lot bigger if they do not have to co-operate and share their commission if they get to to List AND Sell your home. Be sure to ask them what portion of the commission you are paying will be going to the Selling Broker.   How much longer do you think it will take to sell your home if it's only YOUR AGENT  that's trying to sell it? I think I read somewhere that it's like 16:100 odds. 

When looking at an MLS Listing - the Selling Agent can see the commission they will be paid.  It may not show up on the Public Version - but that information is disclosed in the Realtor's version.   Note:  It's the Selling Agent that reviews the properties for sale in the MLS and most often choose those they deem appropriate for their buyer. Guess what?  Herein lies the conundrum.

Now put yourself in the Selling Agent's shoes. You can sell House A or could sell House B. But house A will pay you $1,000, $4,000, $7,000 or MORE! You have mortgage payment, bills, & children to support. Which house would you like to sell?

Did you know that unlike Doctors, Lawyers and Government Employees - Realtors are not paid per hour.  But we do take all the risk by putting our time & money into advertising YOUR property in order to get it sold. Chances are we also have an OFFICE cost, MLS Fees, Board Fees and more! Do you know that we only get paid if the Seller sells and the Buyer buys? If they don't our costs are not recovered.

So no - commission is not regulated - there is no set rate if you're selling your home - but it IS a good idea that the commission you're paying the Selling Realtor is  in-line with the rest of the comparable houses on the market.  Market slow?  Well in that case you might even consider offering a greater sales commission or a sales bonus.  You say WHAT???  But look at it this way.  For every week/month your home doesn't sell - how much will THAT cost you? You get to choose!

Still think you'd like to go with a Discount Broker?

*Please note - this is not meant to suggest that the Commission fee charged is the only criteria - there are many, many different aspects to hiring the right Realtor. Please check out these posts: 

How Do I Find a Good Realtor? 

Is It Wrong to Work With More Then One Realtor?

Speaking of Statistics...What's the Difference Between Median Price and Average Price?

Don't Have a Site Survey - Title Insurance - Should You Get It?

 

                                             

 

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz  Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.     

Copyright © 2009 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. All photos by Liz Moras ( except the one's I'm in!). All information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive.  It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd..   

                               

 

 

How do I Find a Good Realtor I Should Work With?

It's a common question - and perhaps not one always asked of THE Realtor - but definitely one discussed amongst the public! I just did a post -  Is It Wrong to Work With More Then One Realtor? and one question begets another.  It reminded me of a conversation I had recently. 

I was working my mall shift at the Kiosk the other day ~ and chatting with a customer and she asked..."But How do I find the Good Realtor?".......And I thought to myself - the choice Must be confusing for people!  If you don't have someone you know recommend one - and if you don't want to solely rely on the ads in the Real Estate Weekly what do you do?

                                   

Well I can tell you what you Don't Want to do!  And that's choose on the basis of the Lowest Commission and Who Suggests the Highest Price for your home!  But that's the subject of another post.  This one is about what you Should Do!

Some people go for Experience -  believing that is the KEY! And it could be - but brand new agents can be amazing as well.  There's something about enthusiasm and thinking anything is possible - that can be pretty powerful!

I'm a big believer in Enthusiasm:  When an agent shows excitement about your home it'll come through in every conversation whether it be on the phone - at an open house - or through their advertising! They'll be able to convince both Realtors and Customers to view the house but still make recommendations to show your home in it's best light!

Marketing  has always been important ~ but these days a Web presence is critical!  I believe one of the first things you should do is GOOGLE them.  Google their name, their company and things like  'Your Town/Community Realtor' and see what comes up.  Ask the Realtor if they BLOG, evaluate their Website (because of course they HAVE to have one)....Ask them to show you how they market other homes - that'll give you a pretty good clue!  If you're not computer savy then ask a friend that is!

Find out where the Realtors advertise ~ Real Estate Newspapers have become passe in some communities so don't be surprised if they don't advertise in newspapers - but let them show you how they will market your property.  In the same way Open Houses can be a good tool in some areas and yet not in others. So ask questions and ask why.  Ultimately you want to get to the point where you trust the Realtor in their choice of marketing !

Communication:  You want an agent that can tell you The Good, The Bad and the Ugly! A phone call after each showing is not too much to expect, nor is a monthly report outlining showings, ads placed, feedback, etc. You should be able to expect a return phone call within a few hours - but some Realtors don't work Weekends or evenings - so make sure you know what you can expect.

All that being said.......I find Intuition and 'Gut Feelings' can also be a powerful factor.  You'll know if you feel uneasy about the potential association or if there's a mutual respect and camaraderie. My best advice? Research, Ask Questions And then go with your Gut Feeling! 

 

 

                                          

 

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz  Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.     

Copyright © 2009 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. All photos taken by Liz Moras and copywritten.  Please do not use without permission.   Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive.  It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd.   

                                                  

                                                                    

Is It Wrong to Work With More Then One Realtor?

Home buyer: " Is it wrong to work with more then one Realtor at the same time? I'm trying to follow proper home-buying etiquette. My friends tell me it's O.k. as long as I keep track of which Realtor showed which property. That way, if you end up purchasing, the correct Realtor is compensated. I've not signed any exclusive contracts with any Realtor.

Is it OK as long as I make sure both Realtors realize I'm working with another agent as well? Some people have told me that Realtors know customers might be working with others, and it's not a big deal."

                                                   

Isn't that a good question? As a Realtor,  I definitely have a 'biased' perpective and answer to that question.  But since the question involves 'working with a Realtor' - who better to answer it? :) 

1.)Yes - if you're working with Realtor's in two different Cities - where each has their own area of expertise! Go ahead and Use 2 Different Realtors! As a matter of fact your local Realtor can probably refer you to a Realtor in the city you're moving to.

2.)If you are Selling Your Home and Buying again - it is possible to work with a Listing Agent to sell your home and a Buyer's Agent in the purchase of your new home.  Often these 2 Realtors can even be a part of a team where they tag-team each other.

More importantly however, is the Buyer asking about this from a legal or moral/ethical perspective?

First of all I want to say that Real Estate Associations in each Province and State have their own rules.  There used to be 'threshold' rights in British Columbia.  This is where the Realtor who introduces you to the house - is the Realtor who gets the commission.  However it's not so cut and dried anymore.

If you signed a Buyer's Agency Agreement - then you are under 'contract' to work with that and only that Realtor.  If for some reason you choose not to - then your new Realtor may very well end up getting paid by YOU or not at all!  And YOU will be breaching a contract to work with another agent. This can get ugly ... and no one wants "ugly" ...

However if you have No Contract - Let  me Tell you You some Reasons Why it is NOT a good idea to work with more then One Realtor!

Home Buyers often call on signs and advertisements and talk with MANY real estate agents until they find a home that they want to buy ... and then just work with the listing agent to buy the home. Sometimes this is not a good idea, as the home buyer may not get the best deal if  the listing agent is looking out for the best interest of the seller ... not the buyer.

Or the Buyer may work with several different Buyer Agents to see who will find them the best deal. This is ALSO not a very good idea for a couple reasons ...

 

                               

1.  First of all all Agents have the same access to the same homes for sale via the local MLS.  They all have the potential of finding the "best deal".

However Agents only get paid when they successfully find a home for a home buyer ... and it closes. All the up front work of finding the home is done without pay and in good faith that the home buyer that they are working with is using them to represent them. If a home buyer is not disclosing that they are potentially working with other agents, then the Buyer Agent does not have the ability to fairly weigh out the situation and determine whether or not they want to work with that home buyer.

There Are some exceptions though:

1. If a home buyer wants to work with more than one agent (for whatever reason), the right thing to do is to NOT sign a Buyer Agency Agreement and to notify each agent of this decision.
2. If a home buyer is considering buying different types of property or different areas, they may consider hiring an "expert" for each area. 
3. If you're still not sure and don't know if you will like being 'married' to just one agent - Consider  signing a week long Buyer Agency agreement - If after that week, the agent is not a good fit, then the home buyer can move on and find a new agent. Win Win right?

Finding ONE agent to work with is generally going to be your best bet.

                                          

 

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz  Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.     

Copyright © 2009 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. All photos taken by Liz Moras and copywritten.  Please do not use without permission.   Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive.  It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd.   

                                                  

                                                                         

 

You want to buy a house in Chilliwack and need a mortgage or want to remortgage your current home?  Some people think their only option is to go to their local bank - preferably the one that already has their chequing account! However your options are much greater then that.  Let's explore some of them :-)

                                                

1) Mortgage  Lending Centres-  are  located in the larger metropolitan areas like Vancouver, and are used by the mortgage brokerage industry extensively.  These types of lenders are policy and documentation driven with stringent policy standards.  Rates are usually competitive. 
 
2) Local Financial Institutions -  these lenders are usually easier to deal with because they're local. These lenders are in a position to be more creative and are able to work with policy but are able to make exceptions within reasonable limits. They are also more in tune with the local markets and have the ability to approve those difficult deals without going to a head office.

3) Mortgage Investment Companies - these are large mortgage brokerage firms that manage and invest private funds on a large scale. They are easier to deal with however rates are usually higher and loan-to-values are usually much lower (75.0% or less) than the standard 80% through conventional sources.  A good source when one does not qualify through the conventional lenders. 
 
4) Private lenders -  these are individuals that administer their own funds and use a mortgage broker to obtain/arrange their mortgages. All financing details are processed through the private investors notary or solicitor. Rates are established based on the clients circumstances but are within reason so that it is affordable to the borrower. Loan to value ratios are maintained at a very strict level of 75.0% or less depending on the deal. Brokerage fees are charged when private funding is used and these fees are payable to the mortgage broker and paid by the borrower from the mortgage proceeds. 

Mortgage Brokers - can use any of the above resources and sometimes you'll find that the relationships they've developed within these various sources can help insure that you get get a better rate. 

Remember!  The posted Rate - is only the Posted Rate - typically you can negotiate, or competitively shop a better rate depending on your specific financial qualifications.  But you do have to ask ~ in many instances you will not be offered the best rate available unless you ask!

 

 

What do These Mortgage Terms Mean?

*Amortization is the amount of time needed to reduce the loan to $0. A conventional mortgage is 25 years, but amortization can range anywhere from five to 35 years. The shorter the amortization, the higher your regular payments will be, but the less you'll pay in interest over the life of the loan. Generally, amortization is several mortgage term periods.

*The mortgage term is the period of time that the mortgage agreement is in effect. These typically run from six months to 10 years. At the end of the term, you will either repay the full mortgage amount, or the mortgage is renegotiated at then-current market rates and conditions.

*Another decision when deciding on a mortgage term is whether to have a fixed rate or a variable rate. With a variable-rate mortgage, the interest rate changes as the prime lending rate changes and they generally offer the lowest rates.

*With a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rate is set for the length of the mortgage term. Fixed rates, while slightly higher, offer you the security of knowing how much you'll pay in principal and interest on each regular mortgage payment.

Payment frequency. You can choose to make your mortgage payments monthly, semi-monthly (twice a month), bi-weekly (every two weeks) or weekly. The bi-weekly and weekly payments can be accelerated allowing you to reduce your mortgage principal more quickly.

A down payment - The amount of your own money that you use to buy your home - often expressed as a percentage of the purchase price.  

                                                                     

 

                                          

 

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz  Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.     

Copyright © 2009 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. All photos taken by Liz Moras and copywritten.  Please do not use without permission.   Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive.  It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd.   

                                                  

                                                                         

 

 

"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!"          Thinking outside the box - Willingness to take new perspectives to day-to-day work. Openness to do different things and to do things differently.Focusing on the value of finding new ideas and acting on them.

Striving to create value in new ways.

Listening to others.

Supporting and respecting others when they come up with new ideas.

    

Sometimes to "assume the absurd."...can be fun.... All you do is start making absurd assumptions, then finding ways to make sense of them. The easiest way to do it is by asking "what if.".

Another way to more innovative ideas is to literally do your thinking out of the box. Get out of the house or the office.  Drive home or to work a different way - be consciously 'unhabitual' in the way you do things!

                                                           Shift Your Paradigm!

 

Watch any good comedian and you'll notice that they have trained their mind to look for the "different angle" on everyday things. You can probably  train your  brain the same way!

 

                                                

  

                                             

 

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz  Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.     

Copyright © 2009 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. All information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive.  It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd..   

                               

 

Ever wonder  Why Me?  How come Joe Blow seems to be making a ton of money but not me?  "Oh that Mary Jean........?  Well the reason Mary Jean does so well is because she has "the gift of gab"  And Tom Thumb? Well the Thumb family goes way back - they're all over this town.......no wonder!... 

                                                                

                                                

Are These Money Myths Holding You back?                                                                           

1) SOMEONE WILL TAKE CARE OF ME Myth - Ever played this one on your violin?  I'm entitled to have someone take care of me - I deserve it - I've worked hard -  its my turn?  Or so and so gets taken care why not me?  Well the fact of the matter is - no one can take care of you the way you deserve to be taken care of -  but you!   

                                                                                         $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 2.) Myth - I CAN ONLY DO WH$AT I UNDERSTAND - I'm not a Genius!   Well Talent is seriously Overrated!( t is not what prevails!- its doing something consistently that prevails.  Have you ever known a Realtor that's successful that doesn't appear to be all that smart? Hmm - The Fact of the matter is that Personality and IQ tests don't test Motivation!                                                                                  

We Think Way too Much and make things Way to Complicated...Don't know what to do or how to do it?   Find someone who has what you want - and do what they're doing! Simple...- quit judging just find someone you respect that's successful and copy them!

                                                                   $$$$$$$$$$$$

 

3.) Myth - THAT LONG HOURS AND HARD WORK ARE VIRTUOUS - We are in the Era of extra Effort, but its really about INTENSITY - you can get more done if you bring heat to to everything - prioritize - know when to bring the heat...  PEOPLE CHEAT BY USING HOURS INSTEAD OF INTENSITY!  

                                                                                        $$$$$$$$$$$

4.) THE I'M SELF-MADE MYTH - no one is!  No one succeeds alone....but it is important to focus on key relationship........focus on less people......Gary Keller talks about the 3 Foot Rule.........Relationships within 3 ft of you!  Ie. Christ focused specifically on 12 people......Key:  Choose empowering relationships!

                                                                                        $$$$$$$$$$$

5.)  Myth - THE EVERYTHING MATTERS EQUALLY!  We have a tendancy to prioritize and then act like everything matters equally...? Understanding what matters is critical and not everything is equal! It really is important to focus on Quality vs quantity.   A Job is not about getting a lot of things done...its about getting the right things done! When you're focused everything else is a distraction. Pick the one thing  today that is an absolute priority and everything else becomes easier and irrelevant.

                                                                                        $$$$$$$$$$$$

6.) Myth - THAT YOU SUCCEED YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS - Failure is the way to success! If you fail a lot it means you're being active. Plan - but know that  things never go as planned so be prepared to correct them..AND Pay Attention!   Successful People are Failures that Didn't Give Up!                                                               

Most people fail right at the finish line - because its not a physical line.......sometimes its difficult to judge ...but the Best life has to have Unbridled effort!

                                                                                   

                                *Taken in Part From Gary Keller's Quantum Leap Seminar

 

                    

                                                                   

                                     If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you're considering a career in Real Estate or would like more information about Keller Williams please give Liz  Moras a call!  Managing Broker and Team Leader - 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@shaw.ca.   

 

The theme for last weeks sales meeting was ..........you guessed it! Feel the Fear AND Do it Anyway!......That is the Title of Susan Jeffers Iconic book on Overcoming Fear.......As Realtors what are the fears that hold you back?  (Be sure to check out the Video below!)

 

Eleanor Roosevelt wrote..."You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." Is that not true? 

One of the most common answers to that question.....Can you guess?  Fear of Rejection, Hearing the Word "No"....!

Why don't we Cold Call, Warm Call (sometimes worse because if you talk to someone you already know - its more personal!).......Door Knock?

And Yet... Imagine having a job where everyday you go to work you have the opportunity to possibly earn in excess of $10,000 everytime you pick up the phone. Hmmmm....There aren't that many professions out there that could have that outcome - just by picking up the phone and calling!  How lucky are we ?  I mean really!

We've heard it time and time again.. that cold calling is a numbers game. This means that when you increase the time you spend cold calling, you're that much closer! When a client answers and tells you they've already listed or just purchased all that means is that another Realtor probably Called and Closed that Client First!

We all know what a commitment is, but few of us enjoy making certain commitments. I can almost gaurantee you that if you can commit 3 hours a day on the phone 5 days of the week, you will be successful. These 3 hours should be dedicated to cold calling.  You'll develop some thick skin and learn to create oppurtunities for yourself through the art of professional telephone sales.

There are no amazing secrets that I can share with you that will build your pipeline faster or create instant business. So you have to do it the old fashioned way.. Stay commited and consistent in order to build successful momentum which in turn will help you develop a successful career!

 

                                 

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Still afraid of Cold Calling?.....Check out this Video.....(click the link)...... Face the Fear!

 

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Our Greatest Fear


Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

 (Nelson Mandela 1994 Inaugural Speech)

 

  

 

                    

                                                                   

                                     If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you're considering a career in Real Estate or would like more information about Keller Williams please give Liz  Moras a call!  Managing Broker and Team Leader - 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@shaw.ca.   

 

 A couple of months ago I wrote.........Ok so I have Twitter - but I still Feel Out of the Loop! And I had a lot of people come by and comment.......some were part of the Twitter Renegade from way back....like Jason Crouch and Missy Caulk...........Rita Burke even wrote a 4 part Series on Twittering! And others had signed up but didn't know what to do next.........and many still didn't have a clue......I guess we haven't done such a good job of explaining how it can actually benefit us as Realtors!

 

A few years ago no one even knew about Twitter........today there are more then 6 million users of this micro-blogging platform..........Even Fox News and CNN use it to monitor public reaction and to get feedback on breaking stories - events and issues...

                      

 

What a way to Tap into a collective conscious, to connect with people outside your normal sphere? You never know who'll be listening......sort of like in a coffee shop filled with people......where you can tune into a variety of conversations!

And yes, it can be an incredible time waster - especially if its keeping you from doing some actual work or keeping you from your family.........like anything else you have to have some self control.......

                      

But How Can it Actually Help Our Business?

1.) Use Twitter to personalizes both the company and the Realtor.....blogging does that too but  one actually does have to write......Tweeting on the other hand requires little spurts of thought........not necessarily a whole train of thought but maybe the caboose......actually a 140 characters is the limit so......brain pharts  just might work! But they don't have to be profound statements..but they can.....OR they can be the little trivialities that actually allow someone to 'connect ' with some part of you.....Not to mention that Tweeting is one of the best ways to send more people to your Blog!

2.)Look at Twitter as an educational resource. If you can find a few people to follow who inspire you and share insight and information that can improve the way you do business, wouldn't that be great?

3.)Use Twitter as a networking resource. There are some really interesting people on Twitter. There are probably some interesting people right in your own city on Twitter. Seek them out, engage them, and increase your network. You can even meet them in real life. At least you know that you have one thing in common right away- Twitter.

 4.)Reach Out into Your Community with Twitter......its those little tweets that allow you to send out an 'amber alert'; send out breaking news.......share info about conferences and events...talk about this terrific restaurant in your community.......or tell about the terrific 'customer service' you received from someone!

5.) You can use Twitter as a way of touching your clients. Invite your clients to use Twitter. They can follow you, you can follow them. You can all exchange information and ideas. You could notify them of new listings, open houses, share links you think they might enjoy or find informative. Basically, you can build your very own Twitter real estate community....AND Twitter your Niche!

6.)Use Twitter to do Polls and Surveys - Feedback is powerful! Get advice and opinions from those way more seasoned then yourself!  Gather useful intelligence......just beware that means Criticism as well........but used wisely it could take your business down a whole new direction!

                                                     

So when it comes right down to it...........as you're 'tweeting' away.......share not so much what you're 'doing'........but rather....what you're 'thinking'!  Most of us don't really need to know where you're going but we might be interested in what 'moves' you...you know what I mean? :-)

                        Here's a Video Howard Rause put together on WHY People Love Twitter!  

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                                     If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you're considering a career in Real Estate or would like more information about Keller Williams please give Liz  Moras a call!  Managing Broker and Team Leader - 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@shaw.ca.   

 

The Real Estate Game has much in common with TV Game Shows.......little did we know ..when we were first watching them though - that we were actually Realtors in Training!  Yes we may have been Teachers, Builders, Mothers, Bankers.....but we knew deep down in our hearts we'd always wanted to be Realtors! And this is where we first got our training wheels!

One of the first lessons we had to learn - was that we needed our clients ...                  

otherwise there were 'dire' consequences.....for both them....and Us!

Newly married couples shopping for their first house - became one of our first adventures....this was where  we and "they" found out how much they REALLY knew about each other! 

New to the 'experience' the Newlywed couple invites the whole fam damily  to 'contribute'......The 2nd showing includes, mom (the ex-realtor) and dad (the inspector), cousin Sue (the home decorator), Uncle Dan (the landscaper), pops (the negotiator)  and the neighbour...... well hmm we won't go there....

 We all know its about the Price..Right?   

Something else we were soon to find out was..

And then there are the investors......although in the past few years...the steller appreciation in the value of homes made 'millionaires' as fast as it defrocked them in the months to come...

 This is where our talents really come to the forefront....

The hard-line tactics of the Purchaser.......at this point put the Deal in ....

But Rambo Realtor once again Saves the day after negotiating late into the night.....makes one last phone call back to the Client...So......do we have a Deal or No Deal?

 This particular game is a tribute to the Realtor...who through rain and sleet and snow......hmmm no thats the postman..........the Realtor after 42 showings, 3 offers, 4 counter-offers....becomes

 

Do tell if I missed one that we should add to the list! :-)

Update: Love the contributions!

Press your luck - No Whammy No Whammy  Game Show - Todd Clarks

Match Game - Sharon Tara

Password - Mara Hawks

20,000 Pyramid - Mara Hawks

$64,000 Question - are all great......maybe we should do a Sequel?

The Amazing Race - Kristi deFazio

  

 

Also  please join our..New Group......and Post your (not only) FrIdAy FUnNiEes...   And Let the Fun Begin!

                                            

                 

 

  

                                             

 

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz  Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.     

Copyright © 2009 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved.  All information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive.  It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd..