Frances C. Rokicki, Broker~Mentor,CRS

While I was out showing properties today, I noticed that there were many buyers out looking at homes! In the morning, I showed condos. We wrote a P & S and later in the afternoon, it was accepted by the Sellers. Starting at noon, I was showing houses. The first one we visited, had six showings after me! Wow! How is that for Spring Market?

In Connecticut today, it rained and was cloudy and miserable. Still cold here, too. I was amazed at the amount of buyers that were out on such a dismal day! Happy to see them out and about, looking at homes! My clients and I stopped by 2 open housees. They were located in two different towns. No kidding, there had to be fifteen to twenty names on each of the sign-in sheets.

The homes were lovely and I have no doubt that they will be gone in the morning. They shined, even on a rainy day! Those homes that are maintained, updated and have a good location, still sell quickly. I believe that they are the homes in demand. The buyers are looking for the extras. Newer kitchen, appliances, oak floors, new doors, new light fixtures, new roof, new furnace, etc.

Just had to share my day with all of you. There are good buys out there! It seems, that today in Connecticut, the buyers were out trying to find a home to buy! Even in the pouring rain!

It's a Good Life!

Fran

Oh, By the Way....if you know of someone, in Connecticut, who may need my good servcies, please forward their contact information to me. I will be happy to follow-up and take excellent care of them for you! I am never too busy for your referrals!

Broker~Mentor, CRS, GRI, ABR, SRES, e-PRO

I had almost forgotten about it. Then, just minutes before it came online live, I clicked in and signed on. I had thought from the various news reports that you would be able to pose questions for the President. However, much to my dismay, the questions were chosen ahead of time. Not sure how much ahead of time. Clearly, the question posting was closed as were the votes for choices of those we wanted answered.

They chose one silly one. It was if the government was to legalize marijuana and gain revenue from the sale of taxing it, to the consumer. What? I really had hoped for better questions. The President, just said no, we won't be doing that to raise revenue. Did anyone really chose this question?

I applaud the new administration for opening up this town meeting online. However, I hope that in future online meetings, someone else does vote for what questions are important in today's economy. I will be looking into the details of when these questions are able to be inputed for the opportunity of being answered by our President and how the voting takes place.

If you are interested, the site started on YouTube and redirected me to www.WhiteHouse.gov Hoping to share my thoughts and learn from others while visiting this new forum. Join in and share your ideas, too!

It's a Good Life!

Fran

Yes, I know it is a weekend. You only need to write those notes, according to my Coach, Brian Buffini, during the five workdays of the week. Well, this week I was so busy with active buyers and family, that I fell behind on Monday and Tuesday. So, today, when I went out for my morning coffee, I found a corner table and wrote seven more notes.

These notes do not have to be lengthy. Just a short note, to check in. Or, to say hello:) The main idea is to keep a personal connection with those folks that you just saw or spoke to within the last week. It may be to one of your children, your spouse, sister, brother, etc.

Often times, in this market, a note is very welcomed by a fellow Realtor or Mortgage Officer. Make someone's day, take a few minutes and write a note. By the way, it will make you feel real good, too!

It's a Good Life!

Fran

Okay, so, what are your plans to increase your revenue for the next quarter? Have you a plan? If you don't, get one, now. Start today. Plan what you will do for the next 90 days to increase your business.

One idea that I will provide to you, today, is to attend or host a business mixer. Your local business community holds these events on a regular basis. Join your local Chamber of Commerce. Learn who your business community and support are. It is not expensive, yet, the business that you will generate from these business associations will provide you with growth and income. Everyone has a niche, find yours.

If you are able to, make a list of all of the businesses that you work with on your transactions. Whether it be five or twenty, write down their names and contact information. Now, choose a date. Early evenings seem to work best. Say, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. You can hold this at your office, or, at one of the businesses. You can serve light refreshments. After all, you are all there to create and share business, not to eat a meal. Having a doorprize, donated by a local company, may entice more to attend. You can use an online invitation(evite.com)free, a handwritten communication or your phone. The object is to contact and confirm their attendance.

Get out and get together with your vendors! Network with them, share your marketing ideas and exchange cards! There is business out there. You need to go out and find it. These businesses have friends, family members and neighbors who may be in need of a good Realtor. Make sure that they think of you, when they are looking to refer someone.

It's a Good Life!

Fran

Do you think of yourself as an entity? Well, you are. You do not work for your brokerage. You work with your brokerage, to succeed in business as a whole. It is a super support system for most. Guidance, love, encouragement, marketing tips and ideas, and a sense of belonging to a family, a group.

However, you are self-employed. You are not an employee. An independent contractor, in most states, applies to our profession, as Realtors. Treat yourself as a business. Keep your monies separate. Open a checking and a savings account for your business. You can form an LLC, easily, and it is not expensive. Usually, under one hundred dollars, through an attorney. Make an appointment with an attorney and discuss your options about incorporating your business.

When you need monies for your marketing campaigns, ads, or your various Realtor expenses, are you financing with credit cards? Amazingly, interest rates on home loans are falling, yet, the credit card companies are rising, out of sight. They have no government caps any longer, in my state. In our state of Connecticut, the cap of 18% for credit card debt, was removed in 1994. Check with your state government to see if you have a cap on credit card interests. Paying 22% - 30% interest is just nuts and will put you at risk of going out of business. So, redesigning your finances now, would be wise. You may want to look into the Small Business Administration of the US. You can find them online and, also, find answers to most, if not all, of your questions. A local bank or credit union may be offering loans for small businesses, too. The next time you are at your local bank, ask the teller or loan officer, what programs they may have that might be appropriate for your needs.

Stated income loans or non-conforming loans, no longer exist for us. The subprime market ate up our chance of ever using that option any longer. Even if you hold high credit scores, which used to be the case prior to the high market, you cannot secure a loan without verifying your income, by current paychecks and going back 2 - 3 years of your income taxes. Being self-employed, most of your income continues to support your daily business. If you have equity in your home, that would help. You will be held to the income standards of the general population.

If you do need to use credit cards for your business, here is the advice that my nephew gave to me. Go to Google and search for fixed rate, low interest credit cards. Rather than the 0% that is for a limited time, stick with a fixed rate plan, so that, you know what your exposure will be down the road on this card. One more tip, read the book, The E-Myth Revisited, written by Michael E. Gerber. Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It.

Wishing you a good spring market! Get out and get it done!

It's a Good Life!

Fran