Jesse Vasquez

As we know the market has definately shifted, it is a new era and as such we need to think diferently as to how we get our business. I know for a FACT that there are buyers out there. When we see the NAR monthly reports we see that people are BUYING. Percentage wise we might be down, however bottom line is people are still buying.

What I want to know is where are those people and how do we get our hands on them, how do we find them? how do we get them to call us? If you build it they will come right? so why are they not coming like we want them too?

I think for the most part that over 80% of consumers are now going to the internet to buy a home OR to start the process (ok Jesse tell us something we dont know) right? ok so how can we as Realtors help these people? we are professionals, we belong to the National Association of Realtors, we belong to our states association of Realtors, we belong to the Multiple Listing Service? we have buyer certifications? we are graduates of Realtors institues, again we are professionals in what we do. We follow up with our buyers, we stay on top of the transactions, we negotiate for our buyers, and most of all we will support our buyers decisions and help them accomplish what they want. So again why are these buyers not coming to us?

I feel that the answer is simpler than what we think: ADVERTISING! MARKETTING! REFFERALS! that is the key!

Adversting means letting buyers know we are here. How? ActiveRain, Growthleader, Marketleader, Justlisted, websites, google, yahoo, and more. Does print work, I dont think so not like in the past. This is why I am spending my time Marketting myself on the internet and signing up with REPUTABLE COMPANIES that will be giving me the exposure that I need to be successful. Folks the buyers are there, we just need to get them to us, and these companies have the POWER to get these buyers to us, by leads, by sending these buyers to our websites and more, it does cost money however to make money one needs to spend some money, dont throw it away but be smart

Off course we must continue doing some of the old stuff too ie. floor, open house, etc. however as Brian Buffini puts it, "that is old school" we must get with the program and get into the 21st century. Are you a part of the 21st Century? oh and by the way I am never to busy for your referals!

I dont know about you, but for me this has been a very long week, by Tuesday I was hoping it was Friday. My RE/MAX office moved locations and so its been a bit crazy. What I have noticed this week here In Tampa is that things are going to get better. As you all know we have been hit pretty hard, our prices here have dropped over 25%, my home has lost 30% of its Value in just 18 months! and so yes its been bad. But my fellow Americans I do see a light at the end of the tunnel, I know we all watch the news, "new homes fell by 10%" "existing homes sales fell by 10%" "this is the worst its been in the last 25 years", well you know what, I AGREE, but enough with the bad news, how about some good news! how about the fact that now our median price here in Tampa is $140,000 from the $245,000 a year ago, and now first time buyers and people with lower income can BUY HOMES, how about the fact that homes are starting to move and we are having some closings, how about the fact that my subdvision sold 3 homes in just this past week. I know its bad out there, and I know that people are going through very hard times, I get it! but I think that we should also share some good news with people so that they can start to feel confident again and start buying homes. I might be off base on this one, but I think its time to search for some good news in all this negative press, or we will never get buyers out to buy homes.