Makeover 2 Takeover

So this weeks challenge was an eye opener. I thought it was going to be an easy week. Guess what I was wrong. Man trying to be creative with a shoe string budget is not as easy as it sounds. Everything cost money. So it took me a while to come up with some ideas. Midori kept shootimg them out at me, but I also had to feel comfortable with the ideas. I want to be able to take what we have learned and adapt it to my business.

She is a trooper though, she has a lot of patience. Guess being a trainer you need to have it. Funny when we first started this competition she told me you are going to get sick of me. I told her I think it will be the other way around. I ask a lot of questions. I'm not afraid to ask trust me!!! (Ask Rich)

I think I pick the perfect person to Mentor me. Really we click so well and can read each others minds. We talk late with skype. She understands that its easier for me to talk to her once the kiddos are in bed asleep. I tried it when there up, no good really. She laughs at it because she remembers herself when her boys were that age.

I am happy I entered this contest. In a little over 3 weeks I have learned and accomplished so much thanks to Midori. And to Rich because he started this!

I look forward to seeing what Rich has instored for us in week 4!

Wow week two challenge is over and today is the day we find out the results. I can't tell you how much work this week was. As Midori mentioned yesterday I had no listing presentation together. I am with a small broker and usually would use just the CMA that came with the MLS for a listing presentation. So I had to start from scratch. Having to research and gather all stats and figure out what I was going to use.

Now this entire week was hectic. She had her Tech fair and I had my kids home from school. So my research was done either very early in the morning or late at night while we were on Skpye. I had all these different ideas and trying to get them out of my head was not easy. Every tiime something popped in I would shoot Midori an email. And she would say we could work with that. She kept saying that it this is my presentation and I would have to feel as comfortable as possible with it.

We had a particular slide show already going and I had found a different one after I started plugging in the information. I changed it and sent Midori another email telling her please don't kill me but I changed what we were going with. She was ok with it, in fact really liked it. So off to finish that.

So Thursday and Friday she was consumed with the Tech fair and more ideas were coming up and I knew I couldn't get here. so Saturday morning she calls and again I tell her don't shoot me but I got a few more ideas and need to figure out how to do it. Mind you we need to turn my stuff in Sunday. Saturday should be a day of fine tuning what we had and here I am trying to add a new thing!

Ok Ok we can do this no problem, on top of that I had a new listing appointment that Afternoon (which I got BTW), and two buyers on Sunday that I was to meet. So it all had to come together on Saturday! Most of what needed to be done was done, just needed to be gone through which she was so digently doing. Now i'm having to come up with how I was going to send Rich this email. Do we just type, podcast or video email. Well you know which one I went with yesterday, Midori gave you a quick sneak of what we did. I think it took me 20 times till I got that right. Not so easy being in front of the camera.

Finally turned it in and now can relax. Nope could not do that since I was so consumed with this project my house was let go so off to doing the laundry, grocery shopping, etc. Finished one and started another. Can't wait till we find out who won this round and what Rich has instored for this week!!! Stay tuned results come out a 3pm est and two teams will be gone, that's right TWO.

Fearless Leader Rich said, "Bring on your A Game...two teams to be eliminated this week"

Put together a completely digital PLP (pre-listing package) that is creative, resourceful, cutting-edge, information filled, organized and will put your team ahead of the pack!  OK, no problem, did I miss anything?  Oh yea it's all due in a week or you will be eliminated.  In the meantime, continue on listing & selling real estate, negotiating contacts, going to closings, negotiating contacts, calling clients with updates, work on price adjustments, maintain you new or exiting database, ordering inspection and negotiating repairs, maintain you web sites, write ads, enter new listings into MLS, show property, have or attend sales meetings, go to board of Realtors to pick up new lock boxes, order more yard signs, look for replacement of assistant who just quit with no notice, read e-mail, return e-mail, run your company, and team, taking care of family obligations, kids school, sports, car-pooling, talk to spouse, friends, go to meeting of three networking clubs you belong to, pay bills, grocery shop, cook, clean, go to the gym for exercise, take care of sick dog, feed cats, clean cat box, clean pool & house, mow yard, trim bushes, look for new pet sitter for the one that just quit because the job was too stressful (FOR REAL), go to beauty shop, doctor, dentist, vet, hair dresser, eat, sleep, blog on active rain, respond to comments, etc. and you better damn well do it all great!  OK, OK, OK, we can do this!

Team Tex-La

Sharing State Borders & Knowledge

"Simply The Best"

Liz Carter-Mentor  Katy, Texas                                            Josh Lazaro-Apprentice  Meteirie, Louisiana

 

 

 

 

 

 Picture used on Active Rain of Liz Carter while scuba diving in Roatan, Honduras :)

 

 

HELP...we still need a logo!  Can anyone create a logo that looks like the border of Texas and Louisiana?  Will receive all of our referrals to your area and undying love and support for winning logo, contact Liz Carter via Active Rain.  New post I just did on the TOP TWO reasons to have a database, 1. Build something you can sell.  2. Protect yourself from a law suite, with a great paper-trail,  Crybabies and Busybodies...  

"I hated every minute of training...but I said to myself...don't quit now, suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion...Ali."

 

 

 

 

 

We would be honored to receive your referrals for the greater Houston, Katy, and Sugar Land Texas areas call Liz Carter 281-391-SOLD (7653) or 800-7834041, www.lizcarter.com .

For the Metairie Louisiana contact Josh Lazaro at 504-887-7878 ext. 1713 or 504-858-6267

 

I have been absent this week from the rain and Midori was the one to post. I had a challenging week!

Well this week flew by. My first weeks challenge of getting my database together was grueling, but very much needed. I could not believe how much needed to be done. And to think i actually thought I had it under control! Jeez was I so wrong.

Now I am a Tech Savvy person, but if you don't utulize what you have what good is it to anyone! That is what I learned this week, use what I have!!!

I am running a Macbook Pro and have Entourage, which is like Outlook but for Mac. I had a PC prior to Mac and new outlook pretty good. But this Entourage is so much different and I am still learning what I can do with it!!!

Learned to impliment some other features that I am avaiable to me. Once I have it under control I will post about it, but because I still need learn lots of it.

If you think that you have your database under control you should take another look you will be so surprised. I have duplicate contacts, out of date information, or incomplete information. So I have to go and make sure it was completed. Phone calls, and emails. Like I said thought it was under control.

I look forward to see what this coming weeks challenge is!!! Follow along.
The Next Evolution!!!!

Team Tex-La

"Sharing State Borders and Knowledge"

Liz Carter-Mentor... from Katy, Texas Joshua Lazaro-Superstar Apprentice...from Metairie, LA

Only 2 1/2 days left...but who's counting! Some teams have already finished the first challenge, and it was not us :). In case you've missed the start, there are 16 teams in the contest, and our first assignment is to come up with the best software program for a database. Describe what you put in a database and how you will use it. So if you don't have one, or have one that needs some work & tweaking, stay turned. You are soon to be given 16 of the top agents versions of what they use, why they use it, and how they use their data base to genarate income for their real estate business.

So far we are really starting at square one, which surprises me, but then should not have. One of the many things they did not teach you in real estate school is about a database, or that you even needed one. It is essential to your career to have a large database of past clients and SOI/COI that will send you clients. Pictured is my desk and database on the screen in background that has my 3,000 person database. Yes I'm a neat freak, I believe that your desk must be completely clean before you leave for the day so when you walk in every morning you can focus on the work that needs to be done. I don't do clutter, I don't shuffle files, I don't have bits of paper everywhere, I have a well developed Top Producer database that generates at least 100 transactions a year (more than half of my business). Which is the first thing I'm working on with Josh, whose database consists of index cards...(Click Here to see the mess!)

But not for long!!! He has purchased the Top Producer software and will start implementing my systems and recomendations. Superstar Apprentice Josh is very coachable, even if he is an analytical :).

There are some things you can be doing now, even if you are on the notepad, index card side of the database. 1. Start compiling a list of all your past clients with as much information about them as possible. 2. Start making a list of people you can add to your data base. Think of all the people you know, and anyone you give money to. Log in to active rain and see what all the great teams come up with for their recommendations of a software program for you, how to use it and what to put in it. So take advantage of what active rain and our fearless leader, Rich Jacobson is offering you for FREE. This will help you grow you real estate business and make more money for you and your family. Good Luck to you and all the teams.

Enjoy our theme song...Tina Turner at age 60 singing, "Simply The Best", which is what we are hoping each of you are and are becoming even better every day. Liz & Josh

I would be honored to receive your referrals of buyers and sellers moving to the greater Houston, Katy, and Sugar Land Texas. You can contact me at 281-391-SOLD (7653), 800-783-4041. www.lizcarter.com

Josh Lazaro, Prudential Gardner, Realtors can be reached at 504-887-7878, or cell 504-858-6267 for referrals to the Metairie, Lousiana area.