Peter Lavelle NextRE Direct 267-348-4008 Philadelphia Homes for Sale

Diary of a Whimpy REALTOR

As we start the year in full swing, and as the Spring Market falls closer and closer, what have you been doing to market and brand yourself? As part of a marketing campaign I have a flyer that I send out in Philadelphia wherever I go, and I am not shy about it. It has many different ways to get some type of real estate information, for Philadelphia homes for sale, and those looking for Philly real estate, and it works....but, how can I get it to work online as well?

This is an example of how I have taken some of the offline stuff and brought it online....and maybe you should be doing the same thing too....

Offline Flyer -

...and taking it online using a blog platform -

What was done was inserting some of the information to brand and offer USP's. Every area has an active link imbedded into the pictures, and people can fill in the form on the page for homes for sale.

You may not be techno savvy but neither am I, so thanks to google, bing, and yahoo, and the search tools make it possible to learn basic HTML, and many other goodies. To your success....and see you on the flip side.....

Diary of a Whimpy REALTOR

So I have been given the nickname “Socrates” due to periods of cogitating, and with doing so, getting the answer needed using the Socratic Method, i.e. “named after the Socrates classical Greek Philosopher , is a form of inquiry and debate between individuals with opposing viewpoints based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to illuminate ideas. It is a dialectical method, often involving an oppositional discussion in which the defense of one point of view is pitted against the defense of another; one participant may lead another to contradict him in some way, strengthening the inquirer's own point.”

So what does this have to do with mentoring? Ahhhh...I am glad you asked grasshopper. Sometimes when we start to lose focus, a call to someone we have considered a mentor is in order. Now I sometimes say that they are busting my chops, but, it is what it is; a chop busting is sometimes warranted. Now seeing how I use the Socratic Method with many people, my mentors have a tendency to use the same method with me.

Let's use this as an example. There have been some rough spots in the current Philly real estate market, but I do not let that get to me, and I'll call one of my mentors, I have 3 and I'll get to that shortly; and I'll ask “what is going on, why am I not meeting a certain goal?” One of the greatest questions asked of me is, “What have you changed or done different that made that change happen?” See how this works? Sometimes we need someone to ask us that in order for us to open our minds.

As stated I have three mentors, one for my business, and he has been on my heels about finishing my credits for my Broker's License, my other friend for my growth in the Masonic Fraternity, and my other friend for my personal and religious life. The number 3 has a spiritual significance, another topic at another time; however having several mentors has a tendency to keep us on track. Some may call it a coach, but it is still a form of mentoring. Many successful people surround themselves with advisers, however, can they still be called mentors?

For your success, whether it be personal or business, align yourself with someone, or a group of people, to have he/she or them to become your mentor. See you on the flip side....

Ever had this kind of day...???? I am sure you have... What is happening in today's Philadelphia Real Estate Market??? I wish I could transport back to the early Y2K years, "Beam me up Scotty," but I can not perform that kind of miracle. Don't ask me to try and turn water to wine or walk on water 'cause you may be disappointed when I hand you a bottle of spring water or sink in your bath tub. What has sold in your neighborhood is what the market currently has to offer. Will the market increase like it had in the past? My answer...maybe. The market trends the way it does, but I'll probably be using a walker or wheelchair when it does. The question is do you want to sell your home or let it sit as an overpriced listing? Time to cogitate....things that make you go hmmmm....See you on the flip side...

Sitting here with my Masonic Ballcap on and eating chili and home-baked bread in Philadelphia, while others are searching for Philadelphia Homes for Sale...but I could be eating Lumpia and Rice....something a little different from "traditional" American Homes. Yes I eat foods from other cultures...I'd better considering my wife is Filipino...
But that is not the purpose of this blog...her cookbook coming soon...I hope...I want to semi-retire young...:-)
Look...all too often do we hear of real estate agents complaining about how the market is, or their client has, or, is not loyal to them. What are they doing that differentiates themselves from all the other agents out there? I will bet my two boys, give them back after college, they are doing the same old crap that every other agent is doing: don't like my language...move on...

My wife puts it great "Diversification goes both ways, but how diverse are you?" Lets look at this statement....Are you willing to be different? Bull petooty, or you would not be in the position you are in. Yeah I am not holding back...
Too many in the real estate industry are doing the same old "traditional" thing that "everyone" else is doing...
How many agents claim they are number one and looking out for "the best interests of their clients." Principles and integrity are great traits, but they do not sell, because we are bound by a Code of Ethics. What truly makes you different...? I have written about this before, but you do not listen....
What is your USP? What differentiates yourself from all the other agents in the marketplace? Reach down into your intestinal fortitude and pull it out....See you on the flip side....

Diary of a Whimpy REALTOR

Yes this weekend I will be putting on my Super Hero tights and zooming into Internetland....never mind TMI....I think that will get a great laugh as well.

But....without the tights I will be working on my Blogs, sprucing up some of my ads, and writing a few articles...what are you doing this weekend? Yes take some downtime, I prefer early in the morning...and I mean early, before the cocks crow, the Sun dawns, and when everyone else is sleeping, I'll be working.

All too often we do not take that quiet time to listen to those little whispers in the back of our heads, kinda depends also if one is in the Psych Ward, and let our creativity flow. Work...work...work..., I just had a vision of the Seven Dwarves, seems to be the mantra of the week, and yet we forget about those most important aspects of our business.

You see....during the week we prospect, take calls, answer emails, show houses, go to settlements, etc, etc, and sometimes we forget about working on our business. I give at least an hour a day to work on my business, and one weekend a month I devote my time in cleaning up and streamlining the tools needed to run my business.

So no I am not Superman....but sometimes I feel invincible when I have the tools ready to build my future. Are you ready??? See you on the flip side...