Scott Daniels Florida Real Estate 2.0. Agents Earn 100% Commission.

Sometimes,you have to look in the mirror and laugh at yourself. It relieves the tension we as Realtors face during the course of a day.Buyers have "No Concept" of time.They want to view a listing and for whatever reason take their time when it comes to viewing.

When you make an appointment, how much time do you allot before you say to yourself it`s time to leave?

I like to allow a person a "35 minute window" to show up to an appointment. If a client doesn`t respond on their cell phone within the time frame, i take it they forgot, or just don`t have the courtesy to call you and tell you their not interested.

I received a call from a prospective buyer who wanted to view our listing in Pembroke Pines @ Chapel Trail. (http://18473nw20thst.isnow4sale.com/)

They wanted to view the home at 6:30pm, we both agreed to meet at the property. I like to arrive early to a showing in order to prepare the house. I make sure the lights are on, the windows are opened. At 6:40pm, I called the client to see if they`re on the way. There was no answer on their telephone, so I waited until 7:15 pm and left.

At 9:30pm, I receive a call from the potential buyer asking "where am I?"...

The conversation is as follows:

Caller: Good evening, am at the house and nobody is here?

Me: You`re right, our appointment was for 6:30pm, I called your cell phone at 6:40 left you a message and left by 7:15. I figured you forgot.

Caller: You mean you couldn't wait for me?

Me: What do you mean wait for you? Why would I wait 3 hours for you to show up? How in the world could I possibly do that?

Caller: I was running late, i still would like to view the house. Can you come over now?

Me: I`m really sorry! The appointment was for 6:30pm, we both agreed to meet at the property. I waited for you and left.

Caller: I`m really surprised at you! You should have called me again, and waited for me!

Me: If you`re really interested in the property, let`s meet tomorrow and start over. I`m not driving over now to show you the house.

Caller: OK! Forget it! I`m no longer interested in this house.

It`s always fascinating how people think! Some really believe we as Realtors have no life, others think our job is to sit around all day waiting for them to call and drop everything to accommodate them.

It happens to every Realtor,it`s part of doing business. When the potential buyer gets upset at you for not waiting 3 hours for them it`s really time to stop and "Say Goodbye".

As she hung up, I walked over to our mirror, looked at myself and started to laugh! Not much to left to say i thought!

I don`t know about you, I check our emails at least 7-10 times a day. It`s our opinion people who surf the net for information about Real Estate don`t care what time of the day you respond to them providing it`s done promptly.

Real Estate has become a 24/7 business for many.

Last Thursday we received an e-mail inquiry from a person in Spain. They were interested in a listing we posted in Hollywood. They asked for additional pictures and wanted to know the distance of this property from the Miami where they`ll be working. The inquiry arrived at 8:30pm, we quickly responded to their request,by 8:55pm I sent off our email. The next day, I checked our emails to find this person sent another email request. This time they "Thanked Us" for our quick response and explained they would be arriving in Florida on Tuesday. They asked if we can make arrangements for them to view homes in the area. They need to be moved in by March.

The Internet is a powerful tool, it never sleeps!

With so much information at a person`s disposal people can make decisions rapidly, including who they wish to work with based on "emails, follow-up and turn-around- time". If they feel you`re going the extra mile to assist them, they remain very loyal.

I have yet to speak to this person via the telephone, but we`ve sent tons of information on Hollywood, in order for them to get a complete over view of the area.

Buying Real Estate today, is completely different than it was 3 years ago, it will probably continue to change again and again.

I know the majority of you will disagree with me. I love the cold and winter snow. In fact the "Colder it becomes" the more our telephone rings.

We certainly don`t have to be told by the Media "Florida Home Sales" are on the move!

In fact 2008 is starting off with an astounding amount of Buyer Inquiries. Maybe, it`s the fact potential buyers see how much prices have dropped. Value counts!

In many instances it`s actually feasible and affordable to purchase.

Why is this occurrence happening?: Markets run in cycles. The old adage "What goes up,must come down" is upon us! I`ve mentioned many times before people were waiting on the sidelines for housing prices to decrease. They`ve studied the area, know what they`re looking for in advance, they realize as many Realtors do, the prices will not remain in this range much longer.

Why the sudden change?: With Real Estate sales almost non-existent for the past 3 years, buyers once again Adore the "Warm Climate". It suddenly appears with "Property Tax Reform" on the horizon, many buyers are willing to take this as a sign and opportunity to purchase! They have watched prices tumble to a point where "Purchasing a home" makes perfect sense!

Buyers want value: Second homes are in demand right now! Buyers are looking at Condo`s, Single Family ,and Townhomes. Some are looking to relocate permanently to Florida within the next two to three years!

Job Expansion: Also driving the market to the "Sunbelt" are the "Healthcare and Bio tech" industries.They`ve placed Florida on the map for the next 20 years for expansion,there are more job opportunities for specialized fields. People need housing and many companies are offering "Incentives" to those from other states to relocate!

It`s crisp outside, the sun is shinning,it suddenly appears the worst maybe over in a downward Real Estate market.

visit us @ http://www.listfloridahomes.com/

We held a brief meeting with our agents yesterday. The topic of our meeting was "Becoming more Efficient".

During the past 10 years, i`ve watched technology change the way we conduct Real Estate and have incorporated new age ideas into our "Business Model" to streamline our office and move further into a paperless office.

It`s not as easy as some make it seem, bad habits are very hard to break..I can`t tell you how much time is wasted during the course of the day with "small items" which never get done and sometimes fall behind the cracks.

Items such as:

1- Addendum's

2- Price changes on the MLS.

3- Follow up calls to both agents and clients

4- Loan Commitment due date follow ups

5- Inspection reports and repairs.

6- Initials on contracts.

7- Contacting Mortgage Brokers,other agents,lenders and Title Companies.

The amount of time wasted on the telephone is stagnating.

These items can be "Streamlined".We`re doing it with emails and text messaging. Some of us take "Everything for Granted" these items will get done by osmosis.With Real Estate evolving and so many new tools at you`re disposal "How Efficient are you?"

Efficiency and it`s integration to selling.Time is always the name of the game!

1-Listings:

Whenever I receive a new listing i send out a form letter to our clients detailing the names of the people who will be handling their listing. I send them an email copy of the listing, a copy of how the listing appears on the MLS and the name of our "Transaction Coordinator".I have cut down the amount of calls from our sellers who never seem to have received a copy of their listing via "Snail Mail".

2- Offers:

Immediately after an offer is received we send out a fax to the other agent "acknowledging" their offer. All offers are quickly scanned and sent to our clients for them to review.Sellers want to know "Every Detail" when an offer arrives. This way, we can either discuss the offer over the telephone and make changes immediately or when we meet, changes and concerns can be addressed.What used to take days for changes now takes a few hours, our "Turn-around-time is much more efficient. If the offer is accepted we quickly email the "executed contract" to the other agent with a "Cheat Sheet" of names and telephone numbers of our staff who will be assisting with the transaction. We also ask the other Realtor for a "Cheat Sheet" as well. Majority of agents have this information readily available and respect the fact you`re "On Top" of the transaction.

3- Feedback:

Once we receive a call for a showing we make sure to have the agents name,company,telephone,license number and email for our data base.We than send a "Thank You" letter to the agent which is sent the next day.In the letter we ask for "Feed Back". The amount of time saved doing this is incredible.If we receive any "Feedback" I`ll immediately forward the agents remarks via email to our seller, so they have a record as well.

4-Notifying all Parties:

Emails to Lenders,Title Companies,Mortgage Brokers,Inspection Companies, Insurance Companies are also sent out with information involving our transaction. Title Companies especially love "emails" all information can be sent to them with attachments.I can`t tell you how many "Title Companies" we converse with using emails only. Mortgage Brokers and Banks seem to respond promptly as well. Whereas, it used to take days to receive a response on the telephone now takes only minutes.

The selling,coordinating and marketing of Real Estate as evolved so quickly it`s almost impossible to believe. The amount of time spent with faxes and follow up telephone calls truly adds up and does interfere with you`re selling time.

Our companies Mantra for 2008 is "Efficiency Matters".

How efficient are you as a professional?

I took my daughters to lunch yesterday at their favorite Diner located in Pembroke Pines, called the Fountain Plaza Diner.

I must admit, we enjoy their "Lunch Specials and Soup of the Day".

The owners of the Diner know I`m a Realtor,which is great for our business. They have a friend who just moved from New York City and is interested in "Buying a Condo" in Hollywood.

As the girls and I ate, in walks their friend who is eager to speak with me. We discussed what he was looking for and agreed to met with each other on Friday to view Condo`s.

I make it a habit to pass out my business cards and in many cases leave a business card holder along with 50 of my business cards in the restaurants we frequent. The amount of people who contact me from this form of advertising is astounding.

Regardless of what others say or new business models that come along attempting to re-invent our profession, Real Estate is still a People Person business.

You never know what`s out there until you spread the word!

visit us @ www.listfloridahomes.com