Matthew Jones

Ok...so I feel a little stupid!

I was talking with an agent today and we were on the subject about how to communicate a listing presentation with a seller when the seller lives somewhere else.

My thoughts on the matter were to use http://www.gotomeeting.com/, which allows the seller to view your computer screen anywhere in the world and the seller and agent can phone conference in and do the listing presentation that way. I was feel pretty good about coming up with that solution...but then another agent had a GREAT idea that I have not thought of before.

The other agent said why not use http://www.skype.com/ and do a live video conference with the seller...so they can see you face to face. What a GREAT ID. I totally use skype for personal reasons, talking with my niece and nephew or talking with my brother or sister. But for some reason I never drew a connection with using skype for business purposes.

Sometimes the answers are right there in front of us...we just need someone to open our eyes to them.

If you have another suggestion as to how you communicate with sellers or buyers when they are out of state, please let me know...I am all ears!

Thanks much

On Wednesday the gazette had an article on Pikes Peak Association of Realtors (PPAR) not allowing Erin Toll to access the PPAR database for "fishing expeditions". All I have to say about the subject is WAY TO GO PPAR! (OH...you can go to the article by following this link.)

If Erin Toll needs to get into PPAR then have her go get her own real estate licenses and pay the doubling of the fees that she raised earlier last year for new Realtors and/or transferring Realtors!

Oh Friday I had the pleasure of hearing Terry Storm speak to the subject. He is willing to work with Erin, he just wants to know what she is looking for. The Gazette mention that Erin would be looking for the following things "signs of over appraised properties, pockets of homes going into foreclosures, and other indicators of mortgage fraud" I may have a simple mind, but I can't believe that the use of the MLS system would give here this things.

One: We are not appraisers.
Two: If there are five homes on a street going into foreclosures, is it the real estate agents fault?
Three: We are not lenders: We are Real Estate Agents!

I do believe that we need to catch the "bad guys" but I just don't feel, from the limited knowledge that I have on the subject....that Erin Toll can do that by looking at data on PPAR. As the bottom of each MLS print out says, "Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed." It is our job as Realtors to help our clients verify and know what they are buying. The information provided through PPAR is placed by our fellow Realtors....and it is our job to verify the information for our clients that are wanting to purchase the home, example would be square footage....we verify that the square footage stated in the MLS is the same as it is on the assessors office. That is a check and balance system. Regarding Price of home...I hope everyone does a cost market analysis before submitting an offer or taking a listings. Again check and balance system.

So again....bravo to Terry Storm and his team at PPAR. I applaud your efforts and say WAY TO GO!

Keller Williams has a different management model than most real estate companies. Instead of having an office manager, we have what is called a team leader. So I thought I would let the world know what exactly a team leader does!

No! The typical office manager is an administrator. Team Leaders are focused on growing agent's businesses and their market centers. They coach, consult and train their associates at every level. As the CEO, they set the standards, provide the vision, maintain the culture and inspire achievement.

Q: How do they do that?

By being in relationship with each existing associate and cultivating new relationships within the community. By understanding their businesses, goals, dreams and aspirations, they can insure that agents are effectively trained and coached into greater productivity. Team Leaders know the agents who work in their community; they seek high minded professionals to join the market center and enhance their team.

Q: What qualifies someone to be a Team Leader?

Team Leaders go through an extensive screening process, as Keller Williams has determined that only a small percentage of the population will thrive in the position. First, an effective team leader needs to be highly social (a real people person); assertive; and dedicated to serving their associates. They have been successful in sales and enjoy an excellent reputation. They embody the KW culture and have great vision for their market centers!

Q: Do Team Leaders receive special training?

Absolutely! From day one they enter into a course of study that insures their success in this leadership role. TL's are highly learning based; they love to take advantage of training. Seminars, classes, coaching and mastermind sessions are all things that a Team Leader incorporates into their calendar, so they may serve their market centers at the highest possible level. All of this translates into a leader who has the knowledge, experience and skills to take their associates into greater production and profitability.

CRAIGSLIST LISTINGS

TRUE STORY

So I have a friend that is an agent and she posted one of her listings on Craigslist. Little did she know that someone copied her listing, used her photo, and just changed the phone number and email address. They listed her property as a property for rent when it actually wasn't even for rent.

She discovered that the scam went like this.

1) This guy is using other Realtors photos and listings to list the properties as for rent

2) When someone calls on the property, he tells them it is available for rent.

3) He convinces the clients' to send in a security deposit to hold the property.

4) He disappears and is never seen again.

So all this to say, if you list your property on Craigslist, you might want to take the time to check out the rental section and make sure this is not happening to one of your properties!

In today's economy we all are looking at cutting cost. But how do we go about doing that. Some real estate professionals have looked at cutting advertising, others have looked at cutting back on technology.

My thoughts on the subject are in toady's economy we don't need to be cutting back on the things that can produce us business.

So I have a simple solution....what if we all got together and combined our dollars, just ten dollars a month and have the following built for us?

Websites Blogs

Micro sites

Ecards

Reporting capabilities

Our own MLS system with IDX functions

Automated Lead Generating Systems

24 Hour Online Training and Scripts

Here at Keller Williams that is just what we have done. You can find more information about all the technology we have to offer at http://support.kw.com/pages/eagentctour/ or http://www.kwrealestatecareer.com/