Please put on your calendars this training date.
Collete Jensen and her United Title staff will lead us in a discussion of "Death and Divorce" how it affects the contract and closing. Probably something we should all be aware of.
10 AM here in our training room
Wednesday 17 October
Thank you and have a great weekend.
Bob
Friday, September 28, 2007
Short Sale Article
Please click on the link below which will take you to a .pdf file on short sale. It is a good article that makes working a short sale easier to understand.
http://spacklequeen.googlepages.com/shortsaleprimer
http://spacklequeen.googlepages.com/shortsaleprimer
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Open House Show Taking Off!!!
Note from the Shows Producer:
Dear Bernie and Bob,
I wanted to thank you personally for advertising on The Open House Show. We hope we become not only a powerful listing tool for your agents, but also a powerful venue to advertise your homes.
Our Nielsen overnight ratings are in for our first and second episodes:
On Sunday, 9/16, we received a 0.4 Household Rating, or 3,100 homes.
On Sunday, 9/23, we received a 1.1 Household Rating, or 8,500 homes!!!!
Let me put that into actual viewers. A household has an average of 3.5 -4 people. That's around 34,000 viewers! Imagine where the show will be in six months when people start to change their viewing habits to watch the show! We strongly encourage you to place our logo on your website to further grow our exposure. Don't forget we have sign rider artwork and listing flyers that you can print up from our website.
Further, the website is receiving around 1,019 unique visitors every day. Imagine where that number will climb as the ratings climb.
By suggestion from one of our San Antonio clients, we have made the agent photos significantly bigger for next Sunday's show. I have actually applied the graphics change to all our shows in all our markets.
Again, we are a small company that wants to provide you with inexpensive, quality advertising. We know our clients work hard for their success, so do not hesitate to call me, Amy, Jaime, or Esther for any reason or with any suggestions. We want to help you succeed.
All the best and with much thanks,
Robert Bettes
Dear Bernie and Bob,
I wanted to thank you personally for advertising on The Open House Show. We hope we become not only a powerful listing tool for your agents, but also a powerful venue to advertise your homes.
Our Nielsen overnight ratings are in for our first and second episodes:
On Sunday, 9/16, we received a 0.4 Household Rating, or 3,100 homes.
On Sunday, 9/23, we received a 1.1 Household Rating, or 8,500 homes!!!!
Let me put that into actual viewers. A household has an average of 3.5 -4 people. That's around 34,000 viewers! Imagine where the show will be in six months when people start to change their viewing habits to watch the show! We strongly encourage you to place our logo on your website to further grow our exposure. Don't forget we have sign rider artwork and listing flyers that you can print up from our website.
Further, the website is receiving around 1,019 unique visitors every day. Imagine where that number will climb as the ratings climb.
By suggestion from one of our San Antonio clients, we have made the agent photos significantly bigger for next Sunday's show. I have actually applied the graphics change to all our shows in all our markets.
Again, we are a small company that wants to provide you with inexpensive, quality advertising. We know our clients work hard for their success, so do not hesitate to call me, Amy, Jaime, or Esther for any reason or with any suggestions. We want to help you succeed.
All the best and with much thanks,
Robert Bettes
Open House Directionals
We are down to 3 Open House Directionals and we need to ask everyone that if they have any hiding anywhere (even in plain site) that you bring them in ASAP.
Thank you
Bob
Thank you
Bob
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Thursday - Town Hall Meeting and Previews
We do have three previews and a REALTOR open House of Jeanne and Andy following the Townhall Meeting. We will meet back at the office after the Townhall at about 10:15 and leave from there for the previews and open house.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at the Townhall Meeting and then the previews.
Regards
Bob
Attendance of sales meetings and previews is a vital part of a company's well-being. If you are participating in company referrals - Prudential or E-Team - attendance is expected.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at the Townhall Meeting and then the previews.
Regards
Bob
Attendance of sales meetings and previews is a vital part of a company's well-being. If you are participating in company referrals - Prudential or E-Team - attendance is expected.
Take Care with E-Cards
Just a reminder to our great agents. Please be careful about how many e-cards you submit to our database of San Antonio agents. Please limit your announcements to the entire mls agent database to 1) New Listings 2) Price Reduction 3) Other new incentives or bonus.
Please remember, agents can choose to opt of out receiving our E-Cards.
Please remember, agents can choose to opt of out receiving our E-Cards.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Prudential Don Johnson Privacy Policy
Please click on the below link which will bring you to a .pdf file with our Privacy Policy. It is extremely important that each one of us reads and understands this policy and follow it to the letter. The fines for not protecting our customers/clients privacy are very steep and we do not want the fame.
http://spacklequeen.googlepages.com/prudentialdonjohnsonprivacypolicy
http://spacklequeen.googlepages.com/prudentialdonjohnsonprivacypolicy
Yahoo Article on Impact of Fed Rate Cut on Housing
Will Fed cut boost housing?
The Federal Reserve's aggressive half-point cut could bring more buyers to the housing market. » Analysis
The Federal Reserve's aggressive half-point cut could bring more buyers to the housing market. » Analysis
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Option Period and Seller Repairs
Source: TAR
After the buyer finished his inspection of my client's home, we negotiated several repairs to be completed by the seller, and the parties signed an amendment (TAR 1903) reflecting the items to be repaired. Three days later, the buyer sent the seller a notice that he was terminating the contract under his termination option (Paragraph 23). We are still within the option period stated in the original contract. The seller is upset because he already repaired two of the five agreed-upon repair items. Can the buyer still exercise his right to terminate the contract under the termination option after the parties have agreed to the repair provisions contained in the amendment?
A buyer does not automatically give up his right to terminate the contract under the termination option because the parties negotiated and signed an amendment that provides that the seller will do repairs to the property. If Paragraph 7 of the amendment was checked, indicating the parties had included the buyer's waiver of his right to terminate the contract under the termination option in the amendment, then the buyer could no longer exercise that right to terminate once the amendment became effective. If the buyer has not waived his right to terminate under the termination option, the buyer is still entitled to exercise that right within the option period stated in the contract. Careful preparation of the amendment to reflect the parties' intent concerning the waiver of the termination option by checking (or not checking) Paragraph 7 of the amendment is important.
It should be noted that under the provisions of Paragraph 7 of the TREC contracts, the seller is obligated to complete all agreed repairs prior to closing (unless the parties have otherwise agreed in writing). A seller might want to consider waiting to do repairs until after the buyer's right to terminate under the termination option has expired or has been waived according to the terms of the contract.
For other legal topics, visit the Legal FAQs on TexasRealtors.com. Top
After the buyer finished his inspection of my client's home, we negotiated several repairs to be completed by the seller, and the parties signed an amendment (TAR 1903) reflecting the items to be repaired. Three days later, the buyer sent the seller a notice that he was terminating the contract under his termination option (Paragraph 23). We are still within the option period stated in the original contract. The seller is upset because he already repaired two of the five agreed-upon repair items. Can the buyer still exercise his right to terminate the contract under the termination option after the parties have agreed to the repair provisions contained in the amendment?
A buyer does not automatically give up his right to terminate the contract under the termination option because the parties negotiated and signed an amendment that provides that the seller will do repairs to the property. If Paragraph 7 of the amendment was checked, indicating the parties had included the buyer's waiver of his right to terminate the contract under the termination option in the amendment, then the buyer could no longer exercise that right to terminate once the amendment became effective. If the buyer has not waived his right to terminate under the termination option, the buyer is still entitled to exercise that right within the option period stated in the contract. Careful preparation of the amendment to reflect the parties' intent concerning the waiver of the termination option by checking (or not checking) Paragraph 7 of the amendment is important.
It should be noted that under the provisions of Paragraph 7 of the TREC contracts, the seller is obligated to complete all agreed repairs prior to closing (unless the parties have otherwise agreed in writing). A seller might want to consider waiting to do repairs until after the buyer's right to terminate under the termination option has expired or has been waived according to the terms of the contract.
For other legal topics, visit the Legal FAQs on TexasRealtors.com. Top
DirectTv Realtor Referral Benefit
Introducing great customer/client benefits. You win too. Refer your customers to Direct Sat TV for their DIRECTV service and you will earn $40 USD. When your customers activate DIRECTV service on your recommendation, we will send you a check for $40. Customers receive a four-room DIRECTV system, a Digital Video Recorder or High-Def receiver (after mail-in rebate), free professional installation, and a $50 gift certificate to Lowe's Home Improvement Centers. Details at http://www.directsattv.com/realtor-referral.asp
Phone: 910-693-3000 ext. 1419 or ext.1409
Contact Heather Adams or Kim Whitaker
Email hadams@tridentmarketing.com or kwhitaker@tridentmarketing.com
Website
www.directsattv.com
Phone: 910-693-3000 ext. 1419 or ext.1409
Contact Heather Adams or Kim Whitaker
Email hadams@tridentmarketing.com or kwhitaker@tridentmarketing.com
Website
www.directsattv.com
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Duty Lottery
The duty lottery for October and November will be held this Thursday morning (9/20) beginning at 8:30 sharp, before the sales meeting.
Anyone interested in duty shifts please be here.
Regards
Bob
Anyone interested in duty shifts please be here.
Regards
Bob
Monday, September 17, 2007
9-13 Sales Meeting Notes
The link below will take you to a .pdf file with notes from last week's sales meeting.
http://spacklequeen.googlepages.com/9-13salesmeetingnotes
http://spacklequeen.googlepages.com/9-13salesmeetingnotes
Prudential Spirit of Community Program
The link below will take you to a page with a .pdf file explaining all you need to know to get the youth in your life to participate in this great program.
Please read it and get the youngsters
http://spacklequeen.googlepages.com/prudentialspiritofcommunityprogram
Please read it and get the youngsters
http://spacklequeen.googlepages.com/prudentialspiritofcommunityprogram
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Don't Quit on your E-Prospects
The internet has changed the dynamics of marketing. The process is very different from, for example, a duty call. With the internet, we are often dealing with consumers often in the very early formative stages of buying. The internet is like the famed Library of Athens in ancient times. It is a repository of virtually all information. People using the library, like the internet, often simply start out just browsing. They want to be left alone to browse the library until they are ready to check out. You need to give them some space. However, a browser can easily become a buyer. Do not make the mistake of pigeon-holing browsers and assuming they remain just browsers. Internet browsers often like the anonymity that the internet allows. They can come and go as they please and often do not feel they owe the professional providing the service the most common of courtesies. For that reason, it is rarely a good idea to dispose of an internet lead merely because someone has become unresponsive. If contact has been made, you should keep the avenue open until they tell you to go away. To illustrate this point, I will use a true story involving one of our sales associates and an interent sales experience.
Some months ago, this agent received a scrubbed internet lead. The prospect had been spoken to and had accepted being contacted by a sales associate. After an initial contact, the prospects did not return any calls or e-mails. However, this did not dissuade the agent from periodically calling or e-mailing. After many months the agent was ready to give up on them. However, she kept the prospect in her inventory. One day, out of the blue, the prospect called and indicated they would be in town the next day and wanted to see homes. After a day or two of showings, the prospects left town and once again would not respond to e-mails or return phone calls. This went on for several months until once again the agent was contacted once again to let her know that they had entered into a new home contract and the agents name had been entered on the contract. Once again the buyers left town and, guess what? They are still not responding to e-mails or telephone calls. However, the contract is real and is a very nice sale.
I find that behavior very interesting and in a sense unique to the internet side of our business. Although the above example is very unusual, it is not at all uncommon for agents to quit on internet business because they are unable to maintain steady contact. However, agents should always keep in mind that often the time frame for the internet is substantially longer than almost all other leads. It is not uncommon for someone to begin searching a year or more out from buying. They are not in a hurry and make sure that your approach is not in a hurry. Tailor your communication efforts keeping that in mind. They will generally not want to be deluged or chain called - especially if they are many months away from buying. However, keep in mind also that they do not know you (like a duty call) and the internet sense of anonymity often allows a consumer to be somewhat less considerate with your professional feelings. The bottom line is to not quit on a internet prospect because they are highly unresponsive - especially if you know they are long term in nature. Keep reaching out. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Some months ago, this agent received a scrubbed internet lead. The prospect had been spoken to and had accepted being contacted by a sales associate. After an initial contact, the prospects did not return any calls or e-mails. However, this did not dissuade the agent from periodically calling or e-mailing. After many months the agent was ready to give up on them. However, she kept the prospect in her inventory. One day, out of the blue, the prospect called and indicated they would be in town the next day and wanted to see homes. After a day or two of showings, the prospects left town and once again would not respond to e-mails or return phone calls. This went on for several months until once again the agent was contacted once again to let her know that they had entered into a new home contract and the agents name had been entered on the contract. Once again the buyers left town and, guess what? They are still not responding to e-mails or telephone calls. However, the contract is real and is a very nice sale.
I find that behavior very interesting and in a sense unique to the internet side of our business. Although the above example is very unusual, it is not at all uncommon for agents to quit on internet business because they are unable to maintain steady contact. However, agents should always keep in mind that often the time frame for the internet is substantially longer than almost all other leads. It is not uncommon for someone to begin searching a year or more out from buying. They are not in a hurry and make sure that your approach is not in a hurry. Tailor your communication efforts keeping that in mind. They will generally not want to be deluged or chain called - especially if they are many months away from buying. However, keep in mind also that they do not know you (like a duty call) and the internet sense of anonymity often allows a consumer to be somewhat less considerate with your professional feelings. The bottom line is to not quit on a internet prospect because they are highly unresponsive - especially if you know they are long term in nature. Keep reaching out. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Jumpstarting Your Business
September 11, 2007 –Excerpted from Realty Times
Feature Article by Brian Hilliard
Step #1: Create a "Hit List" of friends and family
How extensive should this list be in terms of the number of people, and how far back should they go? Start with an 18 to 24 month window, and write down any friends or colleagues they've had a relationship with over the past 1.5 to 2 years. Obviously family members are excluded from this criteria since presumably, you've known them longer than that. But for people you met in the Garden Club or from a past Professional Association, I'd say 2 years is the maximum amount of time where I'd feel comfortable calling up someone to let them know what I'm doing.
And as far as an ideal number of people is concerned, that really depends on what you did before your new career. But don't worry, whether your list is 5 people or 50, just focus on the folks who you think would be interested in helping you out, and we'll take it from there.
Step #2: Schedule some time in the day and start making your calls. Ideally, you'd like to knock out your calls in the shortest time possible, but with so many other things going on, that might not be feasible. Try starting off with an hour a day, say between 8:30 and 9:30 am if you're calling people at work, or 8 and 9 pm for family or calling folks at home.
You figure about 10 calls per hour, about half of which you'll need to leave a message, and that should get you through the list at a pretty fast clip.
In terms of the exact conversation itself, that really does depend on how well you know this person, when was the last time you talked, and things like that. So a hard and fast "script" is nearly impossible for me to provide. However, here are some things to keep in mind:
Feature Article by Brian Hilliard
Step #1: Create a "Hit List" of friends and family
How extensive should this list be in terms of the number of people, and how far back should they go? Start with an 18 to 24 month window, and write down any friends or colleagues they've had a relationship with over the past 1.5 to 2 years. Obviously family members are excluded from this criteria since presumably, you've known them longer than that. But for people you met in the Garden Club or from a past Professional Association, I'd say 2 years is the maximum amount of time where I'd feel comfortable calling up someone to let them know what I'm doing.
And as far as an ideal number of people is concerned, that really depends on what you did before your new career. But don't worry, whether your list is 5 people or 50, just focus on the folks who you think would be interested in helping you out, and we'll take it from there.
Step #2: Schedule some time in the day and start making your calls. Ideally, you'd like to knock out your calls in the shortest time possible, but with so many other things going on, that might not be feasible. Try starting off with an hour a day, say between 8:30 and 9:30 am if you're calling people at work, or 8 and 9 pm for family or calling folks at home.
You figure about 10 calls per hour, about half of which you'll need to leave a message, and that should get you through the list at a pretty fast clip.
In terms of the exact conversation itself, that really does depend on how well you know this person, when was the last time you talked, and things like that. So a hard and fast "script" is nearly impossible for me to provide. However, here are some things to keep in mind:
Re-introduce yourself, tell them where you know them from, and see if they have a minute to talk.
Let them know that things have really been busy lately and you're sorry that it's taken so long to catch up.
Ask what's been going on in their life since the last time you spoke.
Listen for ways where you might be able to help them.
Tell them a little bit about what you've been doing, and how you've taken up a career in real estate.
Ask who they know that is interested in buying or selling real estate. Ask if they wouldn't mind being included in your online newsletter, where they can get "tips and tricks for buying and selling their home." (Don't worry if you don't have an online newsletter yet)
Thank them for their time and promise to keep in touch.
Cost of Living Comparison Calculator
There are a number of web sites that provide cost of living comparisons. Here is a link to one that I like. It not only compares the cost of living between your current city and your proposed city, but it also gives you a feel for how much more you can expect to pay. For example, San Francisco costs 155% more to live in than San Antonio, which means that it would take a $255,000 salary to equate to a $100,000 salary in purchasing power in San Antonio. However, similar jobs may only expect to receive about 37% more in salary if they make the move. That is not a good trade-off.
Monday, September 10, 2007
2007 Christmas Party - Calendar Heads-Up
Thanks to our staff for arranging our Christmas party. We had such a great time at La Hacienda for Ann's 8oth birthday that we decided it would be a great location for the Christmas Party.
We have scheduled our Christmas party for December 7th at LaHacienda at 7:00 P.M. More details will follow.
We have scheduled our Christmas party for December 7th at LaHacienda at 7:00 P.M. More details will follow.
Wednesday Training
Please remember that this Wednesday we are going to go over the preparation of the ERC/BMA (Employee Relocation Council/Broker Market Analysis). This is the form we all use for relocation business. All are welcome but we really want to see the folks that are uncomfortable filling out the ERC/BMA at the class. This is also a good exercise for the proper preparation of any market analysis that we might need to do for buyers or sellers.
See you on Wednesday - 10 AM.
Regards
Bob
See you on Wednesday - 10 AM.
Regards
Bob
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Affiliate Assistance Hotline
Have any questions about Prudential resources? Looking for a Prudential Resource? Having a problem with E-Cards? Need more information on Online Seller Advantage? Need help identifying or understanding various Prudential benefits?
The Affiliate Assistance Hotline is manned by knowledgeable Prudential staff. Their goal is to answer all your Prudential questions. If they don't know the answer they will find it.
You can reach the Affiliate Assistance Hotline at 888-732-5778.
The Affiliate Assistance Hotline is manned by knowledgeable Prudential staff. Their goal is to answer all your Prudential questions. If they don't know the answer they will find it.
You can reach the Affiliate Assistance Hotline at 888-732-5778.
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