We have all experienced challenging times in the midst of our real estate journey. Mine came in August 1974 as I began my real estate career.  My year’s hard work had produced no closings and my real estate future looked dismal. I turned to God in deep discouragement and asked for a positive sign–just 3 valid transactions during the month of August. At the same time I enrolled in graduate school, preparing to return to the field of education.

The month slowly passed day by day. Then August 27 and 28 brought great hope with the sale of my only listing plus a first-time-buyer.  My prayers were being answered–I was now two transactions down, had one to go and a full three days remaining! Perhaps real estate was the career for me.

Continue reading ‘How Four Little Words Changed My Career’

For the past few years, my wife, Wendy, and I have taken an annual goal setting retreat. It’s our chance to get on the same page on everything from our professional aspirations to our investment goals, from selecting a Kindergarten to redecorating our vintage 1970 bathroom.  These retreats also represent rare and valuable “spousal recharge” time away from the kids.  Needless to say, we were hooked. Last year we logged onto Priceline, booked a four-star room at a two-star price, called in the baby sitter and drove all of two miles away to the downtown Hilton. Who said a retreat has to be far away?

Continue reading ‘2010—The Year I Double My Profit Share’

The most common question I’m asked is “Can you fix my website-it’s not working!”  Immediately, we run to a computer, pull up their website and voila, there it is…working as expected.

So, what isn’t working?  It’s not generating leads – that’s the problem!  So, I stop and ask, who are you trying to reach with your website?  This is inevitably the time I get the blank stare and hear “well, leads.” If you want to “fix” your Website and reach your clients in 2010 and beyond, here are my five tips to make your Website work for you:

Continue reading ‘5 Steps to Making Google Part of Your Lead Gen Team’

Whether or not you use Twitter to actively tweet, no one can deny that what once began as a niche phenomenon for a few enthusiasts has become a great source of information for all. And even if don’t want to tweet, you can always sign up for an account and just listen in on the conversation to understand the tool.

During Family Reunion in Orlando last year, our associates used Twitter to share the fun and learning of Family Reunion with people who couldn’t be there in person. Quotes, links, facts and observations were tweeted from the event and were grouped together by adding #kwfr hashtag to tweets about the event. For example:

@kwri: Just attended a great session on listing foreclosures! Can’t wait for Mo’s Inspirational Brunch tomorrow! #kwfr”

So, what does #kwfr mean and why should you use a hashtag if tweeting while at an event or on about specific subject?

Continue reading ‘Why You Should Be Using Twitter’s Hashtags’