The GREAT Margaret Rome of Baltimore Md,

Margaret Rome Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Baltimore, Maryland, www.HomeRome.com

What is your best 'find a buyer' or 'get a listing' tool or technique. What is your game plan for this changing market?

Too many people have accepted the "fact" that we're in a down real estate market. We need to remember that the media is trying to sell news, not houses. Ask the woman whose house has been listed for almost two months and she'll tell you the market is terrible. But then ask the man who just sold his house, and he'll say the market if fine! Good professional Realtors® are busy listing and selling regardless of the scare stories in the press.

Late summer is always a slow time for real estate. At the end of August, people are stretching out the final days of summer vacation, doing everything they can to avoid returning to "real" life. Children are starting school, and parents are concentrating on class schedules and new wardrobes, not on finding a new home. But with September here attitudes are changing. Now's the time to be out there taking advantage of this market of opportunity.

Here's my list of a dozen and a half ways to "make it rain" in real estate:
1. Call ALL those buyers you had last year. Where are they? Many did not buy anything. There are homes to choose from now and no rush to make an offer. Get out there with your buyers and tell them about the opportunities.
2. Have the buyers send you their “Wish List," and then go make their dreams come true.
3. Don’t sit around and get caught up complaining about the market
4. Do something to attract people - make your ads interesting, get on a radio show.
5. Sign up for the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, and join this free online community of real estate professionals. http://activerain.com/action/referrals/homerome You'll find a dynamic group with members around the country who are eager to share advice and experience to help everyone improve.
6. Start a blog. This online newsletter/journal is a great way to reach your clients and prospects and keep your name in front of them. Take a look at www.homeromeblog.com. And if you don’t have time to write, call in a professional www.IBlogForYou.com.
7. Look at the expireds, FSBOs, withdrawn listings. They need us more than ever! Don’t you think so? Harvest that crop of business.
8. Do something for the buyer and seller that brings them into the process. Offer them a place to tell you what they need, such as on your blog, or something like http://www.Buyers4yourhome.com.
9. Get back to basics! Go to meetings of WCR, neighborhood associations, business groups, cousin’s clubs. Get out of the office. Get face to face. Have kids? Go to their games and activities. Remember everyone needs to live somewhere. JOIN and be active in the activities that you enjoy.
10. Have your cards available. Remember my definition of advertising: It is your job to let people know that you are in real estate, not their job to remember. Keep your name in front of the public.
11. Use your down time in the car to make phone calls.
12. Remember that a small gesture goes a long way. How many Thank You notes have you written this week? Do you have nice-looking Thank You notes? Do you have them with you, with stamps, so it is easy to take a few minutes to show your appreciation for someone who has made your day a bit better?
13. Take a class – GRI, ePro, etc. Keep learning, always.
14. Keep Floyd Wickman's tapes in the car and really listen to them.
15. Get a few agents together to brainstorm.
16. Start a mentor group. If you don’t have a group, start with an agent you admire and respect and ask what you can do to help them in their business. Ask if you can “shadow” them for a day. Offer to cover for them for a couple of hours whenever they need you.
17. Take a prospective client to lunch every Tuesday.
18. Call an eMentor. We are here to help.

Now is the time to get listings, and at a full commission. A house that is priced right with a fair profit for the seller and a good value for the buyer – that kind of house will sell in any market including today's.

Remember the book Who Moved My Cheese? Well, Floyd Wickman said a few weeks ago, "I don’t care WHO moved it. I just want to go find it." Go find your “cheese!” Go out and get your business, your buyers, and your sellers.

Leslie Siple, McColly Real Estate, Portage, IN
I am not an "old timer" with necessarily a bag of "proven" techniques. However, I don't believe that years of experience are necessary to see "the writing on the wall" so to speak.
After only a few years in the business the things that are the most apparent to me is that we MUST at all times provide excellent customer service (not lip service) by following through on what we promise we will do. This sets the foundation for our reputation. Since most of my business this year has been "past clients" I can really see the truth in this.
Secondly but also as equally important is staying in touch with "everyone", your sphere, past clients, your farm (if you have one) as well as participating in community events.
Thirdly - Stay educated!!! I can't say that enough. There is so much to learn in this business that in order to stay abreast of the ever-changing market and remain confident and competitive you MUST continue to learn! I truly believe that true motivation stems from not just our desire to do but also our confidence in our knowledge of what we are doing.
Fourth - be prepared in every way. Have a solid listing presentation. You cannot be confident about yourself, your services or your company if your listing presentation doesn't reflect a high level of professionalism.
Last but not least - make the phone your friend and get over the fear! Fear saps motivation and confidence and an unmotivated, unconfident agent is a poor agent! Oh, and be willing to make mistakes....we will never know it all or ever be perfect. So make the mistakes, learn from them and DO NOT beat yourself up because of them! Easier said than done I know, but we can't move forward if we are always looking back.
Thanks Toby - I look forward to the answers from the agents who have weathered a "changing" market (or two). I can use all of the help I can get!

Deborah St.Hilaire, Realtor, e Pro, Street/Sotheby's International Realty, www.OhioLakeErieHomes.com, Serving Northwest Ohio
I changed the way I did business. I now rely more on referrals and past relationships than ever before. It takes us back to time when real estate was truly a “people” business. This is the time when ethical and honest behavior will pay off. Even though more buyers are beginning on the internet, they want a professional to represent them in the end.. Prove that you are that person through your local reputation.
That and prayers for us all.

KAREN THORNER, JoAnn Wine & Associates, Inc. Fort Gratiot, MI
The market in Michigan has slowed, with a high inventory of listings remaining on the market a great length of time. It's not unusual to have property listed for over a year.
I attend a city Buyer Seminar on a monthly basis. There is a local program offering $3,500 grant money to a first-time buyer. I create a one-page handout with color photos and addresses of all the properties I have listed that qualify for the grant. I visit with people as they come in, and during the break, which has allowed me to work with several buyers, and resulted in several closed transactions.
Call your local municipalities to see if they have similar programs; if not, you may want to sponsor your own seminar. You won't need to have grant money; just offer a drawing, making sure it's legal in your state or county. People are eager to have the American Dream; offer to show them how they can.

My mission is to have our website and our newsletters be a source of answers and strength to the newcomer and old timer alike.

If you have great ideas or thoughts to share, please email them to me and we will share them with the group. We truly "get by giving".

Please share this newsletter with a friend and ask them to join. The more we grow the more we'll know! You can join our group at www.eMentorConnection.com and if you cannot remember the name, think STARVING AGENT and log onto www.StarvingAgent.com. ~ Toby Davis

Below are our eMentor Connection sponsors, the fine women and men that make our on-line presence possible. I hope you will visit their websites and use their services as much as possible. On behalf of all of us - "Thank You" for making our sharing and caring possible. - Toby

Are you ready to face the changing economy in 2007?

Do you have a plan that will work in your local economy, no matter what?

Which way will the economy go? Even if you don’t have a crystal ball, you can recession-proof your business and make 2007 your best year ever! At Coach Patti’s “Jump Start Your Business into 2007” workshop in November, you’ll learn techniques that will put you in charge, meet people that will change your life – and you’ll have lots and lots of fun!

Click here to sign up for the workshop or call 818- 341-9751 today!

Coach Patti is eMentor Connection's personal Success Coach, supporter and contributor to our newsletters. Her clients achieve outstanding results in their career and personal lives.

Thinking of Coaching? Want to reach the next level of performance and find out just how great you can be? Call Coach Patti today for a no charge consultation on how Coaching can change your life - (818) 341- 9751.

Patti Kouri, (Coach Patti) GRI, is a professional success coach, trained through Coach University and the Coach Training Institute. She has held her California Real Estate License since 1987 and has focused on life coaching for more then 11 years, logging in more than 10,000 coaching hours with more then 550 clients. In her practice, Coach Patti works closely with Realtors, people in sales, and people that want to make a difference or change in their life. Visit Coach Patti's website at www.CoachPatti.net.

Floyd Wickman StarMaker Team:

Now, through a new trilogy of opportunity called The Floyd Wickman StarMaker Team S.M.A.R.T Program, Floyd continues his legacy: meeting the needs of a changing industry; teaching real estate salespeople his Success Performance System; fueled by a system of Core Values joined to the principles of giving exceptional service.

With The 101 Greatest Dialogues of Floyd Wickman, Floyd invites you to “see what he’s saying” and increase your production and income, maximize your efficiency and bring your career to a new level. In his own unique, plainspoken, no-nonsense style, Floyd demonstrates not only the words, but the crucial delivery methods that will mark a new, more powerful chapter in your personal and professional growth. Mastery of Floyd’s dialogues virtually guarantees that you’ll become more persuasive while staying true to the principles of giving exceptional service.

Are you aware that KBS Marketing has 'hands free' mailing at fabulous prices that will keep you in touch and on top! Visit their website and give Beth or Linda a call today for an evaluation of your marketing needs (800) 624- 5012.

Testimonial: I have been using KBS for a couple of years now, adding new names as I meet new customers. A simple email to KBS and the names are added. It is simple and so effective! My business has been terrific and I know a big part of the increase in personal referrals has been because my customers are reminded each and every month that "I care about them and I am here to help." KBS makes it simple for me. ~ Toby

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Be unique in your market. Give each house its own website. "List and Shout is really helping me get my listings. Everyone is impressed and it gives me a professional edge not a lot of other agents have." Steve Mortell, ERA Andrew Realty

Meet Toby Davis ~ Creator and Coordinator of the eMentors and eMentor connection. Toby Davis has been a Realtor for over 30 years, and resides in Charleston, SC. where she is part of the great Keller Williams Real Estate group. Creator of Master-E-Mentors and coordinator of eMentor Connection, Toby's mission has been to serve her fellow agents through her newsletters, personal phone calls, group meetings at events and email with inspiration to educate, enlighten, encourage and empower all of us to live ~ as Toby says ~ "Our BEST LIFE!"

From ME to You - LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE!

To me, living your BEST LIFE is about what makes your heart rate kick up a few notches, what gets the adrenaline rushing through your bloodstream. We are pushed in all directions to succeed, and often get caught up in the pursuit of the everyday business of living, not realizing that it is not in alignment with what we really want. We must never lose sight of our dreams and goals. From all I see about life, we get ONE SHOT at this great event and each decision turns you to a different path never to return to the minutes and seconds we gave up by not heading in the other direction. I hope you will pursue your "BEST LIFE" with all your heart and soul because that is all there is; anything less, to me, is cheating yourself.

Toby Davis
Ask me about Keller Williams! color>
Keller Williams Charleston
Charleston, SC
(843) 224-5979

email: tobydavis@tobydavis.com

phone: 843 414-1814

web: http://www.tobydavis.com