Encinitas, California
An informational site for CRS members, and candidates for the CRS, in the Southern California CRS Chapter
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Mar. 19, 2008
Bernice Ross, CEO and Founder of Real Estate Coach, never fails to deliver a lively, informative talk filled with practical advice on improving our real estate business.
Having seen her several times at the C.A.R. conventions, this latest meeting was, in my opinion, the best. And what a terrific value for Southern California Chapter members ($49 for the membership meeting, networking, the talk, and a full lunch - a bargain these days!).
Dr. Ross really has her hands on the pulse of the real estate market, the Internet, and buyer and seller issues, and her 30 insider secrets to success in a down market did not disappoint. I wrote a short post on my ActiveRain blog, but thought I would pass along a few other learnings here (not all, of course - you have to be a SoCal CRS Chapter member and have attended the session to get the whole enchilada).
So here are some winning things you can (and should) do:
 Take advantage of the distressed properties market (short sales, foreclosures, REOs), become an expert, help investors find the best deals, and help troubled borrowers. You can assist your past clients obtain temporary property tax reductions based on declining assessments in some areas and show your value.
 Truly understand the potential the cross-cultural market brings to your real estate business - more business with immigrants and minorities, working with those foreign nationals who are primed to buy here, and understanding the clues to their buying (i.e., how do you know someone is ready to purchase). Have a property over $1M (not too hard in our part of the world )? Market it on Unique Global Estates for free.
Explore some new communication techniques to work more effectively with buyers. Try out JOTT (this can be a good alternative for those of you who hate texting, but know know you need to be using it or something similar because of the buyers who you are working with). Record your message via phone and send it by email, MP3 or text message. Or send yourself a message via email while on the road. You can even write a short blog post.
Really embrace the Internet and broaden your exposure and marketing - blogging (here are some thoughts on that from a series I wrote "To Blog or Not To Blog"), vlogging (video blogging), podcasting, posting video clips from your phone on-line, create marketing videos and upload to YouTube (and other sites), syndicate those videos, and get into the cable TV arena. Don't ignore the opportunities on Trulia and Zillow - create a profile, advertise your listings, get lots of inexpensive exposure with EZ ads on Zillow, answer real estate questions, and more. Buyers and sellers are there and you need to understand what they are doing there. And both sites get loads of traffic.
There are lots of tips and coaching materials on Bernice's Real Estate Coach website, along with a free newsletter, books, and coaching/consulting services, so check it out.
And for those of you in the luxury market, or interesting in reading more about this niche, visit Luxury Clues. You are sure to come away with some great information in this market.
Nov. 18, 2006
 One of the great classes I took last year while finishing my designation was the technology course (CRS 206). While most agents, if not all, have a good general sense of how technology has changed in our business, many do not know what they SHOULD know to be effective, efficient and compete in this evolving marketplace.
I continue to be surprised at the number of agents who are not using technology the way they could to enable their business run more smoothly, to attract more clients, and to meet the needs of today’s Internet buyer and seller. NAR has conducted surveys yearly that continue to show an increase in the use of technology and the Internet by buyers and sellers…and it’s NOT just Gen-X and Y! So how are YOU going to compete effectively in this changing marketplace?
While no single course can give you the details of all that technology can do for you, the CRS 206 course DOES provide a terrific overview of what technology is available and how YOU can use it in your marketing and business operations – blogging, podcasts, Internet marketing, digital photography and virtual tours, text messaging, voice-over IP, 800# hotlines and broadcast messaging, cellular signage, and video are just a few options.
Buyers and sellers these days are knowledgeable about technology and will expect you to be as well – are you prepared?
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