Are you tired of having to go out on your weekly real estate agent home tour?  Does the price of gas make this seem like a waste of time and money? If you're like many agents who work out of their homes, these questions are front and center when you're thinking about IF you will join the broker tour in any given week.

Since we have several newer agents in our office, they wanted to have this experience, so we arranged to tour some of our home listings.  It was quite an outing.  

When I started thinking about the potential outside of my traditional perspective, all sorts of new ways of Marketing came to my mind. Here are some other ways to make your Home Tour a viable marketing activity which continues to reap dividends long after you've been out for several hours in your car.

On this tour, I decided to try something new myself and took my camera along.  Take a look at what I did on Facebook. 

Post your Tour Link with tinyurl to Twitter, to tell people in your local area and beyond what you've been up to.

Upload pictures of your tour and places of interest to your LinkedIn profile.  Invite people to ask questions about the places you saw and the homes you have listed.

Share more than just listing jargon...talk about the area, sites of interest and nearby attractions.

Post pictures and/or video to Flickr.com

Post pictures and/or video to Facebook.  Share your album with Friends

Make a YouTube video about the area and the homes you see.  Start a series as the local tour expert in your area.  This can be very effective if you have a speciality such as highlighting a Foreclosure Tour of your local area.

Do a Real Estate Show on your tour and then export it all over the place.  It will also index on google for all the addresses you mention.

And then of course...blog about it!

These are just a few simple suggestions on how you can take an activity like real estate touring which seems to be loosing steam and reinvigorate it with fresh perspective and imagination. 

This type of thinking not only creates ample promotion opportunities, but is a way to create true Value to your clients in the successful marketing of their home in ways that can be effective beyond the traditional norms of showcasing an area and listing.  Today's homebuyer is shopping in a million different places.  Are you engaging your buyer where they're looking?

Pictures of homes from Audu Real Estate Home Listing Tour of June 23, 2008

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

Summer weather roared in with blazing high temperatures and strong storms here in Grand Rapids, Michigan!  It's been a little while since I've been able to look out my window at a clear blue sky and gently swaying trees.  In some ways the recent rush of climatic activity is a metaphor for the real estate situation here in West Michigan.

2008 has been a year in which we have seen some stormy conditions.  The year commenced with the down draft in the mortgage sector due to the sub-prime lending crisis.  In fact, until just recently, most of West Michigan was considered a declining market which meant that New Home Buyers were being asked to bring additional money to the closing table to close loans.  Money which many of them were hard pressed to find. Zero down programs evaporated into the cosmic ethers.

Yet, not all the news was bad.  In the midst of this tempest, affordability levels increased as the prices of homes plummeted sharply creating all sorts of opportunities for buyers and investors to pick up properties at rock bottom prices.  Home owners learned hard lessons about the laws of supply and demand Because bank owned properties now constituted almost 1 out of every 3 sales, marketing times increased to almost a year and homes that were not priced correctly were all but ignored.

In an environment in which so many winds of change are raging, it's often difficult to decipher exactly what is going on.  Recently, Jennifer Granholm the Governor of Michigan signed some important legislation into LAW!  It's the Agency Responsibility Act (ARA)  I think that this legislation is one of the best things to emerge out of the storm which has engulfed our industry.

The Governor's signature on the acts is the culmination of the Michigan Association of Realtors hard fought efforts to clarify for consumers the real estate services that were being provided by various agencies.  This movement was brought about by the amazing discovery that the ONLY duties imposed by statue or rule of law when representing seller or buyers or real estate property were:

The duty of agents to present offers to sellers within a reasonable period of time

The duty of listing brokers to review and sign the closing statements.

ASTOUNDINGLY, THAT WAS IT!

While most Realtors® were offering substantially MORE than this, the public had limited understanding of the potential vast difference of service levels between brokers because all brokers were using the "Exclusive Right to Sell Contract." (Buyers usually are serviced under a Buyer Agency Agreement)

As a result of this legislation, brokers who do NOT provide the required MINIMUM service levels will now have to use a LIMITED SERVICE AGREEMENT form which clearly defines exactly what they are doing or NOT doing.  The ARA also amends the law to make it a VIOLATION of the Occupational Code if a Realtor FAILS to provide all Statutory Services unless they are expressly waived by a client in a limited services agreement.

The is a huge advancement forward for the rights of consumers to ensure they understand exactly WHAT they are getting when they sign up with a real estate broker.  I think it will help to dispel some of the misunderstanding and confusion which has marred the positive perception of the real estate industry. 

Sometimes, it takes a storm to bring out the best in nature.  Today, my lawn is a gorgeous green and the flowers are blooming.  It may have been a little rough getting here, but the results I'm witnessing make it worth it.  The Act becomes effective as law on July 1, 2008. My hope is that the turmoil in our industry will continue to yield changes which serve the good of our profession and the clients we have the privilege of assisting.

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

One thing that showing hundreds of homes through the years teaches you is this...Home Sellers can do a lot to show their home in a manner that gets it SOLD! 

I have always found it mildly astonishing that homeowners who spend thousands of dollars in upgrades and improvements to their homes fail to invest time and effort in a few critical areas to ensure that their homes are perceived well in the eyes of potential buyers. 

Some homeowners might be surprised to find out how far a little money will go.  Particularly when you put $500 against a backdrop of tens of thousands of dollars which are left on the table because a home does not sell or sells far below the listing price.

Here are just a few Simple Things to Keep in Mind when you are showing your home to ensure it shows Sold!

Show It!...

In a competitive market, there are hundreds of homes vying for a buyer's attention.  There are some homes which don't receive even ONE showing request in a 6 month period.  When you place your home on the market, be prepared to SHOW IT.  If you're not...WAIT, until you are.  Yes, it may cost you a little in sleep and inconvenience, but in this market, if a real estate agent calls to show your home when there are 50 others like it...don't count on being given a second chance. 

Tip:  Save time, money & frusteration by being AND staying ready to sell!

Clean It!

If you can't clean your home...hire someone else to do it for you.  Why deduct Thousands of dollars from you life through a possible sale just because you can't or don't know how to clean a home.  Buyers love the smell of 'clean' about as much as they like the smell of 'new.'  A good new home cleaning crew will cost about $250...loss of a sale or a discount on a home on the market for over 6 months...15-20 percent of your initial asking price. 

Tip:  Even if you don't hire a stager, do your own research.  Visit Open Houses for local builders & show rooms of furniture stores to get ideas.  Then visit a thrift shop to pick up accessories at rock bottom prices.

 Clear It!

De-Cluttering is probably the single biggest thing that most homeowners can do fairly inexpensively to Show their Home Sold! Hire a storage unit...beg your friends to store stuff in their basement; whatever you have to do...get your stuff out!

But, to clear your home most effectively will require going beyond the basics of clearing out excess furniture and belongings and neutralizing.  Sometimes you need to do just a little more to be most effective...

Tip:  There are moving services which will store your stuff and then move it to your next home for one fee.  Look into this sort of company for storing & moving to save money.

Stage It!

Hiring the Services of a professional stager to primp your home may be the best investment you can make in the home selling process.  Staging does not need to be an exorbitant cost.  In fact a good staging experience will probably save money  by attracting more potential buyers or creating a better response to your home when it is shown. 

Think about this...What bank or investment fund would give this sort of potential return on your investment of $500?  Where else could you put in $500 and enjoy living in a nice, clean well arranged environment with the potential of making it back fairly quickly by a Sale? 

Tip:  Make sure your stager has been trained and certified.  Ask to see pictures of homes they have staged and for references.  A good stager is worth it!  Good Staging will make you more money from your home sale!

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

As real estate professionals begin to explore the world of the blogosphere, many will find that their presence online has been preceded by savvy 'webpreneuers' who understand the rugged terrain of Search Engine Positioning in a way that most Newbies to this virtual world do not.

Take for instance, an interesting experience that I had recently.  I was doing a training session for an agent and demonstrating the benefits which accrue to clients who utlize an agent who is involved in Social Networking.

We initiated a google search for our company listing by address.  It had been placed on real estate shows and exported to a number of different channels including Trulia.  We noted that Trulia was in the #1 position on the Google index.

Initially I was not concerned.  We upload our listings on Trulia, so I thought that in a fashion similar to oodle and other sites to which our listing were exported, there would be a link back to our site or the real estate show. This type of WIN WIN cross promotion ensures that clients are given the best information about the home from the Broker, who benefits from the FREE Listing AND provides Valuable data for Trulia and hence its' advertisers.

There were 4 entries on a search for the address of the listing so, we clicked on each of them. But, what was most disconcerting was that the Trulia link did NOT link back to our website from Google.  Instead, it took me to a page with some general information about the area including a street map and advertising.  There was NO EVIDENCE of the listing information or indication that this listing had been provided courtesy of a real estate broker. 

When, I stumbled upon this post, I understood WHY this is the case.  The discussion regarding 'NO FOLLOW TAGS' is highly enlightening. You may also want to read Trulia's explanation for their policy and decide for yourself if this ultimately assists or undermines real estate brokers.

As a blogger, listings which I post online do rank in the top search engine positions.  This is no small thing for a home owner who is hiring me to market their home to the largest possible audience.  With over 85% of potential buyers searching online first...this is very valuable online real estate. The entity which controls the information flow will in time become the defacto national MLS.  Today, in many markets, a home owner whose agent does not know how to position their home listing online will find that either it is non-existent for all practical purposes OR being used to sell advertising.

Home owners hire Realtors to not only position their homes online but to represent them.  When, our listing index on a major search engine is repurposed to suit advertisers AND stripped of the ability to link directly to the Broker who provides the information and knows the most about the property, I can't help but wonder who is really being served.  Is this truly in the best interest of the public and does this sort of 'misdirection' truly benefit the home purchasing experience for the consumer? 

I'm curious...Brokers & Agents, have you observed this?  Do you understand its potential implications for your business?

Related Links:

Inman News has a very intelligent discussion about various angles of this important issue.

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

There's a simple proverb that says..."When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. 

For thousands of students in Michigan, including myself, that teacher has been Gwyn Besner. My initial interraction with Gwyn was during a Continuing Education Class. I found her teaching style interesting and she definitely kept us awake!

Through the years, I have recommended Gwyn Besner to many students who through her instruction and encouragement successfully passed their real estate licensing exams.  More importantly, these new real estate agents finished her classes with a clear sense of what the real estate profession aspires to be and were well prepared to launch their new profession. 

Today, Gwyn is the President and Instructor for the Acme Institute and continues to teach students across the State of Michigan.

So, I am delighted to be able to have the opportunity to have Gwyn Besner participate in the Continuing Education Courses that are being offered in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 28th, 2008. 

Gwyn will be joining us in the afternoon of May 28th, 2008 to teach the Code of Ethics!  This class will function for double duty!  In addition to qualifying for 3 hours of Continuing Education Core Curriculum, this class will also allow members of the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors to have an interesting, live interactive Code of Ethics class...one of the requirements for ALL members of GRAR.

Don't Miss this Opportunity!

Here's a Description of the Course that Gwyn will be teaching on May 28, 2008... 

Honesty, Integrity and Commitment are not just buzz words.  As a REALTOR® those are the promises you make.  The public knows that because you can use the term REALTOR® after your name, they can expect nothing less from you.  Do you really understand the promises you are making?  Join us for a fresh perspective of the Code as we celebrate its 100^th birthday. 

This class contains the NAR required curriculum for the Second Cycle of Quadrennial training and has been approved by the Department of Labor and Economic Growth of the State of Michigan for three hours of continuing education, including the mandatory two hour core curriculum (legal update) #K299, K5047.  Presented by Gwyn Besner of The Acme Institute Approval code K348

Class Starts at 1:00 p.m.

Registration begins at Noon* Participants in the Blogging Courses can register for all 3 courses and obtain 7 hours of Continuing Education in one day and have all your requirements for Continuing Education, Core Curriculum/Legal Update AND Code of Ethics in one day! If you register for all 3 Courses...We'll Feed You Lunch!

Place:  660 Kenmoor SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Click this LINK to REGISTER for the Code of Ethics class!  (the registration button is at the bottom of the page)

Click this LINKG to REGISTER for Blogging Continuing Education Classes!

Related Links:

Information about the Blogging & Technology Continuing Education Courses on May 21 & 28th, 2008

State ID K1062 & 1063  Instructor Approval Code ~ Audu Real Estate K355

Download Registration Form for  Blogging & Technology Continuing Education Courses

View Video of Class held in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2007

Click to read more from Gwyn Besner's blog...

Visit Gwyn Besner's Website...

BLOG DISCLAIMER

The information contained in the articles on this, blog is the property of Audu Real Estate. Comments posted in response to individual blog posts are the opinions of the respondents. Audu Real Estate is not responsible for the opinions, thoughts or ideas expressed by visitors to this blog nor for any liability for any damages or losses direct or indirect that may result from the use or reliance on information contained herein. The information provided is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This blog is provided for informational purposes only. Readers are advisedto contact a real estate professional for specific counsel related to their individual real estate needs.

Blogging is taking the nation by storm. In case you haven't noticed...they're everywhere! Infact, according to Technorati, a leading aggregator of "all things blogs related," over 175,000 new blogs are being created every day.

Blogs are becoming a part of every type of business. They span the relm of politics, religion, education, sports, real estate, retail, electronics, medecine...you name a topic or interest...someone, somewhere in the world is blogging about it.

Perhaps, you have wondered how to start a blog. You may have even bought a book or taken a class to help you get started. But you still find yourself stumped. You're paralyzed at the prospect of starting or...maybe, you just need a little personalized direction to help you to develop your blogging voice.

Don't worry. Help is on the Way! We have developed two Training Options for professionals who want more in depth instruction about blogging. These tools are designed to:

1. Help you to overcome Your Resistance to Getting Started

2. Evaluate the Focus of your Blog.

3. Suggest Topics to Write about

4. Enable New Bloggers to Find their "Voice."

5. Provide helpful critiques to enhance the effectiveness of a blog post

6. Teach Blogging Etiquette.

7. Make Your Blog an Effective Lead Generation Platform

The following class options are available:

Blogging Therapy^TM ~ Individualized Coaching Sessions (one hour) These sessions are designed to allow for individual attention. They are available for Brand New Bloggers and more experienced Bloggers.

Sessions are tailored to address specific issues such as: Creating an Effective Blogging Style, Making a Blog Post Attractive, Cultivating a Blogging Community, Developing a Blog Theme, Optimizing & Expanding your blog's Reach On Line, Generating Leads & Profits from your Blog.

Requirements: Access to a computer, phone and Internet connection. Highly recommend high speed wireless connection to make the best use of the session training. Payment for all sessions must be received in full prior to commencment of training.

*Training for Individual coaching sessionswill be conducted via telephone by appointment. Live coaching sessions are available.  Please call for price quote.

Cost per session: $120. Call or e-mail for quote regarding a Package of 3 Sessions.

Option #2 ~ Blogging Boot Camp^TM~ This option is available for groups ranging between 5-10 individuals per session. Group Sessions are 2 hours in length. Topics covered include many of the topics available in the Blogging Therapy^TM  option. Group sessions can also be customized by written requests recieved at least 1 week in advance of the session. Customized requests are not guaranteed.

Group sessions can be conducted at client's premisis. These sessions will require participants to bring a laptop. A room rental fee of $150 will be assessed in addition to Blogging Boot Camp^TM costs for groups of 6 or more individuals unless suitable accomodations are available at the clients premisis to include access to computers with high speed internet availability.

Blogging Boot Camp^TM Costs: $100 per person for a 2 hour session. A Non-Refundable $100 Fee is required to reserve a date for Blogging Boot Camp^TM. Payment must be received in full prior to the commencement of training. An Advance booking of at least 2 weeks is strongly suggested to reserve a date for Blogging Boot Camp^TM.

Cancellation policy: Full refund 10 days prior to the event, 50% refund 5 days prior to the event. All other cancellations less than 5 days prior to the event will be charged the full fee. A Non Refundable Deposit of $100 is required to hold and reserve a date for the Blogging Boot Camp^TM.

NEW OFFERING 2008!

Marketing Your Brand in a Web Connected World!

Did you know that "Who You Are" online has become a very valuable commodity?  Your online Branding is key to your success in the emerging business marketplace.  Learn how to create a Successful online presence and connect to new opportunities for business and networking in this interesting and interractive course. 

Time:  2 hours

Cost:  $75

For further inquiry or to book a Session, please e-mail: laudu@grar.com. or call 616-791-0511.

To Read articles that Lola has written about a Variety of Blogging Related issues...Click here

Visit Lola's Blogs on line:

http://www.activerain.com/blogs/auduhomes

http://laudu.realtownblogs.com

*Policy is subject to change without notice.