Lansing, Michigan Real Estate

Blog by Mike Bowler CRB, GRI, ePRO, RECS, SRES

Lansing, Michigan

I am prepared to employ the latest techniques and services for your benefit, just like you've grown to expect from a professional. Real estate transactions are complex, involve large assets and demand competent representation. Marketing properties, home selection and financing are just a few of the skills today's consumer looks for when they select a real estate professional. I am prepared to offer my clients the knowledge and expertise to counsel them in relocating, buying, investing or selling the family home. "Expect the Best"

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Lansing, Michigan Real Estate

Golf - Real Estate: Can You Relate?

Jun. 2, 2008

Categorized in: Agent Tools

Tagged with: blogging, blogs, golf, networking, real estate, value, websites

On a nice day like we had today, it always reminds me of how Golf and Real Estate are so much alike. I use to play a lot of golf prior to my knees acting up; however, I am still very fond of the game. Golf has ethics, rules, principles, and requires much discipline, practice and patience just like real estate.

In golf, weather conditions change your game; in real estate market conditions change your approach to business. I think we have all learned that over the past 12-18 month’s.

In golf, if you want score well you have to have the right equipment. In real estate today the right equipment means being on top of the best technology to provide great pictures, websites, Blogs, and other tools that we use on a daily basis to service our customers and clients.

In golf, if a golfer wants to score well, he or she needs to know the course. Do we know your market? The inventory of listings, schools, amenities, tax rates, transportation, what’s going on within the community etc?

In golf, they say your score depends on 75% mental attitude; you have to have a vision of how the shot is going to turn out or feel the swing. In real estate, we have to believe the results are going to be that new listing or sale. We have to picture the results. "Those who believe they can, and those who believe they can't, are both right.

In golf, you should always play the course, not your opponent. Sometimes we in real estate worry too much about our competition instead of focusing on the services we can provide each buyer or seller. Our business is to offer value added service. How long is your list?

In golf, we have the drive, the approach, the chip and the putt. We call those activities in real estate, like lead generation, prospecting, Internet marketing, networking, building relationships, preparing presentations, and building our skills.

In golf, sometimes the hazards like sand, trees and water can challenge our game. We in real estate experience that with slumps along the way, problem files, negative media, challenging sellers, buyers, co-op agents and vendors. However, by chipping out and getting back on course we keep our focus on the end results.

In golf, I know most pros have coaches who may assist the golfer on mental attitude, stroke improvements, and various segments of their game. It's also important in real estate that an agent has that support system. We have managers; staff, systems, tools and many agents today even hire a coach to boost their income and accountability. Today we are also privileged to take part in networking sites and Blogs like this to learn and earn, plus gain friends and mentors.

In golf, most golf pros practice, drill and rehearse daily to perfect their game. Realtors who want to be pros are also subject to practicing their presentations, scripts and staying on top of marketing techniques to survive in today's world. How can we expect to win customers and clients over to our side if we don't practice, drill and rehearse?

In golf, they call it good edict to replace divots, fix ball marks, treat every player with respect, and count all your strokes, in addition to using the proper amount of clubs. We in real estate have a great code of ethics provided by NAR that gives us the guidelines and rules to follow. The golden rule goes along ways when working with other Realtors to compliment, communicate and look at them as true peers of our industry vs. just competition. No one is as smart as all of us; I guess that’s why you and I are on this site together, sharing our expertise.

In golf, they keep score and have a handicap. Are you keeping score of your real estate career? What's your handicap? Vision, goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics are what Realtors need to succeed.

If a golfer wants to hit a great shot, they have to keep their head down. Realtors, I say keep your head up, especially in this current market. You have opportunities today that may not exist again for sometime. It’s called a paradigm shift, where we all are on a level playing field. While others are wallowing in self pity you can be a positive Realtor who wants to help buyers and sellers solve their real estate challenges, in addition to supporting your peers by participating in networking groups like this. What do you think?

“Expect the Best” Mike

Mike Bowler Sr. ePRO, CRB, GRI, SRES
Coldwell Banker Hubbell email: Mike@MikeBowler.com
Website for Clients: MikeBowler.com
Search ListingsBriarwood
1020 S. Creyts Road, Lansing, MI 48917
Phone: 517-492-3400 Fax: 888-832-6203

Website for Agents: MikeBowler.net
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Internet Marketing for Agents, Brokers & Ancillary Businesses

Apr. 14, 2008

Tagged with: active rain, agents, blogging, brokers, epro, networking, point2agent, realtownblogs, social, webographers

I real an article a few days back that just blows me away with the stats and numbers we are seeing with the Internet, technology and social networking for business. As of September there were over 106 million registered accounts with myspace.com About 230,000 people per day are signing up, according to Walt Baczkowski, President of MCAR who wrote a nice perspective about Getting on the Technology Bus.

We're seeing hundreds of articles almost daily about the above topics and more. With over 90% of the buyers searching homes on the Internet prior to ever contacting a Realtor, I would suggest more Realtors hop on the Bus also. Just like the song, Hop on the bus, Gus. or slip out the back, Jack. (Leave the business) make a new plan, Stan.(Learn technology, Internet marketing, Blogging and how to network socially).

Here are a few places you can start FREE, and/or cheap, and/or reasonable. It's amazing how many people said during the busiest 4-5 years in the history of NAR, that they did not have time to learn this stuff. Now, the same ones are saying I don't have the money to invest into that stuff. The consumers are light years ahead of most business owners when it comes to search engine marketing, optimization and permission marketing in the real estate industry.

Active Rain is a FREE Blog and great networking site for Realtors to learn, share and build community with each other. I use it in two fashions: One for the public, by posting Local articles about the real estate market and using the Localism section and the other for Professionals only to network with my peers. I also use RealTownBlogs.com because it is ranked high on the search engines, has plenty to offer agents, brokers, and ancillary businesses. Need a FREE website to promote your IDX listings or your community. Point2Agent offers a 6 month FREE trial and the Professional version is also well worth the cost once you try it out for a spell.

OK, now I am going to encourage you to investigate the ePRO course online, and I challenge you Brokers and Managers to set the example by taking this course online right away. The above link will provide you some basic information about this NAR Certified course. As a certified ePRO Trainer, I would not be doing my job if I ignored the fact that you need this course. As Saint Nike says, Just do it!

The REW^TM Certification is the premier real estate technology certification; your competitive edge in today's web-based consumer-centric environment. REW stands for Real Estate Webographer, which is a Real Estate Certification for Agents, Brokers and Assistants. The above link is well worth the visit.

The last FREE item I am pointing out is the PRETEC invitation to subscribe RSS. It will give you the experience of using a reader that will provide time saving convienence and also start you onto building a list of educational blogs geared toward training, education and consulting. Remember, Professionals need help in their business to become great. This Blog also has a RSS opportunity for you to signup.

"Expect the Best" Mike
Lansing Michigan 48917

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Golf - Real Estate: Can You Relate?

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