This post comes to us from BrokerageU:

Of course, the job of a real estate professional is essentially a sales role; but have you ever considered how big of a part customer service plays in your business, as well?

The most successful agents and brokers will recognize the need for nothing short of amazing customer service. Why? Just like in any other industry, if a client does not feel that they are receiving the level of service that they deserve, they could choose to spend their money with another agent representing them.

Let's talk a little bit about some key components that add up to spectacular customer service and a wow factor for everyone involved.

Anticipate the needs of your customer

You've worked in the field of real estate far longer than your client has been exposed to it. Chances are, you're very unfamiliar with how the buying or selling process should progress; so ease their nerves and spell it out for them. Give them a timeline or checklist of what is[...]

Tagged: Advice Service

Looking to complete CE credits? Find software user tips? How about discovering new sales techniques to leverage? Whatever your particular situation, you can satisfy just about any educational need online.

The big question is--where to start? A search for "real estate education online" turns up 836,000,000 results on Google. The problem isn't a dearth of information, but an abundance of it. To help you cut through the noise, we've created this quick guide to our favorite online educational resources for real estate. Check it out to find six great places to start your learning journey.

Through your Broker, MLS or Association

We'll start with the most obvious. Checking the educational offerings of your brokerage, MLS, or association should always be the first thing you do. They often offer training in conjunction with their technology partners on tech solutions used within the organization or offered as a member benefit.

Your MLS or association should be your go-to source to find continuing education opportunities. Start by checking their website for more information. (We're particularly fond of Chicago area association Tagged: Convention

When you list, you last, or so the old saying goes. How, then is an agent expected to last when finding a homeowner who wants to list is like trying to find Waldo?

That's the question on the top of agents' minds nationwide. Forbes real estate writer Morgan Brennan tells us that buyer interest is high – 40 percent above what it was last year. Inventory, on the other hand, has dropped over 25 percent from where it was last year. Some markets are worse than others – Seattle, for instance, had one month of inventory in March and April, according to Sam DeBord with Coldwell Banker Danforth.

Okay, so in much of the country it's a seller's market. It seems, however, that someone forgot to mention that to homeowners.

A lot of the experts recommend a return to the basics in this changing market if you hope to attract homeowners who want to sell. Others say that may be a waste of time. Let's take a look at some cost-effective ways to market to sellers.

http://retechnology.com/agent/articles/cost-effective-marketing-tips-to-attract-home-sellers http://retechnology.com/agent/articles/secure-a-new-listing-in-4-simple-ways

Inventory is tight today. There are tons more interested buyers than there are homes for sale right now. When you are lucky enough to get in the game to list a property, you want to sure you win the deal.

Top producers that are securing new listings these days have shared a few of their tips with us.

First, they say that your listing presentation has to be packed with local insights. Using a product like Cloud CMA or RPR, agents can prepare highly attractive and comprehensive comparative market analysis to demonstrate their knowledge of the industry.

Since there are so few homes for sale these days, it's critical to prepare a professional Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) as quickly as possible. Tools like Toolkit CMA now allow you to build your CMA right from[...]

Tagged: CMA Listing Presentation Market Analytics

When you respond to these leads with the only form of contact they usually give you, email, are they opening your responses?

Do you even know if they opened your email or clicked any links? If not, go here first.

Now we have that out of the way, let's talk about how to increase that open rate.

I presented at the Agent Reboot conference in Seattle and had the opportunity to watch Darin Persinger from Productivity Junkies talk a bit about leads and how to respond to them. He explained the process of how a consumer searches on realtor.com® and connects with the site. That consumer then fills out a form and is then presented with an email from "Kelly Agent," which might not ever get read.

Why you ask? Watch the video on the next page to find[...]

Tagged: Communication Lead Management Online Marketing

Today, business waits for no one. Both buyers and sellers are feeling the pressure that mobile technology and expedited services have placed on the industry; around the clock business means that we are facing increased competition and, subsequently, a race against time. A few tips will help you stay ahead of your competition for quick, successful transactions.

Your A-Game Never Sleeps

Thanks to websites, social media and apps, your contact information is available to potential clients worldwide at all times. You may receive inquiries from clients in any given time zone, at any time of day. Twenty-four hour business requires agents to snap on their best professional demeanor whether it's 6am or 9pm.

When You're Unavailable, You Miss Out

If you're slow to respond to inquiries, your competition will snap up your opportunities. As the market recovers, real estate professionals that stepped out of the business are making their comebacks. You will also[...]

Tagged: Communication Online Marketing

Our resident video blogger and social media guru, Maya Paveza, is back! This is the inaugural post of her new column, Mondays with Maya:

Setting customer expectations and knowing what they expect from you is the real key to success in real estate. And I showed a Frank Lloyd Wright house today. 

Tagged: Service Video Service

Guest contributor Properties Online says:

Are you using single property websites for your listings? If you're not, you're missing on a great opportunity to impress sellers and win listings.

Single property websites are web pages that are entirely dedicated to just one property. They have many different advantages that make them an important tool in any REALTOR®'s marketing arsenal:

• Single property websites provide a one-stop destination for buyers who want info on the property
• They can be used to promote the property in social media
• They are great for SEO because they include the property's address in the URL

Above all, property websites impress sellers. We haven't yet come across even a single seller who remained indifferent to their house being featured on a website fully dedicated to that house!

[...]

Tagged: Listing Presentation Online Marketing Single Property Website Website Design

Day one of the National Association of REALTORS® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo saw major news break in the real estate technology space.

The biggest announcement of the day came this morning, when DocuSign announced its acquisition of transaction management platform Cartavi. Reactions to the deal were more delighted than surprised. The two companies have been partners for 16 months, with DocuSign providing eSignature capability to Cartavi users (see our recent webinar for more on how this works). That integration has proven so successful, that today's marriage of the two solutions seems inevitable in retrospect and, well, just right.

Cartavi co-founder Glenn Shimkus said as much in a blog post earlier today. In it, he looks back to the early days of the partnership, where he previewed the integration for the first time at Inman Connect NY 2012:

The reception for [the integration] was even better[...]

Tagged: Reporting Tech Conference Trade Show

Since social media has become an essential part of real estate marketing, choosing the right platform(s) has never been so important. More and more real estate professionals are turning to Google Plus, now the "world's number two social network (Business Insider)," as their "go-to" social network!

Many sources are suggesting that attention is beginning to fade Facebook and that users are battling "Facebook fatigue" due to numerous privacy changes and the increased prevalence of sponsored content. Since Google is the most used search engine, email host, and data sharing platform for most internet users, it only makes sense to join Google Plus.

Here are the top 5 reasons to jump aboard the Google+ bandwagon!

1. Communities and Circles. These features allows users to create groups based upon common interests. Unlike Facebook where you "connect with friends," Google Plus encourages users to branch out and "meet strangers who share common interests" to[...]

Tagged: Social Media Online Marketing Video Service

Have you ever noticed that most of the people who advise real estate agents to give great customer service fail to explain how to do so? It's easy to understand what constitutes great customer service in a restaurant or a department store. It's easy to get the concept when you're on the receiving end of it.

Why all the evasion, then, when it comes to giving solid advice as to how to actually give great customer service to real estate clients? It is, after all, one of the most important aspects of your business – if you hope to remain in business.

Agents who provide great customer service build bonds with their clients that lead to long-term relationships. Therefore, the service you provide lies at the heart of your referral pipeline.

Learning From the Negative

If you ever want to know what people like about a situation, ask them what they don't like about it. By removing the negatives you can[...]

Tagged: Service Communication

Guest contributor Properties Online says:

2012 was a big year for mobile technology and social media use – especially in the real estate sector. Mobile technology has been called a 'Game Changer' for the modern REALTOR®, and social media offers a promising return on investment. Let's take a closer look at just how real estate agents are using mobile technology and social media.

A Look at Mobile Technology

The most popular device purchased by real estate agents in 2012 was a smartphone (44 percent), followed by tablets (27 percent) and laptops (19 percent). According to Pew Research's study "Mobile is the needle; Social is the thread," internet use in the U.S. has increased from 14 percent to 82 percent since 1995. Eighty-five percent of adults in America have a cellphone, of which 45 percent use smartphones, two-thirds are wireless internet users, and slightly over 66 percent of online adults[...]

Tagged: Research Social Media Trends Mobile Technology

Going to Midyear? It's a great place to network with fellow REALTORS® and hear about industry trends. We particularly like that you can find just about any tech tool to improve multiple aspects your real estate practice.

Booths at the Trade Expo are the best place to find out about useful tech products. You can ask company representatives questions about their products, see live demos, and often receive special discounts or even win prizes. It's a big show, though, and it can be hard to hit every booth that interests you.

That's why we've created this handy guide to Midyear exhibitors. We've even arranged it by booth number to make navigating the tradeshow floor super easy! You'll see the booth number and the company name with each entry, as well as the types of products offered. If you're looking for a CRM solution, for example, just check our list below to quickly see which companies offer that kind of product.

Using our 2013 Technology Guide's custom download feature, we've also created a PDF where you can get in-depth information on each product these companies offer. Download it now to help plan[...]

Tagged: Trade Show Tech Products

Here are some great tips from the Tiger Lead Summit.

Succeed with eight magic words:

1. Because ("Because we haven't had a second showing, we're going to have to reset the price")
2. Now
3. Imagine
4. Thank you
5. Please
6. Use their name only twice (any more than that and they won't trust you)
7. You are in charge or in control
8. With your permission

- Sandy Raines

Make a short video to introduce yourself. "Hi, I'm Trevor Ainsworth. I just wanted to let you know I'm a real person and I hope you are too." – Trevor Ainsworth

I had a great conversation with Trevor on Saturday about this technique. It's simple, builds rapport and generates great results. Programs like BombBomb allow for quick and easy recording right on your phone.

[...]

Tagged: Advice Communication Lead Management

You may have noticed that many of your clients, particularly the younger set, prefer to communicate via text message. In fact, it's estimated that over 8 trillion text messages will be sent this year. Texting is a convenient way of sharing information quickly, but it's not without its pitfalls for professionals.

To help you navigate the sometimes murky waters of today's digital communications trends, we've created this handy list that highlights the dos and don'ts of texting for real estate agents:

DOs

Do keep it professional. Maintain your professional image by using complete sentences and texting during reasonable hours. Avoid overusing abbreviations, emoticons and exclamation points e.g. "c u 2moro @ 5PM :) this house is gr8!!!" This is especially important when texting new prospects with whom you have not yet established a rapport.

Do send photos and videos of listings. Over 62% of mobile phone users in Canada have smartphones. Take advantage of advanced features by texting photos and videos. Sending[...]

Tagged: Advice Communication Mobile Technology

NAR Midyear is almost here, and REALTORS® across the nation are packing their bags and finalizing their schedules. Some of you may be planning to just hit the trade show floor and explore, while others are using tech tools like NAR's Midyear Mobile App or Online Planner to figure out what booths and events to attend.

Whatever your approach, we recommend visiting zipLogix® at booth 1900. zipLogix® was the pioneer of forms management in real estate and they continue to bring cutting edge innovation to each upgrade of their system. This year, they are highlighting progress made to improve usability, store and manage documents, and improve forms automation.

Nearly every real estate professional is familiar with their flagship product, zipForm®, and this year the company will be previewing the next generation of zipForm® at the trade expo. Dubbed zipForm® Plus, this updated version takes all the functionality that users are accustomed to and wraps it in a new, more attractive package.

It's more than just attractive, though. zipForm® is[...]

Tagged: Convention Tech Conference Trade Show Transaction Mgmt

The lifeline of any real estate practice is its pipeline. That concept is drilled into every new agent, with the admonition that the agent begins filling it with friends and family.

What happens, then, when an established agent moves to a new city or state with no friends and no family in the area to shove into the pipeline? How will you set up shop when you don't know a soul?

Established agents understand that it takes a concerted effort to build a practice, whether as a rookie or an old-timer. That effort starts with a plan.

Get a Warm Start

Warm calls are so much easier to make than cold calls. Before you leave your present home, call former clients and ask if they know anyone in the new town you'll be moving to. This tactic worked well for agent Mike Riley when he decided to make the move from Cincinnati to Sarasota, Fla.

Back to Basics

Think back to your rookie days for a minute. Is there one lead generation method that worked[...]

Tagged: Advice Lead Generation

RE Technology's third annual Technology Guide is finally here! Just released today, this free resource helps agents and brokers find the right technology solutions for their business.

Trying to navigate the crowded sea of available tech tools can be a daunting task for real estate professionals. With so many options to choose from, things can get confusing fast. By providing detailed information and points of contact for 127 products in 23 categories, the 2013 Technology Guide acts a valuable reference during your research process. Use it as your starting point whenever you're considering a new tech purchase!

How to Use the Guide

The guide is simple to use, and this year we've made it even easier for readers to navigate. You can download the entire guide as a PDF or thumb through it right from your browser. Below are a few ways you can navigate the web-based version. Choose whatever method is most comfortable for you!

Turn pages like a book: Love the feel of turning pages in a[...]

Tagged: Promotional Tech Products Tech Services

Guest contributor BrokerageU says:

Last month, I wrote about a guerrilla marketing strategy that we are experimenting with that is designed to utilize your real estate website to track responses when dropping postcards or flyers on your farm.

We Have a Plan

If I told you we were dropping "Just Sold" postcards on a farm, you might think, "Yeah, so what, I've got a service that does that for me," or something along those lines.

Even though we use a "Just Sold" vehicle, we have a thoroughly thought-out plan, and what we believe to be a relatively unique approach to this well known strategy.

If you didn't read the original blog post, I encourage you to go back and get the background on this strategy. Here's the link: Use Your Website to Track Flyer and Postcard Responses.

[...]

Tagged: Advertising Lead Generation Website Design

Every now and then, a product comes along that seems to provide a great resource for real estate. Then everything goes horribly wrong. You push the wrong button and a series of events is set in place that you cannot control. This happens a lot with apps and social networking.

There is a service called MyBizCard. It promises to help you with "ratings and reviews from your peers that shows how awesome you are." Every agent wants that. Moreover, it is free! BE VERY CAREFUL, IT IS A VIRUS.

Free is the first flag.

"Ready for you in under 5 seconds. Try it now."

That is the second flag. The service asks you to sign in with your LinkedIn profile. When you do, it provides the app with the following:

• Your full profile, including experience, education, skills, and recommendations
• Your email address
• Your connections – your first and second degree connections. That is everyone you are connected with on LinkedIn, along with everyone they are connected to.
• Your contact information – address, phone number and bound accounts.
• Invitations and messages – allows MyBizCard to[...]

  Tagged: Editorial LinkedIn Agent Ratings