RPR for Brokers

Mother/Daughter Real Estate Team Lean on RPR to Build Their Business
Mary Ann Baunach has been a REALTOR for 24 years and has been an RPR user since it was launched. She consistently uses it for "fast, accurate comps." Elizabeth Cogley, her daughter, has been a REALTOR since May and is helping her mom close deals as she learns the business. Elizabeth is also furthering her education by taking advantage of RPR webinars and tutorials. Together, this mother-daughter real estate team represent two distinct types of REALTORS®: a seasoned vet and the new, up and comer. And each one knows how to use RPR to their advantage. This Q&A will show you how you can use RPR to solve real estate problems and better your business, no matter your current experience level. Hello Mary Ann. How long have you been a REALTOR® and what area do you specialize in? MA: I've been a REALTOR® for 24 years this past July. I work mostly in residential, but I do some commercial deals every now and then. How did you find out about RPR? MA: Oh, I've been on RPR since the beginning, since Twitter was new! Back then, my local and state association announced that this new tool was now available, a national property database from NAR. I got right into it full time with no brakes. What are some of your favorite, go-to features in RPR? MA: First off, I love how I can use it with my MLS data, that integration is perfect. I also really find the five star rating in the RVM to be so helpful. Oh, and the app. It's a strong app, definitely my favorite real estate app. I use it all the time with clients when we're out in neighborhoods. I just pull up properties right there on the spot; things like distressed properties or other comps in the area. Do you use RPR to market yourself? MA: Absolutely. I use RPR reports and flyers and I send them out to an area after I've sold a house. I also walk door to door with flyers from RPR. They look so professional! It really impresses prospective clients. Any good RPR "Wow" moment stories? MA: Not one in particular, because it honestly happens all the time! I make a point of sitting down with people and I share with them all this data and these great tools about their property or a property they're interested in. It's kind of a "under the hood" moment, where I let them see how much info is available to me through RPR. They're always very impressed with the data and how easy it is to digest. If you met a new REALTOR® that didn't know about RPR, what would you tell them about it? MA: Well, I've trained new agents on RPR for years. And I always encourage them to take the live webinars, the Zoom classes. In fact, my daughter Elizabeth is a new REALTOR® and we're now working together as a team. One of the first things I told her was "get going in RPR"! Well, let's talk to her! Hi Elizabeth, how long have you been an agent? E: I started in May of 2021, so I'm pretty new. I've been helping my mom with her deals while I get used to the business. As a new agent starting out and juggling new mom life and a second part-time job, I've been learning through assisting my mom with her transactions. I have not yet had clients of my own, but I'm looking forward to learning the ins and outs and being able to utilize RPR to its full potential with my future clients. She's been training you on how to use RPR? E: Oh yeah, with over 20 years of experience in real estate, I fully trust her judgement and recommendations. She uses RPR on a regular basis and raves about how helpful RPR has been in her business. What's your take on RPR so far? E: As a new agent, all the tools offered can be somewhat overwhelming. It's difficult to navigate which are the top tools that should be used/learned off the bat. RPR stands out for me for being one of the more user-friendly resources, which is really important to me as a new agent trying to find my way. The footprint pop-ups are great if you're trying to put something together quickly and don't have the time to sit down and learn all the great features RPR has to offer. Pro Tip: The "footprint pop-ups" Elizabeth is referring to are RPR "Shortcuts" and they greet you right in the middle of the RPR homepage and take users on guided tours of popular RPR features. Try one out for yourself. Are you familiar with the RPR Learning Center on our blog? E: I am! The learning center is great for new agents. I especially like the option to pick your skill level. This option highlights all the features I should know so that I don't get overwhelmed trying to learn it all at once. There's always something in RPR you could be learning; the options are endless. And I love that we can reach member support though a 24-hour call center, live chat or email. Wrapping up As you can see, RPR has something for everyone at every level, such as the RVM® for spot-on home valuations and marketing materials for prospecting, as well as guided "Shortcuts" to help agents learn new skills and a special Learning Center that can be tailored to experience levels. If you're new to the business, check out this webinar series created just for you. And if you're an experienced pro, check out these intermediate/advanced RPR classes to help further your skills and career. REALTORS® Mary Ann Baunach and Elizabeth CogleyRE/MAX Central, Allentown, PA To view the original article, visit the RPR

RPR for New Members: The Complete Beginner Series
Five dates, from Jan. 26 - Feb. 17 If you're a new member of NAR, this webinar series is designed for you! Learn techniques to start building your business. As a REALTOR, you have access to Realtors Property Resource, included in your membership with the National Association of REALTORS. RPR provides data, tools and property reports that can help you "wow" your clients and close more deals. With RPR you have access to: Local public record data and MLS data in one database. Neighborhood information, school data, walkability and livability scores. Residential and commercial real estate tools to identify, locate and price properties as well as prospect for new clients. And remember, RPR is already included in your dues to NAR. So there are no extra costs or fees. All it takes is just a little bit of time to help you learn how to navigate and integrate RPR into your business practices. Register

10 Ways to Pump up Your Prospecting Pipeline
New year, new you! And a new chance to increase lead generation to build up your business. After referrals and repeats, prospecting is the most effective way of generating leads and turning those leads into prospects. It's not necessarily easy: it takes patience, persistence and proficiency. These ten tips from RPR (Realtors Property Resource) will help you get started, stay on track and prospect like a pro in 2022. 1. Get your hands on RPR's prospecting eBook There are many ways to go about prospecting. You can create geographic farms, implement drip email campaigns, leverage your social media sphere, knock on doors, use targeted direct mail, and the list goes on. To get some ideas on where to start and for step-by-step instructions on how to do it, make sure to download How to Farm and Prospect for New Clients. This exclusive REALTOR® download is yours for the taking and will show you how to identify and market yourself to potential new clients. 2. Make prospecting a priority and a daily task Prospecting is not a "set it and forget it" method. Yes, you can automate email sends and replies, implement auto dialing systems, and even use AI through a digital CRM. And each one of those examples can be a successful tactic. But to really prime the prospect pipeline, you need to be consistent and constant in your attention and your action. Make it a priority by putting a specific task or general goal into your daily, weekly and monthly calendar. (Those little e-notifications can be annoying, but they can also be the perfect nudge!) Carve out time, each day or week, for prospecting activities such as networking, community outreach, blog posts, social posts and shares, phone calls, emails, using RPR maps to search for homeowners that are ripe to sell, touch base with friends, family and previous clients, and any other strategy you see fit. The main point is to stick to it and make it a new habit. 3. Embrace your inner data nerd It's no secret that real estate numbers are big. It's most likely the biggest financial transaction your client will experience in their life. With this many zeroes and commas involved, it's no wonder why consumers relish property data. RPR (Realtors Property Resource) offers REALTORS® vast amounts of property data in one central hub. You have exclusive access to property reports, maps and tools that make RPR an indispensable asset. By exploring and learning more about RPR, you'll find that you can easily package up data and offer it to potential clients. In fact, they want it! Charts, graphs, stats and info from expert sources is something home buyers and sellers crave. And if you put it out there in an easy to digest format, you will get reactions and responses. 4. Communicate market activity and home values The most basic way to get your name and face in front of potential new clients is to share local market statistics, and in some cases, specific home sales data. For example, if you have a neighborhood or community Facebook page, make sure you regularly post home sales activity for that area. Doing this once or twice a month gives homeowners an idea of what their home is worth, and how "hot" the local market is. While not everyone is in the position to buy or sell, when they do think about it, chances are they'll remember where they get their information from and the name associated with it. And if you think you have a really hot prospect, don't hesitate to send them an RPR property report on THEIR home. Run a modified Seller's Report by choosing what pages and info you want to include, and then customize it with your info and a personal message. Print it, then mail it or drop it off and use it as a conversation starter. Homeowners have been known to keep these around for years! 5. Take advantage of RPR Mailing Labels Mailing labels or mailing lists can play a crucial role in prospecting outreach in competitive markets. REALTORS® can create them or export owner information from RPR search results. And you can create up to 2,000 each month for free! These ready-to-print mailing labels are perfect for farming, prospecting or direct mail marketing within custom geographies: Conduct an area search, then use filters to narrow it down or use a previously saved area, such as a farm area Sort your results using the "List View" or from the "Map View," and click "Mailing Labels" once you have the right number of addresses A pop up window appears; then choose your label type or a CSV file Hit "print" and remember that you have 2,000 EACH MONTH to use Watch this one-minute video to see all of the above in action or follow these step-by-step instructions. 6. Make 12-24 prospecting touchpoints throughout the year A prospecting campaign can take some time to build; it doesn't happen overnight. Frequency, or how many times a target is exposed to your message, is a long play. Once you've identified a target, whether it's one single address or an entire geographical area, you've got to pepper that contact with your marketing message. One to two times per month is a good pattern. You don't want to overload them, and you also don't want to fall off their radar. That means don't send one postcard once a month and call it a day. Start with a postcard that calls out recent market activity. Then, follow up two weeks later with an email, and ask about whether they saw the postcard or if they have any questions. Then call, drop off a flyer, knock on a door, email a personal video, send another direct mail piece, send a text or Facebook message, etc. It's not called a marketing mix for nothing! Mix up your contacts and touch points, and change up your content to keep things fresh. Another great tip is to "read the room." If they complain that you're sending too much or too often, back off and deliver quarterly. 7. Be a ninja nurturer to past clients This article from Homes.com offers up several ways for agents to stealthily keep tabs on their former customers in an effort to drum up leads and listings. Unlike targeting areas or owners you have no relationship with (yet!), the basic premise is to maintain and foster relationships you do have. For example, a phone call or an email or text to a past client to discuss their real estate goals or to let them know how much their home value has risen is much better than a "Are you ready to sell? The market is hot!" type of pitch. Frame the discussion or "interview" as an FYI to the owner, or call it an annual real estate check-up. A softer approach such as this will help you set up the chat and you'll most likely get some good information out of it. And make sure to keep notes in your digital Rolodex so you can schedule a time to reconnect. You can also follow former clients on social media to see if any life-changing events have occurred: new job, newborn on the way, older kids moving out? Anything that might affect their lives is a potential reason to move and their need for a REALTOR®. One last tip: you can also use Facebook neighborhood pages or Nextdoor sites to offer up help when homeowners ask, "Anybody know a good handyman?" If you see a post like this, reply right away! Chances are you do know a good (fill in the blank) in the area and your suggestion will be appreciated by the owner and seen by others. But don't call or text them right afterwards; just keep a note and add them to your prospecting list. Neighborly, nurturing moves such as this are a great, semi-sly way to get your name top-of-mind with homeowners. 8. Take a free prospecting webinar Wouldn't you know it, RPR offers a live webinar to help you get started. That's right, we're here to help you get going and succeed. There's no better way to learn and get familiar with a process than to have an expert walk you through it. Save your seat for Keep That Pipeline Pumping. This one-hour session will show you how to use RPR's data, tools and features to your advantage. It's easy, it's free and it's highly informative. Sign up today! 9. Take part in or create your own community events When it comes to being involved with your local community or neighborhood, you can't just talk the talk, you have to walk the walk. You need to have real passion, know the area and its residents, and be active in making it a better place to live. Here's just a few ideas to get you started and thinking: Start a neighborhood Facebook and/or Nextdoor page Sponsor a youth sports team and show up to a couple of their games with snacks or drinks Get a booth at a school fair or at a farmer's market Send out HOA meeting summaries, if applicable Volunteer for school and sports team fundraisers Send out a monthly or quarterly eNewsletter that focuses on community events and issues Organize an annual community garage sale day, where you handle all the signs, promotion, etc. Keep in touch with local police and fire departments and give safety updates to your neighbors Take a walk! Simply strolling through your neighborhood will help keep you in the loop on local happenings This is just a thought starter, we're sure you can brainstorm a great list of your own, based on your interests and your community's needs. Most of these suggestions will only cost you time, but do plan for earmarking some of your marketing budget towards community involvement costs as they arise. Making these meaningful connections is a keen way to organically grow your network of prospects. It's also a truly great way to meet and form relationships with your neighbors. 10. Take a tour of the tools So you haven't downloaded the free eBook or signed up for the free webinar. Perhaps you're the "dive right in and get started for yourself" type? We can respect that and we've got you covered! Go directly to the RPR site and start prospecting. This guided tour will take you through the steps of how to prospect for buyer and seller residential clients. You can also start prospecting for commercial clients as well. These guided tours, the magenta colored boxes, are sprinkled through the RPR website. Each one is designed to help you learn about powerful RPR features by helping you navigate your way through the process. The wrap Prospecting for new clients is equal parts hustle, discipline and persistence (read this case study for an example). You've got to make a plan, make the time, and make sure you stick to it. Use these ten tips to get started and to start sparking some new client meetings in 2022. To view the original article, visit the RPR