What can we do to succeed in this market?

Monday, Oct. 6, 2008

First thing we can do is to relax & have some fun


No, these photos are not of the same puppy. Yesterday, I picked up 2 puppies from Mandy Pittard --- you know, just to help her out. She had 8 puppies that she needed to get rid of and I wanted to be helpful. Seriously, you may remember that I told you Nellie didn't need me anymore ---she is out day and night now. I really missed that daily routine that Nellie & I had gotten into. Owen & Eliza (grandchildren) went with Boyd & me (Claude went to) to pick out our new puppies. We let Owen select his choice and Eliza select her choice. The deal that I made with Owen and Eliza is that I would take care of them. The one on the left's name is "Ox" (this is Owen's male puppy) --- one on the right is Eliza's and unnamed at this time ---she has come up with "Sparkle Eyes" and "Chocolate" --- we are still working on her name ---

On a serious note ----- I sent out an email today asking what are you, the agent, doing to keep yourself in the real estate business. I want to share some of the answers. Most important that you be doing something everyday.

From John Beckroge in Johnnie Dodds office: "Hey Liz: Things are popping. I have a ratified contract for 213,000...my listing on Indaba Way, I talked the buyer (who was represented), to use Gary Christmas, yea we will get title. Its cash so cant control that, closing in two weeks. I did an openhouse yesterday and met an awsome buyer. I have this week talked to an investor from NY, who I sold a house to in Park Circle, he now have moved here and is going to start buying up property, since its a real buyers market and he knows it. Im getting a new Listing on Thousand Oaks Cr, Crowfield, hopefully in by this weeks ending. And the biggie...My Dentist is giving me a pocket listing for his home on inwaterway, Wild Dunes, 3.4mil. This is the deal of a contact, he also is cutting back on his practice and wants to hook up with me to buy lots of chas. property....All this in the last week, I think I did too much praying, or maybe the bailout has helped the attitudes. Thanks...
John H. Beckroge, Realtor, ABR, CM, ePro ,Shareholder, Realtor of DistinctionWeb - http://www.buy-sellcharlestonrealestate.com/EM - John.Bjr@agentowned.com"

If that won't get you pumped up, I don't know what will.

Lane Baker of the Johnnie Dodds office: "Nobody told me its a bad market. I'm working everyday like its 2005. I'm diversified-and if this is a bad market???? Look out when I hit a good one. Thanks, Lane BakerAgent Owned Realty843-452-3192 direct843-725-6522 faxBaker@agentowned.commailto:faxBaker@agentowned.comwww.FindCharlestonHomes.com"
I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Millard Smith of Johnnie Dodds writes: "For the last several weeks I have been talking to past clients and customers about taking advantage of the good buys that are currently out there. In my entire time in realestate I have never seen such a great time to invest in property. Knowing up front that you are going to have to hold it for 2 or 3 years but after all your alternative is to put money in the stock market and I have never ever heard of a property being worth zero. Putting partners together is what I think is the answer for todays market. (who knows)"

A consistent theme from those who are being successful is "call you past clients/sphere of influence"

Kim Peasley-Parker of Sumter office says: " A few suggestions-

• Keep yourself educated and up to date on the market in your area. Be prepared to speak to anyone about how your market is different than the national real estate market. Also spend 30 minutes a day reading about real estate marketing or any other aspect to keep yourself educated.
• Use the slow time to work on your web presence- When you are in the thick of buying and selling, this doesn't happen like it should. But changes to your webpage should be as often as possible to increase web page search engine ranking.
• Use the knowledge you have worked on to blog about your local market. You will get calls believe me!
• Show up once in a while- Just being in the office you can exchange ideas and get some motivation. It is way easier to forget about your business when you are not around it hearing about real estate.
• Use the slow time to set up systems- Systems that help you in the busy times. Ok the old engineering nerd coming out, I have my own procedure on how to name files after I scan documents in a transaction. This helps me to remain consistent and not have to try and rely on memory. This can also be done for marketing and other business related activities. "

Great ideas --- learn to blog --- work on your web site -- almost all buyers go to the internet first --- before they get in touch with a real estate agent.

More to come tomorrow ---

Listings:

Johnnie Dodds: Currie McCullough - 1
Lane Baker - 1
Jim Hart - 1

Sumter: Pat Del Beni - 2

Manning: Belinda Jordan - 1

In the offices today:

Manning: Celina Gleason, Charley Schmidt, Alfred Kelley, Angie Jordan, Peggy Haley, Lola Bradshaw, Belinda Jordan, Shaun Richburg, Daisy Simpson, Joette Wielicki, Carol Jo Horne


Johnnie Dodds: Michael Culp, Stan Huff, Thea Riley, Tyler Bergin, Joe Eddleman, Jason Ogden, Susie Schumm, Currie McCullough, Ed Ball, Stephanie Wilson-Hartzog, Deepa Patel, Greaton Sellers, Tim Rogers, Becky Hayward, Bill Knight

Sumter: Jo Milkie, Sylvia McCabe, Kim Peasley-Parker, Pat Del Beni, Shirley Field and Corrie Stewart

Santee: Susan Stroman, Jill James, Ricki Williams, & Neil Pepple

Until later -------

Liz Loadholt