World’s Largest Real Estate Group

Realogy Corporation, the world’s largest real estate franchise group, last week reported their results through March 31st. The one-liner is that the Q1/10 revenue of $819 million is up 18% over the same period last year.

The growth is principally attributed to the move-up, higher priced markets and a comparatively weak first quarter in 2009. According to Realogy president and CEO Richard A. Smith, the company also saw gains in the average home sale price during the last year.

The other day I was having a conversation with a friend of mine who owns nine real estate offices in Atlanta. We were talking about eliminating overhead, and he told me that he paid over $6,000 every month on phone bills! I told him that my brokerage paid zero! He was floored! Here’s how I do it.
What is one thing that every single agent has on them at all times? Their pocket real estate license.. right? Hardly! …

What I’m about to share with you is going to get me a ton of email telling me that I’ve finally stepped over the line. That I’ve lost my mind. That I’m just plain nuts. That’s okay — I’m going to share it anyway. Here is a great tip: Just say NO to E&O!
But before you fire up your computer and email to tell me how crazy I am, let me explain. I’m very much in favor of …

I don’t advocate taking over-priced listings. Sometimes, it is inevitable, but before you take a listing that is overpriced, see that the sellers meet the follow three criteria:
 
1.   The sellers must have strong motive to sell.
 
      Your client’s motivation to sell is the key indicator of whether or not you will earn a fee for your service. You’ll be paid only when your client’s property sells and closes, so evaluate and re-evaluate the interest and determination of the seller to complete the transaction.
 
      If a client absolutely has to …

One of my favorite movie scenes ever was in The Godfather when Vito Corleone was asked how he got his own way in a particular situation.  His answer was, “I make them an offer they can’t refuse.”  In real estate, we are in the business of writing offers and negotiating contracts.  In fact our most common form is called an “Offer to Purchase and Contract”, meaning that the document starts as an offer and upon acceptance, becomes a contract.
Most of us have written dozens, if not hundreds of offers on …

A problem arises when Agents mistake conditions for objections.  Agents often treat a condition as an objection and beat themselves up when they don’t get the transaction or contract signed.  The definition of a condition is a valid reason for the prospect to not move forward.  You still need to try all the techniques of handling the objection.  You just need to realize that a condition is usually linked to their ability or authority to act now.
 
They might have the desire to move forward with you but lack the ability …

December 2009 saw the demise of Editor & Publisher Magazine, which had been around since 1854. It lays claim to being the chief chronicler of the American newspaper industry and has presided over the business for 125 years and is a clear signal that an era is rapidly drawing to a close.

NEWSPAPERS

Daily newspapers have been losing between 2% and 5% per year of their circulation base during the last 10 years. In 1940 there were 1,878 newspapers in the U.S. with a total circulation of 32.4 million. …