I was not only surprised but shocked to hear Gary Keller recommend sellers be present during showings of their homes. During my 17 years as a licensed Realtor®, common wisdom was for sellers NOT to be home and it leave the showings up to the professionals.

An example of why a seller shouldn’t be present is when I was showing a young Navy family with 2 young daughters houses. We went in one house with the sellers there. I started a conversation with the wife and asked why they were moving. She said, “We just had our second child and this house is too small for us.”  Needless to say, my family with 2 daughters didn’t buy that house.

What do you think? Has conventional wisdom changed? Has real estate changed this much in the few short years since I opened my real estate virtual assistant business?

I received an email from a virtual assistant friend of mine. I read:

Hello,

Take a look at the Home page of my website and you will see what was lifted from me.

Tim contacted me this me this week about an upcoming training for real estate professionals and their assistants whose job it is to close short sales. We all know how challenging short sales can be! Tim’s training is invaluable to any Team member or Real Estate Virtual Assistant who is in the trenches getting short sales to closing!

I have known Tim Burrell for years and he is the consummate professional and a fun person to learn from. Read what Tim has to say and take advantage of his FREE Seminar…you will be glad you did!!

“It took me seventeen years to learn the best way to do short sales.  I have been teaching Realtors how to do short sales, which is like teaching donkeys to fly.  You can launch them with high amounts of energy, but they do not stay with it for very long unless you give them lots of support.  Most Realtors do not like the persistence, detail and repetitive work that it takes to negotiate a short sale with a bank, because most of them do not have a C personality type.

So, I am concentrating on teaching how to negotiate with the bank, mainly for the team members and Real Estate Virtual Assistants.  The Realtors can do the Realtor part of it i.e. get the listing and get an offer.  The team does the part that makes the difference: getting it approved.  The negotiating techniques I teach have enabled me to get all but one of my short sales approved.

The Realtors need to learn this also, because they are responsible for the whole transaction.  However, their team members or Real Estate Virtual Assistants take to it better than they do.

If you are interested, go to www.ShortSaleNegotiatingSpecialist.com to register for a free webinar February 25th at 3 pm eastern time, and bring your team members and assistants.   After all, it takes the same amount of time to negotiate a short sale that does not get approved by the bank as it does to negotiate one that is approved… and the ones that are approved pay much better.”

Tim Burrell
www.CreateAShortSale.com
919-812-5111

FDIC Director of Public Affairs Andrew Gray said, “It is unfortunate but necessary to respond to blatantly false claims in a web video that is being circulated about the loss-sharing agreement between the FDIC and OneWest Bank. Here are the facts: OneWest has not been paid one penny by the FDIC in loss-share claims. The loss-share agreement is limited to 7% of the total assets that OneWest services, and OneWest must first take more than $2.5 billion in losses before it can make a loss-share claim on owned assets. In order to be paid through loss share, OneWest must have adhered to the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).

The producers of this video perpetuate other falsehoods. The FDIC has not requested to borrow money from the Treasury Department. Indeed, we continue to be funded by the banking industry through assessments, not by taxpayers as claimed in the video.

This video has no credibility. Regardless of the personal or professional motivations behind its production, there is always a responsibility to be factually correct and transparent. The FDIC made available a fact sheet on the day that the sale of IndyMac was announced that details the terms of the contract. It’s too bad that the creators of this video opted to premise it on falsehoods.”

Supplemental Facts about the Sale of Indymac F.S.B. to OneWest Bank

• IndyMac was competitively bid. After analysis, the acquisition by OneWest represented the least cost transaction to the Deposit Insurance Fund.
• OneWest not only acquired assets, but also assumed the liabilities of the insured deposits, Federal Home Loan Bank Advances, and amounts owed the FDIC
• OneWest has assumed a first loss position on a portfolio of qualifying loans where they take the first 20% of losses before any loss share payments are made. This is a first loss position of over $2.5 billion.
• The FDIC has yet to make a single loss share payment to OneWest.
• In its agreement with FDIC, OneWest is required to adhere to a loan modification protocol for single family loans that meets the approval of the FDIC. If the FDIC determines that OneWest is in violation of this agreement, then the FDIC can repudiate the loss share claims on the covered loans.
• FDIC has authorized OneWest to service single family loans under the Home Affordable Modification Program. It applies to all owner-occupied homes and requires OneWest to:
• The FDIC monitors OneWest’s compliance with their adherence to the FDIC Mortgage Loan Modification Program and OneWest’s commitments under the asset sale agreement.
• Only 7% of loans OneWest services are owned by OneWest and covered under loss share. Other institutions own the remaining 93% of loans OneWest services. These loans are required to be serviced in accordance with the owner institutions’ agreements with OneWest.

Short sales are a fact of life for most real estate professionals. Despite new government regulations short sale transactions are still difficult to close. You probably feel like you are hitting your head against a brick wall over and over and over again!!

The question arises, why are short sale real estate transactions so difficult? Why do some banks act like the enemy?

This video from  www.ThinkBigWorkSmall.com,  show why some banks aren’t motivated to get your short sale closed. The good part comes after the CNN announcer stops talking.

Real estate virtual assistants can help get your short sales to a successful closing! Our team of Transaction Managers are Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE). We have the expertise needed to communicate with lenders, your clients and other real estate professionals to get you to the closing table. Contact us today and get more of your short sales closed!!

Do you remember the brisk Buyers Market of a few years ago? Buyers were beating down your doors. Anyone who could breathe had a real estate license and was selling homes. Then the market went south. Buyers were no where to be found and your pipeline of new business dried up because you hadn’t been doing any marketing. You had neither the time nor the need to keep your name out there. A tougher real estate  market requires getting back to basics and evaluating what works in our new reality and what doesn’t.

Brain Buffini has detailed detours on your road to success:

The Five Detours on the Road to Success

1. Lack of Accountability

Every human being does better with accountability because we truly cannot see our own shortcomings; outside perspective is the best way to gain clarity on our patterns.

2. Loss of Motivation

Motivation, by its very nature, is designed to dissipate so we need to seek it out continually. As my friend and mentor, Zig Ziglar, says: “Motivation is like bathing. You have to do it on a daily basis!”

3. In Need of Direction

Once you get things moving and gain some momentum you actually need more direction than you did when you were just starting out. This is borne out by countless people who work their whole life and have nothing to show for it.

4. Isolation

All you have to do is watch the “Animal Planet” documentary on predators in the wild to know how detrimental isolation can be: Predators never attack the pack; they always look for the isolated, hurt, wounded, and lost, the ones who’ve stopped moving forward. Self-employed people are more predisposed to this isolation than anyone else.

5. Drift

While “isolation” is a predator, “drift” is a killer; it’s the “silent assassin” because we don’t know how far and how fast we’ve drifted until something catastrophic happens.

As you can see, the “Five Detours” are things we all face and it can be easy to get off track in both business and our personal lives. But let’s examine the solution side of things. If there are detours, then rest assured there are also rules of the road to get you and your real estate business back on track.

Stay on Track with These Rules of the Road

1. Stay Accountable

While it may not be natural to seek out accountability, let’s just have a look at what happens in its absence. Tiger Woods – the greatest golfer in the world – recently missed the cut at the British Open. Just so happens it was the first time in five years he didn’t bring his coach to a tournament.

2. Brainstorm and Network with Others

We humans do much better when we mastermind together, which is why we facilitate networking at our events, as well as in our Coaching programs and Small Groups. Surround yourself with positive, resourceful, successful people, because they’ll lift you up rather than drag you down.

3. Plan Daily Doses of Motivation

Just think of your daily motivation like an essential vitamin, with nothing but positive, good-for-you side effects. Plan daily doses by listening to affirming CDs in your car or by reading good books – just a few lines here or there will go a long way.

4. Follow the System

You know you’re in need of direction – everybody is. And we’ve developed a system that works. Now, I know that few people ever follow the system 100%, but what if that means you’re missing out on a 30% jump in your income?

5. Work with a Coach

A Coach has the expertise, tools and strategies to help you get your business cranking. That accountability and direction will help you avoid drift – the deadly killer.

A real estate virtual assistant helps you stay on track on your road to success. We can create and implement the systems needed to accomplish your goals and keep you moving in the right direction. Contact us and together we will make 2010 the best year yet!

Knowing this, you will understand why I was thrilled when my client, Mike Manosky with RE/MAX Huntsville, shared a compliment he received from a Craigs List user: 

Hi Ruth Ann,

I just wanted to pass along this email I got last night off Craigs List. I really enjoy reading the copy you create as well. Thanks for all the great work!

Mike Manosky……

I am not looking to buy or sell a house, but I am retired and therefore have time to look at homes offered for sale.  I must say that your description of this property was masterfully done and should bring you many inquiries.  

It’s such a pleasure to see well written ad copy at at time when some realtors don’t even know how to spell or care enough to include a picture of the property! Hopefully your thoroughness and ability to paint such a positive picture of this home brings you much gratitude from the home’s owners.  Keep up the great work!   

JK 

Marketing of your listings or listing coordination an ideal task to outsource to a real estate virtual assistant, especially if you don’t enjoy writing. You might be wondering how be can write aobut a hoouse we have never been in. What happens with Mike is he provides us with an information sheet he uses when he takes the listing, the MLS sheet and photos. You see the results.

Contact us today. We’d enjoy making YOU look good!

I’m sure you have heard the latest catch phrase, social media. Like me, you probably realize that social media has to do with sharing photos with friends, telling about the great party you went to last night and what you are having for dinner tonight. You may not understand what it has to do with your real estate business. Sure all the real estate trainers say you need to be on Facebook and Twitter, but what exactly IS social media and WHY do you and your real estate business need a presence there!! 

What is Social Media? 

Social media is a complex, organic online conversation between multiple people. The keyword here is ‘conversation’. In the old Web 1.0 Internet, you had no interaction or relationship with people. Your website is most likely is very static. The content doesn’t change much and there is no real time interaction. With the new Web 2.0, which social media is a part of, you are involving people in your business and empowering them to have a relationship with you. 

Social media is not just Facebook and Twitter. It does include social media networks, but also includes, blogs, microblogs, video and photo sharing, message boards, wiki, virtual reality, social gaming, podcasts and Real Simple Syndication (RSS). 

Why Do You Want to Participate In Social Media? 

Your clients and prospects are there and you want to know what they are talking about. Social media websites are the fastest growing category of the Internet and doubled in size in the last year.* 

• 73% of Internet users have read a blog
• 45% have started their own blog
• 39% subscribe to an RSS feed
• 57% have joined a social network
• 55% have uploaded photos834 % have watched video clips 

Of all social media site users: 

• 33% use social media to research products before deciding to buy
• 47% are influenced by social media to buy specific brands
• 26% have decided not to buy a specific product because of social media
• Facebook has 600,000 new users DAILY! 

How Can Social Media Benefit My Real Estate Business? 

Implementing a social media marketing strategy will

• Provide exposure
  63% of business owners increased exposure to their business through social media marketing
• Increase traffic
  80% of business owners increased traffic to their website and 67% increased email/newsletter lists
• Build new business partnerships
  62% of business owners closed new business and established new business partnerships
• Increase leads
  50% of business owners increased the number of new leads

5 Step Process to Increased Business with Social Media

There is a 5 step process to increasing your real estate business through social media. 

1. Develop a Social Media Marketing Strategy 

Create a strategy to: give exposure to your services, to create new business by converting prospects into clients, to reinforce credibility and retain clients and improve search engine visibility. 

2. Establish your social media presence with profiles on various social media networking sites.

3. Expand your reach by inviting prospects to join your networks. 

4. Nurture relationships by updating your profile and joining in discussions. 

5. Properly maintain your presence through consistency. 

Top Social Media Websites for Your Real Estate Business 

• Twitter (www.twitter.com) – 86% of users of social media are here 

Twitter is a microblog with posts limited to 140 characters. Here you can share timely information, promote contests, share useful links, personify your brand, build credibility and follow competitors

• LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) – 78% of social media users are here
• Facebook (www.facebook.com)  – 77 of social media user are here 

With LinkedIn and Facebook you can share photos, video, audio and links. Send private messages and instant messages. Join groups and gain fans. You can create a page to promote your business. Point fans to your blog and encourage and join in discussions. 

Dominant Niche Sites 

• www.Biznik.com
• www.Plaxo.com
• www.FastPitch.com
• www.ActiveRain.com
• www.Localism.com
• www.Meetup.com
• www.Yelp.com
• www.Trulia.com
• www.Zillow.com  

Like any marketing strategy, social media marketing for real estate takes a commitment. Anyone can setup a profile, but it is what you do after that that counts. Did you ever create a geographic farm? To be successful in a farm you couldn’t mail one flyer or one postcard. But planted many seeds and your success came after many months of working in that farm. It wasn’t a one shot deal. 

Social media is virtual farming. You are planting seeds through conversation and interaction. Like your geographic farm, it will take time to produce results. But your consistent efforts will result in increased leads, increased exposure, and increased business. And the good is your consistent efforts can be outsourced to a real estate virtual assistant who understands social media marketing!

* All statistics provided by SocialMediaMagic.com.

A skilled real estate virtual assistant can respond to and nurture your Internet leads until they become ready, willing and able buyers. The leads can be pre-qualified by your lender, sent relocation information, put on drip email campaigns, set up on automated property searches, sent newsletters, called at pre-determined intervals, and made to feel like they are your only client and you haven’t even talked with them yet.

Watch this power point presentation below and see how a real estate virtual assistant helped Leigh Brown with RE/MAX Signature Properties in Charlotte NC take her Internet business for 6% to 24% of her total business in one year.

Have questions about how a real estate virtual assistant can help you convert more leads. Contact us at info@myreassistant.com. We are glad to answer all your questions.