Searching for a real estate 'Santa'
Realtor Notebook
By Teresa Boardman, Thursday, December 11, 2008.
Flickr photo by Todd Huffman.Some people believe in Santa Claus and some don't. Some believe in magic or angels. In our industry people are looking for something to believe in again and they are looking for leadership. Most of us know there isn't any magic, just hard work, but we are always looking for ways to make it easier.
Last Friday I wrote a members-only post on the ActiveRain real estate network. I wrote a fictionalized story on the site about a blog post that led a seller to list a $5 million home with me.
The story continued: On my way to the appointment to list the home a cash buyer contacted me and wanted to spend up to $5 million. I wrote an offer and sold the home before I listed it. A few hours later I got a call from a neighbor who heard about the deal and asked me to list his home.
Later the same day I was contacted by the Obama administration. They had been reading my blog posts and decided that, along with ActiveRain, I was the solution to the housing crisis and they wanted to appoint me to a newly created cabinet position. They believe it will only take a few weeks to stabilize the housing market with my help. The end.
Shortly after I posted this work of fiction it collected 40 comments. By the time I went to bed that night it had 104 comments. When I woke up the next morning and checked there were 122 comments. At my last count the post had received more than 150 comments. I suspect that by the time this article is read it will have received 200 comments.
Not everyone who read the story believed it, but an astounding number of readers did and found it inspirational. Those who did not believe it had a good laugh. Realtors are looking for answers, leadership and inspiration. They want to believe in something or in someone.
Later the same day I read a blog post written by Larry McGee in Denver, Colo. He and his wife, Kristal Kraft, own a small independent real estate brokerage.
What impressed me about Larry's post is that it showed leadership, all too rare these days. He acknowledged that things are a little tough right now. He didn't give any magical answers or lectures about having to work harder. He instead showed leadership and compassion and gave some sound advice. As I read what he wrote I wished that I was part of his company.
He acknowledged that things are tough in our industry right now. He let his agents know that it isn't all that wonderful out there and that if they are feeling some stress they are not alone. Larry wants to lead his agents into the recovery and I suspect they will follow.
He encourages his agents to reach out instead of isolating themselves as we all tend to do when things are not going well. As salespeople we are taught to always report that everything is wonderful and we say little or nothing when there isn't any good news. We need to talk about the bad things just like we need to talk about the good.
This is the height of the agent-recruiting season. Several of us have written about new brokerage models and what agents really want and need. Agents are looking for leadership, inspiration and something to believe in again.
Teresa Boardman is a broker in St. Paul, Minn., and founder of the St. Paul Real Estate blog.
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Submitted by Shannon Ziccardi on December 11, 2008 - 9:26am.
Teresa,
There is pure genius at work here. I have been ranting for months that the only thing keeping us from roaring back (economically speaking) is consumer confidence. That is why I have done my best to write only positive and encouraging posts and to tell people that the glass really is "half-full". I have also praised articles and posts that show people about the power of positive thinking. What is consumer confidence? It is a space in time where we decide things will get better or worse and choose to believe in either one or the other. I have found that when you believe things will improve, they do and vice versa. I'll bet that your fictional post created enough positive "juice" out there to make things just that much better for the many who read it.
While it may have been simply a social experiment or just for the fun of posting, you stumbled upon a formula that has powerful and lasting effects on a wide range of people. Those people are in need of more positive images and a message that delivers them from the doom and gloom of everyday media. Whatever your motive, I say: Do it again!
"A Quick Note"
www.aquicknote.net
Submitted by Matt Drouin on December 11, 2008 - 1:46pm.
Your fictional post does have some truth behind it. Greek philosopher Plato defined what it is to know. You need belief, truth, and evidence.
The first requirement is belief. Belief is one of the fundamental parts of knowledge and therefore wisdom.
When I go on a listing appointment, I always believe that I will get the listing. Even if there are 4 other agents competing. I even go so far as to have all of the listing paperwork filled all out and highlighted where the potential client needs to sign.
Thank you so much to the author of this article. Any other little tricks that you guys do to build up confidence in treacherous times?
Matt Drouin
Associate Broker
Nothnagle Realtors
Rochester, NY
http://www.nyhomesgetsold.com
Submitted by Marcie Berson on December 11, 2008 - 2:26pm.
Teresa,
Thanks for the inspiration and the link to Larry's blog post. You've both provided some valuable food for thought on what we all need to be doing to help ourselves in these tough times. I'll be sharing your thoughts with the other associates in my office.
Marcie Berson, REALTOR, ABR, e-PRO
RE/MAX Heritage, Westport, CT 06880
Email: Marcie@BersonTeam.com
Blog: http://www.RealTown.com/Marcie2/Blog
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MarcieBerson
Submitted by Mara Hawks on December 11, 2008 - 3:03pm.
Teresa,
I seriously thought you'd hit the eggnog rather early...fell down & hit your head on 34th Street...alas, just a tall glass of INSPIRATION for all of us. WELL DONE! I'm sure this year we'll be opening fewer presents but more hearts...thanks for the blogging stuffer already... And nice to highlight LarryMcGee. CHEERS!
Mara Hawks, REALTOR® FIRST REALTY, a Realty South Company
Auburn,AL
mhawks7@aol.com
www.marahawks.com
Blog: http://activerain.com/blogs/mhawks
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mhawks
Submitted by Ruthmarie Hicks on December 11, 2008 - 4:20pm.
I loved that post - and was amazed at how many really thought it was true!
AR is great as far as it goes, but it is not a magic bullet. A lot of agents look to AR as an all encompassing solution. It can help you but it won't make you. Sooooo, I wish that they would stop featuring the big "success stories" because they can be misleading and set already distressed agents up for disappointment. I have blogged to localism loyally and it has brought me one sale and one rental - hardly a landslide of success. You need more than AR to run a successful business.
Submitted by Larry Douglas McGee on December 11, 2008 - 8:17pm.
Teresa,
First, thank you for mentioning me in your post. It is gratifying and humbling to be noticed, and I really appreciate that you read my postings.
Second,I offer my belief that most of the population in these United States are participants and victims in a poisonous atmosphere of FEAR. I suspect it started on September 11, 2001, and it has gone on unabated since then. From taking our shoes off before we can board a plane, to Henry Paulson's "the sky is falling" rant, or the latest layoffs coupled with the gyrations of the stock market, we are shown and told that we should be scared to death. That attitude receives no encouragement from an adolescent and hyperactive media presenting us with a constant stream of half-baked experts offering unvetted facts that encourage and support our fears.
Franklin Roosevelt said "we have nothing to fear but fear itself". I believe he was correct. I respectfully suggest that everyone get to work on their life. Things are not easy, but there is nothing happening here that we cannot cope with.
And, yes Virginia, there is a real estate market. It exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exists....Alas! how dreary the world would be if there were no real estate market.......and my apologies to Francis Church for my poetic license.
Larry D. McGee, CRB,CRS
denveriq.com
The Berkshire Group, Realtors
Submitted by Fred Doleac on December 11, 2008 - 8:22pm.
Your post and link to Larry's was a great read. The challenge to our industry is for the managers and Broker/Owners to provide leadership and inspiration. Our current training program Praxis Plus (offered free online) is one process. The key is education and the integration of technology.
Fred Doleac - CEO
Virtual Homes
http://fdoleac.activerain.com
www.virtualhomes.com
Broker/Owner
RE/MAX Innovations, Boston, MA
http://www.relocationma.com