Real Estate Rainmaker - Latest Comments

Re: How Smart Parents Can Cut The Cost Of College

Elizabeth R. Elstien — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 16:32:09 -0000

Absolutely, Dan. Maintaining leases and collecting rents can be difficult in multi-roommate situations. It's best left to a reliable management company that has experience doing this and knows the local, state and federal laws.

Re: How Smart Parents Can Cut The Cost Of College

Dan Gooder Richard — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 16:14:25 -0000

Great comment, Beth. You are absolutely right. Few pros in a local market -- especially a college town which can be a close-knit community -- have their pulse on the rental market like a good property manager. For out-of-town parents a good property manager is critical...even if the offspring is living in the rental. Sometimes its hard for a college student to "lay down the law" or even collect rent from friends who are housemates. Thanks for joining the conversation!

Re: How Smart Parents Can Cut The Cost Of College

Elizabeth R. Elstien — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 15:57:27 -0000

As a Realtor for many years, I did primarily investment real
estate for both buyers/sellers and worked as a property manager. One thing the article
does not mention is to consult with a property manager who knows the
area to find out realistic rental prices for any property before making
an offer. Realtors not versed in property management sometimes provide
buyers with inflated rental prices than are realistic to get the sale.

A knowledgeable property manager can tell the buyer what needs to be
done to the property to get it rental ready, even if the buyer will be
managing the property. A property manager can also tell parents/investors
how quickly they can expect to get it rented and even if it's a good
investment area. The buyer may have to pay a consulting fee to the
property management company, but it's well worth it.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some states/locales specify that the one
managing the property, even the owner, must live in the area. This can
lower the return for out-of-area owners if property management costs were
not figured into the investment expenses.

Elizabeth R. Elstien
www.Eelstien.com
Eelstien@Eelstien.com

Re: Part I: The Sellers Are Coming! The Sellers Are Coming!

Alec Hagerty — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 15:28:36 -0000

Sharing this forward Dan on to my site at; Knowledge Sponge Seminars LLC (on Facebook) ...

Re: Farewell to a Friend

Tami Simms — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 13:57:15 -0000

Thank you for sharing, Dan. Hugs to both of you.

Re: 12 Reasons Why Direct Mail Generates Listings

Dan Gooder Richard — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:41:35 -0000

You make a good point, Steve. One key is the reduced volume of direct mail theses days. Your direct mail stands out when the competition drops out. Another is the guaranteed delivery of postal mail. No spam filters, junk mail folders or Do Not Email registries to fight through (for the record, Post Office does offer a Do Not Deliver advertising mail registry but few homeowners use). Every direct mail piece gets delivered if addressed properly. Can't say that about e-mail.

Re: 12 Reasons Why Direct Mail Generates Listings

Steve Klinghoffer — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:57:14 -0000

Many industries still benefit from direct mail. It's not the "dinosaur" of marketing as some people call it. People get many emails a day, but only a few pieces of direct mail which means that they are more likely to pay attention to it.

Re: Escalation Clauses Are Back. Handle With Care.

Dan Gooder Richard — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:55:07 -0000

Sorry to hear you missed out on a house! Ouch. Next time will be the charm, for sure. If word gets out that you've offered with an escalation clause on the next house, maybe you can scare away the other offers...and get an even better deal. Keep us posted on your search!

Re: Escalation Clauses Are Back. Handle With Care.

Carol Boyd Leon — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:10:22 -0000

Useful article, Dan. If I'd thought about this option, I possibly wouldn't have lost out on the purchase of a home a few weeks ago. The seller opted for an offer that was a bit over the asking price. Yes, it's an interesting market right now in the DC area. . .

Re: No-Cost Marketing: 8 Tips To Turn Blog Comments Into More Business

Jesse — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:58:31 -0000

Thank you very much Élan! Be sure to subscribe to our Social Media pages for even more information.

Re: No-Cost Marketing: 8 Tips To Turn Blog Comments Into More Business

elanvacations — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:18:36 -0000

Nice Blog Keep it up

Re: Low-Cost Marketing: How Listing Syndication Can Leverage Your Listings

Dan Gooder Richard — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:43:12 -0000

Great inside tip, Brooks. Thanks for sharing! As a top investor's agent in the Mobile, Alabama and Baldwin County market I'm sure you're busy. Using Postlets to spread the word about rental and renovation-flip deals is very effective and a great time saver.

Re: Low-Cost Marketing: How Listing Syndication Can Leverage Your Listings

Brooks Conkle — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 11:06:10 -0000

I think that Postlets is an incredible option - most people can get what they need for free - you can also forward your single property domain to the listing if you choose.

Re: Introducing The New GooderGroup.com

Dan Gooder Richard — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 18:02:31 -0000

Creating our www.GooderGroup.com website makeover has been a labor of love. From the beginning we set out to increase usability and value for our visitors.

Along the way we worked on eight principal objectives simultaneously:
1. Introduced new navigation drop downs and user-friendly bread crumbs
2. Expanded slideshows for quick product overviews
3. Built site around customer-centric visitor patterns focused on products and prices
4. Integrated lead-gen tie-ins with our Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Linked In pages
5. Designed consistent branding throughout site, as well on all social media sites
6. Programmed handy online order forms with secure credit card encryption
7. Emphasized new products and tossed old products leftover since the millennium
8. Developed easy ways for customers to request personal demos and consultations

We hope you like the new www.GooderGroup.com website! Let us know what you think...and how we can make it even better.

After all, since 1983 we’ve been good, but we’re always working to be Gooder!

Re: Survey Says: Reviews Rate

Camille — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 03:25:00 -0000

Hi Amy -
I had a chance to read the posting and although this makes sense, my question is which website(s) do you direct your clients to provide feedback on? With Facebook, Zillow (with their new rating system), Trulia, Angie's List, Yelp, etc. when is enough enough? I wouldn't feel comfortable with asking (nor do I feel it is necessary to ask) my clients to provide feedback on all of these websites. Is there one way to streamline my clients providing feedback?

Re: What is Content Marketing?

Britt Brouse — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 15:22:26 -0000

Real estate agents who blog and update their websites with thoughtful responses to industry news and news in their local markets will capture more leads through organic search. Think about it, there's definitely a buyer out there searching for "Best Schools in the D.C. Area," so generating content around that phrase and others like it, will likely bring that buyer right to your site!

Britt Brouse
SmartBug Media
@SmartBugMedia

Re: Lead Generation: Nurturing Leads

Agi Anderson — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 14:50:12 -0000

Amy, you hit the nail on the head!! The problem, the majority of Realtors come from a different time and place and they're practicing real estate of the 90's.Realtors are having difficulty wrapping their head around of new millennium methods of marketing as in, incorporating landing pages, email drip campaigns, video marketing and using the web as a powerful tool that drives business. Since you invite best practice, I am just finishing up an an eGuide, Neighborhood Domination, which includes incorporating landing pages like: http://www/RealProNeighborhoodExpert.com ~ Excellent post!
Agi Anderson, ePro Advisor

Re: Encourage Opening of Mail

Amy Hausman — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:11:29 -0000

Elizabeth,
Thanks for the comment and feedback! Sounds like your mailings will move to the top of the stack of mail to be opened first. In our house, anything handwritten gets priority!

As for farming out the handwriting job, spread the word to your friends and you're likely to find a taker, especially if you give notice and offer a gift card to a favorite hangout!

Amy

Re: Encourage Opening of Mail

Elizabeth Bolton — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 21:14:07 -0000

Hi Amy ~ I've always gone the labor intensive route - no bulk mail for me. I mail in invitation-sized envelopes, hand addressed, with commemorative stamps. It makes a huge difference in getting the letter opened. Now if I could just find a high school student or two with really good printing!

Re: The Power of Niche Marketing: Video Interview

Dan Gooder Richard — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:36:53 -0000

You made us both look good, Michael! It's interesting. While video clips have exploded on the Net, uncovering good ones has become harder...and by "good" I mean professional quality production and content values. Working with you, I realized how effortless you make it to plan and "shoot" a video. Yet most important is how your editing makes a video interview worth watching...not just another point-and-shoot clip. Nice job! What you are doing at www.ThatInterviewGuy.com is true service to our industry. Keep it up, Michael! I'd highly recommend to anyone that they follow your work.

Re: The Power of Niche Marketing: Video Interview

Michael Krisa — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:05:26 -0000

Dan,

This was a great video and I learned from doing it!

You have mcuh wisdom to share my friend.

All Good Wishes,
michael krisa

http://ThatInterviewGuy.com

Re: Trending Topics: Niche Marketing

Dan Gooder Richard — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:54:54 -0000

Excellent, Linda. Interesting how many top Rainmakers generate business in today's market from FSBO's. In one sense it is counter-intuitive to sell By Owner in a slow market -- FSBO's are most common in an active seller's market -- yet some sellers today want to squeeze every penny out of their sale. Rainmakers report they have excellent success working with By Owners to help them fish in the Big Pond, especially using the strategy that you are more interested in the "extra buyers" who do not buy their property, than listing their home. Of course, when the FSBO gives up and wants to list with a pro you will be their first choice! Keep in touch with your success!

Re: Trending Topics: Niche Marketing

Linda Giebelhaus — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:10:37 -0000

I've just started a niche market for FSBO sellers to help them fish in the BIG POND - of MLS, internet, more professional tools, etc.

Re: Rethinking CRM

Dan Gooder Richard — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:50:20 -0000

Right on, Scott. There are only two types of people in the world: The ones you know, and the ones you don't. Prospects fall into the ones you've at least met...and building a relationship is MUCH easier when a Rainmaker keeps the lists separate. After all, a prospect needs more intense incubation to be nudged along the prospect pipeline to an appointment or contract, than the people you know well. Turning market strangers ("not met yet's") into prospects then into clients is where the big payoff is for every agent's marketing plan. Stay in touch.

Re: Rethinking CRM

scott schmitz — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:22:14 -0000

This is a good point. We recommend that you keep 2 lists. The first list is your list of contacts - these are the people you know well. You may track birthdays, anniversaries, children and all of that. You market to them on a relationship basis.

The second group are your prospects. I like to think of that as complete strangers who you hope to become good friends with (and clients). You market to them best you can, with drip letters, phone calls, task plans and the like. The marketing is aimed at either them becoming a client or you you removing them your Prospects database.