Internet Leads Are A Waste of Time

How many times have you heard that one?

How many times have you doubted yourself for spending money on internet leads?

There is a great article at Realtor.org that we think will be of great help to you and help you keep perspective on internet leads. Here is an excerpt:

“There’s a misconception about the quality of leads from the Internet,” says Anthony Marguleas, broker-owner of A.M. Realty Inc. in Pacific Palisades and Pasadena, Calif. “People get five leads and think that if two of them aren’t good, there’s something wrong. You have to take a proactive approach and work the leads.”

To ensure an initial response in 10 minutes to the 10,000 Internet leads a year he gets from HomeGain.com, HouseHunt.com, and his own Web site, (www.homebuyersonly.com), he and his 10 sales associates use two virtual assistants to enter each prospect into a biweekly e-mail marketing campaign. The e-campaign also directs prospects to the company’s virtual office Web site so that they can preview homes and learn more about the area.

Click on the excerpt above to see the entire article. Internet leads require proper follow-up like any other lead. If you're attentive and put care into what you are doing, the rewards will be there:)

WHAT'S WORKING? 8/17/10

"What's Working?" is a new blog feature for GetMyHomesValue.com subscribers featuring tips and advice from fellow subscribers on how they have had success with our leads.

"You have to have 7 - 10 points of contact with the typical lead before they remember you because people are deluged everyday with information from a lot of different sources." - Grace Morioka, Area Pro Realty, San Jose, CA

Grace has had 7 closings from her leads with GetMyHomesValue and co-hosts a weekly Blog-TalkRadio show called "Naked Real Estate" that runs every Thursday at 2:30pm. Click here to listen to archived Naked Real Estate shows and to tune in for the next show.

Thinking of Buying a House? Ask Yourself These Questions

Looking into buying a home doesn’t mean just checking the price of the prospective house, the neighboring homes’ values, or the location. Inexperienced buyers may not realize that there is so much more to consider when purchasing a home. It’s the little things that can make or break your final decision.

Here are some questions to consider, and for a more thorough elaboration on the answers just click on the questions to read the complete article:

Do I Need a Lawyer?

Not necessarily, although hiring a lawyer could help you a great deal with the legal contracts...

Who’s the Builder?

If you’re considering a more recently built home, it’s a good idea to check out the builder’s reputation...

What’s the Traffic Like?

Maybe you’ve found the perfect house–white picket fence, Victorian structure, large front and back yards–but it’s right off the main highway..

Why Does Sewage Disposal Matter?

Many buyers forget to ask how the sewage is disposed of. Why is this important?

How Efficient is the Energy Use?

Knowing the lighting in each room without the use of lamps would be helpful...

Always be sure to take hiring a real estate agent into consideration, as well, in order to help you invest your money in the house that suits you best.

Real Estate Leaders Are 'Followers'

Real Estate Leaders Are 'Followers'
by Steve Young, co-founder GetMyHomesValue.com

You don't have to be the best salesperson out there to succeed as a real estate professional. You've heard it a thousand times before, but it's the truth: It's all about forging relationships, and that comes from one simple-but-underutilized practice...following up.

The follow up system that you create for your real estate leads is crucial to your success. It is important to develop a system that is both effective and efficient. Time is the most prized possession we have and should be spent even more carefully than you spend money.

Your follow up system should utilize many different means. Some people respond to means of communication that other people do not, so your follow up plan must feature a contact plan that includes phone calls, emails, in person visits, letters, etc. Be creative, consistent and persistent. There is no fool proof system. The key to success is persistence.

There are many extremely successful real estate professionals who are not the greatest salespeople out there. What makes them great is they have the drive, dedication, and perserverance to work the lead until they “buy” or “die”.

They do not give up after two emails with no response. They do not give up after leaving 3 voice mail message and not getting a return call. They do not give up without knocking on that person's door. They are not afraid to call a potential client everyday, stop by their house, and do some of the unconventional tactics to close the deal. They do not ask their sales manager for leads, but rather make things happen themselves, treating every lead like it is gold. They believe that every lead is a great lead. They do not take "no" for an answer. They have the perspective that the sale “begins at 'no'”.

Following up with your existing clients that have their home under agreement with you is important as well. It is important to communicate with your sellers and buyers on a regular basis. Approximately once or twice a week is sufficient unless you are working through a tough situation, then communicating everyday or several times a day would be necessary. It is not good to obsess about your deals in progress because it hinders your ability to get new clients. Once the deal is under agreement let the other parties involved do their job to help get the transaction to closing. A strong working relationship with a mortgage broker will ease a lot of potential stress during the process.

There are as many maps for success as there are agents, so it is important to educate yourself on different ways to follow up on real estate leads and develop a system that works for you. There are literally hundreds of books written by top players in the real estate industry with good insights on follow up. Many of these people relate their experiences dealing with leads and turning them into closed sales.

It's simple, really. You just have to take time to plan. A plan for the next twelve months is appropriate and would serve you best. Develop a schedule as part of your plan. Know exactly what type of follow up you will be doing each day and stick to your plan.

It is very easy to get distracted, but it's also easy to set yourself up for success. Put your follow up plan in your schedule and do not schedule another appointment in its place because you will get out of the habit of following up on a regular basis. Treat your follow-ups as you would an appointment, because your follow-ups today become your appointments tomorrow.

Steve Young is a co-founder of GetMyHomesValue.com, a Lancaster, PA - based provider of cost-effective solutions for real estate professionals. He previously owned his own successful mortgage brokerage. (www.getmyhomesvalue.com, www.getmyhomesvalue.com/pro, www.rorysteveanddave.com)

Instant Leads In A Bottle (Just Add Effort)

Instant Leads In A Bottle (Just Add Effort)

by Rory Wilfong, co-founder GetMyHomesValue.com

I truly find it comical when I hear about people using Dietary Supplements and complain or calling consumer reports stating that the product is a scam and it does not work. It seems that they cannot understand how when they took several minutes to pry open the container, get the cotton out, then franticly digest the product that they were not instantaneously transformed into body supreme. I really don't mean to be callous or crass, but seriously...this scenario manifests itself in many different areas of our lives. It's the simple (and silly) belief that we can actually get amazing results without putting out any effort other than taking a pill or making "that" phone call or...you get the idea. We've all been guilty of it in some way at some point in our lives.

I see this scenario all the time with salespeople working real estate leads. Where's the effort? How many times do we have to see it before we acknowledge it for what it is?

On just about every Dietary Supplement on the market there is a very clear statement, worded in different ways, but with the universal message: For best results combine this Dietary Supplement with an intense workout and nutritional program. Further complaints seem to arise when the individual does 5 push ups and eats a bagel instead of a donut figuring that should be good enough. Hmmm....at this point either denial kicks in and the product is dismissed as another 'scam,' or common sense takes over and the individual realizes he/she might have to work harder for the desired results.

Hmmm.....I guess if I get a lead I probably should call them to see what I can do for them.

When I put leads in a 'bottle' (pipeline) for real estate professionals, the back of the bottle clearly states: For best results please combine this lead with an immediate phone call and a very aggressive followup system. I don't expect any effort I didn't put forth myself as a real estate professional. That's how I did it. That's how every savvy real estate professional does it.

The comedy/tragedy ensues as the agents receiving leads immediately complain about the lead because they made two attempts to contact with no reply, one via email and another leaving a message on an old answering machine where the recording sounded like the teacher from the 'Peanuts' cartoon. Now these real estate professionals are immediately beside themselves, fuming that the leads are bogus. They immediately want to stop the money going into that lead generation source whether it be internet, Sunday Paper, Open Houses or whatever because they feel it is not working.

These are the agents who drive by a house 4 months later...a house with a For Sale sign in the front yard...the very house they determined was a 'bogus lead' after only 2 email attempts. They cannot believe their eyes as they try and rummage through month old notes to clarify that, indeed, was the same house.

Now see how quickly they begin to believe that lead generation tool again.

Leads are endless, just like dietary supplements and, also like dietary supplements, they're not a substitute for effort and your 'body' of leads must be nurtured to receive the maximum 'nutritional' value. You just have to be willing to put in the effort to achieve the best results.

Rory Wilfong is co-founder of GetMyHomesValue.com and was an award-winning real estate professional with ReMax. He uses his sales, coaching and positive motivation skills daily with GetMyHomesValue.com's staff and customer base.