This week was my first official week in the office. You can tell I’m the keener as I arrive before everyone else and often I am the last to leave in the evening. When I get home I return to my computer to do more work. I feel like there is a lot to set up before I can actually go to work prospecting. I’m the type of person who needs to feel totally legit before I go out marketing myself.
Step 1, get a website, check! I manage to launch www.sairawaters.com this week and it certainly serves a purpose. It looks pretty, it has my contact info, and it also has some PDF forms buyers or sellers can fill out and send to me. It would be nice to have these forms online… but I’m not quite there yet. At least having a website makes me look like I’m on top of my game! Because I am!
Step 2, a buyer guide. I have been working on useful guide for buyers to use when they work with me. It has lots of useful information about the buying process including information on agency and additional costs in a usual buying transaction. It also gives clients an idea about what I offer and what they can expect from me. Coming soon to a Royal LePage mall kiosk near you!
Step 3, prospect and contact! I have a database of contacts now of mostly family and friends. It occurred to me that people of my generation do not keep addresses. Who sends snail mail?! So I’m working on getting addresses so I can send out a little “Hey, I’m in real estate now, have a magnetic calendar with my face and contact info on it so you can remember this all year round!”. I’m sure it will sound a bit better than that, but if anyone wants a calendar, send me your address!! Click here to e-mail me!
Step 4, breath! It’s hard not to get ahead of myself here. It’s the little over achiever in me that says, don’t go to bed yet, there’s more work to do! And I’m just working on getting things set up! This whole “work-life balance” that everyone’s been talking about might be something worth looking into. I guess if I figure it out right off the start, keeping it up later in life will be easier.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Real Estate "Shakeup"
There was an interesting article published in the Times Colonist this week which talked about some big changes on the horizon for Canada's real estate market.
To butcher and summarize, it basically says that any discount brokerage (i.e. 1% Realty) or “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO) will be able to use MLS (www.realtor.ca) to list their properties. Also, any agent working with a buyer does not have to talk to a listing agent, but can contact the seller directly to negotiate an offer.
This is big news!
What does it mean for the consumer? You will be able to search MLS and view ALL the properties for sale including the FSBOs or companies who want to pay to use the service! What does it mean for Realtors? We may have to charge our buyers for services!
Let me put this into context. If I were working with a friend who would like to buy a house, in the usual circumstance, I would take them to any property, ensuring that when an offer was placed, I would still get paid for the work I had done. This payment would come from the Seller’s brokerage, making my services essentially free to my buyer. If my buyer wanted to buy from a FSBO, then there would be no selling brokerage and I would need to seek remuneration from my buyer!
All of a sudden FSBOs do not look very appealing if you are a buyer working with a Realtor.
What about sellers? If someone would like to sell their $500,000 house, and they find out they have to pay 3% to their Realtor, listing it themselves seems pretty tempting and worth the savings! If the changes go through, sellers will have the option to list their property on MLS and have way more exposure than ever before!
I think the best thing I’ve heard with regard to FSBOs is “You wouldn’t do your own dental work, would you?...” The fact is, Realtors are professionals and have an amount of expertise when it comes to Real Estate. I think the services Realtors provide are invaluable and their presence in the market will not vary too much, regardless of the changes in CREA policy. If anything, these policies will give the discount brokerages a better chance at survival.
If and when these changes take place, it will definitely stir things up in the real estate market! Bring on change! Nothing else in life is constant!
Check out the full article at: http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=2175020
To butcher and summarize, it basically says that any discount brokerage (i.e. 1% Realty) or “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO) will be able to use MLS (www.realtor.ca) to list their properties. Also, any agent working with a buyer does not have to talk to a listing agent, but can contact the seller directly to negotiate an offer.
This is big news!
What does it mean for the consumer? You will be able to search MLS and view ALL the properties for sale including the FSBOs or companies who want to pay to use the service! What does it mean for Realtors? We may have to charge our buyers for services!
Let me put this into context. If I were working with a friend who would like to buy a house, in the usual circumstance, I would take them to any property, ensuring that when an offer was placed, I would still get paid for the work I had done. This payment would come from the Seller’s brokerage, making my services essentially free to my buyer. If my buyer wanted to buy from a FSBO, then there would be no selling brokerage and I would need to seek remuneration from my buyer!
All of a sudden FSBOs do not look very appealing if you are a buyer working with a Realtor.
What about sellers? If someone would like to sell their $500,000 house, and they find out they have to pay 3% to their Realtor, listing it themselves seems pretty tempting and worth the savings! If the changes go through, sellers will have the option to list their property on MLS and have way more exposure than ever before!
I think the best thing I’ve heard with regard to FSBOs is “You wouldn’t do your own dental work, would you?...” The fact is, Realtors are professionals and have an amount of expertise when it comes to Real Estate. I think the services Realtors provide are invaluable and their presence in the market will not vary too much, regardless of the changes in CREA policy. If anything, these policies will give the discount brokerages a better chance at survival.
If and when these changes take place, it will definitely stir things up in the real estate market! Bring on change! Nothing else in life is constant!
Check out the full article at: http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=2175020
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