Tag: rhrtiptuesday

Categories
Uncategorized

#RHRTipTuesday – The Importance of Testimonials

Thank you to our agents who attended today’s Integrated Marketing / Social Media Class.  It’s always wonderful to see agents engaged and actively striving to better their marketing plans.  Testimonials are truly a KEY piece of content that every agent needs to take advantage of.  Also, recognizing that there are many FREE profiles for real estate agents that you should update, fill out, and keep consistent to better your online presence.

Today’s post will walk through statistics of the importance of testimonials online, RealSatisfied and Rector Hayden Together, and FREE Profiles for Real Estate Agents that YOU NEED TO FILL OUT!

 

In a study conducted by BrightLocal (a company that studies and implements SEO strategies for locally targeted businesses), the following statistics describe consumer feeling in 2014.

88% of Consumers in ANY industry read reviews to determine the quality of a local business.

 

85% of Consumers in ANY industry say they read between 5 and 10 online reviews before they make a decision.

 

72% of Consumers in ANY industry say that a POSITIVE review will make them trust a Local Business more.

 

88% of Consumers in ANY industry say they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

 

Because testimonials are so important in online branding and marketing, Rector Hayden stepped up our game by utilizing RealSatisfied as our testimonial/review system.  This program generates a survey at closing that automatically goes out to our Agent’s Client.  This gives the company transparency and shows these fabulous reviews truly come from satisfied homebuyers and homesellers!

The RealSatisfied program offers much more than just a survey though.  You can track responses, stay in contact with clients, and share each unique testimonial to social media sites and other real estate online profiles.

A short reference guide was prepared as supplemental material to Rector Hayden’s RealSatisfied Class (May 5, 2015).  You can download it here.

Download Here

FREE PROFILE CHECKLIST!

It can be hard to remember how many profiles you have available online.  Remember, every free profile is like a FREE ad – and the content needs to be CURRENT!

❒ Lbar.com – Search for yourself on LBAR.com:  http://www.lbar.com/mls/?search_type=realtor&revise_search  to find your LBAR profile.  This is what users see when using LBAR.COM or the LBAR mobile app.  This is also what MANY relocation companies browse through when picking agents to contact.  Is your photo current?  Is your bio readable, engaging?  Is your contact info correct?  Are your designations up to date?

 

❒ REALTOR.com – Search for yourself on REALTOR.com: http://www.realtor.com/realestateagents/ – how much of your profile is filled out? None?  Head on over to https://solutioncenter.realtor.com/ControlPanel/Login.aspx and setup your FREE Realtor.com profile.  There are lots of lead tools and search engine benefits to your REALTOR.com profile.  And, ONLY NAR agents have access to create accounts.

 

❒ Zillow.com (for agents) – Do you have a FREE Zillow Agent Profile Account?  As much as we struggle to compete with Zillow,  using their FREE tools is worth taking advantage of.  Go to Zillow, click Join in the top right and make certain to check the box for Industry Professional

 

❒ Trulia.com (for agents) – Trulia also has a special FREE Agent Profile that you should update.  Go to: https://secure.trulia.com/agent_signup/biz/  to set it up!

 

Instructions for all of these sites, sans LBAR, are included in your packet from class or in the download above!

 

GO GET ’em AGENTS!

https://instagram.com/p/2Q7ZE6BDoU/?taken-by=rectorhayden

 

Categories
Uncategorized

Toolbox – REALTORS Property Resource

Whether working with a buyer or seller, many agents rely on comparative market analysis to determine a home’s true market value.  Performing these analyses can be time consuming and tricky – unless you use some of the great tools National Association of REALTORS provides for you!  NAR provides the REALTORS PROPERTY RESOURCE website.  It is an online estimate, valuation, and comparison tool for licensed active agents to utilize.

Comprehensive data, powerful analytics, and dynamic reports for each of NAR’s constituencies – Only available to REALTORS®.  No third party or public access…guaranteed! The only way a non-REALTOR® has access to the data in RPR is through an RPR report that has been created, branded and sent by you, a licensed agent. – From the RPR Blog

medium_rprscreen

To all LBAR agents (Lexington-Bluegrass Association of REALTORS) and more than likely all members of NAR, you have access to an online valuation system called RPR for free as part of your dues.

Lbar provides a shortcut to the website for you, or you can begin by going to www.narrpr.com
Log in to www.lbar.com as normal
Find the grey boxes with tools in them and search for the MEMBERS Box
Click on Resources for Members

You should end up with the following options (click to view larger):

lbarscreen005

Then click on the link for the RPR website!

If this is your first time using the RPR website, you’ll need to create an account.  You’ll need your NRDS number and contact info to get started.  You can flesh out the customization options by uploading the RHR Logo and your headshot.  (You can grab our logo via info.rhr.com).
We’ve put together a great resource guide for getting started with RPR – See the PDF here through our ISSUU account.

RPR_introductionbooklet_Page_1

Categories
Uncategorized

#RHRTipTuesday – What Your ‘About Me’ Pages Say About You

Last month REALTOR® Magazine published a fascinating article on the crucial impact your ‘About Me’ page holds when marketing yourself online.  The entire way you present yourself online can have an effect on whether or not someone will chose to work with you; maybe even more so that just a first impression or standard advertising!

If you pose with your dog, does that make you look unprofessional?

If your personal Facebook profile is open to the public, does that make you look unpolished?

REALTOR® Magazine set out to quantify the study of how seriously an online Bio can affect your persona by conducting a paneled study with consumers.  The consumers looked at profiles compared to their own wants and needs when looking for an agent, then explained the parts of the profiles that were less captivating or more captivating.  Here’s what they found…

sharpphotos

1. Sharp  Photos

Just like listing a house, when marketing yourself you need to have the best photos showing you off.  However, unless you’re trying to directly target an audience with your photo, it’s best to avoid anything too casual.  You can still think outside the box if you want to differentiate yourself, though!

Although there’s no right answer, panelists unanimously favored agents who used professional photos across online platforms and cautioned against using any image that appears too casual. – Graham Wood, REALTOR Magazine

For example: Agents who specialize in rural areas or cabins could consider a professional (or at least high quality) photo of himself/herself in nature.  Or, an Agent who deals in luxury listings mostly could have a professional shot with a high end setting or back-ground.  This non-verbally shows that the agent truly understands a specific niche.

Use photos that depict how you look today—with a similar hair style and color. “It’s about being honest about who you are,” said June Wood, 67. Photo discrepancies can make you seem disconnected from the up-to-the-minute nature of online information today, she added. – From the article

It may be time to consider a new photo, especially if you’ve changed your hairstyle (or if it’s been a decade since your last one).  People can be turned off if they see too much of a discrepancy between photos on your professional accounts online, or when they meet you in person. You should also consider a new shot if your photo is a low resolution.  High definition photos are much more widely accepted. But even worse?  Having a profile with no picture…

Worse yet is not bothering to upload a profile photo and allowing the ubiquitous gray silhouette to stand next to your name. That sends the message you’re too lazy or time-crunched, or don’t have the technical know-how, to upload an image. – From the article

And you don’t have to spend too much on professional looking photos.  Rector Hayden’s in-house photographer, John Bell, will be happy to take some shots of you right here in the Beaumont Office.  We have professional lighting and developing so you can easily have a clean, sharp professional photo.

concise bio

2. Clear and Concise

Does your About section have a point?  Don’t get caught rambling on about things the general public has no knowledge of.

Panelists said one realtor.com® profile had a statement: “God isn’t making any more real estate! Therefore, I’ve learned that buyers buy and sellers sell at any time,” while true, didn’t give offer them a reason to work with that agent.  Panelist Matt Bell, 30, said general statements provide little value.

Instead, talk about yourself and your experience.  What makes you the best choice for this consumer?  You should add a little bit of personal info – it humanizes you (which is crucial when communicating through digital media).  However, don’t get too deep.  “You can share personal details—it humanizes you—but don’t belabor the point. Remember that clients are seeking a pro with business skills first,” the article emphasizes.  Also, try to list hobbies that coincide with your business (photography on the side? landscaping? interior design?).  Hobbies that seem completely unrelated may turn a consumer away.

But the most important part about what your write in your profile – is to make certain to PROOF-READ!  Panelists in this study were very quick to spot spelling and grammar errors – and immediately wrote that agent off as unprofessional.

truthful

3. Can You Back Yourself Up?

Don’t state strengths or promises that you do not have the data to prove.  Saying you can close transactions quickly means nothing to the consumer if you don’t have the experience to prove it.

Support your claims with stats that illustrate results. The panelists said they wanted to see more profiles that included information such as how many properties you’ve sold, how close your sales are to list price, the typical price range of your listings, and how long you’ve been working in real estate. –From the Article

Some consumers won’t even read your bio that you’ve carefully written.  They’ll look immediately for stats – and move right along if there are none.  For new agents this can always be tricky – but at Rector Hayden we’d be happy to present you with company-wide statistics that support you as one of our agents.

get social

4. Get Social

Consumers also immediately notice if you’ve been neglecting your profiles. If you made the effort to post content but then let it go for a few – consumers notice and may think that you aren’t up-to-speed with current trends (even if the reason you neglected your page was that you were selling selling selling!).

Even if you’re regularly posting on your personal page, are you keeping up that business page? When the panel convened in January, Werner-Pettinari had not updated the status of her Facebook business page for two months, while Lubin’s had been silent since November 2013. Big gaps like that make you look inactive, said panelist Maya Bird-Murphy, 22. “I want someone who’s constantly working and knows what’s going on right now,” she said.

In our social media / integrated marketing classes, agents are encouraged to try to post at least once a week.  This benefits their followers without bombarding them, increases their SEO potential, and helps ease agents into utilizing social networking tools more often with their marketing strategies.

Takeaway (Summary)

If our consumer panel made one thing clear, it’s this: Take care with your online persona. Craft accurate, error-free online bios and social media profiles, and write them with consumers’ interests in mind. Keep your photos up-to-date and consistent. And use your social postings as a way to bring your personality and your value as a real estate professional to life. These steps communicate the essence of you and your business, so don’t think of them as tiresome chores. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. and in the Internet-connected world, you’re projecting your image 24/7. What will be consumers’ first impression of you?

See the entire article and study here: http://realtormag.realtor.org/sales-and-marketing/feature/article/2015/03/what-your-online-about-me-says-about-you

Categories
Uncategorized

#RHRTipTuesday – Leads from LinkedIN

Hey Team!  If you attended March’s Social Media / Integrated Marketing Class, you may recall we touched on using LinkedIN as a Real Estate Agent.  This week’s TipTuesday is “crawling” with ideas to help boost your LinkedIN strategy!

If you have been using LinkedIN for a few weeks now, you may have noticed a cool feature where you get a weekly e-mail letting you know who has viewed your profile.  You can make this FREE opportunity work for you – all you need to do is “crawl” through some profiles each week and your name and face are shared with all sorts of people.  But, the best part, most of the people using LinkedIN are in your target home-owner demographic!  Most of these individuals have professional careers and are likely home buyers and sellers.

EasyAgentPro.com calls this tactic “LinkedIN Crawling” 

What is LinkedIn crawling you ask? Well it is where my computer automatically visits 400 profiles of target customers in one day. This means 400 people a day are notified that about me.  That’s 400 people that had no idea that I existed seeing my profile and maybe even my website. That’s powerful. But it doesn’t stop there. About 2-4% of these individuals will reach out and connect with you! I’ve seen this number get as high as 8%. The percentage really depends on the target audience you’re facing. -From EasyAgentPro

This blog writer uses a system to contact 400 people a day, and that can get complicated.  But even simply browsing 10-15 profiles a day could show similar results.  You could browse on a commute (unless you are driving), while waiting for a client to arrive, when you’re in line at a store, or even if you’re sitting in the restroom… (We know you do it…)  You can search and browse profiles based on interests, memberships of different community groups, schools, careers, and geographic location.

How does this generate leads? Well that’s 50 people or more a week that have seen your face, name, and REALTOR than before.  And, it was delivered straight to their inbox showing them that YOU care and are interested.  You should consider changing your LinkedIN profile to include a statement inviting others to connect with you.

You should even consider linking back with the people that show up in YOUR weekly e-mail of profile views.  Invite them to coffee or a tour of the office sometime!  You can tons of contacts to your Sphere of Influence lists this way!

For more links and info on LinkedIN for REALTORS, check out the post from March 24th’s Social Media Class: https://news.rhr.com/rhrsocialmediaclass-linkedin-for-real-estate-agents/

Categories
Uncategorized

#RHRTipTuesday – 3 Reasons to Work with a REALTOR for New Construction

Our friends over at Edina Realty in Minneapolis wrote a great post earlier this month on…

3 Reasons to Work with a REALTOR® when purchasing New Construction

Current trends are off to a great start for 2015.  We had an amazing February – probably one of our best in quite a while!  Both exisiting homes and new construction are taking off, nation-wide, and Lexington and Central KY are no exception.  Consumers may feel that they do not need an agent when building a home – but we beg to differ!

Reason #1: A Professional Looking out for Your Best Interests.

woman-interview

A builder’s sales agent represents the builder and works on their behalf, so you also need a strong advocate in your corner, as well. The contract is written by the builder, for the builder and is different than a standard real estate purchase agreement. Your REALTOR® will ensure you understand the contract and can advise you on how specific clauses and options affect your purchase, before you sign on the dotted line.

Reason #2: A Guide through all the Steps

clipboard

As an industry professional, a REALTOR® has knowledge and expertise to guide you through the entire new construction process. From selecting a builder or a design to the mortgage application process, building process and at the closing table, an agent is your advocate. In the event an issue arises during the construction process – or even after you close – your agent is your go-to resource, who can help get things resolved.

Reason #3: Having an agent doesn’t always cost more!

dollars-426023

A common misconception is that if a new construction buyer does not have an agent, they will pay less, which is not always true. In most cases, the buyer will pay the same price whether they are represented by an agent or not, so why wouldn’t you want to have a professional working for you? If you’re considering a new construction purchase, please reach out to get in contact with one of our new homes experts!

Thanks again Edina Realty for the awesome information! Read the full blog post on their site: Edina Realty Blog

Categories
Uncategorized

#RHRTipTuesday – The Power of Words

In today’s market, visual marketing is truly the most important and effective way to market you listings.  But, that doesn’t mean you can put the same old phrases in your marketing remarks.  Thanks to keyword searchs, SEO, and smarter “google-ing” words are more important than ever!  Some can really boost your listing – some can really hurt it!  Check it out!

Words that could add value to your listings:

Statistics reviewed in a new report book from Zillow (The New Rules of Real Estate) show that spot-on and specific marketing remarks can add a couple grand to the final sale price of your listing!  See the excerpt below!

“Bottom-tier homes described as luxurious tend to beat their expected sale price by a whopping 8.2 percent,” write co-authors Spencer Rascoff and Stan Humphries (of “Zillow Talk: The New Rules of Real Estate”). “Top-tier homes described as captivating tend to beat theirs by 6.5 percent. That means, if your home’s estimated home value is $110,000, but your listing includes the key word ‘luxurious,’ you could pocket an extra $8,965.”

Words like “landscaped”, “upgraded”, and “stainless” add supreme over-all value no matter the price tier your listings is in!  But remember, you have to deliver on what your promise.  If your listing isn’t upgraded, stainless (or have stainless appliances), or landscaped – you’re more likely to completely turn-off potential buyers.

Words that can be detrimental to your listing:

Some words are great – but some can cost you!

 “If you’re not careful, picking the wrong adjective could cost you time, money, and in some cases, lots of both,” Rascoff & Humphries explain.

The image to the left shows words that caused mid-tier and top-tier homes to sell for less than expected.  The 9 Top perpetrators are as follows:

FIXER  –  TLC  –  COSMETIC  –  INVESTMENT  –  INVESTOR  –  POTENTIAL  –  BARGAIN  –  OPPORTUNITY  –  NICE

These words all seem pretty typical for marketing remarks, yeah?  It’s that over-use that has caused these words to now negatively impact listings.  Buyers have come to  associate these common words with negative connotations.  ( AND you should never use the word investor as an adjective or potential candidate – that violates EHO agreements. )  “Nice” can have so many meanings, and is usually just a filler word that conveys no real meaning.  If it’s a gorgeous view or a sturdy deck – those are much more qualifying than “nice”.

Sometimes just using an uncommon adjective can boost your listing better than others!  Consider writing out your marketing remarks and then “upgrading” them with some synonyms from a thesaurus.  Potential buyers will enjoy words like “captivating, inviting, chic, or durable” more than “improved, nice, big, etc.”

Categories
Uncategorized

#RHRTipTuesday – 2015 Home Design Trends!

Like the fashion shows of Milan, and the technology presentations of Silicon Valley – 2015’s Housing Trends have finally arrived!  

Debuting are this year’s fashionable decor tips, textures, colors, fixtures, furniture – and overall a great batch of contemporary information for you as you stage and sell your homes this year!  Check out these 7 predictions from RIS Media

1. Deeper, Darker Colors: Several experts are saying this year will be out with the light and bright and in with the dark and deep.

“Almost every new textile collection and furniture debut seems to be awash in a much more saturated hue than we saw in the early 2010s,” says designer Scot Meacham Wood, in a Q&A at House Beautiful.

Nancy Mitchell at Apartment Therapy agrees: “For a long time we’ve been seeing mostly bright, white interiors (white walls, white floors, white ceiling), but I’m feeling a shift towards darker, moodier hues.”

2. Comfortable, Cozy Sectionals: Apparently my mom knows what’s up!  She kept showing me pictures of a sectional with big cozy pillows she wants to order for her living room. – June L.  As society continues to shift away from formality toward more casual living, it only makes sense that big, comfortable sectional sofas would become a popular trend. 

According to Houzz.com Editor Sheila Schmitz, “It is back in a big way. As living rooms have become more relaxed places for lounging, we have less need for formal sofas and more love for a versatile padded zone that lets us sprawl out however we like.”

3. Cowhide: Now I was surprised by this one – with everyone wanting geometric patterns in rugs last year, where did the cowhide come from.  However, at a cabin over the holidays there was a very soft cowhide on the floor… I will accept it. -June L. Using cowhides as rugs in living areas is expected to keep growing in popularity this year. Expect cowhide to move beyond rugs, too — to pillows, throw blankets and even art.

Alexa Fiander at Zillow calls it the “ideal accent texture for 2015’s modern, yet approachable design aesthetic.”

4. Open Floor Plans: An open layout is not a new trend, but it will likely remain a popular one this year.

According to Barbara Ballinger at REALTOR Magazine, “It’s becoming a wish beyond the young hipster demographic, so you’ll increasingly see this layout in traditional condo buildings and single-family suburban homes.”

Ballinger attributes this to the fact that after the kitchen became the hub of homes, the easy next step was to expand it into open-living areas for greater togetherness.

5. Mid-Century Modern Elements:  From furniture to lighting, mid-century modern should stay big in 2015. Whether found on Craigslist or West Elm, these slick pieces will remain popular this year. Sophisticated and Subtle!

“Many are attracted to the simplicity and clean lines of mid-century modern furniture, accessories and décor,” says Karen Highland at the Frederick Real Estate Blog . “A few iconic pieces can work well in any room.”

6. Gold Accents:  2015 will likely see an uptick in gold accents, from light fixtures to mirrors.

Lauren McPhillips at Style at Home says “Gold and warm metallics have graced the homes of Canadians and the runways of the world for the past several seasons and they’re not going anywhere in 2015.“

What’s more, varying shades of gold and brass will be mixed together to create unique looks.

7. Wallpaper: Wallpaper is making a comeback. Have you seen any of the removable wallpaper and decals that have hit the market this past year?  The options are endless!

“Wallpaper provides an easy way to add visual impact, even in small amounts,” designer Lee Hardcastle told Houzz. “Wallpaper gives you the control of complementing the architectural elements throughout the kitchen or adding a beautiful contrast to an otherwise simple color palette.”

 

This article was originally written by Vicki Clary – the Marketing Director of Curtis Homes, a semi-custom home builder. For over 50 years, Curtis Homes has provided premium homes and townhomes in the Southern Maryland Communities.  It was published by RIS Media: http://blog.rismedia.com/2015/2015-home-design-trend-predictions/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=eNews

Categories
Uncategorized

#RHRTipTuesday – Agent Safety Guide 2015

Safety is and always has been a TOP priority for Rector Hayden REALTORS and our agents.  We strive to provide the best support staff, opportunity, lead assistance – but most of all we want our agents to be safe on the job.

Real Estate Agents – as a profession – is more dangerous than many realize.  With odd hours, meeting new people in different locations, agents are a vulnerable crowd.  There are many many ways to prepare and protect yourself – and the following Safety Guide is just a few of those tips.

The 2015 Rector Hayden Safety Guide can be downloaded here.

Or, can be read online here: http://www.rhr.com/agent_safety

Do you have a great safety tip for Rector Hayden Agents?  A personal experience on why practicing safe skills are a must?  We’d love to hear your testimonials on staying safe – comment below or send an e-mail to rectorhayden@gmail.com

Categories
Uncategorized

#RHRTipTuesday – 5 Creative Marketing Ideas

What makes you stand out from the other real estate agents in this market?  What brings in new clients and returning customers?  If you’re wanting a new idea to jazz up your existing marketing plan – here’s a list of creative marketing ideas that also cost little to prepare and implement!

1. Floor Plan

If you already have a floor plan available, why not share the general plan as part of you home’s marketing resources?  It gives the potential buyer another visual representation of the layout of the home and may encourage them to request a showing.

Drawing a floor plan does not have to be an arduous task either!  There are a number of tools online and on smartphones, to help you draw your floor plan.  A clean, as close to scale as possible drawing, can give your listing that extra umph that attracts buyers (but also impresses clients).

  1. AutoDesk Homestyler: http://www.homestyler.com/designer – is a FREE desktop program for designing 2D and 3D floor plan designs.
  2. RoomSketcher: http://planner.roomsketcher.com/ – another FREE desktop program for 2D projects.
  3. RoomScan: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/roomscan-app-that-draws-floor/id571436618?mt=8 – App for Apple users, both a free and pro version exists.  It creates a floor plan and all you have to do is tap your phone against the walls in a room!
  4. MagicPlan: http://www.sensopia.com/english/index.html – this app is available on ALL smartphones through the Apple Store and Google Play.  It draws a floor plan based on photos you take of the room.
  5. Floorplans Classic or Pro: http://www.greenteaapps.com/floorplans-classic/  – this app gets raving reviews but unfortunately is only available for Apple Store users, and is optimized specifically for the ipad.

stockimage_blueprint

2.  Provide Utility Bills or Estimates

You may not want to show a potential buyer the exact copy of a bill for the home (as you don’t want personal information to be stolen).

But, gathering a few bills from the owner to create an estimated utility cost is another great additional resource when marketing a property.  Savvy buyers will have questions about efficiency and utility costs – having something already prepared shows that you’re knowledgeable and open about discussing the property in an objective manner.

 stockimage_lightbulbs

3.  List of Service Providers

A potential buyer may be curious about whether or not they have options when it comes to service providers.  Rector Hayden has a downloadable/printable card that shows the current service providers in the main areas of Central KY!  Click on a City’s Board and look for the blue & white card!  http://www.pinterest.com/rectorhayden/

4. A Personal List of What the Seller Loves about Their Home and Their Town

In this day and age – everyone has an opinion and loves to be heard.  Maybe your seller has some key features about their home that they LOVE.  Is it a close distance to a quaint cafe?  Can you see millions of stars in the summertime?  These personal anecdotes can actually make great marketing pieces for a home.  It’s unique and charming portrayal of a property could be just the eye-catcher you need to convince a potential buyer!  (Remember to proofread the seller’s list for any Equal Housing Opportunity issues).

111H_websized

5.  Don’t Forget the Staging Guide!

Even if your seller is living in the home, giving them the Rector Hayden Staging Guide is a great tool to help make the home presentable and attractive to the largest number of potential buyers.  This exclusive guide provides step-by-step checklists to staging every room in the home, and is available only to Rector Hayden agents and their clients!

home staging guide

 

 

Interested in more creative tips from Rector Hayden Realtors®?  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and keep an eye out for #RHRTipTuesday !