Smile and act my normal self

Mimi, it's our niche marketing to patio homes/low maintenance homes that is separating us from the rest.  It's getting us found and steadily adding to our business.  Other than that, it's just executing the fundamentals.  Answer the phone, communicate, etc. 

we market for land and sell it to builder/developers who list with us.... and we are the only agents in the area who dig for that land and always have inventory on our shelves....

I listen 60 seconds longer...

I have my own personal website.

There is only one RICHIE...that's the difference!

In my suburban market everything is on lockbox. In the city of Chicago, you have to have the listing agent meet you & your buyer to get the key. Makes me nuts, it's such a time waster!

You don't have a lockbox key you are SOL.

I hear from many folks that they were never able to get a hold of their old agents.  Doesn't make sense to me.  If I can't answer right away, I always get back to my clients within the hour.  I also try to make them laugh along the way.  Real Estate can be too serious at times and they need to flex their jaws when possible and remember to enjoy the ride.

Over the years, I have amassed over 1,000 contacts on my cell phone. Recently I have been "cold calling" all of them to see if the numbers are still good and updating email address and reminding them I am still in Real Estate... and do they want to sell or buy another home and asking for referrals. I have actually received 2 new lead referrals and a few clients who are ready for a change.  So, I am guessing there are not too many people doing this.

I wanna know more than 'what' but 'WHY' . . . and I WILL find out.
I will always surprise you.
Oh, and I am disgustingly accessible and responsive.

Good morning Mimi. I get loans done that others don't have a clue how to do.

Mimi Foster - There are hardly any real estate agents who are double graduate in Engineering....

We're just awesome.  Way better than anybody else.  We're phenomenal, outstanding, amazing!!  We've sold more than any other agent in the history of agents.  It's hard to be in the same room with ourselves because of our legendary status.  

Reality:  We just work our asses off.  We're no different than other top agents.  

Mimi the one thing that stands out online and sells homes the best is professional photographs. I always have our photographer take photos.  It never ceases to amaze me when I look at the MLS and 95% of the photos are so so at best to really really bad. Just yesterday I was looking in a certain area for a mid-range home up to 600K - there was only one ofrtwo homes (out of about 100) that had excellent photos and tours.

I am me.  That's different enough!  LOL   Kidding aside, I enjoy being fun and creative in my work.  I was always a bit of a rebel, coming up with new things.  I sometimes drew criticism from my competitors but, I figured, them copying me is the greatest form of flattery.  

It is my enthusiasm win I meet a buyer or seller, on the buyer side I get so excited about it that it gets them excited!  My husband has to remind me, "Lisa you are not buying the house".  On the seller side, because I like to decorate I get excited about staging the home, some of them say their home never look like that before, and joke about keeping it. I just have fun being me.

So far, I am looking for the niche.  It is hard for me to put myself out there because I think it is vain, but I am working on it.  I currently am working with a sign company who will put my name, business logo and phone number on my truck.  I am hoping it will trigger someone to call me.  It would be GREAT for someone to look me up and say, "I saw your name and information on the back of a truck...would you help me buy or sell a home?"

I have my own unique profile and creative way of approaching problems. A good friend once said, "Sybil, you don't think outside the box, you don't even know there is a box!"

Buyers can join the First Look option, but all agents do that.

Sellers can customize their service level, but all agents do that.

Property Pedigree for qualified homes, but all agents do that.

Buyers are empowered to do all the homework the want, but all agents do that.

Personally show every listing, but all agents do that.

Got their back even if it's not in my job description, but all agents do that.

Buyers and sellers have access to the CIS Score...oh, I'm the ONLY one!

But that's not the biggie...the biggie is....

I answer my phone.

I discovered a relatively unknown niche in my market several years ago. Through blogging I became recognized in the industry as the leading expert. It's ironic because I'm with a well known luxury brand broker, in an expensive market but I specialize in "affordable home ownership" 

An exclusive marketing program for sellers, and exclusive representation program for buyers.

I have a team with a broader range of skills and depth. We provide investor sellers and buyers with expertise that other agents can't match.

Take time with them prior to explain how we work and why we believe we will do a better job for them.

I work full time, answer my phone and enjoy real estate.  It shows daily.  I listen. I'm dependable!

Looking for niche.... Opportunities are there but one needs to identify it.

I seem to stand apart from the other agents. I'm not sure what it is. Maybe it's my lusting contract. See my latest post for the explanation. 

I love what I do, I love working with people, and my enthusiasm and genuine desire to be of help makes me me. We have fun and when it's time to be serious I know what needs to be done and get results. People tell me I'm responsive and patient, and plesant to be around.

Mimi,

Everything from the minute fundamentals to the fun stuff.  A

My CMAs are totally different.  I come at it from a math standpoint with facts and figures, no subjective values given for bedrooms, bathrooms, basements, etc.  

Exclusively sell investment real estate.

I practice Single Agency -- Exclusive Buyer Agent.  My boutique brokerage represents BUYERS only.  Agent that work for a broker that takes listings and represent sellers can not, by definition, practice SINGLE AGENCY - or market themselves as an Exclusive Buyers Agent!

I can't say, since I really don't know what the other agents are doing.

I Have solar flyer boxes.

Many things, including referring all buyers.