“Housing Stimulus Update(s)”

It’s Monday – early morning at the office.  As I am gathering my thoughts, coordinating my work week, and blogging real estate stats for the previous week, I decided to take a short minute to blog for the biz! 

Good morning agents, fellow VA’s, and other readers!  It was a busy but wonderful weekend for our local grand lake festivities but today it is back to reality or realty rather.  Going thru emails this early am, I came across an interesting fw: from Richard F. Gaylord {NAR@newsletters.realtor.org} regarding a Housing Stimulus Bill.  “With a little more than two weeks left before Congress leaves for the August Recess, NAR is working hard to get a Housing Stimulus bill on the President’s desk”.

Housing Stimulus Video

Responding to Online Leads . . .

Great Reading Material – “How to Respond to Online Leads”

Written by Michael Russer, AKA Mr. Internet, I found this article very interesting!  “Unless the inquiry explicitly asks you to call, then you respond in the way they contacted you”. . . Michael states “in any other situation, you do NOT call them first”.  In doing this, he says that you are more likely to drive your prospect away.  

 

“When to Respond to Online Leads” Michael states that there is no such thing as “too fast”  Individuals do expect a very fast response to their inquiries, and it would be ideal for you to respond within minutes of receiving the lead.  How???  We all know that real estate professionals have extremely hectic schedules and without sitting in front of the computer 24/7, answering leads in a timely manner is next to impossible, but there is a solution.  Hire a Virtual Assistant that specializes in lead management.  Myself, as a Real Estate VA, I do sit in front of my computer all day, and am in the position, as Michael Russer describes, to respond immediately to leads on the agents behalf.

 

“Staying in Touch with Online Leads”  A large percentage of online real estate inquires are by individuals that are in the beginning stage or rather the “information gathering stage” and it may be sometime down the road before they are ready to take action.  On this note, that inquiry is indeed a lead – a lead is a potential prospect!  It is important to stay in touch with the individual, and Drip Marketing is a proven strategy.  Michael provides some great tips for Drip Marketing including:  Give them value, Stay in touch, don’t overwhelm, and Make it easy for them to say “no thanks”.

 

The best advice I found throughout this article – “Online Consumers are Human Beings Too”.  Click here to read the entire article found in Mr. Internet Blog, Helping You Earn More, Work Less, & Enjoy Life!

There’s Still Time! Take Advantage of the “July Special”

WoW, what a weekend!  I hope everyone had as much fun as I over the fourth of July holiday.  A vacation long coming, the family and I packed our bags and headed out on a 2-hour  - 2 day adventure to kings island!  Amusement park attractions, entertainment, and great food! 

Back to reality . . . it’s Monday!  Aside from unpacking, doing laundry, and just simply unwinding, it is gonna be a long day at the office with lots and lots of work to do.

Prior to this post, you may have noticed the fourth of july special offered to new agents.  There’s still time!  You have until the 10^th of July to take advantage of the Virtual real estate Business Specialties discounted rate.  Sign-up and remain at the same rate throughout . . . Check us out on the web at www.vrebs.net, email Cassandra@vrebs.net, or call us directly at (419) 305-8444. 

All for one special rate, Virtual real estate Business Specialties provides listing coordination, marketing flyers/brochures/just listed-just sold postcards, visual/virtual tours, lead management/database mgmt, drip marketing, and more plus we are excited about phase II of our new listing/showing appointment desk.

Come on board – we are looking forward to assisting you!