March 2010 TRET eBulletin |
|
In this issue:
- Planning: 7 Keys to Unlock Your Results for 2010
- Sales: How to Sell 19 Properties in One Month
- Social Media: Adapting Your Communication to the Modern Consumer
- AREC10 Supports The National Breast Cancer Foundation
- Rent Roles: 20 Tips to Boost Your Rent Roll Now
- Prospecting: Hot Tips to Short Cut the Sales Cycle
- Technology: Preparing for The Software Evolution
- Inspiration: Become The Master of Your Circumstances
- 10 Reasons Why AREC10 will be the Best Investment You Make This Year
7 KEYS TO UNLOCK YOUR
|
|
To be highly successful you need to plan for success. If you're still struggling to put a strategic plan together for 2010, then let these seven strategies form the basis of your plan. Applying these will have a positive impact on the results you produce for the rest of the year.
No doubt you know what you want to HAVE in 2010, but is your BE up to achieving those goals? If not then seriously think about adding AREC10 to your must-do list for 2010. Just one new idea could change your business life forever.
1. Decisions x Actions = Results.
If you want to produce even better results in 2010, then simply reverse engineering will focus you on making better decisions and following through with better actions.
When I ask people, “Can you make better decisions this year compared to last year?” – the answer is always “YES”. And of course then the follow through on any decision is powerfully putting it into action.
Goals are the key. It is essential for you (and your team) to create a set of goals that can become your benchmark for a great 2010.
I strongly recommend your goals are a combination of business and personal. When you’re making prospecting calls or calling back a list of buyers on Monday from the weekend opens, it’s important to remember the goal behind the goal – which could be a brilliant holiday, kids through private school or maybe another investment property. Whatever it is, your goals need to motivate you to take action on a daily basis.
Remember every decision you make and action you take is either moving you closer to or further away from your goals and the results you want to achieve. The more your decisions and actions are aligned to your goals, the better results you’ll achieve faster!
If you haven’t done so, take some time out, go somewhere and sit down and write your goals for the year – this is a MUST DO strategy!
2. Expanding your ‘BE’
You know what you want to HAVE in 2010, but is your BE up to achieving those goals?
What you have in life is a direct reflection of who you are BEING in life. So when you expand who you are BEING, you become more attractive to your clients and to the marketplace in general.
Just imagine for a moment that you read or listened to one audio book per month on the subject of negotiation (in my mind this is the number one skill you are paid for). In just twelve months (even though all the information would not be 100% relevant to real estate) your approach to every negotiation would be dramatically enhanced. In other words, who you would then BE in a negotiation would be radically different.
Your confidence, knowledge, language and mindset would go through a significant upgrade. As a result, you’d make it so much easier for a client to select you to sell their property or bring more deals together.
If you want to HAVE more, you must BE more for your market. Of course, unless you put time, effort and energy into increasing your BE, you’ll never gain the real power of it.
Do an honest review of your skills and knowledge and move away from doing just enough to get by, but really accelerate and expand who you are being. Maybe ask the people around you if there were one or two areas that you could work on that would create the biggest improvement in results, what would those areas be? Then simply focus and study in those areas and your payback will be huge.
3. Review your best business sources
This is an incredibly important part of your success this year. Go through a review of all your listings and write down a summary of where they came from – the source of the listing opportunity. Now you might be surprised when you do this. Look for areas where a strong listing flow is coming from and check if these areas need more attention to potentially generate even more in 2010. Once you’ve done that, I recommend you increase your activity on the best business sources and then speak with some of your colleagues you respect and find out one or two other business generating sources for you to add into your mix for 2010.
4. Become a relationship nurturer
Are you familiar with the real estate orphanage concept? This is where once the transaction is complete, you send your clients (both buyers and sellers), a sort of “I’ve finished with you or you’re history!” The good news is when you upgrade your nurturing, you also have a direct impact on the amount of repeat and referral business coming your way.
Sometimes there is a level of guilt in the fact that you haven’t looked after your existing clients well. My coaching on this is simple – get over it and get on with it!
Get a list of your clients and add them to your mobile phone and start calling them! Do a ‘touch base’ call and check-in on how they are enjoying the property. If it’s been a while, you might start with, “It’s been ages since we’ve touched base, just wondering how are you enjoying the property?” This is so simple yet so powerful in building even greater mindshare with your clients. They need to know you are there for them – just do it!
Just a couple more tips here… my recommended frequency is a ‘touch base’ call every three months with your existing clients. Of course, if you have a large client base, you may need to categorise your clients into Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. From there you’ll put more energy into nurturing your Platinum and Gold clients and maybe use newsletters and reports to keep in touch with Silver and Bronze with a call once a year.
5. Listing reality check
The listing appointment is the ultimate job interview, where the real question being asked is, “Will you hire me to sell this incredibly valuable asset?”. Your goal at the listing appointment must be to make it easy for the client to choose you. If, at the end of your appointment, they can’t see the difference between you and your competitors, then you’ve done a poor job.
So doing a listing reality check is putting your listing under the microscope of success and exploring how you can do it better. This would include:
How you position you and your agency Do you have a structured agenda for the meeting? Do you provide up-to-date marketing information and statistics for your clients? Do you sell the points of difference of your agency over competitors? Understand the needs, wants and desires of the sellers How well do you walk through the pricing conversation? Explaining the best method of sale for their property Talk through how you will manage the process Share with the seller your buyer management strategies Handle objections and concerns the sellers may have Powerfully ask for the business Reassure the clients they are making the right decision choosing you
Once you’ve explored these questions above, it will hopefully give you a path to upgrade your listing success. It’s important to note however that even if you win a large percentage of your listings there is always a need to improve or work on your listing skills. Could you imagine a sporting team saying, “We’re winning most of our games, therefore we don’t need to improve.” It’s a sure sign of arrogance or over confidence – and we know where that sporting team will end up!
6. Selling reality check
When I appoint you as my agent, there is a real expectation you are going to do a sensational job – that’s why I chose you!
So reviewing your performance in how you’re achieving great results in the selling process is absolutely essential. Ultimately, the service you’re offering to the buyers is the service you’re offering your sellers. You see, when the clients handed over the keys to you, they felt you would look after their interests in a professional and low stress way.
So there are really five areas for you to look at and explore here:
Your overall campaign management Your buyer management and communication Your seller management and communication Your property marketing Your negotiation strategies
By tweaking your performance in each of these areas, it will achieve two things. Firstly, better sales results and secondly, better relationships with a stronger flow of referrals.
7. Upgraded service standards
Specifically, you need to take a real look at the standards you are applying in your business and see where an upgrade would enhance either the relationships you have with people or the results you’re producing.
Here are some areas for you to look at:
Response time to emails and phone calls Buyer call backs from opens Email market updates Regular marketing communications Proactive calls and reports to sellers Your listing pipeline communication Hot buyer management Preparation for opens, auctions and listings Training time Client and database nurturing
If you’re operating in a team, this would be a great team meeting discussion so you have a consistent delivery in the marketplace. Your standards should be less than a page and put them somewhere you can see and review them regularly. That way you’ll be reminded of what you’re committed to.
The content of this article featured in SOLD Magazine in January 2009 contributed by Michael Sheargold, one of Australia's leading business coaches on creating outstanding results and founder of Real Estate Results Network, an Australasian network of high performing independent real estate agents focused on systems and success.
6 FOOLPROOF TIPS FOR SALES SUCCESS
|
|
If you want to find out what one super-achieving agent does to sell 19 properties in one month, this article is a must read. Review the six points revealed by Chris Volpatti when interviewed by Daniel Spencer who will be facilitating the awesome super-listing presentation at AREC10 with the top agents from TAS, QLD, VIC, NSW and SA.
I recently came across Chris Volpatti from McGrath Estate Agents in Sydney who broke the McGrath sales record selling 19 residential properties in one month. He did this in September 2009 with one full time administration assistant and his wife who helped him out on Saturdays with open homes. I dare say this could be an Australian record dealing with separate buyers and vendors, aside from subdivision or project sale agents.
Interviewing top performing agents is an interesting exercise. “Being brilliant” at what you do doesn’t make it easy to understand “how” you are brilliant at what you do. In a recent interview with Chris, we explored the real life experiences of “how” his business is run in order to produce 19 sales in one month, which resulted in the following:
1. Has a clean business that focuses on direct talk, transparency, honesty and integrity
His philosophy of having a clean business meant he took longer to gain traction in his career, but now reaps the rewards of being the honest agent in his core marketplace. Being direct allows his conversations to be shorter and thus spends less time fluffing around an issue.
2. Supports his pipeline sellers from 2 years out before they are committed to going onto the market.
This allows him to educate his sellers on how he sells before they come onto the market. This process builds trust so when the timing is right for the seller they already trust Chris. This allows him to communicate directly and not spend time convincing the clients of his advice.
3. Lists his properties correctly at the time of the appraisal resulting in average days on market of 23 days.
Price, promotion and presentation is guided by Chris and he very rarely allows the vendor to change the recipe of his process. This comes back to the client trusting him through regular contact in the pipeline process. The time spent on pipeline contact far outweighs bringing a listing on with an extended days on market.
4. Provides world class customer service to everyone involved in the transaction.
Chris works on 6-star customer service. It’s not one specific thing Chris and his team does, but a load of little 1%s that in the end add up to a big difference in the customer service experience. These 1%s are backed by numerous checklists and random acts of “going above and beyond” in the service experience.
5. His energy levels and excitement for the job increased as his workload increased.
My observation of brilliant agents is that as pressure mounts the quality of their output and energy levels increase. With low performing agents this is the opposite.
6. Has support to control the low dollar productive activities
80% of what happens in a real estate transaction is low dollar productive activities that Chris does not get involved with. The 20% he deals with are prospecting, listing presentations, and open homes, second inspections from buyers, vendor management and negotiating contracts.
Daniel Spencer has owned several award winning agencies and now as an agent analyst spends his time training and presenting. He has presented to over 15,000 agents worldwide and is passionate about the industry. He conducts regular research on top performers using probing questions to uncover their secrets and has created a structured learning resource based on their specialist knowledge and experience. Daniel will share some of this at his session “Learn to List Like Australia’s No. 1 Agents” at AREC10.
REAL ESTATE NEEDS TO ADAPT TO MODERN CONSUMERS NEEDS:
|
|
Are you and your business prepared to communicate with prospects in ways they want? Does technology and social networking scare you? Do you know how to manage and leverage today’s new technologies to build your sales pipeline and enhance your customer relationships? AREC10 keynote Matthew Ferrara, one of the best technology instructors in real estate will show you how.
Social networking in the US is seen as the next great business growth opportunity for real estate, but few of us really know how to manage and successfully leverage this powerful tool.
Integrating social networking into your prospecting and customer relationship strategies is becoming a must as consumer usage of networking sites increases. 64% of US real estate prospects use social networking tools every day, yet only 11% of real estate professionals do, so it is critical to close the gap.
Think about the fact that anyone born in the 1980’s does not know a world without technology. The consumers of tomorrow run their lives with it and soon regular email will become obsolete as it is superseded by social networking platforms and new technologies.
Are you and your business prepared to shift the way you communicate to your prospects in ways they want?
One of the best speakers at the National Association of Realtors Conference in San Diego last year was Matthew Ferrara. Known in the US “as the best technology instructor in real estate”, his AREC10 session will help you demystify the technology and understand how to apply it successfully to your business. He’ll help you identify how and where to use social networking and how to maintain and manage your online presence in context of creating traction and connection to assist in developing short and long term pipelines.
His philosophy is simple: we need to forget about the past, learn what modern consumers want and how they want it and deliver it fast. Once agents identify that the future consumer isn’t anything like the past consumer, they’ll understand the importance of new sales techniques, modern relationship management and technology as the model for real estate success.
AREC10 is Matthew’s first visit to Australia and he is excited to see firsthand our real estate marketplace. He has been working with companies in Australia for a few years now, using online interactive TV and webinar tools, as well as occasional face-to-face meetings when he and his clients have both been in attendance at other conferences around the globe.
Here are a few insights about Matthew and what AREC10 delegates can expect from his presentation:
1. What key points will AREC10 delegates take away from your presentation?
They will learn how to use social media as a prospecting tool focused on building relationships and earning trust. Unlike simply chattering online, I’ll explore how delegates can develop a focused action plan to implement and sustain a relationship-based approach to influencing consumers and capturing their business. Plus, attendees will discover the “secret advantage” to social network prospecting that gives it an unfair advantage over every other form of marketing!
2. How will your presentation possibly change the way AREC10 delegates do business?
Delegates will learn how to be effective generating new business with social media, including concentrating their efforts and controlling their time and focus on activities that build relationships, while avoiding activities that destroy them online.
3. What would you do differently in business if you were starting all over again?
All businesses depend upon sales, which ultimately depends upon creating and maintaining relationships with customers who can refer you and repeat-use your services. If I could start again, I’d ensure that every possible customer contact and interaction was integrated into our social-influence strategy. I would throw away every ‘non-dialogue’ marketing and advertising activity we wasted money on and focus solely on opportunities to educate and engage our prospects during their dreaming/researching phase of the purchase decision.
4. What is the business motto/creed that you live by?
Forget about the past; disregard the competition. Focus on the customer and they’ll tell you exactly what you need to know to be successful.
5. What do you think are the most important actions to take to be highly successful in the world today?
Learn more about the people who purchase your products and services, and less about the product or service itself. Stop marketing, advertising, ‘talking at’ your customers and start engaging, asking and ‘listening to’ your customers. And most of all - do it every day - stick to it in good times and bad; not just when things start slowing down.
Matthew Ferrara is the CEO of Matthew Ferrara & Company. His company has focused on modernising the real estate business since 1990 and his team has transformed the sales, marketing and technology fundamentals of some of the highest performing real estate agencies worldwide. Matthew will be speaking on at AREC10 on the Sunday joint Sales & Property Management program on The Secrets of Social Networking.
SEE MATTHEW FERRARA IN ACTION
AREC10 SUPPORTS THE NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION |
|
This year, $5 from every standard 2-day AREC10 ticket purchased for both the sales and property management programs will be donated by TRET to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
As part of TRET's community support program, each year a different charity will be selected to benefit from AREC ticket sales.
20 TIPS TO GROW YOUR RENT ROLL IN 2010 |
|
Property managers can’t go past this awesome list of 20 tips to supercharge your business over the coming year. These powerful action items will help you grow your rent roll, improve your operations and develop stronger and more profitable relationships with your landlords.
Tip #1: Learn the secrets of online marketing
Millions of Australians research a business online before making a buying decision. So how can any business afford not to have a high quality online shopfront? It’s time to get serious about online marketing to grow your rent roll.
Some things to consider: Where do you rank in a Google search? Does your website communicate a clear benefit to prospective landlords? Is there a ‘call to action’?
If you are not receiving enquiries through your website, step one is to review and improve on the above. You don’t need to spend a fortune either, there are proven online techniques that will make your website, and your business, “hum”.
Tip #2: Harness the power of a CRM system
CRM is essential to every property management business, but do you use all the features?
For a few hundred dollars you can top up your training in the system’s features, or add functionality that will launch the business into the stratosphere.
This can deliver you the following:
Automate your landlord, tenant & prospect communications Allow to you send high quality emails to your database Record all landlord, tenant & supplier communications Produce reports that show you where the low hanging fruit is, and which client relationships need urgent attention.
Tip #3: Never forget the power of ‘word of mouth’
For as long as the sun rises, the best method of building a business is good word of mouth.
Make a list of the positive statements you want clients to say about you, and then make sure every member of the team understands and embraces them. Don’t go overboard though; a short, achievable list will deliver greater results.
Tip #4: Ask every single one of your landlords for a referral for new business
Have you asked every single one of your landlords for a referral for new properties? You will be rewarded not only with new business, but this is a great opportunity to get a realistic picture of the state of your rent roll!
Tip #5: Hit the phones – telemarketing is still one of the most powerful forms of communication
If you allocate blocks of time to it you can have a 5-minute conversation with 75 landlords in a single day!
Tip #6: Dedicate time to performance management
Everyone must know what is expected of them and must have performance KPIs that they can understand.
Tip #7: Create a clear and concise sales message
Why should landlords do business with you? How are you better or different from the competition? What is your market advantage? (particular skills, qualifications, location, technology, tradespeople, systems etc)
To achieve sales success the business must present a united front. That means ensuring every member of the team can articulate the company value proposition – from the receptionist to the trust accountant and everyone in between.
Tip #8: Work your database
Existing clients, past clients, ideal clients, local businesses, referrals, friends, family... If you don’t have a database, start developing one today.
Tip #9: Invest in an email marketing system and use it regularly
Starting from as little as a few hundred dollars you will get a measurable return on investment.
When it comes to email marketing, every second counts. On average, it takes someone a third of a second to decide whether they are going to open an email, three seconds to see if there is something of interest, and 30 seconds to respond to the ‘call to action.’
You might think that you need to pull out every trick in the book to keep landlords; but in actual fact, all it takes is an understanding and appreciation of who they are and what they want.
Tip #10: Offer your prospects a clear ‘call to action’
An appointment for coffee with a suggested date and time A review of their current rental yield A free market report
Make sure you make it a) easy for them to respond and b) create urgency by giving them a time limit to respond.
Tip #11: Get to know your landlords!
Sounds pretty basic but it will pay dividends.
Relationships have more chance of success if you take the time to get to know each other. Over a period of time you will spend hours with your landlord (on the phone or by email) while managing their property so it is a good idea to learn a little about your client’s interests outside of work.
Your clients will enjoy having conversations with you about their interests and it will show you care.
Make a point to learn something new about each landlord at every contact, log this information into your new CRM system and refer to this topic next time you speak to them.
Tip #12: Use who you know to get new business leads
Make a list of every single person you know in the world (the average person knows 800 people believe it or not!)
Prioritise these people into segments and then phone them all and ask them who they may know who is a property owner. Don’t forget to get the prospect’s contact details and ask whether or not you can mention your referrer’s name.
Tip #13: Be a good listener
Keep hearing a client’s name mentioned? What about a local business or supplier? These people could be the low hanging fruit for new business or referrals. Think about what you might be missing by ignoring the obvious, and address it!
Tip #14: If someone in your office is struggling try and give them encouragement!
You will be pleasantly surprised how well it is received and it also opens the lines of communication to discuss the deeper issues.
Tip #15: Honesty and frankness is absolutely the best policy
Tip #16: Use every opportunity to let your landlords know that you are experts in property
See Tip # 9. Every time you do something worthwhile or interesting email your landlords and let them know!! Breaking the $1m barrier for that townhouse, getting a quote from a client who was so happy with the job you did selling their property they gave you 3 properties to manage as well!!
Tip #17: Keep it simple stupid (KISS)
If you don’t get it, neither will your current and prospective landlords.
Tip #18: If you can scrape up $5,000 you have a viable marketing budget that is guaranteed to generate new business inquiries
This amount will enable you to spend $20 per day on Google search engine marketing from Monday to Friday for the whole year!!
Tip #19: Keep your eyes on the competition
Know your market share and put a target on future market share.
Keep a file with competitor marketing and advertising then work with your staff to review and identify how you can be different and better.
Tip #20: Create an action plan
You can’t expect results without a plan, but by implementing even a handful of these tips you will see the business flourish.
A basic action plan looks like this:
Identify targets Allocate budget over the year Engage your team Pick up the phone and talk to your landlords Delegate Set deadlines on a planner the whole office can use Pick up the phone and talk to your landlords Review progress weekly. Yes, weekly
Did I mention that the best barometer for your business is to pick up the phone and talk to your landlords?
Happy hunting in 2010!
The content of this article was provided by ‘apmasphere’ and was prepared by their guru blogger Bruce Boundy aka Industryman. APMA stands for Agents & Property Managers Alliance and is comprised of experienced property managers and property professionals who have joined forces to drive innovation in the industry. APMA's mission is to educate and inspire property managers by providing a platform (apmasphere.com.au) for industry wide recognition of this valuable and challenging role. Join up online to receive their newsletter and participate in dialogue dedicated to Property Managers.
HOT TIPS TO SHORT CUT THE SALES CYCLE |
|
It can take a client from one day to 25 years to proceed through the sales cycle. In this article Josh Phegan shares some simple, instantly actionable tips to short cut the sales cycle through understanding a client’s need or problem and working with it. See Josh presenting on the AREC10 Sales Day on how to super charge your appraisal to listing conversion.
Get on the Phone
Calling is like modern-day gold prospecting. Have you heard of the gold prospector who leaves the mine because he’s sure there’s no gold? Yet a new prospector comes along, uses a different technique and finds the biggest gold deposit in history?
Every person we meet moves through the sales cycle. It’s vital that we are in direct dialogue with each member on our database. You need to be the trusted advisor.
The Research
Our research indicates it can take a client from one day to 25 years to proceed through this cycle. The number one determining factor is the size of their problem/need (see Step 1 below). Understand the need, understand the problem, develop it and you’re more likely to transact them into business.
Six Stages of the Sales Cycle
1. Problem
People only move because they have a problem.
The four problem types are:
Lifecycle - Births, deaths, marriages and divorces. They fuel the property market. Lifestyle - Looking for an upgrade of their daily surrounds. No time expectation. Financial - Monetary gain or loss in selling the property. Relocation - Moving to a new area for a fresh start or job relocation.
2. Evaluation
At this stage the buyer/seller looks for options from renovating to purchasing a new home. They attend open homes and are reluctant to provide information as they’re in that searching stage.
3. Can we?
The all important let’s review the finances and or the value of our home before we make the commitment to move. Here we provide an appraisal of value. Just because they only want a letter of value, doesn’t mean they’re not red hot sellers. It all relates to the problem.
4. Short list
Easy to identify, they come back to opens, book for second appointments, take copies of contracts and make offers.
5. Purchase
Simple - they actually purchase the home, pay a deposit and settle on the home.
6. Remorse/change
Once the home is purchased they’re not sure they made the right decision, so they need consistent reassurance that they’ve made the right decision.
Action
Ask simple problem-based questions: Why are you moving? Why are you selling? Why are you buying? What’s your situation and how can I assist?
Ask questions to identify what stage they’re in:
Have you looked at any homes in the area you wish to move to? Have you made an offer on anything lately? Have you bid on anything at auction? Have you organised your financials? Do you need a second opinion? What’s your home worth?
Now that you’re empowered, get to your call sessions.
The simple trick here is to work only in 45-minute call sessions. Measure the number of calls you make and the number of connections you achieve. Top hitters average 15 connects in a 45-minute period. Work only from a call list (ie a list of people you need to call about the same thing) so that you can maintain your focus. Only operate using a headset so you can maintain your focus. Those with consistent contact often win, yet those who nurture always win. Remember 81% of sales people close on the 5th contact call. It really is interesting that there are 5 steps to purchase in the sales process.
Principal Coach at reEngage Coaching, Josh Phegan hails from a long line of real estate agents in regional NSW/VIC. His sales experience covers a diverse range of property and he is also an award-winning auctioneer.
THE BRAVE NEW WORLD OF SOFTWARE: WEB-BASED APPLICATIONS |
|
Being prepared for the next step in the software evolution will be the key to surviving and thriving in an increasingly competitive market. The future has a habit of seeming a long way off (it wasn’t that long ago we were only using paper files and computers took up whole office floors), but there are a few things you can do to prepare your business right now.
Before we can even begin to think about leveraging new technologies and social networking in our businesses, we have to get the basics right.
The technical challenges facing real estate agencies are very similar to those facing every other business as more reliance is being placed on technology to run and manage our daily operations. We all know the systems we should have in place today – transaction processing, customer relationship management (CRM), business data reporting, connectivity to external portals (realestate.com.au, etc) and synchronisation with other applications (e-mail, calendars, CRM, etc).
But what will we need in the future?
The current development is the increased prevalence of web-based applications. This comes with a range of benefits, including:
Mobility of hardware: you can take your application with you via a netbook* or laptop, a mobile device such as a PDA, or even your mobile phone. This lowers the cost of the hardware you will need to run the software and keeps you and your employees on the road making sales, attending inspections and generally contributing to the vital tasks involved with business maintenance and growth. Accessibility: it really is a case of anywhere, anytime with web-based applications. While we don’t want to be working 24/7, it is possible when you have access from wherever you are.
Web evolution: once you are using the web to access your software, you are better placed to take advantage of the next evolution of the internet. Often referred to as Web 2.0, this encompasses Facebook, Twitter, blogs, forums (plus whatever they come up with next!) and opens up a whole new way to communicate with clients and prospects.
This all means greater accessibility when out of the office, but it does have some issues, including:
Security of the data: we are dealing with personal details of clients and transactional information, so it is critical to be very sure that the system we are using is as secure as possible. The providers who do this best will use security protocols already in place for secure banking and credit card transactions.
Ownership of the data: with the data sitting on a supplier’s server, there are potential issues about who owns it and what each party can do with it.
What you can do right now...
The future has a habit of seeming a long way off, but there are a few things you can do to prepare your business right now:
Is it time to equip your business with mobile devices: netbooks*, PDA’s or web-enabled phones? Do you need to investigate a better internet connection and provider? How good is your data security and back-up procedures? Can you reduce the number of software programs you are running and achieve greater efficiency? Do you, or any of your staff, need training in the programs you currently use?
Remember: it wasn’t that long ago we were only using paper files and computers took up whole office floors. Being prepared for the next step in the software evolution will be the key to surviving and thriving in an increasingly competitive market.
* Netbooks (sometimes also called mini notebooks or ultraportables) are a branch of subnotebooks, a rapidly evolving category of small, light and inexpensive laptop computers suited for general computing and accessing web-based applications; they are often marketed as "companion devices," that is, to augment a user's other computer access. (Source: Wikipedia)
Content for this article was provided by Craig Thwaites, CEO of Console, the market leading provider of Gateway Live, the property management, sales management and trust accounting software of choice for more than 3,000 real estate agencies throughout Australia and New Zealand.
BECOME THE MASTER OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES – EMPOWER YOURSELF
|
|
Check out these 10 great and simple steps to living more confidently and empowering yourself to achieve the success you desire. We all have the capacity to become successful leaders if we invest in knowledge, surround ourselves with inspiring supportive people and have the right mindset and attitude. To immerse yourself in these all you need to do is come along to AREC10. To refresh your mindset read more...
Within all of us is a natural leader. The Trumps and the Buffets of the world are no different from us - they just have a more developed ability to recognise opportunities and the confidence in themselves to act out their beliefs.
You have those same qualities within yourself, but may not be employing them in the most useful areas of your life. To achieve the success you dream of, now is the time to apply those qualities in the areas of your life you know need a kick-start.
You have the power within yourself to master your experiences and ultimately your life. Invest in yourself. Understand that challenges are advantages. Take time to increase your knowledge and take steps that can help you have a self-directed life.
AREC10 is designed to help you meet some of these great steps from inspiring content to meeting like-minded, inspiring people.
Here are 10 Steps to Living More Confidently:
1. Save Money:
Financial independence is a vital aspect of self empowerment. When you invest and manage your money wisely you get more money to manage. When you start to earn income from the interest of your invested money you are entering into a position where money no longer controls you. Save at least 10% of your earnings each month. If this is too much to start with, then start with as much as you can. As you increase your savings, you will feel a greater level of self worth which opens you up to be guided by inspiration rather than desperation.
2. Know Where You’re Going:
Clearly define what you would love to do in your life. Don’t edit your dreams. If you have a clear road map, it’s much easier to get somewhere. Your energy soars when you’re clear on your aim and direction.
3. Surround Yourself with People that Inspire and Uplift You:
People who think big allow you to expand. You cannot put your hand into a pot of glue without some of it sticking and likewise you cannot interact with inspired people without some of that rubbing off on you.
4. Affirm the Person You Would Like to Become:
Affirmations are simply a title for the ‘things we say to our self about our self’. Rather than think about who you have always been, start telling yourself who you are today in the present moment. As an example: I am confident, powerful and decisive at all times.
5. Read, Read and Read:
Whether it is a self help book or a great novel, reading opens your mind and expands your vocabulary. Reading can assist you to speak with poise and confidence.
6. Count Your Blessings:
Keep a gratitude diary and take note of what you have to be grateful for each day. You will be amazed how this shifts your perspective and actions.
7. Eat Less, Eat Regularly:
Eating too much slows you down and can make you sluggish. Eating moderately at regular times each day assists the body with digestion and optimises physical function.
8. Smile:
Smiling tends to change your physiology and creates the impression of vibrancy and youthfulness.
9. Complete Things:
The more you do simple things and complete them, the better you train yourself to do what you say you will and experience a sense of achievement. Start with a checklist. Give yourself rewards. Ask someone to assist you to be accountable.
10. Transform Your Baggage:
Many people walk through their lives dragging their emotional baggage because of a misperceived past and events they have never appreciated and loved. Just in case you’re carrying any unnecessary loads, I encourage you to do this one thing now. Make a list of every single thing in your life that you resent, or anything you have never loved—anything you think you made a mistake on, whatever you think you could have done “better.” And then go through those items, one by one, and ask yourself, How did it serve me? How did it serve others? Respond to these two questions again and again, until you discover the benefits of these actions and events, and see the balance, the order, and the gifts resulting from them in your life—and in the lives of others.
These tips appeared in the March 2010 Newsletter on Empowerment from Dr John Demartini, world renowned human behavioural specialist, educator and author.
10 REASONS WHY AREC10 WILL BE THE BEST INVESTMENT YOU MAKE THIS YEAR |
|
Don't miss AREC10. It only takes one listing to cover the cost of attending (and it's tax deductible* too!). To save you must act fast – the Early Bird discount ends on 31 March - so make the decision to attend and save.
AREC10 will be the best yet and you will walk away from every session with take home ideas that can impact your business today.
Here are 10 reasons why you should not miss it.
1. A once in a lifetime chance to hear from Sir Bob Geldof on his insights into success and entrepreneurship.:
World icon, musician, activist and entrepreneur, Sir Bob, has hit levels of success in many arenas. Hear how he does it.
2. You'll learn to list like the No 1 agents and watch your conversion rate soar.
Some of Australia's No 1 agents will work with you to create your own super listing presentation. Learn what they do, say, prepare and how they overcome objections. Property managers will also have an interactive session on the key elements of the perfect listing presentation.
3. Watch Edward de Bono stretch your mind.
It's time to get creative with your business - this session will give you a whole new dimension to the way you think about your life and your business.
4. Learn to reinvent and innovate – don't gradually improve. Take radical steps.
See one of AREC's best ever presenters, Rick DeLuca deliver ground- breaking material. No matter what your production levels, you'll come away with lots of new ideas.
5. You'll learn simple solutions to maximize your clients' return for sale or rent – from the Lifestyle Channel's Andrew Winter.
The host of the award-winning TV Series Selling Houses Australia will help you help your clients get maximum return on their investments. Become an expert to your customers.
6. Know how to standout in your market place.
Darren Saunderson will give you seven innovative ways to lift your profile.
7. Learn the secrets to making social networking work for you.
The USA's best real estate technology instructor, Matthew Ferrara will revolutionise the way you do business. Walk away with an action plan to implement right away.
8. Outshine your competitors with your creativity.
Erik Wahl from the US reveals how creating unique experiences for customers can make you stand out from even the best agents and property managers in your area.
10. Create clients-for-life contact management systems.
Aaron Shiner will share his strategy and show you how a simple 24 point system will give you big results.
*Tickets include conference materials, refreshment breaks and buffet lunch plus access to the trade exhibition. Conference fees and associated travel costs are normally tax deductible. Eligibility for tax deductions should be verified by your independent tax advisor.