Does the Brokerage Matter When Consumers Choose a Real Estate Agent?

Does the brokerage matter when choosing a Real Estate agent Apparently not, at least not to 97% of the people who chose to work with a Real Estate agent for other reasons in a recent study.

The NAR (National Association of Realtors) last year released a study that stated that less than 3% of agents were chosen by their affiliation to a particular brokerage. That is a surprising number that may seem hard to believe, to some. Especially in light of the fact that you see the massive brokerages continuing to grow, which tells me, at the very least, that they have done a very good job of convincing their prospective agents that there is a strong value proposition associated with their brand. They have effectively ‘sold’ this value, despite the fact that the buying public apparently does not agree.

Even Keller Williams, the 3rd largest Real Estate brokerage in the country agrees with my proposition. In an (undated) white paper they accept and agree with the notion that given the choice of 2 equal real estate agents, the prospective client (97% of the time) chooses his agent based on other mitigating factors, and not brand recognition.

I have always held this proposition and have seen it repeated constantly. People choose their agents because they like the agent. Because the agent has similar values, a strong work-ethic, is trustworthy and responsive. Because the agent listens to the potential client during the interview process and responds in-kind with thoughtful answers to questions and concerns. To put it simply, they choose an agent because the agent lives and breathes customer service. Isn’t that what this is all about? Being focused on the customer and not treating them like a means to an end or simply as a number.

I have heard of agents that use their client interviews as an opportunity to brag of their individual accomplishments and tout their strong numbers from years past. But to me, the more important issue is how you are going to help that customer sell their house or find the right house, and not how much Real Estate your ‘team’ sold last year.

I may sell fewer homes than some of the people who I compete against and I may not have the 30+ years of experience that some of them have. But I can promise I will work for you to the end and ensure that no stone is unturned when it comes to searching for homes or buyers. Experience can be important, but so can being a student of your trade. Laws change rapidly, procedures are changing at an increasing pace, technology is running laps around the ‘old-standard’ Real Estate magazines and allowing more people to see your home without ever stepping foot in your home, or ever leaving their house for that matter.

This evolution is something that every agent has to be aware of. Many people who were once spectacular in a position have seen the job outgrow them because they were too rigid and unwilling to change.

And I submit to you the proposition that the brokerage can matter, but it will have to be a game-changer. The common practice of accepting any agent with a pulse is not the way to do business. There are over 2,500 Real Estate agents in the Huntsville area and that is a staggering number for a city of this size. We all know people who have Real Estate licenses that have never sold a home, or simply sell when the opportunity arises. I chose Real Estate as my fulltime profession of choice, because I love all aspects of the business and am truly energized at the opportunity to help my clients achieve their goals. Be that selling a home or finding the right home at the right price in the right area for them. This is what can separate a brokerage from the rest, a focus on choosing the right agents. And this is the difference in the Mega-brokerage, steadfast in their ways, and the smaller brokerages with desire and direction.

This job is all about customer service and that is something that successful agents pride themselves in.

Nicole Arsenault

Realtor

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Getting Ready to Get Fit – Tips to Get Fit

So you’ve finally decided to put down the potato chips and the remote. You’re ready to get off the couch and to get into shape. There are a number of different sports you’re interested in trying, but you’re unsure of how to get started, and how does a person who invented the sedentary lifestyle get ready for sports action anyway? Well, before you join that basketball team, or decide you and your best friend are going to start playing doubles tennis, be sure take note of a few basic fitness requirements for sports.

The First Important Step

Visit your doctor first. That’s right, go see your good doc; tell him or her what you’re interested in doing, and make sure your body is ready. Once you get the OK, let your body follow your spirit.

Getting Your Body Ready

Basketball — If your sport of choice is basketball, make sure you work up some endurance and foot speed first. A good rule of thumb is to spend a month conditioning before you even pick up that basketball for the first time since high school. Run a few miles a day for 3 days a week, weight lift a few days a week with light weights, and run wind sprints. If you don’t have some basic conditioning, you’ll never last more than a few minutes on the court.

Softball — Sounds like a leisure activity, but softball can be a nice way to get a good workout. Like most fitness requirements for sports, you’ll need to build up some endurance but not as much as you might need for basketball. Go for some short-distance runs and work on arm strength by playing catch with a friend.

Cross Country Running — See a trend here? Running is a great way to get into shape, and cross country will get you there fast. When you make a commitment to running long distances, however, it is very important to take it slow at first, and to increase your mileage slowly as well. And invest in a good pair of running shoes, too. Get a professional to recommend the right kind of running shoe for your feet and your stride.

Tennis — Yet another sport that requires a healthy dose of endurance. And like basketball, you’ll also need a lot of foot speed. Get your runs in, and make sure you work on sprints to improve your foot speed. Your hand-eye coordination is extremely important as well, but you’ll only improve that with practice. And you won’t be able to practice unless you have a decent fitness level to begin with.

Summing Up

Again, make sure you consult your doctor first before beginning any fitness program. There are a number of different fitness requirements for sports, but the ones mentioned above should get you started, with your doctor’s blessing. And most important, don’t give up the first time you get discouraged. Everyone has to start somewhere. You’ll be playing sports sooner than you think.

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Affiliate Marketing For Beginners – Real Affiliate Marketing Tips

Affiliate marketing without a doubt one of the most lucrative ways to make money online. Everyday more and more people are realizing how profitable affiliate marketing truly can be. Some people feel that this type of online money making method is to difficult to do and can not possibly produce any real income. This is indeed not true. With the right training and desire to succeed, a full time income is definitely possible. In this article I will share with you some valuable affiliate marketing tips that will help you reach your desired financial goals.

If you are not familiar with what affiliate marketing is let me give you a quick explanation. Affiliate marketing is the promotion of a product by a person who is not the owner of the product for some sort of commission. The people who promote these products are known as affiliates. Affiliates that know how to make a lot of money as an affiliate are known as super affiliates. Any serious affiliates aspires to be a super affiliate.

I am now going to share with you some affiliate marketing tips that can really help you get to wjere you want to be.

Tip 1 – Get focused. It is true that affiliate marketing can make anyone a ton of money. But to make this happen will take some focus and dedication. You must understand that it will take some work to make this happen but once you understand the game the skies the limit when it comes to your earning potential.

Tip 2 – Really study the art of it. There is a lot that needs to be learned when it comes to making money from affiliate marketing. No, you do not need a college degree to be successful, it wouldn’t hurt to treat affiliate marketing like a course that you are taking in school. The more information that you gather the better. There are tons and tons of resources out there that can teach you everything you will need to know.

Tip 3 – Pick products that people are buying. Doing your research is very important when it comes to earning big in this business. There are many techniques that you can use to determine if people are buying the type of products that you are interested in promoting. Choose one of these techniques to find the products that will make you the most money. Also make sure that you do a lot research on the products themselves. You always want to promote quality products.

Tip 4 – Keep your marketing strategy simple. Figure out what marketing techniques works best for you and run with them. Trying to many different marketing techniques can ultimately hurt your results. Its never good to spread yourself to thin. Pick 2 or 3 methods and use them to the cows come home.

These tips really ill help you. All you need to do s implement them and don’t stop until you have reached your goals. Learning how to make money online is very possible and real. I hope you see that now!

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