Set Yourself Apart from the Competition in 2010

A new year means a whole new chance to rejuvenate your business. The beginning of a new year ushers in change and people are ready to see what your business has to offer for this new beginning. Make 2010 the year that you make your business stand out from the crowd.

Catch people's attention and make them notice your business by becoming different from your competitors. If all the agents in your area are operating the same then how can a buyer or seller possibly choose what agent they want to work with? Your job, if you want to really make your business shine in 2010, is to give them a good reason to choose you.

Become that agent that is different. Becomes the agent that has everyone in town talking. Become the agent that people know they can trust and rely on. Become your town's Billion Dollar Agent.

Some ways to set yourself apart from the competition include:

- Revamping your advertising. Make it completely different from the competition. Make it eye catching. Don't waste a single advertising dollar on marketing that is not captivating and convincing.

- Create a slogan that sums up you and your business. Take time to really come up with something unique, catchy and unforgettable.

- Build a strong image. Make sure everyone in town knows what your business is all about and what you stand for. Make sure that your image is one that coveys professionalism, trust, reliability and shows people that you get the job done right every time.

2010 could be your banner year. You could finally reach that Billion Dollar Agent status, but it will take work. Do not waste a minute of 2010. Get working right now so once the new years begins you are ready to grab attention and make your business shine.

Having Trouble with Clients that are Eating Up your Precious Time?

If you answered yes to that question, then you need some help. Every agent deals with clients that seem to just be too demanding on their time. You know how important and precious your time is, but you may struggle with how to make the client happy without indulging their every demand for your time. Well, dealing with clients like this is something every Billion Dollar Agent has learned to do.

There is one simple key here - you need to be in charge of the situation. Every time you meet or talk make sure their is a clear goal in mind. Work towards that goal and stay focused. You may need to be skillful at keeping the client focused, but if you are well prepared beforehand then this should not be difficult to do.

Make sure that you always prepare before every meeting or call. Get yourself ready with all the paperwork you need or other information. Also let the client know that you have only a specific set amount of time, so you have to focus on the task or tasks at hand.

Being organized is also the key to deal with clients when they contact you. Maybe the client calls you about something. In order to avoid a lengthy phone conversation you should have their file right on hand so you can get the information they need quickly and get off the phone fast.

Real estate is a people business, but it is also a very time sensitive business. You need to be in charge of your time and not let others waste it. Only when you can master this will you be able to reach that Billion Dollar Agent goal.

Billion Dollar Agents Are Leaders

You have probably heard that to be successful in real estate that you need to be a leader. What is a leader? What characteristics does a leader have? What sets you apart and defines you as a leader? If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you have some work to do.

A leader is someone who has a certain skills set. They stand out and they take charge. A leader is someone that inspires others and makes them want to follow their leadership.

If you are trying to develop your skills and become a leader then you need to have the following characteristics of a true leader:

- You have to have vision. You need to be able to see beyond what is there and picture what could be.

- You must be able to create a plan. You have to be able to take something from a vision to reality through a carefully laid out plan.

- You have to be able to work with and rely on others. A true leader knows that they need help to accomplish their goals. Nobody can do everything alone.

- You have to be able to motivate others. A leader must be able to make others want to work for them and want to get the job done.

These four things are the backbone of what makes a good leader. If you are trying to become a Billion Dollar Agent then you first must be a leader. Work on your leadership skills and develop them so that they become second nature. Once you learn to lead, becoming a Billion Dollar Agent is well within reach.

Are your Clients your Biggest Fans?

What is the best way to gain a client's trust and loyalty? Make them your number one fan. By getting a client to see you as the best and see you as someone they can really count on, you will be able to build a relationship that will last. This type of relationship is something you must have if you want to be a Billion Dollar Agent.

So, how can you make your clients rave about you? How can you get them to think of you as the best? You might be surprised to learn that it is really not that difficult of a task.

You have to start by making your clients feel important. Make them the center of decisions and let them take the wheel. You are simply their guide and aid in the process of buying or selling a home.

You need to show them you care. Stay in contact with past clients and make sure everything is going smoothly for them. If they do have a problem then offer them your help. Be the person they come to when they need help.

If you make changes in your business, even small ones, make sure to let clients know. Don't spring any surprises on them or they may lose trust in you.

Be an educator. Inform your clients about what they need to know. Make them into experts so they understand everything that is happening with their transaction.

Your overall goal is to become valuable to your clients. You want them to know they can come to you with anything. You want them to think of you first when they have a real estate related need. Remember that word spreads and when someone is really happy with your services then they will tell others. By cultivating this type of relationship with your clients you will see your business grow.

Here is a video that offers more tips on how to make clients love you:

Some Basics of the Real Estate Market

Every Billion Dollar Agent knows the basics of the real estate market. There are some things that can be considered “textbook”. These things are basic guidelines and general rules that will help you to better understand how to do your job in the most effective manner.

Price adjustments are something every agent should understand. You need to know when to make them and when not to. You also need to know how much of an adjustment to make. Here are some ideas about adjusting prices in certain scenarios:

A major price adjustment may be called for when a house is not getting shown at all. Agents may not show it because they think it is just priced too high.

A moderate change would be made if the house is being shown without offers being made since buyers are probably finding other homes that are more affordable.

A small price adjustment should be made if a buyer is interested, but then changes their mind and buys elsewhere.

Another little tid bit of information that can be helpful is a guideline from the NAR. If you show a house 10 times then you should be getting at least 1 offer.

Information like this is something that can be very helpful for you to know. If you ever want to be a top agent then you really do need to get as much information about real estate as possible. A Billion Dollar Agent never stops learning.

Get a Jump Start on 2010

The end of the year is fast approaching. The holiday season is ready to begin and that always zooms by so fast. Before you know it we will be ringing in 2010. Are you ready?

Have you even thought about next year? Have you given any thought to your goals for the new year? If not then it is the time to get focused and start planning what will happen in your business next year.

Billion Dollar Agents are always looking ahead. They always know what is coming and are prepared for it. If you want to be a Billion Dollar Agent then you need to adopt that mindset.

Start by forgetting the things that went wrong this year. 2010 is a whole new year and is the perfect time to bounce back from the bad things that happened in 2009.

Don’t forget that January is a great time to do calls and to reach out to people. The holiday stress is gone and people are still feeling happy and cheerful. They will be most likely to talk with you at this time of the year.

Set your goals and do your research. Plan out 2010 so you are fully prepared for the year ahead. Next year could very well be the year that you reach Billion Dollar Agent status, but you can’t do that if you jump into the year without being ready for it.

Learn to Say “No”

In business it is common for a person to start thinking they must always say yes. They get into a habit of just agreeing to everything in hopes that it will keep problems at bay. In reality, saying yes to everything is setting you up for failure. Billion Dollar Agents know when to say no. This is one of their main tools to reaching that top agent level.

Saying no is not a bad thing. That is the first thing you must realize. Sometimes you have to say no. It could be because you are already stretched thin and simply cannot handle another thing on your to-do list. You could say no simply because you do not want to do whatever you are being asked. Saying no is actually a way to look out for yourself.

Make sure that when you say yes it is coming from a well thought out place. Never say yes to make someone leave you alone or to avoid something. Say yes only when you really want to say yes.

Make sure that when you say no, you do so with conviction. You have to just be direct and say no. Make sure the person you are saying it to understands you mean no. When you have a habit of always saying yes, once you start saying no some people may think you are not being serious.

Saying no is actually quite liberating. Once you start saying no more often, you will notice how it effects you and your business. You will feel a load lifted off your shoulders and probably become more productive since you are able to focus on things that you really want to do. Saying no simple makes your life easier and is something you just have to do sometimes.