Try Something Different

This time of year we can get a bit stale with some of our practices.  Here are a few tips to help you break some new ground with your prospecting: 

• Make Your Phone Calls in a different place, try an outside location.
• 7 Days of Photos, post one photo daily in a different media: blog, Facebook, Twitter, Skitch, text message, postcard, and instagram
• Go Different Places - change your commute route, drive some neighborhoods you don't know.
• Take an attorney to lunch - connect with their network
• Ask for suggestions for new approaches from agents you know outside our market. 
• Join a new network: hobby, religious, sport, speakers, games - find one and enjoy the new contacts you make. 

Buyer Blogs

Consider adding a new tool to your arsenal. Tumblr is a service for creating blogs that is extremely mobile friendly.  Jim gave us a quick intro in today's Cary/Durham Go Show.  Explore and see what you think.  The quality of video sharing from Tumblr is outstanding.  


Content? Here are a few items to consider for building a Buyer Blog:

• Client Goals and Specifications from your consultation
• Maps to show homes seen
• Photos - be sure to get some fun ones
• Under/Contract: upload MLS link of the property
• List Vendor Contacts and web sites for inspections, lending, closing
• Prep for Closing To Do's
• Post Closing: Share local services you know, register to vote, school registration, etc. 

Coming Soon Listings

So some of you have been asking about coming soon signs and how the administrative part of that works.  There have been a number of "I've heard's" and "So and so said's" out there and I want to set the record straight.  I have some experience with that so Kevin gave me the go ahead to put it here for you.

TMLS affords agents the opportunity to list a house and never enter it in the MLS.  Every once in a while a seller doesn't want to have their property in MLS and the first thing you should do is turn around and don't let it hit in you in the ass on the way out.  For those situations TMLS created a "Withhold Listing from Triangle MLS" form.  This form can also be used for a listing that may be "Coming Soon". 

If a listing has a sign in the yard then it must be in TMLS within 2 business days UNLESS you fill out the aforementioned Withhold Listing from Triangle MLS form.  This form must be submitted to TMLS by e-mailing Letitia Pennington at letitiap@trianglemls.com.  Once the form has been sent to Letitia then you can place a "Coming Soon" sign and do your thing.  There is no limit to how long a listing can be "Coming Soon".

Why a "Coming Soon" sign?  If a seller has secured your services and will be making repairs and upgrades for a few weeks, then why not put a sign in the yard and let everyone know about it in advance?  The benefit to you is added exposure in the neighborhood.  The benefit to the seller is it starts getting the word out to their neighbors and friends.  The benefit to other agents is they can try and sell the house before the entire world knows about it.  Wouldn't it be cool to sell the property before it even goes on the market?  What would 0 days on the market do to your personal average?

The Withhold listing document will be shared with everyone on Google docs and in Yammer.

What Can You Learn in May?

Training at Go will be a big part of May activities.  We have a diverse set of topics to cover this month based on what agents have been asking and new technology recently installed in all our offices. Here are the topics: 

• YouTube Channels and Video Editing
• Zipforms Basics & Docusign for our Clients
• Under Contract in Three Showing Sessions: Effective Buyer Consultations
• Top Producer Tune Up
• Converting Expired Listings to Celebrated Closings
• Using the Magic of Apple TV in Your Go Office

Many of the classes are offered at different times and locations, some are one time engagements.  Routinely, attend a class on 

• Mondays 11 a.m. at Go Holly Springs
• Thursdays 11 a.m. at Go Durham
• Thursdays 12 p.m.  at Go Cary

Please see your office Google Calendar for final details, and check weekly because, you know, we will throw a few changes in there.  

You Better Not Post THAT on Yammer

The only reason you're reading this is because the title made you think there's a juicy HR violation, right?    Nope, not this time.   Over time, we have developed a habit of posting on Yammer when one of us is NOT going to be at the Go Show - inspections, vacation, closing, or this episode of Dr. Phil is way too gross to miss.  Starting next week, that changes.  On Tuesday mornings, we ask you to post that you ARE attending the Go Show, preferably with some smack.  For those of you who are terribly unfortunate to miss a Go Show, let your BIC know by e-mail (BICs like e-mail)  if you want to share your support for the Show and your (lame) excuse for an absence.  Thanks for helping us build a new tradition.

When Do I Turn that Contract In?

If your BIC gets a copy of the contract after closing, there's not much she can do to help our client or you with an omission or mistake, capiche?   Since we all come to Go from other programs, thought it would be good to get us all to the same answer for important questions "When do I turn that in?"  "What forms do I include?" and of uber importance, "When does my check arrive?"  Here are the guidelines:

• Transaction Summary Sheets (TSS) - this form list the necessary information and documents you need for any specific transaction. Please be sure to print it from Google Docs (search "TSS")  rather than use an old one from an office drawer or your own download. We update them frequently. 
• Listing Agreements: please turn in a completed file with Transaction Summary Sheet (TSS - in Google Docs) within 48 business hours of execution. 
• Buyer Agency Agreements: include WWREA and turn in within 48 business hours.  Yep, the NC Real Estate Commission requires we have these on file, regardless of the existence of any purchase contract. 
• Likewise rejected/failed contracts - Commission expects us to have those on file as well. 
• Signed Purchase Agreements: 48 hours after execution, please follow the appropriate TSS for sold listings or buyer sales.  It is very important to have BIC review of these early in the due diligence period. 
• Closings: turn in your check and HUD only at the pace you want to get paid. BOTH documents produce a pay check for you; one document does not.  Remember we have a two business day turn around from receipt of the company check to payment of your commission check. 

We have an amazing amount of business right now, so we're glad these questions pop up so frequently.  Thanks for your efforts with the clients, and helping us keep paperwork orderly and in compliance with North Carolina laws and guidelines. 

The Objection Monsters

I have heard two objections from Go Peeps about GoKomen that I want to address and arm you with some facts going forward.

1. "I don't really like to exercise and running a race is not my thing"

This event is about coming together as a team and raising funds to promote breast health research, awareness and education and provide breast exams and mammograms for women who can't afford it.  Also, the day of the event includes activities for runners, walkers, and families with children of all ages.  If you can't make it on race day, then you can support our team by signing up for the "Sleep-in" option.  Because of the comprehensive options available, 100% participation for Go Peeps is attainable.

2.  Komen and Planned Parenthood

Earlier this year, Komen pulled its funding from Planned Parenthood.  According to the Huffington Post, "Komen grants to Planned Parenthood amount to about $700,000 annually and have helped fund 170,000 clinical breast exams and more than 6,400 mammogram referrals in the past five years, mostly to poor women."  Komen's website states that 100% of its funding goes to breast health and the funds used by Planned Parenthood are audited by Komen two times per year.

Initially the decision to pull funding was politically motivated by a pro-life executive within Komen.  Komen's founder, Nancy Brinker, quickly took control and reversed the decision.  In a letter on its website, Komen states "We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics - anyone's politics."

Go Realty's position is that we don't have a position.  The pro-life/pro-choice debate is a highly polarizing topic that doesn't have a place in our GoKomen effort.  

I hope this information will arm you with enough information to lead someone down a path to support our effort.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch with me.  Thank you.

Register today at www.Gokomen.com.

Jim Ellis