BloodhoundBlog

There’s always something to howl about.

Tag: Real Estate (page 2 of 2)

August 28, 2008

Understanding RE Web 2.0 – btw Where are my meds?

by

Realtor, Rabble-Rouser

Author website

Lately I have an overwhelming feeling that I have schizophrenia – to those who know me well, they simply ask why it took me so long to figure it out.

What happened to the days when searching for a home doubled as a work out?  Lugging around 25 lbs MLS catalogues – flipping thru the black and white property snapshots – it was clean – it was simply – it was – well – leisurely.

You know – with the advent of new technology – evolving from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0, the amount of choices and technological advancements in developing online communities and data analysis has my mind spinning – so many choices

  • how do I use these new solutions?
  • How will my clients benefit?
  • How will I benefit?
  • Which ones should I invest in?
  • Which functionality provides the best return?

As I discover new sites and options, I can’t seem to keep up with the “older” ones.

So – I decided to try and put it all together.  So here I am – at homethinking, on my computer, trying to assemble my thoughts – Trulia wondering what this all about – I mean, in general, I feel I am a realseekr of knowledge – where data’s concerned, I am good at Krunching the numbers.  But the mind map of the Web 2.0 space has really Motovoated me to look at how this fits together.

Personively, I want my clients with BiggerPockets to see the benefits while I become a SmarterAgent.  That way we all win.  Ok – so let’s Zolve this problem.

So – I’ve found some of the sites to be useful.  I actually have found some great clients using some of these sites.  But still – the list is Vast.  Bottomline – clients are still seeking help – they view me as their HomeGuru.  Let’s face it – for the client seeking a new home, they generally still need to walk thru the Frontdoor of a prospective property to know whether or not it’s a fit.

I will admit, I used to think Hoodeo these people think they are, having to walk UpMyStreet, up and down EveryBlock, insisting on Read more

August 22, 2008

Aufedersein Lip Syncher!

by

Realtor, Rabble-Rouser

Author website

… and now back to our regularly scheduled program – sorry for the technical difficulties!

True Confessions:

  • I am a reality TV junkie – American Idol, Big Brother, Top Chef, Flipping Out, Million Dollar Listing and of course Project Runway – glad I have DDR – there are others – but these I won’t miss – even for a showing request – kidding – of course.
  • I eat lunch at Costco – I sample the samples.  Don’t knock it – I have seen many of my astute colleagues binging off of the sample trays too, only I openly admit it – I have no shame.
  • I love country music.
  • Being an American Idol fan, I sing Daughtry and Carrie Underwood at the top of lungs in the car – sometimes – unknowingly – with the sunroof open – windows down – stopped at traffic lights – allegedly.

* cleansing breath*

That was so cathartic – and so much better than kneeling behind a curtain in a small, dark box filled with the distinct aroma of peppermint schnapps.

Yesterday, one of my esteemed colleagues made the mistake of confirming my delusional rock star status.  I have one of eleven listings in a high rise on the famed Lake Shore Drive – great unit, smartly updated I might add.  Glorious views and a terrific value – yet in a building that can be a challenge in which to sell.  Traffic up until now has been sporadic if non-existent.

Two weeks ago, in an attempt to generate buyer traffic, I decided to coordinate a joint building open house.  Not an uncommon marketing tactic – contact all of the other listing agents, get them all to agree to a time and a date – encourage everyone to market the open house independently and VOILA! Buyers!

I put together a joint marketing piece highlighting the fact that there would be nine units open, committed to an ad in The Tribune.  I’d do it for my client anyway, so why not for the other units?  Hopefully we can generate greater power in numbers.  Well – needless to say, buyers did come.  I had 20 visitors – Read more

July 27, 2008

Do You “Knol”? Utilizing a new Google Offering

by

Real Estate Broker

Author website

It looks like Problogger has mixed opinions on the launch of Google’s Knol. Meanwhile, Seer Interactive shows Knol already ranking for some keywords.

Search Engine Land compares Knol to Wikipedia and gives you step by step instruction on setting up your own Knols. I love the ability to have a collaboration but be able to moderate and control content edits. I have an ongoing feud on Wikipedia with someone who does not feel that a link to a hyper local blog full of community information belongs on Wikipedia – I put it on – he takes it off – one year later – 15 edits and I get incredible traffic to my local blog from Wikipedia. I just have to check it every few weeks!

For me it Knol is another tool in my arsenal of online marketing. I’ve got my start and am committing to adding fresh information at least weekly. Currently I’m ranked number 3 for the search “Real Estate” and the only one for “Athens, Georgia” who wants to join me? What content do you think will be most applicable and how do you plan to leverage this new tool?

July 2, 2008

We’re off to beat the Wizard…

by

IDX Search Entrepreneur

Author website

I found BloodHoundBlog by following a link from a comment Greg made on an Inman story that I had also commented on. It was pretty typical Inman fare — “Blog your way to a Fortune in Real Estate” was the implied headline. When I arrived here I felt like Dorothy waking up in her bed back in Kansas.

I am new to the Real Estate “industry”. I put that in quotes, because “industry” implies the production of something other than nausea when sellers see the commission they paid (BA DUM DUM – Crash! But I kid the Realtors…). I began working with brokers after building a career as an eCommerce consultant. That was in the real world, which for the purposes of the metaphor I will beat to death in this post, we will call “Kansas”.

That makes Real Estate “Oz” for all the many reasons that have been documented here over the past two years.

Full disclosure: I have spent the last two years trying to bring eCommerce Best Practices from Kansas to Oz. The centerpiece of that effort is a IDX Search platform called “Foyer” that is powered by Google Search Technology. I guess that makes me a vendor, but I am not a carny barker. So far, every gig we have is from a referral. Its been a slow way to grow, but its kept us honest. Its also the best marketing we can afford.

With that out of the way,  you want to know why you should bother to read what I have to say, so to give you an idea of where I am coming from, I will finish the beating of the metaphor.

If I’m Dorothy, then, in no particular order:

Lollipop Guild: Real Estate Agents. Obviously.

The Wizard: The NAR/Move Inc/Realtor.com cartel. Behind the scenes of an imposing edifice The Wiz is an old man pulling big levers (one is labeled “MLS”) that are no longer attached to anything. The Wizard’s power is derived from the size of the Lollipop Guild. The stature of the Guild members indicates the height of the barriers to entry set by the Wiz. When Bloodhounds Read more

March 18, 2008

Bloodhound by Choice

by

Real Estate Renaissance Man

Author website

I was working with a local real estate agent yesterday on a strategy to achieve one of his goals.  When we were done he declared the strategy good and decided that, barring any bad luck, success might just find him this year.

—–

A few weeks back I was driving my two boys to school.  They are without doubt the most beautiful boys in the world and I speak with the absolute neutrality of an objective father.  At five and seven they are also completely present.  By that I mean they live in the here and now the way most children do.  The recent past has no more meaning than the near future.  Their focus and their conscience are in the moment.  It fills them with a constant sense of wonder and never ceases to amaze me.

So we are in the car and singing along to the radio when my seven year old sits up in the back and asks: “Daddy, do you believe in good luck?”  As an adult long separated from the freedom of childhood, I was twelve different place in my head when he asked the question and none of them were the present.  I absent-mindedly tossed off one of my favorite sayings to placate him.  “No,” I said, “I believe that the harder I work, the luckier I get.”

My son, however, pressed on.  “I believe in good luck Daddy, but I do not believe in bad luck.”  At this point I was blissfully reminded, once again, how very present children are and I snap out of my own thoughts.  I too get present and I pay attention.  I say to him “I do not think you can have one without the other.”  (At this point I must share a little background. I have taught my boys about the subconscious mind, calling it the “magic” part of their brain.  How it is always listening and recording everything we say.  How our thoughts have power and our words create our realities.)  I went on, “if you believe in the idea of good luck, I think you must accept the idea of bad Read more

March 14, 2008

Arrogance vs Confidence

by

Real Estate Broker

Author website

The company or individual that doesn’t understand competition and the power of imagination is already slipping into obscurity. Power in a competitive world is double-edged, one edge used by those on the throne, the other edge being sharpened by an idea that time adores. Who is so ignorant as to proclaim the end rests in this position? Every Google came from nowhere, or so it seems. Competition comes from the blind side, the side of arrogance.

Confidence is another story and no man or woman should see the need for constant bowing before power, nor do any in power need to cower in gratitude to avoid the unseemly posture of confidence. If one is good, then confidence is a natural reaction and state of mind, but….

But, realization of what supports power is critical to sustaining power — once a person or company thinks powers derives from an intrinsic source that transcends all other sources and is not granted by those who can take it away, it’s over. But if the realization that power exists only through the satisfaction of those who bestow power, then a person or company can ride success for a long, profitable journey.

In the service industry, power derives from consumers finding greater value in your service than in your competitors – the danger is once you rise to a successful position the temptation is to think it’s a permanent state, and then you are vulnerable to the corruption of power. Confidence tells a wise man or woman that whatever it takes, I’ve got it, but to keep it I must diligently satisfy the consumers’ ever-changing needs; Arrogance tells a foolish man or woman that they created power out of nothing and consumers are under their control.

Every day a small competitor is thinking of new ways to deliver something unique – if you aren’t thinking right along with them, and if you think you have it locked because the gods of commerce have smiled and favored you, then you might as well buckle up for a bumpy downhill ride. Confidence is a gift we give ourselves for staying in touch, honoring the achievement of excellence; arrogance is spitting Read more

March 8, 2008

Zillow creates the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine

by

Rust Belt Realtor

Author website

Perhaps it’s cabin fever; Dayton is dealing with a late winter blizzard. The city is shut down giving me plenty of time to put on my own little version of a big-thinking cap and ponder away the what-ifs. Call me foolish but today, with a fresh cup of coffee at my side, I’m taking on the subject of repealing real estate licensing laws. Oh my. First things first: I’ve never read Ayn Rand and I don’t study the finer points of Capitalism. I truly love freedom, but I don’t philosophize about it. Now that we have that out of the way…

Let’s do a little time traveling. Step into the Way Back Machine and return to that point in time when you decided that real estate is what you wanted to do with your life. Do you remember that moment? You want to sell real estate. Forget what you know now and concentrate; remember then? You want to sell real estate. Consider what would have happened if there was no licensing. How would you have gone about breaking into the business? Don’t tell me you would have simply hung up a sign, c’mon, you know you wouldn’t get hired! Really think about this a moment- what would you have done?

Is it reasonable to think that you would have spoken to someone who was already in the business? Would you have picked just anyone in the business, or would you have carefully considered the reputations, the business models, the success rates of different brokerages? I know we wouldn’t have brokerages the way they exist today, but for our purposes, we’ll stick with that terminology. So. Would you have looked- really looked- at the other agents working at that brokerage? Would you have sought out past clients to get their opinions and comments?

Use your imagination and stay with me here. This is how you are going to feed your family. What are you going to do to make sure that you can put ramen noodles on the table? What if you want an occasional steak? You are working where you live, or in close Read more

March 5, 2008

Does the RE.net mean Real Estate or Resist Everything?

by

Rust Belt Realtor

Author website

In a recent post, Brian Brady said he’s been talking to me and that’s kinda sorta true. What’s really going on is that he’s been doing the talking while I’ve been doing the whining, just like a lot of us in real estate. What he didn’t tell you is that he gave me a much needed swift kick in the arse. He gave me some great practical advice on networking, and he challenged me to create a bigger Twitter channel than he. I’m up for the challenge- how can I lose? So what if Brian gets more channels than I, what did I lose? I now have more connections and contacts than I did before. Tell me again what I lost?

From Brian to me, from me to you: Bad market? Okay fine. So what are you going to do about it? I’m still pretty new to all this, Dayton isn’t the easiest place to be selling homes right now- so what? I’ve still got a job to do, I need to do it.

How can you spend anytime reading in the real estate blogiverse and not be inspired? Jazzed? Excited? Twitterpated? Are you really that stubborn? I was going to say pig headed, but I don’t want to offend anyone.

Five great ideas: Brian, Greg, James, Teresa, Todd– within a week? Are you kidding me? Who am I missing? Who else has offered up inspiration the last few days or months? Where are you getting inspiration? Have you tried any of these ideas or are you simply showing up to whine about them? Are you waiting for someone else to make it work, then you will monkey-see, monkey-do, or are you engaging your brain- coming up with your own twist to ensure that something does work for you? 

I remember, back in the day, when Greg wrote about blogging about listings, but I sat on my ass hands and did little about it. I remember when Jeff wrote about hyperlocal blogging and getting out there and door knocking, again I sat on that information. Brian’s been using SMM for how long now? I did take that idea to Twitter– that’s beginning to pay Read more

March 3, 2008

The Perfect Real Estate Relationship

by

Real Estate Broker

Author website

At least for me and how I envision my future. A lady from Arlington, Va called me last week. She didn’t say “Can I go look at some houses next week when I’m in Savannah?” — No, she had read my business blog and understood I recommend we do first things first. She asked to meet me in the lobby of the hotel where she’s staying so we can discuss a game plan.

She has a home to sell (attention all Arlington Va agents!), and when she sells it, she wants to move to Savannah. We sat in the lobby and over coffee and bagels discussed her vision of what she wants. She described what she’s dreaming of and I described areas in vivid detail and we went back and forth until we narrowed it down to a couple of areas.

It turns out our esthetic tastes are quite similar, so it made the conversation flow easily. She asked what the negatives are moving to Savannah and I told her without violating any laws. She decribed her life to me, how she had worked in several different fields, how she’d been a nurturing mother (still is, I’m sure) and a wife, and how now it’s just her — retired but still wanting to be active, how part of her dream is to become active in the historic preservation efforts in Savannah, that she would like a little cottage, airy and light, preferably near water, but close to town — she described how she loves diversity, doesn’t want to sound like a northerner, but doesn’t want to live in a place with a single, limited mindset — how she likes cosmopolitan eclectism. I understood her.

This is the personalization and context that I’m not sure machines will ever understand, it’s the human contact of real estate that I love, and it’s the service I want to provide — to take this lady’s story and to be an active part of it as it goes into another chapter, to help her accomplish a goal to personalize her lifestyle plans in a home she can feel a part of, that reflects her personality and sense of life.

First Read more

February 29, 2008

A Season To Be Objective

by

Real Estate Broker

Author website

Modernism, or post-modernism, has little use for philosophy . Pragmatism is most people’s mind bent. Tough-minded pragmatism has a lot going for it, but when it denigrates philosophy it might be acting a little too tough. Isn’t philosopy that old-timey pursuit back when intellectuals talked endlessly and abstrusely about whether we really exist or just a bundle of impressions. What good did any of that talk do? It doesn’t pay the rent, by God, and it doesn’t bring the bacon (tofu?) home.

Others are more mystical about life, therefore philosophy is an illusory construct created by dead white European males to rule by reason and logic, or to confuse the issues with consistency — there is nothing consistently true for mystics, and all the intellectualizing in the world won’t reveal the mystical flow of The Great Unknown to the puny mind of reason — it’s intuitive, soft and open in spirit — felt by those connected to the universal spirit.

One looks at “what works” as the only marker for value, and the other goes by “what feels right”, what can be intuited as the marker of value. There are many variations of these two types of believers. And there are many who are mostly social, who don’t think much at all about the larger issues of life; they want to belong and be accepted, and merely being a part of a group is fine with them. They might take a stand if it’s to protect a friend or if they feel like their group is being threatened, but mostly they just want social comfort.

The second definition of philosophy from The Free Dictionary is — 2. Investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods.

The first definition is — 1. Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline.

Very few people live by, or hold ideas to the test of, a set of principles that they’ve forged through a consistent philosophy. They usually go by antecdotal evidence, snapshots of reality taken out of context, as their measure to make decisions. “I have a cousin who did this and got this result, and it seems to be Read more

February 26, 2008

The Network — No Easy Duality

by

Real Estate Broker

Author website

To clarify my little vision yesterday it will be helpful to explain what I see happening. I see demands for online RE companies such as Zillow and Trulia to do two things: one a demand from investors to make a profit and another demand from consumers for better, more comprehensive information. When I speak of monetization it’s because it’s a reality for them. I think RE companies will be forced to create alliances with local brokers so that good, contextual information is available for consumers to go along with pictures of homes and out of context estimates and partial information.

I’m not really overly concerned about this, it’s just interesting to think about how they will survive and change. I understand the “free” experience of searching for homes without being badgered or spammed by RE agents and vendors of all sorts.

But if they don’t make money, they won’t survive. I hear Homegain is making money and it will be interesting to see how their model evolves.

However, the Network I’m talking about is more in line with with what Greg writes about here.

The Network will not be web 1.5, it’ll be more like web 2.5 and it won’t be designed to feel good about doing good, it’ll be  about being excellent and benefitting consumers. The Network will be about individuals connected to other individuals with no power or control over one another, just a recognition of excellence. I say the Network will be 2.5 because personalization and context won’t be mastered for some time.

So it’s not an easy duality of those who are greedy looking to make a buck and those who are enlightened and open and good, it will be a complex variation of efforts that I think will coalesce along several different lines. The RE companies will compete for consumers, and many will compete mainly for traffic in order to advertise. They will have to offer value and someone will need to be charged. If they don’t offer value, there will be no one to charge. I suppose the value of the Listing Sites will be to show listings in more creative, informational ways. This can be done locally much better, once consumers fully Read more

February 25, 2008

The Network — Excellent Real Estate Agents Wanted

by

Real Estate Broker

Author website

Dead or alive. Just kidding.

How many excellent agents are there in your area? Well, first let’s define “excellent” so that it meets my purposes. There are successful agents who were born in the right family and have “excellent” connections. There are sucessful agents who are excellent in the old way of doing things and they will die successful doing the same things — I’ll exclude them from “excellent” because I am developing my definition of excellent as I look forward. There are agents who are successful because they tapped into a big local builder and will be successful as long the builder is building — maybe beyond if they can transfer what they have going on. But how many agents are excellent at providing service, wired to web 2.0, good salespeople (great at marketing listings), proficient at information management, have excellent verbal skills, have comprehensive knowledge of real estate, have comprehensive knowledge of the area, have great people skills, have the energy to incubate prospects and follow up, have the willingness to work with and represent buyers and have the experience to be called an expert? How many are excellent in these ways?

I don’t know, but I can’t think of many. (Of course, I fit all these requirements for excellence, but modesty prevents me from broadcasting it).

The consensus when talking to the public about agents is that so many are inexperienced, don’t follow up, are pushy salespeople, etc. — but then they go on to say that there ARE good agents and they are useful, helpful, worth their weight in gold, on and on with different levels of kudos or positive evaluation. Except for the diehard agent-haters, I think most people would say a good agent adds value to the process. (While here I’m talking about agents, in regards to the real estate process, please keep in mind all types of professionals providing RE services such as lawyers, inspectors, lenders and mortgage brokers.) 

This morning in my mind’s eye a vision formed out of disparate bits of thoughts that had been floating around in my brain for about a year. A group of brave souls Read more

February 12, 2008

Greatest real estate agent in the Who?

by

The Real Estate Group, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake VA

Author website

The Setup…

First of all…You need to visualize my situation. I am sitting in my PJ’s at 4 in the morning. Can’t sleep. Jen (that’d be Mrs. Eric…) is preparing for her Grandmother’s funeral which will take her to Massachusetts. I am contemplating deadlines at work, and issues, and how my four kids are going to survive with me the next three days…oh yeah…and 6 inches of snow and ice fell overnight…splendid.

So I read Geno’s post about rehabbing and negotiation. (makes me smile–thanks Geno) And then I go to REW and check out the latest. And I visit Morgan’s blog…and find this. Conjured up by our own Mr. Bramlett, no less…

The Reality

The reality is that I hate SEO contests. In many cases, they bring out the worst in people and things. Google is not there to be tricked. They just want relevant stuff at the top of their search engine. They are about as much fun as Greg’s having in MacWorld these days. But, I am competitive as all get out and will (out of pride) have to enter this one…

So…how do I solve the following equation? Enter contest to preserve manhood. Build true online authority (which is what I preach), instead of simply build links. Make new REALTOR friends from around the country. This contest is especially difficult since I do not sell real estate (see bio) and don’t care for the fame or adulation associated with winning…

Maybe that’s the answer…not caring who gets the credit and focusing on paying it forward? Hmmm…here’s the link to my entry. I will offer ANYONE who offers to help me in a meaningful way a weekly email detailing my thoughts on how things are shaping up and how to BUILD authority and communities rather than be a link scrounge. (Ever notice that the Bloodhound Blog does just fine in the search engines and yet he happily links out to others?) I will also give the top 10 contributors a permanent spot on the post.

Finally…it looks like Morgan is throwing in a pretty cool prize. A website? Like I said, I don’t need another Read more

February 7, 2008

Folk Music, Blame and Fundamental Solutions

by

Real Estate Broker

Author website

A block from my office on one of the squares there’s this guitar player and singer sitting on a bench providing folk music for the passersby. It’s not music I’d actually go out and buy (probably why he’s playing from a bench in the square), but its good in its environment. It’s down to earth, raw, natural and centering. When I’m half bonkers from all the hubbub, I’ll drop by and listen – it helps to get centered.

At the center there’s a clearer, more peaceful world that’s difficult to access among the daily nabob nattering (see Spiro Agnew) and incessant activity. Yesterday, after completing my centering ritual by listening to “Old Mountain Dew”, —

Well they call it that good old mountain dew

And them that refuse it are few

I’ll hush up my mug, if you’ll fill up my jug

With that good old mountain dew

 — back at the office I started thinking about blame while reading some comments regarding the ongoing real estate bog. Blame has little meaning at the center. Some are blaming the media while others blame lenders, foolish buyers making foolish choices, greedy sellers, Greenspan’s years at the helm of the Fed, on and on it goes.

Here’s what Peter Senge writes about blame in his book, The Fifth Discipline:

We tend to blame outside circumstances for our problems. “Someone else” — the competitors, the press, the changing mood of the marketplace, the government — did it to us. Systems thinking shows there is no outside; that you and the cause of your problems are part of a single system. The cure lies in your reationship with your “enemy.”

Senge goes on to talk about putting pieces of the puzzle together to gain an understanding of the whole, how to look for leverage in the midst of fundamental problems in order to create fundamental solutions, rather than get mired in symptomatic problems and tinkering with symptomatic, short-sighted solutions.

Blame tends to lead the mind in wrong directions and use up energy better spent on fundamental solutions. Every day I’m given what is, and I can recognize it and work with it or complain about it and Read more

February 1, 2008

Up Your Marketing Game

by

Real Estate Rainmaker

Author website

What tips do you have to share with us to help everyone brush up on their marketing game?

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Inventing Real Estate 2.0

Welcome to BloodhoundBlog, the national real estate industry marketing and technology weblog written by, for and about real estate professionals. Better yet, welcome to the wired world of real estate. We are busily inventing Real Estate 2.0 – technology, marketing, service and salesmanship. Like all Bloodhounds, we are smart, frisky and fiercely independent. We've built a spot on the earth – beloved over all – where each one of us can be who we are, no matter who that might be. We are committed to an idea of excellence that will flush the bums, the con-men and the crybabies out of the real estate industry. If you yearn to have your failures excused, your moral lapses absolved or your boo-boos kissed, seek elsewhere. But if you are sick to death of mediocrity – welcome home. Read all about us, subscribe to our feed and steel yourself for the hunt. We work hard, we play hard, we learn everything we can – and we bow to no one.

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