Seller's Market?

With dwindling inventories due to reluctant sellers, fewer foreclosures and increase demand, the Triangle housing market is heating up. 

To show this, I first want to explain a little bit about supply and demand in real estate.  During buyers' markets, homes may sit on the market for a while before selling, so sellers become more flexible and may even drop their prices.  During sellers' markets, homes sell quickly and sellers have a lot of pricing power. As a result, prices rise more rapidly than at other times.

In real estate, the relationship between supply and demand is calculated as "available inventory." At the current sales pace, how long would it take to sell the total number of houses available on the market? That is how the real estate industry measures inventory.

Inventory is measured in weeks and months. Longer inventory times are associated with buyers' markets. Shorter inventory periods are associated with sellers' markets.  Six months of supply is average.  If there is less than six months supply, this means that it is a seller’s market with many buyers competing against each other to buy a limited pool of properties. The greater the months of supply, the converse is true.  Months of supply is calculated by dividing the total number of homes for sale over the number of homes sold in one month.

The overall Triangle market is doing great.  The numbers for June 2012 of the four major cities in the Triangle are  all showing a seller's market at less than 6 months of supply as follows:

• Raleigh (27601, 27603-27617):  4.3 Months of Supply (Down 50% from June 2011)
• Durham (27701, 27703, 27704, 27705, 27707, 27712, 27713):  4.8 Months of Supply (Down 38% from June 2011)
• Cary (27519, 27513, 27518, 27511):  3.4 Months of Supply (Down 46% from June 2011)
• Chapel Hill (27510, 27514, 27516, 27517):  4.8 Months of Supply (Down 38% from June 2011)

There are other sub-markets within the four major cities that are seeing months of supply less than 4% such as:

• Southwest Durham (27707, 27713):  3.7 Months of Supply (Down 46% from June 2011)
• Lochmere (27518):  2.8 Months of Supply (Down 75% from June 2011)
• North Raleigh/Midtown (27609):  3.7 Months of Supply (Down 52% from June 2011)
• West Chapel Hill/Carrboro (27516, 27510):  3.9 Months of Supply (Down 41% from June 2011)

As you can see, things are looking up in the Triangle.  If inventories continue to stay low, and demand continues to get better, we are going to see home prices rise and the market to get hotter and hotter.  For more great stats and information on the Triangle real estate markets, check out Fonville Morisey's Market Minutes Reports.

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

Great News! The Triangle Real Estate Market is Still Getting Better!

Here's a look at a Triangle real estate market Infographic for June.  Things are still heading in a positive direction!



Triangle Real Estate Market June 2012 Infographic

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

Tech Bytes: Video! Video! Video!

According to Cisco's Visual Networking Index Report, by 2015, the world will be watching 3 trillion minutes of web video per month.  Web video is currently 40 percent of all Internet traffic and expect to be 62 percent by 2015.  As a real estate agent and marketer, what should this tell you?  It should tell you to make sure your real estate marketing approach keeps up with this trend by adding video to your marketing efforts.

There are many ways you can market your business using video.  Here are some examples the kinds of videos you can make:

• How your services differ from your competitors.
• Homes you'd like to highlight.
• More general real estate information buyers and sellers would find helpful.
• Client testimonials.

You want to create video with topics your target audience would look for online. 

Your videos do not need to look like a TV commercial.  You don't need an expensive video camera or expensive video editing software.  I prefer to use my iPhone 4.  A large portion of consumers don't trust conventional advertising, so using a "pretty" video could feel more like advertising than informational in nature. 

Some people like to just turn the camera on and go for it, but a majority like myself can not.  I like to create a script or outline of the topic I want to cover.  A script can help you overcome use of the "um" and "uh" fillers, or the rambling on that could confuse your audience. 

Every video needs a star.  Many real estate agents will make videos telling the world how awesome they are!  And how they are #1!  PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS!  Consumers are online for 2 reasons - gather information or solve a problem.  The product you are selling is a home, subdivision, builder, information or process.  Make a video about that, and not yourself.  If you want to brag about yourself, let your clients do it in a client testimonial video.

Make your videos as visible to as many consumers as possible.  Place them where consumers will look for them or stumble upon them.  Put them on Youtube, Google, Yahoo, Bing, Vimeo, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.  Embed your videos on your website and blog posts.  Make sure that your videos are optimized to be played on smart phones or other mobile devices. 

Please be sure to end your video with more than a small.  Use a call to action and get your target audience to do something.  Have them call a number, or send and email, or click a link.

And lastly, have a personality.  No one wants to watch a 2 minute video if you are boring.  Raise your voice and use hand gestures.  You are human, so don't act like a robot.  Even if the topic is boring, you don't have to be.  Use personal stories and experiences to keep your audience engaged.

Here is an example of a great video by Jessica Edwards out of Wilmington, NC



If you are a forward thinking real estate agent, you have a unique opportunity right now to grow your business with video.  Most of our competitors are not doing it right now.  Don't worry about what you look like, the consumer just wants your information.  So get out there and get to marketing!

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

Social Strategy for Real Estate Agents

So often, I am questioned by my agents, "how can I get started with social media?"  Well it is not as difficult or time consuming as one might think.  All you need is a simple strategy and to develop some good habits.  Today's post consist on an infographic with a very basic social media strategy.  Hopefully you will find this helpful!



FM Durham Infographic - Social Strategy

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

Qualify Your Clients!

Today I would like to discuss how qualifying your clients can give you great results.  You may be getting a lot of calls coming in off your signs, or Internet inquiries, or past client referrals.  Do you have a systems for how you handle these?  Well today, we are going to talk about how to do that.

First I want you to consider that all calls coming in are SUSPECTS.  They are suspects because you don't know if they are going to turn into a LEAD yet.  Just because they want to talk about real estate, doesn't make them a lead.  A lead is someone that is going to do business RIGHT NOW.  Now you will need to determine when "right now" is for you.  For some of you right now is going to be in a couple of weeks, and others it can mean in the next 30 to 60 days.  It just depends on how busy you are and how you want to manage your business.  We want those leads to turn into CONTRACTS!

So how are you going to qualify your suspects?  The 3 steps listed below should help you do that.

1. Do you have a questionnaire that you automatically go to?  One for a buyer call and one for a seller call?  If not, you need to stop what you are doing right now, and make them.  You questions should help you determine whether or not your suspect is an A, B, or C.
2. An "A" suspect is one that is going to do business right now.  A "B" is s suspect that is going to do business in the next 30-90 days.  A "C" is a client that is going to do business in the next 90 to 120 days.  Notice there is no "D" suspect.  Because a "D" suspect needs to be deleted.  You will need to determine how much time you spend trying to turn your C's into B's and your B's into A's.  Because the C's and B's do affect both your time spent and your cash flow.  You need to have 5 A's on you right now.  You need to have 5 A's in your pipeline at all times!
3. Qualifying is a game of accuracy.  You have to be doing it all the time.  A "B's" status could change to an A at any point.  Or could a buyer you are working with that is an A change their mind and become a B at any time?  You need to constantly measure where you are at with a particular prospect.

Hopefully these tips have help out, and stay tuned for more successful coaching!

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

May Brings More Great News to the Triangle



FM DURHAM INFOGRAPHIC

FM Durham Chalk Talk: David Jenkins

This week we are going to talk with David Jenkins. First and foremost, David is a wonderful husband and father to his wife and two daughters, and an all around great guy to know! But David is also a SUPERSTAR agent in our office. He is fully engaged in all aspects of our market and a wealth of knowledge to those around him.  From his thoughts on new technologies and tools to help your business, or motivating others around him, David is always there to help.  Please watch the video below and see what David has to say. 



Big thanks to David for sharing. And stay tuned for more great videos from SUPERSTAR real estate agents coming soon!

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

Great News for the Triangle!

INFOGRAPHIC

Money Saving Marketing Tips

Often, new agents come to me with their license, and say, "now what?"  Or I will have some of my experienced agents come to me while there is a lull in their business and ask me for some new marketing ideas.  Also, most of us are looking for ways to save.  So take a look at the money saving marketing tips below.

Print Marketing

• Create a neighborhood newsletter (mail it or walk it)
• Mail hand written notes and thank you cards to your clients
• Update your business cards with your social profiles
• Direct mail with neighborhood comps
• Create or sponsor a local business or resource guide
• Create t-shirts, pens, etc. and give them away to clients and friends
• Get a vanity plate for your car
• Carry with you at all times your business cards, and hand them out

Email Marketing

• Send an email inviting your network to you social profiles
• Send emails with rate updates and info (work with your in-house or local lender)
• Send a weekly email with the local weekend events (attach a coupon for a local business attraction)
• Send a monthly email newsletter
• Create a drip email campaign, focusing on your niche (offer tips and advice)
• Send out seasonal homeowner reminders and safety tips
• Send flash animated birthday or holiday cards (jibjab or Zingding)

Blog or Website Marketing

• Do a video/podcast blog series on specific topics or your niche (example:  http://hotpropertyblog.blogspot.com/)
• Offer a free IDX search tool
• Add Facebook Connect to your blog
• Create a local special interest landing page (i.e. schools, non-profits, farmer's market, etc.)
• Offer client Q & A via a contact form, highlight it in your sidebar
• Post articles about others on your blog or have a guest blogger (local businesses, interesting people, neighborhoods, etc.)
• Create an ebook, require name and email address for free download
• Most importantly, comment back timely and create dialogue within posts

Facebook Marketing

• Create a profile and import your contacts
• Send daily birthday wishes
• Comment or like 305 posts from the Newsfeed daily
• Update your status with something fun and something of value once a day
• Create a Facebook page for your business
• Post helpful and relevant resources from your FB Page
• Leave comments on local business pages or groups (NO SPAM)
• Comment on others' status updates
• Create a past client photo album with testimonials (tag those clients to the albums/photos)
• Create Animoto slide shows or a photo album for listings and post them to your page

Twitter

• Create a Twitter profile
• Use the "find People" feature to find people you already know on Twitter
• Tweet homeowner tips
• Tweet funny, inspiring and engaging experiences and information
• Tweet local market info, updates
• Break news as it happens
• Tweet local event information
• Tweet your blog posts

Each of these are great ideas to help with your marketing efforts, and they cost little if no money.  So get to work!

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

What a new agent should ask when interviewing a company

As a manager of a successful real estate company and office, you know the ins and outs of the business and what one company may offer versus another in your market area.  So sometimes you forget that not every new agent knows this.  I was recently interviewed by a new agent who had not even received her license yet.  I got a reminder of what a new agent wants to know on their interview.  I was so impressed by this new agent's thoroughness in the questions she asked. 

I am going to list her questions and discuss the importance of them in the hopes that any potential new agents, or agents looking to choose a new company, will find them helpful.

1. Are all agents scheduled for floor duty, and if so, how often?  This is important to give you an idea of how often you will have the opportunity to find new business.  As a new agent, you don't walk in the door with business.  Having opportunity to find new business is important.  Floor duty is also a great chance for you to hone in your skills in talking with people about real estate.  An equally important question to follow up with is, "How many floor duty leads are converted to actually closings in your office each year?"

2.  Are phone leads, walk-in customers, and referrals given to the agents on duty when those leads come in? If not, how are they distributed?  Again, just as with our first question, this is important as a new agent for you to get you off the ground and running.  It is also important to know how leads are distributed in the office.  Is this something that is done fairly?  What can you do to earn this kind of business?

3.  Does the firm pay for the typical agency ad, where listings are showcased, or are you required to pay for the space occupied by your listings?  Does the firm pay for any portion of personal ads?  Does the firm have a bulk mail permit?  As a new agent, you are spending almost $1500 just to start in the business.  You have to pay for pre-licensing, board dues, MLS dues, license fee, etc.  It's expensive, so knowing what fees are associated with your company are very important.  It is also important to know that your company has a progressive approach to the marketing of their listings as this will be a huge selling point when you go on your listing appointments. 

4.  What commission rate does your firm offer?  Are commissions paid on a sliding scale, with the percentage you earn increasing as you bring more income to the firm?  This is absolutely an important question.  Obviously, what portion of money you take home is going to be important to anyone.  Although, this is not the most important part of a particular company, you need to be with a company that has competitive commission plans.  You have to way the pros and cons of what a company has to offer it's agents and what the net commission split is to the agent.

5.  Are commissions paid immediately upon closing?  Lot's of agents, especially new ones, may go a month or two in between closings.  So when they do have a closing, they need that money to pay their bills.  You want to be with a company that has a very quick turn around between the time you hand that commission check and and the time that money enters your bank account.
6.  If the firm is part of a franchise, what percentage of each commission earned is retained as a franchise fee?  This again goes back to the fees associated with your company.  Is your company privately held or is it a franchise?  You need to know the costs associated with your company before choosing to affiliate with it.

7. Who pays for stamps, photocopies, and basic office supplies?  As a new agent, expenses are going to be very important to you.  If one company offers you a 70% split, but you pay for all of your copies, office supplies, stamps, marketing efforts and more, your net split really isn't 70%.

8. Does the firm charge agents a flat monthly fee, or a percentage of certain expenses? What about Errors and Omissions insurance?  You can see the recurring theme of the costs associated with doing business for the company in this agent's questions.  I appreciate the detail and thought that went into them.  Does your office have a desk fee.  Do you pay monthly or annual E&O coverage?  Or are these fees built in the transaction fees, so it's a pay as you need them kind of fee?

9. On average, what is your company's turnover rate with provisional brokers (new brokers)?  This is a great question because you want to know what the likelihood of you lasting in this real estate business.  Are you going to be associated with a company that has a proven success rate with building a new agent's business? 

10. On average, how long does it take most newbies to make a sale/purchase? (I know RE is what you make it...but I guess what I'm getting at is how long is it before I am able to start earning an income?  Is it 45 days?  90 days?  What does your firm aim for?  Going back to the expenses associated with getting into this business, you have spent time, money and now you are going to have to wait to earn income.  How long this takes you, is going to be extremely important to your ability to survive until that first paycheck and survive in this business. 

Remember, you are interviewing this company as much as they are interviewing you.  You must go beyond the surface and ask detailed questions.  Know the company before you choose to affiliate with them.  Don't just rely on what they tell you.  Good luck!

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

FM Durham Tech Bytes: Time to get Uncomfortable

I was recently talking with one of my agents about setting up a social media strategy for their business.  This agent was basically starting from scratch.  Every suggestion I would make, they would have some sort of excuse for why it wouldn't work, or why they couldn't do it.  I kept digging and digging with this agent until I got to the core of their push back.  They were just uncomfortable with the technology, and they felt awkward doing it.  This is something I find to be common in a lot of agents.

In our office, I am known as the guy to go to with technology questions.  One would think I was very comfortable with technology.  This could not be further from the truth.  When it comes to technology, I stay uncomfortable.  This is because it is constantly changing.  Tools, apps, platforms, devices and even the strategies involved to make them proficient change so rapidly you can't possibly know all there is to know.  So why go crazy and get overwhelmed before even trying?

The solution for my agent, and many agents out there is just to get uncomfortable!  Here are a few tips to help you do that:

• Identify your content strategy...what do you have to offer?  What do your clients need from you?
• Use dropbox to store your files in the cloud, or Oxygen (our new cloud-based storage) for our agents
• Start using a social media dashboard like Hootsuite to manage your social platforms
• Trim the fat on your social platforms & unfriend or unfollow those that don't add value to your network
• Friend or connect with at least 3 new people on your social platforms
• Engage on your social networks.  Start by liking and commenting on at least 3 posts on Facebook, then give two recommendations on Linkedin
• Stop playing Angry Birds on your iPad and put it to use in your business.  Try creating a listing presentation on it and using it on your next appointment.
• Create a 30 second video and upload it to youtube.  It can be for a listing, or to tell a client story.

These are just a few suggestions for you to start getting uncomfortable with technology and to start doing business today!  Good luck!

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

Communication is Key!

One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone tells me they are going to do something and they don't.  Interestingly enough, the number one customer complaint about real estate agents is that we don't follow-up.  Most of us are great at following up on leads, because if we don't, that will cost us new business and money.  Failure to follow-up with past clients costs us referral business.  If you are serious about increasing your production, you may want to think about how well you follow-up with your clients. 

Following up with sellers is one of the most important things an agent can do.  Unfortunately, this is one area in which agents tend to drop the ball.  When you first get a new listing, you are excited and it is easy to stay in touch.  But what happens when that listing doesn't sell?  Do you dread contacting the seller like most agents do?

Here are some tips for preventing this from happening to you.  First, at the beginning of the listing, tell the sellers that you will be updating them weekly by email or privately on one of the social networking sites such as Facebook with the following items:
The number of showings in a given week

1. The number of property views on the websites your company syndicates to
2. Any broker feedback about showings
3. Any new listings in the same market area that compete with their listing
4. A list of properties in the same market area that have gone under contract
5. A list of properties that have closed in the same market area and their closing details

Some sellers insist on being contacted by phone.  This is fine.  Leave a message on at their home when they are at work, or try Slydial to leave a message on the mobile phone.  The main point is doing the follow-up.  If the seller really needs to speak with you, they will contact you.  And if they do contact you, REPLY IMMEDIATELY.

Remember, do what you promise and follow-up regularly and you will have a happy seller and hopefully more referrals!

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

FM Durham Tech Bytes: Content Calendar

I remember when I first started using Facebook to market myself.  To run a really effective Facebook business page, you need a lot of great content and diligent management.  This task felt daunting to me.  There was no way I was going to have enough time to run a decent business page.  This is the same feeling expressed by many of my agents when they first start to market themselves on Facebook.  I feel that organization and planning really helped me to reduce my fears of failure, and this is exactly what I coach my agents to do. 

Successful pages have a continual stream of new, interesting content that creates fan engagement and hopefully attracts new users to the page.  My advice for managing this process is to set up a content calendar that maps out every new page post you will do for the month ahead.  If you want to keep it simple, start by downloading a Microsoft Word or Excel calendar template.  Then type in the content you plan for that day. 

Here are a few ideas you may want to include in your content calendar:

• Market stats
• Slideshow video of your listings
• Post photos or videos from a local event
• Link to articles from the local paper
• Post holiday greetings to your fan base
• Link to blog posts or articles you are writing on your business site
• Link to articles relevant to the real estate or mortgage industry
• Information on community events and things to do
• Videos on various topics related to the home buying or selling process

Also check out these successful Realtor run Facebook business pages for additional content ideas:

• The Carolina's Finest, Jessica Riffle Group
• Amy Shair - Remax Real Estate
• Team Ludlow Realty

If you want to take things a step further and make your life a lot easier, try tools like TweetDeck, Hootsuite or Roost Publisher.  This way you can schedule your posts in advance and have them posted to your page at specific dates and times.

With with these helpful hints, you should be ready to get to marketing with Facebook!

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

FM Durham Chalk Talk: Liz Schoeneberger

This week we are going to talk with Liz Schoeneberger.  First and foremost, Liz is a wonderful wife and mother to two awesome sons, and an all around wonderful person to have in our office.  But Liz is also a SUPERSTAR agent for Fonville Morisey and our Highway 54 office in Durham.  She is clearly plugged into our current market and her business is on fire!  Please watch the video below and see what Liz has to say!



Big thanks to Liz for sharing.  And stay tuned for more videos from SUPERSTAR real estate agents coming soon!

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

6 Power Prospecting Tips

I wrote a recent blog post about being in the "Danger Zone."  This post discussed how hot the real estate market had gotten, and that agents should not lose focus on your prospecting while working through their transactions.  Without prospecting you have no future business.  Today, I want to give you a few powerful prospecting tips so you can keep that momentum going! 

1. Your Job:  You need to make sure prospecting is your job.  If you have been in real estate sales for a while, and had any success, you know that this is the part of your job that can take you to that next level.
2. Same Time:  You need to be doing your prospecting or lead generation at the same time everyday.  You will end up making excuses for not doing it and you won't be as affective.  You need to make it an appointment that you do everyday.  Put it in your calendar as a recurring appointment.
3. Role Play:  Pick a role play partner.  Maybe even find a prospecting partner.  Then I want you to role play at least 3 times a week.  This way both you and your partner can critique each other allowing you to improve each time you practice.
4. Mental Attitude:  What are you thinking about just before you make that call?  Are you thinking about the rejection you are going to get?  You need to have a positive mind-set.  You need to go into the call really feeling that it will be your next appointment.
5. Numbers:  You need to track your numbers.  You need to know how many contacts you are making to get the leads that you need. 
6. Get Up:  When you are making your calls, don't sit slouched over in a chair at your desk.  Stand up and make the calls.  I like to walk around when I am making calls.  It gets the blood flowing and allows me to speak with more energy. 

You know what the best part of prospecting is?  It's free!  It doesn't cost you any money to do it.  Agents should be spending 1-3 hours a day on the phone calling past clients, sphere, expireds, FSBO's, and notice of defaults to get listing appointments.  So pick up that phone and get to work!

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

Do you provide value to your client?

I think this is going to be one of my favorite posts.  My reasons for writing this post come from a recent interaction one of my agents had with his client.  This client was a young, first time home buyer.  My agent had shown him 20 homes or so, and the buyer just hadn't gotten off the fence.  Then the buyer asks my agent one day, "what exactly do you do for me?"  He asked it in in an almost indignant tone.  Now after my agent took a long deep breath and put a smile on his face, he answered the buyer.  Now my agent did a great job explaining just what he did to provide a service for his client.  He hit on many of the things I am going to discuss today.  I wanted to write this blog to help you agents out there that may not know all the work that you do in a given transaction or don't know how to explain it.

I want to reference a document from the Orlando Association of Realtors, The Realtor's Critical Role in the Real Estate Transaction.  This is a document that lists 184 actions, steps, processes, and stages in a successful real estate transactions.  These are steps usually taken by a full service real estate brokerage in which they would be entitled to fair compensation.  The reason this list was prepared was the fact that surveys showed that many homeowners and homebuyers were not aware of the true value a Realtor provides during the course of a real estate transaction.  A prime example of this feeling is shown above by my agent's buyer.

There are 184 steps on this list, so I won't be going through all of them in this post.  But I absolutely encourage you to read the document.  Know each of these steps so well that you could state them the moment the question of your value is posed to you.  I would even put the list in my listing or buyer presentations to show your client why they should hire you. 

Here is a breakdown of the list to give you an idea of why you should read it:

• Pre-Lising activities that include anything from searching for comparables to searching public records for deed restrictions and zoning.
• Listing appointment presentation that includes things activities like discussing the sellers goals and presenting a strategic marketing plan.
• Once a property is under a listing agreement an agent will have to take steps to market the property such as measure the home and room dimensions, take photographs and/or video and compiling a list of completed repairs and maintenance items.
• Entering a property into an MLS system and syndicating that data to other websites.
• Processes included in marketing the property include creating print and Internet ads, installing a lockbox and sign, and designing and printing flyers and brochures.
• During the offer and contract, an agent with take steps that include preparation and conveyance of counteroffers as well as confirmation buyer's ability to purchase.
• The agent will also have to track the buyer's loan process, work through the inspection period, and work through any appraisal issues.
• Activities to set up the closing scheduling the closing with an attorney or title company, and getting all parties the information they need in a timely manner.
• And as always and most importantly comes the post closing follow up.

There is no doubt that a good real estate agent is well worth their fee and is a valuable resource for any buyer or seller.  Hopefully this will help you to convey that to your clients!

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

FM Durham Tech Bytes: SocialCam for Real Estate Agents

I want to introduce an awesome new app for you. It is like the offspring of Pinterest and Youtube, Instagram for video! It is going to make video blogging so easy!  The new app I am talking about is Socialcam. SocialCam is a fantastic app for capturing video content. A great example of it in use is the video below by Fonville Morisey Realty's Digital Media Marketing Director, Lisa Sullivan.

  

Lisa just recorded the video on her iPhone app, and SocialCam automatically uploaded the video to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and I later embedded the YouTube video in this blog.  But you don’t even need to embed the video in your blog — just taking lots of videos using SocialCam on your phone is a great start.  It will give you content that you can use later.

As a real estate agent, there are so many great ways for SocialCam to give you exposure to your and your clients' friends and followers on social networks.  I believe this will be one of the better brand building tools we will have at our disposal.  How you can use SocialCam as a real estate agent: 

• Do a video with a client about any real estate related topic (maybe a testimonial, for example) and then have your client post the video post to their Facebook wall and Twitter stream, using them as a ‘hook’ to vouch for you. 
• When you are in the car going to see a client, take a SocialCam video of what you’re up to. 
• Capture a video of your buyer or seller standing in front of their new home or the home they just sold and discussing the transaction and how happy they are.
• Use it as your video blog and blog about an HOA, foreclosures, short sales, dog parks, luxury homes, and more, while never needing to actually write anything.
• Use it to create a video tour of your listing.
• Use it to create a video of homes you are previewing for out of town clients to help narrow down their home search before they arrive.

There is just so much you can do with this application.  SocialCam is available for iPhone and Android phones.  It also has a web application.  The best part is, it's FREE!  Now start shooting that video and sharing it with the world!

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

FM Durham Chalk Talk: Julian Jahoo

This is going to be a new segment of our blog where we discuss various topics related to the real estate industry with a SUPERSTAR real estate agent.  We will bring these videos to you periodically and hope to provide you with an idea of what is going on in the market and how to be more successful as a real estate agent.

This week we are going to talk with Julian Jahoo.  First and foremost, Julian is a wonderful husband and father to his wife and two children, and an all around great guy to know!  But Julian is also a SUPERSTAR agent in our office.  He is fully engaged in all aspects of our market and a wealth of knowledge to those around him.  Please watch the video below and see what Julian has to say. 



Big thanks to Julian for sharing.  And stay tuned for more great videos from SUPERSTAR real estate agents coming soon!

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

Fonville Morisey Durham Tech Bytes: MagicPlan 2.0

Ever notice how some listing agents seem to always have every piece of documentation needed to market a home.  Some material that you just can't seem to find the time or have the"know how" to do?  For example, some listing agents always have the floor plan to their listing in their marketing material.  Some of you feel that you don't have the time to do this.  Others feel that you don't have the technology or "know how" to do this.  Well, I'm here to tell you just how easy it is.

Try MagicPlan 2.0!  It is an app for your iPhone, iPad or Android device.  If you have ever needed to draft a quick floor plan of a house, but didn’t have the tools to do so?  Or you are looking to impress a seller? Well look no further. This app allows you to properly measure rooms, doorways, and corners to formulate an actual floor plan for the home of your choice.

After completing the quick tutorials, your phone does the rest: measuring lengths of walls, depths of corners, and assembling the entire floor plan. All you have to do is point and click on the corners, and you’re all set!  It also has social media functions that allow you to share the floor plans via Facebook and Twitter.  The best part? It’s FREE! 

Here is a list of what MagicPlan can do:

• Measures walls and doors
• Identifies the shape of the rooms
• Draws the floor plan of each room
• Aligns rooms
• Manages wall thickness
• Ensures door coherence
• Geo-localizes your house
• Attaches a picture to each room
• Integrates your furniture
• Generates JPEG, PDF & DXF files
• Publishes an interactive floor plan

What an incredible tool for you to use as a real estate agent.  Download the app and get to work now!

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201

Ignite Your Business Part 3: Time for a Recommendation

This is the last part of our 3 part system for agents looking to get a quick jump start on their business and to ignite a little buzz over a 30 day period. Again, we are going to need your contact management system in order, and grouped into your A's, B's and C's.

In the last part, we are going to work on giving people recommendations. But not just any old recommendation.  The first step is to join LinkedIn, if you haven’t already.  Then I want you to search for people you have worked with, either in real estate, or in some other capacity.

Next, I want you to recommend them.  Say something positive and unique about that person.  Speaking of their uniqueness is key. Focus on something about that person that makes them stand out above all others. You want to give the kind of recommendation that makes someone message you and tell you how you just made their day or their week.  If you need help learning to right a good recommendation, click here.

This is a really easy task and won't take more than 10 to 15 minutes of your time.  I want you to give one recommendation a day for the next 30 days.  By doing this, you have hopefully made 30 people happy, and if you are lucky, you will get 30 recommendations of your own.  Even if that doesn't happen, even if you only got 10, that is better than none.

Social media is out there to help you. And it’s perfect for what you want to do–generate leads. Where else can you have access to millions of people in the matter of a few clicks?

Brandon L. Penny
bpenny@fmrealty.com
http://www.facebook.com/fonvillemoriseydurham
(919) 402-1201