What did it take to make the move from football coaching to running a real estate business closing $53 million? What systems help you start strong and how do bring your value proposition? On this episode we discuss this with Kelly Cook, and also talk about the challenges of expansion, and how he broke into the business with short sales.
Some of the high price point and high PPC cost areas are some of the hardest to expand into, and they are the most in demand. -Matt Johnson
Takeaways + Tactics
On this episode we discussed:
A multi-faceted, multi-layered approach helped Kelly Cook close $53 million in volume. What got him there was the willingness to do the unsexy, unfun and unseen aspects of the business. It’s also important to be clear on your purpose for expansion, because many agents become obsessed with the higher dollar, higher demand locations. Sometimes the best decision you can make is expanding into areas that aren’t as sexy as the NYCs and LAs of the world. In many cases, 10 $1 million dollar homes are better than 1 $10 million home.
Guest Bio
Kelly is the leader of Kelly Cook Homes. His personal experience as a student athlete & collegiate football coach has provided valuable insight and experience that propelled him in the real estate industry. As a student-athlete, Kelly played football at the University of Nebraska, participating on the offensive side of the ball at both Quarterback and Wide Receiver. During his tenure at the University of Nebraska, Kelly competed in two BCS Bowls, one Conference Championship game, and one National Championship game. After the conclusion of his football playing career and graduation from the University of Nebraska, Kelly served on the coaching staff at Nebraska and Ole Miss. In 2005, Kelly decided to take the skill set he acquired competing in collegiate athletics and apply it to the real estate industry here in Arizona. Leadership, integrity, and work ethic are the core competencies of Kelly Cook and the Kelly Cook Real Estate Group. Go to kellycookhomes.com for more information or call 480.442.9868
There a several marketing levers that can maximize database relationships and build brands. Events, networking and podcasting are three of these levers. What tactics can you apply to them to help you build credibility? We discuss this with guest Mike D’Ambrosio.
Once you start prospecting business through things you are interested in, you don’t feel like you’re working so much. -Mike D’ambrosio
Takeaways + Tactics
You might not be able to link a specific deal to your podcast, but consistent podcasting does replaces credibility issues with social proof.
Client events are a chance for you to touch base with people at multiple stages of the process.
Networking isn’t just about handing out business cards, it’s about building relationships. You can do so by being on industry boards and giving your time back to the community.
Key Quotes
You have to take people through the progression of not knowing you to knowing you. There’s a series of steps and you have to provide value at every step along the way. -Matt Johnson
Podcasts help you build the brand, and the brand attracts people and it can sometimes be that clincher that draws them into your world. -Matt Johnson
Guest Bio
Mike D’Ambrosio is a Real Estate Professional focusing on multiple aspects of real estate in the Silicon Valley. His specialties are helping clients buy and sell residential, commercial and development projects throughout the entire Silicon Valley. Go to http://mikesellssiliconvalley.com/ for more information and listen to his podcast here.
Depending on who you trust for information, homeownership is the only path to wealth and security. But are we getting enough information to make informed choices about this big decision? On this episode of Real Estate Uncensored, we talk to real estate experts and co-authors John Agostinelli and Chris Michaud. They share insights on the real estate crash from inside the industry, and whether homeownership is the right path for everyone.
One of the main underpinnings of the economy is confidence. If we keep the confidence up, spending keeps going up. Bad things happen when confidence goes down. -Matt Johnson
Takeaways + Tactics
Agents have to educate themselves beyond what the media and vested institutions say about homeownership so they can better inform clients.
When people calculate the benefits and costs of home ownership, they rarely calculate the lost opportunity cost of the money that went to the downpayment.
When it comes to homeownership, don’t max out, buy about 80% of what the bank says you should.
Key Quotes
Homeownership isn’t always a great investment especially if you take into consideration the operational and maintenance costs of the house. -John Agostinelli.
It’s been believed by the political class that homeownership is a good way to bridge the wealth gap. -John Agostinelli
John Agostinelli has over 25 years experience in banking and real estate industries having worked at the FDIC examining the causes of bank failure and managing foreclosures in Massachusetts, NH and RI. He is also a real estate investor, speculation home builder and rehabilitates properties which helps communities to recover from the blight and regression caused by distressed properties. He is a guest speaker, author, real estate expert witness and real estate investment coach.
Chris Michaud is a 30+ year veteran of the real estate business as a real estate investor, broker and industry insider with some lobbying experience at the state and national level. He’s a sought after guest speaker and author. He was a past state REALTOR President-elect, an investor coach and trainer of the RealInvest Profit System.
For information on Chris and John’s upcoming book go to easymoneyamerica.com.
Click here to download your free PDF, Greg’s Favorite Scripts, featuring scripts for buyer and seller lead follow up, price reduction and objection handler scripts and much more.
When it comes to intensifying your sales approach and methods, how do you work from the ground up and how do you make sure you’re doing everything in your power to influence your own success? On this episode, we discuss the mindset, activities and considerations that make up a radical sales strategy with Lucas Barra.
Can you answer the question of what makes you better than or different from other people? -Matt Johnson
Takeaways + Tactics
Be comfortable with giving information for free, but be careful about what you give away. Make them understand that they can learn even more by working with you.
The response and verbage of someone who is committed is different from the verbage of someone who isn’t. There’s a big difference between saying, “I need to” and “I’m going to.”
Know who you are, understand how to leverage that, add the mindset and goals, then work on getting better daily.
Solopreneurs lack someone who will tell them the truth and tell them from both sides. -Matt Johnson
When you’re not meeting your goals, your subconscious and conscious minds are not aligned. -Greg McDaniel
Guest Bio
Lucas is a blogger, founder and host of DreamChasers Podcast and a Sales Professional for Vistage International-The World's Leading Chief Exec Organization. Dreamchasers gives millennials the tools, resources, and inspiration to create a life of their dreams. Go to schoolofdreams.co for more info or email lucas@radicalsalescoaching.com.
Click here to download your free PDF, Greg’s Favorite Scripts, featuring scripts for buyer and seller lead follow up, price reduction and objection handler scripts and much more.
On this episode of Real Estate Uncensored, we answered questions from viewers and tackled subjects like presenting your marketing activities to clients, changing scripts when you farm the same area, how to give a client what they value and paying for premium leads.
Value that’s not perceived isn’t received and it’s important to understand what someone perceives as valuable. -Matt Johnson
Takeaways + Tactics
If you’re spending up to $200 per lead, your follow up has to be fast because you might lose that person.
Set yourself apart from every other agent out there by listing the things that you can do above and beyond the standard activities.
People value different things, and as the agent it is your role to pre-qualify these things so you can meet the requirements.
On this episode we discussed:
Key Quotes
Sometimes value is the feeling of you caring about the customer’s home. -Matt Johnson
Do the pre-work for the client. Know what the current market conditions are, and know the most likely buyer for their home. -Greg McDaniel
On this episode of Real Estate Uncensored, we answered questions from the Led Gen, Scripts and Objections group, and we also went into detail about the power of the abundance and growth mindsets, and how we personally adopt these in our lives and businesses.
You don’t want to interact with that client or lead as if it’s the only opportunity you’re going to get. -Matt Johnson
Takeaways + Tactics
Adopting an abundance mindset silences the fear of missed opportunities. Don’t treat every opportunity like it’s the only shot at success you’ll get.
Much of what we watch and read on the news draws from a scarcity mindset. Learn to filter this out and have greater control over your destiny by creating your own economy.
You won’t always have control of the quality of leads. But what is in your hands is your follow-up system and the pre-work you do to make people know and like you.
On this episode of Real Estate Uncensored we discussed;
Key Quotes
Surround yourself with people with the growth and abundance mindset. -Matt Johnson
Replace words like I can’t, I won’t, it’s hard, I don’t believe, I’m a skeptic and I don’t like it with positive terms like I can, I am, I believe, it’s done, I can do it and I can do anything. -Greg McDaniel
Guest Bio
Click here to download your free PDF, Greg’s Favorite Scripts, featuring scripts for buyer and seller lead follow up, price reduction and objection handler scripts and much more.
The real estate industry requires agents to work hard at providing their service while going above and beyond to set themselves apart. With so much competition, what does it take to become the natural choice for potential clients, and how can you use content to achieve this? On this episode of Real Estate Uncensored, our guest Erik Brown talks about how he sets himself apart through ACE level marketing.
I look at our business as an assembly line from lead, to appointment, to meeting, to client, to closing and referral. The real gold is the in-between. -Erik Brown
Takeaways + Tactics
Real estate success is about taking advantage of the in-between phase in the selling process. It’s important to nurture relationships during that time.
People are going to start their research online. If you initiate the relationship there and add value, you’ll convert that relationship.
You won’t always find success in that first year and that’s okay, remember that production progresses with time.
On this episode we discussed:
People have to like us, trust us and want to do business with us. The like comes first. -Erik Brown
There are some forms of content where it’s not about the end consumer actually consuming it, it’s about the experience of being hit in the face with it. -Matt Johnson
ACE level marketing is the blend of Authority, Celebrity and Expertise and it is the key to differentiating yourself from other agents. Erik chooses to publish a book because, unlike postcards or business cards, it’s something that gives the consumer real value and something they can always refer back to. The goal is constantly adding value so that they think of you when they want to have the conversation of selling.
As social media continues to become a tool for business, what opportunities does Snapchat have for agents and how can they go about creating content that gets people to take notice? On this episode, we discuss the Snapchat trend and Pinterest with agent and marketing expert Dustin Brohm.
When you’re creating content of any kind, you never want it to be all of one thing, all the time. -Dustin Brohm
Takeaways + Tactics
Social media is about finding the channel that’s right for you and the right content mix.
Snapchat is a great platform to create content you can use multiple ways and feed into other platforms.
If you’re a blogger Pinterest can be a huge driver of traffic, especially when you have high quality photos.
Key Quotes
If you’re telling a story people want to get to the end of, you can make your Snapchat story as long as you want. -Dustin Brohm
Getting instant business from Snapchat depends on whether you’re an influential person in your sphere of influence. -Dustin Brohm
Snapchat is valuable because it allows people to really get to know you and, people want content that looks and feels real, not highly polished and produced stuff. They want stories, not advertising. If you’re creating bad content and repeating yourself, your content won’t have an impact. On the other hand, if it’s good, valuable stuff people will definitely watch it.
Guest Bio
Dustin Brohm is a top Salt Lake City REALTOR, nationally-published blogger, smart home expert, entrepreneur, and founder of SearchSaltLake.com; a website & blog serving and educating home buyers and sellers in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dustin loves new technology, and is an expert on using that technology to have the most effective real estate marketing possible. Go tosearchsaltlake.com for more information.
Click here to download your free PDF, Greg’s Favorite Scripts, featuring scripts for buyer and seller lead follow up, price reduction and objection handler scripts and much more.
Success with expired listings requires agents to first break through what stopped the house from selling in the first place. What scripts and methods can you apply to ensure success and bring the prospect to their goals? On this episode of Real Estate Uncensored, we discuss this with Melanie Ferguson and learn her method for helping prospects self-discover.
It’s not so much what you say than what you don’t say. When you don’t say something, you plant the seeds with the questions you asked the prospect. -Melanie Ferguson
Takeaways + Tactics
The person that feels best after a conversation is always the person who talked the most. Let the prospect self-discover by letting them do most of the talking.
When a prospect vents their frustration, use it as an opportunity to learn more about their needs. The feel, felt and found script is effective in this case.
On calls, it’s more important to know what you shouldn’t say than what you should say.
On this episode we discussed:
Key Quotes
Don’t get off the phone without a yes, or an agreement on something. -Melanie Ferguson
Don’t throw anyone under the bus say, “I understand”. -Melanie Ferguson
Sometimes the most important thing to know in prospecting isn’t what you say. It’s knowing what you don’t say and the moments you have to say nothing. By being a sounding board and getting them to vent their frustrations - they will be more open, more trusting and you will empower yourself with information that will help you get their house sold. Remember silence is the sunshine that will let the seeds you plant grow.
Melanie Ferguson has a great reputation in the residential home market representing the interests of both Home Buyers and Sellers. She is committed to helping clients achieve their objectives in the marketplace through attention to detail, personal integrity and experience whether it is for personal property, investment properties, or referrals. Go to mustardseedmethods.com for more information.
Click here to download your free PDF, Greg’s Favorite Scripts, featuring scripts for buyer and seller lead follow up, price reduction and objection handler scripts and much more.
On this special Halloween themed episode of Real Estate Uncensored, we talk real estate horror stories from our careers. We also answer questions on client appreciation events, door knocking scripts and getting data for prospecting.
Takeaways + Tactics
Slight adjustments to verbage can change how a customer responds. For example, changing “who do you know who might be buying or selling” to “do you know anyone who is buying or selling?”
Key Quotes
The more time you spend on a prospecting system, the more you’ll get out of it. -Greg McDaniel
Don’t view it as a failure if fewer people come to your event. -Greg McDaniel
Don’t underestimate the power of slightly and effectively adjusting your verbage when you approach clients. One word can actually be the opening for you to get valuable information. When it comes to prospecting, remember bad data and no answers are part of the game. The more time you spend on a prospecting system, them more you’ll get out of it.
Guest Bio
When a hardworking agent realizes they are maxed out, it’s time to get some help from the world of admin. What’s the first step for finding the right person, what are you looking out for in the interview, and what are common hiring mistakes people make? We discuss this with agent and hiring consultant Linzee Ciprani.
Takeaways + Tactics
In the interview process, you’re looking for the candidate to be able to talk you through their thinking process, so you know how they’ll tackle the issues you want solved.
You’ve been calling your sphere for real estate stuff already, why wouldn’t you call them to ask about an assistant?
Make an “I hate to do” list and take those things off of you by getting help.
If you stay away from friends and family, you don’t risk damaging things.
On this episode, we covered:
You know in your gut when you’re not giving good service. -Linzee Ciprani
When you’re hiring an assistant, you’re looking for someone who really wants the result, which is solving the problem, not taking putting it back on your plate. -Matt Johnson
The whole point of getting yourself some assistance is to take the work you hate off your plate. The thinking process of the person you’re hiring is important, because it determines whether they are driven to solve your problems or just fling them back on your already full plate. The right person will be willing and able to take as much as possible of your plate without constant management and fixing from you.
Linzee Ciprani is an Owner/COO in the Jesse Johnston Team, Keller Williams Real Estate- West Chester where her proven systems and recruiting methods have taken their team to a new level since coming on board in April of 2015. Ciprani Consulting was launched out of Linzee Ciprani’s home in 2014. She had left a fabulous position with one of the top Real Estate Agents in her area to build her own business. Ciprani Consulting was quickly born once multiple Agents in the area sought Linzee’s help in hiring and training their next Administrative Assistant. Go to http://cipraniconsulting.com/ for more info or email info@CipraniConsulting.com
The real estate industry has benefitted heavily from tech innovations and software. What can the modern agent add to their daily routine to streamline and optimize? On this episode we talk to agent and tech expert Andres Segovia and get his perspective on current tech and what’s in the pipeline.
Takeaways + Tactics
A lot of software is trying to be as backwards compatible as possible, because tech companies realize they have the specs and just need to boost the software.
The biggest changes and innovations to anticipate will be in software and not hardware.
Smart watches like the Pebble are great for business owners on-the-go because they allow you to triage your emails, and see what’s worth attending to immediately.
On this episode of Real Estate Uncensored we covered;
I think we’ve reached a plateau when it comes to hardware, I’m excited about where software is going. Andres Segovia
Technology should help us work smarter, not harder. Andres Segovia
Real estate agents have to be able to work the balance between high-tech and high touch, making sure that the high-tech enhances the high touch aspect of the job. We’re going to witness more innovations in software, and these will continue to help us work smarter, not harder because that’s what technology should do.
Andres Segovia has over 10 years of experience serving in the real estate industry. Having been involved in his family-owned construction business at an early age, Andres is also knowledgeable on construction and reparability giving him a keen eye on property walkthroughs and investments. Andres runs a seasonal technology review series targeted at helping his fellow agents and business professionals improve their productivity, become more efficient, and in turn, increase their value to customers. For more info, go to http://segoviares.com/ or email andres@segoviares.com and follow him on Twitter @segoviares and @thenewsreel.
Click here to download your free PDF, Greg’s Favorite Scripts, featuring scripts for buyer and seller lead follow up, price reduction and objection handler scripts and much more.
Follow convention or blaze your own trail? Those are the choices we’re faced with, especially when it comes to carving out the professional path. With so much pressure to take the beaten path, how do you ignore the crowd and successfully do what suits your needs, aspirations and personality? We discuss this with coach, speaker and entrepreneur Hank Avink.
Turn the volume up on who you are, this might push some people away but it will draw in the right ones. - Hank Avink
Takeaways + Tactics
Our ability to recover quickly from failure is connected to not letting the bad things that happen stick to us.
If you have a mindset of gratitude, hustling, servant leadership and quick recovery when you get knocked down, you can make it.
The problems people face in real estate are because of lack of communication, setting the wrong expectations or having too many leads.
People have as much dysfunction as you do but they just stayed with something consistently enough to have success.
On this episode of Real Estate Uncensored we discussed:
Get perception and reality on how much gratitude you should have. -Hank Avink
Have you written down the standards for when you will or won’t work with a client? -Hank Avink
Hank is the Founder and Head Coach of National Coaching League. He is also a realtor in the Kalamazoo, Portage, Richland and Schoolcraft area. Find him on Facebook to get in touch about coaching.
Click here to download your free PDF, Greg’s Favorite Scripts, featuring scripts for buyer and seller lead follow up, price reduction and objection handler scripts and much more.
The addition of ISAs to your team can help you leverage and take tasks off your hands. How do you handle recruitment, training, motivation and accountability to make sure they hone their craft and stay on task? This week, we discuss this with ISA expert Dale Archdekin.
If you look for the skills set, distill your craft and test for existing experience that will lead them on the path to being craftsmen. You will have assassins as ISAs, not phone monkeys. -Dale Archdekin
Takeaways + Tactics
50% of what your ISA is going to do is going to be long-term nurture.
Hiring an ISA means being completely in charge of training, accountability and managing them. If you can’t dedicate enough time to that - it’s better to hire a third party company.
When ISAs struggle to meet targets, the leader has to retrace their steps to where they failed in the process, whether it’s training, accountability, tracking or communication.
On this episode we covered:
Sales agents need warm inbound leads coming in. Dale Archdekin
An ISA is going to fail if they then can let someone off the phone without asking all the questions. Dale Archdekin
Dale Archdekin is a marketing strategist and lead generation specialist focusing on forging better relationships between the Philly Living team and their clients and soon-to-be clients. His unique blend of innovative marketing techniques from various industries, Internet visibility, and just plain logical conversation with clients combine to push the already award winning Philly Living Team to higher and higher levels of success.
Click here to download your free PDF, Greg’s Favorite Scripts, featuring scripts for buyer and seller lead follow up, price reduction and objection handler scripts and much more.
According to business coach Asha Mankowska, your niche, niche, niche can make rich, rich, rich. How do you choose your niche, set yourself apart and brand yourself to attract the ideal client? We discuss this with Asha and get her expert tips for building wealth from your niche.
Takeaways + Tactics
The point of content is credibility building. When people research you, and they don’t find that content, you lose them.
To build your personal brand, ask yourself these questions. “What is my real passion, what challenges have I gone through, what issue can I resolve for my client and how?” Most importantly ask, “where can I find proof of these results?”
Use Facebook to attract clients by engaging with people using your expertise, joining groups and participating in relevant online conversations.
If you’re confident with what you’re sharing and passionate, you create charisma. - Asha Mankowska
The things you should talk about should be in line with your passions. You’ll never run out of things to say. -Matt Johnson
Guest Bio
Asha is a Transitional Life Coach, Guidance Counselor, Intervention Specialist, as well as an Innovator and Motivational Speaker. Asha is a born entrepreneur launching her first business at the age of 21 when she was at her second year of Law. She was very successful in building 3 companies in Europe from the ground up and helping clients from several countries. Go to http://yourfavoritebusinesscoach.com/about-asha/ for more information.