Hi Ron,

I think you are correct; sometimes it is hard for us to tell each others stuff apart.  If the picture is small, or not they all look alike.  I choice not to go with me name for my site, please check it out www.agent-of-choice.com.

Paul LaLiberte

Crye-Leike Commercial

http://www.agent-of-choice.com

So, my strategy of building up my business then selling it to a realtor named Mike Farmer is not a good one?

Seriously, I was advised when I started the business to not use my name, but, alas, my ego won out. Besides, I will have to work until I die, anyway.

Mike, I hope you are not serious about working until you die.  It almost sounds like what the "employees" I USED to work with would say.  Now, you might love what you do and to do that until you die is different, but in Real Estate there are tons of opportunities to invest and eventually have your money making money for you, as I am sure you are aware of.  Like the book that Ron talked about, Millionare Real Estate Agent, and what we are talking about here, selling your business.  I have recently bought about 15 other domain names because I want to change to a more location or service based default domain for my site.  Anyway, that one sentence was like a flash back to the employee mentality, not a business owner one!  Good luck to you all!

This is interesting.  I am one year new in the industry, and I have been repeatedly told by people around me to brand myself, not my company.  Things like My name, My Picture is to be bigger then my company name and logo.  I have no experience in marketing prior to entering Real Estate, so its interesting to see differant points of view, but what really works best???

What attracts business, the me-personal approach, or the non-individualisic team approach?  Do people want to work with one person and be able to trust that person, or are they more likly to trust a team of which some people they may never see or know???  

Actually, John, work is not a dirty word in my vocabulary. However, I have already switched from showing houses to letting others show houses for me while I play with a few investments. I was kidding and not kidding -- I will probably be doing some kind of work until I just can't go anymore. I like it. When I get to eighty I want to be a Walmart greeter.

I guess both are a little important.  I think what you are saying is how I feel.  I want my clients to remember what I did for them, not my company.  But, as a business you can sell, people might not want to use someone else instead of you.  They might trust you when you tell them,"I sold my real estate practice to Joe Realtor and he treats people like the sma eway I do."  As a business, Joe Realtor will still be getting new clients based on the BUSINESS and not you.  I hope I am making some sense here.  This is how I see it, any one else??

You could probably make some good client contacts as a Walmart greeter! ;0)  Keep your License!

The company I work for is a small, privately owned office.  My broker built his business up over the last 20 years or so.  When people call for him, and hes not here he wants me to try and assist them.  When I offer to help them, they do not want to talk to me at all and will wait for my broker to be available, even for the simplest things.  I think the relationship built with clients is very important and people, believe it or not, I think can be very loyal when someone has treated them right in the past.  I think buying someones book of business in Real Estate would be a difficult thing to take over...

You are probably right Madison.  People generally do not like change, so when they realize they will need to use someone else anyway, they hopefully will atleast consider the one(new agent) that has been recommended by their old agent instead of just starting fresh if they don't know any other Realtors.  I was at an office like yours when I got started and it was tough branding myself because my Broker did not really explain the importance because her phone was ringing off the hook with referrals all the time.  When I finally started using a system of mailings, my web site, etc., things started turning around for me.  Hopefully your broker is training you a little better than I was in the beginning.  Sometimes it is ok to learn from my mistakes, but I would rather learn from someone elses if I can.

Madison, you made me laugh! To suggest Mike keep his license as a walmart greeter, well, you are focused on leads!

I love it.

Taylor...what is that you are standing beside?  It looks like the handle of a big sword!  

Sorry, I just had to ask.

Carol

Hi Madison, You're on the right track. Promote yourself first, and with hard work and some luck, people will not only use you, but will remember you, when they wish to buy or sell again. "Service is Number 1."  Cheers, John

Wow, where to start!  I named my site after me but since I have a common name I had to add "-realtor" to it.  It reads "JamesSmith-Realtor.com."  It has worked well for me as a website name. I would not however use my name on a brokerage.  The Broker I work has his name on the business and I have many times been call by his name by clients. Also, just about every call that comes in ask for him by name when they just want to speak to a Realtor so we have to screen all calls to find out if they really need to talk to the Broker.

Would I buy his business?  No way!  I have my own name, no matter how common it is!!!

Does anybody here actually know of any agent who sold his/her business? Not a brokerage- companies sell all the time. Bu an agent who retired and sold their business to another agent. If you have- how much were they able to get?

thanks

Jackie

Hello. You all are right. You should promote yourself. However, you may buy unlimited domain names that point to your web site. When advertising you can use different domain names, such as GreatBuysInArizona.com, they are only $8.95 each. on your cards, name riders and letter head it is good to use your personal name. But get creative with your advertising.

Above Carol & Steve ask about a photo. Those are important too. Read up on body language and image. For example Ron Tarvin's photo, he has his arms crossed. That is a no no. Research that also. And always smile.

And to Jackie,

Not heard of one selling, but you could mentor an agent and take referral fees.

Oh yea, and James, An agent here just got called on the carpet for using Realtor in a domain name. He is having to change everything, because it is against TREC policy to use the word Realtor exclusively in your advertising and domain name. It is a trademark. Good luck to you all.

That could work. I can see selling web sites and domain names, too. But I've never heard of agent selling their business to another agent. I know it's being taught quite a bit lately - just haven't seen anything in real life that would make me want to bank my retirement on an unproven theory.

I believe we can use Realtor with our name. Realtor.org has the details.

Ron,

I agree with the branding. I used to work for a very successful large company prior to real estate that was very focused on "brand".  That word constantly came up, although, unfortunatly for me I was not concerned with that with my position, so I never learned much from the concept.

I went to a seminar of a Real Estate Tycoon that worked in Sacramento and had his photo in front of the Capitol building and some cool verbage with it, which was very creative.  I have been trying to come up with something, which I think I may have come up with something good for me... Maybe a little imput from you all on how this might go over?

I am into NASCAR and I just got a car sponsored to drive in a demolition derby at our local race track... Yes, I will be driving ;0)... So I was thinking of getting my picture done with the car in front of the speedway or something.  Still need to come up some slogan or something, but I figured people would remember me by that.  But would that be a good thing???  LOL, I wonder?!

Karen, I see your point on Rons photo as far as the "what they say".  I think it is different and seems to say "I mean business", like hes looking you right in your eyes when you look at the pic, which is someone I would want on my side getting me the best deal possible... Not the typical cookie cutter Realtor, which is what I am trying to avoid, but what my picture is right now.  Just how individual perception may be.  

John,

It is tough in a small office, although I would not change for anything.  My broker actually built alot of his business before the boom, going to swap meets.  He has no need to do anything more then send flyers to his past clients monthly and gets 2-3 referrals or return clients monthly.  I have tried many things, but think I am going to just stick with one farm, and bombard them with multiple flyers, postcards, etc so they see my face OFTEN, and hope that will produce a few good clients. Newspaper ads have not worked, they are way to expensive and flooded with other Realtors and I am still trying to figure out the internet piece on how to capture leads to my website.  Its a tough business to break into, that is for sure, but I know will pay off in the long run!  Thanks for all your input!

Madison~

My last broker I talked about bought a business from a broker that was moving out of state.  I do not know all the specifics, but I do know that his website was part of the deal and they had some kind of agreement that he got a percentage from any referrals that came from his list of past clients for a specific amount of time.  The book talked about by Gary Keller, The Millionaire Real Estate Agent, talks about this, but I do not have any other real life examples of this for you.  With the future of the web and real estate, I have a good feeling about some of my domains being worth something to someone down the road with or without a web site attached.

By the way, I am still at a smaller office, that is how I like it!  Moved for other reasons.

John

Hi Ron,   I think you are on the right track.  I am not only trying to brand a name but a niche as well.  In a county of 5000 agents, maybe it would be easier to move;).

The challenge is now to present the material, i.e. listings in a way that is unique, logical and entertaining. I do not think just saying I am an  area expert or that I am number one in customer service works well.    

Ron,

That is a good idea about the checkered flag and maybe at the finish line or something.  I will experiment with some ideas!  

No association with other drivers, that eliminates far to many people from wanting to talk to you if your for the other team!  

(it would be Carl Edwards if I did  ;0)

Thanks for your input!