I signed up on facebook.com about 2 weeks ago and within one week had a man contact me from the area that wants me to possibly list his home. Our first appointment is tonight at 6:30pm. I’m really very excited that I had been contacted that quickly in regards to real estate!

So yes, this is very exciting but, the real reason that I wanted to post this blog is because I want to simply remind everyone that you do need to be careful when someone is contacting you online. There are some real “crazies” out there and we all need to be careful.

It’s best to take someone with you, if possible and if you cannot, let the office know where you’re going and who you’re meeting. Also try setting up a “round about” time that you should be back at the office. Another good idea, is to carry mace, or anything else you can use to protect yourself, in an emergency situation.

Thanks for taking this advice into consideration and be safe!

Liz Olson

Weichert Realtors, Tower Properties

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If you haven’t noticed by now, I am an avid reader of books, magazines and blogs focused on remaining positive and becoming successful in any market.  One of my favorite magazines is Success.  I recently watched the Publisher Darren Hardy on The Big Idea With Donny Deutsch give some great insights on the opportunities in today’s market.  He makes some great points as to why now is one of the best times to start your own company or breakout as a star salesperson in real estate.

I also see tremendous opportunity in our current real estate market and have been privileged to watch some very successful Brokers and Agents have break out years in 2008, which was considered one of the worst years in real estate by many.  If you don’t believe me and you have five minutes or you are a bit down about the real estate market you need to watch this video.

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I recently replied to a post that mentioned DOORS® and I wanted to provide more information on the tool that is available to all WEICHERT® franchised offices free of charge.

The MRC is a web-based system that can be accessed through weichertone.com and can be used to prepare DOORS® portfolios. Instead of using the MS Publisher templates, you can use the MRC templates to create listing presentations. The Leave Behind and Property Brochures can also be created using the MRC.

Contact your broker for more details. If your broker has any questions, please have him/her contact me (aritacco@weichertrealtors.net).

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FYI….Check out craigslist.com for FSBO’s!!! Thery’re all right there!! You don’t have to drive around searching for them!! Anyone, who’s anyone, is posting their FSBO on craigslist.com!

I’ll let you know how things go for me!

Good Luck!

Liz

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A quick update of what I have going on this week…

Dan (my mentor), Todd (co-worker), and a few others in the office are putting together a seminar/class, at the area college, that will be directed towards First Time Home Buyers, in our area. We are planning on doing the seminar/class mid January.

I will be keeping you posted on how things are coming together, as far as what type of info we will be providing, who will be guest speaking, and of course, the out-come of the project.

Thanks for reading my Blog and I’ll be updating you early next week.

Liz Olson - Weichert Realtors, Tower Properties

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I just returned from the NAR convention in Orlando.  The weather was great and the convention was even better.  It was interesting to see the number of breakout sessions, vendors and networking events that catered to young professionals.  It tells me that now more than ever is a great time for a Gen X or Gen Y professional to enter the real estate industry. 

I also had an opportunity to attend the Young Professionals Network “Mix and Mingle”at the Red Coconut Club at Universal Studios.  It was refreshing to be surrounded by a group of optimistic real estate professionals.  I can honestly say that I did not hear one negative word about the economy or the real estate industry.  Everyone was so focused on the future, they refused to take the time to listen to the media.  There were over 300 in attendance; including Madison Hildebrand, star of BRAVO’s “Million Dollar Listing” and also a fellow 30 under 30.

I recommend you take the time to start a YPN chapter in your community.

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GenYKert is not all about Gen Y, it’s about “the next generation of buyers, sellers and agents”.  We can’t afford to overlook Gen X.

This is a great article from RISMEDIA regarding Gen X:

RISMEDIA, Oct. 28, 2008-Do you work with buyers or agents between 27 and 43 years old? According to NAR, that Gen X demographic comprises approximately 25% of Realtors® while Gen Xers make up over 55% of homebuyers. What do you need to understand about generational profiles to recruit and retain Gen Xers? And what do your agents (median age 52-year-old-Boomers) need to know about working with GenXers?  Read More……..

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Wade ~

I love what you had to say about staying positive and how that “WILL” help you in your career.

I recently read, “The Secret” and learned that it TRULY is how you “view” situations in life.

I would recommend everyone to check out “The Secret” along with the book Wade Hanson had suggested…It may help you in a huge “positive” way!

Liz Olson

Weichert Realtors, Tower Properties

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Hello Gen Y!!

I wanted to take a quick minute of your time to let all of you know that I am now up and running on genykert.com…

I’m looking forward to sharing with all of you, my ups and my downs as a brand new (approx. 36 days now) real estate agent.

Now, the one thing that I have been asked many times, since I had decided back in June that I wanted to became an Real Estate Agent is, “Why in the world would you want to get into Real Estate now, while the market is at rock-bottom!” And no, I didn’t just get this question/comment from 1 or 2 people, I got that question/comment from everyone I came into contact with…Even one of my teachers, where I studied to get my Real Estate license, asked my class that question!!  

So yes, at first I was offended by this question and being easily influenced/persuaded by what other people think/say, I started asking myself the same question…and yes, doubting my decision about getting into Real Estate. 

But see, being that I’m also, very bull-headed, and hungery for success, the more I wanted to have a shot at this business. So I started taking people’s negative comments and turning them into positives’. Every time someone came to me with that (horrible) question/comment, I’d simply state, “Well, if the RE market is at rock bottom, then the only way for it to go is up, right?” Of course that made them them “think” about what they had said and put a “positive” thought in their mind, about the RE market.

So….here I am, a 27 year old, real estate agent, working for Weichert Realtors, Tower Properties, putting in 60+ hours/week, and loving all of the ups and downs of the business that I have had to experience “first hand” so far.

In my first month of being licensed, I have been at the office 6 (sometimes 7) days a week. I do my (and other agents) floor time, I do open houses 3 to 4 weekends/month, and have so far successfully, picked up approx. 30 leads, one of them happends to be a million $$$ buyer/invester, and another client looking for multiple homes, to turn into group homes for mentally handy-cap individuals.

I have also successfully done a “Doors” presentation, I recently finished all of my Fast Track Training, to be on the Lead Network, and have been asked to participate in the launch of Gen Y Kert, to educate business owners, managers, and realtors in the new use of technology in real estate….Not bad for one months work!

I will be posting on my blog (A New Agents Story) weekly and at times daily. Feel free to contact me with any questions, and/or comments anytime. I’m looking forward to helping all of you with anything I can! 

Liz Olson

Weichert Realtors, Tower Properties

PS ~ And a “Special” Thanks to my mentor, Dan Kavanaugh, and all of the other owners, managers, agents, and office staff for helping me through my first stages of my real estate career.

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Okay, one last book for everyone to read.  As I spend time in different markets throughout the Midwest and visit with various Brokers it’s obvious the most successful in this market (and in any market for that matter) are those that are full of positive energy.  I am often asked the question “what are they doing that makes them so successful”?  It’s simple, they remain positive regardless of the economic situation or market conditions they cannot control and people want to be around them.  I look at the three panelists that discussed their successful recruiting efforts with all of us in San Antonio and the one thing they had in common was their positive attitudes and their willingness to weed out those who were a negative influence in their company.

If you need a shot of positive energy, read the book The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon.  It’s a quick and easy read that will leave you with a better attitude.

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