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2014 Realtor Must Have Mobile Apps for Your Real Estate Business

kelowna on January 15, 2014

Featuring 20 of the Top 62 Mobile Apps Every Real Estate Agent Needs for 2014

Many Realtors still think mobile apps consist of silly games and time killers… although many can be, there are also thousands that can be used to help organize, maximize and enhance your real estate business.

How effective is a carpenter without his tool belt?

My team and I scoured the web and pulled together a list of 62 awesome mobile apps tailored to help realtors in their business for 2014.

Disclaimer: Although most of these apps are FREE some do come at a cost, while others offer Premium/Paid versions… we are NOT an affiliate and DO NOT get compensated in any way if you choose to purchase or upgrade to a paid solution. This post is FREE content with no strings attached.

Since this post would be ridiculously long if we listed all 62 apps, we decided to wet your whistle with 20 and then let you grab the rest in a nice PDF using the form below.

So here we go…

#1 Real Alert

This app is designed to help you stay alert and aware of your surroundings & provides quick access to emergency services.

Ward off a potential Attacker with Quick tap “ALARM”
Save precious moments with Quick tap “CALL 911”
LOCATE the nearest HOSPITALS using your current GPS location
Record “CREEP DATA” details about a suspicious person before they are forgotten
Speed dial your emergency contact with Quick tap “ALERT A FRIEND”
Handy flashlight
Click to Get Real Alert

#2 Glympse

Glympse™ is a groundbreaking new way to share your location with anyone for a specified period of time using patent-pending GlympseWatch™ timer.

Glympse is easier and faster than a phone call or text message, simply select a contact, set a duration,
and hit send.
Flexible
Anyone with an Internet-enabled phone or computer can receive a Glympse – no software or setup required.
You can send a Glympse to a specific person, several people, or even to Facebook and Twitter.
Safe
Only Glympse puts you in control – you set who sees you and for how long. Safe for families, friends,
colleagues, and one-time meetings.
Click to Get Glympse

#3 Tip and Tricks: Secrets for iPad

Get the most out of your iPad with THE guide to shortcuts, hidden features, tips and tricks

Snappy tips that get straight to the point without the waffle
Learn shortcuts, discover hidden features, type faster, browse quicker, secure your data,
maximize your battery life, and more…
Be the master and share tips via Email, Twitter & Facebook
Tips also apply to iPad mini
Retina display graphics make the text and images crystal clear
Click to Get Tip and Tricks: Secrets for iPad

#4 DuckDuckGo

Search anonymously. Find instantly.

DuckDuckGo is a search engine that does not track you and, has more instant answers and less spam/clutter.
DuckDuckGo is a general purpose search engine that is intended to be your starting place when searching the Internet.
Use it to get way more instant answers, way less spam and real privacy, which we believe adds up to a much better overall search experience.
Click to Get DuckDuckGo

#5 Perfect Web Browser

Perfect Web Browser is the best and the most advanced web browser for:

iPhone with Download Manager
Dropbox
Google Drive transfer
Desktop Rendering
Tabs
Full Screen TV OUT
Passcode Lock
Saved Pages and a lot more
Click to Get Perfect Web Browser

#6 LogMeIn

Wherever you have Wi-Fi or 3G, you can remotely control your computer as if you were sitting right in front of it.

Control your PC or Mac directly from your mobile device
Get full access to your remote computer
Use your PC/Mac applications from your iPad/iPhone wherever you go
Even works with proprietary business applications
Click to Get LogMeIn

#7 – 9 Slides

Employee training, simplified.

Create rich and interactive training courses by synchronizing video & presentation slides.
Control who can see your presentations.
Customize with your own branding.
Track your reach with powerful analytics.
Pitch-Perfect
Click to Get 9 Slides

#8 iWork Suite for IOS

iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are now free with every Mac and iOS device.

All six apps are better than ever.
Do amazing things with your photos, movies, music, documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Built with a 64‑bit architecture to take full advantage of our powerful hardware.
With iCloud built into each app, your devices work and play together beautifully.
Click to Get iWork Suite for IOS

#9 PDF Expert Enterprise

Document Management for the Mobile Era with PDF Expert Enterprise

Fill-in forms, sign agreements and annotate documents on the iPad.
Provide your employees in the field with templates of contracts and inspection reports.
Save numerous working hours each year by eliminating time consuming printing and scanning.
Send agenda packets to the board, so they have access to document anytime, anywhere.
Increase engagement of the board members and renew their interest in your business.
Push the latest sales collaterals and agreements to the team, so they can close deals immediately.
Ensure that everyone has the right brochures, workflow is followed and documents are controlled.
Click to Get PDF Expert Enterprise

#10 Fantastical2

Fantastical’s DayTicker is the efficient and enjoyable way to view your schedule.

Make sense of your upcoming schedule and quickly swipe to see the past and the future.
DayTicker and the event list are connected. Swipe the list and the DayTicker will update automatically.
Fantastical lets you see your events and reminders like never before.
Light or dark mode? Yes.
Prefer dark text on a light background? Fantastical has you covered with an optional light theme.
Click to Get Fantastical2

#11 Foxit Mobile PDF

With Foxit Mobile PDF for iOS, you can read and annotate PDF documents on your iPad and iPhone!

Built on the same core technology as Foxit Reader.
Foxit Mobile PDF for iOS maintains a similar user experience from desktops to mobile devices.
Read PDF documents, add notes, highlight text, and use the pencil tool to add signatures or notes to PDF documents with your fingertip.
Click to Get Foxit Mobile PDF

#12 Mile IQ

Track up to 40 drives per month and enjoy all of the service’s features.

MileIQ will detect your drives automatically.
Lets you classify them in seconds.
Sync them to your mileage log in the cloud for easy expense reporting.
Click to Get Mile IQ

#13 Pic Jointer

Pic Jointer satisfies your greed to share multiple photos with your friends at one time, via Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr.

Easily combine multiple photos into a uniquely jointed one.
Plenty of adjustable patterns with various sizes and effects.
As many as 64 adjustable layouts for you to create your unique image.
Swiftly zoom, pan or rotate each photo.
Instantly share the image via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Click to Get Pic Jointer

#14 Magic Plan

MagicPlan MEASURES your rooms and DRAWS your floor plan just by taking pictures.

Get your floor plan in PDF, JPG and DXF format or publish an INTERACTIVE FLOOR PLAN on the web.
CREATE A FLOOR PLAN IN FEW MINUTES ONLY.
Ideal app for Real Estate Agents, Craftsmen, Adjusters, Firemen, Architects, Home Inspectors, Interior Designers, Small Businesses, Furniture Retailers and many more.
No need to measure.
No need to draw.
No need to move furniture.
Click to Get Magic Plan

#15 Multi Measures HD

Turn your iPad into a multi functional measuring device with: metronome, stopwatch, timer, seismometer, ruler, surface level and many more.

A pretty and well-made compass for navigation, traveling and direction reference purposes.
Precise and professional stopwatch for sport activities like: sprints, jogging, this tool is a must have. Send log results to your email
Timer tool: up to 5 timers running simultaneously, count down and count up support, intuitive and convenient duration setup using preset and gestures.
Check if an object is perfectly vertical/plumb and has been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians.
Facilitates the measurement of the slope of whatever surface you want to check. (floor leveling, furniture arrangement,..)
Simple but extremely useful tool in the set to check if an object is balanced.
Helps you precisely know the lengths of objects all around you, such as pens, tables, pictures.
Click to Get Multi Measures HD

#16 Wikihood

Organize the world’s knowledge stored in Wikipedia for anyone in any location worldwide.

Instantaneously display what is important and interesting at a given location.
High quality, specially selected images.
See at a glimpse which Wikipedia articles are related to each location, e.g.
-persons
– cultural information
– buildings
– companies and organizations
– geographical information
Click to Get Wikihood

#17 Open House Manager

Stream-line your communications with potential buyers:

Synchronize information to Contacts on your iPad, iPhone and Mac (with iCloud)
Send follow up emails to groups of buyers
Send Homeowner reports to your seller
Generate your own list of buyers and email them
Customizable survey questions – get the information you need!
Export data to CRM systems, like Salesforce.com and Top Producer, with a single touch
Integrates with Microsoft Outlook
Supports Box.com and Dropbox for easy file-sharing
Click to Get Open House Manager

#18 BizKinetic Real Estate

BizKinetic is a NextGen CRM for Real Estate Agents.

Manage Leads, Contacts, Follow-ups, Customer Requests and Share Listings.
Capture leads with integrated Mail-To-Lead and Web-To-Lead.
Share listings with clients in single click..
Mail templates, Tasks, Notes, and Call Logs.
Team Collaboration.
Campaign integration with MailChimp
Click to Get BizKinetic Real Estate

#19 Agentfolio

Real-estate app that lets you discuss potential homes with your agent, spouse, or friend.

View and organize your folio of properties.
See listing photos and add your own pics
View the latest status, price, and open houses.
Respond to new comments as you discuss listings.
Categorize the listings you like and don’t like.
View and Save New Results from the search you saved on the website.
View maps, listing details, agent contact information, and more!
Currently only for selected cities (check website for list)
Click to Get Agentfolio

#20 My Weekly Budget – MyWB

My Weekly Budget (MyWB) lets you focus on simple spending targets for the week.

Focusing weekly on a spending target helps you meet your budget and save money over time.
Easy to stay within your means because you are updating your spending each time you purchase something.
Easy to use and easy to understand. It is simple, yet powerful.
Shows how much of your set budget is left to spend any given day of the week.
Help you control your spending with minimal effort.
Click to Get My Weekly Budget – MyWB

WOW… huh?

If you think those will be helpful to crank up your real estate biz in ’14 wait till you see the PDF with all 62 (HINT: we saved some of the best for the download)

So fill in the form now and get the whole Sha Bang!

Strength and courage,

Wade

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Dial Up Your Optimism

kelowna on November 20, 2013

Fuel Your Real Estate Business With the Power of Optimism

This week we have another Guest Post… Just as I gleaned from many different mentors and information sources in my career, I want to offer you input and experience from a vast range of perspectives as well.

Clint Best was my very first business coach when I transitioned from selling real estate to broker owner. He is a mentor for ownership and management and a good friend that has worked, trained and coached people all over the world.

Read below to see what Clint has for us…

Every leadership study I’ve seen that ranks the characteristics of great leaders and entrepreneurs puts optimism right at the top of the list.

Is optimism something you are born with or something you learn? If we were to measure ourselves right now, we would find varying degrees of optimism amongst us as a group, but we would all definitely have some. If we are capable of having it, we are capable of developing it further. Certainly, some individuals seemed to be naturally better “wired” for optimism, but don’t be fooled – we can all learn to be more optimistic.

Optimism is a feeling that things will work out. The optimist is not a fool looking at the world though “rose colour glasses”, without regard for external forces that may get in the way of their plans. They take responsibility for what they can control and accept that they are not in control of everything. They understand how their thinking influences their expectations and that they may not always get what they want, but they will always get what they expect.

As the captain of your ship and owner of your business, are you prepared for the task of leading yourself and your team (if you have one) into the challenges of the New Year? This month we give some thought to optimism in leadership. I have a few strategies that you can use right away.

Avoid negative environments. Make every effort to seek the inclusion of positive individuals into your team. Avoid the professional complainers.
Celebrate your strengths. The key to high achievement and happiness is to work to your strengths, not correct your weaknesses. Focus on what you do well.
Take care of your spiritual and emotional well being by reading material that inspires you on a daily basis.
Manage or ignore what you cannot change. When faced with setbacks, identify what you can change and proactively try to find ways to do something about it. Be inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s words: “While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us.”
Learn to reframe. This involves deliberately shifting perspective and looking for the hidden positive in a negative situation, the proverbial silver lining, especially when you experience setbacks, and choosing to put a positive spin on events. Seek the valuable lesson in every problem or difficulty – remember there are no mistakes, only lessons. Every experience is a positive opportunity for growth and self-mastery.
Dispute your pessimistic thoughts. Dispute negative pervasive thoughts by identifying your irrational thinking and replace it with more reasonable or rational thinking.
Adapt your language and outlook. Consider how a simple shift in the language you use can make a difference in your outlook: Do you frequently say: “yes, but….” in response to suggestions from colleagues? The “but” automatically negates anything you have said in the beginning part of the sentence. A simple shift to “yes, and…” will make a positive difference.
Become aware of your stance in business meetings. Are you known as the “devil’s advocate”, the one who is quick to shoot down others’ ideas? Jumping in too quickly to negate an idea can derail the creative process. Often valuable ideas are the result of an initial “crazy” thought. Practice being more upbeat, practice speaking last, and see what happens.
Focus outside yourself, on important people in your life, on pursuits and projects that fire you up. Bertrand Russell once said that the quickest way to make ourselves miserable is to continually focus on ourselves.
Nurture a culture of optimism. Expect people to succeed, and even when they occasionally fail to achieve what they set out to do, encourage them so that they can tackle the next challenge. A simple: “I know you’ll do better the next time” can have very positive effects.
Focus on the task to be accomplished rather than your negative emotions, such as disappointment or fear, and see the possibilities within the task.
Don’t take setbacks personally; take responsibility but recognize the influence of external factors on the situation. Redefine situations in terms of their external causes.
Decatastrophise and ask yourself: “What’s the worst thing that could happen, and can I live with it?” Then focus on doing everything you can to minimize the fallout.

An optimistic belief in yourself and your capabilities to positively impact situations, even ones that appear negative, fuels success. Try gently moving your mind into positive, optimistic thoughts whenever you find yourself feeling negative, depressed, or in despair. The rainbow is there; you just need to see it….

Coach Clint

“Clint Best is a certified business coach and owner of Kaizen Business Development – his purpose is to come alongside business owners to guide change and growth. Visit his website at www.kaizenbusinesscoach.com“

Thanks so much to Clint for these encouraging and powerful truths.

I hope you got as much out of this post as I did… have a great week everyone.

Strength and courage,

Wade

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'Tis the Season to Grow Your Real Estate Business

kelowna on November 13, 2013

Want to Know the Most Important Time of Year for My Real Estate Business?

We are approaching the single most important time of year for each of my 20 years in the real estate business.

As the listings and sales season start to temper we have the tendency to want to take it easy and relax but I am here to say…

NOT JUST YET!!!

This was the time of year where I took full advantage of my time and made the most of the market season.

The first item in November was to sit down and write my year in review letter. I made a list of all the events and activities personally and professionally that happened to me and my family. I would write about my hobbies, my travels, my children and their activities, my wife and her year and all our successes and challenges in the past year.

We are in the relationship business and this letter invited my clients in to my personal and professional life. This helped deepen our relationship and find more items we have in common. They loved to read the letter every year.

The next item was to have all my calendars delivered into the office by the middle of November when I would take my database and make a list of names and phone numbers of all my A and B clients. These are the people I would want to personally see from Mid November until Mid December… this was usually about 75 to 100 clients.

I would place the calendar and year in review letter into a large envelope and label all the names from my yearly visit list. If you prefer it also works well to write a Christmas Card or order a Day timer instead of a calendar with your year in review letter. Keep in mind the calendar is not the secret weapon to my success. Feel free to be creative too… it’s all about the relational contact and something to put in their hands to be Top of Mind.

The final item was the small holiday gift. I chose Poinsettia flowers or home made spiced apple cider mix, peanut brittle or Purdy’s chocolates… I tried to maintain about a $10 item budget.

Now I have my Santa client pack ready and then came the most important part of all…

…Booking the appointments.

I would then take the time to personally call and set up a pop by holiday visit to their home. They would be an hour visit. I would let them know when I arrived that I had another visit within an hour so couldn’t stay too long.

TIP – let them know why you are coming.

If I called and left a message they wouldn’t call back?!

When I called again I said I had a little something for them for the holiday season and they would say “oh, we thought you wanted to sell our house and were not interested so didn’t call you back”

The 30 day festive client visits were amazing. Clients were so surprised and would tell me they never thought they would see me again after our last real estate transaction.

They were so pleased with the letter, calendar and small gift but most important was the gift of my time!!

Ken Blanchard wrote in the book “The Generosity Factor” that we all have gifts to give.

Our Time, Touch, Talents and Treasures.

Never underestimate your greatest gift of “TIME”… your most precious commodity.

Don’t just swing by and drop the items off.

Stop and give the client your gift of time.

This activity alone would set me up for a good month.

If you don’t think it’s worth the bother consider my February with 27 deals in 28 days and all of it from these appointments, leads and referrals for real estate from taking the time to share with my clients prior to the holiday season.

I can’t tell you enough what this will do for your waist line, all those treats …..I mean you and your business but most important your relationship with your clients.

Strength and courage,

Wade

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5 Fundamentals from Jim Rohn for Your Best Real Estate Quarter Ever

kelowna on September 25, 2013

Want to End Your Real Estate Business Year With a Bang? Implement These 5 Fundamentals.

Over the summer holidays I had come across material from the late great business philosopher Jim Rohn. Jim shared his secrets to having the best quarter in your real estate business ever. How many of you would like the last quarter of 2013 to be your best quarter in business ever?

Here are Jim’s 5 Fundamentals to make this your best quarter in business ever.

1Fundamental #1 – Time

Time is more valuable than money.

Time is the most precious commodity in the world.

How many of you would agree with this statement – “we can always get more money but we can’t get more time?”

The investment of your time is far more important than the investment of your money.

What happens to you when someone asks you to, “spend a day”? Do you take time to ponder the value of that day and what is in it for you in order to give up a day of your life?

How many of you can’t stand it when your time and money is not well spent?

How many of you think it is important that you deliver value to your own clients when they give you, their valuable time?

Remind yourself daily of the importance of TIME.

Learn to block time.
Learn to manage time.
Learn to focus your time on high priority activities or focus your time on what is important to you.

Remember there is no guarantee you will ever see tomorrow.

Maybe some of you don’t know what the important things in your life are?

Rohn said, ask yourself this question. “If I only had 6 months to live, what would I do?” Write all those things down. Take a look at this list. This is what is important to you, in your life.

What activities do you need to do daily to get the things you want, the things that are important to you and only with the limited time that you have?

Remind yourself of the importance of time and take control of it. Something, or someone else will always come around and take control of it for you, if you let it.

You can always get more money, but you can’t get more time.

2Fundamental #2 – Education

Don’t be a follower, be a good student.

Gather up as many ideas and as much information you can.

Rohn said “Life change does not begin with inspiration, it begins with education.” For example – if someone’s an idiot and you inspire them, you now have a motivated idiot. Not good… agreed?

Gather business ideas, family ideas, financial ideas, Spiritual ideas, health ideas. Ideas can change your life and change your real estate business forever.

How many of you would agree that millions of people’s lives have been changed from one simple, good idea?

Where do your best ideas come from?

Would you not agree that ideas come from learning, reading, studying and constantly being a good student in life?

If you are always learning, you are improving, growing as a realtor, husband, wife, parent, etc.

The definition of insanity – Doing the same things over and over and expecting different results.

Stop the insanity and learn to enhance and change your actions. A good student is a good listener. – Things are always happening and you need to have the discipline to be in the moment.

How many of you struggle to listen to others and be in the moment?

I know I do.

Remember – People don’t care what you know until they know that you care. People know you care when you are listening and you are in the moment.

Wouldn’t you agree?

A good student always takes good notes. How many of you Journal daily?

Good notes are a valuable investment in yourself.

Take the advice of others and your actions are the product of your own conclusions from that advice. Make your own conclusions, don’t just do what other people tell you to do.

Be a good student. Constantly grow and improve yourself. It can change your life and your career as a realtor forever.

3Fundamental #3 – Your Personal Philosophy

Your philosophy in life is the major determining factor of how your life will turn out.

What you believe, what you think about daily is what you get. Each person’s personal philosophy is the sail that you set.

Rohn compares it to a sail on a boat. The sail you set comes from your goals, plans, experiences, upbringing, decisions etc.

If your life is not heading in the direction you want, then maybe the “sail” or your personal philosophies are not right?

“Failure” – Rohn said failure comes from consistent errors in judgements of your own personal philosophies.

Simple example: How many of you have heard the philosophy “Apple a day – keeps the doctor away”? If you believe the philosophy a Hershey bar a day instead, would you not agree this leads to what?

Failure!

Would you not agree if you change your mind, change your thinking and change your beliefs you could (and will) change your life and real estate business?

How many believe you have the power to say “this is the first day of the rest of my life”?

Refine your sail
Refine your philosophy
Refine your thoughts.

Personal change begins with changing or refining your philosophy.

4Fundamental #4 – Attitude

Do you think attitude has anything to do with having your best year ever?

It has everything to do with having your best year ever.

You are affected constantly by:

How you feel about the past.
How you feel about the future.
How you feel about everyone else.
How you feel about yourself.

Attitude about The Past – learn from it. Don’t dwell on it.

Change the things you can and forget about the things you can’t change.

The past teaches you, do not let it threaten you.

Attitude about The Future – know where you are going and how you are getting there.

Be inspired not afraid.

Goals are your future. Goals give you energy.

Attitude about Everyone Else – it takes all of us to make the possibilities. Everyone plays a part in the world. Don’t think you don’t need others in your life. You begin to smell like those you rub up against.

Your attitude reflects those you hang around with.

Attitude about Yourself – If anyone can… YOU CAN!

Understand your self worth.

There’s nothing special about “special people”, just what they do with the same 24 hrs, 7 days a week that you have access too as well.

Have an attitude of gratitude – be happy with what you already have every day and stop focusing on what you don’t have.

Control your attitude. Believe “If anyone can I can.”

Yes… you can be the successful real estate agent you dream of!

5Fundamental # 5 – Activity

Take action!!

Stop the phrases

“I could have”
“I should have”

Instead… start saying “I am”… “I will”

Always do everything you can.

Always do the best you can every day and every time.

Ask yourself this question – “What am I not doing now, that I could easily do to improve my life?”

Who agrees – If you don’t plant the seed then the tree won’t grow?

Discipline yourself to plant those seeds and invest in those high priority activities.

Measure your activity regularly.

Why?

We all need to see progress. Need to see your accomplishments. See where you have been, and know where you are going.

We all make decisions and choices of what our actions are going to be.

The difference between you having a good year and a great year is having the discipline to act on the things you should be doing and do them daily.

Success is a numbers games. Know the number of activities you need to be successful and go for those numbers.

Make measurable progress in reasonable amount of time – that is success.

You have the ability inside you to make this quarter your best quarter in your real estate business ever.

The question I leave you with today is…

“do you want to survive or do you want to thrive and make this quarter your best ever?

Strength and courage,

Wade

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Closing the Gap – Dirk Zeller of Real Estate Champions

kelowna on September 11, 2013

Take Notes from Dirk Zeller Who Sold 150+ Homes per Year Working 4 Days a Week

Dirk Zeller has been a friend, mentor and coach of mine for almost a decade.

Dirk is the CEO of his company Real Estate Champions, Dirk is famous for his ability as an individual Agent to sell 150+ homes per year working only 4 days a week.

Many thanks to Dirk for sharing some of his wisdom with us this week…

I was watching “Bug’s Life” the other day with my children, Annabelle and Wesley. In the movie, the ants are having to gather food for the grasshoppers. As I was watching, early on there was a scene where this long line of ants was carrying the food. Suddenly, there was a gap in the line which threw the princess ant over the deep end emotionally. One of her trusted advisors came along to calm her down by saying….”gaps happen”.

The truth is, this ant’s advisor was right; there will be gaps in life and business. It’s not whether gaps will happen, it’s how you respond, rather than react to those gaps. I might be finding you today experiencing one of those gaps. The most frequent in real estate sales is the income gap. The gap that creates a sinking feeling of “you are behind” and you are panicked about catching up.

There are a key number of steps that you must implement if you are going to close your income gap. Let me give you a simple system to recognize the income gap, and define the size of the gap’s scope and intensity. Then the action needed to close the income gap.

Knowing where you exactly are, right now.
It’s amazing how few agents track, monitor or have a strategic plan to their year. This lack of clarity can easily produce or increase the income gap. Where are you in your year to date income? Opposite of the normal saying in this case, ignorance is not bliss!

What is your income goal?
Clarity is your partner. Your desire is linked to your power. What level of desire do you have to achieve your clear and concise goal?

Where are you in income, year to date?

What do we have left to achieve in income?

What do you have in pendings, both buyer and seller?

What inventory do you have in listing income?

Only count the inventory that has a high probability to close by year end. Anything that is less than 80% probability doesn’t count! What is the amount you can expect from your listing inventory to help you close the income gap?

What is the inventory of buyers who will buy?
Again, only count the buyers that will purchase and close before year end. How many buyers do you have and what price range are they in? What are the reasonable commission checks you can expect from them?

Once you have all your assets counted, (assets being listing and buyer inventory and pendings) you are ready to evaluate what needs to happen for you to finish strong.

Determine the number of listings you need to close the gap. What percentage of your business is listing based? You will need to multiply that number by the income gap, firm closed, pending and assets. We need a specific number that you are shooting to take.

This divided by your average commission will tell you how many listings you need. In most markets you will need to secure the listings and have them on the market by October 15th. This date will give you a reasonable opportunity in most markets to achieve a sale and get it closed by year end. Break out monthly or even weekly what you need to close the gap.

The remaining income must come from the buyer side transactions. The buyer side will allow you a little more time. You will need to put the buyer in pending before November 30th. Repeat the process on the buyer side for monthly or weekly targets.

The truth is, production gaps happen to many agents. The key is having a system to define the size and scope of the gap, then craft an exact plan in terms of production to close it. You can’t avoid gaps altogether. You can only manage to shorten the span of the time you are in gap.

Great advice from a well known real estate genius… why not sit down right now and put this into practice in your business?

Strength and courage,

Wade

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Growing Your Real Estate Business – The Compound Effect

kelowna on August 28, 2013

Simple Plan to Double Your Real Estate Income 3 Times in 10 Years

This week I am reflecting from David Chilton’s book The Wealthy Barber and his compelling story of the effect on your financial world with compounding interest on saving and investing money.

This same principle can be implemented into our real estate business and have the same incredible impact to our business growth. So many of us set income goals every year but how many of us set a gross commission income goal and take the time to break that goal down to small activities and small manageable numbers to hit their gross income goal?

There are only 3 ways in which an agent can grow their real estate business.

1) Increase your client database.

2) Increase your average transaction by implementing transaction fees, higher average sale price, eliminate commission cutting or increase your commission rates.

3) Increase your client frequency with past customers by obtaining personal referrals or selling the client investment properties.

Let me ask you this question…

What would it mean to you and your business if you increased your business income just 10% in the customer category and the average commission category?

Let us look at this example…..

12 Customers
Average Commission earned $5,000 (all 12 did one transaction one time)
You generate $60,000 income

Year 2 with some small adjustments your numbers can look like this…

Increase your customers by 10% (now 13.2 customers)
Increase your average commission 10% (now $5,500 average commission)
Your income will be $72,600 Gross Income.
Translates to a 21% increase in your income year over year!

Year 2 with slightly more aggressive increases you would realize this…

30% increase in your customers (now 15.6 customers)
30% increase in your average commission (now $6,500 average commission)
10% increase in the frequency with your clients (frequency of 1.1 times per year per client)
A 30% – 30% – 10% increase would result in a gross income next year of $111,540 and would equate to a 85.9% increase in your business income from year one to year two.

After viewing the above 2 examples, seeing a marginal increase in customers, marginal increase in your average commission and a small increase in your client frequency and how it affects the bottom line for your real estate business; does it seem difficult to set a goal of increasing your business income next year only 26%?

Let’s look at a 10 year revenue chart setting a target of increasing 26% each year to your business. Your income will double in the 4th, 7th and 10th year and will take a $50,000 producer and make them a $500,000 producer by the 11th year.

Keep in mind in this example we are ONLY increasing the number of deals and keeping the average commission and frequency with clients the same.

[ez_three]

Income

$50,000
$63,000
$79,380
$100,018 Income doubled
$126,022
$158,787
$200,071 Income doubled
$252,018
$317,542
$400,102 Income doubled
$504128

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[ez_three]

Average Commission

$5000
$5000
$5000
$5000
$5000
$5000
$5000
$5000
$5000
$5000
$5000
[/ez_three]
[ez_three_last]

Deals

10
12.6
15.87
20
25.2
31.75
40
50.4
63.5
80
100

[/ez_three_last]

This example shows the power of compounding over a period of time, and the beauty is we only increased one of the 3 components. Imagine the further exponential gain you would experience if you also increased the other 2 components during the same 10 year stretch. You would achieve the $500k mark considerably sooner.

When you are planning your business for next year and setting your financial goals, focus on the 3 ways you can grow your real estate business…

Adding clients
Increasing average commission earned
Getting your client frequency rate higher

Remember, a manageable goal of only 26% increase can help double your income in your 4th, 7th and 10th year and take a $50,000 producer and make them a $500,000 producer in their 11th year.

I hope you benefit from this simple but powerful formula and that it helps you create a compounding effect on you and your real estate business in the years to come.

Strength and courage,

Wade

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Develop Your Own Platinum Partner Marketing Network – Learn How

kelowna on June 4, 2013

Use this Leverage Strategy to Create a Steady Income Stream for Your Real Estate Business

One of my desires in business is to leverage what I do in real estate with what other service providers and businesses do in theirs. The goal is to help expose them and their services to the people I know personally and professionally.

I truly believe that leverage and focusing on what others need in their business and helping them will in turn help me and what I do in my business, ten-fold.

I have created leveraging strategies that assist other service providers and at the same time create a stream of income to support my marketing and business building strategies.

Any chance you could use a small steady income stream in your real estate business to help support and grow your business exposure this year?

I thought so…

Start by thinking of all the opportunities in your real estate business you have to expose, connect and engage anyone you know personally and professionally?

Here are some examples to get you started…

[ez_box title=”Places You Could Provide Exposure for Others” color=”blue”]

Website
Newsletter
Feature Sheet
Thank you for buying and selling letters
Youtube
Social Media
Unaddressed Ad mail
Service Directory Booklet
Client appreciation event
Email
Open House
Pre listing and Pre Buyer Packages
Listing and Buyer Presentations
Calendars
Signage
Mobile Technology
Print Advertising
Client Seminars
Single Listing Websites

[/ez_box]

All of these are opportunities for you to expose another service provider or business owner to multiple prospects, Right?

The second step of the process is to think of all the service providers, business owners and related industries to real estate and what you and your client use for buying and selling real estate.

Here are some examples…

[ez_box title=”Service Providers to Feature” color=”blue”]

Accountant
Insurance
Investment
Mortgage Broker
Banker
Lawyer
Notary
Appraiser
Inspector
Surveyor
Locksmith
Carpet Cleaner
Renovator
Irrigation
Yard Maintenance
Junk Removal

[/ez_box]

I then created what I called my Platinum Partner Plan. This plan was presented to service providers and business owners the exclusive right for one year to have their service and business exposed in all the first list of marketing ideas I provide as a real estate professional for a nominal fee and a 12 month commitment.

So what would someone pay you monthly to have their logo, service, business exposed for one year on your website, newsletter, feature sheet, thank you for buying and selling letters, Youtube, Social Media, Unaddressed Ad mail, Service Directory Booklet, Client appreciation event, Email, Open House, Pre listing and Pre Buyer Packages, Listing and Buyer Presentations, Calendars, Signage, Mobile Technology, Print Advertising, Client Seminars, Single Listing Websites?

I am going to say you will be surprised the revenue you can generate from presenting this kind of a program to service providers and businesses related to real estate… it will be hundreds of dollars to you each month!!

It was a very easy sell to these service providers and business owners. If they didn’t see the value in a small $50-$100 a month investment for this kind of exposure I would say, “no problem, I am sure another business owner in your profession will appreciate the exposure.” They would then say, “no wait, I wasn’t saying I would not do this.” And then they sign up. Provide me 12 post-dated cheques.

Would it not be worth your while to focus on leveraging what we do with what others do?

Would it not be worth creating a regular stream of marketing dollars for your real estate business?

I can tell you first hand, it truly is.

Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to create your own Platinum Partner Plan today.

Strength and courage,

Wade

What do you think of this opportunity? Share your ideas of how we can expand on this…

Real Estate the Disney Way… Create Your Own Magic

kelowna on May 1, 2013

Improve Your Real Estate Business by Learning From the Best…

“I believe in being an innovator”
~ Walt Disney ~

My wife recently bought me 2 books about Disney, the amazing organization it has become and all the things that make it so incredible.

I thought to myself what could we do in real estate to be more like Disney? How many of us still remember the first time they visited a Disney theme park? They proudly proclaim it is the “happiest place on earth.” You enter the magical kingdom and the show runs all day and night like clockwork.

I will never forget the time I stayed on a Disney property in Florida and asked for a wake up call. This was like no other wake up call. I answer the phone out of a dead sleep and on the other end I hear. ..

“Good morning Mr. Webb this is your 6 am wake up call. Today’s date is ……… and the forecast for today in Florida is partly cloudy and 76F and we hope you have a magical day!”…

I kind of chuckle, smile and reply… “you have a magical day too, thank you.”

Disney’s success comes from so many different angles but 2 things that really resonate with me are…

They are so good at what they do and they clearly know, what it is they do.
Disney is in the “show business”. Their staff are not employees they are “Cast members” of the show and we are not customers but “guests” in their show and more importantly they still remember to treat it all as a business.

Like Disney are you a real estate agent that is really good at what you do and are you clear about what it is you do?

We are in the “service business” and serve people with their single largest asset in life, buying and selling a home. How many of us treat what we do like a business? A multi-million dollar service business?

I love some of the philosophies Disney has like “the guest is not always right but we allow them to be wrong with respect.”

Are we allowing our real estate clients to be wrong with respect?

They believe the greatest gift any of their guests can give the organization is “Feedback.” They know sometimes things can’t always go magically. I find it amazing how little feedback their is in real estate.

How do you grow, get better and improve?

How do you take a negative experience and turn it into a positive one?

Disney, if you notice, always places their feedback customer service offices at the front of every one of their parks to encourage the guests to share with them.

My question for real estate agents is… “where’s is yours”?

Do you take the time to ask for that important feedback?

Disney shares that all their success begins with creativity. They have a belief in their organization that everyone in the company is creative. They know everyone’s ideas are what separate our identity.

Walt said “you just never know where our best idea will come from next.” Disney believes that creativity is all about risks.

Innovative risks…

Are you taking innovative risks in your real estate business or just playing it safe? Are you looking for people to share new ideas for you and your business?

Disney’s creativity comes from what they call the “imagineering process”. They have 1,000 imagineers working for them in 140 different disciplines all coming up with new and innovative ideas.

One of the simple exercises you can do in your real estate business (like Disney) is a blue sky brainstorm exercise they call “yes, and…. game.”

Prior to any meeting in their company for the first 10 minutes the word “NO” cannot be said. Anything goes. Share any ideas of what they can do better to WOW and AWE their guests.

What could doing this exercise once in a while do for you and your real estate business this year?

I know myself, how difficult it is to take the time in my business to just sit and be creative. To take the time to collect ideas of making my business and the real estate service experience better. Disney believes this comes from 5 things in their business.

[ez_box title=” 5 Disney Fundamentals to Increase Creativity in Your Real Estate Business” color=”blue”]

1) Passion for their Purpose. They love to make magical memories for others. Do you?
2) Core values and sharing their values with their guests. What are your core values? Do your clients know them?
3) Communication flows freely. There can never be enough communication. When things are slow are you still
communicating to your real estate clients?
4) Trust. The #1 reason they leave is they can’t trust you. Are you actively building trust with your clients?
5) Variety of perspectives. Consider and welcome all ideas, don’t shut them down.

[/ez_box]

The key to Disney success is the continuous improvement in the small little things, constant small tweaks of making what they do already, just a little better. All it is for them is just filling in the gaps.

Their mantra is “if it’s not broke then just make it better.”

I encourage you to take the time to work on the small things and create an even more magical real estate experience than you already do.

If it can work for Disney, then it can work for you.

Strength and courage,

Wade

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Key Strategies to Win the House Pricing War Back from the "Sellers"

kelowna on February 6, 2013

How to Win the House Pricing “Tug of War”… The Battle is Raging and Agents are Not Winning

You may be surprised to learn that lately 60% of homes listed in the OMREB area did not sell.

That equates to more than 6,000 homes in 2012 left unsold.

Who is winning the pricing war?

Seller or agent?

With the numbers above I would say the seller. Why?

Does any seller believe any other home compares to theirs?

NO… of course not!

So why bother using comparables that just build up their defense mechanism?

Do you have a pricing presentation?

If so, does it involve taking the time to really engage the seller on the importance of pricing?

Are you “telling” or “showing and selling”?

Meaning do you use visuals, dialogs and statistics to back your pricing proposition.

My Mentor – Jackie Leavenworth said

We are not in the pricing business but in the property positioning business

Try using a property positioning presentation and stop using a Competitive Market Analysis.

In order to change the outcome you must change the way you present your data.

Don’t use “Actives” in your plan. The word Active gives the seller a false sense of reality. Putting a home on the market doesn’t necessarily guarantee activity or action.

In reality the Actives should be called the competition or the enemy in your pricing plan, shouldn’t it?

Try using something else other than “Expired”.

Why not try using the term “Failed Homes”? Isn’t that what they are?

Who would want to be on a list called Failed Homes?

Instead of using “Sold” how about the wording “Successful Sellers”. Give your clients a real sense of pride by changing the way you communicate with them.

One of my favorite Property Positioning visuals for your seller is the “Grocery Store Analogy”.

Ask your seller… “when you’re at the grocery store and are heading to the check out what are the two things you look for?”

Shortest line and buggies with the least number of items… Correct?

It is exactly the same for your sellers.

You need to advise them of the shortest line up and the line with the least amount of items for them to become a successful seller.

Help your client understand the other people in line are the competitors (or enemy) also waiting to check out. Then show them how the price they choose to list their home at will determine where they are in the grocery line.

Then move on to show how many sellers who were in line are now a failed home as well as the fine few who have checked out the last number of months as a successful happy seller.

It is crucial you remind them the positioning changes every day.

When someone reduces their price, they move up and cut in front of them in the line. When another lists at a lower price it pushes your client further back in line.

It is your job as an agent to advise your seller daily of where they are in line. Update them on who has joined the line and who has cut in front of them.

Ask them…

“Mr and Mrs Seller where do you want to be in line?”

“The decision is yours… do you want to sell or want to stay?”

Take the time to present positioning vs. pricing in your real estate business.

Collect a bundle of visuals and materials to build your case on the importance of pricing and start winning the battle with sellers. As a result you will sell more homes and help more sellers achieve their goals.

Strength and courage,

Wade

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People Don't Buy for Logical Reasons… They Buy for Emotional Reasons… What are Your Client's Reasons?

kelowna on January 23, 2013

What is Your Client’s Pain or Pleasure? Do You Have a Clue?

In order to have a client do what you want them to do you must first help them discover their inner pain or pleasure.
Joe Stumpf ~ My Mentor

There are only two emotions that trigger someone to act and those are “pain” and
“pleasure”.

In the real estate business I find so many agents do not recognize the importance of discovering what their buyer or seller’s true driving motivation is.

Is your client running from “pain”?

Are they running to “pleasure”?

Knowing the answer to those questions is only the tip of the iceberg and to truly help them alleviate their “pain” or realize their “pleasure it is critical as a real estate agent you spend the time to dig down to the root or source of what your clients desires or fears truly are.

How much time do you spend with your clients to discover what they really fear or desire?

Most agents ask “level one” questions to their buyers (and sellers) whereas
the key to truly serving your client is to dig deeper and get to seventh level
questions.

Asking a minimum of seven questions, called the “5-6-7 technique” will help you and
your client discover what their hot button truly is.

For example…

[ez_box title=”5-6-7 Go Deep…” color=”blue”]

Level 1… “Why do you want to buy?” you ask
“We want to upgrade” they reply

Level 2… “Ok great” you reply… “Why is this important to you?”
“Well the kids are growing up and we could use more room” is their reply.

Level 3… “Oh yah… and why is that important to you?”
“As the kids grow up they are becoming more independent and want to spread their wings a bit more”

Level 4… “That is great… can you tell me a bit more about that”?
“Well Johnny is really into drums and could use a room in the basement to “hammer away” and Suzie
loves to sew and it would be great if we had an extra bedroom she could set up “shop” in… and of course Diane and
I love our outdoor living space so a bigger yard would give us more opportunity to putter”

Level 5… “Very cool… I don’t want to be nosy but can you tell me why all of this is important to you?”
“Well a person only lives once and time flies by so if a person isn’t diligent about capturing their dreams time
just seems to go by”

Level 6… “Oh yah… I hear you… this is so interesting… tell me more please”
“Ever since I was first married it has been my passion to raise a family where we
all help each other live happy, fun and fulfilling lives.”

Level 7… “That is such a great goal… how do you feel when you focus on these passions?”
“Are you kidding me? It makes me excited… I feel alive and it makes all the hassles and trials of
life completely worth it.”

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Can you see the power of this?

Once you get to Level 7 then you summarize…

So it really isn’t about upgrading is it?

It’s about spending time with your wife and children who are the most important people
in your life and being able to grow together as a family helping each other realize their dreams.

At this point they are revved up and hanging on your every word.

And you ask them… “In order to realize this goal”

What do you think you need to do differently?
What do you think you should do next?
What are you waiting for?
Why aren’t you doing it?

The best way you can serve your client is to help firmly etch in their minds and emotions
exactly what it is they are running from or what they are running to.

Use the 5-6-7 method to remind them of their pain and pleasure and help them create the
results in real estate they are looking for.

Strength and courage,

Wade