Expired Listings Template

October 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

expiredI’ve been hearing it from all of you for years now:  You hate expired listings.  You know they are a potential gold mine, but really who has time to call on them every morning?  And even if you have time, you know you don’t even want to.  Face it, these homeowners are already angry that their house is still on the market, now they have to field calls from annoying, hungry, relentless Realtors.

Instead of pissing off these potential clients, hand deliver them a nice, simple expired letter.  Be a source of information rather than a source of annoyance.  You can copy and paste this Expired Listings template to use the next time you want to go out and meet these unhappy people, or you can come up with your own.  Don’t forget to change names, cities, titles and other pertinent information!  And remember, if you don’t have a great follow up plan in place, it doesn’t matter how good your letter is or isn’t.  A Real Estate Virtual Assistant that follows up with expired’s and leads will help you tremendously AND free up your time.

Dear Claire,

I speak with many potential buyers on a daily basis, searching for homes in Huntington and Newport Beach, CA.  For that reason, I was a little surprised to see that the listing on your home expired without a successful sale.

There are many reasons that a listing expires without achieving the results that you had hoped for.  My goal as a REALTOR® dedicated to serving the community of Newport Beach is to make sure that doesn’t happen.

I am familiar with Newport Coast, your listing, your property, and I am certain that you and I can work together to sell your home successfully.  It is extremely simple to renew your listing and I am confident that I can show you some simple ways to add value to your home.  I would like to discuss an aggressive marketing strategy that includes savvy internet marketing tools, mobile marketing and video that will optimize the potential outcome of your sale.

As we both know, a listing alone will not provide results.  I work diligently with each one of my clients to provide a unique strategy that is conducive to closing the sale, and I know more about using the power of the internet than any other agent in Newport Beach.  Did you know that 94% of consumers start their home search online?  It also requires an intimate knowledge of the neighborhood and surrounding area, familiarity with similar listings, and a broad base of potential buyers.  As a professional REALTOR® with a proven track record all over Huntington and Newport Beach, CA I am prepared to bring those benefits to you when you renew your listing with me.

Please contact me right away at 800-AWE-SOME so that we can create a plan that will work for you.  Selling your home is one of the most important financial decisions you will ever make, and you need a REALTOR® that is motivated to produce the results you want.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

 

April May-June

Best REALTOR® Ever

 

Filed Under: Real Estate Info, Templates Tagged With:

So What Exactly Does a Real Estate Virtual Assistant DO?

May 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I get a lot of email from Real Estate Agents, Coaches, Brokers, aspiring Virtual Assistants and other small business owners.  Some of them want free information (usually just the aspiring VA’s), some just want to know my rates, some want to complain about my rates.  Most are just curious:  ”So what exactly does a Real Estate Virtual Assistant DO?”

I can picture them on the other end of their computer with that glazed over, deer in the headlights look.  It sounds cool, but what the heck can you do for me?

I’d like to show them the 208 tasks that we added to our project management system this month!  But no, it’s a legitimate question that I often begin to answer with some questions of my own:

  • What is it that you do?
  • Who do you prefer to sell real estate to?  Yes, your target market.
  • Do you like working with buyers or sellers? (This question usually knocks them off balance a little.  I think they aren’t used to somebody caring).
  • Where are you stuck right now, this very moment.

That’s where we stop and I can start to get a feel for what their problem is.  This is where my wheels start turning and I’ve already half-way formulated a plan to un-stick them from this position.  I’m also going through my roster of amazing Virtual Assitants who I call my team members.  My chicks.

You see, I like to solve problems.  I want to find out what your biggest problem is and get it solved for you as quickly as possible so that when you’re finally free of that burden you feel as if you can take on anything.  When you’ve dumped some of your “tolerations” you are much more ready to start implementing a new marketing plan, or shifting your focus on more pressing matters, delegating more items to my team, and seeing more clients.

And in case you’re wondering, here is a list of “what we do”:

  • Listing Coordination
    • Add to MLS
    • Create Virtual Tour
    • Create syndicated flyer, QR Code, etc.
    • Create CL ads that drive traffic to website
    • Create new listing flyer, postcard, etc.
    • Reverse Prospecting
    • Post new listing to all social media networks
    • Make all necessary updates to online listings
    • Incorporate client’s existing listing plan
  • Transaction Management
    • “In the Cloud” file management
    • Work directly with clients, escrow, agents
    • Complete all disclosures & docs per broker’s  list
    • Coordinate with escrow, title and lenders
    • Schedule all needed appointments & inspections
    • Obtain signatures via DocuSign, fax or postal mail
  • Social Media for Real Estate Agents
    • Market to new clientso Protect your brand
    • Test new marketing ideas
    • Track all Social Media Metrics
    • Custom backgrounds and landing pages
    • Add new contacts systematically
    • Create professionally branded fan page
    • Post local content daily/weekly
    • Set up auto/semi-auto postingo Reply to DM’s on your behalf
    • Create events, invite contactso Pre-schedule tweets for max exposure
    • Geo-target people to follow
    • Add listing s to fan pageo Incorporate client’s existing social media plan
  • Blogging & Ghost Writing for Real Estate Agents
    • Creation of hyper-local content that you own
    • Creation of real estate content that you own
    • Repurposing previous blog posts
      • Other blogs
      • Social media networks
      • Newsletter or e-zineo
    • All post included pictures, keywords, approx. 300 words and are posted on your site
  • Market Updates, Flyers & Other Print Media
    • Creation of flyer template by former Senior Graphic Designer of the LA Times Real Estate
    • Creation of MLS search templates
    • Add a featured listing at the top of each flyer
    • All market activity is added to the flyer and set up for monthly delivery
    • Professionally printed and delivered to you
  • Database Management
    • Top Producer/Market Snapshot
    • Wise Agent, Ixact Contact, MLS Office, etc.
    • Strategize to find the best possible CRM
    • Creation of new drip campaigns/autoresponders
    • Categorize and assign all contacts
    • Create and maintain clear follow-up plan
    • Sync database w/ client & mobile devices
    • Link social networks to database if possible
    • Use database to build fan/friend/follower base
  • Miscellaneous Services
    • Business Strategizing
    • Full Bookkeeping
    • Calendar management
    • Phone answering
    • WordPress
      • Installation
      • Update
      • Customization
      • Anything!  We have dedicated pros!
    • Lead tracking/management
    • Newsletter creation & management
    • Update listings on websites
    • Photo enhancement
    • Systems & Processes development
    • Vendor management
    • List buildingo SEO/backlinking

 

Filed Under: Client Creations, Coffee with a VA, Ditch Your Desk, Escape the Paper, Real Estate Info, Real Estate S & M, Templates, Transaction Management Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

5 Benefits You’ll Receive When You Work With Me

January 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

April Sullivan the Real Estate Virtual Assistant ChickI started going through some of the coaching material that I purchased in 2010, and began reworking some of the assignments in my home study system today.  Boy am I glad that I did!  Things that I thought that I had already done in my business had drastically changed in this past year.  My ideal client, my “benefits”, my USP.  Just about everything.  My business has taken quite a few twists and turns since I opened my doors in 2007!

My assignment was to create a series of statements that explain the benefits my clients receive when working with me.  Here are my top 5:

  1. A lot of our clients feel that they are able to take on more listings after trying out our Listing Coordination services.  We are able to automate a large part of the process and reach a very wide online audience with our Internet Marketing and Social Media expertise.
  2. 2.   On that same note, our clients are also able to work with more buyers.  Not having to worry about listings or paperwork frees up a lot of time for other more important things – like working with people who want to buy houses!
  3. 3.  Agents that aren’t rushing around and are confident in themselves and their support system are much more “Client Attractive” than other “busier” agents.  Don’t be busy, be profitable!
  4. In 2011, my role within my company is changing.  I’ll be taking on more of a Strategist/Consultant position, helping put actual systems in place for my clients that will be carried out by my team.  I’m very excited!
  5. As always, I really want to be the first and the last place an agent will go for real estate: from idea to implement.

The 4 main ways I help people are right in line with the top 4 reasons people are motivated to buy:

  • To make more money
  • To save money
  • To save time
  • To avoid effort

What benefits do your clients receive when they work with you?  Why should they choose you over the next Realtor?

Filed Under: Real Estate Info Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Pre-Listing Package Possibilities

December 15, 2010 By 5 Comments

As I was reading some blog posts recently, I came across this one by Prospects Plus that I thought you might find extremely helpful when marketing to expired’s, fsbo’s and first-time buyers.  Do I need to remind you that your favorite Real Estate Virtual Assistant is here to set up the process and ensure that it’s implemented properly?

I was recently asked by a slew of valued customers to expand on what they learned in our interview with top agent Kathy Casarin who shared the ingredient checklist from

her ProspectsPLUS! Software for her successful EXPIRED listing packages.

Never one to turn down a challenge, I set out to share some of the pieces that are most effective at making an extraordinary first impression and causing your phone to ring with a seller on the other end saying, “I’d like you to come over and list my house.”

Some agents like to include more, others less, take a look inside your software and see what works best for you!

Here are a few possibilities (items from ProspectsPLUS! Personal Real Estate Marketing Software appear in bold):

EXPIRED LISTING PACKAGE (a la Kathy)

  • Personalized cover letter
  • Several Feature Property FLYERS
  • Local and National news articles about Doing Well in a Down Market
  • Moving Up in a Down Market BROCHURE
  • Professional Service: Positive Results BROCHURE
  • Eight Reasons Your House Didn’t Sell FLYER (an expanded version of Five Factors that Cause Your Property NOT to Sell FLYER )
  • Commissions BROCHURE eliminating the question up front and informing the sellerswhy some agents cut commissions
  • Negotiation: Sellers BROCHURE
  • Information about your website, how it syndicates the seller’s listing, and creates greater exposure for their home
  • Testimonials from happy clients
  • Things That Don’t Matter when Selling Your House ARTICLE found locally which addresses the question in advance regarding what improvements do and don’t make a difference in terms of sales price
  • Information about your company, franchise, various designations, and continuing education

FSBO LISTING PACKAGE

  • Personalized cover letter
  • Several Feature Property FLYERS
  • Professional Service: Positive Results or Neighborhood SpecialistBROCHURE
  • Five Factors that Cause Your Property NOT to Sell FLYER
  • FSBO First Aid FLYER
  • Who Let The Dogs Out? FLYER
  • FSBO Conference Call FLYER
  • Six Pitfalls of Overpricing Your Home FLYER
  • Merchandising Review LEAD MASTER
  • Commissions BROCHURE
  • Negotiation: Sellers BROCHURE
  • Testimonials
  • Statistics from your local MLS and NAR that spotlight how much longer a home stays on the market when FSBO and how much less on average it sells for (if you can throw that into a bar graph or pie chart, even better!)

FIRST TIME HOME BUYER PACKAGE

  • Customized personal letter
  • Kiss Your Landlord Goodbye FLYER
  • Opening Doors to Home Ownership BROCHURE
  • Negotiation: Buyer BROCHURE
  • Neighborhood Real Estate Update FLYER

In the future, I’ll spotlight additional niche market pieces that can help you get the phone ringing and the closings calendared!

Filed Under: Real Estate Info Tagged With: , , , ,