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Carpenter Real Estate News

Performance, Plans and Attitude in Real Estate

January 25th, 2011

As we prep for tomorrow’s annual Carpenter Sales Rally (and Awards Presentation), I think we’re seeing some more positive growth and improvement in central Indiana home sales.

It’s not just numbers, although the market’s numbers are looking up. This is about last year’s performance, this year’s plans and attitude.

In 2009, Carpenter Realtors® had 45 agents who met a minimum sales achievement for the year and were recognized at our 2010 Rally. This year, 46 agents met that minimum achievement and will be recognized onstage tomorrow. Now I’m no math whiz, but that seems to be about the same number, in a year when the market was down another 10%+. Many of those have been able to keep their sales numbers pretty steady from year-to-year in spite of the economy, the headlines and even the depression that is defining the mood around many offices without the name Carpenter on the door. Some even had a record year, with the greatest number of listings, sales or production in their career.

But that’s all in the past. The only important thing now is the future. At least that’s what we can control. And in Carpenter’s Marketing Department we have a record number of agents requesting any one of the number of self-promotional materials we’re offering. Aside from a few new offerings, there’s not a lot of change: the graphics production is still no charge to the agents and we can work within a “Carpenter” theme or build material solely around an agent’s own “brand.” But the concept of a need for powerful self-promotion is finally taking hold and more and more agents – experienced and the newbies – are turning to us for help in building their career and growing their income. I don’t mind that. They make more, I can make more.

Then there’s the attitude. The general mood around most of our offices is pretty upbeat. And it’s not the swell weather we’ve been having. In the past some offices, on good days, have been subdued at best. Others are always pretty upbeat offices but the four+ years of recession has taken a toll on our moods. These days you might say there’s a little spring in their step.

Tomorrow we officially kick off 2011. Indianapolis is going to have a good year.

Posted by:  Jim Newell


 

Successful Agents & Open Houses - Working Together?

January 13th, 2011

Interesting. Or is it intriguing? Is there a relationship between open houses and an agent’s sales/listing activity? Logic tells us yes. And, I think - so does our open house ad this week.

The logic is that if you hold open houses, you’re more likely to meet prospective home buyers and to have a seller who believes you’re working harder on their behalf. But everyone knows that logic has no place in real estate (don’t ask me to substantiate that). What about proving it with cold, hard, indisputable facts? No, I don’t have those, but I do have conjecture.

It’s the first of the year. And around the first of the year we add up last year’s numbers. Like who sold the most homes? Who had the most listings? Who had a good year despite the economy and despite claims that you can’t make a buck in real estate these days? Well … here I am looking over that list of top agents when I’m interrupted to proofread our Sunday open house ad. Funny, I’m recognizing a lot of faces!

In a typical open house ad, Carpenter has photo ads and text ads. This week we have about three dozen photo ads. And in those photo ads I see the faces of last year’s top agents. Fully 45% of our open house photo ads this week are being held by sales and listing leaders from 2010. Agents who are listing more homes - and closing more sales - are spending their Sunday afternoon holding open homes for sale. Meeting prospective clients. Working hard for their home sellers.

Now I’m no licensed, experienced real estate agent. If I was, logic would tell me to take every effort to ensure I have a satisfied seller on my hands. Logic says I should increase my sphere of contacts in order to increase my number of sellers and buyers. Now, conjecture tells me to emulate successful agents and hold open houses.

Danged if this puzzle isn’t putting itself together for me.

Posted by:  Jim Newell


 

 

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