Lets’ rethink our expired listings approach Lets’ rethink our expired listings approach. Let me ask the question first, if a sell has been listed with an agent for 5 ½ of a 6 month listings agreement,and they are not close to getting an offer, do you really think the seller is going to wait till the end of the agreement to start shopping, thinking and acting on his next move? So why do we spend [...]

Kindness shall prevail! There are thousands of agents here in Massachusetts, and it should probably go with out saying, but let’s be sure to treat each other with kindness and professionalism.  Even if the negotiations are tough, or the communications efforts get bogged down, lets’ keep the focus on the prize, which is helping our clients the best possible way, and treating each other with respect throughout the entire transaction. A couple of hot buttons: [...]

Why not to use your broker’s free email account I had a conversation with a potential recruit last week and one of his objections to moving offices, which admittedly was a better fit for him, was that all his business emails went to his broker- provided email address.  I can totally relate to that and told him I completely understood that, and that although he could go through the steps to move most of the [...]

Cloud Real Estate/Virtual Real Estate/Green Real Estate:  Do they mean the same thing? When I think “Virtual”, I think mobile. Not tied to a desk. I might be in my car, at my house, or working a table at Starbucks.  Virtual usually means I am doing most of the work in my head. Practically, it means less travel time, less office expense, and greater flexibility. When I think “Cloud”, I think online files, document sharing, [...]

We then had a discussion on how to go about it and I was, frankly, a little stunned at some of their definitions of ‘prospecting.’ So, I wanted to just provide a little refresher on what prospecting is…and what it isn’t. What Prospecting Is What Prospecting Isn’t Call past clients Mailing magnets, calendars, etc Calling people in your sphere on influence Setting up a web-site Calling expired listings Joining service organizations Calling FSBO’s Wearing your name badge around [...]

The Russell Realty Group is Live in New Hampshire,  and will be live in Maine and Rhode Island in the next 30 days.  Coming on the heals of a great First Quarter of 2011, where we grew to over 27 agents in Massachusetts, we have now set our sites on establishing a strong presence in New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island. Our Agent Team in Massachusetts has generated a great burst of real estate energy [...]

If anyone is familiar with a message board, this is an awesome tool!  The purpose of the site is to have online open dialog about any topic.  It is a great way to post a technical question, post an idea, ask for help, post a comment or help a teammate.  The message board is very easy to use and will be very helpful for us to communicate as a group with anything that comes up [...]

What an agent can ask from his buyers: The best outcome will result from close and efficient cooperation between a buyer and his agent. Following are five suggestions to facilitate the ideal outcome in the search for the perfect home. Note that all five emphasize clear thinking, concise communication, and open-minded listening. 1. Clarify your vision The agent will pre-sort the available properties based on criteria provided by the buyer.  Know what you require (number [...]

The Boston Foreclosure Tours was a huge success today, We began working with 3 new buyers, got a potential listing appointment and set up two second showings. We found an awesome deal in Medford with instant equity if you dont mind removing the mold! We started the day in Revere and wrapped in Medford.  Be sure to keep an eye on Boston Foreclosure Tours.com for the next tour with The Russell Realty Group, and Evan Russell.

What does it mean to work from a virtual office? It means harnessing the resources available via technology and the Internet to conduct a fully functional and thriving business from anywhere at any time!  Instead of an office, a desk, and a leather chair, all you need is cell phone, a laptop and a mobile broadband card. Many agents ask during our initial phone call, “Evan, where is your office”?  I am careful when I answer. If I say, [...]