Stand Up and Own It

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”  -Marianne Williamson

Take Action!

Start doing

Are you stuck trying to figure out how to get started? Stop
over-thinking the situation and start doing something about
it.

The first step will show you what the next step must be.
Take action, and whether it brings the desired result or
not, it will definitely bring you more insight into how to
proceed next.

Plan your approach, but don’t let the planning stop you from
doing. Taking action will give you the most realistic
perspective.

If you’re not sure which way to go, pick one way and find
out what happens. You’ll know soon enough, and will be able
to adjust your strategy accordingly.

Don’t waste time agonizing over what might or might not
work. Instead, invest your time in effort that will enable
you to know exactly what works.

Get busy, get going, and get to work on making it happen.
Start doing your dream, and step by step you’ll find the way
to its fulfillment.

Chris Heller
_________________________
The Home Seller

Keller Williams Realty
Office 760.632.8408
Cell & Fax: 800.800.2978

http://www.HellerthehomeSeller.com

Named The #1 Keller Williams Team in The Nation for 2008!!

Team Meeting Recap

It was a great team meeting today and I thank all of you that took an hour out of your day to join us and learn something new and get fired up!  Thank you for all of your contributions!

The PowerPoint slides are uploaded here on the office intranet; just follow the link below.  The market stats for the 2nd quarter compared to the last 10 years provide you excellent data to help educate your clients.  Print these slides off and use the scripts that were shared this morning to educate your clients and help them through this market.  Don’t miss the fact that the “units closed” in each of the 4 areas we covered were UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 3 YEARS!  Don’t get overly excited just yet…the tax credit, no doubt, played into these numbers.  Keep prospecting NOW for what is sure to be another tough winter.

Top Producers for June 2010:

Stephanie Stapler closed 18 units, over $2million in volume and earned $56,219 in gross commission income.

Ashley Walter closed 7 units, over $1.9million in volume and earned $56,026 in gross commission income.

Tom Miller closed 6 units, over $1.4million in volume and earned over $47,645 in gross commission income.

Great job, Super Stars!

In June, we added another $4,358 to our year-to date-profit share for a grand total of $37,579 this year!!  Awesome!

Our KWCares contributions are $4,338 year-to-date!! We are going for 100% greensheet participation.  Add $1, $5, $10 or more from your next closing!

Learn more about the Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource (SFR) Certification coming to the Athens office on August 16 at:

http://www.learningrealestate.com/designations/sfr.htm

DO NOT WAIT TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT!

Also, look for a separate email later today regarding our official office policy on short sales.  The special stipulation that Tiffany created for us will be required in your short sale listing agreements.

Our Grand Opening for our new office will be held on Thursday, September 9 from 4-7pm.  Please save the date.  If you’d like to be a part of the planning committee for this event, please join us for a brown bag lunch committee meeting on August 3 at 12:30 (after the next team meeting).

Our meeting concluded with a BlockBuster Summer Movie Event!  We dimmed the lights and ate popcorn and watched the best 20 minute movie I have ever seen.

You can watch it here:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8976155746368663848#

Now, JUST GO DO IT AND DO IT AND DO IT!!!!!

Staging

Lately I’ve been on the agent circuit, having done recent home staging presentations for local Keller Williams, Re/Max and Prudential GA Realty offices.  On the third presentation I realized that there are several key points that I always emphasize when I have the chance.  I’d like to share them with you.  Here they are:

• Never lose sight of the fact that the photos you post to your listings are infinitely more important than the VTs. Why?  Because buyers shopping on the internet will always click on the photos first since they pop up immediately and do not require time to load. If they like what they see of the photos, they will then click on the VT.  Always place your best photos at the top of the page and make sure they are just as impressive as the VT.
• A nicely decorated home and a staged home are NOT the same thing. In the three years I’ve been staging homes, my most difficult clients have always been those who have spent big bucks to have their homes professionally decorated.  Yes, they are lovely, but they are also highly personalized.  Decorating is all about surrounding yourself with colors, furniture, accessories, window treatments, etc. that please you. While you are living in the home, that’s fine; when you are selling your home, having a beautifully decorated, personalized home can prevent offers.   Bring in a trained stager who knows the difference and can prepare the home in the proper way by neutralizing and depersonalizing it.  Once your client moves, he/she can call in a decorator to repersonalize the new home.
• Remind your clients what, exactly, they are selling; namely space, architectural detail, floor plans and views. If clutter is rampant, buyers will never see the space.  If the rooms are crammed with furniture and lighting is poor, the architectural detail will never be noticed.  If there is an overabundance of rugs and furniture is not placed properly for traffic flow, the floor plan will be overlooked.  If windows are dirty and/or covered with tacky blinds or overbearing window treatments, the views will never be seen.
• Homeowners will work much more diligently to make necessary changes in the presentation of their homes when a 3rd party stager is brought in. Agents repeatedly tell me they are surprised and even shocked that the homeowners will “take” the staging suggestions from me after a staging consultation.  I don’t say this to toot my own horn, but I know this is typically the case when homeowners work with stagers.  There is something about bringing in the “expert” that causes them to take note, even though you may have told them the same thing.  (I’m sure the case is similar when they hear directly from the home inspector or mortgage broker.  They are all ears!)
• Having your clients work with a home stager will help to preserve your relationship with the homeowners.  You have other battles to fight with them — namely pricing, so take the day off (or go on a listing appointment) while your stager plays the “presentation game” with your clients.

There’s lots more, but these are just a few things that come up repeatedly.  Remember that your goal and your stager’s goal are one and the same — to get the house sold.  Call for an appointment today! Patsy Overton, ASP, IAHSPAccredited Staging ProfessionalPatsy@SSSHomeStaging.com 770-843-2307 www.SSSHomeStaging.com

Team Meeting Recap

Team,

I feed off of your energy!  I love it when we are all together celebrating and sharing and growing!  Today’s team meeting in our brand new location did not disappoint.  Thank you to everyone that turned out and made it such a huge success.

As the team arrived today, they were greeted by the KWExperience, a new marketing/decor package for our new office that looks fantastic and tells our story.  Come by soon and check it out…it’s awesome!

Thank you, Tiffany McWhorter of O’Kelley & Sorohan for the Chic-fil-A Breakfast!

We kicked off by meeting our new landlord, owner and developer of Liberty Village and Ace Hardware, Scott Snedecor.  We are thrilled to have them as our new neighbors.

Congratulations to Debbie Robinson, who is celebrating 5 years at KW this month!   Time flies.

We had a big month in April:

67 Listings Taken, 51 Contracts Closed and 87 Contracts Written!  Awesome job, team!

Congrats to our top producers in April:

• #1  Ashley Walter  closed 11 transactions and earned over $68k gross commission income.
• #2  Christy Johnson closed 5 transactions and earned over $21k gross commission income.
• #3  Cindy Davila closed 4.5 transactions and earned over $15k gross commission income.

May numbers will be announced at next Tuesday’s team meeting on June 15 at 11am.  We also Market Stats and a special guest that day.   I’ll be interviewing one of the top KW agents from the Sugarloaf office.

Finally, we talked about our COWS!  Gary Keller’s recommended reading; Once Upon a Cow by Camilo Cruz, made for a lively discussion about our bad habits, excuses, limiting attitudes and false beliefs that keep people bound to mediocrity.  Bottom line…be very careful what you say to yourself…question where it came from and if it’s holding you back.

Have a great week, Team!

Welcome Aboard – Debbie Martin

Here we grow again!

KW Braselton, please meet our newest agent-partner, Debbie Martin!

Here’s what Debbie wants you to know about her:

I’m thrilled and excited to begin my real estate career with Keller Williams Lanier Partners! As a veteran industrial sales and marketing professional (pressure gauges to 3M tapes and adhesives), it was always a dream to be a Realtor.   I’ve lived in Gwinnett County for 27 years, the first 11 in Norcross the last 16 in Lawrenceville. I’m married and have two grown daughters and two WONDERFUL grandchildren, whom I adore and enjoy all I can!  I love spending time with my family and friends, attending concerts or going to shows. I’m a beach freak and go anytime I get the opportunity. I’ve been Jazzercising for about 18 years, and I’ve run in 7 Peachtree Road Races. I grew up in a golfing family and spent a good part of my childhood walking various golf courses. I never really caught the bug…till about 3 years ago! I now play any chance I get!  I came to find Keller Williams and the Lanier Partners via my long time friends Steve and Debbie Rider. Steve and I worked together several years ago. I was so impressed by his drive and passion for his life and work. I knew I wanted that too! He suggested I speak with Dawn and again, I came away knowing without a doubt, where I wanted to be!  I’m living the dream, folks! God has blessed me in ways I can’t yet comprehend and sometimes, I still can’t believe it’s all real! I’m proud to be part of such a great team and I look forward to meeting and working with all of you!

You can give Debbie a great big KW Welcome at dlhmartin@kw.com!

Welcome Aboard – Veronica Johnson

KW Braselton,

Meet the newest member of our team; Veronica Johnston!

Here’s what Veronica would like for you to know about her:

I am thrilled to be a part of Keller Williams!  As a new real estate agent I am excited and nervous at the opportunity and challenges that lay in front of me over the next year.  After doing extensive due diligence and talking with many people in the real estate market I found Keller Williams to be the company most people associated with the sale or purchase of a home.  I have always loved homes and the development of our surrounding communities therefore real estate seemed like a natural place for me to reenter the corporate world after staying home with my two wonderful little girls.  I am originally from Kansas and moved to the Braselton area 8 years ago with my husband, Cory.  We have loved the small town feel of this area and look forward to the growth and development over the next several years.    I am currently an Operation Boot Camp instructor at Sterling on the Lake.  Helping people increase their physical activity and making good food choices has been a focus.  I now look forward to helping people find that perfect place they call home.

We are thrilled to have you on our team, Veronica!

You can give Veronica a great big KW Welcome at:  veronicajohnston56@gmail.com!