Why Genuine Matters To Me

I'm sure I'm not the only agent out there who is bombarded by phone calls and emails enticing us to pay for various forms of marketing. Refrigerator magnets! Calendars! Your ad on a bus bench/billboard/golf scorecard! Web design with drone-written blog content! Social media managers! I miss being on the Do Not Call list.

One call I took last week was a company based in Texas that specializes in hosting agent sites, pushing "curated" content to your social media accounts and blog, and tracking every single person who visits your hosted site so that you can follow up with them. The rep asked me if my current site allows me to do that. When I replied that it does not, because people have to volunteer their contact information (opt-in), he said excitedly, "Oh, with this system they'll never know you have their information unless you choose to follow up." Because invasion of privacy is the thing to do to get ahead, I guess. The conversation went downhill from there. 

Another company, coincidentally also based in Texas, called me a few months ago offering a total web presence management package: website, social media, blog, newsletter, you name it -- they manage all the content for you, make sure you post regularly, and basically pretend to be you on the internet. I explain that it sounded great for some agents, but not for me since I'm capable of handling it myself and did I mention I have no advertising budget? The rep for that company got irate with me and accused me outright of not wanting to be successful. Customer service fail, honey. FAIL.

I am not saying that either of these approaches to get more business are wrong -- marketing is marketing, and I understand the concept of getting in front of as many people as possible and hoping they remember you. However, I can't in good conscience use any of these companies, and I won't be mailing out refrigerator magnets either. Here's why:

• My primary motivation in real estate is to help people. Hopefully I make money, too, but I can do that anywhere. It's the helping people part that's important, and most of these things aren't going to further that goal.
• Relationships are more valuable than prospects. My friends and family are not potential clients, they are the people with whom I choose to spend my free time. If I think they would be uncomfortable with a marketing technique, I don't do it.
• If I ever make a six figure salary in real estate, I want to feel good about how I earned it. That probably won't happen anytime soon! I have financial goals just like anyone else, but as long as I have worked honorably and consistently I will consider the money I earn to be sufficient for my needs.
• Spending money to make money only works if you're spending on something worthwhile. How about a coffee rather than a calendar? Or a monthly hangout session instead of a monthly newsletter? I could be spending a ridiculous amount of money getting my face in front of the most people possible and I might even get some business out of it. Or I could just spend money on quality time with quality people and take life as it comes.

There are plenty of people out there who will tell you that being successful in business means converting more leads or maximizing earning potential or climbing that ladder. But I know what success is for me: being able to sleep at night, and knowing that my friends and family think of me as Casey first, and Realtor later.

Do You Bank Online? You May Want to Read This!

If you do most of your banking online, or with a financial institution that doesn't have a physical location in your state, chances are it hasn't really bothered you. I've been banking online since 2004 and since I hardly ever need to write a check or talk to my bank, I just get that higher interest rate for savings and no-fee checking that I love.

When you're buying a home, though, you're going to need certified funds -- and some lenders will require that the funds come from your own bank account to make sure you're using your money and not a gift. Certified funds usually means a cashier's check...which is usually requested in person at a bank branch...which you don't have. And you don't usually know how much you need to bring to closing until the last minute!**

So here's a Pro Tip: make sure your financial institution can perform wire transfers, which is another commonly accepted form of certified funds. Learn what the rules are for different amounts (do they need a written request for transfers over $5,000?), what the fees are, what type of documentation they provide as a record of your request, and whether they can guarantee the deposit will be made within a few business hours (or better yet, immediately!). Do it before you even sign an offer on a home, and you won't have to worry about it when it comes time to close.

** This August, new regulations will be implemented requiring all buyers using a lender to purchase property to receive their closing documents at least 3 days prior to closing, which hardly ever happens right now. But more on that later!

How Could Technology Help Buyers & Sellers More?

The standard residential purchase contract for the Greater Cincinnati Board of REALTORS (and the Dayton board as well) was updated this year to be 7 pages long. Add to that the other required forms, property disclosures, and any addenda that might be necessary, and the average purchase packet is closer to 15 pages! The good news is that all of this can be reviewed and signed electronically (unlike all those documents at closing -- I suggest buying your signature stamp now). And your earnest money check? You can send a photo to your agent to pass along until the contract is accepted and you need to turn over the real thing.

Technology is making today's more complex real estate transactions easier and faster to execute than ever before. You can search for a home, find and contact an agent, collaborate with them on potential matches, share your favorites with friends & family to get their input, sign and negotiate a contract all from your phone. While on vacation. In Belize! And your agent can access the MLS listing, view the tax and property history, schedule a showing, write the contract, send it out for signatures, and negotiate on your behalf with the same device, all while holding an adult beverage in the other hand. But how much does your agent use these great technologies, and how much do they know about keeping your electronic communications secure?

As of 2014, the median age of REALTORS was 56 years old, which is over 20 years older than the median age for US workers. Technological innovation in real estate is happening, but it's not being fully embraced by enough agents to figure out what really works. For instance, at a forum I recently attended for agents under 35, the 12 agents in the room had used a combined total of 5 digital signature platforms and avowed that most of them aren't that great for how we actually work. 

So, I put it to you. How should you or your agent be able use technology to make buying or selling a home easier?

Why New Construction Might Make Sense Right Now

It's tough out there for Cincinnati area buyers: weeks and months of looking without finding the home the right home at the right price. Inventory is steadily dropping, and all the "good ones" seem to go pending before everyone has scheduled a showing. But what if you could customize your next home from the foundation up? There's a definite advantage to working with a builder to choose all the features and finishes you want in a new home, and while it does take time, it also provides you the opportunity to budget appropriately for your new home ownership costs -- and if you have a home to sell, you'll have plenty of time to decide what improvements your current home needs to sell for the highest price possible.

So, why work with a Realtor when you are buying new construction? Because every buyer deserves representation to make sure their interests are being protected. Plus, only a Realtor can give you up to date information on the market to help you decide whether any of those cool upgrades will be worth the money when it comes to selling your home down the line.

For more information on buying a new construction home, check out these articles from Redfin, Forbes, and Huffington Post. And remember, the best local builders are members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati.