Denham Springs Louisiana Real Estate

Archive for December, 2009

http://www.denhamspringsappraisers.com/ - How Will RESPA Changes Impact Denham Springs Real Estate? See Video

Watch and Listen to Murfreesboro, TN Realtor & Broker, John C. Jones, explain the new RESPA Changes, the first changes to RESPA in 30 years!

http://batonrougerealtorhomes.net/ - Social Media Survey Results From 200 Real Estate Agents: Does It Apply In Greater Baton Rouge?

eRealEstate.com is reporting on a survey of 200 Realtors and their experiences using Social Media. Some struggle and there are some success stories. Their article is here!

Here’s a snippet:

“Fears and Frustrations

•1. “Overwhelmed” – many real estate professionals are overwhelmed by all the new technology, new social media forums and the shift in online consumer trends. There’s just too much information, too much to learn and it all changes so quickly.

•2. “Don’t know where to start” – this is a huge obstacle and it’s a brick wall for so many professionals.

•3. “Don’t know what to do” – most people are on Active Rain and Facebook but a common concern was they didn’t know what to do. What should I blog about? Should I get an outside blog? How do I find potential buyers and sellers in my area? How often should I send messages to friends?

•4. “Don’t have a step by step game plan or system” – this was the number one request from the survey. Many professionals had started playing around with social media but just didn’t have any direction or purpose to their efforts. They’re looking for information and guidance – preferably a step-by-step playbook.

Success Stories and Things that Work

•1. “Blogging” – Blogging is the primary social media forum used by most real estate professionals. Most people have a blog (usually on Active Rain) and many have numerous blogs. They use their blog to share information with their clients and to stay “front of mind” for the day the client enters or re-enters the real estate market.

•2. “Active Rain’ – just about everyone loves Active Rain and lists education, information and referrals as the main benefits. In terms of usage I would rank Active Rain ahead of Facebook followed by Linked In.

•3. “Facebook” – most professionals who said they had closed business through social marketing credited Facebook as the source of the client. The successful agents talked about setting up groups or business pages on Facebook. No-one had anything negative to say about Facebook and viewed it as an essential network to join.”

Read the entire article here

Tags: baton rouge real estate agents, baton rouge realtors, baton rouge social media, baton rouge social media use

http://www.denhamspringslarealestate.net/ – 12 Home Improvements That Didn’t Reward: Could These Apply To Denham Springs Market?

Justin Pierce has written an article on “12 Improvements That Didn’t Pay: Learn From These Rehab Mistakes” where he warns homeowners not to over-prove their homes. This article is certainly worth reading for locals as well. This appraiser also asked a similar question in a recent article on over improving your home: “Greater Baton Rouge Real Estate Question: Is It Wise To Invest $60,000 For A Pool and Landscaping For A $250,000 Home?”

Here’s a snippet:

“Here are the Big 12 ill Advised Home Improvements I Made

1.) Shower Jets: $1,600 – We didn’t have room to put a jetted tub in the master bath. So I had the bright idea to install shower jets instead.

2.) Marble Tile: $800 – We decided that we wanted to give the master bathroom a little sizzle. So we decided to go with full marble tile floor and surround. It cost us about $800 more that the original ceramic tile quote.

3.) Slate Sidewalk and Porch: $4,600 – Landscaping is always risky. We wanted to really give the house some curb appeal. It did look nice. I wouldn’t do it again.

4.) Sidewalk Removal: $950 – There was a cement walkway right down the middle of the yard. We didn’t like how it cut the yard in two. We had it removed.

5.) Redo the Path at the Side of the House: $800 – I won’t take any credit for this one. My partner got fixated on the side of the house. I told him to breath and let it go but when I came back from a trip I found that he’d ordered a new concrete path and grass in this area. The $800 is just the sidewalk.”

http://www.denhamspringslarealestate.net/ - Five Ways Olive Garden Can Enhance Your Local Denham Springs Real Estate Business

J. Lamar Ferren has written an insightful article on how Olive Garden Restaurant can enhance your local Real Estate Business! The article is located here: Five Ways Olive Garden Can Enhance Your Real Estate Business.

Here’s a snippet:

“1. The “Right This Way” concept

In Olive Garden: When you first enter the Olive Garden, you are typically greeted by the host who calls on someone to seat you. Usually the person who seats you will say “Right This Way” as they lead off into the restaurant with you following behind them. I’ll be honest, I’m not a big fan of going into restaurants where I have to seat myself. It’s not that I can’t do it, it’s just that when the restaurant is crowded, it is usually tough to find a seat; especially if you have multiple guests. The person who seats you knows exactly where to go and can get you there quickly; it’s just easier if you follow them.

In Your Business: When a client sees your sign, your Craigslist ad, your flyer, etc., in order for them to click through to your site or pick up the phone and call you, they have to be given a “Call To Action”. Peter Kolat, a fellow BP blog contributor, actually goes into this concept a little more in depth. However, the main thing is to tell your clients exactly what you want them to do. For example, you could say, “Visit My Website Today” or “Pick up the phone and call me at 555-555-5555 right now.” Tell them exactly what you want them to do and if they’re interested, they will follow through. Don’t just assume that everyone who sees your advertisement, will know what to do next. You must guide them through the experience!

2. The “Give Them What They Want” concept

In Olive Garden: After you are seated, you are then greeted by your server, who eventually takes your order. You get the opportunity to read through the menu and choose exactly what you want. If you need more information about a certain dish or drink, your server will be available to answer any questions you may have. Once they’ve completed your order, they take it to the kitchen, where the meal is prepared. After the meal has been prepared, your server carries it out to you, and as you look at your entree, hopefully you notice that you have been given exactly what you wanted.

In Your Business: After a lead comes to your website, they expect to see something related to what your advertisement says. If your ad says I can buy your home in 7 days and your website has nothing to do with buying their home, they they will get ticked off and click the “X” button. Even if they pick up the phone and call you, they then expect to hear something related to the reason they dialed your number. If you can’t give them what they want, then it’s likely that you will be unable to convert them into a deal. The bottom line is that you need to give them a solution to their problem! You need to combine the “Right This Way” concept with the “Give Them What They Want” concept. Put this on your ad and your website because you want your client to go where you need them to go to get what they want, in order to continue on with your process.”