Smile. It’s a simple but powerful gesture.
Smiling says something about your character. It puts people at ease, increases attractiveness, and it’s contagious.
“Some of us need to have more peace in our lives. People want to be around positive people,” said Darryl Davis, New York-based speaker, trainer, and comedian who has been in the real estate business since he was 19 years old. Davis presented stress-relieving tips during the REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Orlando Sunday. “It’s hard to smile and be angry and pissed off at the same time.”
A career in real estate can come with a lot of stress, so much so that it’s often ranked one of the most stress-filled jobs. The amount of endorphins released from smiling actually equals 2,000 bars of chocolate, inducing happy feelings and lowering blood pressure.
So, next time you’re in an argument with someone, just plant a smile on your face. It will either defuse the situation, or you’ll get the better of the other person. Either way it’s a win for you, Davis joked.
In addition to showing your pearly-whites, there are other ways to stress less. Here are Davis’s top three tips:
- Let go of your baggage. You’ve made choices in your business and your personal life; many of those choices were spot-on, and some maybe weren’t so great. If you keep beating yourself up over those bad choices, you’re going to continue living in the past. “It’s like driving a car looking in the rear view mirror. Eventually you’re going to crash,” said Davis. It’s time to accept the choices you’ve made in life, for better or worse, and re-focus your energy on moving forward.
- Be committed to what’s possible. Davis ran the New York City Marathon in 2006. He had never done anything like it before. In fact, he said he was so out of shape, that he only made it 0.33 miles during his first training run. But because he had a higher purpose for running the marathon – raising money for children suffering from leukemia and lymphoma – he stayed on top of his training and completed the marathon five months later, raising $25,000 for charity. The key to reaching any goal, he said, is envisioning what you want and then creating it. Start by painting a picture of your life and career goals. “Your success exists in the future; you just have to figure out how to reach it,” Davis said.
- Focus on improving your skills. People can usually relate to those who have had a similar experience in their lives. If you’re having trouble communicating with a client, try using stories, metaphors, and analogies from your own life to handle objections. Your skills also improve when you surround yourself with positive, motivating people. So avoid the “negative-Nancy” in your office and hang around those people who will inspire success.
Miami is known for its colorful vibrancy, but 23,000 vacant condos put a dark cloud over the south Florida market at its peak inventory in 2008. Do you know what happened? They’ve all sold — largely due to the purchasing power of international investors.
As foreign buyers’ interest in U.S. real estate continues to surge, REALTORS® are seizing this opportunity and arming themselves with education.
CIPS course at the Chicago Association of REALTORS®
A window into this trend could be seen in Chicago this week as about 20 REALTOR® students, some who traveled from several states away, attended the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) course at the Chicago Association of REALTORS®. I had the pleasure of sitting in on the first day as instructor David Wyant of Wyant Realty and Across Borders School of Real Estate in Ormond Beach, Fla., covered local markets. CIPS is a real estate designation that has seen exponential growth, with more than 2,000 recipients and courses taught in 50 countries.
Why are foreign buyers eyeing the U.S. real estate market?
Is it because the value of the dollar has fallen? Yes, the lower dollar value equals deals for foreign buyers. But according to Wyant, that’s one reason among many.
“Investing in real estate is great for individuals and for sovereign nations,” Wyant explained. “Real estate has its ups and downs, but it’s never worth nothing. It’s tangible, it holds its value and it’s around for a long time.”
Of all the countries in the world, the U.S. is still leading the way in providing the most stable and secure real estate investment environment, above Germany, Canada, France, Australia and the UK. Why? The stability of the economy and laws the U.S. has protecting private property rights. “That means a lot if you’ve ever had anything taken away from you,” Wyant said.
The internet has helped quicken globalization. It’s led to the migration of jobs across borders, and as countries evolve and economies diversify or move from farming to industry, creative centers have emerged and trade has expanded. Sunsetting tariffs, 24-hour markets, ease of air travel, and countries specializing in specific industries and trades have all contributed to globalization.
Who’s buying in the U.S.? Continue reading »
By Katherine Tarbox, Senior Editor, REALTOR® Magazine
While I was at the offices of the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® in Rockville, Md., for the Homeownership Matters Bus Tour, I was taken aback when I saw all of these signs available for real estate practitioners to purchase… mostly because they’re a bit of a twist on the usual “For Sale,” billboard. Check out the sign that says, “I’m Gorgeous Inside,” or the “Honey… Stop the Car” sign.
Do you have a unique sign that works for you? If so, what does it say?
By Erica Christoffer, Multimedia Web Producer, REALTOR® Magazine
Nobu Hata, sales associate with Edina Realty in Minneapolis, has a message for everyone who has their e-mail address in their e-mail signature: You’re not giving anyone added value.
Your correspondents are already going to know your e-mail address – either they contacted you or you contacted them. Try switching it out with something they can use, said Hata during the Joint Marketing & Member Information Services Forum at the Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo today in Washington, D.C. Link to your Web site, blog, and social networks, or, as Hata does, link to local market statistics your potential clients could use to educate themselves.
“Consumers like people who point them to good stuff,” said panelist Bill Lublin, CEO of Social Media Marketing Institute and Century 21 Advantage Gold in Philadelphia. Continue reading »
By Erica Christoffer, Multimedia Web Producer, REALTOR® Magazine
When considering your Web presence, ask yourself this: Am I interacting with my client base?
If the answer is no, or not quite sure, here are eight tips from the International Builders’ Show Thursday morning session on unleashing the sales power of your Web site (presented by Scott Stroud of Builder Radio Media Network, Rick Storlie of New Home Sales Coach, and Erik Cofield of Buildtopia and Builder1440).
1.) Don’t pay a developer to run your Web site. Make the move to WordPress. You’ll save oodles of dollars, have the ability to update more frequently, and ensure more control over your site.
2.) Start blogging… A LOT! A blog is all about human interaction. Blog regularly and promote your posts via social media.
3.) Stumped on what to blog about? Three ideas: progress of a design or building project, interesting client stories or profiles, and community news or events.
4.) Use negative feedback as an opportunity to shine. If you receive a complaint or unflattering comment, “turn it into a positive,” says Stroud. Respond with an apology and outline a solution. Negative comments can be relevant. Continue reading »
By Katherine Tarbox, Senior Editor, REALTOR® Magazine
At the 2009 Keller Williams Family Reunion in Orlando, I listened to many practitioners who said they wanted more scripts to help them through these demanding times. In response to this request, we developed content to help you answer the tough questions clients are asking, from how to handle buyers’ objections to sellers’ pricing concerns.
Beginning next week, you’ll notice that the Monday and Friday editions of your Daily News e-mails from REALTOR® magazine will include one-question, one-answer “Quick Scripts” from some of the best real estate coaches in the industry. Topics will include prospecting, cold calls, client referrals, committing buyers, open houses, qualifying buyers, tips for listing presentations, and price reductions.
Here are a few samples of what’s in store, courtesy of business coach Cheri Alguire:
They say: “If I can’t get $x for my house, I can’t afford to sell.” Continue reading »
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