Archive for the 'Technology' Category
2008 Wasn’t So Great?! We Will Help You Make 2009 Your Time
Posted by Carole Ferris | Leave A Comment »
At Windermere, we are committed in making 2009 your time!
We have the (or the closest to) the most knowledgeable Broker in all of San Diego County. What does that mean to you? A lot! You can call our Broker day and night and he will help you with whatever difficulties or challenges that you have.
Each office has a full time and experienced manager who you can call any time. As for myself, I have more than 23 years in successful real estate. I can be reached by our agents whenever they need to reach me. I assist them with difficult contracts and disgruntled sellers/buyers. I train our agents. I offer coaching.
I will not be in our agents way but I will be beside them every step of the way. I spread encouragement when an agent gets down. (Gets down?…Real Estate is not for the weak of heart or the thin skinned). Windermere prides itself on giving the best tools, the best technology and then we get out of the agent’s way. We are not a mega brokerage. We are more like a family. Our agents are not just a “number”…we value our agents and support our agents in every way that we possibly can…..
Popularity: 14% [?]
Related Posts: Agent Services, Join Windermere, San Diego, Technology, Windermere Agents, Windermere Managers
Homeowners Do Their Homework . . . and it’s paying off!
Posted by Erica Vautier | Leave A Comment »
Dramatic advancements in online tools means more real estate resources are available to more people than ever before. Armed with a plethora of new tools, buyers are doing their homework. They can search for homes, tour neighborhoods, and get expert advice from the convenience of their personal laptop.
A recent survey by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that more than 77% of consumers now start the real estate process online. On sites like Realtor.com, buyers can specify what type of home they are interested in and have a list of properties that meet their criteria appear in seconds.
Good real estate sites let visitors save searches, send automatic notices when new listings enter the market, and provide extensive information on the property. Advanced sites will even provide foreclosure lists and help locate great real estate buys.
It’s no wonder that more than 3 out of 4 respondents to the NAR survey said they use search engines to browse through properties. While internet buyers spend a longer period of time looking for a home online than traditional buyers, they spend less time searching with their agent and have to view fewer properties in person.
A 2007 California Association of Realtors (CAR) survey showed that next to searching for homes, buyers spend most of their time online surveying neighborhoods. They look at comparable sales, watch local videos and map out the area.
User-generated videos on YouTube provide unique insight into many San Diego cities; a search for “La Jolla, San Diego” yields more than 1,100 results! Some reports suggest that buyers are beginning to prefer these amateur tours to the store-bought variety, which can come off as manufactured.
To further examine neighborhoods, buyers use interactive mapping tools like Google Maps. Simply type in an address and Google Maps displays: satellite images of the location; charts of the terrain; real-time traffic reports and drive times; and frighteningly accurate, panoramic street views. Online maps allow visitors to take a virtual stroll down their future block without ever leaving home.
As buyers migrate toward the internet, so are many real estate agents. Through industry blogs like Active Rain and personal blog sites, real estate agents are sharing their knowledge and experience with the world.
Most buyers are tired of the pre-canned information that populates most real estate sites and are instead choosing to read more organic blog entries.
On our company blog, Picture Perfect San Diego, Windermere agents write about the community, home sales, area activities, market trends, financing options and so much more. It’s a great forum for buyers to meet our agents, read first hand accounts of what is going on in the real estate market, ask questions and leave feedback.
The abundance of research tools available online has made today’s buyer more educated than ever before. They can search for homes, tour neighborhoods, and get expert advice online.
There is a lot of information out there, have you done your homework?
If you need help getting started on your homework, these links may help:
- Read More Articles by Erica Vautier about the Technology and Marketing Available to Homeowners and Agents
- Contact me about working for Windermere and gaining access to these tools
- Contact me about becoming a VIP Member of our site and gaining access to great technology search tools for homeowners
- Leave Feedback and let us know what you’d like to learn more about
Popularity: 47% [?]
Related Posts: Buyers, Education, Foreclosures, Free Foreclosure Lists, Homeowners, Marketing, Picture Perfect San Diego, Technology, Windermere, Windermere Agents
First Rate Service and Knowledge In A Tough Market Keeps Clients Happy
Posted by Misty Dobson | Leave A Comment »
While some agents and companies are stepping back or stepping out of the real estate arena, some of us are finding an opportunity to diversify during this challenging market downturn. As an agent I am now working harder to provide the kind of service and presence that will provide my clients a much higher level of service. Building lasting relationships is my highest goal and and I achieve results, even in this tough market.
Listed are examples of TOOLS that I use to be more effective in building a relationship with a buyer/seller….
- Keeping tabs on housing inventory and setting up searches for each client is key.
- Informing a potential buyer/seller of changes in the market that are happening daily builds confidence in your relationship .
- Using the right tools allows me to know which types of listings a consumer is looking for and for recommending similar properties.
- I work closely with a Loan Officers who are knowledgeable and can provide buyers with information to help them decide how much they are able to invest in a property and how to begin the process.
- I use the internet, producing Virtual Flyers, the Real Bird Listing Publisher and Craigslist (just to name a few) to bring attention to buyers needs and my seller’s properties. I consistently show buyers and sellers that I DO have the right TOOLS and how I can benefit them.
Commitment and hard work is important and really shines in a market like this one. Providing first rate service accompanied with knowledge will surely make you feel confident when using my services, and I hope to build relationships that are long lasting.
Here is to lasting relationships and VERY HAPPY Clients.
Popularity: 23% [?]
Related Posts: Agent Services, Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, San Marcos, Technology, Windermere Agents
Full Service Gas Stations Are Gone, But Full Service Real Estate is Alive at Windermere
Posted by Mark Loscher | Currently 1 Comment »
How many of you remember the true “full service” gas stations?
Well, I do.
For those of you who do not, let me fill you in, no pun intended.
Full service gas stations are a thing of the past, in California anyways. But not to long ago you could drive into your favorite gas station, say hello to a friendly gas station attendant, sit back, relax and let him or her, do all the service work.
What a concept!
They would ask you which grade of gas you’d like to have. They would check your oil levels for you. They would even check your tire pressure. Oh, and guess what? They would even wash your windows, without being asked. Wow, now that was service!
Unfortunately, that kind of service in the gas station business is a thing of the past, by and large.
In the Real Estate industry we are in danger of the same thing happening, if we aren’t careful. More and more companies are losing that personal touch, not only with their clients, but with the agents who work for them.
Not to long ago almost all Real Estate companies provided full service to their agents. They would provide a desk, a phone, a computer to work from, fliers, marketing materials, training, management support, and the latest technology products and support.They would have managers and administrative people available, 24/7 to help with a number of issues relating to helping the client.
Sadly, this too seems to be going by the way of the gas station and too many companies today focus on the number of people they hold licenses for, they focus on how many deals they produce, and they focus on themselves rather than on the client and the agent.
At Windermere we are a little old fashioned I guess, when it comes to service. We still believe it is very important to provide all of the support and tools that we can for agents, so they can provide the very best full service to the client.
We do provide all the tools, the technology, the administrative and management support, 24/7, to help our agents be the best they can possibly be. We understand the need to be on the cutting edge of technology and we are in so many ways, but not at the cost of that personal one on one touch that is so important in our people first industry.
Let us not forget that computers, phones and gadgets have been invented, developed and provided to assist us in our one to one personal business, not to replace it. The client and the agent need to have that personal interaction. They need to have that one on one conversation about the most important investment they are likely to make, a home. Just as an agent needs that same kind of relationship with their Broker and support staff.
At Windermere we value those relationships with our agents and the client.
We will continue to lead in our industry with the tools, the support, and the, yes, the “service” to our agents and ultimately to the client.
Check it out and see for yourself. I know that the support you need, we have.
Popularity: 51% [?]
Related Posts: Agent Services, Baby Boomers, Builder Services, Careers at Windermere, Contracts & Negotiations, Education, Find A Home, International Real Estate, Investment Properties, Join Windermere, Market Trends, Picture Perfect San Diego, Real Estate News, Sellers, Technology, The Daily News, Training, Windermere, Windermere Agents, Windermere Managers, Windermere Offices
