Steve Harney at Brooklyn Board of Realtors Agents Day 2013

The Brooklyn area was one of the most devastated by Hurricane Sandy over six months ago.  The real estate business took a back seat as agents were getting their homes and lives back together.  Homes were lost, businesses destroyed and many real estate agents discontinued their mailings and marketing efforts as they put those funds into repairs.This week, Steve Harney came to town and helped us all to get back on track and back to making this year a strong one.   Those of you who know Steve, surely know that he has the power to deliver a strong message in a way where it sticks.  To those of you who have not yet had the privilege of participating in one of Mr. Harney’s presentations, may not be able to appreciate the impact that one person can make on an entire room.

The standing room only crowd at the El Caribe Caterers in Mill Basin, Brooklyn came to be inspired…and INSPIRED they were.  I heard stories of agents that haven’t been back to business since the storm, who came to this meeting with the hopes of getting their hope back.  Sure, some agents have been back in the offices, but they just haven’t had the fire that they once had.  One agent, Josie Liascas was flooded out in the storm and struggled to get out of her home as the flood waters came in.   She has since broken her ankle and then her wrist as the string of unfortunate incidents continued.  Josie arrived in her wheelchair as she was the person who I believe needed and wanted inspiration more than anyone.  Steve’s message hit her right in the heart and she is now back in the office and has two new listing appointments since Agents Day; which was only 3 days ago.

Nothing would keep Josie Liascas away from seeing Steve Harney at Agents Day

Over 300 attendees left Agents Day all fired up.   Steve Harney enlightened the group with statistics and facts that proved without a doubt that the real estate market is back, and it’s back strong.  Steve brilliantly used examples of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Earthquakes in California and Hurricanes in Florida to poignantly point out that those areas came back and are still strong.  The common factor that makes these areas so strong and vibrant is that these places are SPECIAL.  “Brooklyn is special,” pointed out Harney.  You could see the look on the crowd as they nodded in agreement and felt that there is hope in the market.

Now, Brooklyn is the tale of two cities sometimes, where the downtown areas and areas like Bedford Stuyvesant are booming, but some of the areas affected by the storm on the south shore are still suffering from sluggish sales and lack of confidence in the buyer pool.  While home prices in downtown are increasing over 20%, prices have decreased the same amount in flooded areas.  Some people are afraid of these areas.  They are worried about the next storm.  Steve also helped to point out that it is our job as real estate agents to explain the market and the opportunities that exist in it today.  There are so many of our neighbors moving back into their homes now, and for those who are not, there are a lot of buyers that always wanted to be here that are bidding on these homes. Brooklyn is hot, and people want to be here.  Real estate agents have to go out there and spread the word.  Prices are increasing rapidly all around town and as interest rates are still low, it’s a great opportunity for people to buy.  Agents that already get this message are having strong sales.  I even know quite a few agents that are having the best year of their careers this year.  It’s all how you look at it, and Steve Harney gave us all a fresh set of eyes to see the amazing opportunity we have to help our communities to see the light and get on with their plans of selling and buying homes.

So many people have helped us out when the Hurricane first hit back in October of 2012.  They helped with donations, food, clothing and shelter for those in need.  We are grateful for the love that was shown to us at that most trying time.  This week, Steve Harney gave us a gift that will impact our agents, our brokerages, and our community for  a long time to come.  As Steve pointed out, “This was not just an event in Brooklyn, it was more…so much more!”  Brooklyn agents are not only empowered with a great message of hope and opportunity, but we also have the tools to go out there and spread the word.  Many of our agents are also excited to be subscribing members to Keeping Current Matters; which is Steve’s brilliant tool that keeps agents up to date with the latest market trends and data.  The great thing about this program is that it helps agents to tell the story that we all believe in to our buyers and sellers.  The graphs, charts and visuals really help us to sent the message home.

I would like to commend the Brooklyn Board of Realtors for putting together this successful event, and thank those who attended and sponsored the day who made it all worthwhile.
Most of all, I would like to show my extreme gratitude to Steve Harney for fitting us into his schedule and giving back to Brooklyn in a way that has touched our hearts forever.
Steve, you own the key to the hearts of Brooklyn Real Estate Agents.  Your message and generosity at such a crucial time has helped our agents to change our lives for our families and our communities.  The impact of this day will reach deep into the communities of Brooklyn.  THANK YOU!

Banner at front of Fillmore Awards Ceremony showing theme Renew 2013. It’s time to renew your commitment to your real estate career.

Hurricane Sandy barreled through our backyard and affected 12 of our 14 managers.  Our market area was flooded and in ruins.  Our friends and neighbors needed our help to try to get out of the terrible disaster that was thrown in our lap.  Sales were the last thingon our mind.

Fillmore went into action and created a Fillmore Cares Team that raised funds and helped the community in any way possible.  When

I look at the year, I’m proud of the efforts that our agents have made to make a difference and touch the lives of those in our community.

Here is an excerpt from my PRESIDENT”S MESSAGE that was presented at our Filly’s Awards that was held on February 7th.

Welcome to the 46th Annual Filly’s Awards -  February 7th, 2013President’s Message – John P. Reinhardt

Congratulations on surviving one of the toughest markets that we have ever seen.  We have turned the corner.  All economic indicators show us that there is more demand for housing in our area and inventory is drying up quickly.  As we discussed at a recent gathering,  the Goldilocks syndrome is now taking place.  We are going from a market that was too cold to one that is too hot.  Our downtown offices are putting homes on the market and they are getting gobbled up with bidding wars once again populating our streets.
Congratulations on surviving one of the toughest personal challenges we have ever seen also in 2012.  Hurricane Sandy destroyed our homes,

our neighborhoods, and our businesses.  People are still suffering tremendously as we strive to rebuild and renew our communities spirit with optimism and excitement about the future.

Congratulations on not only being a survivor of the two mentioned disasters; the real estate market and hurricane Sandy, but I commend your spirit and resilience in finding new ways to generate business and activity when others have given up.  Many of you in the room today have had one of their best years ever in 2012.  There are dozens that made 2012 their greatest year since they started the business.  Now, doesn’t that tell you a lot about our people.  Doesn’t that tell you a lot about YOU!

I’m proud, and you should be too, of the fact that despite a virtual shut down in business for the last two months post Sandy, sales were still slightly higher than 2012.  If the hurricane didn’t hit, we were on track for a nice bump in sales.  December closings roared ahead with a million dollars in closings and helped us to finish the year strong.  We expect 2013 to be the beginning of the next wave in Brooklyn real estate sales, as the economy REcovers, the REnewed interest in Brooklyn real estate shall come back with a vengeance.   There are some out there that would caution that there is the birth of the second bubble already underway!  For us, we are RE-energized with the increase in activity and promise of greater sales for 2013.

Many agents left the business in the past few years, and that’s ok.  Just like there has been a correction in the market for home prices, there has also been a correction in the number of agents that are needed for the industry.  This is a great thing for those of us remaining. There are fewer agents in the industry, but the competent agent will earn more money.  This trend will continue over the next few years and there will be a professionalization of the real estate industry that will be a by-product of the change.  Agents will reinvent themselves to handle more business and to service the needs of the consumer how they want to be serviced.

In 2012 Fillmore accomplished some interesting milestones in the industry.  A new Fillmore.com was created that is built upon a strong foundation.  We have 16 different languages included at this time, which makes the site truly international and perfect for the Brooklyn marketplace.  Automatic video tours in different languages are also a big hit among foreign language speaking buyers and sellers.
Watch the new modules roll out and build upon the amazing cutting edge foundation upon which our site rests.  You’ll notice and appreciate the higher rankings that we’re enjoying on search engines due to the back end of the new site.  As the year progresses, you’ll see Fillmore.com rank higher and higher as it delivers more and more buyer and seller leads for our agents.

Fillmore Mobile App: Did you know that there’s an App for that.  The Fillmore App is available in the iTunes Store and Google Play?  You should be telling your customers about it.

SellerDashboard: Use has doubled over the past year, and we expect it to grow exponentially when we announce it to every seller when they list their home.  Agents should step up to the plate and make sure that they are taking full advantage of the program and understand it’s benefits.

Zap – Powered by Zip is teaching agents how important it is to respond to the consumer on their terms.  We’re growing the program and taking it up a notch this year.

Boot Camp: Fillmore Boot Camp has been so well received by our agents that we are continuing it for this year.  You can expect a boot camp class every sixty days.

Fillmore Institute:  Online training is now available on a variety of topics.  Agents should take advantage of this FREE to you program.

Fillmore Cares: When the hurricane hit, Fillmore mobilized into ACTION!  Fillmore managers, agents and friends came out of the woodwork to lend a hand.  We filled up HQ with hundreds of bags of supplies, clothes and medical items.  We’ve collected over $10,000 in cash and goods that we distributed back to the community.  People came in on weekends and did whatever it took to make a difference.  We delivered items to people in need, and orchestrated action teams that got the job done by helping to clean out, drain out, and fix up homes for those that couldn’t do it themselves.  Governor Cuomo set up a NYS Recovery Relief Center at Fillmore HQ.
FillmoreCares was a startup group that made headlines and received local and national recognition for the efforts made by our team.  I was particularly proud of Zane Burnett and the team for playing such an instrumental part in helping those who needed assistance most.  Our managers and agents also did a great job in finding apartments for many of the families that were homeless.  Fillmore waived the rental fee and we were grateful to have the opportunity to help many families in a time of need.
Thank you to all of you who pitched in to make a difference in our community and in our world.  You have added a special shine to the name Fillmore Real Estate that will live on in the minds and hearts of our neighbors.

Toy Drive:  We ended the year with helping to gather hundreds of toys for children in need.  We helped those special children who were affected by the hurricane.  We combined efforts with Bay Improvement Group to host a special holiday party and toy drive.  We created new relationships and we are going to continue to work with the community with a wounded warrior program that benefits the brave soldiers that have given so much to us.

FillmoreCares Breast Cancer Fundrasier was a smashing success.  Pat Reinhardt lead the team to a record-breaking event with over 16,000 raised to support Breast Cancer related causes.  Again, this was an amazing effort that many of you here have helped to contribute to, and it wouldn’t be anything without your undying effort and support.  As a bonus, this year’s Fillmore Cares team consisted of Ann MacBride and Ken MacBride where they proudly represented our company in the Avon Walk and raised additional funds on behalf of Fillmore and Pat Reinhardt.  Great job guys.  You know that this cause has really hit home this year, as our Executive Partner and Mom faced the challenge of facing the disease herself this year.  I must say, MOM you are an amazing inspiration and you have given so much to others as we watch how wonderfully you handle the challenge.  You look great and we’re all so proud of you!!

2013

I’m not going to go into a long description of why we need to renew, but I will stress just a few main points that should get us started.

We know that the consumer has changed.  Our theme for the past two years has been Be the Change that You Want to See.  We’ve been all about change, so it’s nothing new for us.  We are ahead of our competition in so many ways, but I remind you of this because the opportunity to really gain market share is right in front of us.  In all tough times, millionaires are made and new ways of doing business are created.  The real estate industry is presenting an opportunity similar to the Gold Rush of 1949.  You have the chance to change your career in a BIG way.  I’m not talking big…I’m talking REAL BIG!  People that get it, are blowing away the competition.  They’re blowing the other brokers and agents out of the water in some marketplaces around the country.  Agents that had strongholds on certain communities have been replaced by better communicators, and when I say communicators, I am referring to the top agents ability to communicate more regularly, and with more relevance.

Take a deep breath here…
Do You want it?
I can lead you there.  WE have the team that can show you the way to future success like you could only imagine in the past.  You think that $100K is good? Dream BIGGER!  Why stop at 200K? With a little help and guidance, you can transform your great skills and your sphere of influence into a huge cash register.
Of course we’re going to hear the pundits saying that we don’t need to do things differently, and that’s ok…but if you’re hearing the message and want it, and i mean really want it, you are going to make a monumental shift in your career this year.

RENEW: The first thing necessary is to get rid of the old baggage of thinking that we’re in a bad market.  Get excited about the opportunities in today’s real estate market and lets renew our commitment to being IN the real estate business.  We need to be in it with our whole hearts.

REENERGIZE: Once we renew our commitment, we need to get back to the gym and do some heavy lifting. You know that nobody loves the gym…but they love the results and benefits that the gym brings to them.

REDEDICATE: Let’s get back out there and let everyone know that we’re still in the business and we are ready to help like you’ve never seen before.

REINFORCE:  Let’s keep the great skills that got us here today, but build upon them.  NOW is the time that we need to examine our weak links and reinforce them with new tools and strategies.

RECREATE: Sometimes, reinforcements aren’t enough.  Perhaps it’s time to RECREATE ourselves.  So many success stories around the country are popping up about agents that have recreated themselves and have received astounding results.  Great agents are teaming up with great new agents and creating powerful teams that harness the strength of today’s technology with the solid relationships and skills of top producing agents.

The battle is being won in the streets.  in the neighborhoods.  Winners are demonstrating their expertise in the local marketplace in ways that were previously impossible or extremely difficult to accomplish.

I don’t expect you to understand the entire concept today, but I do hope to accomplish the mission of getting your awareness up to the fact that there is an amazing opportunity to make a BIG change in your career. REALLY BIG.

As the year progresses, I look forward to continuing the dialogue of what can be done to help you to take it to the next level.  Together, we can make it happen.  Let’s Do It!!

Existing home sales jumped 7.8% to an annual rate of 4.8 million. Highest level since May 2010
Home Prices up 9.5% since last August
2.47 Million Homes on the market 18% Fewer than last August
Days on Market was 92 Days and now is only 70 Days
Distressed properties made up just 22 percent of sales in August, down from 31 percent a year ago.

The economy is showing all great signs of the real estate market returning to normal; but a new normal.
Although the sales volume will pick up to

First, I would like to remind you that the dream and excitement of homeownership is still alive.  Those naysayers that have been surrounding the industry in the media over the past few years are finding it more difficult to write about negative things in the real estate market.  We believe that all economic indicators are solid and heading toward a sure; although slow, recovery and a comfortable return to normalcy.

Our expectations over the past decade have been bouncing all over the place.  The inflated market prices and increased numbers of sales transactions also inflated what we came to believe was a decent business model and extremely lucrative industry.  Anyone entering the business could become an instant success as buyers were gobbling up anything that hit the streets.  It’s no wonder that there are 30% fewer agents today than just a few years ago.  The market has adjusted and that’s good news for those of us that have managed to survive the tough times that are now behind us.

As I look at the most successful people and companies around the country, you will notice a very important ingredient in every one of them.  The common awareness and ability to adapt to the environment makes these winners evolve and survive.  We have often heard that change brings with it opportunity, and I believe that as the industry must change and evolve, those that adapt more quickly will be the winners of tomorrows real estate brokerage business.

Real estate brokerages and agents must recognize that the market dynamics going forward are different and we cannot look in our rear view mirror and remember how we used to be successful. Doing things the same old way will surely get us into trouble as new models and competition emerge that will change this industry forever.  It is our mission to be a pioneer of change and to be proactive instead of reactive.  Those who don’t react quickly enough will become extinct as the pace of evolution in the industry is more rapid than we have ever seen.  Technology advances have moved the consumer’s expectations to a whole new level while the market was sleeping.  As the market comes back, we need to be ready to earn more business from those consumers that are thirsty for a real estate company that provides exceptional quality services in the way in which they want and deserve them.

Real Estate is Back, and we need to take advantage of the opportunity today to sharpen our skills to be ready for an abundance of business in the very near future.  It’s our turn to turn it up a notch and capture more market share and take advantage of the opportunity that is knocking at our door today.

Here’s why I believe that we have turned the corner and that we need to prepare now for a great market this fall and beyond.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS:
The correction in the real estate market is officially over and recovery is evident.
Let’s first establish some facts so that you can help to understand why this is true.
Back in 2000, our country was selling 5.5 million homes per year.  In 2005’s heyday, that number shot up to 7.2 million homes sold, and this number has never again been seen…yet.
We were chasing business that was not sustainable.  Our prices went up 80-100% and even 200% in some markets, and that was just not sustainable.
As a country, we had poor judgment and leadership.  People were using their homes like ATM machines. We have learned from these lessons and we’re not likely to repeat them again in the near future.
As the market is picking up, many are expecting around 4.5 million homes to be sold this year, which pretty much makes us trending closer toward the old normalcy.  The challenge that many are facing around the country right now is the lack of inventory.  If homes were available, the volume of sales would be even higher.  This is interesting and exciting news.
I have been hearing stories of how the market is experiencing the Goldilocks syndrome around the country. Agents are complaining that the market was too cold for so long and now the market is too hot!  Can you imagine agents complaining about the market being too hot?  People are realizing that there are some amazing opportunities out there today and the demand is picking up.  The cost to own versus renting is now much more favorable in our market and in almost every major market around the country, that it is causing increased activity and a reduction in inventory.  A great strategy might be to work on getting a jump start on inventory and work on bringing in as many properties as possible in anticipation of this TOO HOT market coming our way soon.

We are going to experience a slightly bumpy road as the market adjusts to the increased demand and lack of supply.   Prices will jump and retract more than normally and create some buying frenzy and tougher agent competition.  The end result will be an upward trend in pricing, which will help heal the rest of the economy as well.  As prices increase, people’s negative equity in properties will decrease and they will feel wealthier and they will once again have the ability to move up to the next level home.  You can see how the activity can increase dramatically and rapidly and it shall.
Here’s how I see it:
It costs less to own than it does to rent, causing a shift towards owning.  Pricing and low interest rates will continue to make this movement for first time homebuyers and entry level homes drive the marketplace first.

The people selling the homes to the first timers are now going to be able to sell their home and buy a bigger home for their growing family that they have been holding back on for the past few years.  You can see how this cycle can spark interest up the ladder.
Then the growing families will be buying homes from those who want to either downsize or move to a luxury market; thereby creating even more activity.  This can be very exciting, very quickly.

The key factor that I see as crucial is the consumer’s confidence in the marketplace.  Once confidence is restored, activity picks up and then we’ll be faced with a shortage of inventory. I look forward to these new and exciting challenges ahead.

In a recent survey at the CEO exchange in NYC, 100% of the real estate CEO’s present reported that they believe that real estate prices will be higher in 5 years.  Now, that’s confidence. The top CEO’s also believe that there will be increased sales volumes all around the country and that the real estate brokerage business will be morphed into a whole new industry, unlike the real estate business before the economic downturn.

Like a phoenix that rises from the ashes, the real estate industry shall rise too; but it is those who have adapted more quickly that will rise the highest and soar to new heights.

Here’s what real estate brokerages need to do to soar to new heights.  The Fillmore Phoenix!
We need to find the sweet spot as a company.  We all have way too much in bricks and mortar.
In the old days, we gave away the profit in the real estate business to make it up in other businesses like mortgage and title.  Regulations and market conditions have gotten rid of those benefits and today, a real estate brokerage business needs to make money in the real estate brokerage business.  The only way to do this is by reducing costs and maximizing the return.

Real estate brokerages are doing more with less.  As a matter of fact, there are fewer agents in the industry and they are doing more business each.  That’s the trend that needs to move further ahead.  We need fewer agents doing more business.  The industry is over-saturated right now and agents are offering services at discounted rates that end up cutting into the top producing agent’s bottom line.  In 1998 there were 750,000 agents in the industry.  Today, although the agent count is down about 30% from the heyday highs, we are still north of 900,000 agents in the country.  Once the number of agents returns to the comfortable normalcy of 1998, business will be better for all those that remain.  The way to stay in the game is by adapting to the needs of today’s consumer and working hard to provide excellent service and exceed expectations with better communication skills and tools.

The Future of Real Estate
We know that the world around us is changing more rapidly than ever before in our history.  The wide adoption of the internet and the evolution of consumers buying habits and expectations have changed virtually every business industry and model.  We should take a deep look at the real estate industry and learn what we can do to take advantage of the new world and the opportunities that it presents to us.

I like to use Best Buy as a great example of the challenges that we might learn from.  Just  a few years ago, we saw these great blue box stores come into our neighborhoods and we were truly excited about them.  They offered great selection at a fair price that was right in our neighborhood.  The stores are beautiful and have great displays of all the latest and greatest technology and electronics available on the market.  I love to go to Best Buy.

I love to go to Best Buy to check out products, but I buy those products on Amazon.com or Ebay.com.  Best Buy has become a showroom for the online retailers.  It seems that consumers like to see what the products look like, but they would rather buy them at more favorable prices.  This seems like an unfair thing to do, and perhaps it is, but the reality is that the consumer of today is doing it this way, because that’s the way they prefer to.  Best Buy is known for not having many items in stock.  If you place the order at Best Buy, it would take up to 5 business days, and you have to either pick it up at the store or pay for shipping.  If you placed your order through Amazon or another vendor, you can get the item in as little as 24 hours, and many online retailers offer preferred customer services with free shipping.
So, I can get the item more quickly and for less money online while I can use Best Buy to kick the tires.  What would you do if you were Best Buy?  I can tell you this…they must evolve or they will become extinct.  I would probably work on their pricing, inventory and shipping policies to gain more business.  Just because it worked a few years ago does not mean it would work today.  As a matter of fact, you could say that if you do things the same way that you did a few years ago, you are likely to become extinct!

Fillmore is positioned to take advantage of the great opportunities that will present themselves as the market picks up.  We have the best team, the best technology and more inventory than any other company in Brooklyn.  We must continue to push for an abundance of inventory as the market shall pick up more quickly than any of us might like to see.  The shortage of properties available will hinder growth of other companies.
As we wrap up the final 100 Days of 2012, we strive to FINISH the year strong.
Our sales are up over 2011 and we are looking forward to doing whatever it takes to keep our agents on top of the game and ahead of the competition.
Watch as we launch some exciting new tools next week and throughout the rest of the year as Fillmore Aims to Finish STRONG.

NEW FILLMORE Website is being launched on Monday with multiple languages and automated videos in multiple languages.
Deeper social connecting on the site that will generate more leads and opportunities for our agents.

New valuation module for sellers to go on and find out their home values is targeted for the last quarter of this year too.

The new MOBILE APPS are being launched on the 1^st of October, but you can get access to them right now in the Apple App Store or on Google Play for the Android.

Stay tuned to AgentDashboard for more details.

Thank you for being part of the Best Real Estate Team in the business!
I was reminded today of a simple truth and fact…
“We’re Fillmore, We’re Number ONE, We Sell More Homes Than Anyone…FILLMORE!

 All the Best,

John P. Reinhardt
President/CEO

First of all, you have only 140 of some of the absolute top industry leaders and visionaries in the room.  John Featherston has an amazing knack for being able to curate some of the best minds in one room.
A few speakers spoke about their markets in relations to Goldilocks, where they jumped from a market that was too cold to one that is too hot…if that’s imaginable.  This event was JUST RIGHT!

John Featherston opened the event and let us know what to expect.  The Yale Club set the stage for what was to be the perfect environment for us to get down to business.  The attire of the group was more formal in nature with the men in suits and ties.  I believe that this more formal attire set the stage for some serious discussions about the business and the direction that we need to take it in.

When Ron Peltier opened up, he painted the picture that the real estate market has definitively turned the corner and put the economic and sales numbers in line with what normal expectations should be.  There are many noted markets that have been showing a challenge with having enough inventories.  These markets went from being too cold to too hot as Goldilocks would report, and the agents are still complaining.  Actually, the opportunity here is great for those who are ready and have the proper plans and systems in place to take advantage of the market.

Share This Post

John had an open discussion about everything relating to online marketing and social media.  It is belived that the best way to earn business today is fundamentally the same as it was when the company was founded in 1966; through relationships.  The way that relationships are established and developed today has changed though.

Pinterest, Facebook, Linked In and Twitter seemed to be the hottest topics and vehicles that the local realtors are using today.  There is growing interest in contact management and client follow up systems to help to nurture the online and offline relationships.

Agents seem to have no issue getting buyers, but they are challenged in delivering great service to the large numbers of prospects that they come in touch with.  Matchmaker alert systems are among the most commonly recognized ways that agents can capture and develop relationships with today’s consumer.

The luncheon only touched the subjects and John offered his phone number to go over any of the strategies with any of the agents that were in attendance and are part of the Brooklyn Womens Council of Realtors.

The panel entitled, ” Technology’s Turning Point: How to Modernize Your Tech Plan,” was moderated by the real estate guru Ken Jenny, the Executive Director of TranCen.  Ken lead the panel to an extremely informative and inspiring discussion that was well received by the superstars in attendance.

John shared the panel with John Lim from Mobile Real Estate, David Romero, President & CEO of Century 21 Award and Walt Baczkowski who is the VP of Sales and Marketing for Point 2 Technologies and Property Shark.

To read about the discussion that the panel had, you can go to the coverage on RIS Media by clicking here

The intimate setting of the CEO Exchange was a real special one and John Featherston,  and Darryl MacPhearson and the great team at RIS deserve a lot of credit for putting together such a wonderful program.

Share This Post

Fillmore recognizes that we are missing a lot of opportunities out there, and we are stepping up our game to do something about it.
The first thing that we did, was to go through the city tax register to see who bought properties in our marketplace.  We then did a cross check with our buyer database, and to no surprise, we found that some of the buyers that bought properties were on our system and neglected by the agent.  The kicker was when we found a buyer that bought an agent’s listing through another broker.  We had the lead, and we lost the opportunity!  OUCH!!!

The deeper we dug, the more we discovered.  This is an industry-wide situation that needs to be better addressed.

This week, Fillmore launched it’s own MatchMaker system that simply matches buyers with new properties and alerts them when something new comes to the market.  While the match and alert concept is not a new one, the difference here is that we are going to place every new buyer on this system and then watch the business increase.  If an agent doesn’t register the buyer in the Matchmaker system, then they will have no rights to that buyer should they contact us again.  New business will be assigned to agents that are working the matchmaker system regularly.

Already, some Fillmore offices are jumping all over this opportunity.  One agent entered the 250 buyers that attended their open houses this year onto the system.  Agents are all now more diligent in getting the buyers email addresses, so they can get them registered and matched up.   I think that this MatchMaker system is just what the company needed to kickstart many agents online business activity.

We are already seeing increased activity and added value to our online marketing dollars!  Our call nights are getting agents to contact past buyers and activity is being generated.  We’re converting leads to MORE SALES!

I’ll keep you posted as to the progress of AgentDashboard’s MatchMaker.  If you have any great successes, please tell us that too.

I know that agents fighting over a deal isn’t good….but I can’t help but smile because I am happy that people are now fighting to get a home.  There is more activity out there and the sound of arguments is a welcomed one…I think.

Last month, Fillmore’s sales were up 22% over April of 2011.  There are multiple offers at open houses and it seems like things are finally looking up.  Now, I won’t get too excited here because this false hope has already occurred at least three times in this market.  I will tell you this though…any activity is good activity.  It’s like they say about publicity…any publicity is good publicity.  So, any activity is good activity.

I don’t know if Brooklyn is different than the rest of the country, but we’ve got a lot of fight in us, and it seems that these challenging times bring with them higher strung agents than normal (if that’s possible to believe).  It is for this reason that we are now instituting drinking on Fridays at my office.  That’s right..on Friday’s at 3PM, you can come to our corporate offices and enjoy a little networking and a cocktail or two.

We might not sell more houses, but we’ll have a lot of fun trying!

CHEERS!  Here’s to a brighter Spring selling season.  Hope it’s a great one.
If you’re having a better market, or if you’ve heard of good stories, let us know.  It’s about time we heard some good things happening in the real estate industry.

Share This Post

We’ve been consolidating for the past few years and it always seems to be read by the agents as a step back.  We know that it simply doesn’ t make sense to have all the bricks out there anymore.  It’s a painful sight for a broker to walk into a sales office and see just  a couple of agents “sucking up the heat” as dad would say.  Things have certainly changed and its about time that we change with the times.

We’re excited because we are looking at the changes that we’re going to be making in 2012 as a wonderful opportunity to recreate the company into the powerhouse of the future.  That’s right..the powerhouse of the future.
We’re taking the resources away from extra offices and putting them towards better and proven marketing strategies that work for todays marketplace.   We’re moving from BRICKS to CLICKS!

Our new offices are going to be revamped and reorganized with more casual and open environments that will attract more agents.  It’s something different.  I’ll go into the different parts of the strategy in upcoming posts, but just to touch upon the theme, we’re putting in living room areas with large screen media centers, cutting back on the traditional desk space and creating coffee bars and places where agents want to come and get their fix of socialization and information.

I look forward to sharing the new Fillmore.  The future of the real estate brokerage in Brooklyn and beyond.  Stay Tuned!

Share This Post