Through my membership in the British American Business Council (BABC), I always manage to stay well connected within the British business community in Houston.  I was recently introduced to Andrew Millar, who is the British Consul General, shortly after his relocation to Houston.  He was kind enough to agree to let me interview him about his relocation adventures and early impressions of Houston so that I could share it with the readers of my blog. 

You might be wondering to yourself, “What exactly does a British Consul General do?”  This was my first question to Mr. Millar, who explained:  “Within every country we are represented and have an Embassy.  There are 9 Consul Generals in the U.S., as well as the Embassy in Washington. I cover: Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas.”  He explained that there are 3 key areas to his role:

1. Consular – looking after the interests of British subjects in the states that he covers.

2. Commercial – promoting the UK as an investment destination and British exports to this region.

3.  Political – keeping in close contact with the political and government sectors in the region.

Now that I had a better understanding of he role, I asked Mr.Millar to share his first impressions of Houston with me.  His reaction wasn’t that surprising, as he addressed the size and weather immediately.  He said, “Good heavens, it’s so big!  It’s a huge city physically.  The first thing that hits you is the heat, and the second thing is the sheer physical size of Houston.”  As to the general feel and culture of Houston, he added, “It is open and friendly.  I have yet to experience a city where I have actually felt so welcomed everywhere I have gone.”  I told him that he wasn’t alone in this sentiment, as this is probably the most common impression that people seem to have about Houston.  It is an extremely friendly city, and we enjoy welcoming newcomers to Houston.

But, no relocation is without its challenges.  I asked Mr. Millar to tell me about the challenges faced by him and his family upon their move to Houston.  He said, “When you are uprooting a family, particularly with small children and dislocating them from their friends and networks, you know that this is a huge impact on their lives.  The way that you manage that is to make sure that they are in as welcoming an environment as possible.  Texas is a great place to do that. You also have to remember that the partner moving with you has to keep everything together.  It’s often much easier for the employee, while your partner has to parachute into all the strangeness that has to be dealt with as a family.”  This is a very important point, and often key to the success (or failure) of a family’s relocation.

There are always creature comforts from back home that people miss upon relocating to a new city.  I asked Mr. Millar to tell me what he misses most.  He said, “It would be the map of the London underground.  I am not used to driving everywhere, which you have to do here. London is a very dense and old city but with an amazingly good public transport infrastructure.”  Agreeably, Houston is not as pedestrian friendly, and you really do have to drive here!

I am always curious about the impact that social media has on the ability of people to stay connected with friends and family back home. For Mr. Millar, he said, “The beauty of social media is that it doesn’t matter where in the world you are, you can stay as connected with your group as you need to be.  Skype comes in very useful and helps with the visual stimulus for small children who get easily bored on the telephone.  It makes a difference when you are used to family being close by, and suddenly they aren’t.  You can use these tools to stay connected and in constant contact.”

Finally, I asked Mr. Millar what advice he would offer to other Expats moving to Houston? He said, “Get your banking sorted out before you come, particularly if you need to shift money to buy cars and other large purchases.  There are a lot of things that you need to think about and manage before you come over, so doing the research is really important: where to live; what car to buy; which schools to send your children to.  The Internet is a great way to do this.”

I am always interested in hearing from people who have relocated to Houston.  If you would like to share your relocation story or experiences with me, please contact me.

Hot off the press from the HAR (Houston Association of Realtors) Newsroom:  Houston-area home sales rise for a fourth straight month!  As I have been reporting all year, things are going very well in Houston.  The latest MLS statistics for September 2011 state that sales of single-family homes in the Houston area have increased nearly 17 percent as compared to last year this time.  And, this represents the fourth consecutive month of increased sales volume.  Our months of inventory also fell to the lowest level since May 2010.  At the same time, pending sales rose, while active listings declined.  According to the report, “All are considered signs of a healthy and balanced housing market.”

The average price of a single-family home in the Houston area for September 2011 was $213,334, which is the highest level ever for a September in Houston.  The median price was up 1.6 percent to $157,500, which is also a September high for Houston.

The sale of all property types in Houston were up 15.9 percent from last September, and there were 5,469 total property sales.  As for the total dollar volume in September, that figure was also up 16 percent at $1.1 billion.  Click here to read the September MLS Press Release

Being extremely knowledgeable about the state of our current Houston real estate market is an important facet to our relocation business.  As we work with transferees and relocation companies to market and sell properties, a key factor is always pricing a property correctly to sell within a very short time frame.  This is not the time to price a property at a high price and ask for price reduction after price reduction.  We are expected to evaluate a property, devise an aggressive marketing strategy, and price it to sell at the onset.  This is also an important element to the relocation training that I provide to our agents.  Our next relocation training and certification class is tomorrow on Worldwide ERC’s BMA (Broker Market Analysis).  I have found this to be one of the single most important and beneficial relocation training classes that I teach.  (Feel free to reach out to me for more information about our Relocation Training and Certification Program).

We have been very fortunate in Houston to have a much more stable real estate market as compared to other parts of the country.  From a relocation standpoint, we have been equally as fortunate as mobility to the Houston area continues at a rapid pace.  Transferees are often surprised by real estate prices in Houston, and the fact that they can often get quite a bit of home for their money.

We certainly have an active real estate market in Houston, and it’s great to be able to report that our home sales are consistently on the rise.  As a company, John Daugherty, Realtors has been exceeding our sales goals nearly every month so far this year.  Our relocation business has also enjoyed a huge increase this year as compared to 2010, and I expect it to continue to rise through the end of the year and deep into 2012.

It’s hard to believe that we are already in the fourth quarter of the year, but thankfully this has been a very fast a furious year, and Houston is still the place to be!

I have been a member of the British American Business Council Houston (BABC) now for a couple of years, and I always really enjoy their events.  Most recently, I attended the BABC International Business Awards Finalists Reception.  The success of the Houston Chapter of the BABC can greatly be attributed to the organization’s Executive Director, Becci Himes.  She provides tremendous support and leadership to the organization, and is always making introductions between members. 

One of the people that I had an opportunity to meet at this recent gathering was Steve Powell, Senior Vice President of Business Development for the Houston Dynamo.   He graciously agreed to chat with me by phone, as I interviewed him for my Houston Relocation Blog.  He told me that he has been in the U.S. off and on for about 30 years now, and he shared with me some of the excitement surrounding the Houston Dynamo and the building of the new stadium, which is due for completion in May 2012.

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation…

While I was meant to be the one doing the interviewing, Steve started by asking me a very poignant question:  “So Michelle, who are the readers of your blog?”  “Great question,” said I!  I shared with him that my blog is currently bringing in about 3,500+ hits every month, with a growing number of readers and followers every week.  I told him that my audience tends to be quite diverse, including people who are involved in the global relocation industry and real estate throughout the Houston area, as well as around Texas, nationally and some international followers.  That includes many transferees, relocation management companies, various corporations and organizations, HR professionals, real estate professionals, my competitors, and pretty much anybody in between.

I told Steve that one of the main purposes of my Houston Relocation Blog is to continually build a buzz around things that make Houston such an exciting city to live in, and what better than to discuss the excitement surrounding the Houston Dynamo and the building of the new stadium.

Like so many of the wonderful people who I have met through the BABC, Steve hales from London, England, but has planted roots here in Houston.  Soccer, of course, is HUGE in the U.K.

While soccer is a newer sport to me than my beloved football (the kind with the helmets and pads), I have always admired its worldwide popularity, and have wondered why it has such a comparatively slower appeal to the masses here in the U.S.  I asked Steve what he thought the biggest difference is between soccer in the U.S. and in Houston, versus soccer in Europe.  He responded, “I put a lot of it down to history.  In the U.K., it’s the sport.”  He said that the league itself is a lot older…130 or 140 years old.  He added, “Soccer has put some significant anchors down in south Texas.  There are more boys and girls playing soccer right now than any other sport.”  He said that it’s much more educated now, with a lot of people having grown up with soccer, who are now watching their kids play soccer.

We also talked a lot about the Dynamo and the appeal for Houston’s international community.  Houston is very much a melting pot, and has become residence to many international transferees who have moved to Houston by way of their employers.  Steve said that there are also a lot of international people who have moved to Houston who have brought the love of soccer with them.  When they find out about the teams available through the schools and extracurricular activities, as well as the Dynamo, it becomes very exciting and important to them. Houston is very diverse city, with a large international population, and a growing number of people living here in Houston who support and are fans of soccer.

I asked Steve how the season ticket sales were coming along.  He said with great enthusiasm that they are “selling seats like crazy.”  He said, “We have 33 suites, and more than 50 percent of those have already sold.   Additionally, we have already sold out of our club seats.  We did a lot of research to price it correctly.”  He said that the Dynamo games offer great client entertainment.  They have a lot of oil and gas companies that have bought season tickets and that he wants to encourage companies to consider season ticket purchases as a great way to develop business relationships for both the U.S. based and overseas clients.

With regards to the upcoming season, Steve says that they are revving up the excitement and selling season tickets.   “We are only going to have one time to do this right and maximize the enthusiasm and excitement of a new venue, and this is that time. You’ve got to make that great first impression,” he said.

With only less than 50 percent of their suites available, Steve says that he wants to be in a position to be able to invite as many companies as possible to take advantage of these opportunities before they are gone.  Once they are gone, they are gone for 3 years.  They are also looking at companies that might end up getting the naming rights for the stadium.  They plan to have 40-50 events per year at this venue, and they are looking for the right company for those naming rights.

I asked Steve to share with me his experiences with the BABC Houston, the benefits he has enjoyed, and his involvement.  He quickly stated, “Becci Himes is a friend.  We have involvement in many chambers, but BABC has been especially fruitful in making us the right introductions.  It has provided us with great opportunities to meet and connect with other great people (such as yourself), and businesses that understand what we are about and have similar goals.”  I couldn’t agree more!  The BABC Houston is one of the most important Houston organizations that I belong to as well.  And I agree, a big shout out to Becci Himes is in order!  She gets it!

David Beckham

Steve and I ended our discussion with the excitement surrounding the Dynamo season finale game on October 23^rd.  Why is this such an exciting way to end the season, you ask?  Well, the game is against the L.A. Galaxy, which boasts of a player named David Beckham.  You may have heard of him!  Steve also mentioned that this game represents the team’s last regular season game in Robertson’s Stadium, which is a finale in itself.

As for me, I am very excited about the Houston Dynamo and hope that you will be too!  I hope to see you at a future game.  If you are new to the Houston area, this is the perfect way to get fired up about our new love of soccer.

For season ticket information, please call 713.276.GOAL (4625) or visit www.houstondynamo.com.

As you know, I am very active on social media sites.  Actually, “active” is probably a bit of an understatement.  I would call myself more of a social media junkie!  That’s right, I am addicted.  But, with good reason…the best reason…it has brought me increased business opportunities.  As a direct result of my Houston Relocation Blog, and the vast amount of time that I spend on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, I have attracted valuable followers and developed meaningful personal and business relationships.

While there are many people out there in real estate and relocation circles who share my passion, I was recently reminded of the many things that real estate agents could and should be doing to promote themselves, their listings and our company in a similar way. 

Last week, we brought national social media speaker, James Goddard, to Houston to speak at our company’s sales meeting about the impact of social media in real estate.  Goddard provided our agents with many tips regarding what they should be doing and some goals to set for themselves.  For instance, he said that all agents should be on Facebook and LinkedIn and establishing their on-line SOI (Sphere Of Influence).  He also pointed out that these sites offer agents the ability to market themselves to a wide array of friends and followers…for free!

Goddard also urged everyone to set a goal for themselves of getting 1000+ friends on Facebook.  This may sound like a lofty goal, but you would be surprised at how quickly your friend list can increase if you really put yourself out there. 

Of course, everyone has their own comfort level when it comes to using social media.  While my personal approach is one of transparency and high frequency of posting, not everyone wants to use it in the same way, and some may choose to abstain from its use all together.  It’s definitely a personal choice. 

As for the impact of social media on real estate, I would say that in general, it is often underutilized by real estate companies and their agents.  Like any marketing strategy, you have to have a plan for how you are going to use it, and be committed to executing your strategy on a daily basis.  

As for me, and my focus on Houston Relocation, the impact of social media has been significant.  There continues to be a direct correlation between my über on-line activities and new business opportunities. 

(To follow social media junkie Michelle Sandlin, please click here: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter)

Stephanie Pfeffer, Vice President of Marketing for Luxury Portfolio, recently visited John Daugherty, Realtors to present new tools and features and remind us of the many benefits afforded to our agents and company through our membership in Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, and it’s luxury arm, Luxury Portfolio.

I had the opportunity to join Stephanie for dinner the night before and got an inside look at the many new features headed our way and the innovations coming soon from Luxury Portfolio.  Stephanie shares my enthusiasm about social media and web marketing.  It is always fascinating to visit with her and discuss all the cool things that are coming down the pipe for Luxury Portfolio members.

Our membership in Leading Real Estate Companies of the World gives John Daugherty, Realtors access to the largest global network of independently owned real estate companies.  There are 550 members, with 5,000 offices and 150,000 sales associates globally.   In 2010 all of the companies that make up LeadingRE collectively had more sales volume than any other brand.  This is a valuable distinction in the luxury real estate marketplace.

One of the greatest benefits of membership to us as a company is the ability to strengthen our credibility.   It also allows us to establish our global brand, receive targeted property exposure, stay on the leading edge of luxury, and benefit from tangible marketing results.

Stephanie reminded us that LuxuryPortfolio.com has the most global market share and the most U.S. market share over competing brands, including SothebysRealty.com, ChristiesGreatEstates.com and ColdwellBankerPreviews.com.

Stephanie said, “We are truly a luxury website.  Globally, 83% of Luxury Portfolio listings are priced at $1 million  and above.”  In contrast, Sotheby’s, has 59% of their listings priced below $1 million.

Here are some other cool statistics that she shared with us about Luxury Portfolio’s members:

• Total listing inventory is $40 Billion
•  Average property is $2,535,000
• 13,325 listings are $1M+
• 1,283 listings are $5M+
• 390 listings are $10M+
• Many renowned and celebrity homes
• Frequently the top listings globally

As members, our listings are featured prominently throughout their site.  Any listing that we have that is $750,000 or above is automatically included on the Luxury Portfolio web site.  This allows us to maximize the international exposure that we can provide to our luxury listings, which gives us a competitive edge in the Houston real estate market.

Members are driving traffic to each other’s listings and each other’s web sites as a result of the marketing exposure provided throughout the network.

Stephanie also talked about the importance of establishing our global brand through our membership in the network.  She stated, “We make you as powerful globally as you are locally by delivering the very best search engine optimization in the luxury real estate space, linking you to Luxury Portfolio brokerages across the globe, and giving you access to all of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World.”

Stephanie added that in the global market, Luxury Portfolio reaches 200 countries every month, so there is an unbelievable international audience coming to look at our listings on the LuxuryPortfolio.com.  She said that they are seeing a huge international audience coming to the web site, and visitors are interested in the luxury lifestyle, not just real estate.  Their advertising program reaches over 47 million targeted luxury consumers each year.

Luxury Portfolio is also leveraging social media and has become big in the social media space through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Stephanie said that it tends to be a very highly affluent group of people who visit their web site in search of luxury real estate throughout the U.S and Internationally.  Therefore, she pointed out the importance of great photography, which is something that is also very important to us as a company and for the marketing of each of our listings.

Stephanie concluded with some key take-aways from a white paper that was released last week.  It is based on research that Luxury Portfolio did with luxury consumers who are American Express cardholders representing the top 10% of consumers in the U.S.  She said that, ”None of this is shocking, but it is validating.”  What came out of this research were 5 key findings in regards to the things that are important to luxury consumers:

1. Reputation is paramount
2. Elegant websites are important, but equally important is:
• Web site popularity
• The number of luxury properties represented
• Proven on-line presence and tracking statistics
3. Top priority is market knowledge and experience AND global reach
4. Elegant printed advertising is vital
5. Magazine advertising is desired as is a designated agency magazine where affluent expect to find real estate tips and home design trends

One of the most interesting things about what I do, is the opportunity to meet people from all over the world.  We recently assisted Simon Collingwood, originally from the U.K., in finding a home in Houston in connection with his relocation here.  Shortly after he and his family moved into their new Houston home, I had a chance meeting with Simon at a BABC (British American Business Council) event.  It’s always fun to hear the initial impressions that people have about Houston.  I asked Simon if he would share a few of his thoughts with me that I could include on my blog.  He graciously agreed!  Here are the highlights from our conversation…

What was the reason for your move to Houston?

“I work for a British government organization called UK Trade & Investment.  We have 3 objectives: 1) to provide services that support British companies to develop their business in the U.S.; 2) to support U.K.  companies so they can build their companies internationally, and we strongly believe that U.S. companies ought to be building their business internationally by landing in the U.K.; 3) to sell the U.K., and to make sure people know that the U.K. is a special partner for the U.S. across a range of fronts, especially focused on the commercial aspect. I am here because we have been taking a hard look at how we approach our work in the U.S.  and we see a lot of opportunity in the southern parts of the U.S.  This is where the job growth is, the economic growth and the strong focus on the business environment.  We are engaging with the local biz community.”  He said that his job is to lead 3 teams:  one based in Houston, one based in Miami and one based in Atlanta.  “We are part of the fabric of the British Consulate and the broader communities we operate within.”

How long have you been with UK Trade & Investment?

“I have been in Houston for 4 weeks, and was based in NY for 3 years prior to this.”   He said that they have grown the Houston team and the team in Atlanta, which is all about increasing the efforts they have in the southern U.S.  “We support over 3,000 British companies each year, and last year we helped 190 U.S. companies to grow their biz in the U.K.”

When you first arrived, what was the most challenging thing for you and/or your family?

Jokingly, he replied, “The heat.”  He said that while the heat is a challenge, it’s actually quite enjoyable. “It’s nice seeing blue skies everyday or most days anyway.  The challenge though, whenever you move anywhere with a family is that you have to resettle into a new community.  That’s one of the great things that Houston has going for it though. We have found it a very friendly place.  A colleague of mine said just the other day that there is a presumption among Houston society that you will be friends, that you will get on, that you will do biz together; you may not have worked it out quite yet, but you will do over the weeks or months ahead.”  This is always so nice to hear as people move to Houston.  The common impression of Houston always seems to be about what a friendly city it is.

What do you like best about living in Houston?

“I like the new job, the new challenge, and the fact that I am doing something new for myself personally.  Professionally, this is a great opportunity.  I’m getting out and meeting some fantastic companies, and some great individuals who are doing some extraordinary things, whether they are large corporations or small or medium sized enterprises or start-up companies.”

What has been the biggest adjustment for you and your family?

“The biggest adjustment has been in moving from an apartment to a house.  We’ve got  more space and don’t know how to fill all of those square feet and empty walls.  Getting used to driving has been a bit of an adjustment.  We didn’t need a car previously, but in Houston  we’ve gone from zero cars to two cars.”  He added though that he likes that he can still walk to restaurants from where they live.

How does housing in Houston compare to other cities you have lived?

He told me that they had moved from a doorman building in New York and living on a fairly high floor.  “Here in Houston we have a house, which is larger.  We also have a garage, and a small garden.  I have never lived anywhere so large.  It feels luxurious!”

Where else have you lived prior to your move to Houston?

“I am originally from  Manchester.  I have also lived in London, Sydney,  and Beijing.”

Do you see your move as more of an opportunity or an adventure?  Why?

“It’s an opportunity and an adventure; it’s both.  It’s an opportunity for me to do a new type of job.  My role is to be very outward focused. I’m here to meet people, engage with them and connect with them in some way.  I’m here to tell them about the U.K., and for U.K. companies and U.S. companies to help them out and introduce them to potential business opportunities.”

What would be a good take-away for someone meeting you?

“I would want people to walk away thinking that the U.K. is a great place: active, innovative, engaging with firm roots in the past.  I would also hope people will see  that the British government is very active in trying to support businesses to grow.  We are a very pro-business government.  The U.K. is “Open for Business.”  Whether or not they are a U.K. company or a U.S. company, the U.K. Trade & Investment is an organization that can support them, whether through investing in the U.K. or through growing their business here.  We are an organization that has extraordinarily good links in the business communities on both side of the pond and internationally and we are an organization that can support them.”

How is your organization using social media, and how has it impacted your ability to stay connected with friends and family back home?

“We are using social media.  Like others we are learning, finding our way.  We are certainly putting messages out there.  We have twitter feeds from various locations to let people know what we are doing, and we have various LinkedIn profiles. Facebook is something we have toyed with.  It’s not a platform that we have been particularly active on as an organization.  For me personally Facebook  is about having an umbilical cord  to friends and family in the U.K.”

What advice would you offer to other Expats moving to Houston?

“The British government moves people around all over the world all of the time, whether they are ambassadors, diplomats, consultants, or whatever it might be.  You would expect that there would be a huge amount of people out there who were facilitating that, and this is true to a point.  But at the same time, there is a need to engage with organizations that can deliver specific services.  And that’s what we did with you guys, and it was a very positive experience.  We went out with Sharon, and we saw lots of houses, and all of them blew us away in a different way.  They were all absolutely fantastic houses, and all absolutely on-message and to the script of what we wanted.  The one we got, because of your assistance, was one that we really liked and we knew when we walked in was a serious contender, and here we are a few weeks later living there.”

Do you see yourself staying in Houston long term?

“The one constant is change, so I really don’t know where I will be.  Houston so far has been very welcoming and we are having a great time living here.  We are really enjoying our evenings and weekends.  We are looking to get out of Houston a bit more and are going to see Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and New Orleans.  This is the adventure part of it.  We now have an opportunity to see a different part of the U.S.  From what we have seen so far, Houston is a very enjoyable city to live in.”

Wondering where I have been?  All over the place!  In mid-May I was in Las Vegas for the Worldwide ERC National Relocation Conference, followed by a V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!  While vacations are rare for me, what is even more rare is for me to take one without so much as a laptop.  On this particular occasion though, a work-free zone had been established.  But, what I want to focus on today, is the Worldwide ERC Conference.

And what a Conference it was!  I have attended many WERC Conferences over the years, including 5 of the last 5, and I have to say that this one was by far the best one I have ever attended.  Why, you ask?  For starters, there seemed to be an indescribable, indisputable energy surrounding the Conference.  The chatter was lively and the networking was incredible!  I also thought that the educational sessions were great and the speakers exceptional. 

Technology and social media also played a big part in the Conference.  There was a live Twitter board that allowed attendees to view the live tweets going on throughout the Conference.  As an avid tweeter, I really loved taking part in this!

One of the big changes that has occurred as a benefit to members has to do with the administering of the GMS (Global Mobility Specialist) Program, which I attended on the 2 days leading up to the Conference.  This program is divided into 3 separate Modules, the first of which was only available on-line, while Modules 2 & 3 were conducted in a live classroom setting.  The fact that Module 1 was only available on-line was a switch to the traditional way the Program has been structured, with all 3 Modules taken in a classroom setting.  Soon all 3 Modules will be available on-line, making it easier for relocation industry professionals to take the Modules toward receiving their GMS Designation.  For more information on the GMS Designation, please visit:  GMS Information

As Worldwide ERC continues to evolve through the dynamic leadership of CEO Peggy Smith and the actions taken by the Board, members and conference attendees continue to be amazed.  As promised by Peggy when she took over the position a year ago, Worldwide ERC has really been listening to its members and rolling out new initiatives and benefits that were echoed throughout the conference.  Everyone I spoke with remarked about the renewed energy level and cross-the-board improvements being made by the organization.

I am already looking forward to the Worldwide ERC Global Workforce Symposium, which will be held in Denver in October.  See you there!

If it seems like I just returned from Vegas for a relocation trip, you are right.  I was just there for 6 days in March for the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and Luxury Portfolio Conferences.  And tomorrow, I head back to Vegas for more.  This time it is for the Worldwide ERC’s National Relocation Conference.  It is sure to be a jam-packed, fun-filled 5 days.

It all kicks off with the Global Mobility Specialist (GMS) Training Program.  This program consists of 3 Modules, the first of which I was able to take on-line prior to the Conference.  Once I have completed all 3 Modules and taken the comprehensive exam, I will have earned my GMS designation.  This designation will signify that I am specialized in the field of global workforce mobility and that I am committed to ongoing education to grow my expertise.  Having assisted many international assignees over the past 11 years, I understand the importance of the GMS education and look forward to enhancing my knowledge in this area.

Due to an overlapping of scheduled events, I will unfortunately not be able to attend the RDC (Relocation Directors Council) Conference this time.  I will, however, be attending the RDC Dinner, and look forward to catching up with my many Relocation Director buddies at that time, and throughout the week.

I am also excited to be presenting for the first time at the Worldwide ERC’s National Relocation Conference.  I will be presenting at a session entitled, “Social Media Lab – BYOL (Bring Your Own Laptop).”  This should be a very fun and informative hands-on session on social media marketing.  It will be held on Thursday, May 19th at 1:45, so I hope you can make it if you are attending the Conference.

Last, but not least, I have also been nominated for the 2010 Editorial Achievement Award, for my contributions to MOBILITY magazine, the monthly publication of Worldwide ERC.  The winner will be announced during the awards luncheon at the WERC Conference.  I wish that I could say that it’s an honor just to be nominated, but who am I kidding…I am in it to win it!  Please wish me luck.

So, there you have it…I have an exciting week coming up, and I am sure to tweet and blog my way through the week.  To follow me, please be sure and click on the links below.

Follow Michelle Sandlin:

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First of all, let me apologize for my absence during the month of April.  I have a good reason though…I have been absolutely swamped with Houston Relocation business!  It has just been booming, as people continue to move to Houston, both as a result of their job situations and through choice.  While I normally do most of my writing and blogging at night anyway, the off hours over the past several weeks have also been spent working, catching up on emails, reviewing BMAs and preparing for presentations.

Most recently, I was invited to be the featured speaker at the Women Council of Realtors Houston Chapter’s Business Resource Meeting.  The topic, of course, was Relocation.  My invitation to speak came from one of our agents, Margo Cunningham, who is also an Executive Officer for the WCR Houston Chapter and serves as Treasurer.

My presentation was entitled, “An Overview of the Relocation Industry as it Relates to Real Estate.”  The purpose of my presentation was to provide a little background on the relocation industry, discuss best practices and the importance of having a well-trained “Relocation Team” of agents, share my insight on current trends, and answer audience questions.  It was nice to have several people in attendance who were somewhat familiar with relocation and the nuances associated with real estate transactions involving relocation companies.  As I have said many times, relocation business is not meant to be handled by agents who are new to the business or have not had the proper training and experience necessary and required by relocation companies.

I concluded my presentation with a brief discussion regarding the effectiveness of Social Media Marketing as it relates to what I do for my company, our branding, and new business development opportunities.  WCR Houston Chapter President Tiffany Curry said, “We chose Michelle because of her ability to combine technology with her extensive experience in real estate, relocation, marketing and knack for business development.”

I have to say that perhaps the coolest part of being the featured speaker at the WCR Houston Chapter Meeting, was all of the buzz and publicity on the Internet in advance of the meeting. WCR did an excellent job at promoting the event, and I was very pleased when I stumbled upon the announcement, which read: 

“Join us for our exciting April Business Meeting with Houston ‘Relo Guru’ Michelle Sandlin, Director of Global Relocation Services for John Daugherty Realtors.” 

I love being called “Relo Guru,” which is my nickname around the office.  It started just after I joined John Daugherty Realtors, when a couple of the agents started referring to me as “Relo Guru.”  Then, one day, our Marketing Department made it official, and created this sign which proudly hangs just outside the door to my office.

As always, I look forward to sharing more with you on my experiences within the relocation industry!

Worldwide ERC is doing it AGAIN!  That’s right, they have a special introductory offer for first-time Corporate HR Attendees…they can attend the upcoming National Relocation Conference in Las Vegas for FREE!  That’s right, free!  To be eligible, you must be both: a Corporate/HR representative and a first-time National Relocation Conference attendee who is responsible for workforce mobility for your organization’s own employees and not involved in marketing, consulting, or any other commercial aspect of providing services related to workforce mobility for any organization.  If you meet these criteria, all you have to do is click on the link below to register.  Please be sure and enter the Promo Code:  NRCCORP11
Register for Worldwide ERC’s National Relocation Conference

This proved to be a very successful program at Worldwide ERC’s Global Relocation Conference in Seattle this past fall.  Please help promote this special offer among your regional relocation groups and organizations, and to your eligible corporate clients.