Team or Individual Agent?

As a current team leader and past member of a team, I may be a little biased when writing this article on whether or not joining a team is right for you... However, there was time in my life when I rolled as a solo agent and there were definitely many benefits to it. 

For starters, it gave me the opportunity to grow my brand separate from my team lead. Another, is it taught me how to really work for my business, instead of passively waiting for a new lead to hit my inbox. And although it was no easy feat, I definitely credit much of my success to those years when I struggled as a solo agent. 

Regardless of whether you are an individual agent or on a team, you may be wondering if it’s time for you to make a switch. Personally, I began as an individual agent at an almost all-male brokerage where I was on a 50/50 split with my broker. To top it off, I wasn’t being fed a single lead and had to purchase call lists out of my...

Soooo something fun happened yesterday....

I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Kyle Malnati of Calibrate Real Estate in Colorado and be featured on his hit podcast and it officially aired TODAY!

Like wow, pinch me I must be dreaming! This has been a huge goal of mine since the beginning of the year and I feel absolutely honored to be selected as a guest star.

In this episode, we go deep and explore how I got started in RE, what drives me, how I structured my business as a mom, wife, realtor - in that order - and still manage to make a consistent 6-figure salary year-after-year.  

Listen in right here.

Has the Pandemic got you hitting the “Panic” button for your realty biz? 

Maybe you’re struggling with getting buyers under contract or motivating sellers to list with you? Regardless, these past few months have been a real doozy for many real estate agents, especially our green friends who have never had to work through a sticky market like this. 

Of course, this is no matter to be taken lightly, but you’re probably wondering {and worrying} how you’re going to hit your target goals you made at the beginning of the year (you know, before all the earthquakes, wildfires, killer bees, shutdowns, etc.) aannnddd, more importantly, how are you going to feed your family? How are you going to pay your bills? Afterall, you have a mortgage to pay, kids to clothe, people who depend on you, and, don’t forget, your monthly mani and root touch-up. #selfcareishealthcare

Sounds to me like it’s time for a redirect - or,...

A year ago today, I can remember things being much different…

Of course every year comes with its highs and lows, but I miss the days of being able to write contracts sight-unseen and have an acceptance in my mailbox by 5 o’clock. I miss the days of being able to write a full-price offer with no contingencies, generous earnest and down money and know for certain I had the deal Ziplock sealed. I miss having more than 3 properties on the market that matched my clients’ criteria. I miss not having to compete in brutal multiple-offer situations and tacking on escalation clauses and absurdly high earnest money (ya feel me?).

In hindsight, last year’s market seemed just about ideal. Then, buyers at least had the time to think before putting in an offer. Now, it’s not a bad idea to have a contract prepared BEFORE you even walk into a property (and if you don’t, well... you’ve already lost before you’ve even begun....

Are listings in your area almost impossible to come by?

Like, you have dozens of eager buyers in your back pocket, writing contracts left and right for just about any home they can afford and yet… Nothing? No dice? Not a chance? Your foot’s not even in the door thanks to cash offers and absurd escalation clauses.

If your town is anything like mine, then you desperately NEED listings. I mean, I’m looking at the hot sheet right now and it shows 55 properties listed and 52 pending. Now, I live in a pretty small town so those numbers may sound small to you (and trust me, they are for me too. Last year around this time the numbers were double and triple what they are today) but since March we’ve had thousands of buyers flock here in search of safety from the pandemic. Our market just can’t keep up with the buyer demand, forcing us realtors to scramble for listings. 

And I know you’re thinking, “But, Nicole, how...

Imagine ...

A letter from a very concerned (hypothetical) buyer:

My dearest agent,

In the short time we have been together, you have done your hardest to help me, yet, it wasn’t that you didn’t do enough, you did too much.

Regretfully, I have but three grievances that I feel I must share with you if we are to proceed with this relationship:

1. Please, don’t walk me through 35 homes. It’s confusing, I have blisters on my tootsies, and I just can’t keep straight which homes are which (and honestly, I still don’t know the difference between a porte-cochère and a driveway). 

2. Please, don’t show me property over my budget. It makes me sad and I binge-eat my feelings. My wallet - and now my pants - just can’t handle that. 

3. Please, don’t leave it up to me to determine value. I am not an expert here. STRESS! 

Listen, you’re great... And, I’d like to continue working with you - but only...

Has the pandemic taken a toll on your business (and your optimism)?

Have the past few months been a real doozy to your real estate biz?

If you’re like many other agents out there, you’ve been riding out these past few months like a SoCal surfer looking to catch a wave on Lake Tahoe in the middle of winter.

Maybe you’ve had an interested buyer here and there, but they back out last minute or say they’re “waiting” until the market has stabilized. Meanwhile, your bank account is slowly getting depleted from zero closings and sad buying Chinese take out.

Take heart, here's a few things we know to be true:

1. Unlike the economic crisis of 2008, the current recession was not caused by the housing industry

2. Home prices have not decreased since March and are not projected to

3. Homes are still selling and deals are happening

So what can you do differently?

I have a few suggestions:

1. Every website visitor, call-in, like,...

1.  Waiting for your customers to call you

This happens like, never. Ever.

If it does, go you!

But the reality of this happening is about as common as your jam coming on and everyone at the party doing a  coordinated dance routine to it. It is up to you to pick up your phone and make a call! If you don’t, someone else will.

And if you’re nervous about what to say, I’ve got a few great scripts for that here. No excuses now, get calling!

2. Not having a system

Not having a system… is a system.

Believe it or not, you have things that you do every single day without even realizing it. You wake up, brush your teeth, run a comb through your hair, grab a cup of coffee, and start trolling the IG = A SYSTEM.

You may be doing this subconsciously, but it is still a system. 

Many of you may be starting out and have no idea what kind of system to use. I mean, there’s just so many to choose from!

You have Real Geeks, Boomtown,...

Still waiting for an offer?

Is your listing sitting days on end on the market without a single offer? Odds are, there’s nothing wrong with your home! It’s most likely a matter of price.

Here’s a quick tip I live by:

• If you are receiving no showings and no offers, you’re roughly 10% above market value.
• If you’re receiving tons of showings, and are waiting around for an offer, you’re likely 5% over market value.

Take a look at the MLS and see where your listing falls in relation to other properties according to price.

Is your home comparable? Is yours as nice? As big? As updated? As “showing ready”? Does it merit that price tag?

You want your listing to show first on the MLS. Always. 

How it works.

For example, if someone is searching for a home under $400K, 4 bed, 3 ba, w/ .25 acre, and there’s already a home on the market in the same neighborhood with that exact criteria, then you’d want to price your...

Get in. Get out.

I am best known for my "Get in. Get out." method of business. The typical amount of time I spend on getting a client pre-approved and under contract is an average of 7-14 days. Not that I don't looovvvee spending time with them - my clients are my favorite people! However, in the current market, if you don't act fast, you've already lost before you've even submitted an offer.

Do you want to know how to get your clients under contract in 7 days? Well, keep reading!

Pre-qualify your clients.

Ask the right questions.

Learn their wants and needs and listen intently to their motivation. Stay within the parameters of their criteria.

Don't show them property over their price range or projects when they have asked for move-in ready. Show them EXACTLY what they need and don't go beyond those boundaries. 

Know what they can afford.

Obtain a copy of the pre-qualification letter from the lender and do not start showing them property until you...