by Michael Bauknecht When the market continued to shift 2007-2008, I decided to identify other opportunities instead of trying to compete for listings. My mental diet was changing and I started focusing on the intersection between real estate and

By Scott Newman 1)   Find an expert to represent you This is the most important piece of advice I can possibly give you. But this is going to take some work on your part.  Unfortunately, any agent out there

By Scott R. Maesel At Sperry Van Ness, a 23-year-old national commercial real estate company, there has been an ongoing debate whether it is better to be a “generalist” or a “specialist” when it comes to one’s professional focus. The commercial

Agents often ask us for tips on what they can do to improve their websites without breaking the bank. We asked Chad Gardner, CA’s marketing coordinator who also developed the new ChicagoAgentMagazine.com website, to answer a few of the

By Casey Reagan Where We Are Today Examining the future role that the Internet and technology will play in the real estate world requires understanding of the impact the Internet has already made on the industry. We primarily see

By Stephanie Andre Short sales got your down? If you are like the majority of other agents we have spoken with, the mention of the words short sale probably makes you throw up in your mouth – just a

By Michael Michalak Going to and from appointments I am often asked many questions. “Are people buying?” “Is it a good time to buy?” People hear the news and are genuinely curious. Here are two great articles about the

Take the time to remember the basic legal issues that agents face daily When it comes to legal issues, the same rules apply for rookie agents and veteran experts. The only difference is that for rookies, this information is

Back in the Market By Barry Paoli Despite our current situation, I still predict that motivated buyers will spark the real estate market and speed the needed upturn. In order to help with this process, we need to give

Managing upward for continuous success By Joe Takash Managing Up: 1. The rare act of transparent communication with one’s professional superior or superiors to get needs met, thoughts heard and contribute to the success of boss, team and organization.

By Brian Hilliard In a market as tough as this, Realtors often want to know what they can do to meet more prospects and get more business. And while that’s certainly a good question, I’d submit that an even

By Steve Adams When economic times are good, the spirit of altruism seems to be at the forefront. Individuals and organizations look for ways they can make a positive impact on other people and their surroundings – even if

By Colin Rohlfing, LEED AP Not long ago, a major retailer launched its largest sustainability campaign to date. The retailer printed – yes, printed – 20 million, 16-page publications intended to help customers find budget-friendly ways to help the

By Eugenia M. Orr Our city is filled with people who want to be globally responsible, but don’t know where to start. As a real estate professional, there are many ways that you can point out features, items and

By Dirk Zeller Evaluating your performance against the statistics of other agents or companies in your market segment is a great starting point, but it is rarely enough to uncover your unique edge or point of difference. When you

By Douglas Smith Salespeople are getting hammered in today’s economic environment. Entire market segments have evaporated, potential clients are holding back on buying a home until the market changes and opportunities and new prospects are fewer and further between.