Efficient Lenders Needed! Reason #1 on how my team can help!

With all the changes in the lending landscape I think that it is important to change as well in some ways. The era of increased documentation has lead to increased processing times and paperwork delays. How then can a Loan Officer find the time to help promote their mutual business partners, be present at the networking meetings, attend the open houses, create the flyer’s and have the important face to face meetings with the clients. Let’s also not forget picking up the phone when the agent calls.

This led me to make a change that I have been contemplating for over a year. The reason that I did not take the leap before was always a financial choice. However, much of my business has come from being there to help the homeowner and all other parties through the transaction. To facilitate phone calls, watch the market and be present and visible. The last six months I felt hunkered down in a cave dealing with paperwork upon paperwork to make sure that our deals closed. This lead to less face to face and less time to be ahead of the market with innovative ideas and  good all fashioned face to face business. I felt like a telemarketer not a loan officer.

I decided that I needed to make sure that the files moved even when I was not in the office. While I was out generating more business for myself and my partners I wanted to make sure that the file did not stagnate over an updated pay-stub. I decided that I would hire  a team member that is the best in the business when it comes to creating a sale-able clean loan package. Upfront we will do a lot of work to make sure that the back end the closing is as smooth as possible. Chris Kohler is going to be a valuable addition to the team and I feel privileged that he accepted the role. It has been 9 days that we have began and I think that we have really made it seamless. I have five reasons that I know will be positive for us and all those that we are blessed to work with. So here is the first reason that the new change I have employed will help your business in 2010!

Reason #1 : Two experienced professionals working on your closing

What does this mean?

• My new partnership with an experienced associate will make certain that the smallest details of a transaction (that make or break a deal) are quickly addressed and followed up on. Two sets of eyes are better than one and ensure that no point is overlooked on your purchase transaction.

• Your buyer will rarely wait, if at all to have their question answered.

• While I am Pre-approving your client on the spot, my inside team will make sure our other transactions are still moving forward in an efficient manner.

• Increased Time for Marketing, Open House & Tours

• Continuity in the transaction

• Imagine your life without a transaction coordinator. That is how I have been serving you over the years. Adding my associate will be like having a TA on the lending side so that we can focus on what we do best.

Stay Tuned for reasons 2-5. If you would like a copy of the power point to review at your leisure message me or if you want to hear more about the change in person let’s do coffee. I am really excited for 2010. May it be fabulous for you.

Join my Fan Page California Home Strategies Today.

Successful Thinkers at the Park

Last night, I had the opportunity to attend and event at the park. The event was the Successful Thinkers meet-up and the energy was electric. John Orozco and Rickey Sanchez of A2B concepts were the hosts of the event and they did an outstanding job.

This was the very first time I had attended an event like this and I did not know what to expect. I was thinking that it would be another night of drinks and networking more of the usual conversation. Hi I am Matt who are you? Awesome what do you do for a living? Then a little of acting interested or acting like you understand what they are telling you when you are thinking I can’t wait to get out of this conversation. Sounding a little negative? I am just trying to be honest. We have all been there because we are human and we all have a goal that we would like to reach in our lives.

How was the Successful Thinkers meetup different? This was the first time that I had conversations and my occupation was not the first thing to come up. People asked about me and who I am and what I represent and told me a little about themselves. Occupation was secondary. It has always been my opinion that my occupation is not who I am but simply what I do and this was the first time I felt like others cared about that.

How did the night go? When I first arrived I gave a business card to the person that was registering everyone, Gina. I filled out a name tag and began to socialize. After about a half hour of socializing everyone sat down and the hosts said a quick introduction and rolled right into the agenda. The first thing they did was highlight a few local businesses that are doing things out there. The first speaker Gina was a breast cancer survivor and she is doing some awesome things for raising funds and providing resources for those that have breast cancer. Next was Marlo who runs a family Jewelry store in Elk Grove. From there they had some giveaways provided by business owners within the network. The gifts were awesome and the winners were very excited. Especially the guy who one the girls t-shirt. After the giveaways , Robert Velarde stepped up and hit a home run explaining the purpose, the mission and the design of the Successful Thinkers community. He was inspiring and informational. Nick Lynch followed to explain just a few of the many amazing things that are going to happen at the November 6th event featuring the main speaker Rudy Ruettiger. Yes you read that correctly the same Rudy from the movie continues his story and inspiration right here in Roseville California at Adventure Church. If you would like to go the event is free if you sign up to SuccessfulThinkers.com and create a profile with a photo and a bio. If you are like me you may be asking what is the catch. That is whay I went to the event in the first place. To determine what I was not reading or seeing. However, there is no catch.  If you would like to attend the event just go to Successful Thinkers and sign up. My referral ID is 6228 so be sure to let them know I sent you. Remember to create a bio so that you can go on the 6th for free. If you are scared that there is still a catch like I was don’t let that stop you from going. You can pay $25 at the door and still get hundreds of dollars worth of information and inspiration.

The night capped off with more networking. I truly enjoyed the format of the Successful Thinkers eetup and know that it will not be the last event that I attend. Stay tuned for all the great stuff that will be coming soon…………. By the Way thank you Robert Velarde for all the very kind words about my blog and my business. Your delivery is both genuine and passionate…………Thank you Rickey Sanchez and John Orozco for arranging the event……………….In the closing words of Mr. Robert Velarde, “See you at the Top.”

Marketing Focus: Where do you spend your time?

Yesterday morning I was at my networking group meeting. This is not the normal Letip or BNI group it is more than that for me. It is called the Christian Business Roundtable. We are group of men that share the same Faith gathering to sharpen each other and hold each other accountable in business and in life. It was my second meeting and my very first formal meeting. Each meeting it is practice of the group to have a Best Practices portion where we can share and expand each others business arsenal if you will. Today the Question was:

You just sold your business to a conglomerate and have agreed to remain for a few months as a consultant. You will receive 100K bonus if you can increase sale by 20% in the next six months but you have been allotted only a limited increase in your marketing budget and no media advertising budget.

You have gotten together with an Advisory Board to give you straight talk about ideas to drive traffic. Start getting the advice now!

• What “out of the box” marketing steps can be taken in: Special Promotions, Network Marketing, Newsworthy Press Release, Low cost Direct Mail etc.
• What steps will drive more traffic to your product or service?

As I left that meeting I had so many ideas to work on for my business but the one that stuck out was based on affiliate marketing. When market others services our reward internally is great. In addition external reward via increase in our business is nearly always the result. However, I do not want to rest on my own understanding. I realized that Facebook and Twitter have given me a large audience of business professionals. These professionals that I have come to know are always thinking outside of the box to drive more traffic. So I figured I would ask my advisory board.

What steps would you take to increase your revenue by 20% in six months? Share them hear with all of our readers and watch the explosive power of two or more.

Don’t take my word for it:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, the other can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

***** This information is not my own. It was borrowed from the Christian Business Roundtable that I am involved with. The post here is meant to be thought provoking and to generate a massive brainstorm session amongst a group of professionals. We all can always use a jump start of fresh ideas.*****

Flyer Boxes and Riders: Effective Marketing?

This question has been on my mind for quite some time. In my Neighborhood there are 2 homes that have been on the market forever.

House #1 – Beautiful home with a huge Backyard. 4000 square feet with a price point that is for middle to upper income buyers. So what is the problem? This particular home is on the second Real Estate Agent to list the property. Reputable company and a reputable Real Estate agent. However, the sign leaves a lot to be determined. The sign is equipped with a flyer box and a rider. The rider says huge backyard!Once you go in the home and look at the color choices that the previous homeowner make you think HGTV, “Color Correction.”I live right near the home so I have to look at the house everyday at least twice a day. Over the last 9 months that the home has been on the market only three times totaling three months or so have I actually seen a flyer in the box.

What the rider tells me every-time that I look at is: “major yard-work!”

What about the flyers?

Question #1 – If there is a flyer box don’t you think that there should be flyers?To me it is like the “Just reduced or price reduced” riders. They don’t make the property more attractive they make it seem like the seller is desperate. This is just my opinion. It also blends in with the sign.　If it were bright pink I would have to look every-time. If I was not in Real Estate I would never look twice at this house.

Question #2 – To be effective shouldn’t the riders excite a consumer?

 

House #2 -Beautiful home on a corner lot with a great Backyard and fully done inside. Again, in the same Income Category. Another Reputable company with the listing and in this case I do not know the Real Estate Agent that has the listing. This home has been listed for over a year with the same agent and the same sign.

This home has no rider and no flyer box.There has never been a flyer for this property. There has also never been one change to the sign except for when it was blown down by the wind. This is very forgettable and rather dull.

Question #1 – Aside from calling the agent how would anyone know the price?There is no website, virtual tour, flyer, rider or anything. It is the mysterious house. There has never been an open house. It has been over a year. Do you want to sell the place?

 

Question #2 – What exactly is selling this home?

What I want to know from Realtors is:

1) Are flyer boxes and riders effective? If so, what should they say and how often do you refill the box and change the flyer?

2) If you have a flyer box that is always empty is it a disadvantage? (like a web-page that does not load quickly.)

3) What does an effective rider say?

I feel that each of these homes are at a disadvantage for different reasons. If you have a flyer box make sure that it is filled. If you have a rider make sure that it communicates effectively what you are hoping. Ask the neighbors what they think. After all we do see it everyday.

If you have no flyer box and no descriptive riders can you at least have a website to go to or an 800 number?As always thank you for reading.

What do all of you think?

 

Matt Freeman