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All Forum Posts by: Sterling Williams

Sterling Williams has started 10 posts and replied 34 times.

Post: Real Estate Agent online course question (Texas).

Sterling WilliamsPosted
  • Professional
  • Texas
  • Posts 35
  • Votes 4

I'm curious how some of you studied the course materials for the real estate agent licensure online. I'm really hitting a wall with the videos and I'm really thinking about bypassing them all together and just reading the material that Kaplan provided. If you guys have any suggestions on how to prepare for the Kaplan online exams it would be appreciated. Also, what did you guys study most for the Kaplan online exams, the workbook or the textbooks? Thanks!

Post: Property Management Company Questions

Sterling WilliamsPosted
  • Professional
  • Texas
  • Posts 35
  • Votes 4

The state of Texas requires you to be a broker to manage property however, you can manage property as a real estate agent under a sponsoring broker. Once you find a sponsoring broker, you could form a team of agents to work with you as well as operate the property management on the side. In all actuality, this can be done in your first year in real estate but not very feasible...

Originally posted by @Brett Synicky:

@Sterling Williams

It works but I'll tell you once you get busy you won't have time for it. Then your lead gen stops. I would definitely use a targeted list of "prospects" and knock on their doors only. Use rebo gateway for example. 

Also do yourself a favor and look up direct response marketing.  If you spent 6 hours a week with drm you would generate far more warm leads than you ever will by door knocking. But you won't have to spend that much time on it. Once you set up marketing that works without you, build a fence around it and keep doing it. Then you'll know how many leads you'll get per day/week/month, then track your conversion then track your close rate then you'll know how much income you'll have consistently.  Something most realtors cannot do.  Door knocking is just too time consuming and too inconsistent.  IMHO

Good luck to you!

 I will definitely look up direct response marketing. Thanks for the insight, I really appreciate it! 

Thanks both @Chris Shepard and @Brett Synicky for your responses.

I want to clarify myself just a little bit. I completely agree with the both of you that you need "multiple arms" to be successful, and I understand that technology better helps that goal. However, I don't want technology to be the foundation of my business plan. I really want to get out and meet with prospective sellers, investors and 3rd party sources to build a funnel of referrals. I plan on doing this by getting out there and making physical contact with these prospects by door knocking, joining different clubs and associations and setting up booths at whatever events and shows I can get into. I will surely try different marketing campaigns through the use of technology, but I really do not think I will rely too heavily on them however, I could be absolutely wrong.     

As to Brett Synicky's question... I really don't think I'll ever be able to accurately analyze the effectiveness of a door knocking in just 2 months. I'm going to approach my marketing in 90 day segments (quarterly), and adjust accordingly. If it doesn't work, I need to adjust my delivery (script), and try again. Ultimately, I want to dedicate 3-4 solid hours of door knocking 6 days a week during the high peak times when the prospect is home. Door knocking has been way to successful for others for it not to work. 

link

This is an amazing TED talk that really resonated with me in my continuing journey. Fact of the matter is, I hear of way too many people relying on everything tech however, they don't want to go out and make physical contact with prospective clients. Some of us new realtors would rather stay behind the comfortable buffer of a phone. Why is this? New realtors and seasoned realtors alike are so quick to shoot down the idea of door knocking however, what other sales method gets you in front of the prospective seller with the product in the proverbial hand? Fact of the matter is, if you fear rejection, get out now! If you want to follow marketing gimmicks that promise 6 figures, get out now! If you want to be a leader and form a new marketing plan that fits you and your prospective goals, begin with door knocking and meet your local home owners.   

I want to follow this with saying that I am in the process of getting my realtors license in the state of Texas. This thread is more of a reminder to myself to not rely on social media or software rather, to learn how to form relationships in person without the reliance of technology and to always remember that this is a business based upon ethics, communication, reliance and execution, not technology.                      

Post: Wife to a new RE agent...need advice/help...PLEASE!

Sterling WilliamsPosted
  • Professional
  • Texas
  • Posts 35
  • Votes 4

It reads as though you may be feeling a little deprived of his attention. It's important to be as supportive as possible and understand that his new endeavor is time consuming and and will take much of his time at the beginning (especially while working a second job)... Honestly, I think you're going to have to come to terms with the fact that your time together will decrease until he can supplement his 2nd jobs income with his earnings from real estate...  I'm honestly puzzled by the question considering there are no children involved.  Plan a date night every once in a while and you should be fine.   

Post: Looking for a good online RE school

Sterling WilliamsPosted
  • Professional
  • Texas
  • Posts 35
  • Votes 4

I've been really impressed with Kaplan's on demand course. It's self-paced (max 6 months to complete), has physical text books to read and video instruction on the Kaplan portal.

Post: Company name critique

Sterling WilliamsPosted
  • Professional
  • Texas
  • Posts 35
  • Votes 4

Here is my first sample of a possible logo. What do you guys think?

Post: If you knew than what you know now...

Sterling WilliamsPosted
  • Professional
  • Texas
  • Posts 35
  • Votes 4
Originally posted by @James Wise:

Hardest thing to do when starting out is to turn away business. All business is good business doesn't always wring true. Very hard to be disciplined enough to turn it away when your trying to get your foothold in the market.

 I hear ya...  The dreaded slumlord. I need to remember that the property owner isn't just interviewing me for services, I'm also interviewing them to make sure I keep a good company name.  

Post: Finally a movie I can go see on Christmas...

Sterling WilliamsPosted
  • Professional
  • Texas
  • Posts 35
  • Votes 4