Happy Birthday Noisecut!
Hard to believe it, but Noisecut turns a year old this month! It’s true. Time does fly when you’re having fun, not to mention, working hard. For me, it’s been 12 months of trying to educate as many agents as possible about using social media, and continuing my own education in digital media marketing. Every day something new. Every day an adventure. That’s how it should be. Let me recap a bit of what I’ve learned this past year, and tell you a little bit about some exciting things I’ll be doing on Noisecut in 2013. What I’ve Learned When I started out, I felt I had a big task ahead of me, but I didn’t know just how great the task was until I started pounding the pavement and meeting industry players. Industry players meaning: Brokers, Agents, VPs, Human Resources professionals, CEOs, basically ANYONE involved with selling and marketing real estate. You name the role, I’ve met with them. I had so many doors slammed in my face and heard the word “No” so often this year, that I actually started to feel as though I was speaking a language that no one understood but me. Still, I didn’t the rejection stop me. I kept going until I found likeminded individuals and was even able to convince a few who were on the fence into letting me show them what social media could do for their business. Success for my clients translated to success for the message, and attention for Noisecut. My clients have been incredible about introducing me to their broker friends to talk to them about what we’ve done together. It’s been so much fun seeing people get excited about doing something new. More people are starting to ‘get it.’ So yes, while things are starting to change, there is still a lot of work to be done. I learned more than ever this … [Read More...]
As Seen On TV! Well, Almost
“Don’t believe everything you see on TV.” We’ve all heard that a million times before. It’s a cliche that traces back to the dawn of the tube, long before ‘reality’ shows overwhelmed the majority of network schedules. Ironically, it’s because of reality TV, that now more than ever you need to remember this phrase- Especially when it comes to real estate shows. There are a ton of shows on about selling real estate: Million Dollar Listing now has shows in both NY and LA, then there’s Selling NY, Selling LA, House Hunters, House Hunters International, Property Brothers, I could go on and on. The point is, while they are great entertainment, and offer a peek behind the scenes of what it’s like to work in the real estate industry, it is still reality television, which means that although there is no planned script, it is still scripted. (i.e. Not real, and in one case: 100% fake.) It’s important as an agent to remember this when listing a home so that you can prepare yourself to manage the new expectations that may be set for you. Unfortunately, while you know these shows are formatting themselves for television, your potential clients think it’s reality. As a luxury agent, here is what your clients have the right to expect: -That their home will be marketed at the highest level. -That their broker and agent will put together a great package to ensure their home sells for the best possible price. -That their agent is available and the line of communication will not be solely through an assistant. Here is a sampling of some expectations you may need to anticipate from clients, whether they say them or not: -If you aren’t chauffeur driven to their residence or pull up in a car worth at least $150,000.00, that you are not … [Read More...]
Best of the Web: Stribling & Associates
A few months ago I was lamenting on how there never seem to be enough real estate websites that allow users to enlarge the listing photos to a decent size. I still can’t figure out why this is, especially since the National Association of Realtors reported last year that over 80% of people who search for their home online end up using a realtor. I mean what better way to show off your listings than with big, beautiful pictures? With so few of these sites in existence, I am constantly spending time on the same 8 or 9 who do offer up some amazing views. One of these is Stribling.com, a site whose incredible photos make me want to pick up the phone and make an immediate bid. In case you are unfamiliar, Stribling & Associates is one of the top luxury real estate firms in Manhattan. They represent properties ranging in price from $200,000 to $100,000,000, with a majority of the listings priced $5,000,000 and above. Stribling brokers pride themselves on having the highest standards for all of their clients. The proof to back that statement up? You can find it on their website, where you’ll see that regardless of price, each property gets a good number of photos to give the best exposure possible. And yes, in case you were wondering, regardless of price, they’re all big, beautiful photos too. I’ve never once found myself squinting up close to the screen, wondering: “Hmm is that a park view?” Obviously, the larger the space, the greater the number of pictures there are, but they maximize the views of whatever space they are representing. Even a 1200 sq. ft. condo is shot from 8 different angles to give the (perhaps international?) buyer a good idea of what they’re being offered, without having to even set foot inside the home. As a reward for this … [Read More...]
Profiles in Luxury – Suzanne Perkins
I originally intended to sit down and do a classic question and answer interview with Santa Barbara luxury property specialist Suzanne Perkins, but within the first 30 seconds of our chat, I literally threw that idea out the window. You see, less than 30 seconds with Suzanne is all it takes to feel right at home in the conversation and realize that her experiences are going to speak for themselves. I knew there would be little I would have to ask and was excited to see where the conversation took us. Very quickly, for those of you who are unfamiliar, Suzanne Perkins is with Sotheby’s International Realty in Santa Barbara, California. She consistently ranks on the Wall Street Journal’s list of the Top 50 Real Estate agents in the US, including an overall ranking of #1 in 2007. That year she represented the sellers of El Cojo and Jalama Ranches in the largest non-commercial transaction in California history. Their combined value: $155 million. She also broke another record that year for the largest oceanfront property sale in Santa Barbara. In addition to representing some of the most beautiful properties in the world, she is also Chairman of the Santa Barbara County Parks Commission, a member of the 19th Agricultural District Board of Directors, and is an accomplished equestrian, serving as both a highly respected international judge, as well as breeder of champion show horses. Basically, there is nothing she can’t and doesn’t do. While all of that is very impressive, what I was dying to know, is HOW does she do it? How does someone rise to the top of their industry, especially the luxury real estate industry, where the market is crowded with a ton of agents and everyone wants the big listing? “It’s all about the service,” she said. “When I … [Read More...]
Featured Profile
Super Agent: Shari Chase
Any serious discussion about luxury real estate marketing must include Shari Chase, the founder, president and CEO of Tahoe based Chase International. A snapshot of her long list of achievements include: Membership in the “Billionaires Club” of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, a group so exclusive there are only 18 other members, making the [...]
Profiles in Luxury – Suzanne Perkins
I originally intended to sit down and do a classic question and answer interview with Santa Barbara luxury property specialist Suzanne Perkins, but within the first 30 seconds of our chat, I literally threw that idea out the window. You see, less than 30 seconds with Suzanne is all it takes to feel right at home in the conversation and realize that her experiences are going to speak for themselves. I knew there would be little I would have to ask and was excited to see where the conversation took us. Very quickly, for those of you who are unfamiliar, Suzanne Perkins is with Sotheby’s International Realty in Santa Barbara, California. She consistently ranks on the Wall Street Journal’s list of the Top 50 Real Estate agents in the US, including an overall ranking of #1 in 2007. That year she represented the sellers of El Cojo and Jalama Ranches in the largest non-commercial transaction in California history. Their combined value: $155 million. She also broke another record that year for the largest oceanfront property sale in Santa Barbara. In addition to representing some of … [Read More...]
