Do better with your brand even when you talk with fellow agents.

When you are building your real estate business, your brand, you need be consistent.  Your image, your marketing materials, and how you communicate should be set to the highest standard.  Agents not only should do better to improve their business but to insure they provide the best level of service for their clients. 

Today, a call was placed to a listing agent of a property.  The request made on Wednesday is for Sunday for a great buyer client.  When the buyer agent called the listing agent he got voicemail.  Later in the evening the buyer agent received this following message on his cell phone.

“Hi Ed it is (agent name) from (real estate firm) you asked for a twelve o’clock Sunday showing, I am sorry that will not work for me, but I thank you very much for your interest, bye. (click)”

Unfortunately, this message almost did not faze Ed.  But, his wife (not a real estate agent) overheard it and asked about the call.  Simply, there are so many issues about this message.

First, we have begun the game of real estate appointment phone tag.  Then the listing agent has not provided any alternative time, accommodation, or well anything.  She has gone so far as to close out the lead by saying thank you for your interest.  No door has been left open, no alternative, or any inference for providing help.

Then we are talking about 4 days notice.  The buyer client thought that would be good enough.  You would also think it would be enough time for the listing agent to make some type of arrangements.  Buyers are at a premium and there is one ready to jump and look at this one specific property.  Does your seller know you just shot down that lead?

As an experienced REALTOR Ed knows he has to hunt down the listing agent again and try to pin them down for an accompanied showing.  It will happen, but it will take too much time and will not be simple.  Schedules do not always match up but there are ways to handle these issues. 

So make sure as you are building your brand, that you are doing your very best, for you and for your clients.  It might even mean you sell the house.

When a brokerage firm’s agents have an array of personal websites how does that effect the firms brand?

It does not take long to see that real estate agents have endless choices for choosing a web site solution.   Each service has its own pros and cons.  But, when a real estate brokerage works diligently to bring their brand to the market place how does their own agents personal websites challenge their position?  Some may spend thousands on a website that looks perfect and still lacks content.  Another may have a site fitting of the late 90s or early 2000s.

Brokerage firms that maintain standards will become stronger, looked to as being a leader, and will grow in the marketplace.  Firms have standards for their yard signs, but not the online presence of their agents.  The brokerages establishment of standards can often be in conflict with an agents, need, want, and will to be in control of their own business.  A balance is required to give an agent their own brand, their independence, and ownership while still helping them maintain the high standards of the brokerage.  

Cumbersome website platforms allow them to easily redesign Clinton area sites into ugly websites resembling a myspace page.  It is the equivalent of every yard sign for a firm being different.  This is why brokerage firms are looking to help provide agents the tools they demand and still maintain a certain marketing standard.

In total the primary goal is that both the agents and the brokerage firms need to have standards that are current and reflective of their business goals.  It does not have to be complicated just sophisticated and consistent.

Boston Startup DwellAgent announces the launch of its application for real estate agents

BOSTON, MA – 4/1/2010 – DwellAgent (www.dwellagent.com) is a new application that provides real estate agents an easy way to market and manage their real estate business online.  The platform allows agents to create a website for a property, virtual tours, agent websites, IDX/property search, and blog, all intergraded together in one platform for easy management.  The set up is simple with quick and to-the-point forms, no technical skills needed, social media sharing, elegant and sophisticated design, and with a price range of $29 - $89 per month.

It was after years of working as REALTORS® that founders John Lynch and Edward Johnston identified marketing methods that proved to be successful, but grew tired of the redundant tasks and complexity of software needed to accomplish them. With that experience, a clear vision for DwellAgent was born.

Our goal at DwellAgent is to make the online marketing tasks of a real estate agent simple and effective. The DwellAgent team understands the needs an agent has in their business. Their pace is fast moving and they need simple but effective solutions.  John and Ed developed a top real estate sales team with those same needs. They learned the importance of developing a brand and relentlessly marketing themselves. But, they needed to be with their clients, in properties, working contracts, and driving their business. Not spending countless hours working on their online presence.

An agent and brokerage firms brand and image is becoming even more critical to consumers.  Potential sellers and buyers want to see agents that have higher standards, market knowledge, experience, and resources.  It is up to the real estate agent to demonstrate those characteristics both in person and online.  With simple tools you can protect the brand image, demonstrate your knowledge, and carve a niche in your local market.   

After determining what methods lead John, Ed, and other agents to maintain success in residential real estate, the foundation of the DwellAgent application was established.  Then, with the support of a world-class team of web designers and developers, the innovation of the newest application for the real estate industry began.  After thoughtful and strategic development DwellAgent has created online software for real estate agents that are effective, affordable, and most importantly simple.

DwellAgent is a division of Elephant Rock Ventures LLC, a privately owned firm headquartered in Boston Massachusetts. Founders John Lynch, CEO, and Edward Johnston, President, lead a world class team of technology, marketing, and management professionals.