All About the
Real Estate Industry on the Internet
Stories About Realtors on The Net
Judy Wolfson,
1998 Internet Sales 8.6 Million Dollars
Tucson Realtor sells over $ 900,000 in two transactions
Sacramento Realtor had 15 Million in Internet Sourced transactions
in 1998
Carolyne Lederer, Three Webmasters Later Finally Getting it Right
Bob Jurgensen in Manassas, VA 1997 Internet Sales of Two Million
Judy Wolfson, 1998 Internet Sales 8.6 Million Dollars
STOP BY.... 'Judi's Place'. Judi Wolfson, ABR, CRS, a 16 year real
estate veteran has earned the RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement Award and is a highly regarded
and well-known Internet SuperAgent. Wolfson has, to date, closed 84 transactions
from business generated from her on-line efforts. She had $8.6 million in Internet-related
sales in '98 alone! At 'Judi's Place' you can read all about tools and techniques
you can use to create a more meaningful World Wide Web presence, and dramatically increase
your commissions $$$$.
Judi believes there are 5 essential questions every agent needs to
understand before he/she can successfully market real estate on the Web:
1. How can I be found on the web?
2. How can I provide value to consumers at my web site?
3. How can I give appropriate "hi-tech" service?
4. How can I develop an Electronic database?
5. How can I follow up on leads with the new technology?
Discover the answers to these questions and explore other important issues facing on-line
agents by visiting 'Judi's Place' on a regular
basis.
Sacramento Realtor had 15 Million in Internet Sourced transactions in 1998
Dave Vandermyden, of Pacific Coast Realty, is one of the top Realtors on the net. In his second year on the Internet he originated more than 15 million in transactions from the Internet. With four websites consisting of more than 130 pages he has dominated the Sacramento market on the net. His activity includes referrals to a network of San Francisco Realtors that uses to fill the needs of inquiries he recieves for that area. During the first quarter of 99 Dave has averaged about 25 inquiries per week.
Carolyne Lederer, Three Webmasters Later Finally Getting it Right
Signed up with a web master who had done a
nice, clean site for a nearby local Realtor. I did not know the right questions to ask, so
I signed up with him too. He was in the northwest states. Turned out that he did
"cookie-cutter" sites, and didn't like it at all, when I had too many creative
ideas. He was a very nice "person" but did not, absolutely did not, want to
follow my instructions. Also, he told me I absolutely did not need my own domain.
After several months of begging, pleading, and stamping my feet, because he never made any
of the requested changes, such as marking listings SOLD, I couldn't deal with it all any
more. So, I switched to someone else who came recommended. Altho' his work was good, and
delivered on time, he was "extremely" expensive for any tiny little thing done
after the initial site was up and running. Also, he decided that he had become a
"consultant" and took it upon himself to "run my life". Made changes
to the site without being asked, took it upon himself to "alter" my colours --
which are a major part of my identity, without consulting with me first, added links to
places he thought should be on my site, and on and on it went for several weeks. When I
stamped my feet, and insisted these things be removed, it took weeks to make those
changes.
He also informed me that studies had been done (this has been done in most forms of media
for many years)saying that the only recognizable colours on the Net are red, white, and
blue. Well, that's wonderful, but part of my success over 17 years is due to being
"different" which is also "recognizable" by nature of not being like
everyone else.
My corporate identity and my corporate
colours were very important to me, and the subject was just not up for discussion. This
infuriated him. He did set things up under my own domain, tho'. However, strange as it may
seem, the name I'd picked out all along, had just been taken by someone on the outskirts
of my trading area, just weeks before I applied for it. Had I gotten it in the first
place, I would have it now. I'd used the name in other types of media, and a huge
franchise Realtor decided he would register it, in case I ever wanted to "BUY"
it back from him.
Finally, I'd had enough. I went with a out-of-town Canadian friend who builds websites.
Although my site was already "built", he now manages it for me. He doesn't
argue, just does what he's asked, and gets paid well.
A similar horror show took place with the ISPs --- their servers were continually going
down. Had to move four times before I found a compatible group of people with whom I could
work. AMAZING. Everyone wants to argue. Everyone is an expert. They charge huge set up
fees, and people who are not "in the know", need to really be careful about
signing those kinds of contracts. Some keep on charging my AMEX cards, sporadically, after
months of no charges. Trying to get that rectified is another nightmare.
All I want to do is sell real estate. I have spent the better part of the past year and a
half "working" on the Net. Indeterminable costs in $$$, and much more in nerves.
A true horror show, that finally is, in spite of itself, finally producing excellent
results. Not lots, but I am good at weeding and feeding. Response time is
"everything", as you say on your site. I, for one, believe this is absolutely
business on the cutting edge of the future, and we are now, fortunately, positioned to
take advantage of the way that business will be conducted from here on in.
I have made some valuable new contacts in the industry, we belong to three network
communities, and look forward to exceptional success from here on in. Our site was
written up in the Canadian Real Estate News newspaper which is delivered to all real
estate offices across Canada. Many Realtors made contact as a result of that article, too.
I was at a meeting for the Real Estate Council of Ontario recently, and was informed by
the President that he'd just returned from an Air Canada flight, on which he'd read an
article about my web success. Not realizing he'd be seeing me, he didn't keep the article.
I am now trying to locate a copy.
Keep up the great work that you are now doing. You provide a very valuable service, that
I'm certain is much appreciated. I came across your site quite by accident, and have
bookmarked it for continued use.
Carolyne Lederer
Carolyne Realty Corp
Brampton "Toronto"
Bob Jurgensen in Manassas, VA 1997 Internet Sales of Two Million
I average about 3-5 requests a week for my "free relocation kits" and about 1 in 10 ever communicates back in any form. Most do provide phone numbers but few return calls and I usually get voice mails. (Bob has stopped sending out the kits to every request, he contacts people first now)
In spite of this seemingly poor rate of return, I did sell 11 homes and almost $2 Million in sales off the Internet in 1997. This year, thus far, about 5 so far and two on the way (I hope) ...
I tracked my sales last year very carefully because it was all new to me and I wanted to know what works and what doesn't. My first contact was an Air Traffic Controller from Boston moving to this area (Dulles) and we began a dialog. He came down alone and I gave him a tour the day he interviewed for his new job. Then two weeks later he returned with his family and we went out to do some serious searching. Right after this family bought, he passed my email address to another friend in Boston, who visited my site and also requested a relocation kit. Bingo... another sale a few weeks later. Between these two guys I had a referral from each and that's a total of 4 sales in about 3 months. (A new ATC facility opened at Dulles recently and they had to staff it so many are coming here from other parts of country.)
That's not all, this year these same two controllers have each sent me yet another referral and one is coming in August to "take the tour", the other most likely in October. So that's a total of 6 sales (hopefully) in less than two years off basically ONE HIT on my site. There have been several others, mostly military and/or government employees. Not sure why, but I guess they use the I-net daily. Coupled with the fact this area (DC-Northern VA) is a major gov't area, keeps them coming I guess. I seem to have the most success with gov't and military types.
© GAW ASSOCIATES, INC 1998
Internet Marketing For Real Estate Professionals
Our Web Site.... www.gawassoc.com