RE/MAX Hallmark Blog

What were they thinking?

How many times have I seen terrible photos taken (usually by realtors) of homes for sale posted on our MLS on on realtor websites. Photo's that spark the reaction - What were they thinking?

A realtor in Calgary began this group on Facebook called Really Bad MLS Photos. Realtors from across the world have uploaded some of the best of the worst housing photos around. These photos were actually used by realtors to promote their listings!!

If you are a Facebook member, check out or join the group.

Battle of the Blades

True confession, I'm not ashamed to admit it, I am hooked on "Battle of the Blades." Each Sunday evening, I cozy up to watch hockey players transformed into figure skaters, dancing around on blades with world figure skating champions. The image of tough, rugged hockey players taking on the role of figure skaters - oil and water - but an amazing mix, inspires and entertains me at the same time. I am transfixed on the show for one reason in particular.

I like that these "guys" known as rugged hockey players are pushed way out of their comfort zones, and they are doing an amazing and entertaining job. Now in it's 6th week, these now figure skaters seem to be relishing their new roles, and I bet are growing beyond their wildest expectations.

That's what I love about the show. They took an incredible chance and are flourishing.

Competition Bureau and CREA

I suppose there will be wide spread panic amongst some in our industry - haven't you heard? The Competition Bureau has come out with their long anticipated report about our industry. Read about it here  in an article from today's Star. In the report, the Bureau presents that CREA is acting in bad faith when, because of certain rules and regulations, it doesn't permit certain models of business to flourish. At the heart of the finding is the regulation which requires the listing brokerage to be engaged or part of the selling process if the property is listed with a realtor. 

As I understand it, the Bureau wants the consumer to be able to handle their own sale of their property, without having to have a realtor negotiate the deal for them, but they want the consumer to be able to have the opportunity of using a realtor (for a fee) to list their property on MLS. 

"Mr and Mrs. Homeowner, I will process your listing on the MLS for a fee, all calls, appointments and offers will go directly to you and you will negotiate your own deal with the coop realtor." Seems simple enough for me. In all of my real estate years, the consumer or homeowner has always had a choice. A choice of who to pick to sell and market their home, a choice of what commission will be charged, and a choice to either list exclusively, through the MLS, or privately. Now the Bureau wants the consumer to have the choice to deal directly with professional negotiators, without the help of a listing realtor. 

The MLS is a service owned by CREA. Realtors across Canada own CREA. We have put together a cooperative, organized to self regulate our industry. By and large the cooperate works very well. We have high standards, look after the needs of the public and provide historical data and exceptional service for the most part.  Is there a need to allow the public to be better served by "allowing" brokerages to just act as a processing service to the MLS? The Bureau thinks so,  I am sure CREA doesn't agree.

What has happened to "Free Enterprise" What is wrong with various models developing their own collective to serve their needs? If I want to develop a real estate company which offers a service of listing properties for a fee, with the proviso that the co op brokers must deal directly with the sellers, why don't I just do it, and let the economy buy or not buy into it. 

The problem seems to be that the current collective must allow this model and any other model  in by taking away the rule of representation for sellers. There lies the problem. I wonder if I will be permitted to develop my own model, outside of CREA. Will the Bureau come to my defense when I say I have no choice but to be a member of CREA if I want to work in this industry? I doubt it. 

For the record, any model works for me. Any real estate brokerage can charge, develop, promote and exists side by side with our firm. The consumer has always had choices, will continue to have choices and will make decisions based on value.

This is a long process and ultimately will develop into what needs to be. Some realtors see their service as a fee, lowest fee wins. Other realtors look at it differently. 

Scary Howler

This is so cool. One of Gary Crowder's clients incorporated realtor Gary into their front lawn scary Halloween scene.

7 Steps in Business Planning and Goal Setting

Every year around this time we start thinking about goals and business plans for next year. Most of us like to think of the year for our real estate business which begins in January and ends in December. Makes sense. Business planning and goal setting is a integral part of our business and really doesn't get enough emphasis. There aren't too many who don't buy into the idea of business planning as a good idea, but many are handcuffed as to how to do it or how to follow through with it once the plan is in place. The complication of business planning can get in the way of it all. It can be done in a simple format and then small actions can be implemented to begin tracking work throughout the upcoming year.

If you want to set a business plan and goals for next year, start by doing the following:

1. establish 3 - 5 primary goals you would like to achieve for next year, (primary goals include essential objectives to help grow your business.) Could be a dollar figure, unit sales number, prospecting activity, system activity, etc. 
2. review your business from the previous year - what were your results - where did you get your business - did you list more or sell more?
3. review the costs associated with your business - figure out what you are spending your money on to build your business - how much did each listing you carried cost in marketing, promotion and administration? 
4. plan a year at a glance, on a big big sheet of paper, list the 12 individual months of the upcoming year and start dropping projects into each month which you would like to do. Start first by setting the days and weeks you are taking off for free time. I like to have a project happening for each month of the year. (a project is anything which once establish builds upon your business - examples may include client parties, community events, etc)
5. set up a system which will track what you do each day - you will need to find out if what you are doing on a daily basis is building toward the results you wish to achieve - how effective are you. This is important - your actions need to be assessed.
6. set a date aside at least every quarter to review your numbers and your progress. This is important - you may need to adjust your activities based on your results.
7. establish at least one big, and I mean BIG, out of the box goal for next year. Allow yourself to dream BIG. Write down a goal which gives you butterflies just thinking about it.

If you haven't done goal setting or business planning in the past, start out by keeping it simple. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by the project and we don't need to be. Follow the 7 steps and you will be on your way to mapping out your future year.