Margaret Rome's Blog

What do you do when someone with your name passes you by in the ActiveRain rankings? You say "Congratulations!" Especially when that someone is a gracious lady named Margaret Woda.

A few weeks ago, the Other Margaret of Maryland warned me to get my blogging back up to speed because she didn't want to pass me and become #2 on the Maryland page. How's that for thoughtful and considerate? But I've been a bit busy lately with changing companies, taking listings for THE Real Estate Company (TREC), speaking at the Women's Council of Realtors, taking new properties to auction, taking classes, and, oh yes, writing a book (coming this summer!) With all that, the blogging frequency slipped and so did those points.

The other night I called Margaret Woda to congratulate her, and we had a lovely conversation. I can't think of anyone I'd rather have overtake me…at least temporarily...than this Anne Arundel County professional.

Congratulations, Margaret!   

www.HomeRome.com

"In this business, success doesn't come to you, you have to go to "SUCCESS".  I've said that many times in my real estate career, especially when talking with new agents. It's never been more true than in today's market.

I had the perfect  lesson last year  selling an historic church that had been on the market for two years, not the whole time with me. It had been used most recently as home, studio, and gallery by a ceramic artist. (Of course I loved that since I was also a ceramic artist in a previous career.) The adjacent cemetery was an issue; some found this very peaceful and relaxing, but others would not have anything to do with a graveyard so close. The market was just starting to turn down in the Baltimore area then.

We exhausted all the traditional and non-traditional ways of drawing attention to this unique property:

• A contest to suggest the most creative use of the building
• An open house with popcorn and champagne
• Featured it regularly in my blogs
• Took agents who visited out to lunch
• Advertised in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Russian newspapers, and more.
• Advertised in business group publications and newsletters

There was lots of interest, we had lots of showings. But no one would make the right offer even though several people were interested at the same time. The news on radio and TV, with its gloom and doom, was frightening potential buyers.

So I suggested an auction, not sure how my seller would react, as way to get buyers to compete with each other. I interviewed three or four auctioneers before finding one who was as enthusiastic about this former church, ceramic studio, home, historic property. My seller agreed to put up a $10,000 advertising fee, and to auction we did go! And it sold! 30 days later it settled. My seller paid NO commission, NO closing costs, NO repairs. Happy seller, Happy me!

So me thinks, "If I can sell an 'unsalable' listing this way...why not real good 'salable' properties?" In the past year I lost several of my listings to auction companies. In discussing this with others the idea of starting an auction company that is Realtor®-friendly came about. Wouldn't it be wonderful, we thought, to have this option for sellers whose properties have been on the market for extended times? Wouldn't it be great for the client who wants to purchase non-contingent, or for the relocating family? What about the parents whose kids are out of town who don't want to worry about getting the house ready to show or having strangers in the house at any time?  For the educated person who understands Accelerated Marketing, it's the perfect answer.

Since I had five auctions in the past, including the historic church, I moved forward with this new concept and a new company concept. I took the idea to corporate and even suggested we get exclusivity for my former company. They seemed to be excited with the concept and said "we'll get back to you". I presented  at a weekly company meeting, again hearing excitement from the manager and agents. I ran ads for three weeks promoting nine of my listings that were going to auction.

Then I received a phone call from corporate. They said they were NOT going to allow me to proceed with the new company because it did not have a track record. (How can a new company have a track record?  It was kind of funny because the new auction company is named TRAC, The Realtors Auction Company.)    http://www.tracauctions.com/

I'm convinced that this new business model of Realtor-friendly auctions is going to be successful, and I've chosen to go to it. I'm still doing traditional listings, of course, but now I have another option for my clients. Now that I am with TREC, THE Real Estate Company of Maryland, my clients can have whatever works best for them.

Know what makes me laugh? The other day I saw an ad by my former manager promoting a real estate prep class. And there were my words in his ad at the bottom of the page: "SUCCESS DOESN'T COME TO YOU…YOU GO TO IT." It's still true. And I've moved on to go to my next level of Success.

It was one of those lovely winter/spring days with just a light breeze and no need for a coat. The morning started off on a high note with a featured post by Brad Andersohn on Active Rain. Brad had written about my PowerPoint presentation the night before. Brad commented on my post about my upcoming presentation to the Women's Council of Realtors, then I commented on his comment, and before long we were on the phone brainstorming. His creative PowerPoint post was the result. Thank goodness I had already made my 50 handouts because I was having so much fun (and a bit of frustration) trying to open Brad's new technical creation. He worked out the glitches and I was able to see it just before leaving for the WCR meeting. What a boost that was!  

But, I was soooo busy blogging about what I was going to say about blogging that I didn't take time to figure out what I was actually going to be saying about blogging when I got to the podium of the Suburban Club. It was a wonderful group of 50 to 60 in attendance at the WCR's first annual Affiliate's Fair. There were agents, of course, but also title companies, a home inspector, a GRI and ABR  instructor, a  stager, a book publisher, an auction company, lenders, men as well as women (don't be fooled by the that name - Women's Council of Realtors – no gender limits here!)

When it was time for me to speak, I was the lucky one to have my friend and mentor of 18 years, Anne Hruby, introduce me. If you ever have the opportunity to speak, believe me, try to get a best friend or colleague to do the introduction. Anne was so flattering that a friend suggested my head wouldn't fit through the door unless I turned sideways!  (That's Anne on the left in the photo with me and Lauren Montillo)

During the networking time before lunch, no one I spoke with knew what a blog was. So my presentation started with asking how many knew what a blog was, and about a dozen hands went up. Then how many read blogs and maybe a handful went up. When I asked how many actually have a blog, I only saw three. That told me not to get too technical with this audience, so I focused on why a Realtor would have a blog, and what the benefits are.

I don't talk from a script, so I used the PowerPoint only for reference. To illustrate why blogging matters to a Realtor, I shared stories of some of my blogs including Why advertising is for the birds, my zip code 21209, my use of technology, and some of my listings including Dickeyville, Stevenson, Slade, Griffin Way, Stevenson Post, Strathmore Towers, (both of them!), Clarks Lane,  and Heather Ridge. 

There were plenty of questions, especially "So what do you get out of blogging?" That opened the door for me to list what the Active Rainers already know: Blogging gets buyers to call, gets sellers to call, gets the media to call for quotes, gets groups like WCR asking you to speak. It gets agents from all over the country to have a name and face to refer friends, clients and relatives. It helps others by letting people know about what they have to offer, such as a delightful tea room and the creative American Craft artists. It helps sell a difficult property, like the historic church which had been on the market for two years, with a blog-based contest. It gives buyers and sellers useful information like how to arrange an auction as we did with Lauren Montillo from TRAC  http://www.tracauctions.com/, a Realtor-friendly auction company.

We spent a lot of time talking about Active Rain, and the audience loved my answer to "How much does it cost?" Zero is a great price! Even figuring in your time to blog, it's a good deal. Anne Hruby pointed out that this is one of the very rare FREE ways to get your name out in front of the public.

At the end I invited people to give me their cards and I would send them an invitation to Active Rain. I collected 20 cards, sent 20 invitations, and a couple have already joined!

The day that started out on that high note thanks to Brad Andersohn, kept going at that same energizing level. And now I have blogged about figuring out what to say about blogging, and then what I did say about blogging and getting in on the Rain.

www.wcbm.com you can listen  or tune into 680 am 12 noon today. Call in # 410-922-6680

I will be a guest on with Dave Meurer. This is a live weekly show and the callers set the tone.

 There is a pretty good  article in the CRS  The Residenital Specialist magazine titled " The Bid Picture..Real estate auctions can be a win-win proposition for
buyers, sellers and agents"
Timing is perfect so if the opportunity is there we will discuss auctions.

Hope some of the Active Rainers will listen in!

Next week I get to do one of my favorite things – talk about blogging. I know, I talk about it a lot anyway, but this time I've been asked to give a presentation on blogging for the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors. 

The WCR is a great group that I've had fun with before. About a year and a half ago there was a session on using technology where I showed off my tech toys and tools during their Day of Education. The best part was seeing people sharing information and tips on using their tech tools so that everyone got better.

This time, I'll take a couple of minutes to talk about the basics in case there are people who don't have a solid understanding of what a blog is. But mostly I'll focus on how blogging can be used successfully as a marketing tool by any agent whether a rookie or seasoned professional.

I've learned so much from blogging, especially from being part of the Active Rain community, and that's one thing I will certainly promote – get in on the Rain! We get better at blogging by doing it, but we also learn so much from reading other bloggers, and this group has some of the best.

If you were me, what would you tell a group about blogging?

   http://www.homerome.com/