REALBuzz Online

Rely On My Sphere of Influence?

The CE Shop, Inc. — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:20:36 -0600

The CE Shop is the leading provider of online continuing education for real estate agents. We currently serve professionals in forty-six states and are growing daily. Too see our course offerings in your state, visit The CE Shop.com today!

The CE Shop and REAL Buzz Online are excited to announce a new feature. Every Wednesday REAL Buzz Online will be inviting guest bloggers to share their expertise with you. This week we have the outstanding entrepreneur, Jennifer Allan, who has published two books and contributed to The CE Shop course "Selling to Your Sphere of Influence." You can learn more about Jennifer by visiting her personal website: SellWithSoul.com.

by: Jennifer Allan, GRI, Author of Sell with Soul & If You're Not Having Fun Selling Real Estate, You're Not Doing it Right

“Rely on my Sphere of Influence? I don’t know anyone who wants to buy or a sell a home right now!”

Although the concept of generating business from the people you know (your sphere of influence or SOI) is nothing new, many agents have objections to the concept, based on some common misperceptions of how an effective SOI business model should work. Do any of these objections sound familiar to you?

"I don't know anyone who wants to buy or sell right now and even if I did, how can I base my entire business on them?"

In my first year, I sold 25 houses, all as a result of my sphere of influence. Of those 25, all but three were people I didn't know the day I got my real estate license - they were people I met as a result of the personal relationships in my life. Some were referred directly to me by someone I knew; others I met at weddings, parties, etc.; yet others were service providers in my life who weren't my friends, but knew I had a real estate license. The people we know are the gatekeepers to everyone else they know. Impress those we know… and the floodgates shall open.

"I refuse to be one of those annoying real estate agents that the family avoids at parties."

So don't be! Contrary to popular belief, an effective sphere of influence business strategy is not about bothering your friends for their business. Sure, that's a common tactic, and many real estate agents give up on their sphere of influence because they suspect their friends are sick of hearing from them - and they're probably right. Just be a genuinely nice person with a good head on his or her shoulders... who happens to sell real estate for a living.

"I don't believe in mixing business with pleasure. If the deal goes sour, I could lose the friendship."

Could happen. Probably won't, if you take great care of your business. Yes, things go wrong, but if you can fix the problems professionally and competently, you'll probably win even MORE brownie points from your friend than if the deal went 100% smoothly. Anyway, if you do a great job for someone who knows you and cares about you, you'll get GREAT PR in your social circle for it! I'll take that risk because I have faith in myself. One caveat here - DON'T take business that you aren't confident you can handle. For example, if your buddy wants to buy a strip mall, and you're a residential agent, REFER IT. I don't believe we should "practice" on anyone, but especially not on our sphere of influence.

"I don't want my family and friends to feel obligated to use me if they don't want to."

"Obligation" is a dirty word in our business. Never ,ever, ever think that someone is obligated to use you, and don't get hurt if they use someone else. It's probably not personal (people have lives outside of our real estate business), and if it IS personal, take the opportunity to figure out why. Always give your friend or acquaintance the benefit of the doubt if they don't use you - for them, it was the right decision. Respect that. If, in your heart, you feel that your SOI is obligated to use your services, they'll feel it and resist. Conversely, if you respect their right to "choose," they also feel that and will probably beat down your door!

So, yes, you CAN rely on your SOI!

Jennifer is a former top producing real estate broker, a published author, a speaker and a trainer. She has written five books about the business of selling real estate, including her flagship book: Sell with Soul: Creating an Extraordinary Career in Real Estate without Losing Your Friends, Your Principles or Your Self-Respect. Jennifer sold real estate successfully for twelve years in Denver, Colorado.

From her first day on the job, she resisted the efforts of her company trainers, her broker and her fellow agents to persuade her to implement the "traditional" real estate prospecting techniques of cold calling, FSBO hunting, door knocking and geographic farming. Instead, she focused her business building efforts on the people she already knew, or the people she met. Without ever pestering a soul, she built a business based nearly 100% from business and referrals generated from her sphere of influence.

Jennifer is a regular columnist at Realty Times and other real estate media outlets, a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame, and is one of the industry`s most popular bloggers. You can read more about Jennifer`s philosophies at www.sellwithsoul.com.

Subscribe to Jennifer Allan's newsletter

Winter blues got you down?

The CE Shop, Inc. — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:54:22 -0600

Register to win a Wii and Wii Sports Resort from The CE Shop – a leading provider of online continuing education for real estate professionals.

Spring is just around the corner – we hope! To help you get through March and what’s left of this cold and snowy winter, The CE Shop would like to you escape (at home) for a fun and sun-filled spring break. Enjoy the new Wii Sports Resort that will have you wakeboarding, power cruising, canoeing, cycling and even flying an airplane from the comforts of your own home! The game offers a variety of activities for all different levels and ages. Escape with the family for fun four player action or keep it to yourself.

During the month of March everyone has the opportunity to win a Wii and the new Wii Sports Resort by answering five very short questions. There is no purchase necessary and your information will remain secret. To register go to The CE Shop and click on the “Escape” image. You can also click on the image provided with this article.

About Our School

We are a growing real estate education provider in 45 states offering online continuing education courses. Our school has been licensed/accredited in 45 states and growing. Our intentions are to continue serving the many licensees we have had the honor of serving and to continue attracting the high quality subject matter experts who have supported our course development.

Why do your CE with our school?

Our team is the best! From our Course Consultants who guide students through their requirements to the subject matter experts we have engaged to support the development of our content, we have a great team. As the owner and president of the school, I take great pride in deliverying a high quality product and strive to continue doing so. Our mission is to enhance the lives of the real estate professionals we serve, knowing that as we help them be better professionals, they can better serve the thousands of families they serve. It is this that drives our business. Give us a call, we would love to help you.

You can find us online at The CE Shop!

Love to Share?

The CE Shop, Inc. — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:15:30 -0600

The CE Shop is the leader in providing online continuing education for real estate professionals. We currently serve 47 states and are constantly working to improve and add new offerings.

During the month of February we want to show our current customers some appreciation while letting others know about what a great experience we provide.

Students of The CE Shop are eligible to earn FREE course hours simply by referring others to the program.

We invite you to join the 99% of our students that tell us they would refer us to others by taking advantage of our Student Referral Credit Program.

Earning FREE course hours is as EASY as 1-2-3!

Tell your friends about your experience with The CE Shop through your EASYTrack account homepage.
Your friends will receive 10% off when they sign up and
You'll earn free credit hours! There's no limit on how many referrals you can have or credits you can earn

You can learn more about this promotion at The CE Shop.

Short Sale Transactions Made EASY!

The CE Shop, Inc. — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:22:09 -0600

The CE Shop’s course in Short Sale and Foreclosure Risk Management will help you to understand and better navigate through short sale transactions in the current real estate climate.

The Short Sale and Foreclosure Risk Management Course will:

Define short sales and foreclosures.
Describe the fundamental risks involved in foreclosure and short sale transactions.
List questions to consider when working with short sale sellers before entering into a listing agreement.
List the appropriate questions to consider when working with prospective short sale buyers.
Describe common risks for buyers related to short sale transactions.
Identify specific terms to include in a short sale offer to reduce risks for the parties and professionals involved.
Identify the documents commonly required by the lender to be submitted as part of the short sale package.
Describe strategies for effective communication with the lender during the review period.
Explain federal statutes which may affect sellers in short sale transactions.
Describe the typical process in a short sale transaction from listing to closing.
Explain the difference between the judicial and non-judicial foreclosure process.
Identify risks associated with REO listings.

Here is an excerpt from the “Short Sales and Foreclosure Risk Management” course:

“Unfortunately, in the midst of distressed homeowners seeking help in tough economic times, some seek to profit by perpetuating scams disguised as foreclosure rescue plans. Predatory foreclosure rescue scams are on the rise, targeting already vulnerable homeowners and, in many cases, stealing their houses out from under them, even as they risk losing them through foreclosure.

NAR has stepped up its efforts to combat these schemes by lobbying Congress to pass H.R. 1231, The Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Act of 2009. The Act, if passed, would raise the standards and requirements for any entity offering counsel or consulting services to distressed homeowners. In addition, HUD and the FHA are trying to raise awareness of these scams and get the word out to consumers about the free counseling services available through HUD-approved housing counselors.”

This course is available in several states. To see if it is available in your state, go to The CE Shop and click on your state.

Happy New Year from The CE Shop!

The CE Shop, Inc. — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:26:50 -0600

The CE Shop would like to thank each and every one of our customers for an amazing 2009! We are getting excited and preparing for an amazing 2010!

We have a really neat promotion going on for the month of January and we want everyone to take part. Tell us why you love taking CE classes from The CE Shop!

Stay connected in 2010!

Get up-to-the minute promotions, news and information from The CE Shop by following us on Twitter, becoming a fan on Facebook and subscribing to our blog on Active Rain. We'll even give you a code for 25% off of your next purchase through December 31, 2010 AND be entered in a drawing for a $100 Target Gift Card just for connecting with us! All contest directions and rules are found below.

The Gift Card drawing will be held and posted on our Facebook wall on February 1, 2010 at 1:00 PM CST. Good luck!

How to enter on Active Rain

Subscribe to our blog on Active Rain
Leave a comment after the “Happy New Year” post about why you love CE classes from The CE Shop from January 1-31, 2010
Be sure to have your email information available on your profile – so we can get in touch with you!
You’ll be automatically entered to win.
Only 1 comment will be counted.
Within 24 hours of the comment, you will be emailed a promotion code that will guarantee you 25% off of your CE. The code is valid until December 31, 2010.
The gift card drawing will air on our Facebook page on February 1, 2010 at 1:00 PM CST.

How to enter on Twitter:

Follow us on Twitter @TheCEShop
Retweet why you love CE classes from The CE Shop from January 1 – 31, 2010
Don’t forget to add @TheCEShop anywhere in your tweet.
You’ll be automatically entered to win.
Only 1 retweet will be counted.
Within 24 hours of the retweet you will be direct messaged a promotion code that will guarantee you 25% off of your CE. The code is valid until December 31, 2010.
The gift card drawing will air on our Facebook page on February 1, 2010 at 1:00 PM CST.

How to enter on Facebook:

Become a Fan of our on Facebook
Comment @The CE Shop why you love CE classes from The CE Shop from January 1-31, 2010
Make sure that you are a fan of ours and “The CE Shop” is linked in your comment.
You’ll be automatically entered to win.
Only 1 comment will be counted.
Within 24 hours of the comment, you will be messaged a promotion code that will guarantee you 25% off of your CE. The code is valid until December 31, 2010.
The gift card drawing will air on our Facebook page on February 1, 2010 at 1:00 PM CST.

Want to triple your chances of winning the $100 Target gift card? Connect with us via Twitter, Facebook AND Active Rain to earn three entries in the drawing!

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. Complete registration tasks through Twitter, Facebook or Active Rain (described above) and you will be automatically entered into a drawing for a $100 Target Giftcard. 2. Upon completion of the registration tasks, you will receive contact by The CE Shop (also described above) confirming your registration and offering you a 25% off promotion code. 3. Registrations are limited to three per person. Each person may complete all three registration methods and be entered into the drawing three times. The promotion code is limited to one per person and will not be duplicated across the registration platforms. Guidelines listed below.

1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO WIN.

2. SELECTION OF WINNERS: Winners will be determined from all eligible entries received in a random drawing to be conducted on February 1, 2010. The winner will be announced on www.facebook.com/TheCEShop at 1 PM CST on February 1, 2010.

3. PRIZE: Prize will be awarded, provided a sufficient number of eligible entries are received (minimum of 100). Prize cannot be substituted for cash.

4. ELIGIBILITY/RESTRICTIONS: 25% off promotion code is not valid on courses purchased prior to January 1, 2010 or the date the code was received. The code will remain active until 11:59 PM CST on December 31, 2010. By receiving the promotion code, members are confirmed as registered to win the $100 Target Gift Card that will be announced on February 1, 2010 at 1:00 PM CST on www.facebook.com/TheCEShop.

5. VERIFICATION OF WINNER: The winner agrees to The CE Shop's use of their name, address, likeness, and/or prize information for promotional purposes in any medium without additional compensation to the extent permitted by law.

6. GENERAL: Any questions regarding the drawing should be directed to news@theceshop.com or call 1-888-827-0777 THE CE SHOP: P.O. Box 9335, Fargo, ND 58102

Kentucky Real Estate Continuing Education Renewal

The CE Shop, Inc. — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:29:48 -0600

Want to take educational, relevant and convenient continuing education?

The CE Shop offers you a wide variety of courses that cover important and current real estate industry topics as well as meets your state requirements.

Curious what your state requirements for CE are? Go to The CE Shop and choose your state. The state requirements are listed as well as the course catalog for each state.

Kentucky Annual Requirements

TotalHours: 6
General/Elective Hours: 3
Specialty/Mandatory Hours: 3
License Renewal Period: 1 Year(s)

One of our most popular courses in Kentucky will help you to become up-to-date with the current foreclosure crisis in the real estate industry. In addition to providing you quality content, the course will also meet your annual required three legal hours or three elective hours.

Kentucky – Foreclosures Demystified 3 credit hours (3 Required Law or Elective Hours)

Homeowners experiencing financial difficulties sometimes find themselves in positions where mortgage payments go 90 or more days past due. Based on the mortgage agreement, when mortgage payments go unpaid, the loan is in default. Mortgage lenders try to remedy default with foreclosure mechanisms, using the security on the loan to repay the debt. Homeowners must understand that real estate professionals cannot give legal advice. Real estate professionals need to be aware of state foreclosure processes and instruct homeowners to seek assistance from mortgage and legal professionals as soon as possible.

To learn more about The CE Shop or courses available in your state, please go to The CE Shop or contact us at support@theceshop.com or by phone at 888-827-0777.

Wyoming Real Estate Continuing Education

The CE Shop, Inc. — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:56:18 -0600

Want to take educational, relevant and convenient continuing education?

The CE Shop offers you a wide variety of courses that cover important and current real estate industry topics as well as meets your state requirements.

Curious what your state requirements for CE are? Go to The CE Shop and choose your state. The state requirements are listed as well as the course catalog for each state.

Wyoming Renewal Requirements

Total Hours: 45
General/Elective Hours: 21
Specialty/Mandatory Hours: 24
License Renewal Period: 3 Year(s)

One of our most popular courses in Wyoming will help you to become up-to-date with the Fair Housing laws in the real estate industry. In addition to providing you quality content, the course will also meet your annual required three elective hours.

Wyoming - Breaking Barriers – Fair Housing (3 credit hours)

In 1968, Congress passed the Fair Housing Act, updated in 1988. It provides Americans with remedies should they become a victim of discrimination in the sale, rental or financing of housing. Most Americans are familiar with discrimination laws, but in housing the discrimination laws may not be quite as well-known to individuals that are not real estate professionals.

To learn more about The CE Shop or courses available in your state, please go to The CE Shop or contact us at support@theceshop.com or by phone at 888-827-0777.

Louisiana Real Estate Continuing Education Renewal

The CE Shop, Inc. — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:38:40 -0600

Want to take educational, relevant and convenient continuing education?

The CE Shop offers you a wide variety of courses that cover important and current real estate industry topics as well as meets your state requirements.

Curious what your state requirements for CE are? Go to The CE Shop and choose your state. The state requirements are listed as well as the course catalog for each state.

Lousiana Annual Requirements

Total Hours: 12
General/Elective Hours: 8
Specialty/Mandatory Hours: 4
License Renewal Period: 1 Year(s)

One of our most popular courses in Louisiana will help you to become up-to-date with the current fraud and mortgage crisis in the real estate industry. In addition to providing you quality content, the course will also meet your annual required three elective hours.

Lousiana - Keeping it Honest: Understanding Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud (3 credit hours)

In “Fraud for Housing” schemes, which accounts for about 20% of all real estate/mortgage fraud, an individual makes misrepresentations during the home acquisition process in order to obtain property.

Real estate is no stranger to the white collar criminal. Many will use real estate as a vehicle to steal the life savings out of unsuspecting home owners and defraud lenders out of millions of dollars for their own gain. This course will identify several types of real estate fraud schemes, both minor and major, and how you as a real estate professional can protect and educate your clients on this growing problem.

To learn more about The CE Shop or courses available in your state, please go to The CE Shop or contact us at support@theceshop.com or by phone at 888-827-0777.

North Dakota Real Estate Continuing Education Renewal

The CE Shop, Inc. — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:46:15 -0600

Want to take educational, relevant and convenient continuing education?

The CE Shop offers you a wide variety of courses that cover important and current real estate industry topics as well as meets your state requirements.

Curious what your state requirements for CE are? Go to The CE Shop and choose your state. The state requirements are listed as well as the course catalog for each state.

North Dakota Renewal Requirements

Total Hours: 16
General/Elective Hours: 10
Specialty/Mandatory Hours: 6
License Renewal Period: 2 Year(s)

One of our most popular courses in North Dakota will help you to become up-to-date with all of the new and emerging technology in the real estate industry. In addition to providing you quality content, the course will also meet your annual required four elective hours.

North Dakota – Real Estate Technology: The Professional’s Guide to Success (4 credit hours)

With all of the things real estate professionals use on a daily basis, it seems as though one might need a wheelbarrow in which to cart everything. Good news, this isn’t the case! Throughout this course, you will learn some of the best ways in which technology can improve your business, make transactions smoother and more efficient, and how to efficiently complete projects which previously weighed you down.

To learn more about The CE Shop or courses available in your state, please go to The CE Shop or contact us at support@theceshop.com or by phone at 888-827-0777.

A Little About The CE Shop

The CE Shop, Inc. — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:45:19 -0600

About Our School

Why do your CE with our school?

You can find us online at The CE Shop!