Congratulations to  Chris K. Canfield of RE/MAX Schoolside Realtors® in Connecticut for being the first $50 winner of the HomeGain Agent Appreciation contest!

Chris is an AgentEvaluator Platinum Club Member and has been with HomeGain since 2003. “Thanks!” stated Chris. “Every $50 helps these days.”

The correct answers from the Trivia Contest were:

What is the name of HomeGain’s new rewards program?  Max Points

What year was HomeGain founded?  1999

What did the BBB rate HomeGain?  A+

Next week’s new contest starts on Monday! Are you good at word searches? Might be worth the $50!

Login to your HomeGain account on Monday and Tuesday (and make sure you have your pop up blocker off) to get the link to the Agent Appreciation page. Or email us.

I am continually amazed by how little some people know about the real estate business.

Most people generally have a good idea about how the industry works but every now and then I run into someone who is pretty naïve about the home buying process. Even doctors, lawyers, CEO’s and other professionals may not know how our business works.

Here are 10 things you should know about working with a Realtor®.

1)  Realtors® work on commission

There may be a few exceptions here and there but most Realtors work on 100% commission. That means no salary, no draw, no bonuses, no nothing. If there is not a successful closing the Realtor does not get paid. No only do they not make any money they actually lose money. Agents are essentially small businesses with various expenses like advertising, websites, business cards, stationary, direct mailers, gas, time and energy. If they don’t generate revenue they lose money.

Realtors are not public servants. Don’t ask them to work for you if you don’t think they will get compensated with a commission from a successful transaction.

2)  Hire a Realtor®

First figure out if you want to work with or without a Realtor. Some people want to work directly with the listing agent because they think that they will get a better deal on the property. If you do want to work directly with the listing agent keep in mind that they had a prior relationship with the seller before meeting you. The Realtor might look out for the seller’s interests instead of yours. It might be best to hire a Realtor that represents you in the transaction. Continue reading this post

Last week HomeGain rolled out the September/October issue of its Agent Success Newsletter.

The digital real estate newsletter included:

Feature Story:

“New Survey Results: Where Do REALTORS® Think Home Prices Are Heading?”

The results of the 3rd quarter HomeGain Realtor Survey on Home Prices show that since the first quarter, HomeGain members are of the opinion that home prices are stabilizing and will continue to do so. 69% of HomeGain members believe that home prices will remain the same in the next six months.

We also asked our members whether they approved or disapproved of President Obama’s performance. What did they say? Read complete survey findings

Follow HomeGain: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube

Agent Insight - Question of the Month:

Q: How does the new video feature on AgentEvaluator® work (for adding videos to my proposals)?

HomeGain News:

AgentEvaluator® “Refer an Agent” Sweepstakes – Chance to Win $300!

New Toll-Free Number For AgentView Members

HomeGain Nation Session Videos Now Available

October: 4th Annual Agent Appreciation Campaign Is Launched

Continue reading this post

In many cases, the perception of an online consumer is that they are not real. The result is that they are not treated as a true prospect and, clearly, deals will not close due to this situation.

This perception is understandable since an online consumer is represented on a computer screen as a series of characters in an email address or in their name. The person is not standing in front of you. They have no pulse and you cannot look them in the eye.

Their preferred method of communication is email which, by its nature, maintains a certain level of anonymity. Due to this desire to remain anonymous, the online consumer controls the frequency, or even possibility, of contact.

This same desire prompts an online consumer to register false contact information on a real estate agent’s web site whether or not entering contact information is even necessary for the consumer to gather the information they want.

Clearly, this is a huge source of frustration and, in some cases, expense for an agent.

But, on the other hand…

Continue reading this post

Instead of doing my usual educational post, I figured I would tell you a quick story that is the reason I stayed in Real Estate.

When I lost my Internet Company in 2000 after the big bubble burst, I was offered several jobs from Radio groups to handle their national Internet efforts.  They were pretty high paying jobs all over $200k per year.  However, after talking with my girlfriend, now my wife, I realized that I just didn’t want to spend every day of  the month traveling.  I had just done that for the past several years and I was beat!

A friend of my better half was in Real Estate and she kept telling me I should get into Real Estate.  It’s a lot of work but with my personality I would do great…so she told me.  Continue reading this post

HomeGain rolled out the July/August issue of its Agent Success Newsletter.

The digital real estate newsletter included:

Feature Story:

“AgentEvaluator® Consumer Survey Results — How to Get Consumers to Select You as Their Agent”

We surveyed over 14,000 online home buyers and sellers who  came through AgentEvaluator® in the last year -– some who closed with a HomeGain agent and some who did not choose a HomeGain agent.

We’ve identified 5 ways from the results to help agents increase their success with converting prospects into clients! Read complete survey findings.

Question of the Month:

” I noticed the new Max Points in my HomeGain account recently. Is there something extra I need to do to get points? Do you keep track of them for me? Also, what can I redeem my points for?”

Special HomeGain Radio Interview with REALTOR Virginia Cheezum:

As an AgentEvaluator Diamond Club member with over nine years of experience with the program, Virginia shares some of the valuable information that has helped put her into the top .1% of all HomeGain agents.

News: Continue reading this post