Let's talk about the importance of personal branding. In the busy real estate space you need to be a specialist and not a generalist, express what makes you unique, whether it's your previous career or experience, or perhaps it's your hobbies and passions.  

Even under the umbrella of the agency that you work for, how do you differentiate yourself from the other agencies or even just from the agents in your own office? Try to be creative but not cheesy (unless you're Diego) but being courageous will get you noticed.  

And don't forget to invest in your brand, spending time and money on logos, colours, photography, and design goes a long way. We're in the marketing game, so look, act, and talk like the money.

In this episode, we share ideas on how to give the ultimate experience to your vendors.

When you sign the listing with a vendor you know you're going to have a big impact on their lives throughout the process, but how do you also give them a high-end experience with the very best customer service?

Options include direct contact, messages, informative videos, and more.

Make sure to tune in to find out Diego and Aaron's top advice to provide the ultimate vendor experience.

It is Episode 50 and let us discuss how to get buyers engaged and out of the shadows in this current market.

They're waiting, watching intently, and paying attention to what is happening around them. So, when the buyers fob you off what do you do?

Check out Diego and Aaron engaging in some role-playing... buyer/agent role-play of course! Make sure you watch for some inside information and some great tips.

Let's cut to the chase this episode...we're talking about hidden transactions.

What are the motivations involved for a vendor to be selling or for a buyer to be purchasing?

Do they need to be in a specific school area, do they need a bigger house?

Ask the right questions... do they want to sell or do they NEED to sell?

Those hidden transactions have become increasingly important in this market so make sure you’re aware of them.

It's Episode 48 and we're talking about the concept of approaching vendors as though they were family members, what would you suggest and how would you treat them?

Remind yourself that it is a privilege to be in our position, be genuine and give honest advice, just as you would to your own Mum & Dad.

It's Episode 47 and let's talk Open Homes.

There are some agents no longer doing them but for those that are they're pretty run of the mill... so what can we do to make them different and to stand out from everyone else?

Check out the podcast to hear our ideas and get in touch if you have any you'd like to share.

It's Episode 46 and let's talk about the little extras you can do when marketing a property and how you get your vendors to have "skin in the game".  

This is when we look at getting them involved in the process of marketing and selling their property. They've probably already paid for traditional marketing such as TradeMe etc, but there are some other things they can do that don't cost anything. 

The first involves utilising the power of social media to promote the property through community groups which can also benefit your business as well. The second is including your vendors in the Open Home process. Make sure to check out the podcast to hear all the details.

Offers are proving hard to come by in this market so when you do get one it's good news but it's important how you present them. Even if the offer doesn't meet the vendor's expectations remember not to get defensive, have comparables ready and back yourself up with facts. 

All offers are good offers, present them correctly and work from there.

In Episode 44 we're talking about words. They've got to have meaning and they've got to cut to the chase. Literally. When you start to listen more you become aware of how many words are out there and what really has meaning. 

Vendors are worried about the market and being clear and straight to the point can help ease their fears.

The same goes for Buyers. Asking the right questions can have a big influence on their decisions.  Use less words, have more impact, and it can help you sound smarter!

In Episode 43 we are talking about helping good people understand when good offers present themselves and actually how good they are. Our job is to get the very best result for our vendors but they need to understand what a good offer is so they can move on with their lives.

Present them with the facts! Show them other properties and what price they're selling at so they truly understand the current market, guide them through the process allowing them to make informed decisions and know when they are being presented with a good offer.

When time is money how do you make sure you're not wasting a moment of it?

In Episode 42 we're talking about different time-saving hacks to make sure you're making the most of every day including meeting schedules and utilising templates, plus Diego shares a new quick, and easy way to get video testimonials for your business.

It's Episode 41 and we're discussing something incredibly simple but essential in our everyday lives, the importance of good manners, and the bonus that they cost us nothing. 

Ensure you treat everyone with respect and always try to be polite, you never know who your next client or vendor is.

Sometimes we can forget as we get busy and tired but words such as 'thank you' truly matter, and although 'thank you for caring' is such a small phrase, it can have a lasting impact on the people around us.

In this episode, we're talking about something I heard at AREC recently which is the saying, "you've got to let go to make more". So what does that mean? People ask why Team Diego is successful and part of the reason is delegation.

It can be a challenge to let go and there may be bumps along the way (maybe even some mistakes) but at the end of the day if you've got people you can trust to do the job then learn to let go so you can do what you do best, listing and selling.

In this week's episode of Cut To The Chase we're talking about how to respond when someone asks, is this a good time to buy or sell?

Maybe now is a horrible time or maybe it isn't! The probability is the market will continue to drop for the foreseeable future, but it is a beautiful time to buy if you find the perfect house. Aaron talks about one of the big rookie mistakes he sees is when someone tries to pick the bottom of the market.

Only hindsight can do that. However, if you're not looking to sell in the short to medium term then now is a great time to be buying. So, remember to connect with your potential vendor by being honest about the current market and it could pay off.

If someone offers you something for free they're probably taking your information and selling it to someone else. 

In 2022 you got a change it up. So stop doing stuff for free. How much real estate marketing do you see from agents offering a free appraisal, valuation, or property marketing? Stop doing stuff for free. Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean you should.

Maybe you offering things for free because you're not any good. Instead offer something of substance. Providing comparables such as record prices in the local area can create interest with your potential vendor. 

As a real estate agent you are a marketing and negotiating expert, prove your worth and don't give it away for free. Remember to be different... the best do and rest don't.

In this episode, we're looking at the current climate and how there are markets within markets. Vendors and buyers are responding to what they're seeing in the media with median prices and sales but that is not always a true representation of what is actually happening in the market. It is important that you're not talking in general terms, be specific to what is happening in your area and use that information to help the vendor understand the prevailing marketplace. At the end of the day make sure you know your numbers. Properties are still selling you just need to explain the market within the market.

In this week's episode, we're talking about bridging the gap between buyers and sellers and the changeover calculator. It doesn't matter what the market is doing there is always a gap between vendors and buyers, in 2021 it was the buyers that had to bridge the gap, making our job a little easier when it came to negotiations.

In 2022 there is still a gap but now it's the vendors that have got to bridge the gap if they want to be sold. It's important to remind vendors that ultimately the process is about them achieving their goal and regardless of what their property sells for if you can get them to where they want to be then that is what matters.

In today’s episode, we are talking about the three most common captions that vendors say when they are selling their homes and how to respond. These being “I don't need to sell, we are not giving it away, or we are not in a hurry.

It’s important to note that as agents we want to get the best result possible for our vendors, but you are not obligated to sell at an offer you are not happy with. However, the issue with this is that the current market is continually moderating, and you don’t want to be disappointed if the prices fluctuate out of your favour.

Because you're competing with other properties in the market, some people do need to sell their home and are not going to give it away, although they are prepared to align with the new norm and stats. Sometimes vendors' motivations are hidden but providing them with all the up-to-date facts and statistics about the market so that they can make an informed decision is vital.

Build a case study – previous house listings, their offers, sale price and comparable that you can give to vendors as a reference. Be optimistic regardless of the situation as you have given them all the information they need, but also be adaptable.

Don’t’ sit back and wait for your phone to ring, call your previous buyers. This will create an opportunity to discuss their property needs, never assuming they aren’t ready for their next home.

They might be looking for that house with an extra bedroom or an ensuite and your phone call could be the decider for

In today’s episode, we are talking about why to auction in this current market, despite headlines portraying a different message. It’s important to cut through the noise about what the media are writing and any doubts that you may have because auctions are still successful.

By going to auction, you eliminate a lot of the outside noise around pricing and the media and can get the vendor the best possible if they choose to auction in this market. Even if you cannot bid at auction, buyers can present a conditional offer which will accelerate the process and provide more urgency with shorter campaigns.

Another key element of auctions and communicating with vendors is making sure that they are aware that properties there is a possibility that their property won’t sell at auction – but this isn’t the end of the road. If they have a realistic expectation, despite being optimistic, then you can move into phase two of the selling process and set a price that they are happy to sell at. But selling at auction is still a high probability which should still be used as a sale method in real estate!