The Unzillowables

'Hottest festival in recent memory' kicks up heat in Gilroy - Gilroy Dispatch: Community

As a local Gilroy garlic lover and real estate princess, I can second the author's statement that it was one of the hottest weekends not just because of the temperature. The country music stage was the place to chill and yes, the $15 plate combo: pepper steak sandwich, pasta con pesto, and calamari was the culinary hit of the festival. 4000 Gilroy volunteers speak for itself: “The Gilroy community is still by far the most awesome place in the world.” 'Hottest festival in recent memory' kicks up heat in Gilroy - Gilroy Dispatch: Community

Juggling Two Careers Helps Becoming a Better Agent

Nothing is wrong with keeping your current FT job while you also start your real estate business. I did it and so did many others who have the financial responsibility to support a family and themselves. Don't let anybody tell you that you are less committed than a full-time agent because true committment has nothing to do with how many jobs you juggle. It has to do with balance and how you set your priorities. Many of our Keller Williams top agents have started out as dual career agents. I made sure I knew their names and started learning from them.

Perseverance and patience will get us where we want to be. It may take longer but this is not a rat race anyway. It is our future without it.

I don't see a lot of recommendations and tips out there for dual career rookie agents so here you go my fellow hard working colleagues.

1) Choose the right broker
Hang your license with a broker who supports dual career agents: Most workshops happen on work days during 8AM - 5PM. My deciding factor to sign up with Keller Williams Silicon Valley was that they offer evening workshops and the Ignite new agent launch program on Saturdays. Most farming workshops are getting recorded and are available on youtube together with all major coaching courses and material offered by the mothership, our KW franchisor in Austin, TX. Developing flexibility, independent learning skills, and effective communication are crucial for dual career peeps and yes, will eventually help them on their way to become top dogs in the real estate market.

2) Stop the Blame Game
Get quickly over the "poor me, I get left out" attitude once you realize that no, you won't be able to make most of the team meetings, potlucks, or guest speakers because you are at your "other" job. Remember, dual career was your choice so get over it, don't blame anybody but you,  and find a way to have alternative access to the information you need. Ask your office team, ask your coach, your mentor, colleagues, and vendors, too. Being forced to connect individually with your team mates from the very beginning to get the information you need, will put you at an advantage because you will build strong relationships with all those who will support you and your dual career goal. It also will train you to reach out and ask for help, and learn to use new technologies rather than passively waiting for your team leader to offer solutions on a silver tray.

3) Money doesn't stink
The biggest advantage of a dual career for sure is your solid financial basis. Your "other" job provides the bacon you carry home while you establish your own real estate business.Who do you think approaches buyers and sellers more confident, happier and with a more positive attitude? The one pressured to get business in order to pay the next bill or the one who does not have to worry about where the next mortgage payment comes from? As long as you are committed to do whatever it takes to support your clients speak be a successful agent following the code of ethics, not having financial pressure will definitely help you along the way.

4) Market your name
As a dual career agent you probably have enough financial means to establish a marketing budget from the very beginning of your career. You can put your name out immediately by buying nicer business cards, your own open house signs and car magnets,  facebook ads, radio commercials, or mailing services to tend to your farm.Choose wisely so that your marketing effort will give you the edge to stand out from the crowd.

5) There is gold in them thar cubicles!
Your sphere of influence includes a bonanza of leads - all your coworkers at your "other" job. Start spreading the word that you are a successful real estate consultant. Hand out your business card, invite everyone to your fabulous open houses, reach out to vendors. Not only did I receive a killer price quote at the print shop of my work place where I get all my postcards and flyers done, I also received referrals there of colleagues looking to sell or buy a home. Every company has a mighty gossip machine - make it run to your advantage.

6) Plan your time!
Working two jobs requires superior planning. My weekly planner as well as my calendar are my vital tools to get all ducks in the row: I prospect, I farm, I volunteer and support my charities, I go to workshops, have a family of three, and a second job. I am no Super Hero, it can be done by everyone. While full-time agents can get away not planning their time until they have more business, dual career agents don't have that choice. From day one, thorough planning is mandatory in order to avoid a nervous break-down and being able to get enough lead generation time, workshops, open houses, and business meetings into the daily marathon to succeed as a real estate agent.

7) Incorporate your real estate chores into your daily routine and stretch the day
Early bird catches the worm - in order to get more real estate into my day, I have become an early riser. At 5AM I plan my day, check my emails, create flyers or get invoices paid, heck preview vacant homes on my way to work. During the breaks at my "other" job, I respond to phone calls, call leads, make sure my clients can reach me. In my car during my commute, I listen to Gary Keller audiobooks or practice scripts out loud. At 5PM, when job one is done, I go to my business meetings and listing presentations and preview more homes. The weekends are reserved for open houses and sphere of influence activities or fundraisers.

8) Quality time with your partner and kids instead of TV
Family comes first -  I have planned time with my granddaughter every day, and the best hours to discuss family matters with my husband is when we walk the dogs and check out new listings.  Instead of starring into the TV all evening long, we get exercise and alone time to talk and hold hands while prospecting the neighborhood.

Happy juggling Everyone!....and should you now want to start your own dual career real estate business, contact me and let's talk! You are not alone in this....
 

This Month In Real Estate - July 2014 Gilroy Edition

 

A temporary shortage of inventory has boosted home prices in Gilroy during the past five years. Although more inventory is available now, prices are only slightly down in 2014 compared to last year's peak - Call me if you want to find out what your home is worth in today's changing market

                       WORKING HARD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!

Last Open House at 2789 Mira Bella Circle in Morgan Hill - Don't Miss Your Last Chance to Make an Offer For This Beautiful Executive 5/3 Home on a 15k+ lot

Walk and bike off these Independence Day hot dogs and burgers and come up to my open house at 2789 Mira Bella Circle in Morgan Hill's best family neighborhoods.

Take a stroll through this beautiful home. I will help you write up an offer.

A percentage of all my transactions goes towards DreamPower Horsemanship in Gilroy who provide free therapy for veterans with P.T.S.D with their Horses for Warriors program.  You might have seen us walking in the 4th of July Parade in Morgan Hill with our mini horses. We scored 1st prize in our category.

This is your last chance to visit this home to make it yours. No open houses after this one. Decisions will be made the week after. If you are looking for a 5bdr/3bath executive home on a 15k+ private lot backing to the foothills with beautiful views, you should visit me today, 1-4PM.

Take East Dunne exit, drive east, and follow my open house signs until you see red, white, and blue balloons. Don't be a stranger!

Destination America

Last Year July I got sworn in as a new US citizen and this year I got invited by DreamPower Horsemanship to walk with my entire family in the Morgan Hill 4th of July Parade which had the motto: Destination America.

We are ready to go and love the DreamPower shirts and caps we received for free from Martha McNiel. The judges as well as the spectators gave us lots of compliments for the outfit.

DreamPower Horsemanship is my local Gilroy charity which I support financially with a percentage of every successful real estate transaction and as a volunteer so that they can continue to provide free therapy to our veterans with P.T.S.D. and their families.

 Our fully accredited therapists and our therapy horses which are mostly rescue horses being re-trained, have a variety of programs from ponies and pre-schoolers to a program for special needs kids and at-risk youth and the one dearest to my heart, Horses for Warriors.

Everybody is welcome as a volunteer. For me, it just clicked when I found DreamPower on their ranch in Gilroy. This is a special bunch of people and animal lovers who do so much good.

And today, 4th of July, we are all in Morgan Hill at the Freedom Fest together with three mini horses and one donkey. Sarah, my daughter was in charge of braiding as she is a licensed hair-dresser.

The rest of us busy DreamPower bees were decorating the animals with glitter, ribbons and flowers.

Zachary rocked the crowd with his "Andalusian moments". This little guy knows how to pose in front of the parade judges. Everybody was just blown away by him.

Martha McNiel, the heart and soul of DreamPower Horsemanship is checking out the ruby slippers on Patches, the mini donkey, who was a real trooper.

Soon it was time to line up for the parade as team # 43

This beautiful Andalusian with his owner was leading the equestrian teams into the parade. They are my favorites in the parade for many years.

The pony express was behind us, team # 44

 and so we walked......

.....and walked all the six miles in the parade, giving out trading cards with pictures of all DreamPower horses to the kids in the crowd. Running back and forth and forward to keep up with the parade.

 My 7-year-old granddaughter Addy made it all the way up to the finish without any complaints. She had fun and we can see it on her face.

Addy gets riding lessons from Garry Stauber at DreamPower on Tulips who helps her overcome a traumatic experience as a toddler.  She wants to become a barrel rider and has learned a lot already.

Thank you to all volunteers who made this parade a smooth and very well organized event - from the equestrian stage all the way through the parade. Special thanks to our DreamPower Pooper Scoopers who walked last in our group.

Happy 4th of July to everyone out there, especially to our servicemen overseas. Stay safe and healthy and come home soon, we thank you for all you do.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

Happy Birthday America!

Courage Is Being Scared To Death But Saddling Up Anyway - John Wayne