Luxury Listing Specialist - Dominate High End Listings In Any Market

How do you determine which order to put a listing’s photos in? Today I’ll talk about photo order for online listings. Real estate school doesn’t teach you what photos to show or what not to show. Our job as real estate agents is to accentuate the best features of a home and downplay the least favorable. You don’t have to show every bathroom if some are dated. When you’re putting together online marketing pieces, you need to lead with the best photos. I recently put a home on the market as the third agent for a seller who was frustrated with the previous agents. She had 40 photos and they weren’t making a great first impression. I fixed her listing to lead with the amazing photos and then squeezed the so-so photos in between. You don’t need to include every photo of every bedroom and bathroom if they’re not unique. I like showing the unique features of a home and the best qualities of the location with drone photos and photos in town because you’re selling the lifestyle and the location in addition to the h

Have you recently transitioned into real estate or perhaps moved to a new area and don't have local connections? If so, this episode will inspire you.  Noelle Nielsen, aka The Minnesotan, shares her journey. Before pivoting to real estate, Noelle has had careers as a headhunter, wedding photographer, and lawyer. She’s been in real estate for six years and has already opened her own brokerage. She’s also a goat farmer to boot!  Noelle makes excellent use of video marketing. She incorporates humor, her family, and even goats into her videos. In this episode, she will share what her transition was like, how we met, and give nuggets of wisdom we can all borrow.  Grab a notebook and pen. Listen and learn. Connect with Noelle Nielsen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noellenielsen/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noelletheminnesotan/ “Depending on what your career was before, use that to your benefit.” - Noelle Nielsen 3 Things You'll Learn: Start Networking: When you are transitioning

Among the home buyer bidding wars, “love letters” have quickly gained popularity.  If you're not familiar with this practice, it's when the buyer presents an offer to the seller, along with a letter about how much they love their home, and why they should pick them over the competition.  Seemingly harmless, but these letters can raise fair housing concerns and could open real estate professionals and their clients to fair housing violations. Listen in to learn more.  Be sure to join me on Luxury Fridays! For more information visit www.JoinLuxeGroup.com

I'm sure you can imagine a luxury listing that sells is a huge magnet to attract new clients. But did you know that when marketing a luxury listing - even if it doesn't sell - you will still attract opportunities from that trophy listing?  Yes, it happens, and it's happening in "non-luxury markets". Craig Sachse is a living testimony. Craig had a $5m plus listing that closed in October 2021. Since then, things have changed for him. More opportunities are knocking at his door! Before getting into real estate, Craig worked in an architectural firm specializing in luxury homes. Looking back, he's proud of how far he's come. In this episode, Craig will take us through his real estate journey, how he managed to close his trophy listing, his marketing technique, and his plans for the future.   Listen and learn. Connect with Craig Sachse: Website: craigsachse.com Email: CraigASachse@gmail.com “A sign in the yard is better than a sign in the car.” -Michael LaFido Three Things You'll Learn: Just

Recently, I received a question from an aspiring agent about the remarks section. As agents, our specialty is people, not writing. However, you still need to know what to say, so today I want to talk to you about the remarks section.  Personally, I look to Tony Robbins, who said, “Success leaves clues.” In other words, take a look at what someone successful is doing and tweak it to make it your own. You don’t want to reinvent the wheel; just look at similar properties and take notes on what makes their section work.  You can copy and paste the remarks to a separate document as a reference, but it’s important not to copy someone else’s work word for word. Take a note of their style, then fill in the blanks with the unique features of your home. Remember that you aren’t only selling the property; you’re selling the lifestyle the house represents.  Don’t spend all your energy on the remarks. If your photos aren’t good, no one will read them. However, if everything else is great, the remarks could be the last

Did you know that emotional intelligence is considered one of the most valuable skills for real estate agents? In this episode, I have the opportunity of hosting Marques Ogden. We will be having a deep conversation on emotional intelligence and why we need to master it. Marques is a former NFL offensive lineman and built a solid career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Baltimore Ravens, the Buffalo Bills, and the Tennessee Titans. After six years, he hung up the helmet and padding and became a successful entrepreneur. He's also a keynote speaker, executive coach, and best-selling author.   Marques believes emotional intelligence is about understanding the power of your emotions and the emotions of others. Emotional intelligence is also about the importance of creating rapport before proceeding to business. As real estate agents, we need to be emotionally intelligent to succeed in this field. Our customers need to feel empathy from us and know that we're not just in it for the profit. We have their bes

If you’re working in an appreciating market like our current one, you’ve probably run into issues involving an appraisal gap. How do you handle this issue so that your clients can continue with their transactions? Let’s talk about it: Let’s take a look at an example. Suppose you and a client look at a home listed at $2 million, but it only appraises for $1.8 million. One way you can handle this is by adding a contingency to the contract where you offer to make up the difference in cash up to a certain amount. So your client can say they’ll pay an appraisal gap in cash up to $200,000 if the property appraises low.  “The key is to bring the topic up early in a transaction so that there are no surprises.” You can also create an appraisal contingency the other way. So if this $2 million property appraised higher than its list price, you’ll agree to buy it up to a certain amount. Either of these options is a way you can differentiate yourself from the pack.  If you have a conversation about the appraisal gap, 

Would you like to double your average sales price in 2022 and quadruple your sales volume versus your best year ever? If so, this episode is for you. Jake Crawford will be joining me on the show to share his real estate journey.  Jake is a Realtor with extensive market knowledge and unmatched devotion to clients. With over $100 million in sales, he continuously ranks in the country's top 5% of producing real estate agents. He works tirelessly on behalf of his clients and always offers candid advice. He believes that to serve a client best, you need to step into their shoes to understand their needs. Also, he believes in creating relationships with his clients away from work. In this episode, Jake will share his real estate journey, how we met, and how he got into the luxury market. Are you ready to learn? Listen in to this episode. Connect with Jake Crawford:  Website: https://www.topcomphomes.com/  Cellphone: 480-766-2973 "Why wait years to get good at something if you can go do it right away? T

What are experts saying about 2022? 2021 was an amazing year, so will things continue to be hot next year?   Before we get started, I want to mention something that will definitely change in 2022: the return of live events! I plan on hosting more of these throughout 2022, including one in Colorado in January. If you want more information, please visit www.luxurydesignation.com.  As for 2022’s market, most experts agree that things will continue to be hot; however, it may cool down from 2021’s rapid pace. There’s one big reason why this is the case: inflation.  Tons of money was pumped into the economy during the peak of the pandemic, and this has caused inflation to increase. I had people tell me their turkey cost twice as much this Thanksgiving! Everything seems to be getting more expensive, and interest rates may rise as a result. Rates will likely still be low, but not as low as we’ve seen recently.  So will 2022 be a bad year for real estate? No; in fact, it will be one of the best years ever. Just do

Do you have an interest in the international market, but you have no idea how to spread your wings? This episode is for you! My guest and I will be talking about conquering the international market. Today, I have Peter Kempf joining me on the show. He’s noted by Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, and he’s been directly involved with the sale and marketing of million-dollar-plus properties in thirty-one states, and twenty-two countries in his career. Having been the Director of International Real Estate for Christie’s, Vice President, and Midwest Regional Manager for Sotheby’s International Realty, Mr. Kempf is considered one of the leading authorities in international real estate. He’s a frequent guest speaker at global real estate conferences. Listen and learn.   Connect with Peter Kempf: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peter-kempf-international-re/ Website: http://kempfintl.com/ “When you want to grow your presence internationally, and you want to get in front of both more buyers and agen

Now that we’re approaching the end of 2021, some of your clients might be pondering the question of when to list their home for sale, during the winter which is typically the slower season, or wait until the spring. Maybe their home is on the market for sale currently, so do they keep it on the market for sale now or take it off the market and relist their home for sale in the spring? I’m offering my thoughts today to help you resolve that question with them. One philosophy I subscribe to is that “you can’t sell a home if buyers don’t know it’s on the market for sale”. In today’s economy, people are buying and selling homes during the traditionally slower months to buy and sell a home. My recommendation to agents and sellers today is you should put a home on the market for sale in December, January, or February as opposed to waiting until May or June. If your client’s home is already on the market, I’d advise them to keep the home on the market. As Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don

The luxury property market is quickly gaining popularity, and more people in real estate are shifting their focus to this niche. Today, school's in session with Alex Lange, teaching us how to crack the luxury market. Alex is the CEO of Forbes Global Properties. At his core, he is a technologist and has firsthand learnings from three exits, four acquisitions, and countless integrations and international expansions. He helps people identify and then maximize hidden opportunities, untapped assets, overlooked possibilities, product velocity, and under-performing activities to outperform their competitors. So, if you are looking to venture into the luxury market, it would be best to listen to this episode. Connect with Alex Lange: Email: alexlange@forbesglobalproperties.com Website: forbesglobalproperties.com "People want authenticity. They don't want fake. They want you, and if they don't want you, that's okay. Be yourself such that you can look yourself in the mirror and know that you gave it your best

When agents are talking to their potential seller clients, they say things like, “When we list your house,” or “I’m going to list your house.” However, I want you to think completely differently, including your language. Don’t think like a real estate agent - think like a marketer.  So replace “list” and “listing” with “market” and “marketing” You are no longer listing homes, you market them  There is a calculated difference. See, listing agents often throw homes on the MLS and wait for them to sell via another agent. They’re not proactive; they’re reactive. A marketing agent is proactive and thinks outside the box. When a listing isn’t selling, they’ll do whatever they can to figure out why and remedy the situation, whether that’s reaching out to other colleagues or trying to get feedback. A SWOT analysis (strength, weakness, opportunity, threats) from an experienced and successful marketing agent, can help you discern what is and isn’t working about your approach. If you have any questions about how to

Did you know that you can take your business from where you are today to attracting multi-million listings - even if you never sold a million-dollar listing? It is possible.  Our guest today, Jennifer Williams of Coldwell Banker, tells us how she has grown her business to attract a 5 million listing. I met Jennifer in December of 2019. Jennifer and I were at the same brokerage here in the Chicagoland area at the time. We still collaborate often even though we are at different brokerages now....we don’t have a scarcity mindset. I consider her not only a former LUXE Designation graduate, but a friend as well. She is one of my best students and an implementer. When she took my course, Jennifer had $50 in her pocket. Today, her business has grown 4x and continues to flourish.  In this episode, Jennifer will share her journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Listen to this episode and learn. Connect with Jennifer: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferwilliamsbroker/ Phone number: 708-710-

Nobel Peace Prize winner Daniel Kahneman once said, “People would rather do business with someone they like and trust rather than someone they don’t, even if the likable person is offering a lower-quality product at a higher price.” This is true of a lot of different areas, and real estate is no exception. That’s why agents need to go out of their way to make themselves likable - being likable is just as, if not more, important than having a top-quality product to offer. To come off as likable to your clients, do your research before your meeting and always think about what you’re going to say next. Be approachable and authentic; people can spot fakers from a mile away, and it can be off-putting. The goal isn’t to be a perfect agent - no one is - so admit when you’re wrong, and always strive to do better.

If you ask a typical real estate agent what their go-to social media channel for lead generation is, they’ll probably tell you Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. YouTube doesn’t even make the list. Did you know that YouTube can generate hundreds of new leads for your business? We'll be talking about everything YouTube, from creating a YouTube channel to optimizing the videos. Joining me on the show today is Karin Carr. She is a real estate agent, coach, and YouTube guru.  Her real estate journey began when they moved from Atlanta to Savannah, GA. Today, Karin uses YouTube for close to 100% of her leads. She will share how she uses her channel and some tips that we all can borrow.  Listen to this episode and learn. Connect with Karin Carr: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC91OljSfJf5lumYpKezR9-A Website: https://karincarr.com/ YouTube for Agents Course: https://www.youtubeforagentscourse.com/    “The power of video is that it builds trust... your conversion will skyrocket when people trus

Today I want to discuss a topic that you should all be familiar with: making videos! Video will get you a better ROI² than other investments. When I say better ROI² I am specifically talking about both return on investment (which is what most people think of when they hear ROI), but also a better return on impression. I’ve seen a lot of personal success from my videos and from the videos my coaching clients have made, so I want to share some tips with you today on how to grow your brand with them. One of the key elements of creating videos is not to give up and be consistently creating and posting videos to both social media platforms (Facebook, YouTube, etc) and your website. Creating a strong video presence takes time, but it is well worth it. If you want to hear more tips, listen to the podcast. 

Have you had a buyer client recently lose out in a multiple offer situation? Is inventory still low? Are you familiar with the term appraisal gap? Do you have an idea what it is or how to apply it? This episode is for you if you want to learn more about finding potential sellers in a low inventory market & the appraisal gap. My guest, Regan Maki, and I will be digging deep into these topics. Regan is a coaching client of mine, a top agent, and team leader of a $95m+ team in Atlanta, Georgia with Compass. Regan's been in real estate for 21 years now. Over the years, her knowledge and wisdom have expanded, and she has loads of information to share with us. When the Covid pandemic started, Regan thought that business would come to a halt. Little did she know that things were about to get better. Regan confesses that 2020 ended up being one of their best years in business. In this episode, we’ll talk about how Regan and her team managed it through the pandemic, how she is diversifying into luxury homes, an

Today I want to discuss a topic that you should all be familiar with: making videos! I’ve seen a lot of personal success from my videos, so I want to share some tips with you today on how to grow your brand with them. One of the key elements of creating videos is not to give up. Creating a strong video presence takes time, but it is well worth it. If you want to hear more tips, listen to this. 

Are you active on social media? What are your top three social media channels? We are living in an era where social media is no longer optional, but mandatory. As a business, if you are not on social media, you could be missing some opportunities. Today, we’ll be talking about everything social media. I have the privilege of hosting the amazing Tessabella Jelten. She is a social media expert, and she will give nuggets of wisdom that we can all apply to bring our A-game to our social platforms. Tessabella is the brain behind Lead Flow Agent. Her business provides real estate marketing solutions.  Connect with Tessa Bella: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessaabellaa/ Website: https://leadflowagent.com/home/   “Lead with a giving hand, be a giver. Be aware there are going to be takers in this world. There will be people that never reciprocate.”- Michael LaFido Three Things You’ll Learn From This Episode Have a content plan: A content plan comes in handy in ensuring you have great content