VAR’s Saturday Morning Session: A Blast from the Past
September 29, 2008
The opening session on Saturday included a classic duet song courtesy of VAR’s CEO and President.
Speed Networking: Does it really work?
September 28, 2008
I had the opportunity to participate in a speed networking session this afternon as part of my attendence. As a quick overview this session was approximately 14 people who spoke with each other regarding themselves (and their real estate businesses) for just few minutes before switching and doing the same with another person until everyone had networked.
I have been social networking with other real estate professionals for several months and have made many good contacts through it. I was curious to see if a condensed real life networking with fellow REALTORS(r) that I had never met before.
In my opinion I felt it was a great experience. I made several solid contacts with people in localities where I did not currently have an agent to defer to if I had a customer interested in that particular area. Actually one agent I spoke with had a SOI clients living in my local market and looking for an professional to assist them with their real estate needs. I am curious to see how that turns out.
The most interesting thing I took away with me were the conversations. I position myself slightly differently in the indsutry and my expereinces were well-received and brought out the curiousness of many people.
Finding Opportunties
September 27, 2008
I absolute look forward to conventions every year. The ability to connect, share and learn is a value greater than the cost for those who know how to take advantage of east. However, not everything I’ve learned or the networking opportunities I’ve taken advantage of were at the “schedule times.”
While sitting in the Virginia Leadership Academy Alumni Meeting this morning, I overhead a tip from Candy Lynn about the Ning site we use to communicate; that I didn’t know existed. While facilitating a class , I connected with an instructor who reads www.AgentGenius.com and we were able to share our admiration for the resource.
Yes, of course I’ve built relationships in networking opportunities, get-togethers and such. Yes, I’ve learned (a lot) in training courses I’ve sat through. But the real value is working toward doing both at the same time and keeping an eye and ear out for opportunities to grow your business and careers!
The skies have cleared in Baltimore
September 27, 2008
After a full day of rain, it looks like it will be a great night for the Inaugural Party after all. Remember, the party starts at 7 and the boat departs the dock at 8 for a two hour cruise. VAR staff will be in the lobby to direct you to Pier 5.
Social Media for the Technologically Challenged
September 27, 2008
I just finished attending Danilo Bogdanovic and Tony Arko’s presentation on Social Media for the Technologically Challenged. They covered everything from MySpace to LinkedIn to Twitter, then discussed blogging platforms like Typepad and Wordpress. The question and answer session that followed was fantastic as well. Clearly, this was a topic that could fill a whole conference, not just one session.
To illustrate Social Media in action, here’s some of the ‘tweets’ that appeared on Twitter during their presentation:
NRVLiving: #VAR08 when starting your online presence, I.e. Blogging, start by keeping your blog private to hide your voice and seed with postsNRVLiving: #VAR08 blogging allows you to focus on the clients you want to focus on, rather than just try and reach everyone @tonyarkomattwilkins: “A blog is your voice and will always be different from every other blog out there” according to @tonyarko #VAR08mattwilkins: “Google has surpassed REALTOR.com as source of finding homes acording to California survey” according to @tonyarko #VAR08
Have The Best Conversation of the Convention In The Hall
September 27, 2008
VAR Convention & Expo 2008 has been held at the beautiful Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, and the facility is
Rock Paper Scissors?
fantastic. Great location - unless you’re using GPS to get here - and the speakers have been top notch. It’s been a good convention so far, and we’re still not done.
I’ve found, though, that the best part of the convention isn’t in the sessions or the Expo Hall. It wasn’t Robyn Waters’ speech at the opening assembly, or Lem Marshall’s legal update.
Poll anyone and you’re likely to hear a recurring theme on where convention-goers are seeing the most value, and it’s not in the scheduled activities. The real value at this year’s convention seems to be in the halls. The conversation, the engagement, the opportunity to share in a one-on-one setting; I’ve learned more about brokerage strategies, new marketing techniques and alternative strategies to set my business apart from the conversations with practitioners from around the state that I find myself sitting down several times a day to write down another great idea.
I know there are so many others that feel the same way. We’ve got just a few more sessions before the end of this year’s convention - stop someone new in the hall, strike up a conversation about their area and see what kind of new and exciting things you can learn from them. It’s likely to be the best event you attend the whole week.
Welcome to Baltimore, VIRGINIA
September 27, 2008
Times are tough - but things are going to get better soon.
Pat Jensen: “We Need to Get Smart- you will leave convention with marketing strategies, social media, and innovations - all to get better soon”
Pat Jensen & Scott Brunner aka the “bow tied one”
Pat’s theme “together we can” and “this year together we have”. It has been a great team effort Advocacy Groups, Work Groups, Local Leaders, Policy Board. Thank you for all you time and effort.
Recap the Year with Scott & Pat
Scott - Legislative Issues we were behind: LB Paint, Proffers vs impact fees (sent it back, helped rewrite & will be reintroduced next year), defeat of increase Grantors tax, rewrite POA (podcast add link)
John Powell- Your Virginia - Virginia Homeowners Alliance
- Enhance REALTOR influence at state & local level to be more than sales person - to be trusted advisors.
- Equip locals to be voice - build upon relationships with being a conduit of good information for public policy on
- Creditable, respected, source of good quality information issues that affect Real Property
- VAR conducted POLLS from public showed: Most do not trust NAR but do trust their individual REALTOR®
- VHA- Link to the website - one stop shop for what is going on in relationship to Real Property & issues that affect it.
- Client Direct - FREE easy eNewsletter - great tool for substantive info for your current & past clients
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R’s have a role to populate the site with our clients & customers
- prizes
VAR Booth #99 Geek Demos — LinkedIn, FaceBook, Client Direct, IdeaRoute
IT’s not always a good time to buy
o George Mason - regional statistics - introduced with a conference call Press Release
o Important to be viewed as being honest! About market & time to buy or sell
o REALTOR Tools - Postcards 10 , 5 reasons, new one coming out soon - 3rd quarter numbers
It’s all about positioning you as provider of credible information
Training & Equipping Members:
- Professional Road Show & Brokers Road Show
- Webcast - Just in time training 24/7
- Webcast on new FHA program
- New members - new book ORDER
- Code is Good Business online course for online CE credits
- Code in Straight Talk - all 16 articles
- SOCIAL Media
- Tool to engage Members
- VARbuzz.com “Virginia Gets IT!”
- Facebook -VAR Official FaceBook SIte
- Ideal Route
- Member Guidebook - has everything you need to know about VAR -
Note: Visit VARealtor.com for more
NEW Strat Plan
- Cross section of all members
- Focus on operational excellence & core competencies
- First rate customer services & customer serve
- Laser like focus on what we do well
- Position VAR to be most credible source of information on any information impacting Real Estate, property rights, or affordability & train REALTORs to do so
- Partnership with locals - provide tools for locals - can be branded to local
MEMBERSHIP Numbers
31,640 - 2004
39,600 - 2006
36100 - now
35000 end of year
Additional 5% for 2009 decrease but it may be may be 7 - 9%.
54% of licenses are Realtors - current 66% are Realtors
Anne Taylor wants to spent more time fishing & canning - will continue with VLA & Hosting NAR Suite. SHE WILL BE MISSED!
Photos from around the Convention
September 27, 2008
The past few days have been a whirlwind of activites here in Baltimore.
Opening Ceremony
As seen around the convention…
Marc Davison’s 50 new Tools and Technologies
September 27, 2008
For those who may and may not have taken the 50 Tech Tools with Marc Davison of 1000 Watt Consulting, he has been gracious enough to allow me to post this on the VAR Blog. Below is the PowerPoint Presentation showing all the links and tools (mostly free) that he presented.
50 tools and technologies
More photos up
September 26, 2008
More than 50 shots of the first two days of the convention are up now, if you’d like to take a gander….
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VAR's Convention & Expo Experience
