Archive for the ‘Doug Ferguson’ Category

Top agents share advice with Preview Properties.com agents

April 2, 2009

Lillian Montalto-Bohlen from Andover, MA, Mary King and Doug Ferguson from the Greater Atlanta area and Paul and Nancy Kennedy from Westchester County, NY recently visited Preview Properties.com in Brighton, MI and shared market survival tips with our group. Although there are differences between markets, here are some thoughts we can all benefit from:

  1. Immediate, quick response to inquiries is critical. Buyers and sellers expect you to be available 24/7. One of Lillian Montalto-Bohlen’s ideas – she sets up Webinar conference calls with clients who have moved out of the area.
  2. Market knowledge is critical. Doug Ferguson said in the Atlanta market prices are still dropping up to 3% a month. He said “we are liquidators – by dropping the bottom out of the prices we can create bidding wars.” He is embracing short sales and said many short sellers are scared and desparately need our help. Paul and Nancy Kennedy are experimenting with the Flip camera and expect to post videos to http://www.youtube.com/ and other channels on the “best buy of the week” and “what to expect during an inspection.” Lillian Montalto-Bohlen reinforced we “have to know our numbers.” She writes a quarterly column in a glossy magazine to educate readers on short sales and establish expectations for current market.
  3. Show up! Some real estate agents check out when the market goes south. Doug Ferguson commented that the “market has really, really changed but we are changing with it.” Mary King said she listens to The Secret CD for an hour a day to insulate her from the negativity that can exist in a distressed market.
  4. Accelerate your business plan review. Nancy Kennedy said she has shortened her planning cycles to quarterly instead of annually because of rapid changes in the market.
  5. Expand your market. Paul Kennedy suggested we should diversify our buyer community by broadening our geographic area. For example, Nancy Kennedy is taking the address off her business card. Doug Ferguson suggested the days of the “neighborhood specialist” are over. Rich Kownacki of Preview Properties.com said he is “adopting buyers” of his REO listings so when they are ready to sell in a few years he will be top of mind.

    Thanks Lillian, Mary, Doug, Paul and Nancy for sharing your thoughts with us.

Posted in Doug Ferguson, Lillian Montalto-Bohlen, Mary King, Nancy Kennedy, Paul Kennedy, Rich Kownacki, Scripts and Dialogues | Leave a Comment »