|
|
|
|
|
|
||
| |
|
|
|
|
|||
| |
|
|
|||||
 |
In This Issue |  |
 |
Building Your Online Business |  |
|
Need for Speed - Bubble or No Bubble? Shehan Mancini Moves, Harry Mancini, Hamilton, ON. Tons more new stuff on the blog Crash Course in Communication, Sheldon Johnston, Edmonton, AB
|
In my mind, these are the key reasons you might want to consider a Point2 Agent site:
I’ll talk more specifically on search engine optimization in next month’s issue, including GoogleTM Sitemaps, cross-linking, meta tags and more. Since I’m still working on our Point2 site, it will also be unveiled in next month’s Network News. More information on Point2 Agent is available on the blog and at www.point2agent.com. Whether it’s a HIT site, or a Point2 site, everyone in this business should have a website. If you’re really serious about your online efforts, a Point2 site gives you more features to capitalize on your online efforts, and in the end, it’s all about more business… Isn’t it? Sara. |
 |
Need for Speed |
 |
 |
Mark Jennings-Bates |
 |
|
|
Talking to Mark you certainly don’t get the feeling that this is someone who loves to race cars. His soothing British accent and exceptionally professional manners are extremely refreshing. Born 60 miles north of London he came to Canada in 1988 at the age of 25, and found his way to Canmore, Alberta, where his interest in real estate began. Mark was involved with several projects as a developer before moving to the Okanagan valley, where he and his family now call home. He is a co-founder and owner of a development company that specializes in resort properties, and also consults to resort development companies. “The world is coming here to buy,” says Mark, “Canadian resort properties are very inexpensive on the world market.” His marketing focus is on keeping it simple for the consumer. He tells his clients: “Don’t over complicate things - you’ll just confuse your customer. Learn to think like your customer.” One very simple idea resulted in increasing a client’s sales by over 30%. Having successfully marketed several projects, Mark is currently involved in a 55-unit log cabin development near Kimberly BC. His numerous experiences with real estate agents have taught him plenty in terms of good and bad practice. When he moved out to the Okanagan he sent 19 emails out to agents, to which 3 responded and only 1 called (she by the way, got his business). The recent changes to the BC real estate industry brought Mark to get his license. When I asked him “Why Coldwell Banker?” he was eager to answer that “they were the only ones who told me they were picky about who they hire.” Our compliments go to Susan Tough, the manager at Coldwell Banker Horizon, who has taken such a refreshing approach. A race that Mark recently competed in will be shown on TV this weekend, on The A Channel, City TV and CLT (Canadian Learning Channel), on the “Drivers Seat Show." Rally cars, in Mark’s words are “souped up production cars that you make safe and then almost destroy. The challenge to this type of racing is that it’s real driving on real roads – including gravel on roads - you may only have seen once before.” Last season he finished 2nd overall and feels that his racing has taught him to stay competitive in his business. Expect big things from Mark who is just “getting his horns back” after taming it down while his 2 boys grew up. |
Coldwell Banker mark@bcresorthomes.com
|
 |
New on the Blog |  |
 |
Bubble or No Bubble? |  |
|
Check out these recent posts to the blog: Times Have Changed for Real Estate Antitrust Hearing on Competition in the Industry |
We asked Network News readers if they thought there was a housing bubble, and if so, when would it burst.
There are many 'outskirt' communities that are eager to burst into economical prosperity, and these will be an instinctive place that will provide opportunities in real estate. With more and more people commute into major cities, and multinationals can being run from any location, the ‘burbs’ are expanding. This may not be the largest part of the real estate engine, but it will add to the increasing sales. I have been able to statistically pinpoint some locations around Toronto that are still demanding multiple offers including the Beaches, Swansea and Centennial Commons. With this kind of demand for highly valued properties, a bubble is tough to burst." Have an opinion you'd like to share with our readers? E-mail it to us, or post it on the blog. |
|
Mancini Moves | |
|
Harry Mancini |
|
|
|
If you are part of the Coldwell Banker network and don't know who this man is, you must have been living under a rock. He's "Mr. Networker," and he's the most motivating and uplifting person around. He's the David in David vs. Goliath, and when I say this man will "move you," I mean it! If you do know Harry Mancini you know his boundless energy and warmtastic - there is simply no other word to describe how friendly and electric he is - personality is contagious.
So whether he's moving a pile of Real Estate or moving the office, his challenge to everyone is to find some way to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine, if you haven't already. |
Coldwell Banker Village 2003 Pictured Left: Harry's girls are all high energy people-persons. Front: Shelly Stepaniuk, Tina Nixon, Rita Italiano Back: Danuta Lach, Jodi Formosi, Dorothy Mowbray
|
 |
Crash Course in Communication, by Sheldon Johnston |  |
If you just follow these simple steps you to can join the millions of people who follow this model of communication to the extinction hall of fame. All joking aside I do want to say one serious thing about communication. If you don’t ask for it you won’t get it. Ask often. |
|
Sponsored By: | |
|
Final Note | |
|
Network News and Coldwell Banker Johnston Real Estate invite you to create your Point2Agent site today, for free. |
After the last issue a number of you wrote in asking about Sheldon's formula for taking on the discounters, and we wrote back that we would put it in this month's issue. Unfortunately I completely forgot about that until just now, so it will have to wait one more month. My sincerest apologies. We did post a tongue-and-cheek version on the blog, check it out. As I mentioned last time, the more links you can have going to your site, the better your search engine results will be. If anyone else is interested in exchanging links, just drop me a line.
|
 |
 |
We hope you are not only enjoying reading Network News, but finding value in our newsletter as well. In this month’s issue I’d like to discuss a tool that can really help your business. Our online marketing is starting to generate some serious business; we’ve had over 30 leads from a $300 investment, and have our first online buyer coming into town this weekend from New York. That is an excellent return on investment. I feel that with a better website behind these marketing efforts we can generate even more leads, improving our ROI. We’ve decided to upgrade our website to a much more powerful solution, with Point2 Agent.
Who doesn’t love the thrill of speed? Whether skiing down a mountain, free-falling from a plane or racing a car, the exhilaration is the same. They say that entrepreneurs are natural speed junkies and Mark Jennings-Bates from Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty in Kelowna is a living testament to that philosophy.
Shehan Rajaratnam of Coldwell Banker Exceptional R.E.S. in Toronto, ON, wrote: "With some of the lowest interest rates seen in our history, a low unemployment rate with increasing salaries, and a government that does not rock the economical boat, real estate customers are in a “healthy bubble.”
You can't just show up for work and yawn your life away - at least not if Harry is around. He knows that there are huge benefits to regular exercise, and he's convinced you don't need a gym membership to stay fit and energized. From personal experience I can tell you there is and endless assortment of exercises you can do right in your office in 15 minutes or less, that will make a huge difference over time. Harry believes this so strongly that he and the rest of the office partake in "Mancini's Moves" on a regular basis. This highly spirited workout is done together as a group exercise, and while progress is optional, if you participate, it is inevitable. Harry beams proudly as he recalls Tina (who has an open job offer to work with us in 
Great! I had my article written for the news letter, feeling pretty good about it and Sara goes and posts it to the 
Check out the