WebHomeUSABlog

"Real Estate Confidential": The "Scrubs", The "Sopranos", or "Curb Your Enthusiam" for Realtors?

Does Real Estate really need its own "docu-drama"? Is America ready for a melodrama about Real Estate? Can Realtors continue to take hits from the FTC, the DOJ, the Banks, Zillow; and now Hollywood? We'll soon see.

To the long list of TV shows on house and home, we now add "Real Estate Confidential". "RE Confidential" premiered Sunday night 3/25/07 on the Fine Living TV Network. It's produced by Screen Door Entertainment and its executive producer is Joel Rizor.

"RE Confidential" follows various Real Estate sale scenarios, including estate sales, mansion sales, and foreclosures. I'd love to see the show a few FSBO flips, My Real Estate Nightmare, The House From Hell, or America's Funniest Home Sales. Zillow, RE/MAX and the DOJ could advertise on them.

We Realtors have our own movie, GlennGarry Glen Ross; and maybe Chinatown, if you stretch it. And you could include all those B Westerns, with cattlemen chasing the farmers off their land.

Cable has HGTV, our own Home Channel, with shows like: Extreme House, House Hunters, Buy Me, Designed To Sell, and  Flip This House. Locally, in Rochester, we have 2 house ad shows, sponsored by local Realtors.

Although we Realtors see ourselves as Professionals, like Doctors and Lawyers, we've never gotten our due from Hollywood with Doctor Shows like ER, General Hospital or Scrubs; and Lawyer Shows like LA Law, Perry Mason or Law and Order.

Why can't we have our own shows to be proud of like Location, Location, Location; Law And Order, Special Housing Units, Realtors Gone Wild and It Wasn't meant To Be.

Have you had to explain to your kids, Juliana Margulies' Realtor role on the Sopranos? How did she do on her Mandatory Ethics Course? I don't think she's with a large National Brokerage. True, the Sopranos is set in New Jersey and "RE Confidential" is set in Los Angeles, but Real Estate interest is universal.

Will the Fine Living TV Network program "RE Confidential" against the Sopranos on Sunday night? Advantage Margulies.

Adapt Or Die!  Happy Searching.

WebHomeUSAblog; The Blog of Real Estate Search Marketing

Edith Lank: You Can Hear It All; And You Should

On Friday, 3/23/07, Edith Lank gave a presentation to the GRAR (Greater Rochester Association of Realtors). Edith, Rochester, NY's most famous Realtor (with apologies to Phil Nothnagle), is a personal hero of mine. When Real Estate was "A man's job", she fought discrimination and prejudice to become one of the most successful Real Estate Columnists in America.

To say I was delighted, amused and bemused, would be a great understatement.

Rochester, New York; of Kodak, Xerox and PayChex fame, has its own Award-winning Real Estate Advice Columnist, syndicated in more than 100 newspapers and Websites. She has taught college Real Estate courses, hosted radio and TV shows, written for Inman and Realtor.org, and has written eight Real Estate books, including the NYS prelicense Agent/Broker Text, Modern Real Estate Practice in New York; which is about to make its millionth sale.

The GRAR sponsored the event to benefit their Association's Library. Edith presented autographed copies of her latest book, I've Heard It All And So should You*  *Confessions of a Real Estate Columnist to all the attendees.

I've Heard It All... organizes her collection of the best reader letters and her replies to buyers, sellers, agents; and even a few of our prison's finest. You can read about St Joseph Statues, the law, FSBO's, the mortgage and FSOB's. (The St Joseph Statue and convict stories are most appealing.)

Edith also gave out some of the publisher's copies of Real Estate books she'd received. Many of the books tauted: "How to make a million dollars in Real Estate". But it seems more writers are using the tried and true way to make a million, by writing or publishing a book telling people "How to make a million dollars in Real Estate". And if you believe that, I have some land in Florida to sell you for no money down.

Edith's business card should read, "Your Grandmother In Real Estate".

Is Edith Lank the Dear Abby of Real Estate?  No! Dear Abby is the Edith Lank of Personal Advice.

Give 'em Heck, Edith!... And an upside-down Statue of St Joseph.

Adapt Or Die!  Happy Searching.

WebHomeUSAblog; The Blog of Real Estate Search Marketing

The Top 101 Reasons Why Zillow Is Better Than A Dog

Zillow is barely a year old, a mere toddler Website/Search Engine. It's already a Top Ten Real Estate Website with: Zestimates, Zindices, the ZillowBlog, the Carnival of Real Estate,  an Open API, Realtor Listings, Owner Listings, "Make Me Move", terabytes of data, a Fortune Cover Story (2/19/07), and much more.

Here are a few reasons why Zillow is better than a dog:

1. Dog is Man's Best Friend. Zillow is Everyone's Best Friend.
2. Zillow has taught old Realtors new tricks.
3. The only people who'd ever "put Zillow down" are Realtors.
4. Zillow is the "Pick of the Litter" for AVM's and Real Estate Search Engines.
5. Zillow teaches Realtors to Beg, Roll Over and Play Dead.
6. Zillow has Zestimates. Dogs have Snausages.
7. Zillow's Carnival of Real Estate is better than any dog-and-pony show.
8. The only people allergic to Zillow are Realtors.
9. Zillow is more loyal.
10. Zillow has more visitors, than a dog has fleas.
11. Zillow has a better blog.
12. Every time you find a new house on Zillow, you don't have to smell the back of the screen.
13. Dogs chase Postmen. Zillow chases Realtors.
14. "Bring Your Pet To Work Day" is once a year. Zillow's at work every day.
15. Zillow's bite is worse than its bark.
16. Zillow only chases Realtor cars.
17. Zillow doesn't drool and slobber all over your house, like Realtors.
18. "Zillowin' It" is better than "Doggin' It".
19. Owner sign: "Beware of Dog". Realtor sign: "Beware of Zillow".
20. Old Realtor Office sign: "No Dogs Allowed". New Realtor Office sign: "No Zillow Allowed".
21. Realtor sign: "Full Service. Full Commission". Zillow sign: "Free To A Good Home".
22. Every dog has its day. But every house has its Zestimate.
23. With Zillow, "If you can't run with the big Sites, get off of the Net".
24. With Zillow, you're never "Barking up the wrong tree".
25. Zillow's breath smells better.
26. The only Zillow "Leash Law" is sponsored by Realtors.
27. Zillow's Search Engine is better than DogPile's.
28. Owner lawn sign: "Free Puppies". Zillow's lawn sign: "Free Zestimates".
29. Zillow can go get you more help, than Lassie.
30. Zillow beat Purina, as the first "Realtor Chow".
31. Zillow never chases rabbits, cars or cats; just houses.
32. Zillow never squats or lifts its leg.
33. With Zillow, it rains "Cats and Houses".
34. Dogs deliver terror bites. Zillow delivers terabytes.
35. Did you ever hear of a Korean eating Zillow?
36. Who wants to spay and neuter Zillow? Realtors!
37. The NAR is tougher than the AKC.
38. I'd rather be in the Zillow house with my wife, than the dog house with my wife.
39. Zillow not going to obedience school, only upsets Realtors 
40. Since Zillow, a house hunt is easier than a fox hunt.
41. Dogs hide bones. Zillow finds gems.
42. Zillow makes YOU want to stick your head out the car window.
43. Zillow's made it. And didn't need an Elvis Song, like "Hound Dog."
44. Peeka-poo, Schnoodle and Labra-Doodle are made up names. So is Zillow.
45. Dogs "Bear Bait". Realtors "Zillow Bait".
46. Zillow never chewed up your best pair of slippers.
47. Zillow can't seem to throw Realtors a bone.
48. "My Dog Has Fleas", and "My Zillow Has Houses".
49. The NAR is not the Humane Society.
50. Snoop Dog raps. And Zillow doesn't.
51. Snoop Dog raps. And Zillow Rocks.
52. The only things "going to the dogs" since Zillow, are Realtors.
53. When you're online, Zillow doesn't know if you're a dog.
54. Puppy Love is great? But Zillow is for the Big Dogs.
55. Zillow never left a pet stain on your carpet.
56. "All Dogs Go To Heaven" is a lie. Zillow just stretches the truth.
57. Dog Days only come in summer. Zillow's there all year.
58. With Zestimates, you can play Snoopy anytime.
59. Zillow gives you more ways to mark your territory.
60. Zillow can make better use of a LendingTree.
61. Zillow doesn't shed as much, except Realtors' careers.
62. When you're bitten by Zillow, you never need Rabies shots.
63. Zillow only nips at Realtor heals.
64. Only Realtors have problems stepping in what Zillow leaves.
65. What dog ever helped you find a mortgage?
66. Zillow lets sleeping dogs lie. But not Realtors.
67. With Zillow, Realtors are the only ones saying things sounding like, Shih Tzu.
68. Zillow doesn't need its own Professional Wrestler, like "Junkyard Dog".
69. Dogs have "Invisible Fence". Zillow has Gated Communities.
70. Zillow shows you the Dog House; AND the Main House.
71. A dog's sense of smell is 500 times greater than a human's. That doesn't matter on Zillow.
72. Now there are 3 kinds of people: "Cat People", "Dog People" and "Zillow People".
73. Now there are 3 types of houses: "A Cat House", "A Dog House" and "A Zillow House"
74. Flea collars get rid of fleas. Nothing gets rid of Realtors.
75. You don't have to walk on your hind legs, to use Zillow, either.
76. If you sleep with Zillow, you don't wake up with fleas.
77. With Zillow, you howl at your Zestimate, not the moon.
78. When Zillow is bad, you just hit your monitor with a rolled up newspaper.
79. Unlike a limping dog or a crying woman; you can trust Zillow.
80. Zillow needs fewer shots.
81. With Zillow, who cares what's in a Snausage.
82. Zillow's pictures never have red eye.
83. Zillow is only a raw hide chew for Realtors.
84. Zillow is better House Broken.
85. Realtors want a choke collar for Zillow, too.
86. Dogs get wormed. Zillow tolerates Realtors.
87. Zillow keeps you on a longer leash.
88. Zillow is the Top Dog of Real Estate Search.
89. Dogs get sick with chocolate. Not Zillow.
90. Zillow does CMA's in seconds. Realtors do CMA's in dog years.
91. Annoying squeak toys mean nothing, when you play with Zillow.
92. Say, "Go Fetch", and Zillow gets it quicker.
93. Vets give dogs shots. Realtors give Zillow shots.
94. Zillow doesn't have anything dog eared.
95. Zillow never humps your leg.
96. There are fewer dumb movies, stupid TV shows and idiotic cartoons about Zillow
97. You see fewer plastic head-nodding Richard Barton statues in car back windows.
98. Zillow is "The Leader of the Pack".
99. Zillow's Guerrilla Marketing is better than any Dog-And-Pony Show.
100. With Zillow, you only do it doggy style to: check the Zestimate, see the Zindex and read the Zillow Blog.
101. A dog can lick itself in public. Zillow doesn't even advertise.

More:

• You don't have to feed Zillow.
• You don't care when Zillow gets up on the furniture.
• Zillow doesn't care who you're petting.
• Zillow does its own Poop Scooping.
• Searching on Zillow is rarely a "Bitch".
• Zillow gives you more reasons to foam at the mouth.
• Fighting like cats and dogs doesn't beat fighting like Realtors and Zillow.
• Zillow doesn't need a Purina Chow.
• With Zillow, you only get down on all fours, when you want to.
• Zillow's the Alpha Male of Real Estate Search.
• With Zillow, you can mate, even if you aren't an Alpha Male.
• Old Broker's Sign: "No Dogs Allowed". New Broker's Sign: "No Zillow allowed".
• With Zillow, Invisible Fence keeps dogs in and Realtors out.
• Having Zillow, is better than having: a Pointer, a Retriever and a Guide Dog.
• With Zillow, Realtors are the only attack dogs.
• After trashing Zillow, you don't have to deal with PETA. 
• Dogs hide their bones. Realtors hide their data.
• With Zillow, you worry less around a Korean Restaurant.

See more at: "Post Continued" below:

Adapt Or Die!  Happy Searching.

WebHomeUSAblog; The Blog of Real Estate Search Marketing

Used House Salesmen or Real Estate Professionals? What Realtors Can Learn From Used Car Salesmen.

As Real Estate Agents, we often try branding ourselves as Professionals, like Lawyers, Doctors and Accountants. True, we've passed State Courses and Tests, and have State Licenses. We Realtors even have our Code of Ethics, with a 4 year refresher course. But few outside our industry, and even a few of us Agents/Realtors, would group us with those professions.

Most people stereotype, categorize and lump us more with other groups like used car salesmen, life insurance salesmen and telemarketers.

During a recent presentation, a statistic was cited: 85% of used cars are sold by used car dealers, while only 15% are sold by owners. These percentages are about the same as those for homes sold by agents and by owners. Also, dealers sell their used cars for 15% more than individuals.

With these surprising similarities, I wondered if there was anything else we Real Estate Agents could learn from taking a closer look at Used Car Salesmen.

Sales 101 Refresher:

• People tend to do business with people they: 1) Know 2) Like and 3) Trust.
• The first goal of the Real Estate Agent is to become a Trusted Adviser.
• It's Not About The House. It's About the Relationship. (The Realationship).
• The best business is Repeat Business.
• The best business is Referral Business.
• The 3 Rules of Business: 1) All things being equal; People buy from their Friends. 2) All things being unequal; People buy from their Friends. 3) Make Friends.
• Faster. Better. Cheaper.

Used Car Sales 101:

1. Location, Location, Location: Make it Convenient to buy your cars. Find a location where people can easily find your cars.
2. Selection: "Select, Don't Settle at Barney's." Private owners have one car to sell. Listings are your store's inventory.
3. Kelly Blue Book, Edmund's, Consumers' Report: (and they're all online): Take the doubt out of buying your car: Give them all the information they need to buy your car. Used Car Salesmen have been dealing with their Zillow.com, RealEstateABC.com and HouseValues.com for years.
4. Guarantee: Take the risk/fear out of buying a car: (You don't need your mechanic to look at it.). If something goes wrong you take responsibility. (In New York we have a Lemon Law, so it's not an option).
5. Branding, Reputation and History: Take the risk out of buying a car: If something goes wrong, they know where to go. Repeat and Referral Business. Buzz or Word of Mouth Marketing.
6. Financing: Make it Simple and Easy to buy your car. Arrange the financing for them.
7. Car-fax: Take the doubts out of buying a car. Give them all the information about the car.
8. Doll Up/Curb Appeal: "Sell the Sizzle. Not the Steak." The little things can mean a lot, and can add up. But, does putting lipstick on a pig work?
9. Let's Make a Deal: "It was meant to be/ It wasn't meant to be": Sell them their dream car. Handle their emotions about the sale/non sale.
10. Marketing/Advertise: "Early to bed, Early to rise. Work like hell, And Advertise." Get your advertising where your customers can see you: Classifieds, the Internet and on their way home.
11. One Stop Shopping, The Whole Enchilada: Handle the whole transaction: a) Purchase/ License b) The Financing 3) Sell their old car. (Several years ago a car dealer told me his goal was to make at least $400 on the sale, $400 on the financing, and $400 on the used car sale.
12. If you can't be Cheaper, you need to be Faster and Better. 

Adapt Or Die!  Happy Searching.

WebHomeUSAblog; The Blog of Real Estate Search Marketing

Top 101 Reasons Why Zillow Is Better Than St Patrick's Day

1. You can see more green with Zillow.
2. You'll make more green with Zillow.
3. You're not as hung over the day after Zillow.
4. St Patrick's Day just has an "Emerald Isle". Zillow has almost the whole USA.
5. You celebrate St Patrick one day a year. You celebrate Zillow 365 days a year.
6. You don't have to be Irish to celebrate Zillow.
7. Compared to Zillow, St Patrick's Day is small potatoes.
8. "Zillow" even rhymes with "potato".
9. With Zillow, you can root for any NBA Team, not just the Celtics.
10. Zillow's 7 course meal doesn't have to have a potato.
11. Zillow gives you more reasons to have a drink.
12. Zillow doesn't need a College Football Team, an NBA Basketball Team or an official color.
13. With Zillow you don't have to know the heroes of Celtic History. Like Larry Bird, Bill Russell and Bob Cousy.
14. Zillow puts the little guy on an even playing field. St Patrick only puts the Little People on an even playing field.
15. St Patrick is dead. Zillow isn't.
16. Zillow has better content.
17. Just because you put on a green jacket, doesn't mean you've won the Masters.
18. St Patrick's Day is all about "The Wearin' of the Green". Zillow is all about "The Makin' of the Green".
19. Everything green doesn't go for half price the day after Zillow.
20. When you see Kermit the Frog, the Jolly Green Giant or the winner of the Masters, you don't have to think of Zillow.
21. With Zillow, you don't need a designated driver.
22. With Zillow, you can give your true opinion on The Clancy Brothers, The Irish Rovers and Irish Step Dancing.
23. It's easier to stay sober on Zillow.
24. With Zillow, you don't have to worry about the Dram Shop Laws.
25. If Zillow had a dog, it wouldn't be as dumb as an Irish Setter.
26. With Zillow, you don't have to eat, drink or be merry, with anything green.
27. The only time The Irish Tenors are better than The Three Tenors, is very late on St Patrick's Day.
28. You can't see those Little People until very late on St Patrick's Day.
29. With Zillow, you don't have to think Conan O'Brien is funny.
30. With Zillow, you don't have to care which team Regis Philbin roots for.
31. With Zillow you don't have to worry about getting hit with a shalele, wooden or liquid.
32. St Patrick may have a Cathedral, but Zillow's church is the whole USA.
33. Zillow never gives you an excuse to wear a stupid green cellophane hat.
34. With Zillow, you can dance with the top of your body too.
35. Zillow gives you more reasons to raise a toast.
36. With Zillow, Air Lingus sounds like sexual harassment.
37. Zillow is never an excuse to wear your green clothes.
38. Zillow doesn't need a "Touchdown Jesus".
39. It's easier to remember what you did, the day after Zillow.
40. Zillow is less of an excuse to get drunk.
41. A Zillow's dog is a house dog, not a dog like the Irish Setter and the Irish Wolf Hound.
42. After Zillow, green beer still looks green.
43. You don't have to wait until March to celebrate Zillow.
44. Zillow doesn't care what color clothes you're wearing.
45. With Zillow, you only have to dye your hair green, if you want to.
46. You never think of Zillow when Kermit sings, "It's Not Easy Being Green".
47. With Zillow, the only time you cry in your beer is when you loose the house.
48. You can see your home clearly on Zillow. It looks a lot more blurry on St Patrick's Day.
49. You're more likely to find your "Pot O' Gold" on Zillow, than at the end of some rainbow.
50. With Zillow, you don't need Celtic Pride. You can have Knick Pride, Laker Pride or (any other) Saint Pride.
51. With the Irish, the IRA are the terrorists. With Zillow, only Real Estate Agents are terrorists.
52. The IRA has agreed to put down their arms. Real Estate Agents haven't.
53. St Patrick's Day is for the Irish and those who want to be Irish. Zillow is for home owners and those who want to be home owners.
54. Ireland digs bogs. Zillow digs blogs.
55. Zillow has a better Website than St Patrick.
56. Zillow has a better blog than St Patrick.
57. Zillow doesn't need a Patron Saint.
58. When you find your home on Zillow, you don't have to eat corned beef and cabbage, or drink green beer.
59. With Zillow you don't have to worry about the Irish Mob, unless you're in Boston.
60. With Zillow, you don't have to be Catholic, go to church, or put anything in the collection.
61. With Zillow, you're only green, when you see what your boss's house is worth.
62. You don't have to get drunk to celebrate Zillow.
63. You don't have to tap a keg to celebrate Zillow.
64. Zillow doesn't need its own cereal, like Lucky Charms.
65. Zillow doesn't care what color liquid diet you're on.
66. You don't need to light a candle when you go to St Zillow's, just boot up and click.
67. The Luck of the Irish isn't up to the luck of the Zillow.
68. With Zillow you don't have to root for The Fighting Irish, the Celtics or any team called "The Friars".
69. With Zillow you can go to any Irish Pub, virtually.
70. With Zillow, green space is worth more.
71. With Zillow, you don't have to drink to anything.
72. Zillow doesn't have to compete against Kermit the Frog, The Jolly Green Giant or the Masters' Winner's Jacket for green.
73. Zillow gives you more reason to have a party.
74. You're less likely to see Leprechauns and Little People on Zillow. But you're more likely to see Rainbows with pots of gold.
75. There's less you do on Zillow, that you have to tell in Confession.
76. You don't have to be Irish to Zillow; either.
77. "Zillow.com, So easy, a drunk Holiday Reveler can do it."
78. It's easier to walk, drive and move in a straight line, after Zillow.
79. You don't have to hate the British to celebrate Zillow.
80. Winning on Zillow is better than winning the Irish Sweepstakes.
81. You can celebrate Zillow, whether you're Orange or Green.
82. With Zillow, you never have to call in sick the next day.
83. With the Irish Blessing, the road rises up to meet you. With the Zillow Blessing, the road hits you right in the face.
84. When you enter Zillow, you don't have to genuflect, but you might feel like it.
85. You don't need "The Luck of the Irish" to get lucky on Zillow.
86. Zillow doesn't need songs about unicorns, Danny Boys or Irish Eyes to be popular.
87. Irish Step Dancing isn't as much fun as Zillow House Clicking.
88. More people are singing Zillow's praises than The Clancy Brothers, The Irish Rovers and The Irish Tenors.
89. When you find your home on Zillow, more than Irish eyes are smiling.
90. The Irish have a blessing. With Zillow, you don't need a blessing.
91. With St Patrick, it's "Top of the morning to ya." With Zillow, it's "Top of the whole day to ya."
92. With Zillow, you can see the house values for all those Lace Curtain Irish
93. With the Zillow Parade, the road's center line can stay white.
94. The "Pot O' Gold" at the end of Zillow's rainbow is worth more.
95. With Zillow, the only thing Irish staying out all night is Patio Furniture.
96. Zillow never makes you go to a pub and drink strange looking beer.
97. Charlie Weis is the Savior of the Irish. Richard Barton is the Savior of Zillow.
98. You didn't need a potato famine to bring Zillow to the USA.
99. With Zillow, when you pee green, you still know you need to see the doctor.
100. St Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. Zillow is driving the snakes out of Real Estate.
101. You don't have to kiss the Blarney Stone to make jokes about Zillow.

Adapt Or Die!  Happy Searching.

WebHomeUSAblog; The Blog of Real Estate Search Marketing

Top 101 Reasons Why Zillow Is Better Than Easter

Top 101 Reasons Why Zillow Is Better Than Easter:

1. Zillow gives you more reasons to give chocolate.
2. Zillow gives you more reasons to get chocolate.
3. It's better to Zillow your house for Easter, than to Easter Egg your house for Zillow.
4. You can find more than the value of a rabbit hutch on Zillow.
5. Zillow has a better blog, than Easter or the Easter Bunny.
6. An Easter Egg Hunt is harder than a Zillow House Hunt.
7. Zillow goes to more homes than the Easter Bunny.
8. Just because you sat on the lap of a strange man, in an odd suit, who gave you candy; doesn't mean you saw the Easter Bunny.
9. When was the last time you had an Easter Egg Hunt at a Cocktail Party?
10. The only people allergic to Zillow are Real Estate 1.0 Agents.
11. White House Staff only have a yearly Easter Egg Hunt. But they can search for homes on Zillow every day.
12. If you Easter Egg a house, you get the owners and the police angry. If you Zillow a house you only get some Realtors angry.
13. You have to color Easter Eggs. Zillow's houses come already colored.
14. With Zillow, even an Easter Bunny can tell its home from a hole in the ground.
15. With Zillow, you don't have to give anything up for Lent.
16. You don't have to get dressed up to celebrate Zillow. Or even change your underwear.
17. Zillow is multiplying faster than Easter Bunnies.
18. You're not as disappointed, when you don't get everything you want on Zillow.
19. You don't need to be a magician to put a Zestimate out of your hat.
20. "Easter" rhymes with "Keister". And "Zillow" doesn't.
21. Zillow's Bird's Eye View beats any view the Easter Bunny, or even Santa Claus gets.
22. You see more fake grass in an Easter Basket, than you do on Zillow.
23. You don't have to go to church every time Zillow rolls around.
24. Zillow shows more places, where people do things like bunnies.
25. Zillow costs less than plastic grass, colored eggs or chocolate bunnies.
26. The Zillow Parade shows off houses, not clothes.
27. You don't have to dress up for the Zillow Parade.
28. Home Searchers don't need some dated movie like Easter Parade, to celebrate Zillow.
29. You can write more than a sonnet about Zillow.
30. With Zillow, you can get more than your picture in the Roto Gravieur.
31. Zillow gives you better value estimates for all the homes on Fifth Avenue, than an Easter Parade.
32. You don't need a stupid bonnet to march in the Zillow Parade.
33. Zillow's houses have more colors than Easter Eggs.
34. Brad Inman, Richard Barton and Mike Ferry celebrate Zillow more than Easter.
35. Zillow makes you wiggle your finger. Easter makes you wiggle your nose.
36. With Zillow you only get virtual little brown balls.
37. You see more plastic grass on Easter than you do on Zillow.
38. Zillow gives you better estimates on more rabbit hutches.
39. Zillow's eye candy won't rot your teeth.
40. Zillow House Hunting can be more fun than Easter Egg Hunting.
41. You're not as disappointed when there isn't a check in a card from Zillow.
42. With Zillow, you don't have to put all your eggs in one basket, to have fun.
43. If you get what you found on Zillow, it's better than any Easter present.
44. Easter is good for big-eared rodents. Zillow is good for big eyed humans.
45. Because of Zillow, Real Estate 1.0 will never rise from the dead.
46. Richard Barton looks better in a bunny suit.
47. It's better to get your picture taken with Richard Barton, than with the Easter Bunny.
48. Searching Zillow is a more powerful fertility symbol than any Easter Bunny.
49. You're less upset when you don't get a Zillow Card.
50. There are a lot of Easter Bunnies, but there is only one Zillow.
51. Zillow prevents more Realtors from laying eggs than Easter does.
52. With Zillow, you don't care if Easter comes before Passover.
53. With Zillow, every Friday is Good Friday.
54. With Zillow, people don't think the "Missing Link" is some long eared rodent.
55. With Zillow, the only basket cases are some Realtors.
56. Bunnies just nibble. With Zillow you can take a whole bite.
57. A Zillow hit is cleaner than a rabbit punch.
58. The objections of Realtors are Zillow's biggest cross to bear.
59. The Easter Bunny can be hare raising. Zillow can be hair raising.
60. Getting your picture taken with the Easter Bunny is expensive. Getting your home's pictures on Zillow is free.
61. Bunny Rabbits eat your garden. Zillow doesn't.
62. Zillow leaves the price tags on, so you know how much they care.
63. You'll find more surprises on Zillow than in any Easter Basket.
64. Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists all can believe in Zillow. Only some Realtors can't.
65. With Zillow, Real Estate 1.0 Agents are the only ones who leave little brown balls.
66. With Zillow, it's easier to locate the closest manger, carpenter's shop and Inn with a room.
67. With Zillow, you don't have to leave little brown balls to mark your territory.
68. Easter just has a season. Zillow is all year round.
69. You get more things on your Zillow list, than your Easter list.
70. Richard Barton doesn't need a natural fur coat to sell Zillow.
71. Zillow gives you more warm fuzzies than the Easter Bunny.
72. Zillow gives you more things to scrunch your nose about.
73. With success on Zillow you get mink, not rabbit fur.
74. Easter just has an island. Zillow has almost the whole USA.
75. The Easter Bunny has to compete with Bugs Bunny, Peter Rabbit and The March Hare. Zillow only has to compete with RealEstateABC.com and other AVM's.
76. Zillow has better aerial photos than Easter Parades.
77. Zillow is free, and it doesn't leave as many little brown balls.
78. You don't get into trouble with PETA for trashing Zillow.
79. "The War on Zillow" isn't as violent as "The War on Easter".
80. You see more plastic grass in an Easter Basket than on Zillow.
81. Zillow's photo of the Playboy Mansion has more bunnies, with less fur, and smaller ears and tails than Easter.
82. Only Christians celebrate Easter. All non-Realtors celebrate Zillow.
83. Zillow doesn't need an official Rodent, like Disney's Mouse, Easter's Bunny and Chucky Cheese's Rat.
84. Richard Barton doesn't need a bunny suit to make the newspaper, the Internet or the blogesphere.
85. Home Searchers doesn't need a parade to celebrate Zillow.
86. Zillow goes to more home addresses than the Easter Bunny.
87. With the Easter Bunny, you need to leave out carrots. Richard Barton and Zillow only expect clicks.
88. Checking Zillow is a surer sign of Spring than Easter.
89. Bugs Bunny is more obnoxious than Zack Zillow.
90. You don't get into trouble with PETA, the Church or the Religious Right for trashing Zillow.
91. Easter just has an island. Zillow has almost the whole USA.
92. You get in less trouble for Zillowing a house, than for Easter Egging a house.
93. With Zillow, Realtors are the only ones who bite off your ears first.
94. You never have to wear a bunny suit when you search on Zillow.
95. Zillow's links are faster, easier and better, than just hopping around.
96. Easter is a yearly holiday. Zillow makes home search a daily holiday.
97. Easter is only one day a year. Zillow is 24/7/365.
98. Zillow.com loads faster than the Easter Bunny's site.
99. Only your family wants you home for Easter. Everyone wants your home on Zillow (Except Realtors).
100. The Bunny Hop is a stupider dance, than the one you do when you see your home on Zillow.
101. With Zillow, only Real Estate 1.0 careers had to die.

Adapt Or Die!  Happy Searching.

WebHomeUSAblog; The Blog of Real Estate Search Marketing

It's Not About The House

Chapter I: Realationship: The Right Real Estate Relationship Is Everything

It's Not About The House, One Agent's Battle Against Fate, Fame, Love, Death, Scandal, Zig Ziglar, the DOJ, Mike Ferry, the FTC, Zillow, Discounters, Real Estate 1.0 and a Few Other Antagonists on the Road to The Tour de House.

When I read Lance Armstrong's Book, It's Not About The Bike; I was struck by the irony of a star athlete downing his most prominent ability and iconic association; and writing about things much more important.

I even thought of some similarities to My Life As A Realtor, or Real Estate Is My Life; my next 2 books.

I attended a conference on entrepreneurism. A story was told of the answer to a question asked to the President of American Century Mutual Funds: "How many mutual funds have you sold in your career?" His answer: "None. I don't sell mutual funds. I sell financial security."

When I started in Real Estate, my broker had his head stuck firmly up Real Estate 1.0. It was "All About The House", all about the cold call prospecting and all about the sale.

My broker had never heard: "They don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care".

When I wouldn't drink the Cool Aid, or become one of their Stepford Realtors or Robo-Realtors; we parted ways. Any independent thought or creative idea was seen as a reason to not do cold-call, telemarket prospecting in the isolation booth.

I was in the process of embracing the Real Estate marketing opportunities of the Internet and Real Estate 2.0. I knew their was more to life in Real Estate than spending hours looking up the phone numbers of expired listings and calling them at the same time as my fellow newbie agents.

When I heard a 10 year old tape of Top Cool Aid Salesman, Mike Ferry (Why don't any of his kids work with him any more?), where he told agents to put their computers away for 3 months and went on to say 90% the same things he said in his last call, I knew my end with that firm was near. (Anybody have good scripts to keep good relationships with your kids?).

I was taught:

• Location, Location, Location
• House, House, House
• Sale, Sale, Sale
• Real Estate 1.0, Real Estate 1.0, Real Estate 1.0

But "The Days of the Giants", the days of the cold call and the days of the Real Estate Listing Books with "CONFIDENTIAL" written all over them were dying fast. Giving way to Websites, the Internet, Zillow, Google Base and all the other potential National MLS's.

Real Estate's new mantras are:

• Traffic, Traffic, Traffic
• Internet, Internet, Internet
• Real Estate 2.0, Real Estate 2.0, Real Estate 2.0
• Relationship, Relationship, Relationship

In Real Estate 2.0, The Relationship is most important.

What we can call "The Realationship." The Right Real Estate Relationship Is Everything.

Adapt Or Die!  Happy Searching.

WebHomeUSAblog; The Blog of Real Estate Search Marketing

The Top Nine Reasons To Use Top Ten Lists

The Eleven Commandments Of Top Ten Lists:

The Powers Of Ten:

1) "The Top Ten" is "The New Top Seven".

2) You can remember Top Ten Lists, without taking off your shoes.

3) Bullet-ed lists aren't as politically correct. But then, who's counting?

4) With Zillow, Google Base and other Real Estate Blogs and Websites; you don't have to climb Mt Sinai any more, to get a Top Ten List.

5) Top Ten Lists are better than any: Two Halves, Three Periods, Four Quarters, or Nine Innings.

6) Even Top Cats wish they had Top Ten Lives.

7) New Year's, NASA's and David Letterman's Count Downs start with 10.

8) Realtors, Charlton Heston, and most other Judeo-Christians just love Top Ten Lists.

9) You can Co-Brand with the FBI, David Letterman and God.

Post Top Nine:

• Search Engines love Top Ten Lists.
• Top Ten Lists are faster reads than Top Eleven lists.
• Top Ten Lists get read, Short and Sweet.
• There are 2 types of people: People who believe in Top Ten Lists, And people who don't.
• It isn't as good to be "Dressed to the Nines", as it is to be "A Perfect Ten".
• Only Five Easy Pieces, The Magnificent Seven, 8 1/2 and Ten are numbers with good movies. (With apologies to The Third Man, 3 Amigos, Nine, Eleven Angry Men, Cheaper By The Dozen, 23 and The 300)
• Top Ten Lists are 24/7/365. (Seven-Eleven is 24/7, too.)
• Top Ten Lists, are as easy as counting to ten.
• Who ever asked you: "On a scale of 1 to 9..."
• No one ever told you to: "Hold your breath and count to nine."
• You never heard of "The March of Nickels"? It only gets half the money.
• You can only "Hang Eleven" in Appalachia.
• The Ten Commandments is the Top Ten List with the most Academy Awards.
• Top Ten Lists are "Written In Stone."

Adapt Or Die!  Happy Searching.

WebHomeUSAblog; The Blog of Real Estate Search Marketing

Top 10 Reasons To Sell Your Home Yourself

"Mother, Please!, I'd rather do it myself!", was the memorable rant of a daughter on a 1960's TV commercial.

"Mr. Phelps, Your Mission, Should you decide to take it..."

In the glory days of the Housing Bubble it seemed a home owner could sell their house by just sticking a sign out in their front yard.

If you're generally a DIY'er (Do It Yourself-er); doing your taxes, financials, and car repairs; then you're a potential candidate to sell your home yourself.

Here's a Top Ten List of why you should sell your home yourself:

1) I've sold other things before, I can SELL my home myself. Nationally, almost 13% of home owners try to sell their homes themselves. It can be done. But be prepared for a lot of surprises: unqualified buyers ("Buyers are liars"), just-lookers (nosey neighbors), random door knockers, low-ball investors, mandatory State forms and paperwork, and rookie-tele-market-cold-call-prospecting Real Estate Agents trying to list your home. You can be on the "Do-Not-Call" List and also sell your home yourself.  Talk to people who've done it before. Get a good book on selling your home yourself. Get a good Real Estate Lawyer (hourly rate). A Lawyer who does at least 25% of his work in Real Estate.

2) I can PRICE my home myself. In surveys by the National Association of Realtors, pricing the house correctly is the most difficult problem for For Sale By Owners (FSBO's).

• Priced Too Low: You sell quickly and don't get the best value. Another NAR statistic: FSBO homes sell for over 16% less than comparable Agent listed homes. Although I doubt most Real Estate numbers, this stat gives you an idea of the importance of the right price.
• Priced Too High: Your home sits on the market and doesn't sell. There is a time value of money. The rule of thumb for a home's carrying costs is 1% of the value of the home per month. Can you bear the costs of carrying your home on the market, and the possibility of carrying 2 homes, if your old one doesn't sell?

3) I can STAGE my home myself. The second most common problem listed by FSBO's is staging their home to sell. Do you know the general rules: clean everything, de-clutter, neutral colors, cosmetic improvements, etc. Just watch an episode of "Flip This House" and you can see what value a properly staged home can bring. There are professional stagers, but that's another hit to your bottom line vs the percent commission.

4) I can ADVERTISE my home myself. Print advertising has been the biggest area of Real Estate advertising, but be prepared for a shock. Most Agents/Brokers get favorable ad rates from newspapers. You don't. Remember, advertising comes out of your bottom line, but it's included in the Agent's commission.

5) I can MARKET my home myself. Just putting a "For Sale" Sign on the front lawn is not all there is to marketing. We've all heard the story of Uncle Ralph's friend who put out a lawn sign and sold his house for his price the same day. Do you have a professional network of Agents with the most qualified leads? Do you have a way to efficiently contact all them and let them know your home is for sale? Do you have an MLS? If you can independently get on the MLS, that will cost you, too ($395-$995in Rochester, NY). Again, all out of your bottom line.

6) I can INTERNET MARKET my home myself. Over 75% of home buyers start their home search online. Almost 100% use the Internet at sometime during their home search. If you're not there, you're missing most of your market. Your house may never be seen by all your potential market. In my un-scientific observation of the past 6 months of FSBO leads (over 300), less than 1/3 offer an email address contact. In fact, many more sellers are on the "Do-Not-Call" List, than show an email address. Are you prepared to push your listing out to all the local and national Websites: Local MLS, Zillow.com, Google Base, etc?

7) I can NEGOTIATE my home price myself. Potential buyers know you're saving the 6% and expect you to share at least 3%, if not the whole 6%, with them. Unqualified buyers often target FSBO homes, draining you of time, effort and patience. If you don't like bargaining, haggling and negotiating; then selling your home yourself may not be the right decision for you. If you decide to give the Agent who brings the deal a 3% commission, that also comes out of your bottom line.

8) I can do all the PAPERWORK myself. If you love paperwork at work, at home or at tax time; you'll love selling your home yourself. If your State is anything like New York, your home sale transaction is protected by a wall of paper. Did I sign this? Did my spouse sign that? Did I fax this? Did I mail that? You better have a list of lists, with all the due dates, the do's, the to-do's, the to-don't-do's and the "Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo's".

9) I know a good Real Estate LAWYER. You better. If you decide to go it without a Real Estate Agent, you'll need a Real Estate Lawyer, who has experience with closings. As an Agent (in New York) I know the laws, the forms and all the other paperwork are constantly changing. It all falls under this year's "Lawyers, Politicians and Bureaucrats Full Employment Act, 1099BS". Don't worry. It's in there.

10) I know Real Estate Agents make too much MONEY. Some Real Estate Agents make a lot of money, but so do good agents and licensed professionals in most other areas of business and sales. If there were 8 million residential homes sold last year and 2 million Realtors, then the average Realtor sold only 4 homes.  Not enough commission to make a living. Fees are negotiable, and the national average commission is only a little over 5%. In most States you can still buy marketing and advertising services separately and in some places even buy MLS access. But again, it's your bottom line. Real Estate Agents don't get paid until you get more. Real Estate Agents don't make more unless you make more.

11) Good Luck.

Adapt Or Die!  Happy Searching.

WebHomeUSAblog; The Blog of Real Estate Search Marketing