RECR's Blog: March 2008

I was approached by a realtor in L.A. about this program called SendOutCards about a year ago.  After much speculation and detailed info searching, I decided to join.  And man, am I glad I did!  I use this program every day to send out thank you cards to my agents around the country, birthday cards to my friends and family, and announcements to my potential customers.  The cards are of the highest quality and cost me around $.85 per card INCLUDING a first class stamp and an envelope to put them in...and best of all...I do it all from my computer!  No writing addresses...no complicated printer programs...no going to the store to buy cards...and NO LICKING ENVELOPES!!!!

Its all done for me...it has a top-notch contact management section that allows me to even schedule birthday cards in advance.  For example, my sister's birthday is August 10.  I just got her birthday card chosen yesterday, had it signed in my own handwriting and it will be mailed out on August 7th.  It took me about 4 minutes online...and now I can forget about it. 

You can sign up as a user and get the same prices...or sign up as a distributor and get paid!

I LOVE THIS PROGRAM AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE!!!

If you have any questions about SOC, please contact Clint at 406-239-5032 or email me at clintmillersales@hotmail.com and I would be happy to speak with you in person about it.

What is it with people and avoiding the truth??  Why can't we just own up to the fact that we are in a recession?

Yes, I said it...We are in a recession.

The dollar is at its lowest in 14 years.  The stock market is dropping like a stone.  Oil is up to $112 a barrel thanks to that weak dollar.  The economy has lost jobs for 2 straight months in a row.  Consumer confidence is lower than it has been in years.  The Fed is slashing interest rates everywhere possible.  The government is giving away money to people in the hopes they will spend it on big purchase items when the reality of the situation is that most American households will use the money to pay for gas and groceries...

All of this is happening now after devistating markets related to housing (no one on this forum or anyone related to this industry needs a further lecture on this topic) and the over-all credit crunch that has insued...

And, Mr. Bush is quoted as calling it "slow economic growth"...   Slow economic growth???  How about NO economic growth...Not only that...BACKWARDS economic growth.  To me, thats a recession.  Let just call a spade a spade, for our own sakes.  Quit beating around this bush...its a recession.

UPDATE --- Watching CNN this morning, there are sun belt states that are pulling funding from 'gift' programs like free clinics for the needy and food programs...even schools...as a result of the current economic crisis.  Also, watching Glen Beck last night, he stated that this country has not seen such an economic decrease since WWII. 

Now tell me were not in a recession.

UPDATE AGAIN -- See comments at bottom of blog...

If you would like help on increasing your bottom line, to go www.recr.com or call Clint at 800-977-7058.

My name is Jeremiah Thompson. I started out as a complete and utter real estate rookie seven years ago working in a small RE/MAX office in Missoula, Montana. 

I spent countless hours "in the field"... hosting open houses, only to feed cookies to the neighbors.

I spent long hours on the phone, cold-calling and even getting yelled at sometimes.

I put in so many hours at work, that it cost me a relationship with my girlfriend and some of my most valuable possessions...

The "Crazy Idea" That Turned My Career Around and How It Can Work for You

I decided that things had to change. And just after my first year in real estate, I had gone from a rookie to the prestigious Top Producer in the entire office.  

Here's how I did it:  Seven years ago, back in the office, I started getting emails from home buyers and sellers that had done research on the Internet and were looking to buy or sell a home in my area.

I failed miserably at first...Because like most agents then I wanted closings and I wanted them now then I decided to reply to these internet-based prospects in the same way that I worked with "regular" customers.

I offered to show them home listings and to get them into a home quickly and hassle-free.

Each time I tried this approach then it ended my relationship with the client before it even had a chance to get started.

Then I changed my approach...I started taking a serious look at where these homeowners were in the real estate "cycle". And I tweaked and fine-tuned my sales process.

That's When I Began to See Enormous Changes!  I started listing and closing on more homes than anyone in my entire office. Commissions started pouring in, and I realized that anyone could do the very same things I was doing - if they only knew how.

Why are we unique among internet client referral companies?

I took all the knowledge I had gained as a successful real estate agent and used that experience to form my company, Real Estate Client Referrals http://www.recr.com/, in March of 2003.

When I started the company, I did so knowing exactly what I'd want as an agent myself. So I made sure that I included all the tools, tips and techniques I used to close more sales with Internet referrals. That means:

NO Monthly Fees - Ever. You simply pay for your referrals and that's it

NO Long-Term Contracts - If you're not happy, I'll cheerfully refund your money. More on that below...

NO Recycling of Referrals - You get exclusive access to your local area - and we never share your referral's contact information with any other agents - period.

1 in 5 Closing Ratio - Yes, 1 in 5!  That is the best closing ratio in the industry!

Let Me Take All the Risk Out Of Your Decision...

If you would like any additional information about our my company or would like to speak with a representative about your specific area, please feel free to call 800-977-7058 and ask for Clint.  He would be happy to help you.

No, Im not joking....Just saw this on CNN and had to go diving to find a link to post for you....

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/03/14/lawrence.burning.homes.cnn

It seems that it is an attempt to cash in on insurance so they can start again rather than lose everything.  I thought something like this was going to start happening considering the depth at which this mess is going.

Desperate people do desperate things, I guess...

Thats right...OPPORTUNITY as we define the word is not a universal application.  It is only an opportunity if the person that recieves the opportunity actually does something with it.  And, here is what I mean...Not everyone can take advantage of the same opportunities.  Some see opportunities as an insurmountable obsticle.  Others, a challenge that can be overcome.  Some see them as a once-in-a-lifetime shot.  Others, hard work.  Some see it as the way to get what they want.  Others, a waste of time.

Let me give you some examples that were revieled to me in an email I recieved the other day...

• A basketball in my hands is worth about $19. A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
• A baseball in my hands is worth about $6. A baseball in Mark McGuire's hands is worth $19 million.
• A tennis racket is useless in my hands. A tennis racket in Venus Williams' hands is a championship.
• A golf club in my hands is but a club. A golf club in Tiger Woods' hands created an icon. 
• A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal. A rod in Moses' hands parted a mighty sea.
• A sling shot in my hands is a kid's toy. A sling shot in David's hand was a mighty weapon.
• Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse. Nails in Jesus Christ's hands produced salvation for the entire world.

Everyone is given the opportunity every day to make the right choices and to achieve great things.  You are given a bank of time each day...86,400 seconds to be exact.  So, ask yourself...what are you doing with your time that will allow you to take advantage of the opportunities given to you.  Remember, what you are doing right now...you are trading your time for it.  And you cant get that back.  So, trade wisely.  You have the opportunity to do great things...It's worth your time.

If you would like some additional information about time management and how www.recr.com can help you, please contact Clint at 800-977-7058

After I had a chance to knock the sleep out of my eyes and slurp down some really dark coffee, I flipped on CNN...and Robin Meade had a story about a RE/MAX office in Las Vegas that is offering free tours of foreclosure homes via a foreclosure bus...

Agents act as tour guides and take 6 - 10 couples out on a tour of anywhere between 6 and 8 foreclosure properties available in the Las Vegas area.  One house they featured on the story was a 3 bedroom 3 bath home that sold for $309,000 in 2005 listed currently on the market for $189,000. 

Considering the price of gas and the fact that buyers are constantly on the hunt for a good deal, I cant help but think that more and more offices in major markets will be on this bus quick!

If you would like more info about www.recr.com, please contact Clint at 800-977-7058.

If you have not had the chance, I highly recommend you do this...

Plan a trip to Western Montana.  While you are here, take a detour through Philipsburg, MT, and then head about 10 miles up the Skalkaho Pass Highway (much more of a paved cattle trail than a highway) to Gem Mountain and do a little sapphire mining!!  Go to www.gemmtn.com to check out their site!

Gem Mountain is one of the only places in the state where you can screen gravel and find your own sapphires, garnets, and rubies.  (Rubies are simply red sapphires, by the way.  Just in case you didnt know...)

 When you arrive, this is what you will see...You buy buckets of gravel for $12.  A bucket is about 2.5 gallons and takes roughly two or three hours to screen thuroughly.  You are provided tables to sift on, tweezers, a vile to keep your treasures in, and a huge water trough to wash your gravel.  Experienced 'screeners' are on site to teach you how to wash the gravel and the 'shanke-n-bounce' needed to make the gems, which are more dense than that surrounding rock, to settle to the middle of the screen.  There is also a gem shop, gift shop, picnic area, and grandeous mountains to keep you entertained.

Its amazing that some little colored rocks like this....
Can turn into this! 

Ive come here my entire life and it is a routine weekly trip for me and my family.  I encourage everyone to come experience it for yourself.  Bring a picnic lunch; Bring the family; Get a little dirty...Who knows...you may come way with a few hundred dollars (or, if your like me, a few thousand...) worth of gems that you and yours will treasure forever.

If you want more information about www.gemmtn.com or about www.recr.com, call Clint at 800-977-7058.