Archive for July, 2008

Real estate agent tips for speaking to reporters

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REALTOR® magazine makes suggestions on how to talk to a reporter and become a news source

Do you get nervous speaking to reporters? August’s issue of REALTOR® magazine offers tips on how to speak to journalists and how to become a news source.

Bill Zucker is the managing director of media practice for Burson-Marsteller in Chicago. Zucker suggests asking the reporter what the focus of the story will be before you agree to be interviewed so that you can research statistics to back up your answers. 

The article also suggests agents keep their answers simple and never say “No comment.”

To become a news source, the article suggests you call or e-mail a reporter if you think you have a good story idea, but make sure you pitch it to the correct person. Another suggestion is to provide an anecdote or personal insight that will hold the public’s interest.

Here are a few other tips from the article:

  • Send regular press releases or story ideas to reporters.
  • Be sensitive to their deadlines.
  • Provide facts with your story ideas.

For more suggestions, read the full article and watch the "Be a Media Star" video.

See Also

  • REALTOR Magazine article
    Tips for real estate agents speaking to the media
  • Intero Real Estate Services
    Intero Real Estate Services is one of the premier real estate brokerages in the nation, with 60 offices and more than 2,200 sales associates serving Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada and Texas.

Monday Morning MOJO

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The Last Lecture

Good Morning MOJO,

I am sure most of you have seen this…I actually sent it out about 8 months ago in a MOJO.  Last week Randy Pausch passed away after a courageous fight against cancer and so I watched his last lecture again over the weekend.  I also checked out a speech he just recently gave at the Carnegie Mellon University graduation ceremony…I attached that as well.   Even if you have seen it before it is worth seeing again and again and again.   When I heard the news he had past away I thought, oh yeah…I remember him and that speech he gave.  But when I watched it again, it sent chills up my spine as if I had never seen it before.  So, even if you have seen it before, watch it again.  We all need to take his advice because we never know when it may be our last lecture!!!!!

 

Dr. Randy Pausch – Last Lecture

Carnegie Mellon Graduation Speech

"Life is an occasion…rise to it!!!"  

Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder

Intero Real Estate Services
Direct: 408.863.3000
Email: TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com

Intero Story Video: Intero Story

Intero Foundation Video: Intero Foundation

Intero Resorts Video: Intero Resorts 

Intero Boot Camp Video: Boot Camp

Intero Locations: Intero Offices

Monday Morning MOJO Blog: MOJO


Intero ready to launch master franchise sales campaign

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Master franchisees will have exclusive territory rights

Intero Real Estate Services is moving forward with its master franchise opportunities.

The company is ready to launch a large-scale sales campaign this summer. Through the sales effort, Intero will award master franchisees exclusive territory rights to select regions in and out of the United States.

Intero will seek partners who know what it takes to run a profitable company and who appreciate how Intero operates. Those who sign on with Intero will manage their own growth, distribution of new offices, and development of strategic alliances and strategy to recruit top managers and agents. The master franchisees also will share franchise royalty, technology, and other revenue opportunities.

“We’ve been preparing for this for quite some time now, working out the kinks and getting our processes in place for the franchise program,” said Gino Blefari, president and CEO of Intero. “Now, we’re ready to move forward 100 percent and find the right people who are interested in gaining exclusive territory rights and growing with the Intero brand.”

Intero Chairman Bob Moles says the opportunities Intero provides are unmatched by other franchisors.

“We’re at a unique place with regard to our growth, and our leadership very is strong, made up of real estate people who’ve worked for years on the ground floor in sales, management and operations. Having access to that kind of experience, paired with the innovations we’re pushing is what’s going to make a franchisee successful.”

Intero’s executive team and Jose Perez of PCMS Consulting will lead the master franchise sales campaign.

For more information, please click here.

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Monday Morning MOJO

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The million dollar question is, how in the world do we train ourselves to have the ability to be focused on the outcome we want and not the fear of what we don’t want.

Good Morning MOJO,

You are right in the middle of the 18th fairway…you are 180 yards out….water in front of the green.  All you need to do is hit it on the green and 2 putt for the best round of golf in your life.  All you are thinking is ”just don’t hit it in the water…just don’t hit it in the water”.  You take your practice swing and it is perfect.  You tell yourself again, ”don’t hit it in the water…don’t hit it in the water” Then you step over the ball, take a swipe at it and it lands right in the middle of the lake.  “Ug…why does that always happen?  Right when we are about to do something really great…have that breakthrough, we fold and do exactly what we tell ourselves not to do”. 

It is because we are focused on what we don’t want to happen instead of being focused on what we do want to happen.  That is what makes the difference between professionals and amateurs.  The ability to be laser focused on the outcome we know is going to happen and not have any fear about failure…not even letting it enter our mind.  It is the professionals’ ability to block out all of the obstacles and be laser focused on the flag stick…laser focused on the goal. 

This is how it works with everything in life.  So, the million dollar question is, how in the world do we train ourselves to have the ability to be focused on the outcome we want and not the fear of what we don’t want.  How do we focus on being fit and healthy, not fat and over weight…wealthy, not broke…success, not failure…hitting it on the green, not in the water?  It all starts with reprogramming.  Reprogramming our brains…changing the conversations and focus in our noggin.  We are subconsciously affirming things every minute of everyday whether we know it or not…whether we want to or not.  The question is what are we affirming…good stuff or bad stuff?  If we are not affirming what we need to be affirming, we need to figure out a way to reprogram our brain so we start affirming the good stuff and push out the bad stuff. 

I by no means have it all figured out, but here is what I do.  I spend time first things every morning being thankful for everything I have in my life.  Then I spend time focusing on what I want to attract into my life…and I do it with motion and emotion.  Those who have seen me working out early in the morning will see me in the gym grinding with my eyes closed, sweat rolling down my face, listening to inspiring music on my I-Pod, visualizing success…visualizing the things I want in my life…visualizing what I want my life to look like.  Now, that is what works for me.  Everyone needs to find their way, but the key is we need to find time everyday to visualize what we want our life to look like WITH EMOTION…fill out brain with the good stuff and push out the bad stuff…push out the limiting beliefs.  The key is not to be thinking about and affirming the things we don’t want…we need to be focused on what we do want.  For starters, you should take time to write out the affirmations you want to push into your noggin and read them first thing every morning out loud 5 times.  Everything needs to be positive (i.e. I do, I am), not negative (i.e. I won’t, I will stop).  Here are some examples of the does and don’t conversations/affirmations.

YES:     I am fit, health and only put things in my body which are good for me.  This gives me the highest level of clarity and energy at all times.                                                                   

NO:      I will stop smoking and eating like crap and start exercising.

YES:     I am a devoted son, brother, husband and father.  I take time every day to show my family and friends how much I care.

NO:      I will stop being anxious and short with my family and friends.  I will quit yelling and being impatient.

YES:     I am a great financial planner and I am getting closer to my financial goals everyday.

NO:      I will stop spending so much money on things I don’t need so I can get ahead in life.

YES:     I am alive, excited and full of energy everyday

NO:      I will quit being so lazy

YES:     I am successful

NO:      I will quit being such a slacker…such a failure

YES:     I am a winner

NO       I will stop being a loser

YES:     I will fire this right at the flag and make my birdie
NO:      I won’t hit it in the water and hopefully hit the green so I have chance and making a 2 putt for par

Make it a GREAT week and affirm your success!!!!!

"Life is an occasion…rise to it!!!"  

Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder

Intero Real Estate Services
Direct: 408.863.3000
Email: TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com

Intero Story Video: Intero Story

Intero Foundation Video: Intero Foundation

Intero Resorts Video: Intero Resorts 

Intero Boot Camp Video: Boot Camp

Intero Locations: Intero Offices

Monday Morning MOJO Blog: MOJO


Forbes.com lists best cities to buy home

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Four Texas cities on the list

Forbes.com has posted its list of the 10 best cities to buy a home. Texas cities occupied four of the ten spots including, Houston, which was ranked number one. San Francisco was eighth.

“While housing certainly isn’t cheap in the City by the Bay, it is definitely in demand and continues to appreciate,” the article said.

The magazine looked at the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the United States and identified cities where home prices have appreciated. It also measured tightening vacancy rates.

Those factors, the article said, indicate cities where people are making investments in their homes and where the housing market is solid. 

Here’s the full list from Forbes.com:

  1. Houston
  2. Austin, Texas
  3. St. Louis
  4. Philadelphia
  5. San Antonio
  6. Dallas
  7. Charlotte, N.C.
  8. San Francisco
  9. Jacksonville, Fla.
  10. Atlanta

For the full story, click here.

See Also

  • Forbes.com Magazine Article
    Magazine identifies 10 best cities to buy home
  • Intero Real Estate Services
    Intero Real Estate Services is one of the premier real estate brokerages in the nation. It has 60 offices with more than 2,200 sales associates serving Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada and Texas.

Monday Morning MOJO

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He’d done it…finally gone for his dreams and it was working!!!!!!!

Good Morning MOJO,

He’d done it…finally gone for his dreams and it was working!  Slowly, surely, the puzzle pieces of his new life were falling into place as he called the shots, did what he knew had to be done, and made his new life happen one step at a time…and that’s, of course, when it happened.  There, in the midst of his growing success is when the old thinking that’d kept him boxed in all his life came roaring back, determined to take control and slam him back into that life he’d escaped from not all that long ago.  I knew that’s what was happening because he kept asking himself the same questions we all ask ourselves after we’ve made a big change in our lives and gotten to that next Choice Point…where we’ve got to choose, once again, whether we’ll stay committed to our dreams, or give up and crawl back in our box.

Been asking yourself…"Have I lost my mind? What have I done? What was I thinking? My God, I could lose everything…how am I ever gonna make this happen?"  Good…that’s a pretty sure sign you’re making progress!  Yes, you’ll be scared and confused, and yes, it’ll get hard because you are stepping out on the edge.  Out to a place you have never been before….and you’re taking very real risks and overcoming very real fears that keep most everyone else hiding in their old life forever…as you choose, instead, to do what it takes to make your life worth living!

Remember that the next time the old you struggles to make a comeback and turn your life into Sucksville. Tell it to take a flying leap!!!!  You’ve got better things to do…you’ve got a kick ass life to live!

Make it a GREAT week!!!!!

"Life is an occasion…rise to it!!!"  

Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder

Intero Real Estate Services
Direct: 408.863.3000
Email: TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com

Intero Story Video: Intero Story

Intero Foundation Video: Intero Foundation

Intero Resorts Video: Intero Resorts 

Intero Boot Camp Video: Boot Camp

Intero Locations: Intero Offices

Monday Morning MOJO Blog: MOJO


NAR forecasts modest movement in existing home sales

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Association president says home buyers getting great deals now

The National Association of Realtors® is forecasting modest near-term movement in existing home sales, “with a recovery in sales seen during the second half of the year.”

The association released the forecast this week. It projected that sales of existing homes will grow to an annual pace of 5.75 million in the fourth quarter from 5.01 million in the second. A 5 percent increase in existing home sales is expected next year, the association says.

The report showed the Pending Home Sales Index fell 4.7 percent to 84.7 in May compared to 88.9 in April. It is 14 percent below the May 2007 reading of 98.5.

“The overall decline in contract signings suggests we are not out of the woods by any means,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. “The housing stimulus bill that is still being considered in the Senate is critical to assure a healthy recovery in the housing market, jobs and the economy.”

NAR President Richard F. Gaylord says the current market is offering immediate benefits for many buyers. He also notes that sharper consumer price gains could mean higher mortgage interest rates next year.

The association also forecast that sales of new homes are likely to drop 32.3 percent to 525,000 in 2008.

For more information, please click here.

See Also


Monday Morning MOJO

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Remember it is the journey, not the destination, which is the prize…don’t take it for granted.

Good Morning MOJO,

We look forward to it for weeks or months.  Lying on the beach…drinking a Mai Tai…listening the waves crash.  Oh, just the sound of it as I am writing this sounds amazing…refreshing…relaxing.  Then it’s over and the let down begins.

You ever notice when you go on vacation one of the best parts is the build up?  It’s like that for almost everything we do in life…it’s the building that is actually the best part.  Unfortunately, most of people don’t realize it until they finally reach the destination, the let down begins and it is too late.  Then we look back and the best part has past us by.  We look back and realize it was the process of getting there…the build up or building of the outcome which was the best part.   Hell…that’s what life is all about.  Ask anyone who is on their death bed. 

All too often we think reaching the goal will make us feel better…we think things will get better when we finally reach our destination of success.  However, if you ever listen to the true champions…the true success stories, they are present during the process and enjoy the process of growing…the process of getting better…the process of reaching the goal itself.   It is the rush of the building that fires them up…it is the competition…it is the small battles along the way which they live for.  The outcome is simply the result of what they love doing.  To accomplish all of your goals, love what you do and love the process of doing it.  Even if you don’t reach your ultimate goal, you will be a winner and a success.

Remember it is the journey, not the destination, which is the prize…don’t take it for granted. 

Make it a great week!!!!

"Life is an occasion…rise to it!!!"  

Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder

Intero Real Estate Services
Direct: 408.863.3000
Email: TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com

Intero Story Video: Intero Story

Intero Foundation Video: Intero Foundation

Intero Resorts Video: Intero Resorts 

Intero Boot Camp Video: Boot Camp

Intero Locations: Intero Offices

Monday Morning MOJO Blog: MOJO


Magazine offers tips on photography, video

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The suggestions are in this month’s issue of REALTOR® Magazine

Photography and, increasingly, video are two important ways to draw customers to a new property. This month’s issue of REALTOR® Magazine features tips on both. REALTOR® Magazine is the official magazine of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

The magazine offers photography tips from photographer Barbara Lane, author of How to Photograph Interiors When You Barely Know How to Work a Camera. For example, Lane addresses how to lighten photographs taken from inside a home. Lane suggests that you frame the photo in the viewfinder and then move the camera to focus away from the windows. Lock the exposure in at that point by pressing the camera’s shutter button halfway down before moving the camera back to the original view to take the picture.

For more tips, please click here to view the complete article.

In another article in the magazine, journalist and technology expert Michael Antoniak offers some suggestions on how to make video part of your marketing mix. For example, after you’ve selected the equipment you will use, he suggests making a list or a presentation of the shots that you would like to appear in the video and describe what each frame should show. He also recommends writing down what you would like to say in the voiceovers that go with each shot.

For the full article, please click here.

See Also

  • REALTOR® Magazine
    The official magazine of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
  • How to Photograph Interiors
    How to photograph interiors when you barely know how to work a camera. How to easily take great interior photographs if you are a real estate agent, realtor, interior designer, decorator, or other home improvement specialist. The best source for learning interior photography without becoming a professional architectural photographer.
  • RealTechTools
    Blog by journalist and technology expert Michael Antoniak.
  • Intero Real Estate Services
    A premier real estate brokerage that has over 60 offices with more than 2,200 sales associates serving Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada and Texas.