Attention Blog readers. Please now go to www.cbmove.com/chevychase and hit the blog icon for the brand new blog site.
Thanks,
Darrin
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Saturday, November 3, 2007
WOW - You go Joey!!!!
As a new member of the Chevy Chase office Joey Silverstein has impressed everyone with his enthusiasm and talent. A couple of days ago, he posted this on Youtube (see link below). This is a great example of innovative (and free) ways to go after an the largest buyer population, the 28-40 year old. Way to go Joey!
By the way, Joey already has 40 out of 50 points needed for his trip to Atlantic CIty, all based on doing the little things.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flWk8q0ikLs
You can also see Joey's blog at http://www.cupofjoerealestate.blogspot.com/
By the way, Joey already has 40 out of 50 points needed for his trip to Atlantic CIty, all based on doing the little things.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flWk8q0ikLs
You can also see Joey's blog at http://www.cupofjoerealestate.blogspot.com/
Thursday, November 1, 2007
The Great Hair Dilemma
I have a serious problem I would like to share. It is delicate and personal, but, I realize I need help, and the first step is admitting I have a problem. The fact is, my hair is too long, but I know not what to do.
There are some in this office of Chevy Chase who, with passionate fervor believe, I should not get a haircut - that I should let the locks of curls grow until I become some-kind of Jewish version of Dr. J from the late 70’s.
There are also some, however, who believe the opposite - that the unruly nature of my grooming has made me a the key representative of the grunge slacker, Seattle coffee drinking, internet addicted, Gen X poster boy, who looks, well, like a moron.
So, my question is, what do I do? Do I do a Chia Pet or Bruce Willis? Carrot Top or Jay Haverty?
Jedi Master Paul V says, “Do it while you can!”
My wife says, “Cut it off!”
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!
VOTE HERE!
There are some in this office of Chevy Chase who, with passionate fervor believe, I should not get a haircut - that I should let the locks of curls grow until I become some-kind of Jewish version of Dr. J from the late 70’s.
There are also some, however, who believe the opposite - that the unruly nature of my grooming has made me a the key representative of the grunge slacker, Seattle coffee drinking, internet addicted, Gen X poster boy, who looks, well, like a moron.
So, my question is, what do I do? Do I do a Chia Pet or Bruce Willis? Carrot Top or Jay Haverty?
Jedi Master Paul V says, “Do it while you can!”
My wife says, “Cut it off!”
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!
VOTE HERE!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
The Three P’s
The Three P’s
(Placement , Placement, Placement)
By Darrin Friedman
Branch Vice President, Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Chevy Chase
Some - many, actually - will tell you that real estate is about three basic principles: location, location, and location. That’s why a home in Bethesda has more monetary value than the same home in Frederick, and a home in Arlington can fetch a higher price than a home in Manassas.
Of course it would be silly to dispute it. I won’t even try. But I do want to ask you a question: What if the three sacred laws of real estate also pertained to a nonphysical or virtual space?
Just for a second, instead of thinking of real estate as just a place on a map, or an intersection you may know, imagine that “location” also refers to real estate or internet placement on a proven high-volume website, where the vast majority of all people looking for a home go to find their information. So, when you think location, location, location, you are also thinking, placement, placement, placement!
It is a fact that 82% of people who are going to buy a home this year will do most of their search online, and 86% of those online searchers will go to Realtor.com.
So, here is my bold, young, arrogant statement: physical location is important, but unless you have superior internet placement, it may not matter. In fact, I’ll go further. I would make the contention that the internet placement of a home on the market is the single most important factor that makes a home sell.
Now, please, do not misunderstand. It is not enough to have a home marketed online. A home must be marketed using a proven online strategy that has demonstrated its ability to secure “eye-balls,” or hits.
For instance: It’s not enough to have a virtual tour with low-resolution taken hastily by an agent. Rather, it is vital to have professional, high-resolution photographs taken because that is what the product (your home) deserves!
It is not enough to just have an internet site. Rather, it is vital to have an effective portal specializing in the marketing of homes which converts eye-balls to ready and willing buyers!
“Whoa,” you say. “This is too much! I have bought and sold my own homes several times in my life, and I never used blogs, or web sites, or any kind of virtual tours, let alone effective ones.”
I have, in all honesty, been accused of being young. I am, after all, 33 years old. In fact, one of my agents, upon meeting me for the first time, quipped that she had shoes older than I was. Well, I will tell you what I told her: “It’s time to buy new shoes.”
We live in a different world than we did 5 years ago. Today’s real estate market is vastly different than the one from the beginning of this millennium, let alone from the mid-90s or mid-80s.
Initial market position (list price) and location are important - I am not saying they are not - but choosing an agent, office, and company that truly understands internet placement and marketing is vital.
As the manager of a real estate office, it has truly been a remarkable year. Our numbers in 2007 are significantly better than they were in 2006.
“How is that possible?” you say. “Isn’t the market horrible? Don’t you read almost daily that the housing market ‘bubble’ has burst?”
Well, I would argue that interpretation is everything.
I can say, without doubt, by using actual tracking and statistics, that using certain technology has helped us move inventory (your house) within a shorter amount of time.
We have repeatedly, through our knowledge of technology and marketing, successfully positioned homes in the market place to sell and it has worked!
Is the real estate industry still about people? Absolutely, but it is also about the sophisticated marketing of a commodity and creating a perception of value. Have you ever heard of a little internet site called eBay?
So, the next time you interview an agent to represent you in the selling of your home, ask them, specifically, what their online marketing strategy is. Listen carefully. And when you hear only silence, or the meaningless chatter of words they do not understand, pick up the phone and call me. I’ll translate.
(Placement , Placement, Placement)
By Darrin Friedman
Branch Vice President, Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Chevy Chase
Some - many, actually - will tell you that real estate is about three basic principles: location, location, and location. That’s why a home in Bethesda has more monetary value than the same home in Frederick, and a home in Arlington can fetch a higher price than a home in Manassas.
Of course it would be silly to dispute it. I won’t even try. But I do want to ask you a question: What if the three sacred laws of real estate also pertained to a nonphysical or virtual space?
Just for a second, instead of thinking of real estate as just a place on a map, or an intersection you may know, imagine that “location” also refers to real estate or internet placement on a proven high-volume website, where the vast majority of all people looking for a home go to find their information. So, when you think location, location, location, you are also thinking, placement, placement, placement!
It is a fact that 82% of people who are going to buy a home this year will do most of their search online, and 86% of those online searchers will go to Realtor.com.
So, here is my bold, young, arrogant statement: physical location is important, but unless you have superior internet placement, it may not matter. In fact, I’ll go further. I would make the contention that the internet placement of a home on the market is the single most important factor that makes a home sell.
Now, please, do not misunderstand. It is not enough to have a home marketed online. A home must be marketed using a proven online strategy that has demonstrated its ability to secure “eye-balls,” or hits.
For instance: It’s not enough to have a virtual tour with low-resolution taken hastily by an agent. Rather, it is vital to have professional, high-resolution photographs taken because that is what the product (your home) deserves!
It is not enough to just have an internet site. Rather, it is vital to have an effective portal specializing in the marketing of homes which converts eye-balls to ready and willing buyers!
“Whoa,” you say. “This is too much! I have bought and sold my own homes several times in my life, and I never used blogs, or web sites, or any kind of virtual tours, let alone effective ones.”
I have, in all honesty, been accused of being young. I am, after all, 33 years old. In fact, one of my agents, upon meeting me for the first time, quipped that she had shoes older than I was. Well, I will tell you what I told her: “It’s time to buy new shoes.”
We live in a different world than we did 5 years ago. Today’s real estate market is vastly different than the one from the beginning of this millennium, let alone from the mid-90s or mid-80s.
Initial market position (list price) and location are important - I am not saying they are not - but choosing an agent, office, and company that truly understands internet placement and marketing is vital.
As the manager of a real estate office, it has truly been a remarkable year. Our numbers in 2007 are significantly better than they were in 2006.
“How is that possible?” you say. “Isn’t the market horrible? Don’t you read almost daily that the housing market ‘bubble’ has burst?”
Well, I would argue that interpretation is everything.
I can say, without doubt, by using actual tracking and statistics, that using certain technology has helped us move inventory (your house) within a shorter amount of time.
We have repeatedly, through our knowledge of technology and marketing, successfully positioned homes in the market place to sell and it has worked!
Is the real estate industry still about people? Absolutely, but it is also about the sophisticated marketing of a commodity and creating a perception of value. Have you ever heard of a little internet site called eBay?
So, the next time you interview an agent to represent you in the selling of your home, ask them, specifically, what their online marketing strategy is. Listen carefully. And when you hear only silence, or the meaningless chatter of words they do not understand, pick up the phone and call me. I’ll translate.
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