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Mark Trask, Professional real estate services buyer and seller (M. L. Trask Real Estate)

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Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

For me, the basis of all systems likes in an excellent CRM. I was using Top Producer decades before CRM was the "buzz" word in our industry. I also follow the Brian Buffini working by referral process and it works.

Dec 21, 2015 08:59 PM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     Sphere of influence, and keeping in touch with closed clients and customers, worked for years.  Now, I have added Blogging and Social Media.  It brings them in!

Dec 21, 2015 12:53 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Mark.

Wouldn't be nice if one size bits all?  It just does not.  Each market is deferent, each neighborhood is unique, and what works in Key Largo does not work in Napa,  California nor does it work in Virginia or San Francisco.  We all like to say real estate is local so is marketing...That is why our Nordstroms in Santa Barbara does not buy what they buy in Los Angeles, nor does it buy what they buy in Las Vegas...A

Dec 21, 2015 12:29 PM
Rainmaker
2,362,977
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

I recommend that you read the Millionaire Real Estate Agent - you don't have to be a Keller agent to utilize the models and systems described therein. 

Dec 21, 2015 11:25 AM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Mark, if by "totally independent" you mean you are the broker of a one-person shop, I'd find that a huge challenge. 

Dec 21, 2015 11:07 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Active Rain is one of the best and then Print ads still out do everything else in my market

Dec 21, 2015 10:47 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

One where you put the necessary work into implementing and operating the  system.  None of them operate themselves.

Dec 21, 2015 10:41 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,554
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I am my own broker with my company.   Have a web site that ranks pretty well, or at least the public finds it and signs up a lot.   Also, stay in touch with past clients, always have business cards with you and should help.

Dec 22, 2015 03:09 AM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I have tried many things over the last 30 years, and the only one that is really effective is to get on the phone and call a few friends and colleagues who will send me business.

Dec 22, 2015 12:58 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Mark, that is an exceptional question.

However, I am challenged to define what "truly independent brokerage' means.

It almost sounds like you are not encumbered by the dictates of any overseer except the one who grants your license. Opportunity knocks at your door.

The question needs to be asked, "Who is your preferred customer?" I would think you envisioned some niche that could be exploited before you set to trail blaze where no man has gone before.

Regarding marketing, you may find benefit in reading One Thing.

If your focus is residential sales, direct mail and FB are the 'systems' you need to consider. Listing Grabber for post card marketing to the door and FB ads to find surfers with real estate on their mind.

 

Dec 21, 2015 10:27 PM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

If you are talking about growing your agent count I would say recruit and retain.  If you are talking about growing your personal business I would say good systems, a good data base, and prospecting.

Dec 21, 2015 10:13 PM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

you need to do online and offline marketing.... one should complement the other...and it should be done consistently....

Dec 21, 2015 09:40 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,164
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

A regular program of mass email to my database groups worked for me while using Top Producer.

Dec 21, 2015 09:30 PM
Rainer
80,653
Linda Guess
Keller Williams Tri-Lakes Branson, MO - Branson, MO
Branson area real estate sales.

Farming has worked best for me so far.  My goal was to meet some nice people, and that has happened.  My sphere of influence has grown immensely.  I have acquired three listings in the last two months from farming.  I just started farming this area 2 1/2 months ago.

Dec 21, 2015 09:25 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

What Lise Howe said

Dec 21, 2015 08:55 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Mark. There is no better way to get your message out than blogging. The best part is the cost and the results simply amazing.

Dec 21, 2015 05:41 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good morning Mark. I do have to agree with Lise. I have read the book and there's a lot of good business sense written in those pages.

Dec 21, 2015 05:24 PM
Rainmaker
655,940
Jeffrey Jones
AZ Home Seekers - San Tan Valley, AZ
AZ Home Seekers, azhomeseekers.com

The first challenge is always branding, name recognition is key.

Dec 21, 2015 11:44 AM