The Robbinsville Scoop

With round one of the Makeover to takeover challenge and the winning team announced  HERE  I wanted to go back and talk about the importance of a data base.

 YOUR DATA BASE IS THE KEY TO LONGEVITY AND REAL ESTATE SUCCESS

You don't believe me?   Well I can tell you that more than 70% of my annual income comes from past clients, referrals and my farm area.    

All of that is contained, maintained, updated and cherished in my data base.  It is the lifeline, the heart beat of my business.

Personally, I use Top Producer for the reason that is is remote - Internet based.  Being a team leader and having multiple users and locations, the remote access is crucial for my team.

So lets get back to the data base.     If you want to make it, succeed and flourish in this industry and eventual reach a stage that the business "comes to you", you must have a data base.

Setting a weekly goal with your data base is a great way to start.   Commit to every week entering 10 new contacts.    These don't always have to be people you know.   Maybe you read an article you liked or received a mailing from someone you liked, enter them as a future contact.

How about your neighbors?   Even if you don't know them all, do a tax search on your community and enter them into your data base.    They could be considered (neighbors) and (ABC community) - Who knows, you might decide to start farming your neighborhood.  

How about the attorneys, title company's, inspections company's, that  you do business with?   Are they in your data base?    These people DO know you, why wouldn't you have them in there?    Take it one step further and try to run tax searches to input them with their home addresses AND their office.

How about the agents here on Active Rain that you subscribe too?   Ever think of inputting them into your data base?   Ahhh now your thinking.   That IS where referrals come from right, other agents.

Waiting to start a data base is not an option.     A wise man once told me "don't wait till all the lights are green to go".    

If you don't start one today you'll be kicking yourself tomorrow.  And in a month you'll realize how many "contacts" you lost by waiting.  

Don't reinvent the wheel there's no need.   This is not something to over think this is just a matter of "doing" when there is a proven track record of success with agents maintaining a data base.    There is always room to improve or be creative but it starts with the basics.

Good luck with it you'll thank yourself for doing so.  

Stay tuned for more and don't forget to follow the Makeover2Takeover challenge and your favorite teams 

Team Manna of course!!!! <grin>  

Okay so we don't wanna take over the world.   Just take over the real estate market in "our" worlds.  

I just wanted to say how thrilled I am to be a part of this competition .    In case anyone missed the background on Team Manna let me explain.

Brian came to me with a concept which I immediately loved.  

Eat Drink & Breathe...  he explained it to me To be good is one thing.  In order to be great, you need to Eat, Drink & Breathe whatever it is that you do in life.    Like a Tiger Woods, Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey (I've always wanted to be Oprah).

Hearing those words I thought "wow he's dead on".   Brian even remembered a conversation when we met in NYC at the Inman Conference...   I told him..."I eat, sleep and live real estate.. it is my life".   I have to admit I have that dialogue with most people I meet when talking about real estate.   

It is my life.  With almost 20 years in I still have a passion for my job.   My passions within my job has changed throughout the years, but I still have passion for what I do.    

I am thrilled to be sharing my passion for real estate with Brian in what I would consider a most fitting way.  With a contest, a challenge a chance for both of us to learn and grow in our careers.

Okay so we had our concept, theme... mantra...   Then we needed a team name...  We certainly kicked a few around but the word "Manna" was suggested to me, by a very wise soul.   I was told it meant "food of life" (get it eat drink... food ::wink::)

.....The mentor is going to feed the apprentice with the knowledge to build a better business.  The apprentice will drink it in.  And together we'll breathe from the rarified air of success.

Manna -- noun

Wow #2 was a winner.      So it was born....    

Team Manna - "The Real Estate Menu for Success" - Eat, Drink & Breathe....

Whatcha think...  pretty kewl huh??!!       GAME ON!!!!   

How's this for amazing FACTUAL news about the New Jersey Real Estate Market.     The article below was released to the press today and further verifies my views on real estate in New Jersey and specifically Mercer and Burlington Counties.

All Real Estate is local!!!  Now these are headlines to read and enjoy. 

As always if you have any questions or need any additional real estate information The Desiree Daniels Team is here to help  (609) 448-2222

New Jersey Defies National Housing Trends:

Home Sales Up 4 Percent

 (Edison, NJ)- Sales volume of existing single-family homes, condominiums and co-ops in the first quarter of 2008 increased 4 percent from the same period last year, indicating New Jersey continues to defy national real estate trends.  According to statistics released by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® (NAR) today, New Jersey's seasonally adjusted annual rate of home sales equaled 169,600.

"Unlike most of the nation, the New Jersey housing market remains stable," said 2008 NJAR^®President Drew Fishman, CRS.  "Nationally, total sales for single-family homes, condominiums and co-ops dropped by 22 percent from the previous year, while New Jersey was one of three states to show an increase.  This is just further evidence that New Jersey does not follow national real estate trends."

"New Jersey's housing market continually out performs other areas of the country," said NJAR^®Executive Vice President Jarrod C. Grasso, RCE.  "The Garden State's proximity to New York City and Philadelphia, its extensive transportation infrastructure, and many other positive market forces contribute to the state's healthy real estate market."

Read More Here -   New Jersey Housing Trends - Home Sales Up 4%

Contact Desiree Daniels, ABR, Realtor, and Licensed in New Jersey (609) 448-2222 or (609) 587-9300 ext 312. If you are interested in purchasing a property in Mercer, Burlington or Monmouth County. Or the Following Townships Robbinsville, Hamilton, Washington, Mercerville, Ewing, Lawrenceville, Hopewell, Bordentown City, Bordentown, Florence, Foxmoor, Town Center, West Windsor, Princeton, Washington Town Center, Robbinsville Town Center, Sharbell