Month:February 2015

#08 Thoughts on Leadership: Prepare for Success

By Gino Blefari

“Achievement is talent plus preparation.” – Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers: The Story of Success

This week, my travels took me to Minneapolis, Dallas and St. Louis. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting all three cities but for today’s post, I want to focus on Dallas and what exactly brought me to the Lone Star State. As many of you know, the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices  Sales Convention is fast approaching and during the event, I’ll have a chance to address a crowd of agents and affiliates from the stage at the Mirage in Las Vegas, explaining my vision for our company and our future.

While in Dallas, I stood in front of a green screen rehearsing my presentation, making changes and deciding how best to convey my thoughts … and even after leaving rehearsals, the process of preparation is far from over.

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How Do You Know When To Buy a Home?

By Jake Breen

In America, homeownership has always been considered a lofty goal, a dream that millions upon millions hope to make real. However, before these would-be buyers find homes, they usually rent. In the age-old rent vs. own debate, each generation seems to have its own idea about what is right. Baby Boomers tend to ask, “Why rent when you can own?” And millennials typically assume it’s always better to rent than own, at least when you’re first entering the job market and disposable income is limited. As rates of homeownership fluctuate, economists look to these differing ideologies to try to figure out just where America stands.

So, when is it better to rent than own? In the long run, it’s always better to buy. Buying a home is an investment in your future. However, many factors come into play when purchasing a home including timing and local market conditions.

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#07 Thoughts On Leadership: Trust from the Source

By Gino Blefari

Last week, I wrote about former Navy SEAL Mark Divine and how his book, Unbeatable Mind, has recently inspired me in my career. At the same time my post was published, an email from Mark came in, which might seem like a coincidence but we all know it’s the universe at work.

Mark’s email delved deeper into the topic of trustworthiness, a cornerstone of any successful real estate operation and a character trait every great leader must possess. In light of the importance we, as leaders, should place on trust, I found Mark’s comments particularly insightful and would like to share them with you now:

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Innovative Marketing Ideas

By Adam Briley

Are you looking for new and different ways to market to potential clients? Watch this video by Adam Briley of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate for more!

ADAM BRILEY is a real estate innovator and agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate. He is also a member of the REthink Council. Visit his website www.brileyhomes.com, find him on www.facebook.com/BrileyHomes or tweet him @BrileyHomes.

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For Valentine’s Day, A Love Letter to Your Future Client

By Maggie Aiken

Dear Future Buyer,

I am so excited to start this journey of finding a house with you. Let me start by telling you a little bit about what I do as your real estate agent and how I am going to make this process as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

I have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) along with an outlet of agents who work together to make sure we know about all properties that are on the market or coming on the market in your area. I also have access to all houses that are listed, so you don’t have to worry about calling owners and listing agents yourself to schedule showings. Another huge plus is that the vast majority of sellers will compensate me to represent you – so there is really no reason to try to take on this process alone! The seller is represented by a listing agent, who is working in the seller’s best interest. Considering this is one of the biggest financial purchases you will make in your lifetime, don’t you want to have someone who is solely representing you throughout the entire process?

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#06 Thoughts on Leadership: An Unbeatable Mind

By Gino Blefari

Last week, my travels took me all over the Golden State—from San Francisco to Palm Springs. And this week, I’m still in California, working closely with our staff at HSF Affiliates in Irvine. In between conference calls and meetings, I had the incredible opportunity to chat with author and former Navy SEAL Mark Divine, who penned one of my favorite leadership books, Unbeatable Mind. During our conversation, Mark was incredibly friendly, even extending an invitation for me to visit his SEALFIT Training Center, which from what I’m told, is everything you’d expect from a hard-core fitness facility. Even over the phone, Mark’s can-do attitude and positive outlook fit perfectly with the resiliency and mental toughness he champions in his writing. More on his leadership philosophy later …

First, let me tell you how this all started.

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The Interview: Four Questions You Should Ask Any Agent

By Darrin Friedman

You may have noticed that there are a whole lot of real estate agents out there in the world, any one of whom would be thrilled to have your business. From your mother’s best friend’s nephew—you know, the kid who got his license last week and has never actually helped anyone purchase a home—to the top agent in your region who represents the very best of what the name REALTOR® stands for, and every agent in between; the sheer volume of practitioners can seem overwhelming.

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Confessions of a Workaholic: How Teams Saved the Day

By Carrie Foley

I have a confession to make: I am a workaholic. How do I know? I’m never able to take my mind off my work and I’m always thinking about where my next buyer or seller will come from. Just one is never enough.

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#05 Thoughts On Leadership: Leadership Springs from Nowhere

By Gino Blefari

Leadership can spring from unexpected people in unexpected places. I was struck by this fact Sunday watching the Seahawks and Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX. This incredible game matched all the hype, with lead changes, hard-hitting and dramatic plays.

Both teams’ stars came out to play with quarterbacks Tom Brady (the game’s eventual MVP) and Russell Wilson orchestrating scoring drives involving key players; and the defenses flexing their might at important junctures.

This was pro football’s biggest stage in front of more than 70,000 screaming fans and the largest audience in American television history (114.4 million) – certainly no place for the meek.

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