You Gotta Have Balance

By Stephen Ferguson

STOP! PUT DOWN YOUR MOBILE DEVICE AND LISTEN UP!

Have you been up until midnight writing an offer? Skipped an event or child’s baseball game for a client or a deal? Went on a “vacation” and spent the entire time glued to your phone or tablet? Worked your way through a “day off,” texted clients all through a family dinner?

If you’re a hard-working real estate professional, the answer to one (or most) of these questions is probably yes.

Trust me, I’m not picking on you. I’ve been there. We all have. But I’ll also be the first to tell you it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s a long-standing myth that for real estate professionals, we must be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week and must answer every single call, text or email with lightning-fast immediacy.

Here’s a secret: We don’t. And I’m living proof.

I’ve been in real estate more than 15 years and at the start of 2016 made a vow to take my life back and start enjoying the benefits of the solid business I’ve built. How? Here are eight simple ways:

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Help Our Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Affiliates Impacted By The Louisiana Flood

Flood waters have finally receded in Baton Rouge and Denham Springs, LA giving a clearer picture of devastation caused by the Aug. 12 storm that paralyzed the region.

Thirteen people lost their lives in the flood caused when nearly 30 inches of rain fell in a 12-hour period; countless others reporting injuries. More than 100,000 residents fled to temporary shelters as 60,000 homes took on water. In fact, nine out of every 10 homes in Livingston Parish were affected by flood. In Baton Rouge, only 15% of households had flood insurance.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices United Properties based in Baton Rouge and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Bobby Tallo Realty in Denham Springs suffered significantly in the flood with agents experiencing property damage and a stunning loss of business. Broker Kyle Tallo of Bobby Tallo Realty reports that 85% of the brokerage’s listings were flooded, and he’s in the process of returning deposit checks and wondering how to keep the lights on during the four to six months it will take for his listings to be restored.

“Our community is suffering,” Tallo said. “Many families are still in temporary shelter and don’t know what to do. Most local businesses took on water and have stopped operating.”

Owner Chase Muller of United Properties is in a similar predicament, with roughly 70% of his brokerage listings suffering water damage and with pending sales halted. “We are in a tough spot,” he said. “It’s hard to know where to focus.”

More than 50 agents operate under the two brokerage and their work has disappeared for the foreseeable future.

Please support our Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brothers and sisters in their time of need. Make a contribution to our GoFundMe account in support of our two affiliates, their agents and their communities by clicking HERE.

Also, be sure to share our GoFundMe link with family and friends!

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Thoughts on Leadership: Collaboration and Success

By Gino Blefari

This week my travels found me in Lewes, DE to meet with the fantastic team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gallo Realty and spend time talking to Gallo Realty’s leadership team, including Broker/Owner Andrew Ratner. We sailed along the historic Lewes Canal, we dined outdoors at an incredible, 3-acre property owned by Chris Holt, COO of Gallo Realty’s The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group. We also discussed principles for success, time management and how to create an unstoppable mindset to win in business … and in life. All in all, it was time well spent and I couldn’t be prouder of the great work the Gallo Realty team is accomplishing in their marketplace.

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Latest Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Survey Reveals Millennials Exercise Patience in Quest for Homes

The concept of a starter home may be a non-starter for millennials, at least according to findings from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ latest Homeowner Sentiment Survey. The study found that besides saving for a down payment, 37% of millennial renters indicated they are interested in buying a house only when they’re ready to afford their dream home, relegating the concept of a “starter home” to virtual non-existence.

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Thoughts on Leadership: Success in Las Vegas

[Pictured above: Tom Tognoli, CEO and president of Intero Real Estate Services, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, John Thompson, COO of Intero Real Estate Services and Dan Forsman, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties, who was recently named as 2016 Most Admired CEO by the Atlanta Business Journal … for the third year in a row!]

By Gino Blefari

This week my travels found me in Las Vegas to attend Tom Ferry’s Success Summit. During the event, Tom covered topics ranging from marketing and team-building to time management and productivity. (In between Tom’s talks Stefan Swanepoel, best-selling author and CEO of Swanepoel T3 Group, took the stage to discuss digital innovation in today’s tech-centric world.) Also front and center during Tom’s presentations: The concept of being fearless. Over and over, Tom spoke about how the absence of fear will allow you to up your real estate game and take your business to the next level … and beyond.

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Woodmont Realty Boots Competition in Local Kickball Tournament

This summer, agents, brokers and friends of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Woodmont Realty competed in the Nashville Sports League Boys and Girls Club 2016 Kickball tournament … and won! The triumph, however, wasn’t just a win for the kickball team—called The Comps after it was decided “Comparative Analy-kicks” was too long—but also for the spirit of togetherness central to Woodmont Realty.

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Thoughts on Leadership: Eddie DeBartolo Jr. Built an Empire in San Francisco by Placing People First

Pictured above: Eddie DeBartolo Jr. (center) shares a laugh with Joe Montana (left) and Carmen Policy.

By Gino Blefari

My travels last weekend brought me to San Diego for Buffini & Company’s MasterMind Summit, a powerful event focusing on personal growth and inspiration. I have to admit I was already inspired for this event after watching Eddie DeBartolo Jr.’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

While most Hall of Fame members are players and coaches, DeBartolo was inducted as a franchise owner, which says a lot. His leadership and management beliefs helped shape the way I operate in business and serve as an ideal game plan for motivation, human decency and organizational success.

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10 Reasons It’s Time to Revive Direct Mail Campaigns

By Xpressdocs

Has it been years since you were actively executing direct mail campaigns? You’re not alone. Many businesses made the switch to digital marketing campaigns years ago with the hopes of reaching larger target markets at a reduced cost. Some were able to achieve their goals from internet marketing alone. Yet most have not been able to achieve the results they expected from exclusively advertising on the web.

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Thursday Thoughts on Leadership: Connecting at Inman Connect

By Gino Blefari

This week my travels found me in San Francisco for Inman Connect (to browse the social coverage from the event, check #ICSF). Inman Connect always proves an amazing opportunity to create and build relationships while brainstorming breakthrough ways to grow a business and this year—with an incredible lineup of speakers and motivated attendees—was no exception. Featured speakers included: Amanda Kahlow, CEO and founder of 6sense; John Thornton, partner lead at Google; Pam Costa, coach at Down To There; Amy Bohutinsky, COO at Zillow Group; Robert Thomson, chief executive at News Corp; Kelly Stonelake, creative at Facebook and Instagram; and social media maestro Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO of VaynerMedia, who closed the conference with a riveting talk about the importance of social marketing to genuinely connect with clients.

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