In the first of a three-part video series, Paul Campanaro, agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Arizona Properties, Nevada Properties and California Properties explains how to develop your sales skills. “Wherever a lead comes from ultimately at the end of the day it is going to boil down to the quality of our communication,” he says in his video. “What we say is paramount to getting a contract signed.” Watch the rest of Paul’s video and stay tuned for parts two and three, coming soon!
By Camilo Ramirez
One of the most important life goals for millennials across the country is home ownership. They crave a sense of community and a place where they truly belong. However, affordability plays a large role in purchasing a property and when it comes to affordability, nothing is more important than interest rates. With rates currently hovering around a five-year low, now is the ideal time for millennials to become home owners.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels find me in Southern California for a meeting with the HomeServices of America, Inc. board and to work with our staff at HQ on products and services that will help our brokerage networks achieve even greater success this year. Just before arriving in California, I had finished The Storyteller’s Secret by best-selling author Carmine Gallo—who also wrote one of my favorite books, Talk Like TED—about the power of stories to impress, illuminate and inspire.
“We’re all storytellers,” Gallo writes. “We don’t call ourselves storytellers but it’s what we do every day.” He goes on to explain that in this twenty-first century age of information—the “knowledge economy”—we are only as valuable as our ideas. In the spirit of idea-sharing, here are five of my favorite concepts Gallo presents in his book:
EAT, STAY, LOVE: VAIL Breathing powdered-snow life into the meaning of “après ski,” Vail is one of the most elite resort destinations in the country … and the world. Majestic mountains, verdant terrain, first-class eateries and a dynamic arts and entertainment scene make this city a vacation locale not to be missed. But just in case you need a little more convincing – or want to live vicariously through photos and text – here’s what to eat, where to stay and everything to love about Vail.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels found me in Washington, D.C. to attend the 2016 Housing Policy and Hispanic Lending Conference held by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP).
This week my travels found me in Washington, D.C. to attend the 2016 Housing Policy and Hispanic Lending Conference held by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP). During the conference, I had the honor of speaking on a panel moderated by 2016 NAHREP President Elect Leo Pareja, and spoke along with Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, and Geoff Lewis, president of RE/MAX about best practices in real estate. During the panel, I discussed the “NAHREP 10,” principles put forth by the organization to allow its members to succeed. It just so happens that these guidelines are very close to my own philosophies and practices that I’ve used and embraced throughout my entire career:
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels first found me in Burbank, CA for the transition of Century 21 Crest Real Estate, now operating as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Crest Real Estate. This fine brokerage has 25 proud years serving Burbank, La Crescenta and Sunland and is on a mission to grow. At their transition event, you could practically feel the excitement in the air; everyone on that team is ready to go forward as a member of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices family.
After Burbank, I was on my way to Dallas to get ready for the 2016 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Sales Convention. (Be sure to follow the brand on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat for the latest updates from the #REvdUp2016 event.) I took my usual Uber to the airport in California and once in Dallas, was planning to call an Uber again to take me to the Omni Hotel. I must confess I’m no stranger to the app-based taxi service, which I find convenient and always reliable in getting me where I need to go. I’m also intrigued by Uber’s steadfastness in the face of certain speed bumps on their road to success. So far, long-standing regulations and legal obstacles haven’t stopped the company from finding rapid and expansive growth.
So, here I am in Dallas, about to call my Uber when I notice a new option on the screen: “UberPITCH,” it reads. Immediately, I’m intrigued.
Peter Turtzo is the Senior Vice President of International Operations for HSF Affiliates LLC, responsible for establishing strategy and process for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ growth into international markets and later, for the affiliation of brokerages abroad. He comes to HSF Affiliates with a wealth of experience not only in international real estate franchising but also in the real estate industry as a third-generation broker.
Previously, Turtzo worked for 16 years in various leadership roles at Realogy Holding Corp. In 2005, he was appointed vice president of Global Operations at Sotheby’s International Realty and for the next eight years developed that brand in 43 countries and territories. He served the last two years as vice president of Global Operations at Coldwell Banker.
Recently, we sat down with the SVP of International Operations and asked him five questions about the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brand and what its footprint might look like abroad.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels find me in Indianapolis to meet with the talented team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Indiana Realty. Spending time with the agents and managers at Indiana Realty, including co-founders Kevin Kirkpatrick and John Dick, as well as Chief Operating Officer Craig West, was an incredibly rewarding experience, and all attendees were in warm spirits despite the cold weather and impeding snow.
While driving to the Indiana Realty event, I had the opportunity to catch glimpses of the Indianapolis skyline from my car window and it’s difficult to be in that city without thinking of its most iconic event—the Indianapolis 500. The race is especially front and center this year, as the Indy 500 is set to hold its 100th running May 29.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels find me in the rainy Pacific Northwest for meetings with the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate team, including president/CEO Jason Waugh and Northwest Real Estate Chairman Mike Gain. I started off by speaking to our Seattle-based agents and managers then drove with Jason and the event’s keynote speaker, Ashton Gustafson, 174 miles on I-5 southbound to Portland.
I was thrilled to spend time with both Jason and Ashton—Jason for his consummate professionalism and leadership of the Northwest Real Estate brokerage and Ashton because I was intrigued by the speech he delivered in Seattle that spoke about the importance of connection. Essentially, Ashton’s message was that no matter how much you tweet or post or snap in today’s tech-centric world, real estate is still about genuine, personal connection. It doesn’t matter, he might argue, if you achieve real connection through handwritten notes, in-person meetings or even a casual drop by to visit a past client; real estate is not an online business. Real estate is a people business.
Featuring the elite listings of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
This privately gated expansive modern masterpiece in Laguna Beach, CA was built with every element of elegance, including an infinity pool and spa, a commercial grade elevator, a private beach area, a sand-front cabana and grassy lawn rarely available in oceanfront living today.
Thoughts on Leadership 