Category Archives: commitment

You have to be kidding me….

February 14, 2013 Bettina Settles Leave a comment

Sometime I am amazed at people and overtime when I think I know a person I am baffled how quickly they can change.

For years I have known this person. During this time I thought of this person to be of high ethical and moral standards, until just recently.

A situation came up where this person showed their “true colors” and I was more than floored. My first thought was….you have to be kidding me…..

I personally had all kinds of thoughts and feeling including being disgusted, hurt, mad, and over all disappointed. I never expected this action from this person.

This quote came to mind after I calmed down:

Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do. ” Potter Stewart”

In our personal and business life we are sometimes faced with that decision and we all have to decide what road we will go down.

commitment, Communication, Inspiration, organizing, planning, tips

Too much information

February 14, 2013 Bettina Settles Leave a comment

Have you ever attended meetings, seminars, webinars where the presenter just kept on talking and talking and talking about the same topic but tried to explain it in different ways over and over again?

Just recently I was in such meeting.

A question was asked and it could have been answered with a short, sweet and to the point but the presenter choose to user up to 10 minutes to answer this simple question. I am sure the presenter felt great about being able to fill the room with all the information he knew about the topic but I am sure that most of the room was lost after 2 minutes.

I need to admit I am the last person to give meeting advice but even I was off to another dimension to occupy my time and to wait out the long winded present to move to the next topic.

Lighthouse Consulting had a great article on how to keep a meeting on track called Six Tips for Holding Successful Meetings with Staff Members. I think this could easily be translated into any type of meeting. I also found a great meeting article from the Norwood Business Portal called Tips on Holding Online Meetings.

No matter if you have a face to face meeting or a online webinar you need to keep your audience engaged and interested and some questions just need to be answered in person or with a personal phone call.

Don’t be long winded with any topic or when answering a question.

Andrew Jackson said it best:

Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in. – Andrew Jackson –

commitment, Communication, education, Inspiration, Team work

Every problem has am opportunity

February 12, 2013 Bettina Settles 1 Comment

Inside of every problem lies an opportunity. “Robert Kiyosaki”

Many focus on the “but I can’t” rather looking at an issue or challenge as an opportunity to stretch their wings and taking a new path maybe one less traveled. We should see the issue as a new challenge that needs to be concord to see what is on the other side and not view it as a road block to where we want to go.

When we cannot climb over it let’s find a way around it.

A simple example is when I see a vacant home in the area. This vacant home begs to be listed and when I would just focus on the “but I can’t” side of my brain I would just give up finding the homeowner after a few tries.

My more adventurous side of the brain will not give up that easy and many times I do track down the homeowner who left their property vacant and I do get to list and sell the home.

When I would have listen to my “I can’t do it” side of me I never would have found the homeowner and never either listed and sold the home but also would have never met this homeowner who can be a great referral source for me in the future too.

So …quit listed to your “I can’t do it” side of the brain and get your more adventurous side of the brain in gear and moving forward. You never know what you will find at the end.

commitment, Communication, education, Team work, tips

I am an EXPERT in ….

January 31, 2013 Bettina Settles Leave a comment

I see this line on so many things from blogs, business cards, emails signatures and I am wondering if the person who added the line truly is an EXPERT.

An EXPERT is having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience and EXPERT’S have a prolonged or intense experience through practice and education in a particular field.

Reading this I wonder how many of the EXPERTS out there have the prolonged or intense experience through practice and education in the field they are claiming to be an EXPERT in.

I will use myself as an example.

I have been selling real state now for over 15 years including short sales. I am by no means an EXPERT in short sales or real estate. I have experience in selling real estate of any kind, but by no means do I consider myself an EXPERT.

Every day I am learning more and more about my field and I still have a lot to learn.

I am daily doing research in this area to attempt to understand the relation between cognitive structures and processes of real estate in any form. I have gotten better but still not considering myself as an EXPERT.

When I hear anyone call themselves an EXPERT this quote comes in mind:

Experts always know everything but the fine points. When I took my citizenship exams, no one there knew how the White House came to be called the White House. “ Hedy Lamarr “

commitment, Communication, Team work, tips

Your past performance might come to haunt you in the future.

January 29, 2013 Bettina Settles Leave a comment

How many time have we heard from parents, teachers, friends and others never to burn your bridges.

I am sure you had you fair share like we all do. I know I did.

Have you ever thought about your past work performance?

This becomes important when you decide to part ways but maybe later you decided to return due to a change of your personal situation or the company is now offering more of what you are looking for.

It is very interesting to see how surprised some individuals are when they are not asked to return due to their past performance when they inquiring and asking to return. Some of them did not think that a record is kept of their performance especially when they where hired as independent contractors.

They did not think that when no one was able to get in touch with them via phone or email for a longer period of time or when work was not completed with in the allotted time and no communication was received from them about the holdup of delay of work was important.

Your bad performance now and in the past, might burn you some bridges you might need to use in the future.

commitment, Communication, education, Inspiration, organizing, planning, Team work

Hello REALTORS…where are you…

December 5, 2012 Bettina Settles 1 Comment

….came to mind as I was looking for REALTORS in a certain area of the US.

It has been interesting to say the least.

I am one of the people who does not give up that easy when it comes to finding someone for areas but what is with the potential client who will give up after a while or a few tries.

Just for giggles I did a small study of the area I am looking to hire an agent in for investment properties and found out some interesting stats.

60% of the active practicing real estate agents in this area are part of the Local and National Association of REALOTRS
The local Association has no website.
70% of the REALTORS Brokerage firms have a website
less than 3% of the local REALTORS are members of the local Chamber of Commerce or otherwise active in their community.
1% of the REALTORS in this area have a web address in their own name and 99% of them have their website redirected to the company website who they work for and do not have their own website.
95% of the websites do not have a clear to identify office location/address without having to click on several links to find the info
80% of the REALTORS in this area do not have a company email they advertise the free email providers like AOL, GOOGLE, MSN…..
1% of them will return phone calls and emails.

This is just a few things I found.

I am not a marketing person but common scene tells me when I am a Real Estate Entrepreneur I need to been one thought and through and my future clients need to find me on the web.

Here are some basic tips;

Have an email address with your own web address or with the company you work for. Don’t advertise google, aol or the others free services unless they pay you.
Have a website and a place on the web in your own name and don’t redirect it to the company you work for. Just have a link to them.
Return all phone calls and emails within less than 48 hours
Get active and involved within your community through the Chamber of Commerce and not only through your local church, find another non for profit you can volunteer for.
When you are not a REALTOR make sure you have a website and it can be found quickly and easily
Make social media and blogging part of your routine.

commitment, Communication, organizing, planning, Team work, tips

I have the REO training but why do I not receive REO listings?

October 19, 2012 Bettina Settles Leave a comment

This question is asked every day, or posted online.

I am working with orders from servicers and agents thought out the country every day and I can see why REO servicers do not call on certain agents or brokerage firms.

It has absolutely nothing to do with who they like and who is the most popular or bestselling Agent in the area. It has all to do with timely communication, knowledge about your listing inventory and their current status, and timely completion of task timelines given by the REO servicers to the agents or their brokerage firms.

Many REO servicers already have a clear idea about an individual agent and brokerage firm before they even call on them to list their REO portfolio.

Many of the agents are completing BPO’s, are part of Homeowner outreach programs or other services for third party companies.

Guess what??? All the orders the agents are working on coming from the servicers who also have REO’s to give to agents.

When you are late and not meeting the timelines on the orders that you were give, or not communicating with the third party companies, it is communicated to the servicers with the agents name and brokerage information when an order is submitted to that servicer.

With that a picture of the work and communication habit of each and every agent is created. This info can be accessed and viewed by a servicer who might is looking for an REO listing agent.

Bottom line is……

…be on time

..Communicate timely

…do this on a consistent base, every day…no matter what. No amount of REO training will give you a listing when that is not done.

commitment, planning, Team work

Potential client follow-up… or not…..

May 24, 2012 Bettina Settles Leave a comment

I ran across several situations that triggered me to do a little research on how businesses follow-up on their potential and current clients.

I was amazed by the numbers I found, and a bit confused on what I am looking at.

Here is a quick case study;

100% of the referrals where given to business.
14% of the businesses immediately took the referral and out of the 14% only
1/3 of the businesses attempted to contact their referrals within the first 24 hours.

This was again a sobering reminder that only a few businesses do the majority work.

Now I have posted the question to myself. What does it take to increase the 14% to a much larger number?

Looking for new businesses to give referrals too?
Just not to give referrals out at all?

Not giving out referrals ….that be silly……this would totally goes against the personal service we as business owners offer to our clients. I guess there is no other option than removing all of the businesses out of the rolodex who are not following through and replace them with business that will.

commitment, tips

Are you a Real Estate Entrepreneur or Employee?

March 22, 2012 Bettina Settles Leave a comment

Many times this question goes thought my head when I interview Real Estate Professionals for referrals I give out thought the US. Just because you have a license and have been in business for a long time does not make you the entrepreneur you need to be when going into Real Estate.

Sure there a limitations on what can be done due to licensing, state and federal laws.

When you are looking for a Monday to Friday 9-5 Job with a fixed income, Real Estate is NOT for you and you truly not the entrepreneur you need to be to keep on trucking when times get rough.

When I talk with Real Estate Professionals who I might consider giving referrals too my conversation is casual but with a goal. I am trying to find out if they are just looking for a job or are they entrepreneur I need for them to be.

Things I might look for are:

self-starter
risk taker
out-of-the box thinker
acting on their idea
Sees the need, thinks of an idea to satisfy that need
creative mind
drive to succeed
does not fall into the standard mold
chart their own destiny
optimistic
willing to create opportunities

When you are an individuals who tend to seek security, seek safety or stability over uncertainty and risk. Looking for a study income and consistent job without major changes, you are for certain an employee and holding a real estate license is not for you and you are not for my referrals.

commitment, Short sale, Team work, tips

What is the HAMP Program and why my agent does not know about it?

March 15, 2012 Bettina Settles 2 Comments

HAMP – Home Affordable Modification program is a loan modification program designed to reduce eligible, delinquent and at-risk borrowers’ monthly mortgage payments. Why some Real Estate Agents and Broker are not aware of this program I do not know. I have my thoughts but I will keep them for myself.

HAMP possible can lower your monthly mortgage payment up to 31 percent of your verified monthly gross (pre-tax) income, which usually provides savings of hundreds of dollars per month.

You may be eligible for HAMP if you meet all of the following criteria:

•You occupy the house as your primary residence.

• You obtained your mortgage on or before January 1, 2009.

• You have a mortgage payment that is more than 31 percent of your monthly gross (pre-tax) income.

• You owe up to $729,750 on your home.

• You have a financial hardship and are either delinquent or in danger of falling behind.

• You’re not unemployed

• You have sufficient, documented income to support the modified payment.

• You must not have been convicted within the last 10 years of felony larceny, theft, fraud or forgery, money laundering or tax evasion, in connection with a mortgage or real estate transaction.

To apply for HAMP, you need to complete and provide the following to your Mortgage Servicer

•Request for Mortgage Assistance (RMA)

•IRS Form 4506T-EZ or 4506-T

•Verification of Income

If your mortgage is owned, insured, or guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA or USDA, ask your mortgage servicer which solutions might be best suited to your situation. Each one has it’s own guidelines and rules.

When you not qualify for a HAMP you might qualify for the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) Program.