Agent Training with Bob Bohlen - recap

Bob Bohlen conducted agent training today in the Brighton office. Here are some of the takeaways from the session:

1. It is harder than ever to get a real estate transaction closed in this environment.
2. New HVCC regulation (home valuation code of conduct) allows for Realtors to talk to appraisers. Appraisers also need to live in immediate area.
3. Social networking is social and unproductive at work.
4. Remember to ask questions - don't make statements.
5. Suggested reading "Breakthrough" by Suzanne Somers. http://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-Eight-Wellness-Suzanne-Somers/dp/1400053277
6. Prepare for a different U.S. wealth shift. Write your senators and representatives if you object to current healthcare plan. Bob sited the U.S. government controlled 16% of the economy as of October 2008, 36% of the economy today and if the healthcare plan is passes it will increase to 45 to 47%.
7. Technology advances = productivity advances. Suggested reading "Training Camp" by Jon Gordon. http://www.jongordon.com/trainingcamp.htm. Bob's takeaways: work harder than your competitors, pay more attention to the details, eliminate all negativity, focus on progress (not outcomes), curiosity (not judgment) and always ask questions.
8. Key to productivity is being daily accountable to someone.
9. Some technology to research: EMMA (contact management system)http://www.myemma.com/, Realpro System http://www.realprosystems.com/, VoicePad http://www.voicepad.com/, Triple Your Prospecting (I couldn't find link to this - if you do please share in comments field) and Snagit http://www.techsmith.com/screen-capture.asp.
10. Consider altering your script to say "please call me back on my private line"
11. Change your psyche to helping instead of selling. Provide customers with information they can't readily obtain elsewhere.
12. Link to Midyear 2009 Metropolitan Foreclosure Market Report, from which Bob sited that Detroit metro foreclosures were now listed 38th in the nation http://www.realtytrac.com/ContentManagement/PressRelease.aspx?channelid=9&ItemID=6965
13. Revise your business plan - NOW. Run it through December 2010.