How Adam McCallister became a successful Real Estate Agent After 20 Years as a Wedding DJ

To see the full interview Click Here

RE/ACT Real Estate Coaching's mission is to minimally increase each professional's bottom line by 10% or more within the least amount of time and intermittently provide ongoing guidance through an ever changing market. For more information, you can call me at (610) 451-3781 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions. 

  
Agent Spotlight: Adam McCallister of Keller Williams Realty 
Today I am with Adam McCallister in our agent spotlight. We're going to be allowing him to say
a little bit about himself and how he managed to become a successful real estate agent.

So, why did you get involved in real estate?
 
I was looking for more personal time. I know this is the opposite of what most realtors say, but I
was a DJ for 20 years and had a lot of friends in this business that recommended I have a try at
the industry. After researching the industry, I found myself at Keller Williams in August of 2012.

What did you find that Keller Williams provided versus some other brands?
 
More technology. Also, as a business owner before, it fit my personality. I also like the
entrepreneurship that is allowed and the way that they run their back end because it allows for me
to make more money.

What would make you different from another real estate agent in the area?
 
Well, I really enjoy the world of real estate. Being a DJ and working with newlywed
couples kind of helped me to transition into real estate where I now work primarily with first-­time home buyers. Now with the group that I am working with, early 30's and late 40's, I'm able to help people
move into bigger houses and spread out a bit.

Just in the last two years I have had numerous couples that I've helped in the past with weddings
come to me looking for a home. It's neat to see the transition from the wedding to when they have
their first home­buying experience.

It is an in interesting angle that you take with real estate, Adam. Knowing that this younger
generation of millenials is utilizing more technology than ever before. I've heard a statistic
saying that 97% of homebuyers are looking at listings online these days. You're at a
distinct advantage if you can keep up with this younger generation on a day­to­day basis.

This younger demographic wants someone who can work with them in today's world.
With this being said, do you focus on a certain area in real estate, or do you have a
preference?
 
Well, as a Kennard-Dale graduate, I would say Southern York County. From Dallastown down
south is kind of the area I would like to focus on. I was born and raised in Crossroads, so kind of
that more rural setting, or anything in that southern area. I've also done work in York City, so there
really isn't a place that I'm uncomfortable with. But, Dallastown and anywhere south of there is my
primary area.

So if someone called you from Dillsburg, you would be able to help them?
 
Well, not exactly. It would depend on the situation, but I have an agent there that I could refer to
them. Right now I have a couple from Dillsburg wanting to move south towards Dallastown, and
they're selling their home in Dillsburg. So, I'm finding them a home around Dallastown and I've
referred them another agent from my team who specializes in Dillsburg. This way I can focus on
the buying end in my area that I specialize in, and my other agent can focus his expertise in
Dillsburg.

What you just exposed is an altruistic spin that probably has the Keller Williams win-win
mentality that I would say most agents don't have. You referred your client, who wanted to
do business with you, to someone else that you knew could serve them better. So you're
skipping out on money and instead offering better service to your clients?
 
Yes. I would rather have them get the better service and let me focus on the area I know best, so
that they can get the best service possible. This way, my clients are in a win­-win situation.

That would comfort me as a consumer to hear that you're willing to let other people
exercise in their area of expertise. That's ultimately the true definition of customer service.

So, when you were a child growing up in Crossroads, you wanted to become a realtor?

No, I wanted to get into radio, and I've done that but what I have realized is that there is no money
in radio, particularly at the local level. I have had an opportunity to do that, but now it's more of a
hobby than anything. I still have to pay the bills, and I enjoy doing radio, but it's because of real
estate that I am able to enjoy it and do it just for the fun of it.

So what it comes down to is that this is still a people-­to people business? Regardless of
how much technology is out there and how much it controls our world, this is still a
business that relies heavily on communication.

It is. Regardless of how much information is out there, it comes down to at the end of the day
whether or not you can talk to somebody and actually communicate with them. We live in a
society where everyone is always texting, and I am as guilty as anyone, but you have to be able
to sit down and talk with someone.

Yes, the communication requirement is so critical these days because it's probably not the
things that are said, sometimes it is the things that are not said.

With this being said, what do you want your clients to take away from the transaction with
you?

I want my clients to say that I make things smoother and less stressful. You don't buy a house
everyday, and there are parts of buying a home that can be extremely stressful. I've used my
experience with weddings, because there is a lot of stress involved with weddings, to manage
stress in this particular industry. The biggest compliment I can get from a couple is, "You just
made it easy." I want my clients to feel comfortable throughout the process. This is not to say that
there aren't going to be rough patches, but I want my clients to feel as if it was a very easy
process, where I provided them with all the right information for them to succeed.

So, the rough patches you're talking about are probably dealing with mortgages?

Yes. Mortgages and inspections. Like if there is a retaining wall that has to be built, it's not so
easy to get around that, but we always find a way.

Thanks for tuning in again to listen to my interview with local realtor, Adam McCallister, who joined Keller Williams only 2 years ago after managing his DJ company for 20 years. His story is
something that everyone should hear. He has found a fulfilling and exciting career in real estate,
and he is only one of many people that I have aided on their way to a better future.

If you need to contact me for any reason whatsoever, feel free to call me at (610) 451­-3781 or email me at reactrecs@gmail.com

How to Grab Your Clientele's Attention Amidst Swarming Competition

RE/ACT Real Estate Coaching's mission is to minimally increase each professional's bottom line by 10% or more within the least amount of time and intermittently provide ongoing guidance through an ever changing market. For more information, you can call me at (610) 451-3781 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Hello again and welcome to my video blog. I'm going to be talking about a few changes that have occurred within the real estate market. I want to look at how technology is changing our industry, and what that means for our business and our customers.

In 2007 when the iPhone was released, there began a massive shift in the way that people communicated. The array of applications available on this device bestowed a wizard-like control of the world for its users. More and more, the technology on devices such as the iPhone are proliferating and are having a profound impact on many different dimensions of our lives, especially the way that we interact and the relative ease in which we now communicate.

Concierge Service...What is it?

You are in competition with tons of other people right now. You're all vying for the same clients, connections and leads. You need to perform something that I call a digital jump. This is the process of bringing your clients from a digital log-on (from a phone, app, or computer) straight to you and your business. On top of this, you're going to have to go above and beyond your competitors and offer concierge service. Kill your clients with the idea that you will do absolutely anything to bring them the best service possible.

Effectively, you're going to have to create the opportunity for your clients to connect in such a way that it really 'wows' them. People in our modern world are already exposed to so much stimuli, whether it's a phone ringing, email buzzing, or any other number of things going on in our lives. You have to create a way to grab your clients' attention so that they will think your exchange of communication is necessary and important.

A great example is what Vyral Marketing did to me when they were trying to contact me for their services (this is the company that runs my blog right now - they're phenomenal too). They had been trying to contact me with email and calls, but one day they sent an actual concierge to my office - a physical human being. When she arrived she also had to take a picture with me to prove that I had gotten the information. This proved the point that they wanted to reach out to me, and it also showed that I was important to them. It was an ingenious maneuver, right between brilliance and insanity, but it showed that they were willing to go that extra mile that nobody else would.

To stand out in today's world you have to think outside the box, or better yet, think as if there is no box at all. In 2008 when the mortgage & housing markets collapsed, this theoretical 'box' disintegrated. Real estate agents are utilizing novel ideas every day to attract clients, and you really need to be doing the same.

You need to emphasize the action that you're trying to perform. In your case it would be contacting a client with specific information. You could send mail overnight and have them sign for it, which is a nice gesture and it makes them feel important, but it's really not going to do the trick. Try sending an actual, physical concierge and see what results you might get. Most cities do have concierge services for a relatively affordable price. This should certainly have an effect on them. Also, be sure that your concierge takes a picture like Vyral did with me. This proves that your client received the information, and you can also use this photo to 'boast' on social media and to leverage other potential clients by showing them the lengths you go to satisfy customers. Make sure everyone knows how great your service is, and make sure that everyone knows you provide this 'wow factor'.

Thanks for listening to the first installment in my series on Concierge Service. If you have any questions about this first part, please contact me at (610) 451-3781 or email me at reactrecs@gmail.com

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for Part Two!

What home projects can you do yourself?

We all want to save money, so when it comes to projects in your home, you may curious to know which you can do on your own and which you need a professional for.

The first thing to consider is you. For some people projects are fun and rewarding and for others they are stressful. Which one are you?

Next make a list of the projects you want done around the house and then evaluate that list. Is there anything on there that you have done before? Maybe it's painting or sanding a piece of furniture. These are great projects for you to do on your own.

How is your health? Some projects may require you to be on a ladder or lifting heavy things. Is that something you are comfortable with?

Always keep in mind, there are some jobs you need to leave to the professionals: electrical, plumbing, moving walls, etc. Your safety comes first!

Cross Market Drag

In my latest video I talked about how to maximize different social media avenues when having an open house. Today I wanted to talk about a cross market drag.

The term sounds kind of funny, but what it ultimately does is take an individual or a group of people who may have nothing to do with your business and drag them into your real estate market. What do I mean?

Let’s start with Facebook. Once you reach a certain amount of followers, Facebook allows you to have different niche pages. I always joke with my students about having a crochet page.

Now, I know nothing about crocheting, but that’s not the point. What if there is a beautiful, crochet blanket laying on a couch in a house you are showing. Take a picture of it and post it on your crochet niche page.

What you have effectively done is taken a group and dragged them across a virtual gap into your real estate group.

You can also use those Facebook posts and put them onto Pinterest, Twitter and LinkedIn.

If you have any questions about how to utilize the cross market drag, please give me a call.

Thanks for watching!

RE/ACT: Tips for Marketing Open Houses

Welcome back to my video blog! Today, I’m at the research center and it’s a great place to clear your head and get some downtime. When you’ve cleared your head it allows you to look at marketing and promoting in a new way.

I know all of you are using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the other forms of social media to promote your open houses. I have a few other tips, though, to spark some interest in more potential buyers.

If you don’t have Four Square on your smartphone, download the app.

Now, Sunday is usually a pretty busy day for realtors. You’re either driving clients around looking for properties or you have an open house. The marketing and promoting of your open house should start earlier in the week.

On Wednesday drive to the property. Take a picture of the home, and please don’t do that standard curb shot. People can find that anywhere. Instead, take a unique shot from a different angle. Maybe it’s a picture of only half the house or of the staircase leading upstairs. Take a picture that doesn’t show the whole house. Post this photo then to Four Square with the byline inviting the buyer to come to the open house to see the rest of the property.

What else can you do?

Did you know you can pay to promote your post on Facebook? You can spend $5 -$100 depending on how many viewers you want to reach. The great thing, too, is that Facebook tells you what the best value for your dollar is. Promote your open house up until Sunday.

Then on Sunday, take another picture of the property and post it to Four Square. Invite buyers to come by.

These are just a few ways to spark some interest and curiosity in buyers. Open houses are not dead!

If you have any questions, please give me a call! Thanks for watching!

How to Drive People to Your Listings: Open-House Break In!

For the last couple of weeks we’ve been talking about synergistic platforms: how to build upon what we already know.

One of our main goals when selling a home is to get as many potential buyers interested. How do you do that? How do you get people to come to your open house?

How about a break-in! Don’t worry it’s safe! The night before your open house, send potential buyers a video giving them a sneak peak of your home.

Take a flashlight and give them clues of some of the great features your home has to offer. Make them interested! Make them want to come!

What can you show them? How about those granite countertops? Or maybe your beautiful hard wood floors?

If you have questions about to create a break-in sneak peak or how to create lead generations, give me a call! Myself along with Frank from Vyral Marketing can help you build your business!

Thanks for watching!

Market Yourself Online

Tips on How To Market Yourself Online!

Hey, guys! Today, I am at one of our listings and I wanted to share some tips on how to effectively market yourself.

As a realtor, one of your ultimate goals is to get listings; listings drive business, create leads and bring in more listings.

So, how do you get listings? You need to differentiate yourself from other realtors. Did you know that 0.78 percent of all agents use video to market their properties, but a whopping 75 percent of buyers who started their search online said the video was the most swaying factor? That’s huge!

If you aren’t using video, get in touch with Frank Klesitz from Vyral Marketing. He can help you not only market properties, but create a brand for yourself!

If you recall, in the last video, we talked about synergistic platforms: how multiple different things are used together to create something better. That’s what online marketing and video is part of.

You want people to come to your showings. Well, almost 96 percent of all buyers start online and 50 percent of them find a property before they find a realtor. That’s great news! Imagine being the agent sending them constant updated information with beautiful listings; you will be the agent they first think of when they are ready!

How about giving them a sneak preview of the home throughout the week. Send videos and pictures showcasing some of the homes features before the open house on Sunday.

Have a call to action. People love prizes or being entered into a raffle. It’s all about knowing how to reach and connect with people. Once they visit the open house, you will have all their information and can follow up with that home or other future listings.

In my next video, I’ll talk more in depth about synergistic platforms and show you how all of this is connected.

Thank you so much for watching. Again, if you aren’t using video and the Internet to market your business, give me a call. I’ll put you in touch with Frank from Vyral Marketing. Together we can hit this one out of the park!