CRM Impact on Recruiting and Retaining Agents

WAV Group has deep experience supporting real estate brokers on the selection and adoption of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for their agents. Sometimes the best business strategy is a simple one. All research points out that successful real estate agents have 500 or more legitimate prospects in their CRM and they actively communicate with those prospects with a customer for life philosophy. Bearing this in mind, a broker or manager can better understand customer value of agent recruiting and retention. If you have been in the industry a long time, you may know the story of Intero Real Estate in [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:12-07:00June 27th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, Clients, Main category|Comments Off on CRM Impact on Recruiting and Retaining Agents

Are You Selling To Your Competitors

Companies across the real estate spectrum who are selling to their competitors are having fantastic results. The process of expanding your communication strategy to include competitors is found to drive more new business than ever imagined. In the old days, companies locked down their communications plans to hide from sharing information with their competitors. Today, the overwhelming trend is to occupy more share of voice to position your company as a market leader. WAV Group consulting works with Associations of REALTORS®, Multiple Listing Service Providers (MLS), and technology firms to implement these programs through WAV Group Communications. Below are some [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:12-07:00June 14th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Are You Selling To Your Competitors

Backed by Google, Zillow Set to Become Online Brokerage

Real Estate is not just an online thing. It’s a global thing. People buy houses all around the globe, and in many nations – the notion of online real estate is hot.  In the small nation of England, companies valued at £312m, or £40m Housesimple along with easyProperty and eMoov are all trying to make a go of it with significant venture backing. Online real estate is ripe for the taking. Zillow Group will not need to go out for additional funding to pivot to online real estate.  The company is valued at over $5B and is operating at a run [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:13-07:00June 14th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information|Comments Off on Backed by Google, Zillow Set to Become Online Brokerage

Are Real Estate Agents Dishonest?

A few months ago I spoke to the owner of a start-up company who was completely convinced that consumers do NOT trust their real estate agents to help them find service providers. He believed that agents were not the best group to help a home buyer secure all of the services they need to complete a transaction. He passionately believed that consumers believe that real estate agents are dishonest and do not have the best interest of their clients in mind. For those of you that read the WAV Group blog, you know we are not shy about talking about [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:13-07:00June 14th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information|Comments Off on Are Real Estate Agents Dishonest?

How MLSs Stand To Benefit From Upstream

The pessimist MLSs among you will look upon the title of this article with raised hairs. The lens that we have adopted here is for a single focus. Namely, to search for specific context within the databases of Upstream that may be of value to MLSs. Remember, Upstream does more than manage listings, but it does  start with the MLS destination in mind. The MLS does not need to change their business rules, or modify their data schema. They need only disclose to their brokers what their rules and schema are and accept a broker load as is common among nearly [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:13-07:00June 14th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|Comments Off on How MLSs Stand To Benefit From Upstream

RESO Fielding Survey to Learn how to Make MLS Data Work Better for Brokers

COMPLETE THE SURVEY NOW The Real Estate Standards Organization, RESO, has been hard at work creating consistent data across MLS regions and across the country by creating the RESO Data Dictionary.  To date 1.1 mm agents across the country now have access to RESO Data Dictionary thanks to the hard work of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, The Realty Alliance, NAR, MLS system providers and MLSs across the country. This normalized data built from years of work with technology leaders from around the industry is being used to fuel Upstream, Broker Public Portal (Homesnap) and the AMP program.  [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:13-07:00June 9th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, Marketing, MLS Insights, Suveys and Research|Comments Off on RESO Fielding Survey to Learn how to Make MLS Data Work Better for Brokers

Risk-Taking is Back and so is Rampant Innovation

My wife woke up this morning to the voice of Alec Baldwin telling her “Wake up Sunshine. Let me tell you something, I’ve been up since the crack of dawn…” before I shout out “off” and silence Alec in midsentence. No, Alec isn’t in our bedroom. Alec’s voice is an alarm option in Alexa, our household’s digital assistant that’s built into both our Amazon Echo and Dot. It’s simply the coolest – and most practical – innovation I’ve seen in decades. Alexa is a vibrant example of the rampant innovation emerging today. Life-changing stuff: self-driving cars, VR immersion technology, drones, [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:14-07:00May 18th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information|Comments Off on Risk-Taking is Back and so is Rampant Innovation

The Best Kept Secrets for Agent Retention

There is nothing more devastating to a brokerage than losing a top performer. Many times these departures come as a total surprise that leaves the company scrambling to find ways to get them to change their mind and to stop more top producers following them out the door. So what can brokerages do to stop this painful bleeding that happens all too often? Here are a few suggestions that have proven to be successful. Ask for Anonymous Feedback We have worked with brokerages fielding surveys to get their agents’ input for everything from the technologies offered, the quality of yard [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 18th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, Wav of Change|Comments Off on The Best Kept Secrets for Agent Retention

Real Estate in Crisis – Is Nothing Better Than Something?

Real estate is a fascinating industry when it comes to making choices about something vs. nothing. Again and again, we see individual agents, brokers, Associations, MLSs, and Franchises make choices to set something when getting nothing may be the better strategy. I doubt that this article will have any change on the bearing of the industry, but in some small way it may influence one or more decisions today or this week by a few people. Why Do We Sacrifice Long Term Success for Short Term Gain? In our industry, people too often say “yes” to a bad deal. An [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 18th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Real Estate in Crisis – Is Nothing Better Than Something?

Broker Public Portal Reveals Partnership and Plan

It is with much excitement that I would like to announce some major news for the Broker Public Portal project!   We have been researching the value of consumer property search sites like the Broker Public Portal since 2005 and we’re thrilled to announce a game-changing opportunity for agents and brokers to captivate consumers! Broker Public Portal has executed a binding letter of intent with Homesnap, a creator of highly rated apps for consumers and agents, to launch a national home search experience defined by simplicity, integrity and common sense.   The program will be marketed under the Homesnap brand. Homesnap is [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 18th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Broker Public Portal Reveals Partnership and Plan

Sotto Voce: Broker Recruiting and Retention Lessons from the Streets of Brooklyn

One of my favorite people in real estate is John Reinhardt of Fillmore Real Estate based in Brooklyn, New York. I am not sure why, but everything competitive in the New York City area seems amplified. Like his peers, John is always building his business, one great agent at a time. Among John’s favorite recruiting lessons is the spot. In John’s case, his spot is Peter Luger’s Steakhouse. “It is the one place that agents cannot deny a free meal.” John is a recruiting machine – among the best in the business. The last time I sat down with John, [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 11th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information|Comments Off on Sotto Voce: Broker Recruiting and Retention Lessons from the Streets of Brooklyn

Form Simplicity by Florida Realtors Upgrades NEFAR, Continues Growth

The subheadline on the news release issued during NAR Midyear tells the real story for Florida Realtors and its Form Simplicity transaction management software: NEFAR offers 6,500+ professionals Form Simplicity Ultimate Edition as member benefit Form Simplicity, built for Realtors by Realtors as Florida Realtors points as a key competitive advantage, continues to grow.  See for yourself why  at the NAR Midyear meetings this week. Check them out at Booth 818.       Washington DC – May 10, 2016 – The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors is helping its more than 6,500 members extend their paperless capabilities, signing a long-term [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 10th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information|Comments Off on Form Simplicity by Florida Realtors Upgrades NEFAR, Continues Growth