ONE of the things you MUST do if you want to sell before interest rates rise

By Eric Mortimer

Eric Mortimer is an award winning real estate agent and Agent of Change. As he says, “sometimes I help people move geographically and sometimes I help people move emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.” Being a guide and coaching you expedite your personal and professional success is Eric’s true passion and purpose.

The real estate industry is challenging to work in right now, thanks to shifting market conditions, and this has left many agents looking for ways to put their careers back on track. If you’ve been working as a solo agent, perhaps the best route moving forward is to join a team.

But why? What’s so great about joining a team?

Well, first of all, while being a solo agent does mean you don’t have anyone to report to, this is actually a double-edged sword. Not reporting to anyone is great in concept, but can really damage your success and productivity in practice.

The first major benefit of working with a team is that, unlike working on your own, you’ll never be without guidance or support. Sure, you’re going to be held accountable to your potential—but isn’t that what you want?

Surrounding yourself with like-minded people who are real movers and shakers in the industry will always bring you greater success than trying to go it alone. You’ve probably heard of the idea that you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with, and this is especially true in a professional setting. That’s the real value of being on a team—it will keep you accountable and help you grow.

But what about the fear of splitting a commission?

In today’s competitive market, you need to do everything right in order to sell. One of those things is capturing the right photographs of your home. We look at bad real estate pictures every week, and that’s not where you want to be. We’re joined by a real estate photo expert today to answer some common questions about what he does.

I’m a big believer in the 80/20 rule that says 80% of our results come from 20% of our efforts. In real estate, photography comes within that 20% of work. Danny Boutet of Visual Marketing knows a lot about this topic. He’s been in business for 11 years and has shot over 7,000 homes in and around the Calgary area.

According to Danny, the biggest mistake he sees homeowners make when it comes to photos is not having their spaces decluttered. If you’re not using something, get it out of the way. Misplaced shoes, clothes, jackets, and trinkets should be out while photos are being taken. He also recommends double checking your lights, windows, and mirrors to ensure they are clean. HDR photos can pick up things that we didn’t have to worry about in the past, but it can also show your home off in a way that’s never been possible before.