by Kent Redding | Feb 16, 2024 | Austin Board of REALTORS
If you were not able to attend our 2024 ABoR & Unlock MLS Annual Meeting last month, we missed YOU! Let’s catch you up. This year, we’re going to continue bringing you the right tools, at the right time and doubling down on the education, resources, data, and research that can help you land that next sale with ABoR and Unlock MLS.
Here’s a recap of the new benefits, programs, and leadership opportunities you NEED to know about.
Key Reciprocity with HAR & SABOR
As an Unlock MLS subscriber, you’re now able to access and show an additional 50,000 properties from Uvalde to Galveston, thanks to a new key reciprocity agreement with the Houston Association of REALTORS® and the San Antonio Board of REALTORS®. That’s nearly 70 percent of the Texas housing market! Learn more at ABoR.com/Reciprocity.
Unlock MLS Central Texas Market Reports & Market Labs
Earlier this month, we relaunched our monthly Central Texas Housing as an Unlock MLS research product that reports from MLS-only data. This change allows us to release monthly numbers much sooner and to begin to expand the geographies and market activity we report on each month. Stay tuned for more exciting updates here!
Coming March 5: Forewarn
ABoR is expanding our roster of FREE member benefits with Forewarn! Launching Tuesday, March 5, this industry-leading agent safety app for prospect screenings and background checks is a must-have for your business. And now, it’s completely covered by your ABoR membership!
Coming this Year: MAJOR MLS Upgrades
Over the next six months, Unlock MLS will be rolling out several exciting new upgrades and features within Matrix. From improved search, to AI-powered add/edit capabilities, to better integration with the Unlock MLS app, I promise you that you’re going to LOVE the impact that these FREE tools will bring to your business.
Save the Date: ABoR Industry Awards Gala
On May 10 at Kalahari Resort, ABoR will honor the best of the best in the real estate industry at the hottest gala of the year. Awards applications are open through Friday, March 8 at ABoR.com/Awards.
You should also save the date for our ABoR Diversity Summit on August 15, as well as our 2024 Central Texas Housing Summit and North American Global Congress happening on October 2-3.
Finally, ABoR Global’s 2024 CIPS Institute kicks off on March 7, with weekly courses running through April 18. Don’t miss your chance to become a global real estate expert through an award-winning global program. Sign up now at ABoR.com/CIPS.
Now more than ever, ABoR and Unlock MLS have your back. And don’t hesitate to send us your ideas, questions and feedback anytime to board@abor.com. We love to hear from our members!
by Delaine McMurry | Feb 16, 2024 | Women's Council of REALTORS
The market has been changing, and so are we! It feels like the activity in the Austin market is getting busier as spring approaches. Our February was full of activities from our organization, including events at the Texas Realtors conference, learning all about LLC’s and making better reels, and meeting up to make popby’s.
With everything February had to offer, we are kicking off March with a members only virtual networking event. As the market is picking up and people are reaching out, this is prime time for us to build relationships between the different networks and provide referral business based on the different niches.
If you haven’t joined us yet, this is such a great opportunity! It is still early in the year, and this year is built around supporting our members and helping you achieve the success you are dreaming of. We would love to hear from you! If you don’t know who we are or what we are about, drop me a line and let’s chat.
by Tawanna Verock | Feb 16, 2024 | Editor's Choice
Communication is a key factor for success across all aspects of life and is especially important in the professional setting. Both new and experienced professionals must develop certain business communication skills to achieve their goals. Effective communication involves clearly and unambiguously conveying messages to others, as well as accurately receiving the information being shared, with minimal distortion. This requires effort from both the sender and receiver of messages. However, communication can easily become muddled, with messages misstated by the sender or misunderstood by the recipient, potentially resulting in significant confusion and missed opportunities if unaddressed.
Real estate is a people-focused industry, and communication style has a large impact on professionals’ success. Real estate agents help clients buy and sell homes, so their attitude and communication abilities can make that experience memorable or forgettable. Research shows that 97 percent of employees believe inadequate business language skills can cause misunderstandings. Additionally, 83 percent of employees report poor communication has negatively impacted sales, profitability, and operational efficiency in their organizations. Communication is central to real estate transactions. While crucial for any deal’s success, from standard resales to short sales, achieving effective communication often faces major obstacles. Fundamentally, a real estate transaction involves negotiation between a buyer and seller who must communicate clearly to complete the deal.
Key Communication Skills for Real Estate Professionals
The following nine essential communication skills should be developed by all real estate professionals to foster the necessary mindset for achievement:
• Active listening: the ability to incorporate different perspectives into communications by listening attentively. Listening demonstrates valuing opinions beyond one’s own and openness to new ideas, building trust, and viewing partners as equals to find mutually agreeable solutions.
• Writing proficiency: brief yet informative written exchanges help audiences focus on pivotal points. Follow-through closes communication loops and shows proactive, goal-oriented activity.
• Clear verbal exchanges: concisely and precisely sharing ideas, thoughts, opinions, and updates verbally. Attention spans average only 8.25 seconds, necessitating succinctness.
• Strong interpersonal skills: building trust and relationships with stakeholders through empathy, finding common ground, and connecting beyond just business exchanges.
• Effective teamwork: communicating respectfully with others having varying views and skills, setting aside differences to collectively achieve goals worth more than any individual effort.
• Compelling presentations: engagingly, motivationally, and impactfully sharing evidence supporting ideas/arguments using examples and storytelling to influence desired outcomes.
• Persuasive selling abilities: influencing stakeholders to pursue ideas, decisions, actions, products, or services beyond sales alone, such as gaining support for projects or offerings.
• Skilled negotiation: reaching mutually agreeable solutions by understanding opposing motivations and maintaining positive relationships for future interactions.
Developing Strong Networking Skills
Successful networking involves displaying business value and encouraging others to enter your professional network. To network effectively, you must cultivate an interesting professional brand that motivates others to consider potential partnerships. A robust network also serves as a resource, providing contacts to rely upon for assistance, information, or services when needed.
Improving Communication Skills for Real Estate Professionals
Effective communication is key to real estate success and strong client relationships. Here are some tips:
• Ask Informed Questions: Show genuine interest by asking considerate questions to understand clients’ specific needs and preferences rather than making assumptions. Position yourself as an expert by structuring initial meetings like interviews.
• Listen Actively: Communicating requires both parties to listen to understand each other. Pay attention and respond appropriately to stay on topic while also sharing your perspective.
• Polish Written Correspondence: Confirm preferred contact methods and ensure all written communications demonstrate proper spelling, grammar, structure, and timely responses to maintain trust.
• Display Engaging Body Language: First impressions matter, so stand with confidence, make eye contact, and relax mannerisms. Note others’ non-verbal cues for understanding.
• Stay Connected Appropriately: Keep clients informed at a suitable cadence with relevant property listings or process updates using their channel of choice. Maintain open communication throughout to satisfy clients and build a loyal customer base.
Real estate success is dependent on effective communication that establishes rapport, understands client’s needs, and provides an exceptional experience. This can create satisfied customers who help drive repeat and referral business. It’s important to approach every interaction with respect, regardless of the situation. Remember that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and kindness. By demonstrating respect in your interactions, you can build stronger relationships and make a positive impact on those around you. Let’s work together to create a culture of respect and kindness in all our interactions.
by Kim Dale | Feb 16, 2024 | Five Points Board of REALTORS
Earlier this month, I attended the Texas REALTORS® Winter Meeting, and I am still blown away by Williamson County’s accomplishments at both the board and member levels in 2023. Numerous leaders were recognized state-wide for setting the PACE for real estate in Central Texas. Our strategic plan can be broken down into a simple acronym: promote, advocate, connect, and educate. When our members come together under this common goal, we set the pace of the industry for our community. Our current, past, and future leaders made a huge impact on our industry this year and deserve all the recognition that they can get.
Advocacy is one of the main focuses of our association, and we are proud to have three individuals recognized for their contributions and passion for TREPAC. Jack Stapleton, 2015 WCREALTORS President, was awarded the Platinum R Award and recognized for becoming a RPAC Hall of Fame member with a lifetime contribution of $50,000 or more. Tami Baker, 2024 Advocacy Committee Chair, was awarded the Spirit of TREPAC Award, which is given to Texas REALTORS® who have exhibited excellence on one or more of the P.A.C. criteria at the local level during the year. Renée Damron, an active member of both the Advocacy Committee and the Community Service Committee, was awarded the Heart of TREPAC Award, which is given to TR Affiliates P.A.C. criteria at the local level during the year. We are so proud of these three for continually advocating and dedicating their time to serving our industry.
We were also recognized for our efforts in professional development. Education is at the forefront of our values at WCREALTORS, and we are pleased to have received two recognitions. Alisha Austin, our Professional Development Chair, serves on our Board of Directors and was awarded the Texas REALTORS® Educator of the Year. This award recognizes an instructor who’s made the most significant contributions to real estate education in Texas. Anyone who has ever taken a class instructed by Alisha Austin knows how much passion she puts into her teaching, and there is no better recipient of this award. Our Selling the Suburbs: WCSPECIALIST Certification Course, created by Darian Rausch, received the Texas REALTORS® Education Program of the Year for the Series or Shorts category. This series goes over anything and everything that a REALTOR® should know to sell real estate in Williamson County. The courses are offered twice a year, and I highly encourage you to check them out.
These past and present leaders continue to pave the way for our association. I am looking forward to where our future leaders will take us.
