Close More Home Sales – Gain a Competitive Edge with Knowledge

RISMEDIA, Feb. 22, 2008-The simplicity of empowering oneself through knowledge is a catalyst for success. Applying this concept to the real estate industry is where the obvious gives way to the complex. The product market is flooded with services that pair marketing techniques with the immediacy of technology. But with commissions down and fewer home buyers, Realtors want more return on investment. So, how do you guarantee this?

It’s a widely accepted principle of real estate that the industry moves in a seven-year cycle of growth and downturns. Add to the current condition of the market the level of Realtor saturation, and it is necessary to ask how Realtors gain a competitive edge. The answer is as simple as it is complex: it lies in education.

As home buyers turn to the Internet to begin their property search, today’s consumer is savvier then ever. As a result, it requires more effort on the part of real estate professionals to position themselves as the experts that clients expect them to be. From new agents to seasoned brokers, understanding how to effectively brand and market oneself, as well as how to utilize products that allow instant contact with home buyers, is imperative.

The product market has begun to identify this need, and solutions are beginning to pop up. Websites like www.learningcenteradvantage.com are now offering how-to white papers on marketing and e-mail campaigns, access to a library of articles that includes tips on client prospecting as well as Webinars that assist users in how to maximize their products. Free sites, such as the Learning Center, allow Realtors to remain current on industry marketing trends, while educating themselves on technology and successfully growing their business.

Michael Mayernik is division vice president of Homes.com.

For more information, visit www.homes.com.