By Paige Tepping
RISMEDIA, January 24, 2009-In today’s economic atmosphere, there are several components agents are utilizing to stay successful-pricing, controlling expenses, and working as a team. Here, meet Bob and Dixie Linn who are doing all three, plus more, to succeed in Oklahoma City real estate.
Bob and Dixie Linn
President/CEO
EXIT Bob Linn Real Estate
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Region served: Oklahoma City
Years in real estate: 39
Number of offices: 4
Number of agents: 90
Average sales price: $239,000
Average time on market: 94 days
Best tip for making meetings productive: Make them fun and informative. They also have to be valuable, so that when people walk out of the meeting, they feel like they have gotten something out of it.
Key to staying profitable: Control your expenses. It is also important to analyze your profitability and finances every month to make sure you are on track.
Biggest advantage of working as a team: When you are working with your best friend, who also happens to be your business partner, the days go by quickly. Having been a team for 17 years, my wife and I enjoy working together to help people achieve their dreams.
Best part about working in the real estate industry: Being able to help people find their dream home.
How do you ensure that you get the right listing price?
It is important to analyze the market as well as the comps to make sure you are getting the proper value of the home upfront. If you list the property too high, the property will most likely sit on the market and cost the seller money, so by knowing the facts beforehand, you can price the home accordingly.
How do you effectively communicate with your customers?
A lot of our communication with our customers takes place through e-mail; it’s become the primary communication tool with which they are comfortable. Our customers enjoy the leisure of being able to check their e-mail when it is convenient for them, so we have adapted to their needs. We make sure our agents communicate with their customers through the mediums in which they feel most comfortable.
What strategies do your agents utilize to stand out to clients and achieve customer loyalty?
The biggest frustration that customers in the industry have is that their associates don’t stay in touch with them, so we teach our agents the importance of remaining in contact with their customers. Keeping the customer happy is important, so our agents keep them updated on their progress and let them know what is going on throughout the process.