Franchisee Spotlight - Meet Julie Kaley, Modesto, CA

In this edition of Franchisee Spotlight, we would like to introduce you to one of the newest members of the Assist 2 Sell family. Meet Julie Kaley from Modesto, CA.

Q. One unique thing about you someone wouldn't learn until they got you know you.

Julie. I am a runner, and aspire to be a triathlete. And I teach a small business entrepreneurship class at the local Community College. Okay..well that is two things!

Q. Where would you build your dream home, and why?

Julie. Most definitely North Lake Tahoe, it's so beautiful up there. I love to go in the fall when nobody else is around. The Big Island of Hawaii is a close 2nd for obvious reasons. 

Q. How long have you been in the real estate business? 

Julie. I got my license in 2003, so this is my 10th year in real estate. 

Q. How did you get your start in Real Estate?  

Julie. I originally started as a title rep, and got into real estate from there. It really helped knowing the title side of transactions.

Q.What do you enjoy most about the real estate business?

Julie. It's a very interesting and fun business. I love to solve problems, and enjoy the uniqueness of the business as well as the flexible schedule. It's really a feeling a great accomplishment to close each and every transaction.

Q. Why Assist 2 Sell? 

Julie. I joined Assist 2 Sell after careful consideration. I called and asked lots of questions, and they had all the right answers. I love being able to provide high level of service to my clients at a very reasonable fee. The Assist 2 Sell corporate office is very friendly and run by people who have actually sold real estate-that was really important to me. I know it's a proven model and a great way to differentiate yourself in the highly competitive market of real estate. 

Q. The value piece of real estate advice you received? 

Julie. Real estate is really a "people" business...no matter how much technology advances...people (buyers and sellers) want to be able to drive by properties and talk to a real person! I don't think that will ever really fundamentally change. 

The Real Estate Industry - Ripe For Disruption?

I read an interesting article on the topic of disruption in the real estate industry that was recently published in Entrepreneur magazine. I wanted to pass on it.  

I always find different perspectives valuable. 

Read the full article here http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/237944

A few notable sections. 

A diminishing value proposition.

Diminishing value is something that’s been slowly creeping into the real estate industry for some time now. There’s less of a need for real estate agents who exist solely to provide consumers with information already available to them via Zillow. If it’s just about opening the doors for home showings, this is something that surely doesn’t warrant their 6 percent commission.

Outdated methods: the way of the travel agent.

Many of today’s real estate agents still rely on outdated marketing methods and archaic business models. They think that hanging a sign on the window is the best way to draw in new business. And while these methods do still work -- to some degree -- the fact is that the first signs of change are in the air.

An industry that’s ripe for change.

It’s time for a change. Take a look at the real estate industry, and you will see that this industry is one that has grown complacent. Even though technology and consumer acceptance have grown, with instant information access, and consumers becoming more comfortable with the idea of selling their own homes, the real estate industry has struggled to keep up with the changing tide. 

 

There is no doubt the industry is slowly changing to meet the needs of today's consumers. The question is are you changing and adapting, or being left behind?

Reminds me of dialogue from Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel,The Sun Also Rises.

“How did you go bankrupt?” Bill asked.

“Two ways,” Mike said. “Gradually and then suddenly.”

That's how change happens and old established industries. 

We believe the Assist-2-Sell business model is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the current market as well as future "disruptions" that may occur.  Quality service at a fair price is always in fashion. 

 

Assist2Sell Announces Top 10 Offices For 3rd Quarter 2014

Top Ten Assist-2-Sell Offices for 3rd Quarter 2014

 1 Idaho Falls, ID-Miller & Struchen

2 Lewiston, ID-Lee

3 Northampton, PA -McCann & Tepes

4 Utica, NY-Kowalczyk & Lazzaro

5 Crestview , FL Mozina

6 Florence, SC-Yates

7 tie Mountain Home, ID-Beck

7 tie Salt Lake City, UT-Lowe

8 Springfield, MO-McGee

9 Dartmouth, NS-Doyle

10 Reading, PA-Kubovcsak

 Top Ten Assist-2-Sell Offices in small markets for 3rd Quarter 2014

 1 Lewiston, ID-Lee

2 Florence, SC-Yates

3 Mountain Home, ID-Beck

4 Hudsonville, MI-Yntema

5 Weston, WI-Hall

6 Evergreen, CO-Fleming & Haffeman

7 Sparta, WI-Pendleton

8 Beckley, WV-Lanchester

9 Pinehurst, NC-Sellers

10 Warrenton, MO-Cunningham

 

Local Tight Housing Market Has Sellers Shopping Around For Lower Realtor Commission

DENVER (CBS4)- Housing prices in Denver are at record highs and that trend may be impacting how homes are sold in the metro area.

According to the Case-Shiller Index, August home prices are up 6.3 percent compared to August 2013.

A result of this trend is a rise in home prices and competition for properties in the most-valued neighborhoods.

Some real estate agents are challenging the structure of the traditional three percent commission that accompanies helping homeowners buy or sell a home.

Franz Gaschler lives in a Congress Park home he grew up in. His parents purchased it 54 years ago for $16,500.

Gaschler is selling the home he inherited. He didn’t take it lightly, investing a lot of time and research before he chose which real estate company sign would hang in his yard.

“I’ve been interviewing the last five years, 10 or 15 different real estate people,” said Gaschler.

He decided on Assist 2 Sell.

“When everything is done and paid for it will cost $28,000. With others it would have been $38,000 to $39,000,” said Gaschler.

Todd Barker with Assist 2 Sell explains how the commissions work at his real estate agency compared with traditional companies.

“Depending on the price range of the house, we tailor to the needs of the seller,” said Barker.

With Assist 2 Sell, sellers can chose one of three programs:

If Assist 2 Sell only completes the paperwork for the sale, the seller pays $1,995.

For more traditional real estate services that include home showings and paperwork, the seller pays $2,995 and up depending on the sale price of the home. With that option the home will not be listed in the MLS, an online catalog that lists the details of a home for sale, address, square footage, the number of bedrooms, bathroom and other amenities like an attached garage and garden-level basement. The catalog also includes pictures of the home.

 

Full Story Here: http://denver.cbslocal.com/2014/10/29/tight-housing-market-has-sellers-shopping-around-for-low-commission/

Franchisee Spotlight - Meet Kim and Wemmy - Washington, DC

In this edition of Franchisee Spotlight, we would like to introduce you to the newest members of the Assist2Sell family. Meet Wemmy Adeboyejo and Kimberly Fallin from Washington, DC.

Q. One unique thing about you someone wouldn't learn until they got you know you.

Wemmy: I used to be a Flight Attendant.

Q. Where would you build your dream home, and why?

Wemmy: Oh San Diego. I love the ocean, weather and people. I actually have my house picked out in La Jolla already. Just waiting on my husband to win the lottery so he can buy it for me.

Kim: Miami Beach. I'm a beach girl at heart. Believe it or not I grew up just a few blocks from the beach in New York. Miami's weather is a lot more conducive to beach living. 

Q. How long have you been in the real estate business?

Wemmy: 8 years and counting

Kim: Since 2007

Q. How did you get your start in Real Estate?  

Wemmy: The airline I worked for went bankrupt. That would do it

Kim: I sold a condo I owned without the use of a realtor at the age of 22. Real estate came very natural to me so figured I'd try my at real estate as a career. 

Q. What do you enjoy most about the real estate business?

Wemmy: I call myself a "home matchmaker". I love matching my clients with the right home or investors the right deal. Some of them actually cry when I make that magic happen. Ofcourse I love meeting new people as well. Most of my clients end up becoming friends.
Kim: I love meeting new people from all over the world. I have a lot of international clients and have been invited to India, South Africa, Austria and Mexico. 

Q. Why Assist2Sell?  

Wemmy: I really liked the model

Kim: I feel flat fees are the future and want to be ahead of the curve. Assist-2-Sell has an attractive model that I feel will work well in my market. I also was impressed with the support the franchise offers.

Q. What area are you opening your office in? 

Washington, DC

Q. The value piece of real estate advise you received? 

Wemmy: Pay your taxes!

Kim: A client once told me "A good deal is a deal that is fair to both parties." This has helped me become a less rigid negotiator.