Posts by Sam Ashdown
7 Ways to keep your Vendors Happy
We all want to keep our vendors from wandering off to another agent down the street, but sometimes we forget how. Here are some quick tips to help you keep your vendor loyal, and very happy! Keep your promises – do what you say you will, when you say you will, and that’s all most…
Read MoreWhy You Need a Marketing Funnel
NB: Read to the bottom for an offer you can’t refuse…… Your marketing acts like a funnel, or should do. The idea is, you put prospective clients – vendors and landlords – in the top, and sales – revenue; money in the bank – tumbles out the bottom. By its very nature, a funnel is…
Read MoreWhat are you worth?
Picasso was once enjoying a double espresso in his favourite café in Paris, when he was accosted by a lady at a nearby table. “Excusez-moi, aren’t you Picasso??” she asked excitedly. When he confirmed that he was indeed he, she then begged him to draw her portrait. With a sigh, he took a clean napkin…
Read MoreWhere have all your leads gone?
So you don’t have enough leads, right? The phone isn’t ringing; your canvassing isn’t working; your print advertising is costing the same as your phone bill, but nothing is working. In just the last few days, I’ve spoken to agents who are: Spending £700 to get 2 rubbish leads – every month – on Google…
Read MoreRunning on word of mouth?
Congratulations. You have created a culture where people are happy to refer you to their family and friends, and that keeps the phone ringing. Most of the time, anyway. But you don’t have a business. YOU are the goodwill of the business. But you are also the weakest link (goodbye). If you don’t pay for…
Read MoreThe Perfect Valuation Visit – Sam’s Blueprint
At HomeTruths, we – that is, my consultants and I – offer a free consultation to homeowners who are struggling to sell their property. This is usually an hour-long visit, and over the last decade, we have collectively done hundreds of these consultations, honing them along the way, until they are the refined and polished…
Read MoreWhat are you up to?
Here’s the problem: you’re not getting through enough doors, so you’re not getting the opportunities you need to show vendors and landlords you’re the best. Seeing surprise boards go up? At properties you’re not even getting chance to value? Running low on stock means you’re operating from a position of fear – you feel you…
Read MoreWhy You Need a Marketing Funnel
NB: Read to the bottom for an offer you can’t refuse…… Your marketing acts like a funnel, or should do. The idea is, you put prospective clients – vendors and landlords – in the top, and sales – revenue; money in the bank – tumbles out the bottom. By its very nature, a funnel is…
Read MoreHow to Conduct the Perfect Viewing.
Is there any such thing as the ‘perfect viewing’? Maybe not, but there are some things you can do on a viewing to maximise your chances of getting an offer, and some things which can positively sabotage the viewing altogether. (read my post on The Obnoxious Agent and you’ll see what I mean) So here’s my blueprint…
Read MoreHow Social Media can help you Win Instructions
By the time you get invited out on a market appraisal by a prospective vendor, it’s probably already too late. The seller has a good idea of who she’s going to pick before you even walk through her door. You may be harbouring the hope that you have a one in three chance that you’ll…
Read MoreHow different are you?
Most estate agents say they’re different, but are they, really? Here are six bullet points taken from an agent’s website; perhaps you recognise them? Friendly professional service Experienced staff Local knowledge Conveniently located office Honest advice Traditional values Most of these are claims that could be made by any estate agent I know. They are…
Read MoreDress to Bill
As some of you know, I run a vendor-focused consultancy, at www.home-truths.co.uk. Through a network of consultants, we provide often much-needed advice and support for those sellers who are struggling to sell their home. As part of the induction process for new consultants, I have a unique three day training programme. Part of that programme…
Read MoreWant to book your diary solid?
Take a look at your diary – how close to capacity are you? We’re pretty close – several market appraisals every day keeps the diary full We’re fairly busy but could always handle more Nowhere near – we could handle at least double the market appraisal If you chose the last one – ‘Nowhere near capacity’ – I have something very…
Read MoreOnline Versus Offline – The BIG Debate
Estate agency, as we’ve known it, is changing. Pre-internet, our job was to provide information; post-internet, it our job is to explain it. Every vendor and purchaser, landlord and tenant, not only has all the information they think they need, right there at a click of their mouse, but they also have something we don’t:…
Read MoreKnow it all, yet?
When I deliver training, or make a presentation, the majority of my audience is there to learn. Willingly, and gladly. I can tell which ones are: they are the ones sitting forwards, their body posture is open, and they’ve got their notepad and their pen at the ready, to scribble down any words of wisdom,…
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