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Over four hundred of the best and brightest Michael Saunders & Company agents, partners and speakers at the Reinvent Yourself 09 event held last week at the Chelsea Center in Sarasota, FL:
Much of the Michael Saunders & Company Reinvent Yourself 09 conference held last week pushed the notion that the fundamentals of the real estate industry, specifically the way we market property is and will be changing drastically over the near future. In fact if there is a bright spot to the housing and economic turmoil it is that it forces these changes to happen all the quicker: in the same way that higher fuel costs prompt more efficient vehicles, the evolved real estate agent is now leaner and smarter when it comes to marketing your home.
Out, are the single property advetisements in the newspapers and magazines – a quick appeasement for a seller, and not much else. Why would a potential home buyer wait until Sunday to look at one property in the newspaper when they can get instant gratification and look at all available properties on the market at once on the web?
In, are the targeted effects of social networking, otherwise known as the larest ongoing cocktail party on earth. Facebook, with over 275 million active users, now has a population greater than the 4th largest country on earth and is trailing only China, India and the United States in citizens. Bob Corcoran of Corcoran Consulting Inc. outlines some great techniques in a recent article on his website: (more…)
Drew Thomas interviews Drayton Saunders prior to Reinvent Yourself 09
Updates from Reinvent Yourself 09:
Drayton Saunders discusses tactics with Drew Thomas of 107.9 WSRZ prior to the event in Sarasota, FL. Hear Drayton’s views on keeping customers on the pulse of the market through new communication methods below:
Drew Thomas interviews Drayton Saunders at Reinvent Yourself 09
Has Florida coming through the worst of the housing crisis? Listen to Steve Harney share his views on the market’s outlook and his call for leadership under difficuly circumstances:
Drew Thomas interviews Steve Harney at Reinvent Yourself 09
Michael Saunders and Matthew Ferrara discuss the connection between the marketplace, the consumer and the agent and what it means for the future of real estate:
Drew Thomas interviews Michael Saunders and Matthew Ferrara at Reinvent Yourself 09
Thursday’s ‘Reinvent Yourself 09′ conference was a huge success. With over 400 Michael Saunders & Company agents in attendance this company is now positioned for a huge leap forward. “Every year, we try to bring the best information to our agents,” said company president, Drayton Saunders. “Technology is changing the way business is done, and today is all about that change.”
What's so funny? Michael Saunders, Steve Harney, Matthew Ferrara and Drayton Saunders connect at 'Reinvent Yourself 09'
To complete the conference, Matthew Haber—Director of Interactive Marketing—and David Gumpper—Director of Technology—moderated panels of breakout sessions to address the rising significance of social networking and technology in real estate.
Titled “Expanding Your Friendly Future,” Matthew’s panel included panel speakers Eric Bryn, Marc Rasmussen, and Anand Pallegar. Together, the panel discussed the importance of managing your online reputation through your social networking channels by touting the effectiveness of today’s most popular technology options: blogging, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. “You don’t have to understand the technology,” said Eric Bryn to those who may be unsure of transitioning to a technology-based business. “You have to understand the application of the technology to get the most out of your profession.”
Eric Bryn gestures during the Social Networking panel
David Gumpper’s session, titled “Connecting With My Customers,” highlighted the advanced new features of Outlook 2007. The Contacts feature in Outlook 2007 is actually a full-featured database, where each client contact can be tagged with categorical information, allowing useful mail merge lists to be quickly and comprehensively compiled in short notice. With this, our agents can take advantage of technology to keep in close contact with their clients and enhance their relationships electronically.
“In order for the world’s economy to come back, we have to bring it back,” said second speaker Steve Harney about the task ahead of the agents in the room. Also a sought-after national speaker, Steve authors a monthly informational presentation for top professionals titled “Keeping Current Matters.”
Michael Saunders and Steve Harney share a moment at the 'Reinvent Yourself 09' event
Speaking at the Michael Saunders & Company ‘Reinvent Yourself 09′ event at the Chelsea Center in Sarasota, Steve’s dynamic, vocal approach reaches the very back of the room with the strength of his message, which proves both eye-opening and straightforward. “While all other brokers are cutting back on their resources, Michael Saunders & Company is having a conference on enhancing their services. You have proven you are the best.”
Further, Steve challenges the room to work with their customers to price properties with consideration for the market demands. “We have seen a disparity between the sold price and the listed price of the homes in this area,” said Steve. “It is up to you to price your properties realistically to turn this market around.”
“This was the best titled conference I’ve been to in two years,” added Steve in his closing remarks. “We all need to reinvent ourselves to steer through this market.”
Renowned national speaker and trainer, Matthew Ferrara is known for his enthusiastic style. A driving force for applying real estate technology innovation, Matthew has helped thousands of real estate professionals reinvent how the real estate industry works as they take advantage of new and existing technologies. To further complement the day’s theme, Matthew expressed the importance of recognizing the fundamental differences of today’s consumer, and the value behind utilizing technology and social networking channels to reach them.
Matthew Ferrara gets dramatic
In today’s event, Matthew stressed the importance of recognizing the transition from traditional marketing approaches to the more technology-based consumers of today. “One of the most fundamental changes in the market is to always follow the consumer,” said Matthew about the. “When the consumer changes, market conditions change as well.”
In the presentation, held at the Chelsea Center in Sarasota, agents learned how it is now necessary to leverage technology to create competitive advantages in the real estate market. “Social networking is the new prospecting,” added Matthew, “Relationship management is the modern method to gaining the trust of your customers.”
Foreshadowing the information-packed day ahead, company CEO and Founder Michael Saunders opened the conference by stating, “Get ready for a morning and afternoon that will knock your socks off!” By all means, Michael was right, as agents were treated to a day filled with some of real estate’s most dynamic speakers and panelists.
To a packed audience consisting of over 400 company agents, Michael gave a somber reminder about the challenges to be faced in the coming months. “After navigating through a storm for the last four years,” added Michael in her opening remarks, “we find ourselves with a job to do. As we see buyers gaining more confidence, we are optimistic and focused on how to steer past this storm to the bright opportunities ahead.”
Michael kicks off 'Reinvent Yourself 09'
While the future of the real estate market is the central concern for all in attendance, the event’s theme was focused on engaging technology to better communicate and understand the needs of homebuyers and sellers. “Do we need to communicate with our consumers in a different way,” asked Michael of the crowd. “Yes, and that is what today is all about. You will leave here with the tools you need to effectively communicate with today’s consumer.”
Agents from throughout Michael Saunders & Company were abuzz with enthusiasm at yesterday’s groundbreaking conference – ‘Reinvent Yourself 09′ – where our guest speakers and panelists ushered in the tools and approaches necessary to meet the needs and demands of today’s consumer.
Deborah Beacham with Glenn Johnson and Bob Dennison of SRQ 360
“I am delighted that Michael Saunders & Company makes the commitment to continuing education for agents,” said Deborah Beacham, who recently received kudos for representing the highest sale in Sarasota for 2009. “As agents, we learn that every transaction is different, and by attending these events we gain the information that our customers deserve.” (more…)
Working your way to the top of the industry is no easy task. Keeping yourself firmly planted in the summit requires a constant drive to enhance your skills and educate yourself on both the demands of market and your clients to stay ahead of the competition.
With this in mind, we at Michael Saunders & Company provide our agents with the educational resources needed to help ensure they are performing at the high level expected by their customers. On Thursday, May 14, our agents are invited to attend the company’s most valuable educational event, where some of the highest-regarded speakers in the real estate industry will present business-enhancing information exclusively to Michael Saunders & Company agents.
Michael Saunders, founder and CEO of the company, opens the event, followed by Matthew Ferrara-a driving force in real estate technology innovation-and Steve Harney-author and sought-after speaker on producing top results in real estate. Additionally, the event includes two Breakout Sessions. The first of which, titled Social Networking, Exploring Your Friendly Future, is moderated by the company’s director of interactive marketing, Matthew Haber. This session is directed by experts from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, Michael Saunders & Company, and AtLarge, Inc., to share their experience with today’s most popular networking web sites and how they can benefit our agents.
Does refinancing fit your situation? Whether you're buying a home or refinancing, MSC Mortgage provides valuable online tools and resources to help you make the decisions that are right for you. For the best service with any of your home financing needs, talk to one of our private mortgage bankers today.
