PRA Training Blog | PRA Training http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php Blog Page for Pra Training Professional Real Estate Assistant information and Tips. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 01:52:12 -0700 http://ubertor.com/?v=1.0 en PRA™ Success Tips: Week 7 http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/64 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:50:43 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Tidbits http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/64 We are more than halfway through our 12 weeks of tips already! With August coming to an end, and September rolling in at full speed, we only have 4 more weeks of tips and tricks for you to apply to your career. Missed what we pushed out this past week? Here’s a summary of Week 7.

PRA™ Success Tip #30: Your credo is a short and direct intro that sets your initial impact, engaging the receiver. Who are you? What do you do? What are the results you are offering? What is the benefit your customer receives?

PRA™ Success Tip #31: It is important to set up your business for an easy and profitable exit. There should be a day you can retire. We often work with profit in mind, but not with the idea that there should be a clear exit for yourself. If you have solid systems in place, plus a good database generated and sustained from the systems, your business will remain seen as valuable, without you having to be the only driving force.

PRA™ Success Tip #32: A business without a budget is an equation for disaster. A business can only survive if the income is greater than the expenses. In some cases, and for a while, it can be infused with personal funds. But for how long should that be the situation? Partner with a great accountant, be practical in your spending, know when to draw the line, and most importantly, set up a separate account you pay first and foremost.

PRA™ Success Tip #33: Track your numbers. Know where your clients come from, your sale prices, your business. Understand your business’ functions, as it is a vital foundation to build on. Set benchmarks that scale your progress, then you can see what works and what doesn’t.

PRA™ Success Tip #34: Master your skills, your attitude, your knowledge and leveraging. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, just improve it. With perseverance, intention, practice, constant learning and growth, and respecting failure as a value, you can become a master within your business.

Week 8 will bring tips on being in the moment, and self presentation. Remember, it’s only a 4 day work week, so our tips come back to you on Tuesday.

 

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable long weekend!

-The PRA™ Team

 

P.S. Don’t forget, fall courses start up in just a matter of weeks! Register now before you miss out http://www.pratraining.com/Register-Here.

]]> Top 21 Grants and Rebates for Buyers and Owners http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/63 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:01:31 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Tidbits http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/63

122-2.gif]]> PRA™ Success Tips: Week 6 http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/62 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:44:21 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Tidbits http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/62 Week 6 of our PRA™ Success Tips has pushed for reinforcement and creativity in your profession. In case you missed a tip, we’ve compiled the last five that we shared this week.

PRA™ Success Tip #25: Let your client always feel that they are as valuable to you as the paycheque you may or may not receive from them. The fact is most entrepreneurs depend on their clients or customers for a source of income. The question is, just how valuable is that client to you? Maintain frequent contact, under promise, and over deliver.


PRA™ Success Tip #26: Surround yourself with positive, successful people.  It is vital to yourself and your business to connect with like minded people.  Continually watch yourself to truly become aware of what kind of energy you give off. Becoming aware is the first step to anything. See successful mentors. Read autobiographies of great leaders. Network with other successful entrepreneurs.

PRA™ Success Tip #27: Dream big. Think outside of the box. Get creative. Being an entrepreneur is a wonderful thing because you can create, sustain, and enjoy multiple streams of income. Have you systemized your business so it can run effectively with a support staff in place? What other talents or skills do you have that you can magnify? What other products can you introduce that will give your business added value? When you leverage what you already have, you give yourself the freedom to create other business, other products, or other creative ventures.

PRA™ Success Tip #28: Brainstorm, create a strategic alliance, and then take action steps to achieve your goals.

PRA™ Success Tip #29: Being clear about how you want to show up in the world is important. What qualities do you bring forward to your clients? How is your posture? How is your health? How is your wardrobe? Do you dress for success? Some personal planning and self direction goes a long way.

Watch for us next week to share another 5 tips. We’ll touch on credos, exit plans, budgets, numbers, and becoming a master. To keep up with our tips, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PRATraining and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PRAtraining.canada.

“Action is the foundational key to all success.”  – Pablo Picasso

 

]]> What Would You Like To Learn? http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/61 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:29:34 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Tidbits http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/61 Fall is just around the corner, and our new program is lining up.
What we're looking for from you is input on our future Advanced Courses.

We invite you to follow the provided link and take a few minutes to fill out our questionnaire. We appreciate your voice and look forward to providing you with further educational opportunities.

Click here to take survey

We hope you're having a wonderful summer!


Many thanks,

The PRA™ Team
"The main part of intellectual education is not the acquisition of facts but learning how to make facts live."
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes 


]]> PRA™ Success Tips: Week 5 http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/60 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:31:55 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Tidbits http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/60 Gratitude, the effect of your efforts, your market, persistence, and following up, all topics touched on in this week’s PRA™ Success Tips. Missed out on them? Here’s what we’ve been talking about.

PRA™ Success Tip #20: Gratitude is the most authentic characteristic you can have in your business.  A little ‘thank you’ goes a long way. Send personalized thank you notes. Appreciate your customers, your associates, and anyone else that deserves the recognition.

PRA™ Success Tip #21: If you do a good job, your clients may tell 10 people. Do a poor job and they will tell at least 100.

PRA™ Success Tip #22: Identify your niche. Be clear on who and where you want your market to be, and then actively pursue it.

PRA™ Success Tip #23: Be consistent and demonstrate patience. It’s the alternative to giving up. It’s so easy to work hard and long in a specific market and see such little return on our invested time and expenses. It is so easy to quit and move on. Stop and re-assess. If everything is still on track, then just keep doing what you’re doing.

PRA™ Success Tip #24: One of the best things you can do in business is personally update all referrals. Remember that great service inspires and promotes business. Pick up the phone and make a quick call, or send a quick handwritten note. Make your referral feel like they have done the right thing by passing on your name and that in the future, they will have no regrets in passing it on again and again.

Another 5 tips come your way next week. Week 6 will be all about positive reinforcement and stepping out there to achieve.


]]> Buyer's Agents: Are You Ready With An Assistant? http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/59 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:18:27 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Building Your Real Estate Business http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/59

Home Buyers in the Driver's Seat 

Vancouver, BC – August 12, 2010. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales in the province declined 42 per cent to 5,784 units in July compared to the same month last year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, MLS® residential unit sales in the province declined 19 per cent in July from June 2010. The average MLS® residential price climbed 6 per cent to $491,832 in July compared to the same month last year.

"A relatively large number of homes for sale have created the most favourable supply conditions for home buyers in more than a year," said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. MLS® active residential listings were 21 per cent higher in July than at the start of the year on a seasonally adjusted basis. However, with newly listed MLS® residential units now declining, tighter market conditions may emerge this fall.

Year-to-date, BC residential sales dollar volume increased 16 per cent to $24.2 billion, compared to the same period last year. Residential unit sales rose 4 per cent to 48,127 year-to-date, while the average MLS® residential price climbed 13 per cent to $504,281 over the same period.

For the complete news release, including detailed statistics, follow this link:www.bcrea.bc.ca/news_room/2010-07.pdf

For more information, please contact: 
Cameron Muir Damian Stathonikos
Chief Economist Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Direct: 604.742.2780 Direct: 604.742.2793
Mobile: 778.229.1884 Mobile: 778.990.1320
Email: cmuir@bcrea.bc.ca Email: dstathonikos@bcrea.bc.ca

 

BCREA represents 12 member real estate boards and their approximately 18,000 REALTORS® on all provincial issues, providing an extensive communications network, standard forms, economic research and analysis, government relations, applied practice courses and continuing professional education (cpe).

To demonstrate the profession’s commitment to improving Quality of Life in BC communities, BCREA supports policies that encourage economic vitality, provide housing opportunities, respect the environment and build communities with good schools and safe neighbourhoods.

For detailed statistical information, contact your local real estate board. MLS® is a cooperative marketing system used only by Canada’s real estate boards to ensure maximum exposure of properties listed for sale.

 

]]> Such A Worthy Cause! http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/57 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:38:07 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Our PRA™ Grads http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/57 Recently, one of our very own PRA™ Grads brought to our attention a brand new foundation that her and a friend have started. The Bark And Meow Foundation is designed to help fund those who can no longer afford their vet bills, avoiding euthanization or surrender of their pet. The foundation is incredibly new and deserves all the support possible.  We want to wish Stefania Butkovic great success with this wonderful cause! We're rooting for you guys!

For more information, and to show your support, follow this link to their Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bark-And-Meow-Foundation/141257325895004?ref=sgm

"Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something." ~ Author Unknown


]]> PRA™ Success Tips: Week 4 http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/56 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:15:58 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Tidbits http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/56

“In most cases, our so-called limitations are nothing more than our own decision to limit ourselves."

- Daisaku Ikeda

It’s hard to believe that we’ve just finished week 4 of our PRA™ Success Tips! If you follow us on Twitter or through our Facebook Fanpage, you’re up to speed. Missed a day? Here’s a recap of what PRA™ has been saying.

PRA™ Success Tip #15: Know what you have to offers o that you can be confident. Remember in the service industry, people buy people. Customers are loyal to what you do and what you represent, not to you. Visualizing what you might expect helps to clarify what a client might expect of you.

PRA™ Success Tip #16: One of the best decisions you could ever make is to a hire an assistant. While they are systemizing and attending to administration details, you can be out networking, increasing your visibility, and strategizing for more business.

PRA™ Success Tip #17: Focus on what you want, as what you focus on expands. Have you ever noticed how one small event can change the outlook of a whole day? The laws of attraction are such that you expand on what you focus your attention on.

PRA™ Success Tip #18: A stronger more successful you, is one with a strong and concrete foundation of excellent support. Behind any successful entrepreneur is always a world class support system. If we are doing everything ourselves, we are not growing and expanding our business. Find your focus, and then hire for, delegate, or even trade the rest.

PRA™ Success Tip #19: You have to be clear on the value, skills and knowledge you offer and commit to. Ask for referrals. Ask for referrals. Ask for more referrals. Do you provide value? Do you do a good job? Do you act with integrity? So then wouldn’t your friends and family be proud to refer you? Most people actually love to know that they can refer someone they believe can help their acquaintances.

Week 5 will bring tidbits on gratitude, the effect of your efforts, your market, persistence, and following up.

Feel free to share with us how you’ve been able to apply these tips in your job, everyday life, or know someone who could or should benefit from them. We love feedback.

We’re on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PRATraining and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PRAtraining.canada. If you don’t belong to either but would like your feedback shared, email us at info@pratraining.com and we will gladly pass on your comments to our readers.


Have a great weekend!


]]> PRA™ Success Tips: Week 3 http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/55 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:30:14 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Tidbits http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/55 Week 3 of PRA™ Success Tips has come to a completion. This week we’ve touched on systemizing, priorities, personal time, and creating a mission statement. Here’s what you may have missed.

PRA™ Success Tip #11: Systemize everything you do. Creating a structure that systemizes your business will allow you to run it effectively. Systems = Freedom. They can make the difference between surviving and thriving. When you’re starting out, you have more time than you do clients. This is the time to sew your nets good and strong for your future. Shadow a more experienced associate, ask tons of questions, then begin to systemize how you will create and carry out your business. Read “The E Myth Revisited” by Michael E. Gerber.

PRA™ Success Tip #12: Focus on your priorities, set out on your goals for the day, and fill in the activities. Take a few moments at the end of your day to focus on the accomplishments you want to achieve for tomorrow. What are your priorities? How will your day look? How will your time be split between work time and personal time? What is your intent for the day?

PRA™ Success Tip #13: If we give all our energy away, we have nothing left for ourselves, our families, and our clients. Block in personal time. Trade days with one of your associates. When your cup is full, you have so much more to give. We can all relate to feeling exhausted, working our butts off, and spinning our wheels but we’re just not as productive as one would like to be.

PRA™ Success Tip #14: Write a mission statement for yourself and live by it. It not only acts as your guiding light but your accountability. What is a mission statement? It is the purpose that you bring forth in your business every day. It is the value that you authentically give to your clients. Your mission statement is as short as just a couple of sentences telling your clients, your team, and reminding yourself of what is important to you.

Watch for our tips next week as we cover:

  • Knowing what you have to offer;
  • Support systems;
  • Focusing;
  • and referrals.

 

 


"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."
-Henry David Thoreau



 

 

]]> PRA™ Success Tips: Week 2 http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/54 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:41:05 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Tidbits http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/54 Another week complete, and another week of 5 PRA™ Success Tips have been shared. So here’s a quick recap on what you may have missed.

PRA™ Success Tip #6: Prospect. Prospect. Prospect. Call at least 5 people everyday and ask for business. People you know, people you don’t know, or people you want to get to know. Systemize when you’re going to call, what you’re going to say, and then do it daily. Do you just sit by the phone and wait for it to ring? Are you a passive entrepreneur or an active one? Prepare a script until you feel comfortable enough to just wing it.

PRA™ Success Tip #7: Let your business work for you. Stand by your business beliefs and work smart, not hard. Our beliefs run our thoughts, which run our actions, and our actions run our lives. Stop and notice what the top producers are doing. Be curious. How do they get to take so much time off to play golf? Their business is systemized, and they leverage themselves by adding support structures, such as an assistant. You don’t have to start off huge, but if you just start to implement a few systems and utilize some support structure, you can become more effective with much less effort.

PRA™ Success Tip #8: Always keep a supply of your business tools ready and with you. Are you prepared to strike while the fire is hot? You want to be prepared no matter where you are.

PRA™ Success Tip #9: Know your market. You are in the business of helping people buy or sell, probably their biggest asset. What is selling? Who sold it? What’s new on the market? What’s been reduced? Is your community stagnant in sales or are there multiple offers happening everywhere? Know what’s happening around you.

PRA™ Success Tip #10: Remember when writing any contract, to write it as if you were presenting it to a judge. You definitely want to make sure that ever “i” is dotted and ever “t” is crossed. You will be thankful you did.


Next week will bring you four new tips to help you and the business you’re in to move along smoothly.


~Have a fantastic long weekend!~



]]> PRA™ Success Tips: Week 1 http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/53 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:31:42 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Tidbits http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/53

This past week has been the start of 12 weeks of PRA™ Success Tips,  posted via Twitter and our Facebook Fanpage.

Missed the tips? Here’s a recap in greater detail.

PRA™ Success Tip #1: The principles you apply and commit to in your business will be the same that support you when it turns around. Always respect and deal fairly and promptly with your fellow associates. How do you want to be treated? What time frame do you expect to be responded to?

PRA™ Success Tip #2: Set clear boundaries and guidelines as to how you are going to operate your business, so as to always maintain control. What are your hours? What is your commission? What are your policies? How will you work with your clients? What will you expect from your client relationship? Write down your boundaries and guidelines. Commit to them. Somewhere along the line we realize that we’re not in control of our business the way we thought we really were.


PRA™ Success Tip #3: A healthy you, is a more productive, positive & successful you. Exercise, eat healthy, drink lots of water, and sleep plenty. There is nothing that will keep your energy high, your performance at peak, and your emotional and physical well being at its very best than you looking after yourself.

PRA™ Success Tip #4: Take a moment to breathe, regroup & refocus yourself. A brief meditation daily will help things run smoothly. Just sit quietly for a few minutes each day, close your eyes, breathe deeply from your stomach and focus on what you want to accomplish for your day, your week, your month, your year, your lifetime. To meditate means to sit quietly on your own and put your body into an alpha state. Start your day this way, or take a moment in the middle of the chaos. Block out the Blackberries and iPhones, emails, office noise, etc just to quickly refill the power that keeps you generated. Reflect again before going to bed, plan your next day, and give thanks.

PRA™ Success Tip #5: Be a name. Be a professional. Be consistent. Make sure the public remembers you and wants to work with you again and again. What kind of image do you want people to see? Fun, easy going? Executive style with a formal suit? Do you have a tagline for yourself that identifies the value you give your industry? Is it packaged on crisp, colourful, quality stationary? The more consistent your brand, the more the public will remember and recognize you.


Follow PRA™ Training next week when we bring you another 5 tips to help you be at your best within your career.


]]> Secret to Success http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/52 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:24:00 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Inspiration http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/52


"Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it will achieve. Dream great dreams and make them come true. Do it now. You are unique. Never affirm self-limitations. What you believe yourself to be, you are. To accomplish great things, you must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost - put foundations under them. Yes you can. You can always better your best. You don't know what you can do until you do it. Nothing will come of nothing. If you don't go out on a limb, you're never going to get the fruit. There is no failure except in not doing anything. Hazy goals produce hazy results. Clearly define your goals. Write them down, make a plan for achieving them, set a deadline, visualize the results and go after them. Just don't look back unless you want to go that way. Defeat may test you; it need not stop you. If at first you don't succeed, do it another way. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. The greatest mistake is giving up. Wishing will not bring success, but planning, persistence and a burning desire will. Success is an attitude. Get yours right. It is astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen. Have a passion for positive thinking and there will be no room for the negative."
- Author Unknown
]]> What Makes An Exceptional Assistant? http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/51 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:00:07 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Building Your Real Estate Business http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/51 I received an email the other day and I was asked "What makes an exceptional assistant?"



My mind started churning, thinking of all the attributes and skills that would make an assistant fantastic. But then I realized that for each one of us, it means something different.



To me, having a top-notch assistant means never having to leave a list, they just know and complete all the necessary tasks.


What does it  mean to you?


]]> Does Your Employee Have All The Skills They Need For Both Of You To Succeed? http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/50 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:30:06 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Building Your Real Estate Business http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/50

Eagerness to help, while appreciated, is not always enough to run a productive and thriving business.  Skill set and application needs to be present so that both you and your assistant are functioning at your best. In turn, your business runs at its best.

Without proper training and skill building we are left to micromanage, and frustrated. As business owners, we don’t always have the time to train our personnel the way we would like.  We can however, invest in our business by investing in the training and advancement of our support personnel.

Encourage your assistant to consider workshops or courses they feel they could benefit from, and take them to a level that will best support you. Do you know their strengths and weaknesses? What do they enjoy doing? What do they dislike doing?

Afraid of the upfront costs? Many large companies have policies in place where the employee may pay for their course up front, and then if they are in their position more than 6, 8 or even 12 months with the same employer, they are reimbursed. Some companies will also have policies in place where if the employee leaves after a predetermined time, they must reimburse all educational costs.

So what do you have to lose? What will you gain by investing in your assistant?

Be sure to check out the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development’s “Workplace Training for Innovation Program”, a pilot program designed to give eligible employers funding to have their employees trained. Information can be found at http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/workplace_training_program/welcome.htm.


]]> A Closer Look At The Career Of A PRA™ http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/49 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:38:47 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Real Estate Assistant Training http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/49 When considering career options as a professionally trained assistant, many people look to the dental, medical and legal fields; real estate is not always top of mind. For many people, this is because formal training as a Professional Real Estate Assistant has never been offered in Canada, until now.

Before PRA™ Training Inc. was founded, real estate assistants relied on their busy employers to train them in everything from marketing, contract scribing, day to day systems and legal and ethical guidelines. Often in the fast-paced world of real estate, employers did not have the time to properly train their assistants, limiting the value of the new hire's role and job satisfaction.

With PRA™ Foundations Training, the candidate confidently enters the dynamic and in-demand world of real estate as a Professional Real Estate Assistant after only 2 weekends (6 days) of class time. Upon completion of the course, you will have the knowledge, expertise and tools to work for a wide-range of real estate professionals including property developers, brokerages and REALTORS® as a highly valued unlicensed Professional Real Estate Assistant.

As a Professional Real Estate Assistant, you will enjoy:

  • Flexibility: work at your own schedule, full or part-time.
  • Personal Focus: concentrate on the areas of real estate you enjoy best; be it marketing, client services, database management and more.
  • Foundational Knowledge: you’ll gain a better understanding of the industry and opportunities that exist without going through the full licensing process and expense.
  • Affordable Tuition: which includes application, all text book, reference tools and materials; you will take the materials with you for future easy reference

There's no question that real estate as a career continues to be in high demand, including the increasing need for trained Professional Real Estate Assistants.

Love real estate? Think you or someone you know would be great at it? See our calendar of events and register early to secure your spot.

 

]]> Are You Ready For The Last Part Of 2010? http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/48 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:54:15 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Real Estate Assistant Training http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/48 If you’re a top producer or your goal is to become one, you may want all the support you can get. Hiring an assistant is one way to make sure you’re able to spend your valuable time doing what you do best, and delegating the rest.

To make sure your current or potential assistant is an asset and not an expense, training is vital. But busy REALTORS® trying to increase their productivity and profits rarely have time to train an assistant. In fact, the real problem is figuring out how to train an assistant or hire a qualified assistant when you’re busy.

We have your solution. The Professional Real Estate Assistant (PRA™) certificate program has been created to train and support unlicensed assistants and administrative support personnel.

The two weekend program, taught by REALTOR® Nina Campbell, will be offering fall classes starting again in September. Course content will include:

  • an introduction to organized real estate, legislation and rules, including the roles and responsibilities of unlicensed assistants and licensees;
  • an introduction to forms, day-to-day systems and operations typically found in a real estate brokerage;
  • an introduction to marketing, including advertising rules and limitations;
  • the listing process and sales  process; and
  • the completion of the real estate cycle.


Top producing REALTORS® spend most of their time generating revenue – networking, following leads, making presentations, brining in clients and closing transactions.

They hand over the paperwork, the filing, the pounding in signs, the writing of advertisements, and the technology updates, to their assistants who have come to the profession with a variety of educational backgrounds and skill sets.

Now you can increase the standard of training for your professional real estate assistant.

If you plan to tap into the power of your current assistant or you’re looking to hire an assistant, full or part-time, visit www.pratraining.com or contact us at info@pratraining.com.


]]> It's All About Teamwork http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/47 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 10:21:43 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Real Estate Team Building http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/47 The dictionary definition of a “team” is “a number of persons associated together in work or activity”.

You are the proud owner of a team-oriented environment. Do you have a team that functions efficiently in this environment?

It is important from the very beginning that you lay out your expectations. Your team will then be able to set their goals and achieve them, prioritize the most important tasks, and above all, be able to keep your business functioning at the level and speed you need it to run at.

Does your team understand why they need to work cohesively? Do they understand their individual roles and how they come together with each other’s? Clarity in the communication between you and your team is crucial; and even more so within the team itself. They need to understand how their role, together or individually, affects the functionality and success of your business. Communication is key in keeping your team operating like a well-oiled machine.

Do your team members know their responsibilities? Are they comfortable with the tasks that they must take on to assist you and your business? While your team is a support system for you, it’s important that you are the same for them. Their goal may be to keep efficiency and success for your business, but you may need to make it your goal to aid and guide them when necessary.

Commitment to their role and to you is the mark of a good team member. Are they constantly looking for ways to better help you?  Encourage them to take part in workshops that will enhance their skills and knowledge of systems and programs that are used on a daily basis. You both may even find a more effective way to run the office with newfound knowledge and tactics.

What does your team bring to the table? Participation in meetings, work projects, and team building exercises is important. It draws on their commitment, they’re willingness to exceed your expectations, and keeps the lines of communications open. Team co-operation and collaboration is necessary, and is a great way to stimulate new ideas.

Innovation and creativity keeps your business fresh and active. If you and each member of your team are making the effort to come up with new ideas to keep your business successful, you create the opportunity to carve a niche in the market. Dare to be bold, creative, unique, and exceptional and you may capture a whole new audience’s attention. Start with what you know, and build on it. Your team should be dynamic enough to keep the creative juices flowing without straying so far from what you know, that you lose the basis of your business.

At the end of the day, despite any ups or downs, what you need and want to see are results. In the greater scheme of things, all you can ask of your team is that they put their best foot forward and work with you to keep your business at its best. Keep the communication happening, encourage new ideas, push for team participation and collaboration, and make sure, above all, that everyone within your team wants to make this business a success.

 

]]> The Care and Maintenance of Your Team http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/46 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:39:50 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Real Estate Team Building http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/46 While training the other day, I found myself giving the analogy of a team being equivalent to a standard transmission car, where the synchronicity of the gas and clutch together enable a smooth, or bumpy, ride.

Whether your team is your helping family members, outsourced providers, or employees, they become to business owners, a group of individuals that the business relies on. Successful businesses are those that create an environment in which these groups understand and contribute to the greater whole, and work towards the vision. Your team's ability to deliver consistent excellence becomes one of the most important key elements for a successful growing business. So, where to start?Clearly communicate your vision and goals for your business;
  • create an environment where the team members' contributions are valued and respected;
  • be clear about your expectations with detailed job descriptions and policies; and
  • celebrate success.
There is no better strategy than to have genuine interest in the well being of your team.


"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller

]]> Understand Your Customer http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/45 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:23:33 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Building Your Real Estate Business http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/45 How are you marketing your business? Is it by process of trial and error? Are you relying on another 'expert' to do it for you?

STOP!

First, ask yourself, "Who are my customers?"
Then, consider why they buy what you have to offer, and more importantly, why they don't.

Your clients hold the key to your understanding of how to build better value, no matter what product or service you offer.

Do you regularly gather feedback?
Do you send out surveys?
Are you listening and evaluating?

Once you know your customers, and you understand their "pain points", (the things that keep them up at night), you can then begin to structure your marketing more clearly and accordingly to attract more business. By understanding your client and their needs, you help yourself determine the method to reach them.

Marketing is an activity that can drain a considerable amount of your finances, therefore, you want to approach it with focus and  clear direction.]]> What Is Your Business's Competitive Advantage? http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/44 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 09:24:39 -0700 PRA Training Inc. Building Your Real Estate Business http://www.pratraining.com/Blog.php/44 What makes your business successful?

Why do your clients choose to do business with you rather than go elsewhere?

Why do you get repeat clients?

This is your competitive advantage. It is the position you hold in the market place. Take the time to define what it is that gives you a unique position.

Is it the service standard and level of expertise? Maybe it's your pricing and the quality of your products or services? Perhaps even the uniqueness of your features?

By understanding and identifying your competitive advantage, it reinforces your position and creates clarity on how and when to best implement appropriate strategies to achieve even greater results.]]>