When I started on the path of coaching real estate agents and brokers 24 years ago, my singular goal was (and continues to be) to help my clients excel at their jobs and enjoy their lives more. Well, I

My journey to becoming a licensed real estate broker and finding my way was filled with many decisions – and not all of them were good ones. As a fairly new agent, though, I learned quite a bit along the

The top-producing workaholic is a mainstay in the annals of real estate, but new research is suggesting that the 80-hour week may not be all that admirable. It’s one of the more common memes in real estate – more

Many Realtors, including myself, have an occupational hazard of talking too much. There is so much information to share in order to educate our clients that it is extremely easy to get carried away. Anyone that knows me knows

When you work the long hours that real estate demands, it can be easy to lose focus; thankfully, there are easy ways to get it back. Real estate can be a demanding industry. From generating leads, to marketing listings,

Google celebrated its 15th anniversary with a new update, called “Hummingbird,” to its search engine algorithm; how could it impact your business? In commemoration of its 15th birthday, Google recently announced a new update to its famed search engine

When we think luxury, we generally think “BIG,” but a new survey shows that bigger it not always better with luxury homebuyers. You hear the words “luxury home,” and many things come to mind – high-end finishings, exclusive neighborhoods

In a study by the Altimeter Group, only 34 percent of businesses feel their social strategy is connected to business outcomes. That results in what I refer to as unsuccessful random acts of social media marketing. The time you

Well, it is the fall of 2013, and I find it quite interesting how much a market can change in less than a year. It almost seemed at the stroke of midnight this past New Year’s, buyers collectively decided

Lately, there has been much made of the current “housing recovery,” with many thinking that the market turn around has begun and that the end is near for short sales. I could not disagree more, and here’s why: 1.

What amenities have proven the most in-demand for luxury homebuyers thus far in 2013? All consumers approach the homebuying experience with a specific set of features and amenities that they most desire in their prospective home, but luxury homebuyers

Recently I observed a fairly new agent fight for a listing with two of Chicago’s top agents and win. With enthusiasm and full attention, the new agent explained that she only takes five clients at a time in order

A common mistake that listing agents often make in front of buyer clients is to talk first and listen later, if at all. They tend to talk nonstop from the start of the showing to the end, often volunteering information

According to a 2012 HomeGain survey, interior painting has an ROI of 107 percent for home sellers when preparing a home for the market. While Taupe and Navajo White were hot a few years back, shades of grey are

Let’s face it: business relationships can be tough, and some even adversely impact careers and the bottom line. Although relationships are a fundamental aspect of the human experience, our dealings with co-workers and superiors, as well as clients and

Home seller incentives became quite common during the down years, but are they still common in 2013? During the months following the housing downturn in 2008, homebuyers found themselves in a interesting position – they were in charge. With