2010 Theme: Becoming Your Market’s Local Trust Agent!

http://www.realestateappraisertips.info/ - The Real Estate Appraiser “Trust Agents” Message Is Spreading and Taking Action!

In case I haven’t officially announced the theme of Real Estate Appraiser Tips for 2010, it’s “Becoming Your Local Markets Trust Agent!” Since November 2009, I’ve been writing more and more about this theme. It’s not complicated at all. A homeowner’s largest investment is their home and the national housing market has been through somewhat of a meltdown, depending on where you live. Are we out of the woods yet? It depends on who you ask! There is enough economic news to suggest that we’re not.

Homeowners are looking for a local trust agent, a local real estate professional, that will tell them the truth about what’s really taking place in their housing market. Will it be you or a high profile local Real Estate Agent? It’s all about building your “Brand” and “Branding Yourself” to your local market. Today, because of HVCC, that would be more for non-lender work than lender work. More for Pre-Listing, Divorce, Litigation, Tax Appeal and Estate Appraisal Assignments as well as Consulting.

Watch This Short 3-4 Minute Video Below As This Realtor Is Building His Local Trust Agent Identity:

As I stated in my recent Working RE Magazine article, “Using Blogs to Grow your Business“, This is the appraiser’s opportunity to shine and become a “trust agent” within their local community. And, it’s never been more affordable to do so either. If you realized the impact you could have with a self-hosted Wordpress Appraiser Blog and a $150 Flip camera, you’d take action today! Just one blog post local housing market update per week along with 1 to 2 short videos per month could help build on your trust identity.

How is this accomplished? Simply with Appraiser Blogs and Video Marketing – consistently communicating with your local market on trends that you of all professionals are an expert in. The public isn’t going to discover you or how your appraisal business can help solve their problems unless you’re actively communicating with them via your appraisal blog and the videos you create to convey your “trust” agents message. In the words of Gary Vay-Ner-Chuk, it’s time for real estate appraisers to “Crush It” – to take advantage of the opportunities available online to build their brand.

What Do I Say To Them? Here’s an example of real estate agent building trust with his local market (the video above). John C. Jones, located in Murfreesboro, TN, is doing what very few agents are doing consistently….building his local trust agent relationships. John has been at this for a couple of years now and has over 80 videos online for his market to watch of him explaining local market conditions, the $8,000 tax credit, predictions for 2010, from a Realtor’s perspective. Is it working? Absolutely! John now has 11 agents with a plush unique office concept for families, with a play area for kids. John is building the real estate brokerage of the future and I wouldn’t be surprised if “his brand” is equal to a RE/MAX or Keller Williams one day!

An Appraiser In The Process Of Building Their Trust Agent Identity – An Excellent Example of What To Do! In my recent Working RE Magazine article, “Using Blogs to Grow your Business“, I referenced Sacramento Appraiser, Ryan Lundquist and his “SAC Appraisal Blog“. In that article I stated,

“Becoming a Trust Agent

Another appraiser experiencing success with Wordpress is Ryan Lundquist in Sacramento, California (Lundquist Appraisal Blog and Twitter @SacAppraiser). Ryan has come a long way in a short period of time generating 8,391 visitors [actually 16,196] in 2009 based on his “hit counter”. His is a testimony to how easy Wordpress is to use. Ryan has incorporated both local photos and short videos to make his posts very interesting. The philosophy that Ryan and I share is that our sites are where locals find out what’s really taking place in their uncertain housing market. Where else are locals going to get trustworthy news about their housing market? This is an appraiser’s opportunity to shine and become a “trust agent” within their local community. Has this effort paid off for Ryan? Yes, in the form of multiple tax appeal appraisal assignments (non-HVCC compliant appraising).”

Ryan is “Crushing It” in 2010!

In 2010, take action and build your local trust identity and your brand!