I’ve never understood lots of things about the way we Realtors market ourselves, and, apparently, lots of consumers don’t either.

Photos on our business cards?

Headshots on yard signs?

Faces on grocery carts?

I don’t get it, but the way the guy at the Onion says it is a lot funnier!

Do I need to make our picture on the blog a little bigger?

photo courtesy of Never Was an Arrow II

Written by Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, 248.430.4450
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Hello. A client of mine had requested to see this property, but I noticed it’s pending. I was looking at the listing and felt it necessary to compliment you on your photos. You did a fantastic job with all of the photos-they look wonderful. So many people are negative in this market, and with all the boo-hoo, I thought I’d pay you a compliment when due. Great job on the photos and the sale. Please let me know if the deal falls apart for whatever reason, as I’d love to show the house.

The house he is talking about sold in a week with multiple offers. I am happy.

photo by lexnger

Written by Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, 248.430.4450
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I’ve been active on Trulia since they launched TruliaVoices, a forum where consumers can ask questions and get answers from industry professionals. I think it is a fabulous resource for consumers to gather information. Personally, we love the attention our listings get on Trulia from potential buyers. Dmitry and I are committed to getting outstanding exposure for our sellers, and Trulia is a key component in our marketing strategy.

I am tickled to have been chosen and am looking forward to doing more work with Trulia and the other Mayors in the coming months.

Written by Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, 248.430.4450
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The well known Detroit broadcaster, Larry Henry, and Dave Benjamin from The Sales Matrix have started a new series of podcasts about entrepreneurs leading the renaissance of Detroit. You can find their work on the recently launched VoicesOfDetroit.com

I had the pleasure of sitting down with them last week and talking about the Metro Detroit real estate market and professional business coaching along with Kim Knapp. You can listen to our podcast here. There are positive messages that Metro Detroiters need to hear about the real estate market and I was happy for the opportunity to share them.

Larry and Dave are also available to help businesses expand their reach through podcasting. Check them out.

Written by Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, 248.430.4450
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Charlie Wollborg, Chief Troublemaker at Curve Detroit surprised me with this great picture.  I was so thrilled to see Detroit’s own Aretha Franklin with such a prominent part in the inauguration as the whole world watched. I am giddy to see myself in Aretha’s big attention getter.

Detroiter, Luke Song, created the buzzworthy hat for the Queen of Soul.

Call Charlie if you need wicked good advertising.  His team is inspired.

There are some hysterical pictures of at least 250 other people, like Dick Cheney, Amy Winehouse and a big guy in a grass skirt donning THE Hat on BuzzFeed.com.  Take a peak for a laugh.

Written by Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, 248.430.4450
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Last month Bud Gibson from Michigan Innovators and I sat down on a snowy December morning and enjoyed a long chat about the approach Dmitry and I have used to developing our real estate business.  Much of what we do is internet based, and we use tools like social media to grow and expand our reach. Real estate is a people business, where our connections are key to our success.

Bud and I spent a couple of hours talking, sharing our experiences living and working abroad, amongst other things.  He left my head churning with new ideas about Google, adwords and other possibilities.

We are flattered to be included in Michigan Innovators.  We know our efforts are helping our clients achieve their goals.

You can view the interview here.

Written by Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, 248.430.4450
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2008 has certainly provided for lots of unexpected surprises for Metro Detroit.  In January we will be rolling out a new series of posts for Metro Detroiters on how to deal with the challenges in today’s real estate market.  The good news: there are previously unseen opportunities for buyers.  Sellers, you are not left out, there are ways for you to get your home sold in 2009.

Dmitry and I started this year with one of the most intense personal challenges of my life.  Along with our young daughter, we moved in with my parents to help care for my dying father in his final months.  We put most business aside and purely focused on our family.  I am thankful that real estate allowed us to make that choice, and our clients understood.  We miss my dad enormously, but we feel so fortunate to have been there when we were most needed.

Perhaps Dad was looking out for us.  2008 presented us with professional opportunities like we had never seen before.  In the summer it seemed like I was going on 3 or 4 listing appointments a week.  The best news was that we sold most of the houses we listed, and quickly!  We finished the year far surpassing any previous year we’ve had in the business since we started in 2001, both in terms of units sold and dollar volume.

I tell you this for a couple of reasons.  First, I think the economic doom and gloom around us is paralyzing people and then it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.  We had a great year and we will have another great year in 2009.  People need to hear the good things that are going on out there, and they certainly aren’t finding it in the main stream media.  I have almost completely stopped reading the newspaper and watching the evening news.

I am finishing 2008 and starting 2009 by saying thank you.  Thank you to our clients for trusting us.  Thank you to our blog readers for your interest in Metro Detroit real estate.  Thank you to Marianne Sweet and Ken Mascia for all of the great articles this year, and for the wonderful resources you have been for our mutual clients.

Wishing you all the best in 2009.

PS.  2009 is a great year to buy a house and an American car.  Call me. 

Photo of the Cupcake Station in Birmingham MI is by Schoolhouse

Written by Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, 248.430.4450
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Written by Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, 248.430.4450
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Search for homes in Oakland County

When I lived in Ukraine, I had some of my most memorable Thanksgivings.  Thanksgiving, of course, is not a Ukrainian holiday, so we few Americans who wanted to celebrate the holiday had to really make a concerted effort to recreate it in a country without Butterball, Pepperidge Farms and Ocean Spray.  The meal became less important than the day shared with friends, giving thanks.

This year, Dmitry and I have had much to be thankful for.  Our business continues to grow.  We have reliable partners, like Marianne Sweet and Ken Mascia, who provide outstanding advice to our clients.  Our broker provides us with fantastic support.  We have wonderful clients.  And family and friends we love dearly.

We are holding everyone we care about a little closer these days.

Thank you for all of the blessings you have shared with us, and a Happy Thanksgiving to all.

photo credit

Written by Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, 248.430.4450
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I was leaving an open house and headed to an appointment to meet a new listing client.  Yes, I am still selling real estate.

Every day.

It occurred to me that she has run into a lot of agents who are no longer selling real estate for a living on her list of prospects.  There is plenty of evidence of agents leaving the business.

In our board of Realtors, Metropolitan Consolidated Associations of Realtors, membership is down to around 4,000 from its high a few years ago of 7,500.  I’ve seen lots of agents pick up second jobs that are really  first jobs, because they actually get paid at their ‘second job’, and paychecks are something they were not seeing often as a Realtor.

I’ve watched, in recent years, as successful Realtors packed up their belongings and moved their families across the country in search of greener pastures.  Even they could not have predicted what we are seeing today.

There is uncertainty for the brokers as well.  One large local brokerage is in bankruptcy. It’s agents have been all over town looking for a new wall on which to hang their licenses.  Another has large “For Sale” signs in front of it’s offices.  Every day I drive by the For Sale sign on the Birmingham office and I wonder how it makes the agents and their clients feel.  The broker does not own the building, from what I understand.

We feel fortunate. Dmitry and I had our best year ever in 2008.  We were amongst the top producers in the company.  And last I knew, SKBK Sotheby’s sales for 2008 were up significantly over 2007.  We are lucky to be backed by a solid, stable brokerage.

We’ve heard similar stories of great years from other’s in the market.  Austin Black II at Max Broock and Erin Keating Dewald at SKBK Sotheby’s also told us they were having their best years.  Todd Waller from Team 366 at Real Estate One in Ann Arbor said his team has put record numbers on the books this year.  I did not go out searching for this information, so I am sure there are many more who are having better than good years selling homes in Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills and surrounds. I would be happy to add names to this list if anyone just lets me know in the comments.

I don’t know what the brokerage landscape will look like this time next year.  I think there may be casualties as we all adapt to the ever changing realities of selling homes in Metro Detroit.  But I remain optimistic.  Homeowners and buyers will always need innovative, exceptional advocacy and informed advice.

Written by Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, 248.430.4450
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In the last few days we’ve:

• Written offers on 5 different homes for qualified buyers
• Listed a new condo for sale
• Received news that a sale we made a while back will be ready to close at the end of the month
• Received multiple offers on a property
• Heard of 2 other properties with multiple offers, one in Birmingham and another in Troy
• Been asked to talk to a couple of new sellers about marketing
• Shown homes to a half dozen qualified buyers
• Watched one of our listings get 5 showings in one day. Actually, I did the last showing of the day, so I did more than watch. There has been a literal parade of people going through that house this week…

During dinner Sunday evening my phone didn’t stop ringing. Questions from buyers, sellers and agents. Offers being discussed. Deals getting formulated.

No complaints here. I am happy to have the opportunity to assist our clients. My family must not have gotten the memo that the Michigan real estate market is “dead.” I really think that shift is taking place and the buyers who have been sitting on the sidelines are ready to make their move.
photo credit: frotzed2

Written by Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, 248.430.4450
Visit Website
Search for homes in Oakland County

Written by Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, 248.430.4450
Visit Website
Search for homes in Oakland County