Idaho Real Estate >> ID Real Estate Specialist

I was invited to join in on a conference call two weeks ago and the topic was lead generation and marketing.  The moderator made a comment that surprised me and he mentioned that one of the sites that has brought him and other top producers good results is MySpace.com  He said in spite of the negative publicity with the media several Realtors are receiving good leads from My Space and he himself has done quite well.  He encouraged Realtors to use it and setup a profile.  I always thought MySpace was for kids and the moderator assured everyone is was also for old farts like me as well! Are any of you using MySpace?  The moderator said that a large percentage of MySpace subscribers are and will be getting old enough to be home buyers. He encouaged us all to get our profiles posted so that these kids think of us when it comes time to buy a home. I would love to hear your feedback and if you have had any luck with MySpace as a Realtor.

On another note, about 3 months ago one of my sellers posted his home I had listed on Ebay with a link back to my old site (I didn't have my new one ready yet).  I have been shocked that over 500 visitors have visited my old site via Ebay.  I have done nothing with my old site for nearly 4 months and it has shot up to #6 on Google for Nampa Idaho real estate!  It has jumped 22 spots on Google alone with the Ebay hits.  I know that has done it because I have not used the site or updated it at all.

My point is that when we have a lot of visitors link to our sites from other major sites this gets the search engines attention and I am living proof of it.  Many know I am a big advocate for Craig's List and I have done well with it.  It to has helped me jump the search engine rankings as well.

Happy Selling!

Search Idaho Homes

I can't help but be a little shocked by what I was told this week.  I was talking to a very nice Realtor on Monday and the Realtor is seeing some rough times after having some awesome years in 2004, 2005 & 2006.  She was selling development land, income and commercial properties right and left.  She told me that she was really struggling right now and trying to sell some of her rental properties just to make ends meet.

I asked her what I ask all Realtors in this market "What are you working on in this market?"  She went on to say that she is barely surviving and is now "Taking care of the little Guy".  I asked her what she meant by that and she responded that she was focusing on entry level homes, mobile homes and short sales to make ends meet.

In 2005 there was a top producer in our area that was #1 in her office.  She got pretty confident in herself and was selling a lot of development land and commercial property.  She came in my office one day in 2006 to cry on my shoulder and ask for financial help.  She said she had made a big mistake.  You see she had millions of dollars in development land scheduled to close in the summer of 06 and the buyers could not perform at closing which really hurt her.  She was on both ends of the sale and lost tens of thousands in commisssions.  She admitted to me she stopped taking care of the "Little Guy" because she was totally focused on the development land closing that was going to make her year.   She said she admired how my business was so consistent over the years with no roller coaster rides.

In the 90's I remember working with a mortgage lender that stopped taking care of the Realtors because he was too busy handling refinances and admitted it!  BIG MISTAKE!  Realtors are the ones that feed mortgage lenders.  Refinances come and go.

These are just three stories out of many I hear.  So many agents and mortgage lenders radiate towards the big numbers and big transactions.  It does not matter if we are selling a $25,000 mobile home or a 2.5 million dollar ranch.  EVERYONE HAS VALUE AND EVERYONE DESERVES TO BE TREATED WITH HONOR AND RESPECT.

If we keep doing what is right day in and day out we will value everyone that walks through our door and our repeat business will continue to grow.  We won't need to rely on floor time and we won't need to worry when markets change.

When I started my real estate business in 1980 I started seeing quick success but I also saw quick stress.  I had a grandmother that would always bring me down to earth and she gave me a peace that is hard to explain.  She knew nothing about deadlines, schedules, business plans etc.   Everything that came out of her mouth was about love and God.  She kept me grounded and I value the lessons she gave me.  I have missed her.

Over the last few years I have established a great bond with my nephew and we have a connection that is wonderful.  He just turned 13 this past Monday and I marvel at what he has brought to my life.  He reminds me so much of my dad.

He knows no stranger.  He says hi to everyone we meet and there is no one I know of that he won't strike up a conversation with.  When he was 7 years old he went to the bathroom at a restaurant.  When he didn't come back for a while by sister went looking for him.  She found him in the kitchen talking to the chef like an adult!  The chef loved him and invited him to come back!

I have never seen him down or depressed.  He always has a positive outlook and is always so very optimistic.   One can't help but feel good when you are around him. He lights up a room.

He forgives people.   Some family members have said some negative things about him in the past out of jealousy.  Even though they said hurtful things to him, he has never stopped loving them and has embraced them.

Try to tell him he can't do something and just watch him.  He will tackle any project and won't stop until he has figured it out.  When he was 10 years old he came over to my house and watched me attempt to put together a grill.  Without even reading the instructions he told me where everything went!  And I had read the instructions!

He is compassionate.  He cares so much about humanity and so much about people.  When he sees people hurting or in pain it touches his soul and I have seen him shed a tear when someone is hurt and he immediately wants to help.

I don't know too many adults that are like my nephew and I can honestly say he has taught me a lot about life and how to live it.  He has been my role model.

I am truly a blessed man.

 Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker 
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.

About a month ago I wrote a blog called I need to build it so they will come.   I basically was at a cross roads in terms of building a new site and was not sure which way to turn.  I had looked at several options and was looking for direction.

I made the decision to purchase a new professional Point2Agent site.  I then found Active Rain member Kathleen Allardyce which I contracted with to design the home page of my new site and write 10 new pages.

I also wrote several new pages on my own at the advice of my friend Karen George.  Karen had written a post earlier in the year and strongly advised us to write as many good quality pages as possible to attract visitors and get the attention of the search engines.

My new site Search Idaho Homes was completed about 3 weeks ago.  Last week I hired my friend Don Robinson of Lead Home Designers to begin optimizing my new site by submitting it to the top 500,000 search engines on a regular schedule.

The result has been that my new site has already generated 13 new leads in those 3 weeks and they are starting to come in almost daily.  My site is also climbing the search engine ladders weekly. Without Active Rain and it's wonderful members I would still be fumbling around wondering what I should do.

To Active Rain, Kathleen, Don and my dear friend Karen......