I recently attended a free seminar at our local association outlining the e-Pro course and designation. I can't remember seeing a property manager with the designation; however, never one to turn down extra letters after my name * CPM * GRI * and seeing the need to "buy some vowels", I went to the seminar and really enjoyed the information and signed up for the course.
Some fellow agent/attendees at the seminar asked me WHY I would want to blog? At first, I thought it was because I don't sell or list real estate for sale. Then I realized they posed the question because I was a LOWLY property manager so WHY would I want to blog or use social media?
As the seminar when on, I found that not only was I one of the few who actually has a blog... www.propertymanagementmaven.com ....I was the only one who had a blog who actually BLOGS frequently, has their blog on their website, and who promotes their blog.
When I got back to my office, I checked with our agent information in our MLS and association roster and found that there was no space or blank to put in agents' blogs.....2 slots for fax numbers * home and office * however, no space for agents to put in their blog address.
I wrote our association and requested that they install that space/blank so that agents, when they are updating their information, might consider creating and using a blog!
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
View our available rental homes online with photos and floor plans
"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous
Hi Wallace- You are so right. I need to ask our Board to get "on board" with additional slots for information. Thank you! --Sara
Sara * our board use the Rappatoni member system and THEY should be up on this BEFORE a LOWLY property manager has to mention and request it!!
I'm a property manager and an ePro. Don't know that the designation does me any good, but I enjoyed the class. There are very few agents in our area who blog, or even have a very functional website. There are several on AR, but only a couple besides me who really post regularly.
We get business all the time from our web site, even local people look at our rentals, email their applications, and communicate with us by computer.
Leslie
GOOD for YOU Wallace! You are a CHAMPION!!! And we property managers are PROUD of YOU!! Too bad we are looked at as "lowly".... but there comes a time when the last shall be FIRST!
Excellent Post.... I will flag this for a feature on AR - hopefully they will soon look UP and SEE the value Property Managers bring to the table!
Leslie * that is the way I want to go....I want to use social media AND targeted direct mail marketing for attracting new business. It adds creditability AND shows expertise before they call.
I've had first contact from prospective clients who have read many of my blogs!! WOW! That's GREAT!!!
Wallace , great idea, you are a leader in your community and I am following you in Texas !
Tracy * I wish I WERE in Texas - at Texas Motor Speedway for the NASCAR races this weekend!!!!
I have built my entire real estate business around the Internet and that includes the use of blogs. If it weren't for my Internet presence, I would probably still be a Police Officer instead of running my own real estate business.
A blog is imperative to keeping new content flowing on your website and providing information about your market for all your clients and visitors to your website. A blog is also instrumental when it comes to SEO.
Wallace,
I am amazed. I don't do property management because there's not enough of a demand for it here for me to take it on.
Rural area, small town.
Good luck with getting that input field in your mls.
You're doing a great job.
Tony: for some reason i kinda knew you had a little "cop" in you! lol
Being a police officer AND a property manager are GREAT co-professions. Check out www.mikebutler.com I've read his book and it was amazing!! He now has his own pm firm and is a great supporter of NARPM
Tony, excellent post, I'm following you in Maryland. I do a little propeerty management, so I'm interested in your point of view. Thanks Barbara
Barbara * thank you. Our association can't CHANGE anything in MLS unless it goes to their IS committee and it is done by our MLS provider Solid Earth. They can make the change in the association roster which they can do internally.