Asset Management & Recovery

United Country Sets Web Traffic Records !!!!

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:06:54 -0600

From: Dan Duffy
Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 3:27 PM
To: Tom Coolidge
Subject: United Country Sets All Time New Records for Web Traffic in October and September

Entire United Country Family -

I wanted to share some news that you can utilize in your local efforts to secure listings and recruit the best agents...

As most of you know, earlier this year, United Country deployed a number of advanced SEO strategies (that will remain confidential to the outside market) that have dramatically increased our "footprint" on the web. These efforts are now fully implemented and are driving record results.

We (all of us) set new, all time record performance benchmarks for web site traffic with new records in visitors for the months of September and October...even exceeding traffic results achieved at the peak of the market for those months.

Our traffic for the full portfolio of UC Home Office web sites is nearing 3 million visitors a month and more importantly 125 MILLION page views and 300 MILLION hits.

Our strategy is resulting in a more targeted and localized traffic with more visitors, page views and hits coming on the localized and property type web sites. Our primary home page is also seeing strong performance with just under a million visitors to that site alone (we are pushing visitors to the local web sites so this number intentionally will be flat for the foreseeable future).

We are posting updated web traffic collateral for your use locally on the web site with a new format to capture the full view into our traffic.

WE ARE THE NUMBER ONE WEB SITE FOR NON-URBAN REAL ESTATE IN NORTH AMERICA! Others claim it but in their defense, they are not aware of all of our nearly 1,000 sites and the traffic those sites drive. Either way, we are not in the pay to play lead aggregation business. We do all of this for no additional fee as part of your affiliation with UC. Only UC Offices, Agents and Clients can access the UC portfolio of sites. This is competitive advantage for you.

Dan Duffy

Chief Executive Officer

United Country Real Estate

www.unitedcountry.com

Richard F. Kruse is the President of Columbus, Ohio based Gryphon USA, Ltd. (www.gryphonusa.com). The Gryphon Organization includes Gryphon Asset Management providing receivership and consulting services in the distressed marketplace, United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Group (www.ucohiorealty.com & www.ucohioauctions.com) providing real estate brokerage and auction services throughout Ohio and OnlineAuctionUSA.com (www.onlineauctionusa.com) providing commercial asset liquidations from the Midwest to East Coast.

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

What Agents Are Thinking (Filtered)

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 06:47:26 -0600

Selling defaulted asset has changed a considerable amount since I started in the business in 1997. No matter what the asset class, sellers have always wanted to negotiate the fees and expenses being charged by their vendors. It is human nature to negotiate and I think, to a certain extent, these financials should be pushed.

What I find interesting is the extreme pushback on fees and exclusivity in the real estate market today.

As an asset manager as well as a brokerage manager I have a unique way to look at these things. On the one hand, I am sometimes the seller and decision maker. On the other, I am sometimes the brokerage or auction vendor.

A few months ago I started asking around about what was going on in other markets and looking closely at what requests were being made of agents in Columbus, Ohio.

I have talked to agents all over the United States. In summary, here is what most agents are thinking about these top 4 issues.

Exclusive Right to Sell - Most successful brokers/agents polled will not spend time and effort promoting an asset if the seller demands carve outs. A broker is either hired or not hired. Generally, there is no third option as far as they are concerned.
Commission Rates - Ask 10 brokers/agents and you will get a similar answer. Brokerage fees have absolutely nothing to do with what was paid for a property or what was loaned on it, just like bank CEO salaries and legal fees.
Minimum Commissions - There are a lot of assets in many marketplaces that, today, have very low value. It is very common to have minimum commissions. There is a certain effort that goes into every property regardless of price.
"Joe Will Do It" - "Joe will do it for less." "Joe will do it on these terms." Most agents know a "Joe" and will tell you there are reasons Joe will do this and that. Most will also leave it at that. Be wary of the agents that tell you the story. They are not going to keep your confidences either.

Overall this was a very interesting informal investigation with some interesting responses. Hopefully this gives some insight to those who hire brokers and agents around the US.

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

So, We Grow

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:36:34 -0600

In my last post, Grow, Merge, Sell or ? I was trying to decide which way to take our subsidiary Gryphon Realty Advisors.

Since then, we have met with numerous buyers of the business as well as numerous joint venture partners. We met with managers. We interviewed potential new staff members.

In the asset management and liquidation business, decisions need to be made quickly. Over the 12 years I have spent in this industry I have learned that the biggest mistake I can make in business is to over think or second guess a decision.

So, in the end, the answer to the question is GROW. Ladies and gentlemen, we just jumped off the cliff into the deep water without a floatation device. No turning back.

In the very near future you will see modifications to our website at www.gryphonusa.com. Marketing materials that are already in the re-design and printing process will be in the mail. A year long pre-defined email campaign will be rolled out. Meetings with our targeted clients have been scheduled.

We engaged additional superstar project managers for Gryphon Asset Management. We are grabbing the bull by the horns and are brining in commercial real estate big hitters to Gryphon Realty Advisors - Commercial Division. We are seeking more aggressive residential agents for Gryphon Realty Advisors - Residential Division. We are bringing in seasoned auction staff and cross training current staff members to participate in Gryphon Auction Group by sending them to the best auction academies and appraisal schools available.

I want to thank all of the people who shared their thoughts with me as I contemplated this very important decision.

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

sample non-circumvent agreement

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 20:51:21 -0500

This is not all encompassing and does not protect commissions however is an example of something that you can use in certain situations. It can be easily modified to protect commission is you choose.

Gryphon Asset Advisors, LLC. (“GRYPHON”) has identified a potential opportunity to purchase certain parcels or residential real estate in the Columbus, Ohio area (the “Real Estate”). In order to protect Gryphon’s confidential business information regarding the Real Estate, we wish you to sign this letter confirming that neither you nor ________________________________(collectively the “Interested Party”) nor any of their clients, officers, employees, shareholders, members, partners, directors and agents will, either acting alone or with others, in any way participate in the purchase of the Real Estate or the liabilities encumbering the Real Estate (including notes payable and security interests pledged for the benefit of its lenders), without the prior written consent of GRYPHON, which such consent may be withheld in GRYPHON’s sole discretion.

The Interested Party acknowledges and agrees that the provisions of this letter agreement are a reasonable and necessary protection of GRYPHON’s immediate and substantial interests, that any violation of these restrictions would cause substantial and irreparable harm to GRYPHON, and that GRYPHON would not have introduced Interested Party to the Real Estate without the additional consideration offered by Interested Party in binding itself to the provisions of this letter agreement, and Interested Party hereby waives all defenses to the strict enforcement thereof by GRYPHON. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Interested Party of the provisions of this letter agreement, GRYPHON shall be entitled to a temporary and/or permanent injunction restraining Interested Party from such breach or threatened breach without the necessity of posting bond or proving irreparable harm; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude GRYPHON from pursuing any other available remedy for such breach or threatened breach in addition to, or in lieu of, such injunctive relief.

If this letter meets your agreement, please execute it below to signify your agreement with its terms. Upon my receipt of the executed letter, I will provide to Interested Party financial information regarding the Real Estate and we will continue our discussions regarding this matter.

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

Up to my Butt in Alligators --- Literally

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:51:26 -0600

February 20, 2007 was interesting to say the least. If this were a game, I think I would have won.

If you have been following along, I have just taken control of an apartment building. Yes, the one wrapped in hay.

Let's see if I can properly lay this out.

Braking and entering - I started my day planning to break and enter about 15 units at the "new" complex. A large knife is used to pry the plastic pieces off of the glass pane near the latch. Once off, you can unhook the latch and open the window. The pane is re-inserted and then the plastic is re-attached using the butt end of the knife to repair. Someone thought installing these windows was a good and safe idea. I think the window guy is a burglar.
Locksmith - Once I was in, the locks needed to be re-keyed. He had a ponytail and looked like he really wanted to meet my new employee.
Rasta Man - This is my new employee. He was working for the former owner as a maintenance guy until they stopped paying him. He still lives at the complex. I found out about him from one of the tenants. Since I needed help, I hired him on the spot. At the end of the day, I went over to his unit to talk with him about the next day. Inside were about 8 guys. All of them had dreadlocks longer than the other. Bob Marley posters and Jamaican flags were hung everywhere. A cursory review of everyone's hand revealed something about 3 inches long, white and smoking. They were all happy. The place smelled funny. I didn't investigate further. I also left before the locksmith did, so I don't know if he finally met Rasta or not. Please Rasta Man, don't cut your thumb off with the Sawz-All, ok?
Humane Society - They arrived unannounced to pick up what had been reported to them as an abandoned pit bull. I didn't have a key, so the locksmith picked the lock and let them in. They fed the dog, but didn't take it with them. Apparently there needs to be a notice posted for at least 24 hours before a removal. I now have a pit bull that is full of dog food in the apartment where someone may or may not be coming back. That's going to smell GREAT.
PoPo (AKA the Cops, the Po-lice, the MAN) - According to Rasta, the lady renting the unit with the pit bull was wanted by the police. I figured we could kill 2 birds with one stone here, so I invited the PoPo to the shin-dig. I was hoping to get rid of everything at once. I'm not that lucky. Amazingly, Rasta was not around for this part???
Dan - Dan is a tenant that lives next door to the "convict in training" with the pit bull. Nice guy. He introduced himself and told me that if I see a short girl, about 20, that was kind of cute and not that fat, that I should say hi to his wife, Sally. Dan wanted to know two things. First, he wanted to know what to do since he didn't have a lease. Second he wanted to know if I was planning to crack down on tenants with exotic pets. Dan has an alligator. It, according to him, is about 2 feet long and nicer than any dog he has ever had. Dan had two questions and so did I. I wanted to know (a) if Dan paid his rent on time and (b) if he was taking the ‘gator with him when he moved out.
Indoor swimming pools - This is what a lovingly call the 2 units that most recently had the pipes burst. I found them while breaking and entering. In front of the units is where I met Dan. Since I am not one to take a risk on the sophistication of my fellow man, I made a point to tell Dan that while this looked like an indoor swimming pool, he needed to keep his ‘gator out of it. I figured there was no sense in taking the risk that he would decide on his own not to do this. Good thing I did. His response..."I was just thinking about that".
No Heat - In Franklin County a tenant that is in a dispute with the landlord can pay rent into an escrow account. If they do, the landlord can not evict for non-payment. (Side Note Reminder - I am not the owner and did not create these problems. I am here to fix them.) If you also pay your gas and electric bills to the escrow, the county figured you are an idiot and overpaid. They do not bring this up to you and they do not forward the money to the utility companies. If you now have no gas and your furnace, hot water heater and range do not work this is not my fault. Pay your bill and they will start to work again. Problem solved.
Snow Removal - The hillbilly snow removal guy plowed the parking lot and put all of the snow ON TOP of the sewer drain. Everything is melting and the parking lot is...you guessed it....an OUTDOOR swimming pool. I probably need to have an updated talk with Dan.
Explosion - At about 3pm a large BOOM was heard. It sounded like about 10 shotguns all went off at once. Dan, Rasta, Locksmith and I were all talking when we heard it. Nobody flinched. I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing.
Giant Cockroaches - Big enough to carry away a baby. I was thinking of calling an exterminator, but think I need the Marines.
Babies & Children - I was there from 11am-4pm on a weekday. What are all the kids doing at home? Is this spring break already? Maybe the adults are using them to bait the roaches. I did hear a bunch of screaming. Someone was yelling "I'm not going to let you get away this time." Maybe I don't need the Marines.

I think I need to just sit down and shake my head for a few minutes. Whew !

The story you have just heard is true. None of the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

Stinky - Stinky

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 10:40:24 -0500

There have been a few posts lately about bad odors in properties and how to get them out. This is a continuous fight in our rentals and reo listings here in Columbus.

Sometimes it is an overpowering pet smell and there is no way to get rid of it other than to rip out the carpet and pad and start over. If you are going to do this, I strongly suggest that you take a few additional steps.

1. Wash the decking with water and Pine Sol. Let it dry.
2. Paint the entire floor with Kilz primer. I like 2 coats.

If you are trying to freshen up a property I like to use a product called OdorXit. It costs about $25 for a small bottle, but you can get about 4 houses out of a single bottle. Mix with water according to the instructions and apply with a garden sprayer. Just spray it on the carpet or other flooring. It will kill smells and leave a faint odor of bubble gum.

This is not the magic bullet as you also need to clean the place!!

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

Another Way Into REO - Or Maybe I am Wrong

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 09:53:03 -0500

I have gotten a lot of emails lately from AR members even though I have not been posting much. Maybe I am burned out a little. Who knows?

The emails have been questions "how to" and "where to go". I am glad to help if I can.

I don't know what advice I can give to the general question of "how can I get started in REO" other than to think about Nike. Just Do It.

Look on the internet and start registering on websites to become a vendor. The main ones as far as I am concerned are http://www.reonetwork.com/ and http://www.reotrans.com/. Be willing to do BPO work. If you ask me, things like Titanium Solutions are a waste of time. That's just me. There are others with a different opinion.

Truth is though that everyone is chasing the same banana. The ever elusive national loan servicer !!! If it were me, and it is me isn't it?

Reminds me of a line in Full Metal Jacket....."Is that you John Wayne, is this me..."

......I'd chase the guy that nobody is chasing, the commercial loan workout guy at your local bank. They are a member of the community and you can drive to see them. To these people, I am a professional. They see what I do in the community. They know the people I know and have respect for people that have respect for my work. They know my attorney, my accountant, my banker and my friends. They see me at hockey games with my family and walking down the street. I run into them at the mall. With these prospects, I probably have instant credibility. They see my signs and "have heard of" me before. I am not a number. My list of A prospects is 460, but only about 10 are national servicers. Over 90% of my effort is spent on these relationships and less than 10% spent on chasing the national guys.

I would also suggest that you find a mentor and work with them. Maybe find a team to work with. The reason for this is that one can not possibly learn everything there is to know overnight. AR is a good place to read and learn too.

Whatever you decide to do, team, no team, self taught or seminars, you need to hunker down and get in the game.

Are you going to screw up a little? Yep. It happens. Is that error going to teach you something? Yep.

I've been doing this for over 10 years and still make a mistake now and then. It happens. You recover and move on.

Here are a few of the things I have learned. They sound simple, but took me a little while to figure out.

•· Use combo lockboxes, not electronic. Buy them online from http://www.bargainlocks.com/ cheaper than from http://www.nuset.com/. They are $10+/- vs. $80 +/- for electronic. Also, sometimes other non-realtor vendors will need access. They don't have lockbox keypads.

•· Use http://www.showings.com/ to set showings and keep track of who is going in and out. This costs about $10 for the life of the listing. This means that for $20 +/- you get the lockbox on, tracking of showings and easier access vs. $80 on an electronic. On your fist listing you have a net increase in revenue of $60.

•· Use basic coroplast signs instead of the fancy ones you use for retail type listings. These cost about $3-$4 each vs. $20 each when you buy 100. Also consider your frame costs at about $17 each. The best price I found was through Jim at http://www.decals-oem.com/. If you do a lot of inner city properties, frames get stolen for the metal value, believe it or not.

•· Think about what your time is worth too. If your material costs into the house is $13 you may not even care about abandoning the material after the sale, especially if you have something more profitable to do.

•· Buy comfortable shoes that are water resistant and have thicker soles. You don't want to step on glass or a nail. I like the hiking shoes from Timberland. They will go with work clothes as well as khaki pants. Great prices on these can usually be found at Target or DSW.

•· Get good vendors. This, like client building, is something you will find over time. Price is important, but so is service. Remember how your clients work with you because of trust? Utilizing a vendor only due to price will cost more. How so? It takes a few minutes to hire a trusted vendor vs. the efforts related to finding the best price and then hoping that the guy does good work. You may also need to spend time checking on the work and supervising the vendor. This takes time and costs you money. Also, a vendor that knows you are loyal will give you a deal on price and put you ahead of others.

•· Spend time building lists of buyers even if you don't work the buyer side. In REO there is a lot of "investor" property. Knowing who buys what and where helps you and your client.

Ok. I'm done for now.

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

REO Tip of the Day

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 10:43:43 -0500

Many of the properties an REO specialist comes across have been abandoned. If you have been inside one, you also know that most of the former occupants will leave a considerable amount of their belongings when they vacate.

If they leave the refrigerator, it should be managed with extreme caution. If the occupants are not going to take their clothes, they not going to take the cottage cheese out of the refrigerator.

DO NOT OPEN THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR.

The smell that comes out may make you gag. Why do you want to look inside anyway? Are you there to make a sandwich? No.

The best thing to do is to wrap the doors closed with duct tape and remove the entire unit.

I was talking with an agent yesterday who is considering joining our firm. In the middle of the conversation, he opened the fridge in a house we were inspecting. This did 2 things. 1, made me re-think bringing him on and 2, made me remember to give this advice to the Rain.

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

Office Condo Near Dublin

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:44:23 -0500

Richard Kruse | Gryphon Realty Advisors | rfk@gryphonusa.com | 614-774-4118

8055 Corporate Blvd. Unit C, Plain City, OH

Great Office / Warehouse Wondo with Possible Owner Financing.

Industrial

offered at $275,000

Year Built	2003
Sq Footage	3,920
Floors	1
Parking	Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	Unspecified
Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Newly remodeled end unit with 2 overhead drivein doors, 4 offices, reception, 2 restrooms, 2 kitchenettes (convert 1 to another office) 1600sf+/- Office & 2200sf+/- Warehouse. Can be split into 2 units. Near Dublin without the taxes. Sale includes built in furninshings and some warehouse racking. Seller will consider lease / purchase option and seller financing.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

New Interior Buildout

Heated Warehouse

Racking System Included

Some Custon Built In Furnishings

LOCATION FEATURES

Near Dublin OH Without Dublin Taxes

Easy Access to 270 Outer Loop

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Motivated Bank Seller

Possible Owner Financing

Possible Lease Option

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Richard Kruse

Gryphon Realty Advisors

rfk@gryphonusa.com

614-774-4118

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 21, 2008, 5:07am PDT

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

Legal Twist

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:10:19 -0500

This question jumps into the realm of license laws, but with a little twist. This came up the other day.

Company A owns a 50% interest in Company B. Company B owns a 100% interest in a real estate development. In Ohio, there are license exclusions that allow direct employees of owners of real property to manage without a licence.

Can employees of Company A manage property owned by Company B in Ohio? Can they do it in your state?

The ruling from the court should come in next week. What do you think it should be? Why?

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

Broker / Manager Need - Cambridge Ohio

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:41:54 -0600

Hi all. I have a new project coming up for about 12 units around Cambridge Ohio, 43725 where I am going to be appointed by the Court as receiver, but my brokerage is pretty far away from the town. I'll deal with the Court, but I think I am too far away to do the field work.

Some single family and it looks like 1 or 2 fourplexes. Eventually we are going to need to sell them and may take them to auction. Right now I need a property manager who may also be able to get listings.

I don't know much except addresses. I looked on REO Network and found a couple of possibilities, but would like to see if I can get an AR member to be involved.

I really want someone within 10 +/- miles of the zip code if possible.

Please email me at rfk@gryphonusa.com or post here if interested and available.

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

$35 / mo. Rental

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Thu, 15 May 2008 06:14:03 -0500

The other day I saw something from afar that I have never seen before. It was a rental house that goes for only $35 a month. We tried to get a little closer to get a better picture, but the "driveway" had too many large potholes for the small SUV I was riding in. Thinking about it, the house rents per month for less than I would have paid ti rent this SUV for a day. My local contact was afraid to walk up. Don't know why.

The house is part of a large court case that I am working on. Eventually I will need to sell it, probably at auction. Luckily, we also have large tracts of acreage.

What is a $35/mo rental worth?

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

You Gotta Ask

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 20:06:05 -0500

Let me introduce myself. I am an opinionated, arrogant, stubborn, sometimes foolish businessman, husband and father. And yes, I think I am always right. My wife, among others, would dispute my absolute correct nature, but many of my babblings ring true. We all quote Those Old Sayings, sometimes we even listen to ourselves.

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

“What goes up, must come down.”

“Don’t run with scissors in your hand.” Ok, that’s probably a good one.

Let’s focus for a minute on one of my favorites.

“IF YOU DON’T ASK, YOU DON’T GET.”

Asking for what you want is the most basic of skills and is learned at the earliest stages of life, yet even the most savvy business people sometimes forget this. If you are a parent, I’ll bet that your 3 year old is the best negotiator you know. They ask for the chips or water or sucker non stop until you give it to them. They have no fear and if you say no, they look at you funny and ask again.

In business, contract negotiations, making a sale or even getting a free meal are matters of asking for what you want. Once a week I need to tell someone that I am not kidding. At least once a month, I am surprised when a seemingly absurd request is complied with.

For example, a few years ago some friends and I went to dinner at a popular Mexican restaurant in Virginia. When the waiter approached, instead of asking for our order he asked what he could do for us that evening. We all looked at each other and responded that we would be pleased if he bought dinner. As it happens, this was a busy night and our real waiter was tied up with other customers. The gentleman who approached us was the regional manager for the chain and he picked up the tab for the evening. In return for his generosity, we didn’t splurge and tipped the waiter very well.

Putting a little more of a local twist on this, let me tell you about my friend Tommy. Tommy is residential builder here in town who, as a side business, buys, rehabs and sells single family properties in the “executive” market. His partners thought that it would be an insult to offer less than 85% of the asking price on any potential project. Their rationale was that the listing brokers were professional and the asking price was what they thought the property should bring. “Should” being key word here. Anyway, Tommy told me the story and asked what I thought.

Well, it’s been a while, but every so often I sit through a “pre-motivational” seminar. You know the ones where they give you a little information and try to sell you the whole program for $499.99? I like the pre-seminar because I can sometimes pick up a nugget or two for free. I remember one speaker that talked so fast there was little opportunity to understand his plug, but I left with my nugget and I regurgitated it to Tommy. It went something like this…….

If you spend the time to review the opportunity and do your research, even if you don’t think it will pan out, spend an extra few minutes and make the offer. The research was the hard part anyway, right? By now you know I am big on sayings, so I added this to the mix. “There is the way it should be and then there is the way it is.” In Tommy’s case, what the professional broker wanted and what the seller would accept were two totally different things. Again, you gotta’ ask.

Individuals including my wife, my banker, my friends and my bookkeeper keep telling me “You can’t ask for that!” Well why not? What is the worst that can happen? Truth is, most business people will say “I can’t do that, but I can do this…”. Many times they just say yes.

So don’t be afraid to ask. Remember, if you don’t ask, you don’t get. So using my Dads old sayings, “swing for the fence” and “give it all you got” because “a free dinner is a lot better than a stick in the eye.” And if that didn’t make my point, think about this question….What did your children get from you today just because they weren’t afraid to ask?

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

The Power of Email

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 05:46:45 -0500

About a year ago I started working with an email program called Constant Contact to make sure that all of our prospects were reached at least once a month via email. We also use the system to advertise our listings and to send press releases.

By proactively buliding the email list for prospects in Ohio, we have increased these lists from 5000 to 45000.

To do this is a team effort. Every contact I make is asked to join my mailing list. I encourage my partners to do the same. By making the email list a part of our conversations, we are able to add about 3-4 people a day, most times more. When we go to trade shows we are collecting business cards and adding folks 200-300 at a time. All you need to do is put a bowl on the exhibit table that says "join our mailing list".

Doesn't sound like it works that fast, huh? Have you heard the saying that deals bring deals? Well the more you are out there on email, the more people forward your info to their sphere. Those people join your mailing list and so on and so on.

I am not sure how well this will work for agents dealing in consumer home sales to end users. I can tell you that it works wonderfully if you are working with repeat buyers and sellers such as financial institutions and investors. We have gotten to the point where we have sent the email about a property and had curb offers back on it before getting the listing in MLS. This fact has actually created a sales pitch to join our list. It is so you can "know first". This has also increased the ability for me to take both sides of a deal and make more money when listing property.

How does this play into an auction scenario? Well that is a story for another time.

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17

Sold ‘Em At The Auction

Rich Kruse (Gryphon USA, Ltd.) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:32:11 -0500

What do 49 individual condos I had listed all have in common? They are all in contract at a price acceptable to the bank and it only took about an hour to do it.

That is the sound bite. It actually took a lot of hard work over the past three weeks to pull it off, but today was a success.

Over the past 3 weeks our office undertook a regional marketing effort that encompassed print media around the region in city and national publications, posted to dozens of websites that spidered out to even more, implemented a media campaign, sent direct mail and held open viewings.

The end result was over 12,000 web hits on our site, close to 100 individual emails and calls and 18 registered bidders. Of the 18 bidders, we are in contract with 8 of them.

All we need to do now is get the contracts approved by the judge and move to closing.

Here is the real interesting part. We offered the properties two ways. First in bulk and then separately. When you look at the gross sales numbers, the sales numbers are only separated by $4950.00. Clearly these properties were sold for what they are worth in today's market.

United Country Ohio Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17