The Consulting Times Times Community Blog http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/ Times CommunityViews on alternatives to buying/providing real estate services. en Copyright 2012 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:49:02 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification The Game of Life Imagine that you had won the following prize in a contest:

Each morning your bank will deposit $86,400.00 in your private account
for your use. However, this prize comes with rules just like any game has certain rules.

]]> http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2012/01/imagine-that-you-had-won.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2012/01/imagine-that-you-had-won.html Opinions inspire new jersey pennsylvania real estate realtor title isurance Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:49:02 -0500 Feel Like a Light at the end of the Tunnel! I just wanted write to say I am proud to be a an ACRE and I feel like there is light at the end of a dark tuneel! I've already got my frst real estate consulting job next week and I am so happy to not only sell real estate but I can add this to my business to generate a steadier income and provide a viable service. Great to be here! 

]]> http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/12/feel-like-a-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/12/feel-like-a-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel.html Opinions Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:55:21 -0500 Is anyone going to Inman Connect in January? The price is pretty steep, but the sessions look pretty good. I may consider going if other ACREs will be there. We should plan a meetup! http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/12/is-anyone-going-to-inman-connect-in-january.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/12/is-anyone-going-to-inman-connect-in-january.html Ask the ACRE Council Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:33:37 -0500 A New Beginning for ACRE®

Instead of issuing a formal Press Release, reprinted here is the communication sent out to ACRE®s today:

***********************************************

"When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge."  -Tuli Kupferburg

Dear ACRE®s:

Of all the industries that are susceptible to complacency, real estate is probably tops. When things are sort of "working" we get into our comfort zone. And folks, yours truly is no different. ACRE® has experienced tremendous growth since it was founded five years ago and while we could continue to do what we've been doing, I believe that in order for ACRE® to not just grow, but rather flourish and become a major force of change in real estate, it's time for a new beginning.

Therefore, after months of contemplation and soul-searching, I've made the difficult, but I believe, right decision to hand the baton of CBW - Chief Bottle Washer, (or for you more formal types, CEO) of ACRE® over to Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn.

I'm very excited about this change. Jennifer's SWS organization aligns and complements the consulting mindset beautifully. As I'm sure that she will detail more, Jennifer has great plans to enlarge the scope and reach of the merged companies while keeping the integrity of ACRE® intact.

]]> http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/11/a-new-beginning-for-acre.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/11/a-new-beginning-for-acre.html News Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:25:07 -0500 AR Post about charging a retainer fee I think you all will find this post very interesting and I hope our voices will be heard loud and clear in support of the retainer. Please comment.

]]> http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/ar-post-about-charging-a-retainer-fee-1.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/ar-post-about-charging-a-retainer-fee-1.html Opinions Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:46:53 -0500 How the 99 Cent Song Saved the Music Industry and What Real Estate Can Learn Thumbnail image for iTunes LogoWith the death of Steve Jobs, much has been written about the incredible contributions he made to the computer industry. Much less noted was the fact that he also revolutionized five other industries: animated movies, music, phones, table computing, and digital publishing.

There are so many lessons to be learned from the genius of Mr. Jobs but for now, let’s focus on just ONE of the industries he transformed by climbing into the old time machine to remember the music industry prior to iTunes.

]]> http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/how-the-99-cent-song-saved-the-music-industry-and-what-real-estate-can-learn.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/how-the-99-cent-song-saved-the-music-industry-and-what-real-estate-can-learn.html Opinions Paradigm shift Apple choice consulting real estate Steve Jobs Think Different Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:25:34 -0500 Some Day We'll Look Back at This and It Will All Seem Funny Bruce Springsteen's' Rosalita  was just playing on the radio, the line, "Some Day We'll Look Back on This and It Will All Seem Funny" resonated to me as a question for real estate professionals. What about real estate today would you think will seem funny 5, 10 or maybe 20 years from now?

]]> http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/some-day-well-look-back-at-this-and-it-will-all-seem-funny.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/some-day-well-look-back-at-this-and-it-will-all-seem-funny.html Paradigm shift Alternative Commission Models Alternative Compensation Real Estate Ala Carte Rebates Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:12:42 -0500 What Does It Take? New VAR Article VAR Article Cover WhatDoesItTake?I'm so excited to share with our readers the cover article in this month's Virginia Association of Realtors® magazine "What Does It Take? - The Skills Brokers Want, The Training Realtors Need" featuring ACRE® Industry Partner Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn and me!

It's an insightful article and a must-read for forward looking professionals. Let us know your thoughts!

VARArticleWhatDoesItTake10-2011.pdf

]]> http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/what-does-it-take-new-var-article.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/what-does-it-take-new-var-article.html News Paradigm shift Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:01:37 -0500 Being Jewish, A funny Friday Happy New Year Look As a general  principle, Jewish holidays are divided between days on which you must starve and days on which you must overeat.  Many Jews observe no fewer than 16 fasts  throughout the Jewish year, based on the time-honored principle that even if you are sure that you are ritually purified, you definitely aren't.
 

 

Though there are many feasts and fasts, there are no holidays requiring light snacking.
 
Note: Unlike Christians, who simply attend church on special days (e.g. Ash Wednesday), on Jewish holidays most Jews  take the whole day off.  This is because Jews, for historical and personal reasons, are more stressed out.

 

 
]]> http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/being-jewish-a-funny-friday-happy-new-year-look.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/being-jewish-a-funny-friday-happy-new-year-look.html Opinions just for fun laugh love Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:49:41 -0500 This Month's FAQ: Won't I Make Less Money Charging By Fee? Each month we will answer a frequently asked question about real estate consulting.

Thumbnail image for FAQ's

This Month's FAQ:

If you're paid a fee for the services you provide or paid by the hour, don't you make less money than by commission?

]]> http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/this-months-faq-wont-i-make-less-money-charging-by-fee.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/this-months-faq-wont-i-make-less-money-charging-by-fee.html Ask the ACRE Council commission fee for service fees Fri, 07 Oct 2011 05:20:39 -0500 Why I Became an ACRE® - October 2011 Our continuing feature about what attracted some of our newer ACRE®s to consulting...

Nicole BeauchampNicole Beauchamp - New York, NY

I actually read about the program in Inman News a few weeks ago, and decided I would take it all in.  Before starting in real estate in the early 2000s I actually had a consulting background (software architecture, business planning), so the ideas aren't new to me, but trying to determine how to apply them in a real estate practice and this fit perfectly. I look forward to connecting and participating on the forums here and learning more that I can apply to continue to enhance my business.

 

]]> http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/why-i-became-an-acre---october-2011.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/why-i-became-an-acre---october-2011.html The ACRE course Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:39:10 -0500 Why offer respectful choice when you can make more money from forced compliance and social pressure? Is it any wonder that market-leading organizations fear the "A-Typical"?  The defining idea of the twentieth century, more than any other was mass.

Mass gave us efficiency and productivity, making us (some people) rich.  Mass gave us huge nations, giving us (some people) power.  Mass allowed powerful people to influence millions, giving us (some people) control.

And now Mass is dying!

]]> http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/why-offer-respectful-choice-when-you-can-make-more-money-from-forced-compliance-and-social-pressure.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/why-offer-respectful-choice-when-you-can-make-more-money-from-forced-compliance-and-social-pressure.html Paradigm shift a Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:02:36 -0500 Real estate agents' dirty tricks revealed THEY may seem like they chasing the best deal for home buyers and sellers but many real estate agents play property like Monopoly and love to cheat.

From preying on your grief to using cunning scare tactics to close a deal, real estate agents can be as cunning as the meanest in any commission-based business.   

While most agents act professionally, there are many ways agents charge an "idiots tax" on those who don't know what they are doing.

Potential buyers are usually canny enough to recognize that "cozy" is shorthand for "tiny", that "close to public transport" actually means beside the train line and that "bathroom with views" may mean the toilet is outside the back door.

]]> http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/real-estate-agents-dirty-tricks-revealed.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/real-estate-agents-dirty-tricks-revealed.html Paradigm shift Alternative Commission Models Alternative Compensation Real Estate Ala Carte Rebates Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:56:31 -0500 Think Different - The Best Tribute to Steve Jobs Steve JobsWIth the passing of Steve Jobs, there will be many tributes but in my humble opinion, there will be none as encompassing, nor one as important to the challenges we face in our industry as the simple recitation of his 1998 ad "Think Different":

Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo.

]]> http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/think-different---the-best-tribute-to-steve-jobs.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/10/think-different---the-best-tribute-to-steve-jobs.html Opinions Apple Steve Jobs Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:17:43 -0500 Buyers Will Pay a Fee Please check out my post on ActiveRain titled:  Who Says Buyers Won't Pay For Their Services?

 

]]> http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/09/buyers-will-pay-a-fee.html http://www.theconsultingtimes.com/blog/archives/2011/09/buyers-will-pay-a-fee.html Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:34:31 -0500