Matt Kofsky's (mattkofsky) Blog

Last month, Dec 2007, there were 196 sale of single family homes in Reno/Sparks Nevada.  There are about 2500 real estate agents in this area.  There is nothing that any of the agents can do to increase that number to 197.  Working harder won't change it, working smarter won't change it.  The onl...

I've wondered about this for a long time.  How many brokers think that real estate is a numbers game?  If they hire ten agents and nine quit the business, they are better off because they make money from the one.  They also make money from the nine before they leave.  If they think that way, they...

There are numerous blogs that suggest if you work hard you will be a success.  End of discussion.  If not, you are a failure. You didn't work hard enough and you can always work harder or smarter.  They also say that if you leave real estate, you are a failure.  I don't believe in name calling.  ...

I just saw an interesting blog headline.  I clicked on it.  I read it.  At the end it turned out to be just an ad for the bloggers business.  Is there someway these can be labeled as an advertisement?  If they provide information in the blog, that is ok, but if it is 100% an ad, it is very mislea...

There have been some blogs about people leaving real estate.  Since they are posted here, most of the people are still doing real estate.  So do you know people who are leaving or have left real estate?  I have a good friend, a single mom, who left after about eight years in the business.  She no...

Back in the stone age, I was taught that you always put fliers in a flier box outside a listing and some extras inside the house.  You should print up extra fliers and passed them out to the neighbors (door knocking).  You should also mail out just listed postcards to the neighbors.  If you do an...

About a year ago, I got a lead from a seller wanting to sell some vacant land about 30 miles from town.  I called and talked with owner, a nice 70 year old lady who had moved away and wanted to sell.  She was super nice, we had a couple of hour long conversations.  I realized that I needed help, ...

I just showed a home today.  It is an REO.  It has been listed for six days.  There was no for sale sign on the property, no fliers.  It had been winterized.  The previous owner had left a bunch of stuff behind.  There was a mattress on the floor, there were kids games and misc furniture, there w...

I had a broker who felt that he was the expert on all things real estate.  If you asked him a question, he had an answer.  And you better do what he said.  I asked him a question about internet marketing.  He responded something like "I tried that three years ago and it didn't work."  End of disc...

One of my pet peeves is agents who talk to much.Me:  I'd like to make a showing appointment for your property at 123 Main St.Them:  You would?  You are the first agent to show this property in three months.  The owners can't get divorced until the house sells.  They are very motivated.  They will...