Every time a National Association of Realtor survey comes out, I eagerly get it. Why? It gives us clues into the trends and directions of our industry.A� There are two major reports that come out yearly or every two years: The Member Profile and the Profile of Buyers and Sellers. I highly recommend you get these reports* and use them to educate buyers and sellers. Youa��ll find you become much more credible when youa��re using statistics from a third party source, instead of trying to convince buyers and sellers youa��re righta��because you know youa��re right!

Before you read this, take my true-false a�?exama�� to test what you know about Realtor trends. Click here to get it.

How did you do on the true-false a�?exama��? I didna��t create it to a�?testa�� you. I created it to crush some old assumptions. And, I want to point out what some of these trends mean to you and what we need to do about them.

Note: These reports are available at Realtor.org at a discount for Realtors:

http://www.realtor.org/research-and-statistics/research-reports

In the next few blogs, I’ll discuss some of theseA�true-false statements and show how theya��re important to you and your agents. Ia��ve put the number of the statement before my comments. Let’s tackle #11 first, since it’s time to review your business for last year (2016) and help your agents put together their business plans for 2017.

11. According to the survey, a total of 32% of a Realtor’s business came from past clients and referrals. Doesna��t that seem like very low numbers to you? In fact, 29% of Realtors said they got NO repeat business! That means, as a real estate owner once told me, a�?That agent is in the business one year twenty times.a�? And, even more shocking: 21% of Realtors said they got NO business through referrals! And, the median was only 18%.

Do you know what your agents’ sources of business numbers are? If youa��re a committed real estate agent, you should be getting 70%+ of your business fromA� past clients and referrals. Measure your sources of business right now, and make a plan to capture ____% of your business from these best sources for 2017. Join me in my complimentary business planning webinar on Nov. 8 and I’ll tell you what I think a ‘safe’ number would be as a goal.

Complimentary Business Planning Webinar Coming Up Nov. 8–Grab your Seat NOW!

If youa��re like most real estate professionals, you create some type of a business plan this year. But, maybe it didna��t work for you. Or, maybea��you just didna��t work it! Join us Nov. 8 at 3 PM Pacific time) to get the answers you needa��and the inspirationa��to make a bullet-proof plan for next year.

During this fast-paced webinar youa��ll see:

• Why your plan probably didna��t work for youa��and what to do about it
• How to definitely find out what will work for YOU (not someone elsea��s plan!)
• How to anticipate market shifts (!)
• What to STOP doing in 2017
• What one thing will assure your business plan works
• Bonus: 10 Creative Marketing Ideas for your plan

Included handouts:

1. The strategic planning process created exclusively for real estate professionals by Carla Cross
2. Review: Your best sources of business (so you know what to keep doing and where to stop spending marketing $$$$$)

Managers: Youa��ll get tips on how to help your agents create great plans!

Click here for more information on the webinar and to register.