Ray Carman – Auctioneer

Recently my friend Bill Seaver published a post with the most recent Facebook user stats. To say the least they are quite astounding. It never ceases to amaze how many people have joined FaceBook and how much time they spend there daily. I have personally been on Facebook for a few years, and this past year incorporated a Fan Page for our Auction business.

The big question is how will this media outlet be a factor in Auctions? Personally, I think it is going to be huge. Here is a few reasons why -

1. The visibility of your auction can reach millions in the matter of minutes. If an auction is properly marketed on FB, then you could see residual hits from friends and fans re-posting the ad/video/article in the matter of minutes. This past fall, I saw first hand how it could work as people quickly spread some of our videos around and our hits went up dramatically.

2. You can use FB to reach your friends when you are going to have am auction. They in turn can pass the word to their friends, and on and on. Once again, this brings immediate attention to the auction sale, and if the ad, pictures, and/or video are interesting, then it will spread quickly.

3. Facebook allows for those last minute updates and reminders to millions where email data bases are limited in their scope.

4. Facebook allows for real time updates from the auction site which I think people find interesting. This can in turn lead to some real time opportunities for people to bid online for items up for sale. This is going to be a process in progress, but I can really see some huge potentials with it.

Thanks to Bill for publishing those stats and lets see how Facebook drives our auctions this year!

Ray Carman

I was browsing through some articles that I enjoy reading and happened upon one in which a person gave a list of reasons why they LOVE their job! It was pretty incredible to see some amazing angles this person came at their occupation from. Some of the reasons were even what most folks might call a “negative,” however, this individual had found something good to embrace even from these instances which made their job even more desirable to them.

SO, that got me to thinking about why I love my job. Here is what I came up with…..

1. I enjoy how Real Estate and Auctioning allow me to meet new and different people constantly. Rarely is any one day the same.

2. I also enjoy the job security. Seeing as how I work for myself, my job is secure as long as I continue to work. Everyday there is something I can do to either find new work, further myself in present work, or finish a transaction that is in process.

3. I find assisting people to be thrilling. Some people apologize for “bothering me” with questions about “work,” but I am never bothered simply because assisting others in Real Estate and Auctions is “fun” to me.

4. I love the challenge of getting “it” done. It is a RARE thing to have a deal run without any hic-cups, and I enjoy the challenge of making it through those moments and coming out a better agent on the other side.

5. I like constant change! Looking at houses and farms that each have a unique character keeps my spirits high. I especially enjoy walking around a farm, up and down hills, to discover what treasures God has placed in each cavity of His creation.

6. I enjoy the flexibility of my schedule. Having young children, I have always wanted to be as involved as I could in their lives. Selling Real Estate and doing Auctions allows me to set my schedule in order to be more involved in theirs! And family has always been on top of my list!

7. Remember change? Well, seeing as the flexibility of Real Estate allows for me to work from almost anywhere, I can have an array of office spaces. I can work at home, at a local restaurant (especially if they offer free wi-fi), or just about anywhere my vehicle can take me!

8. I like keeping up with the cutting edge of things. I am not a a “techy” person, but I do enjoy keeping up with how technology can help me in assisting sellers and buyers with reaching their dreams! And with the internet, most of that can be used for free!

9. I like Realtors. I enjoy meeting and talking to others in the business! I especially enjoy speaking to those who keep a positive outlook no matter what!

10. I find what I do extremely FUN! Yes, I said fun! I enjoy nothing more than completing a transaction, Real Estate or Auction, from start to finish! I enjoy the opportunities I receive to auctioneer and cry a sale. I enjoy working through a contract and seeing people excited about the outcome!

11. And lastly, I enjoy Failing! Yes, failure. It is through my many failures I have found the roads to success. Once a mistake is made, a lesson is learned which gives guidance and direction for the journey ahead! If it were all a bed of roses with no thorns, then the grains of success would be shallow!

That is my top 10 ( I mean 11) list. Why do you enjoy what you do?

If you are in need of assistance in Real Estate or Auctions ( estates, farms, houses, commercial) in the Sumner County and surrounding areas, or you know of someone who could benefit from our services, please call me at 615-428-4920, or email me at RayCarman@gmail.com.

Have a great week!

My father is a preacher, and he often uses an illustration that a light bulb can provide light to a room, BUT, take that same energy from the bulb ans pinpoint the light into a single beam, and with that laser you can cut through steel!

What can this story tell us about Real Estate? Simple:

You can run around and try to use every technoligy available, You can replicate yourself on many sites, You can input listings in virtually innumerable websites. You can spread yourself across the board representing all kinds of properties and clients. And you will light up a room.

Or, you can find your “groove.” Stick with what you are knowledgable ;of. Narrow your web prescence and input to a single site with many contributing factors. And choose your area of passion in Real Estate and FOCUS! If you do that, you will succeed in cutting through the “steel” in your market and grow stronger in your passion for your work.

What is your “laser beam” area?

to find out what you want to know regarding Real Estate in Middle Tennesse and regarding Auctions. SO, fire away! What topics do you want to know about? Throw me either a question or topic for discussion! We will then post them both here and at ISurfSumner.com

Email them to RayCarman@gmail.com or post in the comment section below.

Two years ago, I started a new personal journey in Real Estate.  It began be leaving behind a well established (98 years) family Real Estate and Auction business to start a new company doing the exact same thing, but without the big bills of the store front office. To be honest, it was rather nerve racking, as all the business sense said this was crazy. For me, it was moving from the well known into the Great Unknown in the Well Beyond!

I had a mission, a burning question, and a desire to know if some ideas I had were true or just unrealistic dreams.

My mission was to incorporate some fresh marketing ideas with the grounded tradition my family had put into the business. In our ever changing world, it is rather difficult to stay with the curve, much less ahead of it. Yet, something in me was screaming that I could sell Real Estate with all the integrity and hard work I had learned from my family without the typical large expenses incurred by owning a major store front office and spending the advertising money in the traditional ways (news papers and magazines.) I had gotten to a point that I just HAD to know if this were true.

My burning question was, could I do this while maintaining my sales volume, and yet free up some time for more “play time” with my two young daughters? Could I do this without sacrificing the things that meant most to me? To be honest, it seemed crazy, especially since I was going to have to start from scratch and without any family support outside of my wife and kids! (a 3 yr old and 2 yr old think Dad can do anything)!

Two years have passed, and this is what I have learned to date:

1. YES, you can sell real estate, and effectively, without a store front office. I was given permission by my City to join the ranks of some “old timers” and run my office from my home. They also agreed other agents could work under me as long as they do not come “work” out of my house. ( I love my affiliates, but I do not want them working at my home anyway, so this stipulation has been easy to adhere to!) The Pro’s are you do not have all the bills and mortgage to pay each month that accompany a big office. The con’s one might say is not having a place to “meet clients” or have a traffic count each day for market recognition. There is also not the place to “retreat to work” when you need a place to be to yourself to do paperwork or type a post. I would also counter each of these con’s with the following: rarely do clients need to come to you to meet you. Typically you can meet them at their place or a neutral site and these can be found everywhere (restaurants, coffee shops, etc…). These same places can be used to retreat for work like writing this post as now many places offer free WiFi connections. For the “market recognition,” having an office does gain you some visibility, but the amount of “walk-in” traffic does not pay for the office by any means, and in these days, you are measured by your ability to sell and also the old method of “word of mouth” still brings in the largest amount of your business. If you have your signs up on properties and people see you moving those properties, you will gain plenty of office and personal recognition for your business to maintain and grow.

2. YES, my ideas in marketing have turned out to be correct. In my two years, I have purposely not run any ads in local papers or magazines promoting property. I have run only 4 ads in that time doing a self promotion of myself and our Auction services. Instead of these high cost ads, we have placed the properties on various websites (MLS, Realtor.com, Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Craigslist, and some others) and have seen great traffic to each property and a typical sales rate on the properties properly priced. I honestly cannot see any negatives to this approach personally, although some would argue that ads in the local papers brings you recognition in the local area. This could be true. But, with over 90% of todays buyers doing all their research online, they are not even picking up a paper to look at real estate, and therefore, your ability to be seen appears to be better online and through activity, than in the local papers and magazines. (If you remember this post, LA Times has now dropped their real estate section due to low traffic count and ad purchases by real estate professionals)

3. It has not been easy. Although the business has been tremendously blessed, there have been consequences. Some family relationships from the former business have been strained, and some even broken. It has required much effort to maintain the business and get it on its feet, much like teaching a child to walk. And when you are used to running (in the family business), it is hard to go back to a crawl and teach a new thing to go from scratch. And at times, it has been extremely taxing on my time. But when measured in a cup, I have experienced both my personal worst and best productive months during this time. I have been privileged to be joined by some great agents, and have seen my time with my family increase. And now, as bills continue to be paid, and business has been increasing, it seems as of weighed in the balance, it is possible to be effective in this business of Real Estate and Auctions without the huge overhead of a store front office and traditional marketing methods.

The days of tomorrow are here, and we are hoping to be a part of that future. If you would be interested in how we can help market your property, or would like to see if Priority One might be a fit for you in the Real Estate world, please give us a call or drop me an email, RayCarman@gmail.com.

And I will not let this post be complete without giving praise and honor to God for being the rock on which this company is built. He is our Priority and we strive to serve him in all we do! “Thank you Jesus for this opportunity to serve you in the world of Real Estate and Auctions!”

of Real Estate and the News Paper.

Today I read this post and it resonated what we have been talking about for awhile. The days of the Newspaper and Real Estate are coming to an end. With the Internet Era alive and thriving, the need for large chinks of paper and ink to tell you the stories and availability of property are quickly coming to an end.

And all the trees said “Hallelujah!”

on those who are brave enough to work with me! I have been blessed and honored to have these people join Priority One.

1. Steve Griffin. Steve came on board in the beginning of 2007. He has been a valuable asset as we have worked through handling a model home and getting a new program off the ground, FisboPro.com. If you have a home you want listed on MLS but not totally sold on paying a full commission, be sure to give Steve a call and he will be glad to get you going for a flat fee. 615-557-8010.

2. Kelly Koch. Just this year Kelly came over and already has been a huge asset to Priority One. She is an excellent Buyer’s Specialist who knows how to listen and get you what you are looking for. She has taken care of some clients and all have praised her work and efforts. She really knows how to take care of her clients! You can reach her at 615- 775-5141.

3. Jennifer Rowland. I have never met someone so determined to see her clients successful in their endeavors. Jennifer handles Property Management for us and does a superior job. She has only recently transferred over, but has been handling a large amount of property for investors for the past several years. She will be a great asset to anyone looking for a property manager. She can be reached at 615-708-9916.

On top of all this, all of these guys are fully trained and able to help you with any property you would like to list with a Real Estate Professional. I am thrilled to have them on board here at Priority One.

Also, I would be happy to answer any questions you might have regarding Real Estate and/or Auctions. I can always be reached at 615-428-4920.

If you are a hard working agent or a determined rookie, we would be happy to speak with you about whether or not Priority One is a fit for you.  615-824-0044

When asked this week how you obtain a listing or an auction, I had one simple answer, “Spread the word!”

Like I have been saying most of this year, sometimes the oldest ways are the best. Having people spread the word about you being in the business is the most effective form of advertising you can have. A simple referral from one person can mean the difference between making it, or simply breaking down!

If you take a peak, you can always find a realtors ad saying something like, “A referral is the highest compliment you could ever give me!” And, that is true. If a Realtor does their job and earns your trust and respect, telling your friends and family about how great they were will typically pick them up additional business, thus insuring they will be around when you need them again.

Bad news does the same thing, but twice as fast and for twice as long. Heard the old saying, ” NO one ever remembers the good things I have done, and they never forget the bad things either!” Bad news unfortunately travels twice as fast and has twice the gas that Good News does.

With all that in mind, it is key to remember to “Spread the Word” about you being in the business to any, and everyone you know. Whether an acquaintance, business person you do work with, or friends and family, everyone should know you are in the business and what all you can do for them. You might be a Listing Specialist, but that does not mean you cannot refer a buyer and pick up a referral fee in the process. And vice-versa.  You may not do auctions or even work for a company that does auctions, but that should not keep you from letting friends and family know you can find a great auction company to work with and pick up a co-brokers commission. There are endless ways to make a living in the Real Estate Field, but the key will be that old time marketing scheme of “Spreading the Word!” And the cool thing about our day and age, with social networking and Web 2.0, that has become alot easier and simpler.

(p.s. If you are a Realtor and would like to know how you can start earning some extra commissions through Auction referrals, drop me an email today, Ray@RayWCarman.com

I stumbled across this post today and thought it was well worth the read. As I have driven myself to know things that are ahead, I have learned those things from the past are still VERY relevant.

Remember snail mail? You know, where you actually write or type something and place it in an envelope, lick it, stamp it, and stick it out for the postmaster to deliver. In our brave world of technology, we often forget that many of those who have money to buy or land/houses to sell, are people without a computer in their home. I know for a fact that many of my most promising clients will never read this post because they do not have access to the internet.

How about that old fashion thing of face to face talking. You remember how we use to pull up a chair and just talk it over for awhile. With our cell phones, emails, and texting, some people seem to be left out of the conversation. Once again, these are the same people who have the where-with-all to survive times when things are difficult. These are also the people who have been doing this since I was in diapers and they have learned a thing or two on how to make it when things get tough.

Anybody remember the old timey referral system? When someone who you had worked for, or a friend from church passed along your name to someone else for business. Instant credibility! In our brave new world of “social networking”, sometimes we get caught up in the whirlwind of letting as MANY people we can know we are here and available to assist them in their transaction, but we forget our neighbors and people whom we live around on a daily  basis!

Believe it or not, these old systems are still as vital to your business as the cell phone with internet access, the laptop with all its accessories, or all the social networking or blogging we can do. So while you are out making your mark in the Web 2.0 world, don’t forget those folks who have been there and done this since we were just thoughts on someones mind. They have the knowledge and resources (contacts) that just might be the difference between you making it in this business, or working behind someones counter taking orders!

I am always on the lookout for another forum in which to present real estate and auction material and ads. In this case, I have come across a site that is pinpointed locally and full of content and very user friendly.

isurfsumner.com was introduced to me by Bill Seaver of Micro Explosion Media. Today I was honored to meet with the creator of the site, Ben Fisher. Ben has worked feverishly for the past 15 months to build a central resource site that is focused in on Sumner County. Whether you are looking for a place to eat, a local business, local news, local real estate, local events, and now, local auctions, this is a site you will be well pleased to see. Combining the power of news articles, local directories, and personal ingenuity, Ben has created a site that will be useful to all folks in Sumner County, TN. So if you need to find a church, fitness club, doctor, or a cleaners, you can use this site as a one-stop-shop!

For me, and my industry, it offers great opportunities to input local listings and auctions for the public to have a central location they can visit for local real estate properties. With local Realtors and Auctioneers contributing both articles and available properties to the site, one can find a great resource for finding the perfect fit for them on this site.

My appreciation to Ben for all his hard work in putting together this great local resource.