Logos for the New Business...another round.

[Flasch186]

Well:

We are a local Real Estate Brokerage of professionally trained Agents that work with our customers to achieve their goals so 'Pull up a Chair' wouldnt be an unrealistic caption. (This is in contrast to many brokerages out there who think that they control their customer's desires - ie. Coldwell Banker just announced that they'll push their sellers to lower their prices by $8,000 and market it as a 'continuation of the tax credit'...how is that in each customer's individual best interests?). We will offer Full Seller Services (long list of services), we will offer a Flat Fee Option for the do it yourselfer wherein their Fee goes towards their 'Full Service Commission' should they switch to the Full Service portion of the brokerage. We will offer a terrific website for Buyer's and a local expertise (this isnt very different from other good realtors sans the website as we think our site is going to be awesome!). We are all Full Time agents thus your agent (who pays for their own marketing at most Brokerages) will be more willing to invest in marketing your home to get it sold vs. the Part-timers who cant or wont invest in marketing your home. With over 30 years of experience within the co. the Team Selling approach is going to be important. When you go with Round Table you dont get one Agent to only work with who will call their Broker on occasion for questions, with our Mentoring program at the co. and the Team aspect you'll be able to get help from ALL the Associates at the company and ALL of the Associates at the co. will be working to help you reach your goals. <-(This is a big one to me) We also know new construction like nobody's business since we worked for builders for so long.

We have a leg of the plan that is built for Home Builder site agents that Id rather not expand on yet but is very neat. Since we dont own our own Mortgage or Title Co. when we tell a customer that we have no 'kickbacks' going on and truly can focus on their needs and wants we mean it.

*There is a ton more, including a lot of facets for Real Estate Associates that come to work for us and internals of the co.(since that is a large portion of the business that there isnt a need to expand upon here)

[albionmoonlight]

Awesome. Best of luck, man.

[Flasch186]

this is what itll look like on the back of the car:

[DaddyTorgo]

cool. looks nice.

[Flasch186]

I think we launch early next week (finally) as the local MLS seems to be trying to fix a picture resolution issue. Very exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. Big thanks to those of you that previewed the website and gave me pointers....Thank you. Here's a posed shot for our office photo on the site:

[DaddyTorgo]

Hey Flasch - tell me about that leather chair in the picture...I need a chair for my new desk...

[Swaggs]

Two things:

Is there a body of water in your backyard?

Is there a ghost entering the room?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Might wanna airbrush that photo a little bit (if you're using it full size), the magazine logo in the bottom left really shouldn't be visible unless you've got permission (or are the publisher).

Spiffy looking office IMO.

[Flasch186]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

Two things:

Is there a body of water in your backyard?

Is there a ghost entering the room?

A creek in the back

Its our 3rd partner and we were going for energy but will probably have to redo the shot at some point to better convey.

Thanks Jon, Ill look at that...it is our Local Realtor's Asssoc. publication so Im not sure they'd care. We certainly pay them enough.

DT, the chair was free {shrug} seems fine. Too snooty IMO...but free.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

A creek in the back

Its our 3rd partner and we were going for energy but will probably have to redo the shot at some point to better convey.

Thanks Jon, Ill look at that...it is our Local Realtor's Asssoc. publication so Im not sure they'd care. We certainly pay them enough.

DT, the chair was free {shrug} seems fine. Too snooty IMO...but free.

Haha...nice!

[MizzouRah]

I like #2 either blue or red much better, but that's me.

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

Is there a ghost entering the room?

I think it's a ghost that took the last twix bar out of the vending machine.

[johnnyshaka]

Not to be a stickler...but none of those desks (tables) are round.

[Flasch186]

a school of Manatees went swimming by today too, very cool and hopefully a blessing for a big week next week.

[Flasch186]

Just wanted to let everyone know we had our first closing with he new co. a few days ago. I made a lil blog post about it here:

Jacksonville, Florida Condo ~ shortsale to closing in under 45 days

Thanks for all of your support guys and if you wanna friend us, our Facebook box is in the bottom left corner of that page.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

Just wanted to let everyone know we had our first closing with he new co. a few days ago. I made a lil blog post about it here:

Jacksonville, Florida Condo ~ shortsale to closing in under 45 days

Thanks for all of your support guys and if you wanna friend us, our Facebook box is in the bottom left corner of that page.

Great news - congratulations!!

[Flasch186]

Something weird neat happened yesterday. A developer with a TON of land around here has brought us on as consultants and basically installed us as the marketing and sales arm of a small builder he has blessed with some lots. So starting tomorrow we begin a business and branding model to help try to get this builder a toe hold in Nassau County and thus move 'lots' for the developer... We'll earn an override on sales and as the realtionship grows the road could lead to better things. who knows, low risk though.

Therefore RTR now has a Sales and Marketing division for Small Builders

Probably right in our wheelhouse based on our experience.

[Flasch186]

Really good follow up convo today with the developer and we met the salesman and he seemed excited about the prospects of what we could do for them in polish and marketing. Could be a nice bit of somewhat passive income for the co. when we amp them up.

We've got some great ideas marketing wise to help accentuate the local personal flavor this homebuilder brings in quality and attention to detail tat you most certainly wont get from the big box builder across the street.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

Something weird neat happened yesterday. A developer with a TON of land around here has brought us on as consultants and basically installed us as the marketing and sales arm of a small builder he has blessed with some lots. So starting tomorrow we begin a business and branding model to help try to get this builder a toe hold in Nassau County and thus move 'lots' for the developer... We'll earn an override on sales and as the realtionship grows the road could lead to better things. who knows, low risk though.

Therefore RTR now has a Sales and Marketing division for Small Builders

Probably right in our wheelhouse based on our experience.

Sweet!

[Flasch186]

The owner of the business has been super inviting, admits that he has no marketing skills at all and has invited is to join him. Its looking great as a tranche of the business unanticipated. Keith just got an offer accepted for a buyer @ $318K which is a steal and she is happy as can be and our website just brought in an inquiry from S. Florida looking at a cash offer on an REO over $600K! Our site had over 7,000 pageviews in the last 30 days! So things are looking pretty good out of the gates, i'd think and my stomach doesnt hurt so bad.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

The owner of the business has been super inviting, admits that he has no marketing skills at all and has invited is to join him. Its looking great as a tranche of the business unanticipated. Keith just got an offer accepted for a buyer @ $318K which is a steal and she is happy as can be and our website just brought in an inquiry from S. Florida looking at a cash offer on an REO over $600K! Our site had over 7,000 pageviews in the last 30 days! So things are looking pretty good out of the gates, i'd think and my stomach doesnt hurt so bad.

awesome news!!

[Flasch186]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

awesome news!!

thanks man!

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

thanks man!

no prob. been there in the whole starting-a-business scary-as-hell thing. well okay...i didn't start it...but i came in when it was still in the red and not successful...so i'll count that.

[Flasch186]

Hey guys, here's a customer we recently helped and their testimonial. Slow progress but progress nonetheless.

[tarcone]

Very cool.

In about 20 years my wife and I will be looking in the St Augustine area to retire. I will look you up.

[Flasch186]

Latest testimonial Dave put together:

[AnalBumCover]

Little videography tips on the testimonials: have a B camera filming at 45 degree angle, maybe zoomed in on the subjects' faces.

Maybe the B camera can be off in the distance with the just sold home in the background? It'd work if the A camera can zoom in to the subjects without being in the shot of B. Of course you'd need a wireless mic.

Also a bit of mellow royalty-free music to add effect.

Just some ideas to make the video easier to watch.

Great stuff though.

[Flasch186]

We had a slight shakeup at the co. today. One of the 3 of us has really been pulled in a different direction with businesses that he is involved with in addition to the brokerage and after much consternation and some internal grumbling we had to have the talk.

The 3rd agreed with our analysis of the situation and what he can bring to the table, no pun intended and it boiled down to an end to deferred commissions while he will be made whole for everything he is owed, and he will be reduced in how much equity he owns with the ability to get it back should he want to recommit to the RTR.

He continues to provide free office space, allows us to use his admins (part-time) who are his sisters and hes still involved for his equity in the co. Its amicable, sad in a way but Im also happy for him that his other irons in fires have allowed him to make this choice.

[fantom1979]

Glad that it went well overall. Sounds like its one of those situations that could have got ugly.

[MIJB#19]

Apologies in advance for the delayed reply.

Originally Posted by stevew

Not so much the logo, I just really want to throw an "N" in there somewhere strategically.

That's because the Dutch version is N-less. And the second part would be C-less.

Yeah, I know I missed it the first time around.

[Flasch186]

A recent testimonial from one of our customers:

"After having such a pleasant experience on the RoundTable website, we met up with Howard to see what Jacksonville had to offer us. We went from contract to closing on an FHA mortgage in just over a month! With Howard's past construction experience, he isn't afraid to point out houses with potentially troublesome floorplans, structural money pits, etc. He learns your personal tastes and individual needs to the point where he actually knows what you need better than you do. He's a true consultant of his trade, and not simply a yes-man with MLS access that are so common these days. RoundTable is a fresh, alternative re-imagining of an industry dominated by technologically-challenged hucksters."

[JediKooter]

I love that last line: re-imagining of an industry dominated by technologically-challenged hucksters.

Why is it SO freaking hard for realtors to have pictures of the inside of the house????? I don't care one freshly minted cent, what the sign for the community looks like.

[Logan]

If it's possible, I would say that testimonial may be too good.

[Flasch186]

Today's testimonial we received for a closing we had on Monday... Im really proud of this one:

Attention all service members, Certified Distressed Property Expert!!! CDPE- never thought when I was buying my first home in 2006 that I would need one. It***8217;s amazing what can happen in a single tour of duty. With transfer season fast approaching and my home upside down by 60% things were not looking good. Service members know when it***8217;s time to move to your next station Uncle Sam is not interested in your problems. Enter Howard Flaschen, (Real Estate Super Hero) and Keith Francis, (Photography Super Genius). They took me step by step through the process from start to finish, making this experience more comfortable and handled my short sale with a positive attitude and unprecedented support. My core values are Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty. Howard and Keith displayed the same core values when working with me, (they did most of the work) to bring a less than desirable situation to a recoverable end. During this long 6 month journey of ups and downs, Howard kept me up-to-date on the whole process no matter where I was deployed. Roundtable Realty is squared away! Thank you both very much for all that you did.

[DaddyTorgo]

off-topic, what's the malfunction with the board and apostrophes in pasted text lately??

it's fuckin annoying. can we get a mod to look at it in between deleting pics??

[Flasch186]

Hey guys n gals,

I just wanted to brag a bit if you dont mind. We seem to be somewhat reaching a stabilization point after struggling to get our feet for a year. Tomorrow we're closing over $800K in homes and next week we close over a million in homes and July is looking good as well. To boot, we're making a name for ourselves and our customers are happy. We desperately need Realtors to join us to grow past stage 1 but regardless its nice to have finally 2 months back to back of making a profit personally and in the business.

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

Hey guys n gals,

I just wanted to brag a bit if you dont mind. We seem to be somewhat reaching a stabilization point after struggling to get our feet for a year. Tomorrow we're closing over $800K in homes and next week we close over a million in homes and July is looking good as well. To boot, we're making a name for ourselves and our customers are happy. We desperately need Realtors to join us to grow past stage 1 but regardless its nice to have finally 2 months back to back of making a profit personally and in the business.

REALTORS®

[Rizon]

Haha, sorry, 15 years in the business and having realtors correct us constantly ...

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Might wanna airbrush that photo a little bit (if you're using it full size), the magazine logo in the bottom left really shouldn't be visible unless you've got permission (or are the publisher).

Spiffy looking office IMO.

Funny, I know exactly the company.

Northeast Florida Association of Realtors

[Flasch186]

Originally Posted by Rizon

REALTORS®

egos.

[Flasch186]

Our newest testimonial from the closing last week. We're making headway. The week we're in Ive never felt busier:

Congratulations to Melody & Mike

------- Navigating through the real estate process is a stressful endeavor with many highs and many lows. Complicate the process with foreclosures, short sales, bond programs, and lender inertia and the process becomes even harder. We were so fortunate that we found Keith and Howard at Roundtable Realty. This 8 month journey had so many twists and turns that it seems surreal looking back. As much as we were all interested in a quick close, it did not happen that way for us. There were many weekends spent looking at homes with Keith or Howard. We actually felt guilty for taking up their weekend time and at the end wondered if they really wanted to work with us since we had had one too many deals fall through for one reason or another. These guys stuck by us and didn't give up on helping us find the perfect house. Howard and Keith are true professionals with what they do. It isn't only about their knowledge of the market, or being able to guide a homebuyer along the path with genuine and authentic regard for the homebuyers needs, it is how these two guys treat people...with kindness, respect, and perseverance. Saying thank you just isn't enough. -Melody & Michael Mickeletto

[Flasch186]

Also, advice welcomed on this:

What is my home worth?!?!

wait for the Prezi to load (its the box below the map on this particular page) and then the play button takes you through the steps of the presentation that we will use as a backdrop to talk to someone about whether or not they should sell their home and why to pick us to help with it. This is version 1 and I expect to do a lot of changes before I feel comfortable with it but please, take the time to have alook through it and let me know what is missing, what you'd like to see, what's too much, etc.

So much appreciated.

[Flasch186]

Here it is, tell me your thoughts on this (pro, con, needs, leave out), press the play button... we would be talking over this presentation:

Let's Get Started on Prezi

[Flasch186]

Things are going good still, and getting better.

We closed almost 1 million in homes last month and are looking at about the same this month and more importantly our customers seem to be happy. Sending referrals and in one case sending me a case of Anderson steaks and lobsters to my house. We are still have a very very difficult time recruiting other Realtors to join us. Not sure why other than lack of tenure. Our RTR fans page is filling up so thats good.

[MacroGuru]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

Things are going good still, and getting better.

We closed almost 1 million in homes last month and are looking at about the same this month and more importantly our customers seem to be happy. Sending referrals and in one case sending me a case of Anderson steaks and lobsters to my house. We are still have a very very difficult time recruiting other Realtors to join us. Not sure why other than lack of tenure. Our RTR fans page is filling up so thats good.

Trust me, if I was in the area I would renew my license and join in a heartbeat!

[Flasch186]

Update:

So last year we saw us get our footing and figure out how to get internet leads at a pretty good clip. Thats been a boon to the business. Last year we closed ~33 homes for about $5million in sales (not commissions obviously). We have a lot of good referrals and testimonials and I think we're making a bit of headway. Its still hard to find recruits that want to try it out but itll come. Personally I think Ive been able to get to a point where treading water should be expected until we can find growth so both personally and professionally Im happy.

[azjoe_02]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

Update:

So last year we saw us get our footing and figure out how to get internet leads at a pretty good clip. Thats been a boon to the business. Last year we closed ~33 homes for about $5million in sales (not commissions obviously). We have a lot of good referrals and testimonials and I think we're making a bit of headway. Its still hard to find recruits that want to try it out but itll come. Personally I think Ive been able to get to a point where treading water should be expected until we can find growth so both personally and professionally Im happy.

I'm glad to hear that you are doing good!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

so both personally and professionally Im happy.

And there you go, that's a good place to be in .

[Flasch186]

Man If i can just break even monthly my stomach seems to not flip out...Thats critical since I have JBS.

[Flasch186]

So someone in the industry emailed me this tonight:

Hello Howard,

I wanted to CONGRATULATE you on your great success in 2011!

As I’m sure you are well aware – you and your group were in the Top 90 of all producing Realtors in our area for 2011.

You must all be very proud – & exhausted. J I hope you also had some nice vacations to go with your work.

I wish you continued great success for 2012. And I hope this is an even better year for you!

All my best,
Andy

Pretty cool.