InsideThis Issue:

NAVIGATORNAVIGATORJULY 2019

PAGE• Then and Today.. a

look back3PAGE

5• 5 Tips to Help You Post with Purpose

• At Work With... REIN’s Dan Hudy and Karen Schuster

PAGE

6 • Welcome New REIN Employees

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7

REIN is eager to introduce our newest product offering, Remine. What makes this program so exciting is its goal to empower agents with better data and technology to help them win more business. Remine, conceived and built by successful real estate agents, takes the best features from all of the many products that agents use to grow and support their business, and rolls them into one program. With Remine you have everything in one place:

• MLS search

• Extensive public records data (off-MLS information)

• Detailed CMA (including both MLS and off-MLS data)

• Mortgage information (current and historical)

• Property & transaction history

• Ownership information (as well as a list of all people associated to a given property)

• Valuation & equity estimates

• Sell Score (identifies off-market properties that are likely to transact sooner than others)

• Flood zone information

• School information (boundaries and ratings)

• Demographics (household, education/career, income, ownership/residence)

• Neighborhood boundaries

• Robust CRM functions (engage with clients)

This system consolidation allows you to simplify your life, shortening the workflow for transactions from start to finish.

Everything You Need to Grow Your Business

in One ProgramLaunching July 16, 2019

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Discover. Search by places, people, zip codes and neighborhoods. Strategically prospect for leads using filters, and find new opportunities. Remine is an engagement tool that combines MLS information and public records data to empower agents to make better decisions and get more leads.

Track. Keep an eye on those business opportunities. Track market changes and life events that can help you identify when a person or property is likely to transact sooner than others. Monitor which neighborhoods, properties and areas your clients are interested in.

Engage. Prioritize your current and potential clients by their engagement with your business, how actively they are looking, and their defined buying or selling timeline. Manage your SOI to help identify who you should engage, and when. Easily export your tracked properties and people spreadsheets to use for mailers, calling lists or email campaigns.

LIVE VENDOR TRAININGVirginia Beach – July 24 – 10am - 11:30am Virginia Beach – July 24 – 2pm - 3:30pmTri-Cities – July 25 – 10am - 11:30am Hampton – July 25 – 2pm - 3:30pm

....Remine continued

There are so many awesome features in Remine, that it would take pages to list them all here. For a more comprehensive explanation of all the benefits and available features, sign up for one of our upcoming vendor-sponsored training opportunities:

VENDOR WEBINARJuly 17 – 3pm - 4pmJuly 18 – 10am - 11amJuly 29 – 10am - 11amJuly 31 – 10am - 11am

Experience the power of BIG DATA!

REMINE TRAINING

Go to REIN’s training calendar to register!

NAVIGATOR - JULY 2019 PAGE 3

VENDOR WEBINARJuly 17 – 3pm - 4pmJuly 18 – 10am - 11amJuly 29 – 10am - 11amJuly 31 – 10am - 11am

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Then & TODAY... a l o o k b a c k . . .

As we celebrate REIN’s 50-year anniversary (November 1969), it is fun to look back in history to see the changes that have taken place around us. Right off the bat, REIN’s Firm Member count has undergone significant growth… we started with just 16 firms all those years ago, and today we are 607 firms strong!

Over the years much has changed. Back when Metro MLS was formed, the most sophisticated tool used by the MLS was a typewriter! Obviously, technology has made a dramatic impact on the MLS business, and continues to evolve every year. On the flip side, fashions and style trends have come, gone and come back around!

Housing markets have changed as well, with the most obvious change being price, but we have also seen a change in the way homes are built and furnished. Here are a few comparisons of then and now:

• In 1970, the average price for a new construction 3 BR/2 BA home was $23,400; today that cost is more like $377,200 (depending on the location, of course).

• The average rent for a 1 bedroom was $140/month, vs. $951 today.

• Homes were smaller and rooms were compartmentalized. Today buyers want open floor plans that bring people together, no matter what room they may be standing in.

• Back then it was standard for a family of 5 to share just 1 bathroom! Today, most homeowners prefer to have 2 or more bathrooms, with a dedicated master bathroom that is more lavish or larger than all the others.

• In the 1970’s, walk-in closets were only for the rich and famous, whereas now they are almost standard in all master bedrooms.

• Once upon a time, families owned 1 car. Today it isn’t uncommon for every person of driving age to have a car. Cars averaged $3,900 in 1970 compared to $36,590 today. And the gas to fill those cars was also cheaper back in the day at $0.36 per gallon, vs. the average $2.54 cost of gas in Hampton Roads today.

Please enjoy our pictorial stroll down memory lane... photo credit abc news

photo credit abc news photo credit unknown

photo credit australiawild.org

some Memorable 70’s decor. . .

NAVIGATOR - JULY 2019 PAGE 4....Then and Today continued

1970 Today

Member Firm Count

16 6071970 Today

New Construction

$23,400 $377,200

3 BR / 2 BA home

1970 Today

Home Rental

$140/mo $951/mo

1 bedroom

1970

Today

New Car

$3,900

$35,590photo credit Consumer Guide Automotive

1970 Today

Gallon of Gas

.36 centsnational avg

$2.54 in VA

Do you remember these classics from

the 70’s...

photo credit yearofcleanwater.org

photo credit unknown

photo credit Sutori

all figures based on national averages

1970 Today

Farmhouse Kitchen Sink

$9.88 $200

photo credits vintagedancer.com

NAVIGATOR - JULY 2019 PAGE 5

5If you’ve been following our blog over the past few months, we hope you have grasped the importance of using social media in your marketing and have started to make a few posts of your own on your favorite social media platform. Now that you’ve created an account or dusted off an old one, and you’re posting more, it’s time to take things a step further.

In this next phase of your journey to build a social media marketing strategy, we want to show you how to post with a purpose. You have the advantage over the big listing sites because you have personal and detailed knowledge about your listing on your side. You can use this knowledge about the property, about the local area and market to give your visitors more.

1. Make it personal: When posting an open house for your new listing, don’t just make a statement. Make it a personal invitation. Pull out your phone and make a short video inviting your fan base to join you for the experience. Seeing you, your personality, your enthusiasm, and your knowledge can sell what you’re pitching a lot better than a static image and text.

2. Be the local expert: Don’t

just post anything. Be relevant to the community you service. Discuss local market trends on a weekly or monthly Facebook Live post. Post local events, attractions or community outreach that make the specific city or neighborhood a great place to live.

3. Track your content: Social media

marketing is much more than a set it and forget it type of action. It takes analyzing and tracking to know what works for your audience. Make a marketing calendar so you can see what you are posting on what days and what kind of engagement each post receives. Several of the

to Help You Post with Purpose

top social media sites have insights available for business accounts where you can easily see this data. Knowing what sparks your audience’s interest will help you build a solid community instead of having a bunch of non-responsive “lurkers” following you.

4. Find the platform that’s right for you: Do your research on each of the various social media platforms available (Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) so that you can identify where you should spend the bulk of your time. Each platform has their own demographic they are popular with, and they even have their own style of posting. Find what the demographic you are trying to reach likes to use and then find a style that you’re comfortable committing to.

5. Be all in: Like anything else in your business, social media takes consistency in order to be successful. You have to be all in. Now, your definition of “all in” doesn’t have to look like everybody else’s “all in”. Just because the other agents in your office seem to be posting every minute of every day doesn’t mean you have to. But

you do need to build consistency for your audience. If you start a bi-weekly Facebook Live broadcast, stick to it. If you post market trend reports every Wednesday, stick to it. It’s just like watching your favorite television program – you come back to watch that show because you know it comes on consistently on X day at Y time. Your audience wants that same reliability in social media.

Now that you have jumped into the game of social media, it’s time to make some impact. Don’t just be a player, be the MVP. Becoming a meaningful, valuable resource for your community will position you to build the relationships you need to have a successful business in the digital age.

TIPS

NEED EVENT SPACE?REIN has just the space for you!

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Room Rental at REINCall Carrie at

757-531-7962Rooms that seat up to

65 people available. Hi-tech equipment in every room.

AT WORK WITH:

A REIN veteran, Dan Hudy has been the head IT and computer guy at REIN for 25 years. Over the years he has helped guide staff and members through the fast-paced changes that define the technology industry. When asked what he likes most about his work, he says “I really enjoy helping others, appreciate the variety of responsibilities my job entails, and find the ever-changing tech landscape to be both challenging and rewarding.”

Dan is a true local, having grown up in Norfolk and currently residing in Virginia Beach with his wife. His love for IT and technology naturally flows into his personal life (what self-respecting computer geek wouldn’t!), but when it is time to truly disconnect and relax, Dan also enjoys cycling, cooking and gardening as hobbies.

Dan Hudy

Karen Schuster recently celebrated her 3rd anniversary with REIN in June. As the Accounts Payable Coordinator, Karen is responsible for making sure all invoices are paid on time and accurately, monitoring the accounting aspects of vendor contracts, and helping to reconcile various bank and operating accounts. According to Karen, “I love my job. I know exactly what needs to be done, and can prioritize my day accordingly. And I love the people at REIN, we are like a family!”

Karen grew up in a small town south of Rochester, NY called Arkport. She graduated from Alfred State College with a degree in Accounting, and has been in this field ever since, though the types of industries have varied – ranging from banking, hotel/time shares, manufacturing, and others. Looking for a change, Karen moved to Virginia Beach with her sister in 1985. She loved it here enough to stay, even when her sister moved back to New York. Karen currently lives in Virginia Beach with her

husband, Scott, and two children Amanda (in college) and Tyler (a graduating senior). When not working, Karen enjoys spending time with her family, gardening (when it’s not too hot!), cooking and baking, reading, traveling and walking.

Karen Schuster

IT OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE COORDINATOR

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Main Office4575 Bonney Road

Virginia Beach, VA 23462757.531.7900

Branch Office1001 N. Campus Parkway

Hampton, VA 23666757.595.7346

Branch Office1040 University Blvd.Portsmouth, VA 23703

757.966.5632

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions regarding this issue or future

issues, please contact us atNavigator@reininc.com or 757.531.7900

Tell Us What You Think

Dee-Dee GeeMarketing Director

Randy HirstProduct Support

Supervisor

WELCOME New Employees

Victoria JamesonProduct Support Trainer

EMPOWERINGYour Passionfor REAL ESTATE

CONFIDENCE – REIN safeguards market information and enforces rules that govern participation, allowing agents to do their jobs with a confidence that would not otherwise exist.

CONNECTIONS – REIN creates connections between professionals with properties to sell and those with clients who may buy them. It is the platform on which those who make transactions happen come together.

COMMUNITY – REIN is a dynamic community of professionals. The magic lies in competitors working together to create a healthy, efficient marketplace.

IT OPERATIONS DIRECTOR