Sell with Soul: Creating an Extraordinary Career in Real Estate without Losing Your Friends, Your Principles or Your Self-Respect (Paperback)

~ Jennifer Allan (Author), GRI (Author), Munson Communications (Editor)
Key Phrases: selling with soul, sell with soul, first listing appointment, Old School, Career Development, Beating the Odds (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I am reading every real estate related book I can get my hands on, including big names like Ferry and Keller, and by far, have found your wonderful little book the most useful, helpful and entertaining. It is packed with information that is not taught in the real estate course and that is invaluable to a new agent. I can't say enough good things about your book. I admire your professionalism, your heart and ethical conduct; you are the agent I aspire to be once I am in the business." Jamie Carlson, SK Canada --Reader Review

"You are my hero! I loved your book. It was extremely well-written: conversational and informative without being preachy or condescending. Your message is like a session with a patient mentor." Michelle Somers, New York --Reader Review

"I read Sell with Soul last night and ended up dog-earing most of the pages. I laughed, I cried... at one point, I started to wonder if you had been stalking me during my first year! I wish I d had the book then. You re an excellent writer and your book gave me some creative ideas and solutions to problems I still face thank you!" Robin Rogers, San Antonio, Texas --Reader Review

Product Description

Even in so-called boom markets, rookie real estate agents almost always find their new careers to be harder than anticipated, but today, even experienced agents are failing in record numbers. Statistics quote figures ranging from 70% to 95% dropout rate for first year agents and it s common knowledge in the industry that only a small percentage of the licensed agents are making enough money to live on.

Why is the failure rate so high? Is it a matter of unrealistic expectations? Maybe. A lack of enthusiasm? Probably. A lack of support and training? Definitely.

What agents need is good solid training on how to competently sell real estate and Jennifer Allan s book Sell with Soul offers just that. The second edition of Sell with Soul has been updated to reflect the realities of today s more challenging real estate marketplace. The book takes on the tough issues of survival in a slowing housing market and provides a blueprint for success to help new agents navigate the critical first year and beyond. Sell with Soul comes complete with checklists to help agents keep on top of listings and contracts, step-by-step guidelines for building a thriving real estate practice as well as anecdotal examples of real world real estate dilemmas and solutions to them.

Yet the book is so much more than a rookie survival guide. The author discusses such touchy subjects as commission discounting (she s all for it), buyer agency (don t push it), prospecting at open houses (do so with caution) and generating bidding wars (it s your duty). Practical advice is offered on everything from building a loyal client base to marketing listings to negotiating inspections and even handling pricing objections.

Sell with Soul focuses on helping new agents become competent at their craft, so they can be confident with their prospects and clients. This confidence enables them to stay true to themselves because they will have no need for the Old School prospecting strategies and aggressive closing techniques that force many new agents out of their comfort zone.

Readers consistently praise the readability of Sell with Soul, commenting that it reads almost like a novel instead of just another business self-help book. The book is written in a casual voice, with a relaxed style that is noticeably different from the more authoritative voices of the competition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 233 pages
• Publisher: BlueGreen Books, Inc.; Second Edition edition (July 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981672701
• ISBN-13: 978-0981672700
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #71,578 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Career-Changing Book!!, January 24, 2009

By	P. Belcastro (Homer, Alaska) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just stumbled across a website about two weeks ago that had a few excerpts from this book. I was intrigued, so I ordered a copy. I could not put the book down! It resonated deeply with me and since then I have noticed a huge change in my business. I've been a realtor just over a year, and of course was trained in the Old School methods of farming, listing postcards, etc. - tried and true, but just not right for me. I surely am not one to do cold calls or knock on doors - but I DO like to have fun!

Right away I knew these teachings were right up my alley, and I implemented several of the suggestions right away. You would not believe how many clients have magically dropped in my lap since last week! And the lunches with friends - oh, yeah!!

My whole paradigm has shifted and it's all due to this book and the refreshing new way of approaching real estate. I actually bounce out of bed each morning and can hardly wait to get to work. Jennifer's book has changed my outlook on life!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get ready for a FUN way to do business..., July 16, 2008

By	Dennis Volz "Dennis in El Cajon" (El Cajon, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sell with Soul is a lively, well-written and refreshing change of pace from ANY sales book you've ever read. Jennifer's no-nonsense approach to developing SOI's (Sphere's of Influence) is like nothing I've ever heard before. The book is organized in a clear-cut, well defined, and easy to read format. Jennifer's great sense of humor and her skillful use of illustrative anecdotes and blog stories will gently pull you through every page. Her style is guaranteed to bring a smile as you look at a whole new way of doing business.

If you enjoy time with friends, like to relax at parties, or if you just enjoy chatting with your buddies on the phone, you can incorporate those very past times into a cohesive and systematic way of doing business that will bring you returns for years.

Jennifer takes you to the heart of the matter in the very first chapter. Once that's established, she spends time with the nuts and bolts of listing, presenting, answering objections and other not-so-traditional ways of thinking and working through `traditional' issues.

If you like Real Estate (or any other kind of) sales and want to have more fun making more money, then you will LOVE THIS BOOK!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why You Need This Book... Now!, July 15, 2008

By	J. Beilmann "Jenn Beilmann, Realtor" (Missouri) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you believe that real estate is a just game of numbers, this book is not for you.
If you believe the almighty dollar should guide your behavior, this book is not for you.
If you believe that your friends, family and neighbors MUST choose you as their real estate agent, this book is not for you.

If, however, you want to have fun selling real estate - and make a good amount of money doing it - without alienating your nearest and dearest, then I humbly suggest you forgo the free shipping and go straight to priority overnight. It's time for you to meet Jennifer Allan and get down to business.

So many agents struggle with how best to let people know you're in the biz without hammering folks over the head, becoming a pariah at parties or going broke with the latest throwaways (oops, I mean giveaways). Jennifer Allan has the solution - by marketing yourself soulfully, you keep your dignity intact. And get rewarded. Big time.

Enough with the postcards. Stop knocking on doors. Quit telling everyone you know that you <heart> referrals. Get this book. Have fun. Make money. What could be better than that?