In our March episode of Monday Market Minute with Carrie McCormick of At Properties, Carrie discusses how she’s adjusting to running her business from home and provides tips on how to stay productive during this challenging time. I provide a marketing tip about how to deepen connections with your sphere of influence and current clients through a simple text message.
If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!
Carrie can be reached at carrie@atproperties.com or by phone at 312.961.4612.
Please follow Carrie on Instagram by clicking here.
Transcript
D.J. Paris 0:00
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Welcome to another episode of Keeping it real the largest podcast in the country made for real estate agents and by real estate agents. My name is DJ Parris. I’m your guide and host through the show, and today is our monthly episode called the Monday market minute with Carrie McCormick. This is their first time doing a video podcast. So you might be watching this, or you might be listening to it. But if you aren’t watching it, you can follow us on Facebook where you can see these videos. These episodes being recorded live which is@facebook.com forward slash key material pod. But let’s get to our our co host Carrie, if you’re not familiar, she is a top 1% producer for over 20 years at at properties. Carrie is very well respected and regarded in the industry. She’s one of the very, very she’s not only top 1%, she’s top 1% of 1% We’re so thrilled to have her every month she comes on the show to tell us what is going on in the local Chicago market and what realtors and our listeners should be thinking about and what they should be telling their clients. So it’s nice to see you for the first time in a couple of years doing an episode. It’s very awkward for both of us. But it’s nice, and I appreciate you, you being on the show, especially in this trying time. So what’s going on out there?
Carrie McCormick 2:07
Yeah, it’s I mean, it’s first of all, I just want to say that I’m thinking about you, DJ, and your family and all your loved ones. And you know, everyone listening. It’s, you know, everyone’s trying to stay healthy. And we’re trying to be creative during our quarantine time. So it’s I hope everyone’s doing okay.
D.J. Paris 2:25
Yeah, me too. Thank thanks for saying that.
Carrie McCormick 2:28
So, you know, right now what I’m telling my clients and you know, everyone’s very anxious, of course, given the market and, you know, to answer anxiety is is best with information, right? Smart, accurate, vetted information. And as everybody knows, by now, Illinois entered our shelter in place to create, which requires all of our non essential businesses to close, and also to severely limit our time out of our homes. And it’s, it’s dramatic. But of course, we all think it’s necessary to measure in the, you know, this time, so we’ve got to make this change. And it’s going to be tough, and we’re gonna get through it all together. But the good news is for real estate agents, we’ve been deemed an essential business. So it allows us the flexibility to continue our businesses, title companies are open mortgage companies are open movers are able to move and contractors are able to, you know, still work on home. So we’ve been lucky that we’re able to do this still.
D.J. Paris 3:30
And you’ve been in the industry for 20 years. Yes.
Carrie McCormick 3:33
So been in for a long time, which is, you know, it’s it’s been a great ride. And I’ve been through many of the ups and downs in the market. And, you know, I would always, always say just anything in life, the downs always make you stronger personally and professionally. So I was through the 2001 crash, I was only two years in the business at the time. And, of course, everyone, it’s hard to forget the 2008 financial crisis. It’s where we saw both the stock market and the housing market drop in tandem. And it was it was devastating. It was a devastating time. And usually the housing market crash. It doesn’t, it’s not tied to the stock market because people don’t buy housing as investments, right? People usually buy a house because it’s a basic need. And the decision to buy is usually prompted by entering a new stage in life. So 2008 was was a crazy time. And I feel like you know, this is just another crazy time that we’re going to have to go through.
D.J. Paris 4:35
Yeah, I really couldn’t agree more. It just seems like this is this is a tough time. It doesn’t seem like we’re doing as many showings. People aren’t as active looking. People are just sort of staying put, I guess.
Carrie McCormick 4:51
Yeah. And, you know, we started off 2020 started off really strong. We had, you know, historically low inventory. We had rock bottom mortgage rates. It’s, well, we did you know, up until like a week ago. And that usually sets the stage for a very competitive home buying season. And while recessions normally have a minor effect on the housing market, this virus is making life and the markets anything but normal, as you just said, like sellers don’t want people in their homes, buyers don’t want to go into other people’s homes. So it really makes our job very challenging. So what I would say is, we have to use technology to help our clients, you know, and let’s face it, we as professionals, we have to protect ourselves, we have to protect our families, we have to protect our clients. So we have to do what it takes to continue the housing market going because it’s our responsibility to, to make sure that, you know, our industry stays up to par as well. So it’s, it’s a balancing act to have, you know, with the showings, you know, bacon homes are very easy to show, obviously. But when someone lives in a home, and we have a buyer that wants to see it, it’s you know, it’s a fine line that we have to walk, so we have to be cautious about it.
D.J. Paris 6:04
Yeah, I just curious, before we move on have Have you thought to? Or have you heard of brokers, doing virtual showings where maybe it’s a home where maybe the seller doesn’t really want people in there, but but maybe they feel comfortable with the realtor, and they could do a virtual showing. I don’t know how effective those are. But I imagine people are starting to get more creative.
Carrie McCormick 6:27
Yeah, we’re definitely right up. And the good news is that we do a lot of video work with all of our listings. So we already have the video walkthroughs. And of course, floor plans, and still pictures and different methods for it. But you know, buyers really just want to get inside and feel the home. So we’re doing everything possible, you know, to make it work. But we’ll we’ll see how the market reacts in the next week or two. Ultimately, DJ Chicago is you know, born and raised here. It’s truly a resilient city, the people here we care we work together, and especially in the real estate community, and we watch out for each other. And, you know, we’re here to help each other. And like I said, Chicago’s very resilient will bounce back from it.
D.J. Paris 7:13
Yeah, I mean, how do you have you started putting more emphasis on social media right now to stay connected to your clients to your sphere of influence, just to sort of keep people up to date?
Carrie McCormick 7:24
Yeah, so definitely using social media, in that. But you know, again, we got to walk a fine line, because no one wants to be sold to at this time, they want to be educated, you know, but, again, we’re walking the fine line of promoting our clients properties, and, you know, again, sending a caring message out to them. But through social media, what’s been interesting is that I feel like we’re all staying very connected with each other, and across the world, not only just here in Chicago, right, we’re, we’re seeing what’s happening in China, Italy, and Spain. And we’re seeing how they’re coping with this. There’s been some really funny memes and videos going around just to keep laughter in the air, which I think has been great. And just again, staying connected, and seeing how everyone’s coping with it. So I think really, ultimately, what these downturns do is they bring everybody together, right? It’s just it’s a way to stay sharp in your business be effective, but also to come together, you know, as a community and across the world.
D.J. Paris 8:28
Yeah, I agree. I agree. It’s in a weird way. It’s sort of the same thing. It’s sort of a sad, darker thing to say. But it’s true that they say weddings and funerals and bringing people together, as well. And obviously, this is this is a dark moment for for the world. But maybe, maybe one silver lining, if there is one is that, you know, we’re thinking about what’s most important to us, we’re staying connected, reaching out to those people that otherwise we’re too busy in our lives to always remember to do. And so now we all have a little bit more time to think about what’s most important and remember those connections, right?
Carrie McCormick 9:04
And we are staying stronger together. And in this time of complete uncertainty, and there’s going to be a new strength and when it’s done, it’s going to translate into very positive energy. And we’re going to be happier and more successful than ever when it’s over.
D.J. Paris 9:19
So how are you managing your business now that you’re, you’re regulated to your home? Most of the time? What are you doing? How are you managing that?
Carrie McCormick 9:29
Yeah, it’s for many of us, you know, we’re used to this hustle and we don’t know what to do with ourselves. You know, it’s interesting, I find myself I cannot sit down I find myself pacing around I’m always doing something so it’s important to keep a little bit of a regimen so what I say to people is limit your distractions you know, during your your work hours, you know, try to stay focused and limit your distractions. I’ve been eating much healthier because as a realtor, we’re always on the run. And I’m always picking up something bad and eating a candy bar here and there, you know, just something bad. So eating healthy during this time is going to be important. Maintain just normal hours, you know, it’s easy to get distracted and start binge watching TV or doing laundry or whatever it is, but just maintain your normal hours. And like I’m here in my home office. So I have a dedicated workspace I’ve got everything here that I need. So it’s nice when I come into my office, I, you know, I feel like I’m really at work and I can stay focused, but I’d say most importantly, get dressed in the morning. Put your bras on, put your pants. Yeah, just, you know, our around in your pajamas or
D.J. Paris 10:44
things. Yeah, I agree. It really does set set the stage for how you’re going to act throughout the day. If you you know, I know if I if I lay around if I keep pajamas on during the day? I don’t I’m not as productive. You know, just I’m just not.
Carrie McCormick 10:59
I agree. Yeah. So, you know, and, you know, just stay connected with each other. Right. And you know, it just as always, if anyone has any questions, comments, just wants to talk. I’m always available, you know, so always pick up the phone and give me a call or send me an email. And
D.J. Paris 11:18
yeah, let’s let’s share that. What’s the best way someone can call you or email you? Yeah, so
Carrie McCormick 11:23
call me 312-961-4612. Or you can email me at Karis, CA, r r i e@properties.com. Or you can you know, we can chat on social media, there was something new that a client of mine sent to me, let me just look, it’s on my phone. It’s called Marco Polo. I just downloaded it. She said it’s the new Snapchat for adults, so Oh, interesting. I don’t know, I don’t know much about it. But she just sent me a message through Marco Polo. So it could be a new. Yeah, I’ve
D.J. Paris 12:00
never heard of it. I will also say Carrie also is very active on Instagram, you can direct message her there as well. So definitely follow her. It’s Carrie McCormick real estate. So you can check out her on Instagram. Great way to stay connected. And that leads me to my sort of marketing minute idea, which is this. If you’ve been listening to every episode, you’ve heard me say this a few times. So I apologize for that. But for our new listeners, or people that are just picking up this episode, maybe missed a few. This is a great opportunity to really deepen the relationships you have with your sphere of influence and your existing clients. You know, this is the time to let them know you’re thinking about them. You know, I was talking about this the other day on a podcast, where I was thinking about all the services that I subscribe to and pay fees to, there’s financial advisors, there’s insurance agents, lenders, you know, dentists, there’s, you know, hair Hair, hair cut, and actually, my hair person did reach out to me, but she was the have that that was a couple nights ago. But before that no one else had reached out individually. Now I don’t need people to I wasn’t expecting that. I didn’t expect my insurance agent to see how I was doing. She has 5000 clients. And I’m just one. So I understand that this is not an easy thing for everyone who has lots and lots of clients or sphere of influence to do but what a great opportunity to go that extra mile. And even if it’s just send a text to everybody who’s in your sphere of influence, and just say, Hey, I’m thinking about you, I hope you and your family are safe. My friends have done that. And my now the person a woman who cuts my hair has done that. And she and I are friends. But I really haven’t received any other messages. I’ve gotten a lot of emails from people where they’re blinking out saying here’s, you know, here’s what I think about, you know what’s going on, and that’s fine. But I always think a little personal touch is really what wins the game. So, you know, for everyone listening, you know, it’s Sunday, if you’re not super busy, you’re probably not, this is a great opportunity to you know, if you have 200 people in your database, that’s a lot. But you know, maybe knock out 50 or 50 text messages today and just let the people know you’re thinking about them or give them a call or leave them a voicemail or, you know, shoot them a message on social media and just say hey, I’m thinking about you, I hope you’re good. I will tell you that I would be I would be so thrilled if any of those providers did that wouldn’t I’m not gonna stop using them because they didn’t and I understand, you know, I’m just one client, but it makes people feel special and it’s something that that is free and easy to do. And we all have time to do it and everyone is a little scared out there right now people have anxiety, this is a great way for them to feel a little less alone, especially if they’re, you know, stuck at home maybe there’s they’re you know, they’re not living with anyone and they’re really are alone. So a great way to make them feel a little bit less alone. So anyway, that’s a really simple, simple message but I think a good one for now. And again, I want to thank Carrie on behalf of our listeners for for being our our oldest co host and our most favorite co host Because people love these Monday market minutes, we’re so thrilled that you were able to find time to do this. Even throughout this, you know, potential challenge we’re all dealing with. So for everyone out there, Carrie, we’ll be back next month. Again, please follow her on Instagram, you can find her Carrie McCormack real estate, you can connect with her there, you can chat with her there, you can also email you can call her. And also just reach out and stay connected to everybody. Because now’s the time to do that. And on behalf of Carrie and myself, we think the listeners if everyone could out also think about just one other realtor that could benefit from watching updates like this, to know what’s going on in the local Chicago market. Send this podcast over to another friend we’d appreciate it. You can follow us on on Facebook facebook.com forward slash keeping it real pod or visit our website you can download every episode we’ve ever done, including every Monday market minute we’ve ever done with Carrie and that’s keeping it real pod.com But I guess I’ll see you next month. Hopefully, things will be better and you know will might be back to normal but who knows right?
Carrie McCormick 16:05
Stay healthy everybody and please reach out if there’s anything that you need.
D.J. Paris 16:10
Alright, thanks. Thank you
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