Previewing Properties

I preview 5 properties a day for a few reason.  First is that this is a vital aspect of lead generation at Keller Williams Realty. It is one part of the 10-5-15-5 challenge in Camp 4:4:3.  This challenge outlines how to build a database worth of business and everyone knows that your database IS your business. 10-5-15-5 is as follows: collect 10 business cards, make 5 phone calls, send 15 notes/letters and preview 5 homes every week day.  If you were like me you are thinking this sounds like too much work...who would do such a thing? Well as it turns out, I thought the same things in the beginning of my real estate career I had nothing to do all day except make objections to anything that would get me business.  I decided that I would build a real estate career on my own, not taking any direction or instruction from anyone.  That got me $0.00, zero, nada, zilch in 6 months.  No listings, no leads, no nothing.  Then I decided to start applying some of this 10-5-15-5 challenge and viola, it worked, don't you hate when that happens? Of course like any good Realtor, as soon as something starts working I immediately stop doing it.  And again I ended up with no business.  It was a roller coaster ride, lots of business, no business.  I was getting sick to my stomach form all the up and down motion throughout the year. And besides, how would I get 10 business cards a day..that's just stupid......and who writes thank you notes these days? And who exactly was I supposed to call?  Stupid stupid stupid.  Then I watched a co-worker doing all these things and his business was soaring...SOARING...I finally got sick of him doing so well.  I had to have a little contest in my head..just try to get the business cards.  Guess what?.....its no where near as hard/scary/stupid as I thought.  People started saying, oh he's the guy that writes those thank you notes.  I was starting to stand out....among a city with over 2000 agents.  I started to attract business.....again, I was a little peeved that the system that was laid out in front of me was working...but you simply cannot argue with the results.   But I digress....
I preview the properties for the primary reason of getting to know the inventory....sure the internet is great and we even tell clients that the Internet is the starting ground for all realty searches.  But on the ground, in the neighborhood, touching and feeling the product..there is nothing like it.  I get a feel for the street, the area, the neighborhood, and see changes as they occur.  I get to feel connected and in the know. These things in and of themselves would be enough to get out there. And I especially love the people I get to meet, neighbors, contractors, builders, developers, grocery store owners, These people all have information about the area that can be vital either as a lead or to impart to clients.  Maybe a new school is being built or a church or a supermarket.  But the greatest reason is that the act of doing something like previewing properties was the push that I needed in the beginning of my career that made me feel like I was actually doing a tangible act to further my career.  The side effects of all the other things that I just wrote about were so great that I just keep doing it...except when it works then I stop doing it all.