^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^;-)

i start writing all time time, but realize that i dont have the time to finish my point in its entirety, so i just delete the whole thing:-(

LOL!!! Nothing to do with diplomacy...being a moderator I'd hate to be nudged for going off topic. LOL

I have to be honest (please excuse my bluntness, but it's in the spirit of being helpful)...

I read the press release, and I watched the video...

You didn't say anything innovative or proven in either one - you didn't give any sources for your claims and there's nothing new with having a virtual office and a Virtual Assistant to help you with tech problems (probably for much less than the cost of a franchise)...

Maybe I'm just not getting it...but if I'm not getting it, then I guarantee you there are lots of others who aren't getting it as well. It just seems like you're throwing around a lot of fluff and no substance. People in general (at least from my experience) - even if they're interested in starting a brokerage, aren't going to want to give you their information just to get the BASICS of what you're trying to do differently...it's like asking a buyer to give up their information just to see a picture of your listing - they'll move on before you have a chance to sell them on the idea. Pay it forward and I think you'll get a much better response.

The video is nicely produced, I just wish it said more.

Good Luck!

ManFromTheBand
Franchisors can only say so much before we disclose items in writings. Therefore, you will hear what you call fluff, but what its technically called generalizations.
If you think a virtual assistant can do your tech work for you (i.e create a lead generating website, search engine optimization, buyer/seller interaction, web 2.0) then by all means go for it. Your virtual assistant would be competiting with our tech experts, and that is competition I would welcome. The rest of the uniqueness of our franchise cant be explained in a 90 second video. If you truly want to run a large brokerage comprised of top producers with drastically reduced overhead then you will have to get away from the mind set that virtual assistants, templated websites and the same "old fashioned" business model will do.

Brokers have been trying to break this code for decades. The truth of the matter is it takes a ton of capital, numerous dedicated experts in various fields, and unbelievable marketing to truly create a franchised system that works. Thats why most franchisors never sell 10 or more franchises

I hope you will answer this question for us that I posted previously in this thread. Your site reads:

"He has grown a real estate company from a one-person home office to a national success"

What company would this be?

Also - how many agents does Area Pro Realty have and how many offices/franchises - company owned and franchised? I understand it is a new venture and this information would prove helpful for those interested in researching a franchise.

Just trying to be honest with you - it comes across (to me) as a bunch of BS with no real numbers or facts behind it - like you're selling smoke. I guess I'd suggest that you refine your elevator pitch so that the uniqueness of your company CAN come through in a 90 second video...right now it doesn't sound "special" and I'm not saying it's NOT special...just that maybe the message could be refined some more?

Aside from the areaprorealty franchise website, what websites have your tech experts created and how are they ranking in the search engines?

I don't use a virtual assistant, but I know that different VA's specialize in different parts of the business (i.e. I could hire a "tech guy" VA to do my website for me if I felt like it)...so is your franchise cheaper than my "tech guy" VA? Would your tech guys work specifically to increase my site rankings (as opposed to just the company site? and if so, to what extent? I noticed your agents have subdomains under the areaprorealty website but I don't see any differentiation between the sites with the different areas they service, how are your tech guys working the seo aspect? If what they're doing is confidential, I get it...but you should absolutely be showing off the results of what they're doing (it lends credibility to the vagueness).

Again - I'm not trying to be insulting at all, I'm trying to be constructive...I'm not seeing it and I'm asking you to show me...just like any potential franchisee would want...

Interesting thread, I had no idea I would see an advertisement like the one on the first page. Congrats on a franchise license though.

guess he's not going to answer my question...

how is anyone supposed to consider buying a franchise from you if you won't provide that information?

more info would be nice if you're going to place advertisements here and promote your product.

Just give us what you have and a link to the full disclosure and audited financial statement.

Hi Guys
Sorry I see that some of you are upset that I am not responding to your comments sooner. I have been on the road a lot and not in front of my computer. I cant check this website every week as I would like. I want you guys to understand that I cant present all the uniquness and differences about Area Pro Realty on the website. One, franchise law requires that I can only disclose certain information at certain times and two, we have an online presentation developed just for that. We have a process for disclosing and giving information to broker prospects.

But to answer some of your pressing questions (and if you dont want to sign up for one of our online Power Hours), the most information I can give you online is by going to our 3-D interactive brochure located here:
http://issuu.com/areaprorealty/docs/full_brochure

Manfromtheband, i see you have many questions for me, not sure if you are expecting me to cite my references for everything that is said on the AreaPro website or what.

Right now we currently have about 6 tech experts that work at different times and in different capacities/specialties in our office. If your interested in each of their accomplishments, please contact me and ill give you their resume. Our real estate SEO specialist is Gene Ward and he is from Alamo California. if you go to Google and type in Alamo home search, you will see him the top of the list. I wouldnt even compare him to a VA tech guy, he is on a whole other level. Gene, who is a broker himself and an SEO programming specialist, creates the personal and broker websites for all the agents and brokers and well as optimizes them.

I hope I answered all your questions, excuse me if i missed one or two, got to run to the airport. Send me a message or call me at 925-798-2732 if you would like a faster response. Best of luck.