Kitchen and bath designers, interior designers, remodelers, builders, etc. all have national associations with local subsidiaries, just like Realtors have the National Association of Realtors and their local associations.

These groups can be terrific sources for networking to help your build business. In return, you can be a big help to them by keeping them informed of local market conditions and stories of interest about what consumers are thinking when it comes to buying or selling a home.

Are consumers wanting homes already done, or are they seeking bargains to redo themselves, or both? What kinds of preferences are they indicating? Where have sales been made, lost?

You want to know what intel designers and builders have, too, so you'll know the latest advances that can be offered to buyers and sellers in terms of space planning, storage, adding rooms, updates, appliances, countertops, cabinets, built-ins, and much more.

This is information that can help you make or save a sale. For example, have you ever had a ranch-style home that didn't sell because buyers complained it was too dark? Ranch-style homes are boxes, and almost every interior wall can be easily moved to open up a room. If your buyer is hesitant, you can show her/him photos of other ranch-style homes that have been "daylighted" this way. Give them the business card of your networking interior design buddy. He or she gives the buyer a quote of what it would cost to open up the floorplan. The buyer adds remodeling costs into the loan, and you've made a sale. When the designer's clients are ready to sell their homes, he or she will refer them to you.

So how do you cross the bridge to beginning a new relationship with people and sections of the industry that you don't know?

1. First, don't be afraid. You have a lot more in common with these groups besides the fact that you're in different phases of the real estate industry. You're all:

   • Self-employed and responsible for building your own business

   • Looking for new sources of business

   • Seeking professional resources to refer your clients

   • In need of continuing and/or outside education to use to your advantage

   That means that if you seek out these groups you won't be met with hostility. Designers and builders are all part of making the real estate industry successful. They want to hear what you have to say as much as you want to know more about their expertise.

2. Remember that you have expertise to bring to them. Even though you are seeking knowledge and networking relationships to build your business, keep in mind that what you bring to the table is just as valuable. One thing designers want to know about is how to effectively work with Realtors, so bring your suggestions about how they can bring their ideas to your next broker morning meeting, or sit your next open house with you.

3. Plan a get-together between your group and their group to network. Arrange speakers who can educate the group on an interesting topic, such as housing bubbles and what it means to local growth, or the subculture of "flippers" and the best ways to get their business.

4. Call these groups as an individual and tell them you'd like to attend their meetings. Tell them you want to network and hope it's mutual.

5. Keep abreast of news that may have home design implications.

One idea that Realtors and designers can work on together is how to improve the market for the ranch-style home. The largest bulge of inventory is homes built between the 1950s and 1970s, many of which are single-story ranch-style homes. As homebuyers whet their appetites for newer homes, these homes are becoming more obsolete due to their smaller sizes, outdated floorplans and aging electrical, plumbing and appliances. Rather than lose buyer business to the suburbs, Realtors can fight the trend by encouraging homebuyers and sellers to rehabilitate these treasures.

Realtors and designers can work together to create scrapbooks and shadowboxes that illustrate how easy it is to move walls and create expansions on the typical ranch-style home. This will provide more options to buyers and sellers.

Published: January 27, 2006

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Blanche Evans is the award-winning senior editor of Realty Times, the Internet's leading independent real estate news service. She is featured daily on the Realty Times Video Network in the "Realty Viewpoint" segment. Blanche has been named one of the "25 Most Influential People In Real Estate" by REALTOR Magazine, and has been twice recognized as a "notable." In 2005, she was named "Top Reporter Covering the NAR" by Delahaye-Bacon's. Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. To contact Blanche, email her at . For more articles by Blanche, click here.