The word is getting around, the Pedal to Properties Real Estate concept that is.  What started as a single Boulder Real Estate Agency is now opening locations across the country.  Florida Realtor tells our story well:

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Elaine Kelleher
Business Development for New England
PCMS Consulting
p. 617.771.9778

We are proud to announce that Elaine Kelleher has recently sold the first Pedal to Properties Agency in Northampton, Massachusetts to top New England broker Craig Della Penna.

When Elaine traveled to our corporate office in Boulder last year she was able to see and experience first hand what Pedal to Properties was all about. Elaine said, she just sat there and thought, ‘this is her niche, and taking the Pedal to Properties concept back to New England would be her mission, as it would be ideal in so many different communities out east.’

Elaine’s thought was, coming out of these past years of a down economy, where real estate agents are reinventing themselves, this is the perfect time to join a technically driven and truly unique business structure of owning an agency.

What Elaine feels really sells the Pedal to Properties model, is that it is a complete brand that has the systems and infrastructure in place for a broker to start out or even rebrand their company.  The agency is still geared toward the general public, so anyone can tour and buy a home, however the bicycle enthusiast and eco conscious individual is truly drawn to this agency.

So when Elaine connected with Craig Della Penna she recognized he was a top broker, who already owned a local Bed and Breakfast right on the Northampton rail trail, and he was immediately responsive and wanted to be involved with the brand and what it stood for.  Craig expressed to Elaine, he was truly a dedicated bike enthusiast and did not want to miss capturing this niche market.

Plans from here for Pedal to Properties include establishing agencies in Sea front resorts, bikable communities and the college towns of New England.

A little more on Elaine:

Continuously in the Industry for over 26 years, Elaine has served many positions and has been affiliated with some of the top companies in the Country. These companies include a small independent in the Boston North Shore, RE/Max, Century 21-ERA (Cendant), De Wolfe Companies and GMAC Home Services, Prudential and Weichert Real Estate Affiliates. Positions that she held were Sales Agent, Broker Associate, Manager, Franchise Sales Director, Senior Management Consultant, Regional Services Director, Franchise Business Development and Regional Vice President; the experience and well rounded knowledge of the business has been invaluable to her success within the industry.

Throughout her years in the business, Elaine has also held various leadership positions within the REALTOR organization including but not limited to: President of Greater Salem Association or REALTORS, GSAR Board of Directors, MAR State Director and National Member of the Fair Housing Committee.

A resident of Winthrop with strong ties to the Boston area, Elaine also has spent time volunteering with many charities and philanthropic organizations. In 2003 she co-founded the Essex County Women’s Fund with 3 other women from the North Shore of Boston. In the years since its inception the Women’s fund has grown to several hundred donors that contribute thousands of dollars to issues affecting women and children.

Family has been extremely important to Elaine. Her three children are now all grown and enjoying successful careers. She is proud to say that she is the grandmother to a lovely 10-year-old girl (Rachel) and recently welcomed twin granddaughters (Sofia and Olivia). Elaine’s hobbies are travel, hiking, reading, dancing and just about anything related to the ocean. On her days off you may find her exploring and enjoying the New England Coastline.

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Don’t make them wait!
The lunacy of internet lead management in the real estate industry.

You finally decided that with prices still low, you are going to upgrade to that bigger house you and your husband have been talking about for years. Things are good with both your jobs and now is the time.
You have heard from several people that XYZ Real Estate has a good reputation and you see a lot of their signs around town so you decide to start your search on their website one night after work. They have a nice site and you are getting excited about the listings they have in the neighborhood you have been wanting to move into.

Saturday morning you decide that you want to spend Sunday looking at a few homes for sale in your dream neighborhood. You get back on XYZ’s site while you are having your morning coffee and put in a request to speak to someone about viewing homes tomorrow. It’s about 9 AM and you give them your cell phone number in case they call while you are out and about.

Soccer, baseball, yard work, laundry, and grocery shopping chores are done by mid afternoon. You and your husband finally sit down to relax before cooking dinner and wonder why you have not heard anything from XYZ Real Estate. You are both eager to look at homes tomorrow so you check your e-mail to see if someone has gotten back to you. Nothing on e-mail and nobody has bothered to call after several hours. Not impressed with the lack of response, you get back online and start searching for other companies.

Does this happen every day in our industry?

Unfortunately, it happens hundreds of thousands of times every single day!

According to NAR, 48% of internet leads go unanswered and the remaining 52% get responses a couple of days later. This is simply unacceptable to today’s internet savvy consumer who has much higher expectations when they request information online.

Your consumer can get real estate information from just about anyone these days so they are not going to wait around for you to respond to them. If you don’t respond quickly (within the hour) they will find someone who will and since 93% of consumers pick the first agent they speak to, guess who is going win?

The problem brokerages have is that most do not have enough call volume to justify a rapid response team or full blown call center. As a result, they leave it to a relocation department, or, in many cases, to agents directly. Unfortunately, without accountability and metrics, most companies fail miserably in this area and end up letting significant commission dollars slip through the cracks month after month.

The solution lies in developing a real internet leads management process that must include three distinct segments:

· Lead capture;

· Lead distribution; and,

· Accountability and metrics.

In addition, you must be able to respond to consumers when they want a response. That might be in the evenings or early in the morning. Remember, you MUST get back to them in minutes, not hours.

The market is tough enough already. Don’t make it harder by ignoring the obvious… companies that can develop or outsource an internet lead management system will have a distinct advantage over those that do not.

About the author

Jose Perez is the President of PCMS Consulting, a full service consulting, sales and management organization which specializes in real estate industry issues.

For more information, please visit www.pcmsconsulting.com/webinars or e-mail jperez@pcmsconsulting.com. PCMS Consulting is hosting a 5 month coaching series called Camp REinvent. For more information visit www.campreinvent.com.

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Craig Della Penna, the Broker and Owner of our Pedal to Properties agency that just opened in Northampton, Massachusetts has secured his first listing.  A very distinctive New England home.  Congrats!

Restored Victorian in the Smith College neighborhood

Fully restored 1882 single family home in the Smith College neighborhood.  Winner of a Northampton Historical Preservation award in 2008, this lovingly restored 10 room, 5 bed, 3 bathroom home has a dream kitchen with custom cherry cabinets, soapstone counter tops, and natural slate floor.

All the stainless steel, GE Profile appliances stay including a wine fridge and custom cherry dry-bar.  A second floor master suite also has a washer/dryer on that level and those appliances stay as well.  Front stairs and 3rd floor living space boast a newly installed Berber carpet.

Dramatic Goshen stone entries lead you to fully renovated porches with imported Ipe wood decking.  Surrounding the property are professionally designed and historically accurate plantings within raised beds.

The brick carriage house has extraordinary and period, custom, wooden carriage house doors with locally, hand forged, strap hinges.  Fully renovated sunny studio apartment with stainless steel appliances are above a heated garage/workshop that would be perfect for weekend guests, a studio/office, a place for an au-pair or just a nice apartment.

As for the mechanicals, you’ll find a Thermo Pride furnace, new water heater and all knob and tube removed.  Carriage House has separate meter and electric panel.  220 panels for both the main house and the carriage house.

Offered at $899,000. Contact Craig Della Penna 413-575-2277 mobile or Craig.DellaPenna@GMail.com

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BOULDER — Niki Mattioli, a Boulder‐area Realtor, has joined Pedal to Properties, a full‐service real estate firm. Mattioli has been a Realtor for eight years and was previously one of the topselling agents at Keller Williams Realty in Boulder.

“I fell in love with Boulder 20 years ago because of its beauty and extensive bikeways. Working with Pedal to Properties and employing its cycling‐to‐view properties option will help me connect with local home buyers and sellers with similar interests,” Mattioli said.

Mattioli was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Kansas City. She earned a journalism degree at the University of Kansas before working in advertising and publishing for 12 years prior to becoming a Realtor.

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Proud to be the first real estate company member with Bikes Belong.

February 22, 2010 –

BOULDER - Pedal to Properties Inc., a Boulder-based real estate firm that incorporates optional bike tours through neighborhoods for prospective home buyers, is collaborating with the Bikes Belong Coalition, a trade organization for the U.S. bicycle industry that advocates the creation and support of bicycling programs.

Pedal to Properties is the first real estate company member with Bikes Belong, establishing a relationship between two organizations that support bicycling and livable neighborhoods.

Pedal to Properties will enlist each new franchisee as a Bikes Belong member and encourage franchisees to renew this membership annually. In return, Bikes Belong will support Pedal to Properties with expertise and research information.

Boulder-based Bikes Belong works to increase the federal investment in bicycling to create more programs and facilities that will make cycling safe and accessible, fostering livable communities and increasing property values.

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Boulder ranks #1 as home to the happiest, healthiest people in the United States!

All the more reason to come check out our real estate and lovely town…

on one of our cruiser bikes of course!

Western cities fare best in well-being index

By Susan Page, USA TODAY
Feeling down? You might consider a move to Boulder, Colo.

There are some places where people seem naturally upbeat. Baton Rouge is 44th overall, but in “life evaluation,” the Mississippi River city is first.

Pedal to Properties, a full-service real estate firm, allows buyers the option of viewing properties and homes from cruiser bikes.  A Boulder real estate firm established in 2006, Pedal to Properties began offering real estate franchise opportunities in 2009.

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Matt Kolb, Founder & President of Pedal to Properties and Heather Smith, of Lady Luxe Inc. and Pedal to Properties Social Media Strategist were both winner’s at last night’s Boulder County Business Report’s inaugural Forty Under 40 group of young emerging leaders the Boulder Valley.

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Free 45-minute Webinar: ‘Why Bikes Belong in Real Estate,’ Feb. 16, 2 p.m. EST
As part of his 2010 Innovation Webinar Series, PCMS Consulting President Jose Perez will host an “out of the box” conversation with members of Pedal to Properties and Bikes Belong, the nation’s leading bicycle advocacy group. The 45-minute webinar will cover demographic trends, changing consumer and real estate agent expectations and more. Space is limited. Register here.

Bikes Belong, Pedal to Properties relationship official
Pedal to Properties is pleased to announce that it is the first real estate firm to become a member of the Bikes Belong Coalition, a trade organization that advocates for funding for bicycle programs and facilities to make cycling more safe and accessible. Pedal to Properties will take a portion of the franchise fee and pay for each new franchisee to become a Bikes Belong Coalition member. In a statement, Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong, said: “This concept is one we can all support. There’s no better way to learn about a neighborhood than by experiencing it on two wheels.”

Meet Craig Della Penna: our newest Pedal to Properties franchisee
We’re excited to announce Pedal to Properties will open a franchise this spring in Northampton, Mass. We’re even more excited that the owner and managing broker of this franchise is Craig Della Penna, who will be a great addition to our P2P team. Craig was a top agent at one of the largest independent real estate firms west of the Connecticut River in Hampshire County. Craig is passionate about smart growth, sustainable economic development and alternative transportation, having worked for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy as their New England Field Representative for six years. He’s also written books, articles and guest editorials as well as spoken all over the U.S. about these issues.

Craig is someone who understands what makes Pedal to Properties unique. Craig has distinguished himself by helping clients buy and sell properties close to bike paths. He’s also a sought-after speaker and consultant for rails to trails groups around the U.S., helping volunteers around the country convert unused, former railroad corridors into biking and pedestrian paths. Craig felt the culture in Northampton made it a great place to launch a Pedal to Properties franchise. “Bikes are seen commonly here, every day of the year, even in winter,” he says.

Craig first connected with Pedal to Properties after both were featured in several real estate articles, including a story in the Wall Street Journal. He and Pedal to Properties founder Matt Kolb connected online, and Craig began talking to the company’s franchisers last fall. Craig had realized that the vast majority of the hundreds of potential rail trails in New England were either at “yes”, under development in some fashion or being constructed or were already built and felt he needed a new challenge. “That wave has crested. I was saying, ‘What’s going to be the next big thing?” Craig said.

Craig plans to open his franchise, located in a 6 year old (but historic-looking) brick building at 14 Strong Ave. in downtown Northampton. He’ll do an official grand opening to coincide with Pioneer Valley Bike Commute Week, May 9 – 16. The real estate firm sits next to a rail trail and about 100 yards from Northampton’s Union Station where commuter rail will be resurrected in the next few years. (Beginning in May, he’ll offer tours each Tuesday evening of the different rail trails being developed in the Pioneer Valley.) And he’s giving the interior a sleek, modern and industrial look that will set it apart from the “cubicle hell” layouts found at some other real estate firms.

Craig’s also excited about the real estate technology being used by Pedal to Properties, and thinks it will give him an edge in his local market. Property sales in Northampton and the Pioneer Valley are dominated by small, local firms that understand the area. However, the mom-and-pop approach often means Realtors aren’t working with particularly sophisticated web technology. As a Pedal to Properties broker-owner, Craig said the Pedal to Properties web site will give him an edge.

In addition to his real estate work and rails to trails advocacy, Craig and his wife also run a bed and breakfast called the Sugar Maple Trailside Inn that sits next to oldest municipally built rail trail. Each year, several guests at the B&B, fall in love with Northampton and end up working with Craig to buy property in the area. “If you’re a Realtor now without a niche, you’re sunk,” Craig says.

PCMS makes headway with franchising
Our national franchise sales team, PCMS Consulting, is making some headway in spreading the Pedal to Properties model national. Interestingly, our Pedal to Properties model, including our optional signature bike tours, doesn’t seem to be confined to one part of the country as we’re in talks with realtors in Texas, Florida, Kentucky, New England, Colorado and California. Stay tuned for more news.

Enjoy the holiday weekend,

Tim
Don’t forget to check out our blog and the new pedaltoproperties.com.

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