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Featured Client of the MonthJanuary 2007: Diane McCombsDiane McCombs Website: http://www.dianemccombs.com Contact Information: HISTORY & HER START IN THE INDUSTRY
Diane recalled, “…I worked part-time, I had a three and a six-year-old, and part-time was my career choice. Back then, before computers were in every home, you really couldn’t work solely from home. We were able to have a computer because of my husbands work, and the ability to buy one at a greatly reduced price. This enabled me to do more work from home.” She continued, “…today, I work from my home office and only go into the office when I absolutely have to. I use my RED tablet when I travel.” Things today have certainly changed! Diane served this past year as the E-Mail Chairman for the Florida State Women’s Council of REALTORS®, and was tasked with the sending of e-mails to approximately 3,000 members within the state, so she set up a List Serve to handle it. “…This year, I am the Technology Chairman for the Florida Women’s Council , and we have untaken the project of revising our Website in order to have our members benefit from the additional resources that our Council is always raising to the next level,” Diane stated. She continues, “…a Website needs to
have great content. They need to realize that a site should be a
reflection of your communities identification, and you need to have
City information, churches, sports like Diane is adamant about her Advanced Access Website. “…A huge majority of my business and referrals come from my Advanced Access Website. I have recently had about 104 closings, and a majority of those all came from my Advanced Access Website. Two years ago I averaged over 34,000 hits a month. If I had five people working for me, I would have done five times as much business. Sales-wise, about $4 million of sales were achieved from the sale of property in and around the Ocala great region, and pretty much all of that has been because of referrals from my involvement with the Women’s Council of REALTORS® and of course, my Advanced Access Website.” She adds, “…I
have also been recognized as the preferred REALTOR® for
referrals from Better Homes, and I honestly have no idea how I got
to the top of their list. But I do know that I use all the
available avenues to publicize my Website, including the Advanced Access forums, the huge amount of referrals that I also receive,
and all of my professional contacts that I am fortunate to formulate
through the various programs and groups that I involve myself with.
When I share my method to my peers and professional contacts, they
all are quite impressed on how it allows for me to reach out and
quite simply keep in touch with everyone involved.” “Our growth has been phenomenal! Homes up North are on the market, and I can get all the information that they need about moving and purchasing here in Florida, and in most cases, I can answer their questions even before they arrive for a visit! In January of last year Diane attended the Florida State Mid-Winter Meetings, and was awarded the State’s RPAC Chair of the Year Award. Although she had served as the RPAC Chair at her Association for the past two years, the award was a surprise for McCombs. Her election as Governor for the State Women’s Council Chapter this year has already provided her with additional excitement and along with five other Governors will travel and visit a number of Districts where she will meet with professional real estate agents that will further enhance and grow her contact network. In fact, recently the President, Governor and District Vice-President all from Ocala, were all installed for this year’s installation, and all three have current Advanced Access Websites! HER OFFICE’S
MARKET – Roberts Real Estate, Inc., specializes in Florida-Marion
County communities of Ocala, Summerfield, Belleview, Dunnellon,
McIntosh, Anthony, Silver Springs, Citra, and Ocklawaha. Diane recalls her first experience with Advanced Access. “… I had a website, but in 2001 I attended an educational seminar from a national speaker named Gee Dunston. The basic message that I was hearing from several sources was the same…you need to get a Website and create an Internet presence! But Mr. Dunston was very complimentary of Advanced Access, and referred me to their product. I certainly have experienced dramatic growth since purchasing my Advanced Access Website. I still get his newsletter to this day! I knew immediately that I had made the right choice. The results were almost immediate, but of course it does take time to create an effective Website that services your clients.” “My site allows me to make changes how and when I want, and in most cases, allows me to do so without even contacting the Customer Support Department. When I have needed help the staff there have been wonderful, and always willing to help me with my request, regardless of how trivial it seems to be,” Diane stated. She continues, “…I have been so active lately that I have seemingly been pulled in about seven different directions. Because of all my involvement with various Boards and industry organizations, it is crucial that I can make changes quickly and easily, so that when I need to update my Website I can do so as easily as possible. “Because
of the use of my Advanced Access Website, I can also earn
some income off it having added local partners, for a nominal
charge. This community partnership program, allows me to develop an
effective referral system of local vendors that can help both buyers
and sellers in the greater Ocala vicinity.
Diane continues, “…it’s a great way to
allow local businesses to network, and exchange information
themselves. On occasion I sometimes have a VA (Virtual Assistant)
help me with my site, but I pretty much prefer to do everything
myself. I don’t want to give up the reigns for someone to do
something that I’m not going to like. With my Advanced Access Website, I’m the person who ultimately makes the final decision!” Diane is excited
about a new project that she is involved with the state of Florida’s Women’s Council of REALTORS® Website. “The opportunity to help improve our state Website is naturally a
privilege and an honor. Serving as the Technology Chair, it allows
me and my team to accomplish this wonderful goal and also to build
more relationships for referral business. The 3,000 plus members
that are here in the state of Florida will have an updated and more
effective Website, and I am certainly looking forward to this
challenge. We need to add more class education schedules,
information about conventions and seminars, and articles for our
online newsletters that will help them in their business. With
18,000 members nationwide, I am truly excited about the additional
referrals that I can expose my Advanced Access Website to,
and hopefully continue to grow my business in the future. My
exposure to this national audience will allow my Website to serve as
an introduction to hopefully a huge amount of referrals that will be
directed to me.” “…Advanced Access has always been just a call away! If I ever need help, I
know they are there to assist and support my Internet needs. I am a
very hands-on person, and I would prefer they not do it, but
instead, instruct me how to make the changes myself. If I don’t
have the knowledge, they will always be there to provide me with the
support that “My goal is to always give back to the industry. I have joined three Florida Association of REALTORS® Committees, and as I continue to get involved with these, I feel it will continue to provide me with additional referrals throughout the state of Florida. When I talk about Advanced Access, it is the number one topic I talk about in the industry today. I have already spoken to a number of Women’s Council of REALTORS® members and I always refer them to Advanced Access. I actually had a small hands-on class, with some of my local Women’s Council Chapter that I have demonstrated various website techniques, and discussed methods that are effective on increasing their Internet presence. I always mention Advanced Access, and because of this wonderful relationship, even if they are my competitors, they appreciate my honesty and candid discussion of products or programs that work in the real estate industry.” Finally, Diane’s mother was named 1979 REALTOR® of the Year, and in keeping with the family tradition, Diane followed suite by being named 2004 REALTOR® of the Year. “…My participation in the real estate industry has always been like a family affair…the more you give, the more you get in return! Advanced Access always does a great job for me, and finding the time to implement all
the wonderful things that they have provided me with is what seems
to take most of my time these days! My MLS log-on page not only
requires a valid e-mail address, to get a link for the MLS Search,
but also asks some specific questions that help “I always like to use my quote…Attitudes Are Contagious Is Yours Worth Catching? |
 
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She married her
husband, William (Bill), in 1974, and the two have been married the
past 33-years. They dated for approximately four years, and met in
the City of Bryan, Ohio, near the Indiana-Michigan-Ohio border.
They have two children, a son Mason, 27, and a daughter, Mandee, 24
years old. Mandee is a graduate of the University of Florida, (Go
GATORS!) and she has earned her real estate license, and works for
a developer in the greater Ocala area. Mason’s talents have earned
him a career in the computer industry, and he works for Emergency
One, one of the largest fire truck manufacturers in the world.
(800) 335-1563 | 
