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Featured Client of the MonthMarch 2008:Dee & Jim Parrish PARRISHTEAM.COM Direct Line: (336) 748-2054 E-Mail Address: dee.parrish@prucarolinas.com URL Website: www.home-search-now.com An Interview With Dee Parrish:
Advanced Access: How did you get started in the Real Estate Industry? Dee Parrish: After selling a fast-paced graphics business twenty years ago, Jim and I relocated from Virginia to North Carolina, built our dream home on ten acres, and took a little time off. One of our most enjoyable activities was to take day trips across the Carolinas, staying at Bed & Breakfasts along the way. This encouraged us to enter commercial real estate as inn brokers. We began a gradual shift into local residential real estate and now devote our full time to this.
Dee Parrish: I enjoy catering to web-savvy out-of-town buyers who want to relocate to this area. AA: At what point did you realize your need for a website? Describe your journey to Advanced Access and why you chose us as your provider? Dee Parrish: Our marketing of Bed & Breakfasts and Inns started with print advertising, but we soon found that many potential buyers called with no interest in the Inn advertised, but rather wanted to know the availability of other properties in specific locations. With my marketing background, I intuitively perceived that we were missing valuable leads and began our first website. Consequently, we saw the consumer shift taking place early on. Our journey with Advanced Access began about eight years ago as we changed from commercial inn brokers to residential broker-associates. In research, we discovered that AA was the frontrunner of real estate Internet marketing. As full-time Realtors® we didn’t have time to reinvent wheels; we needed our website to get up and running with options and customer support. The thing that appealed to us most was the ability to have a “Brand” foundation to build upon to make it our own. AA: How has your real estate website impacted your business? Dee Parrish: As a team consistently producing in Prudential’s top 5% nationally, the Internet is our leading method of obtaining leads. I credit this to our website’s content, user friendliness, and of course, search engine placement. I have been fortunate to work with the great support network of AA, and in particular, our Premium Marketing Specialist at AA. With great professionalism, he has been available for consultation, and has advised and assisted me in implementing my marketing plans and addressing my concerns. AA: What other resources through Advanced Access and life in general have contributed to your success? Dee Parrish: One of Advanced Access’s virtual assistants was invaluable last year when we decided to revamp our website, and helped steer us in the direction we wanted to go. I routinely use site traffic analysis to see how many people found our site and how they got there. I greatly value the responsive staff support network, forums for learning and sharing, and easy editing. My advertising and marketing experience, combined with Jim’s well-rounded business management, sales and construction experience have been valuable, contributing factors to our real estate business success. AA: Share with us some information about a recent transaction that began as a result of your website: Dee Parrish: We receive leads each day, with a large percentage coming from out-of-state buyers who are relocating to the Triad area. One that stands out was from the new conductor of the Winston-Salem Symphony with whom we worked to successfully close a beautiful property. We had to keep his identity confidential prior to the press announcement of his selection—truly exciting! AA: What are goals for your website and your online presence? Dee Parrish: It can become overwhelming when I think of everything I would like to do! So it helps to break it down into steps. Three things I plan to accomplish in 2008 are to add neighborhood pages with additional local content; improve conversion of leads into clients; and beginning blogging. AA: Tell us a little about your family, your history, and what you like to do in your spare time? Dee Parrish: Jim and I have worked together all 30 years of our married lives! We met while both working at Mobil Chemical Company in Richmond, Virginia. Jim headed up the Project Engineering Department and I was in the Marketing Department. We have two children with successful careers of their own and four wonderful grandchildren (along with a very spoiled cat, Jon-Charles, and a very loving cocker spaniel, Coco.) We have keen interests in historical beginnings and portrayal of community history. We currently relax by tending a plot in the reconstructed 1759 gardens of historic Bethabra, a frontier Moravian settlement. Bethabra expanded to become a major founder of present-day Forsyth County and Winston-Salem. |
 
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