Featured Client of the Month

September 2008:

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Dorothy B. Rhone, GRI, CRS, ABR, SRS, e-PRO, One America
Associate Broker/Owner
Licensed in PA

E-Mail Address: DotRhone@realtor.com
URL Website: www.Century21CoveredBridges.com

Advanced Access: How did you get started in the Real Estate Industry? 
 
Dorothy Rhone: Twenty-three years ago I was considering going back to college to complete my masters degree, when I read an advertisement in the local newspaper about a career in real estate. After attending a "career night" I realized that my B.S. degree in Business Education would be put to good use in the real estate industry, where I could educate both buyers and sellers and guide them through one of the most important transactions of their lives.

AA: Do you have a specialty or favorite niche market group?

DR: I am located in rural Pennsylvania where agents travel throughout the county, rather than just sell in a specific town or neighborhood.  From the beginning of my career I have always concentrated on my hometown and the surrounding townships.  I have worked very hard to earn the respect as the neighborhood professional in the subdivisions in my school district, and the real estate professional who comes to the mind of homeowners when they think of real estate.  My specialty is the superior service that I provide to sellers in the innovative and high tech marketing of their home.    

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.

DR: Nearly ten years ago I had my first web site, and was the first agent in my area to do so.  I had heard a lot about Advanced Access at several seminars and conventions, and after researching various web site providers for my company web site that desperately needed to be reconstructed, I felt that AA would be our best choice.  In 2007 our Advanced Access website was designed and we are quite satisfied.  As a partner of our state association, the Advanced Access promotion this year gave me the opportunity to create a new personal AA website, and I encouraged my partners and colleagues to join me so we could all be at the top of the search engines. We are all currently in the process of getting our new personal AA websites pointed.

AA: How has your real estate website impacted your business?

DR: Our AA website has such an enormous amount of valuable information available, so visitors spend more time on our site and return more often than on our old site.  We are the leader in our marketplace, outselling our next two competitors combined, and we receive a steady stream of inquiries directly from our website every week.

AA: What other resources through Advanced Access and life in general have contributed to your success?

DR: In the real estate industry, perception is reality, and with our Advanced Access website on the first page of a search engine, it has helped to make us stand out in our marketplace.  With 84% of consumers beginning their search online, an impressive online presence is imperative to success in the industry today, and will become even more important as time goes on.  Advanced Access helps us to continue and maintain our professional appearance on the web.

AA: Can you share with us some information about a recent transaction that began as a result of your website. 
DR: As one of the owners of my agency, our company website leads are distributed and matched to our professional staff to provide the best service for the buyer or seller.  I am looking forward to having my new personal AA website published so I can capture those leads coming directly to me, which I'm sure will drastically improve my sales, since I have witnessed the number of excellent leads we receive on our company AA website. 

AA: What are some of your goals for your website and your online presence? 

DR: I plan to become more committed to read the tips from Advanced Access to help me to maximize all the features of my website.  I am currently enrolled in a social networking webinar and have joined several networks, as I am learning the importance of online interaction with web 2.0. One of my goals is to have a link to my blogs on my website so my visitors can become involved in my site as they comment and interact with me.  I also would like to incorporate third level domains on my AA site for each property I have listed. 

AA: Tell us a little about your family, your history, and what you like to do in your spare time.

DR: I have been married to my husband, Rick, for 35 years.  We have two daughters, Carey, 30 and Courtney, 21.  Carey is married and the mother of my three wonderful grandchildren, Kolten,8, Kylee, 4, and Keira, 2, and is also an agent with my company.  I was the top producing agent in my company for nearly fifteen years, when I became a partner.  I have always been pro-education, and pro-technology, and have helped to train our agents so they acquire the knowledge they need to be successful.  In addition, I am committed to keeping them aware of the newest technological tools available to real estate professionals, so we continue to be on the cutting edge and heads and shoulders above the competition.  In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, and I relax and exercise by country line dancing two or three nights a week with my friends.