Richard S.Cricchio – Help-U-Sell® Connect

July Top Producers 2020

July turned out to be a bit of a scorcher for more than weather-related reasons. The Top Producers list for July 2020 has revealed a decent uptick in activity from a slower summer due to Covid-19. Why? Quite simply: lack of inventory created fast sales.

With many sellers still hesitant to take a chance to pick up and move, coupled with the looming uncertainty of job instability and the economy, the houses that are being put on the market are being snapped up very quickly. That urgency is reflected in our July report.

Back at the top of our list is Mario Ferrante of Help-U-Sell Metropolitan in Woodhaven, MI. Bringing in a total of 16 sides for the month, it would seem many of his sellers took advantage of the hot market to make a quick sale.

Coming in just two sales shy of first place is Debra Schmidt and her team at Help-U-Sell Heritage Real Estate of Steele County. Keeping busy in Owatonna, MN, Deborah’s team was a close second with a total of 14 sides.

In third place for July is a tie between Jack Bailey’s team at Help-U-Sell Greensboro in NC, and Matt Kellam of Help-U-Sell Keystone Realty in Chambersburg, PA. Both offices close out July with 11 total sides.

Of course, we always have more ties than we know what to do with. Karen Detweiler of Help-U-Sell Detwiler Realty in Carlisle, PA and Kimber Regan of Help-U-Sell The Smart Choice in Hanford, CA brought in ten sides each.

It’s nice to see the sizzle in summer!

Office	Buyer	Seller	Total
Help-U-Sell Metropolitan	6	10	16
Help-U-Sell Heritage Real Estate	6	8	14
Help-U-Sell Greensboro	5	6	11
Help-U-Sell Keystone Realty	3	8	11
Help-U-Sell Detwiler Realty	4	6	10
Help-U-Sell The Smart Choice	4	6	10
Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties	3	6	9
Help-U-Sell Prestige Properties	2	6	8
Help-U-Sell Direct Savings Real Estate	1	6	7
Help-U-Sell San Antonio Hill Country		7	7
Help-U-Sell Select Real Estate	2	5	7

On our Gross Sales Volume report, who else would we find in our number one spot but Richard Criccio of Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties. His team continues to dominate the top spot with $5.4 million in sales for the month of July.

Second place lands at the doorstep of Patrick Wood of Help-U-Sell Prestige Properties in Chino Hills, California. His team closed $4.6 million in sales.

In third place is Jack Bailey of Help-U-Sell Greensboro in Greensboro, North Carolina with $2.7 million for July.

Although there has never been a tie in our Gross Sales Volume report, and likely never will be, having three offices rank with $70,000 of one another is likely as close as we ever get. Still really cool, though.

Office	Gross Sales Volume
Help-U-Sell Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties	$5,454,800
Help-U-Sell Prestige Properties	$4,679,000
Help-U-Sell Greensboro	$2,725,000
Help-U-Sell Keystone Realty	$2,680,300
Help-U-Sell Detwiler Realty	$2,654,885
Help-U-Sell Full Service Realty	$2,610,000
Help-U-Sell Heritage Real Estate	$2,317,300
Help-U-Sell Metropolitan	$2,258,200
Help-U-Sell Select Real Estate	$2,152,900
Help-U-Sell 951 Realty	$2,140,999

Broker Focus: Richard Cricchio

Richard Cricchio of Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties

A Help-U-Sell Real Estate broker/owner since 1999, Richard Cricchio practically pioneered the set-fee concept in his home state of Hawaii.

When he first opened his office, Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties, he had to educate the public on the set-fee concept. “People never wanted to pay a percentage but when offered an alternative, they thought something was wrong,” he said.

That’s something Cricchio can relate to. He visited several Help-U-Sell offices during a four-year period before deciding to purchase an office of his own. “I couldn’t believe it could work,” he said. “It’s a different mindset to understand how you could profit by not collecting a percentage.” After looking at the offices’ different business models, Cricchio said a light bulb went off.

His office’s business model capitalizes on Help-U-Sell’s set-fee concept. Because of the copycat brokerages that have popped up on the island of Oahu in recent years, Honolulu Properties doesn’t charge extra for anything. “Our fee is our fee. That has helped us stay competitive,” Cricchio said.

They have also worked to keep their name top of mind on the island, which Cricchio describes as “one big neighborhood.” He runs TV ads, does strategic print advertising and distributes mailouts, but it’s probably his weekly radio show that gets the most attention. Cricchio began doing the talk show in 2002 at the suggestion of the station’s morning show host, whom he met after sponsoring an event the station held. The show has proven so popular that listeners rallied to get it back on the air when Clear Channel ceased local programming. Cricchio said the show covers real estate trends and news and answers listeners’ questions. He keeps the attitude light and doesn’t always pitch Help-U-Sell during the show.

Cricchio’s goal for 2012 is to complete 300 transactions. “I think the market’s ready now,” he said. His office closed 91 transactions in 2011, as of Dec. 29.

He plans to drum up more business by increasing his appearances at home shows and hosting more buyer and seller seminars.For new brokers, Cricchio encourages optimism and a strategy. “You have to believe in the system,” he said. “You can’t get caught up in the day-to-day stuff. Make a plan and really stick to it. It’s still the best business you can be in.”

Connections from the field

Tom Lemish, Help-U-Sell Rochester, MN. Has been running a short video ad on local cable television and getting results.
Marty Castro, Help-U-Sell Distinctive Homes, San Diego, CA has short sales down so well that other Realtors in the area refer theirs to him.
Rodney Bjornstad, Help-U-Sell West, Fargo, ND, put three deals together in one day last month.
Susan M. Black, Help-U-Sell Northwest Intregrity, in Glendale, AZ, is excited about the fairness of how Help-U-Sell distributes corporate website leads to its members.
Marge and Larry Marsters, Help-U-Sell Smart Choice, Irvine, CA, have been in the family for 24 years and still remain positive, involved and perpetually smiling
Tamma Hughes, Help-U-Sell Professional Real Estate Consultants, Westerville, OH, has listed a property for sale from a lead generated from the Help-U-Sell Corporate website.
Richard S. Cricchio of Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties has done two commercials. One is aimed at sellers and the other is aimed at happy buyers.

If you have some good news, please send your Communications Resource Tami Patzer an email with the details and links to tpatzer@helpusell.com.