Amanda's Blog

Chatty Cathy and Heaven help me!

Amanda Wernick — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:01:00 -0500

Thursday my family and I buried my Mom, so to say that I’m in a different state of mind is probably correct.

Usually, I’m interested in having genuine conversations with people. I am interested in knowing who they are, where they’re from, and what they’re up to. On a plane, I tend to read body language and if I see that the person is deep into his book, or looks sad, or angry, I tend to leave them alone out of consideration. Sometimes people are open to conversations, sometimes they’re not…but I am usually always able to tell the difference.

Friday, I flew out of New Orleans to Denver on my way to Vegas and then drive home to the OC (long story, don’t ask). I board my plane and walk to the back. I’m not particularly in a talkative mood, so I am avoiding eye contact, but on the rare occasion that I do make it, I smile, weakly and move on.

I have an aisle seat, middle seat is empty and there’s a young gal sitting at the window. She smiles and practically yells out “HI!” as if this were her first time making human contact with someone! So excited to see me, oh my heavens! How can she stand it! I semi smile and say hello, then think to myself…”not really wanting to talk lady, read my face”. She says, “You going to Vegas?” I bite the urge to say, “Why no, I’m headed to Salt Lake and thought I’d take the scenic route”…instead, I say yes….”ME TOO! Do you live in Denver? What are you going to do in Vegas? Are you meeting some people there?
>
(What I immediately think of!)<

I let her know that I’m not staying in Vegas, I’m just flying there to pick up my car and then driving to Orange County. “Why?” she asks. I tell her it’s a long story but that my mom was on her deathbed and it was the cheapest flight out for me…”Oh!” she says…”so where’d she die?” WOAH! What? REALLY!!!??? People ask those kinds of questions? I want to scream and we haven’t even finished boarding yet!

I tweet out “heaven help me”…just then a young man comes and informs us he has the middle seat. An answer to prayer..…”HI! Are you going to Vegas?” How old are you? Are you going to have a drink? I am and I need a drinking buddy….” Mind you that he hasn’t even fully sat down yet….he answers her questions and takes his seat…she proceeds….
“So what was your name again?” He finishes getting comfortable and then fastens his belt and she says she has to go to the ladies room….REALLY? We haven’t even taken off yet…GOOD NIGHT IRENE!!

We get up…off she goes…she comes back…sits down…”So, what do you do for a living, how long have you been doing that, what is that, how old are you (again) “ He answers her questions a little taken aback. Then he asks her what she does for a living….”OH! I’M A REALTOR” and I almost lose my lunch! YOU’RE A REALTOR AND YOU’RE ACTING LIKE A CRACK ADDICT!?

You’re not even taking the time to listen to the answers he gave you without jumping on to the next question! You’re bombarding him with questions because that’s what you think you should do, but somewhere along the way, no one taught you the value of “JUST SHUT UP AND LISTEN!”

I was embarrassed for my industry!

I know that we Realtors come in all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, and political affiliations. I get that we won’t work with everyone we meet, and I admit that I am an acquired taste (pain in the butt, really) and tend to babble….HOWEVER…it embarrasses me that someone so genuinely disinterested in really learning about the person you are having a conversation with, but spewing questions for the sake of hearing your voice, is out there…representing an industry that I hold so dear to my heart….No wonder we ‘re not respected as an industry….I heard her speak and could only think that she is but one reason we’re on the lowest rung of the professional totem pole.

The flight attendant must have a Twitter account and seen my plea to the Twitterverse…..she walked over to me and said, “There’s a seat in the last row if you would like it…I smile, truly appreciative…and change seats. Second answered prayer of the day. Amen

What do YOU think? As a professional in your industry, do you totally let loose and then tell people what you do for a living, or do you let loose and not even bring up what you in order to keep from tarnishing your industry? Or do you, like Chatty Cathy, not really care and let the chips fall where the may? Enquiring minds (and a nosey FUNomenalRealtr) want to know…

24 Hours to LA Fitness.....

Amanda Wernick — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:59:45 -0500

More is not always better...We all KNOW this. Things in the last few years have shown that we the people are only going to pay what WE see as fair. WE give things value. This applies to everything in our lives.

Family:We give them time because we VALUE them

Friends: Again, there is value there

Gas: A necessity, but ask me how many people will drive out of their way to find cheap gas! We need it, but if it means driving a little off the beaten path to get it cheaper...so be it!

Housing: We KNOW where this all stands, so I'll leave this one alone.

Groceries: Even the big name stores with discount cards and coupons and bonus buys are having a tough time competing with Trader Joe's, Stater Bros and now my favorite grocery store, FRESH AND EASY!

The next one though, some may consider a luxury these days: GYM MEMBERSHIP.

A few years back, I thought nothing of having a membership. I worked out diligently, ate "clean" (this is not a Jewish Dietary Requirement, it just means I ate non processed foods as much as possible and I'm not Jewish so I would know nothing of eating Kosher).

Eventually, I paid for a trainer! He was GREAT! Taught me to cook great healthy meals, taught me about balance in life and fun while working out.

As time went on, life got in the way. My Favorite Aunt got sick and I took time off of Real Estate to take care of her. After a year, I came back, only to discover that my Real Estate business had disappeared. I had to start from scratch.

I exercised intermittently, but have recently decided I wanted...NAY...NEEDED to join a gym again. I like the feel of being there and doing something for me! So I started shopping and here's where I need your help!

24 Hour Fitness has a pretty decent deal going. 9.99 down and 29.99 monthly.

Next was LA Fitness A special that expires tomorrow (Really? Can you get me a used car salesman to kick the tires please?) 49.99 and 29.99 a month. Pretty basic stuff. Either one will work, yes? (Bally's was just WAY too far for me to commit to going to consistently so we'll leave them out of it for now).

NO! Here's where I'm having an issue:

24 Hour (the gym that I would be going to near my home) is pretty small. NO bells and whistles. Plenty of cardio equipment, weights (though they do look old, they still do the job) a section for "Circuit Training", shower room. Classes are offered free for yoga etc. BASIC. I like basic.

LA Fitness (the one close to my house) is HUGE.... Lots of cardio machines (almost seems excessive), a "spin cycling room". a pool, spa, sauna, showers, huge locker room and that's only downstairs! Upstairs you will find an extensive amount of weight machines and free weights, plus a huge class where classes are held. Feels Hollywood...excessive.

Here's the kicker. 24 hour is COMFORTABLE for me. I know the routine. I know the machines and I can find my way to any machine and know how to work it.

LA Fitness has machines that I kept waiting to turn into Bumblebee from the Transformers! I am NOT comfortable there...and that's where the rub is...if you're looking to grow, to expand...shouldn't I be running to sign up at LA Fitness? Is it the fear of not knowing the machines and looking like an idiot keeping me from signing up?

Or is being comfortable better? I'd be happy...push myself as I see my progress...but would I look back and think "Yeah, this is nice, but you could be relaxing in the sauna right about now, or swimming a lap" (note to you, I am not a swimmer, but somehow would I be cheating myself by not having it IF I decide later I want it?)

Besides the really cheesy, wanna be high pressure sales guy at LA that irritated me with "OURS IS THE BEST" and "REALLY, OURS IS THE BEST" approach and NO pressure from 24 HR, I'm at a standstill!

What do YOU think?

I am officially a Grandmother!

Amanda Wernick — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:34:25 -0500

Yesterday morning my daughter called to tell me that I could officially be a Grandmother! Contractions were 5 minutes apart at 8:30 PST. At 11:30 PST, my son in law called me to tell me that her contractions were 3 minutes apart and they were heading to the hospital, just to make sure everything was OK.

At 12:30, my son-in-law called to say that they were going to schedule a C-Section because the Baby's heart rate kept dropping and they just wanted to make sure that everything would turn out alright.

A few hours later, I was informed, via text that my Grandson, Wolfgang Perry was born! 8 lbs 1 oz and 21 inches long! I can't describe the sheer emotion of it all! It's the most beautiful feeling I have ever had (having my own two beautiful children of course goes without saying!).

Just wanted to share and if you want to see pics, find me on Facebook!

Amanda Wernick

Twitter @FUNomenalRealtr

Facebook FUNomenalRealtr

Continuing Brad's note...A Social Networking Love Affair

Amanda Wernick — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:56:53 -0500

Wait! What? It really works? YES!

Via Nyssa Smith REALTOR®, State College Area Real Estate (Kissinger, Bigatel & Brower Realtors):

Continuing Brad's note...A Social Networking Love Affair

Here's the magic of this Love Affair between facebook, Twitter and ActiveRain.

One evening, I'm on facebook and Up pops the chat window. Friend "A" says hello and proceeds to ask me if they can ask me a question. I answer back kindly and tell them I am happy to answer their questions. Friend "A" asks me if I am aware of a good website to find out about schools in "potential new area". Of course my reticular activator is immediately heightened (why would they be asking about schools in a new area unless they were planning on MOVING!...hello...!) So I mentioned that I would be happy to help. I also asked what they were thinking and why they were considering this new school (of course, I figured I new what the answer to that was going to be). Friend "A" continued to explain that she was considering a new job. And of course, knowing more about the new area would be important to the whole family and in making this decision.

Ding ding ding!!! Survey says... I know an agent in that area! It was immediate and top of mind awareness to me! Friend "B" is the agent that immediately came to mind! And the reason Friend "B" aka Agent "B" came to mind so quickly and that I knew his home area is because of...facebook, Twitter, ActiveRain. He is always posting. I see his blogs. I see his tweets. I see his updates. So I knew he would be able to assist these people. And their concerns over the school systems and the new area. I knew Friend "B" aka Agent "B" would be familiar with the area and could help them find the schools and the neighborhoods.

Now, the real magic of this love affair is that within about a half hour, I chatted with Friend "A" (who is the one potentially moving). I quickly chatted with Friend "B" aka Agent "B". We went back and forth. Exchanged email addresses. Made specific plans for when these folks would be heading down to Agent B's area.

I couldn't believe it! In an evening. Half-hour to an hour tops! I had assisted these friends who might be moving. Connected them with this new agent who I have every confidence in because we had become friends through this social networking. I read his ActiveRain blogs and know he is knowledgeable and experienced. And I totally feel confident these buyers will be in excellent hands.

And oh by the way...they will need to sell their home in State College should this job work out for them! Gee...I wonder who they will want to list their home!!! ;-)

To sum it up, these Friends (aka Friend "A") made the trip. Met with the agent. He showed them around. We'll be doing a 25% referral fee if they do end up moving. They are so happy! They reported back to me and are so pleased. Even if they don't end up moving, I have some new raving fans! And Agent "B" will certainly get more of my referrals in the future!

Think about the long drawn out process this was in the past. Those clients would have to wait until the next day to contact me. I would have to research to find an agent. And then contact that agent. And then see if that agent will be willing to work with these buyers. This might end of taking a couple of days to a week! Wow! The power of this Social Networking Love Affair!

Your State College, PA Real Estate Connection!

~Nyssa

OH NO! I'm addicted!

Amanda Wernick — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:28:12 -0500

Ok, I admit it! I am addicted to my Blackberry! When I first bought it a few years back, I REFUSED to sign on to have internet access.

My reasoning was, I don't want to work when I'm not at work! I bought it because I liked the look...THAT'S IT!

Fast forward three months...I sign on to have unlimited texts...after all, it's the way my kids communicate, so I better get on board.

Fast forward three more months and I give in and get internet access. WOW! At first, my thoughts were, "Cool! This is handy". After a while, I would find myself looking forward to the blinking red light! "Is it a text? Is it an email?" Oooh! The suspense!

Fast forward to this morning:
I'm ironing my white blouse for work. I have added water and I am waiting for iron to heat up. I see it blink red AND I THINK TO MYSELF "I BETTER CHECK MY MESSAGE!"

I almost picked up the iron to CHECK MY MESSAGES!

I am soooo not making this up! It was at that point that I decided, I truly am addicted to my Blackberry!

None of the other tell-tale signs worked. Not the texting while at a red light. Not the replying to emails while having a conversation with a co worker. Not even when I was responding to a "TWEET" underneath the desk at an office meeting!

So, what's a crackberry addict to do? :-)

Amanda Wernick
FUNomenal Realtor

Punishing Foreclosure Victims--Some Banks Take One Last Shot

Amanda Wernick — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:35:38 -0500

This is a great perspective on an issue that I have heard about, though I don't know anyone who has been affected by this personally.

What are your thoughts on the matter?

Via John Mulkey, Housing Guru (TheHousingGuru.com):

In an article today in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, it was reported that it’s becoming commonplace for lenders to refuse to take title to some properties following foreclosure. Why would a bank bother to foreclose and then abandon the property? It’s simple economics. Many of the homes just aren’t worth the bank’s efforts. But then, why would they foreclose? And who ultimately owns such properties? The answers are often as confusing an illogical as the creation of the subprime collapse that precipitated the problem.

What’s happening is a crime—perhaps not legally, but figuratively. Sometimes it’s a crime against the very people who have already suffered the most; and other times it’s a crime against neighborhoods trying to recover from issues of high crime and drug dealing. In the words of Catherine Doyle, attorney with the Milwaukee Legal Aid Society, “This is just the meanest and nastiest thing (lenders) could do. Even more profound is the terrible damage to the community.”

Abandoned homes become a blight on neighborhoods, havens for drug and criminal activity, and create fire and safety hazards. No longer sources of tax revenue, such homes are a drain on struggling cities resources, and ultimately cost taxpayers thousands more when ondemned and bulldozed.

The procedure, known in the trade as “walkaways,” is a growing problem, especially for cities, where most are pressed for revenue. The mortgages on these homes, the great majority of which are subprime, were often made by now-defunct mortgage brokers, and are being foreclosed upon by loan servicers on behalf of investor groups often thousands of miles away. And, unfortunately, there appears to be no solution to the problem.

Have banks lost their hearts, or is it they never had one? The image of the friendly neighborhood banker was perhaps always a utopian vision; but what they’re doing is egregious on a monumental scale. Throwing people out of their homes, only to have those homes bulldozed later, is not only inhumane, it’s sheer stupidity. Once the owner is forced out, the home falls in to disrepair, may be vandalized, and everyone loses. And, the irony is; when the bank walks away, the original owner is still on the hook for taxes, boarding-up and clean-up fees that can run into the thousands of dollars. It’s a game of no winners.

Tips on buying, selling, building, remodeling, and the latest trends in housing: The Housing Guru

Social Media-Its about (THE) time. (Jim Marks AND Tom Ferry)

Amanda Wernick — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:33:43 -0500

I always appreciate and respect Jim's perspective!

Via Jim Marks (Virtual Results):

Tom and I work with Real Estate Professionals, not Social Media Marketers. There is a huge difference.

For Social Media Marketers, Social Media is their job. For Realtors, they have a job and social media is just a way to engage, communicate, become relevant in the market, build relationships, brand and generate leads (depending on who you speak to…) When teaching Social Media, the number one question (by a mile) I receive is: “

But where do you find the time?”

I hear this almost every day from my Realtors. Look, it is possible that YOU may not have the time. Possible, not probable. Here are some tips I share with my Realtors to ensure they can squeeze a bit more time for their Social Media Marketing Efforts

1) Control your day. - Do you get up each morning and let the day determine what your schedule is? Do you have 2-3 things on your calendar and “do some work” in between? Do you get up, go to the computer and REACT to your email? Not effective. Become a Task list taker. Keep detailed task lists and prioritize them regularly. Immediately upon finishing one task, start another. At the end of each day do two things.

a) Look at what you have ACCOMPLISHED. I know you work hard. Lots of people work hard. What did you remove from the list?

b) Decide what you are going to accomplish tomorrow and commit to work until you accomplish it. Knowing that you will work until you accomplish your goals, will ensure you don’t waste time on non-productive stuff.

2) Get Mobile-How often are you parked in front of a home, waiting for a client, or Realtor to meet you. How are you investing your down time? Social Media Applications (twitter and facebook, etc.) have GREAT mobile apps. Keep in contact with your community through out the day, in your less productive time. (And for some, I know the word “app” sounds scary, but they’re not. They are simple, easy to download and use tools to make you more efficient- trust me!

3) Understand the cloud- Web based applications like gmail, facebook or twitter allow you to chime in from any computer, anywhere. At the office or a client with a few extra minutes? Get in touch.

4) Have a Virtual Lunch- Who do you go to lunch with, friends? Fellow Realtors? How about grabbing a sandwich and sitting down in front of your computer with your Active Rain or FB Friends and favorite tweeples.

5) Schedule it. It’s Marketing. Just like everything in life, sometimes when we don’t write it down and commit to it … it goes undone. And when you’re online engaging and marketing yourself, it can be quite easy to surf the net for latest news or celebrity gossip, or check out the sales online. Once you commit in your schedule time to engage in social marketing, hold yourself to this time allotment. 6) Remember, for many this is their form of Prospecting. – For years we’ve been taught to spend an hour or three making calls or knocking on doors, following up on leads, scheduling appointments after open houses and sending personal note cards. Today, spending strategic time on Twitter searching key action phrases like “looking at homes in LA” or “looking at Trulia” and engaging prospects is a valid form of prospecting. Spend some time getting your ‘virtual home tours’ on YouTube or Active Rain.

The key is (like everything else we do throughout the day) have a plan, an outcome and be intentional and it will pay off big time.

Was this Post Valuable?

This was the collaboration between Jim Marks(virtualresults.net) a social media strategist, and Tom Ferry, (yourcoach.com) a Realtor coach and trainer. Leave a comment if you would like more tips on how to control your time and create a successful social marketing strategy.

Who's "right" is it anyway????

Amanda Wernick — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:16:51 -0500

I have always said that Real Estate is ever changing and fluid...like a river...

So what happens when you, the consumer, gets thrown into the river that is heading over a waterfall?

A friend of mine has her Real Estate license. She currently works at an attorney's office helping people with Loan Modifications. She has seen her fair share of blame laid...First on the consumer, then on the loan officer and finally on the bank. She has witnessed tenants being evicted from their home with no clue or forewarning. It has made her miserable!

She is also a homeowner and landlord.
From the very beginning this tenant/landlord relationship has been tumultuous to say the least!

The tenants bounced checks the first three month which spiraled into huge check fees for her. She called to no avail to find out what was happening. Finally, one of the neighbors clues her in...Mom's been arrested...going away for 3 months...dad's back home...what to do?

She doesn't throw them out, or give them notice...she works with them..."Let's make payment arrangements...Tell me if you can't make the payment so that I can cover it for you"....etc.
But this last month was the final straw. Once again, no rent paid...she is two weeks into this.
No returned phone calls.
Finally she sends a certified letter.
"Dad" is now offended and feels threatened so has hired a lawyer!

Now, if she was a client of mine, I would walk her through this, be a shoulder to lean on and give her some sane advice...BUT...she is a friend of mine and it is difficult to keep my Realtor hat on! My first reaction is to tell her to lock them out of the house!

NOT GOOD ADVICE!

So, I calm down and say to her..."Now is the time for you to set up a consultation with an attorney. They are the only ones qualified to advise you on what steps you need to take legally. There's a process involved, and doing what I WANT to suggest will only complicate things.
I felt good that I detached myself and quickly put on my Realtor hat to offer sound advice...but that doesn't mean that I'm not miffed about her circumstances.
She was doing THEM a favor and this is what she gets? As a Realtor, I have to stay calm and say, "These things happen. Here is the name of an attorney who may be able to help you".

So I ask YOU...who's "rights" is it anyway?
Can you blame the tenant who has had a less than stellar record with regards to a payment history for hunkering down, not paying rent and consulting an attorney to see how long they could stay in the house rent free?
Do you blame the Landlord, who should have consulted with an attorney at the very beginning to protect herself from what has just happened?
Do you split the blame up the middle?
What are YOUR thoughts?

Amanda Wernick
FUN-omenal Realtor

45 Life Lessons!

Amanda Wernick — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:42:44 -0500

One for every year that I recently celebrated! I hope I can follow them all!

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God.. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special al.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet t o come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

To be or NOT to be....

Amanda Wernick — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:10:34 -0500

I am thankful that I am a Realtor! I am lucky that I am a Realtor in TODAY'S day and age!
Gone are the days of Multiple Listing Books, or GIANT cell phones, or pagers! Today we have cell phones the size of a thumb, INTERNET access to ALL listings, Listing Book so that our clients can log on and view what properties are available for them, ActiveRain for us as Agents, Localism for the saavy consumer, Twitter, Facebook, you name it, we got it!

These days, there are so many ways to connect with people, it's almost scary. I have to remind myself (and others) that technology is supposed to ENHANCE our relationship, not take the place of it!

Blogging is the latest buzzword, but what does it really mean? A "BLOG" is an online journal, much like keeping a dairy. The problem most Realtors (people) have with blogging is that they remember the fear of having someone find their diary and post it all over the place for the world to see.

Except, in blogging, YOU get to choose the content and who sees it!

What does this mean for the consumer? It means they get to KNOW us as human beings, not as Professor Marvel behind the curtain (a reference to OZ which I'm beginning to see that I associate Real Estate with those characters A LOT!).

The good, the bad and sometimes even the ugly! We have the responsibility to be professional, but there are times when we need to let our hair down. How much is really up to you and what you're comfortable with.

I celebrated my 45th Birthday last Friday (the 26th for your future reference) :-)
A lot of pictures were taken. Some were fun, others showed some longtime friendships, and others were just plain blackmail photos! I had a choice to make! Let someone else post them and get "caught" or put them out there for the world to see? I chose the latter! After all, there was nothing raunchy about the pics, just hanging out with some friends!! Will I regret them later? Not a chance!

But this will give my Clients and my prospective Clients a little insight as to who I am. And THAT after all, is the power of a relationship!

Amanda Wernick
FUN-omenal Realtor
amandasreal_estate@yahoo.com

An Offering for Your Real Estate Marketing Toolkit: 45 Blog Directories

Amanda Wernick — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:02:52 -0500

I am thankful that our community is so willing to share itself with us! Thank you ALL for the contribution that make daily!

Amanda
Via Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing Consultant (Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision):
An Offering For Your Real Estate Marketing Toolkit:

45 Blog Directories

blogarama.com

blogaz

blogcatalog.com

blogexplosion.com

blogfinds.com

blogflux.com

bloghop.com

blogio.net

blogged.com

bloggeries.com

bloggernity.com

bloggerschoiceawards.com

bloggingfusion.com

bloghub.com

blogion.com

bloglisting.net

blogs.botw.org

blogsbywomen

blogs2c.com

blogscanada

blogsearch

blog-search.com

blogsearchengine.com

blogtoplist.com

dmoz.org

EatonWeb Blog Directory

feedburner.com

getblogs.com

geoblogdirectory.com

iblogbusiness.com

icerocket.com

joeant.com

mkeonline.com

myblog2u.com

nycbloggers.com

poddop.com

real-estate-blogs.com

realtyfeedsearch.com

regator.com

search4blogs.com

spillbean.com

technorati.com

us.loadedweb.com

thevital.net

yahoo.com Directory

To Tweet, Twitter or Tow the Line...

Amanda Wernick — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:03:31 -0500
There are days when I open the door to my black and white life and wish it would turn into technicolor like Dorothy experienced in the Wizard of Oz

Our lives have DRAMATICALLY CHANGED and a perfect example of this are all of the technological advances we've made in just the past three years!

This

Has become this:

With this newfound way of doing things, naturally we evolve and adapt into a new found Etiquette. And Yet.....

Alex Williams recently posted an article titled:
Mind Your Blackberry or Mind Your Manners.

In the article he spoke of the new Etiquette of cell phone usage.

Texting, emails, Twittering etc are all accepted ways to communicate these days, but do you do so in a board meeting? How about a Lecture? In School? Most would answer with a resounding NO!

But last night I had the opportunity to meet with some pretty tech saavy people. They meet once a month in Fullerton and last nights topic was "Twittering for Business". At the very beginning of the meeting, we are all encouraged to "Tweet or Facebook", just please make sure your ringers are off.

WHAT! Do they NOT know the "RULES"?

Obviously, they do because this is WHAT THEY DO! Daily! Some even teach classes and lead seminars on how to use Social Netoworking effectively!

Go Figure!
What to do????

When in Rome......

Lisa Greubel and the Boston Marathon...

Amanda Wernick — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:18:38 -0500

That sounds like the title for a great children's book, but instead it is the inspiring story of our own loved and respected Manager and Realtor, Lisa Greubel!

Lisa has been a licensed Realtor for the past 22 years and now co-manages the Tustin Seven Gables office with President Mike Hickman.

She is not your typical Realtor/Manager. On top of her daily Managing duties, Coaching, and Training duties, she is still an ACTIVE Realtor. She is also the proud mother of three wonderful kids and the loving wife of Phil Greubel, her high school sweetheart.

She is always pushing herself above and beyond what she knows she can do, and recently ran the Boston Marathon after qualifying in St. George Utah on her first try.

The Tustin News recently wrote an article about her and I proudly share it with you now.

Tustin Mother of three runs Boston Marathon

By Michelle Phillips/Tustin News

What is special about the Boston Marathon?

A. Well, it is the only race in which you have to qualify in order to run it. There is a certain time frame for your age, and you have to be able to finish a marathon in under that time. It's run on Patriot's Day, so all the businesses are closed to watch the 27,000 runners-I think over a million people are watching. So in order to get it, I had to run the marathon in under four hours. I finished at exactly 3:59:56

What excited you about running the marathon?

A. Well, first, just to have my husband and children there to watch me-that was exciting. I was also happy to go to a place like Boston and be in something this momentous. Everybody in the office was excite; they actually got on the web site and they followed me the whole race. I got a knee injury at about mile 15- I had twisted it before. But then I kept going, and managed to finish the race in 4:29:23, even with a stop in the medic tent. I was determined to finish because the first women didn't even run in this race until 1971, which wasn't too long ago. I had trained to head for the finish line.

What are your thoughts now that you have finished?

A. I feel like there's nothing I can't do. I feel very appreciative of all the support I received, and considering that even though my knee was hurt, I finished anyway, I'm reminded that if I set my mind to it, I can do anything.

Did your responsibilities at SEVEN GABLES have any bearing on your decision to run in the marathon?

A. In some ways, yes. I am a Real Estate Agent and Sales Manager, so there is a lot of responsibility, dedication and focus in my line of work. So I thought that as I work in what I think is one of the best Real Estate Companies, then I should also try to run in one of the finest running competitions. Really, having a successful, meaningful Career in Real Estate takes an individual who is in it for the long haul. A marathon is exactly the same. You have ups and downs, but no matter what the "weather, climate forecasts" you just keep going and end up a winner.

Lisa, on behalf of EVERYONE here at SEVEN GABLES, THANK YOU!

For your inspiration, your determination and your dedication to yourself and your family, to your Clients and to our Agents!

We're blessed to have you on our Team!

Every One Wins!

Amanda Wernick — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:26:01 -0500

We at Seven Gables are extremely proud of all of our Agents, and every now and again, someone else gives them the kudos they deserve.

This month in Executive Agent, our own Trio of Talent is in the Spotlight. Shauna Werts, Kevin Drumm and Sean Drumm work to make their Clients Real Estate Experience as stress free as possible.

As a Team, they are consistenly looking at market trends and developing their strategies accordingly, always careful to assure their Clients are being represented to the best of their ability.

Knowledge, Compassion and Talent make up this wonderful Team and we are thankful to work with them DAILY!

Congratulations Shauna, Kevin and Sean! We truly thank you for representing Seven Gables Real Estate with such a high caliber of dedication and integrity!

Death of a Salesman...or at least the "Salesman Mentality"

Amanda Wernick — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:28:06 -0500

This weekend was HOT here in California. People were out and about. Some running errands, others heading to the beaches and for the Active Realtor, they were holding Open Houses in almost 90 degree weather!

I myself was out showing property on Sunday. I had to make a stop and get some gas. At the gas station, I ran inside to grab some waters and was waiting in line. The gal in front of me turned around and smiled at me. I smiled back. She said "Hi! How are you?" It caught me off guard for a minute. Did I know her? Was she confusing me with someone else? So, rather than embarrass her (or myself), I smiled back and said, "I'm great thanks! How are you?"

At which point, she asks me my name so it is now confirmed that I don't know her. I give her my name and she says, "Amanda, I just opened a new nail salon! It's right across the street". She grabs my hand and leads me to the door to show me where it is.

"Amanda, I would love to see you there! Stop by and tell me what you think." I smiled and thanked her and said I would see when I could stop by.

I then went back to my car to finish putting in the gas, when a gal of no more than 16 came over to me. She smiled BIG and said, "Hi! I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm trying to get something to eat. Do you have a dollar you can give me to get something to eat?" I said sure and went through my purse and gave her some money. Off she went into the snack shop and bought herself something to eat.

As I drove away, I thought to myself "WOW! This has been a day full of learning!"

Stop and think about it. How many of us as Realtors make the time to smile and meet people and talk to them about what we do with pride in being an expert? Not many. Or should I say, not as many as there should be.

We're afraid to talk to people about who we are and what we do for fear of being judged as pushy, or being a "salesman" and THAT is not what we are! Or is it?

In the days of old, salesmen had a bad rep for pushing people into doing something they didn't necessarily want to do. That was the "hard sell".

Then came the "soft sell" where salespeople were told that they needed to adjust their way of thinking and think like the consumer, speak about the benefits, overcome objections, and show the consumer that what they had to offer was worth giving up the cash to get it.

Nowadays, we are Client Centric, which really is where we should have always been. For some, this is a no brainer, for others it's a brand new concept! We are Real Estate Advisors. We KNOW what is happening in the markets that we serve and yet, we are still caught up and almost ashamed to tell people what we do for fear of being judged. But ask yourself, isn't this the perfect time to be having conversations with people about what is really happening out there? Our job as an industry is to provide advice and give pertinent information to our clients.

This brings me to my next point. Where do our Clients come from? Some Agents that have been in business for a long while will have a base of repeat Clients and Clients who refer business to them. What about the new agent, or the agent that wasn't so diligent in keeping in touch with their Clients?

Rule number one in sales is: TALK TO EVERYONE!

Someone may know someone that knows someone that NEEDS OUR HELP! Loan mods, short sales, foreclosures. Everyone knows of them but not everyone knows EXACTLY how to guide their Clients through the process.

Remember that this is your business and the only way that your business will grow is if you nurture it. Tell everyone you know that this is what you do, and make sure that you are constantly being coached and trained on the real aspects of Real Estate and your business WILL grow.

The rest is up to you.

Now, on to the 16 year old girl. She had no hesitation in asking for help.

I thought to myself, "Wow! Would I be able to do that? Would I be gutsy enough to ask a stranger for help?" The answer is, NO. So why would a total stranger trust you with one of the biggest assets they have?

Better yet, ask yourself this, "If they are in a situation where they really do need help, are they too embarrassed to reach out for help? If they won't ask for help from family and friends, why would they come to me, a Realtor who they think only wants to make money off of them?" At least this is one way of looking at it (a reality based on fear).

This too needs to be addressed. Are you speaking to people about ALL their options? Not just offering up to do a short sale to get them out of their current situation?  Do you speak to them of the possibility of a Loan Modification? Do you speak to them about leasing their home until the market turns around and sell then if they currently have no equity? There are so many other options out there, are you afraid to talk to strangers and ask them if they need YOUR help?

Time to put on our "Advisor Hat" and go out there and look for those that need our help. After all, this is what we signed up for when we took our Realtor Oath!

30 is the New 45

Amanda Wernick — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:13:55 -0500

One of the things that I love and appreciate about the Training Program and Management support here at Seven Gables is all the brainstorming that takes place.

After a recent meeting we were discussing wins, struggles and shifts in the market. One thing that we all noted was the challenge of getting an offer accepted on a short sale or REO.

We're also seeing that a listing, even after being on the market for over 200 days with no offers and no activity, in the last few weeks now have had a flurry of activity with buyers running rampant and flooding the REO agent with 50 offers in a 3 day period.

What's even more challenging is that the 50 offers already in place are SIGNIFICANTLY higher than asking price.

What does this mean exactly? It means that real buyers are out there looking for a great deal. Are there such deals to be had? Of course, but it is up to us as Real Estate Professionals to guide our clients in the process.

Set your clients up to win by having clear, concise conversations. Tell them the truth about what is happening in YOUR area.

For example, in the past it was not unheard of to close an escrow in 30 days. These days, with so many REO's, First Time Home Buyer Tax Incentives, AND interest rates so low, people are not only buying homes for themselves or as investment, but people are actually refinancing to a lower rate (4.35% for some).

This leads to lots of applications! Keep in mind that the past several months, some mortgage companies have let go of underwriters, etc and were planning to survive with a skeleton crew. These days, they can't hire them back fast enough! There is a definite strain on the mortgage industry to perform responsibly.

REO sales would like to close in 30 days, and even charge the buyer a Per Diem (sometimes as much 150.00) regardless if the delay is due to "Sellers Fault".

So what's a saavy agent to do? Explain to your clients what they can expect. Explain to them when you write on offer on a short sale or REO lisitng what REALLY happens. Explain to them that they can be responsible for a Per Diem charge if they don't close in 30 days, EVEN IF YOUR CLIENT PERFORMED!

There are new rules in this Real Estate Market...Make sure that you know what they are and that you have the managment and team support to help you navigate the waters!

The Future of the Real Estate Brokerage...

Amanda Wernick — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:22:25 -0500

You should all know how proud I am of the company that I work for. We continuously strive for excellence. In our Management, in our Agents and for our Clients. It's nice to be recognized by an outside third party! I just had to share with you all!

I spent three days in Scottsdale last week where I participated in several sessions at Leading Real Estate Companies of the World's Future Tense 2009 conference. Amid the golden Arizona sunshine and within the Westin Kierland, one distinct sentiment echoed throughout:

The current brokerage model is broken.

Throughout the day it danced around the panels and through the corridors, pursuing bloggers, leaders, competitors, vendors - folks from every position on the real estate track. In the evening, they gathered in lounges, bars, and outside by the fire pit. Where they conferred. Sharing opinions. Angles. Theories.

A human mashup.

I took notes. Placed them inside my mental blender. On the flight home, I pressed pulse. The resulting smoothie might be icy to the touch. Sip slowly. Avoid the brain freeze.

Adrift

The real estate brokerage was once moored within the community.

Care. Trust. Dependability. Knowledge. These were sentiments a brokerage worked hard to earn before typing them across their letterhead. Or shout from the homepage of its Website. These were feelings, beliefs and experiences voluntarily expressed by past clients. To friends. Family members. All based on something real.

Along its journey, the real estate brokerage went adrift. It lost its bearing. And scraped across an iceberg.

The Internet.
It ripped a hole in the brokerage hull.
And caused it to list.

Internet

The brokerage had no understanding of the Web. Or those who used it. It discounted both, either ignoring them completely or relegating them to vendors that pretended to understand it.

The result created a disconnect. Real estate brokerages looked odd. They had funny looking websites that all looked the same. They were stingy with information. Or fooled you into viewing it. The brokerage sought to generate, capture and drip - words that sounded and felt too much like caught, bound and tortured.

This was the new face of real estate to the burgeoning horde of hundreds of millions of people using the Web. They saw a side of real estate they never had before. It was hideous.

Then...

Fools gold

When the fervor hit real estate, online innovation exploded. Dozens of powerful new websites emerged within the industry, climbing over the brokerage to reach the consumer. They were cool. Designed properly. They offered better search. Better data. No strings.

They treated the consumer experience with more reverence than the brokers did.

Meanwhile, real estate sales tsunami-ed. Agents got powerful. Top producers became superstars. Free agents. Brokers entered bidding wars to land the bell cow. They drew in the lower producing and new agents, who also struck it rich.

Fools gold.

Brokers pretty much gave away their piece of the action for volume. And they continued to recruit more superstars who, in time, cost them their brand. And they recruited more newbies who cost them everything else.

Capsized

Between late 2005 and 2009, the the tides shifted. Though it was forecast, and despite the fact that is was a slow decline, brokers could not correct its course. Their websites remained terribly backward. Often maintained by vendors who built set it and forget it website systems. They became undernourished by their superstars, who kept most of the pie. And drained by the younger agents who, due to the lack of training and experience, were unable to sell. Unable to close.

All participants, grazing on the broker's diminishing pasture.
Occupying space.
Chewing up resources.

Whatever identity brokers once possessed, whatever company culture they might have created, whatever meaning they may have had within the local community ... capsized.

The real estate brokerage is now broken. As John Reinhardt, CEO of Fillmore Real Estate suggested, it's time real estate paid attention to how companies outside of real estate are behaving.

The brokerage of the future

The conference featured a breakout session on this very topic. I was unable to attend since I was speaking in the adjacent room at the same time. Different topic, same theme.

Bummer.

In my estimation, based on what I saw at the conference, the future brokerage is already here. They go by the names of EWM, S even Gables, Latter and Blum and @Properties. [Disclosure: @Properties is a client of 1000watt Consulting]. There are others. They lead. They innovate. They invest in enhancing customer experiences.

They enlist and train better, smarter, more productive sales agents rather than accumulating a company filled with mere "licensees."

Perhaps their websites need some work. Their messaging could be improved. They need to figure out social media. After all, nothing is ever perfect. Certainly not now.

The brokerage of the future is already here.
And you can move towards it tomorrow.
That's about as far into the future as you can wait to make your move.

- Davison
Twitter:1000wattmarc

"Make it a Great Day"....

Amanda Wernick — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:15:39 -0500

Every day I speak to someone that is in a sales capacity one way or another. Title Reps, Loan Officers, Appraisers etc...

Sometimes my call gets sent straight to voicemail and at the end of each message the words "Make it a Great Day" are left as their signature.

I'm sure you have all heard this at some point or another in a conversation with someone. Today, I saw the words sprawled across a note pad from one of our Title Reps and I started thinking (not a first, I promise you).

What exactly does that mean? We're told to MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. Does this mean that regardless of what'sgoing on in the world, we have a choice to make daily?

Does this mean that regardless of what's happening in our current global economic state, we should MAKE it a great day?

The obvious answer of course is a resounding YES!

Why? Because no man is an Island. Because what we know to be truth is not what is being sent forth to our community's. Because if we don't, WHO WILL?

I'm not saying to have a Pollyana approach to life, but in EVERY circumstance, as difficult as it may be at that time, DOES have a silver lining. The question is, are you looking for it?

It's so easy to go along with what everyone else is saying. Times are tough. Yes they are difficult. It is no longer the status quo. HOWEVER, look at how many people are now able to CREATE the perfect job for themselves. Look at how many people that were priced out of the market are actually able to purchase now. Look at how much inventory there is and what choices there are for the move up buyer.

Financing, while back to a traditional model, is still attainable and people are actually able to AFFORD the home of their dreams.

That to me is enough to MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

Amanda Wernick

Career Development Manager

Seven Gables Real Estate

714-837-7753

Frustrated Short Sales!

Amanda Wernick — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:03:35 -0500
Okay, someone’s lying. I’m not sure where the lie started, but it’s being circulated like a wildfire with no end in sight! Maybe “lie” is too strong a word. Let me rephrase that: Someone out there started a rumor that has caught on faster than the rumor of Death by Pop Rocks and Coke!
Last I heard we were in a recession. Is this Truth? YES!
Last I heard, the band Wings was better than the Beatles. Is this Truth? NO!
Last I heard the Real Estate Market was HORRIBLE! Is this Truth? MAYBE…
It really does depend what side of the glass you look at it. There is no denying that there are hundreds of homes (an under-estimate to be sure) that are being sold as a short sale or foreclosed (the infamous R.E.O’s).

There is no denying that the banks have tightened their lending requirements (thank heavens).

There is no denying that there is a PLETHORA of inventory out there.

BUT there is also no denying that with that entire inventory we are continuously seeing multiple offers on properties for sale!

Where is this DOWN MARKET everyone keeps talking about? How is it that a house goes on the market at 6 a.m. and by 3 p.m. there are 20 offers on it? THAT IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION EITHER FOLKS! That’s TRUTH!

I’m working in Real Estate. I’m out there talking to real bonafide buyers, looking to buy a home and they can’t get an offer in!

We’re outbid and we’re out numbered AND WE’RE NOT WRITING CRAPPY OFFERS!

Here’s why I started this off talking about a “lie”. Most of the inventory that is out there is being represented by agents that have no clue what they're doing.
They send in EVERY offer that comes in, frustrate the asset manager who in turn throws everything away and thus starts the cycle of “It’s not my job, I don’t have it, don’t blame me”.

Frustrated? That’s an understatement! And yet this is what buyers are dealing with!
It’s our job as Realtors to represent our Clients to the best of our ability, which means looking at the house they want to see and really dig to see if it’s even for sale.

What? How can it not be for sale?

I found it on Zillow and there’s a sign in the yard….

This is where training, Coaching, Mentoring and Education COUNT! This isn’t your traditional market and there are plenty of pitfalls that can befall a Realtor if he doesn’t have the support and guidance from his broker or the management team. Just one more reason I love working at Seven Gables! The support, expertise, constant training and communication are what make us stand apart. If you would like to know more about a Career at Seven Gables, call or email me! I’d love to talk to you about it!
Happy Selling,
Amanda
Amanda Wernick
Career Development Manager
Seven Gables Real Estate
714-837-7753
amandaw@sevengables.com

Agent Testimonial...

Amanda Wernick — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:26:16 -0500

Hello everyone,

I am so happy and proud today, I had to share this Seven Gables success story with you.

Almost 2 years ago and against my advice I sold a condo for $430K on Mitchell in TUS, I wanted my buyer to rent at the time, but Frank was so proud and his family were so happy to live the American dream, I couldn't take that away from them. I'm not good with keeping in touch with clients, but I called Frank every 3-4 months to see how he and his family are doing, he is always doing great, or so I thought.

Then a few months ago, I was showing property in TUS, I found myself in the same complex showing a unit same floor plan as Frank's for $180K, my heart dropped. I immediately called Frank, I found out, his wife is not working anymore and he was behind in the payments for the first time. I told him help is coming, I emailed Mike Hickman to ask if we do Loan Modification. Mike said indeed we do and he gave me Bob Hickman's phone number. I called Bob, within 5 minutes of talking to Bob I knew I was talking to someone that will care about my clients as much I do.

Today is two months later, yesterday Bob made me the happiest agent in OC, my client's payment is cut in half, the property was almost going to sale. I wanted everyone to know how grateful I am for what Bob did.  This small condo is Frank's and Luz's dream home and they can stay in it thanks to Bob. I haven't met Bob yet, but I know he is caring, compassionate and professional, he also is creative.  I can't thank you enough Bob and please pay us a visit at the next meeting, everyone needs to meet you.

I feel I'm accepting an award, but at this time, I also would like to thank Mike Hickman for his management and quick response to my emails, and also for hiring the best people, when you see employees at a company for years and years, it says a lot about management. Also thanks to Gina (she is WOW), and Kim (I'm sure when people call, they can feel her smile on the other end) and Barbara (amazing), and thanks to everyone that work in the background that make our job a little bit easier everyday.   I feel fortunate to be part of Seven Gables.

Ani Tamoukian

Reaching out to our Active Rain Community...

Amanda Wernick — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:35:14 -0500

Hello Everyone!

I recently posted this on my personal Facebook Account and Myspace. I am posting here in order to generate more possibilities, though this is not Real Estate related. I hope no one gets offended by it NOT being about Real Estate, and hope that you will all put on your thinking caps as to how we as a community can pull this off!

OK, I am up to something and need your help! I was recently touched by someone that I never even met, but the impact she had on people that I know that DID know her was HUUUUGE!

Brenda Bobinda (R.I.P) recently died of Breast Cancer. She leaves behind a 4 year old son, a 6 month old baby and a loving husband.

I was inspired last night to create a Salsa Sisters memorial to her. The logo will have the pink ribbon dancing and I need your help to make this happen!

I am looking for people that are willing to step out of their comfort circles and help me create a Salsa Dance Lesson evening by July 8th that will raise money to donate to the family or to the cause of their choice.

If you know me, you know that I am always there for my friends, so this "stepping out my comfort zone" is new to me, and I can't do it alone!

Who of you out there is willing to contribute with thoughts, donations, suggestions, or volunteering your resources and time to make this happen!?

This is bigger than me, or you, but it's not bigger than ALL of us! Let's do this!

Thank you in advance for your help and support!

Where am I and how did I get here...(more importantly, how do I get back home?)

Amanda Wernick — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:40:24 -0600
When I first started in Real Estate, I had no clue what I was doing!
I didn’t know about generating my own leads, or even of the VALUE of an open house!

I showed up to work and the company I was at gave me leads!
Sounds pretty easy, doesn’t it? It was!

Well except for the part where you had to convince a total stranger to come in to the office to meet with you so you could get them pre-approved and then take them out to find a house!

Back then writing an offer was not a problem! I’d take my “clients”, we’d look at 12 houses, they’d pick three and we’d write an offer on them! Homes were selling faster than one could keep up with so it didn’t pay to sit around and wait to make a decision! You just did it!
It never occurred to me that Real Estate was done any other way. It’s what I learned, so imagine my surprise when things shifted! I had NO CLUE what a CLIENT actually was!

It wasn’t until I came to Seven Gables that it all became clear to me.

And by then, it was too late….OR WAS IT?

Let me tell you what I’ve learned Dorothy:

In the last three years, I have learned that it was never about ME and my ability to SELL.

I learned that if I am to have a CAREER IN REAL ESTATE, I am to be a RESOURCE for my CLIENTS.

I’ve learned that there is indeed a difference between a customer and a client!

I’ve learned a few new terms that have managed to scare away “not so skilled” agents.
Those terms are SHORT SALES, FORECLOSURES, R.E.O’S AND LOAN MODIFICATION! I’ve learned that there is a company out there that takes the hiring of an agent seriously.

For Seven Gables, it’s not about the number of bodies walking around, but the quality of the people.

I’ve learned that Seven Gables not only looks to hire the best out there, but they are willing to INVEST in agent training, coaching and mentoring newer agents!

So, why do I want to go back to the beginning?

As the old saying goes…If I only knew then, what I know now!
Amanda Wernick
Career Development Manager
Seven Gables Real Estate
amandaw@sevengables.com
714-837-7753

Breaking up is hard to do…

Amanda Wernick — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:17:25 -0600
Neil Sedaka wrote a song about this and it went through the roof! Why is it that breaking up is so hard to do?

In relationships, careers, cable companies, even mobile phone companies, we hesitate, we resist, we make excuses and dig our heels in!

Some of these no longer function right, if they ever functioned at all, and yet, we hang on for dear life, hoping things are going to get better!

One of the things that holds us back is the fear of the unknown. We’re afraid of what “might” be, instead of being afraid of “what is”.

Stop and think about it. We program ourselves to think: If we leave our relationship, we “might” not ever find someone ever again.

If we leave our mobile phone company, we “might” not get the same reception!
We need to reevaluate what WILL come of it. What do you think about, that will either move you forward or hold you back?

In your career, why do you stay in a company that isn’t providing you with the training, support, tools, knowledge and skill sets to succed?

Is the fear you need to face that the next company “might” be the same and why bother going through the trouble of changing everything, or is it that you will have to come face to face with the reality that Real Estate is just not right for you?

That is probably the hardest to break up with, but it doesn’t HAVE to be that way!

Before you throw in the towel,

Ask yourself the following questions:

Have I given myself ample opportunity to learn, grow and reap the benefits of the time invested?

Have I APPLIED what I have learned, or just “Shown Up”?

Am I coachable?

Am I COMMITTED to a Career in Real Estate?

Do I want to be the best, no matter what that may be?

Is my company providing me with training, support, guidance, state of the art tools to be successful?

What about other opportunities to grow my clientele?

How innovative are they?

If you have answered those questions honestly and you find that you are doing YOUR part, but your company is not doing theirs, I’d love the opportunity to talk to!
Call or email me for a confidential interview!
Amanda Wernick
Career Development Manager
Seven Gables Real Estate
714-837-7753
amandaw@sevengables.com

The grass is ALWAYS greener???

Amanda Wernick — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:01:53 -0600

We all know that famous quote…and we all also know the truth of it.

In our personal lives, we think, “if only my partner would….then I would be happy”. “If I only made more money…then I’d be happy”. If I worked for another company, THEN I’d be happy”. But the truth of it is: WE WOULDN’T…not always anyway!

Why?

Because no matter where you go, what house you upgrade to, what spouse you leave behind, there is always a common denominator…YOU!

People as a whole are categorized into two factions:

The glass is half full or the glass is half empty.

Why do I bring this up? Because, while sometimes making a change is for the better, more often than not, it isn’t. Not if you aren’t aware of what got you into your current circumstance and make the changes necessary to really “start fresh”.

Whatever baggage you accumulated in previous relationships, career, debt etc, will follow you UNLESS you are committed to making sure that doesn’t happen again.

How so?

If you are looking to get out of a relationship, you need to stop and ask yourself, “Is what I’m running away from here, going to follow me into my next relationship”?

This means taking a long hard look at yourself, seeing where you contributed to the breakdown in your current situation, and being constantly aware of that so that you do not allow your bad habits to follow you into your new circumstance!

In your career, you need to ask yourself:
“Why do I think that changing jobs is going to make me happy?”
If the answer is that you are in a place where you are consistently supported, guided, and treated with respect but have no future possibility of advancement, making a change may be a good thing for you.

If you are working at a company that doesn’t offer you training, support, guidance and cutting edge services, but you give it your all and are still not moving forward, then a change is going to benefit you as well….

As independent contractors we truly have wonderful opportunities to make as much money as WE CHOOSE to! Sometimes this does mean leaving a company to grow your business.

Here comes the downside: if you are working at a company that fully supports you, offers leads, training, coaching, state of the art technology and you are STILL NOT BEING PRODUCTIVE it’s time to come to the realization that the job you’re doing is NOT FOR YOU…This is ESPECIALLY true if you are an Independent Contractor!

Don’t fool yourself into staying in Real Estate because you keep hearing how good the money is (it can be), or how “you’re a people person” so it will be really easy to sell houses (most of us are people persons, unless we’re Veterinarian’s and then we love animals), or how you just LOVE looking at houses!

These are not the traits that make a successful Realtor!

Honesty, Diligence, Ethics, Resources, Training, Accountability, Creativity, Knowledge, Determination and the DESIRE to be the BEST are what make a great agent and it’s what we look for here at Seven Gables.

We even take Ethics Training to be able to call ourselves Realtors and are constantly educating ourselves so that we can then be a resource for our Clients, who, at the end of it all, ARE OUR BUSINESS!

We at Seven Gables KNOW that we offer the best training, support, coaching, and resources to assist agents in increasing production…now the question remains…do YOU have what it takes?
Call me to talk more about this, or to set a confidential interview!
Amanda Wernick
Career Development Manager
Seven Gables Real Estate
714-837-7753
amandaw@sevengables.com

Shift Happens!

Amanda Wernick — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:28:43 -0600

I am a Real Estate Agent. I am a Recruiter. I am a Trainer for Seven Gables Real Estate. I am woman, hear me roar!

Diversity is the spice of life.

Why do I bring this up? Because Change Is Inevitable!
I started off with a passion to help buyers buy the best house for THEM. To help Sellers get top dollar for the sale of their home!

Eventually, that morphed to training new agents in developing their career.

That passion turned into recruiting agents that were serious about a Real Estate Career and were looking for guidance, training, support and knowledge!

I love what I do! I wear different hats as needed by those around me.
With Clients, I am their resource for information on what is happening in our market.

For the agents that work with us, Lisa and I are here to assist them in everything from managing their time, to writing up a business plan that is active and works for THEM.

As a Recruiter, I reach out to agents that sometimesdon't get the support they were promised, see if we will be a good fit for each other and assist them in transitioning into a productive career in Real Estate.

I am able to do all of this because I allow myself to SHIFT MY ATTITUDE.

Are you doing the same? There has been a shift in the market.

Did YOU shift accordingly?

If not, you need to ask yourself "Why Not".

What is holding you back from reaching out to clients that might be in a short sale situation?

Or the first time home buyer who will have to go through FHA financing versus Stated/Stated.

Sure they may not be able to buy the biggest and best on the block, but they will be able to COMFORTABLY AFFORD to keep their home!

Ask yourself: The market has shifted, have I, and if I haven't, Why Not?

Call me for a confidential interview!
Amanda Wernick
Career Development Manager
Seven Gables Real Estate
714-837-7753
amandaw@sevengables.com