After many months of internal debate, running numbers, talking to trusted bankers, title reps, agents, family, I made a decision.  It was time to leave Re\Max and join a different Company.  I chose Keller Williams. 

 At the end of the day it did come down to value offered.  What I paid at Re\Max compared to what I pay at Keller Williams.  The numbers were not even close.  The only thing I feared was the Keller Williams culture.  Agents and brokers actually care about your performance even though they have no financial tie to it.  WOW!   

It has amazed me the support I have gotten from fellow office agents offering help to get settled into a new company.  It seems to be that if the office is successful, then we all benefit.  If the Company as a whole is successful, we all benefit.  The free flow of insight, tips, and ideas, is blowing my mind.  I came from a culture that these are secrets and keep your mouth shut. 

 Im loving it, so please be patient with me. 

Well this weekend it finally happened, Death entered my home and took away a family member. 

My neighbor upgraded to a 10 gallon aquarium last month and gave my kids the old 2 1/2 gallon starter aquarium.  So we went out and let each kid pick out 1 fish each to call their own. 

My daughter (5) picked out a .99 cent fish and named him Brownie.  My Son (4) picked out the same type of fish, but slightly smaller and named him Nemo.  These fish have thrived, they play, they enjoy life. 

This weekend my wife changed the water in the tank added a fake plant to spruce up the tank.  The kids watched the whole process.  They encouraged their fish as they were confined to a small cup during the habitiat cleaning process.  All went well, and the fish were released back to their clean digs. 

Then the unfortunate happened.  Nemo was floating.  We thought the Boy was upstairs when my wife broke the news, but he heard the word dead and came running.  Conviced the fish was sleeping he asked to give a poke at the fish.  DEAD.  We had to officially pronouce Nemo as dead. 

It was the kids' first brush with Death.  There were a few tears, but they pulled through.  He decided he wants another Nemo, so we will be going to the pet store to procure another fish for him.  They have requested that I not throw the dog in the trash can if she dies as I did the fish though. 

So please keep Nemo in your thoughs and prayers. 

Death is a tricky thing to explain to a 4 and 5 year old, no matter what the situation is. 

Its really a wonder life because of the lessons I have learned from Childhood. 

Quitting is Bad:  Don't be a quitter.  Quitters never win.  So now they tell us to quit drinking, quit smoking etc.  I choose not to be a quitter.  Quitters never win. So I refuse to enter that Rehab Center. 

Try it you may like it:  Some of stuff I liked most I did not.  So in the spirit of things, I tried it and happened to like beer, cigarettes and Brussell Sprouts.  Go figure, I drink, smoke, and eat some vegetables, and red meat, and butter, and bacon. As a side note and tip, any Vegetable wrapped in bacon and then fried in butter is good. 

I'm bored:  I was encouraged to go out and find new friends.  A valuable life lesson.  So I like to go out and get some fresh air.  It's better than sitting on the couch all day. 

Don't be afraid to try something new:  I make it a point to try every bar in the city.

Its better to give than receive:  This lesson is taught by all, but forgotten.  So I try to ease the burden and go ahead and take.  I know it was on your ever growing to-do list, so scratch it off, I helped you out. 

The Golden Rule:  That's what I was doing with that other woman, why are you so mad Honey?????????  It's the Golden Rule.

I have a question that has been on my mind the past couple of days.  This is geared to those professionals who aid us Real Estate Agents in closing out deals (Lenders, Title Co reps, Inspectors, etc). 

I have a great team in my Real Estate corner.  I am very loyal to my Title Company and my preferred Lender.  I take every opportunity to promote their business because the service they provide to me are incredible.  I've referred many a client to my partners much to their delight.  I do it because I know the deal will get done.  If it does not, it was not due to their failings. 

As I said, this is just a question.  I would ask those that I know in the fields, but I don't want to look like I am trying to "squeeze" them for clients.  I know that they work with many, many Realtors everyday, or they would not be successful.  So the question is:

If somebody (friend, family, acquaintances) asked you to refer a Realtor contact to them, how would you select a Realtor.  Going on step farther, if you were wanting to sell your home, how would you select your Realtor?