Carin's Blog

Orange Senior Center Rocks!

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:37:49 -0800

This is one of my favorite places to hang out in the city of Orange. I discovered the Orange Senior Center a few years ago when I took my dad-in-law to visit. Prior to residing in assisted living and now a board and care home, Dad lived quite independently. Other than hanging out with me (I was his primary caregiver at the time), his buddies at Kiwanis and Mark, his part-time caregiver, Dad didn’t have too much of a social network.

Being the resourceful chick, I investigated the center and just KNEW Dad needed to go. Too sequestered in his home, or so I thought. I mean, who wouldn’t love a bit of bingo then lunch? LAME-O me. We sat among the other seniors for a short time. Let’s just say Dad had better places to be, like his own house, for example.

“These people are too old!” said the 79-year-old man.

“Don’t you think you might wanna give it a chance? We’ve only been here 10 minutes. Can’t we stay long enough to see who wins the next bingo round?” (Like I was gonna miss THAT?)

OK, so Dad didn’t exactly bond with bingo or anything else under the roof that day. I wasn’t going to push. It’s not my style.

That said, I bonded with this place almost immediately. Bingo? Not so much. It was the people. Old people. Old, funny, intelligent people – sharing, conversing, complaining, kvetching, laughing. Just like it is in my house.

That, my friends, was just the beginning of my relationship with the Orange Senior Center. More discoveries happened after that day. Much more.

Hard Sales: Just say NO

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:37:44 -0800

It is not usually like me to rant and carry on about most things. I'm the kind of person who tends to take things in stride. Well, apparently not all things. Thank you in advance for letting me rant...

When I got a phone call from a representative at Z57, a real estate website company over a week ago, the idea of an all inclusive website sounded good. After my somewhat feeble attempt of building my own website using iWeb several months ago, I think it's an okay website and am still working on it. Yet I'm open to new ideas and made an appointment to further discuss Z57's products and services. It's no surprise that companies such as Z57 look for websites such as mine, call the user, and go for the kill. They are all about the HARD SELL.

(I know what you're thinking: Carin, websites are all about SEO. You gotta be high on that Google juice! Without it, you can pretty much kiss your real estate longevity into oblivion without a strong web presence. I get it. I really do and don't necessarily disagree. Social Media as a whole has made its way and I'm recently my persona of online presence has taken off with a vengeance. I'm learning tons, embracing it every day. Therefore, I'm not completely asleep at the Web 2.0 wheel).

That said, back to Z57. After our initial call, I agreed to make a phone appointment with the same rep the following week. Three days ago, she called at 2:18 PM. MacBook ready to go, she walked me through the site, what it might look like, discussed ROI stats, all the while, reassuring me this would absolutely benefit my business, even bring me several leads.

So far, so good. Thing is, towards the end of the phone call, I really didn't want their product. I paused before giving her my digits, telling her I'd really like a few days to think about this, talk to my husband, etc., still feeling uneasy. (Just hang up Carin. You can do it!) "You NEED this", she repeated several times. "Your husband wants you to be successful, right? He'll be glad you're getting such a great deal that will benefit your business!" (or something to that effect) By then, I'm completely exhausted by the entire experience and acquiesced. I told the rep I was running late and needed to pick up Steve, the husband, at the airport, at which point, said we were almost finished and quickly went over the terms and conditions. I briefly note #5 "Once the site is created and uploaded to the Internet (even on a temporary domain or with partial or default content) OR 10 business days have elapsed, no refunds will be given." Okay, I think, I still have a bit of time to cancel my new account. At 3:35, after a 1 hour and 17 minute phone conversation, I'm off to the airport. On my way, I get another call from another Z57 employee wanting more info. Since I'm driving, I ask if I can e-mail the info. She says no problem. Oh, but it is a problem...

Most nights I'm not usually up at 2:43 AM, which is when an e-mail from Z57 entered my inbox, telling me "It was a pleasure speaking with you earlier about your website. Your site has been built and can be previewed by clicking here or going to http://www.carinzimmer.com."I call Z57 early the next morning to tell them I'd like to cancel my account. Dude says fine but that I'd be receiving a phone call within one business day to "start the process of canceling my account." Process? What process? I just wanna cancel my order!

Sure enough, the next day I received "the call." Briefly and politely I listen to his spiel then get right to it: I DON'T WANT THIS WEBSITE. Well, Remember #5 from those terms and conditions? Yeah, well, because somewhere between 3:35PM, Nov. 4th and 2:43PM, Nov. 5th, my website was already BUILT, I'm ineligible for a refund! Kicker is, my "temporary" website happens to be the exact same template their rep had used, less than 12 hours earlier in her presentation. (The rep never got my godaddy account number because I was driving and couldn't look it up).

I hung up, angry and frustrated. He called back moments later asking if I wanted to cancel my account. Cancel my account? I thought they didn't "cancel" accounts. Canceling accounts means they'd have to refund your $$$. This question contradicted what he had said to me earlier in our first conversation.

At this point, I don't even care about the damn website or what Z57 can do to make me happy. Bottom line, they already know what will make me happy and they're not willing to do that.

I'm pissed at myself, of course. I blew it. I made a mistake. It happens. I'm a big girl and take full responsibility for my own decision. Worse though, I'm resentful Z57 took my $433 and refuse to credit it back to my account again, less than 12 hours between a phone call and "building a website." Several people here on AR have blasted the company. Unfortunately I didn't read those until I agreed to their terms. On the flip side other people are quite satisfied with Z57. I even contacted another AR member who freely shared he's been very happy with Z57 over the last 2 years. Very cool for him. Believe me, I wish I felt the same.

I decided to share, yes, to blow off some steam. More important, please my fellow Rainer's, if something doesn't sound right for you and your unique situation, or makes you feel uncomfortable, go with your gut and just say NO. They called me. I didn't seek them out. I ALLOWED them to make me FEEL something I didn't genuinely feel. I give her props for the HARD SELL. Masterful job. It's also a COMPLETELY UNSOULFUL WAY TO SELL. Sometimes it's okay to hang up.

BTW, I've already contacted my credit company to dispute the charge.

Orange County Cares About Seniors

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:49:13 -0700

Not all seniors are old. Nor are they bitter, grumpy or dumb. What's great abou seniors who are genuine life-lovers is their capacity to share of themselves in such a way, one can't help but smile and walk away a better person than before meeting that awesome person!

I've had the pleasure of attending something called the Orange County Roundtable for the last eighteen months. The meetings revolve around seniors' needs and the businesses who service and resolve those needs. People working from in-home care businesses to assisted living providers, real estate consultants, and non-profit organizations, we meet monthly at The Orange Senior Center sharing the same goal: to use our businesses in ways to help seniors and their families throughout Orange County. What strikes most is the care, compassion and professionalism I personally witness every meeting I attend.

Today was no exception.

Steve Carpenter, of Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable housing and revitalize communities, spoke on behalf of a coalition he's involved with called, "Down With Falls". Stupendous name, as it refers to their motto of "To raise community awareness of fall prevention in Orange County by promoting comprehensive strategies to reduce the risk of falling."

Steve shared a few alarming statistics such as, 1 in 3 older adults fall each year and 5 in 10 have problems getting up without help after they have fallen. Bad stuff, indeed. About 3 years ago, my dad-in-law fell in his bathroom right before midnight (he lived alone at the time) and I didn't get his phone call until 9:30 the next morning; meaning, he (somehow) dragged himself from the bathroom to his living room sofa, where he sat while making that phone call to me. Dad was fortunate he didn't break a hip, his arm, or his head. His fall did however, prompt a quick fracture in his left shoulder. (And for those who wonder if he had one of those devices around his neck, i.e., Lifeline or Life Alert? Yes, he did. Actually wearing the thing? Another blog post.)

Point is, before my awareness of fall prevention, would Dad have still fallen? Perhaps. Still, probably would've removed that bathroom rug (rubber backing but too thick and easy to trip on). Mostly though, just the simple awareness of making slight adjustments for aging-in-place makes me sleep more soundly at night

*Note: Currently, Dad is living in a board and care residential home, where he wears his Lifeline device on a daily basis. =)

City of Orange Home Preview - Sept. 8, 2009

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:42:00 -0700

Hey Kids,

Fun stuff today! Thought I’d keep y'all updated on what I see each time I attend Orange Caravan, a time for agents and brokers to preview recent listings in the cities of Orange and Villa Park, CA. We alternate weeks between east and west Orange. Today - West Orange. Eight homes at preview today and here’s what I saw (Just a reminder that ALL listings shown are standard sale. No foreclosure or short sales) :

Homes $449,000 - $675,000:

624 N. Clinton St. Orange $449,000 3 bd, 2 ba 1066 sqft.
2419 E. Garfield Ave. Orange $450,000 4 bd. 2 ba 1,505 sqft.
2604 E. Washington Ave. Orange $525,000 3 bd, 2 ba 1,819 sqft.
2712 E. Garfield Ave. Orange $559,000 4 bd, 3 ba 1,954 sqft.
1929 N. Fern Orange $675,000 4 bd, 3 ba 3,033 sqft.

Homes $:729,000 - $979,000:

1638 N. Brigantine Ln. Orange $729,000 5 bd, 3 ba 2,903 sqft.
619 N. Birchwood Rd. Orange $749,000 3 bd, 3 ba 2,913 sqft.
320 N. Cambridge St. Orange $979,000 5 bd 4 ba 3,254 sqft.

624 N. Clinton and 2419 E. Garfield are both good values, especially for first-time home buyers and worth checking out. 329 N. Cambridge is beautiful if you love historical homes. Nice work throughout. Good to see more inventory. Next week is east side!

I'm Gonna Get Me Some Business from Facebook! Really??

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:14:06 -0700

Just got an e-mail with the subject line "Facebook Do's and Don'ts to get more customers." Hmmm....me thinks this Facebook thing might be catching on in the real estate sector. Hey! I'm a real estate agent and use Facebook! Think I'll check it out. This guy says he's gonna "show me how to get more customers to grow more business in my real estate business by using Facebook." Wow! And guess what? It's a free e-book!! I'm already pretty excited, but wait! There's more! Here's some other learning objectives:

How to use Facebook to create powerful referrals and close more deals without spending a dime on advertising.
How to separate your personal life from you business life.
The big mistakes other agents are making on Facebook and how you can avoid them
How to get the most out of Facebook without spending hours a day on the site

Well, what am I waiting for?! Uh, oh...better not wait too much longer because this is a limited time offer. I mean, I sure could use those "two or more closed deals" by the end of the year, and he HAS "reserved a copy of this powerful book for me..."

....wait a minute. Come to think of it....during a good, normal day, I'm pretty adept at separating my personal and professional life, yes, even on Facebook. Most of my friends, including those who have "friended" me, know I'm a real estate gal. I post real estate related things from time to time, mostly because I love what I do and (at times) want to share helpful information with the world! It's always cool getting a question or two about real estate issues or comments as well. I like to keep things pretty low-key, so as not to cram too much info at once. I think my friends appreciate this fact. Besides, people might get kinda sick of me. I already do a fine job of that. :)

Advertising on Facebook? Never thought about it. Not much of a concern. I've posted a listing here and there and unless I missed the online bill, don't think it cost much.

Maybe I don't need this free e-book after all. I guess I'll have to take the risk of not knowing if I'm making "big mistakes other agents are making on Facebook." I suppose the biggest mistake would probably be in line with, geez, I don't know, turning people off? Other than that, I think I'm good for now. With all due respect, I thank you for thinking of me but I'll pass this time...those who use Facebook or other social media do so at their own pace and choice of method. To each his own.

One thing for sure, free or not, I have got to get off this Facebook thingie. Forgetting my meeting with a client because I was spending hours poking my old high school buddies and learning how to take care of my farm (?) on Farmville probably wasn't the smoothest professional move in my career thus far. Perhaps a bit more time working real estate is in order, the kind that involves going outside and actually talking to people face to face occasionally. Maybe I'll take a friend or two out to lunch next month! Or have a Labor Day BBQ! If I can squeeze them in-between my quiz results...

6 Reasons why your house won't sell.

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:19:36 -0700

This is a GREAT blog post written by real estate agent, Alan May, of Coldwell Banker in Evanston, IL. I love it because he articulates the importance of these key issues concerning the sale of a home. Whether it be an agent or their client, both need to understand the significance of why these reasons are so important to recognize. (and I'm including myself, of course!) As a home buyer or seller, what are your thoughts on this?

Via Alan May, Coldwell Banker Evanston Realtor, North Shore Realtor (Evanston Real Estate, Evanston, IL):

1. Your photos are unimpressive. The vast majority of home buyers start their search for a home on the Internet, your house had better look great in print. Not just nice... downright fabulous. Today we are considering internet views as a 'virtual showing'... if your house gets past that, then they might (just might) make an appointment to see it in person... We consider that your SECOND showing. Today's buyers are expecting good quality photos (and lots of them... just 1 shot from the street won't cut it!), a virtual tour, maybe even a floor plan, if applicable.

2. It's overpriced. You've got to view your own property as objectively as possible. Look at the home like a "buyer"... if necessary, go out with your Realtor and view other homes that are priced comparably to yours. Be objective. Given the other options on the market (and yes, you DO have to include short sales and foreclosures on your list... your potential buyers are!), would YOU buy your home, over the others on the market?

If no, then you either have to "update" your home to meet or beat the competition... or lower your price to adjust for it. if you can't afford to sell it for the price, that you KNOW it should sell for, you may want to consider just removing it from the market.

3. It shows poorly. This could mean almost anything... from the barky, barky dog, to the smell of the diaper pail. Maybe the carpeting is a bit worn, or the woodwork shows a lot of wear. All things that don't show up on the internet, but whoa.... once you get inside the house... they show up, like a cat-urine-smell on a 95 degree day in New Orleans!

4. You're invisible. Today's buyer comes from the internet, almost exclusively. Have you (or your agent) simply plopped the property on the MLS, and started praying? Are you on all the websites...(Trulia, Zillow, Craig's List, Google Base, etc...) all the places that buyers are searching? If not, you want to be.

5. Your listing is tired and stale on the market. Okay... yes, you overpriced your home initially when you first came on the market 2 years ago. But since then you have reduced your price almost monthly... constantly chasing the market down.... Now, finally you're truly priced where you should be... but your listing is tired and stale. Everyone looking for your type of property (ie: 3br/1.1 bath) in your area has already seen it, sometimes twice... and they remember that there was "something" about it that they didn't like... but what they don't remember is... what they didn't like.... was the price. Time to take the listing off market. Let it cool off (3-6 months), and bring it back on fresh in the Spring. Yeah, you'll have 6 mos. worth of holding-costs... but you'll more than make up for it in your purchase price.

btw... Resist the temptation to bring the house back on at a higher price, than when you left the market. Just "don't do it"!

6. Your house won't appraise. The house looks great... you've finally gotten someone to bring you a bid on your slightly over-priced, but beautiful pied-a-terre. But the bank appraiser says it's worth $20,000 less than what they've agreed to pay. Heavy sigh... bite the bullet.... negotiate with them. If you have to drop the price $20,000 to make it work.... "make it work"... chances are, anybody else trying to buy your house will run into the same problem.

One Way to Gain a Clients' Trust? Be Trustworthy

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:37:17 -0700

After a recent listing appointment, I walked away from my prospective client feeling great! No listing agreement was signed nor am I sure I'll get the listing. Why, then, would I leave happy? Only one reason: I put her needs before mine.

I love this business and like most, love it when I close any transaction. (aka, get paid!) That said, I'm most excited when the transaction closes because my client made the best decision for him/herself and not because of what I wanted to see happen.

When the woman told me about her current financial situation and her plans to move into an independent senior living neighborhood, my first thought was not, "Gee, how much would someone offer on this house?" or "I know she'll choose to work with me after hearing what the previous agents had to say." Instead it was more like this... "I'm not sure selling her house is the best decision for her at this time!" I immediately shared my thoughts with her and in an instant, the seventy-eight-year-old looked at me in amazement. "You mean I should do nothing at this time?" "That's correct. I want to make sure that you understand what you're getting into as far as the senior living residence is concerned and make sure you've considered all your options. Since you've only looked at this one place, I think you would benefit investigating other facilities as well. Depending on cost, it might be best to stay put where you are. I can help you look at different options and have great resources in the senior industry." Shortly before leaving, with surprising eyes, she quietly said, "You really care, don't you?" Later this week, I'll go visit her again, this time with more information and resources to share. Whatever comes of this, I'm convicted by my actions and know I did the right thing on that first visit.

Not every prospect ends with a signature. Not every transaction is a given to close. Nor will one end up working with every potential client one meets with. These are the uncertainties. What's most certain is putting my clients' needs before my own. With that comes the best thing of all: gaining trust. Trust must be earned. Following that comes the other earned compensation: a closed transaction and a piece of paper with $$ on it. Now that's a beautiful way to make a living!

Active Listing - 503 S. Prospect Street Orange, CA 92869

Tue, 05 May 2009 21:55:16 -0700

Unique Charming Custom Home in Orange, CA

Built in 1929 4 Bedroom 2 1/2 Baths 3,347 SqFt. 21,154 SqFt. Lot Size $ 1,200,000.00

One of a kind property located in the city of Orange. Has many amenities including 3 fireplaces, 2 safes, laundry chute, more than enough storage throughout. Custom built, property includes 2 work shops and shed. 2 car garage. Click HERE for more details.

A Comment or Two Can Make a Difference

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:51:17 -0700

In the last 2 years here on Active Rain, I've written a total of 31 blog posts; some rather mundane and mediocre, other ones, quite okay. Last November I wrote my twenty-first, a post about my fear of blogging or, my experience of becoming a "blog-o-phobic", if you will. Not the most amazing piece of writing by any means, it was the first blog post that felt most like me: honest, open, and a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor. Written with essentially no one reader in mind nor a specific agenda, for the first time, I felt a a tiny shred of purpose for all of this and that perhaps, blogging might finally become easier and the words would now flow more freely. Yes, and parenting is no longer an issue when the kid goes off to college. Riiiiiight....

Almost 6 months later, I'm still slogging and blogging away, still unsure of the mechanics of it and social networking in general (adding links, photos, widgets, etc.) Fear still occasionally weaves its way among my fingers and keyboard, yet all the same, this doesn't seem to matter as much as it once did. Instead of focusing entirely on how I don't get the mechanics of technology, I'm learning to just do what I love most about blogging - the writing itself.

Today I received a comment on this very post from none other than Todd Clark. Kind of a big deal for me, for I had just read about him on a post written by AR's wonderful Katerina Gasset . I think he's a terrific human being, and this was my very first comment from him! When I clicked on my post, I re-read all 11 comments made, including blogger Cherimie Crane, written November 21, 2008. She, too, another terrific human being and writer, I had completely forgotten she'd commented on my silly little blog post and how much her words meant to me! Cherimie wrote:

Carin,

This was a super blog!!!! Seriously, I love your writing style. Please don't change, just sit down and let it flow~~~~.You have a very unique style, don't worry, the kinks will work themselves out; however, no one can teach you to write just like YOU:)

Fast forward to April 26, 2009, and this is what Todd shared:

Enjoy yourself. Don't worry what others think and just keep posting. Then one day someone will find something of yours that strikes a cord and they will call, but if you don't write at all, they will never find that magic post that says "Hey, I have to hire this person."

Hence, I write this post to share the power of words; how they can shape, motivate, illuminate. The writing isn't any easier, but expressiveness is. Mechanics will come. Writing won't if you don't actually do just that - write. Something. Anything. And while you're at it, please feel free to comment. =)

*With special thanks to Todd, Katerina, and Cherimie.

In Real Estate, Think First, Then Be Nice

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:37:54 -0700

Sometimes it's tough being a nice person. Seriously, it can be a load on a person's soul. Since acting as a landlord for my dad-in-law's house this last year, twice, my "nice" has gotten me into trouble. We nice people mean well. Heck, that's why we're nice. In my case, our tenants (three young women) had some problems come up and needed our help. "Niceness" to the rescue!

First Issue? Washing Machine.

It had gotten stuck in the middle of a cycle. Waiting for Mr. Sears to show up, he discovered that a dryer sheet had inadvertently made it's way over the inside basin, got caught in the motor, causing it to basically stop working. When Ms. Tenant asked if they would have to pay for the repair, I first told them probably not and not to worry. <LOUD BUZZER RINGS. WRONG ANSWER!> Mr. Sears informed me that the problem was not cause by normal wear and tear (How could it have? Washer was less than a year old!) but rather, by that little tiny dryer sheet. Ms. Tenant reluctantly writes a check for the repair.

Second issue? Plumbing.

About a month ago, they call with a big clog problem, so I call Mr. Plumber. Everyone should be so lucky to have my plumber, as he came the same day I called and immediately snaked the entire plumbing throughout the house. When finished with the yucky job, he calls me and says there was way too much food and that whoever is renting the house, they need to understand that not everything should go down a garbage disposal. And when using a garbage disposal, don't forget to run a lot of water too. Oh, and nothing should ever make its way down a toilet other than regular toilet paper. (And we had just had a new main serwer installed about 4 years ago) So again, after the fact, Ms. Tenant asks if they owe us anything and naturally, I tell her, no, it's no problem, just remember to not put so much food in disposal, blah, blah, blah. <WRONG AGAIN!> Besides, she was stressing out in the middle of trying to find a third roommate (the first two or the original three tenants would be leaving by Mar. 1st), time was ticking away, and I didn't want to add to her stress by having her pay for a plumbing issue! But you see, there's this thing called a Rental Agreement. Yeah, I remember signing that. I mean, I'm a Realtor for heaven's sakes. Gotta know my contracts, right? Yes, well, there's a very crucial line under #11 A in the California Lease Agreement which states:

"Tenant shall be charged for repair of drain blockages or stoppages, unless caused by defective plumbing parts or tree roots invading sewer lines."

I knew this before answering her. I reacted before thinking. As you can imagine, Ms. Tenant hasn't been too happy with me. First I tell her not to worry, then turn around and tell her, "Hey! You know how I told you that you probably wouldn't have to pick up the tab? Well, I'm too accommodating and don't think before I speak. That, and I really like you and want you to like me too!!" Good grief. Twice I make the same mistake. Think I get it by now?? Fortunately, pragmatic tendencies wreak throughout my partner/hubby. This is an example of thinking before reacting, when he wrote:

"Please keep in mind Ms. Tenant, that when you all originally moved in on March 1, 2008, the plumbing was in good order, and all routine and even unexpected repairs and maintenance necessary to keep it that way (including whatever repairs are required to fix the bathroom faucet this coming Saturday) were performed and paid for by us as your landlords, per the terms of the agreement. An example of normal wear & tear was the replacement of both the washer & dryer as they had reached the end of their useful life, and not as a result of any neglect and/or abuse by you guys, versus the subsequent and more recent washer repair which the Sears technician found was due to negligence.

So in fairness to all of you, and to us, we double-checked today with our plumber Brian XX, to get his professional opinion as to which he thought it was: (abuse/neglect or just normal wear & tear) in this case. What he recalled when we spoke with him today, was that it was what he called an 'over-use' drain clog, meaning: too much food going down the kitchen sink, without enough water running down along with it. So in his opinion, it was something that could have been avoided, and therefore, not ordinary wear & tear."

He is the Shakespeare of practicality. My hero. My practical teacher. And guess what? He's nice too.

Zillow Me This: Falling In and Out of Love

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:35:43 -0700

Real estate agents love to hate Zillow. We grapple with those preposterous numbers, knowing very well this stuff is not exactly rocket science. For Sally or Joe Public, Zillow represents a tangible piece of what they think their house may be worth. Though I don't think human appraisers will be out of work anytime soon, Cyber-Appraiser Zillow, gives the public something quick and easy to find: validation. Agree or disagree with that number if you will; point is, people use it as a barometer to what's happening in their neighborhood before they call you.

But isn't accuracy warranted? Certainly Google Earth, with its dramatic ability to beam on the tiniest blade of grass from above is quite extraordinary. "Look, i can see the two chipped pavers in my backyard!" But what about the inner workings of a home? Can you feel the warmth of a family room, with its homemade window treatments from Google Earth? Or a sweeping pair of mirrored walk-in closets the size of a typical New York City apartment? Though on the surface, these symbols may ring hollow, they help justify our need for validation, accurate or not.

Journalist, Meghan Daum, has her own amusing theory regarding Zillow. She argues that we loved Zillow during the bubble of 2005, yet that love affair has diminished this past year or so. in this current market,"the number is simply wrong. Yes, the market has plummeted at roughly the speed of a large melon dropped from a tall building. But an Internet appraisal can only compare a house's worth to that of other houses. It doesn't see inner beauty. It knows nothing of kitchen renovation. It is an inherently limited measurement, as shallow and as damaging to homeowners' egos as ten fashion magazines are to body to body-conscious adolescent girls."

Like Daum, I, too, looked up my house on Zillow. Bummer. Not the number I wanted expected to see. Certainly not the numbers I use to see waaaay back in 2005. Ah, yes, those were the days. The days when inflated prices superseded doubt of any kind in spite of our overpriced homes. What we use to look for as "adding value" has now become "worth less." "In an economy that's constantly reminding us how worthless, or at least "worth less," our houses are, maybe clinging to these token symbols is a valid coping mechanism, even a sign of emotional stability," Daum adds. "So bye-bye, Zillow! I don't need your stinking thinking in these troubled times."

Unless, of course, if the economy of 2005 ever returns, I'd fall in love with you all over again.

Getting Ready For My First Listing!!

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:27:56 -0800

Okay, I confess. I don't "officially" have my first listing, but that doesn't mean I can't prepare as if I DO!

In truth, I'm meeting a potential client in a few days, so it's never too soon to prepare, right? With that, I wanted to share some recent articles I've discovered the last few days which I hope you shall find just as helpful.

For those who don't recognize the name Ed Schnieder, he's a rock star. Well, he is a TV star. Ever see "Get it Sold" on HGTV? Very cool.

Ed sent me this from CNBC, "Price is Right: How to Sell Your Home Now" http://www.cnbc.com/id/28054976

This article is especially useful, for Mr. Seller, homeowner of 35+ years, might not be too interested in hearing about the realities of current home prices. Perhaps I'll think twice before listing if Mr. Seller won't budge on price.

Jennifer Allan, my soulful guru of guru's, led me to another terrific Denver gal, Mary Beth Bonacci, who recently wrote a blog "What if You Have to Sell Your House?" Just right to the point; simple explanations of what to do during uncertain times. http://www.mblovesdenver.com/2008/12/03/what-if-you-have-to-sell-your-house/#respond

AND..... I almost forgot, Yvette Smith's awesome post, "Indoctrinating Sellers". A definite read for all.

Home and its Many Meanings

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:58:06 -0800

For those who have and/or experiencing loving someone with dementia, this is for you. After 9 months of living in assisted living, hubby and I decided it was time for his dad to make a visit to his home-- the home he lived in for years before moving to assisted living last year, that is. An extraordinary experience, I decided to write about it and included it in my last e-newsletter, thus, because of the strong and emotional response from many, I thought I'd share it here on Active Rain. Cheesy as it may sound and as sarcastic as this writer is, Dad touched me more than I can say. and it is with great sincerity, I write. Thanks for the opportunity to share once again.

Sometimes you can home again, if only for a few hours....

This week marked a special day in the life of Mr. Robert L. Zimmer as he visited his beloved home on Chipwood Street in Orange, CA for the first time since moving to Kirkwood Assisted Living, a year ago this December. As an onlooker, I've realized homes are as individual as human beings. For many, a home is not merely an inanimate object, but an extraordinary reminder of who we are and were. It symbolizes our own meaningful history scattered with memories.

Three young women reside there now as tenants and have given Chipwood their own personality, one far different than Dad's. Steve goes over to Chipwood twice a year for basic maintenance and asked his Dad if he'd like to come over while he worked on a few projects, while his tenants were away at work. The visit proved as cathartic as any therapy session could, especially for one coming to terms with his own dementia.

Fairly well-composed upon entry, his first response was not unlike a small child walking onto one of their favorite television or movie sets for the first time. The look of surprise, glancing at furniture he had no connection to; slowly making his way through the dining room, unsure of what had happened to the castle he used to live in; wondering why he was no longer living in this house.

When stepping outside, through the glass slider to the backyard and patio, he approached Steve, who was busy cleaning the furnace filter. As the proverbial biology teacher greeted his son, tears ran down his face. He inspected the backyard and realized how glorious the various trees had grown since the last time he saw them, amazed they were still standing - just like him.

Gently taking Dad by the arm, we re-enter the house. We visited one room at a time with great care and interest: the kitchen, cautiously touching the stove he never felt completely comfortable using long before dementia entered his brain; the middle bathroom, he sees himself in the mirror, standing in the exact spot where he used to shave - when he could shave himself; slowly making our way down the hallway, toward the master bedroom - his room - where he'd sleep for hours; then entering the master bathroom, where he points to the sink faucet, asking if it works. "Of course, Dad, look," hearing the quick "shush" of Orange's finest tap water. It was when I lead him into the master bath shower area that emotion and tears resurfaced. As he took hold of the rail we had installed due to his imbalance, I asked, "Remember this shower, Dad? My brother installed this for you." "Your brother? He did a good job here. Your brother. Is he okay? Is he still around? This is good tile." I hand him a few more tissues and we make our way back outside and meet Steve. It's time to go back home. His Kirkwood home.

If one were to ask, what the word "home" means to you, how would you answer? For Dad, not quite a renewal, or a beginning nor end, seeing his house that day, helped him come closer to coping with his disability. In all probability he'll soon forget his special visit as his short-term memory these past few months has rapidly deteriorated. Even when we forget, it's in those brief moments we remember that important creed: home really is where the heart is.

Confessions of Blog-o-phobic

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:08:20 -0800

OK, I'll admit it: I'm a coward. Scared senseless. Of what, spiders, you ask? How dare you. I'm the queen of spiders in my household. "Kids, stand back. Mom is here!" Well, then, perhaps fear of heights? I mean, a lotta people are afraid of that. Well, while I didn't exactly walk to the edge of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park when reaching the top twelve years ago (more like crawled), even that experience didn't cause too much damage to my psyche.

No, my friends. I'm afraid my phobia is far greater than spiders or heights. I'm a blog-o-phobic. There, I said it. Blogging is about writing, correct? You know, just sit at a computer and write about stuff. I'll write about real estate. I know real estate. I like real estate. All I have to do is write about it. Riiiight...

Ah, how foolish I was. Yes, blogging is writing, of course, but is that all there is to it? Like many, I began my journey here on Active Rain thinking I could blog my life away. In the beginning, I did. Sort of. My posts weren't great, but at least I felt like I was gaining some new rhythm and a bit of traction in my skills. Overwhelmed as I was, now in the kingdom of Active Rain, I would put forth new efforts to learn all that my brain could handle.

Just then, blog-o-phobia grabbed hold of me unexpectedly. There before me, try as I might, I could no longer escape this fact: blogging means never having to use text alone. It was time to face reality--strange little icons; insert/edit image; Active Rain video. How does one use these tools? Surely, I had the capability of inserting a simple photograph, which I did. More than once even. But the frustration! Photos too big, too small, not in the right place, uploading, downloading. It only got worse from there. New words to dissect: facebook, (I did get that memo)...but, flickr? picnik? tagging? twitter? google juice?...make it stoooop!

Thus, not is all lost. I have found a savior. (Truth be told, I've discovered many saviors in this kingdom, all truly amazing human beings, many of which I'll write about for months, I'm sure). I've been listening and reading to Jeff Turner's tutorials the last few days and am ready to challenge my fear, purge myself of self-doubt, and, perhaps, write a word or two in between. =)

The photo above and this one of Steve on the left were inserted with the help of Jeff's tutorial, "Flowing Text Around Images". Let's see if I can insert his tutorial from the title right now. Okay, everyone, deep breath. Nothing exploded or crashed now, did it? Hmm... I wonder if it's best to ADD ALL images BEFORE writing text?

Though fairly uncomfortable in these uncharted territories of blog-o-sphere, and yet to have gained business from any of this, I sincerely love blogging. My goal here is to become a better writer first, followed by the mechanics of blog format. Before anyone finds out who I am, I must first be willing to take more risks. Will google juice find its way to moi? I'm pretty sure most I work with think not. Many I speak to, in fact, think not. Then why do I continue such a quest? I'm hopeful, but honestly can't say at this point, and that's okay. I'm loving my business--all of it. Real Estate isn't for cowards either. Some of us just conquer fear at our own pace.

Special thanks to you, Jeff Turner, and your calming force. Unbeknownst to you, I'm grateful. =)

Pitching A Rolex From Referrals

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:53:38 -0800

Sometimes a sales pitch is just that--a sales pitch.

Clark*, a twentysomething salesman, had shown me some lovely knife sets at the C.A.R. Expo I'd recently attended. Although I wasn't in need of any at the time and told him I would not be purchasing, I thought they'd make great closing gifts for my future clients', thus, took him up on his offer to sharpen my own personal knives nonetheless. Permission granted, he happily came to my house and as Clark diligently sharpened my current inventory, therein lied the pitch: "Hey, Carin, since I get paid for just coming over to sharpen or demonstrate these knives, I'd appreciate it if you could refer me to a few of your friends. I need your permission to call, of course, so if you could call or e-mail them and ask, that would be great!" Yeah, great, I thought. Great for whom? Just what I love doing: asking people I know and care about if they'd mind it if this young Willy Lohman of knife sales could enter their homes and make the same exact pitch. I know the guy has to make a living and from what he said, he's done rather well selling knives for 7 years. So be it. Look, I know the guy has to make a living, but isn't there a better way of selling? Perhaps a more soulful way? Asking for referrals is icky enough. It's when he approached me about being close to winning that Rolex watch that irked me most. He gave me the good ol' you can-really-help-me-make-my-goal-of-XX-amount-of-dollar's-speech if you buy today. As endearing as Clark was, I did not purchase product that day. Upon visiting a referral I'd begrudgingly given him, my friend sent me this humorous e-mail:

Carin,

"I wanted to tell you that I was very close to buying the garlic press and paring knife to replace the one that disappeared from my set. But Clark reminded me that my purchase would get him one step closer to his Rolex watch. Well, that was all the dis-incentive I needed to abstain from opening my wallet.

At 54 I have only owned a fake Rolex. Someone in their 20's should not have one either!!!!!!!!!!!"

You see, this is why I have such difficulty asking for referrals. I'll happily come visit your home with a current Comparative Market Analysis in hand, willing to discuss your specific real estate needs or simply listen to your concerns. In my real estate business, I'm not in competition for the Rolex, or the pink Cadillac, nor the free weekend in Cabo. I just want to help you, be there for you, through the entire process of selling or buying a home. My rewards are not tangible. My biggest reward is when you love your house so much, you can't wait to move in, or when you're pleasantly surprised that your home sold more quickly than you'd originally thought. Even if the the transaction blows up at some point during the process, I'm still rewarded when I witness your loyalty, perseverance, and patience. That, my friends, is far timelier than any Rolex. Even a fake one. =)

*not his real name

Time to Get a Real Job?

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:19:28 -0700

When visiting my local Senior Center this morning, I ran into a woman who wanted to chat a bit. Waiting for morning bingo to begin, she asked me if I was still in school. (I admit her question made me think, either she thinks I look young enough to be a student, or those glasses of hers need updating. I prefer to think the former). "I'm doing my real estate thing. Thanks for asking." "Oh, she replied. Real Estate. Doesn't that suck right now?" Wow. Talk about direct and to the point. Evidently, not all seniors are out to lunch.

I guess she's right. Yeah, real estate business does kinda suck right now, but does it suck enough for me to quit and get a "real job?" With hubby laid-off almost 4 months ago, believe me, I've thought about this question a lot.

As the weeks of unemployment have now emerged into months, I'm finding my time is spent between building my biz, half-heartily looking for a part-time job, and stressing about hubby's prospects. Which is not to say all is hopeless by any means. It is what it is: reality. My reality is that I love what I'm doing. Even as a newbie, I think I'm pretty good at what I do, but in all honesty, I haven't done this long enough to really know how good, ya know? A taste of icing isn't exactly the same as dive-bombing into a thick chewy piece of chocolate cake. A bite is okay, but the entire cake is better! (Hey, we're talking chocolate, here)

Stay tuned, as the saga continues.... in the meantime, you'll have to excuse me. I'm off to bake a cake. =)

Lessons From a First Sale

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:56:32 -0700

After all the trial and tribulations of classes, brokers, training, classes, blogging, marketing, more classes, I'm now a bona fide Realtor. Yep, I sold a house. Escrow closed. I even got a check and everything. So much I learned, so much to learn. Here's a few reminiscent thoughts after my first experience, in no particular order:

1.) I loved my buyers; loved working with them, understanding who they were, what was important, listening to their concerns. I loved when they'd ask questions I couldn't answer immediately, but always willing to patiently wait for it. I loved the process of playing "matchmaker" between a client and a property. Not merely a building of four walls and interior space, but an extension and expression of individuals. No psychological babble really. I sincerely feel this way.

2.) Beginning my business in 2008 has benefits. More time to learn, read, observe, and grow from each experience.

3.) Brokers matter. Yes, they're responsible for the entire scope of a transaction, but what matters is how they watch and support your back. Mind did. A lot. Always there for me, somehow giving them 40% of my commission made more sense.

4.) Reaching out to one's sphere of influence matters. A lot. Keeping in touch with people makes a difference. My buyer saved my reconnection letter sent last March because she remembered she liked me (more than Sally Field?) and that I enjoyed working with seniors. (The house they bought was an investment property and also where their mom of seventy-something would live). My buyers knew me. Not closely, but they "chose" to work with me. Said they preferred to work with an agent who'd treat them like human beings instead of a number. (hmmm, clients are not human beings?) Passed on one of the top producing brokers in my area as well. Quite humbling for this newbie.

5.) Mistakes, I made a few, but I must face this final curtain....okay, sorry about that. I digress.

Mistakes: they're abundant. They're stressful, irritating, inevitable, necessary. Can't wait for more of them in the near future. Means I'm moving forward.

6.) Camaraderie and communication suit me well. Hey, here's a newsflash: real estate transactions require a great deal of teamwork! I knew that. I took Real Estate Practice. I read about agents and their affiliation with lenders, listing agents, escrow officers and other various assistants. But, actually.....no. I didn't get this concept in its entirety until now. Fortunately, I was given a winning team, at least for this first round.

I suppose I could go on, but this is good for now. Mostly though, I enjoyed the process, more so than the final product. Don't get me wrong. I've already made a copy of my non-play-money-check. It reminds me I'm credible, worked hard, and provided a nice dose of proficient knowledge in order to earn a few bucks. On the other hand, while the $$$ certainly are appreciated, I think my gratitude for helping others runs a bit deeper, validating why I chose this profession in the first place.

The Subconscious Mind of Real Estate

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:22:34 -0700

Ever dream about your job? Rest assured, it's pretty common. When I waitressed a billion years ago, I had consistent nightmares of trying to serve everyone at the same time, usually moving in slow motion. The weirdest recurrence in each dream was my inability to remember a glass of milk. I'd get all the food served, proud of the fact I'd remembered everyone's order, only to be reminded by someone in the group, "Miss, I still need my glass of milk." Damn that glass of milk! Wonder what Freud would've thought.

Any way, after working as a full-time real estate consultant for 5 months, last night I had my first official "real estate" dream. No surprise because hubby and I had just had a lovely dinner with some friends and naturally, our conversation got around to real estate. It came up when "John & Kate" told me how unhappy they were with their real estate agent. According to what John shared, here's their scenario:

Before John and Kate got married, each needed to sell their homes. Kate sold her condo as a FSBO, while John used an agent.

His chose his agent, "Val" based on the fact she was local and had her face plastered all over the city. Little did John realize that branding oneself had little to do with efficiency and professionalism and due diligence. It was 3 long-real-estate-years ago, and houses were selling almost as fast as an iPhone does at your local Apple Store does today. Nonetheless, things were beginning to slow down a bit, thus one would think an agent needed to put forth some effort, right? Not so much. It was John and Kate who made their own flyer's and displayed them, among other things. Guess Val couldn't be bothered. Selling too many houses at once and not enough time to make flyer's for her sellers?

In the end, John's house took about 3 months to sell. In the meantime, the newlyweds needed to find a new home. One evening after work, John drives by a home he really likes. Likes it so much he calls Kate. She sees it the same night and loves the house too. As they get out of their car and begin approaching the house, a woman is watering some plants in the front garden. John and Kate briefly introduce themselves, and the woman, happy to meet some prospective buyers, are impressed with John and Kate's sincerity and invited them in to look around. By the time they head home, John an Kate are ready to buy. And soon.

John calls Val and says he and Kate had found a house they love and are ready to make an offer. Sounding annoyed, Val helps them with their offer and they eventually get the house, notwithstanding poor service from their agent.

A great lesson for this newbie was learned last night. Without imagining how one could be so amiss in attending to a client, I'm more determined to pay attention and actually do my job and work. Speaking of which, about that dream of mine...

As I drive down a nearby street where I live, I noticed a few new listings. Driving further, there's more signs. By the time I reach the end of the street there are too many new listings to count! Are any of them my listings? Where are my listings? The thing is, none are my listings. I feel ashamed, appalled, deeply discouraged. What happened? I had planned on letting those neighbors know I'm an agent, I just hadn't gotten around to it. I'm confused. I've been working diligently on my SOI, taking friends out to lunch, e-mailing my regular newsletters, etc. But what about my neighbors? They're not on my SOI list, yet I'd love to help them too. Why don't I pay more attention to what's right in front of me...?

Wake up time.... literally and figuratively. Time for me to wake up, smell my real estate surroundings, and become more alert. Here's to many more real estate dreams in the future. I can learn a lot. Hope I don't forget the milk. :-)

Websites, Blogs, AR, Oh My!

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:53:39 -0700

I love real estate. Though I'm still new and haven't made a dime as of yet, the possibilities for my business and enthusiasm continues to grow at a fairly rapid pace. I'm reading tons on various websites, prancing over to my office several days per week, with the intention of becoming the best and most confident real estate consultant I can be. I find the more open I am to learning, the happier I am. I'm the proverbial newbie sponge, soaking up blogs, yet far from saturated.

Dilemma, you ask? Au Contraire!

Being new, one needs a website, right? And after that website, well, you gotta have a blog. But wait, it would probably behoove one to have more than one blog because one's message should target more than one group. Got that? And while one's at it, best to think of joining a few other social networks, such as facebook, linkedin, etc. because one can never get enough juice pouring their way.

Here's the thing. I'm still working on a website but get distracted with my blog. I barely get started on my Active Rain blog, then read that most bloggers on AR have another blog outside AR. Great. So about 2 weeks ago, I started a blog on WordPress, where I figured I can write about things other that real estate which excited me because I love writing and it's good to keep the mind sharp. So far, so good. But wait! I then find out, Active Rain now has an Outside Blog, so maybe I should can the whole WordPress thing? OK, forget about that for a minute and concentrate on the website piece. If I can get that finished, then I'll be able to link my blog(s) and get this bit of technology under my technology-impaired belt. Hold it. I'm spending so much time setting up blogs, reading about blogs, even ocasionally writing blogs, my brain is on overload. And what about the tags? Did I put enough tags, or the right tags in my last blog? Forget it. I'll remember to do better with tags the next blog I write. Riiiight. What if I just fore-go the website altogether and use my blog as a pseudo-website? I mean, isn't that what a blog kinda is? Not sure. Back to scratching my head. Oh, and btw, in between all this stuff, lets keep up with weekly previews and consistently keep up the work with those wonderful sphere of influence homies. Uh oh. It's been at least a day or two since I've checked out Active Rain, now I'm late once again to the online party. Darn. Don't even get me started on the new Localism site beginning this week. Maybe I'll get that website done after all.

"Referral" or "Introduce": A Case of Semantics

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:13:39 -0700

Had a rather interesting meeting in my office today. My brokers (I have 2) have decided to start having "dialog classes" every other week. Both are involved in the "By Referral Only" program and have put into practice many of the tools given to them by the company. While this blog isn't exactly about the specific program itself, it's important to note a few of their philosophies, though, for me personally, jury is still waaaay out on this stuff. Since I've yet to attend one of their intense weekend "Main Events" I'm not well-versed in their approach, unlike a few others from my office. That said, I adore my brokers. I still think I made the best choice by hanging my license with them and though they're both enthusiastic about the program, they continue supporting me with or without my involvement in BRO. I'm not here to rag on the program, just question some of its ideas and ideals.

Replacing "Introduce" with "Refer"

They don't use the word "referral", rather, more like, "You'll be so happy with the help I give you, you'll gladly introduce me to people." But really, is that much of a difference? The problem I have with this philosophy is simple: if you're so concerned about using specific language in order to get "introductions" before you've even worked with a client, doesn't that seem somewhat presumptuous? I mean, you're basically asking for something. From what I understand, BRO's point is that when one practices all these dialogs enough times, the words will eventually flow out of your mouth with such ease, you'll be a "natural" and get those referrals no matter what. *Poof*

Let me just say this: I'm a huge fan of Jennifer Allan, "Sell With Soul" author, who, readily admits and reiterates over and over again, how much she does NOT, I repeat, NOT <heart> referrals, introductions, or any other assorted verb with similar meanings because your actions speak louder than words and your client will love you so much that, of course, they'll tell others about you. Or, they won't. That's okay too. Most, however, will, and that's her point. When spending "soulful" time with my clients, I'm right there with them, not thinking about two more names I can get from my client, who, by the way, has hired me to help them sell their house or search for a new home.

When I first got to know Jennifer's philosophy, I got it. At least I thought I did. In hindsight, I don't think I really got it--until today. Would referrals be good for a newbie like me? Yes, they would. Should I ask, even if I feel it's not right for me? Don't have much interest in that. By being part of Jennifer's class, I know I'm off to a good start. Hmm...will I be practicing my dialogs? Maybe. I'm open to learning. I'll have to wait and see. (Geez, right now I'm shooting for a "natural" state-of-mind when importing photos on my blog after much practice!)

What's most important to me is that I continuously take care of my clients, first and foremost, right here, right now. The rest will come, I truly believe...

Know Thy Audience

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:34:21 -0700

Comedy and tragedy are synonomous. Just ask my hairdresser. He's embarking through a journey as a part-time stand-up comedian. Not one to just "wing it" he chose, instead, to take classes and study with some of the best writers and professional comedians in the Los Angeles comedy scene. Considering he's performed about 30 times over the last year, not once did his act bomb. Until this month. There he stood, joke after joke, folllowed by the excruciating sound of silence, asking himself, "Do I stop now? Should I continue with the joke or just walk off?" Well, he did finish his act, whereupon, shot immediately to the nearest exit door backstage. He'd done the very same act a few times before with positive responses from his audience. So what happened?

Location and Choice of Material. Usually perfoming in L.A. this was his first time in Orange County. Though only separated by approxamitley 50 miles, it might as well be cross country. Different crowd, differerent vibe. What's funny in L.A. isn't so much in the OC.
Demographics and Wardrobe Malfunctions. The name Sally Struthers isn't going to resonate with a younger, college-age crowd even if you do use Brad and Angelina within the same joke. In L.A., one could care less if a comedian is dressed in a silver jacket and boots. The OC? Their idea of ecentricity is a loud Hawaiian shirt.

My hairdresser is amazing. And very, very, funny. This coming from a woman who lives in Orange County. Like him, I, too, must know my audience. Advising grandma with her listing isn't quite on the same page as helping granddaughter navigate her first home purchase. My Gen-X'rs interest in discussing the cultural breakthrough of the push button phone is greeted with about as much enthusiasm as my older seniors curiosity of texting on an iPhone.

As I move forward in my business, flexibility and adaptability are key components is gaining trust and respect from my clients. I have much to learn about the basics of real estate transactions; purchase agreements, disclosure forms, etc. I have much to learn about negotiation and my local market. Mostly though, I had better be aware of my audience no matter what city I perform in. There is one caveat: In no way am I giving up my flip-flops.

A Head Full of RAIN Sometimes Hurts my Brain

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:49:21 -0700

For the last week or so, I've buried myself in Active Rain. Arrived here in March, 2008. I love it. I learn from it. I fear I'm addicted to it.

Today, I'm done with it. Not forever. Just for a day or two. My brain is hurting from The Rain.

Trying to soak all this fab info from people like Jennifer Allan, my guru of guru's, or yet, bookmarking another great post by Brad Andersohn, and now discovering a few other incredible writers, well, it's all a bit much.

If I had the energy, I'd figure out how to link Jennifer's name to this blog or direct you to Brad's, but I'm feeling too tired to experiment tonight. I know, I know, it's not that hard. I've even done it a few times.. on my own! I admit, there is strange aura of accomplishment when technology and I connect. Most definitely. When I do it, you'll hear me scream with delight.

So, I'll keep reading and reading, and someday soon I'll blog with tags, links, photos, the whole shebang. I'll write a post or two about where I live because it's really a cool place and I love living here in Orange, CA.

I'm still doing my wonderful Reality Show with Jennifer & Co. for a few more weeks... Jennifer brought me to The Rain. I need to keep thanking her for that, among a myriad of other things to thank her for.

And thanks to the gazillions of AR's, who understand my brain, from too much Active Rain. You're my kind of people. :-)

Mitzvah Marketing

Fri, 02 May 2008 00:34:12 -0700

A Hebrew noun, "mitzvah" is described as "a good deed done from religious duty." Notwithstanding my religious beliefs, I know I can always do better with my mitzvah quota. Today, was a good mitzvah day.

Last week on my run (quick jog is more accurate) through my neighborhood I stopped to talk to a nice gentleman mowing his lawn. We'd spoken before several months ago and I'd always remembered how easy the conversation was. (It's pretty cool when that happens). When I first met him, I couldn't help but notice the lovely "For Sale" sign planted in his front yard and he shared that he and his wife were thinking of relocating to Austin in order to be closer to their grandkids. We spoke for about 15 minutes, I wished him well in the sale of his home jogged away...

Our visit last week was longer and he definitely remembered who I was. That big old sign still there, I purposely never brought up anything to do with real estate, choosing instead, to just have another nice conversation. It's amazing what one can learn by just listening, for I found out he was passionate about fishing and that his 77th birthday was approaching, not coincidently, May 1st. Guess that was my "ah ha" moment. Without giving it much thought, this afternoon I went to Wal Mart, picked up a gift certificate, (told me he buys most of his fishing supplies there) slipped it in, a greeting card along with my business card, drove to his house, and approached the door.

His wife hesitantly opened the door. Quite aware of her apprehension, I quickly introduced myself, called her by her first name (again, there's that listening-thing...never forgot her name even though we'd yet to meet) and said I wanted to wish her husband a happy birthday. With that, the door swung open, and she laughed, sure I was there to sell her something. Then her husband approached the entry way and I handed him his card. I couldn't stay, having another commitment, but girl, she wanted me to "come on in and make yourself comfortable." "I'm a hugger," she stated. "You mind if I give you a hug?" "No problem, Gloria!" I replied. Whoa, all this because of a few brief conversations. Before I left, I finally mentioned I was a real estate consultant and if they had any questions or concerns about their property, feel free to call. "Carin, your timing is good because our listing expires the end of the month."

Whatever the outcome of my little mitzvah is, it doesn't matter. Yeah, of course a listing would be great and believe me, like many, I could really use one right now. But as I drove away, I know that meant something to those sweet seniors.

Marketing and mitzvah's.... who knew?