http://activerain.com/blogs/coach en-us http://activerain.com/blogsview/172495/its-time-for-good-news-about-florida-real-estate- <p>Bad news has been the prevailing Real Estate news all over the country and we just can't get the press off the subject. HOW ABOUT LOW INTEREST RATES. Still under 7% nobody is clamoring about that. How about prices moderating for Buyers, and Buyers getting a better selection. Florida the last time I checked still has great weather, no hurricanes in 2 years. Our temperature for the last 2 weeks has been 8 degrees cooler than the Midwest. GOLF need I say more. I just recently played my 75th different Florida Golf course. The real secret here is inexpensive courses are very good in Florida because grass grows very well. Beaches!!! There is no place in Florida over 80 miles to a beach, matter of fact all roads lead to an ocean. Pick your spot, drive on beaches at Daytona and New Smyrna, island beaches like Captiva and Sanibel, hot spots like South Beach and Ft Lauderdale, etc. etc. FISHING arguably the world's best fishing mecca. Off shore and fresh water areas provide any angler days of delight. Here in Florida we still think we live in PARADISE!!</p><p>Now doesn't that sound better than all the bad news. So I challenge all of you to start spreading the good news about your homes and market places and we will drowned out the naysayers. If we can build momentum in the press letting people know the great benefits of home ownership just maybe we can build a future ground swell.</p> Dennis "Coach" Murtiff (Florida Pines Realty Inc) Mon, 13 Aug 2007 07:45:19 -0700 http://activerain.com/blogsview/172495/its-time-for-good-news-about-florida-real-estate- http://activerain.com/blogsview/168360/customer-service-not-lip-service <p>I just recently had lunch with a a friend whom I've referred numerous times to my potential buyers for mortgage services. I keep referring him because of his great care for my Buyers.&nbsp;We had just completed a discussion on customer service when an employee for the restaurant walked up and asked if we enjoyed our meal. We both confirmed our pleasure and then he said" Is there anything I can get for you" I thought how great and decided to get him to bring us out a Peach Cobbler. "Oh, I can't do that!" thinking I wanted it free. I began to pull out my wallet, but he still refused to help&nbsp;and walked away. That employee missed a huge opportunity to make a customer for life for his boss.</p><p>How often do we make statements in our profession about customer service, but shrink away when performing becomes difficult. How many large franchises center expensive marketing pieces around customer service, yet when you call their office you can't get a human voice. </p><p>If Realtors learn, as I have and teach all my agents, it is easier to keep a good customer than find a new one, then giving great customer service becomes&nbsp;second nature. Customers that are well satisfied with your service will return for your service time and time again, and will let all their friends know about you.</p><p>So watch what you promise and produce more than is expected of you!</p> Dennis "Coach" Murtiff (Florida Pines Realty Inc) Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:45:58 -0700 http://activerain.com/blogsview/168360/customer-service-not-lip-service