WHAT WE SOW AND CULTIVATE, WE HARVEST - 07/30/11 03:05 PM

Today I toured our local Saturday Farmers Market in Eugene, OR.  And I was prompted to write an article on farming and how it relates to the Real Estate Industry.
In the agriculture industry when you sow your seeds and tend your crops with care, you tend to reap a good crop year in and year out.  Of course weather can dampen your harvest from time to time.  You can't stop the weather, but with proper farming techiques your crops will florish is most average seasons.
The same farming skills work in the Real Estate Industry.  We sow our seeds … (6 comments)

PRICE REDUCED ~ Historic Marx-Schaefer House Meticulously Restored - 07/29/11 12:42 PM
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WHAT'S HAPPENING IN EUGENE, OREGON TODAY? - 07/28/11 01:27 PM
Eugene, my home town is one happening place.  Here is a list of some of the key things that are happening today in our community.
Lane County Farmers' Market
July 28, 2011 - October 25, 2011 Recurring weekly on Tuesday, Thursday Event Times:Tuesday & Thursday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Event Admission:Free   Location:Park Blocks Address:8th & Oak, Eugene, OR 97401 Phone: 541.431.4923   Food stands and vendors greet the public in downtown Eugene to bring fresh local foods and products to the city.
Summer in the City Live Music: Rare Monk
July 28, 2011
Event Times:Thursday, 6:30 p.m. Event Admission:Free … (3 comments)

Are you staying in touch? - 07/27/11 11:27 PM
One of my biggest faults as a Realtor is not staying in touch as much as I should.  I am trying to become much better at this, but it is a trait that needs discipline and practice.
Joyce Mills, one of the owners, and a friend at Coughill & Hansen, used to say that all you needed to do to be successful as a listing or buyers agent was to contact the seller and buyer weekly to give an update.  You could do this by phone or with a note, and if nothing had changed since the last update, well, let … (9 comments)

As Elvis said, "THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH" - 07/26/11 10:09 PM
You know, you never know where your next buyer or seller will come from.  But, what I have seen to be true at all times, is something I think I heard at a Brian Buffini motivational talk 12-13 years ago.
As far as I know this was the beginning stages of the soon to become Buffini revolution.  While I never became an acolyte, I did listen to what he and many other speakers had to say.  Buffini made this observation:  When a friend or colleague refers you a new buyer or brings you a new listing, and you take really good … (5 comments)

IT'S BEEN A LONG WONDERFUL WEEKEND - 07/25/11 09:26 PM
Several weeks ago I was nominated for Realtor of the Year for the Eugene Association of Realtors.  When we got closer to the event, like the day before, I remembered that all the past recipients of this award were accompanied by their spouses.  So...I checked with my wife to see if she had been invited, and she had not.  Further more, when I asked her if she would like to attend with me, she let me know that she would love to, but if it was sunny, and it appeared that Friday was destined to be in the high eighties, she … (4 comments)

Eugene Association of Realtors summer luncheon is today - 07/21/11 01:15 PM
Today we will have a fabulous lunch at the new Holiday Inn in the Gateway area of Springfield.  Dave Hauser from the Eugene Chamber will speak and at the end they will announce the Realtor of the Year and hear comments from the Realtors running for positions on the upcoming EAR board. 
Lunch should be fun, and we hope for a big turnout.  This is a once a year event that many look forward to each year.
I am just finishing up with four years on the board.  Started as Vice President then onto President Elect, President and this year, … (2 comments)

NOT THE SAME OLD MARKETING AGAIN! - 07/21/11 12:46 AM
Postlets, newspaper, glossy mags!!!  I have been using the same old marketing tools now for, seems like 100 years, but in all reality 16+ years.  My business is good, don't get me wrong.  I send notes to clients, call them regularly, canvas neighborhoods prior to open houses etc.
I love this business I am in and can seriously see myself doing it another 20 plus years.  But..I am wondering if any of you have thoughts on what we can be doing that can spice it up a little bit!
Tell you what!  I will describe to you something that popped into … (5 comments)

To Work With Short Sales Or Not To Work With Short Sales? - 07/19/11 11:49 AM
Short sales have become the dominant force in our market today.  They are difficult to get through with most not getting final approval from the bank.  At least that is my experience.  One would almost think the banks are purposely stalling the approval with repeated requests for the same documentation.  This part of real estate is probably best left to the rare breed of Realtor who has elected to get the training and certification to knowedgably work in the short sale sector.  That Realtor is not me.
I have elected to simply refer the short sale properties that come my way … (5 comments)

Don't sell junk! It'll come back to haunt you! - 07/18/11 10:21 PM
It was back in June of '95 when I ventured into a new career.  I had been a bartender for 26 years, but had bought and sold many homes and had always made a tidy profit.  It was easy to see the value of home ownership for me and for others around me.  So...I got my license (took me three tries) and went to work for a friend, Jerry Sagen, who helped me get started.  He helped me with solid broker advice and guidance and he also let me float my office bill for months on end until I got started.  … (2 comments)

Large Rural Home In Pristine 2.19 Acre Private Setting - 07/18/11 01:39 PM
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Now Pending ~ Santa Clara Stunner Priced To Sell - 07/18/11 01:36 PM
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Historic Marx-Schaefer House Meticulously Restored ~ 1200 SF Basement - 07/18/11 01:34 PM
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Short Sale ~ Newer Home With Separate One Bedroom Unit Over Garage - 07/18/11 01:32 PM
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Estate Sale ~ Single-Level Ranch Home On 1+ Acres With 600 SF Shop - 07/18/11 01:30 PM
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YOUR HOUSE SUCKS! - 07/17/11 03:04 PM
You walk into the sellers home for the first time, only to find a home that has never been updated, is quite dirty, has 40 year old appliances and carpet that is wearing through and smells of pet urine.  How do you deal with this?  Well, for sure you don't tell the seller that their home sucks.  But, it is your duty to them as prospective future clients to be gently honest with them.
Most often we can be gentle in our handling of our presentation to them when we ask for upgrades prior to putting the home on the market.
What … (4 comments)

LOWBALL OFFER! WHAT SHOULD I DO? - 07/16/11 08:14 PM
No matter how you prepare a property for sale, and as well priced as it may be, there are just times when you seem to attract bottom feeders.  Don't let that discourage you or your seller.  Make sure to congratulate them on getting an offer of any kind in this market.  Make it a positive.  Then get down to the business of negotiation.
What price should we counter with? Should we counter any of their terms? Is the closing date workable? If they have asked the seller to pay for any inspections how do you respond? These, of course, are just … (4 comments)

CAN YOU HAVE TOO MANY LISTINGS? - 07/15/11 12:54 PM
Friday is here, and no plans for the weekend.  So...this may be the perfect time to start looking for new listings.  My plan for both Saturday and Sunday is to try to attend as many FSBO open houses as possible to see if any are ready to go full service and list their properties. 
Do any of you know of particularly great websites to look for FSBO's.  I will be searching the newspaper and google to find those that have advertised there.  My goal is to see if I can look at at least 10 homes this weekend, and take … (7 comments)

Time out for family!! - 07/14/11 01:48 PM
  I tend to work all the time, and most often seven days a week.  I like what I do, so to me it's not really working, but I suppose to most it would appear that I am a workaholic.  I do know that there are other, more important things in life other than work.  And...here is one of them.  My new grandson Ender.  Born on June 1st he is a pretty good looking guy don't you think?
I will be getting out to see him, my daughter and son in law the last week of August.  My wife and I are … (6 comments)

What a whirlwind life we live!! - 07/13/11 04:55 PM
Docusign is on our doorsteps, so we don't need to ever meet face to face with our clients again.  We have text to the point of never needing to actually have a conversation with past or future clients and with twitter, we can blanket the world.  We conquer, right?
Well...I have had to pause and think about the speed of light at which I find myself working these days and, though I marvel at what can be accomplished, remind myself that while I want to be on the cutting edge of technology at all times, I really do value the relationships … (2 comments)

Organizational Skills? What are yours? - 07/12/11 11:25 AM
This morning, as I head to my monthly RE/Max Integrity office meeting at the Eugene Country Club, it is my plan to start working harder on organizing my time.  I find that all too often I seem to wander in circles from one task to the next without really finishing the task at hand. 
To do this I plan on trying to really implement a better use of calendar and note pad by my desk.  By focusing on the structure of my daily, weekly and monthly goals I believe I can, through better organizaition be much more productive with my time.
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Adversarial? - 07/11/11 02:05 PM
Have you ever noticed how some transactions seem to flow so nice and easy, while others seem to be like fighting a small war to get to the escrow table? What makes these transactions different? I have my thoughts and here they are:
When I am diligent about staying on top of the steps required to get from offer acceptance to closing, and don't procrastinate things seem to be quite smooth When I maintain a close dialogue with the agent on the other side of the transaction, I find that any issues are usually ironed out early to everyones satisfaction and … (0 comments)

DON'T DO AN OPEN HOUSE TODAY! NOBODY WILL SHOW UP BECAUSE... - 07/10/11 02:17 PM
There  There is not a single weekend that I want to schedule an open house where there isn't something going on that I can rationalize will kill my chances of having anyone show up.
Let's take today, July 10th, 2011 here in little old Eugene, OR.  This is just a small list of the events that I have to compete with today as I have my amazing Craftsman Style Architecture home at 1718 Lincoln open!
The Oregon Country Fair is in full swing- Every hippie and ex hippie are at the fair, celebrated world wide by the way, and will not be … (6 comments)

OPEN HOUSES AT REMOTE LOCATIONS? - 07/09/11 10:08 AM
I occassionally get listings that are a little out of the way, or in areas not routinely looked for by the buying public.  I do have open houses at these homes, but with very limited success.  I put the ad in the paper, put up plenty of signage, but still no one comes to the opens, and in the case of country properties I don't really even see the lookie lou neighbor.
There are so many of you out there with more experience with open houses than myself, that I wonder if you would be willing to share your thoughts, secret … (4 comments)

Pricing? Don't take an overpriced listing? - 07/08/11 05:43 PM
I have heard this for years.  Never take a listing that is overpriced.  But...I have to say, I disagree!  After having a good conversation with sellers, and presenting the facts to them, I think you may be shooting yourself in the foot to let the listing go by the wayside just because you feel the seller is not in agreement with you.  I learned a long time ago that I don't have all the answers.  The information I have is always current, but sometimes the seller just is not ready to hear what you have to say. 
I think that if you can … (3 comments)

Staying in touch! - 07/07/11 08:40 PM
OK...another day is done.  Where do they go.  Today I was able to contact all my current buyers and sellers with a solid update, even if the update was to say "there is no new news".  They just like to be in the loop.  Put up a new street sign at a hard to find property.  Had new flyers created for a new listing and then attached them as a j.peg to the body of an e-mail and sent virtual flyers to every Realtor in Lane County.
Put two newer listings on the list for our next Realtor tour day and … (2 comments)

LISTING INVISIBILITY - 07/07/11 12:31 PM
I recently took a listing in the country.  Lovely home on 5.27 acres with a 2100 sq ft home on it.  In addition to the home there is a 2100+ sq ft shop with another outbuilding and a '61 x '128 deer fenced garden area.
Great property, though a bit out of town.  My problem was visibility.  The home was set well off the road and behind a gate controlled by keypad.  Though the street shows up on the county maps, this particular tiny street has never had a street sign.  So...folks traveling down Fox Hollow rd, and looking for … (6 comments)

Historic Marx-Schaefer House Meticulously Restored ~ 1200 SF Basement - 07/07/11 11:32 AM
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Short Sale ~ Newer Home With Separate One Bedroom Unit Over Garage - 07/07/11 11:30 AM
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Large Rural Home In Pristine 2.19 Acre Private Setting - 07/07/11 11:24 AM
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Now Pending ~ Santa Clara Stunner That Is Priced To Sell - 07/07/11 11:17 AM
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2nd Annual Lane County Realtors Food Drive - 07/06/11 07:46 PM
 June 25th we had our 2nd Annual Lane County Food drive to help support our local food ban, FOOD For Lane County.  And let me tell you, it was hugely successful.  We teamed up with one of our local vendors, BI-Mart Stores, who generously allowed us to set up stations of Realtors at the entrance door handing out lists of the most sought after foods, and at the exit doors another group of Realtors collected and sorted food, AND lots of cash donations.  This is a huge project for us each year, and we always wonder how it will go off.  At … (3 comments)

Price Reduced ~ Large Rural Home In Pristine 2.19 Acre Private Setting - 07/01/11 10:54 AM
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Colin Call, Principal Broker

Eugene, OR

More about me…

RE/MAX Integrity

Address: 4710 Village Plaza Lp., Suite 200, Eugene, OR, 97401

Office Phone: (541) 302-4882

Cell Phone: (541) 579-1615

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