VACATIONS & THE BUSINESS - 06/29/08 02:30 PM
A vacation rejuvenates the soul & is considered essential to keep well, mentally & physically.  Yet, it's not easy (for me anyway) to take a vacation.  Some time ago, a self-employed man told me that, if I want to get busy, I should plan a vacation...how right he was!  It seems that in the one week I take off, offers come in, unforeseen issues arise, leads I've been nurturing, call, etc.  Fortunately, my manager helps by taking care of any pending deals or issues that arise in my absence.  So, my question for everyone out there is this:  How do you take off & still take care of … (4 comments)

PEMBROKE PINES, FL. GORGEOUS LISTING - 06/22/08 01:20 PM
Following are the write up & pictures of a largely remodeled home at 8810 NW 16 St.,  Pembroke Pines, Fl. 33024
STUNNING HOME EXTENSIVELY REMODELED WITHIN LAST 3 YEARS (ONLY OUTSIDE WALLS ARE ORIGINAL!). CHERRY KITCHEN CABINETS,GRANITE COUNTERTOPS, LAMINATE WOOD FLOORS, CROWN MOULDINGS, RECESSED LIGHTING & KNOCKDOWN TEXTURE ON WALLS/CEILINGS THROUGHOUT HOME; NEWER WINDOWS,TRAVERTINE TILE WINDOWSILLS; TANKLESS H2O HEATER; NEW ROOF-POST WILMA, NEWER INTERIOR DOORS,GREAT LANDSCAPING, NO HOA, DEEP DRIVEWAY FITS UP TO 4 VEHICLES, NEAR SCHOOLS, SHOPPING, HIGHWAYS, MIAMI, FT. LAUDERDALE, SHORT SALE-LENDER APPROVAL REQUIRED.

           
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NEWSPAPER ARTICLE HELPING - 06/16/08 09:35 AM
In  Southeast Florida, too many sellers refuse to 'price to sell' believing, stubbornly, that while other homes have declined in value, theirs has not.  Today's edition of the local Ft. Lauderdale paper, the Sun-Sentinel, had an excellent article on proper pricing if you want to sell.  The article points out what I've been saying to my sellers for the past year or so...reduce if you truly want/need to sell.  I plan on using this article in my CMAs and/or when asking for price reductions.  Here's the link to the story:
  http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/realestate/sfl-cpsbjun16,0,5800859.story
 
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INTERVIEWING FOR FORECLOSURES - 06/13/08 06:46 PM
This morning I went with another sales associate to speak with who we thought was an officer at a local bank branch.  The contact had been made by the other associate & we understood that we could possibly get some foreclosure listings from this bank.   When we arrived, we found out that she is a mortgage officer who works 'on commission' also...evidently she wanted to make contacts with two more realtors for possible mortgage referrals!  She added that the bank branch doesn't have any REO properties & that she didn't know where these are managed or who manages them.  Odd.
I try to get something positive out of most … (3 comments)

GRASS ISN'T GREENER - 06/09/08 11:20 AM
Literally, I'm talking about real grass...as in grass that resembles hay in the front yards of 2 distressed properties on our street.  Making things worse is our prolonged drought & water restrictions.  If it'd rain, the grass would at least be green.  That would make the fact that the properties are distressed less, well, distressing for us neighbors & certainly less obvious to passersbys.  I know that, ideally, we'd have drought-resistant plants in our front yards but, in Southeast Florida, front lawns are still largely sodded.  We have a 12 month summer, so the novelty of taking care of plants is long gone.  … (1 comments)

FORECLOSURE ARTICLE - 06/06/08 11:52 AM
Today, the local paper reported on the level of foreclosures nationwide.  A huge amount of foreclosures (89% of the total increase of all foreclosures) are concentrated in just 4 states (Florida, Arizona, Nevada & California).  I can believe that easily.  Down here in Florida, just about everything is a foreclosure.  My guess is that, if Michigan & Ohio are included, those 6 states would account for nearly 100% of the increase in the nation's foreclosures.  When I'm asked when the market will pick up again, my reply is usually something along the lines of "not for some time".   There are simply too many … (2 comments)

A GRATEFUL CUSTOMER - 06/02/08 11:01 AM
This morning started normally enough.  While I'm doing "floor duty", the mail arrived. Included therein was a card addressed to me from one of my seller customers, whose closing took place recently.  She sent me a beautiful thank you card, and a check, in appreciation for the job I'd done.  Wow!  A testimonial & a little extra for doing my job!  This is just what the doctor ordered.  We had a good working relationship throughout the listing period & she had expressed satisfaction for the job I was doing.  Still, so often we do the job well & are barely acknowledged.  A card like the one I … (4 comments)