I have recently moved my office to my home!  I never thought I would like this arrangment, but I have a "gut feeling" this is going to work out very productively for me! 

I always felt the "professional" image was to be behind a desk in a "glitzy" office....well, in these days and times the "glitzy" image has taken on a new meaning for me!  I have always been a very independent agent....after all....aren't we self-employed!  Anytime I would make a purchase of equipment I always had the idea in the back of my head..."could I use this for a home office".  Well, I finally put my money where my mouth is!

I still have so much cleaning and organizing to do, but I'm getting there.  We live in a mobile society, where wi-fi is just around every corner, so why not take advantage of it!

Currently we are in the process of building a horse stable and we have poured the concrete for my office at the stable, which is where I will eventually be....but in the interim....I'm at home and smiling alot more!

I would love to hear from other agents who have utilized a home office.  Please email me and give me some of your best pointers and suggestions..........I will be all ears.  We can all learn from each other!

I currently have an unlicensed assistant, but am seriously considering sending her to school to get her license.  I know the advantages of having a licensed assistant, however, what I am completely unclear about is the structure of any pay - salary - and/or commission arrangement.

Those of you who already have a licensed assistant would have quite a bit of knowledge to share with me.  I'd sure appreciate some professional "tips"!

Please send an email to me at:  Debbie@DebbieJennings.com

In this business we have to #1 market ourself and then the rest will fall into place.  It took me a LONG time to figure that one out.  Somehow things are finally beginning to "click" in my brain. 

What I do for Fun and Relaxation is ride horses.....believe me, it's a real stress buster.  I got to thinking, how can I use this to my advantage.......well, I decided I would create a video and use it in my business not only to elighten the public about a wonderful facility in the area, but also to help those who are going to be new transplants to our local.  At the same time, I am helping my community and also my image + I HAD FUN!  Doesn't get much better than that!

Recently I sent this video to the Mayor, the Chamber of Commerce & the Convention & Visitors Bureau.  Within 15 minutes I had some very positive responses from these leaders of our community!  Do I think they will remember me?  You betcha they will!  That's what I want.  When they are recruiting companies to move into the area, the higher powers that be always want to know what is there for employees to do in the area.....now they have a new video to use! 

The unthinkable happened in our quiet little community of Jackson, MO.  Actually this murder happened about 2 blocks from our secure little home....almost in my backyard.  That's too close for comfort!  Who would have thought it!  This sleepy little community is like Mayberry, USA, on the weekend, the business district (pretty much one block) rolls the sidewalks up at noon, forcing everyone to either shop at the super WalMart or go to Cape Girardeau, MO. Many times people still leave their front doors unlocked, kids play outside unattended, spring, summer & fall sees families picnicking in the park.  This peace was all shattered, Monday, December 3, 2007.  All the details have not yet been revealed, but it seems an exparte order had been filed against a husband and he could not deal with it, so a couple of hours later he shot his wife, her 16 yr old son, and their 2 other children, one 4 yrs and the other a toddler, he then killed himself.  The toddler was dead at the scene, the mother fled to the sheriff's office for help, the 16 yr old died about 2 days later.  At this point in time the mother and 4 yr old have survived. 

My opinion has always been if someone is in such a rage then just kill themselves and end their apparent misery......do not take innocent children down with them!  What a waste of our precious young people. 

I am a real estate professional, because of this, I am constantly asked if a particular area is a "safe place to live".  Legally I cannot answer that, I have to direct prospective clients to statistics so they can arrive at their own opinion. 

I am still happy to say that Jackson, MO, is not a violent community.  Yes, there are occasionally violent happenings, but they are truly a rarity.  Unfortunately as time progresses all things change and history repeats itself, however, it would be a wonderful thing to be able to cling to sanity, even if it's for a few fleeting years!

House Jacking are 2 words that have become quite "notorious" in Southeast Missouri in the past few weeks.  It's a scheme that I am sure happens nationwide, however, in my area of the country, this scheme is being reveled!  There has been extensive news coverage on our local television channel and, with due cause, many consumers have become very wary of lenders & appraisers.  You fill find some very interesting news video clips at:  www.kfvs12.com scroll down on the left hand side under "video News Clips" to find the House Jacking Part 1, 2 & 3 stories.  As real estate professionals, we need to be informed of such practices so we can not only protect our customers, but also protect the ethical side of our profession!

I am about to embark on a television advertising campaign.  Have any of you out there is "Real Estate Land" done this also.....if so, were you satisfied with the results?  If you have done so, I am sure you realize it's not inexpensive......so I would love to hear some feedback before I open my checkbook!

Thanks to all my professional associates!

On Tuesday, November 20th I recorded a totally different video!!  Let me explain:

I sell real estate and my speciality is Equestrian Properties.  Many people do not own enough property to "have" a horse.  We personally do not own enough property for our 2 horses to graze on.  However, in our community there is an equestrian facility that people need to know about.  There is not another facility of it's size and quality between here and St Louis, MO. 

This equestrian facility has 20 state of the art stalls, 2 wash bays (one with hot water), paddock turn outs and several pastures, indoor riding arena, outdoor riding arena, longe ring and approximately 1,000 acres available to ride on.  So if you do not have a horse trailer you really don't have to go anywhere to ride.....doesn't get much better than that!  Full and partial boarding is offered. There is a professional "hunter-Jumper" trainer on staff.  The barn is equipped with an eco-friendly fly spray system.....great for the summer time when flies become a BIG problem.

Not only do people that live within the area of Cape Girardeau, MO, need to know about this classic equestrian facility, but there are also alot of individuals that move into this area every year......now this information will be available via a link to a video.  This video will be available on Friday, November 23, 2007.  Any who are interested in viewing please email me your name, address, phone number & email and I will send you the entire video, my email is:  Debbie@DebbieJennings.com  Please put Send Fox Run Video in the subject box.  Hope to hear from alot of you horse lovers!

Fellow Realtors,

I really felt alot of you would appreciate this approach to video open houses.  I really am not at liberty to quote prices for my producer.  However, feel free to contact him at:  www.highrecall.com  His name is Brian Barnes and he is an absolute GENIUS......you cannot go wrong with this fella, he has connections and can "hook you up" with someone to help you where you are!

Debbie Jennings

RE/MAX Realty Experts

Cell:  573-275-1533

Email  Debbie@DebbieJennings.com

I have come up with a real winner....I very rarely do a physical open house anymore.  They are wonderful for beginning agents, but I treasure my weekend time with family. Instead I have compiled a comprehensive email list that I use to my advantage.  My email list is split into 2 sections:  Real Estate Agents (becuase 98% of them haven't seen the home in the 1st place) and buyers & sellers.....then I hire a professional cameraman to film me as I walk and talk through the home to be featured in my weekly "Video Open House".  You can check out all my current video open houses at:  www.DebbieJennings.info

To help defray the production costs I normally have a "guest speaker".  The guest speaker is someone who is a key ingredient to make a sales transaction go from the first signatures to the closing table.  To top everything off, I have learned alot from my guest speakers, which in turn has helped educate me about some of the details of a transaction.

My producer then goes back to his office and sends me a link to a completed "video Open House".  I then use a product he devised and am able to do a mass email of 500-600 people that are truly interested in either buying, selling, or agents that may have a prospective buyer!  To me this is a productive way of having an open house.  You may contact the company I have do these productions at:  www.highrecall.com  I highly recommend this company's professionalism.  After doing my mass email the video is then posted on YouTube and also on the internet.

You can bet when someone calls me for information about one of my properties....I shoot them a video open house and guess what....I've just then captured another email address for my list!!

One more ADDED benefit....you talk about something to WOW a seller when I go for a listing presentation.  No one else is doing this and the seller's Love the idea.  9 times out of 10 I get the listing....PLUS, it's a blast doing these films!!  It's a NO BRAINER!

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me via email.  Make sure and put:  Video Open House Questions/Ideas in the subject line so make sure I do not delete the email before reading!

Debbie Jennings                                                                                            http://www.DebbieJennings.com

Email:  Debbie@DebbieJennings.com

Cell:  573-275-1533