A career day...in reverse! - 07/30/08 05:31 AM
Yesterday started bad and became worse. I lost 5 listings in one day, a new personal best!! One was owned by 2 brothers and since my one year anniversary was up, one brother wanted me but the other wanted fresh blood. One bought a home with her boyfriend (he had his own agent) and left me their home to sell, which was overpriced and now she is frustrated so she is going to FSBO. 2 are in short sale and I couldn't find a buyer so they just expired. The last one was pissed because they didn't listen to me. They … (4 comments)

Dorothy was right! - 07/27/08 06:40 AM
There is no place like home, wherever that happens to be! Don't get me wrong, I love vacation but it also is a lot of work, especially with family vacations. Where to stay, where to eat, what time to meet, who wants to go where, it all becomes tiresome. It is also a lot of work to pack and go, and a lot of work to pack and come home. The time was fine, the resort was great, and it is fun to see the ocean.
But there is just something about pulling into my driveway, sleeping in my bed, sitting … (5 comments)

Another deal crashes and burns...and now the agent is humble - 07/18/08 05:38 AM
What is it about this business that makes everyone have a chip on their shoulder and an attitude to match? I have been doing this business for over 25 years full time, own a company, wrote and edited a book on real estate finance, and have been a college real estate instructor for over 15 years so I would venture that I know what I am doing. Some might even say that in the real estate arena I might be an expert. So why do I have new agents and part time agents with off the wall companies working from their … (8 comments)

Open Houses: On their way to extinction? - 07/15/08 06:43 AM
As I sat in my open house last Sunday for 2 hours, all by myself, I got the impression that open houses are going the way of real estate house publications and mls books. Is it possible that today's buyer doesn't need to spend Sunday afternoon driving around and looking at homes?
I think all the new photo sites, virtual tours, and videos of homes is quickly eliminating the need for open houses. Open houses were a way to see houses for sale years ago when the MLS consisted of a book with one exterior photo. Today, at a minimum, a … (15 comments)

So what is better? Using a video game device or hitting a wiffle curve? - 07/14/08 06:16 AM
Went to a birthday party over the weekend for a 10 year old and there was a group of 6 kids, all around 10, huddled in the corner playing video games. I watched for a little while, and it kind of looked fun so I tried it. I needed a 5 year old to show me how to turn the game on and select one to play! Never did actually get it to play anything.
I asked the kids if they wanted to play wiffle ball. They said sure, what's that? Well, I showed them. With a few flicks of my … (1 comments)

Finally! Email on my Blackberry!! - 07/14/08 05:42 AM
Don't you love it when a plan finally comes together? I got a new Blackberry a few months ago, and all I could do with it was answer the phone! Everyone was impressed because I looked successful but little did they know I couldn't do anything with it. I had such big plans for it but I didn't know where to start.
I didn't even know they had a book called "Blackberry for Dummies", did you? I didn't know I could borow it from my library, for free. Did you?
So I scheduled myself 2 hours with no interruptions and nothing … (9 comments)