David Shriver's Blog

Cowboy Real Estate the Bailout and a Peach tree

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:11:02 -0700

Back in 1998 -2004 My wife and I owned a Dairy farm in Missouri

Our milk house was a three on a side /side open gate type parlor, and I milked the cows on one side and my wife the other , That is when she wasn't line dancing to the country music we always had playing on the radio. We had developed quite a system to save energy, electrical and our own, as any fresh cows (that is a cow who had as recently as the last three days had given birth to a baby calf)that still had colostrium(milk that contains natural antibodys,for the baby calf) would be milked last after all the others. In doing it this way we could just pull the pipe that the milk ran through in to the milk tank from the milkers, out of the tank and into a bucket that we would use then as calves milk. Then when finished we would flush the lines, and wash them as usual at the end of milking.

I always kept the new mommas in a corner stall of the big barn which was about fifteen yards from the milkhouse,but on the opposite end from the holding area.

Dairy cows like to be milked. For one it takes the pressure away from a swollen udder and makes them feel good, and as an added bonus we would give them grain in the milk house as they were being milked so that always insured they would be lined up at the door ready and anxious to come in.

This particular night we had finished milking and all that was left was Katie. She was a cow that had just given birth to a beautiful registered Jersey heifer calf two days ago. The rule is you keep the new milk separate from your regular milk for the first three days so we had Katie and her calf in the main barn and I went out to bring her around and down the fenced alley into the holding pen and then into the milk house.

This particular night It was pitch black out side, and as I opened the gate Katie instead of going straight and down the alley like she had the last five milkings ,turned left, through an opening between the gate and the alleyway and headed out into an open field.

Keeping in mind the fact that I played college football, and also the fact that I was in excellent shape from carrying buckets of grain into the milk house every morning and night for the last couple years. I took off after Katie to head her off and had two steps at a full sprint when I ran flat out into a 20"around Peach tree. On that pitch black night I saw stars. Well Katie after seeing she had gone the wrong way just turned around by herself and headed down the alley into the holding pen, and through the back door into a stall and when I stumbled into the milk house she was munching ground corn and my wife was milking her and looked at me standing there with blood running down my face, and said "What in the world happened to you?"

With this bailout I'm wondering if maybe running out into the darkness, might not be the prudent thing to do, that it could be the market will see it's going the wrong way and turn around by itself. Even though it seems like the thing that needs to be done at the moment, I certainly wouldn't advise running without knowing for sure what's in front of you. It could be a Peach tree.

Cowboy Real Estate the Squeeze Chute

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 06:44:55 -0700

When working cattle one of my jobs was usually running the squeeze chute. You pen the cattle first then usually(If the pens were built right, )You worked the cattle counter clock wise around in to smaller and smaller pens until you are at an alley way leading to bright sunlight for the cow ---but really they have to get through the squeeze chute first. The reason they see all this light like at the end of a tunnel is that you have the squeeze chute gate open for them to look through. Once they have their horns through you have to slam the gate shut quick or they will bust right on through. You can't be day dreaming if you are running the chute. If a cow would bust through the chute it doesn't get worked --as to say we wouldn't be able to give it the preventative medicines and fly control we give them for their own good and health. So actually even though the cow doesn't understand --Getting caught up in the chute is a good thing for the cow.

I was watching the commercial expired list right before the forth of July and saw a ten thousand sq. ft. warehouse listed for 1.1mil had expired. A lady in my office had told me that she had a buyer for exactly that so I sent the owners of record a letter.

The July fourth weekend came around and I went up to Rainbow River and floated the river with my kids and just kicked back. Bright and early on Monday morning I drove over to the warehouse to walk around it and see where in the world it sat. That is to say where it sat in relation to the world outside .Just something I do on land Was Taught that years ago .

I saw a sign on the front door saying where the prior occupants had moved and low and behold it was the same name as the owning company, so I headed on over to their new location to see what I could find out.

I walked into the showroom counter sales area and stood patiently in line and when the person behind the counter asked me if he could help me, I responded that yes I was going to be easy ,Who do I need to talk to concerning your old warehouse, I am in Commercial Real Estate. He told me the asst manager would be the one who could help me, and walked me over to an office door. The asst manager was on the phone so I stood outside the door and waited for him to hang up. I introduced myself and told him why I was there and asked him for a contact name and phone number at the main office of the decision maker. He gladly obliged and commented that It was over priced and that the owner of the building they were in presently had made an offer considerably less than the listing price. I thanked him gave him my card and asked him to pass it along to anyone he cared about that might need some real Estate help, and headed home.

When I got home I called the number and got a recording, so I left my number and said I would be calling again before the day was through. I called again later in the afternoon and got a lady who was not sure if the property had been relisted but promised to find out and call me back.

The next morning I called and left a message .Later in the morning a gentleman from that company called me and said "I know we have spoken before and I thought you were sending a listing proposal to me" I not thinking said Oh no I don't believe we have spoken before but I would be glad to send you a listing proposal. He then told me that they were listing it with one of my competitors(MY Guess the company that apparently was day dreaming). I thanked him and then said By the way what price are you listing it at? He told me and it was 325thousand less than what it was listed at before I thanked him and hung up.Immediately redialing and getting the receptionist "What is your fax number?" I wrote up a listing agreement, at the price it was lowered to and faxed it off. I guess you could say I slammed shut the chute.-------I am showing it Monday morning at 10:00.---

Cowboy Real Estate Step back and Take a look at your resources

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:35:22 -0700

Back in the early nineties the Real Estate market was just rolling along at an even keel not much happening, not much fluctuation. I went along with another Broker to a listing appointment, as It was closer to my home than the listing Broker, and It was a Horse farm.

I am not an authority on Horses by any means. In fact, rather than use horses the old traditional way to gather up cattle I used the low stress approach, of a feed sack, and as long as the cattle were familiar with me, it worked pretty good. To me even though I defiantly qualify as a real cowboy, as far as I was concerned you can leave the horses over in the next county on a horse farm, as that way I won't get kicked, bit, or run under a clothes line , but that was all in the past and a different story and I'm getting off the subject.

We pulled in the driveway and Bob, the Broker who was taking the listing started telling me the background story of the place. Seems as though a divorce was involved and the wife was selling the place to move into town.

We pulled up to the house and a nice lady came out to greet us .As introductions were made, we went into the house to look at it and find out a little more about what the motivation for the sale truly was. It seems that this place was her lifelong dream, and it was just tearing her apart to part with it. She went on to tell us about her background, in equine husbandry(that's taking care of horses to you city people)and I was impressed of her knowledge and experience. We then walked out to the stables where she explained how a new buyer could rent the stables and charge fee's for the feeding, grooming and exercising of over twenty horses. We walked behind the stables where she had a new exercise ring built, and she explained its operation. All and all I was so impressed, with the facilities, and the well thought out business plan she laid out for the buyer to enable them to cash flow the farm that When I had a moment to confer with Bob the listing broker in private ---I said why doesn't she implement her own plans for herself? He said simply, she can't picture herself in her own mind doing what she so plainly see's someone else doing.

Sometimes it is easier for us to look at someone else's problems. Someone else's financial,challenges,and someone elses,family disfunctions,because when looking at someone else we aren't emotionally blinded, to the obvious.

So I hope that I can somehow remember. when pondering an issue , when trying to make the right decision, When feeling somewhat overwhelmed.---Just take two steps back,and get underwelmed. Let go, and take a good look at the big picture. Opening my eyes to realize all the possibilities and resources I have at my disposal .

Then picture myself Implementing the corrective measures needed to keep moving ahead towards the completion of my goals.

Bill Collectors and Buzzards

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:34:33 -0700

This morning an individual in our office received a phone call from a debt recovery company, in reference to an unpaid credit card debt. The person on the other end of the phone I know was just doing their job, but after tying up the phone for approximately ten minutes they informed my colleague that If the debt was not paid they would file a judgment against them and they would lose their Real Estate license.Hmmmmm Cowboy Real estate

Mr. Douglas was A past president of the Pasco county Cattleman's assoc, and a member of the American Herford Assoc. He and his family owned the K_Bar ranch just south of Zephyrhills in Pasco county. I was out riding around with Mr. Douglas one day in his pickup truck, filling mineral feeders scattered throughout the ranch, and checking on the cows. As we came around a Cyprus head we saw a sight most people never see. A cow was in the middle of having a calf, and buzzards were trying to get the calf, as it was hanging out of the back of the cow apparently she was having trouble . She was spinning around trying to hook those buzzards trying to protect her calf. We blew the horn and roared up chasing the buzzards away for the time being. I grabbed a lasso out of the back of the truck as the exhausted cow lay down with her half born calf still hanging out the back. I got the rope around the calf's front feet and using the ball on the trailer hitch of the truck as a block and tackle ,we both pulled and delivered the calf .What should have been a happy ending ended up not to be as we discovered the buzzards had pecked the baby calf's tongue till it was gone and it would never be able to nurse.

Kind of reminded me of those bill collector tactics.

I Wonder if the Bucs are hiring---or---The older I get the better I was.

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:38:18 -0700

Some people make it a career ,others get to live the life for several years ,most only a few, and some never at all.I'm talking about playing the game of football.

I started playing when I was probably eight years old with my older first cousin ,Allen and anyone else we could get to play.

My cousin Allen was three years older than me and considering the fact that I really didn't start growing until my freshman year of high school,I was very small compared to everyone else.This mandated the necessity of becoming fast quick,elusive and mean, I excelled.

There was a game we played at our grade school that by today's standards would probably be deemed politically incorrect,as it pitted the mob against one.The name of the game was politicaly incorrect as it was called Black man.The game started out with one person (it )and in the center .Our playground had a fence on each side so the fences were base. The object was to run from one base to the base on the other side of the play ground without being tagged(or tackled if we were playing tackle).As each person was tagged(or tackled) they too would be the hunters till at the end you had a mob all trying to get one person. That person was usually me as this type of game honed my running back moves survival instinct ,and technique.

When I started my Freshman year in high school I finally got to play the game .Even though I could outrun all the running backs I was so fast explosive and mean that the coach put me on the line as Strong side guard on offence and weak side guard on defense.I quickly developed a preference to defense ;as on defense I got to go after the quarterback.One memorable play the strong side guard pulled to block for the halfback .As soon as the ball was snapped I shot across and of course the guy I usually hit wasn't there he was pulling to the right behind the line preparing to block for the halfback who was running on the other side of the quarterback with the intentions of pitching to the halfback who was running around the right end. The play book somehow forgot to take into consideration a little farm kid who grew up playing football with all the older kids and was fast and meaner than ...well you know.

I shot through the hole left by their guard, I grabbed the quarterback's shoulder pads with one hand and half jumped half catapulted myself over him and slammed that halfback into the ground for a loss.The whole time the coach was screaming ,(That's what you! are suppose to do)to everybody on the sidelines.I became particularly fond of playing kickoff and return special teams as I got more than my share of tackles.I played both offense and defense on the freshman team some games with only a couple plays on the sidelines before coach would put me back in, I hated the sidelines as I wanted to be in there.We were undefeated and I played the rest of the Jr varsity schedule and was one of only four freshman the coach let dress for the last varsity game of the season.Ironically the last varsity game The coach pulled my cousin who was a senior outof the game and put me in as his replacement.I forgot to mention the fact that as a freshman I weighted 120 pounds,and was only five foot two.Allen to this day says that it was a proud moment for him .

The same team I played with as a freshman, won the state football championship as seniors,but I was not with them.

My dad because of several reasons two which were farm commodity prices,and an opportunity to ease into retirement,took a job which took me away from my beloved river bottom farm,my cousins which I had grown up with and football,which for me was the most important thing on this earth.We moved over the summer to a small town in Ohio that did not offer football.I would find a ride to St Marys on Friday nights to watch them play football,On Sunday afternoons I found a that a bunch played tackle on the football field So yes I was there playing tackle football with no pads.The good thing was that no one could catch me.We usually played until someone was bleeding I made some lifelong friends out there beating each other up on Sunday afternoons out behind the High school.

I excelled at track and cross country,having some records that have stood even until my daughters were in high school ,however my main goal through all the track and all the running in cross county was to stay in shape for football college style.

I was accepted to Heidelberg college in Tiffin Ohio,and upon arriving went straight to the athletic department to introduce myself.. And they said who? From where? Never heard of you are you sure you are in the right building? I said yes I wanted to play football, and the coach told me that all the football players were there on scholarship, so you know they would be playing the chances of me playing were not good ,But they had no Idea the desire they were looking at.

\I Picked up all my equipment and practice uniforms and put everything in my assigned locker,then showed up for practice.I can imagine what all the other players thought .

At Heidelberg The way the varsity practices for its opponent each week is by running against the offence of he team we were playing that week from the films the scouts had brought back .The assistant coaches (One of which was coach Gruden--Jon Gruden of the Bucs Dad)would have us (the slaughter squad)Run the plays of the opposing team and the Varsity would try to stop us --Well all well and good except a halfback like me If I blew through the line for a huge gain the coach would say run that play again A) they know where I'm going coach B) That's why they called it the slaughter squad.

I ended up catching the eye of the varsity coach because of my hard hitting and ended up playing special teams and backup halfback behind a guy names Simone who was an all state halfback from Niles McKinley high school In Cleveland.

We were getting ready to play Wittenberg and so we were running thier plays . The coach called a play where I got the ball and ran between the guard and the tackle well I blasted through and ended up breaking through for a touchdown. The coach blew the whistle and started yelling at the Line backers then said run it again.When I hit the hole I had run through the play before I was met by zippy a 280 lb 6'4"defensive end and all the rest of the defense.Zippy hit me so hard that I ended up straight up and down with just my feet sticking out of the top of the pile and Zippy with a bloody nose where his face guard has cut his nose.Head coach Malmusar yelled Shriver if you can run the next play I'm starting you next year, I ran the next play but by next year I was on my way to south East Asia and Viet Nam I had joined the Marine corps.

I guess for most people that would be the end of the story but for cicumstance it would be for me also.

Thirty years pass and My wife and I are milking sixty head of Jersey dairy cows on two hundred twenty acres in Missouri. We (After a successful Real Estate career in Florida) had sold our properties in Florida and basically moved to the Missouri Ozarks to raise cattle and retire.Our milk house had a large grain tank outside but was missing the flex auger that was originally there So I improvised with three large garbage cans in the pit that we scooped grain a scoop at a time for them when they were actually being milked.I carried grain in to fill The garbage cans every morning and evening in two five gallon buckets in the milk house ,down five steps into the parlor pit empty the buckets then back for more until the garbage cans were all full.This was my daily workout so needless to say I was in good shape.One of my neighbors came over as I was preparing to milk one afternoon and watched me as I carried those buckets trip after trip ,carrying those heavy buckets down the steps over and over, I just looked at him as he was shaking his head and I said to him--- I'm not Amish, I'm just poor.---

We were at the local high school football homecoming game when a friend of my wifes nephew named Garrett Paulette looked over at me and said hey are you going to play in the alumni game tomorrow?I said why I didn't Graduate from here ,and he said that they were short on players and asked me to come play he said his uncle was playing and he was almost as old as I was so I said sure.Turns out his uncle was playing but his uncle was in his thirtys and I was fifty.

I was there the next morning at the high school locker room, signed the waver,paid my twenty dollars for insurance,and was issues my equipment full pads ,helmet, been a long time lets see where do all these pads go?

I played, and I hit hard ,I lined up across from Garrots uncle and he lasted about two plays then moved to the other side of the line .I found out that most of the guys that played had graduated only a couple years ago, and they really hit hard. I was able to get rid of a lot of pent up aggression and frustration that day ,I had such a great time I actually played two more years until the last year I had a couple ribs get broken as I got clipped,and that was the end of my football career.Well maybe,---who knows ,Maybe Jon Gruden will read this and want to use me for one play. Yeah that's it I'm only fifty nine I bet I can still run one more play.

You can call me Cap'n

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:15:26 -0700

In the movie Lonesome Dove A scene involving Cap'n Call the trail boss and retired Texas Ranger played by Tommy Lee Jones, His Son Newt, Played by Rickey Schroeder, and a US Calvary unit, captured my imagination the first time I saw it and continued to make an impression, there after.

In the scene the army officer confronts one of the cowboys at the livery stable in town, and wants to requisition his horse. The cowboy tells the army officer the horse isn't for sale and the officer, wanting to show his authority, infers that to refuse the army that particular horse would be treason, and proceeded to try to take the horse by force. When the cowboy is knocked down "Newt" grabs the reins and reintegrates that the horse is not for sale. The Army scout at that time begins flogging Newt with his crop as the "Cap'n" is walking out of the store down the street. The Cap'n drops the sacks of corn meal he was carrying as he see's his Son being flogged by the Army scout, jumps on his horse and at full gallop down the street and crashes into the Army scouts horse throwing the scout to the ground. What followed was one of the most intense and brutal expeditions of pure rage I had ever seen as the Cap'n first beat the scout with a branding iron then ran him head first into an Anvil. He then picked up a pair if tongs with deadly intent only to be roped by his friend Gus and after some rather fast talking and a lot of yelling to bring the Cap'n back to earth so to speak, the capt'n settled down checked Newt and everyone on his crew to make sure they were all right ,Mounted his horse and then calmly said to the startled onlookers" I hate rude behavior in a man, I won't tolerate it".

So I was a Marine .Well shouldn't say was you know once a Marine always a Marine anyway,when I came home from "ITR"(Infantry Training Regiment) for my leave right before going over To Viet Nam. My sister picked me up from the airport with a stranger in tow ,whom she introduced as her Fiancé. She proudly and innocently added that Rich was also in the service. If you know anything about Marines you know that they scorn all the other branches of the service and especially loath the lax, undisciplined, anybody can be one Air Force.

So I took one look at her brand new fiancé's and said whats he in the Air Force ? She very apologetically said Yeeeeees. So we drive home and as soon as we walk in the house this new guy calls my Dad Dad. My blood boiled.

Keep in mind that I grew up on a farm where I was the only son. I had worked side by side with my Dad ever since I was six years old. I had weeded beans, in the hot August sun in the gumbo river bottoms, I had plowed and disced the fields from early morning till after dark, I had paid the price, over and over, for years, Where was this guy coming from where He thought that he had any right to call MY DAD Dad.

Years after that, I relayed the story to my daughters and apparently that story made an impression because at my oldest daughter Tracy's wedding after my new Son In Law had kissed the bride and I offered my hand to shake he said well Dad and my daughter said -real hush hush, -Oh No you don't want to call him that So he looked at me and said "well what do you want me to call you?" I looked him straight in the eyes and said You can call me cap'n.

The story doesn't stop there, Fourteen years later, I am at my daughter and Son In Laws house and my middle daughter brings her new boy friend over to meet the family. In the course of the evening, while playing darts Kristy's boyfriend calls me Cap'n.I guess when my Son in-law picked him up and threw him on top of the bicycles on the other side of the garage He found out the hard way that he hadn't earned the right. Hmmm I guess my Son in law felt the same way I did all those years ago, and I understood.Of course that guy that happened to make that innocent mistake---well he never came around anymore go figure.

The Grow House

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 08:20:22 -0700

As Vice Pres, acquisition for Flag development My first assignment was to find developable Florida real Estate to invest approximately thirty million dollars. Of course that was the fun part of my job.

One of my responsibilities with Flag development ,after we had all The land bought, was interim use. Coming from an agricultural background ,that was a pleasant job for the most part, however there were snags from time to time.

We had 560 acres in West Palm Beach, which I would travel down and pretty much just make sure no one dumped trash on it.

The two thousand acre Orlando site I had a hunt club ,and a cattle lease going on it making sure we received an ag exemption so holding cost were kept as low as possible.

The Lakeland property I had the previous owner lease back for cattle, did some sod harvesting and also some timber.

The headache as it turned out was the Brown Ranch ,Halfway between Zephyrhills and I-75,as it had the only house on all the land we bought.

I had a cattle lease worked out on the land and the previous owner, had one of his employee's in the house, and then the guy moved out. I was informed by our insurance company that sitting empty the house liability insurance would triple so----I ran some adds.

I had a call from a guy saying he was interested in renting the house and made arrangements to meet him. When he pulled in I could see he brought the whole family. It was he ,his wife and three small children, they were driving an older Cadillac Eldorado,the car was clean inside and out that can tell you sometimes how they take care of there house. They liked the house and we came to an agreement on rent and they were to move in the next day. Problem solved or so I thought. A few weeks went by and we received the Electric bill and it seems they had never had it switched over to their names ,so My wife drove over to the house to give them the bill and to tell them to get it switched over pronto. When she pulled in she could see that no-one was home .She went to the back door and saw that someone had covered the glass with black plastic on the inside. She had a key, so she unlocked the door to investigate and was met with a strong Odor. Stepping in the house she saw no furniture and the upstairs was completely blocked off with black plastic around the stair well. She pulled the plastic aside and was almost blinded with bright light coming from the upstairs and as she made her way to the top of the stairs she was greeted by the sight of pot after pot of pot with drip hoses going into each one, and huge stadium lights acting as the artificial sun on this indoor growing field. She made her way quickly downstairs, now fearful they might come back and find her there. She went back out side to her car and called the Sheriff on her cell phone.

When the Sheriff got there they removed over 50 plants. No arrests were ever made as the real nice guy with the nice family I rented the house to, said he sublet it to someone else and he of course was no-where to be found.

This all happened in the late 80's so they were pioneers, I know that it is a lot more prevalent now. So if you have rentals might want to watch for tell tale clues, high electric bills, no-one ever home, lack of furniture, because over and above the legality issue, a grow house is high heat and super high humidity and will wreck your property.

The Baby Calf

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:00:03 -0700

One Sunday I went for a walk back into my cattle pasture behind the house ,just watching the cows as they munched on grass, and just slowly making their way around . The baby calves were either playing ,(They like to play tag,) or just lying in the sun taking a snooze, always close to their momma. I had a pond about a quarter of a mile back from the house so I ended up there. I sat down on the ground just watching the water bugs dart around, pretty soon I just laid back in the soft grass and fell asleep.

I awoke to a hot rough tongue licking my face --As I jumped up startled the baby calf took off at a run, headed for its momma. I laughed and wished I hadn't scared the baby because what it had done was so sweet. Coming up to me so inquisitive and innocent.

Makes me wish sometimes in my own relationships I could just open one eye and relish the moment.

I should have been a Doctor

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:27:31 -0700

Back when I was growing up we lived about a mile and a half from my first cousin Allen so I really didn't have anyone my age to play with until my dad hired a new Hired man named Mr. Bradbury .Mr. Bradbury had four sons and one daughter, and they lived in the old house that my dad grew up in. All the kids were older than me but Earl, and he was about three years younger than me and a late life baby if you know what I mean? Since I didn't want to hang out with my sisters all the time sometimes I would go over to Brads house and ask Earls mom Bessie if Earl could come along so I had somebody to do stuff with.

One day I went over and got Earl and we walked down the gravel road toward the bluff there was a hedge tree down in front of Schnelles that always had a bunch of hedge apples laying on the ground that You could hit with a stick like a baseball. We did that for awhile than I said "Hey I know where there is a mulberry tree and we can go eat Mulberries, Ole Earl always liked any Idea that I would come up with, so we headed up the road a little further and came to the Mulberry tree, climbed it and sat up there in the tree munching on Mulberries.That got old pretty quick so I said hey lets go cut through the woods and go down by the big pond and check the Apple tree out . Of course Earl was all in favor of getting out of the tree so we headed through the woods. We went on through the woods playing like we were shooting at each other, and crossed the hay field to the barn. Once to the barn, It was a really cool place to play even though I do believe my Dad had told me not to play in the barn ---In we went. We were jumping from the manger thru an open window when Earl hit his head on the top of the window opening. He was bleeding pretty bad (as head wounds do) so I remembered my first aid class in

4-H taught us to clean the wound. Off to the cow tank we went. I chased all the fly's away (the sorghum lick was right next to the concrete cow tank) and so the water had kind of a sweet sour smell. We got his head all cleaned off with cow tank water and I said lets go get us some apples. As always Ray liked my ideas so we headed down past the hog house and down past the Chicken house to the little orchard down by the big pond. It seems the apples would never get red ripe before the birds would get to them, so we picked a bunch of green ones --so sour and good we ate a bunch.

It was about time for me to go home so we walked up to Rays house and I dropped him off at his yard and headed on home myself.

Later that night Bessie(Earls Mom) sent word over to my Mom asking what in the world we two boys did today, Earl is sick as a dog.

I was just fine must be a bug going round.

A day in the life.

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:02:32 -0700

The fourth weekend came around and I went up to Rainbow River and floated the river with my kids and just kicked back. Bright and early on Monday morning I drove over to the warehouse to walk around it and see where in the world it sat. That is to say where it sat in relation to the world outside .Just something I do on land Was Taught that years ago .

WhenI got home I called the number and got a recording, so I left my number and said I would be calling again before the day was through. I called again later in the afternoon and got a lady who was not sure if the property had been relisted but promised to find out and call me back.

The next morning I called and left a message .Later in the morning a gentleman from that company called me and said "I know we have spoken before and I thought you were sending a listing proposal to me" I not thinking said Oh no I don't believe we have spoken before but I would be glad to send you a listing proposal. He then told me that they were listing it with one of my competitors(MY Guess the company that had it before). I thanked him and then said By the way what price are you listing it at? He told me and it was 325thousand less than what it was listed at before I thanked him and hung up.Immediately redialing and getting the receptionist "What is your fax number?" I wrote up a listing agreement, at the price it was lowered to and faxed it off.Ill tell you tomorrow if I get a signed listing back.But I do have a new buyer, by listening and asking questions.

Should we ban Short Sales---- Response----

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:00:19 -0700

I can understand your frustration. Looks like I need to write another chapter in "Cowboy Real Estate"

We were loading up some registered Bulls that were all destined for the Houston Livestock show. They were young all weighing approximately 400#.My Dr. Friend had made a deal with the officials that be, to take the young bulls to The prison farm in Okeechobee Florida, where the inmates would break them to lead. We had three bulls loaded when one bolted ,Knocked down a panel of our portable pens we had set up and headed for the pasture. I hopped on a 4wheeler and headed out to turn him back . Well, I got him turned around and cornered under some trees in the corner of the pasture, and the plan was to Move the cattle trailer to where we were, grab the portable pens and set them up so that we could coax the bull into the pens, trap him then shoo him on into the trailer.

The bull being a bull didn't listen to the plan apparently and as the trailer came bouncing across the pasture, he made a break for it completely toppling and end over ending an Older gentleman neighbor who just came over to help. As the bull went tearing past I jumped on grabbed him around the neck, twisted his head around and bull dogged him to the ground. I'm laying there with his head all twisted holding him down yelling bring me a rope.

Well I made a halter out of the Lasso, and half chased half drug him onto the trailer.

After all the excitement was over My Doctor friend (Who was born and raised in Texas) asked me what in the world possessed me to jump on that bull. My response was "It just seemed like what needed to be done at the time"

Maybe Short sales are frustrating, maybe they are, ugly, maybe they are difficult. But Maybe that's what needs to be done at the time..

It all started in the First grade

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:31:05 -0700

Back when I was in the first grade a girl named Vickie Woodworth kissed me while I was on a merry go round in the school yard . My life has never been the same ,ever since.

You see there was this other girl named Sue Ellen Arnold who really liked me . She saw Vickie kissing me and she just went crazy. She ran into the school and told the teacher Mrs. Humphries.Mrs Humphries, not really knowing how to handle a situation like this (after all she was just a first grade teacher ) These things weren't suppose to become an issue until at least junior high, so they thought. Went straight to the principals office .

I can still remember that long walk up that long staircase,the fear the shame.The principal told me to never do it again, mentioned something about reform school, and no summer vacation, I do know I was scared and promised to never let it happen again.

Lucky for me the principal was transferred before my Third grade school year and apparently never recorded that trial proceedings as the principal we had for that year apparently knew nothing off it , or I would have been in big trouble when , This cute girl named Debbie Lock moved to our school.

Well actually her mom ended up being my teacher and looked like the wicked witch of the west on the Wizard of Oz.Mrs Lock really disliked me because I guess she thought I was too cute for my own good and her daughter really liked me, So she started using me as an example.Not a good example and not really a bad example ,just an example . I can still remember her hitting me on the head with a pencil shouting I'm going to make an example out of you. So whatever that was I was definatly an example.

I am definitely an example today----.For sure not because of ---but most likely in spite of.--Mrs. Lock and The principals office.--

The way I live My life ,I strive to be ,for my children, a good example. An example for my daughters to look to when thy want to see the practicality in---

The attitude of an achiever

The never say die perseverance

The finding the silver lining in all things

The looking for the good ,in things and people

The example of love

After all I was cute and sweet enough to get kissed in the first grade.

Dern that Sue Ellen Arnold.

Dancing in the Milkhouse

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:44:25 -0700

In a fit of total insanity I left the Real Estate business in 1998,Sold my 15 acres of paradise took all my equity, and with the help of a $60000.00 Commission check, went up to the Ozarks in Southern Mo right on the Arkansas line, and bought a Dairy Farm.

I had been raising cattle in Florida since the early eighties, and had amassed a herd of around one hundred ole Florida brush cows. And four registered Romognolas,and a couple bulls.

Romanogla's are a breed from Italy known for their double muscle, temperature tolerance and gentleness. My thoughts were to use the purebred bulls to improve my calves to the point where I had a superior herd.

My wife Margie (an animal lover --especially the babies)was all enthused about the move and so with the help of a semi, and two gooseneck cattle trailers we made the move.

It didn't take too long to discover that we weren't in Florida anymore, land of year round green grass, as we started having to buy hay at $30.00 a round bale ,two a day. Cash flow constantly running one way is a problem, so since we had a really nice Dairy barn, We thought; why not put it to work and purchase some milk cows, and that will be the answer to all our problems. Out with one problem in with thirty more LOL.

We decided that we wanted Jerseys, because of their high butterfat milk and their sweet dispositions. After a farm sale auction where we bought eight head, I went to a large Jersey farm cattle auction in Arkansas and bought fifty two more. So we ended up with Sixty head of Jerseys and we were in the milking business.

I took a course at Texas A&M on Artificial Insemination of beef cattle and we were on our way. At one time my Wife had twenty three baby calves all on bottles in the calf barn, she loved that part. Our cattle loved Country music and we had the music playing in the milk house during milking every day.. While in Darby Fl. Every Month we had a dance at the fairgrounds and my wife and youngest daughter Holly became quite the line dancers. So wouldn't you know it with the cattle swaying to Brooks and Dunn the milking machines making their own music and the vacuum pump roaring in the background, I looked up from putting the milkers on a cow and there she was Dancing in the milk house.

My Little Sister and the Tin Car

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:28:13 -0800

When I was four years old :my Mom had my little sister. I guess she was about a year old when I ran over her with my bicycle.My parents couldn't understand why I would do such a thing, and my excuse that I just wanted to see how much of a bump she would be didn't fly. Oh well,No permanent damage that you would notice.Anyway she grew up to be a typical little sister, always the favorite, got away with everything, and was really good at laying on the poor poor me to my Mom and Dad .Then one day the Gods smiled.
I can remember it as if it were yesterday.I had been down along the creek, running like an indian, exploring, pretending I was looking for settlers in a wagon train, when I saw the corner of it over behind a rock where it had apparently floated.
It was a tin car about eight inches long and four inches wide,and just so cool a find.I proudly picked it up wiped some of the dirt off of it and headed home to show my Mom this great toy I had found all by myself.
My Mom was at the back of the house when I got up there, with of course my little sister hanging on to her dress .My Mom was suitably impressed with my find,and I was beaming when all of a sudden my little sister looked up and started screaming,gimmi that, gimmi that, My Mom told me to give her my new found toy and as I handed it over, a spider that was at least three inches across ran out of the insides of the toy car and went right up my little sisters arm, onto her neck.I can still hear the total screams of terror,the jumping, the clawing and more screaming, and I smile. Come to think of it I believe she is still afraid of spiders.

Helping People

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:51:28 -0800

How many people can you help in a day?

It is estimated that each person has a sphere of influence,That is they touch lives in one way of or another of over three hundred people. Considering the number of these people who are married, the list shoots to close to 500. Of these 500 people, how many do you suppose,know someone who is struggling with high mortgage payments. How many of the 500 people do you suppose know of some one, who recently got married, got unmarried, lost their job, was transferred needs someone knowledgeable, skilled,and competent to help them with some Real Estate issues? Who better to help them than someone they already like and trust, namely you.

When was the last time you sat down at your phone, and called people you know, asking if they knew of anyone that could use your help?Could this simple act of kindness and compassion help your business?

It can make your business.

One of the exciting things this market has done is to remove the part timers .The order takers have gone on to work in other fields and have left the competent professionals to do what they have been doing all along. Helping people with their Real Estate problems.

Would it be stretching things to believe that out of every ten people you know, someone knows someone who needs your help? And if by helping that person it resulted in a closed transaction, which on the average might pay $5000.you could by doing nothing more than helping friends and loved ones end up making roughly $250,000.per year. What about people you meet this coming year who is going to help them?

How many people can you help in a day?

Dead Skunk in the middle of the Road.

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 10:03:14 -0800

It had to have been in the 1950's when my confusion really started. You see our family was a very close family where my aunts and uncles,cousins,grandparents would all get together on a regular basis. In the summertime these get together if at my uncle Russ's involve home made ice cream, and if at our house you could count on watermelon. My Dads side of the family consisted of Grandpa and grandma ,one uncle, and three aunts. We farmed with my uncle in partnerships, one aunt lived in Massachusetts, one about one hundred miles away and the other in the neighboring town where her husband owned a lumber company. My dad always liked to take everyone down into the river bottoms to show the crops to everyone, so he bought an old retired school bus, took most of the seats out so he could haul fuel in the back, but left a few rows of seats for out crop tours . Usually on a Sunday afternoon, after Sunday Dinner and Watermelon we would climb into the old Reo School bus and go for a tour of the crops. We went to church one Sunday morning in August, close to my birthday, had a couple watermelons in the old milk cooler, and company coming for dinner. We got home from church, and my aunt and uncle from town came out my uncle Russ, and Grandpa and Grandma and all my cousins all over for fried chicken and Watermelon. That afternoon before everyone went home my Dad brought the old school bus around we all climbed in and went down into the river bottom to look at how well the crops looked. On the way back I was sitting next to my Dad and as we were almost to our house my dad saw the cause of a faint odor we had been putting up with all day, a dead skunk laying next to the road. My Dad told me that when we got home I should come back and get rid of it. I had watched my dad on numerous occasion get rid of things like that, so I just followed in his footsteps. Sometime in the past I had been with my Dad in the old Reo School bus on a fuel run down into the bottoms and there would be road kill of one persuasion or another ,and my Dad would take a piece of baling twine, make a loop and loop it around the dead critters foot. He would then tie the baling twine on the back bumper of the old Reo School bus and when we got down to the fields in the bottoms, after about six miles of gravel road, the critter would mysteriously be gone. I went over to the barn and got a piece of baling twine, by that time it was getting dark, I made my way to where the stinking skunk was and looped a loop around one of its legs. The school bus was sitting in the barnyard no that won't work. That night my Dad got a call from my uncle thanking him for the present, It seems that when I tied it to the back bumper of their car, it turned out to be a pretty tough ole skunk, cause it was still there when they pulled into their garage

The Definition of Happy

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:38:33 -0800

My Dictionary defines happy as good fortune, and well being. Of course my dictionary is the same one I had in college, copyrighted 1967 and although the world has changed ,has happy changed?

It seems everyone from Paris to Britney is unhappy ,what's up with that? Isn't happy good fortune, wouldn't you say they both have plenty of that? How about well being,----well ---being---either would just thrill the heck out of most teenagers or young people in general. I do know a couple of things and one of them is. You cannot depend on someone else to make you happy. The only person you can depend on and should depend on in this life to make you happy is yourself. It cannot be done in any other way than from your soul.

I know every day isn't going to be a skippity do dah day but If you wake up and think to yourself that this day is going to be a bad one, it will be. Instead if you start every morning off with a purpose of doing one thing ,new every day to bring happiness to yourself, then maybe you can break the destructive mode we can find ourselves in. Laws of attraction teach us that if we dwell on unhappiness that is what we attract and If we dwell on happiness that is what we will attract. I read the definition of happy that I think is much more in tune with today It said "happy is when your mind is filled with pleasant thoughts most of the time." So everyone controls their own happiness, Its all in how you think, That determines who you are

.A beautiful friend in N FtMyers gave me inspiration and actually a blueprint for this story I want to thank her for being who she is.

Keynes Theory of Economics

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:17:46 -0800

When I was at Heidelberg college I took economics. My professor at the time seemed like he was one hundred years old, but for an eighteen year old, anyone over thirty seemed ancient, so I am guessing he was in his sixties. I am also guessing that he was in the early stages of dementia as for the entire semester, he gave the same lecture, every class ,every day .He would ask --"doe's anyone know what is meant by the Keynes theory of economics"? Of course we were college kids in the 70"s --so of course no one knew ,or would admit to it So he would then in great detail explain The law of supply and demand. Every day we would get a different reading assignment, but the next day in class He would ask would someone explain The Keynes theory of economics----Silence--- Then he would go on--- The Keynes Theory of economics is the law of supply and demand blah blah blah.Well one thing I must say of that class is that I got that theory down pat.

In today's market the supply of homes is disproportionate to the number of ready willing and able buyers, largely because of the tightening up of credit, and the drop in disposable income because of petroleum prices. The currency exchange rate is like the rest of the economy. It responds
to supply and demand. The treasury department was intentionally keeping
the value of the dollar low in order to encourage exports. The economy has grown at a record pace. Unemployment is at a record low. IRS. Receipts are up as a result of the tax cuts, rather than down and the deficit is shrinking. Some three percent of substandard mortgages are in trouble, which of course, indicates that the great majority is not in trouble.

The boomers are coming, we have the weather, we have the Mouse, we have the warm white sandy beaches.We must all work harder, smarter,and work on perfecting our performance.Competancy in all aspects and all levels.Helping people, then its fun again.

Saddled with Other Peoples Limitations

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 10:58:25 -0800

I have a girl in Texas I think the world of .I told her quite a while back that I felt with her by my side we could conquer the world,because with her I find my mind and spirit attaining a higher plane of conciousness,with no limitations.

On the flip side of this is the opposite result,you have to be careful with.

Back when I started selling Real Estate,I began not selling houses like most people , but selling farms. Agricultural land was selling for around Three Thousand dollars an acre at that time in that place ,So a two hundred fifty acre farm would bring roughly $750,000. Dollars and at a 10% commission you were looking at $75,000 .I Was comfortable with these numbers and didn't really think about it when one day a girl remarked that she had always sold residential, and couldn't even fathom the big numbers that I dealt with every day. She had set limitations on herself.

A lot of people in sales make just about the same amount every year because they have set limitations in their mind . I made eighty thousand a year for three years in a row, and didn't realize what I was subconsciously doing,untill I sat down with my accountant one day and he asked me why. Then the light bulb came on, I had subconsciously set a comfort zone at eighty thousand and wouldn't let myself go over it.

A good friend of mine told me to "be careful who you date, who you associate with, who you pick as friends and life partners, don't saddle yourself with their limitations". It is very easy to fall into other peoples limitations. Lets face it the guy in the office that is the epitome of positively is the target for all the negative losers. People want to cure you and bring you down to their comfort level where they feel you will be safe. The person you date, your spouse will bring you to their comfort level, so be careful who you date and if you are already married be aware ,and try to bring your spouse to your level and keep them on the same wave length.

When computers first entered the workplace ,some refused to accept the change and their own set ways and self limitations put them out of a job. Today Internet marketing is the present, It was the future a few years ago. Since I was raised on a farm and grew up running tracters,combines,hay balers and any other equipment I could hit a start button or turn a key in, Computers are just another piece of machinery. And like always I set out to be proficient with it . This is where internet marketing training comes in. I listen to training webinars Three or four nights a week, because I refuse to lose, and I will not accept other peoples limitations. You can sign up for some free Marketing training at http://secret.believeachieve.info The more tools you have to use the more options you have as to exactly how you are to complete the job. Get the listing,find more buyers,or close the next sale.Stand out ,bethe Champion you can be ,and don't let yourself be saddled with other peoples limitations.

Late Night Ride To The Cemetery

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:06:04 -0700

When I was fourteen years old, my cousin Allen was seventeen. Because of the fact we only lived a mile and a half from each other, and the fact that we were only sons, surrounded by sisters, we grew up with the bond of brothers. I was included in a lot of things with Allen's friends, that no other fourteen year old around had the chance to do.

We were Baptists, and went to the Calvary Baptist Church in Quincy Illinois. On Wed nights, during the summer they would have youth fellowship at one of the members homes this particular Wednesday night was youth fellowship at My uncle Russ's so I got to go.

Baptist at that time or should I say Baptist that went to our church, frowned upon a lot of things ,and picked up some kind of evil conitation,from things that other people, didn't see apparently or just didn't let bother them. Going to movies, dancing, public displays of affection(that means what Pam Hess and I were doing in the back of the church bus)So as any conscientious farm kids would do we found ways to circumvent, and get around all the restrictions and still have a good time.

I remember one of the older kids name was Dean Jinks. He had a big 1957 Plymouth Fury with loud pipes and was always fun to be around. Dean and my cousin Allen started daring some of the girls to come along down to the cemetery . They explained that at the cemetery, was a mausoleum and inside the mausoleum was a casket with a glass top in it so you could see that skeleton. We scurried around, came up with several flashlights, and I think we had fifteen kids in that Plymouth .Off to the cemetery we went, all laughing and looking foreword to scaring the girls.

We parked in the back of the cemetery and walked single file down to the mousoleum. When we got to the front of it you could see that it had an ,old.wooden door that was barely on its hinges. Everyone crowded around the door and Allen said ok I'm going to Yank it open get ready with the flashlights.

The door was opened,and Dean jumped to the front of everyone crowded around the doorway trying to look inside. Dean pointed his high beam flashlight into the pitch blackness of the mousolesm,and everyone saw someone standing inside there looking back at them. Dean let out a horrible scream, the girls all started screaming,It was pure terror, everyone was running tripping over each other trying to get away and back to the car.

A couple days before My cousin Allen had found a floor length mirror, that someone had thrown away and thought of the perfect place to put it. http://thesecret.believeachieve.info

A higher plane

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 10:28:21 -0700

There is a dimension (not the twilight zone) Where we as humans are elevated beyond our normal selves. Napoli an Hill called it "a higher Plane"

I have been there, when your hot your hot, you are also on a higher level of consciousness, or on a higher plane.

You have heard of the guy who picks the car up to free someone trapped, and the woman who runs for help at Olympic record speed. Feats that under normal circumstances would have been impossible.

If someone could remain on that plane of thought for any extended period of time, the things you could do. There are certain things that trigger this higher consciousness. Fear,anger,and love. Love being I believe the strongest.

I took some time off one summer and decided that I wanted to learn how to sell cars.

I got a job at A Ford dealership and along with four other newbees we were trained. I was muddling along not having a very good close, ratio ,I really had Issues with the arrogant,rude,condescending asst. sales manager, to the point where one morning I walked in with the attitude that this wasn't a Job this was a joke. I had decided the first degrading remark out of the asst. sales managers mouth I was going to knock him into next week, pick up my things and go home. A funny thing happened, Since I completely lost all caring I also lost all nervousness. The first people that came in I went up and talked to them as if I had known them all my life. They bought. The next the same until at the end of the day the asst. manager had all the sales people standing at the windows watching me." do my majic"He started using me as a training tool for the others. I was on a higher plane of thought.

In Real Estate, The pure satisfaction of knowing you are helping people, along with a pureness of heart, can lift you up into a higher plane. Find someone that you can establish as a kindred spirit, where your mind and theirs work together as one . This is real power.

I was on a social site and received the following quote, and was asked if it inspired me .

This is what lifts us up.

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

by
Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Plow The Field

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:04:11 -0700

When my youngest grandson was just a baby, I bought him his first tractor. Understood that I came from a long line of farmers ,to check profession down my family tree it was a straight limb ,of agriculture. This particular tractor was not just any run of the mill generic type ,Oh no. John Deere of course, with a very unique feature, in that it had a button that when pushed a very authoritative voice (Which I thought sounded like my Dad ) said "plow the field". When I say it sounded authoritative like my Dad, understand that my Dad was an Air Force Captain in WW11 When my dad said to do something there was no mistake, no question and definitely no hesitation. I didn't even have to ask how high I already knew the answer.

I guess even at a young age and maybe especially at a young age we need to teach A positive mental attitude.To plow the field meant lets get the job done.

To me, that tractor stood for the fundamental keys to my parents successes ,work ethic, and spirit, handed down from their parents ,and down the line. The guiding force that helped settled the west, Made farms and ranches out of the endless prarie,And kept families together throughout the hard times which were many.

The weak turn back and the faithful plow in. Nothing states the intention of going ahead better than plowing .The initial preparation of the ground for the planting of the seed. Plowing was the initial tillage in the preparation of the seedbed. To plant a crop you had to prepare the seedbed so that it was ready for the seed Any thought of quitting, any thought of turning back, was completely squelched as soon as you plowed the field.

Indecision, and hesitation are stopped cold with the affirmation "Plow the field"

What good advice for anyone who has lost there way "Plow the field"

What do you do when times get rough "Plow the field"

From marriage counseling to how to win a football game. To making it through rough times in Real Estate.Stop everything, put everything in perspective, and start at the beginning with the basics . Lets not sit around lets get busy and" Plow the field"David Shriver

Whats Hot

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 12:12:00 -0700

We all know that real Estate ,and pretty much everything from economies to war run in cycles. Stock and bond boys and girls try to buy low and sell high, I haven't personally known any Stock market types that have been consistently successful, as with the stock market(for Me) hind site is the true market indicater.I do know ,(and consider myself to be a member )quite a few people who have invested low and sold high in the real Estate market for decades. Historically the Real Estate market is slower at it's ups and downs compared to stocks, but that gives the in tune time to jump in or out without getting run over.

I was in Tampa just exploring around and came across some very nice older communities, close to Madill. There are a lot of older two bedroom homes and happily some investors are going in and up with some two story town house type structures that show the upswing in the area.

Fort Myers ,and North fort Myers have older communities filled with the affordable homes that are selling in today's market .Affordable or high end ,Top or bottom, seems like the middle is the hardest hit. You know most of our Real Estate sales in South West Florida, do come from up north ,and with their market ,or lack of, inevitably effecting ours. The Cold and snow will perk things up for us for awhile ,lets not forget to help our investors by letting them in on what's hot.

The Greatest Influence On My Real Estate Career

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:31:09 -0700

I suppose the greatest influence on my Real Estate career in the beginning was the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. It was that book that gave me the seed for change. Through my reading I developed the concept that anything the mind of man can conceive and believe, coupled with burning desire, he can achieve. This concept engulfed me; body, mind and spirit. At the time I was working as a skilled-trades welder at Ford Motor Company. Although I did not know it at the time, I was the youngest, yet most highly paid welder at Ford Motor Company. I had reached my plateau at the age of 27. It was time to find new goals and new mountains to climb. After obtaining my license I had the blessing of a mentor, Ron Spencer, who guided, helped, encouraged and taught me the ways of Real Estate and the way to success. We studied the Tom Hopkins sales techniques and practiced, drilled and rehearsed. In the middle of the 1970s we probably sold more farms in the Midwest than any other small brokerage. I learned the power of positive thinking. I learned the secret of never seeing failure as a failure, but only as a learning experience. “I never see failure as failure but only as the negative feedback that I need to change my direction. I never see failure as failure but only as the opportunity to develop my sense of humor. I never see failure as failure but only as an opportunity to practice my techniques and perfect my performance. I never see failure as failure but only as the game I must play to win.” Tom Hopkins wrote it; I believed it. In these times it might benefit us all and remember the basic truths, the things that got us where we are and helped to make us who we are.

Going A Different Way Around The Barn

David Shriver (Keller Williams World Class Commercial) — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:06:56 -0700

I had stopped in to visit an elderly couple ,who owned a 200 acre farm. In the conversation the possibility of them selling their farm came up ,where as the wife became very emotional and so I dropped the subject for another time. Upon leaving I mentioned possibly stopping in again in a couple days and It was agreed that it would be fine.

I spoke to a couple of my buyers about the possibility of this parcel coming on the market, and at the same time assuring them that It would take delicate handling as emotions were high .

In a couple days I called and set up an appointment to come back out and meet with the nice couple .Everything was going great until I mentioned a Listing agreement and the wife started crying and ran into the kitchen .The husband excused himself and went out to the kitchen to comfort his wife. After she had regained her composure they both came back out into the living room and were apologetic ,I assured them that it was completely understood as I realized the strong ties and memories associated with this two hundred acres. And I had an Idea; Lets not worry about a listing agreement, lets forgo that all together What we will do is write out a purchase agreement stating exactly what a buyer would have to do If they wanted to own this farm.

So I sat at the dining room table with them and they both helped me write out their dream purchase agreement and when we were through I calmly asked them to authorize the agreement on the bottom next to where it says seller. We dated it and I left with my signed purchase agreement telling them Now my work is cut out for me,for now I have to find a buyer. We closed in approximately eighteen days and everyone was happy.So I guess sometimes you do, have to go a different way around the barn.