Real estate companies are interesting things.  Real estate agents are essentially small business owners in it for themselves, right, so what does the company matter?  Quite a bit, actually.  I'm not going to make this a long post about the various business models and pros and cons of all of Gig Harbor's real estate companies; that'd bore even me.  As I was browsing my Facebook account this morning I saw the owner of a local company had posted "Yea us, we're #1″ (or something similar) as his status.  Can't argue with it, as his company does have more local market share than any other company.

Gary Keller, founder of Keller Williams Realty, and his early team of agents gave the company the following mission statement, one that Keller Williams Realty in Gig Harbor has adopted and whole-heartedly embraced: To have Careers worth Having, Businesses worth Owning, and Lives worth Living.  For me, a career worth having is one that makes a positive impact on the community around me.  Does my job allow me to wake up excited each morning because I not only enjoy what I do but I also am assured I am making a positive difference in the Gig Harbor community? Check.  A business worth owning is profitable.  Period.  Does my business provide me with enough income to support my family?  Check. 

A life worth living is what is most important.  Am I able to spend time with my family or does my business take all my attention?  Am I able to give some of the money I earn to others or do I have to hoard it all?  Does my life matter...are other's lives better because of mine?  Check.  On a large scale, check.  Read this "Thank you" email I got from our company charity, KW Cares, today.

To date in 2009, KW Cares has granted over $700,000 to Keller Williams Associates and their immediate families in 24 of 30 Regions. In 2008, KW Cares provided substantive financial assistance totaling $1,233,000 to 237 Keller Williams associates and their immediate families in 25 of the 30 regions. We helped children, seniors, and those in between. Victims of hurricanes, floods, wildfires, house fires, have received food, shelter, and clothing, and grants to help restore their homes and their lives. Associates faced with life altering accidents and serious medical illnesses have received financial assistance to help with co-pays and deductibles, medicines, therapies, and rehabilitation services not covered by medical insurance. We have helped those recovering from emotional illnesses. More that one KW associate has received assistance to obtain surgical intervention in order to not lose the gift of sight. KW Cares assistance augmented assistance already provided from within the associate's market center. Working together, market centers, regions and KW Cares are providing much needed emotional and financial support to those in dire need..

KW Cares is able to assist KW family members faced with hardship due to an emergency, with expenses for higher education. In 2008, a young widow who lost her husband suddenly to cancer received a KW Cares education grant to pursue a nursing degree, enabling her to provide a better future for her sons

Keller Williams Realty, the 3rd largest real estate company in the nation, may not be #1 in market share in the Puget Sound region, but there's nowhere else I'd rather be!

My 2010 Gig Harbor photo calendars are only $7 this year!  Don't worry, if you were one of the ones who ordered them when they were $15, you'll get the $7 price as well!  Thanks to DPI of Gig Harbor, I can offer this year's calendar at 1/2 of what I was able to do in previous years! 

This calendar features photos from 7 Gig Harbor photographers that will truly amaze you.  It's an 11″x17″, full size, full color 12-month calendar.  If you've ever visited Gig Harbor, lived in Gig Harbor at one time, are a current Gig Harbor resident, whatever, if you know like I know just how picturesque Gig Harbor is, this calendar will be perfect for you.  Like every item around this time of year, it "Makes a great gift" too!

I started making these calendars 5 years ago as gifts for my clients.  The past few years I've had so many requests for them from folks who've seen them at businesses or homes around town that I figured I'd start offering them to everyone.  They're not available in any stores yet, so you have to order through me directly.  You can simply email me at gigharborinfo@gmail.com and tell me how many you'd like to order.  If you're in the Gig Harbor area, I can deliver or arrange to have you pick them up.  If you're out of the area I am happy to mail them to you if you agree to pay the shipping.

Below is a sneak peak at one of this year's photos from Jim Nelson. 

Real estate agents are wasting their time with social media.  It's nothing more than a time suck.  Do I believe that?  Yes and no.  This article by Mike Parker claims that "Social media can be a time suck for real estate agents."  His points to "successful" social media real estate agents who have thousands of friends and followers, yet no transactions to show for it.  He basically calls social media a fad, a phenomenon that tech junkies are duping us with.

Well, like I said, yes and no.  For some agents, social media is a time suck.  The same way that door knocking, creating fliers, drafting and mailing postcards, and many other proven real estate techniques are time sucks.  Many agents are afraid of people...they are more concerned with "being busy" than with getting in front of people.  I spent much of '08 cranking out my social media prowess.  I developed a top notch blog, I grew my social presence, I was becoming a social media rockstar.  And I never actually met with anyone and I only sold 6 houses.

'09 has been a different story.  I still have my blog, I've grown my Twitter base and my Facebook Fan Page and I have lots of Flickr contacts. And my focus has been on meeting these folks face to face, in real life, and I'm approaching $4.5M in closed transactions this year.  So what's the difference?  How is social media working for me now when it didn't work before?

RELATIONSHIPS.  Parker states that "Social media is a sinkhole that absorbs time, effort and money that could better be spent on finding listings and selling houses...advertising and social networking don't complement each other."  He may be right.  BUT, what if social media was a tool, a means in which to meet new people?  I mean get out and sit down across the table from them and meet them.  If you click on my Twitter profile above, you'll see I only have about 275 followers, and about 175 whom I follow.  Not huge numbers in Twitterville.  Likewise, I have about 180 fans on my Facebook page.  Not enormous.  I've made it a goal to meet, in person, at least 1 person per week from my social media networks, and it's been working.  It's the face to face meetings that have earned me business, not the number of followers I have.

Parker also writes that, "An estimated 880 million people search Google for a real estate related thing each month. They search Google-not Twitter, not Facebook or whatever the newest and hippest social site is these days."  He states this in the same article that he writes "Social media is the new blogging. It too will peak, then decline with one very large exception: affinity group business communication."  Not sure how he can promote being found on Google while at the same time trashing blogging.  Log on to Google.com now and type in "Gig Harbor Uptown Center." Or "Gig Harbor Parks."  Or "Gig Harbor Community."  Or "Gig Harbor High Cross Country."  Or "Gig Harbor real estate stats."  There's only 1 site that shows up on page 1 of all of those search terms...my blog.  There are over 50 phrases around "Gig Harbor" I've discovered to date where my blog comes up on page 1 of Google.  Seems effective to me.

In the past 2 years, I've closed 19 transactions that are directly related to my blogging and social media presence.  Is it because I have found the magic pill?  Am I a social media guru?  No.  My mindset is correct now.  Social media and blogging is a way for me to make new relationships.  A new tool to meet people--in person--whom I otherwise would have never met.  I'm not selling anything on these sites.  I'm relating.  I'm connecting.  And my business is thriving. 

Gary Keller mentions often that we are not in the home buying and selling business.  We are in the lead generating business.  In order to generate leads, you must get in front of people.  Social media can be a tool to meet new people and generate new leads.  If you jump on the social media bandwagon hoping to find the next great thing, or if you reluctantly set up your profiles because you have to keep up, then Parker is right.  It'll be a big time sinkhole for you.  If you approach social media as a way to meet people, to join a conversation, to join a community, and you get out from behind your computer and engage, then this could be the ticket to a surviving and thriving real estate career.

Beware of foreclosure predators.  Those who are trying to take advantage of the fear that's still prevalent surrounding foreclosures.  People who prey on others' fears and perhaps lack of information regarding their house payments.

I received a letter in the mail today that begins, "Records indicate that you are currently in default on your mortgage.  Your lender may be in the process of foreclosure proceedings."  It's a very official looking letter.  They have my address, they refer to the government stimulus act, they make it look similar to an IRS form.  They provide sample payments that their plan can get me and give me a 1-800 number to call or a website to visit. 

It's easy for me to see how an elderly person or widow or anyone who may not be completely up to date with their finances could be fooled by this letter and sent into a panic.  This kind of thing drives me nuts.  Far too often in my business now I'm encountering folks who are fearful about the housing market, and folks like this choose to prey on that fear rather than do something worthwhile with their lives. 

Please, if you get a notice like this, call a local Realtor or mortgage professional first.  Don't become a victim of these jerks.  Fear isn't a good decision maker.

The Gig Harbor High School Tides and Peninsula High School Seahawk cross country teams had incredible showings yesterday at the District Championships!  Both the Gig Harbor boys and girls won the championships, as did the Seahawk boys.  The PHS girls were 3rd of 16 teams to qualify for the state meet! 

Check out the results from yesterdays District Cross Country Championships.

My 4th annual Gig Harbor calendar is just about ready to be shipped, which means it's ready for order!  This calendar has 12 of the most gorgeous photographs taken in Gig Harbor over the past year from a variety of photographers, and is a full size 11"x17" calendar for only $15. 

If you live in the Gig Harbor area, you can either pick it up at my Keller Williams Realty office or I'd be happy to deliver it to you.  If you live out of the Gig Harbor area, I'll be happy to mail it to you for the cost of shipping. 

This isn't a money maker for me, just a way to share my love of Gig Harbor and my love of photography!  If you would like to order a calendar (or several), just email me with how many you'd like, and if you'll need them shipped, delivered, or if you'd like to pick them up. 

I'll be able to take cash or check, and maybe be set up with Pay Pal! 

To order your 2010 Gig Harbor calendars, email GigHarborInfo@gmail.com

Pictures from 2009 calendar

It's been a couple of months since I last visited Active Rain, and several more months since I've been "Active" on AR.  A few things played into my absense, all good. 

1) Business picked back up.  I got to be #1 in my community during 2008, when I spent the majority of the year hiding behind my computer and not really selling homes.  2009 saw a new focus on my actual business and my time on AR lagged.

2) My other blog is where my business comes from. AR doesn't carry the same weight with Google nor is it as enjoyable for me as my "Undressed" blog.  However, AR is a better venue for agent to agent blogs, so my plan is to come back with a new focus on a different audience.

3) I became a bit frustrated with the content on AR.  As the network grew, so did the belly aching.  Rather than focus on the positive and keeping myself surrounded by those whom I felt were contributing, I let myself get sucked in by the negative.  I've corrected myself, stopped pointing the finger outward, and taken responsibility back for my own actions.  Thus, I'll just focus on the blogs that I want to focus on here on AR and not worry myself about the others!

So for those who care (crickets chirping) I'm back.  I look forward to re-connecting with some of my old AR friends! 

I do hope that you'll also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and my primary blog.  You'll get to know me better in those places!

Do you know of someone looking for a great home for sale in a gated community in Gig Harbor?  This may be the best home available! 3bd, 3ba, spotless home on a nearly 1/2 acre corner lot in the gated community of Saratoga.  This home is perfect for someone needing to work in Tacoma or Seattle, but wanting to live in Gig Harbor. 

For full details on this great new listing, take a look at the property description. 

None of those are what we strive for.  Nobody that I know of is really hoping that they can do a job 50% of the way.  So why do real estate agents so often only get half of the game?  Systems without tools don't do you much good.  Tools without systems often do more damage than good.  You don't want 1/2.  

The NWMLS has recently posted Gary Keller's new best selling book "SHIFT" on the log in page of their website.  I think it's great that the NWMLS is trying to sell the book, and I think it's wonderful that so many real estate agents across the nation are reading the book, but it makes me wonder if they're getting the full package.

I can buy the newest "Improve your swing" video by Tiger Woods or go to Ken Griffey's baseball camp and learn all of the best systems for how to hit a golf ball or a baseball, but without the athletic tools that those guys have, their systems aren't going to do me much good.  Sure, I'll improve some, but overall I'll still have a ceiling of achievement.  Likewise, I can go to Home Depot and buy all of the newest and greatest tools, but without the systems for how to build something, the tools won't do me much good. 

I'm wondering if "SHIFT" without the tools and systems offered by Keller Williams Realty is similar to those situations.  For example, if an agent reads the book and takes to heart tactic 6, Catch People In Your Web, but doesn't have the right tools in place (ie. Keller Williams' free agent web sites, KW's free agent blogs, Twitter and Facebook training, etc), is that system going to be effective?  Or if "Get To The Table-Lead Conversion" is a system that strikes a chord, but the agent has never seen KW's online class "Your Business is Your Database" or they don't have the KW version of Top Producer or Wise Agent, will they have the tools necessary to truly do the follow up necessary?  What if you get the concept of lead generation, but your company doesn't have Power Hour, an intentional company-wide effort to lead generate?  I know that there are ways for agents from any company to buy lead follow up programs, and I know there is training available for agents from any company, but those things cost money, and they're not tailored to Gary Keller's SHIFT philosophy.

I think it's great that a local company here is hosting "SHIFT" book clubs.  Being an agent with a different company and really studying "SHIFT" is far more valuable than being a KW agent who doesn't take advantage of all of the free systems and tools that we offer.  But what if you could have both?  What if you could have the desire to study Keller's tactics AND you had the tools and systems that he offers his agents for free?  I know the excuses.  I've heard many of them.  "I'm happy where I am."  "I don't need coaching."  "I know more than any coach."   Those are all valid, but inadequate.  We're not looking for agents who are unhappy with their situation, we're looking for agents who know there is more.  Everybody can use coaching; all of the greatest musicians, singers, and athletes are continually in coaching.  You may indeed know more than anyone else.  That's not the point of coaching.  Tiger Woods certainly knows more about golfing than his coach.  Michael Jordan was a better player than Phil Jackson ever was.  Their coaches are folks who guide, direct, and keep them on pace.  Coaching isn't necessarily about being given new knowledge, it's about taking the knowledge you already have and putting it into best practice.  Kinda like "SHIFT." 

If you think that there may be more out there for you, or you're simply curious as to the extent of free tools, systems, and training offered by Keller Williams, drop me a line.  I'd love to chat about it!  

When I was a 6th grade teacher, several of my students' parents mentioned that they wanted their house to be the "hang out" house.  It made them feel good to know that their kids were safe and close by, but also able to be hanging out with friends.  I think I just listed for sale the best "hang out" house in Gig Harbor.  Technically, it's not Gig Harbor but actually on Fox Island.  If you are looking for a great house for entertaining, take a look at this one!

918 Lummi Drive sits at about the mid-way point on Fox Island, not too remote but still plenty peaceful and private.  The house has 1.15 completely usable acres; the type of yard that just begs soccer games, football, t-ball, you name it.  The nearly 4000sf home is wrapped with a huge deck that extends around 3/4 of the home's exterior.  Think BBQ's, and sitting in the hot tub watching the sun set over the Puget Sound.  There's even an outdoor firepit with a view of the water.  Are you getting the picture?  You and all your friends hanging out on Fox Island having a great time (some may even be playing basketball on your sport court).  Like I said, this is the ultimate hang out house.

Inside there is a fully finished basement that is the very definition of "play room."  Keep that area as messy and full of toys as you'd like, it's out of the way so you don't have to worry about impressing the company with its cleanliness.  Upstairs you have another loft style bonus room...I'm thinking video game heaven!  There's a formal sitting room, huge living room, dining room that has french doors leading out to a breakfast deck, beautiful kitchen with an island counter and eating nook with easy access out to the view deck.  The house has 2 master suites, one on the main level and one upstairs.  Both have Puget Sound views, walk in closets, and attached full baths.  Finally, there are 2 more upstairs bedrooms, one with a view and a loft, both very generous sized.

One of the best features of this home?  It was built green before building green was a fad.  Despite the 4000sf, you'll be amazed at how energy efficient this home is.  A wood burning stove, strategically placed ceiling fans, and a heat pump all help keep the utility bills in check.  Real cedar siding, double paned windows, and a new roof complete the "green" features of the home. 

All of this with the charm of Island living, and the highly sought after schools of Voyager Elementary, Kopachuck Middle, and Gig Harbor High.  Get your mind wrapped around all that's here.  Over an acre, nearly 4000sf, 2 masters, 2 bonus rooms, sport court, hot tub, Olympic Mountain and Puget Sound views, great schools, energy efficient.  Homes with features like this one in Gig Harbor are asking upwards of $800k.  This home?  $595,000!  Yep, all of this for $595k! 

If you're in the market for a home in Gig Harbor, or have been wondering what it'd be like to live on Fox Island, you should really take a look at this home.  The current owners built the home themselves in 1989, so it offers a unique floorplan that's a huge relief from the cookie cutter homes that are so prevalent today.  Give me a call to schedule a private showing of this Fox Island, WA, gem!

Click photo to view slideshow