Are you willing to learn the skills necessary to succeed? - 04/30/10 11:03 AM
Back in my law enforcement career whenever a class was being offered about most anything I was first to volunteer.  Some of it was because I wanted or needed a break to get away from all the day to day life and death issues I faced every day.  Another reason was I wanted to learn.  I wanted to know all the ins and outs of my chosen profession regardless of what the subject matter was.  Now that I'm in real estate the same values hold true.  I want knowledge and I want all I can get.  What I don't understand is … (0 comments)

Are you willing to learn the skills necessary to succeed? - 04/30/10 11:02 AM
Back in my law enforcement career whenever a class was being offered about most anything I was first to volunteer.  Some of it was because I wanted or needed a break to get away from all the day to day life and death issues I faced every day.  Another reason was I wanted to learn.  I wanted to know all the ins and outs of my chosen profession regardless of what the subject matter was.  Now that I'm in real estate the same values hold true.  I want knowledge and I want all I can get.  What I don't understand is … (0 comments)

I’ve changed my will three times… - 04/30/10 06:27 AM
And so the story goes this gentleman who was hard of hearing told the doctor.  "I've changed my will three times."  Now to the rest of the story.  It seems the gentleman could not hear a 45 caliber pistol if it was shot at point blank near either ear.  He had gone out and bought two hearing aids that were hard to see.  During the first month or two he had overheard the conversations from the family members. Because of that he changed his will three times.  He did not want to tell the family because he wanted to hear the … (0 comments)

I’ve changed my will three times… - 04/30/10 06:27 AM
And so the story goes this gentleman who was hard of hearing told the doctor.  "I've changed my will three times."  Now to the rest of the story.  It seems the gentleman could not hear a 45 caliber pistol if it was shot at point blank near either ear.  He had gone out and bought two hearing aids that were hard to see.  During the first month or two he had overheard the conversations from the family members. Because of that he changed his will three times.  He did not want to tell the family because he wanted to hear the … (0 comments)

Being highly critical of yourself weakens your position. - 04/28/10 06:42 AM
Everyone now and then will be critical of a situation they have been in.  Everybody now and then will second guess themselves by using what if I had said... or done....differently.  Those are not the situations I'm addressing here.  I am addressing the people who are constantly being critical of their every move, every thought and every action.
For those of you who are critical of this as Cher would say, "Get over it."  I wrote on experience the other day and received positive feedback on the issue.  This one is no different if you keep second guessing yourself you will … (4 comments)

Rejection is part of the sales process… - 04/27/10 07:30 AM
How many times do I need to tell you NO!!!?   Or what is your major malfunction don't you understand I've had my fill of you real estate people don't call or write me again...  if you do I'll file a suit on you, you low life slime and other words I'll not write in this blog.  We've all heard it but it doesn't make it any better does it?  Kind of makes you want to pack up and go home or give the person on the other end of the phone line a little bit of what they just gave you.  … (5 comments)

Hang ups and bang ups can happen to you... - 04/26/10 11:16 AM
I'm the one who when I started had a real hang up about knocking on peoples door.  The phone, talking to people at businesses and other places did not bother me at all but knocking on the door of their homes sent my defenses on overdrive.  Then there was this thing with another agent with a different agency.  He offended me and I asked my broker if I could call him and invite him outside to settle this disagreement.  Of course that never happened and now I'm glad it didn't.  My views have changed since I retired.  I was so indifferent … (0 comments)

A tax is a fine for doing well - 04/25/10 07:00 AM
I read or heard in the news that 48% of the American people will not owe or will receive a refund from the IRS.  So tell me why the other percentage is taxed and soon the taxes will go up for doing well.  I often wonder and I don't know enough about it why not owe no taxes until you buy something.  My wife and I went to Nova Scotia a few years ago and the bottom tax rate was either 11 or 14% (don't recall).  Anyway I for one would not be opposed to such an offer. 
I am not … (2 comments)

Do you work every day? - 04/24/10 08:40 AM
There's an old saying that if you enjoy your job you'll never work a day in your life.  In my law enforcement career I never worked a day until my last day.  That was one of the hardest things I've ever done.  Now I'm in real estate and I never have worked a day yet.  You understand I did say yet.  What I don't understand are people who stay at a job even though they hate it. 
Break away and do something you love to do and never work.  Have a great day listing and selling.  It's a great day to … (6 comments)

We forget what we should remember… - 04/22/10 06:48 AM
Remember when you first got out of real estate school and the knowledge in your head was about to explode.  Remember when you took the test to become an agent how difficult the questions were.  What about ethics, fair play, fiduciary duty, and so on?  Are you still living up to those high standards you started out with?  If not why not and if so I congratulate you on holding the course.  We just had the county judge arrested in my area for in our terms would be self dealing.  I understand the prosecuting attorney is going to ask for his … (3 comments)

I’m not getting all my comments... interesting! - 04/21/10 09:12 AM
I don't know what's going on but I posted a blog the other day and received only one comment via email.  I looked and noticed there were an additional 4 comments that I never received.  Have you posted to AR and not received all your comments or is it just me?  Let me know thanks for your comments and I will look for them.  It's a great day to buy or sell a home.
Visit me at www.sellnwa.com
… (2 comments)

Laugh at yourself - 04/21/10 05:52 AM
I know I have and I bet you have also.  You're going around doing something and realize it was so stupid you laugh at yourself.  I've been driving down the road and one of the many songs will come over the speakers.  I'll turn up the volume and of course my foot gets heavy and I'll be singing my heart out.  I'll look over and there will be a vehicle with people laughing at me because I'm so caught up in my music.  Their laughing so hard seeing an old man just getting down with music they can't help it and … (6 comments)

The devil will begin to attack! - 04/18/10 06:14 PM
Okay so the devil in you wants a payday I haven't had one since January and the belt is getting thin (not my belly).  I need a paycheck and I need it now.  That brings to me the ethics of real estate.  If you're hungry like me do you try a little harder or maybe cut the corner sort of speak to get the deal done? 
I know it's stupid of me to ask but some do.  Me I like what I'm doing so I'm not going to risk it.  in the end it's jut not worth it.  Besides the market … (6 comments)

Forgive and forget or get even - 04/16/10 09:54 AM
In my younger years I did not forget and forgive I got even.  It may have taken me more than a year and you knew who did it but you could not prove anything.  I held a grudge and one way or the other if you offended me you were a marked person.  I had no problem with either man or woman it did not make any difference.  Now that I'm older I have learned to be more considerate.  How we treat our clients may come back to us in one of two ways either good or bad.  Don't do what … (32 comments)

Why do conductors wave their arms? - 04/14/10 05:56 AM
I was at services Sunday and observed the music director standing in front of the choir waving his arms as he usually does.  I observed the members of the choir looking at the music and really not paying attention to the conductor.  So I looked up the reason for a conductor and among other things I found the movement of the hands had to do with pitches and rhythms. 
That of course got me to thinking about real estate.  When you're at a listing presentation do you feel you are waving your arms and no one is looking?  How do you … (1 comments)

Don’t you like happy endings...? - 04/13/10 06:34 AM
Don't you just get happy, happy feelings when everything goes like it does in a fairy tell?  You make a cold call, get a listing and sell it for full asking price.    Nice dream isn't it... now we wake up in the real world.  Dreaming will get you nowhere you need to work and work hard for you client.  Each day everyday and all day long your thought should be about real estate and what can you do to make it better for your client.  I'm starting a new door hanger that I know will get me some phone calls.  Don't … (2 comments)

Conquering the little things… - 04/12/10 05:52 AM
It's an old saying that's been around for a long...long time like me.  Another one it's the straw that broke the camel's back.  What I'm trying to say here if you let the little things mount up soon they become larger than you can imagine.  Do the things that are more difficult first but if you only have one or two and ten or twenty small things than the little things become the difficult things.  Start you a system and live by it.  Have a good day remember "It's a great day to buy or sell a home."
 
Visit me … (8 comments)

It’s a great day to buy or sell a home… - 04/09/10 11:21 AM
As most of you who read my blogs by now know the heading for this blog is usually my closing statement because that's what I believe.   I wanted you to know I have started a new group by the same name.  The target is NW Arkansas and SW Missouri but all are welcome to join.  I do want to make this a happy place to visit and read blogs and other stuff that makes the reader and participants happy to be part of this group.  So check it out at http://activerain.com/groups/itsagreatday and visit often as everyone in the real estate business … (1 comments)

Don’t become like some of the people you associate with… - 04/09/10 06:08 AM
You know the kind sure you do.  Most of the people I associate with are positive and happy to be in the business.  Then there are those who are a drain on me and everyone around them.  They constantly complain about one thing or the other.  It's either the weather, they are not getting any listings or nothing is selling.  Their feet hurt, their backside aches or other ailments and problems to numerous to mention.  Sometimes mind you I would like to confront them but I'm trying not to get back in my cop mode. 
If you can't handle a little … (11 comments)

You call I’ll haul………. - 04/08/10 06:12 AM
That's right you heard me I'll not start out in first gear or even second.  I'll start out in high and remain in that gear until the work is done.  I'll do my job in that I will properly market your home.  I'll do a CMA and advise you what the current market is doing in your area.  I'll post signs and place your home on the internet and be a tireless defender of your rights.  I'll do whatever it takes legally to sell your home for the most amount of money in the least amount of time and the least … (5 comments)

Experience is something you obtain AFTER you needed it. - 04/07/10 05:54 AM
I was in my CE class today and will be tomorrow.  During the presentation there of course was discussion and one of the students made the caption statement.  I thought it was interesting enough that I wrote it down because when you think about the caption it does speak volumes. 
When you were a child you learned from experience like walking, riding a bicycle and so on.  You did not just decide one day you would stop crawling and start walking of course there was some help by your parents but all in all you did it from trial and error.  … (5 comments)

Don’t you just hate it when this happens… - 04/05/10 06:49 AM
Last week I was trying to log onto Activerain to post a blog.  It was early in the morning and I received an error message.  Since I had not received one like it before when trying to log onto Activerain I thought I had made an error so I tried again and got the same message.  From timt to time I need to reboot my system and so I thought this would be a good time.  After doing so I tried again and still got the same message.  Later on that day it started working and I haven't had a problem … (10 comments)

You can make a positive contribution - 04/01/10 05:30 AM
Are you one of us?  By that I mean do you believe you have not yet met your potential.  You know you just know you are here on this third rock from the sun for a purpose.  I know I'm in the last trimester of my life and I know I have not yet met my potential.  I want as I'm sure most of you want to make a positive contribution to someone somewhere before I pass on.
In real estate have you met you positive contribution?  I'm not talking about small mistakes everyone makes but positive things you have done.  … (3 comments)