jim hirschhorn: Realtor Communications - Are they Really Communicating - 07/25/08 03:35 PM
Every course I have taken since being a Realtor, whether it be for an accreditation or for fun has involved math to some degree. Every instructor has told us that when we say we can't do the math, ask an agent what their commission will be (and we get it to … (2 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Gated Communities...Keeping you In or Out? - 07/23/08 09:16 AM
Here in Central Florida, we have mostly subdivisions. Many people love to say they live in this one or that one. Many of the subdivisions are gated. The most expensive subdivisions are manned 24 hours a day while others have a key card and code box.
The manned communities vary in … (1 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: If a Realtor Falls in the Forest and no one is there to hear them, do they still make a sound? - 07/23/08 08:43 AM
Ok, a long title just to talk about sound. We bought our house at the end of 2003 and it is a great piece of land except that it backs up to the turnpike. Having an unscreened pool in the backyard has caused us to talk over the highway. In the … (12 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Does Your Car Reflect Your Personality? - 07/21/08 01:51 PM
When you see a Pink Cadillac driving down the street, we all get an image of an Mary Kay Lady who done good! Does your car reflect your personality? They say that people look like their dogs...what about our cars? Do you find yourself dressing in the same pattern as your upholstery? My … (16 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Million Dollar Agent, you say? - 07/10/08 09:02 AM
For agents that have been in the business a while, we know what it means to sell a million dollars of real estate...nothing. So when we see an outdated business card that says "Million Dollar Club", we know that either that agent doesn't do very much business or they updated that … (6 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: When it comes to Referral Fees, Which side are you on? - 07/07/08 11:08 AM
I am currently teaching a 15 year old to drive. He has his permit for a year and the phrase of "Can I drive?" I bring this up because as someone who has been driving since age 16, if i get behind a student driver or someone who is driving very … (2 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: No, it's not Tourettes Syndrome - 06/20/08 12:39 PM
I am speaking about the epidemic we are having out there with the "Head Shake" In the old days, you would hear people saying Tisk Tisk. I see it all the time when I am driving. A driver does something wrong or holds up others or even just a line of … (0 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Introverts in Real Estate - 06/19/08 11:32 AM
We all know people who are extroverted. We may also know some that are introverted. Do Introverts have a place in Real Estate? If Introverted Realtors are working with Introverted customers, it could work. Do you think the majority of the public are introverts or extroverts? I suppose it depends on … (20 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: We Take a Licking and... - 06/10/08 08:07 AM
As Realtors, we set appointments with people to see a house or houses. They tell us that they will meet us at the house. You get there at the prescribed time and? No Customer. How long do you wait for a customer? At what point do you call them to see … (15 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Which one are You? - 06/04/08 07:27 AM
Agents work on Commission. We work hard to get our customers to closing and then are rewarded with a commission check (minus fees, taxes and shipping and handling fees). Now we have a chunk of money and what do we do? Are you the kind of agent that puts it away, … (14 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Are Bumper Stickers the Best Way to Communicate? - 05/27/08 02:37 PM
As Bloggers, we of course feel that this is a great way to get our thoughts and messages across to others. Do people that plaster bumper stickers on their cars feel the same way? We all see them everyday. In fact, we are guilty of pulling up closer to read the … (14 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Do you "Have a Guy?" - 05/23/08 03:28 PM
When I worked for the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia, we had a guest who called to ask how to get to the hotel from the airport. We told him about various transportation options including taking a taxi...which he did. He had the ride from hell and when he got to the hotel, … (3 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Are you Bugged? - 05/20/08 07:11 AM
Termite Inspections. WDO (Wood Destroying Organisms). Most lenders require a clean report before they lend their money. Be honest. Haven't you watched countless WDO inspections and thought, I could do that! Poke a stick at some wood, shine a flashlight. Walk a Ladder. It does look surprisingly easy.
Of course, everything … (7 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: They call them Bandit Signs... - 05/19/08 02:55 PM
You see them everwhere...
"We'll buy your house for cash!"
"Amazing New Face Cream that will take years off of your life"
"Get 100 T-shirts for $10.00. Limited time offer."
These small cardboard signs sit on a little wire frame and are used by countless numbers of people and professions. Realtors … (15 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: The 5 Hour Home Inspection - 05/16/08 11:51 AM
It started on a balmy morning at 8:30am. At 1:30pm, we were locking up and heading out the door. 5 hours AND it was a vacant house. It almost doesn't seem possible (if I hadn't been there standing the entire time). 5 hours for $400.00. That's $80 bucks per hour..oh yea … (30 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Ok - Quick Poll on Blogging - 05/16/08 06:55 AM
Do you blog the same time every day? every week? Are you a blogger that perfroms a ritual as in doing it the same way everytime? Where do you get your blog ideas from? Do you blog on weekends? Would love to hear about it.
I find myself blogging early morning, … (17 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Overheard at the Gas Station - 05/15/08 11:03 AM
There I was, pumping gas and minding my own business. The lady at the next pump was talking to the gas station attendant and when they finished their conversation, she said, "Don't work too hard"
What a concept! Don't work too hard. How hard is too hard? Is this becoming a … (10 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: New Home Construction and Commissions - 05/13/08 10:24 AM
During the Boom, there was a certain builder in our market, who decided that commissions would be a fixed amount of $3,000. Whether you sold a $200,000 or $800,000 home, you got $3,000. Realtors throughout the land griped and grumbled. We planned our revenge and many decided that they would not … (0 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: You want Fries with That? - 05/06/08 12:08 PM
There has been a great deal written on agents leaving the business as sales have taken a down turn. My question is about the agents who have been able to stay in the business while supplementing their income in some way...even Real Estate Related. I will tell a personal story. I … (12 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: The Fence Sitters - 05/06/08 08:03 AM
Even in this market a buyer that is sitting on the fence can be pushed over with a little down home sales skills. Agents have a bevy of tools at their disposal to turn a potential buyer into a closing. Of course, there are many seminars that you can attend which has everything from psychological … (14 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Is it Me or Is it Them, It's Them, Right? - 04/30/08 02:45 PM
I don't know what has changed recently but I have received 3 calls in the past few days from people claiming they saw me as an active member of Active Rain and then proceed to give me their sales pitch. From Lenders, to Title, to fancy gadgets that help get us … (20 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Functional Obsolescence...How Far is Too Far? - 04/30/08 10:55 AM
Functional Obsolescence is one of my favorite terms in Real Estate. Landlord.com describes it as:
Functional Obsolescence: Functional obsolescence occurs when a property loses value due to its architectural design, building style, size, outdated amenities, local economic conditions and changing technology.
The question is if someone is living in a house that … (1 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Stood Up at the Altar - 04/29/08 04:19 PM
No, it has not happened to me. I am in a great 8 year relationship but have never been married. If anyone has ever been stood up at the altar, my sympathy. If it was anything like the scene last year from Grey's Anatomy, then I feel for you. But this … (10 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Creating a Mystique...ooh...ahh - 04/21/08 03:29 PM
When I first heard the word, "Mystique", it was while working at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. For those of you that have stayed at a Ritz-Carlton, you know that their level of service is tops in the industry. The word mystique has a different meaning for all of us. I take it … (4 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Does the Term "Free" Denote Value? - 04/18/08 09:17 AM
I used to work for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. My Gold Standard was set very high with all of the high levels of products and services offered. One of my roles was in Human Resources. We were there for the Associates to handle all of their working experience. One of the … (15 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Eat Here and Get Gas - 04/17/08 11:58 AM
This was a sign I had in my room when i was a teenager. It always struck me funny. Ok, it wasn't that funny but it brings me to the topic of Gasoline, Petrol, Fuel, Car Juice. I have been struck recently by a number of agents who say something to … (4 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Can you Train Someone to Care? - 04/15/08 07:19 AM
You can teach someone a task. You can also give someone a script that has been tested and proven to get results. But, can you train someone to care...truly care about what they are doing and about the people they come in contact with?
If you give someone a telephone script and … (19 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: I've Had Enough! - 04/09/08 10:53 AM
I've had it. I'm Through. That's It. We are hearing this more and more from Agents, Brokers and Owners of Real Estate Companies. In our markets we are seeing offices that are here today and gone tomorrow. We have had 3 offices close in a 2 week period. The larger offices … (13 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Is it a Kodak Moment? - 04/02/08 03:55 PM
Picture or No Picture? There are agents who post their pictures proudly. On their Business Cards, On Their Cars, On their Signs and then there are those agents who live in a shroud of mystery. No picture anywhere. Not on their cards, their website, even their company site. Why?
Some are shy, … (5 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Surealistic vs. Unrealistic - 04/02/08 02:37 PM
One of my favorite artists is Salvador Dali. I learned about him when I was in High School and I thought his Melting Watches and Surealistic style was the coolest thing. Why am I talking about Dali? His view on things is very dark and different than many other artists you … (3 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Blogging is a Full Time Job - 04/01/08 07:53 AM
The majority of Bloggers do not get paid for Blogging. Why do we do it? Some do it for the fun of it. Some are entertained by it. Some do it because they like the verbal sparring. People Blog for all different reasons. The challenge is, like anything else in life, … (11 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: The Customer is Always Right...Except in Real Estate - 03/28/08 11:00 AM
My background is in Customer Service. It is ingrained in me from the very beginning that the Customer is Always right. While working at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company I taught everyone that the 2 things we never said to a Guest were, "No" and "I don't Know". I am finding in … (12 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Is the Caller There? - 03/27/08 12:47 PM
In the infamous words (for those of you who are old enough to remember) of Phil Donahue, is the caller there? Yes the caller is there but he or she always seems to pop up in Meetings. Maybe I am more sensitive as it is license renewal time so i have … (12 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: The Property Management Conundrum - 03/19/08 02:49 PM
I recently attended a Property Management Workshop. The class was made up of Property Managers, managing 100+ Properties to people like me that have never managed any properties. I started thinking about all of the agents that are getting into the Property Management game and realized just how unprepared many of … (9 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Cool Websites and Free Stuff... - 03/07/08 11:36 AM
When you get an email from a friend and they tell you about a new website, you are like a kid in a candy store. Everything from snow globes that make the people inside fly all over the place to elfs with your family pictures as the faces. There are more … (10 comments)
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jim hirschhorn: Realtors and Spelling are like Doctors and Handwriting - 03/05/08 08:22 AM
Ok, time for stereotypes..Accountants are nerdy, lawyers are all bad and travel agents like free stuff. (my mom is a travel agent and I grew up with tons of paperclip holders and sponges that looked like earth!) Ok, I think it is safe to say it is a pet peeve. Looking … (27 comments)
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