Can one single word change your life? For most people no, but I had an "aahha" moment last week at our annual Realty Executives conference that I would like to share with all of you. I was wondering around the convention hall that Monday afternoon trying to figure out the next boring class to attend when I stumbled upon a door labeled: Top Producers under 30. Since I'm 29 and not speaking at this class, I thought this might be important. To make a long story short, one of the top producers on the panel was asked "what is the one thing that has made you so successful at such a young age?" His answer will follow me throughout my entire life in real estate, life in general for that matter. "Kaizen." he said. Kaizen? I thought. What the heck is that and how did it contribute to a 27 year old starting a brokerage shop and managing 10 agents. So, like any other jealous A type I did my research. Turns out Kaizen has been in my life, like a long lost cousin for years. As quoted by Wikipedia; Kaizen is a Japanese word meaning "to change for the better" or "Continuous improvement" or "activities that add value without sacrificing quality" The older I get, the more I see that its principles like this that are creating the positive energy I want to give to the world.
After all my research and a lot of sole searching, I started thinking about what I'm doing now that qualifies as Kaizen and what more I can do to improve. Here is what I'm doing now:
Reading a least two self awareness books a month. Nothing to do with real estate or business. Books about spirituality (that can mean any religion or non at all), positive energy, the flow of life, the universe. Some of the books I recommend that I have already finished are: anything from the Don Juan series by Carlos Castaneda, The Celestine Prophecy series by James Redfield(also on DVD), anything by Dr. Stephen Covey, and the list goes on and on.
surrounding myself with people that have the same goals as I do
Self positive reinforcement in the mirror to start your day. This may sound stupid and lame to some, but what better way to start your day than telling yourself (you by the way are your biggest critic) "I will be successful and I will change lives. Today I will make 20 contacts and talk about real estate to at least 5 people." Seams simple but I assure you its not. But just hearing yourself say it is very empowering. Try it. Its actually fun.
Here is what I plan on implementing this year as part of my daily routine:
1. books on tape in the car instead of music
2. complimenting at least 5 people a day
3. thinking positively about my own future and success
4. balancing work and home life
5. using what I do know to help others J
6. cutting the waste. Meaning time, negative thoughts, bad food, wasted time, the works
Notice none of that had anything to do with my trade. I really believe if you can get a firm grip on the power of your own mind, you can do anything.Explore Kaizen in your own life. It may be the difference between where you are today and where you want to be. It's your universe, Go create it!
Have you ever walked into a listing appointment, locked and loaded with your entire listing garb ready to hit the ground running, only to step one foot in the front door and run smack dab into the proverbial wall of animal stench? What to do now? Do you announce right away that in order to sell their home you have to call a team of ServiceMasterspecialists? How can you when on your telephone pre-interview with Mrs. Johnson you were told over and over about her cats: Sammy, Oliver, and Fivel, her dogs: Duncan, and Geronimo, her Parakeet: Sunshine, and her ferret: Stinky? You couldn't possibly tell her that her wonderful little bunches of joy could cost her tens of thousands of dollars. Well if you're a selling agent, and not just a listing agent you'd better!
I've come across this problem many times, as I'm sure you have too. And although you can't just say "maim, you're house smells like crap and it'll never sell," you should say something. For instance, in the case of Mrs. (very fragile) Johnson, I would approach the problem from a very understanding and agreeable stand point:
Me: "Mrs. Johnson, when I first entered your beautiful home here, I notist a slight pet odor. (Slight, yea right. It's like Tyson just rocked me with a left uppercut). You like me because you know I'm going to do the best possible job I can for you, and in order to do that I need to go over a couple of things you that may make you uncomfortable. Is that ok?
Mrs. Johnson: yes. I understand.
Me: Ok good. Now as you know, I represent buyers as well as sellers so I have a good idea as to what is important in the mind of today's buyer. SMELL is the first thing Joe and Jane buyer are going to notice when entering your home. It's a very subconscious and naturalistic instinct. Here's a great example. You said you grew up on a farm right?
Mrs Johnson: Yes.
Me: Well what's the first thing that comes to mind when you smell a homemade apple pie when it first comes out of the oven?
Mrs Johnson: I think of all the wonderful times my mom and I had in the kitchen growing up, and how much I loved to make the very first cut in the pie and watch the apples glow with steamy goodness.
Me: Mmmmmm. You can almost taste it right?
Mrs. Johnson: Yep!
Me: Well what do you think Joe and Jane buyer taste when the combination of ammonia from the cat box, and wet dog hair grace their nose? I'll tell you what their not thinking. Full price offer!
My mom always told me never to complain about something without first coming up with a solution. Otherwise you're just adding to the problem. So I've come up with some suggestions you can give the homeowner that will rectify the situation, or at least keep it under control.
Here is a list of some outstanding cleaning products for pets. I have 2 cats myself and my wife is obsessive-compulsive about cleaning so these are try'd 'n true.
Fabreez: The old standard right? Don't underestimate the power of this odor-neutralizing spray. And now they make all different kinds, for all your household needs.
A simple lint roller:I have like 3 of them. One in the office, bathroom and kitchen.
The Spot Bot:My wife and I got this phenomenal piece of machinery as a wedding present last year and have never looked back. This thing will destroy any satin you have in your carpet; human, pet, or otherwise.
Anyway you look at it, the more aromatic and fresh smelling the house is when buyers walk in the front door, the more potential there is for a full priced offer. We all know this, and in my opinion so do our sellers. They may just need a little push.
Immaculate, updated Ranch in Quiet, park-like neighborhood. Beautiful new kitchen with Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and tile flooring.
With the newly remodeled bathrooms, new windows and refinished wood flooring, there's nothing left to do but sit back and enjoy a cup of tea next to the cozy brick fireplace.
Close to everything! From West Farms Mall to Wolcott Park, this home is the definition of convenience.
For More information on this property please visit my website at http://www.jamesgctre.com/, or call me anytime. I would be happy to schedule a showing or answer any questions you may have.
With the gazzillon ways to get financed these days, and the lackluster qualification guidelines, doesn't it seem like more and more buyers now expect to walk into their new home with absolutely no money out of pocket, and at a great interest rate to boot?
I was a Loan Officer for 3 years before I decided to go into real estate full time, and I'll admit, I've put lots of clients into 100% loan programs, but I always made sure I understood their entire financial history and motivation. I think more real estate agents and mortgage brokers are pushing this product without taking the time to: 1.) fully explain the consequences to the borrower, and 2.) find out if they have enough money to fall back on(Savings/checking accts., 401k, stocks/bonds) in the event they become upside down or need to get out.
The reason I bring this up is because I have buyers (almost all first time) that say "we have no money to put down and very little in savings but we want a house and were told its no problem." Well....... it may or may not be a problem. Do you have any money for an earnest money deposit? How about a home inspection? Or you're first years insurance premium? Luckily I have the background to ask the right questions before they become an issue, but I'm not so sure if all agents do. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think most agents rely on the information given to them.
With foreclosure rates on the rise this will become a huge issue. What do you guys think? Should we take a more active roll in the qualification process? Of course we teach our clients as much as we can, but is that enough? I'm not saying we should all become mortgage brokers, but someone smart once told me that knowledge is power.
Is you're home Green? Are you Green? Is our future Green?
By: Jim Godwin, Realtor, Manchester CT
Manchester CT Real Estate
Last night my wife and I rented Al Gores' "An Inconvenient Truth". For those of you not familiar with this movie, it's basically a grim look at what human kind is doing to our biggest irreplaceable asset; Earth. For those of you not familiar with Al Gore; he holds the record for the quickest Presidency. I think it was like 4.7 seconds or something. Contact Fox News or Jeb Bush for the exact figure.
Anyway, the movie really got me thinking about the part we can all play in decreasing the effects of global warming. Or as Al Gore likes to call it, our "carbon footprint". I had no idea how much CO2 we all emit into the atmosphere everyday. About 15,000 pounds per year for the average American. You can calculate your own personal carbon impact here. From what Al Gore and An Inconvenient Truth is saying, if each of us makes a few small changes everyday, we can reverse the affects of global warming and secure a "Greener" future for our children's children. Here are a few good ideas for green living:
Reduce the amount of miles you drive by riding a bike, walking, Carpooling, or using mass transit when possible.
Keep your car in tune. This improves gas mileage and reduces emissions.
Keep tires properly inflated. This actually saves 3% in gas mileage. Each gallon of gas produces 20 pounds of CO2 so it adds up (Especially for us realtors that drive 200 miles a week!)
Look into a buying a hybrid car. I know right now the price really sucks on these things, but I think that's going to change soon.
Fly less if possible.
By locally grown, fresh foods. The average meal travels 1,200 miles before it sits on you kitchen table.
By foods grown in organic soil. I guess there is something in organic soil that captures carbon from the air. Who new?
Now to the good stuff! Here are some great ideas for us Realtors and you homeowners out there to create and maintain a "Green House":
Replace all your light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. They use 60% less energy. I have them and they work great! Last up to 3 years too.
Move your thermostat up 2 degrees in the summer and down 2 degrees in the winter. Saves 2,000 pounds of carbon a year. Go to the American council for an energy efficient economy for more info on heating and cooling.
Clean and replace filters on furnace's and air conditioners. Saves about 350 pounds a year.
Install a programmable thermostat.
By all Energy Star appliances.
Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket.
Use less hot water.
Turn off electrical appliances when not in use.
Only run the dishwasher when it's full.
Plant a tree.
Ask your electrical company if they offer green power.
If you're in the process of having a home built, make sure the builder participates in building a green home. Things like the right insulation, proper venting, moisture control, and high efficiency heating and cooling units are a must. Go to HGTV's: "The ABC's of Green Building" for lots more.
I don't know about you guys, but I really want my kids to enjoy this life just as much as I can. At the rate we're going now, the prediction is that half of Antarctica and Greenland will be gone by the year 2050, raising the sea level worldwide by 20 feet. I'm no scientist, but I don't think that's good. We can all make a difference. As real estate agents we come into contact with a lot of people. Educate yourself and spread the word. Imagine if every member of this site convinced each listing they have to change out their light bulbs and turn down their thermostat. That impact ALONE would be huge! Lets band together and take action. The times of political suppression are over. The facts are in people, Not even the Condi Rice can change our minds now!
Did the Marine Corps really help my Real Estate Career?
By Jim Godwin, Manchester, CT Real Estate
When people find out I was in the Marine Corps I always get asked the same three questions:
1. Did you get to blow stuff up?
2. How did you get from that to Real Estate?
3. What on earth would make you want to go and do a stupid thing like join the Corps?
Well it got me thinking. What impact did my past service in the Marine Corps have on my present career in real estate?
It's more than you might think. Turns out that my drill instructor was right after all. "Godwin, (as I'm doing my 50th pushup at 3 o'clock in the morning for falling asleep during fire watch) someday you'll thank me for beating this discipline into your nasty civilian body." For those of you who don't know what fire watch is, ask an Uncle. I guarantee you a very interesting story.
After much deliberation, and calls to other Marine friends across the Country, I compiled a list of top 3 reasons my Marine Corps life has benefited in me being a better Realtor. Here goes:
1. Discipline (of course): I can't tell you how much this one little word has helped, not just in real estate, but in every aspect of my life. I can't think of any other program, course or institute that will shove this noun deeper into the depths of your soul. This very same discipline keeps me going when I don't feel like showing that house on Sunday morning, or when I just can't bare the thought of driving the neighborhood again looking for FSBO's
2. Courage: Ever have an angry Attorney, Appraiser, House Inspector, or even the other agent in the transaction try to intimidate, or talk through you? It takes a lot of courage to stand up to these people when you know you're right. Mr. big bad Attorney man just doesn't seem to scary when you've been in charge of a platoon of men getting ready for battle and you're group of superiors include a colonel a Major and a Gunnery Sergeant that looks a lot like Clint Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge. A great movie by the way. If you haven't seen it, I strongly encourage it.
3. Going above and Beyond: I told my wife this story the other day. I can remember vividly, this one particular run I was on that changed my life. I think we were on our 8th mile when my body decided it had enough. When I say it was talking to me, I mean I could almost hear it screaming "quit now! You're not a runner" Just then my sergeant in charge of me at the time ran up along side me and said in a real calm, deep voice "break through the wall, Jim." What, I'm thinking. What $%#@* wall is he talking about. Well it finally sunk in and I understood what he was talking about. I literally shut me eyes and pictured myself busting through a brick wall. The shills shoot up my spine just thinking about it. I finished the last 2 miles with no problem. It was that day I realized how powerful the mind is. Mind over matter, right. So cliché but so true. You can imagine how this trick can help with the everyday grind of our profession.
So much of my life has been influenced by the Marine Corps and transferred into my life as an agent. I now understand the valve of strong leadership, communication skills, and follow-through. Traits I not only will have forever, but lessons I can someday teach my kids. So for those of you who wonder why someone would do such a thing like join the service, think of me and the skills that has made me, in 4 short years, a successful mortgage broker, realtor, and now new owner of my very own Agency opening May 1st. Could I have done it without the Corps? Maybe. Maybe not. I do know this though. I have full confidence that I will be successful. Something was rewired in my brain housing group that doesn't allow me to fail.
As for the other two questions, Real Estate has been a passion of my mine since I was a kid. And yes, I got to blow stuff up.
Semper Fi!
For those of you who want to help our troops in some way but not sure what is the best avenue , I have a few ideas:
• Wounded Marines fund: Set up by the Marine Corps League, this is a great organization that helps wounded marines from Iraq receive the treatment they need. Click the link for further info.
Immaculate, updated Ranch in great neighborhood. Beautiful new kitchen w/ granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, tile flooring. Newly remodeled bathrooms, new windows, water heater, and refinished wood flooring. Outstanding deal on a great West Hartford Ranch. 450 Sqft of finished basement with fireplace not included in square footage. Seller ready for a quick close.
Hi all. I'm new to AR as this is my first full week using this forum. If I'm not doing something right or asking stupid questions, chalk it up to guess-and-check and be gentle with your responses. I plan on being a very active member so eventually the learning curve will go away and I'll be like some of these other people in here with like a million points.
My first question, of many to come, is about Localism. I was looking at all the cool pic's people have been posting of their hometown and wondering how I could do the same. Do I just add the picture to a blog and it automatically posts to Localism, or is it a separate thing altogether?
Any help would be great. I'm looking forward to becoming a part of this community. I found myself last night in bed thinking of ways I can contribute and what my next blog should be about. As if I didn't think about real estate enough! I can definitely see myself becoming obsessed and reading posts until 3 am. I can't help it; there are so many great ideas and tools from all over the country. Anyway, I'm very pleased to have found AR, and look forward to soaking in all the experiences of all these great agents.
If your anything like me, you wait until the very last minute to write that check to Uncle Sam. The downside to this is you are bound to forget something. Use this short list to guide you through another long tax season. Maybe by writing it all down, I'll remember it all myself this year.
Vehicle excise tax. If you get a bill from your state or local government charging you a tax for owning a vehicle, you may be able to deduct that tax. You can also get the tax deduction if you lease a vehicle and your finance company bills you for the tax.
Job-hunting expenses. It pays to save your receipts for job-hunting expenses. These expenses are deductible if they were incurred to locate a new job in the same line of work.
Real estate taxes. Also, don't forget taxes you paid indirectly, such as taxes paid through a mortgage escrow account. If you bought a house, check your settlement statement for any taxes which you reimbursed the seller at the closing, too.
Cost of tax preparation. Tax software expenses, preparation fees, and other tax-filing expenses are all deductible on your tax return as a miscellaneous itemized expense. Be careful to deduct them on the return for the year in which you paid the costs.
Estate tax. If the estate of the person who died was large enough to trigger estate tax, find out the amount of estate tax attributable to the IRA distribution. This amount is tax-deductible.
Capital loss carryover. If your capital losses are greater than your capital gains, you won't have to pay tax on the capital gains. If you have a capital loss one year and a capital gain the next year, use your capital loss carryover to reduce your taxes in the later year.
State tax you paid in April with your return. If you owed taxes when you filed your last state tax return, that check you wrote could help you when it's time to pay your next year's taxes.
Reinvested dividends. Often a mutual fund account is set up to automatically reinvest dividends in additional share purchases.
Credit for excess Social Security tax. If you worked for more than one employer during the year, look into the credit for excess Social Security tax.
Non-cash contributions. If you've donated clothes, furniture, or other items to a charity, the value of your donated items is deductible. Always get a written receipt. With non-cash charitable contributions, no receipt means no deduction if you're audited.
New points on refinancing. Any points you pay to refinance your home can be deducted on a monthly basis over the life of the new loan.
Old points on refinancing. Lots of people miss this one. All unamortized points on an old refinancing are deducted in the year of a new refinancing.
Health insurance premiums. Any health insurance premiums you pay are potentially deductible. You have to add these to your total medical expenses, however, and they have to exceed a certain percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI) before they give you any tax benefit. If you're self-employed and not covered by any other employer-paid plan, you can deduct 100% of your health insurance premiums.
Investment and tax expenses. Many of us forget tax planning and investment expenses because they are part of miscellaneous itemized expenses. Expenses to track include your employee business expenses, tax preparation fees and even the portion of your legal or accounting fees relating to tax planning.
Casualty deductions. If the area where you live has been declared a disaster area as the result of a hurricane, flood, wildfire, tornado, etc., you may claim your loss on your next tax return.
Retirement tax credit. This deduction/credit is designed to give moderate and low-income taxpayers an incentive to save for retirement.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
in general for that matter. "Kaizen." he said. Kaizen? I thought. What the heck is that and how did it contribute to a 27 year old starting a brokerage shop and managing 10 agents. So, like any other jealous A type I did my research. Turns out Kaizen has been in my life, like a long lost cousin for years. As quoted by 
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