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Take Charge of Your Attitude and Sell More Real Estate!
IMHO...
Our attitudes, as well as our thoughts, actions and the love we choose to give are all CHOICES.
If you want a better attitude....make better choices.
Be grateful there is work to be done. Boredom kills and challenges keep you "thinking".
Quit grumbling and count your blessings. We all have them.
Thank our Nation for giving us the right and the choice to vote.
Thank our customers for being loyal.
Offer to help a friend, colleague, or client with no expectations.
Remind your clients that you will be there for them when they need you.
Allow yourself only two kinds of days....good and great. It's your choice.
Your answer to, "how is business" should be "GREAT." (would you want to do business with a whiney, gripey, naysayer? Not me...
Say, "thank you" with your heart. Even if you wish the outcome were different.
Open your mind to alternative thinking...work the mind without judgement.
Be glad to be here and others will be glad to be around you!
My list could go on for days...Just remember that if you place your best attitude forward you will acquire business. You are the kind of person everyone WANTS to work with.
And, I'm talking to myself here too!
Believe it. Live it.
Is anyone else's head spinning like mine? Geeze, everything is changing! I realize that nothing remains the same but in the "good ole' days" they stayed the same for a lot longer. And, the changes were not just slammed in your face! Changes happened gradually with plenty of time and acceptance to get a grip on how we need to do things. In fact, gas prices did not jump so hard in a day! Fashions changed from a butterfly collar to a straight angled collar and the rest of the blouse was the same. One digit was added to our phone number at a time and our lives moved a lot slower.
Children today, by the time they are two, are playing games on Smart Phones and learning to read on the computer. Computers and technology are simply a part of their lives and they adapt as easily as the wind shifts...
Then there's me.
And, probably a few of you too that just don't catch on that easily!
I hit a button on FB the other day and up popped a screen I had never seen and I really hate the change! I want my own screen back but I can't find it.
Now, I read and see that ActiveRain is going to start messing with my head too...why oh why must you do this to me ActiveRain????
I'm an old dog and it's tough to teach me new tricks!
Okay, I know you are simply trying to make a great site better but take it slow and easy on us please! I understand that women in my age group, (still going on 39), are your heaviest users. Surely I can't be the only one worried about readapting!!!
I have to think hard and heavy when I go to change clothes!
I'm just a little worried and will attempt to learn without trepidation.
I love you just the way you are! Be gentle!
A New Look and Feel on ActiveRain Launches on Tuesday January 24
This is ingenious...but I expect nothing less from Anna Banana! We all need to take part.
I am going to follow through on this and if you would like to be with my team please email me. We have a great deal of brainstorming to do!
Thank you so much Anna for your creativity!
Deb Brooks Via Anna 'Banana' Kruchten - Phoenix Short Sale Broker,CRS 602-380-4886 (Phoenix Property Shoppe):
Want to Ramp up your Business Success in 2012? Join a Mastermind Group
What is a MasterMind Group?
Passion, energy, support, commitment, synergy, harmony……..are all words to describe a Powerful  Mastermind coming together to create something bigger then themselves. A mastermind will challenge members to create and accomplish ones goals, brainstorm for unique ways to build their businesses, and support each other with respect and honesty.
Think of your MasterMind group as your personal mentor/coach/best friend that will challenge you, praise you and kick your butt in a positive manner if need be. Now that can be a little scary if you’ve never participated in a Powerful Mastermind. I suggest that now is the time to get out on the edge – and jump into 2012 with passion! By trusting the process you will discover more than you imagined possible within your mastermind group.
Join BananaTude Group
Small Group Mastermind Guidelines
 Participation from each member is a key element. To chose members for your group think of those you know within the BananaTude group that are like you, that want to create more in their business and personal life and want to share their expertise with each other. Keep your group small – the recommended number is between 4 to 6 members. A smaller mastermind tends to create an optimum experience for all members and offers your mastermind a greater level of success throughout 2012.
Choose your Mastermind Partners Wisely! Look for people that you know will participate fully and stick with the group for 2012. Ask them questions and be sure you have a similar mind-set before you agree to starting a group. Most likely you know several potential members right now....so give them a call and get rocking. It's up to you to form your group!
Once you have formed your Mastermind Group - Email Anna Banana - the group members names.
Each Mastermind group will decide the Vision and Focus of the group. Perhaps you’ll have a challenging situation to discuss and get feedback and suggestions from your peers. Or you might want to consider a topic that you all think about and share thoughts and ideas on and then blog on the topic either as a Mastermind group or individuals. The sky is the limit on ideas for topics for a Mastermind group.
Communication. You can email back and forth daily, weekly or whatever time works for all of your members. Some groups may like to Skype or create a Hang out call on Google. And there is always the old fashioned method, phone calls! Keep in mind that Communication from all members is the KEY to the success of your Mastermind group. Again, how and how often you communicate is up to your group.
2 New Bananatude Activites for the Entire Group in 2012!
1. Monthly Topic Discussions. We will develop monthly topics and invite each group and or each Bananatude member to think about and write a blog to share with each other on BananaTude. You can do this as a Mastermind Group and/or as a individual member. Your choice!
2. Facebook Group for BananaTudes. I have created a Facebook page for BananaTude Members Only. It is a private group. Just like the AR group the Facebook group is a positive and respectful platform to share ideas and enjoy "coffee or happy hour time" together in relaxed manner. Please do share your thoughts, ideas, wisdom & humor freely!
To Join BananaTude - Log into Facebook - Search for Banantudes - Request to be a member
PS The Facebook BananaTude Group is NOT about telling the world how many listings or contracts you have going today - Please Don't go there! WCID4U not WIFM or IIAAM!
Bring on your Tude to Bananatude in 2012!
Are we in Real Estate or Education?
My answer is BOTH. Part, a large part, is the educational process of our customers and clients. If we were to define our positions of Realtors®, and the insignia ®, one of our main duties is to educate and watch the backs of our buyers. When you get a phone call or email contact from a person looking for a property, what do you do? Do you help them learn about our business? Are you Teaching them what they need to know?
Do you say, "sure, I'll show you" or do you say, "May we discuss what it takes to purchase a home?"
Which one do you think is the right way to go?
You do not have to answer that.
I know you know the answer.
We could run and show the home to whomever chooses to want to see it or we could "QUALIFY" the customer/client and decide the best way to proceed. I have found that the main way to proceed is to EDUCATE the interested party.
Do I want to show them something they can't have?
no...
Do I want to spend my time (which equates to money) showing without qualifying properly?
no...
Do I want to create "desire" for a home that a client does not qualify for?
heck no...
Do I want to disappoint my client or customer or waste their time?
of course not...
Do I want to send paperwork to a potential lender knowing they have a snowball's chance in Hades to qualify?
Nope...
These are all great reasons to qualify your client!
But, here comes the Key that makes you an Educator/Teacher. Once you have established that your client is qualified to purchase, the work begins.
Remember to Teach the Specifics and the "Protocol of the Process..." 
"We, the REALTORS®, hold Your desire of home ownership in our hands...not by being able to grant your wish but by "Teaching" you the way to make your dreams come true!"
Deb Brooks, REALTOR ®
In Real Estate it truly hurts. It hurts everyone. Two major facts in our business will forever remain the same. People in general want a roof over their heads to call home and it's easier to love it and call it "home" if you hold the deed. Rentals are beginning to skyrocket and why?
This is a true to life analogy that tells the story...
Currently on our books is a pending sale for the amount of $605,000. Not bad, huh? The client is financially superb. The appraisal on the home came in at a much higher number so there is plenty of justification for the cost. The client is placing enough money down so that he is only financing $175,000...that's a lot of money down wouldn't you say? Our client has multiple accounts with Chase Bank to the tune of over $1,000.000.00.
Now, this is a "no brainer". 
NOT...
Chase Bank has returned to the client for a forth time now asking for verification of minor details, paperwork, proof of funds (held by Chase itself) and hoops of all kinds are having to be jumped! Chase sits on it and won't even turn it into underwriting till it's spot on. Come on! The client is so frustrated that he is seeking an in-house loan from a small bank that would hold the note themselves instead of selling the note to Fanny and Freddie.
AWWWW....there's the glitch. Chase wants to sell the note to Fanny and Freddie so all governmental policies and i's and t's must be dotted and crossed. Now that our lives are being run by the government the pendulum has swung in the wrong direction.
Who cares if the note doesn't sell?
The government will take care of it...right?
"sigh"
Read Peggy's post if you are a Baby Boomer at either end of the spectrum! It sure suited me and the way I feel about life. As we get into the later years we begin to prioritize what is important to us. I let my garden go too. I now buy all veggies at the grocery store like the young people! Laugh out loud! This is a great read. Don't miss it.
Deb
Via Peggy Chirico, REALTOR® 860-748-8900 Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate (Prudential CT Realty):
Hey Baby Boomers! Have You Had Enough Yet?
First, let me say that I am a bona fide Baby Boomer so I can relate. Second, let me say that I spent the entire weeked raking up leaves from my yard and debris from my garden. Third, let me say that all this yard work is getting really old.
I, for one, have had enough! I am ready to let someone else do it all. My house has become too much of a burden, and my prized garden that I spent a lifetime creating is ridiculously labor-intensive. I don't even want to look at it anymore.
Lest you think I am a decrepit old fogie, I want to assure you that I am not. But I would rather spend my free time, what little of it there is, on other pursuits, like bike-riding, hiking, traveling, babysitting for my granddaughter, and other fun things. Raking leaves, shoveling snow, pulling weeds, mowing the lawn, etc. are not fun.
I always thought I would stay in my house up to my dying day, but now I am thinking about moving. I would really rather have a smallish, newer home with enough room for visitors and where I can spend time relaxing, entertaining, or whatever instead of spending every last waking free minute on maintenance chores.
If you too are thinking that it's time to let go of all the drudgery, there are plenty of housing alternatives for Baby Boomers. Here are a few questions to think about:
Maintenance
You can decide how much work you want to do. Maybe you just want a very small yard--something that is manageable--and you are willing to do some work. Or maybe you want someone to take care of all the exterior work. Both options are available; in general, the more work that the association takes over, the greater the association fees. If you are still a gardener at heart, you might prefer a tiny yard that you can manage or that you can hire someone to help you take care of it. Be sure to check with the association to find out exactly what is covered.
Privacy
If you have lived in a single family home all your life, you might not be ready to give up your privacy by living in a densely-populated condo complex. There are many single-family homes in associations or attached villas that will still give you the privacy you are used to and still give you the maintenance-free living you are looking for.
One Floor Living
If you are just looking for one-floor living, you have ranch-style condos, single-family homes, and two-story homes (attached and detached) with a master bedroom on the first floor. You will still have plenty of room and visitors can always take the bedrooms upstairs.
Amenities
How important are social activities to you? Some complexes have everything you need within walking distance, including fitness centers, swimming pools, recreational facilities, and meeting rooms. You have to decide if you are the type of person that would take advantage of the amenities or are you simply paying more for something you won't use.
Age-Restricted or Not
Are you ready to live in an active adult community or do you enjoy having people of all ages around you? There are communities for people over the age of 55, over the age of 62, or of all ages. In recent years, some of the the communities built for active adults have actually been converted to non-age-restricted, so don't think they are all age-restricted.
Here or There
You might be ready to give up your yard; you might also be ready to give up winters as well. Moving out of a life-long home is never easy, and it requires a careful decision-making process to find out where your next home will be.
If you are staying right here in Connecticut, I can provide you with information on maintenance-free living so you can see what your options are. If you are thinking about relocating, please talk to me as well. I can recommend reputable REALTORS® that will take good care of you and help you find your next home. Either way there are great housing alternatives for Baby Boomers!
If you read the recently published post by Active Rain you will realize the amount of information they gathered is totally invaluable to your business. 
And, this applies to you. From the moment I began Real Estate, I have invested a great amount of money in Advertising and On-line Presence. Most of my On-line Presence is self generated but not all of it. With all the sites featuring Real Estate such as Homes.com, Zillow, Twitter, Craigslist, and of course Facebook, I have found that most of my business in dollars $$$'s have been generated from ActiveRain!
ActiveRain is a site that has spread throughout the Real Estate Industry like a wildfire in Texas.
Why not? It's hot! 
The other day I was googling a couple of subjects where I needed to expand my knowledge and low and behold, on the first page were posts of mine! Talk about being shocked, overwhelmed and honored at the same time, my head was spinning! Here I am looking for answers and there I was! Google had chosen me as an expert! Now, I do not claim to be an expert on anything! I love to write and I try and serve my clients the way they deserve to be served with strong ethics, personal service and knowledge. But, our greatest friend, Active Rain had me on the first page for my own questions!
Now, I attribute this to many factors but there is no fudging about the truth. Active Rain has taught me how to write with appropriate SEO, the right title, the way to categorize my posts, the way to use Localism and the right way to communicate with Google! Thank you! Active Rain, you will always be my hero. And, they are recommending a service that I do not think we can actually pass up. I have placed my trust and faith in AR for so many years now I simply must listen!
If you have not read the ActiveRain published post Rich Real Estate Agent, Poor Real Estate Agent then this is a MUST READ! Read the post for the total nuts and bolts of your marketing analysis today!
The post reiterates what most of you know yet have forgotten! With the economy as it stands, each of us are attempting to save our money. The bottom line is, "It Takes Money To Make Money!" and how often have you heard this term? How often has it sunk in to your consciousness that it is a true statement? It's time to face it my friend! We have to spend the money to stay in the game! Now, also what we have to do is to become extremely astute to what is going on around us to give us the return! We have no money to waste or to burn!
Our dollar needs to return ten!!!
 How is this possible?
Why is it that:
- We are 16 years into the Internet Revolution and three years into the Do Not Call Registry, YET more real estate agents knock on doors and cold call than advertise on the Internet.
- Realtor.com is the official site of the National Association Realtors (NAR) and has been around for 15 years (or so), but is falling behind Trulia in real estate agent usage, and only slightly ahead of Zillow, both of which have existed for 5-6 years now.
- Direct mail is the most popular form of real estate advertising. The US Government and Postal Workers Union thank you.
- Only 15-16% of real estate agents use an assistant to help with marketing. How valuable is your time? If you use this as a metric, most real estate professionals don’t think their time is that valuable .
Quote by Active Rain.
 Oh, and don't forget this quote from Active Rain! Girls, are you going to continue to let this happen?
Demographics:
- Rich real estate agents tend to be MEN (58% male). Poor real estate agents tended to be WOMEN (60% female). 47% of the survey was male.
- Rich real estate agents have 11-20 years of real estate experience. Poor real estate agents had 4-5 five years of experience. The average was 6-10 years of experience.
- The average age of the respondent was 51-60 years old. S/he is a college grad with moderate technology experience. Age did not matter between rich and poor real estate agents.
- Quote: ActiveRain
Okay, now that you are totally confused and perturbed with no answers coming your way, get your questions out of your "mind pocket" and tell US about them.
Revelation! Another quote! The average age of the respondent was 51-60 years old. Ladies, are we going to stand for this? Are we letting our pride go to these stats? No way! Let's conquer these stats today!
SIGH, How do they know these things?
MEGA QUESTION OF THE DAY...Why is the word FACEBOOK on the spell check and GOOGLE is not?
ACCOLADES to the person that can explain this to me!
NOW, READ THROUGH THE MESSAGE BELOW OR EXPERIENCE A SLOW YET CERTAIN BUSINESS DEMISE!
Data provided by ActiveRain.com. Join 215,590 Real Estate Agents on the world's largest Real Estate Social Network.
Stay Tuned!
Well, good morning all! As always I sat down with my cup of coffee and booted up the old computer to check in and what a wonderful surprise this was! I still have to go read several of the others as life has been busy and crazy lately.
I am so honored to find a win with my story! Truly honored! It was a tough one to get started writing but I knew I had to share my miracle! When I saw this contest I could only think of about 233 miracles in my life in the last few months so it was tough. As Sally says, "everything is real estate" and that just makes me laugh! She's right! We all have miracles surrounding us each day and all we have to do is acknowledge them and appreciate.
To the judges I want to extend my heartfelt "thank you!" as I understand the overwhelming responsibility of judging a contest and the time, effort and heart it takes to do so!
So, Jeff, Gayle, Andrea, Renee and Debe and of course Sallly...
Thank you all! My friends here in the rain are my favorite Miracles!
Via Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman, RA, CRS, HAWAII Real Estate & Relocations (Century 21 Liberty Homes):
 The MIRACLE OF MY LIFE was the birth of my daughter’s first child (and my first grandchild) Brayden. After ten years of hoping and wishing to bear a child with her only true love, that dream happened on September 20, 2011. It was my dream to experience being a gramma. I can tell you (now) from experience, the amazement and utter joy I felt when holding my grandson in my arms for that first time.
Miracles come in all shapes, sizes and forms. They can be anything from a rainbow to the miracle of life. A miracle can come from within or the power of love, prayer, strength and support as Christa Caulk explains in her post “July 9th, 2010- A Day I Will Never Forget” or it can be a realization that inner strength from within changed a life.
The POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul group offered all members a chance to share their miracles in the Fall Season of Miracles Contest and to support the ActiveRain community with their positive stories. It is a time to strengthen our community and bring our miracles to all of you.
As our Head Judge, Jeff Dowler stated, “I was certainly touched by each and every one (story)”. Jeff worked through his vacation here on Kauai to ensure that the scoring continued and when he landed back home today the winners were on hand. HOORAY FOR JEFF!
The other Judges were Debe Maxwell, Andrea Sweidler, Gail Robinson and Renee Burrows and they worked hard and diligently to read every entry and they finally came up with the top winners and deserve a big round of applause!!!
Though I believe every single entry is a winner the Judges HAD to pick their top picks. So without further hesitation….the following entries are the winners for this years Fall Season 2011 contest and a special thank you to BOB STEWART- Our ActiveRain Community Evangelist for his loyal support of the PAWS Group and approving the points!!!
FIVE HONORABLE MENTION WINNERS for 1,000 points each (and shown in order of scoring points)!
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All other entries will receive 500 points for their support of the contest!!!
Thank you all for your participation and should you all like to read the entries go to the announcement post Fall Season of Miracles Contest to read the last comment with the entries!
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
 
© 2007-2011 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
All rights reserved.
   
If the house has issues, will there be anymore discussion? I truly think that depends on several things. If you are honestly out to find the right home for your Buyer then you have probably listened to their reactions about the house in the first place. Or, are you one that says, "well, you certainly do not want to deal with this!" 
Here's my "what if"...
What if your Buyer loves the home with the absence of the issues? Let's say it has foundation issues. Did you just say, "oh well, we will find you another?" Or, did you question your Buyer? Did you say, "this issue can be repaired and to your liking if this house is the right one for you!"
Realize that if your client has seen the "right" home yet it had too many issues to overcome that it might just be your fault the home wasn't purchased?
What if you had answered with, "all issues can be overcome and if this is the home for you, I say we address the issues till it's all worked out!"
Do you suggest they keep it on their "short list" and study the "disclosure" and then begin to communicate with the Sellers? Or, do you simply walk away?
Many a home sale has been squashed with the disappointment of one single possibility! Is your attitude Positive or Negative? Do you leave room for the door to be opened? Do you give all alternatives to perfection? A good Realtor® will explore, question, negotiate just about anything to provide a successful transaction for their Buyer.
And, have you ever asked yourself, "could I have done more?" after a client goes MIA?
No matter what the structure, there is a perfect match for the home.
Listen to what your clients say and then Hear what they mean.
Never be the one to close the door on a possible match! Do your due diligence and explore all possibilities. You will make more money in the end and end up with many grateful clients!
Good luck!
ActiveRain you make me laugh! Your Google Juice Tickles Me!
It's been a very long week...month...and so on! This last week though has been a bear.
I have been missing my blogging and my friends and my contests and my points and of course, last but not least, MY GOOGLE JUICE! Today I was dealing with yet another hitch in my "getalong" and I received a phone call.
 The lady on the other end of the line asked the question, "Are we having the Montgomery Trade Days" tomorrow? ( I AM LAUGHING TO MYSELF) as it clicked right away why she was calling!
My immediate question to her was, "did you find me on Google?" and her answer was "yes!" You see, I had written Localism Posts during the September Challenge each and every day.
Deborah Byron had a contest for Localism Postings for the month of September.
One of the posts I wrote was about the Famous Montgomery Trade Days!I was at the top of Google!
I explained to her how the Trade Day's work and asked her if it would be her first time here...
HER ANSWER WAS A GOOD ONE!
"Yes, she said. My husband and I are moving to Montgomery and will be looking for a home!"
(Deep breath) and "Well, you have come to the right place!" I will be meeting her at the Trade Days tomorrow to show her around!
ActiveRain? You make me laugh with joy!
Thank you!
Deb
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Deb Brooks, Lake Conroe Real Estate, 936-661-2624
Conroe,
TX
More about me…
Deb Brooks, Lake Conroe Real Estate, 936-661-2624
Address: 188 Wick Willow, Montgomery, TX, 77356
Office Phone: (936) 295-0005
Cell Phone: (936) 661-2624
Email Me
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