Mary's Blog

Now I know how it feels..........................

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:55:36 -0700

So, I'm moving...........

We have decided to move from our home of 12 years. We found great renters, my children are excited, and now, where should we go?

Do I find a bigger house, smaller house, newer house, fixer upper?

Closer to the city, closer to the school, closer to our family activities, futher from the noise?

Find a home to afford, takes pets, good neighborhood, and close to work?

As an agent, my professional life is surrounded by people moving. Sometimes they want to, and sometimes they dont. Sometimes they have to, and somtimes they would prefer not to.

I am very glad I am going through this experience, because I haven't moved for many years, and my memory is going to be refreshed, my compassion for my clients will be increased, and I will remember how truely stressful a move can be.

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

Listing isn't in the local MLS....? Where did you find it?

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 01:15:01 -0700

I have been working with clients who continually find listings that aren't listed in the local MLS, (usually on a national realtor website). They give me an address, and even tell me the listing office. I try to find it in my local MLS and I cannot find it.

Has this happened to you?

My office is located 35 miles outside of a major metropolitan area. Our local MLS goes 15 miles toward the metropolis, and the metropolis's MLS goes 15 miles toward ours. That is all said and good until an out of area metropolis agent (or big city agent) accepts a listing in our local MLS area but doesn't list it with the local MLS, but instead lists the house in their own MLS, thus unavailable to the local agents to show and sell to their clients.

When does this become a problem?

1. When you have to subscribe to two MLS services often joining two boards thus incurring extra expenses.

2. Agents are too far away to "service" their listing properly. Often not even visiting or putting a sign on the property.

3. Agents dont return calls and you are unfamiliar with the office or other agents in the same office.

4. "Big Banks" think that the big city agents can easily service listings 40 miles away, and dont do research to realize there are 500 agents right in the town that the house is located in.

5. Clients begin to get negative feelings about the professionalism of agents, who can't find listings, can't get responses from fellow agents, can't get information to be able to view or purchase a home, and can't get codes to open the house for a showing.

6. AND Two different lockboxes!

Are there solutions?:

1. Refer listings to agents who are in the house's MLS area and request a referral fee.

2. Be realistic on the listings you can service, and if you don't want to drive 45 minutes to put a sign on the property, DONT take the listing.

3. Although emails and phone calls are the norm in this field, nothing replaces the comradere of a small town board and MLS.

4. California needs to have one MLS service, with the understanding that homes that are further than 25 miles from the board office of membership, an agent must refer out the listing for proper exposure to buyers.

Let's work together as an industry and try to help each other get this housing market available to clients so our reputation and customer service is stellar.

What are your views and experiences?

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

A Specialty page on Facebook?

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:28:01 -0700

Okay, I'm revving up my Facebook, social media 'thing' here....and then I see a blog about "group" pages....have you seen that? What a great idea....

When it applies to real estate, the idea is find areas within your geographic area, that has a specialty. For example in my area, we have valley, and foothills. The foothills are known as "outside of Marysville" or the local city. Not too far away, but far enough to offer a different "style" of living is the foothills. More land, ranches, farming, horse, cattle, recreation, lakes for boating, fishing, camping, hiking....endless! (and WAY less expensive then the foothills outside of the larger metropolitan area of Sacramento! but similar geographic features and "slower paced" atmospher of locals).

Now I JUST started this, but I am quite excited. I made two groups or specialty pages, "Yuba Foothills" and "East Marysville". I have invited friends and BUSINESSES who live, work and play in each of these areas, to connect to each other. I will offer special features, happenings, and updates. AND OF COURSE, REAL ESTATE that just got listed in the area, (wink, wink).

I also just bought a new HD camcorder...I'm going to be adding videos, now called "vlogging" to my blogs and Facebook specialty "group" pages.

Has anyone tried this? Please share your experiences and success with this, and give me more knowledge on what to add....I am quite excited about this feature.

Mary

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

Facebook....looking to use social media for marketing

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 04:52:48 -0700

Well, I did it! I finally broke down and started my own Facebook and LinkedIn pages. It takes a lot of time to set up, but now that I have it going, I think I will be able to make it work. Here are some "rules" that I thought of, that I need to live by:

1. Remember it's purpose. It is easy to start getting really personal on these pages, but I need to keep my content focused.

2. Schedule time. Twice a week to start to add to blogs, update Facebook and other social media sites.

3. Advertise more than just a "listing" or "just sold" properties.

4. Be specific and succinct in my comments/postings so readers dont get "lost" in the words.

5. 75% of buyers search the internet first...they want to find you....so help them..........

Any rules that you live by that can keep me encouraged?

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

A Beautiful New County Park Open to the Public

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:42:57 -0700

One of the best listings I had the honor of listing is Sycamore Ranch RV Park, located in beautiful Browns Valley, California along the Yuba River. It closed last month and is now ready for you, the public, to enjoy.

Located 12 miles east of Marysville along HWY 20, Sycamore Ranch is now owned and operated by Yuba County. Day use is free (so far) and overnight camping is $20/night. The park gives direct access to Yuba River for fishing (be sure to obtain a license), kayaking, swimming and hiking. It has restroom facilities that were recently remodeled and a park manager on site.

This park is also close to other Yuba County gems like Collins Lake, Bullards Bar and Englebright Lake. Other activities include boating, gold panning, hiking, picnicing, the list goes on and on.

Here is a link to visit Yuba County website for more info tp://www.co.yuba.ca.us/departments/Community%20Development/Public%20Works/PARKS/Sycamore%20Ranch.aspx

Enjoy! Mary

PS I am trying to insert pictures in this blog, and am having no luck...any suggestions...I would LOVE to post pictures of this beautiful campground!

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

Where will you find your second wind?

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:40:22 -0700

As I read many post, Realtors talk of the difficult decision to continue working in real estate full time, go to part time to "get a real job" or quit altogether. I fortunately am not in a dire strait to make a drastic decision, but I have been weighted down with the disappointing real estate market, high unemployment rate, and depressed economy. Everytime you hear of a possible recovery (on some minute level), another story disappoints and drains again.

Are you in need of REALTOR CPR? A vitamin boost from a fruity swirly drink house? A straight shot of a coffee nut? What will it take for you to pull yourself up by the boot straps and continue your trek?

I found mine in a friend. Yes, a simple phone call to someone I trusted, who is experiencing success, but more important took a risk in these difficult times to expand his business and venture out....where did he get his second wind from? Probably from a friend....

Friends like no other, can listen, give advice, help you analyze, see things in a different light, support with ideas that you may not have thought of, find resources, or just be there to take another phone call, or respond to your email. They give you positive energy, spark enthusiasm, inspire creativity, and give you the desire to succeed.

Where do you find your friends?....a spouse, a relative, a co-worker, even a client. Some times it is a person that you didn't go looking for, but yet they found you...

Have you found your second wind? Has someone helped you continue on your trek? Can you now see that things will get better? I do...........

Share with me, my AR friends, of people who have inspired you, and you may possibly inspire someone reading this post, so they will get their second wind!

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

Is your seller in a trap? Short selling seemed like a good idea...

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:17:03 -0800

I recently had a call from a seller who had been advised by his lending company to short sale his house. He had gone through all the paperwork to do a loan modification, but it wasn't approved, hence the advice.

In comes me, a Realtor trying to help this man, he feels he has nowhere else to go, but to follow the advice of the lenders. We begin marketing his house at market value but receive no offers.

I advise him to lower the price below market, but close enough we can still prove it is a good price for the home and the condition. He approves, and within a few days, we receive an offer for OVER the asking price. I send it in, I have had a positive relationship with the negotiator thus far, and send in comps to back up the offer.

A week later, I receive an email stating the offer was denied, and seller is advised NOW to keep the house. The seller has gone through 10K trying to make up the difference. He cant keep up...

WHY DID THEY REFUSE????????? AHHH...........Now the catch...

The house was gifted to him by his grandmother, he took a refinance loan to remodel the house because it was in disrepair and barely livable, so he put on a new roof, updated the kitchen, painted, new carpet, etc. When the market was good, he bought another home, and put his grandmothers home up for rent. Rent was good then.... Rent is not good now.

Now he is forced into foreclosure, because the lending company is still going to make him pay the difference between what the house sells for and what he still owes....over 100K.

Will he be forced into bankruptcy now? Do you know the laws in your state?

I lost a listing, he lost a house, the bank lost money... a lose/lose!!!!!

Here is some advice that you can take to your bank:

Sellers, be sure to talk to your lending institutions, find out what the terms are if you short sales, and the ramifications for your future!!!

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

5 Things Poison Oak and Real Estate have in common? A Lesson in Looking at the Bright Side

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:45:28 -0700

So here I sit, with my face swollen from poison oak. It wasn't my fault, I didn't know a weed-waking neighbor sprayed the oils onto my trees and bushes that I was trimming in my own backyard. Well, doesn't matter how, it just is...which comes to my comparison of poison oak and real estate....

1. Once you got the itch....it's hard to shake...Even as I have one eye swollen, I am checking my calls, making calls and checking the latest on the MLS

2. Your face gets red and swollen....ever felt this way when dealing with short sales or other transactions?

3. Everyone has advice on how to get rid of your problem...and some of the remedies are scarier than the ill. My advice, is worth what you paid...nothing...so do what is right for you (and your clients), and it usually will work.

4. You can find people on the internet, who are experiencing the same thing you are...so you don't feel alone...sometimes there are pictures too!

5. It takes weeks to recover...as it takes weeks to make a sale....talk about something that doesn't come easy. The shot helps, the pills help, but the best cure is time, and remember real estate, it takes time.

So if you have ever been afflicted with poison oak (or ivy or sumac) and know what I am going through, jot down a comparison you can think of...and let me know...it will cheer me up...

Thanks, Mary

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

Who's Expired Now? What Next?

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:29:31 -0700

I recently decided to begin exploring the world of expireds. Of course here on AR, there is so much advice for this amazing lead option. I do understand the "No Call Laws", and wanted to respect the wishes of those who desire not to be called at home with unsolicited phone calls. I now make it a morning ritual to view all expireds in my service area, find the owner's names, and address a letter to them personally.

What have I learned:

1. By the advice of several agents on AR, writing a letter with the "what's in it for me" view, definitely threw out my "old letter". I completely re-did my letter.

2. I sent off my business card, with my carefully crafted letter, now I sit and wait? But what next?

Do I send follow up correspondance? How soon after? How often, for how long?

...dare I make a phone call?

I would love some advice, for all who are successul at this avenue.

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

So, do you vacation?

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:51:57 -0700

I have been a Realtor now for about a year. I was a teacher with a teacher's schedule for 14 years (lots of vacation time). My husband, still a teacher, set up a few short getaways this summer. I have great support in my office, if anything came up, I was "kept up to date". My clients were always able to get intouch with me, I had my cell, and would check my email nearly every night.

After the summer was done, we begin thinking about next summer, and a 3-4 week trip Back East sounds great. But how do I schedule it? Who will cover all my clients, escrows, etc? Should I plan no closings for a month? How do I make my clients wait for their home, until I get back from my "laughing place"?

I begin asking other agents in my office, how do you vacation? Take "a week here, and a week there". But they admitted that during that 'week', they are always attached to techno-touch (email, voicemail, etc.). My question: Do you ever just go on vacation for a week, and turn off your "reach out and bug me" devices? How do you keep up with your business, without a "lull" 4 weeks later and no scheduled closings?

A year ago, I contacted a Realtor I ran into 8 years earlier at a vet's office. As we talked about the new field I was getting into, she told me of agents she had known who put their business before their families and ended up in divorces, out of reach teens, and even a family suicide. She begged me, with my two young children, to always put the family first.

Three things I have come to realize in my short year as an agent:

1. Real estate is like teaching: there is always something else that has to get done. My solution: Set a time that I go to bed, leave the office, not schedule as many showings in a day, take a weekend off and not do an open house. Go home early to have dinner with my family.

2. The only thing I will really miss when it is gone, is the one thing that I think will wait around for me forever. They don't, children grow up and leave, and spouses? My Solution: With a flexible schedule, set up a ritual of dropping the children off or picking them up from school, work for several hours in their classroom, be at home to help with homework at least several times a week, take a sport/hobby up with your child, so you have some things in common and can communicate.

3. When taking time off, you are always needed the most. My solution: Come to the realization that that ISN'T true. It is just the time that you are most aware of not being able to meet the needs of your clients and are more sensitive to their contacting you. It's okay to let your clients know you will be gone for a week, two weeks, and have a second agent's name and number ready to "cover" anything that may "pop-up". And then, don't answer the phone, just let it go to voice mail, and return only true emergencies.

I am lucky, as real estate is not my sole income, so I can afford some flexibility. I think about others who don't have my luxury. How do you take time off from you business? DO YOU?

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

7 Things to Remember When Showing an Occupied Home

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:38:55 -0700

I've been dealing with more and more occupied homes, from listings and showings. People trying to do short sales, or tenants finding themselves caught in the middle. I currently have a home listed with an occupant/tenant, and I have experienced some interesting things. What's amazing is, I have found myself in the position of turning away potential buyers (and their agents) to protect the privacy rights of the home's occupants.

I have come to the conclusion that the best way to deal with an occupied home is with common courtesy. Here are 7 things to remember when viewing an occupied home:

1. Give as much notice as possible. 24 hours is a minimum for tenants.

2. When making an appointment, discuss times that would work best for them for future appointments. Don't show the home before 10:00AM or after 7:00PM, if possible.

3. Don't knock on the door and disturb the tenants because "Well, we'll just ask because we are here". This attitude puts an occupant in the awkward position of saying "No".

4. The house is someone's home, with their personal possessions. Be sure to keep "touching" to a respectful minimum. Looking in closets and rooms is expected, opening drawers and medicine cabinets would be unacceptable.

5. Occupants are going through a stressful time by having to leave their home. Understand if they seem impatient or short when you are requesting to view or show their home. Take a moment to listen to their concerns or frustrations.

6. Realtors, appraisers, etc...leave your business card with a kind comment on the back if possible, to let occupants know you did show the home and appreciated their efforts.

7. If you know you will be unable to show the home, call the occupants and let them know the showing was cancelled. This will go a long way in future appointments.

A little common courtesy is not much to give to someone who is allowing us to walk through their home, unsupervised and to strangers.

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

Five Ways I Improved My Real Estate Business

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:43:10 -0700

Five Strategies That Improved My Success As An Agent

As I look back at my first year of receiving my RE license, I can break up the year up into two equal parts. I implemented the following strategies during my second six months, which vastly improved my business. These will work for "Newbies" as well as "Seasoned Pros" who find themselves looking for something more.

•1. Seek Out The Experts. I seeked, found and surrounded myself with successful agents (and broker) who had positive attitudes and were willing to help and teach me. Support by positive people is priceless.

•2. Emulate Successful People. Imitation is the highest form of flattery! Why? Because it means they know how to be successful in their field. If someone is successful doing something, you can do the same thing and be successful too.

•3. Research, Research, Research. This is the one that took (takes) most of my time. I just sit down at my computer, or with books/magazines, and read about Real Estate. Information about marketing on the internet, networking, the Real Estate market and trends etc. There is a wealth of information at your finger tips...it's a great time to be a Realtor.

•4. Try New Things. I learned a lot of new things from people and research, but it would be meaningless unless I implemented what I learned. Don't let knew things intimidate you.

•5. Be consistent. This is one that is most difficult because it is based on accountability. I needed to make a plan, put it into action, and continue to follow through to support my plan. If I begin a strategy, and then give up because it doesn't work within two months, then I am not being consistent with my plan.

Every day in Real Estate is different. That is what I enjoy most about Real Estate (oh, and being successful is fun too).

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

Open House Tour

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:48:34 -0700

I'm not sure where I heard this from, AR or a RE article, but it intrigued me. So I tried it...an Open House Tour. Here is what I did...

1. I picked 5 houses in a focused area, that were similar in size, # of rooms, and similar price (ie. for investors/first time home buyers).

2. I researched the houses (with listing agents) to make sure all homes were still available, available to show and none were pending.

3. I chose a date (Saturday) and mapped out the "order I was going to show the houses in". Since they were within 1 mile radius, I went from most expensive house to least expensive house.

4. I then assigned a 15 minute slot to each house. For example, house #1 12:00-12:15, #2 12:20-12:40. So every house received a "15 minute show" and I had 5 minutes to travel (you adjust the times for your tour).

5. I advertized, and put up sandwich board signs in front of the house that I was currently showing.

6. I made out a "packet" with full client detail of each house, a map of their locations (ie map quest) and a "potential client" questionairre that they filled out and returned that day.

On Saturday, I went to each house, put up my signs, and waited 15 minutes. When the time was up, I closed up the house, and moved to the next one.

I made 5 solid contacts, and didn't get bored sitting in an empty house. I will definitely do this again very soon. I would improve it by advertising more/earlier, and maybe increasing each time at the house to 20 minutes then allow a 10 minute travel time, (just to make it easier on myself).

So, do you think this would work for you? Any ideas for improvement? Would love to hear your ideas!!

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

Integrity...does it still exist?

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:30:46 -0700

After working with a client for two weeks and putting in an offer on a home with her, she went to another agent, found another house, put in an offer, it was accepted, and my client was gone...that fast!

The Realtor remembered seeing me with my client's son, and put two and two together...realized my client (now her client) was working with me, even though my client NEVER told her she was working with me.

The Realtor called me, questioned me about how long I had been working with her, and what houses I had an offer with her, and said it wasn't fair what the client had done to me.

She offered me a 25% referral fee. I graciously accepted.

She could have kept all the commission for herself, but didn't!

Now that's INTEGRITY!

Practice integrity...it come's back to you, 10 fold!

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

How insulting! My house is worth more than that!

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:20:48 -0700

It's a tough market out there, especially for seller's who have to sell!

My buyers were looking for a home, and found one they liked. After running some comps, I suggested we do a lower offer than the asking price, because the home has been on market for 60 plus days. I called the listing agent to let her know, I had good qualified buyers, and they weren't trying to be insulting by the offer, but buyer's budget and comps pointed them to this offer. The listing agent quickly responded "well of course they're going to be insulted".

Here is some advice for Sellers from a Buyer's point of view:

Emotionally detach from your home. You have many memories attached to the home, and it is hard to let go. Understand, the buyers aren't emotionally attached the same way, and it is more of location, budget and features that the house has to offer them.

Price you home for today's market, not yesterdays. In a soft market, where buyer have many homes to choose from, pricing your home competitively will bring the most attention in the first 30 days.

If you do receive a low offer, it's a start. Receving any offer, is a chance to work with someone who is willing to negotiate. Not responding or not negotiating could chase a chance for a sale, away. A lower offer can also be an indication that your home is priced too high, no matter what the comps showed.

If you aren't getting foot traffic into your home soon, don't wait too long to lower the price. Foot traffic or showings, is a great indicator of price. Communicate often with your agent about how many showings have been done, and request that the agent solicite feedback from agents who have shown the house. That will give you more infomation to make a more informed decision about re-pricing your home.

Before closing the door on a buyer's offer, explore all options. Buyers may need help with financing, time to sell their own home, or be open to a lease option. Counter offer with options, which will keep negotiations open, and buyers interested. Price may not be the only issue.

Above all, have a positive attitude and a good relationship with your agent. The two combined will make a difficult process a little bit easier. And Good Luck.

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

So, is this a rookie mistake or a fluke?

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Sun, 18 May 2008 15:36:54 -0700

I had a client I was working with for two weeks. Finally we found a home she liked, & we put in a cash offer. We didn't hear back from the bank immediately, of course, and we found two homes that fell out of the market, one next to the home we put an offer in on, and one across the steet.

I set up an appointment to look at the homes the next week with her son, (could do it sooner because tenants were moving out) and the son was going to let his mom know that he preferred the home across the street. The day before we were to meet (monday), I called her to confirm we were meeting the next day (tuesday), and informed her there was a fourth house (one she really wanted) that also just fell out of escrow, and encouraged her to put an offer on it that night. She said she needed to think about it for the night, so I said then we will view the 2 homes (tuesday) as planned.

Tuesday came, I called to confirm meeting them at the home across the street. I was told by the son that I needed to speak to another agent, because his mom had bought a house monday night (hours after I spoke to her). I was shocked!

The other agent didn't know she was working with me. She made an offer with her. It was accepted in two hours, and my work, relationship and commission was gone that quick. My client never told the other agent she was working with me. When I met with her later, and asked her why she didn't call me so I could help her, she said, "the other agent opened the door",

Some agents I have spoken to say I should have signed a buyer/broker agreement, but all the agents I have spoken to also say they don't use one.

I'd love some feedback...do you use a buyer/broker agreement, or do you just let clients go? How do you encourage loyalty? As a client, if my agent would have asked me to sign a buyer/broker agreement, it would have chased me away...

To end the story. The other agent did give me a 25% referral fee, and apologized the way it turned out. And the son, who the mother bought the house for? Well he didn't like it, because it wasn't the one across the street, and last I heard, she didn't know what to do with it...maybe rent it. The fourth house (the one she really wanted) received an offer and it went into escrow Monday night.

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

Where did I turn "1 degree"?

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:37:11 -0700

The "One Degree" theory is actually my husbands brain child. Sure on the road in life, we have to decide which route we take (some times it's 180 degrees from the way we were going). But what happens when all of a sudden we are on a much different road then we thought we would be on? When we look back on how we got there, we notice we just turned "one degree", but now further down the road, we are much further away from where we thought we would be.

Let me explain. I was days away from applying to a Ph.d program. Six months later, I am a Realtor. I was supposed to be six months into my degree program...what happened? While looking for a Ph.d program, my part time job was cut a few hours a week. (the one degree). From there finances were getting tight, and I had to find another line of work, (got my RE license). Couldn't afford 40K for the PH.d program, maybe I can make 40K instead (changed my attitude), found a broker who was willing to take me in (met lots of supportive RE people, which gave me more confidence). Now I continue to find people who can give me a better education, not in the PH.d program, but in RE (moving further away from the Ph.d program).

It's amazing what "turns us a little bit" takes us on a road we never expected. I like the adventure.

What "one degree" changed your life?

Mary

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California

www.maryhanan.com

So...is it in your blood?

Mary Hanan (Real Living GreatWest ) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:49:49 -0700

The more I speak to real estate agents, the more I hear "it's in my blood". Now since I have a degree in science, I know there is no anatomical feature or chemical substance called "real estate" in our circulatory system. Maybe its a virus or bacteria that infects us at some point in our lives (no cure?) or maybe an insect or parasite that gets under our skin, (removable?) and keeps us preoccupied with thoughts of homes, market trends, clients, customers, prices...etc.....

...I don't know. But after 15 years in another line of work, I have had an opportunity to make an official "go" of this profession. Many (most) people I met tell me it's a bad time to get into this field...huh? Well, my response "it's a great time, because I can learn alot while the market is slow, and I'll be ready when it GOES!"

I've been licensed for 6 months, and haven't been "bummed" yet...who knows, maybe because it's just in my blood...

So...what's your blood type?

Mary

Mary Hanan

Focusing on Premiere Customer Service to advance the professionalism of Real Estate to Stellar Levels

Serving Browns Valley, Yuba-Sutter Areas, California