Melinda's Blog

We "Heart" Our Clients!

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:13:53 -0800

Showing our clients the love this Valentine's Day with these goodies!

We do not take referrals for granted! By the end of Valentine's Day, we will have delivered 35 treats to our top referral sources and friends who support our business.

In case you or someone you know needs to sell a home in the LA/South Bay area, we'd love to serve them. Just complete our Referrals Form and we'll make sure they are taken care of. We make the home selling process easy for our clients, and we're never too busy for your referrals!

Handmade by Jennifer Colby, Assistant Extraordinaire.

Selling in a Buyer's Market

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:08:45 -0800

If you're thinking of selling your home, first determine if you'd rather be a

home "seller" or a home "owner".

Two of my recent home sellers followed the advice of proper pricing and making repairs and upgrades to make the house stand out against the competition. Both of these homes received offers within the first week of listing, and sold for just under the asking prices.

Did we want to get asking or over asking price? Of course we did! But, the truth is, the market is what the market is. I commend both sellers for countering the offers and working with what they had. Otherwise, they would like be another of the myriad of homes sitting on the market not selling. Which makes a home "owner" rather than home seller.

Staging is also a huge factor, creating an environment that catches the breath of buyers who come through. You want them to want to stay and linger, and ultimately write an offer on the property.

If you are a true seller, it makes sense to price where the market is going (down) not where it "was" or where you "think" it should be. Pricing is a best guess based on current market data until the property is listed and marketed. The first 8 days on market are an indicator how the buyer pool views the property for the pricing, location & condition. Carefully study the ACTIVE homes (sitting on the market not selling), PENDING (sellers and buyers came to agreement at a price satisfactory to both parties), and SOLD (this is where the true market is at).

If you're considering selling a home in the LA/South Bay area, give me a call for my Home Seller Process Review and a complimentary Market Update for your neighborhood.

Whether you're selling or not, if you just want to stay on top of the real estate market in your neighborhood, sign up for my FREE no-cost, no-obligation ListingBook Seller. ListingBook feeds direct form the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which only licensed Realtors(R) have access to. ListingBook is by far the best tool on the market for sellers who want to stay in the know, and is the next best thing to searching the MLS yourself!

Property Inspections are a Good Idea (Even If You're Not Selling!)

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:38:03 -0700

You wouldn't only inspect your car when you decided to sell it, would you?

In my opinion, it's a good idea to get a home inspection done every couple of years whether you are planning to sell or not. This helps keep your property(ies) in good working order and is a proactive approach to maintaining. Not to say that you have to repair everything they recommend all at once, or even at all, but at least you will have a list and can budget and plan if/when you would like to do the work. Better to know you might have roof leaks during summer so you can prepare for winter rains rather than having to deal with water intrusion unexpectedly, don't you think?

There are many inspection companies that serve the LA/South Bay area. Feel free to use one you have used in the past or if you have recommendations from someone. If you need some resources, here are some inspections companies that my clients have used in the past and have been pleased with their services (*those marked are the ones Melinda Flynn Real Estate clients have used the most). Check their websites and/or call them direct for updated pricing and availability.

ROOF:
*RoofRX (they will do an inspection and give you a warranty for approx $200...home warranties don't cover roof, so we recommend RoofRX because they tend to pick up where home warranty leaves off)

GENERAL PROPERTY INSPECTION: (like a general doctor, will assess the overall condition of the house, but will refer you to a specialist if further attention is needed):
*Affordable Home Inspections
South Bay Home Inspections
Bruce Burrell, 310-488-1473, I've recommended him before and my clients have been happy with him (no website, but he's been around a long time and built & inspected homes for many years)

TERMITE:
*Andy's Termite
*AA Do Away

Hint: When scheduling inspections, I schedule them all at the same time. Inspectors are good at working around/with each other, and by the end of a few hours you will know the condition of your property inside & out! They will give you the status update and will send you reports usually within 24-48 business hours (you can request mail or email copies).

If you need more specific inspections or other services, you can always check my Online Business Directory where I've posted reliable service providers. I aim to protect the integrity of th list, so if you are not pleased about something, please let me know.

Happy Inspecting!

BTW: Check us out on Facebook! If you like us, well, then LIKE us! :)

Visit us on FaceBook!

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 17:25:17 -0700

See our listings, latest happenings and real estate updates at Melinda Flynn's Real Estate Team!

Melinda's Real Estate Team Latest "Pop By" Visits

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:22:54 -0700

We delivered 30 of these guys last week to some of our favorite clients (who were in town). Thanks for your business and referrals, clients! You're the best!

Click the link to learn about our Client Appreciation Program & how to become one of our A clients (LA/South Bay residents).

Why Buyers & Sellers Should Consider Using a Home Warranty

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:07:55 -0700

I've recently had a couple of clients with appliance issues after the close of escrow. At the first sign of trouble with appliances (heating, plumbing, air conditioning, dishwasher, refrigerator, electrical, etc.), it is important to call your home warranty company right away and see if your warranty covers the issue. If not, ask them what it would cost to upgrade your plan & if it's possible to upgrade at that time. Caution: if you call a service provider (plumber, electrician, appliance repair, etc.) on your own and they do the repairs, then you will not be reimbursed by the warranty company for any charges incurred.

Your home owner's insurance will likely insure against natural disasters such as fire and flood but will not usually cover maintenance and repair charges. In a purchase transaction, sellers will sometimes pay for the first year of your warranty (usually the "basic coverage"), after which you can renew annually if you choose. If the sellers did not pay for coverage, it is a good idea for you to do so. I recommend it, because if you have a plumbing issue that may cost you $3,000 with no warranty you could be covered for $400/year and the service call fee (prices & service call fees vary by company; the warranty runs from approx. $250-$600 depending on square footage of the home, and the service call fees range from about $55-$85). Even if you've been in your home for many years without coverage, I recommend you get one.

On my first condo I ever bought, I had a room air conditioner. It was old but still in working condition when I moved in. Within the first few months of moving in, it broke. I called the home warranty company. Sure enough the air conditioner needed to be replaced and the warranty covered it. All I paid was the service call fee and the warranty took care of the rest! I was happy not to have to fork over the $400 on my own. Of course it's also wise to have you emergency fund in case of unforeseen problems, but a home warranty can help with extra peace of mind.

Sellers: if you're listing your property, I highly highly recommend getting a Seller's Home Warranty. Should anything that is covered break down during the escrow period, you won't have to worry! I've had this happen before where the garage door broke and the warranty covered it. My sellers were grateful they didn't have to pay anything more than they had to.

Here's a helpful article about Home Warranty Reviews. Here are a few reliable Home Warranty companies, feel free to call them for more information and quotes (I have recommended the first 2 companies to clients and have not had any negative reviews. I know both of the local reps here in the LA/South Bay area and they are great):

First American Home Warranty--local rep in my area: Star Anderson, cell (310) 614-6935
Email: sranderson@firstam.com (Star is excellent! She really goes to bat for her agents and clients when we need something!)
American Home Shield
HMS Home Warranty

If you have any questions, I'll be happy to help you or direct you to the appropriate sources.

The Skinny on Buying a Short Sale Property

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:58:13 -0700

Everyone's heard of short sales, where the seller owes more money on the loan that what they can sell the property for.

But what do you do if you're a buyer who wants to make an offer on a short sale property? Are you a good candidate for a short sale?

Here's the skinny:

The way it works on a short sale is that you make an offer and negotiate with the seller as usual. Once there is agreement and a ratified contract between the buyer & seller, then the offer is submitted to the seller's bank along with a myriad of other financial paperwork prepared by the listing agent and the seller (aka: "the package").

There has to be a proven "hardship" and financial insolvency on the part of the seller for the bank to "approve" the short sale. The buyer will likely wait at least a couple of months...sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on other factors that usually have nothing to do with the buyer at all. Banks are inundated with files upon files on their desks, and it just takes time.

Buyer's agents have no control over the process as all communication is done by the seller, their agent and the seller's lien holder(s). It can be frustrating to say the least, but if you want the house then you will have to go through the process. To prepare my clients, I say don't expect to hear for 3-6 months then if we hear sooner that's good news. Of course the banks don't always give approval, so it's never a guarantee.

Short sales are usually "as is" sales, meaning you can still get your inspections but the seller will not be making or crediting money for any repairs. If the property is a condo or in an HOA, the sellers may be behind on their payments. The listing agent should do their due diligence to have everything prepared up front for buyers, but this is not always the case. (A recent condo short sale I closed had an outstanding balance of $5,000 owed to the HOA and it was a big mess trying to get it sorted who would pay for it. We ended up negotiating with the HOA to come down on the price, which they were not happy about. But we finally made it happen.)

So, you've found the property of your dreams, which happens to be a short sale & you want to make an offer. What next? You have to make a case to the seller, their agent & the seller's lien holder that you are qualified to purchase the property. You need your ducks in a row from the get-go. They don't want to accept an offer and then find out it's not possible for the buyer to perform after all the time and energy it takes. When submitting your offer, you'll also need an updated pre-approval letter from your lender, FICO scores, and any other supporting documentation that shows you as a strong, capable buyer and proof of funds (where your down payment will come from). If the seller accepts your offer, the offer and your financial information will be sent to the seller's lienholder as part of "the package." Remember, the bank wants to make sure subject buyer is able to move forward.

You're a good candidate to buy a short sale property if: 1) you don't have a deadline to move, 2) you're patient, 3) you're patient, and 4) you're patient.

There's a lot more involved, but this gives you an overview. Of course if you have questions or if you need assistance with selling or buying a short sale (or a regular sale) in the LA/South Bay, feel free to call me to get the process started.

Go See FABRIC, a Great Play in L.A.!

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:33:54 -0700

I love living in the LA/South Bay & being so close to LA for all it offers, like the weather, the beach, great restaurants, people & theater! Jim & I ventured out of the South Bay to downtown LA last Saturday night to see a play called FABRIC. It is based on a true story of Thai human-trafficking incident in 1995 in El Monte, CA, where law enforcement officials found 72 Thai nationals confined in an apartment complex ringed with barbed wire. They were lured to America with promises of achieving the American dream. Instead they found themselves engulfed in the harsh reality of the garment industry. They were forced to work from 7a.m. to midnight, 7 days/week. Get your tickets before they sell out, it is a small theater!

Here is more information & a You Tube clip. We got there early and parked at the Alexandria Hotel (where the play is on the 3rd floor), then we walked to the Urban Noodle for a quick bite (DELICIOUS noodles!), then back to the hotel for the play.

We are still talking about FABRIC, and how good it was. A surprise as the cast was taking their bows, they announed that Rotchana Chenchujit herself (one of the main characters), was sitting in the audience. She took a bow and everyone went to shake her hand as they walked out. She was teary-eyed, I think overwhelmed that people actually care about the story. No one should have to be treated that way, and these Thai workers are courageous and inspirational.

How did I hear about it? My sister (the writer) has a friend named Joon Lee who has plays in 2 sessions. Since Jim & I have been to Thailand and LOVED it, we were drawn to see the play. If you go see it, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

If you are moving to the LA/South Bay area and need to find a good home so you, too, can enjoy being close to everything there is to offer here in the South Bay, visit www.MelindaFlynn.com for more information. :)

1619 Lomax Lane Open Today 6/27 2-5p.m.

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:06:07 -0700

1619 Lomax Lane, Redondo Beach 90278

$629,000

Cute House! See more info & photos at www.MelindaFlynn.com/1619Lomax

Come see us, better yet, bring us an offer!

Real Estate Agent at Laker's Victory Parade!

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:42:11 -0700

I wasn't planning on going to the parade, I don't like big crowds, and the thought of standing out there waiting for a glimpse of the parade isn't my idea of fun. As a real estate agent, I've got clients to call, houses to sell and things to do!

But I found myself in downtown at the same time the parade was going on since I was taking my nephew to USC Water Polo Camp. We left the South Bay around 7:15a.m., to allow enough time to get to USC, find parking, etc. We got to USC at 8:20a.m. and found the last parking spot on 37th Place, a tiny street on the south side of the Galen Center. We walked across campus to get him registered and then I hung out while camp got underway.

As I headed back to my car around 10:15a.m., I saw a sea Laker fans (I am one too, though I wasn't sporting yellow or purple!). When I got to my car, I realized I already had primo parking for the parade so I might as well just stay. I assessed my work load and called my assistant to see if there was anything pressing for me. She had it all under control as usual, so I decided to stay and see what I could see. My first stop was at Jefferson and Figueroa, but there were too many people and I didn't think I'd be able to see anything.

I went the opposite way of the crowds to see what I could find. My feet were killing me be this time, I wore the wrong shoes for traipsing all over downtown! But if I could just catch a Laker sighting, snap a few photos and go home, it'd be worth it.

I walked down towards the 110 from 37th Place, and saw a police barricade.

I kept walking east and found a little walk way with no barricade, and no one around. I planned to go as far as I could until someone made me leave. Turned out I was right at the end of the parade route, on the east side of the SWAT Team and the media trucks. Perfect spot!

Several construction workers came, they were also pulling out cameras; we all had Laker Fever and hoped to see the team. Lucky for me, they didn't make me leave.

After about 45 minutes of waiting and feet killing me more, the buses finally made their way down to the end of the route. Here are some amazing shots that I would never have dreamed of getting...I'm glad I stuck around! If you want to see the full photo album of my pictures, just email me and I'll send you the link.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar

AC Green

Magic Johnson

Kobe Bryant

That was a fun day, one I will not forget. Sometimes it's good to go with the flow and do something different from the usual work day.

Back to work; off to sell some houses!

My Business Coaching Company Buffini & Company's Turning Point Retreat

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:32:28 -0700

My clients often hear me talk about my business coaching company (Buffini & Company), and how I work with a coach to help keep my business on track and my personal life moving forward. When I started with them in 2001 as a new agent, it made sense to have someone helping me learn the ropes to running a successful business. Nearly 9 years later, it still makes sense to have someone helping me! Real estate is a crazy business, and it helps to have someone keeping me on track and building systems so I can increase my capacity to serve my clients better. My coach, Roibin McFarling deserves the crown for the "Most Patient Person Alive". He does a great job helping me stay on track to achieve my goals.

When I attend the Buffini & Company events, I get to focus on my business and think about how to improve, both personally and professionally. I also get to hang out with other agents who are on the same growth path. At the events, we learn about topics like: How to Be a Winner, Reasons Salespeople Fail (do the opposite!), Overcoming Detours on the Road to Success, as well as financial & personal growth topics. I come back fired up and refreshed, and I can put that energy back into building my client and Business to Business relationships.

I recently attended the Monterey Turning Point Retreat (May 11 & 12, 2010), and it was great! Here is a photo with my 2 mentors, Brian Buffini (left) and Joe Niego (right):

Well, I wrote my 10-Day Goals in all areas of life & I'm now being launched into my 10-Month & 5-Year Goals. So, I'm off to make a dent in them!

Coldwell Banker's Business Conference, Los Angeles CA 4/27/2010

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 03 May 2010 11:20:43 -0700

It was an exciting day hanging out with LA's Coldwell Banker agents and managers at the Skirball Center!

We had some wonderful speakers: Jim Gillespie (CEO), Michael Fischer (Senior VP of Marketing), David Siroty (Senior Directory of Public Relations) and Heather Roberts (Media Relations). We also had a great guest speaker Michael Corrbett (real estate investor, actor, and author of Find It, Fix It, Flip It and other great books!).

Here's a quick photo I got with Mr. Gillespie:

Not only is Mr. Gillespie the head of 3,900 CB offices globally, but he is also very personable and friendly. It's nice to have these dedicated people working for our Coldwell Banker brand so I can spend more time with clients.

Speaking of, back to work for me!

BUYER BONUS PROGRAM! Coldwell Banker's National Innovative Stimulus Package

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:49:30 -0700

If you're feeling discouraged because you're a first-time buyer who likely won't be in escrow by April 30, 2010 to qualify for the Federal Tax Credit of $8,000, don't despair! Coldwell Banker has done it again, thinking outside the box to help keep inventory moving...you'll soon be seeing national advertising regarding the "Coldwell Banker Buyer Bonus Program"!

Here's how it works:

The "Buyer Bonus Event" will run from May 1st through July 31st. During this time, participating sellers listed with Coldwell Banker are giving 3% of the accepted offer price (up to $10,000 credit at closing) back to home buyers who sign an offer before July 31st.

The Coldwell Banker Buyer Bonus Event will allow participating Coldwell Banker home sellers to "essentially" extend the credit for participating home buyers...with less restrictions!

The goal of the national "Buyer Bonus Event" is to help sellers improve the chances that their home will sell more quickly during a particularly challenging time for the marketplace - and to help keep buyers motivated who miss the boat on the Federal Tax Credit deadline (as of this posting, you still have 8 days left to get into a contract with a seller).

Thanks to Coldwell Banker's innovation plan, buyers are still able to take advantage of the financial benefits the Federal Tax Credit otherwise would have provided*.

If you're a serious seller who wants to sell, consider this program to help attract offers on your home! Buyers will be looking for any credits they can get once the Federal Tax Credit goes away.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or for more information on how to list your LA/South Bay home in the program.

(*Note: Consult with a Tax Advisor regarding any tax questions and to determine if you are eligible for credits. Also consult with your lender regarding your allowable credits.)

Where've you been, Mrs. Flynn? :)

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:02:44 -0800

I have disappeared for months from the blogosphere. I didn't mean to. It was an accident! The next thing you know, it's 2009! Where've I been? Since my last blog, on top of the usual family and life stuff, I was all involved in (& loving every minute):

Serving my clients during escrow
Client Parties
Building and implementing systems to handle more of your referrals coming in (I don't like to be running around town all crazy and re-active...I like to have systems so that I am pro-active and calm to better assist my clients!)
Real estate EXPO's--the California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) puts on 2 per year, and I attended 2 days in Long Beach last October to learn more about implementing technology and to stay on top of market trends
Real estate seminars (from Coldwell Banker's "Power Pricing" to help get homes sold for top dollar in this market, to Brian Buffini seminars to help me with building systems & customer service)
Helping my sellers and buyers through the escrow process
Got installed on the Palos Verdes Board of Directors for 2009
Printing my 2009 Business Directory (e-mail me if you're local and would like a copy!!)
Let's see, then there were the holidays
Then I started the year with a big kick off for my Vendor's in my network to get our year off to a great start
Last week I was in Monterey for the C.A.R. Business Meetings to learn what's new and to be involved in the process of helping realtors better serve the homeowners

You know, stuff like that!!

So, here I am, off to another day in the life of a real estate professional, striving to improve and do better for myself and my client base. I'm going to a special "Short Sale Seminar" today to learn how to increase my buyer's chances of getting short sales accepted by the banks, and also to improve the listing process for my seller's in short sale situations.

Thanks for reading! Will post again [soon]! :)

Affordable & Efficient Virtual Assistant Firm

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:11:54 -0700

Tired of doing your own flyers, photo shop, web updates, etc.? Visit www.LongerDays.com and you'll be amazed at how affordable and great they are! They aren't working from home, they actually go in to the office (somewhere in N. or S. Carolina), and they have a team that specializes in different areas so the most knowledgeable person gets the project they are familiar with. The lowest plan is $115 for 5 hours/month. That, my friends, is saving me more than $100 in time fussing with photos and websites and frees me up to sell houses! If you try it, please let me know what you think, & let them know I sent you.

The Latest Housewarming Party Photos

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 09:54:45 -0700

Housewarming Party for Stacey

It's a perfect house for you!

Happy Housewarming!

Contact Info

Melinda Flynn
Taking Real Estate to the Next Level

Dir 310-728-5795
Email | Website

Another Client Housewarming Party Today!

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:41:17 -0700

I don't abandon my clients once escrow closes. As part of my ongoing Client Appreciation Program, I host buyer Housewarming Parties, and celebrate making it through escrow! So today I am excited to host a Housewarming Party for a recent homebuyer in Torrance.

My caterer, Adam, will be there on-site to whip up delish delights! My client selected her top choices from the menu, and Adam & his chef will be there to get things set up and start preparing sauces on the stove.

It's just another way I thank my clients for their business. I know there are many choices when it comes to real estate, and I do not take business or referrals for granted!

Stay tuned for photos from the party...

Client Appreciation Party 2008 Photo Show!

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:28:34 -0700

Melinda's Client Appreciation Party 2008

Melinda Flynn: Serving Your Real Estate Needs & Referrals in, Manahttan Beach, Palos Verdes Peninsula, & Surrounding Beach Cities, CA

Got referrals? Call me for "first-class-above-what-you'd-ever-expect-from-a realtor" kind of service!

THANK YOU for your referrals and support of my real estate business!

Call or e-mail:
Melinda Flynn
310-265-4222
homes@melindaflynn.com
www.MelindaFlynn.com

Property Amenities

Contact Info

Melinda Flynn
Taking Real Estate to the Next Level

Dir 310-728-5795
Email | Website

Client Appreciation Party Tonight

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:51:53 -0700

I am so excited to have my Annual Client Appreciation Party tonight! I am gathering my favorite clients to mix n mingle at Beaches Restaurant in Manhattan Beach. It's a fun way to say "Thank you!" for continued business and referrals! I'll post photos and recap in a few days.

I'm in Sacramento for the California Association of Realtors Legislative Day 2008

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:40:48 -0700

I am currently in Sacramento with the some of the finest Realtors for "Legislative Day". This is where Realtors representing all regions of California through the California Association of Realtors (CAR) migrate to the State Capitol to lobby real estate issues to our legislators.

For example, one hot topic this year is "Point of Sale". If passed, this would require home sellers to have an inspection to bring their home up to green standards. It put enormous stress on the real estate transaction process, imagine being in escrow and finding out your home needs to have new windows, insulation, heating, etc. That would be expensive and time consuming. While Realtors are all for being green, we feel that Point of Sale is not the best way to achieve the goal of helping California homes become more energy efficient.

We had a luncheon on 6/5 with CAR's Executive Vice President and Econimist Joel Singer. I thought it was interesting that he mentioned his daughter recently got married and he told her that her main goal should be to buy a house prior to 12/31/2008. He indicates the worst is over and that the market has already adjusted. With rates being historically low and plenty of inventory for buyers to choose from, it is an ideal time to buy real estate. See Mr. Singer's Economic & Housing Market Outlook 2008.

Don't be in the "shoulda, woulda, coulda bought real estate" category! If you would like to move up to a larger home, are a first-time home buyer, or looking for deals to invest in, now is an excellent time. If you are in the LA/South Bay area and would like to explore your real estate options, give me a call at 310-728-5795 to review your real estate goals and get you moved!

Conference Call with Brian Buffini 4/29/08

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 07 May 2008 08:10:56 -0700

It had been a while since I listened in live to a monthly conference call from my business coaching company (www.BuffiniandCompany.com), since I usually have a conflicting office meeting each Tuesday. Well, this day my meeting got switched around, so I headed to my office to dial in to the call, the subject: "Increasing your Personal & Professional Effectiveness".

I realized that dialing in live to a Brian Buffini conference call is much like watching Dancing with the Stars live. There is something about having thousands of people live at the same time vs. recorded, you just never know what is going to happen.

Well I had my surprise at the end of the call during the Q&A session. They say press *1, and you think someone will tell you you'll be next on the call and to get ready. But no, you are just listening and they say "Our next call is from..." and then you are live. When Brian said he had time for only 3 calls, I really didn't think I would get on and it turned out I was the first caller.

It turned out to be good though, because now I have no reason not to increase my productivity!

On a side note, I have to give lots of credit to my business coach, Roibin McFarling. He is excellent and has been my coach almost 7 years. He helped me build up database #1 in N. CA when I was new in real estate, and then he helped me 3 years later build a new database in S. CA! It has been great having consistency from someone who knew my story from Day 1.

Roibin has his hands full with me because I love organizing, planning, and systems. He has to remind me to get out and go do! Without him, I wouldn't have stayed on track during martial arts (www.ErnieReyes.com) to go for Black Belt. I believe when I first started coaching (and real estate) I was still a yellow belt!

It has been a journey since then, I remember going to Turning Points and forever writing in my personal goals "Get to green belt...get to blue belt...get to brown belt...etc." It kept going and going, and sometimes I was at a certain belt level it seemed like forever and felt like I was never going to be good enough to get to the next level, let alone get to testing for Black Belt. At that point, on testing day, I realized that it wasn't about the Black Belt. It was about all of the other belts and working your way to get to that level. And you realize you are not that good, when you see the 2nd Degrees and higher doing their thing with precision and excellence!

Any rate, without Roibin coaching me along and asking how my training was going, etc. and he would not let me get away with not going to my classes because I was too busy with work! He would say (& as Brian says), "Schedule your family and personal appointments first, then schedule business appointments around it." I'm glad I listened to him, because it would have been easy not to do it. Thanks Roibin!

Back to the call, Brian asked me what is one thing I could do better to achieve my business goal of 20 transactions for 2008. I thought about saying "pop bys, parties, or notes", but those are things I am already pretty good at doing. I said phone calls (not knowing that would be my project for the next 6 months)! Now having committed to make 3 calls/day and ask for referrals is serious business. When I was making 10 calls a week before, I wasn't focused on the ASKING part. I figured I would let the "Oh by the way" stickers do that part for me.

It has been a week since my conference call with Brian. How am I doing?

That same day around 4p.m., I made 3 calls and asked for referrals. It wasn't so bad. The next day, I woke up at 3:30a.m. to start working on piles of paperwork so that I could make my 3 phone calls and ask for referrals that day. Silly huh?! I feel like there is much to do prior to making calls, so if I started at 3:30a.m. (I wake up early with no alarm clock, my inner clock gets me up when it's time to work!) I would be ready to make calls by 9a.m. You would think! I didn't get to my calls until later in the afternoon.

Now I realize that if I just get the calls done by 10a.m. daily instead of waiting for a convenient time and all the stars to be aligned "just right", I am free to go about organizing, planning, lunches, etc. GUILT-FREE! I am also getting to talk to people I have been "meaning to call" for a long time, and it's really great.

Thanks, Brian, for helping me rearrange my thinking about the phone calls. I see now that everything else gets done too. It only takes less than 20 minutes to make 3 phone calls, & it's pretty fun to catch up with people I've been meaning to call!

If anybody out there in Blog Land, Buffini Land, or any other Land knows of anyone looking to sell or buy real estate in the Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Beach Cities/South Bay area, you know I'm never to busy to help your referrals!

Environmental & Natural Hazards Disclosures in Real Estate Transactions

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:33:25 -0700

I guess the days of Thailand are over, although I do still have another blog to post on that if I can ever get time to do it. Since I've been back, there have been sellers, buyers, and piling paperwork to tend to! So I'm back to my busy life, and loving every bit of it. Nice to have vacation and nice to be back to work still feeling fresh (even after 1 month back).

If you've read all of my blogs from beginning to end, you'll notice I haven't spent a lot of time on technical aspects of real estate. I will try to do more of that, so I can help eliminate some of the potential stress for sellers and buyers alike. Plus I delight in the technical aspects, and try to improve each time so the process of selling and buying is as smooth as possible.

It's never an easy thing, but I try to make is as enjoyable as possible for my clients. There are always some sort of speed bumps during escrow, but that's all they are. Of course, "speed bumps" to a real estate agent who does this all day long may feel like "crash and burn" to clients who do this a few times in their lives. My job is to help us get around the speed bumps, eliminate the crash and burn, and move forward with things.

So let me give you some insight on the Environmental & Natural Hazards Disclosures, that might help sellers and buyers feel more comfortable about their next upcoming real estate transaction.

If I can advise home sellers and buyers of one thing prior to starting the process of selling or buying a home, it would be to pay about $130 and order an Environmental & Natural Hazards report on their existing property.

(Sellers, this would help you because it's better to have the report to provide buyers prior to making an offer...that way they know ahead of time if they would or would not be willing to move forward. Wouldn't you rather them back out ahead of getting into escrow?! The only thing is that if your property sits on the market for a long time, you'd have to get an updated report in case there is anything new, but I believe the disclosure companies would do this at no cost.)

Why would I recommend spending money on something as unexciting as one of these reports? Because the reports can be overwhelming and scary if the first time you've ever seen a report like that is on a home you are about to purchase or sell. But if you order a report on your existing property, you might be surprised at what you will find is within a mile radius from your present home, and will help prepare you for what you might find on a home you consider buying. Plus it would give you plenty of time to call the company providing the report and ask questions.

These Environmental & Natural Hazards Disclosure reports provide all sorts of intersting information, such as:

Flood Hazard Zones,
Fire Hazard Determinations
Radon Gas Potential (as per Property ID, did you know that all of Los Angeles County is in a "moderate radon zone"?)
Earthquake Fault Zones
Soil Hazards
Methane Gas
Property Tax
& more

There are many companies that provide these reports. For more information or to order reports, you can start with Property ID www.PropertyID.com or National Disclosure Authority www.NDAreports.com. You can also do a Google search to find others. I have been using Prop ID for a long time, and have even been to their "Lunch n Learn" sessions onsite. Very informative and probably more than you would ever want to know!

Seeing an Environmental & Natural Hazards Disclosure report on your current home prior to buying another home might reduce some stress for both buyers and sellers. In a perfect world, we'd have no-stress "happy escrows", but the escrow process is a series of inspections, reviewing a lot of disclosures from different sources. There are seller disclosures, mandatory state disclosures, the NHD disclosures, and more beeing added all the time. Like a new addition I've seen called the Tsunami Hazard Inundation. Makes sense to have such a thing considering we live by the ocean!

Well that's about it on that subject. Of course, if I can be of any service to you or someone you know, or would like to talk about more technical issues in real estate transactions, I'm happy to coach you!

Back from Thailand, Back to Work

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:56:42 -0700

Well, we have been back from Thailand and are now back to work! So now I have to visit memory lane to update the rest of our trip. Then I'll get back to blogging about real estate stuff (which, by the way, is an excellent time to buy real estate with rates low and the new FHA conforming loan amount increased from $417,000 to $729,500 in our local area...buyers, it's a great time for you to see what you can do!).

Here are more photos from leaving Koh Chang to our stay in Krabi, Thailand. Not a lot of time to write, so I'll blog with photos to catch you up on what we did from the last time I wrote.

Trat Airport Leaving Koh Chang

Trat Airport Leaving Koh Chang (about 1 hour flight to Bangkok, then another 1 hour flight down to Krabi)

In Krabi en route to hotel

Entering Krabi via cab

Amari Vogue Resort--Our new hotel for 7 days until we leave for Bangkok to return home

Amari Vogue Resort Towels n Tea...you just can't beat the welcome service in Asia!

Dreamy pool at Amari Vogue

Long Boat off of Amari Vogue beach...very isolated and quiet. Nice for R&R!

That's all I have time for now...I'll post the rest of our photos later this week. I am off to meet clients and sell houses, but remembering our nice, relaxing trip! Ahhhhhhh.....

My Garmin iQue m4 (PDA/GPS All-in-One)--Saves Time AND Stress!!

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:08:02 -0700

It seems that upon the first time out with a buyer, there are a lot of properties to show to bring them up to speed on the market in their price range and area. So there are days when I show anywhere from 8-15 properties in a day.

Of course this takes time to plan and set appointments if needed. I used to spend at LEAST 100 minutes on routing, esp. when showing properties ranging in 5 different cities (about a 10 mile radius)! Using MapQuest or other online mapping tool, you have to know the order, and then it tells you how to get to where you want to go to the next leg. I'd have to print the directions for each leg of the trip and then put them in some type of order. It was crazy, and then if the client ruled out something on the list, I was stuck because I already included that on the directions!

Enter the Gamin iQue m4 Pocket PC, which is a GODsend. This handy tool allows you to enter as many properties as you'd like (maybe up to 20, but I don't know, I haven't reached the point of showing that many properties in a day; I don't think it's possible unless they are all in a small area!), and then it will route you in the best order by "shortest distance" or "faster time." I know Tom Tom is great, BUT when I was looking to purchase a GPS, Tom Tom didn't route multiple properties.

It's just a huge time-saver, and if a clients says, "Oh, we decided we don't want to see the one with the pool," it's not a problem, and just delete it from the list and go to the next property.

The PDA feature syncs with Outlook and is amazing to have it on the same handheld as my GPS! If my clients want to drive due to carseats for the kids, etc. it's not a problem...I just tuck it in my purse, hop in with them, and away we go!

Thanks for reading! Have an efficient, productive, saving $$ or time day!

Koh Chang--More Photos from Thailand!

Melinda Flynn, DRE# 01320480 (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:55:55 -0800

I am still catching up on my photos and blog, I think after this one I will be caught up to present day.

Jim is still recovering from being sick, and is resting through lunch. After I get offline, I'll probably go down to the pool and have some lunch. There is only so much poolside lounging one can do before it's too much sun! And we still have 7 days in the southern beaches, so we'll have to be careful not to overdo it.

Here we are in Koh Chang, a lovely place to visit. We originally decided to come here because of 2 things: 1) I heard of a neat boat trip to Cambodia from here. What we found out was that it's 2 days, 1 night, and we don't want to do that since we only have a few days in Koh Chang. So that's out. 2) Jim thought this is where I could ride my elephant on the beach. No such luck. It seems elephants are only in the jungle. So we've already done that twice, and I don't need to do it again anytime soon. It was fun the first 2 times if you get my drift.

But, we are glad we came to Koh Chang. It's a beautiful place, as you'll see from the photos. Jim wanted to cancel the rest of our travel and just stay here, but I told him we should go because we'll see some more beautiful beaches!

2/19 Chiang Mai To Koh Chang

Flew back from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. Since all flights from Bangkok to Trat were booked, Jim arranged a driver to meet us in Bangkok to take us on a 5 hour ride to Koh Chang. So we basically were in the van for a good 4 hours, then 30 minute waiting for the ferry to take us across to Koh Chang. We stopped for lunch after hour 2, at a rest stop along the freeway. I think I was again homesick for regular food, and didn't want to eat anything from the Thai buffet. So I had some Soy Milk (this saved me on several occasions...not that I'm not one for exploring and trying new foods, but I have heard of people on travel who get sick and I didn't want to be one of them. At least in the US, we have our system of ABC for restaurants that is very helpful to know the cleanliness, and I am not sure of how it is here...I'd rather starve than chance!)

Once we got to the ferry, we were amazed at the beautiful blue water. We boarded the van on the ferry along with other vans, cars, and trucks. There were snacks and drinks available for purchase, but I was still okay after my Soy Milk. Jim had a beer and said he feels like he is now starting his vacation.

View of Koh Chang from Ferry Boat

Once off the ferry, it was just about a 20 minute drive to our hotel at the Amari Emerald Cove Resort. Oh my gosh, they greeted us right away and took our bags. We were going to go to the counter to register, but they told us to sit and sip our cool tea and refresh with cool cloths while they got us checked in. They showed us to our room, which was amazing. Very comfortable and contemporary, with a great view of pool and ocean.

The first thing we did was to put on our swim suits and go out by the beach. The hotel is right on the beach, with lounge chairs on the sand. Jim wanted beach view rather than pool view, so we did that. We had refreshing drinks, and sat staring at the amazing view and beautiful water. We took a walk along the beach towards White Sand Beach, and passed many Thai massage places, restaurants, bars, etc. that are right on the beach with no walls. Just chairs and table on the sand!

It's a Good Life Koh Chang at Amari Emerald Cove Resort. I am thinking how grateful I am for http://www.buffiniandcompany.com/ and my coach, Roibin who work so hard helping me grow my business to allow us time and baht to afford such a nice trip. There will be more in the future, so Roibin, we've got work to do when I get back! (Please just let me recover from my jetlag first!)

Back to the hotel, we were ready for our complimentary dinner and had our choice between the Thai or Italian hotel restaurant. We opted for Thai, since we are here after all! The food and service were delicious.

Delicious Dinner at Just Thai Hotel Restaurant

One thing we notice is that English is not as prevalent here as we noticed in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. The staff speak enough to do their jobs, but not on a very fluent level. So we feel a bit stifled at times. There are many tourists here, mostly from Germany, UK, & Japan.

2/20--Spa day and Break from the Sun

Well, not much on the list to do today. We'd like to do a one day snorkel tour, but for today we'd just like to relax and enjoy the hotel amenities and nearby shops and restaurants. Not quite ready to leave the palace!

Since I wanted a break from the sun, I decided to get a massage treatment at the spa. We went in to inquire and we were told to sit and sip some cool tea and have a cool towel. There are no lines here, just sit and relax while they bring us stuff. I can get used to this!! Just selecting spa treatment was an experience in itself. We sat in the cushy chairs by the pool and sat with the long list of menu choices.

Hotel Spa Cool Towel and Cool Tea

I decided to go for the Floral Spa treatment, which is 4.5 hours of indulgence and pampering. It included a honey scrub, aloe wrap, floral soak in a nice big Jacuzzi tub with ocean view, and 90 minute massage. It was about 6,000 baht, which is about $200 USD...one would pay about that for a basic 90 minute massage at Burke Williams, so this was a good deal for half a day! Once I selected my treatment, the lady brought me a tray of oils and incense to see which once I preferred. They all smelled good, it was hard to decide.

Floral Soak at Hotel Spa

About 2 hours into the treatment, I was missing Jim and wished I was out in the sun with him. Only so much relaxing you can do in 4.5 hours! I was starting to daydream and make plans for my next Client Party (as I was wrapped up in my Aloe Wrap repairing my sunburn from the Chiang Mai pool day)! I think I will call it Taste of Thailand, and invite my favorite clients and friends to attend. I think I have it all planned out, from the invitation with a Thai orchid for each guest, to the Pad Thai, and the 15 minute Thai massages for guests. He he. Is that what relaxing so much does?

For dinner, we asked one of the staff where is a good place to eat. She recommended a place call Chalay at Bang Boa Village, a local fishing village. We took a cab (truck) to the village, about a 20 minute ride in the dark. I was wishing it was daylight out, I'm sure the views would be beautiful. But we wanted to eat at a local favorite and recommendation.

We got out of the cab, and walked along the pier with many shops open for tourists. Smelled kind of fishy for me, but we came to eat at Chalay, so that is what we'll do! After looking at the menu, I was in the mood for something familiar. So I ordered rice with chicken to start, and then we order calamari and some crab. Well, they forgot the rice with chicken, so I was limited to the calamari (a bit too fishy tasting for me, but then again, that's me! I love seafood that doesn't taste too fishy!). I wasn't going to try the crab, since my idea of crab is King Crab Legs from Outback, not the little ones that you see crawling on the rocks. Jim said it was pretty good. Looks like a lot of work and not enough crab meat to me.

Once we cabbed back to the hotel, we decided to book our snorkeling trip. That would be on a boat with 15 stops, Thai buffet, and snacks on the boat. Sounds like fun, and a great way to see the surrounding areas.

2/21

Today we are just hanging out by the pool with nothing on our list. Lounge around the pool (umbrella open!), Jim ordered some fantastic Bloody Mary's, and we just sat and drank by the pool overlooking the beach. This is the life!

Delicious Bloody Marys by the Pool

For lunch, we walked to a nearby beach restaurant where Jim said he had a hamburger whilst I was at the spa. He said they were good burgers and I'd like it. So we did that for a late lunch. We sat and stared at the sea whilst we ate our burgers. They were very good, but the French fries were even better!! Yum! Then I had a Banana Shake to top it off.

View from Beach Pub Near Hotel Where We Ate Hamburgers

We walked back to our lounging chairs by the pool, took a swim, and relaxed a bit more. Then we went to the room and relaxed. Then we went out to book or snorkel trip at the hotel tour office.

We were going to look into what hotel we're going to stay at next, either in Krabi, Koh Lanta, or Trang. We heard the latter 2 are pretty secluded, and I think 8 days there would get boring. As we were online, I looked at Jim and he didn't look so good.

An Adventure In Itself: Buying Cough Medicine in a Thai Market When No One Speaks English!

Jim said he had a headache, and he was coughing a lot. He went back to the room to rest. When I got back to the room, he was coughing a lot, so I went on an adventure in itself to buy some cough medicine. He said he wasn't hungry, that I should order room service (he must be sick if he's telling me to order room service!!) So I ordered a small pizza from room service and headed to the local market for cough medicine. Nothing was in English at this store, and I had a hard time finding cough syrup. There were a lot of people in the tiny store, and I didn't have time to wait in line, ask the lady which one to buy, etc. since the pizza would be delivered within 20 minutes. I didn't want them to go in and disturb Jim. So I left the store, ran back to the room to wait for room service to show up, then back to the store.

Once I got back to the store, I asked the lady which one for cough and she pulled one out that wasn't in English. I asked her if it was for daytime or nighttime, and she said "Anytime." By this time, there was line forming. I didn't even know how much this cost, and I didn't know if I had enough baht. I told her I'd like some cough drops too, so she pulled some out of a glass case. I don't think she had patience with me. I told her I would like to pay with credit card, and she asked me how many baht I had. I told her 200. Turns out, I bought the cough syrup, cough drops, and a some type of card worth 200 baht!

I went straight to the front office staff at the hotel, and asked them what the directions are on the cough syrup and to verify that was the right stuff. They said, "Yes, take one spoonful every 4-6 hours, and it's for anytime." I don't think they have the daytime nighttime cough medicine concept here. I also asked them what I just bought for 200 baht, and they said it's a calling card. They understood the error, and wrote a note in Thai explaining what it was, so that the lady at the market would refund my 200 baht. I felt like a kid going to school with a note from my Mom as I walked back to the market, but hey, you get over these things when you don't want to buy something you didn't need! It's all part of the experience. One can imagine what travelers to US go through, where maybe they might not get any help! Thank goodness it worked, but it was another trip across the street to return the card, while my pizza was still waiting for me and Jim was still coughing!

Finally, got back to the room where Jim was dressed and going to come look for me because it was taking a while. Once he saw me, he got back in bed, took the cough medicine, and had a piece of pizza. He said he'd feel better tomorrow for the snorkel trip. I told him I found out they won't refund the money, but if he doesn't feel good, he shouldn't worry about it.

It was a long night, and Jim didn't sleep too well because his head was hurting. Poor guy, but at least the coughing got better.

Enough of that, I'll post the rest of our photos from Koh Chang. We ended up not snorkeling, but it's okay...still enjoying it here!

More Beautiful Koh Chang Photos

Jim Wants to Live Here

Koh Chang Swing on Beach

Sitting Around at a Beach Bar Having a Bite at Sunset

View of Sunset from Koh Chang Amari Emeral Cove Resort Hotel, just outside of our room.

This is the Life in Koh Chang! Walking on the Beach at Sunset

Walking Along Koh Chang at Sunset...I think we've got some good photos for home decor!

Well, that's about it for now! I can't say what the next post will be, so I'll be just as surprised as you! Stay tuned as we head further South!