So it looks like I am going to make it to 100,000 points.  is an amazing place. I have to say I don't get on  as often as I would like to. It is a wonderful and safe place to be. I have met great people here. Many I consider to be friends, or mentors. I learn from you everytime I log on. You may not even know I am there, I may or may not comment on your post, but I learn from you. When I have questions I can search on  and get answers. There are wonderful places I can go to see photographs such as Wordless Wednesday or Speechless Sunday. 

I can't say I have tracked any of my sales to . I can say that  has helped me to better myself. It helps me understand Real Estate and Real Estate issues in a clear and concise way. I have learned about SEO, facebook, twitter, google+,google analytics, CPG Tours, Picasa, photoshop, and the list goes on and on.

Rainers are good people, you share your hopes and dreams, victories and defeats, you even allow us to learn from your mistakes, and  triumphs. I love my time on . I thank all of you who have helped me along the way. I have so far to go in my career as a Realtor®. Thank you  for giving us this forum. For the training you give us, for continuing to improve this venue. If you can't already tell... I love 

There is an animal in there, you may have to look twice. I did

I was out showing ahouse this morning then was off to do a little research for a post, I looked north and this is what I saw.

I was glad I was at a distance, they looked pretty menacing. It didn't take to long for the snow to hit after I got in the car from taking the pictures.

This is looking towards the Salt Lake Valley from Herriman, Utah

I received a message from a client the other day. "Would you like to see what we have done to our house?" It was a young couple, first time home buyers. I spent several months out looking at Short Sales, Home Path, HUD homes and everything in between.  I think you probably know the drill. 

We found several homes they liked, wrote several offers and finally HUD sent me an email saying that they were the top bidders on a home. Probably their favorite. Someone else had a higher bid but didn't go through with the sale and we were the 2nd highest bidder so it was offered to my clients. I could go on about some of the hurdles we had to overcome finalizing the deal but this is not about the deal. 

I made an appointment to go and see what they had done to the house. On the appointed day I arrived and they welcomed me into their home. They had painted the entire main floor and had new carpet installed. The house looked great. But the smiles and the pride of ownership I saw in their faces was the greatest reward I could receive. Their 3 year old son took me to his room to show me how awesome it was. He loved their new house. They loved their new house. As I left I realized even though I received a commission for helping them find and purchase a home this experience was way more rewarding. 

 

As a Realtor® I feel I have an obligation to communicate. I communicate with clients both buyers and sellers. I communicate with my broker, with other agents, and I am always trying to build my business by blogging, facebook, twitter, linkedin, email, texting and it goes on and on. Then there are phones, verbal communication is also so important. Now back to the title of the post...

I worked with a Realtor® recently that was representing a buyer on one of my listings. Each time I sent him an email, left him a voicemail, sent him a text, a counter offer or any type of communication. I received a reply almost immediately. Seldom was there more than an hour gone by I didn't hear something back. It wasn't necessarily an answer to my communication. If I sent a counter offer I would recieve a message like: Thanks, I received the counter, I will get with my clients and get back with you. Sometimes it was just Thanks. It was so nice knowing he had received my communication. I no longer had to wonder and knew he was working on it.

I give that example because it seems that type of courtesy afforded by this agent is the exception and not the norm. The other day I hadn't heard anything back from the selling agent on an offer we had submitted. I sent an email to her stating we hadn't heard back on our offer. The reply I received was choice. She said "Hi Randy, your offer has been rejected. Have a great day!" At least she was communicating, but only after I asked her for an answer. I had a client who was waiting for an answer. They probably were wondering why I wasn't getting back to them.

When we have lisitings, we need to show gratitude to those who show our listings. Phrases like, "Thank you for showing" or "Thanks for sending an offer, we will review it and get back to you." So often when I call to set up a showing for my clients I feel like I am bothering the listing agent and it is some great priveledge they are speaking to me. If the listing showing instructions say appointment use keybox are there. I call to make an appointment. I am following the listing agents request. I'm not sure why they would be annoyed at my request to show. It mattereth not to me how many listings they have, how busy they are, if nobody shows thier listings they are not going to last very long. 

Please let's show some common courtesy. I know there are times we can't respond immediately. Most of us carry smart phones with every type of communication right there in our hands. We can email, text, call, send a picture, and why? so we can communicate.

Thank you for reading my post :) I look forward to reading yours and I welcome your comments.

When Would you Want the Value of Your Home to drop?

The question is a little absurd. Why would you ever want your home value to drop? Well actually you really don't want the value of your home to drop. But when the tax man is looking at your home that is the time when you want your home to have the lowest possible value. Why? Because your property taxes are most likely to be based off the value he comes up with. When your tax notice comes later this year you will want to look at the value they have for your home. If it is higher than you think you would be able to sell it for you may want to get a CMA. What is a CMA you say? Current Market Analysis. A Realtor® can give you a CMA. They will do comparables from the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) to show what the value of your home should be based on current sales in your area. Don't be confused with the CMA being an appraisal. One must be a licensed appraiser to give an appraisal. In many states if you want to appeal the tax value on your home the CMA will work from a licensed Realtor®. Why would you want a CMA instead of an appraisal? We can't charge for CMA's. You will pay for an appraisal. I was able to save a family member $350 on their property taxes last year by supplying a CMA. Most any other time you really want your home value to be high but not when the taxing authority is looking at it.

Another way you can appeal your homes value is if you recently purchased it. If you paid less than the tax value you can appeal by showing the final HUDs from your home purchase. If you don't have them you can ask for a copy from the Title or escrow company you went through or from your Realtor®.

The information on this post is for information only. Check with yur own taxing authority to see what the appeal process is for your area. As of the publishing of this post a CMA will work for most taxing authorities in the State of Utah.

You can see a virtual tour at: http://www.cpgtours.com/15338

My son is part of the Churchill Jr. High Ballroom Dance Company. He has been having a blast and learning tons. They performed this dance for possible incoming 7th Graders along with many students and parents. They had fun with this one. Churchill Jr. High is a great school. Great academically and in the arts. I applaud the teachers and faculty, along with the student body.