Doris's Blog

It's all about time and timing and Yellow Orange.

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:33:00 -0500

My youngest daughter asked about the time change yesterday when she realized it's still so dark outside before she goes to school. When does that time change happen anyway? The first Sunday in November-I had to look it up too! So we are close to a brighter school start.

It made me think a bit about this time of year. I met my first husband at a Halloween party. I have always loved the fall having grown up in the Midwest it brings visions of color pure and simple to mind when someone says October I see yellows and oranges and a few brilliant reds in my mind I see straw people and pumpkins with crooked faces: and the pies! Who doesn't think about a slice of warm pie about now.

Ok here comes the winter weight along with those wonderful memories, eh? My kingdom for a pie! Warm, Pumpkin please with vanilla ice cream.

It seems to be a time of endings too. Both of my grandparents passed in November right after Thanksgiving we were attending their funerals many years ago. Funny how some things stick to you forever.

For me it is a time of new beginnings-That same daughter has recently learned the gift of giving comes back to ourselves in abundance. She was so funny this past Monday when it was time for her to return to school after a month out she told me she wasn't quite ready to go. Not her normal reaction. She was staring at my left leg and pondering if she could leave me alone with it! This is the kid with the 100's always the 100's. She had travelled with me to the hospital and through my hip surgery she had been right at my side. This leg is as much hers as mine now as she has given so much to it's proper healing and repair. From pulling and tugging stockings back on(I couldn't reach them) to helping with those miserable leg lifts twice a day! Grrr. She was my tyrant and my reason to try harder at the same time. She slogged through all of it-always jumping up to help before I asked most times. These are the days when I feel so blessed to have this child at this time and so proud to have her at the same time. She gave up even a normal birthday this year to be with me-we still had cake but, it's not the same thing and I know that! I look at her and remember and my tears come-how does one get so lucky? I must have done something right to have a family like this.

I am anxious to get back to wholeness without the limp and I am doing my exercizes religiously to be able to give them back what we had-a better-not quite bionic but, pretty darn strong - me! I am scanning jobs and contemplating what is possible and what is just plain silly to think about, yet. I can get around the house and not worry about falling anymore. Today, we finally have sunshine so I'm walking outside at least up the block-time to rebuild some endurance-with permission. I'm not allowed miles yet but, can start the climb. Imagine how well I will sleep tonight! It could be a green shoots spring day instead of a yellow brown day. My youngest sister tells me that I am a very strong person and I reply it's the blasted stubborn German bloodline. It did get me through a lot of the tough times. I am in the new start and can't wait to get on with it! Sometimes you just have to growl and get on with it! Enjoy your day! All of it.

Our Schools and some common sense

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:05:41 -0500

This blog is not to start or fire up a firestorm-just to ask that my friends join me in using a clear head about these issues. I have made a personal decision: from now on if I don't read the issue-I don't comment on it. I admit in the past I have been too quick to react sometimes and that does get your foot in your mouth that requires major surgery to remove! Last Friday, I received a letter from the school telling us that they would not air the Presidential speech today for our children at school-I talked to my husband about it and we both reacted as if the country is really going a bit crazy. I was happy to see the script for that speech from the NPR website, to the Whitehouse site: see below. (I Googled to find it.)

This doesn't seem political:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

Our daughter (almost ten now) has respect for the office of the President and told me that it shouldn't be a political issue if it comes from that office. He is supposed to be the President of all of the people.

Mouths of Babes! After reading the speech myself I have to agree-This is the speech that I would hope for from a President of any party to the children of this nation! Skip the politics and judge the speech-can you really fault the subject or the comments? I have not been a strongly political person in the past (I do vote with each opportunity to do so) but, I do have views that might surprise you after reading this post.

I can hear the "yes buts", but again if you don't read the speech-please don't bother to comment on this blog! Now I have to go, there is this 1000+page health care book I need to read next! Ha, have you?

It's September-why is is February in my head?

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:06:33 -0500

I am appreciating my family especially my husband today. I saw a video clip on YouTube earlier and it was a Valentine's day theme. Why can't we remember our loved ones in September too? I decided to share these thoughts today to not only enjoy the remembering of why my husband is special to me but, to maybe pay it forward and encourage you to perhaps write a warm note of appreciation to those in your life who may not have heard it lately. Love notes anyone?

I read the news or catch an update at least once a day and most of the forcast is dreary. I just wanted to say now is a wonderful time to appreciate whomever we are sharing those times. Nothing can take that away from us and even while watching the fires in CA-I saw a woman happy that her family is safe. When it is all said and done that's what matters most.

So I'm appreciating my people and you all for giving me some of the best distractions one could want. Business related, funny, thought-provoking, all of it. Good Job Rainers!

Maybe remembering your peeps! (OK I still have a kid in the house!) will make you feel pretty good too!

Code RED for Plano, TX and Collin County

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:27:45 -0500

Sometimes it pays to listen to the recorded messages that sometimes come to your phones. I happen to be home this morning on the first day of school-I thought that would be the most important thing that happened today but, perhaps not. I learned by listening today that our town has an emergency dialing program and they were verifying it this morning.

If you happen to live in Plano, TX or Collin county and didn't get a phone message today about the Code RED program you can get your number or any other numbers on the list by going to the website:

http://www.colincountytx.gov Go to the bottom of the page and look to the right for a button that says CODE RED. Follow the instructions from there.

Happy First day of school and stay safe!

Are you on Facebook yet?

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:06:20 -0500

I am also licensed in Florida and keep track of the conventions there too. One of my friends from Texas is speaking at the convention in Orlando and they streamed it live this morning. If you are a REALTOR in TX you may know Mark Porter he is a CRS instructor and has been a great resource in North Texas for years. He is speaking at the FAR conference this year and you can catch him via internet. There are others too that may be of interest-it's free and no login required just click on the link:

http://www.floridarealtorsconvention.org/ Slide down in the middle of the page click on "VIEW LIVE VIDEO STREAM.

Pretty cool to visit from over a thousand miles away and still get some good information!

Summer's over-Coming Home Again

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:57:53 -0500

Happy to be home safely! We spent the summer in Charlotte, NC a very small, big town. It is sooo green there with huge trees. Sometimes I think about retiring and as we travel wonder about different areas but, with trees that big there has to be snow to water them and that isn't part of my plans! If we think we are in harder times, they have an unemployment rate in the double digits. We still met the nicest people and can they eat! Those 10 pounds that I so diligently lost, well my scale says I have to get back to it! I believe that it is true that if you can't measure you can't accomplish either, so it makes sense that I have an extra few pounds to shave off. If only it were that simple, eh?

I had a flat tire on the road out there and was helped by kind people to get going again. It made me nervous about the drive home as I was on my own with Ali. With all of the driving we do it shouldn't have bothered me but, I had been lucky for a very long time and I guess that just tells you: keep a better eye on the tires. I think I might have worried the truck driver on my right a bit more than I was, as I passed and slid to the curb pretty quickly to get safely out of his way. It wasn't ten minutes before I had a kind police officer ready to help change the tire and with advice on where to find a new one.

We also learned this summer that our youngest is allergic to cats. Seriously allergic. Sacred the daylights out of me but again we found a kind doctor who told me(the mom) that I did everything just right.

Got the decongestant down her quickly.
Stripped her and washed her off(showered-clean clothes-others bagged for special handling)
Took her out of the environment immediately
To the Doctor
Stayed out of the environment-Watched carefully for 24 hours

We got through it and added adopting kittens to the NEVER do that list! Darn, we all love them.

Hope your summer was profitable!

Glad to be back and getting into routines for school again. I am better focused this way too.

Gave myself a timeout!

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:50:16 -0500

I really didn't mean to but, seems like there was this real estate fog in my brain. Decided to jumpstart the business and found a great attitude from reforming the plan. It didn't strike me as much different until my family started to comment on how happy I sounded. How did ya do that you ask?

1. Get real with yourself. Recognize the fog!
2. Get control-for me this means make a great plan.
3. Create at least 3 steps for each part of the plan.
4. Put 1 step from each area of the plan on your calendar and assign a time.
5. Hold yourself accountable and plan a reward! Failure is not an option and couches are the bad guy. Stay away from them!
6. Help someone else today!
7. Use your brain to solve the current problem.
8. Smile, things are getting better with each step you take.

Now have a fabulous week.

Re-cycle your tree and voila:give it away?

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:55:10 -0600

I saw an ad in the local Briefings newspaper I think, that described an ambitious lady who likes to paint. She collects the trees 3-400 a year (Ok but-how about two or three?)and has them sliced into 1/2 in rounds-then paints them with festive iconic scenes to be used for Holiday ornements and she is selling them at boutiques! For those in a creative frame of mind you might want to try a pass at this. One tiny hole for the festive ribbon, a bit of paint and what a cool idea for next years giveways!

Have a fabulous 2009. I'm all for the greening of our country and this looks like it could be fun and a good distraction for those of us who could use some stress relief after the holidays!

Personal Giant steps-forward

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:01:05 -0500

Hello all, I have missed you.

I have been responding to some posts off and on this year but, not posting myself so much. I/ve been in turtle mode for a while, internally that is.

It's been a busy year. We have lost 3 family members to death this year, which is why my posts have slacked off a lot. We have reached out and travelled as a family a lot more, I helped my mother pack for her move to Colorado, after my step-father passed away in May. We took an Eastern trip through the US and saw a lot of the family along the way. When we returned I learned that my brother-in-law had passed over the Memorial day weekend. That was tough on my older kids who considered him "DAD" most recently. Then my step-mom's (a sweet woman) sister passed this past weekend. We also have one new grandchild this year. That makes 9. Mostly on my husband's side of the family-I just get to love them!

The funny thing is I was recently told by a very old friend that I had reconnected with, that she was "amazed" at how well I was holding up and how positive I am even today when the Real estate industry and the feeder industries are in such turmoil. I read that Pollyanna book many, many years ago but, some of it must have stuck. I still find all of my glasses of water half full and truth be told I expect them to probably fill up again over night while I'm sleeping. I do believe that finding the good is important and today more useful than ever-I even checked out that book from the library, for my youngest daughter-someday she may well need to remember some of it, too.....

Somewhere I read that the most successful people are those that can bounce back the quickest from adversity. I guess there's still some bounce in me!

I admit I have interviewed for other jobs-I have a friend who calls them RJ's for "Real Jobs" as if this wasn't!? Some of you know well exactly what I mean by that, eh? For those of you who haven't taken an e-PRO class with me there is another one next week and I am supercharged for it because we couldn't do the one in August-it was a room issue at the Association. The supercharged state usually makes for a good class because I will bring the energy that has been stored up in between classes. I have a new handout that should be useful as a take along too!

I am feeling the pull back to Florida, somehow. Perhaps it's those cute granddaughters, who can both say Nana now. Check it out: http://www.theverafamily.com/pics.htm I have even been house shopping and have found a place with great schools, (yes we still have one child at home!) there's a a job that I could love nearby and enough room to plant some flowers and even veggys. I may be turning into my grandmother but, then she did live through the depression and knew a few good things!

Perhaps a garden is a good idea for all of us. We need the Vitamin D from the sun that happens during the weeding process. Our guys can use the lycopene from the fresh tomatos that most people plant and I like the fresh greens, spinach, green beans (mmm-creamed) and such. Heh if you don't plant it for yourself and your own good health, plant one for the community! We must know where there is at least one vacant lot that might be better used(highest and best use). I'm suggesting it to the PTA as a project for the spring.

I am rambling so will close for now. Let me leave you with something of value to think about today:

Be brave enough to live life with JOY!-unknown author.

We really have a lot more control over our lives than is first apparent-Seriously, plan to plant the gardens!

Does addicted mean productive? BUYERS!

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:00:56 -0500

Ok I "subscribed" to a post and now have had second thoughts-is it wise to take time and therefore energy away from what we should be focusing on, to read or comment on issues that should have an easy solution? This is sometimes just like when you are in the middle of a divorce and all you can hear or talk about is the other person. Giving them way too much of your energy, when they might have really been destructive to your life in the first place.

So I'm going to unsubscribe to that post and seriously rethink the ones that I might subscribe to in the future. I'm posting this because I suspect that there are others reading that might not have had this particular thought today and if you are reading and not as focused as you could be right now-the business is changing. Requires our focus. Stay on task as I tell my daughter when she leaves for school.

That's not to say that I don't still love AR and the Rainers! or that I won't be posting but, I promise to TRY and stay on topic, give good value and not waste so much of your time or mine.

To the value:

Need some buyers? Try this: Go to www.Apartments.com search by using a zipcode that you work in. Find a complex that has rental rates of over $1000./month. Note the street address and zipcode. Most apartment complexes are on circles and all on the same street. Now go to www.whitepages.com enter the street addess and search, if you don't get at least 100 names and contact phone numbers back up and use just the street name and zipcode. Run the phone numbers through the "do not call screening list" and make some calls. Most apartment complexes do either 1 year or at least 7 month leases-these are people who really may be moving and you know how much they pay for the rent! Could you find them a house if you find one who really is moving when you call them? Of course! Now don't say you don't know who to call! This is free and only takes your time, it's on task and productive time if you do all of the steps. Don't skip anything. Check the numbers and make the calls. Have a buyer today that could actually want to buy something yet this month or next. Some of this job could be assigned to an assistant or your child-who you can pay-ask your tax consultant how much you can pay them tax free. Then they can buy their own clothes or food or pay the insurance and start to value the money that they earn.

p.s. I used to ask my favorite lenders and title people to join me in my conference room to help make the calls then if there was a lending question or title question, I could pass the phone and it seemed to impress people when they knew that we were all making the calls together. Think about your next pizza night and how much more fun it is to do this work in groups. It makes for great teams and better communications between those teamplayers. Have a productive week.

When we are the ones looking to buy

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:24:18 -0500

Before I start talking about wants: I have a house to Sell or Trade. If it's a trade it can happen pretty fast if it's a Sale I will wait until Spring to put it on the market.

Happy trekking -we are off to FLA next week. Business and Pleasure-I love to travel. We always shop for houses while we are there. I am a broker in Florida so I am just looking for listed property. My husband says we need at least 5 acres, I want good dirt if we buy that way-I want a garden again. Texas heat kills off my vegetable too quickly so the healthy earth is important to me! Some of you might understand exactly what I mean when I say I want good dirt? He is on a health kick so I want to support that with the best food that we can grow-shades of Mother Earth News! It's still around and you can google for it these days! Now some of you know my age group-oops!

Has anyone else had to search for land via REALTOR.com and found that it isn't so easy to find that way, if you want a house on it? 3/2? Pool is nice but we can dig it later, too. The acres field seems to be populated in strange ways depending on where you search. I found that the beta is more reliable and HOT! They have included the Great schools information (YEAH!) and a map on the same screen and the acres field is almost working right-correctly, over there. To see what I mean, check it out at the top right of REALTOR.com Just click on the Beta site, give the name of the city and on the next screen you can fill in more details. It is a pretty neat presentation with lots of photos.

Hubby wants room for a greener life-I suspect that means windmills and solar energy so no HOA's. He also has radio antennas as a vital part of his life so again so still NO HOA's. I need a storage Barn-he has stuff and we have agreed it will never reside in the house again. If you have a listing with a big barn or metal storage area-send me an e-mail. (Central to North Florida at this time.) After next week I can narrow the area a lot more.

I still have one daughter in school and she is picky-wants a "good one". We made the mistake of exposing her to Bayview Elementary in Fort Lauderdale for over a year (Top ten in Florida state school list) and now she is picky about her teachers and the curriculum in her schools. I had to join the PTA last year because she was so unhappy with her school here in Texas. She couldn't understand why it took a week to teach what she thought she could learn in a couple of days-they finally moved her into the PACE class and now she is happier. PACE is the advanced class in Texas. At any rate I need a good school at least an 8 please. 10's are preferred. (I can't imagine how much fun she will be when it comes to picking a college!)

I will be hugging Palm Trees and granddaughter's this time next week! Whoohoo!

HomeBuyer Seminar in Plano-Frisco, TX

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Sat, 31 May 2008 17:32:30 -0500

Please join us either June 4th or 11th Call for reservations 6:30pm to 8:30pm 469-429-0160 Leave name, number and DATE! Refreshments will be served.

Click here to check out
The Frisco Real Estate Buying!

See you there!

Dallas Suburbs launches new website for Agents and customers

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Wed, 21 May 2008 21:31:11 -0500

Home Page? My Page Check it? We are very excited to announce the release of the new company website. Everything you can hope for or need to use to find a property in North Texas is all right here. Plus we added some cool links- Check the map searches, (I personally love the map searches) the "for kids" link is fun and the calculators are right on the pages. So we are now very customer friendly and having a lot of fun on the back creating some extra pages for the public to enjoy.

If you are a North Texas agent, please check out the "NEWS" link where you will find updates on the power networking lunches held on Wednesday's. If you see something you like just call and speak with our Managing Broker, Ivy Boland. 972-208-9200 She likes to invite our friend's to lunch and learn at the Wednesday Power lunches.

I am bubbling just a little bit, some of the photos on the home page came right out of my camera! I think half of the fun of a new website is the anticipation of all of the great tools we can offer to new customers, plus hopefully all of the new leads from people starting to get serious about finding a home in the Dallas Suburbs. The "Hot Market" falls in the summer here, which is the exact opporsite of my time in Florida when more homes were sold in "season" November to April-ish. We might have counted ourselves unlucky in Real Estate in Texas, awhile back when everyone else's markets were going great guns but, our time has come around-we are now one of two "top selling markets in the country. Dallas area and Houston are the "good deal areas". Now I'm glad I got that license here, too!

So if you are in a buying frame of mind-c'mon give me a call and let's make a deal for you.

Children's Medical Opens in Plano-April 08

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:01:32 -0500

What a blessing came to Plano early in April. We are lucky to have Children's Medical center open right at Hedgecoxe and Preston Road on the SW corner. They have had offices on the SE corner for quite awhile and those will be occupied by some of the doctors practicing at Children's.

Our children may very well be safer because of this step. So we want to say welcome to the neighborhood!

Linked in How to's

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:16:37 -0500

IF any of you saw an earlier blog that I put up about linkedin.com and took my advice to go get linkedin then you might have received an e-mail this week from Zale about how to use this site. I got a kick out of his 7 ways to Get business from Linked in: http://www.zaletabakman.ca/2007/12/19/seven-ways-to-use-your-linkedin-network/ As all of us could use any more ways to get business, I am sharing this link today for your reading pleasure.

Have a fabulously profitable weekend and share a good idea with us this next week! Teach a man (or WO MAN) to fish!

Foreclosures in Plano, TX

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:14:33 -0500

There are currently as of today 61 properties that are available with a foreclosure classification. These Properties range from 72,000 to 3,442,900.

The 72,000 is a 3/2 with a 2 car gar square ftg is 1335

The 3,442,900 is a 5/5 with a 2 car gar sq ftg is 12,278

While we're seeing a slight increase in foreclosures it has not dramatically affected sales prices. I just thought it might be fun to see the two extremes in this market. Please call if you would like to walk either property or the others.

What's going on this week at the Office?

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:39:20 -0500

Easy floor plan and Easy to show. It's had it's face washed this weekend so if you have or are the gardener who wants to live in Frisco, just north of Main street, Don't let the roadwork stop you from seeing this one. GREAT yard. House is nice too! Camfield Frisco, TX 75034

Jeff Crilley came to visit

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:31:49 -0500

When one of the TV guys shows up for an office meeting the agents come out in droves! Even top producing agents who may stop by for a bit of lunch while usually on the run to important appointments-sat down to listen to Jeff's comments and join in the giggles.

We had the pleasure of a visit from MR. Jeff Crilley of Channel 4 here in Dallas. He spoke to our office about "How to market using little to no money, on building a recognizable brand and getting attention from the press." That wasn't the real topic but it covers what we learned and what fun we had. Tom Apligian, one of the owners of RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs joined in the experience and learned that he and Jeff had community in common, both are Michigan natives and while they didn't remember each other growing up they enjoyed sharing rememberances of the area and their time near Detroit.

Jeff brought things to make us laugh at ourselves and others, He brought things to open our eyes about the real impact of "Branding", he even made us blow some bubbles to teach us to understand how a press room really works. When was the last time you were offered a PEZ candy? See Tom above holding the huge PEZ dispensor? Luckily he has an excellent sense of humor as he was drafted into the presentation immediately.

This entertaining and thought provoking presentation is a must see for agents wanting to have impact in a powerful way for their products and Brand. While Jeff speaks for FREE he has written a powerful book and offers it almost reluctantly at an incredible price of $10.00 and for those of us who wish we could read even in the car there is a companion CD for another $10.00. For REALTORS used to paying much, much more for quality content this was a true value and enjoyed by all who attended the 2 hour TX-MCE qualified presentation. I want to share that he does enjoy travel so for any of you agents out there who would like to really know what you have to do to get some attention from the media (Also known as FREE advertising) Click on Jeff's name above and see what you too can arrange! While Jeff will speak for free if you are asking him to travel-perhaps some tickets and a room would be happily accepted!

Collin County Foreclosure Tours

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:43:02 -0500

If you are considering a home purchase this spring, why not let us help. There are over 200 Houses that are under $200,000 in Collin county that are going through the foreclosure process. 199,900 4/4 2 car garage

Many of these homes are in good condition; they are simply houses whose owners have hit a crisis point and now these houses are looking for new owners that can and will give them the care a home needs. If you are one of those people who are hoping to find a house that needs a homeowner's care-give me a call. 972-208-9200 or send me an e-mail: Doris@DorisBarnett.com. 3/3 138,900

Let us first get you qualified, that increases your negotiating position and gets you some pull in the buying process. Then we will help with pricing point information, so that you can buy at the right price for a particular area. We do scientific CMAs and that is a feature that we offer to the clients of this company. A scientific CMA follows very specific guidelines and commonly hits the price on the nailhead with which the appraiser will agree when the time comes. Remember as a buyer, a lender will first approve you for the loan and then they will require an appraisal to approve the property that you wish to buy.

Start your spring in a new home, locations are good, prices are better and rates are still dropping. Why wait to start building your wealth? The National Association of REALTORS says that most homebuyers use their homes to help build their wealth and buying smarter gets you started with some equity at the start.

Rainy Day work

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:12:07 -0500

When it's gray and gloomy outside so many of us try to stay inside. We are having a couldburst kind of day today in North Texas and the best thing about it is the flowers are just rejoicing! We have petunias in front of the office that are dancing in the rain! It's funny to watch them kind of wiggle everytime a raindrop finds a petal.

What are you doing for your rainy day? It seems that this same cloud is almost covering the entire country right now and while I know we will have some really incredible flowers by the end of this month. We have daffodils already. I am thinking about my end of the month and how I can best spend today so that I have a sunny face about then, too.

I have one buyer looking for a daycare business up to 2 million dollars. whoeee Found a building but learned today that it was just used for that purpose not as a business at this time. Drat!

I have a seller who was anxious to sell her 3/2 with almost a half acre of land and then decided to lease it. Drat again. I am following my servant heart but, hello out there. I could use one deal this month!

I did an open house this last weekend and the seller offered me an extra $1500 to FIND A BUYER! Ok anyone got a big shovel! I think I'm going to have to dig one up!

My open houses this weekend were spent catching up on paperwork and watching HGTV. I have some excellent ideas for home improvement. No one was visiting on Palm Sunday. Seller is itchy, not my listing, just helping a friend who really needed time with family.

Now I am not moaning at all-just a recording of the facts-I'm one of those glass half full kind of people and I know that sometimes you do have to get out the shovel and plan some Rumplestiltskin work-spinning straw into gold- so I'm busy today with some planning efforts.

Find another daycare center-operating one this time!
Pull some under average market priced homes and then set some contact plans in place.
Choose new properties for open houses and plan to announce them better.
If I had a bus I'd be doing foreclosure tours after the buyers were qualified of course.
Those small corragated signs can be done up for about $10.00 or less if you do them in quantity.

Heh the good news is-with the weather this way I can put off cleaning the inside of the car until tommorrow morning! No one wants to look at property today! I've been wet all the way through but, it has been a really productive day. Sometimes the rain is important for our growth, too! Have a big glass of water but, remember to leave it "half full!"

I found an old Friend this week!

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:29:18 -0500

I still have one missing but, this was so exciting to just be fooling around on my "linkedin.com" searches and run across an old buddy from the "cellular days"_those were the 1980's for me. She is still out there doing it and here I am settled into a new, after 18 years, not so new business! It is fun though to re-find people that were once so important to my life. We had dealt almost daily on the phone together for awhile while I was still in Chicago and it was a nice surprise to find her name and contact information in the linked in website. By the way for those of you who are looking for a way to find old contacts that is a good place to start. Go to www.linkedin.com and join for free, then search for old business connections and even old friends. Perhaps they would be willing to send you business even today. Sometimes I think the best friends we have ever made are those we made in our early years. So if you like the idea, try that site and then try one called www.fastpitch.com both work the same. I have done more with linked in but like the structure of fastpitch! If you have others I'd love it if you would share them!

There is still one friend her name was Luanne India, from Medinah, IL in the early 70's. She will remember Doris if she ever hear's that I am still thinking about her silliness after all of these years. Some people bring rain to your life some bring the sun. The sunny ones stay in your heart! Enjoy!

Did you change your clocks?

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:01:58 -0500

What a relief to find that some of them changed themselves-Forward in case you forgot. I spent Sunday morning while breakfast was cooking changing the 4! clocks in the kitchen. Thank heaven the computers changed themselves! Hope you are bright eyed and bushy tailed, I woke up sleepy today- Adjustment is so time consuming! My good intentions may have to wait a day.

What our elected officials are doing for us in Texas.

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:20:02 -0600

We had a networking meeting today at the Collin County Association of REALTORS and that is normal for a Tuesday we have them every week. What made this week different is that we had the company of Judge Charles Sandoval in attendance and he was in fact our featured speaker. Now he is an elected official and up for election but, all he said about that was don't forget to vote today.

The more important topic that he brought us was that there is a treatment that he found by attending a meeting a year ago in Chicago. He is sentencing people coming through or assigned in to his court to this treatment. He says that maybe 90 percent of his "offenders" are there due to a problem with drugs or acohol. This treatment is helping 70% of them stop the drug use-specifically meth. His cases cover things like burglaries, car breakins and even child abuse cases. All track back to the use of a drug of some sort. In Texas we do have a program in the jail system that takes a year to complete and most of the "offenders" aren't anxious to participate in that one-this other one is an injection treatment and a talking treatment that seems to work pretty well a 70% success rate and they will even ask for this sentence when given the choice of 1 month or 1 year I guess the choice is easy. The best part is the parole officers are the monitoring arm and it actually shrinks the part of the brain that crys out for the drug. He has already put 20 people through the program and the state has jumped on board with an allocation on $180,000 towards the program. It's not enough but, perhaps when they realize that it costs us probably closer to $30,000 to house someone in jail for just one year this is a better plan!

They have also brought it to the attention of the jails. There is a Doctor in Dallas Dr. Urshal who will administer the program for someone outside the correctional system for $12,000. The judge told us that is probably a deal for most meth users. This drug is called Prometa, the one for alcohol is called Vivitral. They are planning to try to get this information to the schools next. I already sent an e-mail to my principal with the information on the programs. What a gift, to have someone in the judicial system who cares enough to really try and solve the problems! He struck me as an amazing man, perhaps you know another amazing person in your town who needs this information. Judge Charles Sandoval is an elected judge for the 380 district court in Plano, Texas.

Don't forget to vote!

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:57:35 -0600

We were reminded today of a strange quirk in the system. Some people have mentioned that they were considering voting cross party some in Democratic and some in repubican parties this time. We were told that in the primary this is not allowed. At our local level it affects people that we do want elected. You may have already found this out if you have already voted or it may be a Texas thing I don't know. It does make sense to confirm the nomineee for the presidential race but, on a local level we have people who vote for the "People" more than the party. Interesting?

Well at any rate-don't forget to get your opinion posted by visiting your polling place today.

Heh Texas Keep the homestead!

Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer (BrokerTrainer.com) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:21:43 -0600

There is a vote coming as you know and they are trying to change homestead laws for people over 65, for heaven's sake! Be sure to vote on this even if you aren't over 65 yet. READ the ballet! It counts for more than you think!