Trust me, I'm a professional

When you're gone, how will others know you were once here?

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 12:36:54 -0600

Throughout history man has always looked for ways to let others know that they were once here on earth. Whether it was drawings on cave walls or even fossils, there are clues all around us proving there were things and people here long before we were.

Living in the technology era, we're lucky. We have all sorts of ways of leaving a record of our existence.... Which I think is kind of cool! Who knows, in 6000 years maybe our blogs may be likened to the Egyptian hieroglyphics.

What I'm interested in is how YOU want to be remembered. Other than the written word, what type of lasting impressions do you want to leave? What will your legacy be? How will others know that you were once here?

For some, their legacy is fulfilled with their children and their families. For others, there is the hope to do something profound, maybe invent something. Yet others long to be famous. Inherently (I'd like to think) everyone hopes to make some sort of an impression.

For me, the legacy I hope to leave is tied to my character. I want to be remembered as a GOD fearing, loyal, loving friend and family member. The line between my personal and professional life is very blurred. And I like it that way. I choose to exclusively work with friends and referrals of my friends. So for many making the jump from saying "Sara is an honest & sincere friend" to "Sara is an honest & sincere Realtor" should be easy. At least that's my hope.

I've had another secret hope for my legacy for some time now. I've decided that it is finally time to share it... OH BOY! It has to do with the impression I leave on the Real Estate Industry and everyone who deal with those of us employed in the Real Estate Industry.

With all my heart I hope that I can make real differences with the "outside world's" impression of Realtors. I want the general public to trust in us the way we trust in Doctors, accountants and such. I know, tall order. I want the masses to know that for many of us, this is a career that we take VERY seriously. We take the time to become knowledgeable in our areas expertise. Although the spoils of this career can be lucrative, it is just a byproduct of a job well done.

As for the impression I leave on my colleagues, I hope to bridge the gap between competitors, encourage collaboration and healthy competition. Frankly, this is the first step towards changing the public's impression of us. I have met so many fantastic people in this business, nationally and locally. Many of you inspire me. I would be so lucky to inspire any of you. My passion for this career abounds and I just feel so blessed to make a living doing this.

So again, I ask each of you.... When you're gone, how will others know you were once here?

I must have missed the memo regarding online etiquette.

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:39:56 -0600

Recently I've been thinking about the Internet and how fascinating it really is. We live in such an "information now" society. Everything we want to know and need to know is right there at our fingertips.... LITERALLY!

In addition to the "need & want to know" stuff on the web, the biggest things that I see happening is people using the web as a major source of socialization. Maybe it's entertainment?? This really fascinates me because I'm a very social person by nature. I love getting to know people. I'm inquisitive, and LOVE making new friends. I'd be a perfect person to really jump on that bandwagon. A few months ago, I would say that I was on that bandwagon.... Blogging away!

What I've struggled with is how one-dimensional the Internet feels to me. So I have to assume that to many of you out there, you feel the same. I find myself thinking about the people I interact with online as almost characters in a sitcom.... Well, sometimes a drama! I forget that these are people, with real lives that choose to share their experiences, thoughts and ideas on the web. They're "putting it out there". Make no mistake; I love the friends that I've made on the web.

Think about it. Your "cyber neighborhood" is made up of things that are of interest to you and the places you visit on the web. You can socialize with all sorts of sometime nameless, oftentimes faceless, people around the world. It started with chatrooms and now with the advent of web2.0 you can interact with almost anyone!

What is so interesting to me at this point is the lack of courtesy we pay people on the web. We think that if no one is looking, we can get away with all sorts of stuff. It's true!

To me, it seems that many of our social graces go right out the window when we are online. People say mean things to one another. In the end, they end up hurting each other. That makes me sad.

I'm guilty of another type of poor Internet etiquette. I read people's blogs and never remark. To me that's almost as bad as not responding when someone say's "hello"! I hate it when I look at my personal blog http://www.destination48009.com/ and see that no one has looked at it or taken the time to say "hello".

I forget to stop by my friend's blogs and let them know that I'm thinking of them... again, it's as if I forgot to pick up the phone for a long time! I know better and I would NEVER act this way in the "real world". I care too much about people to behave like that. So to those of you I have neglected, again, I'm sorry. I may never be a great blogger, but I can be a great friend!

The rules of engagement are changing. The way we socialize is changing. It's exhausting... but if you want to participate in this new form of communication, you have to learn the rules and play by them. AND at the end of the day REALIZE that there are real live people out there looking for interaction. The responsibility falls on each of us to behave ourselves and act appropriately.

Hey! Maybe someday, I can become the Emily Post of the Internet.

Walking on a tightrope

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 19:07:40 -0600

As with most things in life, I think that the saying "everything in moderation" applies. There are always consequences for our actions. Too much playing means not enough working. Too much working means not enough playing and possibly... BURNOUT.

Well, I'm guilty of falling prey to this trap. At times, I spend so much of my time reading, learning and thinking about internet marketing, I fail to get "my basics" done. "My basics" are uniquely my own and have consistently garnered me business. These are the things that come naturally to me.... For instance, networking. I have recently passed on social events in an effort to read, work and research. Not good, not good at all.

I understand the importance of having a web presence. I have a limited knowledge of how I can make the Internet work for me. I now have a personal website and a personal blog. Both are a step in the right direction. Both are miles away from where I was a few months ago. But both are very challenging to me. These things are foreign to me and push me FAR out of my comfort zone.

However, socialization is my comfy place. Because I'm social, I sell homes, lots of homes!

I strive to give each customer a satisfying and rewarding transaction. I take great pride in the things I can offer a customer. These things include an unmatched marketing plan, consistent communication and service that will exceed high expectations. Tall order, yes, but I'm up for it!

My goal is to have a web presence AND continue to do what I do best. Finding a balance that works is tricky.

So I will kindly acknowledge that my new website and blog will never be as good as some other agent sites. I may never fully understand how to make the most of my online presence. However, I will try. I will try as long as I can keep my balance.

There is no agent out there that is capable of having it all. Everyone walks on his or her own tightrope. Those agents who can master the online experience may need some work on other skill sets. Recognizing that fact gives me comfort. Some of the best selling agents in my market have no idea what SEO even means, and they're perfectly happy with that.

At the end of the day, there is enough business for us all. We just have to remember to stay on that tightrope and don't look down!

I wish Oprah sold Real Estate

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 22:46:49 -0500

My pal Craig Schiller will love this one. It’s a double nod to him! Not only did he once post about Oprah, recently he also has posted about books. Thanks Craig, you inspired my post!

OK… so why do I want Oprah to sell Real Estate? Simple, I need her advice on where I could find interesting books to read regarding my profession. My friends Karen and Kristal have both sent me books to read. Ladies I thank you.

For those of you not sure where I’m going with this I can only assume that you’re not aware of the Oprah Book Club. Oprah is an avid reader and she will often “promote” books to her audience. I’ve read several of the Oprah recommended books and most were good.

I was thinking that if Oprah was in Real Estate, she could give me a list of books she liked. Let’s face it, the chances of Oprah leaving her current gig to sell real estate isn’t very likely.

SO…. Maybe I could call on you, fellow rainers, for a list of books that you recommend I read. So how about it??

Stop Talking... Start DOING!

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 21:51:40 -0500

For the past week I’ve had a houseguest. My dad is visiting me from sunny Naples Florida. It's been a huge struggle to keep up with my work schedule and spend quality time with my dad. Still not sure how mommy Realtors do it! (No offence gentlemen). Did I also mention that I’ve been finishing my ePro course this week? Needless to say, it has been a very busy week.

Today I was able to spend the afternoon with my dad. He's been mocking me in a "very parental" way all week about the amount of time I spend at the computer. Not to mention the phone. I may have the phone to my ear as much as Geri Sonkin! In my defense, I've been online more than usual this week with ePro…. OK, AR TOO! Between the calls, the email alerts and the text messages, I think it is safe to say that my dad HATES my phone.

My dad took me to lunch today to discuss the happenings with my business and the local market. He loves to give me advice on my business. I admit, I can find it a tad bit annoying. However, I participate in the conversation because I can usually find a nugget of wisdom.

TODAY I GOT A NUGGET!

During my “lunch meeting” I explained that I've been building my 2007 business plan. I told him about AR and all the wonderful things that I’ve learned. I told him about ePro (Sorry Tomato). I gave him a full rundown of my plan.

My dad was patient, listening to all that I was saying. I could tell that he understood me. He was smiling, nodding. You know, all the validation one could hope for. After I stopped talking he looked at me and said: “stop talking, start doing”.

STOP TALKING… START DOING

I love it. I love everything about it! Sometimes we become so obsessed about learning about our craft, we forget to do our craft. We can tell new agents all the things that they should do to jumpstart their careers. Yet, we fail to do those things. We become practitioners of “do as I say, not as I do”. Not good for those of us who desire career success

So what does this mean for me?

It means that I'm going to leave well enough alone and get back to doing what I do well… That’s networking. I'm going to stop fussing about this darn website I need. I’m just going to get it done. And allow myself to be OK with that for the time being. It’s a start, and it can be modified along the way. I’m going to stop thinking about all the “out of the box” marketing ideas I have. I’m going to start trying them out.

So Dad, I thank you. Thank you for the nice visit… and thank you for kicking me in the butt!

So in homage to TLW (I'm stealing your "lesson learned"):

Lesson learned… Knowledge is great. Learning is crucial for growth. But what you do with that knowledge is most important.

Sorry the photo is so grainy. Just took it quickly before Dad went to bed. Boy do I look tired!

Let's get Cooking

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 23:50:10 -0500

Getting agents out to visit your listings in the Birmingham/Bloomfield Hills MI market can get tough.

Currently, the listing inventory is very high. As marketing times are getting longer, some agents are getting creative with the marketing.

Today, Darlene Jackson and I hosted a joint broker open. We have listings on the same cul-de-sac, both priced around $2.5 million. Again, a difficult price range to move homes in. So we got creative. We enlisted a chef for each home to come and have interactive cooking demonstrations. The homes are both wonderful but very different. Both have amazing kitchens.

I would say that the event was VERY well received. The broker open was from 4-7pm and we had a steady turn out. We had cocktail cuisine at both homes. The chefs were cooking the Hors D’oeuvres and answering questions for the Realtors. I had many agents comment on how excited they were for this broker open. Everyone thought that this was such a “neat” twist on a “typical” event. The Realtors were so enthused about the cooking presentation that their excitement about my listing escalated. This was great because I had a prospect come to see the house during my broker open. All the agents were gushing about the house. I just hope that some of that excitement rubbed off on the potential buyers.

What types of things are you doing to get people to see your listings?

Broker/Owners, This one's for you!

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 22:12:30 -0500

If you are a sales manager or a broker owner who still sells homes, this one’s for you!

Let me set the scene:

I wrote an offer on a home last Thursday. The listing agent is a broker/owner who still sells homes. We’ve been going back and forth for a few days now. Yesterday I left a message for the listing agent (again a broker/owner). I heard nothing. This morning at 10:30am I left yet another message for the listing agent. Well its been12 hours since my last message and I have yet to hear from this agent. Needless to say, my buyer and I are done with this one. We have moved on.

The thing that kills me is that this broker/owner’s firm is CONSTANTLY attempting to recruit me.

If you are a broker/owner or a sales manager for a firm I have a few tips for you.

Return your phone calls. That’s business 101. Not to mention, its just good manners.
Negotiate fairly. If you were a jerk to negotiate with, why would I want to work for you?
Lose the ego. I could give a rip about how much you sold in 1992.
Be honorable. In this instance, I wonder what the broker/owner will tell her seller when she finds out we moved on.
Treat me like you’d treat customer. That’s smart business for any agent to do. I treat every agent I work with like a customer. I want people to want to work with me. Not to mention, IF I CHOOSE to hang my license with your firm, I AM YOUR CUSTOMER!

As a broker/owner or a sales manager you have a higher standard to live up to. It’s as simple as that! I get that everyone is human and sometimes makes mistakes. However, I have very little patience for a person who should know better. I have no interest in ever going to work for this person’s firm. I would NEVER hang my license or their wall. Nor would I ever associate myself with such an unprofessional group. Does this mean that the entire group of agents at this firm is bad? No, but I do question why they would choose to work for a bad leader. I have a higher standard that I subscribe to.

If the independent broker/owner wants to survive in today’s market, it is imperative that they understand that good agents have many, many choices. I understand that it is costly for you to run your business. People are willing to work for a bit less if the environment is right. I love the independent broker/owner, as do many agents in my market.

Broker/owners, when you treat your sales staff like customers they will remain loyal to you.

Let me be your Cheerleader, I’m strong enough to lift you!

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 23:25:58 -0500

Kristal wrote a post about being an ambassador for your area and your profession. It really got my wheels turning. So thank you KK!

I love my community….. Birmingham Michigan is just a wonderful place to live. I’m very enthusiastic about my city when helping people decide where they want to live. Hopefully all of us Realtors are knowledgeable about the cities we sell in.

What really excites me is the concept of being an “ambassador” for other Realtors. I call it being a cheerleader. I’d like to be considered as a role model. Am I? Who knows… But I do strive to be a role model. I specifically like new agents. Full of wonder and excitement, new agents are eager to make their mark on the real estate world. At my office, typically the new agents tend to be younger individuals. I’m 33 and relate very well with the newbie agents. I’ve bonded with a few new agents in my day. I love to be available for questions. I love to be the cheerleader!

Being a “cheerleader” is not for everyone. Some of us may like to “fly solo”. Some of us may not have the patience it takes to mentor a new agent.

For me the reward is twofold.

First is the friendship that ensues. I love making new friends. As if you haven’t gathered that after my 4 weeks of posts on The Network.

The second is the accountability. I like being accountable to people. I like to know that people are watching me, its very encouraging to me. I’m always up for the challenge. I ultimately end up being the real winner; I always learn so much from others.

The lesson I’m trying to teach….

Give as much of yourself to others as you can. BE A CHEERLEADER! You’ll get more back than you could ever hope for!

The Champagne is ready to be served......

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 22:42:04 -0500

I have officially put out a Missing Person Report for Josh Plummer.

The race has fueled my fire for weeks now. I’ve looked to JP to keep me going.

Where has he gone?

I’ve cut my posts back to a minimum of one a day. I’ve held off inviting the people Maureen has missed. I’m trying to keep this interesting… I know the eyes of the AR world have been on this. Is it over?? Is that all you guys have??

I fear that in another day or so, I may need to officially publish my victory speech. If that is indeed the case, I may finally get to serve the 30 lbs of shrimp I own. The champagne is chilled. The canapés are ready to be passed. I’ve cleared the furniture in the living room so Caleb can dance. We’re ready at the Lipnitz estate to have a party!

Those of you in possession of Team Lipnitz or Team Plummer T-Shirts, keep them. The values are going to skyrocket, as these babies become collector items.

For those of you wondering, what will come next for Sara Lipnitz? Don’t worry… I may go for number 2. However, NUMBER ONE will always belong to my pal Maureen.

However, I think some of you (in Florida Scott & William) would love to see two girls duke it out!

4... 20,000...53...5...3... & many new friends!

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 23:15:58 -0500

What does the title of the post mean?? It’s simple…

4 is the number of weeks that I’ve been a “blogger”. Today is my anniversary on AR. It seems like it has been longer than 4 weeks. Is that good or bad?

20,000 points have been awarded for this crazy obsession. Can I trade them in for a round trip ticket to Seattle?

53 posts have been written by yours truly. I may not be a blogging neophyte anymore.

5 is the number of gold stars I’ve received. Does that mean I’m only interesting 10% of the time??

3 is the number I currently hold in the state of Michigan. wink wink!

And on to the “MANY new friends”. I hope that someday I can meet many of you. You’ve taught me. You’ve inspired me. You’ve made me laugh. You’ve become my friends. Thank you to the special people who share this crazy rain addiction.

How to overcome a rut

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 23:18:44 -0500

Have you ever heard of the term Pay It Forward? Yes, it was a movie (I never saw it). It's also a foundation (I don’t belong to it). BUT, I do practice “paying it forward” as often as possible. The concept is simple…

Do something kind for someone and that person does something for someone and so on and so on. The idea is that you can have an impact on many people just from putting the ball in motion. I like doing something unexpectedly nice for someone. I call it a “random act of kindness”.

Over the past few weeks I’ve had my butt kicked at every turn. I finally reconciled myself to the fact that I must need to learn some lesson.

So to get myself out of this “funk” I decided to “set the ball in motion”. I went out of my way to do something special for a deserving person. When I was told thank you, I relied “just pay it forward”. Hopefully, the recipient of my special attention will do something for someone else. I love the way I feel after doing something nice for someone else. It really lifts my spirit. I encourage all of you to go out and do a “random act of kindness”. You wont regret it!

The "day after" September 11

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 22:31:57 -0500

One of the biggest decisions I’ve ever made in my life occurred on September 12, 2001.

I knew that there would be so many posts yesterday about the tragic events of 9/11. I spent much of yesterday night glued to the TV with a box of Kleenex. I prayed for all the people that lost loved ones that day. I had to change the channel when they ran the voicemail messages from the people on flight 93. It really broke my heart.

I didn’t know anyone who lost their life in the attacks. I’m very thankful for that. However, the events did have a real impact in my life.

In September of 2001 I was just a few weeks out from getting married…. to a commercial airline pilot.

Mr. Lipnitz is a pilot for one of the major airlines. At the time, I was a National Director of Sales for a very large company. I traveled 80% of the time for business and I was miserable. I could be in 4 different cities across the country in one week. I was a very frequent flyer. I logged more air miles in 2001 than my husband did, and the last business trip I ever went on ended on September 10^th, 2001.

So I’m guessing that you know where this story is heading.

The 9-11 attacks really put me back on my heels. Not just because the utter shock and sadness, but because of the reality I was about to face. I was about to marry a man who had spent 15 years of his life sacrificing for his passion…. flying. If you know a pilot, you know that flying is in the fabric of their beings. As afraid as I was, I knew that my soon to be husband would NEVER consider leaving flying. I was going to have to learn to manage my fear.

I couldn’t stand the idea of both my husband and I constantly being in the air. Even worse, stuck in different parts of the country, far away from home. For me to stay sane, one of us needed to be here in Michigan on a more regular basis. I had always been a trepidatious air traveler and I knew that I was the obvious candidate to make a change. As I mentioned, I was not happy at my job but had always stayed because of the “golden handcuffs”. In my heart I knew that even if my employer added a zero to my salary, I just couldn’t do it. My days of business travel were now over.

So on September 12, 2001, I resigned from my BIG TIME, GROWN UP JOB. I had decided that I was going to pursue a career in residential real estate. I had always thought about it, but was too worried about giving up the financial security of a consistent paycheck.

Five years later….

I’m still married to a commercial pilot. I still worry about his safety all the time. That hasn’t gotten any easier. Professionally, I am happier now than ever! My worst day selling real estate is better than my best day in the corporate world. I have NEVER, not once, regretted the decision I made. I’m a Realtor… it’s in the fabric of my being. It just took something so tragic for me to figure it out.

The importance of being punctual

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:17:37 -0500

After years of being late for everything, a very good friend of mine sat me down and had a chat with me. She lovingly told me that every time I was late for an appointment I was sending a message to her that I didn’t value her time. That was about 7 years ago. I’m happy to say that I’ve never been more than 3 minutes late for any of my scheduled outings with her. If I am running 3 minutes late, I always call to let her know my ETA.

I’m so thankful I learned that lesson when I did.

As Realtors, we really need to be punctual. On occasion, our appointments run long, traffic is bad and such. However, that really should only happen on rare occasions.

Our customers need to know that we value their business and their time. I encourage everyone who struggles with this to really work at it. If I can do it, so can you!

JP & Maureen… my tardiness at the Ice Cream Social was one of those opps. Sorry again, I do value your time.

The Realtor & the Mortgage Rep

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 16:17:01 -0500

I get numerous calls every week from mortgage reps wanting to partner with me. Some offer to pay for my catered broker open houses. Others want to subsidize my advertising costs. It seems that everyone that calls on me has something that they want to do for me to gain my referrals.

Ok... first let me say that this post is not intended to bag on the mortgage reps. I think that these services are fantastic. I also believe that these "incentives" allow some reps to get their foot in the door with a Realtor that may not have given him/her a shot. Bottom line; offering services and financial relief are a great ways for a mortgage rep to endure themselves to a Realtor. That is of course, assuming that the mortgage rep can deliver when a deal is on the table.

For five years I have been referring my business to a specific mortgage banker. I've become good friends with her. She also has become a good customer of mine. In fact, I've sold 4 of her personal homes. I'm very happy with this business relationship. However, she never offers to help with my costs, which would be nice. I don't care much because the referrals and her personal business are worth so much more to me.

The decision I've made works well for me and my business. My preferred mortgage rep understands that when necessary, I do give out multiple mortgage rep names and numbers. Sometimes I have to offer that to my buyers. However, that doesn't happen very often. I'd like to think that I'm a good referral source for her as well. We have a reciprocal relationship.

What I'd like to know is how many Realtors out there have exclusive relationships with mortgage reps? What are the expectations of both parties for this exclusive relationship? Mortgage reps, what are your expectations of me as a Realtor; and are these relationships working well for you?

A rainy day is a great day to sell a house.

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 14:23:41 -0500

It's a dreary day here in the metro Detroit area. It has rained on and off all day. It's the kind of day one would love to snuggle into their sofa with a good movie or book.

I think it's a good day to sell a house. How about a crash course in the basics? Here are a few things that I highly recommend that all sellers use on rainy days like today. Yes, these tips will work even on a sunny day. However, when the weather is not so nice, these tips will keep people in your home longer and evoke a very comforting feeling.

1) If you can, bake something. I tell my customers to go purchase a frozen apple pie, sprinkle extra cinnamon on the top and bake on a low heat all day. The aroma will linger all day. However, the pie will turn to mush.

2) Leave your lights on and light some candles, soft ambient light is quite soothing.

3) Play some very soft music. White noise can be comforting.

4) Lastly, if it's cool enough, light a fire.

All these things will create a warm cozy atmosphere. Subconsciously it will welcome and comfort people. These things are so basic and obvious. However, we sometimes forget to tell our customers to do the basics. It sounds silly, but it has worked for me in the past.

Once upon a time

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 16:34:33 -0500

Remember the "good old days" when a second showing usually meant that you would sell a house?

Today I got a call from an agent that wanted to show a listing of mine for 2^nd time. The home is listed over 2 million. Needless to say, I'd be very enthused to sell it! It's an amazing home located well within the community. We're offering 4% to the selling agent; and my seller will pay the first 6 months of a purchasers mortgage. All in all, a home that is ready to be sold.

After confirming the appointment, I got to thinking about how the real estate market in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area has changed over the past 5 years.

Once upon a time.... there was urgency to make a decision.

Once upon a time.... there was limited inventory.

Once upon a time.... interest rate were insanely low.

Once upon a time.... we didn't have to have large incentives to sell homes.

Once upon a time.... people weren't afraid to own two homes.

Today, that's just a story we as Realtors tell. Kind of like the "I used to walk up hill to school" story or parents told us. Today's market is flooded with inventory. Flooded with selling incentives. People don't feel compelled to make a decision. And although interest rates are still favorable, people are holding on to the past.

I hope this isn't a "once upon a time" market for long!

A funny thing happened on the way to show a house

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 22:48:20 -0500

The other morning I was heading out to show a home in town. On my drive I passed two women who were walking their King Charles Cavalier dogs. I stopped my car, introduced myself and explained that I had just got a KCC five months ago. I told the ladies that I was on my way to show a house but wanted to say "hello". I gave them my card and said that I'd love to walk with them sometime.

Well today I was taken back when one of the ladies called to invite me to lunch with them (and the dogs). She also mentioned that she has been considering a move and would love to see what I thought of her home, as she didn't have a Realtor.

Funny how things work out.

Be open to the possibilities because the possibilities are endless!

Call me a dog... I'm loyal!

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 23:25:00 -0500

This topic will probably stir up some strong feelings with my fellow rainers. It has been a much-discussed topic at my office in the past. It seems to be sort of a polarizing topic.

I've been selling residential real estate for 5 years now. There are many things that I love about what I do. However, I think that my favorite thing about what I do is the social interaction with my customers. I'm a "pleaser" type.... I get extreme satisfaction from helping someone I care about make such a big decision in his or her lives. My job has allowed me to make new friends and strengthen existing friendships. I like that I CHOOSE who I work with. I have a motto that I live by... I never work with someone that I wouldn't share a meal with.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I don't do mailers nor do I work the floor. My business is almost all from my social networking. Is that sometimes tricky? Yes. However, for me, it works.

I EXPECT that all my friends and family will only work with me. I mince no words about that subject. I expect the support from my friends and family. I know this is extreme, but I wouldn't allow anything else. To me, I see this as a loyalty issue. If you're my friend, you'll never question my loyalty. In return I expect the same... Call me a dog!

I suspect that some of you would never do business with friends and family. I would love to hear your reasons why.

BTW... that's my King Charles Cavalier, Joey at the lake.

Maui's calling... The importance of setting goals.

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 21:41:30 -0500

Every year in the fall I sit down and write a business plan for the upcoming year. I plan out what I can do differently and identify the things that are really working well for me. The MOST important thing that I do when I put this business plan together is set my goals for the next year. I also put a rewards system into place.

I give a copy of this business plan to my broker. We both keep copies of it and meet quarterly to see if I'm on track with my plan. He doesn't require this of me. I asked him to do that for me and he kindly obliges. I like the accountability. He thinks its funny... but it works for me. However, in the fall I spend a longer time looking at my spreadsheets, my budget and my P&L sheets. The bottom line is writing down these goals and sharing them with others makes them your reality!

I think goals are critically import. As are the rewards! It gives us all something to focus on and strive for. However, I think that the bigger reason I set goals is so I can measure my success against what I think is important. NOT what someone else thinks is important. I work for my family and myself. I stay very focused on the fact that what I want out of life differs from what others want. My goals motivate me!

I set personal goals as well as professional ones. The goals are not all financial. Some goals are spiritual. Some goals are about my relationships. The goals I set involve all avenues of my life. Typically all my goals end up on my business plan because I see my business as a way to achieve many of my goals. Not just financially, but also from a time management aspect. Again, I'm very big on rewarding myself for achieving my goals. I work to live, not live to work.

By the name of this post, you can probably guess that I have a "thing" for Maui. I do! To me Maui is heaven on earth. So every year, I put "a trip to Maui" on my list of goals...Or rather as a reward for reaching my financial goals. To remind myself about this goal, I put pictures of my Hawaiian vacations out. I also randomly put a reminder in my Outlook reading, "when are you going to Maui?" I know that may sound silly to some of you, but it works for me. I actually put reminders in my calendar for many of my goals!

I hope that this post will encourage those of you who do not set goals to start setting them. Set long & short term goals. Set personal and professional goals. Make sure you reward yourselves for a job well done. You'll deserve it!

My husband & I in Hawaii... happy times!

Vacant Homes... little tricks.

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 22:21:34 -0500

Vacant homes are tough. Without furnishings, a home's blemishes are so much more glaring. Although I believe in staging a home whenever possible, sometimes its just not possible. Maybe your sellers are moving out of state. Maybe there simply isn't the money in the budget to afford staging. Whatever the reason may be. Whenever I can, I've been known to stage a home or two with "goodies" from my own house. What do I do when I have run out of goodies? What about the vacant home??

I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I use when I have an unoccupied home.

1) Have the windows professionally cleaned. What a difference!

2) If necessary, have the house detailed. A clean home is a must.

3) Baby oil the stainless sinks. Makes them shine like new.

4) Fabric softener sheets on the furnace filters. Not over powering, pleasant.

5) Run the dishwashers ONCE with powdered lemonade mix. Great for old dishwashers.

6) Put lights on timers. Homes show better with the lights on.

7) Put Polident (yes denture cleaner) tablets in all the toilets. No more yellow ring.

Obviously, these things wont necessary sell a home. However, these things will make a home shine. What tricks do you use to sell a vacant home?

Home is where MY heart is!

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 21:44:51 -0500

Today is one of those days that just makes me feel giddy. No humidity, mild temperatures and sunny. Michigan State football won their season opener yesterday. It feels like fall is officially here. Although in Michigan we have a saying... Don't like the weather, wait a few hours! It's inevitable; I'll be running my A/C well into October.

I was up very early today to show homes here in town. After showing 3 homes, I was off to Cosi to pick up a bagel and then home to sit in my yard until my next appointment. To my pleasant surprise this morning the city was bustling with activity. The farmers market was underway and streets were flooded with people. All the cafés and coffee shops were filled. Parents had crowded the park benches as children played in Shain Park. The city was alive!

As I was driving the 8 blocks back to my house I got thinking about the community I call home.
I know when Detroit is mentioned; many of you conjure up ideas of burned out buildings, crime and such. Detroit gets a very unfair rap... I think that we may have proved that to the rest of America when we hosted well-received Superbowl this past January.

Whatever you may or may not think of Detroit, Birmingham is its own special city.

Located about 30minutes from Downtown Detroit, Birmingham is a destination of its own. The city itself is small, only 4.73 square miles, with a charming downtown. The city is full of quaint boutiques, great restaurants, pubs and theatres. Combined that with the fact that all the land is all developed, it makes the property values high. If you are a resident in Birmingham you have access to a plethora of free cultural events, two public golf courses, many parks, tennis courts, an ice arena and fantastic city services. The schools are what really make this city coveted by the consumer; Birmingham schools are consistently ranked amongst the top school districts in the state. All in all, a great place to live and work.

Many are predicting that the economic state in Michigan is going to get worse. I don't have a crystal ball, so I choose not to listen to the negative media. I'm concerned for the whole metro area. However, I think that Birmingham will continue to have the "cache" and be a very desired city to reside in. I believe that what makes this city so special will continue to keep people lining up to live here.

You don't have to sacrifice everything. Balance is the key!

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 21:57:36 -0500

For about 20 minutes this post was about being a martyr...Due to the changes in the world the past few years, martyr may be a poor choice of words. It used to be that a common definition of a martyr was someone who punished or deprived oneself. I use the word "martyr" loosely. And I apologize if that word offends anyone. I looked at the thesaurus and I can't find another word that fits what I'm trying to get across.

Let's face it, we Realtors are in a tough spot. Our customers want access to us whenever they need us. We, as an industry, do all we can to comply. There's a feeling out there of "if I don't do it, someone else will". I too subscribe to that theory.

A large number of Realtors are constantly "tuned in" via cell phones, emails & pagers. Even our home phone numbers are given out. We're a "very connected" group!

I pride myself on being available to my clients. I answer the phone well into the late night. I'm lucky because I have a very understanding husband. But I must admit that I feel real pressure sometimes to "be there" for my clients. Skipped vacations, missing meals with my family... I've sacrificed many personal wants to attend to a clients' want.

Where things get tricky is creating some sort of balance. I do my job better when I get the chance to do things that I enjoy in addition to doing the job I enjoy. I can, at times, fall victim of being a Martyr of sorts.

Are the tides changing?

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 22:22:52 -0500

In the local Birmingham/Bloomfield market, there has been a surplus of listings on the market. When I was scheduling appointments yesterday to show homes today. I was pleasantly surprised that there were several homes that had just gone under contract.

This news is so encouraging to me that I feel like screaming it from the rooftops!

When I first joined AR, I posed about the power of positive thoughts. Because I was new to AR, I think that the post went somewhat unnoticed. In that post, I wrote that we, the Realtor community have the power to positively influence the industry. I challenged everyone to look at the glass as "half full" for 30 days. I'm going to heed my own advice and choose to look at my appointment scheduling experience as an indicator that the market is picking up

I forgot how tiring showing homes can be!

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 21:42:11 -0500

With soft market conditions in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area, buyers are few and far between. Of course, I have more listings than I can count.

Recently I've signed up two new purchasers. It just so happened that both of these buyers wanted to go out today to look at homes. I showed 9 homes in the late morning/early afternoon and another 8 homes this evening.

Wow, I'm POOPED!

A few years ago, when the market was stronger, I can remember showing over 100 homes in a week. The pace was grueling but it was such a high.

I think its funny how something that was once so exhilarating, today is a real killer. I'm sure I was just as tired back then, I just didn't realize it. My exhaustion is partially physical, due to late nights on AR. However, it's also psychological. I'm acutely aware how critically important each transaction is!

Funny how things change!

Do you or Don't you?

Sara Lipnitz (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 22:31:18 -0500

When you sell a house do you give your clients a thank you / closing gift? If so, what do you give?

I, more times than not, will give my customers a token of my appreciation. The "token" will vary from client to client. Most customers will get a gift certificate to Home Depot or something of that nature. However, I had close friends of mine buy and sell two VERY expensive homes with me in 2004. I gave the family (well kids) a play structure for the new back yard. It was an expensive gift. But these customers have given me millions of dollars of business. I looked at it as an investment in my future. That investment has paid off. They want to list their house in the spring of 2007 and upsize.

An agent I know always pays for a home warranty for her customers. She says that she writes a personal check at the closing table so that her clients know that she is personally paying for the "gift".

One of the very seasoned agents in my office is 100% against giving gifts to his customers. He said, "When I go to the dentist, the dentist doesn't give me a thank you gift for my business". He thinks that it devalues what we do for a living. In some instances, I understand where he is coming from.

However, for me, I give gifts.