Kathleen's Blog

Bogus phone numbers

Kathleen Lunsford (Century21 New Millennium) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:16:32 -0600

Since we are a lead generated company I was following up with some leads I recently pulled. Some phone numbers are good...but for the ones that aren't, I wish they would just enter a really obvious dummy number...you know like 555-1212 or 111-111-1111..This would save me and probably several other people so much time. I know how it is, I don't want to give my number out to sales people either. I guess it is probably asking too much.

Another Headline About Activerain

Kathleen Lunsford (Century21 New Millennium) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:48:32 -0600

Just thought I would share another article with everyone, what an exciting week for the boyz

http://rismedia.com/wp/2008-01-23/real-estate-social-networking-really-takes-off/

Giving back to your clients and the community

Kathleen Lunsford (Century21 New Millennium) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:02:47 -0600

I just responded to a blog and I thought I would share my response with you. http://activerain.com/blogsview/348906/Does-anyone-do-some

Kyle was wondering if anyone did anything for their clients. I told him I do a Christmas Party. I hold it the same time every year 2nd Saturday in Dec. I have learned that is a good time to do it. If you do it later people have family and business parties to go too the turn out is not so good. My clients and acquaintances have come to expect it. I do have a little twist. People always feel obligated to bring a bottle of wine or a box of candy. My husband and I would have wine we did not like or candy we did not need. After a friend asked me to help her with toys for tots http://www.toysfortots.org/ A light bulb went off. I now tell everyone if they feel the need to bring something to please bring an unwrapped toy for the toys for tots. This has been such a success. I end up bringing several extra large trash bags of toys to the Marines for delivery. It is such a great feeling. I love it and my clients love it. Use your imagination. You can do it for a food bank, Animal shelter, I think the Lions club looks for eye glasses, Shelters looking for clothes. You can do it any time of the year. It's great to give back to your clients and the community.

Sometimes it's better to be second or third or even fourth?

Kathleen Lunsford (Century21 New Millennium) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:35:19 -0600

I recently picked up 2 clients, my first client contacted me about seeing a home. I did my duty and asked her if she was working with an agent and had she signed an agreement, Yes, she was working with someone but no she didn't sign anything. She said every house they went to see the agent said this is great you should buy this one, My client said she did not like that and never called her back. Upon getting to know her further a good friend of hers is a real estate agent every time they planned on looking at houses her friend cancelled. Frustrated, she was looking on her own found a home, called the listing agent several times, no Response. After surfing the net she found me..She said she loved me when the first house we looked at, I told her what was good and bad about the house. When she said she loved the house and wanted to write, I told her let's just look at the other ones so you don't regret the decision, she told me my honesty is what sold her. To that I will hopefully get the sale and purchase of her mothers place and of course any referrals.

Another one I just received was I referred a plummer to a neighbor, when he called to thank me, he said he had investment properties, so the conversation lead to the fact that the Realtor he has used has become so big and only seems to work with builders she does not respond to him as quickly as she had before. He wanted an agent who would let's just say respond a bit more quickly.

I was kidding around with some other agents and we were saying how you don't want to be the first lister in todays market, you want to be second or third..by that time it has received the advertising, been on the market long enough, now it should sell and you will look like a hero..I know about that one I was first lister...160 days..We love you but we just want to try a different company a sweet couple I frustratingly understood, 2 weeks later under contract.

I guess you win some and lose some

Are listing agents doing justice to bank owned listings? Do the banks know what is going on?

Kathleen Lunsford (Century21 New Millennium) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:51:30 -0600

What up with the agents listing Bank owned properties? Do they think since they are representing the banks that they don't have to do their due diligence and sell the property? I see so many bank owned listings on the market I am lucky if there is 1 picture. How about the remarks or the description. None, this is what they generally say. contact agent for addendum's, third party approval. Can you at least give me some info to give my clients. Do the banks really know how they are being represented? They are not. I am not saying all agents do this but the majority in my area are.

Is there a listing form the banks are signing saying here put it in the system and don't do anything else? when all is said and done we will pay you!! I want to sign that agreement. The sellers I am used to working with and still do make you work for your money, where is the virtual tour, extra pictures, you forgot the room dimensions. If you didn't do all this the listing was gone and given to the next Realtor. It's just frustrating to see this lack of professionalism, They don't even return phone calls.

I think if the banks took control of some of these listing agents maybe there would be a few more sales and the market may pick up a little more. It does not take much to add some pictures & detail. Besides a little sprucing and or staging on some of these homes wouldn't hurt. In my opinion in this market these agents can't be so overworked that they can't put a little more effort into their listing. They had the time when houses were selling in 24 hrs. why not now? aren't all sellers equal and shouldn't they be treated as such? Even if it may be difficult..you took the listing.. represent it!

Lack of communication

Kathleen Lunsford (Century21 New Millennium) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:09:12 -0600

Ok I admit, I am not perfect. I do how ever try to return my calls/emails in a timely fashion. I do admit I blow some people off you know those pesky sales people (like myself)...My problem lies within the communication when you are waiting for an answer or a response to a question, you know something that is pertinent to what is going on business, family, life etc. Ok I may not like what you have to say, but for god's sake just say it. I am a big girl, let me know so I can move on. People are the first to call or email you when they have good news. When it's bad you hear nothing or even when they don't have an answer, nothing..How about just picking up the phone and saying I have not forgot about you, I am still working on it, even an email would suffice..It is very frustrating..waiting for a response.

If you can't communicate, how are you running your business? or why are you in business? Communicating can be good for your health think about it if you promptly communicate you are not stressing, nor are you making the other person stress about what is going on. Another benefit would be the respect and professionalism that comes with communicating.

This also has a trickling affect..I am the middle man and the person to my right wants an answer but I can't give it to him/her because the person to my left has not picked up the phone, sent an email..in other words COMMUNICATED with me as of yet..This perturbs me to tell someone, I am sorry, I do not have an answer and I have gone to the top of the chain..How do you think this looks? UUGGHHH

With todays modern technology maybe a message slipped through and is out there in that vast space, probably with those missing socks, but come on I am not an idiot. I know you received my voice mail, text message, & email..are you telling me you did not receive any of my messages?? Stop avoiding me and get to the point.

**Thanks I needed that..I feel better now..don't expect me to communicate back either :o)

Are 2 incomes better than one? or just the same ?

Kathleen Lunsford (Century21 New Millennium) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:22:15 -0600

Why do people always assume because your married, there is no need for you to have or depend on the income of both husband & wife ? Yes being married we can probably afford more than the average single person, but we still have to pay for it. Therefore we both have to work. Being a real estate agent. Things are slow. I happened to mention, I may need to get a part time job for supplement income until things pick up. This is what I heard "you don't have to worry your husband works"..."I am single I don't have another income"...OK this is all fine and dandy in your own mind. These days it takes 2 incomes to make the mortgage payment,pay the bills and 2 college tuitions..Where do they think I am getting the money? on the money tree in the back yard? do they realize it's winter here and the Money tree has shed all its $100 bills. I have worked 20+ years of my life, having my own money. It has not stopped because I am married...I enjoy working, I enjoy my own money. I can't believe I have actually had to have this conversation with people and yes I mean more than one person. If I want to buy a new purse, pair of shoes or go away for the weekend I don't want to ask someone for money. This is another reason I work and have my own money So I can do what I want along with paying the bills. If I were single I would still need an income why do people think it is different because I am married?

Open house,public & broker

Kathleen Lunsford (Century21 New Millennium) — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 22:05:55 -0500

For those who say an open house is a waste of time I beg to differ. I just did an open house today, although the market is slow. I had a chance to catch up on some phone calls and reading. I did however have 2 people show. A neighbor who was looking for a friend , who I am secretly waiting to hear from :o)...and a family who came through who just arrived from Germany and are living in hotel until they find a home. I told him to give me his email info and I would send him some listings. When I got home I did that.....In no time at all I sent him listings. within an hour I received an email from him can we look at properties on tuesday? What luck I am having a colonoscopy done that day...So I asked my partener if she could do it.. her first words were is his name Jeff? I said yes, she had did a public/broker open house for me on tuesday and a neighbor came by and said he had a friend who needed to find a home....so here we are, I would venture to guess we write a contract this week. This is not the first time I have recieved clients off an open house & caught up on some work. My best one was when I worked with a couple who were engaged they came to look at a house. they did not buy that one but I sold the condo she owned, the house he owned, sold them a house.. they got married and now they are expecting a baby and we have become very good friends. follow up, & keep in touch...it is amazing what can happen. I have ben told numerous times that open houses are a waste of time....I still beg to differ.