Buyer-agents sell 100% of our listings.  Yes, the buyers may find our properties online; perhaps even through our marketing efforts...but buyers don't bring us contracts; their agents do.

When we decided to treat co-brokes as customers ("guests" in our "homes"), our business model changed dramatically.  Buyer-agents now call us WANTING to sell our properties - they tell their fellow agents and we've built a "following", if you will, of repeat "customer-agents".

Yes, transactions can get sticky; even downright ugly.  Our tongues can bleed from biting them so hard.  But, we each represent our clients and our goal is to look out for their best interests...ahead of our own.

A few months ago, we came up with a list to help us offer a better customer experience for our fellow agents.  By no means do we feel we have reinvented the wheel; however, it has definitely helped our business.  Also, we review each of these items with our sellers; since they are our clients and we work for them.

1.  WE WILL make sure our listings are easy to access and show.  We keep a "hidden" lock box nearby just in case an agent leaves a key inside or a termite inspector needs to run by the house to do a reinspect in order to close on time.  We ensure all properties have utilities on and have lights for night showings.

2.  WE WILL ensure that making appointments to show our listings is easy.  Phone, text or email - whichever works best for the buyer's agent.

3.  WE WON'T participate in dual agency.  Our sellers deserve our "undivided representation".  Buyer agents will know that a special commission arrangement will not be noted on our listings.

4.  WE WON'T bug buyer-agents with phone calls requesting feedback.  Like Seth Godin says, "A phone call is an interruption".  We send a short, 4 question email asking for feedback at their convenience.  When the survey is filled out, we send a thank you, whether the feedback is positive or negative.

5.  WE WILL do our best to overcome buyer objections and be creative.  Adding a wall, installing another closet or changing a paint color can be a lot less expensive for a seller than 90 more days on the market.

6.  WE WILL present any and all offers in a timely fashion and get responses quickly.  Showing a property and writing an offer takes a lot of time and effort.  We respect that. 

7.  WE WON'T say, "That's not our job".  Our closing coordinator helps the co-broke agents.  Yes, we will send the contract to the buyer's attorney.  Yes, we make sure all parties who are supposed to have the new addendum, receive it.  We realize that buyer-agents are out showing property and aren't always able to stop and re-send a fax or pull up a phone number.

8.  WHEN WE screw up, we will admit it and try our best to fix it.  If that means we have to pay for a re-inspect, a home warranty or a new refrigerator, so be it.  Our goal is the closing table, not a big ego.

9.  WE WILL have a title search done prior to listing to avoid title issues delaying closing.

10.  WE WILL make their day.  At then end of it all, whether it's flowers, a gift card or a handwritten note, the buyer's agent will know that no matter how difficult the transaction, we appreciate their business and selling our listing.

Trip Advisor came out today with their popular Dirtiest Hotels list for 2010.  I'm always curious to see who makes this list so I can be sure to avoid them.  Often, the hotels are in large cities San Francisco, New York, Chicago and the like.  Unfortunately, this year, 2 hotels in the Top 10 (actually, in the Top 5!) were right in my real estate market!

Here is the list:

1. Heritage Marina Hotel, San Francisco, California

2. Days Inn Eureka/Six Flags, Eureka, Missouri

3. Tropicana Resort Hotel, Virginia Beach, Virginia

4. Super 8 Virginia Beach/At the Ocean, Virginia Beach, Virginia

5. Quality Inn, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

6. New York Inn, New York City, New York

7. Parisian Hotel & Suites, Miami Beach, Florida

8. Capistrano Seaside Inn, Capistrano Beach, California

9. Desert Lodge, Palm Springs, California

10. Continental Oceanfront Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida

Hopefully, these hotels will clean up their act and get this big black spot off of the Virginia Beach resort area.  As one of my favorite clients said, "You don't have to have money to be clean".  

I was reading an article this past weekend which highlighted a self-employed couple who owned a small restaurant in southern Virginia.  They were quoted as saying they pay over $2000/month for health insurance.  The couple is "stuck" in the age of being too young to retire, but too old to be easily employable since both have manufacturing backgrounds.

That got me to thinking about other options.  First off, there's the option of going to work for a large employer (such as Walmart) that offers a good, low cost health care plan for all employees.  I suppose the ugly blue vest is a small price to pay for great health insurance.

There's also the option of going back to school.  Almost all colleges offer an affordable, a group health insurance plan.  In addition, many colleges have their own health care clinic open to students which is paid for through tuition and fees.  Yes, college can be expensive, but many state schools are pretty affordable and you only need enroll in one course to qualify for the health insurance.  Keep in mind that many students qualify for the federal student loan program and older students may qualify for other financial benefits.  In addition, most colleges also have other benefits included in the student fees such as use of the workout facilities, gym classes and the like.

For an example of the health insurance benefits, here is a link to GM-Southwest, which provides coverage for many colleges.

Many people have had a hard time financially in 2009.  Good people who have always paid their bills on time.  There has been a lot of "robbing Peter to pay Paul" going on, paying for necessities with credit cards and making attempts to cut even the smallest costs to get by.

Unfortunately, credit card debt has become the norm in American Society.  The interest rates are huge and penalties even worse.  The average consumer is carrying $12,000 in credit card debt with an interest rate of 27%.  That can take years to pay off.  The recent legislation regarding credit card fees has caused interest rates on revolving credit to increase and the rates look to go even higher in 2010.  

There are a lot of companies out there offering debt management or debt relief.  Most of these companies charge a high upfront fee and then a monthly fee.  Some attempt to get the debt charged off and then settled for a portion of what is owed and others try to get the debt managed into affordable payments.  Before signing on with any of these companies, it is highly recommended that you research the company selected and search for complaints against them.

CCCS is the Consumer Credit Counseling Service.  They are a non-profit agency and have been around for over 50 years and have over 60 offices in the United States.  You can download a copy of their brochure by clicking here.

After being overwhelmed with consumers seeking debt relief, CCCS expanded and became Apprisen Financial Advocates.  They have launched an online debt management and counseling service called WEBVISOR.  The WEBVISOR system is a very easy to use system where the consumer can remain completely anonymous.  The process is totally free and takes about 30 minutes.  Once completed, WEBADVISOR will immediately provide an action plan that summarizes your financial situation, options to improve your finances and other resources for help.  The WEBVISOR system will also let you know if you are a candidate for a Debt Management Program.

Through the Debt Management Program offered by Apprisen, they will act on behalf of the consumer working to get a mutually agreed upon payment plan which may include lower interest rates and reduced fees.  The service is very affordable with a $25 set up fee and $25/month maintenance fee (these fees can also be waived due to hardship).  Most plans are set up to have debts paid off within 48 months.  

Appisen also offers financial counseling in person and over the phone.  Just remember....to make the debt go away, you must address it.

HUD has issued a press release stating that they are now offering assistance to homeowners with FHA loans who have defective drywall.

HUD has instructed FHA approved lenders to offer special forbearance to homeowners faced with financial hardship due to the effects of defective drywall.

“We’re instructing our FHA mortgage lenders nationwide to extend temporary relief to allow these families time to remove problem damaging drywall and repair their homes,” said FHA Commissioner David Stevens.  “We want to remove additional pressures for these families as they find solutions to allow them to return to a safe, decent and sanitary home."

HUD has stated that while a homeowner is under the special forbearance plan (which can last for up to 12 months), the lender cannot charge late fees if the homeowner is making timely payments.

The entire press release can be viewed by clicking here.

The Art Institute recently opened a campus in Virginia Beach and will officially hold it's first day of classes there on January 11, 2010.

Located at 2 Columbus Center, the campus is conveniently located in the Virginia Beach Town Center.

"The Art Institutes schools have earned a strong, national reputation for excellence in creative arts education, and we look forward to bringing our signature culinary, fashion, design, and media arts programs to Virginia Beach," says John Mazzoni, president of The Art Institutes.  “We see our expansion in the Virginia Beach community as a great opportunity to provide an inspiring environment to a new, creative class of students, while preparing them well to enter the workforce.”

The Art Institute of Virginia Beach will offer the following programs:

• Advertising
• Culinary Arts Management
• Fashion and Retail Management
• Graphic Design
• Interior Design
• Media Arts and Animation
• Photographic Imaging
• Web Design and Interactive Media

For more information, call the Art Institute of Virginia Beach at:  877-437-4428 or click here to visit their website.

The little country high school that could.....

Once remotely removed from the hustle and bustle of Virginia Beach development, Kellam High School stood solid as the "Green Line" approached and neighborhoods sprouted all around it in the past 25 years.  Built in 1962, Kellam High School, one of the City's most popular schools, became overcrowded and outdated.

In the beginning of this month, a new, 108 acre site was chosen for the new Kellam High School.  Located at the corner of West Neck Rd. and North Landing Rd., the new site will allow for a larger school, more parking and spacious athletic fields.  This new location is more than three times the size of the current site.

The land already has utilities present so development should move forward once the sale is closed and the design is formalized.

Rising high school students going to Kellam beware...the Municipal Center area is speeding ticket central and with the increased traffic from the new school, will probably become even more so.  Also, the question arises regarding the need to expand North Landing and Princess Anne Roads...will this ever happen?