When it all boils down to it - if you can't be honest with your clients when listing their home, for whatever reason (fear of losing the listing, fear of losing a friend, fear of hurting someone's feelings) then your in the wrong business; especially right now.  We've seen a long tenure of bad agents who "sold the farm" just to get a listing and it's up to those of us who chose to weather the storm to be one thing - HONEST!  If you can handle the truth, then you can handle me should be the first words out of your mouth when talking with prospective listings.  Come on guys, you know it to be true, most sellers need that "reality check" when you start talking about listing their most prized possession and rightfully so.  However, if you have that one client who wants to list their home $30K over market right now and you do it, chances are your gonna lose the sale and the client.  Days are long gone when you can just throw it at the wall and see if it will stick - the cold hard facts and truth are what clients are hungry for and again, I say, if your in it to win it, then be HONEST!  Actual story:  Client calls to list.  Do homework and present facts at appointment.  Seller angry and disgruntled, asked me to leave.  I did, graciously.  Next week, home listed by "discount agent" who priced home $30K over what I suggested.  Six months go by, client calls back.  Says not one showing and would I come back.  I go back.  Am brutally honest AGAIN.  Says no thanks (he somehow thinks its the agent and not the market)  Relists with same agent again, $20K over market.  Three months go by, calls me back.  I go back.  Am brutally honest AGAIN.  Insistent I list $20K over market and again says not one showing in 9 mos.  This time, I walked out.  So what's the moral - moral is this, it's been 12 mos. since our first meeting and he called again last night.  When I asked him point blank why he's still calling me when he doesn't want to listen to what I'm telling him, he said this, "Of all the agents I met with, none had a problem with me setting the price, they offered discount commissions and everything else to get the listing, but it was the way you looked me in the eye and was completely honest when you asked me "Are you ready to sell or not?"  I feel like I can trust you."  It may have taken 12 mos. to get my point across and to hold steadfast, but it got the job done.  If clients are truly ready to sell, the truth may be hard to swallow, but it isn't hard to hear.  HONESTY really is the best policy. 

After turning on the news this morning to learn that the CEO of Merrill Lynch used 1.2MM dollars to renovate his office, I can not find any HOPE in the government to use the bailout billions to help us!  Most of you reading this are Realtors and we pay our own taxes each year.  While some of you are not, you are taxed at the end of the pay period.  In either group, we all HAVE to pay Uncle Sam. 
 
Much like the CEO's who flew in on those corporate jets to ask for money, this CEO used 1.2 million dollars to renovate his office.  This included a $86K rug, a $35K commode with legs and a $1500 dollar trash can.  (Bank of America had to ask for an additional 20 billion to cover the bonuses paid on Dec 31st before the takeover of Merrill Lynch on the 1st of Jan)
 
Now I don't know about you folks, but I'm more than a little upset about this.  On many levels.  One, I've had to substitue teach in the interim of the slow market to make money.  I make $65 dollars per day to do this.  Those $65 dollars are taxed.  Hence, my taxes went into the fund that is bailing out the greed of Wall Street.  I'm sorry, but I don't think I should be forced into "slave labor" to fund programs for CEO's to buy $1500 trash cans.  While I know this sounds extreme, think about it, it's not.  It's reality.
 
We have now been placed among those children who make clothes for dollars a day.  Is this our reward for turning a blind eye to such things?
 
There has to be a time when we say enough is enough. 
 
I want someone to tell me why things like Merrill Lynch, the auto industry, Goldman Sachs, etc., go unpunished?  We learn more and more each day of the gross negligence of misused funds but nothing is done to stop it.  All we hear is that it's not going to happen anymore, but it just keeps going and going like that cute little pink bunny. 

I want someone to tell me why I should earn those $65.00 taxable dollars?
 
The man about to be in charge of the Treasury didn't pay his own taxes and he's gonna oversee ours so do you think any of us will get a pass?  Can we plead "it was a mistake, or I didn't realize, or just plain "ole stupid"?  Do you think that would work for any of us?  No way, the tax man cometh!
 
I'm just wondering this:
 
 "If I digitally enhance my photo to include a bloated belly with flies in my eyes, will someone give to the "Trash Can Tammy Fund"?
I cannot promise your donation is tax deductible or that I will even receive it, but I know if you give you'll feel better about yourself.
 
This is not intended to offend, but rather to illict some type of hope in everyone to take a stand.
 
Thanks for taking the time to read this and think about your own trash can fund!

Well here it is, 2008 is almost over and those of us who have weathered the rocky storm are starting to see some signs of market improvement!  I've had a couple of buyers who were stressed over the economy and their future employment and wouldn't make commitments, but, finally, one broke the barrier and is writing a contract this week.  Thank my awesome God for answered prayer! 

I have always put my business in His hands and it felt like this past year more than ever, He was just wringing His hands as I was and watching my multi-million dollar producing business fall to a staggering.......well let's just say. a whole lot less!  I prayed and prayed for my business and it just kept getting worse and worse.  I just couldn't understand how my God would abandon me after all these years!

Stupid me, He hadn't abandoned me, He was answering prayer around the world and I was part of His master plan.  The whole entire state of the economy was falling apart and millions of people were being affected and I could only think of myself and my family. 

My son came home last week to tell me that a fellow band member's family had lost their home and everything in it to a fire.  Mom, Dad and three children with a lifetime of savings, memories and belongings all gone in 25 minutes. 

As I look around my 4000 sq. foot home filled to the rim with the latest and greatest, newest and prettiest "stuff", I suddenly felt ashamed.  Ashamed that I had so much and while I was willowing away in stress over my business downturn, I knew it could and can get worse.  I survived cancer twice right........and now I say, Thank you Lord, for teaching me humility.  For teaching me patience.  For teaching me that you are in control.

While we may not always know His reasons or see His plan, I hold steadfast to the firm belief that He is in control and knows what's best when we don't.  If we had all the answers there would be no need to pray or want to go to Heaven now would we?

How would you describe fence sitting with your qualified buyers?  Of course, right now, having buyers who are qualified is like a gift from the Heavens so why won't they make up their minds?  Well, as the Urban Dictionary that I found on www.ask.com defined it, "Fence sitting, sitting on the fence, sitting on a fence, are all terms for someone who refuses to make a decision. Usually it describes someone who will not take a stand on two very defined and clearly opposing options/opinions. This can be both good and bad." 

I am a good agent, I know this, but for some reason I just cannot get my fence-sitters to make a move and thought long and hard about why I can't.  Joe over here says, "I'm gonna wait and see what comes on the market next week."  John over there says, "I want to make sure things are gonna remain stable at work (even though he's been there 10 years and is up for a promotion)"....................I then placed myself in their shoes and tried to rationalize it out.

Turn on the news.  Strike one.  Read the paper.  Strike two.  Drive down most streets with real estate signs everywhere reading, "Reduced", "Motivated Seller", "Seller will consider Trade".  What the heck?  The media is killing us and creating panic and if we follow that up with panic antics for our clients, then we're only adding to the frenzy.

If we keep pushing for that panic sell or buy then we're gonna get panic results?  You know the definition of insanity, right?  Well, instead of trying to push my qualified buyers into panic situations using "panic antics" then I've got to stay focused and ride the storm. For Joe and John, I wish they had caught Fox News w/Shepard Smith last week when he interviewed the CFO of NAR!  He had POSITIVE comments and a POSITIVE outlook on the market! 

Restoring consumer confidence in our business and in us has to start somewhere!!!!!!!

Everyone out there should really get LINKED IN!  This is a great website for all professionals and has many wonderful things to offer and it's free!  Great way, along with Active Rain to stay in touch with professionals across the country and beyond! 

Not many were able to view this blog as I think I posted it to the wrong site!  At any rate, here it is again and I hope that if anyone out there has any tips on how to get SAVVY, EDUCATED, PRE-APPROVED BUYERS OFF THE FENCE, please let me know!

Did you know that in ancient times people believed certain colors could fight off evil spirits!  Well don't be blue over the small shift in our business - KEEP THE FAITH!  It will turn around!  Remember this, the color blue was considered very powerful due to it's association with the sky and heavenly spirits!  During ancient times boys were considered valuable, so they were dressed in blue.  Next time someone say's they got the blue's, tell 'em to wear pink..........girls rule anyway! 

Did you know that in ancient times people believed certain colors could fight off evil spirits!  Well don't be blue over the small shift in our business - KEEP THE FAITH!  It will turn around!  Remember this, the color blue was considered very powerful due to it's association with the sky and heavenly spirits!  During ancient times boys were considered valuable, so they were dressed in blue.  Next time someone say's they got the blue's, tell 'em to wear pink..........girls rule anyway! 

I am thanking God right now for my wonderful blessings and trying to keep a positive attitude toward my business and the economy! Seems like you wake up everyday to hear the media creating a new spin somewhere on the increasing rise of foreclosures and the "Bail Out" which is making the buyers we're working with ride the fence even harder, but to them I say, "WE'RE LIKE TOOTHPASTE!"  Why so you may ask?  Toothpaste does not have an expiration date and guess what, those of us who are choosing to weather the storm and stay the course, are like that toothpaste with no expiration date.  Although the flavor may change a bit, toothpaste does not spoil over time and Government agencies don't require expiration dates because it is not classified as either a food or drug.  For those of us who sometimes feel, "Why do I keep doing this, or what can I do, I say, think of yourself as toothpaste!"  Your business and your drive to keep on has no expiration date, and even though the great picture of real estate is changing, it will turn around and you must be ready when it does!  I prefer Crest Cinnamon Rush so I will for today, consider myself, minty fresh with a cool burst of cinnamon!

"Why do we say, "KNOCK ON WOOD" instead of "Knock on aluminum" or "Knock on dirt"?  Answer:  Many pre-Christian European cultures believed that spirits lived in the trees!  Knocking on wood was a way to wake them up and get them to help you!  This being the case, let's all take a moment today to "KNOCK ON WOOD" and wake up the sleeping real estate spirit to help us!  Gotta go.......am heading out to find the closest tree!

After recently attending a seminar on how to stay ahead of the game in this market, I had an eye-opening experience!  Not only did the speaker provide a wealth of information regarding great sites for free "stuff" to help boost your business - I saw what had made this man successful.  It's not all the gadgets, widgets, and tools - IT'S ATTITUDE!  It's about waking up every day (God willing) and first and foremost, thanking Him for this day and having the right mindset to face whatever comes today!  So I say to all those agents out there in these trying times, while everything may seem like it's down, (especially if you listen to the news) they can not break or take our attitudes!  "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything!"