Lost in Translation - 08/31/10 03:30 PM
 
I was on my way to work on yesterday, and as I drove through Neponset Street heading over the bridge to Realty Direct in Quincy,  there at the bus stop stood an elderly woman caught in the rain, and being drenched as it poured in torrents.  I looked over at her as my car was stopped by the traffic light, and  I caught her eye, and she mine.  But I thought nothing much more of it, and pulled up, past the old woman.  As I looked in my side mirror, I saw the woman coming towards my car, and she looked at me through the passenger window, and … (4 comments)

Should I set up an LLC for each Property that I Purchase? - 08/25/10 03:45 PM
What I think is that, this depends on your level of comfort with chance and probability. The more properties you hold in a single entity the more you risk your income being affected in a law suit. If you hold, for example say five properties in a single LLC , and that entity is sued in court by a tenant in property number three. All of the assets in the Single LLC could be affected negatively. Most people I presume would prefer to have one property per LLC, thus limiting the exposure to any single claim. 
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The Cost of Advertising on the Clothes Line - 08/16/10 03:14 PM
It appears that the more you advertise on line, the more spam that you get.  Who are these people that spam you, are they in business to make money and if so, who are the kinds of people who respond to spam?  Understandably there are e-mails which look very similar to legitimate correspondences.  There are others who spam maliciously, sending e-mails with viruses  damaging hard drives, and peripherals. The cost of advertising on line, is similar to drying wet clothes and hanging them outside on the line; you will eventually bring in a bug. A good virus protector or a can of bug spray … (0 comments)

Please Tune In to The Replies - 08/16/10 02:46 PM
When your buyers talk about what they really want, listen, really listen. Listen to the answers. Remember the answers, make notes and always refer to them to refresh your memory about what they want.  Some agents remember to ask, but don't bother to tune in for the replies. Agents who don't remember what their customers say are easy to spot.  They are the ones in the office hanging out by the water cooler complaining about buyers having no loyalty. 
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Be Prepared for the Old Bait and Switch - 08/16/10 02:28 PM
No Loan Rep can know the interest rate a lender will charge your client until after they have submitted their application for a loan.  Interest rates for 30-ear fixed rates will vary according to your clients credit score, amount of deposit down, type of property, and other qualifying ratios that lenders hold in my opinion, (secret).
Loan Reps won't know until they have gotten all of the buyers financial paperwork in front of them In addition, mortgage rates can change daily. No Loan Rep can confirm the rate you will pay until the day you lock, or the day financing occurs.  If you … (0 comments)

Gaze into my Crystal Ball and Let me Divine You a Rate - 08/14/10 06:24 PM
No Loan Rep can know the interest rate a lender will charge your client until after they have submitted their application for a loan.  Interest rates for 30-ear fixed rates will vary according to your clients credit score, amount of deposit down, type of property, and other qualifying ratios that lenders hold in my opinion, (secret).
Loan Reps won't know until they have gotten all of the buyers financial paperwork in front of them In addition, mortgage rates can change daily. No Loan Rep can confirm the rate you will pay until the day you lock, or the day financing occurs.  If you … (0 comments)

Gaze into my Crystal Ball and I Will Divine you a Rate - 08/13/10 08:50 PM
No Loan Rep can know the interest rate a lender will charge your client until after they have submitted their application for a loan.  Interest rates for 30-ear fixed rates will vary according to your clients credit score, amount of deposit down, type of property, and other qualifying ratios that lenders hold in my opinion, (secret).
Loan Reps won't know until they have gotten all of the buyers financial paperwork in front of them In addition, mortgage rates can change daily. No Loan Rep can confirm the rate you will pay until the day you lock, or the day financing occurs.  If you … (0 comments)

Prepping the Yard for Open House - 08/13/10 08:21 PM
Open House is a couple of days from now, and the grass and hedges are overgrown.  The sellers have moved out of town, and left the key.  I have notified them that the lawn needs to be mown, and the hedges and shrubs need to be trimmed.  The buyers are thrilled to participate in the grooming of their home.  They want it sold, and I can do that for them.  If only every seller was as cooperative, the days on the market would certainly be shorter. 
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Flee this listing, it might be Hazardous To your Health - 08/12/10 10:20 PM
Today one of my clients recommended my Real Estate Services to a fellow he had met in the supermarket. He was talking about selling his house. My client informed him that he knew who could get the job done.  As usual I prepared my documents, got my camera, flashlight and tape measure, and headed over to the property.  The customer met me at the house which was a medium sized single family on a large plot of land probably 10,000 square feet lot size.  The potential customer was cordial and showed me around the yard.  There was garbage in the front of the house, on … (15 comments)

Time Block Your Way to Success - 08/12/10 12:59 PM
A time blocked scheduled reserves and protects allotted time segments for pre-planned and pre-determined activities and functions. The goal of time blocking is to increase the amount of time you can invest in direct income producing activities.  Most people know about time blocking, but few have mastered the commitment necessary to fulfill their objectives. The problem isn't creating the schedule, but adhering to the times allotted for certain disciplines. Some people often set the bar too high and subsequently can not maintain the schedule. I think the best way to accomplish this worthwhile endeavor is to block time for your personal … (0 comments)

What Realtors can Learn from the Jet Blue Steven Slater Incident - 08/12/10 11:57 AM
Probably quite a bit if your prone to losing your temper, and even more so if you have a penchant for cursing.  We don't know the full details of the Jet Blue incident, but we do know that there was an injury to the head of the steward caused by a passenger's overhead luggage dislodging from the upper Storage Bin. Now whether or not this was caused by an irate passenger, or just purely an accident,  Steven should have had the good sense to walk away from this so public an incident.  There  have been, and I'm sure there will be … (0 comments)

This is Free, Why Would You Try to Charge Me? - 08/11/10 04:35 PM
I have listed a wonderful single family home in Quincy, MA and today I received an unsolicited e-mail  from a members of XXX Association of Realtors. He writes, --------"I can post a free announcement for a weekend open house.  Since I do not have any listings, and only work with buyers, would you mind if I announce your Open House on Boston Herald's weekend real estate section so that I can get the buyers side of the transaction."
Now what is wrong with this scenario?  First, the listing in the weekend Boston Herald is free to anyone who has an Open … (0 comments)

I just Upgraded My Account - 08/11/10 11:11 AM
I just upgraded my account last night when I wrote my night blog, "Night Humor--Bear with me" Pretty funny stuff, but I can not wait to see what new things I can do, and see how much more spread there is from the upgrade. I have enjoyed blogging, and the Active Rain Family members are genuine and sincere, and always ready to give a helping hand, whether in advice, humor, or other professional tributary, the association has been wonderful at worst. Thanks folks.
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Stephen Sainte-Martin

Boston, MA

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Realty Direct Boston

Address: 133 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA, 02171

Office Phone: (617) 320-4800

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This is a blog for folks who realize that perhaps there was another way of doing their deals. It is a retrospective examination, and for those who realize that hindsight is 20/20.


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