Happy Halloween: Monster House Edition - 10/31/08 03:38 PM
To all you boys and ghouls out there --
Happy Halloween.  Happy is not a word we have used very much this year.  Happy implies an in-the-moment, carefree elation.  Given the current economy and market, that can hardly describe us.
Halloween has become a fantasy escape for our culture.  Sure, we still see witches, goblins, and vampires.  But many folks choose naughty bar maids, political figures (which can be VERY scary), actors, superheroes, and more.  We use Halloween to dress up as someone else and act silly.
That is HEALTHY !!!!
Today, take time to let your guard down, be funny, … (4 comments)

A Realtor and A Parent: Doing Both Well - 10/30/08 02:37 PM
Many of us value our role as parent but find little opportunity to really express our feelings.  Life and business get in the way of directly speaking our love to our children.  Few things are more powerful than the eye-to-eye, boldly stated "I value you.  I love you.  I want to spend time with you." from Mom or Dad to Son or Daughter.
I worked as a family therapist for 8 years before I entered real estate.  I taught folks to solve problems using skills they already possessed.  For instance, a skilled firefighter that struggled with depression could be encouraged to … (4 comments)

Two Free Internet Tools That May Make A Big Difference For You - 10/29/08 03:18 PM
http://drivescore.fizber.com/how-it-doesnt-works.html
Drive Score is a very interesting site hosted by Fizber.com.  This site allows a Realtor, buyer, or seller give detailed information regarding driving distances from a property to local businesses.  Though not perfect, this site will help potential buyers know how far it is to the grocery store, hospital, pharmacy, school, etc.
This information can be used in many ways to enhance a listing or help a buyer make a choice.
 
 
http://www.walkscore.com/how-it-doesnt-work.shtml 
Walk Score is a great site for more urban properties or for renters.  This site offers information on public transportation, schools, and more.  Those that walk … (3 comments)

Networking For Business Growth - 10/28/08 04:01 PM
I have had to learn business networking from the ground up over the past 6 years.  I spent most of my professional career as a licensed marriage and family therapist.  This means that I spent the vast majority of my time in a small office.
I have joined BNI, the loca chamber of commerce, ToastMasters, ActiveRain, and much more over the past few years.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the BNI experience.  It was in BNI that I came across the book The 29% Solution by Dr. Ivan Misner (BNI's founder).  This book offers a 52 point self-assessment for networking saavy and … (7 comments)

What is Justice? - 10/28/08 11:53 AM
What is your definition of justice?
 
Merriam-Webster (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justice )  defines Justice as:
1 a: the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments b: judge c: the administration of law ; especially : the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity2 a: the quality of being just, impartial, or fair b (1): the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action (2): conformity to this principle or ideal : righteousness c: the quality of conforming to law3: conformity to … (0 comments)

A Grand Scheme or A Simple Action - 10/27/08 03:08 PM
Where do we put our energies?  Do we work for weeks to develop a grand scheme?  Do we act in the moment?  The answer has to be both, right?
We need a strategy.  We must take the 20-60 hours to develop a large vision for our business.  It is important to take the time to think about the big picture.  There is wisdom in reading, learning, consulting others, interviewing the successful, and seeking feedback.  But this is only a part of the challenge.
We need to act.  We act within the confines and direction of our grand scheme, but we ACT.  … (0 comments)

Stretch Yourself !! - 10/27/08 02:51 PM
No, literally, stretch yourself.  We have this image of big muscles or extreme cardio as benefitting our health in the long run.  Certainly, most all exercise is better than nothing.  But stretching has specific benefits that other forms of exercise do not have.
I take time every morning and every afternoon to stretch my neck, my back, and my legs.  It's all about bloodflow and the prevention of injury.
1.  Bloodflow  -  Blood carries nutrients to our muscles and cells.  Additionally, blood takes away waster and other negative materials from our muscles and cells.  Cells need oxygen and nutrients to function … (1 comments)

Four Improvements for Your Business Than No One Talks About - 10/27/08 02:32 PM
There are some things that are difficult to say.  There are several books that instruct readers how to say difficult things, manage difficult conversations, address difficult topics, and so on.  We tend to avoid confrontation or authentic feedback in order to protect our feelings and avoid hurting others' feelings.
Here are 4 Things that need to be said to many of us:
1.  Improve Your Language  -  Language "says" a lot about a person.  If you hear someone speaking eloquently, calmly, rationally, and eruditely, your perception of them improves dramatically.  On the other hand, if you hear someone speaking erratically while using … (5 comments)

The Power of Writing in Marketing Your Business - 10/27/08 01:59 PM
Which writer do you admire the most?  James Patterson?  John Grisham? Brennan Manning? Ernest Hemingway?  Charles Dickens? John Donne?  William Shakespeare?  or Who?
Writers work their way into our lives by offering us one of two things:  Escape or Instruction.  Escape can include entertainment, fantasy, romance, suspense or the like.  Instruction can include direction, information, statistics, or the like.
We remember hundreds of writers from the past.  Many of them carried cultural, political, and even religious influence.  Mark Twain commented on his culture, the politics of his time, and the existence / nature of God.  He is remembered as one of … (4 comments)

The Will to Change - 10/26/08 02:45 PM
In the movie Shawshank Redemption, Morgan Freeman's character avers, "Get busy living, or get busy dying.  That's damn right!"
I love that movie and have seen it at least 30 times.  When I find a movie that speaks to me, I tend to watch it over and over for the next few months or years.  It's the same with songs, poems, etc.
This quote hold a person accountable.  It brings the respondent to the precipice of decision, of immediate decision.  I know that I have a tendency to put off difficult decisions for a period of time if I can.  I … (0 comments)

Catalyst or Can'tdoist: Your Choice - 10/26/08 02:28 PM
In chemistry and biology and business, catalysts serve the crucial role of bringing two powerful entities together in order to create something even bigger and better.  Can you use this metaphor?
A person that chooses to be a catalyst brings people together, thinks creatively, and values others' successes.  I am a member of BNI, the largest business networking organization in the world.  The philosophy is "Givers Gain!!"  We focus on helping each other build our businesses.  In return, others help us build our business.
Every Wednesday morning, I meet with 20 other professionals.  I am their salesforce, and they are mine.  … (0 comments)

Are You Ready To Change if It's Not Working? - 10/26/08 02:05 PM
I spent 8 years working as a licensed therapist.  I utilized Reality Therapy that was developed by Dr. William Glasser. There are some basic questions asked about a problem:
1.  What do you want?
2.  What do you REALLY want?
3.  What are you doing to get it?
4.  Is it working?
5.  What could you try differently to get what you want?
6.  Are you willing to try this/these other means of getting what you want?
 
It seems simplistic, but this rational questioning takes out the panic, fear, and emotionality of decision-making.  It puts the power in the hands … (3 comments)

Obama or McCain: Regarding Private Ownership and Real Estate - 10/25/08 01:07 PM
I'm sure that most of us in this industry have been paying attention to the national election coverage.  Poll results have varied widely in the past weeks.  McCain took the polling lead for a period after the Republican convention.  However, the Wall Street meltdown bumped Obama back into the lead.
Regardless of your choice in this election, let me say a word about private ownership.  The 1960s was a time of turbulence and change in the U.S.  Civil Rights, the Vietnam War, the Sexual Revolution, the death of Bobby Kennedy and Dr. MLK Jr. were signs of the great cultural struggle.  … (3 comments)

"Keep Your Head Up" - 10/24/08 12:48 PM
While this is a well-known phrase of encouragement, there are practical, physiological reasons to keep your head up.
1.  Blood Flow  -  By keeping your head vertical, you relax muscles and increase bloodflow to your brain.  This may sound simple, but the brain functions far better with more oxygen and nutrients supplied by bloodflow.  As the neck muscles relax and allow arteries / veins to function fully, you realize subtle but real benefits.  An oxygenated brain remembers more easily, perceives more fully, decides more quickly, creates more readily, and judges more effectively.
2.  Posture  -  When neck muscles relax with the … (4 comments)

Creating a Living Space in Your Home - 10/23/08 02:19 PM
 Richard Barbee, M.Ed., GRI, CRS  
Real Estate Broker     Knoxville, TN
Living Space
         We spend our lives in places and spaces.  Playgrounds, classrooms, worship centers, restaurants, and such serve as the background of memories and relationships.  Of all the spaces we inhabit, our homes carry special and permanent significance.  The romantic view is that home is an ideal locale in which we are loved, accepted, and valued.  The cynical view is that home is a location in which people stop pretending for the public and show their true colors.  The truth is somewhere in between.
         We learn how to live … (0 comments)

What Do Today's Home Buyers Want? - 10/22/08 03:35 PM
www.richardbarbee.com
 
Email:  richard @richardbarbee.com
 
 
Wants are powerful factors in making decisions.  Needs may be more or less powerful, depending on the situation and the person.  In today's increasingly competitive housing market, home sellers are faced with the task of trying to attract buyers through a variety of means.  Bishop, Barlett, and Lautz (2007, www.realtor.org) wrote an article that highlighted results from the 2007 NAR Profile of Buyers' Home Feature Preferences.  This helpful overview indicated that there are specific items that increase home sellers' chances of appealing to today's buyers.  One of the smartest and most effective ways of … (0 comments)

How To Interview A Real Estate Agent Part II - 10/22/08 03:34 PM
Interviewing a Real Estate Agent - Part 2
  
        Hello again.  The first part of this article focused on preparing to interview a real estate agent for the listing process.  The goal of the second part is to give you specific questions to ask during the interview.  The purpose of the interview is to learn as much as you can about the prospect.  As mentioned in the first part, you want to determine the agent's Expertise in ethics and professionalism, Expertise in marketing (especially e-marketing), and Expertise in customer service.  The open-ended, situational interview questions offered in this article will … (0 comments)

7 Ways to Manage Stress While Moving - 10/22/08 01:59 PM
7 Ways to Manage the Stress of Moving
 
By:  Richard Barbee,  M.Ed., GRI, CRS
Broker with Realty Executives Associates
     Change is always a challenge.  Learning ways to change well is a major life skill.  Each year brings a number of transitions at home, at work, in relationships, and so on.  It is difficult to maintain balance when it seems that life is "happening to us".  These 7 Ways to Manage the Stress of Moving may help you and your family survive and thrive in the selling and moving process.
 
     1.  Develop Healthful Habits - The most effective stress … (0 comments)

How To Interview A Real Estate Agent Part I - 10/22/08 01:57 PM
Interviewing a Real Estate Agent - Part 1
 
        Many homeowners feel overwhelmed when it is time to list their property for sale.  Homeowners are flooded by a mountain of information about agents, companies, listing strategies, and more.  With over 4,000 licensed real estate agents and numerous real estate companies in the Knoxville area, how can a homeowner choose an agent that is professional, represents strong ethical values, works diligently, has a track record of success, and is personable?  I want to give you a way to make this process easier.  This two-part article will help you develop skills for … (0 comments)

Your Living Space - Creating LIFE in Your Daily Life - 10/22/08 01:55 PM
 
Living Space
         We spend our lives in places and spaces.  Playgrounds, classrooms, worship centers, restaurants, and such serve as the background of memories and relationships.  Of all the spaces we inhabit, our homes carry special and permanent significance.  The romantic view is that home is an ideal locale in which we are loved, accepted, and valued.  The cynical view is that home is a location in which people stop pretending for the public and show their true colors.  The truth is somewhere in between.
         We learn how to live at home.  There are no more powerful teachers than … (0 comments)

Knoxville, TN is a Great Place to Live, Retire, Relocate, or Visit - 10/22/08 01:51 PM
http://www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/ 
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/about/ 
http://www.knoxville.org/ 
Here are 3 links that provide helpful, relevant information on the Knoxville, TN area.  If you are thinking about relocating to Knoxville, TN, please check these out.
I love Knoxville.  There are so many actitivies, events, and opportunities here.  We have mountains, lakes, education, plays, music, theme parks, and more.  You can have dinner at Ruth's Chris, catch an IMAX movie, hike / fish / boat, and shop all in one day (if you've got that much energy).
Forbes magazine ranked Knoxville as #5 in the USA for business growth and quality of life.
Come join us.
… (0 comments)

Knoxville, TN Forbes Magazine #5 in the USA for Business Growth - 10/22/08 01:44 PM
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/1/07bestplaces_Knoxville-TN_2546.html
The above link will take you to Forbes magazine's ranking of Knoxville, TN as the #5 overall location for locating your business.
 
I am proud of Knoxville, TN.  From the University of Tennessee to the Knoxville Zoo to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, we are loaded with research, culture, education, and entertainment.
There are many chances to catch a sports event (hockey, basketball, football, baseball, and more).  We have some of the finest fishing and boating areas in the South due to TVA's wonderful system of dams.  We have access to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park with its … (0 comments)

The Right Mindset for Difficult Times - 10/22/08 01:25 PM
It is very easy to lose heart.  It is far too easy.
Steadfast is one of my favorite words.  Can you see this word in action?  A traveler, stepping against the chilling winds, lowers his head with total resolve to move forward.  No steep road or falling rain could penetrate his decision to break through.  External circumstances and internal battles cannot stop him.
There are many ways to envision steadfast.  A mother's love in the face of illness or change, a police officer watching the streets to protect all of us, and a brother sitting beside the hospital bed of an injured … (5 comments)

Diversification through Continuing Education - 10/21/08 02:09 PM
In my view, very few people create extended, consistent wealth by doing only 1 thing well. 
One example is Roger Staubach, great quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys in the 1970s.  Staubach completed 4 stellar years at the U.S. Naval Academy.  He served a commission for a few years of active service.  He went to the Dallas Cowboys, already a proven leader, to lead the Cowboys to a number of Super Bowl appearances.
As great as Staubach was on the field, he proved to be even greater after his football days.  You may not have heard, but Staubach formed one of the largest … (0 comments)

 
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Richard Barbee

Knoxville, TN

More about me…

Realty Executives Assoc

Address: 10255 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN, 37922

Office Phone: (865) 693-3232

Cell Phone: (865) 388-1621

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Richard Barbee offers his personal views and insights on all things financial.


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