I've missed everyone here on AR for the past few weeks.  I haven't written anything recently, due mostly to being uninspired and it pains me to think about re-blogging someone else's hard work or re-posting my own.  So, I'd like to talk a little bit about what I've gained from watching Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and from a real estate trainer I've had the privilege of learning from recently.  So, here goes!

I have insomnia sometimes, I think, because some nights my mind is just whirring with how to solve the real estate problems that seem to always arrrive when transacting business with people.  So, if I'm not on AR or FB or taking an on-line real estate course, I watch t.v.  The only decent thing to watch in the wee hours of the morning is Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.  Plus, it's typically a pleasure to watch a woman (M. Hargitay) kick butt on t.v. 

1.  Anyway, whenever there is a crime committed, it seems that there are a few rules that the detectives follow when ferreting-out the truth.  One rule they have on the show is to "always follow the money."  Usually, the crime was committed by someone who will benefit from it financially (or otherwise).  

What I got from this "cop" Rule are two things.  One is that People generally act in their own best interest.  How this relates to real estate is exactly that--People act in their own best interest, or however they think will benefit them most at any given time.  They use the information they're given (whether it's correct or incorrect info) and then they act.  So, the next time you hear something on the news, radio, or something someone said regarding real estate, PLEASE check it out before acting on that information.  I cannot tell you how many times that I have heard from a customer, "Well, X from work said that I can/should/will be able to..." [do whatever] when I was positive that that person was not an expert in real estate & the information was not only false but the customer had already acted on the faulty information and I could not help them.  Be careful where you get your information.  Get your real estate information from reliable experts. 

The other thing I got from the "follow the money" idea is whether we like the current real estate market or not, someone is always making money.  If you are unhappy with your current financial situation, then take a look at others who ARE making money in this market and do what they are doing (which seems to be buying/selling bank-owned properties and dealing with short sales.   

2.  Another Rule on the show is "evidence is necessary."  On Law and Order: SVU, f there is no evidence, then a crime generally cannot be proven to have been committed.  This idea of evidence is necessary is true in real estate, too.  Gone are the days of business being conducted on a handshake and someone's given word.  Sad, but true.  If you have a transaction and it's not written down, it's not a real deal.  Or, if you have a deal and miss an initial or a signature, that could pose a problem.  Worse; neglect to have a written addendum of something that was discussed, that discussion never really happened.  Written documentation is necessary; get everything in writing. 

3.  Okay-last thing for now.  I am almost done working with a real estate trainer, Steve Woodruff.  He presents very well and is usually soft-spoken and teaches a "soft-selling" method of selling real estate.  One thing I have gotten from his classes so far is that "You don't get what you deserve; you get what you negotiate."  That is certainly true in real estate, as well in other areas of life.  We are constantly negotiating, all the time, whether we realize it or not.  I have a LOT of examples of this Rule but I'm sure you can come up with TONS of your own examples for this one.  :)