I'm a dog lover.  We own two basset hounds.  Absolutely adorable.  Most of the time anyway.... yesterday the youngest, "Flash" was not in good form.  He's a chewer and took to the contents of my purse, which was unwisely set on the counter within his oddly long reach when he rears up on his hind legs.  I came upon him, the contents of my purse, and money strewn across the kitchen floor.  Caught in the act, with a $20 dollar bill, or should I say the remains of it, hanging out of his mouth.

After disciplining him, cleaning up the mess, and reveling in anger for about 5 minutes, I thought "what life lesson can I pull from this?"  Yes, the obvious.... NOTE TO SELF - DO NOT LEAVE PURSE ON KITCHEN COUNTER!  But when I thought about it even further, I thought "what are the things that "eat" our profits?

For sellers it could be  unwisely passing up the offer to purchase that just came in, with hopes for an offer just a bit higher.  In the end to find out that another offer won't present itself for 3 additional months, meaning more payments and less proceeds at closing.

For buyers it could be ignoring your gut feeling to go ahead and put an offer in on the house you viewed today, because your head is telling you to wait one more week to see if anything new comes available.  In the meantime, the house goes under contract, and you're left kicking yourself.

For Realtors it could be committing your advertising dollars to product that has proved to be an insufficient means of procuring business.  It could be that you have stayed committed to an office where the tools for success are non-existent, but the monthly fees are super inexpensive. 

The bottom line is: there are many, many avenues for our money to be chewed up....your own "Flash The Basset."  Where is yours going?  I know that I'm keeping a closer eye on mine, and it'll be in a much wiser place than my kitchen counter!

Krista Ingram is a Colorado Realtor, and lover of dogs.  Looking for an excellent Realtor in Colorado?  Call her today at 720-281-0079.