As we wind down our day of celebrating our nation's independence and many continue on or head off to spend the remainder of the long weekend with family and friends, here's a bit of food for thought: Where does your quality of life come from?
If it comes from spending time with your family and friends as I just mentioned...are you doing enough of it? I've used the "I don't live to work, I work to live" saying over and over … (6 comments)
Seems like a simple question, but I figure some may counter that they haven't quit crying wolf because they never started crying wolf- and whether that's true is another argument altogether.
"Interest rates can't get any lower than this!" was the wolfish cry from mortgage folks when 30-year fixed rates hit an otherworldly 5%- but the cries continued as rates hit 4%...then 3%....and below.
Similarly, we Realtor types were wolfish with cries of "Buy now- we'll never see these prices again!" as the market continued toward bottom- and … (8 comments)
Congratulations, Steve Merchant- 2013 ORRA Chairman of the Board
Tonight's the big night for our Orlando Regional Realtor Association (ORRA) - as we're holding this thing called Red, White and Groove. It's part annual awards presentation, part social hour- but also serves as our inaugural. As I post this, outgoing chairman Stephen Baker (RE/MAX Central) has just handed leadership of our 8,800-member board to our 2013 Chairman of the Board, Steve Merchant of Global Realty International.
I'd like to also recognize the newly-elected members of our Board of … (0 comments)
realtor: Happy New Year, America!
- 12/31/12 02:02 PM
Happy New Year, America! Happy New Year, America! May you have a safe and happy holiday, and may you and yours have a healthy, successful and blessed 2013. Happy New Year, America! … (4 comments)
realtor: Wish I enjoyed what made my living...
- 12/23/12 07:55 AM
Wish I enjoyed what made my living... Wish I enjoyed what makes my living... Seems I've always been a bit partial to country music. Thinking back to the first songs I can ever remembering hearing, my mother's favorites such as The Doobie Brothers' "Takin' it to the Streets" and "Black Water" and Elton John's "Crocodile Rock" surely come to mind, but country songs have always seemed to capture the right feeling at the right time for me. Or perhaps I just happen to seek out the right country song that goes with a current feeling- who knows. Merle Haggard recorded a … (6 comments)
realtor: How much do you value your real estate license?
- 11/27/12 03:19 PM
How much do you value your real estate license?How much do you value your real estate license? It's a simple question, really...or is it? Think about it for a minute- how much do you really value your real estate license? I'd like to congratulate Sandy Lewis- an administrative assistant with Orlando's Hampton & Hampton Management and Leasing who took and passed the exam for her Florida Real Estate Salesperson's License early last week. While I worked at Hampton & Hampton, I not only witnessed what a great person Sandy is- but also how hard she works every day. She told me … (6 comments)
It'll be a busy weekend around here- with our national Realtor convention (or the 2012 Realtors Conference and Expo, to be technically correct) coming to The City Beautiful and all. It's a jam-packed few days, to be sure- and the schedule you'll find on the conference/expo's website is an exhaustive description of all the weekend's happenings: http://www.realtor.org/convention.nsf/ One thing that I don't see happening? Attending the big event myself. It's not for lack of interest, mind you- there are a ton of classes I'd like … (4 comments)
realtor: If you ride a pretend commuter rail train, does it cost pretend money?
- 09/13/12 12:01 PM
If you ride a pretend commuter rail train, does it cost pretend money? Elect DENNIS BURGESS 2013 ORRA Board of Directors http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-09-13/news/os-realtors-sunrail-ride-20120913_1_sunrail-officials-amtrak-train-tawny-olore
Tomorrow, I'll be spending time with a number of other pretend Realtors- pretending to be having fun on the pretend SunRail trip at the pretend SunRail event that some fine pretend folks have pretended to work pretty hard to set up for us. What all is going to be included in our day? Well, we'll hop on those pretend Lynx buses mentioned in the article here, ride the train a bit and learn about the stops along … (2 comments)
Well, with 43 days to go before our local board elections, I decided to take a few minutes and make another quick video. Quick for me, that is! In this video, I discuss the recent Florida Realtors Convention and Expo that just wrapped up here in Orlando at the World Center Marriott.
I was able to get in some classes (including an Advanced Communications one for free CE credits!), but also had the opportunity to attend the Professional Standards Forum and Property Management Committee meeting, among others.
Are you settling for mediocrity? A couple of questions that have been bouncin' around between my ears for a day or two now: "Am I settling for mediocrity?" and "If so, how can I keep from doing so?" Those are tougher to answer than you might think- for it requires one to be very honest with themselves. I'm the only one who truly knows if I'm trying as hard as I can, and you're the only one who knows if you're trying as hard as you possibly can. If we're trying … (12 comments)
Those of you who have followed this blog for any bit of time probably noticed that I changed my profile photo yesterday afternoon. I've read others' posts and comments about their profile photos here and there- but I've never been overly concerned about mine as a rule.
I'm not a cute guy or anything- some stuff just can't be helped! So us lesser-attractive folks must rely on our razor-sharp wit, superior intelligence and wry sense of humor to get us through this crazy world of ours. … (6 comments)
I have humbly announced my candidacy for a position on our Orlando Regional Realtor Association (ORRA)'s Board of Directors for the coming year, 2013. If eligible, I respectfully request your vote for me- so that I might have the privilege of serving out Association.
My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has blessed me with many things I'll never claim to deserve- but one of His blessings is that I have a servant's heart. I'd appreciate the opportunity to serve both Him and our association.
Please … (2 comments)
realtor: ORRA recommends candidates for August 14 election
- 07/11/12 05:53 AM
ORRA recommends candidates for August 14th election One of the duties I've taken very seriously this year is my place on our Orlando Regional Realtors Association (ORRA)'s Candidate Screening Committee. A number of folks joined me in looking to do our best to vet candidates seeking election to local school boards- as well as those seeking seats on city and county commissions, state and U.S. congressional offices and the office of Orange County Sheriff. The following- from our association's website, www.orlrealtor.com, gives information on whom ORRA has chosen to support in the aforementioned races. If local and eligible to vote, … (2 comments)
What do you do with a drunken prospect? Not necessarily this drunk- but how about one that's just a little liquored-up...or slightly intoxicated? I was speaking with another agent this morning, and she was telling me about one of the showings she'd had over the weekend. "Folks showed up on time"..."seemed to like the place"..."the guy reeked of alcohol..." What? "The guy reeked of alcohol?" O.K., then...why did the showing continue? What should the agent have done? What could she have done? Though I added a … (14 comments)
I couldn't begin to count how many times the following has happened: I'm in the middle of a showing, and the tenant prospect reveals that they're a struggling homeowner on the verge of losing their place. The lender won't return their calls, they don't even know who their lender is, etc.
Bank of America (the bank whose name I hear most frequently, quite frankly) is hosting events around the country in an effort to let struggling owners meet directly with their lender.
Will this result in a few folks being helped? … (0 comments)
realtor: ORRA Leadership Institute 2012
- 04/10/12 08:34 AM
ORRA Leadership Institute 2012 I was fortunate enough to attend the ORRA Leadership Institute last year. Sponsored by our Orlando Regional Realtors Association (ORRA), it is by far the best value I've ever received from a class. The first "Realtor Review" below is mine. It was my comment at the end of the course last year, and remains so today. It is an unbelievable course and an amazing value. If you have the chance to attend this course, please do so. If you're a broker with agents under you that you feel may benefit from this, please encourage them to attend. Let's … (0 comments)
The sounds of Three Dog Night are going through my head as I write this, by the way.."Never Been to Spain"...
Some folks (I think a lot of folks) make "New Year's resolutions". It seems a majority of them revolve around weight loss, yet we as a nation continue to get fatter and fatter, porkier and porkier. Some folks oughtta resolve to follow their resolutions- but I digress.
Well, I've never been a resolver... mostly because I like to count myself as a man of my … (2 comments)
Who really drives a Rolls-Royce?...and where'd all of those Buicks go?
Who really drives a Rolls-Royce?...and where'd all of those Buicks go? OK, it's a Saturday... so I figured I'd proffer these crazy questions: Who really drives a Rolls-Royce?...and where'd all of those Buicks go? I was driving down I-4 here yesterday (in the left lane, where my somewhat-lead-footed self is often found), and I came upon a beautiful car. It was pure white...clean..metal sparkled and shined. I didn't know what kind of car it was initially- but I knew the dang thing was … (10 comments)
Orlando Property Manager and Realtor Dennis Burgess (Hampton & Hampton Management & Leasing, Inc.) discusses one of the unpleasant yet necessary duties of a professional property manager- serving "3 Day Notices" upon tenants who have not yet paid the current month's rent.
Governed by Florida Statutes 83.56, these notices are the very first steps in what could ultimately be an evictions process. As with any journey or process, it's often the very first steps that are the most important ones- and that's surely the … (0 comments)
Orlando Property Manager Dennis Burgess writes about property management, general real estate and news/events affecting the metro Orlando, FL area.
With more than 13 years of property management experience and being a licensed Florida Realtor, Dennis surely has some sort of information you'll find interesting!
Feel free to comment, send questions he may be able to help you with, or any referrals he may provide with top-notch service.
Thank you kindly for stopping and reading, and thank you for the opportunity to be of service in the future.
Where does your "quality of life" come from?
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