misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: The last computer backup program you will ever need - 04/25/09 04:20 PM
How many times have you or someone you know lost important data on a computer and failed to backup or the backup they had failed to restore?  I also know too many associates and friends that have a beautiful external hard drive that is full or has never been programed to backup on a regular basis.
Wouldn't it be nice to have your computer automatically backed up and never have to worry about it again?
Wouldn't it be nice if your someone could:
Backup your computer automatically Have no limit to what it backs up Is totally secure and safe Can … (13 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: A recession proof business you must see to believe! - 03/05/09 01:12 PM

I never expected this in Idaho but I saw it with my own eyes and all I can say is WOW!  I recently purchased a new home and purchased 90% all new furniture.  It is the most amazing home I have ever owned and I wanted it to look really special.  
A friend of mine from a local title company told me to go check out a place call "Graples".  I asked her if what they sold there we eat, wear or ???  She said "No Silly", Graples Home Decor has some of the most amazing home décor items at the … (26 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: Change your "mind" and change your world - 03/04/09 08:07 AM
My good friend Tamara Dorris interviewed me yesterday and asked how Realtors can change their mindset and become more successful in their business. How can they change their work ethic, determination and thier "Passion" for the business which is a huge ingredient?

So how can we as Realtors change our thinking to be more passionate, assertive and have a great work ethic?  I compare it to athletics and our physical bodies.  When I first started to run for exercise in the 80's I could barely run less that a ¼ mile and I was gasping for breath!  Every week I would run a … (23 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: She had it all - 11/27/08 11:51 AM
I love music and the other day I pulled out an old CD that I had not listened to in years. On that CD was a song by Simply Red called "You've Got It".  Everyone that has truly been in love with that one special person has a song that says it all about that one person and that relationship.  It seems that when we find that special person there is nothing else in the world that can replace how that person makes us feel.  Sometimes we try to fight the feeling and sometimes we don't treat that special person the … (38 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: Perceptual Blindness >> What does your perception tell you? - 10/10/08 02:47 AM
A friend of mine sent me this powerful video.  Please view it and then look at my comments below.
 
We focus our attention on what the media tells us is reality.  Most of us focus on what the media wants us to focus on and we fail to see the opportunity that exists.  Today, many Realtors are focusing on fear and uncertainty.  When we allow the fear and uncertainty to take control of us it is difficult for our creative minds to go to work and take advantages of the opportunities that exist.
When dealing with our spouses, significant others or … (21 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: I am the Greatest Realtor in the World! - 09/01/08 07:56 PM

Those that know me know that I love the game of golf for many reasons.  Today I witnessed one of the most amazing feats in golf I have ever seen (sorry Tiger) and I have been watching professional and amateur golf since the early nineties. 
One of my favorite current golfers is Vijay Singh from the island of Fiji.  Vijay is known for his incredible work ethic. He practices his golf swing and  exercises relentlessly. He is currently 45 years of age, an age when most professional golfers are thinking more about the champions tour, not competing against and winning tournaments against the top players … (93 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: The 4 traits of all successful Realtors - 08/31/08 04:40 AM
I started my real estate career in 1980 and if ever I have seen history repeat itself it is now, nearly 30 years later.  In 1983 I sold homes with interest rates of 17 1/2 %. Realtors dropped like flies because the attitude was "I can't sell homes with those kinds of interest rates".  Fast forward to 2008 and again Realtors are dropping like flies.  Same result as the 1980's. 
What separates those that succeed in any market and what is the common denominator for those Realtors that hang up their spurs, leave the business and look for other ways to … (23 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: Make 150 families remember you for $100! - 06/25/08 03:24 AM

REMAX Mainstreet just posted a blog about keeping in contact with past customers/clients.  One REMAX agent, Jaqui Robbins offered this tip:
The day after Christmas she hits all the department and discount stores and purchases all the holiday dormats she can located.  She said she spends about $100 and generally picks up about 150 doormats and adds them to her existing inventory.
The following year on the weekend following Thanksgiving she staples a Holiday/Christmas card to each doormat and drives to ALL of her local client/customers, leaving a doormat with the attached card on the front porch.
She said her phone rings off the … (35 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: Embracing Change and reaping the benefits - 06/22/08 06:53 PM
One thing that is a constant in our lives is change.  The real estate business has changed dramatically at least four times in the past 28 years I have been in business.  For many, change is a scary thing.  It takes us out of our comfort zone and many have a very hard time dealing with it.  Change is part of our personal lives and part of our business world and always will be.
Here are some things to think about when it comes to transitioning into all the changes of this lifetime.
Let go of the old  What has worked … (51 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: The greatest resource is you - 06/22/08 10:47 AM

When I was very young growing up in the sixties I remember seeing a movie about a man that that was confined to a room for several years.  He could not leave the room but would be given anything he asked for.  He went through many phases during those years.  Sometimes he would sleep all the time.  Other times he stayed up all the time drinking and getting drunk.
One day this man asked for and was given a grand piano.  When he was given the grand piano he knew absolutely nothing about playing a piano of any kind.  He … (30 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: What song impacted you the most and where were you? - 06/07/08 04:19 AM
I don't have a very good memory at all and forget names and important dates very easily.  This is why this amazes me.  I remember where I was, what day of the week it was, and what time it was when I heard this song.  It was 1974 on a Satuday night and it was around 6:30 p.m. when I heard this song.  I don't know why it impacted me the way it did but it did.  When the song came on I parked my car in front of my friends home where I was headed and waited for the song to end.  … (37 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: Professional Realtor or "Control Freak"? - 06/04/08 06:08 AM
Yesterday I called Realtor that had a home listed because there was no phone number for the sellers on the MLS listing form.  I have seen more and more Realtors submitting listings like this with no contact numbers for the sellers.  Mostly "Discount Brokers" are doing this in our area. Our MLS listings have sections for all of the sellers contact numbers.  99% of all owner occupied listings have this information posted.
My buyer only had last evening to look at homes and was making a decision on one of the homes she was planning on looking at.  I did not … (19 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: Why High Gas Prices are a good thing - 05/17/08 01:38 PM
A lot has been written about the rising cost of gas, groceries and other goods and services that are related to the cost of gas.  With all due respect I see some good things coming from all of this.
I can't tell you how many sports cars and hummers that showed up in our community in 2005, a result of the "easy money" Realtors were making.  I saw young Realtors in their early 20's buying hummers, sports cars and expensive toys.  Many people told me they know bartenders that witnessed Realtors throwing around money like it was candy and boasting of … (64 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: Another Active Rain Blog goes International with Re/Max - 05/05/08 09:11 AM
Just last September of 2007 I was contacted by Amanda Okker of RE/MAX International and asked if RE/MAX could publish my blog If I Knew Then What I Know Now in the RE/MAX Times for the December, 2007 issue.  I gave my blessing and the article was printed and distributed to 64 countries. 
It was amazing how many postcards, letters and calls I received from across the country.  In addition, I was approached by many RE/MAX Agents at the International Convetion in Las Vegas this past March of 2008 which was a big surpise.  So many agents recognized me from Active Rain … (37 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: Idaho produces Entrepreneurs as well as Potatoes! - 04/25/08 03:32 PM
In spite of a sputtering economy nationwide, Entrepreneurial business is growing in many parts of the country with 495,000 new businesses per month started in 2007, according to the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity which monitors entrepreneurial activity across the country and state by state.The Kauffman study, which is sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, found that some areas encouraged far more entrepreneurial activity than others. Entrepreneurial growth is vital for economies and says a lot about states which encourage entrepreneurial activity. 
The 10 states with the highest entrepreneurial activity rates were:
Idaho District of Columbia Arizona Tennessee Louisiana Wyoming Vermont Montana … (26 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: Why some Realtors are flourishing - 04/16/08 02:06 AM

In golf the difference between the winner of a major golf tournament is a few extra putts here and there.  I have watched many golf tournaments over the years where a single putt won a tournament.
I tell everyone in my second life I am going to be a basketball player.   I love basketball and I can't tell you how many tournaments I have watched that were won by one basket made and many one or two point games determined the difference between a championship team and the 2nd place team.
Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh are known for their relentless practice routines and physical … (93 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: College Degrees >> A solution for the real estate industry? - 04/12/08 08:04 AM
There has been a lot of talk over the years here in Idaho about the requirements for one to obtain a real estate license.  For a salesman's license in Idaho one simply completes a 45-hour Salesperson Module 1 and then a 45 hour Salesperson Module.  Pass the exam that follows and Walla!  Find a real estate company to hang your hat with and you're in business!  There are many that are pushing for a basic college degree required for those seeking an Idaho real estate license.
Proponents for the requirement of a college degree point to these issues: 
The real estate newsletter … (39 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: The secrets of success in real estate and business - 04/07/08 06:00 AM
Any of us that have been in the business any length of time can easily see all the innovations that have entered the real estate business the past several years.  Real Estate coaches, PDA's, Email, Text messaging and on and on.
While I embrace technology and use it to grow my business I can say that there are basic things I see successful people (not only Realtors) doing day in and day out that bring success and happiness. 
Here is my list and I am sure many of you have more you can add and I welcome you to add your recommendations.
… (78 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: Free Virus Scan that is impressive - 04/01/08 09:46 AM
FREE is always good in this day and age...especially if it is not only free but GOOD!  I purchased a new notebook computer this weekend and after a very lengthy conversation with the very knowledgeable Best Buy salesman I decided to purchase the virus software Trend Micro for $39.99 with a $20 annual subscription fee. This seemed pretty reasonable so I decided to try it, especially when I found out it is faster and takes less memory that Norton and McAfee, etc. and it is a lot less expensive than these other virus programs.
I went ahead and loaded it on my notebook without a … (43 comments)

misc ramblings from the idaho real estate specialist: Windows Vista looks at the world differently - Who am I writing for? - 03/31/08 06:47 AM
Hi folks, I entered the world of Windows Vista over the weekend and purchased a new notebook computer with Vista for Windows installed.  My office computer is a desktop with Windows XP installed. 
I was going along just fine over the weekend with my new notebook computer and didn't mind some of the new twists on windows Vista but then I started carusing different websites including my own Search Idaho Homes and was shocked when all the blogs I had written looked totally different and distorted when I viewed them through windows Vista. 
I thought maybe Point2Agent who I have my website … (30 comments)