real estate: How to break your Realtors heart - 01/09/17 04:53 AM
How you can break your Realtors heart by leaving us out - we have feelings too!
I have to think this would apply to most professions that work on commission.  I honestly think most consumers just don't think of it, a very honest mistake.  Commission sales means we do not get paid unless we sell and close on something. Referrals are huge in our business. Repeat clients and referrals keeps bread on the table. My family is very big on loyalty, we actually will pay a bit more for service we trust, and will stay with our service provider till they prove we should not.  (rarely … (5 comments)

real estate: SOLD AS IS - 12/31/16 04:51 AM
 
Disclose or not to disclose
Residential Real Estate
 
 
 
In the past year there has been more conversation and questions about sellers disclosures and the legal aspect of them. What has to be disclosed - what the sellers responsibility is and what is the Listing agent/broker's responsibility is.
 
As for the Realtor - know we are to do no harm to either party no matter who we have agency with and must be honest.  If we have knowledge of something we must disclose.  Its pretty simple; cut and dry.
 
Legally what is the seller’s responsibility - “This is Michigan specific so if you are … (5 comments)

real estate: How to honor top sales people - without making the others feel unworthy - 12/13/16 06:18 AM
Know that I love contests - I love to compete and I love to win! My first experience with this was,  when working at a furniture store in Camphill, PA.  We were living from paycheck to paycheck and we needed 3 mattress - My husband and I were sleeping on his 20 year old childhood mattress and we were rolling to the center and the kids mattresses were no better. When they announced they were having a sales contest for mattress sales and the high producer won a free mattress - know that I won that contest 3 times! I need … (2 comments)

real estate: Just how automated do you get? - 03/15/16 10:43 PM
As the economy gets better - the solicitation for services for my Real Estate business has nearly become overwhelming.
 
They can post for me on facebook, they can connect for me on linkedIN, they can write my blogs for me, they can send newsletters for me - they can share scripts that I can use, they can cold call for me, they can ……..they can………..they can………….
 
Oh lets not forget the people who want to write reviews for me on various sites - UGH!!!!
 
If I put all of this together there is not much left for me to do - other then write … (0 comments)

real estate: What makes a GREAT Broker in Real Estate - 03/11/16 10:31 PM
In Michigan to become a Broker you have to take 90 hours of approved con-ed - pass a test - have 3 years of full time experience and keep up with legal con-ed. Requirements here.
 
So this is what the state says you have to do - to become a Broker. I argue this as in my opinion so much more is needed to become a great Broker.
 
A Broker is not just someone who knows the law or can pass a test, a GREAT broker is someone who cares about their people, showing encouragement, support and always remaining with a … (2 comments)

real estate: Do you dress for success when working with friends and family? - 02/03/16 08:41 PM
 
 
 
In our business a “suit and tie” is not required anymore. And for some of us who are on call after hours can get a call/text to pop out to see a new listing that has just hit the market, In my territory we need to RUN not walk if we want to get our offer in before everyone else.
 
So I must admit, I am the person that will drop everything to go see that home because I like to win!  This means you may get me in yoga pants and a baseball cap.
 
However, when a friend or family … (0 comments)

real estate: Realtors need closure too! - 12/22/15 02:06 AM
When a Realtor meets a new client it can, in some ways be like dating. Lets look at the comparisons.
 
We probably met on line or set up through a friend
We decided to email or text communicate for a bit to see if we like each other
We met the 1st time over coffee or a drink
 
After this initial,  first person to person meeting you said you were going to call us,  but we never heard back. All the while we are so eagerly awaiting that call and the next time we can meet, only left to wonder what happened, … (4 comments)

real estate: Creative Solutions from The Gordon Group GR - 12/15/15 07:18 PM
As the Real Estate industry evolves, needs from our clients have changed a bit we are working hard  to find ways to deliver excellent customer service and more of a concierge service tailored to your life style.
We lead busy lives, and yes there are many things you are capable of doing on your own - but given the time that is needed to conduct most of these tasks you would be working 2 full time jobs! There are also services that we can provide that only an experience licensed agent should provide.
 
In Grand Rapids Michigan our limited inventory means you need to be on top of … (0 comments)

real estate: Grand Rapids, Michigan in the news again - 12/02/15 08:37 PM
Grand Rapids / Wyoming has made many top ten lists! It does not surprise me.  As a person who is not from here - I can see things other take for granite.  My family and I moved here in 2001 - 2 weeks before 9/11.  When 9/11 happened, we saw this community pull together and help each other,  we knew we had moved to an awesome place.
However, we did feel we were lacking some big city ammenties at the time.  Over the years we have watched Grand Rapids grow. Not only grow but making sure they grow with the "family" in … (2 comments)

real estate: Volunteering in the work space - What are the benefits? - 12/22/10 01:12 AM
For the last few years I have been honored with some volunteer opportunities and feel that maybe I have gained more out of them then I ever expected.
There were so many things that I learned.  These experiences I had gave me a working education that I feel can not be taught in a class room.  
I was Ways and Means Chair for Western Michigan Chapter of WCR for 2.5 years. 
I have learned to make a annual budget - working with a very tight budget.  How to make money.  How to use my sales experience for something other then … (5 comments)

real estate: Owning a home is AWESOME - but it should not own you! - 02/16/10 11:11 PM
I was reading an article that one of my net works on linked in posted - 5 questions for the 1st time home buyer - Found on Bankrate.com
This one of the best articles for home buyers I have read in a while.
Question #1 - How much can I afford - I like that the author did not send the buyer for a pre-approval 1st thing.  Suggested that they do a house hold budget 1st. 
I have been recommending this for a long time.  How much you "want" to spend on a monthly mortgage is quite different then what the … (7 comments)

real estate: THANK YOU Grand rapids! - 02/01/10 10:43 PM
Keller Williams Realty has been voted as "best of" in the readers poll of the Grand Rapids Magazine.
How proud I am to be working at Keller Williams Realty, not just today, but every day.  Keller Williams Realty really does build people - they educate their Realtors so we can stay on top of the continuous changes of our market place, and it shows in our every day activity.
Founded in 1983, Keller Williams Realty International now ranks as the third largest real estate franchise organization in the United States. Total North American associate count stands at close to 73,000.Our rapid growth … (0 comments)

real estate: Why there is not a Kelley Blue book for Real Estate - 02/01/10 11:38 AM
I was watching a demonstration on my new program for top producer web site and the instructor was explaining how people can pop on my website and check out the area info and see what has sold, what is listed ..................etc.
 
Finding this information is fun, great to see what you neighbor got for their home, how tings in your neighborhood look in general. However this is not the only info we need to make a buying decision, or a "good buying decision". We need more then general information. 
 
There is so much information on the web, and sellers … (0 comments)

real estate: YEP! Grand Rapids in the news again! - 10/06/09 11:56 AM
Well, this is not the 1st time we have been noticed by a national net work and probably will not be the last.  Last year we were on the today show as a great place to live and raise a family...............this time it was a little different.Grand Rapids home sales are on the rise!  We were number 5 on the Today's show list as a place you better buy now if you are looking for that "deal"!I was telling some one the other day how I am not able to find the steal of a deal as easy as I could … (5 comments)

real estate: It is Garden Party time! - 09/09/09 12:14 AM
On behalf of the FLOW Garden Party Committee I want to invite you all to the 2nd Annual
FLOW- Friends Landscaping Our World Garden Party and Tour.  
To get information and tickets:  
Date:     September 25th
Where:  Mangiamo 1033 Lake Dr. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506
 Time:    3:30- 6:00pm
Cost:    $25 for the Garden Party, $30 includes the Tour on Sat. Contact: Daniell Rowland              danielle@daniellerowland.com             616-893-8450
What will we do?  Well, appitizers will be served, cash bar or course, local artist auction and Bocce ball will be played..........rain or shine as the tents will be up in the back yard!  … (2 comments)

real estate: Are dates on contracts become just a suggestion? - 07/09/09 12:54 AM
I wonder in this market environment of REO's and Short sales where we tend to "forgive" contract dates or leave them off totally due to the bank will respond when the bank will respond, has made us tolerant and/or slack in honoring contract dates with "regular" sales.
Not that I get too many "regular" sales these days, but when I do, I conduct business as I was once trained and honor all dates stipulated on the contract.
I do get the home inspections done in 10 days, I do put a date on the counter offer as to when the buyer/seller needs … (0 comments)

real estate: WCR Febuary Lunch - Guest speaker Kevin Allen - Keller Williams on the "shift" - 02/14/09 11:37 PM
Yes! another successful educational lunch at the WCR Western Michigan Chapter.
Introductions of our guest speaker were made by our Educational Chair, Patricia Caston - Great Lakes Home Solutions. 
  
 
Kevin Allen is a great speaker - Who like myself is homegrown Keller Williams!  He said if he did not get but one message out to the group this was the message he wanted people to walk away with:
It is NOT the market it is what you do.  For a while when the market was real good we were sometimes just order takers..........we need to "shift" our thinking.  … (0 comments)

real estate: Keller Williams Realty makes the news - 01/28/09 11:29 PM
WOW!  This articlefrom RISmedia is great.............may I just say how proud I am again to be an agent for Keller Williams Realty.
Some of the highlights from the article are:
We are dept free KW gave back 30 million in profit sharing 4th largest Real Estate company in North America and the big one:
Keller Williams Realty was founded 25 years ago in a market much like today's market- the only difference was the interest rates were 18 percent!!!  Can you imagine?  And we complain when they go up past 6.5 percent! HA!
Congratulations to all of the Keller Williams agents … (0 comments)

real estate: 1st time home buyers- buying a home - Part 2 - 01/26/09 11:09 PM
If you stumbled on this blog first go to part one then read this blog.
Okay as discussed in the 1st blog we picked an area(s) which we want to live and we have a pre-approval from a lender.  So we now know how much we can afford and the area we want to live in.
What do you want from a home? What is important to you?  I have my clients make a 3 part list.
A. What you MUST have - meaning if the house doesn't have it - you do not want to even look at it.
B. … (2 comments)

real estate: WCR Western Michigan Chapter - Istallations and Inspirational - 01/08/09 10:12 AM
Today was the first meeting for WCR Western Michigan Chapter for 2009
We honored the officers from 2008 and swore in the new officers of 2009!  What a great meeting this was.  Emotional for some as some are stepping down and some are just starting their new duties.  Mary Mishler of MLM Realty LLC, was our president for 2008, she worked very hard in a challenging market to keep us at status quo and to bring new idea's and stimulating meetings. 
Linda Najar with Greenridge Reality is our new chapter president.  She is very excited for her new role and has many … (4 comments)