Dog Days of Summer

I love em!
 
I know unbearably hot and humid, a/c set so low that your glasses fog up when you walk outside.  A wave of heat like a sauna blast hits you as you open the car door and the steering wheel is slowly but surely branding the inside your hands.  Everyone wants leather seats the world over, except in Florida, we prefer fabric and the skin on the back of our legs, if you please. 

Lets not mention the summer proliferation of the things that crawl! Try explaining a giant flying cockroach, is not a cockroach to someone from England.  His response was "WHO CARES, it was 3 #*#* inches long!" our infamous Palmetto Bug strikes again.

One recent visitor to our Island called our office several times last week, very worried, surely those thunderstorms of last week were a hurricane brewing.  There is no doubt that just a short 100 years ago, most of the Island was a jungle.

So whats to love?  Summer, sparkling white beaches, the special blue green of the water, the impossibly blue sky with those cotton ball clouds.  Even our storms are magnificent, there is nothing like watching a lightning storm over the Gulf or feel the relief of the rain.  Its when you know there is a higher power, when you feel like thanking Someone for the sunset!

Our visitors love Anna Maria Island and that Sato Real Estate, www.satorealestate.com offers quality Anna Maria Island Vacation Rentals and we guarantee that it will be interesting if you come in summer! 

Debi
Sato Real Estate

The hospital system wasn't quite finished with me, today is my first day back at work.  Barbara knows the way to my heart, FOOD preferably chocolate.   I'll get this blog rolling again in no time!

Debi

Sato Real Estate

I got off to such a great start with the blog and then boom, I was thrown for a loop with illness.  So after 2 long months of poking and prodding by several of our finest Doctors, I was diagnosed with a non lethal ailment, stitched up and put out to heal.  Barbara tried every way to get a picture of me, looking oh so lovely, but (yea!) couldn't.  She does have a devious side so I don't think I'm out of the woods yet on that count.

Some things I missed that I would have blogged about:

Monica's 34th birthday (again).  Happy Birthday Mon!

Last months first Friday, the most attended since we started.

Upturn in sales at Sato!

Great rental season, fully booked and loaded!

I will come back and expand on some of these in future blogs, I need facts!

Debi Varelis

Sato Real Estate

We opened our doors here at Sato Real Estate in the middle of the worse Real Estate downturn in recent history!  It was scary, It was intimidating and yes, we are crazy.  The first few weeks were a blur of computer and phone systems, desks and personnel, officials to be appeased, logo's and signs, but also determination that we were doing the right thing, we would succeed!   

Attitude!

Now everyone knows there is a Real Estate office on every corner of Pine Ave., and every other corner of the Island for that fact.  We knew we had to work hard to make a difference, we had years of experience and connections between us, we just had to find our niche.  Our attitude is our clients are our priority, not just the sale or the rental, but the people behind them, and that we would go the extra mile.  We can't please everyone all the time, but we do our best to try to find a solution that pleases and hopefully do it with a smile.

Attitude!

We have fun, thats been part of our office from the day 1, of course like any family we have also had the screaming memes.  I like coming to the office, I like our First Friday parties and our clients have become our friends.  What more could you ask for! 

Attitude!

Debi Varelis

Sato Real Estate

Jason has started a new venture to educate the public on the changes in the way business is done in this new economy.  There are books upon books to advise us on the way to make money in real estate, in normal times, but very few that can explain short sales. foreclosures and dropping property prices.  Jason is taking his time on a local radio station in a series called "Ask the Expert" where listeners write or call in questions, he explains what we all are wondering right now.

His very first question was about short sales and the second was about current market conditions in real estate today.   Interesting and informative in easy to understand terms, I felt I was sitting across from Jason as he patiently handled each question.

To see the pod cast online, go to: www.oldies108.com/pages/expert/ask_realestate.html

or listen at 107.9 WSRZ

Debi Varelis

Sato Real Estate

We've experienced the death of a very important part of our business family. From Day 1 -its been here with us, chugging along through our inept and at times rough use of its services.  We've thanked it, cursed it, wanted to kick it a few times, but it always raised its true colors and delivered.  Oh, the deals made on it, its ink given in service, we will miss it greatly.  As it got older and crankier, the use of tape increased to hold it together, and the amount of paper that was devoured grew tenfold.  Many times, only Monica could revive it from the dead.

This weekend, under the guidance of the "Holy Terrors", it was laid to rest.  Yes, it's true.  In ten minutes, Ilona, Liza and Sherry managed to kill our beloved printer, shut down our internet, and dump our rental scheduling program.  Stories are conflicting; however, rumor has it that Barbara has papers signed in blood somewhere.

We will miss you,

Debi Varelis

Sato Real Estate

The Sato Girls were out on the town last night!  Our resident Southern Belle, Sherry Sasser hit a milestone birthday this week and we celebrated.  30, was it Sherry?  We began at our office meeting, overdosing on Ice Cream Cake at 10 in the morning and ended it at Joyland, a country western club.  The're motto is "Boot, Scoot and Boogie" and we did!

With our cowboy hats , boots and sequins, firmly in place we heel-toed, slide, slide, dipped and swung with the best of them.  Ilona and Lauren almost got us booted out with THEIR version, but the dance leader relented and invited us back as long as we didn't interfer with the serious dancers.  Which of course we did, Fun was had by all!

Happy Birthday Sherry, we luv ya!

Debi Varelis

Sato Real Estate

I read an interesting article on the internet the other day that hit home with all of us at our office during our weekly office meeting.  Let's say that you need help because your bank statement is off.  You call, and get a computer that asks for the account number, considering that you imput the number correctly.  You are then sent to another computer voice that asks name, social and address.  Not done yet, you are sent to a real person who asks you all of the same information again! Arrgh!!  Of course, when you are sent to another person who again asks you all of  the same info again.  This happens over and over. Banks, credit cards, you name it, every call is a ordeal, until you find the right person who actually knows their job or speaks English.   

For a long time, I relied on the web site gethuman.com that gives the inside phone numbers that bypass the computers and get you directly to a real person.  I think they have gotten wise to that lately, its not as easy as it used to be.

Working in short sales, calling the mortgage companies, I've found that if I just hang up and try again, when I get that person who obviously doesn't care or knows how to do their job.  After 5 or 6 calls, I will finally get a person who knows what they are doing.

All this comes back to the internet article, which in these trying economic times, companies which are committed to customer service are pulling ahead of their competitors.  Case in point, this week I needed a few parts for my dishwasher and a new garbage disposal.  I called Sears and surprise, surprise, got a real person, who not only found my parts, but told me my garbage disposal was still under warranty.  I was very impressed.  It took me under 10 min. and got much more than I had asked for.  At the end of the call, I was asked to go online and take a survey, which was all about customer service.

At Sato Real Estate, from day 1, we have been committed to Customer Service- personal, friendly and professional.  We want our customers to feel like a part of the Sato family, and we believe that this quality has been the key to our success.  We want our clients to feel as I did when I called Sears the other day, valued!

Debi Varelis 

Sato Real Estate

Thanks to our photographer Monica and all our guests!

We laughed, we ate, and we partied at a very successful First Friday, Feb 6^th!  The Food was good,

the conversations lively, a good time was had by all.  Our winter visitors all came by to say Hello

and in the process met new friends, we heard of plans to meet up at later dates, what restaurants

to try and the best times to walk the beach.  This made us very happy to know Sato Real Estate

not only provides a great rental experience, but is also rounding out our visitors stay by introducing

them to others!  One couple met another couple from their hometown, they didn't know

there but are now going to be Florida buddies, it's truly a small world.

Believe me I love the internet, cell phones and texting, but like in that popular commercial there

is nothing like Face Time!  Here are a few pictures from our festivities, don't

forget to join us next First Friday, March 6^th!

Debi Varelis

Sato Real Estate

When we opened Sato Real Estate in the fall of 2006, one of the first things we did was to begin our First Friday tradition that continues to this day.  The first Friday of each month we hold a little get together from 5 pm to 7 pm for clients, friends and the community.  We offer good conversations. tasty food and drinks; we don't do business but enjoy our time together.  We love to hear what's goin on in the community and what's on people's minds.  We have had great success in introducing newcomers to old timers, answering questions that help people adjust to life on the Island.  We have made great friends and invite you to come and party with us, a little bit of Island hospitality.

Debi Varelis

Sato Real Estate

In order to better serve our clients and prospective buyers, Sato Real Estate is pleased to announce the launch of our new website.  Website visitors will now have the ability to book their vacation rental property directly from our website!  We will continue updating the website with new properties for sale and vacation rentals as we acquire them. 

Give us a call so we can help you find your new dream home!

Jason Sato
Sato Real Estate