Abundance in Real Estate and Life

Barry's Blog

Contractual timelines & Terms - Do Banks and Asset managers have immunity? #in

Bummer - Just had a deal crash . . .

This was a deal in which I have a 1st time home Buyer buying a wonderful little house that is REO (Foreclosure). When we made our offer, the bank was rigid on price but agreed to all other terms and timelines, so we proceeded in the usual way.

We Did a home inspection within the alloted time frame and found 2 significant issues . . . Air conditioning was not working . . . and crawl space had water and significant fungus/mold . . .

We prepared an inspection release requiring these repairs and delivered it to the listing agent only 5 days after the Binding agreement date (The contract allowed us 10 days).

Per the contract, the seller would have 3 days to respond to our release.

that was 6 weeks ago, and we STILL have not received a response in writing.

Here's what happened during that 6 weeks.

Asset Manager verbally told the listing agent that they would only consider repairing items that were required by an appraiser or underwriter (NOTHING about this in the Purchase agreement).

We had the lender go ahead and order the appraisal and communicated the deficiencies . . . 2 weeks later, we had those requirements . . . forwarded them to the Listing agent.

The REO bank then said they required 2 bids for the repairs before they would agree to anything . . . after much scrambling, we had the bids required within a week.

2 more weeks pass with no news . . .

Then the call came . . . The asset Manager now says the bank will make NO REPAIRS and will not pay ANY money towards repairs.

so . . . Is this the way the banks feel they can play ball?

Are they immune from the terms of contracts they sign?

This bank dragged a 1st time Buyer, 2 REALTORS, a Lender, 2 title Companies, 4 contractors, an inspector, an appraiser and Lord knows how many other people through a 6 week ordeal that never should have happened . . . Much time wasted . . . Much money wasted . . . and a 1st time Buyer with a VERY bitter taste in her mouth about this process of buying a home.

This is nothing but bad business, and this is just one of MANY similar stories.

Now that I have vented (Just be glad I didn't write the stronger words I have for this experience) . . . I'm wondering.

Are banks really exempt from contractual agreements?

They seem to have full authority to change commission structures to fit their desires . . . and they appear to have absolutley ZERO regard for the written agreement.

Are they bullet proof?

What do they have to lose?

This kind of behavior is not the stuff that's going to positively affect the economy. The government and Taxpayers have spent gobs of money bailing these banks out stimulus . . . and the Tax credit initiative encouraged lots of Buyers to perform earlier than "natural" (Borrowed a bunch of Buyers from the future - which is NOW).

so . . . Now we have fewer Buyers in the game . . . and the banks still have a bajillion distressed loans in their pipelines . . . Why would they risk pissing off the few Buyers in the market with these kinds of shenanigans?

Anyone else have a good story?

I'm just sayin'

Best,

PS - I have another sad story with the same 1st time Buyer - Made an offer @ $112,000 on a property listed @ $115,000 . . . The offer was refused and the Buyer moved on . . . that property is now listed at $89,000 and has since incurred serious storm damage to the roof and eaves . . . There's another irresponsible bank who has lost at least $40,000 . . . and still bleeding

Barry Owen
Real Estate Broker
Professional Coach
Keller Williams Realty
Nashville, TN

Call me: 615-568-2123
Text me: http://www.mycricket.com/send-text-message-online
email me: barryowen@kw.com
Read my Blog: http://activerain.com/blogs/barryo
Visit The Owen Group http://www.theowengroup.net
http://www.owengroupnashvillehomes.com

Barry Owen's Internet Portal to all blogsites, websites, and social networks
http://tnrealestatetribalhub.wordpress.com/2009/06/02/barry-owens-web-portal/

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Quintessentially connected to the real estate industry to offer the ultimate experience for Home Buyers and Sellers in Middle Tennessee . . . Inquire within!

Why worry? #in

An often heard cliche in my world: "What you think, EXPANDS!"

We went to an Open House last night at our daughter's school, and I saw many people I had not seen since school dismissed for Summer Break in May.

More than one gave me that sympathetic look and asked me if we are doing OK?

They seemed concerned that my real estate business might be dead and that I might be on the edge of bankruptcy.

Heck! If my only information were the media . . . and I had no other source of information, therefore I BELIEVED that cockamamie . . . I, too, would think that all real estate professionals logically would be on the brink of financial disaster.

The school is a public school with the highest attendance EVER . . . In large part due to the fact that many families have taken their children out of private schools and sent them to public schools . . . Financially driven decisions.

I see lots of pain and worry in people these days, and all I can think of is that happy song:

Don't Worry! Be Happy!

Here's manifestation of expanding thoughts.

If you're worried the deal is going to fall apart, it probably will.

If you're worried that your business is DEAD because your phone has not rung in 3 days, you're right.

If you're worried that the economy is nowhere NEAR recovery, you're RIGHT.

FADAF - Failure and Disappointment are FEEDBACK . . . (Heard this from the Principal of the school)

Worry sows the seeds of failure and disappointment.

What you worry about expands.

Catch yourself worrying and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

If you're worried the deal is going to fall apart, get more proactive than EVER in a POSITIVE way . . . Obsessive compulsive worry is defeatist.

If you're worried because your phone is not ringing, GET OUT THERE and MAKE CONTACT WITH MORE PEOPLE . . .

If you're worried about the economy, DO SOMETHING about it by committing to a level of PERFORMANCE in your career that will provide the means for you to do MORE than your fair share of stimulating the economy,

Start something new.

When someone asks you with trepidation if everything is OK . . . Your answer can (and should be) one of surprise that they would even THINK that you might not be succeeding at a very high level.

Your success is up to YOU . . . NOT the economy or other people's jaded perceptions.

So , , , Stop worrying and get out there and make some things HAPPEN.

My answer last night?

"I'm having a BLAST in this market . . . So much so that I am right on the edge of launching a brand new real estate firm right here in Nashville!"

I'm just sayin'

Best,

Indomitable Spirit is the yeast in any rise to success #in

From Wiki: "in·dom·i·ta·ble - Incapable of being overcome, subdued, or vanquished; unconquerable

I like that word almost as much as I like the word Indefatigable (untiring).

There's something about Spirit that always seems to be the separator of the men from the boys . . .

1st place from 2nd place . . .

Champions from "runners up" . . .

More often than not After the fat lady has done her singing, the story almost always goes something like: "It was a hard-fought contest and it was SPIRIT and pure determination that carried these winners through to the championship."

Even long shot underdogs win . . . if their Spirit is indomitable.

So . . .

Can you BUY this "Indomitable Spirit"?

Where and how much does it cost?

You cannot buy Spirit . . . You either have it or you don't.

Indomitable spirit is not something we create . . . and is not something we have the ability to destroy.

It's enigmatic to competitors because they simply cannot fathom the strength and super-powers it gives to those committed folks who find it.

Consider Victor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning"

Consider Nashville, TN's response to the great flood in May of 2010.

There was no option but to move FORWARD and THROUGH the obstacle.

This Spirit comes from within, and this Spirit is essential for anyone with the desire to survive and thrive in today's current economic climate.

Those with indomitable Spirit hear no external noise. They only hear their inner resolve.

Grit and determination.

Taking responsibility and fueled by pure passion.

The image in my mind is that of the Phoenix rising out of the ashes/destruction.

This week, a new real estate firm is entering the Nashville, TN market. This firm is one that comes from Indomitable Spirit and will be a safe haven for high performing real estate professionals to find their groove . . . and to live better lives.

This firm will be the home of the Vital Few.

Pareto Realty will be a place for High Spirit, High Play, and High Achievement.

Not for the faint of heart.

Dive in with us . . . The water's warm :-)

I'm just sayin'

Best,

Performance Orientation creates more success than Talent, Skill, or Hard work #in

I know many talented people who haven't achieved remarkable levels of success.

I also know many klutzes who seem to have conquered the world (in spite of their "short-comings").

Then, there are those people (Bless their HEARTS!) who are ALWAYS working working working . . . They work SO much harder than everyone else . . . and have less to show for it than most others.

We all have a few acquaintances who are masters at bedazzling spectators with their tremendous SKILL and agility . . . but come up short on pay day.

Where's the difference?

Isn't the "Fountain of Youth" and/or "Secret to success" the quest we were all put here on this planet to find?

How can some people find such great success with so relative little effort?

Most pundits call it "LUCK"!

Any good teacher or coach will tell you that it's all about PRACTICE . . .

The scientific formula is that with 10 years and/or 10,000 hours of concentrated PRACTICE anyone can master ANYTHING.

Is it that easy?

Do the 10 year/10,000 hour experiment and let me know how it goes.

I believe that's not good enough.

I believe that for someone (YOU) to find the level of success to which you aspire, you must have a mindset of "PERFORMANCE ORIENTATION"!

and

The only way to achieve said mindset is to be operating with PASSION . . .

Such that - You are truly following your heart.

Is your ladder leaning against the right wall?

Interestingly . . . If your ladder is not leaning against the right wall (going towards something for which you have great passion), there's no amount of skill, talent, hard work or practice that's going to get you "there".

True Passion creates Performance Orientation . . . and leads to FLOW.

FLOW looks like effortless achievement.

The bottom line . . .

For this to work, you've gotta be in an environment which supports (without judgment) your quest.

and in this way, you discover your own, personal performance orientation.

Just some random thoughts on a perfectly beautiful (and effortless) day here in Nashville.

I'm just sayin'

Best,

Busy with Barry #in

Thank you to my daughter Allison for creating the title of this post :-)

Do you know anyone who is freaked out about the market these days?

Are you?

What are you going to do about it?

Can you change it?

Here's what I know . . . Anyone can be just as successful (if not more) in this market as they can in ANY market climate . . . "Anyone" includes YOU . . . and this success is available to EVERYONE, but not everyone will reap the rewards.

The truth is that it is during the weird times that the innovators excel. there is no better time than when everyone else is freaked out to start a new initiative.

START SOMETHING NEW!

A new marketing approach.

A new attitude

A new business

A new club

A new hobby

A new ANYTHING!

New is exciting and goes deep New breathes life into everything it touches and is a HUGE attractor like an oasis in a vast desert.

New is contagious . . . People want to be a part of it.

New can start very small . . . Doesn't have to be big . . . because the innovator knows that in the slow/weird times, any market share you capture grows exponentially when the market gets less weird.

Wanna see proof?

Draw a small circle on your page.

Now, put a dot in the center of the circle

Draw 2 lines from the dot to the line to create a "Slice of the pie"

Now, draw a larger circle with your first circle in the middle.

extend your lines to the edge of the larger circle

See how much MORE pie you get with the same slice?

Leaders create NEW from scratch.

Are you a Leader?

I'm just sayin'

Best,

btw . . . I'm starting something NEW and VERY exciting here in Nashville - Stay tuned!

Water in the crawl Space? #in

I'd venture to say that most Home Owners in Tennessee who have a crawl space have water in their crawl space are not aware of it.

After all, how often do you crawl into your crawl space and hang out?

Of course, why even go down there unless there's a known problem or a need - like running TV cable to a place it wasn't before?

3 months After the big Nashville Flood in May of this year, we are discovering that many houses that "didn't flood" actually DID flood . . . The owners simply were not aware. Seems the water table rose during that monsoon causing ground water to bubble up from underneath most houses and create a nice underground swimming pool until the water table dropped again.

This phenomenon seems to have greased the path for more water to come in the future in the same way during flash flood types of rain storms.

It seems that a by-product of the BIG flood was a change in the subsurface water management plan . . . or the creation of a need for a subsurface water plan in places where there has never been a need for one in the past.

So . . . what can be done?

For sure, this issue is wreaking havoc on many a home closing as inspectors are reporting "damp" crawlspaces and "evidence of excessive moisture" in virtually EVERY Home Inspection report.

Of course, even the mention of water intrusion sends Buyers and Buyer Agents into a tail spin thereby creating a vortex that can literally devour any semblance of good will between the parties to the contract.

the Buyers are instantly suspicious that the sellers failed to disclose a known water issue.

Then comes the BIG question . . . How do we fix it?

Pre-flood, the answer was almost always to improve the handling of surface water by adjusting gutters and downspouts and grading around the perimeter of the house to divert the ground water away from the foundation to minimize water intrusion . . . or worst case to create a French Drain to protect the house from moving water.

Now?

The options are less clear (and potentially more expensive).

"Re-Engineering" the Crawlspace such that it "handles" any water that enters is one route. This includes grading (sloping) the ground, adding a layer of gravel to slow the water down, and having it all collect to a "positive drain" in the lowest corner where it can exit into an underground pipe that discharges several feet away fro the house.

Another route is the "B-Dry" or "safety Lock" system - A very thick (10mil) and very strong and durable plastic sheet that covers the entire crawl space and adheres around the perimeter such that the entire crawl space is sealed from any possibility of water intrusion . . . This solution also likely includes some level of engineering.

My bottom line is that water in a crawl space does not have to be a debilitating factor when selling a house because it CAN be managed.

The fly in the ointment is when the water shows up as a SURPRISE to all parties . . . This irks the Buyer and becomes an unanticipated expense (potentially many thousands of dollars) for the Seller.

My advice?

Whether you're intending to sell your house or not . . . take an occasional peek in your crawl space after a big storm to see what's going on . . . and occasionally during dry times . . . If you see any small lakes down there, call a professional and FIX the problem . . . Standing water in a crawl space creates a toxic environment INSIDE your house over time as mold and fungus thrive . . . and can also be structurally damaging.

Don't let this be an issue when you sell . . . That's just silly.

I'm just sayin'

Best,

Monday Morning Coffee - The Weather #in

Monday Morning Coffee - The Weather #in

Good Monday morning to ya!

I just got back from my morning walk with Apollo. We had quite a treat when we stepped out the front door @ 5:10 . . . COOL (@ 70) and CLEAR and not too humid. We both rejoiced and enjoyed a brisk 2 mile walk and for the first time in a few months returned non sweaty and refreshed.

Apollo was wet . . . he dove into a sprinkler.

Got me thinking.

One thing we absolutely cannot control is the weather. (as if we can really control ANYTHING)

The weather does what the weather does.

All we can really do is anticipate (predict) the weather and RESPOND accordingly by dressing appropriately . . . or changing our plans . . . or creating contingency plans.

We all have done just fine dealing with the weather for however many years we have each been on this planet.

Certainly the weather is significant in our lives because it tends to be the first thing folks talk about before getting down to business.

Speaking of business . . . and weather.

The business climate has it's own weather cycles and patterns . . . and is equally uncontrollable (although many politicians believe differently). The business climate happens . . . and we respond best we know how.

JOBS and REAL ESTATE SALES!

It seems to me that when the economic weather gets rough, the 2 sectors of the economy that get the most attention by the press are jobs and real estate sales. Real Estate sales affect jobs because home construction and improvement might be the last hold-out of manufacturing in the USA.

Manufacturing houses (for the most part) has to happen on US soil.

The Nashville Business Journal published an article last week that caught my attention. The title proclaimed that more than 40% of corporate executives are dissatisfied with their jobs and intend to abandon their positions at the end of the summer break.

REALLY?

WHY?

There were a litany of reasons:

Distrust in Leadership

Not compensated as originally promised

Lack of Corporate VISION

"Don't like" their boss

Boss takes credit for their accomplishments

and the list goes on . . .

If they all quit, where will they work?

Will this exodus from corporate executive jobs increase the National unemployment figures?

I think not.

Many of these executives will "go it alone" and spread their entrepreneurial wings. They will likely shift to other industries . . . or create new companies to support the industry they know best.

Interestingly, I have seen a decent flow of these kinds of folks flowing into the Real Estate industry as investors or Real Estate Sales professionals or developers.

Guess what?

For most of them, it's like ducks to water . . . they hit the pond swimming and tend to do quite well.

Why?

They know how to do business and succeed in any economic climate.

We believe that NOW is the PERFECT time to start something new.

Thanks to the weather

Now is a wonderful time to buy real estate (rates are crazy low and values are reasonable) and an equally wonderful time to sell (we just listed a home and sold it in 5 days) and would love to talk with you or anyone you know about your opportunities in this real estate market climate whether they be a home or an investment property.

Enjoy the weather this week . . . the weather man says it's gonna be cooler

I'm just sayin'

Best,

b

"You just can't buy a good climbing tree!" #in

When asked which of the 2 houses young Anthony thinks the family should buy, he didn't even pause to think and blurted out: "The FIRST one!"

When asked why?

"Because you can't just buy a good climbing tree!"

The first house has this GREAT climbing tree right next to the house and a beautiful, large, level yard . . . a PERFECT play space for young children.

The other house had lots of stuff this one didn't . . . Lots more space INSIDE the house . . . a better floor plan . . . a pond . . . a barn . . . and many amenities the adults would put on their list of pros and cons.

Without question, the adults' logical thinking process would lead to choice of the other house because it stood head and shoulders above the first house because of all of the "noise" of special features.

Anthony saw through all of that and knew that he and his family would be HAPPIER in the first house with the great climbing tree and the perfect yard for he and his brothers and sisters to play in for years to come.

Malcolm Gladwell wrote a great book called "blink" which introduces a concept that he coins "thin slicing" . . . that we all have this cognitive ability to know (without being able to articulate HOW we know) certain things that help us make decisions.

Some folks call this "gut feelings" or "first instinct" . . .

Most folks are uncomfortable acting on gut first instincts because they think it's too easy.

After all when making a decision of any real significance, shouldn't we turn over EVERY stone and consider ALL of options carefully lest we miss out on something better that might be just around the corner?

Ever heard: "A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush"?

the image of the dog with a bone in his mouth seeing his reflection in a pond and dropping the bone into the water in an effort to get that (apparently bigger and tastier bone) in the reflection?

It's not uncommon for a home Buyer to find their perfect house EARLY in the search process . . . sometimes even the FIRST house they walk into . . . and then because of the feeling of need to exhaust every possibility (and not miss out on something better) . . . They proceed to look at another 20 or so houses before returning to that first house and taking action (if it's still available).

There's a difference between thin slicing and impulsive action although they can look very similar. Buying on impulse is less "responsible" . . . that is, allowing marketing or glitzy features or fear of scarcity to cause someone to buy something without thinking . . . and thereby making a mistake. (adrenaline charged)

Thin slicing is deeper . . . It's that feeling you get when your gut tells you it's the RIGHT thing to do . . . and acting on that feeling without explanation.

Anthony knew from the start that the house with the great climbing tree was the best house for his family 6 months before the adults' rational, logical brains allowed them to come to the same conclusion.

Sometimes a sluggish market can be advantageous :-)

I'm just sayin'

best,

Pitfalls of slipping into acting like an "expert" on matters other than your profession #in

We all have our past experiences . . . and perhaps prior careers.

Of course, we draw upon all of that prior experience as we journey forward and share this knowledge with others when we encounter scenarios in which it applies.

I am a retired US Army Engineer which means that I know a lot about a lot of things we REALTORS encounter daily as we go about our business of representing Buyers and Sellers of houses.

In my years in the Army, I built buildings . . . I blew them up . . . I designed and built roads and bridges (in cities and Jungles) . . . and I learned a LOT about dealing with water when it comes to "management" of water - Proper drainage so as to protect structures and roadways from the potentially destructive force of water.

One could say that I am an "expert" in those fields.

Does this give me the credibility now to Buyers and sellers who may be concerned about structural or drainage issues with respect to houses?

It probably DOES lend a measure of credibility. I could proselytize my achievements in the Army and proclaim my vast depth of knowledge in such matters, and folks would likely listen and act upon my advice based on my own profession of my knowledge.

Just because I have credibility . . . do I have the appropriate CREDENTIALS to advise folks on these matters?

NO!

I am not a licensed Engineer or General Contractor or Structural Expert in the civilian world . . .

I am a REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL licensed to advise Buyers and Sellers on matters directly having to do with the process of PURCHASING or SELLING a home.

To punctuate the point . . . Most contracts contain "Disclaimer" clauses which put the parties to the contract on notice that I am not an attorney or accountant or structural engineer or environmental expert . . . or or or or or . . . and that they should NOT rely on (nor should I give) advice on matters beyond the scope of my profession (REALTOR).

In fact . . . If I primarily deal with selling single family resale homes, I might even be climbing out on a limb to consider advising a client on matters relating to Commercial Transactions . . . or property management . . . even though I am LICENSED to do so

So . . .

Credibility through prior experience . . .

Legal permission through licensure . . .

are NOT winning reasons to offer advice to clients beyond what you have been hired to do.

Cross those boundaries, and you'll be exposing yourself to complications (and potential litigation) that will ROCK YOUR WORLD.

This blog post comes on the tail end of a few recent crazy transactional complications due to a sudden flash flood here in Nashville a few days ago . . . seems that flash flood caused many house crawl spaces that have historically been DRY . . . suddenly are WET . . . and I have encountered a whole slew of folks who seem have amnesia as to their own area of expertise . . . and are offering opinions and conjecture that have created quite a mess.

Ridiculous . . . CALL AN EXPERT!

Something I learned in the Army . . . If you've got a bunch of mud and want to get rid of it, can you add more dirt? NOPE! Adding more dirt just creates more mud.

You've gotta MANAGE water - not cover it up.

Keep yourself out of hot water and pinch yourself any time you catch yourself offering advice outside your are of expertise.

If the shoe fits . . . WEAR IT!

I'm just sayin'

Best,

When the system is down! #in

OMG!

What would YOU do if you were to wake up tomorrow morning in complete silence?

That is . . . no house noises whatsoever . . . No ice maker dropping ice . . . no air conditioner whirring . . . no lights . . . no noise . . .

AAACK! the power is out!

A quick check of your phone . . . no service!

You remember hearing the big storm the night before and figure the outages are temporary.

What would you miss most?

TV - Lights - Radio . . . or INTERNET?

How could you possibly survive without Internet?

You want to check your to-do list and your calendar to see what's in store for you . . . but all of that is in your database which you access through . . . the internet.

Now reality begins to settle in . . . It's going to be a crazy day.

How will you get it all done with your new handicap (no internet)?

How will you get ANYTHING done?

If you're breathing, and this scenario has not played out for you yet, rest assured it WILL.

One day the power and the internet in your world will stop working . . . and likely it will be temporary (unless the 2012 prophecy has to do with a complete crash of all of the power grids).

I think now is as good a time as any to PRACTICE your "survival mode" of living . . . That is . . . how to survive in "the rough" without power and internet.

On a smaller scale, how can you keep your business flowing when things go awry? Let's say it's just your internet connection that goes down.

A few tips

- Don't put all of your eggs in ONE basket (The internet)

- DO a "Daily Priorities" list EVERY day with pen and paper - Mine has 3 columns - People/Clients - To-Do - Calendar/call log

- Print your database monthly and keep it in a notebook for easy non-electric access

- PRINT all documents (Sorry "Green Enthusiasts" - Completely paperless is risky) and keep complete PAPER files for every client

and when the system goes down?

- BREATHE!

- Enjoy the silence for a while

- Complete your Daily Priorities sheet as usual

- Respond to the emergent catastrophe by deciding if you can just take the day OFF or not

- If you must work . . . do so at a pace that keeps your blood pressure down

- Remember that this day is just like every other day . . . As long as you have prioritized what needs to happen that day . . . and you take care of the most important things FIRST and work your way down the list . . . You may find that this non internet way is, in some ways, easier.

My point . . . Don't let teccnological glitches spoil your day . . . Be prepared with non-technological contingency plans.

I'm just sayin'

Best,

Written the day after the internet was down at the Owen house & office for the entire business day yesterday.

"According to the PLAN" #in

We all talk a lot about the plan.

Many of us call it different things (Vision, Goals, Aspirations) and have myriad ways to project HOW we are going to get from here . . . . to THERE.

That's the PLAN.

Some of us spend LOTS of time, energy, and resources developing this PLAN and don't quite get around to DOING anything.

Others are very expedient with their plan making process . . . and quick to DO in a very rigid way certain that as long as everything they do is "according to the plan" then they'll certainly reach the goal at the appointed time.

and then there's that enigmatic bunch of folks who never seem to plan anything, yet they always seem to get there.

Here's a little experiment.

I want you to develop a plan for a trip from where you live through a MAJOR city (Atlanta, New York, Chicago, LA) to any other city - You can drive or fly. Think of everything you can think of - create a budget - develop a time-line - gather all of the stuff and people you will need.

Write it down and leave your house just as planned . . . and follow that plan EXACTLY.

Can you do it?

Will everything go EXACTLY as you expected (planned)?

Odds are not good that it will according to plan . . . Details might be forgotten. Traffic might spoil the timeline. Other people may do things that create delays/hassles.

Don't confuse your plan (the map) with reality (the territory).

Organizations learn this the hard way every day. They create very detailed "Business Plans" for new ventures . . . and are always amazed when things don't go according to the plan but succeed (or fail).

They then put HUGE energy and effort into creating "Policy and Guidelines Manuals" and "Organizational structures" such that they can "systematize" every facet of the business so that it is quintessentially duplicatable . . . so that if ever there is a thing or person which fails to operate per the plan, they can delete that thing or person and plug another one into the mix per the plan and expect things to continue to run perfectly.

The real world doesn't work that way.

The sad truth is that most "break-throughs" happen NOT according to plan.

Seth Godin offered a cool way to develop a business plan . . . I'm using it to develop a business I am currently launching.

It's simple - and simple is GOOD - and non-rigid - and doesn't create a box

5 Parts

1. Truth - What's the current state of affairs? What's right about it - what's wrong? Who are the players?

2. Assertions - What are we going to do that's different? What gaps are we going to fill with our new venture?

3. Alternatives - If things aren't going perfectly with our "plan" (assertions), what else can we do (out of the box) that can carry us through to our ultimate vision?

4. People - who's coming with us? What do they bring with them? Are they the right people?

5. Money - Where's it coming from and how is it going to flow? What hapens if it runs out?

I simply add the 4 principles of Open Space Technology (a la Harrison Owen)

Whoever comes are the right people

whenever it starts is the right time

whatever happens is the only thing that could have

When it's over, it's over!

and 1 law

The law of 2 feet: 'If at any time you find yourself in a place where you are neither contributing nor receiving anything of value, then it is YOUR responsibility to use your 2 feet to take yourself to a place where you CAN contribute and/or receive something of value."

and finally - The FourFold Way

SHOW UP and BE PRESENT

Follow what has heart and meaning for you

Always tell the truth to yourself and other

Let it go

enough rambling.

I say: "Make the plan" and follow that plan just as you would a road map with willingness to deviate from the plan to circumvent surprises along the way.

and DO . . . Just DO.

You'll get there as long as your vision of what "There" looks and feels like is clear and specific.

I'm just sayin'

PS . . . What I laid out here is applicable to ALL aspects of your life . . . including your vision of "What's for Breakfast?"

Monday Morning Coffee - Back to School #in

Monday Morning Coffee - Back to school! #in
GOOD MORNING!

"back to school" means a lot of things for a lot of people and families.

For parents it's almost certainly ALWAYS a surprise . . . Just seems to creep up on us unexpectedly (with the possible exception of those phenomenal few human beings who somehow never seem to lose a grip on their calendars).

We've all been juggling kids and work and vacations and holidays for the past 12 weeks.

WHEW!

We squeeze that final vacation in at the last minute . . .

and then the mad dash to the finish as we realize that it is now time to get school supplies, register, fill out 142 sheets of paper for each child (writing our home address and telephone numbers a minimum of 12 times during the process) . . .

all the while corralling our kids into quiet places and away from TV and computer to complete their summer reading.

There's always that tumultuous 48 hours just before learning what teachers they will have . . . and that chaotic drive over to the school @ 5PM on the eve of the 1st (1/2) day of school.

The children talk to each other about the teachers . . . They know who they want . . . and they think they know why.

"That teacher is MEAN!"

"That teacher is STRICT"

"THAT teacher gives LOTS of homework!"

I want HER because she's NIIIICE!

and so it goes . . . the home room lottery.

Metro Nashville schools teased all of us by having a Thursday 1/2 day as the first day - then off Friday (Long week end on the first week of school) with full classes beginning on Monday. That worked out OK because it gave a few more days to work the kinks out of getting the right supplies.

Today is THE day we move into the new school routine.

This means waking up early and having a real PURPOSE - making lunches, getting dressed, gathering books . . .

and sadly for the kids . . . the end of TV and recreational computer time on week days.

For us adults?

I like the solid and predictable ROUTINE that begins today. I can now go back to using my CALENDAR with some level of certainty that I can commit my time during the day without random conflicts.

Interestingly, though, I realized this morning that we will not be less busy now that school is in session . . . because now we have after school activities . . . PTO meetings . . . Parent/teacher interactions . . . homework help with the kids . . .

We will just be "different busy".

After all . . . our primary functions as parents (Human adults with children) are to serve our children well such that they are well prepared to take the reins and become responsible and productive adults (and likely serve their own children well).

and so it goes . . . If you're a parent, these are the years to PERFORM in your service to your children . . . BE their limo driver . . . their concierge . . . their provider of housing and food and clothing . . . and their example of good character, manners, and responsibility.

Do this right, and they'll return the favor when we all get old and tired and feeble . . . After all . . . didn't we have children such that they will take care of us through our final years?

Coffee cup is empty . . . but final thought . . . Our children ARE our future. THEY are the ones who will (sooner than any of us really want to admit) be the LEADERS in our society and bear the responsibility to preserve and protect our freedom and well being.

I'm just sayin'

Time to "Start the Blender" (wake the kids up) for the first day of school.

Best,

b

Do you buy a house by the pound? Here's one in Nashville, Bellevue that blows that theory #in

501 Leonard Ridge Court - Traceside - Nashville, TN 37221
Do you buy a house by the pound?

That's a trick question . . . A "Pound" in real estate lingo really is a "Square Foot" . . . and technically, a square foot doesn't tell you a whole lot about the house . . . It's just a measure of finished, heated living space in a house.

In some markets (Atlanta), square footage is not even quoted in their listings. Here in Nashville, it is.

What's the big deal?

Sometimes Square Footage offers a competitive advantage as in: "You get more for your money by buying this house because it's only $106.23 per SF while others in the neighborhood have sold for $125.32 per square foot."

What it doesn't say is that those other sales were smaller houses.

There are other things that this square footage conversation over-looks . . . Like the "usability" of the square footage . . . or what living areas might be present that technically don't count as square feet because they're finished but not heated . . . or not finished but usable . . . or tons of storage space etc etc etc.

We just listed a remarkable house in the oh-so-desireable Bellevue neighborhood Traceside in Bellevue . . . Just a short hop to The ever famous Loveless Cafe . . . Near new schools and new shopping . . . and a straight shot to Nashville.

501 Leonard Ridge Court - Traceside - Nashville, TN 37221

This house happens to be the best of all worlds . . . especially when it comes to square footage and how it compares to other houses in the neighborhood.

By the pound (Square Foot), it's clearly the best buy . . . and it is also the largest (over 3500 SF) . . . and it is meticulously up-dated and maintained by an owner who had no notion whatsoever of moving any time soon . . . but life happened . . . and now the new Buyer will benefit.

Here's what I mean by what you cannot know simply by knowing the square footage of this house.

The 3500+ SF doesn't tell you:

. . . that there's a 14′x20′ FABULOUS covered deck (only a few months old) built by The Porch Company

. . . that there's a REALLY cool play space for the kids finished under the front stair case - the space that (in most houses) gets used as a vacuum closet or "collect all" space.

. . . that there are 4 (FOUR) separate walk-in attic spaces from the bonus room for storage.

. . . that there are 5 (FIVE) bedrooms and 3.5 baths

. . . That the roof, Heat and air systems, tankless gas water heater . . . all recently replaced.

. . . That the kitchen is wide open and beautifully up-dated with granite counters, custom tile back splash, big pantry, double ovens (1 is convection)

The price?

$359,877

Why will most Buyers see this house as such a GREAT value?

Click here to see a little "no-haggle pricing" perspective

If you're in the market for a great house in West Nashville under $400,000, THIS one is worth a look.

But you better contact us quickly . . . I think it's gonna sell soon.

I'm just sayin'

Best,

b

http://www.activerain.com/blogs/barryo

Taking the mystery out of selling a home faster than the competition #in

Seth Godin boiled the cacophony of information about pricing "right" to sell down to a very palatable idea.

His blog post is here: The right price the first time

His approach is from the perspective of an author selling a book . . . I think his idea works for houses too :-)

He says: "The way you price expensive transactions is going to train your partners and customers in how to behave."

In the real estate market, many Sellers (and the Real Estate agents who represent them) have trained the home buying public that negotiating a real estate transaction ALWAYS means that the seller accepts less money than the listing price.

Used to be same way with ALL car dealers also . . . Until Saturn and Carmax came along and offered "no-haggle pricing".

The truth is that (as Seth points out so eloquently), Pricing right the first time actually has a LOT more traction and will likely net the Seller more money in the end.

The closer a Seller prices a home to the "true value" of that home in the CURRENT market (regardless of what the Seller feels he NEEDS or WANTS), the better the odds it'll sell at (or above) that price . . . QUICKLY

Fact is, Home Sellers have trained the Buying public that all houses are overpriced . . . and therefore should be negotiated . . . and Buyers are out there trolling for "a good deal" . . . and for many of them (because we have trained them to think this way) a "good Deal" is one in which the Buyer can get the property at a large discount from the LISTED price . . . even though the final price may have no relevance to "true market value".

Of course, folks will tell me that "Everything is negotiable" and they will be correct . . . It's that additional risk that kicks in that's the fly in the ointment . . . The closer that first price is to "real market value" the more Buyers will enter the fray.

Thereby creating somewhat of an "Auction Effect" . . . Buyers are suddenly willing to pay MORE than that price knowing they are in competition to "win" the coveted "fairly priced" property.

Buyers don't trust sellers who initially price beyond (above) the strike zone.

They feel cheated if/when they're looking at a house they love but it's priced above their price range . . . so they don't make an offer . . . and it eventually sells at a price within their price range . . . Now they're trained to look at houses ABOVE their price range with the expectation of negotiating that price into their price range . . . or to "wait it out" as the Seller reduces over time into their price range.

It's a silly game . . .

Pricing right the first time short-circuits the chicanery.

So . . .

When a home owner calls me and announces that he/she is considering selling a house . . . and saying they "DREAD being on the market for months and months in this SLOW market just like all of their friends" . . . I respond by saying that it doesn't have to be that way . . . Pricing it right at first short-cuts the process.

Hint: Virtually ALL houses that sell in ANY market environment sell at "fair market value" in the moment the deal is consummated . . . That is . . . The price a willing and able Buyer is willing to pay and a willing and able Seller is willing to accept.

Putting a "Fair" price on a house in the beginning disarms Buyers who have been trained in an over-priced market.

I'm just sayin'

Best,

Thank you for inspiration on this one Seth :-0

Doom, Gloom, and a ray of SUNSHINE #in

The Association of REALTORS (a few days ago) released the sales statistics for the Greater Nashville area for the month of July.

They weren't pretty . . . a 21% fall in number of houses sold . . . and an INCREASE in average selling prices.

Of course, all of the media folks picked up on that headline (because EVERYONE loves to talk about real estate sales as being the "be-all end-all" when it comes to the health of the economy . . . and the doom and Gloom proselytizing commenced.

Is it all bad?

I have a different perspective . . . This is simply another phase of the market cycle.

In my view, The ray of sunshine is the fact that we have moved into the next phase . . . We are moving FORWARD towards recovery.

Following are some of my thoughts as to where we are . . . and why.

UNEMPLOYMENT is the "be-all end-all" of economic recovery. When people don't have JOBS, they can't buy stuff (ESPECIALLY HOUSES).

Get us Americans MOVING with re-energizing the MANUFACTURING segment of the economy . . . This might require unions to relax a bit and allow more reasonable pay structures such that it is less expensive to create "Made in USA"

Quit beefing about the home sales stats as compared to last year because this environment is shifting quickly enough IMHO that last year's stats are just that (stats) and have very little bearing on what's happening now.

We run stats so that we can do our best to postulate where we are in the cycle . . . in a world of Raplexity (My Dad made that word up - Rapid and complex combined) Stats are just a thermometer in a doctor's office.

But people have to live somewhere, right? If they're not buying houses, where are they living?

Many are renting HOUSES that the owners were not able to sell for enough money to move on without a loss. There are still plenty of folks out there who managed to sustain their personal financial security sufficiently that they have been able to take advantage of these crazy low rates (and prices) and have bought something else . . . keeping their house . . . and renting it out.

This renting of houses thing does 2 things:

Takes Buyers out of the market - Many are doing 2 year leases

takes houses off the market resulting in LOWER "FOR SALE" inventory

Voila!

Fewer Buyers means fewer sales.

Lower inventory creates scarcity (a healthier market) which creates a "rising value" trend.

and here's the fun part . . .

If all of this this happening NOW . . . and all of this renting is for 1 or 2 year leases . . . What's the landscape going to look like in 1 or 2 years WHEN ALL OF THE BUYERS COME BACK?

Surely in 1 or 2 years this over-supply of short sale or foreclosure will be somewhat depleted.

Based on recent experience . . . I believe the short sale is becoming less of a possibility in its current form. The banks are working on ways to be more proactive about this process thereby giving them more control by putting them in a position in which they can (through principal reduction) effectively create a "pre-emptive strike short sale program".

Foreclosures . . . every bank has a veritable mountain of them in their inventory . . . they don't want to own these houses but they're smart enough to know that they cannot possibly toss ALL of them at once into the market place because that would flood the market with undervalued properties and subsequently do more damage than good . . . they would lose on the equity side . . . and so they have put a "Pressure Valve" on their pace of selling foreclosures.

The banks are eating away their inventories of foreclosures the same way I eat an elephant - One bite at a time.

So . . .

with proper perspective, I am as excited as ever about the sunshine side of this equation. My business is moving along swimmingly in large part to the fact that I use statistics for what they are . . . Indicators . . . so that I can adjust what I do to continue to serve as many Buyers and Sellers as possible here in Middle Tennessee.

I'm just sayin'

Best,

Save your breath! I'm not interested in knowing what you "can't" do . . . #in

The older I get, the less tolerance I have for folks who who are so wrapped up in what they "CAN'T" do - they work themselves into paralysis and . . . do nothing!

and when I tell them they CAN do it . . . they wander away grumbling and go on a search for comrades who will commiserate with them and support their "can't do" approach to life.

I've learned that "Can't do" people come in all shapes, sizes, ages, genders, racial make-up, Nationalities, generations . . .

As do "CAN DO" people.

"Can't Do" people sneaky little devils . . . don't show themselves until the terrain gets hilly . . . that's when the whimpering starts.

I think back in Army days when we responded to whining with "NO QUITTERS OR WIMPS IN MY UNIT"

Oh! there are lots of justifications for having those periodic sinking spells of "Can't Do"

After all, life isn't always peaches and cream . . . sometimes it sucks.

Not every real estate deal is smooth . . .

Not all people are nice and honest and willing to do what they say they are going to do.

The only defense against any and all of this is a great offense.

Cheesy as it sounds, that means keeping a POSITIVE attitude and affirming "CAN DO" every step of the way.

I had the great fortune recently of experiencing a real estate transaction with a "perfect storm" of opportunities to slide into "can't do". We have prevailed because there were 2 players in the game (The Listing agent and me) who couldn't hear that word "can't" . . . We were 100% "CAN DO"

We had our challenges - Short Sale with 3 loans - VA Loan for the purchase . . . and a very short time-frame to avoid foreclosure.

I heard whining from LOTS of people along the way.

Like the lender who who told me he "can't do" the loan fast enough . . . Within 24 hours, we flipped that loan to someone who said he could . . . 2 weeks later THAT LO said: "Can't do" it in time . . . I reminded him how he got that loan and suggested that he figure out how to turn that "can't" into a "CAN" . . .

He did!

The title company told me it "can't" close on that day . . . I said: "YES IT CAN!"

and it did . . .

How did it?

COMMUNICATION!

The listing agent and I were in constant communication - Texting, calling, meeting . . . whatever it took.

That poor "can't do" lender heard from me twice a day EVERY day for 2 weeks.

The title company heard from me every hour beginning 2 days prior to closing.

We did it . . . the impossible :-)

Hey . . . Just be glad you're not one of my children saying: "But daddy, I can't do THAT!"

I'm just sayin'

Best,

PTSD - Don't let it rule your world after moving into your new home #in

Posttraumatic stress disorder (post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. (Wikipedia)

^{PTSD is usually associated with folks who have been in combat . . . or some form of life threatening occurence.}

^{I don't think it's too far a stretch to postulate that to some degree when a person buys and/or sells a home they may experience some form of PTSD within minutes of walking out of the title company from the closing.}

^{This manifests in a variety of ways ranging from internal turmoil (very quiet) to moments of sheer panic and fury (very LOUD).}

^{In my view, the most important thing to do about it is to acknowledge it . . . and know that it is perfectly normal to experience some level of angst after closing on a house.}

^{We REALTORS do our best to reduce the "trauma" during the process of buying or selling a home, but there are many variables over which we cannot possible exercise any level of control. We don't have the power to exorcise the demons inside our client's heads . . . demons which can conjure up all sorts of conspiracy theory notions.}

^{Some folks shrug it off and nonchalantly name it "Buyer's remorse"}

^{Buyers tend to move into the house and start noticing things things they failed to notice during the "romance" phase of the home buying process. You don't always notice the warts when love is young . . . so we must keep things in perspective . . . If you're gonna "marry" this house, you're accepting it "Warts and all".}

^{Why do I bring this up?}

^{No matter how perfect you might think this house is during the courtship (contract to close), stuff happens after you move in.}

^{Things break . . . Just had a Buyer tell me that 2 weeks after closing BOTH Air conditioning systems failed suddenly and completely.}

^{Things aren't as you expected}

^{Light fixtures are uglier than you originally thought}

^{The kitchen cabinets are funky and your stuff doesn't fit them well}

^{and the refrigerator freezes your lettuce but won't freeze your ice cream}

^{The toilets require 2 flushes . . . EVERY TIME}

The shower head has a "water saving device" that restricts the flow to a trickle

The air conditioning system is not "balanced" so you FREEZE in your living room and bake in your bedroom.

There's a colony of mice that visits your garage every night.

The paint color in the 2 story Great Room doesn't match your furniture quite as well as you had hoped . . . Repaint? or buy new furniture?

and the list goes on and on and on.

My advice?

Do nothing for 30 days (unless something breaks and needs immediate fixing).

Install a cork board in a prominently visible location and cover it with blank paper

Hang a basket of Chart Magic Markers under the Cork Board.

Gather the family and invite them to write ANYTHING and everything they would like to change about the house on that board for 30 days. there should be NO constraints as to what goes on this board.

On day 31, call a family tribunal and prioritize the list

Separate the NEEDS from the WANTS into 2 lists first

Rank each list in order of IMPORTANCE (Not emotional urgency)

Consider the budget of money and time and skill . . . Which of these things can you do yourself with a little coaching from the local hardware store . . . and which are for professional hire only?

If money is plentiful . . . hire a contractor to knock out the whole list.

For the rest of us (99% of society), chip away at the list one item at a time.

Add or delete items to/from the list over time as needs change - That "New deck" may turn into a "covered Patio"

Mostly . . . ENJOY your house.

What you think expands . . . Don't give any energy to PTSD

I'm just sayin'

Best,

Monday Morning Coffee - FAST Elevators #in

GOOD MORNING!
Fresh . . . Back from a week vacation . . . and SO ready to get back to work.

As I'm always thinking about how I can improve my service - Some thoughts . . .

You traveled all day to get there (Convention or vacation).

Somehow you've survived the flight delays, the traffic snarls, and the fatigue that just comes with travel . . . and you have managed to preserve your sanity through frequent short bursts of meditation.

The only thing you want now is a clean and fresh hotel room with a comfortable BED.

As you drag your suitcases towards the check-in counter at the hotel, the clerk notices that you are frazzled and decides to do something nice for you (because the hotel is not full and she can) and warmly welcomes you and gives you the great news that she is going to upgrade your room to a suite on the 9th floor . . . over-looking the OCEAN instead of the 3rd level garden view you had reserved.

What goes through your mind?

Perhaps gratitude and some level of excitement at your good fortune.

It's what doesn't go through your mind that might be worth considering,

Like . . .

How fast are the elevators?

and

Are there enough elevators to serve everyone in the hotel?

I'd trade an ocean view for a garden view in a New York Minute if it means I don't have to spend 1/3 of my time waiting for and riding elevators every time I need something from the room.

At that moment while checking in, there's not time for checking the speed and availability of the elevators so you exercise some blind faith and agree to the up-grade.

This is a roll of the dice because some hotels have woefully inadequate elevator service . . . while others somehow are able to provide "smart" elevators that always seem to be available on the floor YOU would like to leave and travel quickly and smoothly.

What's it cost a hotel to equip itself with Fast (and smart) elevators?

What's the opportunity cost of NOT having fast/smart elevators?

I know that if I were seeking a facility for a large event . . . or the vacation of a lifetime, I probably wouldn't think much about the elevators until I got there . . . and elevator speed alone could easily make or break the experience.

So . . .

Just as that BP Station in Georgia captured my attention and my business with a billboard that said simply: "CLEAN RESTROOMS - EXIT NOW".

How might the hotel benefit by adding "FAST & SMART Elevators" prominently to the marketing materials?

What's the "fast elevator" in your business?

Are you bragging about it?

Effective Marketing isn't just a bunch of yelling at the general public hoping to catch their attention . . . It's more about knowing what your "fast elevator" is . . . and bragging about it.

This post was inspired by my family's recent stay at The Marriott Marco Island, FL where the elevators are indeed FAST . . . and SMART!

I'm just sayin'

Best,

b

Here in Middle Tennessee, I serve the needs to Residential Home Buyers and Sellers impeccably . . . and I'm one of the Vital Few NATIVE NASHVILLIANS who REALLY knows this city :-)

Customer Service lessons while on vacation #in

I've just had a week away from it all.

REALLY . . . AWAY FROM IT ALL.

We packed the family into the car and headed down to Marco Island, Florida for a week.

We stayed at the Marriott Resort Marco on the recommendation of more than one friend.

I, personally, am a bit out of my comfort in such a posh environment, but somehow I made do.

As ALWAYS, my eye was very tuned to customer service (both good and bad) and thought I would share a few stand-outs.

generally speaking, I'm not a big fan of "Hotel Food" . . . the Marriott surpassed my expectations.

Kurrents restaurant WOWED us with fantastic service - Garth might very well have been the most attentive Server we've had in years . . . and that chef? Pretty food that tasted GREAT.

I believe this restaurant is "under-acclaimed" by the Hotel . . . They should be singing from the tree-tops about this exceptional team of chefs and servers . . .

Do you know what you do best?

Do you brag enough about it?

Quinns on the Beach - Great food . . . not so good service . . . Seemed the servers were not working as a team. Our server was Sarah, and she was very attentive and always on the move . . . It was the other 5 servers and the floor manager who spent a lot of time of standing still and watching people eat while water glasses became empty.

Good food alone isn't enough to keep customers coming back . . . so we didn't.

Even if you personally are delivering your promise to your clients, how is your team doing? they are a direct reflection on YOUR business (good or bad).

Joey's Pizzeria & Pasta House - Fantastic tasting food - fun environment - Great service the first time . . . not so good service the 2nd time . . . Have you ever noticed that the quality of service during the slower times in most restaurants is poor? During the slow times, the servers are "off their game" . . . no inertia . . . Customers feel this . . . it dampens their experience.

How well do YOU perform during the slow times?

Snook Inn - Big hat . . . no cattle . . . I was SO excited to be going there for some great Island seafood and ambiance. Service was sluggish and food was cafeteria quality . . . It was a fantastic setting overlooking the water . . . but that didn't overcome other shortcomings. That was a "once in a lifetime" visit for us . . . we won't be back.

Be careful about over-promising and under-delivering . . .

NeNe's Kitchen - Fun Kitchen environment with friendly folks and very good food (Breakfast or lunch). We got what I expected and left happy and satiated.

They over-delivered :-) . . . We'll be back.

Big Al's Deli - My favorite casual dining on the island. Fun and lively and busy and tasty and FAMILY.

Are your customers/clients "Family" or "visitors"?

It's all marketing . . . Promise and deliver your promise . . . and your marketing becomes organic.

Final thought . . . Everywhere we went . . . we went on the basis of someone's recommendation whether it be a bellboy, concierge, neighbor in the hotel, person in the chair next to us at the pool . . . or on-line (Yelp, Urbanspoon). We are in a world now where a businee cannot hide behind hype . . . they'll be exposed every time.

AUTHENTICITY!

I'm just sayin'

Best,

Monday Morning Coffee - Exceptional service begins with the "Right" surprises #in

When traveling, you're usually in uncharted territory for yourself and your family.

For me, this means that my level of trust that everything will happen as planned is LOW.

Unfortunately, I have enough travel experiences in which luggage was lost, rental cars were not available as promised, Hotels failed to save rooms and "walked us" . . . LONG waits with delayed or canceled flights.

Sadly, many of these comments probably resonate with you and hit you in the gut as you remember similar disappointments in your travels.

What about those times when everything goes RIGHT?

What makes these times so much better than the others?

I think it hinges on simple little happy surprises and perks that show up out of the blue.

Like our recent visit to the Hampton Inn in Gainesville, FL:

The clerk who greets us by saying: Glad to see you Mr. & Mrs Owen. We've been expecting you and have your room ready for you. Would your children enjoy some complimentary milk and cookies while you register?

and when we got to our room, it was exactly what we expected, and there was a handwritten note from the General Manager of the Hotel Welcoming us and thanking us for choosing to stay at the Hampton.

Then there's the Marriott Resort in Marco Island where . . . after a full day on the beach, we find Milk on ice and a plate of cookies in our room . . . and Craig the catamaran Captain who found the BEST shells for us while shelling, changed the normal course to play with dolphins and look for manatees . . . and allowed our children to drive the boat back to the marina.

It doesn't take much to turn trepitation into enthusiasm when you're the one serving.

I believe it's all about making folks feel comfortable and "at home" and being willing and able to anticipate special needs . . . and to offer that occasional extra effort that makes all the difference in the world.

Like a handwritten note or a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies.

Meanwhile, we are practicing what we preach with home Buyers and sellers every day . . . Please contact me if I can serve you or anyone you know in any real estate matter - ANYWHERE!

I'm just sayin'

No coffee cup today . . . It's a beer . . . on the beach :-)

Best,

Sabotage - It's all YOUR fault! #in

Seth Godin wrote a great little blog post this morning . . .

Sabotage! "Just about all sabotage is self-sabotage."

Quit blaming others for your own failures . . . or successes.

comparing yourself to others is an exercise in futility . . . It just leads to angst.

Conspiracy Theory is a wonderful way to justify bad choices.

Don't DARE show weakness by taking responsibility for dropped balls.

OH!

NO!

It's gotta be someone ELSE's fault.

"They" have been watching me and looking for that golden opportunity to thwart my efforts.

It's THEIR fault I didn't reach my goals.

I'm not buying it . . .

Catch yourself thinking these thoughts early and remove yourself from the planet and go somewhere quiet and take a minute or 2 (or a few days) to ponder:

"What was MY contribution to this?"

"What did I personally do that might have precipitated the chain of events that got me HERE?"

"Could this really be my own damn fault?" (Jimmy Buffett admits this in Margaritaville)

Whether you think you're fat, lazy, untalented, ugly, poor, downtrodden, abused . . . You're right!

Thinking the same you is Lean, energetic, talented, pretty, top-o-the-world, powerful? . . . You're right!

It's your choice.

If you don't like where you are, you are the ONLY person on the planet uniquely qualified to extract yourself and go somewhere better.

But . . .

You've gotta first take responsibility and stop putting so much energy into theorizing that others are sabotaging your efforts.

I'm just sayin'

Best,

Bug Psychology . . . #in

For years, i've been calling the same guy for my Termite inspections.

I have always liked Hank because he's easy to work with . . . Fairly priced . . . and has saved my butt more than once in one of those occasional closing day panics that follow the question:

"Do you have the termite letter?"

Hank has never let me down when it comes to termites.

It never occurred to me that Hank might know something about other species of bugs until I moved into my new house and discovered it was really just a very nice ant hill . . . ants EVERYWHERE!

I didn't know what to do other than to call Hank.

I got more than I expected as Hank explained to me the phenomenon of changes in barometric pressure and how that affects the mental state of ants . . . They seek the indoors . . . and that there's this cool gel he has that alters their behavior - A few dabs, and they'll leave . . . then there's this stake thing i can plant outside to kill them - so . . . no live OR dead ants in the house.

A few weeks later, we had a few moles take up residence in our yard and literally lifted the grass off the dirt and created a mole village underneath . . . What could I do?

call Hank . . .

Yep! He had an answer . . . Buy these little windmills with bearings in them and plant them around the yard . . . The sound will drive the moles nuts, and they'll leave (to the neighbor's yard).

Sold a house . . . Buyer moved in and discovered there were FLEAS everywhere.

That's right . . . Call Hank!

At this point, I'm asking Hank what these fleas are THINKING coming inside like this.

He knew . . . Extremely hot weather with high humidity - fleas run inside and can go from invisible to full infestation in the matter of a few hours. The treatment can take weeks . . . Kill the adults and spray the larva with a spray that mutates them so they cannot reproduce and CLEAN the place thoroughly.

Hmmm . . . Hank knows more than termites.

Who do know that's a specialist and how deep is your relationship with that person?

I'll just have to say that I never in my life considered this notion of psychology to deal with insect infestations.

How many people know the many ways YOU can serve them in YOUR specialty?

I'm just sayin'

Best,

Are you going through life in fear of being late for something? #in

I used to hate going to the zoo.

In fact, i don't think I can ever remember a time (even when I was a child) when I was thrilled at the prospect of going to the zoo.

Why?

It wasn't because I don't like zoos or animals . . . I LOVE looking at and learning about animals and could spend hours watching them in their natural habitats.

So why would i dread going to the zoo?

"It's ALWAYS HOT and sticky and the food and drink are expensive and tasteless and there are too many people and the people I am with are always rushing me through the exhibits so I don't really get to see the animals and we ALWAYS seem to be under time contraints and RUSHING back to the car . . . "

Today, I had the opportunity to do it right.

Each Summer, Deb does "mystery week" for the kids. IT's a week with no planned camps and every day is a mystery "field trip" to a museum or park or river or theme park . . . Deb does most of these days, but today was MY day to make the plan.

I didn't know what I was going to do, but I blocked the entire day to do it and left a message on my voice mail that i would not be available all day.

With NO possibility of me "being late for ANYTHING", I then began wondering what I could do, and it occured to me that a visit to the zoo at the kid's pace might be interesting.

We watched gibbons swing from trees - Elephants wander in the field - Turtles doing laps in a lake - A most amazing athletic display by a pair of red pandas . . . We took all the time we needed at EVERY habitat . . . and took our time.

Here's the kicker . . . We were at the zoo a total of @ 3.5 hours which happens to be just about the same amount of time we usually take to tour the zoo . . . what was missing was the frantic anxiety?

How could that be?

It was because we weren't going to be late for anything.

Just like vacation when you can actually enjoy a meal . . . or lie on a beach . . . or just do nothing.

OK!

So . . . How do we bottle this?

How can we arrange our lives such that we're not being worried about being late for anything?

Is this utopian thinking?

I think not.

After all, life's just one vacation anyhow, right?

Quit being so wound up about getting it all done and enjoy the ride.

I'm just sayin'

Best,

Glass Achievement Ceilings are self-imposed boundaries #in

I know . . .

It's easy for ME to say that you can accomplish ANYTHING you set your mind to.

It's easy to say that if you identify and overcome ALL of your limiting beliefs, you will find success beyond measure.

It's easy to say that your potential is boundless -

Your self-imposed boundaries squelch this potential.

Your Glass Ceiling of Achievement through which you can see but cannot seem to figure out how to get through to the other side . . .

Like The fly beating himself to death on a pane of glass with freedom only 6 inches away through the open window.

Why do we do this to ourselves when all of these self-help books and gurus tell us over and over again how powerful we really are?

I believe the difference between those who realize more of their potential and those who don't has a lot to do with being intentional.

A GOAL is an INTENTIONAL limiting belief, yes?

That is: "My GOAL is to sell 4 houses every month!" implies that I am not currently selling 4 houses every month, that I WANT to sell 4 houses every month . . . with a self-imposed boundary of selling 4 houses every month. Intentionally setting this goal affords me a higher likelihood of increasing my sales . . . but doesn't necessarily take me to the level of performing at my true potential. 6? 8? 15?

. . . an INTENTIONALLY self imposed glass Achievement ceiling.

Being intentional means identifying limiting beliefs and dealing with them as best you can. Limiting beliefs are things that you "CAN'T do!" or just don't WANT to do.

Take the guess work out of all of this and simply commit yourself to being intentional with everything you do . . . and make it your personal goal to (over time) get the most out of your potential while you're here with us . . . and just keep on moving that ceiling UPwards.

I'm just sayin'

Best,

Monday Morning Coffee - Patience, Endurance, and the ability to SPRINT #in

Monday Morning Coffee - Patience, Endurance, and the ability to SPRINT
Good morning!

Are you enjoying this blistering HOT weather?

As I was leaving Hart Hardware with some new toilet innards, I glanced at the Marquee - 97 Degrees . . . then at my clock - 12:17 . . . YIKES!

At that moment I committed myself to be sequestered INSIDE and decided it would be a day for tackling odd jobs around the house.

My eye is ALWAYS on the business environment both Locally and Nationally . . . Looking for trends and "behaviors" such that I can appropriately represent my clients. I know that, in many ways, the Real estate market serves as a very strong indicator (and influencer) on the economy as a whole. More houses selling leads to decrease in inventories and creates a healthier environment for builders to get back to building . . . Which creates JOBS.

I know that is over-simplistic, but it's where my brain goes.

Not a day goes by that I don't encounter a person who (knowing I and Debbie are both REALTORS) asks in a quiet and careful tone: "How are you doing? How is the real estate market? Is anything selling? "

Almost always, my answer is: "REMARKABLE!"

The market is what we make of it. There are MANY reasons to be buying and selling real estate these days. Historically, real estate investments have been the most solid investments ANY investor could make. Sure! you can find lots of folks who have lost money in the real Estate market, but that's not the market's fault . . . It's all about timing and not letting yourself get backed into a corner.

SO . . .

THIS market is ALL about PATIENCE, ENDURANCE, and the ability to SPRINT.

The people gaining the most traction in this market are the ones who very patiently watch the market and get to KNOW the houses that are available and their values. These folks exhibit PATIENCE by restraining their impulsive tendencies.

Once they KNOW the market, ENDURANCE becomes essential. The real winners are the ones who have the sticktoitiveness to stay in the game until the right deal shows up.

Any good Boy Scout or Girl Scout knows that BEING PREPARED is paramount. For Sellers, this means being ready to move at a moment's notice . . . not slowed down by things they can "control" . . . Like arranging a place for an interim move . . . Just in case. For Buyers, it means having ALL ducks in a neat little row regarding financing. The Buyer with iron-clad financing and down-payment readily accessible will win every time . . .

BECAUSE . . .

In this market when the "right" deal shows up, we KNOW that there are other folks watching for that same "right" deal . . . It's time to SPRINT! If Buyers and Sellers aren't in a position to seize the opportunity, someone else will swoop in and grab it.

So . . . I believe this "formula" works for most folks who are in ANY kind of business in this economic environment, and it's not just about THIS market . . . It's decent guidance for ANY market conditions.

We all just forgot a lot of this when the market was so good that if you were breathing you were making money.

Coffee cup is empty . . .

I'm just sayin'

Hoping you have a great week.

b

Subscribe

Buyers Resources

Sellers Resources

Barry's Blog