….for today.

Wowza, screech and skid…. How did you survive 2009? I will confess this year has already presented huge changes and challenges for me and just about everyone I talk to. What an amazing moment in our industry. When we look at the remainder of 2010, what are the most important things to focus on to maintain and, hopefully, accelerate our businesses in this now “normal” market?

Our industry has made some huge changes in how we exchange information with consumers and how we sell and list property. …

Want some valuable information to share with your contact database, post on your facebook, add to your website, tweet and get out to every possible social network you can?  Here it is!!!
Every New Year I post this information and will continue to do so as long as these programs are viable benefit programs for Veterans and their spouses.  There are two, little known, Veteran benefits available that, when combined, will pay up to 3/4 of a qualified Veterans and/or spouse of a Veteran’s assisted living.  I know this personally because my ex father …

…..and I’m not coming out…at least until my kids go back to school. Working from home can be a blessing and a challenge. This has been the longest holiday break I can remember. Before anyone calls CPS, I love my children. They are amazing young people, but it can be difficult to stay focused on work when they are whining about being hungry and bored and creating more dishes and laundry than I ever knew we had. Every time I walk out of my office I spend 15 minutes loading …

Whose fault is it that your buyer’s short sale didn’t close in time for their needed move date and they walked from the deal….and you….forever? Well, it’s the lender’s fault of course. NOT!!! Sorry but the blame starts and ends with you. You should have never even gotten your client into that situation in the first place. We all know the nightmares of getting short sales to close in a timely manner. If you have a buyer who absolutely MUST be in a new home by or around a certain …

Well actually, to be precise, when it comes to our commissions, we need to be more like oysters.  Picture it, I am running to the market to get fresh oysters in those convenient little glass bottles with the screw top and oh my, go figure, they are out. All they have are the oysters still in the shell.  I am CRAVING them.  I ask the kid behind the counter if he can shuck them for me and he looks at me like I am on crack.
Oh well, I’ve seen those guys at the …

Error! Your password must be at least 29 characters long, include 1 upper case and 1 lower case letter, 2 symbols, 5 numbers and not have any repeating characters.  You will be asked to provide 4 unique questions and answers and you cannot make them up!  For your safety and the safety of others, this password must be changed every 3 weeks. Warning*** One more attempt at your brainless login and you will be banned from your account forever!!! Read on for information on successful management of your logins …

Between Twitter, FaceBook and MySpace, there is a huge audience for all our information.  I feel, if you are not using these venues, you are not servicing your listings the way they need to be serviced.  What I have seen across the country is that most agents don’t get their listings on social networking venues fast enough.  Sellers are posting their information faster than we can keep up with.  They are posting information that may even be in conflict with our MLS listing information because they are in need of …

Clear communication is vitally important, especially since most of us are extremely busy trying to balance some personal time while staying on top of all the changes, challenges and opportunities of this emerging market. The way we communicate our thoughts, ideas and solutions can make or break  meetings and relationships and can stifle our ability to successfully resolve issues and generate positive breakthroughs. What is your communication style, are you a magnet for people’s attention or do people run for the back door to escape when they see you coming? Let’s take a look, shall we…..
I …

If Not….Why Not?
I just attended my 4th Inman Real Estate Connect conference in San Francisco. It was very enlightening, informative and intense. If you missed it, you missed some great information. If you are serious about your business and staying on top of the wave, it is important to be where the innovators and industry leaders are sharing ideas and solutions. You still have time to get in the game before the end of year by attending the Inman conference in NYC this fall. Go to www.inman.com for more details. …

…for some people. Wow, did I actually write that? I am launching one of the biggest technology platforms of my career right now and have worked on the cutting edge of technology in our industry for 15 years and yet today, I am going to say, some agents just need to surrender and forget about ever incorporating technology into their business and stop investing time and money in the newest and greatest widgets. They just will never use it and it is a waste of time and money and …