You probably can’t tell by looking at my blog, but I am not a patient person.  I have lists, calendars and post-its to remind me what I’m supposed to be doing and I expect other professionals to be just as anal.

I screwed up my blog a couple of weeks ago.  Yes, me.  I did.  You may not be able to tell but I can.  I tried to figure out how to fix it for about one minute and realized there was no way I could go back.  Then I called Jonathan – Hey, help!  No luck.  Too far gone.

So I hired some tech geeks for $100 an hour – no, I’m not kidding.  I’m still waiting for them to fix the dang thing.  It would help if I had sent them the info they asked for in the first place.  But hey, just getter done.  You know what I mean?

Bottom line is I’ve got things to say.  They’re important and I didn’t want to have to go back and repost the posts in between the screw up and the repair.  Oh well, I can’t wait any more.  I feel better.  Don’t you?

Popularity: unranked [?]

Picture of my cat for no good reason

I know.  I know.

I said I was going to work on the absorption rates for the first quarter of 2009. I’ve also said that when I get busy the first thing to go is the blog. As much as I love it, there’s higher priorities – like getting a paycheck.  And since I do all of the writing, I get to decide the priorities.

So I put a house on the market in The Village – San Mateo – a desirable neighborhood.  I didn’t – and neither did anyone else – realize how the market’s changed until the phone started ringing and didn’t stop until we had settled on one of the 21  – or 23, I lost count, really – offers that came in.  Are you sure it’s not 2005?

Last week was a whirlwind of phone calls, appointments, disclosure requests and more phone calls.

The Fun

Blogging creates a camaraderie that’s very cool. Ed Gory came into the house – didn’t know it was him until he was gone – because he didn’t introduce himself, which I promptly gave him crap for.

Then Jim Minkey calls.  I immediately start talking to him like I know him because I do.  I read his blog, Absolutely Foster City.

I’ve met so many amazing people and learned so much by blogging – and I get to spout my opinions in my own domain – couldn’t ask for any more.

Lesson Learned

I told you so.  I really wish I could say that – oh, I think I just did.  I knew it wasn’t a good idea to sell the house – really, any house – with a tenant in it.  I thought I had all the bases covered and went ahead and did it anyway.  Lesson learned:  Don’t.

Selling a house is a pain in the a** – a royal one.  Most sellers can’t take it and freak out at some point.  See where I’m going with this?

A lot of what I’ve learned about selling real estate is from experiences like this one.  Won’t do that one again.

Popularity: unranked [?]

 

 

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I must be channeling Stuart Smalley.  Last night on a speedy trip from San Francisco to San Mateo – if you were on Twitter you’d already heard about that – I had a thought.  Well, actually several but one that I didn’t want to forget so I could post about it.

I’m dang lucky. 

It started when I tweeted about having to get to San Mateo in 15-20 minutes in 5 o’clock traffic.  Larry tweeted back with, “Are those slippers holding you back? :>)”  Which was actually in reference to the day before when I talked about wearing my pink fuzzy slippers at work.

So what’s the point?  All right.  I’m gettin there. 

Point is that I met Larry via Agent Genius, an online real estate magazine.  That brief hello could have been the end of it but then we met in person at Inman Connect, a real estate conference in San Francisco.  And that could have been the end of it except for email and Twitter.

Pretty much every day Larry and I – and a whole lot of others – banter on Twitter about anything and everything.  The important point is that we’re staying connected like we never could have before. 

I would go to conventions of all sorts.  Meet a lot of super people.  Grab their card.  And then never talk to them again.  My world continues to get bigger with the benefit of new friendships via technology. 

Popularity: 37% [?]

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                After the cut he asks about his bill and the barber replies, ‘I cannot accept money from you. I’m doing community service this week.’ 

                The florist is pleased and leaves the shop.

                When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning there is a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

                Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, ‘I cannot accept money from you.  I’m doing community service this week.’ 

                The cop is happy and leaves the shop.

                The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

                Later that day, a college professor comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, ‘I cannot accept money from you.  I’m doing community service this week.’

                The professor is very happy and leaves the shop.

                The next morning when the barber opens his shop, there is a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen different books, such as ‘How to Improve Your Business’ and ‘Becoming More Successful.
                Then, a Congressman comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies, ‘I cannot accept money from you.  I’m doing community service this week.’ 

                The Congressman is very happy and leaves the shop.

                The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.

                And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the members of our Congress.

                Vote carefully this year . . . .

Popularity: 33% [?]

 

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I remember it so clearly.  It’s incredible that it’s been seven years.  I had the tv on while I was getting ready for work.  Walking back and forth between the bathroom and the tv in the bedroom.  Once I saw the smoke and heard the broadcaster’s tone, I stood with wet hair trying to figure out – like the rest of the nation – what in the hell was going on. 

Was San Francisco next?

I called my cousin in Texas to ask him what he knew.  He hadn’t heard.  He was so upset that he hung up the phone and ran to the tv. 

Wet hair and all, I drove to church.  I didn’t know what else to do.  I sat stunned in the chapel.  When the service was over, I couldn’t remember a thing that was said.

Afterwards I went to the community center where the tour meetings are held – that’s how I know it was a Tuesday.  We stood in silence watching more tv - waiting. 

Were we going to be next? 

I remember asking my dear friend Sue, “How old is Ryan?”  I knew her son was in high school, but I wasn’t sure just how old. 

Was a draft coming?

We all stayed close to each other and the tv. 

A day or two later, Kevin and I were on a roof, sort of in a daze, sort of doing an inspection.  I said, “Do you hear that?  It’s a plane.”  We sat and listened to this solo plane crossing our airspace.  Airspace – a new word to my everyday vocabulary.

I will never forget.  I hope you won’t either. 

Two thousand nine hundred eighty-three people were murdered that day.

Others remember:  Agent Genius   Jay Thompson   Laurie Manny   The Onboard Informatics

Popularity: 61% [?]

 

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Over the long weekend I received an inconsiderate, rude email from a woman I’ve never met, nor spoke to – not that either of those things would make how I feel about what she said or what I’m about to say any different.

I’m a damn good agent – and yes, that’s my opinion.  If you don’t know what to think of that, good.  Thinking is important and it’s important to think before I speak – and I have. 

At the end of a home sale or purchase, it’s a win if the client still likes me – not because I’ve changed from the beginning to the end.  I’m still the same person I was the first day we met.  My services, beliefs, morals, ethics – just plain who I am – hasn’t changed.  It’s the client whose changed.  They have just gone through one of the most stressful and anxiety-producing events of their life.  After a tornado of intense emotion and sometimes a difficult transaction, for whatever reason, it’s a win if they still like me.

When someone such as this woman attacks me – even though I don’t even know who she is – I wonder what could I have done differently.  How could I have changed her reaction.  The bottom line answer is that I couldn’t.  It’s not about me.  It’s about her.  It’s about them.  I always do my best.  Sometimes it’s good enough for people; sometimes it isn’t.

That venom came out of her fingers – not mine.  I didn’t instigate it, encourage it or deserve it. 

Here’s a link to clients who still like me.    I thank God for them.  They make the crap I have to deal with in my job minuscule.

Popularity: 37% [?]

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One of my favorite pastimes is looking at photographs.  Lisa + James is one of the best blogs in my feed.  They capture more than the event.  They wrap the viewer in the emotion and the love and the excitement.  Their photographs are thoughtful and timeless, beautiful and inspirational.

And their schedule is full.  So book them in advance!

Popularity: 44% [?]

In Memory of Sheila Lublin

I will not forget you. I have carved you on the palm of my hand. ~Isaiah 49:15

Popularity: 25% [?]

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FrontDoor is Powered by HGTV.  It’s a new blog created by the television powerhouse.   It’s “focused on creating and sculpting the real estate search experience into something holistically different.” 

As a member of their Blogger’s Council I’m aligned with some heavy hitters like Jay Thompson, Joseph Ferrara, and Kevin Boer.

My first assignment was to create a video – yikes!  Haven’t done that before.  But… I survived.  I have a feeling they’ll be pushing my self-imposed limits.  Hope you’ll hang on with me for the ride.  It’s an exciting venture with more yikes to come – I’m sure.

Popularity: 24% [?]

photo credit

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I spent this past week hob-knobbing and rubbing elbows with internet brilliance – the smart of the smart in the world of real estate technology.  I listened and learned and I’ll be implementing many of the techniques as quickly as possible.  I’ve got a list and have already started working on it.

My connection to Agent Genius - which has been one of the most incredible rides of my life btw – came to life as I actually got face-to-face with folks I admire and respect from all over the US and one crazy guy from Canada. 

When you’re operating multi-author blog like Benn and Lani Rosales it’s not for the money – believe me – because there isn’t any.  They often get lambasted and criticized.  They devote an incredible number of hours missing sleep and time with friends and family.  I equate running AG with running a nursery school – I’ve called whining and crying a couple of times.  They’ve got the personalities, egos and complaints of 27 writers to manage. 

Well, this past week they were acknowledged – in a big way.  They won a most prestigious award given by their peers – The Inman Innovator Award.  

Congrats Guys.  I’m honored to be in the class.

Popularity: 28% [?]