Jun. 9, 2006 - Why I Blog

First let me say that this has nothing to do with the "Commission" series. Every time I think I know what I want to do something better comes along to blog about. Fortunately, being the owner/operator/author/editor of this blog gives me lots of latitude to change directions. I don't have to run it by the boss. That is tied into the number one reason I choose to blog............BECAUSE I CAN.

I knew early on that blogging was a great way to get people interested in what you have to say. As you know, if you have been here from the beginning, I began this blog in January this year. It was kind of a new year, new vision for the business kind of thing. Well here is what the June 2006 "Society Members Insider Tips" (A communique from the Real Estate Cyberspace Society) has to say:

               "Many predict that within 2 to 3 years over 90% of Internet travelers will be receiving as much (if not more) information using RSS and other feeds as they will using e-mail and conventional web browsing. This should give most forward thinking agents a big incentive to get very familiar with this new technology now to stay ahead of the curve."

Forward thinking indeed. My blog is already six months old. And let me tell you this, I AM HAVING FUN. That's another reason I blog. If you visit my other web sites you know that my tag line is "Real Estate Is My Lifestyle, Not My Job". That's because I don't NEED a job, I have a lifetime stream of steady income that is more than sufficient. What I NEED is something to keep me out of trouble and help me fill up the seven day weekend. I considered becoming a professional golfer, but the competition is too intense and honestly, I'm not very good. I am good however at marketing, advising, counseling, negotiating, etc. I have a workable knowledge of the art of communication (although it has been said by some that I can be sarcastic, satirical and possess a dry sense of humor. Maybe so, but once you figure it out, I know your gonna love me). Since I was good at all of that, I decided to live the real estate agent's lifestyle.

So there are two of the reasons why I blog. There are more, but I have two deals going on that demand my immediate attention, so I gotta go. All you really have to do is subscribe to this blog via RSS feed and you will be appraised of my other reasons in a future post. Doesn't it seem like I'm always asking you to keep coming back?

As always, if you have found yourself receiving my blog postings via e-mail, it is because I have either blogged about you personally, blogged about something I know is of interest to you, or I consider you to be a person of deep thinking and intellect and I would love to have you occasionally commenting on my blog. If you would like to be removed from the list simply send me an e-mail saying so.

Jun. 8, 2006 - It Starts With A CMA

OK, so you have been getting all of those post cards from all of the famous agents in the area. Look at those just listed prices. Man oh man, my house is worth a small fortune. Is it really?

It might be, but then again.................

The CMA, meaning either competitive or comparative market analysis, is trickier than comparing pictures on post cards. Actually, it's an art form. Pictures and prices on a little piece of card board are pretty meaningless when it comes to pricing your house. I am surprised now a days when even the agents picture remotely resembles the agent. I know of an agent who sends out cards with a picture of herself holding a cute little dog that has been dead for three years. Those nice priced just listed cards you find in your mailbox (usually addressed to resident of, or occupant of. What a nice personal touch, huh?) are designed to make the agents phone ring, not to help you price YOUR house.

It would be nice if the just sold post cards you get had sold for prices on them. That would at least be a truer measure of your houses worth, if of course your house was very similarly appointed. Now you can get the sold prices of houses in the area in most local newspapers. There is usually a property transfer section in the real estate section once a week or once a month, but you better drive by that $600,000 home a few blocks over and make sure it's a three bedroom slab ranch just like yours. Some one might have torn that $275,000 slab ranch down in order to build one of those mini castles we've been seeing lately.

Any way, a good real estate agent (like myself) can do pretty tight search of what has been happening in the area over the last few months, in order to give you the best guidance and advice possible. That is where we begin earning our commission

As always, if you have found yourself receiving my blog postings via e-mail, it is because I have either blogged about you personally, blogged about something I know is of interest to you, or I consider you to be a person of deep thinking and intellect and I would love to have you occasionally commenting on my blog. If you would like to be removed from the list simply send me an e-mail saying so.

Jun. 5, 2006 - "Commission" Makes You Click Your Mouse

Checking my blog stats, I see that "Commission" has once again regained the top spot as the most popular category. Reviewing what I have posted in that regard, I wonder what it is that I have left out. I have given you a text book definition of what commission is. I have told you about flat fee listers and given you a good example of what I was up against when I got into a deal with one. What is it about "Commission" that gets you to click your mouse?

Perhaps I should approach the subject like this:

A lot of folks believe that a Real Estate Agent gets you to sign a listing agreement, they put a sign in your yard (if local ordinance or home owner association rules allow), enter you into the MLS, cross their fingers and hope for the best. It could well be that is because they, or someone they know, have run into a Real Estate Agent who has done just that. They wound up paying a full service commission to what was essentially a full service impostor doing a flat fee listers job.

If you keep coming back, I will start a blow by blow accounting of what it means to earn a commission. I am keeping busy earning mine, so I must cut this short for now. See you real soon.

As always, if you have found yourself receiving my blog postings via e-mail, it is because I have either blogged about you personally, blogged about something I know is of interest to you, or I consider you to be a person of deep thinking and intellect and I would love to have you occasionally commenting on my blog. If you would like to be removed from the list simply send me an e-mail saying so.