Mar. 31, 2006 - Promises Made, Promises Kept

There is a pile of stuff on my desk which is related to things I said I would put in my blog. I really have been pressed for blog time lately because business has been so good. The thing that makes my business good, however, is keeping promises, so here we go folks. Today is going to be a digest so to speak, no particular subject, just promises kept.

Someone asked me what a Truth-in-Lending Disclosure is and why they receive it. The disclosure is designed to give you information about the cost of your loan so you may compare these costs with those of other loan programs or lenders. Maybe the mortgage brokers who follow my blog will expound upon this subject.

I recently met some very nice people at the dog show. One of them was Jeanne Kott from The French Bulldog Club of America Rescue League, Inc. One of her main pieces of advice was don't get a dog, or any pet for that matter, if you can't spare the time to do it right. The same could be said for a blog, eh? She also expounded on the fact that a reputable breeder is one that does not breed for pure profit, but for the betterment of the breed, and will have bred the litter for a reason. The goal should always be to improve the breed. Period! "So my children could experience the miracle of birth" or "I wanted to create another Skippy" is not a good reason for breeding nor does it make someone a breeder. Those who make their sole income on the breeding of animals or call themselves professional breeders are known as a "puppymill". And in case you are into show dogs and like Frenchies as much as I do, the French Bulldog has the appearance of an active, intelligent, muscular dog of heavy bone, smooth coat, compactly built, and of medium or small structure. Expression alert, curious and interested. Any alteration other than removal of dewclaws is considered mutilation and is a disqualification. Ok animal loves, here's your chance to pontificate. Comments are always welcome.

Finally, two of my favorite places in Des Plaines to grab a quick lunch are Don's Dock and Joey Tomatoes Cafe & Deli. I will do a more in depth review of these groovy eateries at some future posting, I have two showings this afternoon and I gotta go get pretty. 

Mar. 27, 2006 - Where Have You Gone Gene Molloy?

The answer to this very deep question is......(drum roll).............nowhere, I've been right here, working hard.

When I get busy, the muse leaves me. I get totally focused on the art of doing Real Estate and I cannot write a lick. I can't write about what I'm doing. I can't write about what my friends are doing. I can't even write about what you should be doing, and I am usually pretty good at that.

So here is the update. I put 10 homes on the market, basically in the first quarter of this year. Over the last little while I have sold 5, 1 expired and was not extended, and I have 4 left to go. There are 2 or 3 new listings on the horizon that I am looking forward to.

Now you know if you follow my blog (or if I force feed it to you) that I don't use "office support". Every step of the transaction is handled by me personally. I do my own marketing pieces, update my websites, answer my phone, etc. That is why my clients hire me. Hands on Gene. So when I get busy my blog suffers. Now just in case that braggart, know it all from Seattle who will never get a link from me wants to give me any advise about that, don't bother. I love doing it my way. So stick your know it all pontifications where the sun don't shine, which I guess could be anywhere in Seattle, the suicide capital of America.

I promised Bruce that I would put him in my blog. I am sorry it took so long, but here it is. Bruce does cool stuff with drive ways, cement floors, cement walls and I would have to guess maybe swimming pools. His company is Tri County CTI. You can visit his website at www.TriCountyCTI.Com and see what he is doing. You can also read about it on Gene's Board under the business directory. If you like what he does and have need of his services, don't forget to tell him Gene sent you.