Okay, I was bored. I admit it. Friday when one of my twice a day emails arrived from Active Rain, a real estate blog, I actually followed one of the threads. It was entitled, “My commission rates are not negotiable.” Within minutes, I was appalled. First, let’s get a couple of things out of the way. 1) There are no “set” or “normal” fees in the real estate business as… Read More »Say What?
Today I had a follow-up visit to Dr. Michelle Wolcott. She is my orthopedic surgeon. Orthopedic surgeon, you ask? Yep. Things have gone from better to worse, to better to worse since we last posted.Growing out of my butt issue, came a knee issue. Extreme tightness and pain behind my knee which got so bad on two occasions that I would get 2 – 3 miles out on a run… Read More »One Step Forward, Three Steps Back
I recently read a posting on a website about Benjamin Zander, world famous conductor and co- author of the book “The Art of Possibility.” It concerned leadership and our role as beings on the planet. Zander said, “Every single interaction between two human beings is always a matter of leadership.” It has made me contemplate the role of the Realtor in and out of the transaction. I read the Orlando… Read More »Take me to My Leader: Oh, it’s you!
The final post? Where are the others?Confession: the other posts of How I Spent My Summer Vacation have yet to be posted. They include excitement ranging from the Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon to the USATF Junior Olympic Track meet in Sacramento. All good stuff, and way overdue, but last things first.Last Friday, I went in for a lower lumbar MRI, without contrast (which I have no… Read More »How I Spent My Summer Vacation: the Final Post
Talked to your travel agent lately? I was fortunate enough a while ago to attend a conference where the theme was “Winning Customers and Influencing Markets.” Setting the tone for the conference, I decided to focus on relevance. I began my presentation with Young and Rubicam’s Brand Asset Valuator. With apologies to Y &; R, allow me to paraphrase for those of you not “hip to the jive.” Young and Rubicam wanted… Read More »Got Relevance?
It’s surprising to realize that most people spend more time planning their next vacation or cell phone purchase than they do on their own retirement. Let’s look at a hypothetical situation where you have $35,000 to invest for your retirement in 15 years. Have you compared where you might have the best opportunity? The safest place to put it might be a certificate of deposit because it’s insured but unfortunately, rates… Read More »Ready for Retirement?
Asking the right questions will lead to the answers that help you determine which agent to use for one of the largest investments that most people make…the purchase or sale of their home. Rudyard Kipling wrote the verse “I keep six serving men, they taught me all I knew; their names were what and why and when and how and where and who.” Prefacing your questions with one of these… Read More »The Right Questions are Key
Ever been shot with an arrow? I imagine it could hurt. Could hurt? You ask. Well, yeah, it could hurt if the point of the arrow made the impact. An arrow hitting me with its side or the feathers might not hurt at all. You see, it’s not so much the arrow that causes the pain, it’s the tip. Our ancient brethren knew this when they fashioned weapons for hunting.… Read More »The Tip Is the Part That Hurts: Four Tips to Not T.I.P.
The three ring circus has nothing on Hayward Field I’ve always been a sucker for a good track meet. Well, even a mediocre one too. Since my first one, the Huron Relays in March of 1967, I’m hooked.When P.T. Barnum added the third ring to his “Greatest Show on Earth” in 1882, he indeed invented the three ring circus. He was, however, a little behind in this whole three ring… Read More »A Track and Field Kind of Summer
I’m teaching a class at the Denver Metro Association of Realtors on June 23-24 called “Real Estate Negotiation Expert.” The course is the only National Association of Realtors certification in the science and art of negotiation. DMAR and I are hoping for a good turnout. The real estate industry and consumers everywhere are looking for more. They are looking for Standing Room Only! Why SRO? Simple. We lived through Short Sale and Foreclosures… Read More »The Call for SRO: Real Estate Negotiation Expert