We spend a ton of our lives in conversations. We talk, we listen. Or do we? How good of a listener are you? AND would it be valuable to get better at it? According to those in the know, the best listening is called active listening and it is defined as listening with the intent to understand. It, like empathy, is OTHER oriented. So in the interest of everyone who… Read More »Daily RICHual #9 . Being a Better Listener
Yesterday we listed four traits/skills/tips for being a better negotiator. Here’s another – and it’s a BIGGIE: Empathy. Empathy is our ability to understand how someone else feels, to be able to “walk a mile in their shoes.” While empathy is all encompassing as a life skill, it’s essential for negotiators.
We negotiate all the time. It’s not just a work thing, it’s a life thing. There are some great resources for being a better negotiator and I’ve listed a few of my favorites in the notes. But for the sake of the moment, here are four of my favorites: 1. Separate the people from the problem 2. Pre-Position everything 3. Understand motivation 4. Be a better listener
Every time I say the words, “happiness is not having what you want, it’s wanting what you have,” most people chuckle and say, “Yeah, sure, right!” Then almost without exception they will say something skeptical or negative. The problem is that most people think that saying that implies that it’s okay to settle for the way things are, to not have goals, to be stuck. To me, it simply taking… Read More »Daily RICHual #6 Gratitude
I remember my early days of being a real estate agent and balking at the concept that I was in sales. I was a real estate counselor, advisor, consultant. Not a sales person. Everyone hates salespeople. I don’t want to be hated. My broker reminded me that I had spent the last 15 years of my life in sales. No, I didn’t I taught 9th graders. HA! He replied. You… Read More »The Daily RICHual #2 . The Golden Rule in Sales
Reverse mortgage loans are like traditional mortgages that permits homeowners to borrow money using their home as collateral while retaining title to the property. Reverse mortgage loans don’t require monthly payments. The loan is due and payable when the borrower no longer lives in the home or dies, whichever comes first. Since no payments are made, interest and fees earned are added to the loan balance each month causing an… Read More »Understanding Reverse Mortgages
In 2004, when Rich Sands Seminars was “founded,” the idea was to be able to reach agents interested in achieving designations and certifications. Already having a great job as the Education Director for Coldwell Banker, I was encouraged by my President, Kate Rossi, to broaden my teaching horizons. After fifteen years, I couldn’t be happier with the results. 2019 was the best year ever. Not just in the number of… Read More »2019: A Fabulous Year
“What people remember is the beginning and the end… how we start and how we finish… therefore START FAST and FINISH STRONG.” Gary Ryan Blair As 2019 heads into the final stretch, I like the idea of finishing strong. And while Gary (in the quote above) seems to have it right in most circumstances, he’s got it backwards today. Today we FINISH STRONG to START FAST. There is still business to be had;… Read More »FINISH STRONG to START FAST
After three years in the real estate business, I attended my first CRS course. It was CRS 201, Listing Strategies and it was taught by Mike Brodie. As an ex-teacher, I was impressed with Mike and the information he shared. Already having my GRI designation, I could tell I was in the middle of something better: better stuff, better instructor, better classmates. It was the best. In the subsequent years, I… Read More »CRS: Being the Best of the Best
35% of respondents, in a recent annual Gallup poll that dates back to 2002, identified real estate as the best long-term investment option compared to 27% who identified stocks. The top choices included real estate, stocks, savings accounts and gold. Even with the remarkable prices of the different U.S. stock indices recorded in 2019 through April and May, homes have the highest confidence in the minds of the respondents. This… Read More »America Still Considers Real Estate the Best