Fayetteville, NC Real Estate Blog

Well I definetly had an interesting day.  I wrote an offer on another agent's listing.  I got the lead through a local mortgage broker that is a friend of mine.

I first met this lead over the telephone.  Short and sweet conversation...about 10 minutes.  I had pulled some houses for him from the information that the mortgage broker gave me and fowarded them to him via email after the conversation.  I got a call back and he wanted to look at 4 of the houses I sent.

Fast foward to Saturday.  Met him at 2 pm.  We went out and looked at houses.  Somehow we visited all four houses and were back where we met within about an hour.  He asked me specifically about one of the houses.  I told him I would do more research on it and get back to him.

Got up this morning and went to town to help out with the annual REALTOR BBQ sale.  After about two hours I had had enough and decided I was going to go to the office for a bit and see what I could stir up.  Emailed the fella and asked him if he had thought anymore about what he wanted to offer on the house (I assumed the sell here).  He gave me a figure.  SO...I continued to ask the questions I needed to fill out the offer.

I told him I had to have him sign the offer to present it and would 5 or 5:30 be better to meet (once again assuming the sell).  Met at 5 and he signed the offer.

I sent the offer as soon as I got home and could get it in the fax.  Now we are waiting to hear the result.

Not bad if I must say so myself...about 2 hours invested and an offer written.  Maybe the "buyer's book" that I put together and gave him to read made the difference and got him motivated.

Anyway, wish me luck! 

   09/19/06 -- WASHINGTON) - The likelihood of finding $2-a-gallon gasoline in some parts of the U.S. is increasing by the day.

The nationwide average at the pump is already below $2.50, and with a huge decline in oil and gasoline futures on Tuesday analysts say the outlook for motorists is only getting better.

"We'll see sub-$2.25 a gallon retail (prices) by October," said Tom Kloza, director of the Oil Price Information Service, adding that prices below $2 can already be found in Kansas, Missouri, South Carolina and other states.

Oil prices sank by more than $2 a barrel Tuesday to settle near a six-month-low as worries about supply threats eased and signs of economic weakness in the U.S. signaled a potential cooling of energy demand.

The selloff brought crude oil futures to a six-month low, and helped weigh down already sinking gasoline prices.

"The real-time fundamentals of supply and demand are bearish," said Societe Generale commodities analyst Mike Guido.

Global inventories of crude oil are rising and in the U.S. -- the world's biggest energy consumer -- demand is tapering off. "There are signs that the housing market could have a bigger impact on the economy going forward," he said.

Moreover, pre-summer fears that hurricanes would disrupt Gulf of Mexico oil production have so far not materialized and speculators who had once helped to drive prices higher are now making bets on further declines.

While the market's psychology has clearly shifted, traders remain cautious about the West's diplomacy with Iran over its nuclear program, though they are increasingly less fearful than they once were that Iran will pull oil off the market.

Light sweet crude for October delivery fell $2.14 to $61.66 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, where gasoline futures tumbled 7.58 cents to $1.5038 a gallon.

It was the lowest close for front-month crude futures since March 21, when oil settled at $60.57. Oil prices have fallen 20 percent from a record settlement of $78.40 a barrel on July 14.

Also influencing trade, analysts said, was the market's preparation for a shift in the gasoline contract. At year's end, the unleaded gasoline contract the market has traded since 1983 will be replaced by a futures contract known as the reformulated gasoline blendstock for oxygen blending, or RBOB, which is already being traded actively on Nymex.

The move stems from the refining industry's decision to introduce ethanol as a substitute for methyl tertiary butyl ether, or MTBE, in summer blends of gasoline. The unleaded gasoline contract had been reformulated for summer with MTBE.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries confirmed traders' suspicions about the impact of a slowing economy on global demand by announcing that the fourth-quarter demand for its oil would be 320,000 barrels a day lower than previously forecast.

In 2007, OPEC expects demand for its crude to average 28.1 million barrels per day, or 800,000 barrels per day less than the 2006 average, in part because non-OPEC supplies are rising. As a result, some analysts believe the Vienna-based cartel, which is pumping close to 30 million barrels a day, may soon cut its output.

"If we get below $60, they're going to begin to take away barrels," Guido said. "But it's not going to make a difference."

Some analysts believe trimming production could backfire because it would signal to a market that has worried for several years about tight supplies that the world finally has oil-production capacity to spare.

"OPEC has some tough decisions to make," said John Kingston, director of oil at Platts, a division of McGraw-Hill Cos

OPEC President Edmund Daukoru told Dow Jones Newswires Tuesday that the need for an immediate output cut was eased on Monday after BP PLC announced that production at a massive platform in the Gulf of Mexico won't begin before mid-2008. Analysts had been expecting BP's Thunder Horse platform to produce as much as 250,000 barrels a day of oil by early 2007.

Well after the Dell fiasco it looks like both Apple and Toshiba have joined the ban wagon.  The interesting part is that the Toshiba site that is linked in here states that the batteries simply just go dead and won't accept a charge.  No fire, no overheating from what I read.  Seems as though they are just replacing worn out batteries...LOL.

I perosnally use a Toshiba so this was of high interest to me.  Be sure and check yours.

Here is the website with the model numbers and the description of the problem.

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/su/su_sc_dtlView.jsp?soid=1482876 

If you sometimes find yourself working with clients who have a hard time seeing the computer screen and need a larger font then there is a simple and quick solution.

As long as you have a mouse with a scroll wheel, hold down the control button and scroll the mouse wheel.  It will quickly increase or decrease your font size.

I learned this trick by accident.  I was highlighting multiple things on a screen and one of my fingers got a mind of it's own.  It promptly went to the scroll whell and turned it.  I worked on my computer for two days trying to figure out what had happened to make my font so small.  THen here comes "I got a mind of my own" finger again.  Walla....

So if someone is having a hard time reading the scrren now you know the quick fix. 

Where so you want to be when it comes to your real estate business?  Do you know where you are going or where you will end up?  How do we figure this out?

Reverse engineering the real estate career is how.  I personally try to look forward and figure out what I want out of life and that fills in a lot of the blanks as to how I am going to get there.

Try this excerise.  Take out a sheet of paper.  Now write down on the top of the paper - "My Wishlist".  Now enter however many things are on your wishlist.  Anything you like, a new car, a boat, a vacation home, money, whatever it is that you wish to happen to you in your future.

Now out beside those items write down a  number (money figure) that you think it would take to get those items.  Now total it all up.

HUGE isn't it?  So how do we get to the point where we accomplish all of these wishes?  Well, that is a question you have to answer for yourself but it gives you a starting point.  This is the basis for a plan for your business.  A wise man once said, "If you don't know where you are going, how will you ever get there?"  I have no idea who said that but it stuck in my head.

One of the best motivational speakers I have ever had the privalige to see was Zig Ziglar.  I recommend highly if he ever comes close to your area to take a day and go see this.  It will change some of the ways you think about things.  During his conference he made a statement that will always will be stuck in my head and was a change in my life.  

He said "NO man can make a brand new start...BUT they can start from where they are at today and make a brand new ending!"

I realized immediately how wise those words were.  We can never go back and change things that we have done or things that have passed.  Yesterday is a thousand miles and a lifetime away .

I encourage you to start today and "make a brand new ending!"  Whatever that means to you will guide you in your destination that starts today.

How many times have you seen an agent list a house and then forget about it?  Happens all the time around here and I would venture to say that when the house was listed that goes against everything the agent told the seller.

Take for instance info tubes.  How many signs have you seen in front yards that have the info tube on them with no flyers in them and how many have been that way for a long time?

What about expired listings?  Have you ever seen a sign stay on a front lawn after the listing is expired for a long time?  I know of one right now that has been expired since July and the agent's sign is still there.  Guess he has plenty of signs or no investment in them.  I would be calling my listing and trying to get the listing renewed.

Then there are the companies that have a listing and someone else brings the buyer.  Then they take forever to get their sign out of the yard.  This has personally happened to me.  I brought the buyer and the listing firm took almost two weeks to remove their sign even after my buyer had moved in.  I made repeated calls to them to remove the sign as after the house has sold they have no interest or rights in the property and therefore the sign should be removed right away.  in the end my seller called the company and told them if the sign was not picked up by the close of business that day that they could expect to find their sign in the dumpster.

I know that I have to provide all my signs for my listings.  At about $100 a sign I have a vested interest in them and therefore like to keep track of where they are.

That brings up another point.  Having signs stolen.  Now you would think that people would not be so bold but ohh they are.  I had a sign right here in my neighborhood stolen just last week.  It was near the end of the week and poof it was gone.  I was sure that if I got up on the following Saturday morning that I would find it somewhere in the neighborhood with yard sale mess plastered all over it but alas no such luck.  It is just gone.  Oh now that makes my sign company happy as they get to sell me another one.  Honesty is definetely not the best policy for some people in this world it seems.

Anyway, back to being responsible.  When we list a house we tell tthe seller's that we will do this and that and usually that involves flyers on the sign for the passerby to collect and be able to refer back to the property.  So I see it as my duty as I promised I would keep the flyers full so I do it.

Take a look at your practice and make sure you are being responsible.  We owe it to the seller who has placed probably his biggest investment and his complete trust in us to do what we say. 

How have you served your past customers?  Have you made a momorable impression on them or have you faded into the woodwork after the deal was done?

I have to admit...I am kinda a here and now kinda guy.  I am one who likes to see a job and get it done...sometimes it is hard for me to finesse long term jobs.  I am working on changing that but for now that is who and what I am.

I try to keep in contact with my past clients.  Sometimes by just a short email I think they will like, other times by face to face...but always trying to keep in contact.

I have one past client that I must have made a heck of a impression on.  I hear from them all of the time.  Sometimes though I have to just guide them and send them on thier way.

Recently after the Ernesto mess I got a call from her at 7:45 in the morning...way too early...LOL.  Seems as though during on of the thunderstorms that passed through a pine tree in her yard was struck by lightning and the garage door openers and the A/C had quite and the heat had come on full blast.  She told me of her perdicament and I had no other suggestion for her other than to contact thier insurance company for assistance.  But that is how it has been since I sold them the house back in January.  Whenever there is a problem my phone rings.  Often I want to tell them that I am your REALTOR not a handyman...LOL.  But if this keeps me at the top of her REALTOR mindset I will do whatever I have to for that position.

It is of upmost importance that we stay in contact with past clients.  If we don't someone else will and where will that leave you?  That's right...back in the aquire more customers mode which is both expensive and time consuming.

So do whatever you have to to remind yourself to contact those past clients and stay at the top of their "thinking". 

September 11, 2001.  A day that will never be forgotten.

Yes, I know it was yesterday and many say that I am late. I waited to post this because as someone who used to be a full time firefighter I was doing a lot of thinking yesterday as to how the day was affecting me.

In my past I have had friends who were killed in the line of duty and will never forget them.  They are forever etched into my memory.

The fireman who died at the World Trade Center were also very dear to me although I knew none of them.  They were what firemen refer to as our "brothers in the fire service."  I still cringe when I see the images and the footage that has been ever so popular on the television this week.

I remember in 2002 taking a trip to Massachusetts with my then fiance' to visit the grandparents.  On the way back we made a stop in Manhatten, New York.  We drove by Ground Zero and got behind Ladder 10.  Ladder 10 was destroyed in the Trade Center collapse and their house was damaged pretty exstensively.  They had been given a new Ladder Aerial from E-One (a firetruck manufacturer) after the attacks.  It is a beautiful unit with the flag and a memorial to the fallen fireifighters from Ladder 10's house painted on the side. 

Did you show your respect by flying your flag yesterday?  Please answer that question with a resounding yes.  My flag was flown at half staff to honor my fallen brothers and sisters who have passed.

It was a nice gesture...talked to some of my buddies as the station I was assigned to and they told me that at 7:45 am a citizen from the local area came by and dropped off a cake all decorated with flags and small firefighter figurines.  Some people always continue with their honor of  the public servants that do so unselfishly.  But it was amazing when I was in the business.  After 9/11 the general public was killing us with kindness...always saying "good job" or coming up and tell us how much they appreciated us and shaking our hands.

Now....5 years later...its back to business as usual.  Talking to one of my buds he said the sad thing is that people have gone back to not caring and are only appreciative when they are in a bind and must have the assistance of the FD.  That is a shame.  But we are human so it is human nature.

I for one am affected heavily by 9/11/2001....... 

Jeffery Prevatte

www.jtprevatte.com 

Good fortune has smiled upon my company this month.  We have connected with a builder who has given us 5 listings to see what we can do.  One house is up and completed and the others are being constructed.  This has numerous possibilities.

So here I sit at the open house.  The house is located in a rural area with not a lot of traffic.  A competing company has an open house just down the road.  One of their agents is at that house trying to drum up as sell just as I am.

If you have ever thought about it...open houses aren't bad.  A lot of agents complain that they are bored and that it is like torture.  I see it as an opportunity.  There is always the buyer leads that are generated.  Then there is the opportunity to get to know the builder better and maybe get more listings.  Not to mention the time spent here is a good time to get some work done...or to read and educate yourself through active rain.

Anyway, got here at a little after 12 noon.  Showed the house about 1.  The possible buyer really liked the house so that is a plus.  I went through the whole routine and told even if this house was not the right one for her I could find her the house she was dreaming about.  Carded her, said our goodbyes and she left.

The builder came by a little while ago and was very pleased to find someone here.  The original times scheduled were for 4-6pm weekdays and then of course weekends.  Got to know him better and he showed me ALL of the ins and outs of the house.  He builds a fine house...many upgrades he considers standard.

Then another agent we'll just affectionataly call the "neighborhood troll" stops by.  Now mind you, I do not condone or make a practice of talking about other agents but man this guy got under my skin.  He doesn't have anything listed that I can find but talks a HUGE game.  He is known as a customer stealer.  He trolls neighborhoods and will even approach an agent with buyers and try to steal them away going so far as to card them while the buyers are with their representative.  Talk about unethical practice.

When I got into this business I decided that I would never be one of these type agents although there are many amongst us.  I run my business with honesty and I am very straightfoward with my clients on what has to happen and how we have to get there.  THis in my mind is the best method of sales I can imagine.  I for one can say that when I lay my head down at night my conscious is clear and I rest well.

Ok...rant over...back to the open house.  Beautiful house...heck, I wouldn't mind living here...LOL.

So think about it the next time you are doing an open house...what can you get accomplished other than being bored?  Use your time wisely.  Get to those things that you have been putting off and move foward. 

In this business, as we all know, we spend a lot of time working.  Maybe not at the office, maybe not in the car, maybe not even intentionally.  Have you ever really thought about the time that you dedicate to this business?  No, I am not talking about the Monday-Friday routine.  I am talking about the time that the business is on your mind.

If you are like me I always seem to be thinking of something involving the business, even if it is just for a flighting second.  Sitting in the chair at night watching the idiot box a thought might come to mind or even before I go to bed...I always check my email one last time before beddy-bye time.

It has never been said more true than sometimes we need to step back and let go.  If only for an hour or a day.  Family time is the most important time we can spend.  As for my family, being newly married that just consists of myself, my new bride, and our two "furry sons."  But still I find that when I have been grinding away all week that family relationship starts to suffer.  We must make time for the important things on life .

With that being said, let me tell you about my "family time" yesterday. 

Beautiful morning.  Looks like a day for some family time.  Hey, honey!  Want to go for a ride on the Harley? 

So off we go, 75 miles to a place called Morrow Mountain State Park.  About three miles from the house (I live in a rural area) we stop at a local gas station to check the air in the tires.  As I pull into the gas station I notice the shifter is all the way down.  If you know about bikes, you know that is bad.  Connection is bad...teeth on shaft shot.  I guess this is the end of the ride for the day.  Now...how the heck do we get home, remember we are three miles from the house.

So...plan two...repair the problem and get us home.  Here is the situation...85 degrees, 100% humidity (felt like it anyway), blacktop parking lot, wearing jeans, black t-shirt (I hope you see where I am going with this).

Try number 1...didn't work.  Try number 2 didn't work.  Try number 3 didn't work.  Forty-five minutes later and nothing has worked, frustration level is up and sweating like a pig.

Try number 14 WORKED!!!  Got a piece of a hair clip thing that I found on the ground shimmied in there between the shifter and the shaft.  Presto!  That is gonna work and get us home at least.  On the way home I remembered that my friends garage is open on Saturday and that he had a welder.  Oh yes...a welder will fix this problem...PERMANENTLY!  So $6 later for 2 minutes work and it's fixed.

Back to the house for a breather and a drink.  Pull into the driveway and shut off  the bike.  My wife burns her leg on the now hot exhaust pipes getting off.  Man, this day is going terrible.'

After a little burn gel and some coll fruit punch we decide to give this another shot.

Tweleve in the afternoon and whew it was hot but it felt really good with the beginning of the fall air as we rode down the road.

We finally made it to the top of the mountain.  What a beautiful view!  The leaves are beginning to do their fall color change and this was worth all of the aggrevation.  Out comes the camera (my other hobby) and we snap a few pictures for the memory file.

To finish this road trip story...

The "family time" was time well spent even though we had a few complications in the beginning.  I got some relaxation and my wife got some of my time...a commodity these days as WE got some time together, away from the world of real estate.

I love the real estate business, don't get me wrong.  But take time to enjoy your family...before the chance is gone.  Work hard, live rich and enjoy your life...but please don't let it pass you by without even taking the time to enjoy it!