Monday Morning Motivation…..Monday February 14, 2011Happy Valentine’s Day Ya’ll“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.”   Helen KellerWhat a day this will be, the weather is clearing up and we should be having gaw-jus day.  Now all I have to do is figure what I am going to do for the little lady.Now, all kidding aside I hope that all of you have an absolute beautiful day and enjoy it with your special someone.Happy Valentine’s Day!!!  02/13/2011

OFallon MO Real Estate Month over Month Statistics January 2010 vs January 2011In 1956, O’Fallon Missouri’s 100th anniversary, the census showed the population to be 1,327 people, and the town measured about 20 blocks square. By 2000, the U.S. census put O’Fallon Missouri’s population at 46,169 people, and the city had grown to 26 square miles. Today, O’Fallon’s population is over 70,000.In 2006, the City of OFallon MO celebrated two milestones – first, its 150th Sesquicentennial anniversary.  This included many events throughout the year for all to enjoy.  And secondly, a New Year’s Eve party on December 31, which included filling a time capsule with predictions for the next century.  I wonder where our fair city will be in 2106.  It is sure to be far different than we know it today!!I... 02/13/2011

O Fallon MO Home Sellers Do You REALLY Know What Buyers Notice…. ……….After they drive up in front of your home?  Yesterday I wrote a post about the curb appeal of your home.  This post will assist you with getting your home ready for sale and getting an offer that is acceptable and help you move to your next level of home ownership. Buyers are more educated today than they have ever been.  They look online at home after home and choose from the pictures they see.  So this will help you improve your standing both in pictures and in person. So, what do you have to do with the interior of your home to have it stand above your competition?  Here is a list of eight (8) things to help you:1.    Buyers take special notice of light & bright homes.  Buy high intensity light bulbs and be sure to ... 02/11/2011

That’s right O Fallon MO home sellers, right NOW while it is still Winter, is the  time to for you to be thinking about the Spring buying season.  Your O Fallon MO home has gone through all the snow and ice and everything else that Mother Nature had to throw at it.  So, as the temps start to go up in OFallon MO, it is time to walk around the exterior of your home to make sure things are still in the same place and in the same condition as they were before the winter weather set in.With that in mind here is a list of 10 exterior items that will help make your OFallon MO home look its best:1.     Keep your lawn cut and edged.  Trim trees and shrubs, removing all dead limbs and debris.  I heard that comment.  I know that there is still snow on the ground so, clear off the snow and ice from... 02/10/2011

Today February 10th is Umbrella Day............The umbrella was invented about four thousand years ago. There is some evidence of umbrellas being used in ancient Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and China.These umbrellas or parasols were first designed to offer shade from the sun. The Chinese, doesn’t it figure, were the first to waterproof their umbrellas for use as rain protection.Starting in the 16th century umbrellas became popular to the western world, especially in the rainy weather of northern Europe. At first it was considered only suitable for women. Then the Persian traveler and writer, Jonas Hanway, carried and used an umbrella publicly in England for about thirty years, popularizing umbrella use among men. English gentleman during this time referred to their umbrellas as a "Hanway."E... 02/09/2011

You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me…..In This Weather?Today February 8th is Kite Flying Day!!!  I would have believed this more if it was maybe March or April but not in February.  Who in all of this cold weather will head outside to fly a kite? Ben Franklin is quite possibly the most well known kite flyer.  He flew a kite during a thunderstorm and in the end discovered electricity.  He could have been the first person to sing “You Light Up My Life” with the charge he got.People have enjoyed flying kites for thousands of years. It’s an ever popular activity for children, and enjoyed by many adults.  So if the weather is good where you are and, if you have the urge to then I have one thing to say to you.... Go fly a Kite! 02/07/2011

Send A Card To A Friend Day………. “A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.” Jim Morrison February 7th is designated “Send A Card To A Friend Day. Whether it is February 7th or not don’t let distance keep you from staying in touch.We all lead busy lives and it is easy to let a friendship or two lapse.  As we try to shuffle our kids to and from one event after another.  It’s hard to stay in touch when our workload eats up hour after hour.Today is the perfect time to send card to a friend. A paper card, or an Ecard, is just fine. You may likely find an Ecard is quicker and easier and, you will save on postage, too. But if you would like to send a high quality paper card to a friend right now, all you need to do is click on the SendOut card logo below.  Oh, BTW I will ... 02/06/2011

“Yesterday’s Peacock, Today’s Feather Duster”!!Today February 6th is “Lame Duck Day”, so let me start by saying that this is probably the most political that my readers will see me get.  Secondly, if you are a DUCK and you are lame then by all means pleeeeze get to a vet for some medical attention.A “Lame Duck” for definition of this post is a person who is in a position of some kind, any kind, and will soon be “shown the door”.  As a matter of fact we just went through a “Lame Duck” session of congress after the last election.  I am sure the President and House and Senate were not too happy about that.  Oh well just two years earlier the other party had the same feelings.As a PP (Past President) of our local REALTOR® Association I know all too well the feelings of joy over my success a... 02/05/2011

Oh Happy Day Sunshine For Everyone!!!!!February 5 is National Weatherman's Day, commemorating the birth of John Jeffries in 1744.  Jeffries, was one of America's first weather observers, began taking daily weather observations in Boston in 1774 and he took the first balloon observation in 1784.  This is a day to recognize the men and women who provide us with the best weather, water, and climate forecasts and warning services of any nation.Many of us take weather information for granted, I know I do.  We turn on a light switch, we get light. Turn on our television or radio, or check a web site and we get the weather forecast. It’s easy to forget that around the clock, dedicated meteorologists and weather-casters are creating forecasts to help us plan our day, and issuing warnings to hel... 02/05/2011

Are You A SERIOUS OFallon MO Home Seller?Then this is the information you have been looking for!  But only if you want “Top Dollar, Timely Sale and No Hassles”…..In today’s real estate market you need to be aggressive and ready to compete and win against your competition, the other sellers that are on the market right now.If you are looking for…… 1.  Top Dollar 2.  A Timely Sale 3.  No Hassles Like: Keeping your house clean and tidy for days, weeks or month Numerous interruptions in your life for “showing appointments”   ……...  Just follow the steps below:   Step 1.  Price your house at the lower end of your property’s realistic range of value.  No you are not giving your home away you buy your next home.  You will make it up on your next home.  The market has affected that homes value ... 02/04/2011

Caution OFallon MO Home Sellers There Are People That You Should Avoid………..OFallon MO home sellers there ARE people that you should avoid when selling your home.This is my TOP 10 list of people whose advice you should avoid when selling your home in OFallon MO.Avoid people who:1.  Don’t know YOUR marketplace.  You know the ones that are out of state or outside of your market area.2.  Haven’t taken time to thoroughly inspect YOUR property.3.  Don’t know your circumstances in DETAIL……goals, timetable, motivation, etc.4.  Like or love you but don’t approach your situation objectively or knowledgeably.5.  Will tell you what you want to hear but don’t have the facts or data that would help you make a more realistic decision.6.  Will always have a better DEAL you could have or should have got... 02/03/2011

February 3, 1959 The Day The Music Died,This date may be before your time but, it seems as though it was just yesterday for some of us.So, why is February 3, 1959 known as “The Day The Music Died”?  Three Rock & Roll stars died in a tragic plane crash on this date.  Buddy Holly and The Crickets had a couple of big hits, “That’ll Be the Day” and “Peggy Sue”.Ritchie Valens, just a teenager not much older than me, had three big songs, “Come On, Let’s Go”, “Donna” and “La Bamba”.J. P. Richardson “The Big Bopper” had one big hit “Chantilly Lace” in 1958.These three guys were the forerunners to a lot of the music that we hear today and the world lost a lot of talent on February 3, 1959 The Day The Music Died.Did I mention these were the days of the sock hop?  Oh that could be another post. 02/02/2011

Groundhog Day in Ofallon MO February 2, 2011 Groundhog Day, February 2nd, is a popular and fun tradition in the United States. It is also a legend that has covered the centuries.  Its origins are clouded in the mists of time with ethnic cultures and animals awakening on specific dates.  These myths tie our present to the distant past when nature did, influence our lives. It's the day the Groundhog comes out of his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow.  If he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole.  If the day is cloudy and, shadows less, he takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground. I cannot speak for everyone in Ofallon MO but, this Groundhog Day I for one hope that the groundhog does not see his shadow.  In... 02/01/2011

Blizzard WARNING in the St Louis MO Metro Area and OFallon MO? NO, I am not clowning around there is a prediction of 10" to 15" of the white stuff for the St. Louis MO Metro Area.  That includes St Charles County MO and my hometown of OFallon MO. I would expect to hear the word BLIZZARD if I was in, let's say, Green Bay or Chicago or North Branch MN or even Alaska.  But NOT OFallon MO come on give me a break. Did I mention that the 10" to 15" could be more if we are in a THUNDER SNOW area?  The 10" to 15" snowfall is with the sleet and ice that is already on the ground. Oh well, as long as the power stays on I will be able to stay on track with my goals and work from home.  There is always something to do.  Things like improving my website, getting a couple of blog posts written or even... 01/31/2011

Monday Morning Motivation............... "You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do."  ~Henry Ford Here we are at the end of January.  Isn't it amazing how fast this month came to a close?  It seems, or is it feels, like it   just started and now it is finished, done, completed, over. I got all dressed up at the end of 2010 in my finest.  I had all of my plans and goals setup and was enthusiastic about getting started.  How about you? Then things happened.  All that snow and I couldn't get out of the house and the buyers stopped calling.  You know the drill.  All of a sudden those lofty goals for the start of the year went right down the toilet.  Oh well, I was going to do it! What will I use for an excuse when the first days of Spring appear and the golf course is beckon... 01/30/2011

Eat the WHAT??????? This morning has been really motivational.  It started out with a post by Deborah Bly, gee I wonder if she is related to Captain Bly, with 37 things to do to have a better 2011.        Then I read a post by the AR renowned writer Richard Weisser about being optimistic. Then after all that I received an email that talked about, are you ready for this?  Eat That Frog, Eat a what???  OMG, I   like frog legs as a matter of fact I find them rather tasty, but a whole live FROG?  Now that is way out there even for the most daring food connoisseur.  The quote used "If the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is eat a live frog, then nothing worse can happen for the rest of the day!"  I would say so.  The quote is used by Brian Tracy to describe how we go about ... 01/29/2011

A Time To Reflect, This afternoon I was going through my emails when one caught my eye.  Well at least the subject did and it cause me do a little reflecting on what I would call the good ole days.  The days of being able to go out and play from sun up to dinner time, and we always knew when that was or else.   Those were the days when you would walk to school 2+ miles in the snow uphill both ways. You wouldn't be concerned about people bothering you or something bad happening. School days, for me, were always filled with trips to the principal's office or a visit to the coach for some attitude adjustment therapy.  These were the days when they were the disciplinarians with that board with the holes in it.  That was just part of the day, the rest of the day was filled with phone numbers... 01/28/2011

Two Heads Are Better Than One!! Guys have a bad rap......You know, the one that the ladies say that guys NEVER ask for help or directions to the restaurant,etc..  Well I am guilty just ask my wife.  I can read directions and I can put ‘A' into ‘B' or I can insert the ‘cd' into the computer and then click ‘next'.  I just have one problem.  When I am through clicking the ‘next' button and click the ‘finish' button I expect what I am installing to work like the box says it will.  You know, like when you put an address into your GPS.  You expect to get to where you want to go, right. Well, my wife bought me a nice 5 function piece of technology; you know the kind that will print, copy, fax, scan, and email.  It really is nice and it does a really good job of printing and the occasional copy... 01/27/2011

Saying goodbye for three years, Yesterday January 25, 2011 my son and his family were deployed to Germany for three years.  Being in the military things like this happen, sometimes more often than parents like.  Well it could be worse, some might say, he could be going to Iraq.  He's been there.  He could have gone to Afghanistan.  Yes he could have.  He has also been in Saudi Arabia during the first gulf war.   So he is familiar with heading to places outside of the country. Maybe I have been spoiled having him within two hours away for the last five years but that doesn't change how a parent feels when their child is out of sight even if they are all grown up.  I hope that he has a good tour of duty. Now I know how my parents felt when I left to join the Ari Force in the 60's. 01/26/2011

Things can get tough and at times they will, "When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it." ~ Henry Ford   There are times in our daily business that things seem to be coming at us faster than we can get out of the way or tackle them.  The same holds true in our personal lives, we no sooner take one step forward then we find ourselves taking two steps backwards.  Ever have one of those days? So how do we handle these opportunities?  How do we start moving forward again?  If you look at what Henry Ford has to say, you may not be doing anything wrong you just might need to throttle up, fasten your seat belt and prepare for takeoff.  Going into the wind will give you the lift you need to get your wheels off of the ground... 01/25/2011