Building Rapport With Our Buyers Our Way Inspired by Bob Stewart's challenge:  Crowdsourcing: Scripts and Dialogues Aren't Just for Actors   We stand by the FORD way as we start building trust with our buyers. F ~ Family, we inquire about family O ~ Occupation, we inquire about occupations R ~ Recreation, we inquire about the buyers and what they like to do for fun and recreation. D ~ Dreams, we delve into their dreams and the future.     We find out the motivation of our buyers by observing and listening carefully.   We watch for the buyers signals.   "How long have you been looking?"  "Where have you been looking?" "Do you own a home or are you renting?" "If they own, do you need to sell to buy?" "Have you seen anything you like?" "What is it that you like about that house?" "How ... 08/12/2013

Another Day another Blog. I love the fact that Kerrie has given us some wonderful questions that we can use for our blogging.. I would like to address the one that is "What's the Best Way to Prepare My HOme for Sale?" This is a very valuable questions that each buyer should ask their agent.  This is a list that I have that I use in my Lisiting Presentation:    1. Price the property competitively.   2. Be willing to consider offers based on VA/FHA terms. Government terms give many buyers a head start on the ability to afford a home.   3. Allow the property to be shown with or without an appointment, just as long as the prospective buyer’s agent is present. Make sure to get the agent’s business card.   4. Whenever possible, please be out of the house when prospective buyers and their agen... 03/07/2013

  How We Will Survive getting "Healthy in the Rain"We just became subscriber #100 in the Active Rain Group "Get Healthy in the Rain" ...Here is how I, Karen plan to survive getting healthy.Drink Red Wine DailySleep at least Eight Hours a NightGo to the Gym Daily.I didn't mention how much Red WineI always sleep more than eight hours a dayJust because I go to the gym, doesn't mean I will do anything..All kidding aside ..  Frank and I started in the beginning of November going to the gym daily and we were going faithfully every day. The holidays came, we went on vacation to Disney World, and it all seemed to go a bit down hill after the start of the new year.We were busy with clients for the first two weeks of January and left on vacation for the last two weeks.  We were bad during January... 02/04/2013

  Should we feel guilty this Christmas? Christmas for us has always been about family as it is for most who celebrate the holiday. Certainly it is a time of giving and receiving but mostly it is the time of year most people are traveling to be with family and loved ones.   This year we are not traveling to be with family, we are traveling to be with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and friends, although we've spent so much time with them over the years that they do seem like family. Humbug! you say.     Please, let me explain. Our children, Tamzen and Travis, who live in Michigan and Massachusetts respectively, each told us several months ago that they would be visiting us, with their significant others, for the Christmas holiday. Oh joy! It has been quite awhile since we have all been together on... 12/21/2012

Not so long ago... Then and Now                 We still haven't found our cd with our actual "First Real Estate" pictures from 2003 but thought a few pictures we did find on our computer would clue you into the Way We Were ... Back then..          We started out with separate pictures even though we were married and working together.  (We think the company was just trying to get more money out of us, now that I can reflect back on our newbie days.)     We were so cute when we first started in Real Estate, everyone loved eavesdropping our conversations. They always thought we were fighting, but we really weren't (we were discussing our differences, doesn't everybody?)   We were know as the "King and Queen of Open Houses". For the first year in Real Estate we hosted four open houses ever... 12/10/2012

Sunset Beach to Host Blood Drive in Sea Trail Plantation What a wonderful thing to do for the holidays. DONATE BLOOD TO THOSE IN NEED .. THE NEED IS CONSTANT THE GRATIFICATION IS INSTANT GIVE BLOOD AND YOU CAN SAVE THREE LIVESBlood is precious and YOU have an opportunity to help save a life by donating. The Sea Trail Blood Drive will be held from 9 am until 1 pm in the Convention Center.  All are welcome but registering in advance will save you from a potential wait. December 17 is the date for the Blood Drive at Sea Trail.  The hours are 9am to 1pm. Please consider making an appointment.Call 910-287-1112 to make an appointment to give blood or if any further information is needed. WALK-INS WELCOME 11/29/2012

  Happy Thanksgiving to My MomI know today is meant to be about giving thanks, being grateful and enjoying the company of friends and family but I have an ache in my heart that just won't go away ... I thought if I wrote about it maybe the ache would lessen a little.Thanksgiving is about family and darn it I'm missing My Mom today. I loved all the different food smells in the house on Thanksgiving Day when I was growing up ...I loved watching the Macy's Day Parade and having breakfast in front of the TV on snack tables ..I loved watching the March of the Wooden Soldiers and being scared of the Boogie Men..I loved having special treats like Shrimp and Stuffed Mushrooms. I loved when My Mom would let me stir the gravy and make the biscuitsDarn it, I miss My Mom today but I am so grateful ... 11/22/2012