RE/MAX Gallery Blog

2010

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:52:28 PST

With 2010 approaching rapidly many of us have been evaluating changes for the new year to help grow our business. I am doing the same thing. My goals might be slightly different than yours in that I strive to get the message out about the opportunity here at the office.

The most important part of that message that I would like to convey to you is that it is not about the money for me. It never has been. It’s about you and providing a great environment to assist in your opportunity for success. My success and happiness comes when the agents here are successful.

I’ve been doing this for almost 9 years now and leading up to opening this office I always felt that things could be done where everybody could win under fair terms. I strive to provide the opportunity for agents to continue to be successful, provide broker support, the notoriety of a nationally branded company, the tools and technology that you would expect from a national franchise and the opportunity to save thousands every year. I don’t think I can state it any clearer than that. The point of this is NOT to say that my office is better than yours or my franchise is better than yours. We all work for brands that have notoriety…are well known the world over. I believe that it comes down to a few important points. We are all meeting the state requirement to work under a broker, we have a recognizable brand name behind us, we have a broker and staff to support us, help us, educate us, we get leads and we have tools available to help us sell real estate. Obviously some do it better than others and not all offices are created equal. I think you’ll agree that in general we have a lot available working under a branded franchise system and that all of this is important for our success.

Is one great office that provides everything you need worth thousands more per year than another great office that can do the same thing for you?

I understand that liking your broker, having a friend at the office or perhaps a favorite secretary and liking the place you work at is very important. Trust me; I went through all of the emotion when I made the decision to leave an office in the past. It’s difficult but I had to keep in mind that when it comes down to it, what is really important is….providing for my family and making improvements that will allow me to further succeed in my job as a REALTOR and continue to provide great service to my clients.

Give me a call anytime 734-634-2065. The best way for me to show you the savings is to compare your 2009 production and what you paid at your current office to what you would have paid here. It’s simple; it’s private and will only take a few moments of your time.

Whether you decide to come here or not, I’ll put it in writing and you can take our program to your current broker to re-negotiate your current contract. Again, this is not about me…it’s about you and pulling the reigns in on what it costs you to run your business as a REALTOR.

I’d of course like nothing more than to start 2010 with you! Here’s to your success in the coming new year.

David Keith
Broker/Owner
RE/MAX Gallery

RE/MAX Gallery on Facebook

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:10:58 PST

Visit RE/MAX Gallery on Facebook

45-Agent Keller Firm Converts

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:04:45 PST

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Annette Norton discusses the conversion with her agents.

IT'S OFFICIAL: Norton (center left) meets with representatives of RE/MAX of New England and RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic.
By Deborah Ball, RE/MAX Times Online Associate Editor

A 45-agent Keller Williams office in Framingham, Mass., converted to RE/MAX in October, giving the network a huge market share boost with the creation of RE/MAX Best Choice Real Estate.
New Broker/Owner Annette Norton, who had been with Keller Williams for five years, most recently as the office manager, chose RE/MAX because of its powerful brand name and the tools, culture and support offered by the network. Fiona Beecy, Regional Director of Operations for RE/MAX of New England, worked with Norton to convert the office and attract the new agents to RE/MAX.
"As much as I believed in the Keller Williams model, I wanted to look at my options and see what other opportunities were out there," Norton says. "I finally decided RE/MAX was the way to go. RE/MAX of New England's support totally blew me away through this transition. We are very fortunate to have incredible agents who accounted for more than 96 percent of the business at the former office join us over at RE/MAX. Everyone is happy with the transition."
One of those happy top producers is Jim Coady. The Sales Associate with RE/MAX Best Choice was drawn to the network because of its reputation for having top producers. Coady is already seeing a boost in business, he says.
"The RE/MAX name is synonymous with top producers, and it's a well-known fact that RE/MAX agents do more business than Keller Williams agents," Coady says. "Nothing compares to the support and technology RE/MAX offers, such as Imprev, Mainstreet and LeadStreet."
Broker Associate Faye Winer, who was one of the first Keller Williams agents in New England, couldn't agree more. The real estate veteran of more than 30 years says that although change is never easy, she's up for the challenge. And with guidance from the region and Norton, Winer is already hard at work to turn her business around.
"RE/MAX of New England and our fellow Associates have been so warm and welcoming," Winer says. "I’m looking forward to turning what has been a dismal economic year into a better 2010 with RE/MAX."
The addition of the new agents and rebranding of the office represents an $86 million market swing in the Framingham area, says RE/MAX of New England Regional Director Jay Hummer. The region held a kickoff day to welcome the new office and its agents by flying in Broker/Owner Deb Stevens of RE/MAX Results Realty in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. Stevens, who had been with Keller Williams for seven years, converted her 145-agent brokerage to RE/MAX earlier this year. RE/MAX of New England also invited the new agents to its fall sales rally in Providence, R.I., which included technology training, speakers and plenty of educational sessions.
"This is a great group of agents who are led by an incredible Broker/Owner," Hummer says. "One of the new agents said that the sales rally was unlike anything they had on the regional level at Keller Williams. We've worked hard to help the new agents see the value of the RE/MAX brand through our regional efforts."
© 2009 RE/MAX International, Inc. RE/MAX Affiliates may share this article, provided they do not charge for it and this notice is included. All other rights reserved.

Comment on this story

E-mail your comments to editor@remax.net. Please include your full name, RE/MAX office, city and state or province. Comments, slightly edited for length, flow and punctuation, will appear below.

Comments (4)

I know a couple of agents in that office that I never thought I would see in Red, White and Blue, and I am really happy they decided to stay and join the #1 Real Estate company in the world! Congratulations to everyone who made this happen and paved the way for others to follow.

– Elias Papadopoulos, RE/MAX Unlimited, Brookline, Mass.

Welcome aboard! This is terrific news. I know that Debbie Stevens from our region was very happy to assist in the conversion. I look forward to meeting personally at the RE/MAX International Convewntion in Orlando.

– Elton Ash, Regional Executive Vice President, RE/MAX of Western Canada, Kelowna, B.C.

I would like to welcome Annette Norton, the agents and the RE/MAX Best Choice Real Estate office to RE/MAX. As a former Owner/Broker of a KW office in Waynesville, North Carolina, I will tell you this: You will not regret this move. I have been with RE/MAX Mountain Realty for over a year. This move has helped me through these rough real estate times. Having this franchise brand, you will see the immediate results. The franchise I work for has 3 times the production as the number two office in our county. And you and your agents may have experienced what I did: the "Keller who" thing. You won't get that now being with RE/MAX.

– George Irvin, RE/MAX Mountain Realty, Waynesville, N.C.

As a former Keller Williams agent myself, those agents are so lucky to be associated with a company that cares so much for its Associates. They now have the best tools available to help them bring their business to the next level. Congratulations!

– Joshua Holt, RE/MAX Coast to Coast, Portsmouth, N.H.

Posted on 11/9/2009

RE/MAX Gallery Internet Cafe

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:59:58 PDT

Ever though that it would be nice to put your office to use for you? Social networking events, client appreciation nights, Buyer/Seller seminars….can you think of a few uses? Here at the RE/MAX Gallery Internet Café all this is possible. As viewed below, there is space for 25+ people quite comfortably. There’s a 40” hidef LCD TV in which a laptop can be hooked up to for presentations, a DVD system, WIFI…anything you need to make a professional, quality presentation in a relaxing environment. I’m sure we’ll probably have a few movie nights, and sporting events too. As I sit writing this the Tigers are in the bottom of the 10th inning up by one. I look forward to playoff games and potlucks at the office this winter. This space is also very comfortable and inviting for our agents to stop in, meet with clients, sit with a laptop and do some surfing while sipping on a hot cup of java. We’ve created an awesome environment to do all of the above and more….best of all…it’s available to RE/MAX Gallery agents free of charge 24/7 to use as they please. I invite you to stop by and have a cup of java with me and let me show you how I can save you as much as 50% off of the traditional REALTOR office contract….guaranteed. I’m truly here to save you some money….a lot of it without sacrificing any of the services you expect from a full service global realty franchise! Hey, if you don’t think you’re ready to make a move yet, that’s no problem. If you’re in the area and need to get on the net, send a fax, scan a document, get a charge on your cell…stop on in. We’ll even offer you a cold drink or a hot cup of java….all at no charge or hassle to you. We look forward to seeing you :D

Sincerely,
David Keith
Broker/Owner of the RE/MAX Gallery Internet Café
Cellular 734-634-2065

Please click on the photo below to view a full size image.

Debra Drummond Makes the Move To RE/MAX Gallery....Welcome!

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:07:24 PDT

RE/MAX Gallery is pleased to announce that REALTOR Debra Drummond has joined our team. We are very excited to have Debra on board. Debra is an Associate Broker, specializes in 1st Time Homebuyers, Military Veterans, and Internet-Savvy Buyers & Sellers. You can visit her on the web at MichiganMoves.com read her blog at MichiganMoves.info or view her photo blog at Mobile.MichiganMoves.info.

RE/MAX 365

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:57:27 PDT

Did You Know?

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:35:17 PDT

• 3,036 sq. ft., 2 1/2 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story "Colonial" - MLS® $299,900

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:08:20 PDT

Trotters Pointe, South Lyon - Wow! Talk about updates this Toll Brothers Trotter’s Point 4bdrm 2.5 bth has it all. Truly “move in condition” too many upgrades to list all. New granite in maple kitchen, premium appliances, hardwood floors, new carpet, fresh paint in whole house, HUGE master suite with bonus room, professionally landscaped, sprinklers, brick paver patio and walk, take a look at the rest and come see the best. This home has it all!

NOT an REO or Shortsale.

Here is a list of some of the major updates:Carpet throughout and Hardwood in Den - June 2007Granite Counter in Kitchen May 2007 Repaint throughout - May 2007 Water Softener - 2003 Landscaping, lighting, brick paver walks and patio 2004 - Upgrades at time of build - Bonus Room in Master Suite, Gourmet Kitchen, R30 insulation (Energy Package), CATV cable and distribution center, Ceiling fan mounts in 3 upstairs bedrooms (not master suite)
Property information

Safety Matters

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:48:22 PDT

With so many bank properties and others in utter disrepair, I believe we are forgetting some basics, e.g. the safety of those walking through these properties and that of the public in general. I understand everyone likes listings, and if you are doing REO's they may be plentiful, but how effective can you be if your listing is 2 hours away and you never visit the place? Collapsing ceilings, open in-ground pools filled with water and unsecured (both at a showing this past weekend), and other such tidbits should be pointed out in the agent comments or, at the very least, when setting up appointments. Yes it's a pain. But it beats getting a call saying the ceiling in your listing just fell on someone's client and they're on the way to the hospital or some neighbor's kid just drowned in the pool that was left uncovered, full of water with no gate to keep out the curious child. Let's use some common sense and common decency, folks.

Who's Minding the Store?

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:48:41 PDT

You might want to try calling your own office sometimes to evaluate the job your receptionists are doing. Some are most pleasant and some are, well . . . let's just say some sound like they'd rather be doing anything BUT answering your call. Sit in and listen while you have a friend call. Your receptionist may be costing you prospective agents and clients!

Careers at RE/MAX Gallery

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:43:24 PST

RE/MAX Gallery is very excited that you are visiting our site and would like to extend to you an invitation to visit our office. We can provide you with the necessary tools, training and support to succeed!
Our office can provide you with the tools to run YOUR business how you want where ever you want! We guarantee you'll be keeping a lot more of your hard earned dollars too!
Please take a moment to visit the links below. Simply click on the text to visit. There are many advantages to becoming a RE/MAX Gallery agent. While these presentations outline some great benefits we would definitely like to meet with you to go over your questions and any concerns you might have. Please give us a call or send us an email using the contact information at the top right of the page for a confidential interview.

Informational Links

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RE/MAX Mainstreet Tour
Why RE/MAX Gallery?
More For YOU!
RE/MAX Technology
RE/MAX Times Online
RE/MAX Mission
RE/MAX Gallery Announcement

ENOUGH, ALREADY!

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:49:31 PDT

Quite frankly, I’ve had it. Pretty pictures on a website and a glowing description make a home most inviting for a client to want to see. The showing is set up with great anticipation as the home appears to be everything the clients are looking for. They drive a ½ hour; I drive a ½ hour; we walk in and the place is trashed. And it wasn’t trashed the day before we walked in to the supposed surprise of the listing agent or office. It’s been trashed for awhile. The notation there may have been a slight plumbing problem notwithstanding, there is no excuse for this complete lack of consideration and what I believe to be intentional misrepresentation.
As Realtors©, we have taken our lumps as bad guys in the mortgage meltdown. Do we need to add fuel to the fire? Do we really need to stoop to these levels to sell a house? If it’s a rehab project, say that. Say the pictures are from better days and are shown as an example of how the place could look again. Do something other than outright lying to the public and fellow REALTORS©.
The offending agent’s name and office are omitted here to protect the guilty. They will not be next time.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:49:57 PDT

The following is a copy of an email I sent wrapping up an auction sale that, due to the Seller’s inability to get the agreed upon matters handled, resulted in my client withdrawing his offer. The Seller chose to retain $250.00 of a $5,000.00 deposit and my client chose not to continue the battle.

The home was auctioned in October and was well outside the 45 day closing window, due in no way to the fault of my client. I am sure many of you reading this have gone through a similar experience in one way or another. As Realtors, we need to be more aggressive in holding our Bank-Seller clients accountable in this process and insure these properties get moved. We cannot be afraid to challenge our clients’ lack of timely response and we need to stay after the lawyers so they do their job and don’t get in the way for the sake of getting in the way. We at the Gallery have had that experience already and I am proud to say we prevailed in getting our client to understand it will only lose more money by being unreasonable, asking for onerous terms in its addendums, and letting the attorneys direct a process most know little about.

The better job we do, the faster we get through this mess.

P.S. The names have been eliminated to protect the innocent . . . and the guilty.

Mr. ****** –

I have forwarded a revised release to my client for signature.

In response to yours, I can only say your comments are consistent with those to me wherein you indicated you could not really bug the Seller about completing items necessary to close this matter as you did not want to endanger your business. Unfortunately, the scenario that has played out in this case is a microcosm of what is going on and why properties are not moving as they should. As bad as the market is, if we were to eliminate the lethargy of the lenders sitting on these properties, the lack of control of their clients by Realtors, and the feigned ignorance of the law firms representing the Sellers who are only acting as conduits of a pipeline that is blocked on both ends, the Sellers would be eating fewer holding costs, Realtors would be making more money and the lawyers would be doing what they were trained to do – resolve things.

It is of course fascinating you did not receive my first voice mail and the first time we actually spoke, you indicated the plumbers, missing for weeks, were all of sudden “out there that day” making repairs. Further, when we last spoke, you had not even managed to have utilities turned on in the home, again after weeks, in order for proper inspections to be held. In addition, I shouldn’t have to remind you that you told me you would indicate to your Seller that none of the delay was due to Mr. ****. I can tell how much of an effort was made in that respect. Quite frankly I do not know how to further address the inadequacies of this entire process.

It is hoped you are in a position to sit down with your client and explain how much money it has lost in this whole process, as well as the money it will continue to lose holding on to this house. I appreciate the fact you treasure the Seller’s business, but how much are you making when deals take months to close, if they close at all? Wouldn’t your time be better spent working with Sellers who are actually on top of things, understand the costs involved, and actually want to sell the homes they are sitting on in a timely fashion? I daresay the value of this home has not increased during this escapade and it won’t be getting any higher any time soon.

As an attorney, and as Broker-Owner of RE/MAX Gallery, I would hope both of my professions would start doing a better job of resolving these matters.

I will forward the revised release to Mr. **** upon receipt from my client. I only hope his check will be forwarded with the alacrity of the Seller’s response to his withdrawal of his offer relative the amount being retained from his deposit. Somehow, I doubt it.

All else aside, I wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving.

PERFECT STORM

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:50:09 PDT

Regardless of your political persuasion, Barack Obama is the President-Elect of the United States of America. But how did he get there? Personally, I’m a believer of the perfect storm theory. That’s when everything comes together at the same time and in such a fashion that it results in a happening that would have been impossible under any other scenario.
Obama, a candidate for the Senate, was granted a great opportunity to give a speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He ended up being elected to the Senate by way of a misstep by the Republican Party in Illinois. He decided to run for President at a time when a prominent woman was running in his own party, thereby dampening the impact of his being black. The ball was rolling.
Continuing, he won the Iowa caucus because Hillary’s camp underestimated him and didn’t take Iowa, or the impact of a loss there, seriously. He became the darling of the media because of his carriage and charisma. The public soon followed. The ball was rolling faster.
The internet came of age in politics, became his friend and he raised over $600 million, unprecedented by any stretch of the imagination. The incumbent party, like a pro quarterback who gets too much credit for a good team and too much blame for a bad one, takes it in the gut when the economy goes off a cliff a short 6 weeks before the election. The ball is heading straight downhill.
Finally, and not a moment too soon, election day arrives and in a tradition favoring Democrats, the weather is stunningly beautiful throughout the country. The irresistible force just ran over the immovable object.
Luck? Maybe a bit. Planning? A lot. Execution? Nearly flawless. None of that would have mattered without the rest of the storm. But more importantly, what Mr. Obama did better than most, was recognize the atmosphere, jump on and ride the ride of his life to the White House.
Our business is tough right now. Everything that could be going wrong is. The rats are abandoning the ship. In the midst if it all, a perfect storm of opportunity is brewing. Can you recognize it? Can you take advantage when everyone else is taking off? Are you willing to take the chance, change course, work harder, get smarter while others bemoan their lot? Is it storming where you’re at?

RE/MAX Gallery New Listing!

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:23:25 PST

11 November 2008
1 1/2 Story For Sale in Brightmoor Silver

• 1,000 sq. ft., 1 bath, 3 bdrm 1 1/2 story - MLS® $104,900 - ALSO FOR LEASE @ $950/mo
Brightmoor Silver, Redford - Ready for you to move right in. Very clean 3 bdrm home still in the family of the original owner. Hardwood floors on main floor, nice kitchen, full basement. Newer roof and some other updates as well. 2 car garage. Close to schools, freeways. If your tired of looking at all of the banks owned homes this is the home for you...seller is motivated home warranty is also included.Property is also for lease @ $950/mo MLS# 28186112.
Property information

11 November 2008
1 1/2 Story For Sale in Brightmoor Silver

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:50:43 PDT

So, what's the big deal about names? EVERYTHING!

Few things irritate me more than people mispronouncing someone's name and not making an effort to correct it. Worse yet, they appear not to even care they didn't get it right. I know, when faced with the multicultural world in which we live, how can we help but mispronounce names? No one, it seems, is named Smith or Jones any more.

I am amazed how many agents will be unable to accurately pronounce, or continuously stumble over their client's name - at the closing. One would have thought there would have been enough interaction between the parties during the process to have gotten it right.

Those with difficult names are too often used to hearing their names tortured beyond recognition because it couldn't possibly be anyone else's name that got screwed up that badly. Taking the time to get it right will endear you to them and they will remember you. Maybe not by name, but the next time they see you, and you get their name right this time, they will remember. This will be invaluable at a listing appointment, or any other first contact, as your prospective client, friend, lover, whoever, will see you as someone who cares enough to get that personal connection right.

Here are some simple steps that might help you get better at this:

1. Try, then ask. It's okay, people really don't mind. Even if you think you have it right, ask them to confirm. Most people will be pleasantly surprised that you cared enough to try to get it right. If you have the benefit of reading the name before having to say it out loud, play it over in your mind a few times. You'll be surprised how much easier the name will flow and letters, unbelievably enough, often flow into themselves once you get them going. Even if there is a pause, and you don't get it quite right, the individual you are speaking with will know you tried. It can be a great ice breaker if you do it right.

2. Take your best shot at someone's name, whether you're reading it or being introduced in person. Even if you will likely use their first name only once, take the time to get it right. Unfortunately, most people stop at the first try and resort to "Hey, bud" or "How ya doing?" Nothing could be more insulting, particularly when you are dealing with people from other cultures where their name, in their native land, is an explanation of their lineage, their history and in some cases their honor. You don't have to understand the nuances, just understand it is important to them.

3. If you will be dealing with someone over an extended period of time (translated, this means if you are going to have to say the name at more than just this one meeting, or more than twice at this meeting), write it down - phonetically. Mark which syllables are emphasized and which "e's" are long. Note the hard or soft "g".

4. Practice. You will get better at it. Before meeting the client with the tough name, practice saying it. And if you forget quite how, when you meet up with them, take a shot at it and confirm it with them again. They won't mind. Really. (Maybe if you've managed to butcher it for the 20th time, but other than that . . .)

5. Admit when you don't have a clue. Occasionally, I will look at a name and be stumped. Too many vowels or too many consonants in a row. Just look at them and tell them you have no clue how to say their name, would they be so kind as to help you out. They will be pleased to do so. They will say no one ever gets it right, so don't worry about it. But get it right the next time, and they will be impressed.

6. Pay attention to the cultural differences in pronunciation and emphasis. Understand when a hyphenated name means it should be pronounced a certain way or it is just the result of, in my opinion, a misguided effort to retain some identity.

In my various lives, I see a lot of names and have to pronounce them. I've gotten relatively good at it. But I've worked at it and I'm much better now than I was early on. Learning through experience and effort. What a concept.

One final note. Do your kids a favor. Keep some of this learning in mind when naming them. A little quirk in the spelling of the name may be cute. A self indulgent adventure of creativity, however, will do nothing for them (as they will be forever explaining it) and cause you nothing but grief when as soon as they get old enough they run down to the probate court to legally change it. Don't believe me? Look up the lyrics to "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash.

What's in a name? Care enough to get it right. You might be surprised.

JUST IN GENERAL

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:50:54 PDT

Most Americans do not comprehend that soaring oil prices are not the result of U.S. oil company conspiracies, that the shortage of the stuff is real. Those gasoline queues of six years ago are around the corner. So are $1-a-gallon prices. And until most Americans stop stupidly blaming nonexistent oil company "conspiracies" and instead start demanding that we do the many quickly do-able things that can really help solve the crisis, it'll continue to get worse. MALCOM FORBES (1979)

How prescient this man was. How stupid we continue to be.

ON BEING ON TIME

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:51:06 PDT

Former United States Representative Ed Foreman says you can be certain of uphill movement in any organization or any business plan by following three simple tenets:

Show Up.
Show Up On Time
Show Up On Time Ready To Work

My son the union carpenter (if you can't do it yourself, raise a kid who can!) has had great success staying on jobs long after those hired before him have been laid off. Why? He shows up, he's on time and he's ready to work. Who would have thought what was once the backbone of the American economy would be a special trait? Unbelievably it is. The fact he's very good at what he does (ok, I'm a proud Dad, what can I say?) helps, but it wasn't what got him started. He is timely and dependable. That's what gets everyone's attention.

My daughter works at McDonald's. She walks to work, rain or shine. If no one's home to take her in bad weather, she goes anyway. It takes her about a half hour to walk to the store she works at. She gets there at least a half hour early. There are reasons, perhaps a topic for another day, she is probably not their "best" worker. But she shows up. She's on time and she's ready to go to work. She's ready to answer the bell whenever her boss calls and they need a fill in. If they have to work late she works late (Ok, I don't like that part because she gets off around 11 p.m. and I pick her up.). Her employer knows she can be counted on. For those of you who have ever worked in the fast food industry, you know what a rare trait that is. I am every bit as proud of her as I am of my son.

My purpose for bragging on my kids is this: we as real estate professionals need to do a better job of following these three simple steps. We always preach on how OUR time is so important. Remember that your client's time, the title company's time, the bank's time, yes EVERYONE'S time is important. If you expect others to respect your time, be prepared to be first in respecting theirs. And be willing to comment when they don't reciprocate. Yes, training them may be necessary. If they refuse to be trained, refuse to do business with them.

If you show up 20 minutes late to your listing appointment, and make your prospective client late for their kid's ball game (Well, it should be a ball game. I just don't get soccer.), what sort of signal does that send? That you MIGHT get the listing into the MLS in the next week? That you MAY check out the flyer box every so often, so what if it's empty for days at a time? Or maybe you're on time but unprepared to put on your presentation. You stumble through what should've been a 30 minute visit and made it 45 minutes instead. Now you've wasted some of your client's time, your time, and probably everyone else's time the rest of the day because you're going to be late getting to them.

I realize life gets in the way sometimes. Too often we let it when it really wasn't necessary. Be mindful of your time. It will help you be mindful of the time of others. More importantly, it will train others to respect your time and YOU. In today's climate, you need every edge you can grab on to. This is one that's so simple it's stupid. Unfortunately we prove how stupid we can be by ignoring it.

JTC to RE/MAX Gallery

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:51:26 PDT

We make changes for many reasons. We have to. We need to. We want to. We get an offer we can't refuse. Ah well, three out of four ain't bad.

Why did we decide to change JTC Realty Group? We had to. In order to move forward. Today's market requires the best in services for our clients. We did some digging. The answer to that became obvious.

We needed to in order to reach our goals. We all have those and you learn to adjust on your way to reaching them. We decided having the best backroom support was like having those Verizon guys following us around. Perhaps a bit annoying at times, but irreplaceable.

We want to. We got into this to be the best. We've done some scrambling, juggling and learning the past year. We have a bushel of happy clients and we hope a fair amount of folks we've worked with who at least won't throw us out the next time we show up with a deal. And when you choose to be the best, you bring the best tools with you.

All of these reasons led us to RE/MAX. We may have found the only folks who are crazier than we are. Maybe we got four out of four after all.

We look forward to working with you. We are RE/MAX Gallery. Welcome to our home.

SOME THINGS JUST MAKE SENSE

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:51:37 PDT

Some say lying to your wife is never acceptable. I say when she mentions a centipede in the basement and sends you down after it, you go. And though there isn't a chance in hell of finding it, you come back up and say you got it. It doesn't matter that you didn't because it made her feel better. It made sense to do that rather than complain about the requested task. That's not lying, that's love.

What’s all that got to do with real estate? We all have clients who can be more demanding than others. They may ask us to do things that will not necessarily help them sell or buy a house. And we may be tempted to argue with them about it. If it’s a no big deal thing, just do it. You lessen friction with the client, make them feel better and maybe, just maybe, you get surprised and get a referral from the last person you ever expected one from. If I’ve learned one thing in nearly 27 years of marriage (although my wife may be inclined to suggest I haven’t learned anything), I have found “Yes, Dear” works the best. Keep that in mind the next time your client asks you one of those “eye-rollers.” It just might make sense to go ahead and do it.

Does It Add Up?

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:51:47 PDT

I was reviewing a closing package recently and was having trouble reconciling the tax pro-rations. (I won't mention the very fact I actually had a closing package to review more than 24 hours before closing being a minor miracle.) The amounts were small, but it was just the point. It mattered not that I tried 360 days versus 365, or any of the other possible variations. I couldn't get them to match the HUD1. I called the title company whose processor was most accommodating with her time. I explained my problem and she quickly responded the HUD1 was right because the computer did the calculations. I asked her to bear with me and take pen to paper and figure it out with me. And while she too was having a problem, she suggested there must be a "glitch" with the computer. I finally convinced her to have it reviewed. Now I don't know whether it was hand figured, but my numbers showed up on the final version.

The moral of the story - do the math. No one else is looking out for your client but you.

Toll Brothers Beauty South Lyon MI

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 22 May 2008 08:52:18 PDT

• 3,036 sq. ft., 3 bath, 4 bdrm single story - MLS® $350,000
Trotters Pointe, South Lyon - Wow! Talk about updates this Trotter’s Point 4bdrm 2.5 bth has it all. Truly “move in condition” too many upgrades to list all. New granite in maple kitchen, premium appliances, hardwood floors, new carpet, fresh paint in whole house, HUGE master suite with bonus room, professionally landscaped, sprinklers, brick paver patio and walk, take a look at the rest and come see the best. This home has it all!Here is a list of some of the major updates:Carpet throughout and Hardwood in Den - June 2007 ($10k)Granite Counter in Kitchen May 2007 ($5k)Repaint throughout - May 2007 ($10k) Water Softener - 2003 ($500)Landscaping, lighting, brick paver walks and patio 2004 - ($25K) Upgrades at time of build - Bonus Room in Master Suite, Gourmet Kitchen, R30 insulation (Energy Package), CATV cable and distribution center, Ceiling fan mounts in 3 upstairs bedrooms (not master suite)
Property information

Diamonds in the Rough

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:52:09 PDT

After dealing with a property for a period of time, it is always interesting to go back and review your reaction upon seeing it for the first time. I'm sure we have all reacted to homes in various fashion with initial responses ranging from "a perfect home" to "how could a piece of property that ugly be that expensive?" This is true whether we are seeing a property as a potential homeowner, investor, appraiser or Realtor©. Once we are down the road with a piece of property that initial response may have been confirmed or may have actually changed in some respects. Ultimately, you may get lucky with what you end up with regardless of how horrified you may have been at first light.

Years ago I had a client who inherited a 30 x 100 piece of property in the city of Detroit. When we first went to look at it, we found it was covered in well-worn asphalt amongst a sea of other 30 x 100 pieces of property. Looking around, the property was within hailing distance of an old bar, an old theater and an old church. My client considered whether to ignore the inheritance, not pay the taxes and let the property be someone else's problem.

Some time went by and the property came up in conversation on occasion. Needless to say few good things were said about the little piece of property that was once the foundation for a home amongst neighbors, lovingly cared for by its' residents.

Time, however, marches on and it was no different in respect to the increasingly pock marked square footage. But along came a visionary who thought perhaps a little piece property, combined with the surrounding little pieces of property, might actually be able to be turned into something special. Indeed, in a masterpiece of engineering innovation, the theater was moved, the church was protected and the little bar held its ground. Today, those 3000 square feet of asphalt finds itself in a new home in the confines of right-field of Comerica Park. Its' neighboring little pieces of property fared equally as well. After all of the litigation creativity, bluster and fanfare, my client ended up with a tidy sum. The Gem Theater and the Elwood Bar have done okay too.

This experience taught me first impressions can be wrong, visionaries make the world go around, and every now and then we find a diamond in the rough.

Or perhaps, as in this case, a bit of rough in the diamond.
PS we apologize for the delay in our monthly newsletter, however, we determined that May was too long anyway and it would be a lot more fun if we could just get closer to summer. So here we are.

Service

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:48:27 PDT

This morning as I so often do, I was heading to Dunkin Donuts for my morning coffee. I don’t go there every morning but do definitely visit a couple three times a week during the winter. I prefer their coffee over all of the foo foo and overpowering flavors that the other guys serve at twice the price. Dunkin’s coffee is just a nice smooth cup of coffee at a reasonable price. What happened this morning was so simple but went a long way to make me feel pretty good. When I walked through the door, the usual crew was there working hard. I barely made it through the door and one of them shouted out above the crowd “extra large coffee here sir”. She had to notice that I pulled up, walked in the door, remembered how I have taken my coffee in the past and went ahead and made it. I proceeded to the front of the line gave them my two bucks, said thank you very much and was out of there in probably 30 seconds flat. I felt like a VIP. You may think this is kind of silly but this day in age there’s not too much of that going on….if it does, it’s rare. It certainly put a smile on my face and here I am about 12 hours later blogging about it.
How does this relate to real estate? On a slightly larger scale than filling a coffee cup we are providers of a service….customer service and satisfaction is our goal just the same as that girl going the extra mile to have my coffee ready for me. It seems so often to me that many agents are just about getting the deal done. It’s just a job to many. To that buyer or seller it is one of the biggest decisions in their life and they have entrusted us as the experts in our field to help them. “What a privilege”, I say!
It takes such little effort on our part to get to know someone a little bit and gain the ability to anticipate some of their needs. Think about it a little. This girl that probably makes minimum wage pouring coffee all day long and provided the best example of customer service that I’ve seen in a long time…..anywhere. How many hours to you typically spend with a client? 15?....20?.....30? We’ll go with 40 as an example. With the average home sale these days in the $250,000 range at 3% that’s $7500/40hrs….that’s $187.50/hour. For that kind of money we should be treating our clients like royalty for the short time that we are with them. The Dunkin Donuts girl certainly obtained greatness at a mere $7.00 an hour. What’s your excuse?

MAR/Granholm Kudos? I think not!

info@jtcrealtygroup.net (JTC Realty Group LLC) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:15:47 PDT

After reading this so called "great news" from MAR yesterday it seems like another half ***** attempt at helping things out. This is my perspective on what I read yesterday.

One issue with it is the NOT being leased or avaliable for lease. A lot of sellers are turning to leasing as an option because their home won't sell. This does not change anything for them. They will still loose the homestead if they lease their home out. A large portion of the for sale listings are also for lease, they will loose the homestead too.

It also does not address bank owned properties which is what a major portion of the listings are these days. The homestead gets removed once it becomes an REO (because a corp now owns it), depending on what time of year it is, it could be awhile before a new owner can get a homestead back on the property. This is the issue that really needs to be addressed.

So it really only helps people out that have moved and can afford to keep their previous home until it sells. Which in my perspective is not many people....this is why there are so many foreclosures....duh. So many of the homes on the market you can look through the listing history, see that the owner tried to sell for a year or more, the house did not sell and it became a foreclosure. The owners were long gone by that time enjoying their new life somewhere else in the country.

Perhaps another move towards feeding the rich and eliminating a class of of people we like to refer to as "middle"? How do you see it?

Hats off to MAR and Granholm.....I think not.

Here's the email content that applies to the above;

"Yesterday, Governor Granholm signed 3 significant pieces of REALTOR® supported legislation. First, legislation enabling home sellers to retain 2 principal resident exemptions for property still on the market after the seller has moved elsewhere in the state. The signing of this legislation is a huge step in aiding struggling sellers who have had homes on the market for over a year and have lost their principal residence status on that property.
House Bill 4215, now Public Act 96 of 2008 sponsored by Representative Ed Gaffney (R-Grosse Pointe Farms) enacts that the seller can retain an additional exemption for up to three years on property previously exempt as the owner’s principal residence if the following circumstances are met:
the property is not occupied,
the property is for sale
the property is not leased or available for lease
the property is not used for any business or commercial purpose