Contact Sport

Hello all,

"Contact Sport"

For the last couple of weeks when I have been asked about the 2014 Real Estate Market my answer has been "I am not scared but I am disappointed". We have enough business going on in the offices that we are putting some money in the bank but we thought it would be much better. When I look at some of the individual numbers in the office I imagine some of you are both disappointed and scared. Love me or hate me I need to be the one to tell you it is not the time to be sitting on your ass feeling sorry for yourself. Numbers are down in our competitors offices as well but there is business out there and if it is not coming your way you need to go get it , the year is almost half over. Floor Duty has been very active in Germantown and Aspen Hill yet the floor sheets are only 30%-40% full. I sat on an open house yesterday (because we could not get anyone in the offices to do it) that 12 groups came through, got a great listing lead. To dumb this business down to it's simplest form, it is a "Contact Sport" and we need to be the aggressor. This would be a great time to review your business plan to make sure it matches your income expectations.

Enjoy the coffee,

Joe

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust   DON'T FORGET TO PACK YOUR INSIGHT! How wonderful it is to learn new things and see new places! How would we ever grow as individuals if we never experienced anything different from that which we see and do in our daily lives? Two different voyages come to mind, however, when considering the discovery of that which is "new" - an outward journey, and one which turns inward. Your outward "voyage of discovery" takes you to different places and new people. You begin to understand other things outside yourself. This can be as simple as discovering new-found beauty on a wilderness "adventure," or having an engaging conversation or correspondence with someone from a completely different part of the country or the world. The ultimate goal here is not just looking at new things, but looking at things in a new way! A change of scenery can effect a change of mind.But you can still experience a voyage of discovery even if you don't travel anywhere, even if you don't meet anyone new. You don't have to change your surroundings, just the way you look at them - with "new eyes!" Sometimes stepping back and looking again at the Big Picture can reveal things that you never saw before. The solution to an ongoing problem can suddenly manifest itself. This can often be the key to unlocking the door to your happiness - finding a way to change yourself instead of changing what surrounds you. For all those situations that seem to be out of your control, you have to realize that you are always in control of yourself. So much stress comes from frustration. Don't keep running up against that rock that represents your problems. Try to act like the water that simply flows around the rock as it continues its journey downstream. Your inward voyage of change can have dramatic results on how you see what's around you! Enjoy your new outlook!

Humbled

Hello all,

"Humbled" 

I had a wonderful experience last week. I was one of 200 Brokers from the USA and Canada invited to Denver for three days to meet to discuss our offices, share ideas and talk about how we can work better with RE/MAX International. They do this every year but it is only a select few who get invited. I could not be prouder for all of us that in only 5 years of being in business we made it into this select group. My head might have begun to swell a little bit and things happen for a reason.

Because then...

On the last day I was paired in a golf cart with Patrick Hare, a nice Irish native from Calgary. For the first couple of hours Patrick was just one of the boys and a great golf companion. Then after 9 holes and about 4 beers Patrick let us know his RE/MAX office in Calgary was the number one RE/MAX office in the world for the last 14 years. As one of our boys in the foursome said "Holy %#@* we are playing with royalty". Got to spend the last 9 holes and a couple of hours at happy hour with Patrick after that and he is one of the nicest people I have ever met. Got a few pieces of information and did the math from there, these are numbers I can't wrap my mind around.

 His one office for 2013:

Average sales price = $530,000

Agents = 275

Transaction = 6,800

Total Volume = 3.6 Billion, correct Billion.

Average Transactions per agent = 25

Average volume per agent = 13,000,000

To put it in perspective, the L&F office on East West Avenue in Bethesda has long been considered the #1 office in the area. They have 264 agents and did a total volume of 1.06 Billion. His agents did 3.5 times their volume. Simply amazing and I am truly "Humbled". However very grateful, thank you all for being with us!

Enjoy the coffee,

Joe

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust   DON'T FORGET TO PACK YOUR INSIGHT! How wonderful it is to learn new things and see new places! How would we ever grow as individuals if we never experienced anything different from that which we see and do in our daily lives? Two different voyages come to mind, however, when considering the discovery of that which is "new" - an outward journey, and one which turns inward. Your outward "voyage of discovery" takes you to different places and new people. You begin to understand other things outside yourself. This can be as simple as discovering new-found beauty on a wilderness "adventure," or having an engaging conversation or correspondence with someone from a completely different part of the country or the world. The ultimate goal here is not just looking at new things, but looking at things in a new way! A change of scenery can effect a change of mind.But you can still experience a voyage of discovery even if you don't travel anywhere, even if you don't meet anyone new. You don't have to change your surroundings, just the way you look at them - with "new eyes!" Sometimes stepping back and looking again at the Big Picture can reveal things that you never saw before. The solution to an ongoing problem can suddenly manifest itself. This can often be the key to unlocking the door to your happiness - finding a way to change yourself instead of changing what surrounds you. For all those situations that seem to be out of your control, you have to realize that you are always in control of yourself. So much stress comes from frustration. Don't keep running up against that rock that represents your problems. Try to act like the water that simply flows around the rock as it continues its journey downstream. Your inward voyage of change can have dramatic results on how you see what's around you! Enjoy your new outlook!

Appraisals

Hello all,

"Appraisals"

We have had several cycles in the real estate market the last 15 years. 1999-2005 it ran hard, 2006-2010 it fell hard, 2010-2012 it was flat and now we are moving in a positive direction again. When the market is flat we usually do not have appraisal issues but when it moves in one direction or another they start to creep in. The reason being is the data is changing quickly and it becomes discretionary to what the data means. One of the sayings in the business is "An appraisal is an art not a science". If you send 5 different appraisers out in a moving market you could get 5 different opinions on value. With the market moving again we are seeing the appraisal issues start to come back. If you get a low appraisal you do have the ability to fight it. If you need help with this your manager and I are there to help. Please let us know and we can meet with you to look over the appraisal and the comps.

Enjoy the coffee,

Joe  

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

 

"All that Adam had, all that Caesar could, you have and can do . . . Build, therefore, your own world." 

 

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

IF I WERE A CARPENTER . . . !

 

Picture a builder hiring a new framing carpenter to help construct his new homes. The first day on the job, the new carpenter shows up without a tool belt . . . and without any tools . . . and asks, "Where do I begin?" How much progress do you think would be made by the end of the first day?

 

Most of us at some point in our lives are like the unprepared carpenter. We show up, but have no tools, and haven't the slightest clue what we want to build. Within us, we have the power to build any life we choose, yet at day's end, nothing has changed.

 

Oh sure, we actively pursue the day-to-day activities of our chosen career, yet we don't take time to visualize the finished product - our life. Thoreau said it best: "Live the life you've imagined." Steven Covey said it this way: "Begin with the end in mind."

 

To "build your own world," begin by deciding what that world will be like. Next, gather the tools required to begin construction. Finally, begin practicing until you are an accomplished master.

 

If you want to be a renowned musician, choose an instrument, take lessons, and practice eight hours each day. If you want financial independence, determine a method, learn how others have achieved wealth, and mimic their approach and techniques.

 

Just remember, the world you get is the world you chose. It's an awesome responsibility - knowing that what you become is the result of the choices you have made. It's also an awesome opportunity to enjoy all the peace, contentment, freedom and riches life has to offer.

 

Carpe diem! Seize the day!

Happy Mothers Day

Hello all,

"Happy Mothers Day"

As we were celebrating Mothers Day I got to thinking about all of the hard working Mothers we have in the office. I knew we had more women than men in the office but I have never looked at the exact number, so... We have 144 MRIS ID'S currently of which 95 belong to the women, 67%. Happy Mothers Day to the Mom's, thanks for being with us and your kids should be proud of who you are and what you have accomplished! 

Enjoy the coffee,

Joe 

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

 

"To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly." 

~ Henri Bergson 

 

"All things change; nothing perishes." 

~ Ovid

 

HAVE YOU SPRUNG FORWARD? 

 

The changing of the seasons presents several opportunities throughout the year to consider how life itself changes and how it remains the same. Hearing the first frog calls of spring feels at once reassuring, and also just a little unsettling. 

 

It’s consoling to know that the spring will always follow the winter, that autumn will always follow summer, and so on. But of course, the pattern also points to the fact that another winter has got behind us, and while we enjoy the offerings of spring, that winter season is now gone forever, and there is one less winter in the seasons of our lives. 

 

But the flowers and birds of spring also remind us of the futility of dwelling on seasons gone by. “Be here now,” they tell us, “because the party’s just starting!” The vestiges of the past year haven’t really disappeared, they’ve only morphed into something different and new (again). And the memories don’t vanish; they persist, unchanged, for as long as our minds can hold them. 

 

It’s a basic law of physics that matter can neither be created nor destroyed, so “turn yourself in,” and allow yourself to be subject to the rules of nature. Everything that you can be, you already are. You just have to make the change, like the butterfly from the chrysalis. Then summer will be here before you know it! 

2014 Vs. 2013

Hello all,

 

"2014 Vs. 2013"

So far this year has a completely different feel from last year. In 2013 we had a decent start with an incredible Spring market, around mid March the floodgates really opened. Then in mid June interest rates went from 3.250% to 4.5% overnight and things came to a grinding halt over the summer. Things picked back up in October and we had a decent end to the year. This year things have started slower than expected, it is starting to pick up but we have not seen that big spring surge. It will be interesting to see how things unfold over the next 3-4 weeks. Did we start slow because of the weather and the spring surge arrives or is it going to be a little slower this year than predicted? If things hit hard in the next couple of weeks it could still be that huge year that was predicted. Nothing in the economic news suggest a steep change in the interest rates this year so at worst we will stay consistent for the rest of the year. My money is still on the big surge coming...

Enjoy the coffee,

Joe

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

 

"Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance." 

 

~ Samuel Johnson 

 

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK! 

 

How many times have you heard it? "Don't work harder, work smarter." This modern cliche has almost become an annoyance - its meaning seems so obvious that we don't even pay attention to it anymore. But such simple sentiments often bear closer consideration, especially since they become cliched because of their inherent truth. 

 

You see, sometimes it really isn't how hard you try. Think back to high school: some students studied for hours for an exam and did poorly, while others studied a few notes and highlights for thirty minutes and got A's. Sometimes it just came down to smarts, but often it came down to how well prepared and organized the students were. Performing well on an exam or project doesn't necessarily reflect higher intelligence - it reflects ability to apply intelligence or strength efficiently. It's qualitative instead of quantitative. 

 

Expend great effort inefficiently and you may well end up farther behind than if you expend less effort in a more resourceful manner. The whole goal should be progress, not the total expense of your resources. It's those folks who can analyze and implement an approach that requires less effort who enjoy the greatest success. We all want to minimize our investment and maximize our returns, right? 

 

If you find yourself trying so hard and not getting anywhere, you're probably experiencing a deep feeling of discouragement. Help yourself out by looking at changes you can make to help you focus more on the solution to the task. Eliminate energy spent that isn't producing results. 

 

Apply a little effort on a consistent and targeted basis, and you'll achieve the progress you're seeking. Jacob Riis observed, "When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before." 

Real Estate Commission

Hello all,

"Real Estate Commission"

On Friday I had the pleasure of sitting in a three hour town hall meeting with the Real Estate Commission. Overall it was a good experience because I came away with the knowledge that as a company and agents we are doing things the right way. The one thing that was mentioned that concerned me a bit is making sure the documents are getting back to our clients. If you are ever called in front of the board one of the things they will be looking for is that copies of all listing agreements, buyer broker agreements and contracts are given to to our clients after they are signed for their records. Please make sure this is part of your business practices. At the next sales meeting I will talk about some of the other things that I came away with.

Enjoy the coffee,

Joe 

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

 

"It's important to let people know what you stand for. It's equally important to let them know what you won't stand for."

 

- B. Bader

 

ARE YOU POLITICALLY CORRECT?

 

How careful we must be today - to avoid the slightest slight to others. If we continue, we will become totally homogenized - each looking, acting, talking, and walking like each other. The unique identity into which we were born will mellow, fade, and eventually become transparent.  The gifts and talents we have to offer will be so diluted as to go unnoticed.

 

What ever happened to our right to speak out against wrong?  Why do we allow ourselves to be hushed and shushed when we verbalize our expectation of respect from the very young?  Why are we so sensitive to what "they" think of our actions when we attempt to do good?

 

Each of us is uniquely individual.  We are one of a kind, not just an ingredient in the soup of humanity.  Each of us is born with the ability to make a difference, to contribute our talent, to expect the best.

 

We have the ability to set standards for ourselves, to choose the principles upon which we live and serve.  We also have the responsibility to teach our children "what we stand for" as well as "what we won't stand for."  By unashamedly living those principles, and expecting the same from our children, we help set the course for others who have not the strength to do so.  We are the example.

 

Political correctness, as it applies to granting full respect for others is perfectly acceptable.  Political correctness, as it is often applied as a choke-chain to restrain the desire to uphold what is right, is a gross misuse of the desire for simple courtesy and politeness.  Let's just drop "political" and be correct!

Batteries

Hello all,

"Batteries" 

I have written about this in my Monday Morning Coffee before but I believe it is worth mentioning once or twice a year. I am writing this on Easter Sunday afternoon on our porch at our Florida Condo. The sun is shining and there is an adult beverage near by. Life and our business are so crazy that it is very important that we take time to shut it down and recharge the "Batteries" from time to time. It is hard to imagine that if we went at it 100% all the time and never took time for ourselves that we would be serving our family and clients to our fullest potential. When I left town Tuesday morning I was beaten and tired, today I am rested, fired up and ready to get back at it (there is a glass of Grand Marnier next to me talking as well). So if you do not have anything planned pull out the calendar and get to it! A weekend with your better half, summer vacation with the kids or a golf get away with the boys or girls. You will be a better Father, Mother, Brother, Sister and Real Estate agent when you get back.

Enjoy the coffee,

Joe 

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

 

"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." 

 

~ Anonymous 

 

TIME TO FERTILIZE! 

 

You see them out there, all the folks in the neighborhood fertilizing their lawns for the spring growing season. It’s like a competition, to see whose yard will win the prize for “greenest.” But are they really trying to be the best, or just trying to be better than the guy over the fence? 

 

Well, forget about fences, because the grass grows greenest where it is quite simply tended the best. You can’t blame the fence for poor lawn quality on this side. You and you alone are responsible for discovering the gardening secret that will yield the pleasure and satisfaction you seek at home. 

 

Perhaps you might learn such secrets by building a better relationship with your neighbor, sharing and comparing cultivation routines. They say that good fences make good neighbors, but it should always be about what’s on this side, not that one. “He who leaves his house in search of happiness pursues a shadow.” 

 

If you’re not happy with what you’ve already got, you’re not going to find it "out there." You may learn a lot when you cross the fence and experience the world, but you can only learn satisfaction at home. Once you’ve got that, fences won’t matter anymore. 

 

Why? Because now you’ve carefully cultivated your own green grass, for your own feeling of satisfaction and not for a sense of competition. Now you can carry your watering can over the fence, and tend the grass wherever you may be. Happy gardening!