Thursday, April 30, 2009

Guerilla Gardening


This is pretty cool, really. Groups of folks in towns across the world are getting together and "revitalizing" some areas of their town. It involves getting a group of people together to identify an area and plant shrubs/flowers/etc in an effort to beautify the area. Apparently this is illegal....I'm guessing most cities have other things to focus on.

Check out the Guerilla Gardening website to learn more.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

More pics of Mom & Dad's new house...

We've made some more progress on the exterior of the house. Let me know what you think!

From 2600 Carlow

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Technology

This week has been Technology Week 2009 for me....Monday and Tuesday in the CRS 206 Technology course - a fantastic class that brings me one step closer to the CRS Designation (remember only 4% of agents WORLDWIDE) have this designation. And then Wednesday another CRS elective technology course centering around social networking. Learned a lot. Now I have a two page to do list to get to work on.

So with all this technology stuff going on in my brain, I thought it was interesting that my neighbor sent over this funny video. Found it on YouTube and wanted to share...

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Some free stuff from Starbucks....


Two things I like...free stuff and Starbucks!

The other day I saw a little "reward" card promotion. Turns out if you head to Starbucks.com and register your Starbucks gift card, you can get some good freebies.

What's the deal? When you pay for a drink with the registered gift card, you can get free flavor syrups, free coffee refills, a free coffee when you buy a pound of coffee, and one of the most exciting things - two free hours of wi-fi access through their AT&T wi-fi service.

Cool coffee beans, huh!

AND, remember that each Tuesday they put out those little red cards with a free iTunes download. I just downloaded Instead by Madeleine Peyroux. Good song. I should probably play it a couple times a day.

One more thing - remember you can get $100 worth of Starbucks cards at Costco for $80...then use those to refill your registered rewards card. AND that purchase earns you 2% back at the end of the year if you have an Executive membership at Costco.

So, now when I arrive at one of my satellite offices (yes, one of my favorite places to meet clients is their local Starbucks) I can fire up the laptop, view property listings, make blog entries, and sip on some really tasty coffee with free flavors. Clients seem to really enjoy a nice beverage and the relaxed environment as we work together to make their dreams come true.

Now THAT's what I'm talkin' about!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Toxic Recovery


Very cool story on how some toxic sites have been revived and are now usable and enjoyable. Check it out and tell me what you think!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

IDOTS

Today I spent the day in the Austin Board of REALTORS® Leadership Academy. We're in month two, and it has been really enjoyable and educational so far. For me, one of the best parts of the experience is the interaction with other professionals - some newer professionals, some seasoned, and some very seasoned... ;)

In today's session we looked at legislative issues and how the association works to help promote and develop policy that is beneficial not only to our members, but to the public we serve. The process is really quite fascinating, and I really enjoyed learning more about what is done on our behalf.

One of the things I left with is a new word or phrase....IDOTS. It depends on the situation. I've never heard IDOTS before - and am looking forward to using it. :)

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter!


This is a fun photo of the Easter Wreath my mom made for me a few years ago. It is decorated with rabbits and eggs and pins and tulips from my childhood Easter festivities.

Yesterday we celebrated Grady and Milhouse's birthday with some friends. We had some fantastic fajitas, Lynn made a great jicama salad, and Claire made fresh pico...YUM!

I hope all of you are enjoying your day!

Friday, April 10, 2009

The Office


Some real estate firms have mandatory office meetings or "trainings" where they require agents to come in super early and sit around a table and listen to someone try to sell their services. Sometimes you get some education. Most of the time the agents sit around and talk about their listing that isn't selling or their nutty client.

That has never been very appealing to me. Thankfully things are different at Austin Real Pros. Our office meetings are celebrations of success and quality time with each other because - we actually LIKE each other!

This goofy shot is from the IMAX yesterday....we say Alien vs Monster. Really cute movie. Unfortunately you can't see Lisa who was right beside me (far left) and Tracy hadn't yet arrived. We had a great time together!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Yes - even in today's market



I bet you're wondering how in the world we were able to sell the property at 2501 Carlow Drive in less than 1 day on the MLS, especially in today's economy.

You see, when clients hire me, they choose me because they have been referred to me by a friend or family member that I have worked with in the past. My clients are so happy with the service I provide that they feel compelled to share my name with everyone they know and like.

When the sellers first sat down with me to discuss their situation, I asked thought provoking questions and listened carefully as they explained their goals. With that information, I was able to help them understand how we could be successful as we worked as a team to sell their property.

Then, I unleashed a set of powerful, proven strategies to help my clients meet their goals. They were very happy when that full price offer came in just hours after we put the property on the MLS - and that was just the beginning of the world class service they experienced.

All of the negotiations and transactional details were taken care of, and my clients were informed all along the way. They enjoyed knowing exactly when they would receive answers to their questions and phone calls. They enjoyed the online transaction management system and electronic signature systems that take the trial and error and guesswork and difficulty out of the process. They enjoyed working with my strategic alliance partners as the process progressed. And 20 days after listing the property, they enjoyed leaving the title company with a check.

Who's the next person you know that would like to receive world class service? Please don't keep me a secret - because I know you want the people you like to be taken care of. Just give me a call or shoot me an email so we can discuss how to make your real estate dreams come true.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

For my friends back in Iowa....


One of my favorite things to do is remind my friends and family back home in Iowa how nice it is to live in Austin. Every year since 1999 I have called my buddy David to check in only to learn he's freezing and I just enjoyed lunch or dinner on an outdoor patio. The first time was just by chance...he asked what I had done that day....each year after was very much intentional... ;)

Today I talked with my Dad...he told me it was in the 20's overnight and in the 40's today. That's cold. And the conversation took place as I was driving home from having lunch with Rick and Martin at the Central Market Cafe in north Austin.

I'm sure neither Rick nor Martin will be terribly excited about this photo - I did it while they weren't paying attention to me...I guess they can just say that is what happens when I'm not center stage. And hey, that's what they get, right??

Wouldn't you think that this would be enough to get my parents to move down here and enjoy the house we're renovating for them???

Just FYI, it was 74 and sunny today...

So for any of you who have had enough of the cold and the snow, just give me a call. I know this great Real Estate Consultant that can get you settled in a house or apartment........

Monday, April 6, 2009

Staying positive

This article was in REALTOR® magazine, but applies to pretty much any setting. With all the negative vibes flying around, it's good to have something in black and white to help us get back on track. Check it out....

9 Ways to Beat Negativity

1. Tell yourself a positive story. Life is a story. The story we tell ourselves and the role we play in that story determines the quality and direction of our life. The best real estate professionals are able to overcome adversity by telling themselves a more positive story than the rest. Instead of a drama or a horror movie, they define their life as an inspirational tale. Instead of being the victim, they see themselves as a fighter and overcomer. You may not be able to control market conditions, but you can influence the outcome of your story.

2. Model yourself after success. Are there real estate practitioners succeeding today? Of course there are. Seek out those people in your market and ask to meet with them. Learn from their advice and model their attitudes and actions. If they can succeed, so can you.

3. Focus on the important stuff. Tune out the negative voices and start making positive choices. What are you doing on a daily basis to grow yourself, your team, and your business? Don’t focus on the negative things other salespeople and the media are saying. Instead, focus on marketing your business, taking care of clients, and building loyal relationships. Every morning ask yourself this question: "What are the three most important things I need to do today that will help me create the success I desire?" Then take action on those items.

4. Replace "have to" with "get to." This simple word swap can change your mind-set and your approach to work and life. It turns a complaining voice to an appreciative voice, and acknowledges that life is a gift—not an obligation. So often we grudgingly say things like "I have to go to this meeting," "I have to meet with this client," or "I have to sell houses in this market." In reality, it’s not about what we have to do. It’s about what we get to do. Research shows that when we practice gratitude, we get a measurable boost in happiness that energizes us and enhances our health. It’s also physiologically impossible to be stressed and thankful at the same time.

5. Refuse to participate in the recession. Professionals who’ve thrived during past recessions continued to go about business as usual regardless of market conditions. They worked hard and focused on taking actions to grow their business. As others are paralyzed by fear, take the opportunity to charge forward.

6. Boost your marketing and advertising. It may seem counterintuitive to spend more money on advertising and marketing right now. But with so many of your competitors cutting back in these areas, this is a great opportunity to build your brand and gain market share. People are still buying and selling, and they will buy from those whom they trust and see in the marketplace.

7. Create a positive vision. Instead of being disappointed about where you are, make the decision to be optimistic about where you are going. Create a positive vision for your future and the future of your team. Vision helps you see the road ahead and it gives you something meaningful and valuable to strive towards.

8. Invite others on your bus. Invite colleagues and customers to board your bus for a positive ride. Send them an e-bus ticket at www.TheEnergyBus.com. Share your vision with team members and ask them to join you in making this vision a reality. Be a positive influence.

9. No more complaining. Abide by the "no complaining" rule. When you realize you’re about to complain, replace your thoughts and words with positive actions. Let your complaints help you identify what you don’t want so that you can focus on what you do want. The key is to turn complaints into solutions.

Shoot me a note and I'll send you a scan of the full article....

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Why does the Austin market remain strong?


Because people are still moving here, and we still have relatively low unemployment.

Lots of things change, and lots of variables are coming in to play differently than they have in previous economic cycles. However, things here are still strong.

Check out this Forbes article for some more information.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Organization...Part 2


Tony from More Space Place was here yesterday and completed the installation of the Murphy Bed in about 4 hours or so.

Most of the time the bed will be in the raised position, and I'll have plenty of room to do my Real Estate work as well as begin to kick up production at Systemized Touchpoints.

I highly recommend More Space Place to any one in Austin or the surrounding area. Give me a call - I'll hook you up with the owner and she'll take fantastic care of you.

You can see all the before and after photos here.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Organization...Part 1


There may be a diagnosable condition for people who love things to be organized, but just don't do it unless things get too messy to deal with. Now that I'm writing this down the first thing that comes to mind is lazy..maybe that's it?

Anyway, I've been working from home nearly every day in 2009. At first I was really concerned that I would not get enough work done and have too many distractions...dogs, TV, the couch, etc. Most days I'm super productive. Everything I need is in one place, I don't have to worry about being too loud, being able to hear on the phone, or even if I look and smell good.

Now that I'm doing this every day, I have found that my biggest problem is space. I took over the guest bedroom, and since January the memory foam mattress has been tied up and leaning against the wall. Kinda ghetto actually. It was time to fix the problem, so I headed up north to More Space Place to talk with them about Murphy Beds. They were super helpful in listening to my problems, viewing photos of the area, and helping me find the best solution.

So, the photo above is the "before" picture of the area where the bed will be. You can also see a video of the room here. As I type, the More Space Place installer is in the room installing the bed. Once he is done, I'll take some after shots and video and update you all here.



More Space Place is located in North Austin, off of Burnett Road right by Houston's. Just give me a call and I'll send over their phone number and my contact.