Paddlefest and Green Bannanas

On Saturday, June 27, Ohio River Way sponsored their 8th annual Paddlefest, where participants paddle their canoes and kayaks from Coney Island to Sawyers Point, a distance of 8.2 miles. Paddlefest is the largest paddling event in the country with over 1800 people paddling down the river in one event.
Milford agent, Eugene Jasper has volunteered for several years at Paddlefest “doing what needs doing” to get that many folks onto the water safely.
When all the boats and paddlers had left Coney Island there were cases of green bananas that had not made it onto the river. What to do, What to do. Jasper delivered 4 cases of green bananas to the Free Store Food Bank in Cincinnati, another 2 cases to the CBWS – Milford office to be picked up by the Milford Miami Ministry, and 2 cases were delivered to his niece in Butler County who has connections that serve the Hamilton area.
What would you do with several cases of green bananas???

I am thankful

I am always in search of ideas to inspire me. When I am inspired, I feel vital. It's at those times I am best equipped to inspire others. Often times reading is brings inspiration. Lately I've read Seth Godin's "Purple Cow" and "Tribes" and Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point" and "Blink". Also a great book on Social Networking in Buisiness by Li and Bernoff called "Groundswell". But this next week Coldwell Banker West Shell is offering a free two day seminar to its agents called "Power Pricing Presentation". It promises to be a great learning seminar. I'm hoping my agents get some great information and inspiration.The course is being put on by Denise Riordan and Jay Schweppe NRT Vice Presidents of Strategic Initiatives. This is the 4th installment of our "Trusted Advisor" series. I am really looking forward to it...oh ya, the agents receive 12 hours of free ce credit.

New Program. Prorealtour. Check it out. On all CBWS Listings . CLICK HERE

Brags, Boasts,Buildings, Books and Blidgets

So much has happened in the past few weeks and so many projects have begun. I'd like to start with a brag. The Milford Office of CBWS was named in the top 20% of NRT offices Globally. The NRT is the Real Estate trust that owns Coldwell Banker. over 3700 offices and we are in the top 20%...pretty cool. Even cooler if I told you that we've been there for almost a year, but after the 1st quarter 2009-that's an accomplishment. This office has also began representing the Luxury Residence Condominiums at the Edgecliff on Victory Pkwy. Beautiful views of the city, Eden Park and the river. All condominiums are being updated. The Edgecliff offer a"Lock and Leave" Lifestyle. With so much to do in the area, Cultural, Sporting,Outdoors- it is located in an area to easily do all and leave the rest to the staff. From the concierge, to security, to event staff. O.k. that was turning into an ad. Blidgets...I was going to mention Blidgets, Widgets and Rss feeds. The Edgecliff team is assembling and updating web pages and social network pages with those links that can be attached to e-mails and other sites so residence can have their family view pictures of the party they attended for the WEBN fireworks in the penthouse,or view upcomming events or look at the albums or the blogs that the residents post, etc. Because the age group there is ageless, the Posts will be available on facebook,Eons,Myspace,and the Edgcliff website. May also began the 2009 Habitat for Humanity build. This year we are working in conjunction with the Kenton County Schools- building alongside students for a house in Portsmouth,Ohio. Hugh and Jill Danielson attended the build for our office.
CBWS Agents read to students
Two CBWS-Milford agents, Jill Danielson and Eugene Jasper, took time out from real estate so they could read to students at Charles L. Seipelt Elementary School on Cromley Drive. It was “Right To Read” Week at the school where persons from area organizations are invited to read to the students.
Jasper read from the book “With the Frogs” from the Andrew Lost Series to 2nd grade students at 11:00 and to Mrs. Scott’s 3rd grade students at 12:00. With the 3rd grade students, Mrs. Scott and some of her students voiced the characters in the story and Jasper served as the narrator.
We have hire 8 new agents into the office this year, they all get to witness our new program to help sellers sell and buyers buy and oh what the heck, play with a cool tool. Prorealtour is a proprietary program that allows for virtual tours on every listing. It goes out to 170 websites...including facebook,linkedin,etc. and can even be viewed on a web based phone like a Blackberry This is wayyyy too long for a Blog, but next week we celebrate Nuvieme Juit, which is of course just another reason to have a cook-out after our office meeting and tour. June 9th. Look for the pictures and fun.

Cinco Collage

 

Bum Phillips says "Winning is only half of it. Having fun is the other half."

Cinco de Mayo 2009 Office cookout

We had a great time on May the 5th. We seriously follow the motto Work Hard, Play Hard, Make a Profit. Being around people you like and relaxing is great. We spent the majority of the day being productive, but in the middle a great cookout brokeout. Agents brought in some really wonderful food. I cooked out on the grill...good thing the agents in this office prefer burnt hot dogs. We cooked out on Opening day of the Reds season. I think that requires us to have a cookout in June. We celebrated Cinco de Mayo...so we'll celebrate Neuvième juin, which is French for June Ninth - didn't say it was fancy-just another reason to bust out the grill.

Time has been flying by....Spring Already

Well its the 1st day of spring. Late winter flew by-with all the changes that have occurred in the economy and in the housing market. I often wished I had time to update the Blog...so much going on. We understand this year 40% of the buyers will be 1st time home buyers and 20% of home buyers will be single women. Of course with the 10% or $8000. stimulus for 1st time home buyers (Defined as anyone who has not owned a house in the last 3 years or longer) . Now we hear that interest rates will be in the 4-4.5% range. Houses are already at 6 year lows...awesome time to buy a house. ..of course you will need to have 3% down, a job and strong credit, but that is how it should have been all along.

Consumer confidence in Real Estate should increase this spring. If you are in a financial position to buy a house-truly this is the time, but stick with mainstream type loans. We have already heard of people trying to monkey around with the stimulus money-get it before you have actually bought the home and then use it as a downpayment. If it doesn't ring true with what seems logical. If step 1 of the mortgage is to defraud the IRS, I would be skeptical to the point of running out the front door.

But, if you qualify, act now. I hate to sound paranoid or pushy or be giving a sense of urgency for no reason. Frankly, comming from a salesman-never believable. But I am concerned when the people who can best benefit from the perfect storm for buyers-hesitate because they want it to get even better. I guess it could, but I would doubt it. It will pass though-and that's the point I want to impress. These circumstances didn't exist before and they won't last forever.

While the Spring has arrived and while we find ourselves in the circumstances that we are in, let us make the most of what we have.

We are different...And that's a good thing.

Meat and Potatoes

Categories vs. ingredients-


Often times, when we hear a lot of information – our brains rush to place that information into neat categories...it’s easier for us that way. Our customers will do the same. After interviewing several agents, they will conclude that all (No matter what they have heard) real estate companies are the same. Our job is to make sure they examine what they have shoved into their categories. Reverse the process.
Is it really the same?

Let’s take a restaurant’s menu items.
Last night two coworkers ate at two different restaurants. Upon arriving at work, today, the one asks the other” what did you eat at the restaurant last night?”
“Meat and potatoes” answers the other.
. “Oh Yah, me too and I had dessert too” says the one.
“Wow, it sounds like we had the exact same meal” answers the other.
The one says” I thought that was a good price for a bone in filet with garlic mashed potatoes and chocolate raspberry cake with fresh strawberries.
The Other’s jaw dropped. He said “I had a hamburger with French fries…and a choice of broken Oreo pieces or M&M bits in my ice cream”

There is a difference between brokers. Be prepared to show the difference to your customers.
And while you’re at it- show them the quality.

Buyers Timing the Market

This is not the normal content for our office blog, but I think that this is well worth a viewing. (Click on the Title)

Since We Were Last Together

In a time when tough news is the news again each day, it's fantastic to realize that our collective situation "Is what it Is". It will improve and believe that it already is, albeit slowly.



But the Coldwell Banker West Shell Milford office, has seen some very positive things-in the roughest of times. We held our "Santa at the Movies" customer appreciation event. 290 clients and Family members attended. Clients filled huge the huge "Toys for Tots" bags the marines brought. Children had their pictures taken with Santa Clause (click on the "Success stories" link to read a great present Santa delivered). Everyone enjoyed the Movie "Madagascar2". We all enjoy these events; a chance to socialize with clients in a non-work environment, collect for Toys for Tots, and watch the children having fun.



After the "Santa at the Movies" , we went directly to our "Buck Event". The idea was more or less an experiment to see how many people we could get to donate $1 in 90 minutes to give to the Milford,Miami Ministries (which serves the Miami Twp. Milford School District area families in need). $668. was our donation. We find it amazing how much people are willing to help. It doesn't need to be a lot from a few-just a little from a lot. It seems some people are afraid their amount won't "fix" a problem, so they don't give at all. But if you combine a lot of small amounts together...you can "fix" anything.
We wish everyone a prosperous and happy New Year. Tell us your success stories so we can inspire others and look for opportunities to do good when you see the need.
"There is never a wrong time to do the Right thing."