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THE SECRET TO MY SUCCESS IS THAT I SPECIALIZE IN NICE PEOPLE.


HOT TOPICS  1/7/12

DE-STRESSING YOUR DAYS

It’s nice to begin our new year with less pressure than 2011 gave us.  Here are 5 things you can do to DE-stress.  1) As you brush your teeth, think of three things you expect to face in your day. Frame them with "I will open myself with curiosity to __________" , and set your intention to be open and curious, brush away negative or judgmental concerns, and polish with thoughts of potential great results.  When you cultivate positive emotions, you de-stress your body and meet your day with optimism!

            2)  While you're in the shower, think of three worries that have been troubling you.  Objectify each thought in your mind by labeling it and then rinse it away down the drain.  Let it go with a deep exhale. Worries can follow you all day long. When you develop the habit of letting them go in the morning, you give yourself the opportunity of a fresh start every day and redirect your energy for moving forward.

            3)  As you take your first morning sip of coffee or tea, stop for a moment, inhale the aroma, freeze the frame in your mind, and notice the hot, tasty liquid as it goes down your throat. Take this moment to welcome thoughts of good things in your life.  Even one gratitude habit can lift your spirits and energize you all day long!

            4)  A deep and low belly breath is your "key" to relaxing your body and quieting your mind whenever stress takes over.  As you walk out the door to your day, pause to inhale deeply, filling your abdomen, and then release the air through your mouth.  Do this every day and leave your stress behind.

            5)  Finally, As you are falling asleep, mentally list three things that happened for which you are grateful and actively re-create the experience and hold the feeling, letting them sink into the sponge of you.  Gratitude is a habit. Do this for three weeks and you'll notice the difference!’’

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A GENERAL PRECEPT OF BUSINESS – IF YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE A PROFIT, LIMIT YOUR OFFERING AND DO WHAT YOU DO BEST.

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REMOVING DRIED BLOOD STAINS.  Nice topic, but we all have them.  This morning I woke up and when I turned on the bathroom light discovered my left hand and face were covered with it!  Once I verified Tom was safe and healthy, I realized my dental surgery had come open, but I had just splurged on really nice (and expensive) sheets.  They looked like a TV murder mystery!  But google to the rescue, and when I followed the directions – soak 30 minutes in cold water, rinse; soak 30 minutes in cold water with ½ C of salt, rinse; then even before I did step 3 to wash in warm water they were clear and fresh!  Next time you are too heroic, or chop something too aggressively or whatever makes you bleed, try it, it works fantastically!

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..."Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important." –Anonymous

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FUN WEBSITES:

Storycorps.org – where you can listen to the stories of ordinary people or record your own.

Testmybrain.org – where you can find out where your mental strengths lie. 

Freerice.com – take a vocabulary test, and every correct answer so many grains of rice are donated to the UN’s world food program.  Fun and useful!

Ping.fm – update all social media from anywhere at one time.

Slydial.com – call a number and go straight to voice mail without having to speak to them. 

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JANUARY IS OFTEN A GOOD TIME TO ELIMINATE THE OLD STUFF, MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW TO HINE.  Take children with you when you donate, helping them learn to part with things and sometimes see how grateful receivers are.  Start a couple of “donate” and “sell” boxes in the garage or attic, and ask everyone to put in at least one item a week.  If children are allowed to spend the money earned by the sale of their used belongings, they may get more enthusiastic about participating.  Make an agreement that if you don’t fix it or wear it in a month, it goes out.  The next Mission Hills Community Garage Sale is April 21.  Be ready!

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GREEN BEDROOMS:  Ceiling fans to reduce/elimination air conditioning, low flow showerheads, hardwood floors to avoid vacuuming, shutters on glass doors and windows act as great insulators as well as adding style, CFL bulbs save electricity, as do timers when you are away.  Natural fibers make recycling easier when the time comes to redecorate.

 

 

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IN THE 1950’S THE AVERAGE WOMAN IN THE UNITED STATES HAD FOUR PAIRS OF SHOES.  TODAY THE AVERAGE IS 13. 

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RETIREMENT PLANNING.  If you had purchased $1000 of Nortel stock one year ago, it would now be worth $49.   With Enron you would have $16.50 left of the original $1000.  With WorldCom you would have less than $5 left. If you had purchased $1000 of Delta Airlines stock, you would have $49 left.  BUT if you had purchased $1,000 worth of wine one year ago, drunk all the wine, then turned in the bottles for the recycling refund, you would have $214.   Based on the above, the best current investment advice is to drink heavily and recycle.  

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OPEN HOUSES MAY SHOW OFF YOUR HOME, BUT THEY ALSO OPEN YOUR HOME TO PRIVACY CONCERNS.  ●Go through your drawers and cupboards before other people do, remove those items hidden in your sock drawer, under things, in stored purses.  ●Remove prescription medications from bathroom cabinets and other areas.  ●Remove diplomas and other personal items from walls and tables, protecting your identity and your family.  ●Shut down your computer.  Hackers can gain a massive amount of information in a very short time and even the most alert Realtor cannot be everywhere at once.  Likewise, if you have an answering machine, turn it off during the open house, you don’t need everyone knowing your business.  ●Talk to your Realtor about the pro’s and con’s of open houses.  I have always believed the biggest benefit of open houses is momentum. Real prospects will be willing to make an appointment for a private showing. 

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A BORE IS SOMEONE WHO DEPRIVES YOU OF YOUR SOLITUDE WITHOUT PROVIDING YOU WITH COMPANY.

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PASSING TITLE TO YOUR HEIRS.  It is nice when we give something to be able to enjoy the moment of receipt by the receiver.  But many times it is NOT wiser to pass on your home to your children or other heirs prior to your death and to consider other options.  Talk to your attorney (or call me for an excellent referral to Counsel) about your choices.  Life estates, trusts, and other means of sharing the benefits while protecting you and minimizing tax liability.

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Next week Tom and I are going to start discovering things – new places, shops, restaurants, goings-on, so we will let you know if we discover anything spectacular.  Thank you to the owners of the Metal Zoo on 1st Avenue for donning their critters with Santa Hats for the season, so jolly!  ____________


HOT TOPICS 12-31-11

RESOLUTIONS.  For years I have made lists of resolutions for each new year, expecting enormous improvement and achievement.  And for years Life has impishly interceded with its own temptations and interruptions.  Most frustrating is the fading ink on the yellowing lists, making my botched efforts so obvious and discouraging.  The new plan, executed for the first time two years ago, is choosing ONE theme, and focusing on it!  Year One of this new procedure was to “Not Let Fear Run My Life.”  It was amazing how as I stepped up to moments that tingled my spine, whether I did well or poorly, I gained a huge confidence from confronting my fear.  And this past year my theme was “To Operate and Make All Decisions from What is Most Important.” I found this kept me more in tune with who I want to be, and elicited a much more positive response from the world around me.  Most interesting is how the One Theme practice has brought in to play all the items that might have been on a long list.  Because the themes are general, they cover it all, and I work toward the same multiple goals, but only having to remember one thing!  Maybe a short list would work for you too!

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WHAT IN THE WORLD IS REAL ESTATE DOING NOW?

Data through October 2011, released Tuesday by S&P Indices for its S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, showed decreases of 1.1 percent and 1.2 percent in October compared with September, and annual declines of 3 percent and 3.4 percent versus October 2010, respectively.  On the positive side, however, Consumers' assessment of current conditions improved in December. Those stating business conditions are "good" increased to 16.6 percent from 13.9 percent, while those stating business conditions are "bad" declined to 33.9 percent from 38.0 percent. Consumers' assessment of the job market also was more positive. Those claiming jobs are "plentiful" increased to 6.7 percent from 5.6 percent, while those claiming jobs are "hard to get" decreased to 41.8 percent from 43 percent.  And consumer confidence is a critical element of any market.

            What does this mean for you?  First, you need to rely on your own crystal ball.  However, if things would remain the same from the economic turbulence on the other side of the globe to the huge typical American do-it-yourself strides our nation is making, I would expect that in two years we will be able to SEE the end of our variously timed slides, and there will be a general sense and expectation of gain.  If you are thinking about when to sell, remember that the turning point will not recover as quickly as it slid.  If indeed we “turn” in 2 years, it will be another two before we get back to now, and more years before we are above this.  Also, keep in mind that any projections and reports about real estate stats vary greatly with price range, community, property type, condition, and financing.  THERE IS NO RELIABLE ONE GENERAL STATUS OR RULE.  Only the surrounding neighborhood and recent activity counts when evaluating your property! 

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CHILD BOOSTER SEAT LAW EXPANDED.

Rather than the previous regulation requiring children up to the age of 6 and under 60 pounds to be in booster seats, the new law extends this requirement to children under the age of 8 unless they are at least 4-feet 9-inches tall. 

 

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YOUR RESOLVE MUSCLES.  

One of the things that trainers teach is to use different movements and activities to strengthen different muscles.  Like a muscle your resolve can be strengthened with practice, even if you are not trying to correct a specific bad habit.

Any time you modify your routine, you’re developing self-control.  For example, if you brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand, or try writing with the odd hand, you will quickly gain your ability AND you will see things or realize things that you didn’t note previously.  And tiny changes grow into substantial achievements. 

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BAD CORPORATE SLOGANS
Saks 5th Avenue: "You Could Shop Here if You're Poor, But That Would be Stupid!"

Nike: "Just buy the shoes, you flabby spineless lump!"
Canon Photocopiers: "Quit calling them Xeroxes!"

Radio Shack: "You've got questions, we've got geek losers!"

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CLOSETS.  If you haven’t cleaned your closet in a long time, c’est moi, you may have a build-up of dust and moisture that provides a perfect haven for moths and mildew.  Experts suggest that removing everything from your closet, sweeping the entire surface down from ceiling to shelves, and floor corners, perhaps a washing of surfaces with the reliable Clorox and soapy water to defeat any potential critters, will set you up for a fresh start.  How did I learn this?  My husband’s new cashmere cardigan has moth holes!  Cedar blocks or paper will help.

The second part is re-organizing and replacing your belongings.  You know the rules.  Review every piece, if you really don’t like it or it doesn’t fit right, you probably don’t need it, and some donor place probably will.  Put like kind together so you can find them. Put the most frequently used items front and center.  There are more storage accessories than you can imagine, but you generally just need to remove those things you don’t use!  And the cleaning will protect your belongings.

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“I HAVE FOUND THE BEST WAY TO GIVE ADVICE TO YOUR CHILDREN IS TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY WANT AND THEN ADVISE THEM TO DO IT.”  …Harry S. Truman

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LEGAL NEWS FOR LANDLORDS FOR 2012

  • Landlords can restrict political sign posting on tenant units to no earlier than 90 days prior or 15 days after a vote referenced by the sign.
  • Properties with 5 or more units must provide recycling services and require participation by tenants.
  • Landlords may but are not required to restrict smoking in all or part of a residential property for leases effected or renewed after 1/1/12.  Landlords should verify local restrictions.
  • On or before January 1, 2013, multi-family properties must have carbon monoxide detectors.  Single family properties with fossil fuel burning appliances, heaters, fireplaces or an attached garage, must have them now.
  • Small claims court limits have been increased to $10,000 in general.  There are some exceptions for guarantors or personal injury.

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BUYING A NEW CAR? 

AAA says test drive thoroughly before you buy and look for:

  • Before you shop, spend a week or so making notes of what features/qualities are most important to you.  You don’t want to spend $30,000 and find out you forgot that X is important to you and you forgot in the dazzle of the moment.
  • Walk around the car and look at the tightness of fittings and seams, quality of assembly.
  • Does the trunk open wide enough with low “lift-over” for easy access?
  • Is the spare tire full sized or a temporary?
  • Roofs with steep slopes can make entry and egress to the back seat difficult and compromise headroom.
  • Is there adequate leg room in the rear, or will your passengers be miserable?
  • Do you feel properly situated in the driver seat? My husband’s car does not sit up straight enough for me!
  • Are the heat, cooling, sound and navigation systems easy?
  • Is there enough acceleration for passing and hills and protecting yourself in emergencies?
  • I love my Buick because it has a tight turning radius for a big car!
  • Excessive noise over rough surfaces can be grating on you as well as the car!
  • If the car is previously owned, DO have YOUR favorite, trusted mechanic test it out, kind of like getting a baseline for future service. 

Remember, it is probably NOT the only chance you will have to own that make and model, even color, so don’t be pressured, and remember that YOU are the customer and expect to be treated with respect, not manipulation! 

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Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.  Put a stocking over the vacuum hose of a Vacuum to find tiny lost items like earrings.

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MAKE YOUR BUSINESS STAND OUT BY RESTORING THE LOST ART OF CUSTOMER SERVICE.

Smiles and frowns can be felt even over the phone.  Treating your customer like you are glad to have his patronage, his concerns or needs are valid, and you want to make him/her happy is critical.  Who needs grumpy?

Respect stands out.  Even if the customer is being rude or difficult, cursing, name calling, sarcasm, belittling, shouting or arguing is never appropriate at your business.  In a really difficult situation, even silence can speak louder and more articulately than anger.

Being proactive is the greatest demonstration that you care.  This means solving problems before they become one, and when you do have a problem, going beyond the minimum care needed to make it right.  Listen to what the customer needs most and start there.  Their anger will dissipate if you are really trying.

Finally, overall it is critical to keep your word.  Do what you say.  People identify you and describe you by the word you keep.  (And I have just plagiarized this from several sources, but in most cases, customer service is the beginning and end of our what makes business a success.)

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SAN DIEGO IN THE PAST

When our nation was starting the Civil War, the population of San Diego was 731 people, approximately my little hospital district neighborhood!  San Diego was experiencing her own  struggles with severe flooding, an earthquake of 6.0, smallpox, and a flood-following drought which killed San Diego’s once thriving cattle industry.  You can imagine what Alonzo Horton found when he arrived in 1867 and purchased 800 acres of what is now Downtown for $265 and began to enact his dream.  The Kimballs bought 16,000 acres a little south and began National City.  Horton built a wharf at the end of 5th Avenue in 1969 and sold $5500 worth of lots and commercial space in 1 day, beginning the boom of San Diego.  By 1870 there were 2300 people in San Diego town.  (San Diego History timeline.)


HOT TOPICS 12-24-11

BEGINNING EACH DAY WITH INSPIRATION

There are all kinds of regimens and rules for finding Inspiration in our lives, but whatever works for you, I find that starting each day with thoughts of a person, action, story, prayer, place of inspiration sets me on my really best path for the day.  Last week a lot of us were saddened by the passing of Bob Lawrence.  Following his journey of courage and choice the past three years through the words of his equally brave and amazingly articulate wife, Laurie, as she recorded their days on the Care Journal, I was sometimes angered by the situation, but always inspired.  My relationship with Bob was slight but inspiring.  I worked with him regarding the Von’s redevelopment (he was going to develop the additional commercial part of the site and support their renovation of the store), and on 1 Mission, the extremely quality condominiums we are now fortunate to have anchor our community at Washington, Goldfinch, Fort Stockton and Falcon Streets.  Before Mission Hills Heritage was even involved in “fighting” the monolith they saw threatening the character of the community, he had declined to build out to the maximum space allowed, in agreement with MHH’s point of view, and later gave in to other “demands” more in a sense of “compatriotism” than need.  Sometimes I saw him and Laurie on the street as they walked from their past home on Arista.  Laurie is like a pixie of sunshine, spreading appreciation and welcome.  Bob was a man who held a lot of power but wielded instead his humanity.  I so admired him.  Without that quality I would not have been invited to his company or witnessed his way of listening to other points of view and validating other people’s positions.  I cannot brag that he was my friend, but I can be enormously grateful that he lighted my path.

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"if thERE EvER comEs a day whEn wE caN't bE togEthER, kEEp mE in youR HEaRt, I'll stay thERE foREvER."  Winnie the Pooh. 

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CONSUMER M.L.S. ACCESS

Big news!  Just today (12/21) the 4 Realtor Associations of San Diego County have opened a door to the entire San Diego County-wide MLS system to the public. This site has many advantages over the public sites on line.

  1. It will provide all the information on a property EXCEPT the Seller contact information and confidential information.

  2. It will be IMMEDIATELY updated, unlike many of the  public sites that can be DAYS out of date because they are so many generations of copying down the line from the original source – the MLS.

  3. This will be easier to navigate than many other sites and include school, populations and government resources.  Go to www.consumer.sandicor.com

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SOMETIMES THE HARDEST THING TO FACE IS REALITY.   Do you remember that recent book, “Maybe He’s Just Not That Into You?”, telling ladies if he doesn’t call, and you have to put out to get a second date, maybe you are on a dead end.  And if your Realtor is representing YOU and THE OTHER SIDE, where do you think his fealty lies?  Are you sure.  Do you think his/her involvement makes a difference if he can be involved in both directions?  Do you feel that your dollars and position are worth risking because he/she has control?  Don’t give me “control!”  Control is knowing what you are doing and making wise decisions and is ultimately a fiction!  Do you feel his/her having all the commission makes it better for you?  And what about that agent who brings you a property they have not yet listed, but are willing to do both sides to give you a head start?  What kind of a job are they doing for their seller, not to let public exposure determine their best price?  And you think they are going to be more ethical with you?  I think facing reality produces better decisions.  I wish you the best with the truth.

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YOU KNOW YOU’RE FROM SAN DIEGO WHEN:

● You can correctly pronounce Tierrasanta, La Jolla, Jamul, El Cajon, Via de Valle, and know where they are.  ● Your high school had a surf team.  ● You know what IB, MB, OB and PB are.  ● You see weather forecasts for 4 different climate zones in the same county and aren’t surprised.  ● You’ve tailgated at the “Q” and also when it was Jack Murphy Stadium.  ● You know that “Charge!” doesn’t refer to a credit card.  ● You still call it the Del Mar Fair, and Christmas on the Prado.  ● You go “to the track” and people understand it is not trains.  ● A famous skateboarder lives in your town.  ● You have a North County, East County and South County but no central county.  ● You know what it means to see a girl in a short skirt or skimpy shorts on El Cajon Blvd.  ● You know what “the merge” is and spend your entire day planning not to be on it at rush hour.  ● You stayed home from work or school because it was raining.  ● You stayed home from work or school because it wasn’t raining but surf was high.  ● You’ve gone to sit in the first few rows at the Shamu show to get cooled off in the summer.  ● You don’t have or need air conditioning unless you live in East County. ●No matter the weather, someone is always walking around in a t-shirt, shorts and flip flops.  ● You know that Santee, El Cajon and Lakeside are where the cowboys live and why Hillcrest is the “Swish Alps”.  ●You know someone who doesn’t own long pants.  ● You remember the Big Sky, Harbor and  South Bay drive-ins, and when  the Navy and the tuna fleet were THE big employers.

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GETTING MARRIED?  OR DIVORCED? 

Something you want to be sure to do - Check your insurance for:

●Multicar discounts  ●Homeowner or renters policies for coverage of personal property such as jewelry, art, etc. as well as property  ●Liability coverage on auto and homeowners   ●Do you have/need an umbrella policy?  ●Do you have the correct beneficiaries?  If you need a great insurance agent, I will be happy to give you the name of the lady I absolutely love and trust to do me right and not sell me what I don’t need!  And if you need a trust package, I have an excellent resource for the most thorough and reasonable attorney who specializes in this field. 

Don’t begin your new life with risk! 

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HOW NICE IT WOULD BE TO BE AN ANGEL.

I am just starting to breathe as the Chargers are playing the kind of game they should have brought in all season, and it occurred to me how much fun it would be to be able to nod good results to people who need and deserve it.  So far today the teams we needed to lose to keep the Chargers in the “hunt” have done so, and we are playing like a dream movie.  Just like some days things seem to fall into place, happen for the best, even though we might not notice at the moment.  And how many times a day do we have the possibility to influence someone else’s day positively with a simple smile, gesture, gift or ear?  Not as many as I take advantage of, I am afraid. 

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READY TO LAUNCH THE 2012 VERSION OF YOU?

Whether you are looking for a new job or a new lease on your life, experts suggest that the 4 keys to impressing your prospective employer or succeeding in your personal life are:

            Problem Solving - higher-order thinking and problem- solving abilities -- which just happen to be incorporated into almost everything we do, -- are keys to impress.  What decisions do your appearance, posture and tone convey?  What examples can you use from your past of challenges you have met and conquered and what competing views did you opt out.  Problem solving is more than just "thinking outside of the box"; it's about channeling that creativity into a viable solution, juggling [the challenge] intellectually, and arriving at a better synthesis.  Prepare for your job interview or even letter of introduction with this in mind, and use it in your personal interactions to establish your “necessary-ness.”

Social Media - Even if you haven't exactly embraced Twitter, Linked In,  and Facebook in your personal life, you need to recognize that community is king these days for many industries. Simply stated: Social media won't be dethroned any time soon.  A good start is exploring the sites on line and notice how they blow up and embarrass people who use them unwisely.  Notice how what you put there is forever.  Be smart, and don’t mix bad taste with “savvy”.
"Soft" Skills - "People want to hire people they like," the experts say. She notes that a strong work ethic is always a plus in any industry, as is the ability to interact well with clients -- not to mention co-workers. Employers look for people who "are well rounded, and don't just keep their head down at the desk all day."  Someone who uses networking is a plus to friends and business.  And someone who is involved in the community, school, church, sports, anything else that gives them FACE TIME is attractive to employers and friends!
The Elevator Pitch – Make yourself a brief (ergo “elevator pitch”) intro about what you do at work, who you are as a person, or what you want in life.  A few well-chosen words will have more impact than a 5 minute dissertation.  30 seconds is a good time limit. 

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100 YEARS AGO.  Can you imagine 2111?

The 1910 Ford Model R shown here was run only on fuel sold in drug stores.  There were only 144 miles of paved roads.  The speed limit was 10 mph.  ●Only 14% of homes had a bathtub, and most women washed their hair only once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.   ●8% of homes had the newfangled telephone.  Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented yet.  18%  of households had at  least one full-time servant or domestic  help.  ● The American flag had 45 stars.  The population of Las Vegas was only 30!  Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.  ● 1/5 of adults couldn't read or write, and only 6% of all  Americans graduated high  school.  The average U.S. wage in 1910 was $.22/hour.  The average worker made $200-$400 per year!  An accountant made approximately $2000 per year, a dentist $2500, a veterinarian $1500-4000, and a mechanical engineer about $5000.  Interesting priorities, no?  90% of all doctors had NO college education but attended medical schools often condemned in the press and the government as substandard.  95% of all babies were born t home.  ● The cost of living was extremely lower than today, but compare it to the incomes!  Sugar was $.14/lb.  Eggs were $.14/dozen and coffee was $.15/lb.  ●Pneumonia and influenza, then tuberculosis and diarrhea were the leading causes of death.  Marijuana, heroin and morphine were all available over the counter at local drug stores, and heroin was said to “clear the complexion, give buoyancy to the mind, regulate the stomach and bowels and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health.”  What a world!

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Dave Barry

Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space.


HOT TOPICS  12-17-11

MAKING IT PERSONAL CAN MAKE IT MORE MEANINGFUL.   I was surprised three days ago when I was checking out at Albertson’s and the cashier asked if I wanted to donate to Ruth.  “Ruth?” I asked?  Then I saw the sign and realized that she meant Ruth Henricks, founder and spine and chief and indian of the Special Delivery group operated right out of her The Huddle restaurant on Goldfinch Street that feeds so many people all the time. Ruth who tirelessly adds on whatever these people need, from providing a used microwave to a little family living in a small space attached to a Mission Hills house with a mini refrigerator and 2 kids and 1 lady, to finding at least some toys or gifts to go with the holiday meals, and always a smile for her “clients”.  Right here in our community and with a “face” on it, makes the giving so much more rewarding than a corporation.  Good for Albertsons!, who I confess I am not always so kind to, and good for Ruth.  It is so much easier to feel the giving when you have a personal story.  If you agree, you can make a difference in someone’s life.  Just ask your church, your school principal, your child’s teacher, your boss, not to disclose the name and address of the receiver, but to give you the story of their need and courage, and it makes the gift so much more willing and satisfying!  And we all do want to help Africa and Haiti and Thailand and Japan and on but doing it right here in our community is nice too! 

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Marvelous restaurant:  REI DO GADO

OK, I couldn’t grab their logo from the internet, but this Brazilian Steak House at 939 Fourth Avenue means “King Of the Herd”.  It has 4 great things and more.  When you arrive in busy downtown, they have a VALET Parker!  $8. They have fabulous SPACE AND COMFORTABLE seating, room for many (who wants scrunched and miserable for dinner!) They have a FULL BAR, and wine list for those who do such.  Their FOOD !!! let me tell you.  There is a big salad bar type of arrange from which you can pluck and choose from big meaty shrimps, delicious cooked salmon, several kinds of potatoes and other vegetable side dishes, salad parts and pieces, mushrooms, asparagus, and on and on and on, trust me, and soups and more!  Then at the table they provide you a big white napkin, wonderfully sharp knife and a fork, and then these adorable (sorry, men) gauchos keep showing up with spears of 19 different kinds of meat they carve off the spears at your request.  I could not decide which was my favorite.  And the PIANIST plays anything from memory at request.  Just do go.  619-702-8464.

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THAT BOOK THAT YOU JUST CAN’T PUT DOWN!

Don’t call me!  Don’t ask me to come to your party, and please don’t ask me to cook dinner or otherwise interrupt myself.  So who would think that a social study would be so engrossing?  Here’s some of the why I am fascinated:“Cultures that Work”.  All cultures share certain Commonalities, stored in our genetic inheritance.  Children born without sight display emotion on their faces the same way as children born with sight.  All humans divide time into past, present, and future.  Almost all fear, at least at first, spiders and snakes, creatures that threatened their Stone Age ancestors.  All human societies produce art.  They all disapprove, at least in theory, of rape and murder.  They all dream of harmony and worship God….All children fear strangers and prefer sugar solutions to plain water from birth.  All humans enjoy stories, myths, and proverbs…People everywhere rank one another according to prestige. “

            Here’s more:  “Which CEO Characteristics and Abilities matter?  The traits that correlated most powerfully wish success were attention to detail, persistence, efficiency, analytical thoroughness, and the ability to work long hours – the ability to organize and execute.”  Studies show tht “extroversion, agreeableness, and openness to new ideas did not correlate well with CEO success, unlike emotional stability and conscientiousness, being dependable, making plans and following through which did.”  “CEO’s with law or MBA degrees do not perform better than CEO’s with college degrees”, and “CEOs get less effective as they become more famous and receive more awards.” 

            Final thoughts:  “Effort of attention is thus the essential phenomenon of the will.  Those who have habits and strategies to control their attention can control their lives.”

“It’s easier to change your environment than to change your insides. Change your environment and then let the new cues do the work.”

In this book a teacher helps a character get his conscious and unconscious to work together:  “first mastering core knowledge, then letting that knowledge marinate playfully in his mind, then willfully trying to impose order on it, then allowing the mind to consolidate and merge the data, then returning and returning until some magical insight popped into his consciousness, then finally riding that insight to a finished product”.  Got it?  Ready now? 
            Most of this book is written as a story of fictional characters to make the information more easily digestible.  I would loan you mine, but I am underlining compulsively!  I am so glad my new friend, William Jones, turned me on to this! 

 

Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation. --François de la Rochefoucauld

Flattery is telling the other person precisely what he thinks about himself. --Dale Carnegie

Chickens don't praise their own soup.—Unknown

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IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR – PLANNING FOR THE NEW YEAR’S BUSINESS. 

8 TIPS TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN BUSINESS

To most people, being more effective in business means being more successful.  Start by writing down the ways you might measure what success means to you -- sales revenues, net income, number of new clients, annual growth rate. Then choose the goals you'd like to achieve.  To reach those goals, the experts believe it takes a mindset and an approach that you need to apply consistently. Here are key ingredients of such an approach:
     1. Start with the end in mind. Know what your goal is in every effort you undertake. Then keep that goal at the front of your thought from the very beginning.
     2. Stay one step ahead. Some people call this being proactive. Just think of it as taking action. Successful people act more than they react.
     3. First things first. You know the things that are of most value to you. Focus on those ahead of everything else.  Another way of saying this, is do the most productive thing first. 
     4. Understand the client. It's more important for you to understand the needs of the people you're serving than for them to understand all the great things you do.
     5. Seek synergy. Engage strategic partners who bring something to the table you don't offer. When it's appropriate, two heads definitely are better than one, and your clients will be impressed rather than if you muddle through weak areas ineptly. 
     6. Success should always be mutual. Deliver great benefits to your clients and great benefits will come to you. That's the real meaning of win-win: constantly seeking mutual benefit in all your business interactions. It's an approach that's very appealing to prospects and clients.
     7. Stay fresh. You don't want to get stale, so self-renewal is important. Pursue programs and activities that keep you fresh mentally, physically, socially (or emotionally) and spiritually. These four areas of our lives are equally important.
     8. Watch your time.
We all know time management is key. Books have been written on how to better manage your time, but here are four easy ways to get more efficient right now:

  • Write a to-do list. It can be on your computer, in an app or, old school, on a piece of paper. And it's critical to using your time well.

  • Be real. Realistically estimate the amount of time a task will take. Everyone tends to underestimate. This is sometimes by a lot.

  • Keep organized. Don't waste time looking for things. Know where they are. Scan business cards into your computer. Keep all passwords in their own little address book. Back up computer files daily.

  • Get the tech advantage. You don't have to go for every new gadget. But if a piece of technology lets you get things done during waiting or down times, it makes sense to use it.

Start putting some of these tips to work right away. They can represent big changes in your approach and attitude. But the more you do them, the easier they become.... Enjoy a great month!

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ONE OF YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS MIGHT BE TO REFINANCE.  If you have been putting this off and your loan is over 5.5% interest, you are putting money in someone else’s pocket.  I don’t get a nickel if you take advantage of the all time lowest loan rates ever, but you will!  We never know what will turn the tide and you don’t want to be the only fish   with a guppy reputation!  FHA and VA loans are now at 3.875%. !!!!  Conventional Jumbo Loans are 4.375% up to $546,250.  If you have a great lender, like mine,   James Carmody at Gateway Funding (858-525-3086), you can discuss without obligation or push, find out what refinancing would require and what different it would make.  What brought me to James’ service was his all about the customer, tell the truth only, get it done-ness.  Not a bad quality set for a lender! 

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I WENT THERE, IT’S TRUE.  Kelly Kraus’s “Rare Bird Consignment House” is an ever-changing environment of interesting, very well-chosen furnishings at very fair prices!  Just when I don’t really need more stuff!  But you may find that perfect piece at great rates or work with Kelly to sell your well-loved pieces.  1918 Fort Stockton, Open 7 days right now while she welcomes her new neighbors!

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Who makes these things ?!   I read that a new   Study by university economists showed that people are happier when their nations are governed from the left.  During a Democratic presidential administration, members of both parties report happiness, but it is because Republicans are generally happier and can be so whether they are in or out of power. 

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WHEN TOWELS DON’T DRY WITHIN A FEW HOURS, mildew and bacteria, which thrive in moist environments, can breed.  So make sure after using, especially in damp winter weather, that your towels have ample space to air out.  IF you get mildew, wash in hot water with 6 oz of bleach (white or all colors), skip the fabric softener, and dry on high to kill any remaining bacteria.

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“There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle.”  Albert Einstein

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Want to turn up the volume on your IPhone and Ipod?  Put them in a bowl and the concave shape will amplify the sound.

Got lots of stuffed animals?  You could attach a Velcro strip along the length of the wall and hang your menagerie along the wall. 

Store rolls of gift wrapping easily by running a wire from front to back along the side of a closet, and standing the rolls behind the wire.

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CONSIDER, THIS MAY BE NORMAL.   Every day at least one person says to me he or she hopes we return to “normal” soon.  Well, I totally agree that recovery to the values we owned and investments we held would be a big break.  But I think there is a huge shift in both the real estate and the securities market that has gone from almost commodity-gambling to real value consideration and function.  People buy today what they need for now and tomorrow, not so much what they want.  They base their needs more around stability than gravy train hopes.  With the interest rates and tax benefits we have in place, buying a home is the most favorable position in our U.S. history.  The overall costs are lower than EVER, and if we do indeed recover the gains are the most profitable.  Stocks are seldom selling at 50x earnings now, makes sense to me!  But the settlement also seems to be providing a stronger foundation for tomorrow.  And that is a good thing!  This is a good normal.

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YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS. 

As I travel the last weeks of my real estate life and the last weeks of 2011, perhaps because of the season, I see all kinds of courage and loving generosity.  I saw the professionals at the hospital courageously telling my friend the truth he had the right to know to be better prepared.  We see imitations of the “Gift of the Magi” deep gifting during this season.  As I personally age, I come more and more to understand that it takes courage just to get older and have peers bravely and stoically living with pain and disability.  Sometimes the greatest gift is courage and good will and cheer!  I wish you all so much of that


HOT TOPICS 12-10-11

WRITERS RIGHT HERE IN MISSION HILLS!  Sabine Starr, Marti Hess, Pat Fitzmorris, and Mary Winklea have just brought out a perfect holiday gift.  Simply This...starts with Positivity and ends with Awareness, Acceptance, and Responsibility. You can go to Amazon.com to purchase the book to download it on your Kindle, smartphone, or PC.   Don’t you think we need a writer’s group right here?  Or maybe we have and I don’t know? 

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HOW TO GET THE BEST OF WINTER WHEN SELLING YOUR HOME

If your home will be for sale this winter, it is important to master certain seasonal issues that are less significant or even non-existent at other times of the year. Here are 10 bits of sage advice from RE/MAX agents that

can help put a “Sold” sticker on that yard sign.

Let Those Lights Shine: The best way to combat winter’s short and frequently cloudy days is to turn on your house lights. For a showing, every single light in the house must be on, even in the closets and utility/mechanical rooms. And whether you personally like it bright or dark, for this purpose buy the largest watt bulbs the fixtures will take.  Bright looks bigger and cleaner!  Stock up on all the right bulbs for lamps and fixtures so burned out bulbs can be replaced immediately.  Also, it’s a great idea to keep the lights on in the front of the house even if no showings are scheduled. People are always driving past the house, and keeping it lighted makes it look happy and welcoming.  AND absolutely open the drapes and blinds during the day to let in light and let visitors enjoy the view.

Provide Convenient Parking: It’s vital that buyers have a convenient place to park. They won’t want to walk very far in cold weather or be forced to climb over a snow bank to exit their vehicle. Because parking is often more restricted around condominiums, sellers should make sure their agent can pass along parking details to buyers.

Make It Easy to Enter:  Put a festive area rug at the front door for a great first impression and so visitors can wipe their feet and concentrate on the house not their shoes. Have slippers or disposable booties available, along with a bench or chair, if there is room for one, where a visitor can sit and easily remove or put on their shoes.

Keep Odors Under Control: Any home tends to be stuffy in winter when windows are opened rarely. That can allow odors to build up, which can be a turn-off to buyers.  Pet odors can be an especial problem.  Use a room fragrance if needed, but nothing too strong, and I recommend that in winter sellers clean more often. Change the cat litter daily, rather than every third or fourth day, or even consider using an air purifier.

If pets are in the house, consider setting the thermostat control so that the furnace fan runs constantly during the day to keep air moving through the house and dissipate odors. Also try to avoid strong cooking odors, especially if a showing is scheduled that day.

Cultivate a Festive Look: Appropriate decorations for Christmas and even St. Valentine’s Day help give a home a cheerful look during the winter months.

“I really believe that holiday decorations can help homes sell, but don’t go to excess. “Keeping small, decorative white lights on trees and bushes pretty much through the winter season is fine, but other decorations should be taken down quickly once the holiday passes.”

Don’t Ignore the Outdoors: Make a good first impression on buyers with a neatly maintained yard. Walks and steps should be kept clear, especially of slipping risks!

Look after Condo Common Areas: If the home you are selling is a condominium, your job as a seller may be relatively easy in winter, if your condominium association does its job well.  If the association isn’t doing it, the homeowner may have to take responsibility for keeping the entrance area and hallways clean.

Don’t Roast Buyers: We all tend to prefer a specific temperature for our homes during the winter, but don’t blast buyers with hot air. Keep the temperature at a comfortable 65 degrees for all showings. Remember, buyers are likely to be wearing their coats even as they walk through the house.

Keep Seasonal Clothing under Control:  Overabundance of cold weather gear is not appealing.  Shift some winter coats to another closet and put anything not needed in the closet into storage.  Put a special container for gloves and hats and umbrellas in a good place, where the family typically enters the home.

Encourage Day Time Showings: A home shows to its best advantage during daylight hours, which are relatively scarce in winter.  “Encourage your agent to show your home before 3 p.m. and have it ready to show by 9 a.m.

There also are benefits to winter selling.  Buyers out looking at homes in December or January are, as a group, quite serious about buying. Therefore, sellers tend to benefit because each showing is more productive, and fewer showings are needed to sell the property.  Good luck!

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SAY A PRAYER

 Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his Grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away. "Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer." said his mother. "I  don't need to," the boy replied. "Of course, you do "his mother insisted. "We always say a prayer before eating at our house." "That's at our house." Johnny explained. "But this is Grandma's house and she knows how to cook.

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WHEN IT IS SMART TO USE CREDIT CARDS

  1. On-Line Purchases with a credit card offer some protection against hackers who do not therefore have access to your checking account.

  2. Always book travel with credit.  If your flight is cancelled Or your bags lost, you may be reimbursed.  And frequently you can get points from BOTH your airline frequent flyer account AND your credit card. Check with you credit card about additional protections they offer.

  3. Recurring payments.  Prevents you from over drafting your checking account, if you forget about a charge.

  4. 4.  Big-Ticket Purchases.  If it doesn’t work properly, you can withhold payment or protest through your credit agency. 

  5. 5.  Reward points.  If you pay off your cards every month, you can still build points and accrue savings for all the things that would be by-passed if you paid by check.

                                    …USAA Winter 2011

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MAKING THE BEST OUT OF OPPORTUNITY

If you were in the market for a watch in1880, would you know where to get one? You would go to a store, right? Well, of course you could do that, but if you wanted one that was cheaper and a bit better than most of the store watches, you went to the train station! Sound a bit funny?

Well, for about 500 towns across the northern United States, that's where the best watches were found.   This was all arranged by "Richard", who was a telegraph operator himself. He was on duty in the North Redwood, Minnesota, train station one day when a load of watches arrived from the east. It was a huge crate of pocket watches. No one ever came to claim them.  So Richard sent a telegram to the manufacturer and asked them what they wanted to do with the watches. The manufacturer didn't want to pay the freight back, so they wired Richard to see if he could sell them. So Richard did. He sent a wire to every agent in the system asking them if they wanted a cheap, but good, pocket watch. He sold the entire case in less than two days and at a handsome profit.  That started it all.

He ordered more watches from the watch company and encouraged the telegraph operators to set up a display case in the station offering high quality watches for a cheap price to all the travelers. It worked! It didn't take long for the word to spread and, before long, people other than travelers came to the train station to buy watches.  Richard became so busy that he had to hire a professional watch maker to help him with the orders. That was Alvah. And the rest is history as they say.  The business took off and soon expanded to many other lines of dry goods.  Richard and Alvah left the train station and moved their company to Chicago -- and it's still there.   It all started with a telegraph operator: Richard Sears and his partner Alvah Roebuck!

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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRY AND TRIUMPH IS A LITTLE “UMPH”

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COMBINED HOUSEHOLDS GROWING.  Since 2007 Homes hosting a combination of extended family members or other individuals has risen nearly 11 percent, to 21.8 million in the spring of 2011, according to the U.S. Census data, now accounting for 18.3% of all U.S. households.  Young adults 25-34 make up the largest portion of doubled up households.  Think the job market could have something to do with that?

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THE OPEN QUESTION.

A long time ago when I, and thousands of others, took the Werner Erhardt EST training, my very favorite learning was the “Open Question”.  It says basically that the minute we determine an answer and consider it “done”, our mind stops operating on that thesis.  We don’t get any new ideas and are generally not observant of any relevant information that comes in later.  When we hold the question open in our mind, on the other hand, considering other options, seeking new ideas, our Unconscious automatically feeds us more information.  Have you ever waked up in the morning with an “aha!”?  Probably the result of your Unconscious conscientiousl  Just a reminder to take advantage of one of our best friends, our brain, and not close things off too soon.

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WHEN REFUNDING A TENANT’S DEPOSIT  is it legal for an owner to charge for his own labor at the going rate for the type of work and deduct that amount from the tenant’s security deposit?   Kimball, Tirey & St. John LLP  say that “it is not illegal to deduct for your own labor , you can charge a reasonable hourly rate and state the time and rate in your security deposit disposition statement.”

What should a landlord do with abandoned property after a tenant vacates?

Kimball, Tirey  says:  “the landlord is protected by California law if they keep the property safe for a period  of 18 days from the date a notice of abandonment of personal property is mailed to the tenant’s last known address.  If the tenant claims the property, the only condition of release is that the tenant pay reasonable storage costs, but only from the date the owner regained possession of the rented premises.  If the property is not reclaimed and if the property is worth less than $300, it can be disposed of in any manner.  If the value is greater than $300, the property must be sold via public auction.” 

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TECHNOLOGY.  In my life that word is often followed by expletives!  I find it is generally helpful and way too often too expensive in terms of dollars and time.  Tom and I are planning to make changes to our service companies as soon as we retire and have time to do the research, because in technology most of all “customer service” is a misnomer if not at a downright lie. 

But, yesterday, I learned to text.  Not a big deal once someone showed me.  I understand some plans charge by the # of characters typed, which is why abbreviations are so often used, but I found it useful, because the person I needed to talk to could not take calls or emails in her meetings, but could check text messages.  So I learned.  I think there is a great business opportunity out there for some who can combine geek skills with customer service!  Especially knowing which tools a person might really need and how to coordinate them.  If you are that person, call me! 

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MONEY CAN’T BUY HAPPINESS, BUT IT LETS YOU GET A BIGGER SHOPPING BAG! 

 


HOT TOPICS 12/3/11

Remember!  SANTA WILL BE HERE AT COLDWELL BANKER SUNDAY,  DEC.4,  11a.m. – 3p.m.

Free 4”x6” print of the visit will be provided by professional photographer, Meredith French, to each family, and we will have cookies and punch and ho                                   ho’s! 

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"pRomisE mE you'll alwayS REmEmbER you'RE bRavER thaN you bEliEvE, and stRoNGER thank you sEEm, and smaRtER than you thiNK."…  Christopher Robin to Pooh.

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FOR YOUR SPECIAL OCCASION OR SPECIAL PERSONCAKE” IS HERE.  Down on Reynard Way across from the Framemaker and Redwood Street, is a delicious café that invites you to work with them to design exactly the sweetness you crave, or to stop in for a bakery tasting and coffee in their retail cafe.  Seen on the Food Network’s Cake Challenge, this is San Diego’s premier source of wedding and specialty cakes, and it’s right here on our Mission Hills street!  They are at 3085 Reynard Way, or by phone at 619-295-2253 or by email at FabCakesSD@gmail.com.  And are happy to work with you to create YOUR favorite dessert treasure.  They are having an OPEN HOUSE  this Sunday, 12-4pm, which should be a yummy visit!

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QUICK TIPS FOR NAVIGATING NEGOTIATIONS

  • Know your market parameters and keep your expectations realistic.  Looking for what you need in-stead of the value in what you are offering, just sets you up for repeated disappointment.

  • Focus on the objective or benefit for each party to gain a solution.

  • Open the door to alternative solutions.  If the other party seems trapped in his/her own unrealistic point of view, try to open a discussion of where their value assessment is supported.  Are their needs represented by the dollar amount that could be met in other solutions?

  • Try to focus on one or two decisions at a time, so that the table is not overwhelmed with unfinished questions to be managed. 

  • LISTEN.  The clue to all success will come from your ears not your mouth.

  • At all times manage your emotions.

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HAVING A PRE-MARKET HOME INSPECTION CAN BE A HUGE BENEFIT TO A SELLER, because it reduces the buyer’s power when the seller already knows what issues exist.  It also allows the seller to obtain repair/replacement bids from resources he trusts, so that numbers are not exaggerated out of shape.  It is also often true that buyer’s cannot make a decision until they have “enough” information, (in the eye of the beholder) and having that inspection available for a buyer to review and any subsequent bids can forestall the buyer’s fear and hesitations!

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“LION IN WINTER  WILL HEADLINE AT THE NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE THIS JANUARY. 
Her many fans will be happy to hear that Kandis Chappell will be bringing the keen verbal wit and historical drama to life January 7-29 in Solana Beach.  If you are familiar with this play or movie, you know the dialogue is perfect challenge, and if you have ever seen Kandis, whether New York or our Old Globe, or etc., you know that she brings dimension and power and clarity to everything she does. 

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PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY IS A MUST IN SELLING YOUR HOME FOR THE BEST PRICE!

If your agent isn’t hiring a professional photographer, you are being handicapped.  Where do you start when you are looking at properties?  Are not the photos the most important feature of the presentation, and if absent don’t you shortly move on?

Taking a few classes and buying a camera no more makes a professional photographer out of a Realtor, then reading real estate listings and developing a social media program creates a professional Realtor.  Would you want surgery performed by the ambulance driver?  Photography pros have special equipment, training and experience.

And the photos need to be BOTH photogenic AND informative.  If you have a great yard, show me what that means.  Most descriptive words are “in the eye of the beholder”, pictures can give better information.  You will probably spend a lot of time “staging” your home with attractive furnishings, decluttering, and cleaning to a spit shine.  If it doesn’t show in the pictures, you have wasted a lot of time, perhaps money too. 

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3085 Reynard Way
ENJOY AND SMILE:

A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing  when he was on the Ark ?"

"No," replied Johnny. "How could he, with just two worms.”

DEFINITIONS:

IRONY - the opposite of wrinkly.

THE HOKEY POKEY CLINIC - a place to turn yourself around. 

D.A.D.D. - Dads against daughters dating.

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619-295-2253

You can’t go back and make a brand new start, but you can start now and make a brand new ending.

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“DRINKING FROM THE FIREHOSE” – Making Smarter Decisions Without Drowning in Information

By Christopher J. Frank and Paul Magnone. Information overload is half the problem, and mostly unspoken but just as true is information reliability.  The old saying was “you can’t be too thin or too rich”, but today’s maxim expanded to “too think or too rich or have too much information”.  Remember Gordon Gekko?  But most of the information we get is irrelevant.  The net effect, say these authors is like to take a sip of water from a fire hose at full nozzle. 

The authors suggest the right tools – fire hose questions – to help you break the habit of collecting and presenting too much information.  To refocus the analysis and re-evaluate the information, begin by identifying the essential question for your business.  This becomes the filter.  Information overload can prevent us from recognizing critically important data.  What is the single essential piece of information that will move the project forward. 

Putting the customer first and center – unlike the airlines who have eclipsed customer satisfaction so far that people avoid flights if reasonably possible – doesn’t have to be expensive, just smart.  Learn who they are, recognize them and their individual priorities, and remember it is about their experience. 

Being alert to surprises in the data numbers is a sure-fire way to shortcut the learning and use.  What new learning can we take from the unexpected? 

Avoid rocks (insufficiently illuminated data), don’t’ let quantity of data overwhelm quality. 

Study your “swing voters”, those customers who are not loyal and committed to you, what would make that difference?  

Most of the time, they say, you don’t need more data, you just need to pay attention to less of the data you have! 

My favorite message – I don’t have to know it all, I just have to know and pay attention to what matters! 

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9 OF THE 10 MOST SEARCHED MARKETS ON REALTOR.COM WERE SUN-DRENCHED CITIES.

Weather PLUS change conditions such as foreclosures, taxes, Interest rates and other factors created a huge interest in:  1. Las Vegas, 2. Los Angeles, 3. Orlando, Fl, 4. San Antonio, 5. Miami, Fl, 6. Phoenix, 7. San Diego, 8. Austin, Tx, 9. Tampa, Fl, and – the one exception – Chicago!

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It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not.

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THE COUNCIL OF RESIDENTIAL SPECIALISTS and COLDWELL BANKER UNITE TO PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS.

The Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) is the highest Designation awarded to sales associates in the residential sales field, and they will now accept certain Coldwell Banker company courses for credit toward their designation.  CRS has long been my most valuable resource for locating the best agents in other parts of the country, and achieving their designation was very important to me.  It is exciting that CB, long recognized for their exceptional standards and training, would be the first company to make an arrangement like this with the nationally recognized standard of excellence.

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Adding ¼ tsp of bleach to 1 Qt of water in a   Vase of flowers, will extend their life.  ● Diaper wipes Are great for cleaning spots on walls, furniture and upholstery.  ● Spray your silk flowers with hairspray, then when they get dusty, you can simply blow them clean with your hair dryer.  ●Pour lemon juice on the rners of your upholstered furniture to discourage dog from chewing.  They don’t like citrus!  ●Window cleaner is fabulous for spots on rugs and carpets!

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The smallest good deed is greater than the grandest intention.