16 and Pregnant

 Odd title for a real estate blog right? Well, to be honest... it's the reality show I am currently viewing while multitasking and writing this blog. Yes, I am that creative. Maybe I'll get some hits on my blog from that title..yes! Anyways, back to the fun stuff...

 Opened escrow on my largest property yet, and it's been less than smooth sailing. As I progress in real estate I'm learning to take the stick out of my ass and realize that not everyone follows the rules, or contracts for that matter, and the more irritated I get, the more irritated everyone gets and no one wins. Unfortunately, and fortunately I was born with the always on time gene. This is the gene that, well, gives me anxiety and ruins my life. God forbid I am running a minute late to a meeting, or there happens to be yet another accident on the 101, or road work on Sepulveda, I may have a complete anxiety attack due to my always on time gene. Not everyone is this way of course...most people aren't... and I am to a large degree of obnoxiousitude. So lesson of the day... take a chill pill, not everyone follows the timelines on a contract...actually I've learned a lot of people don't, and one has to be patient, and take a valium, with a cocktail. I told my doctor about this stress I impose upon myself today... I tell him I get this way for every escrow... his response? " I get that way for every escrow too..." Thanks Dr. Schneider.

Things to do:

• Buy the groupon.com massage that I came across in my hotmail today to relieve some stress. If you don't know groupon.com get on it.
• Make SOLD! flyers for prospecting
• Get up off my butt and hand out flyers that have yet to be made
• Write this blog more often

I went on a listing appointment yesterday. The client had told me an agent offered to list her property with a 4% commission. And here is what I have to say to that...

Dear sellout agent who offers 4% commission,

   Hard working real estate agents have already taken a hit on commission due to the economy. By you trying to undercut the "unfixed" but known commission rate, you are lowering it for all hard working Realtors. You should be ashamed of yourself. But you know what? Maybe you are only worth 4%. Go *&%$ yourself :)


With all my love,
Amanda


 But really, buying and selling a home will be one of the biggest purchases you will make. If you were going to get brain surgery, would you go with the surgeon who offers you a discount, or would you go with the Surgeon who would give you the best result?


   By the way, completely different topic, do you know how referrals work? I keep seeing family members and friends buying and selling homes without me knowing at all! Let me break this down for you...


 - Sally is looking to buy or sell her home, but she's in Arkansas and I'm in California....OH NO!...BUT WAIT!

- All Sally has to do, to help a sister out is say, "Hey Amanda, are you able to set me up with an agent in Arkansas?" AND JUST LIKE THAT.... with no cost to you, I can refer Sally to an agent.

- And once Sally Buys or Sells her property 25% of the commission goes to me...hence helping a sister out!

- Even if there is an agent you already know you would like to use, I can refer you to this agent. The reason I ask you to do this, is #1 ...let's be honest, I get money...duh... but #2, the only way for me to GET referrals, is for me to SEND out referrals. So the next time you hear of anyone looking to buy or sell, let me refer them to an agent in their area...BECAUSE what goes around comes around.

Real Estate Rule of the Day

When the going get's tough, suck it up, take a breath, do your job and shut your mouth.

Dear Real Estate Gods...Where do I begin?

Dear Real Estate Gods,

I was asked to speak about my experiences in Real Estate thus far which has lead to my success. Uh...how is this done without sounding conceded? I sat up on a panel with a gay couple/partnership who referred to themselves always as we, us, our...never I, me, my. It was weird. When we went around the room asking which agents everyone was from and how long we have been in real estate, they answered " we're from the beverly hills office, we've been in real estate for 4 years." Also on the panel was a Russian know it all, who handing out referral cards at an inappropriate time, a young french agent with really white teeth, and 2 other male agents who seemed nice and normal. 

 
I felt bad for the audience. It had to have been pretty boring for them. Everyone was pretty repetitive, and, well, boring. I tried to be a bit humorous, which I think I pulled off slightly. But everything was pretty generic...do your marketing, keep at it, be proactive. Do you know what it comes down to? You either have it, or you don't.

    Out of randomness, This past week I went out of town, and of course I had more nightmares to deal with than ever. Why are their so many unethical agents? Firstly, if you work in Real Estate in California you need to be able to speak english. You can not do a deal with someone who speaks a different language than you. But maybe that's the point. Maybe those agents only want to do business with the same people who speak their same language. But hey, you wouldn't hire a teacher who didn't speak english...well...unless they were a spanish teacher. For the sake of the good hard working Realtors out there, when choosing an agent, make sure they are ETHICAL GOOD AGENTS! They are few and far between. 

REAL ESTATE RULE OF THE DAY:

 If your agent doesn't answer your calls quickly, chances are they aren't answering others either...not a good sign. 

By the way, just saw The Social Network, great movie. Makes you think. Also makes you feel dumb...but in a good way. 




AMANDA ZUCKERMAN
DRE# 01877074
AMANDA.ZUCKERMAN@COLDWELLBANKER.COM
323-301-2322