Debbie's Posts & Ramblings

I know you all think I'm obsessed with gardening.  Of course I truly am.  As the President of Southeast Alaska Master Gardeners, it is my right.  I'm just usually out selling real estate so I don't have the time I'd like to have in the garden.  That's why I'd like to start periodically giving a "...

In Parts One, Two and Three, I gave the background to this story of exceptional customer service.There are quite a few dentists in my community, but plenty of business to go around.  Somehow I'd found this magical man who was able to work on my teeth.  I was no longer afraid of him.  I'm still af...

In Part One and Part Two, I set the stage for how I feel my dentist taught me the basics of customer service.After our long discussion in his regular office, sitting at his desk instead of in the torture chamber, my dentist and I come up with a plan.  First order of business is a long overdue cle...

In Part One, I explained how I ended up learning more about dentists and their relationship with their employees.  It was surprising to see how certain dentists had no trouble attracting and retaining the best hygienists and dental assistants.  I'd never thought about shopping for a dentist this ...

I have an exceptional dentist.  I don't even like dentists, but I like him.  He is kind and gentle and he truly cares.  He's also a gardener and people who dig in the dirt are generally just good people.  I will even cross the street to say hello to him.  Everybody seems to love him.  I'm going t...

Recently I read a comment someone else made on a blog that really rubbed me the wrong way.  (Usually when that happens, it's time to let it out in my own blog.)  Basically a "friend" was expecting this person to list and sell their home for NO commission.  After all, they were friends.Friends don...

Our market has changed and some newer agents are having a tough time adjusting.  Less than two years ago, we were all scratching for listings and now it seems they are coming in faster than we can build ads and web pages.  The number of buyer calls has decreased dramatically over the last few mon...

My office is a member of the Southeast Alaska Building Industry Association (SEABIA) and the Southeast Alaska Board of REALTORS® is an affiliate member as well.  That means I'm a member twice.Most offices spring for membership because it allows for a significan discount on a Home Show booth.I am ...

We enjoy a healthy economy in our little city.  Just a little background...Juneau's population is approximately 30,000 - give or take several hundred.  Juneau is right on the ocean.  We are surrounded by 3,000 foot mountains so the community is built in little fringes along the coast and into sev...

Our inventory of homes in Juneau is higher than it's been for decades.  Competition for buyers is fierce.  We are seeing many sellers drop their prices to below what they owe on the homes.  In some cases, the property owner used their home like an ATM machine and refinanced one too many times but...