After having success at an impromptu open house on New Year's Day, I figured I'd hold a real one. Fifteen people showed up!! Oddly, no inquisitive neighbors, only people seriously interested in transacting real estate. The first person was a bit rude but maybe it was a front thinking he was...

01/03/2009

My secondary New Year's Resolution... cut back on TV watching...I'll get around to this one if I have a chance!

0 Comments

2009 is here, whether we want it to be or not. And although I have resolved to do some very positive things, there are also one "secondary" areas that need some work in the improvement department: I need to spend a lot less time watching television. I love TV, I always have. I grew up in the infa...

01/03/2009

For the first time in a LONG time, I’m running out of gas…

0 Comments

Every morning I usually get up and look forward to writing my A/M. blog post. It's a daily ritual that I have been doing for over ten months now, without a single omission. I had set a lofty goal for myself in 2008 which I was able to achieve, although just barely. But it was that goal that drov...

01/03/2009

Transportation Options

0 Comments

This morning I went in to my new office on Beach Drive in downtown St Petersburg Florida, ready to assemble furniture, answer phones, and whatever else would be appropriate between Christmas and New Year's. It was interesting to watch the modes of transportation that passed our window: First were...

01/03/2009

Let's exchange leads/referrals

0 Comments

This is a comment that I get frequently. Truth is, it's not at all about "let's send each other business". That's like a lender or title company meeting me for the first time and saying, "oh, send me some business and see how wonderful I am". Sorry, No. Referrals are wonderful - whether other ag...

01/03/2009

Don't always take the shortest route

0 Comments

When I drive to the office in the morning, I can take the shortest route, going through downtown St Petersburg, turning down the alley and into my parking lot ... or I can take 3 more minutes and go by the waterfront, to see progress on the new Salvador Dali Museum, and pass the Albert Whitted Ai...

01/03/2009

Put the Big Rocks first

0 Comments

It's one thing to plan your business by putting the big rocks in first - but things happen. and you need to re-evaluate. You plan to blog first thing in the morning - but a good client wants to look at property, or has a relative in town to talk to, or wants you to come over to the house. Well, t...

01/03/2009

Sailing to the Music of the Saturday Market

0 Comments

Today was a beautiful Saturday morning in St Petersburg, Florida. The weather was warm, the skies were blue, and there was a little bit of wind for sailing. Today was a typical class for young sailors at the St Petersburg Sailing Center. It was pleasant to watch because there was music from the S...

01/03/2009

Show the downtown St Petersburg lifestyle

0 Comments

Today I was showing co-op units at the Flori de Leon, a 1920s historic building in downtown St. Petersburg. Living in downtown St Pete is all about the lifestyle, so we walked the two blocks to the building. From the penthouse unit and common areas on the 7th (top) floor, we were able to see the ...

01/03/2009

Accumulating condo information

0 Comments

Today I was showing property in a particular building here in St Petersburg - actually a co-op, rather than a condo. That's a bit unusual here in St Pete (we only have a few of them) though it's pretty common in places like New York. All but one of the eight units were vacant so I could have show...

01/03/2009