I don't know how many times this has happened to me!  Seller calls to let me know that the Realtor who showed the home did not lock the back door!  Folks, we need to be responsible here!  We have liability when we do not lock doors!  Our lockbox will record who showed the home last, so it will be easy to find out who the irresponsible Realtor was!  There is no excuse for this!  It doesn't matter if it is a vacant home, lock it up!!!  If you and your client open a window, close it and lock it!I had one home, new construction, where an intruder came in, spent the night and took a shower.  They did leave $20.00, I guess that was for the "motel" room!  The only thing we could figure was that someone left the window open and they came in!  We are suppose to be professionals!  We need to take... 03/21/2008

I had a house listed in the country and I got this phone call from a potential buyer from Louisiana.   She inquired about the home and the ammenities it had.  She inquired  if it was close to a cemetary and if I knew the sellers.   Then she said, "Would it be possible if I could come and live in the home for three days to see if it has evil spirits in it?"  I replied, "I'll ask the seller and if it possible I will call you back."  Needless to say the seller said no.The most common thing is, "Can I rent this to own?"  We hear alot of this in our area. This question makes  me think of the furniture "rent to own" stores.  I generally say, "No, the seller needs their money so they can buy another home." Have you ever had a situation where the seller did not want to claim the dogs?  I was wo... 03/20/2008

My husband is a building contractor, and I work with several other builders.  In Arkansas builders are licensed with the state and they are required to have Workmen's Compensation.  If you are working with builders you need to be knowledgable about construction.  My builders bring me their plans before construction.  I look them over and we discuss ways to make the plan work better.  Also, if it is a small breakfast area I suggest installing can lighting.  You are very  limited with pendant lighting on where to place the table.  During construction I will offer suggestions.  Sometimes moving a wall 6" will do wonders, or deciding what brick to use, or paint colors.  Whatever I see that will help the house sell, I let my builders know.  Sometimes bathrooms need to be reworked on the plan... 03/19/2008

Accordingto the Searcy Sun/White County Record, a group of old rock and rollers from the 50's are trying to get a name change for Highway 67 in Arkansas.  This stretch of highway runs from the edge of White County at Bald Knob and Bradford on through Newport, Tuckerman, Swifton, Walnut Ridge, Pocahontas and on into Missouri.  Back in the 50,'s, Elvis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and many more would perform at the Silver Moon in Newport.  There was also other clubs, the Wagon Wheel in Bald Knob, Porky's Rooftop in Newport, The Cotton Club in Searcy, Charley's Place and Bob King's at Swifton.  Elvis performed alot in this area, along with the other musicians.I think it's a great idea, would probally bring tourist in.  The senior consultant on the designation project  is the leg... 03/13/2008

While on tour this morning I was riding with some Realtor friends and we started talking about giving to others.  My friend, Beverly, said, "Mary, I know you are giving, Perrin told me."  I replied, "Yes, I am and I raised Mitzi, my daughter, to be giving.  Then I told them this story.When Mitzi was in about the 5th grade, I picked her up from school.  It was in the winter and a very cold and rainy day.  I saw this little girl waiting for the bus.  She had on a clear plastic rain coat and the coat was just stiff from the cold and rain.  I asked Mitzi if she knew her.  She said she was in her class and she was poor. I can't remember the little girl's name, so I'll call her Susan.On the way home Mitzi said, "I want to give Susan a coat and some of my clothesl"  I thought, that is a good i... 03/12/2008

Have you ever met someone that you just couldn't forget?  I don't even know his name, but I can see him clearly in my mind!Last July we flew to San Juan, PR, to spend a few days before boarding the Carnival cruise ship, Destiny. We try to take a vacation each year with our daughter's family.  We only have one child, a son-in-law, and two granchildren, Gabby and Adrian.  Gabby has a friend, Jessica, and she usually goes too.  While we were waiting to board the ship, Mitzi, Gabby, Jessica and I took another tour of Old San Juan.  Old San Juan is one square mile of restored buildings, cafe's, and little shops.  It has old world charm, cobblestone streets and lots of diverse cultures.  We walked to the city square and it was so pretty, statues, fountains and lots of tourist. Then we saw the... 03/10/2008

Pass the popcorn!  Home theater rooms are the newest trend in upscale homes. No need to get dressed, you can watch the movie in your pajamas!  What a great way to relax!  My husband builds upscale homes and theater rooms are a great selling feature.  The rooms must be painted a dark color, on walls and ceiling.  Our house has a theater room and our wall color is called "Java" from Sherwin Williams, it is a very dark brown.  Our ceiling is a little lighter shade.Alot of theater rooms have theater seats, we looked at them, but I like having a comfy sofa, love seat and big chair!  I have my office in the theater room and while my husband is watching a movie, I can work on real estate. My office is kinda in a little alcove, so I don't bother him. If you are thinking of buying or remodeling ... 03/09/2008

I could not do without Quicken!  I use it in my business, my builder husband's business, my storage units, my investment property and my personal business.  At year's end I can click on last year, and instantly have a printout of my expenses and income.  How convenient!  I can also view, anytime, how much I have spent on advertisement for the year.  Quicken is a great tracking tool, and sooooo easy to use.  If you are not using Quicken, you don't  know what you are missing!  Try it!!My builder husband is always asking, "How much have I spent on materials on Job 10?"  I can tell him in two seconds.  I can also tell him how much labor he has paid and any other check that he has writtten.  When he gets his yearly audit with Workmen's Comp, I can have that ready immediately.  This program i... 03/08/2008

We are supposed to change our clocks tonight so that we lose an hour and many people will show up late for chruch in the morning.  I always like the longer days and hate it in the winter when I drive home in the dark at 5:00 pm.  I can't remember a time, however, that the weather outside on this day in Searcy AR has looked as these pictures show.  There was no one on the golf course yesterday and even though the roads were clear, Arkansans tend to hide out, as I did, and stay home when the weather looks this way. 03/07/2008

My daughter, Mitzi, and I were shopping in Lowe's a few weeks ago.  All of a sudden I heard dogs barking and barking and barking.  You could hardly hear yourself think!  I turned to Mitzi and asked, "Does Lowe's allow dogs in the store?"  She replies, "I guess so, but don't say anything!"  She knows me, I always say what I think!!When I rounded the corner, I saw them.  Two little dogs, not working dogs, barking at everyone!  I couldn't believe it!  When I go to Lowe's I am generally purchasing things for my builder husband, and I need total concentration!  You cannot think when dogs are barking!  I love dogs, but I do not think they should be allowed in retail stores, unless they are working dogs.When I got in line to check out, guess who got behind me???  You're right, the lady with th... 03/07/2008

Realtors! If you are building, remodeling, or just working with builders, consider installing a pot filler in the kitchen!  They will save you many steps!I have one in my home, and my builder husband has started installing them in spec homes.  They come in oil rubbed bronze, brass, copper, stainless, what ever you desire.  The price is from around $250.00 to as high as $2000.00.  View pictures of mine below.I personally think Dantz is a good one, very well made.  You can search the web and find many suppliers, be sure to get the one that is wall hung, not countertop mounted!They are great for filling a pasta pot, or filling your morning coffee pot!  They extend out across your cooktop and they fold back.  Pot fillers have been popular in Europe for many years.I just think they are an ad... 03/07/2008

Fear is something we all face, at one time or another!  Well, thanks to my grandchildren, Gabby and Adrian, I have conquered my fear of flying and heights!!In the early 70's I had  a very bad experience on my first plane ride!  I did not fly again until Thanksgiving week 2006.  Our daughter's family decided to spend Thanksgiving week in Maui and the grandchildren wanted us to go.  At first I hesitated, but you will do anything for your grandchildren!So I boarded the big silver bird and flew for ten hours, I prayed from the time I boarded until we landed!  When we landed at the Maui airport, I told my husband, "I want to parasail, if I can fly for ten hours, I can parasail!We booked the excursion, and as you can see by the picture, Grandma is parasailing!Maui is a beautiful island, the w... 03/06/2008

Five years ago I showed property to buyers, very nice couple, but they ended up buying a FSBO.  Did I get mad?  No, I told them I enjoyed showing them property, enjoyed their company, and if I could ever help again, please call me.  They did and I closed with them today.  She said, "You know you were so nice to us, even though we found a FSBO, that we wanted to come back to you to sell it."  What goes around, comes around.This has happened to me three times in the past year.  One couple bought a FSBO about 8 years ago, I listed  that  house, sold them a new house. They got transfered before that house closed, but did not back out, he said he made a deal and would not back out, very good people. I sold that house on their last move.  They live out of state now and I still keep in touch. ... 03/03/2008

When we represent buyers and sellers it is so important that we have a good working relationship with other Realtors.  If you are arrogrant, hard to get along with, hateful, rude,  it has to be my way person, guess what? You are hurting your buyers and sellers.  How?If you have a home listed and other agents don't like you, will your listing get the attention it should? I don't think so, your listing will only be shown if there is nothing else out there.  If any of the above describes you, do you think another Realtor wants to work with you???  I doubt it, only if they have to!If you have buyers that make an offer on a home, listed by another agent, and there is another offer that is almost identical that comes in from another  "nice" agent.  Guess which offer will be accepted?  Again, ... 03/02/2008

Planning a cross country trip to visit relatives made us decide to buy a GPS system.  After lots of investigating we decided it was worth the extra money to have the voice tell us to turn at a particular street and name the street.  We bought the Garmin Nuvi 260 and it arrived this week.I have to learn to use it so I put in the address to my office from my home.  We, the voice and I, begin our journey.  She tells me to turn right on Beebe Capps Expressway which I dutifully do.  I am supposed to stay on that street until I get to Main Street and turn left.  Well, knowing my city, I know that to avoid traffic and traffic lights, I'll go by way of Pleasure Street.  The voice didn't like that.  She said, "Recalculating."   She was polite about it.  She advised me again to turn on Main Stree... 03/01/2008

It was probally 12 years ago that I attended an educational class in Little Rock.  During break we would pass our cards out, we were all mostly new Realtors.  There was one girl in particular that I talked with. She had a great smile, very cute, and loved to talk. Through the years I had thought about her alot.  She was from Russellville, about 2 hours from Searcy. I knew she would make a great Realtor!  She did, she has an assistant!!Well, this morning my cell phone rings, and it is her!  She told me that her assistant was needing to talk to a Realtor about selling  a home in a small town close to Searcy.  She asked me to give her a call and I did.  I thought, you know that was so long ago and she remembered me.  Maybe I made an impression on her too!While I had her on the phone, I tol... 02/28/2008

The 50's and 60's was the beginning of Rock & Roll! Elvis appeared on the scene and he is still the king of rock and roll!  I loved Elvis, still do.  He could sing anyone's song, but no one, absolutely no one, could sing one of his!  If you are ever in Memphis, take a tour of Graceland, it will take you back in time!!  While you are there go down to Beale Street and listen to the blues.  You can get  a great rack of ribs at the City Blues Cafe, they are delicious.  The Motown Sound had sooooo much soul!  Little Richard, The Supremes, Ike and Tina, Little Anthony, Smokey Robinson, The Platters, the list goes on and on.  Great artist and great songs!Most teenagers raced home after school to watch Dick Clark and The American Bandstand!  I loved to watch the kids dance and I knew the "regul... 02/27/2008

Did you know that the Baby Boomers are suppose to be the most affluent generation?  A Baby Boomer is someone who was born between 1946 and 1964.  We wanted more than our parents and we worked hard to achieve our dreams.Well, now Baby Boomers are starting to retire!  We are suppose to be the generation that will bankrupt social security.  We are wanting to slow down and enjoy life, after working so hard to get what we thought we wanted. The generations following us  have not worked as hard and have not contributed as much to social security as we have, so when we start drawing our checks, there may not be much left for them.  I guess they should have worked harder!!Baby Boomers are now starting to sell their big homes and vacation homes and to scale down. This will have an affect on the ... 02/27/2008

Is it my imagination, or does the news media control our lives?  They report housing is down and down it goes!  They don't report it may be up in one market and down in another.  Heaven Forbid if they would report the truth! Our market in Searcy, Arkansas, has been stable, and I am sure other areas have as well.They will say gas prices are going up in four months, and by golly they will go up! Are they fortune tellers, or are we so gullible that we believe everything they report, so we accept it and it comes true.  When gas prices go down, it is not reported nearly as much.The media was responsible for Black Monday.  The more they reported, the faster stocks fell.  I am sick of hearing doom and gloom!!Anna Nicole Smith's death was in the news soooooo much, don't they have any respect fo... 02/26/2008

 This blog is because of Gary Woltal's blog about advertising and whether to do print advertising anymore or just stick with the internet.  It made me do a little thinking. Thanks, Gary, for making me think. : )I'm lost without my newspaper every morning and I don't think I'm alone in feeling this way.  I stumble out of bed, make some coffee, feed the cat, get a little juice and some lemon for my coffee and then walk to the street to get my newspapers.The most important of all of the above is my newspapers.  I get the state newspaper and the local newspaper.  I think I read the state one for news and the local one for local things..even advertisements.  To me it is a real wonder that for under $150 a year I can get a newpaper delivered to my door every single day!  What a bargain.My dau... 02/26/2008