I am sure as most of you know texting is the big thing with the kids these day. And they all have their texting codes like;

• BFF (best friends forever)
• LOL (laughing out loud)
• BRB (be right back)
• FYI (for your information)
• WTF (what the F***)
• GTG (got to go)
• LMAO (laughing my ass off)

So why not some codes for seniors (60 and over):

ATD – At the Doctor’s

BFF – Best Friends Funeral

BTW – Bring the Wheelchair

BYOT – Bring Your Own Teeth

CBM – Covered by Medicare

CUATSC – See You at the Senior Center

FWIW – Forgot Where I Was

FYI – Found Your Insulin

GGPBL – Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low

GHA – Got Heartburn Again

HGBM – Had Good Bowel Movement

IMHO – Is My Hearing-Aid On?

LMDO – Laughing My Dentures Out

LOL – Living on Lipitor

OMSG – Oh My! Sorry, Gas

ROFLCGU – Rolling on the Floor Laughing. Can’t get Up!

WAITT – Who Am I Talking To?

WTF – Wet the Floor

WTFA – Wet the Furniture Again

WTP – Where’re the Prunes?

WWNO – Walker Wheels Need Oil

GGLKI – Gotta Go, Laxative Kicking in!

DTAF – Don’t Trust A Fart

1. Advertise a Free Phone Appraisal:

There are potential sellers in you market that are curious about how much their home is worth, but they won’t call an agent because they fear the hard sell. With the free phone appraisal approach, you create an ad encouraging homeowners to call for a market analysis over the phone. The ad says there’s no obligation and, in fact, there isn’t. During the phone call, you could get a general property description and offer a wide range of possible selling prices, depending upon certain factors. Of course, if the seller would like a more specific estimate of his or her home’s value, you would be more than happy to drop by for a visit.

2. Offer Free Special Reports:

If you do offer free special reports, then you will capture them when they call. I know of a company that provides special reports of interest to sellers. Titles such as How to Avoid the Most Common Mistakes When Selling Your Home or How to Prepare Your House for Sale can save the seller thousands of dollars. Advertise for these, and leave an 800 number with an extension. When callers reach your line, they leave their name, address and phone number. But, even if they don’t, your 800 number captures their identity, allowing you to see the details of who made the call – whether or not they choose to volunteer their information. Make sure your 800 service provides this call-capture feature.

3. Pursue Old FSBOs:

There are people who were trying to sell their home a few months ago, were unsuccessful and then stopped advertising it in the paper. You can locate them by going to the library, reading through old newspapers and making photocopies. Then call and introduce yourself and your service.

4. Adopt an Orphan:

These are folks who already bought or sold a home through your company, but the agent who was involved in the sale is no longer around. You can Aadopt these orphans by calling them, introducing yourself as the appointed agent with your company and letting them know that if they need anything, they can call on you. You may find some people who bought four to seven years ago who might be thinking of selling within the next 30 days.

5. Visit Current FSBOs and Expired:

I’ve always been a proponent of calling FSBOs and Expired listings rather than knocking on their door. But some have been more successful by going face to face. The key is, when you knock on their door, tell the owner that you have a new marketing plan that can get them more money that what they were expecting. Or, pick something else that you feel is unique about what you would do for them and focus on that.

6. Practice Cause-Related Marketing:

Get involved in your community; participate in career days at local schools and tell children what you do for a living. Hand out pencils, magnets or other goodies for kids to take to their parents. In addition, you could promote good will by volunteering at local hospitals, speaking before Rotary Clubs, sponsoring charity events to raise money for breast cancer awareness, and so forth. Whatever you decide to do, don’t be ashamed to have a photo taken of yourself and send it to the local paper, along with a caption, to publicize your good deeds.

7. Go After Rental Owners:

Homeowners who are presently renting their property may want to stop being landlords. Call them; tell them you’ve noticed that they’re trying to rent their home.

8. Don’t Neglect Past Clients:

Any six-figure producers I’ve met drive 75% of their business from referrals. Plain and simple, you need some kind of system to stay in touch with your past clients at least four times a year. Get a database such as Top Producer and create a consistent follow-up program. Whether it’s a newsletter, postcard, flyer or a simple letter, it’s imperative that you keep your name (and face, when possible) visible.

9. Create a Web Presence:

There are a lot of savvy sellers today who make decisions in part based on an agent’s technological know-how. With this in mind, show potential sellers that you can promote their property on the Web. It’s an impressive tool and it works. Use the office web site as a tool.

10. Become a Specialist:

As is in most any field, specialists make more money. Therefore, you should develop a niche in which you want to concentrate and keep working it. For instance, one possible specialty is waterfront properties. Let’s say you enjoy selling these homes and develop a good reputation. Well, you can stay in touch with past customers and future prospects by sending them mailings that would be of interest to them. If your niche is older Colonials and Tudors, you can forward articles to those customers about doing home improvements. How about golf course properties or equestrian areas?   

Is the market is improving or at least stabilizing!?  We provide the latest market updates regularly, as well as personal consultation of market direction…

The Laguna Niguel Closed Sales Report for DECEMBER:

The Laguna Niguel Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the 0-$500,000 Range:

2011   46 listings closed escrow             

2010   38 listings closed escrow            

The Laguna Niguel Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $500,000-$1,000,000 Range:

2011   29 listings closed escrow

2010   33 listings closed escrow

The Laguna Niguel Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $1,000,000+Range:

2011  8 listings closed escrow                  

2010  3 listings closed escrow                   

Does a sales report tell the whole story about market environment, consumer sentiment and the value of your home?  Is it time to sell?  Is it time to add a property to your investment portfolio? Is the market changing, and in which direction?

Recently while browsing the latest California Real Estate Magazine, I came to learn that California is among the top five states with the lowest homeownership rates nationwide, according to the “Housing Characteristics: 2010” report by the U.S. Census Bureau.

With homeownership rate of 55.9%, California ranked second in the nation, falling behind New York’s rate of 53.5%.

Of California’s 37.3 million residents, 22.2 million live in the Los Angeles, San Diego, & San Francisco metropolitan regions. Because of this concentration in large urban areas, more than 30% of Californian families live in multi-home residences (which include apartments & condominiums), compared with a national average of 25.9%. California also has the second-highest median home value in the country, which some claim provides an incentive to rent rather than buy.

Is the market is improving or at least stabilizing!?  We provide the latest market updates regularly, as well as personal consultation of market direction…

The San Juan Capistrano Closed Sales Report for DECEMBER:

The SJC Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the 0-$500,000 Range:

2011   20 listings closed escrow             

2010   20 listings closed escrow            

The SJC Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $500,000-$1,000,000 Range:

2011   10 listings closed escrow               

2010   12 listings closed escrow

The SJC Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $1,000,000+Range:

2011   4 listings closed escrow                  

2010   2listings closed escrow                   

*Does a sales report tell the whole story about market environment, consumer sentiment and the value of your home?  Is it time to sell?  Is it time to add a property to your investment portfolio? Is the market changing, and in which direction?

Is the market is improving or at least stabilizing!?  We provide the latest market updates regularly, as well as personal consultation of market direction…

The Irvine Closed Sales Report for DECEMBER:

The Irvine Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the 0-$500,000 Range:

2011   69 listings closed escrow             

2010   64 listings closed escrow            

The Irvine Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $500,000-$1,000,000 Range:

2011   67 listings closed escrow            

2010   79 listings closed escrow

The Irvine Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $1,000,000+Range:

2011   12 listings closed escrow            

2010   15 listings closed escrow                   

*Does a sales report tell the whole story about market environment, consumer sentiment and the value of your home?  Is it time to sell?  Is it time to add a property to your investment portfolio? Is the market changing, and in which direction?

Is the market is improving or at least stabilizing!?  We provide the latest market updates regularly, as well as personal consultation of market direction…

The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for DECEMBER:

The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the 0-$500,000 Range:

2011   22 listings closed escrow             

2010   12 listings closed escrow            

The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $500,000-$1,000,000 Range:

2011   13 listings closed escrow             

2010   12 listings closed escrow

The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $1,000,000+Range:

2011   2 listings closed escrow                  

2010   7 listings closed escrow                   

*Does a sales report tell the whole story about market environment, consumer sentiment and the value of your home?  Is it time to sell?  Is it time to add a property to your investment portfolio? Is the market changing, and in which direction? 

 

Millions of Americans oppose SOPA and PIPA because these bills would censor the Internet and slow economic growth in the U.S. Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business.

Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and PIPA.

PIPA would give the government new powers to block Americans’ access websites that corporations don’t like. The bill allows corporations and the US government to censor entire websites and cut sites off from advertising, payments and donations.

This legislation will stifle free speech and innovation, and even threaten popular web services like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

Fighting online piracy is important. The most effective way to shut down pirate websites is through targeted legislation that cuts off their funding. There’s no need to make American social networks, blogs and search engines censor the Internet or undermine the existing laws that have enabled the Web to thrive, creating millions of U.S. jobs.

The Senate will begin voting on January 24th. Please let them know how you feel. Sign this petition urging Congress to vote NO on PIPA and SOPA before it is too late.

Tell Congress: Don’t censor the Web..click the link to sign the petition!

https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

Mistake Number 1:

Wanting Something Too Much - If you give the impression that your life depends on getting that job, or car, or house, or business deal, you are in trouble. Once your counterpart gets a hint of your desperation, you’re dead. Remember, the person who cares least about the outcome always gets the best deal.

Mistake Number 2:

Believing Your Counterpart Has All The Power - This is rarely, if ever, true. Remember, all parties want something, or they wouldn’t be at the bargaining table. Ask yourself, “Why are they negotiating with me?’

Mistake Number 3:

Failing To Recognize Your Own Strengths - Always try to determine your negotiating strength before you sit down at the bargaining table. The key to assessing your strengths and weaknesses is to know where you stand. Information of this kind is the true power in any negotiation.

Mistake Number 4:

Getting Hung Up On One Issue - This is called fixed-mind negotiating. When our counterpart uses this approach it’s usually the old red-herring. When we fall into this pattern it is usually a pet-peeve. In any event, virtually no negotiation involves one and only one issue. If you think yours does, you’re making a big mistake.

Mistake Number 5:

Failing to See More Than One Option – Rarely do negotiations break down only one option. There are almost always several choices of action. Creativity is the key to avoiding the one-option mistake.

Mistake Number 6:

Adapting A Win-Lose Mentality - Mutual benefit is the name of the game when the pros negotiate. If both parties are not happy, then performance becomes the problem. Anyone can shake hands on a deal. Performance only follows if benefit is derived. Otherwise, one-sided renegotiation is the result. Not good!

Mistake Number 7:

Too Much Grinding - Negotiation is a skill and an art. Understanding and using tactics is relatively simple. The real distinction between the pro and the amateur is the judgment call to end the give-and-take and proceed to performance. That is the art.

Mistake Number 8:

Short Term Thinking - Some negotiators go for immediate pay offs, rather than seeking a long-term relationship. Long-term doesn’t necessarily mean over a lifetime. It can show up later in the same negotiation session. Be careful about grinding someone down on one point. They will get you back on another issue.

Mistake Number 9:

Accepting Opinions, Feelings and Statements as Facts – “Our client would never agree to a proposal such as this.” “We don’t feel we can pay more than $1000 for your product.” “Our budget doesn’t provide for an additional installation fee.” An opinion, a feeling, and a statement: none are facts. Don’t be fooled.

Mistake Number 10:

Accepting Firm Positions - This is our final offer. Everyone who has any level of experience has said this and then made another offer. Don’t buy it!