Marlboro, NJ

Are you willing to be accountable in 2009?

It wasn't on a whim that media mogul, Oprah Winfrey, decided to share with the world her disappointment in allowing her weight loss goals to become sidetracked; it was definitely by design.

In fact, many articles have been written about the effectiveness of accountability. Many researchers agree that accountability can have a transformative effect on our lives.

We are expected to be accountable to a long list of people and entities.

1. The IRS - To avoid being penalized you try to pay your taxes on-time.

2. Your real estate broker/manager - To avoid being called into their office...lol!

3. Buyer & Seller clients - To keep them happy, as well earn their future business you honor your word.

4. Creditors - To avoid having bad credit you try to pay your bills on time.

5. Tax collectors - To avoid a lien on your property to pay your taxes in a timely fashion.

6. Banks - To avoid us overdrawing money that we don't actually have in our accounts.

7. Our family - To avoid letting them down, you try to be there when they need you the most.

Each of these groups have a system of checks & balances in place that expects us to do what we've committed ourselves to do, and holds us accountable.

Here's an idea for the 2009...Why not find accountability partners? These can be one person or a few people whom you trust and feel comfortable sharing your best & worst moments with. They can either work in the same profession as you, or work in a different field.

If you're prefer to be accountable to someone who doesn't work in your same local area, then find an accountability partner(s) who works in the same industry but in a different part of the country.

The great benefits of having an accountability partner are:

1. You develop a support system and a trusted confidante.

2. You develop a give & take relationship with someone who wants to see you succeed, while getting satisfaction from helping them achieve their goals as well.

3. You have an objective source to share creative ideas, as well setbacks with.

4. You learn valuable tips that will help you grow your business.

5. You develop better listening, fidelity, leadership and communication skills which can help you in many areas of your life.

6. You gain a buddy who will hold you accountable so you do what you say you're going to do help propel your own career.

Accountability can be a catalyst to help your business flourish. Will you give it a try in 2009?

Stay positive & motivated,

Amber

AMBER NOBLE-GARLAND
Weichert, Realtors
455 Route 9 South
Manalapan, NJ 07726
917-723-5645 - cell
732-536-4400, ext 199 - office

www.AmberLovesRealEstate.com

www.AmberNobleSellsHomes.com

"Your Reliable Resource For Real Estate, Local Info & More"

In my work as a Marlboro Realtor, as well as, my life as a Mom and Marlboro area resident, I've been collecting links to some great websites where you will find information on life in Marlboro, New Jersey.

I think it would be great to build upon and share this list of resources.

Please email me and I will add your favorite links!

Marlboro Township Information

The Official Marlboro Township Website

Marlboro Township Important Phone Numbers

Localism Information on Marlboro Township

Marlboro Township Census Information

Marlboro Neighborhood Walk Score

Monmouth County Library (Manalapan Headquarters)

Marlboro School System

Marlboro Township Public Schools

Freehold Regional High School District

High School Learning Centers and Academies

Marlboro High School

Monmouth County Vocational School District

Department of Education - Marlboro Township School Report Card

Data for the Marlboro Public School District

Data for the Morganville Public School District

Great Schools Information for Marlboro, New Jersey

Commuting to New York City

New Jersey Transit

Academy Bus Lines

New Jersey Government Information

New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government

Monmouth County Information

Monmouth County Website

Financing Information

Understanding Different Types of Loans

Refinancing

Closing Costs

Marlboro Realtor

JoAnna Siminerio, Weichert Realtors

Jo

JoAnna Siminerio
Weichert Realtors - Marlboro/Manalapan
JoSiminerio@optonline.net
www.JoTheRealtor.com

Yesterday I showed my buyer clients four wonderful homes in the areas of Old Bridge, South Amboy, Marlboro and Manalapan...desirable towns in Monmouth and Middlesex County New Jersey.

Each home was beautiful in it's own way; amazing views, upgraded galore inside, granite countertops, premium cabinetry...you name it, these homes have it!

However, there were two unwelcoming and undesirable features that 3 of the 4 homes offered, and frankly these things overshadowed many of the home's key selling points.

ICY FRONT STEPS AND AN ICY DRIVEWAY!!!

My buyer client (the husband) spent 10 minutes each (20 minutes total) at 3 of the 4 homes, helping me (his agent) and his wife (the other buyer) up and down the driveway and steps. In a brief moment of panic his wife nearly slid down the driveway, and I almost busted my knee on the icy rear steps trying to put the keys back in the lockbox. It was absolutely ridiculous!

I couldn't believe that anyone who is in the process of trying to sell their home, would leave their home's exterior so vulnerable, especially considering the snow and rain stopped 24 hours prior.

So, instead of the final moments of our time together in the frigid cold being spent on recapping the appeal of the homes, my clients instead expressed how annoyed and turned off they were. They were so disgusted by the way the homeowners neglected to remove the ice from the property.

Not only have those sellers of 3 of the 4 homes compromised their potential for a sale, but they've also put themselves in jeopardy to be sued. If someone goes to view their home, and they slip & fall, they might file a lawsuit!

WHO LOSES IN THIS INSTANCE & WHY?

1. The seller loses...Why? They may lose great buyers (like mine) whose current home is paid off, and they don't need to sell it in order to buy a different home.

2. The seller loses...Why?They may get sued if someone falls and gets hurt, thus making their homeowners insurance premium go up!

3. The buyer's agent loses...Why? They could fall, get hurt and then be out of work with no income coming in. Then what? If they don't have disability insurance they're going to be in trouble.

4. The seller's agent and the buyer's agent lose...Why? They both could lose out on their commission, thus compromising their potential income.

WORD TO THE WISE...

• Listing/Seller's Agents: Double-check each of your listings, and make sure you sellers have have shoveled, put salt down and taken measures to remove any snow and/or ice.

• Home Sellers: Please double-check to make sure you have no icy walkways, steps or driveways, before you have the next buyer take a look at your home.

I'd like to think that most people are honest (like my buyer clients whom I showed those four homes). However I am not naive, and I realize there are unscrupulous people in the world who would deliberately take advantage of others for their own personal gain.

Don't forget folks...we ARE in a recession and some good people just desperately need money.

Let's not give anyone opportunity to prey on homeowners trying to sell their houses...Please REMOVE the snow & ice!

Stay motivated,

Amber

www.AmberLovesRealEstate.com

Earlier today I was talking on the phone to various former colleagues, a friend and even a client that I hadn't spoken to in awhile. They all work in different industries...real estate, mortgages, radio, TV, music, finance, law, transportation and automotive.

Some of the conversations were just me on the phone with them one-on-one, and others were 3-way chats where we were "shooting the breeze" for nearly an hour.

There was one resounding theme I noticed, and that was a sense of uncertainty about what the future may bring.

• One person had been instrumental in the growth of a major TV broadcasting company for nearly a decade, and suddenly she received her pink slip.

• Another person had worked their way up at a big record label in the music industry, devoting their life to the company, only to be given 2 weeks of severance pay and a half-hearted "good luck."

• The third person is a promising young trader on Wall Street who sees his future crumbling, but feels lost and doesn't know what to do. He's so depressed and unhappy with the job he used to love that he says he can't even get out of bed in the morning to go to work.

• The fourth had been promised to be made a partner in her law firm, only to find out that someone else less qualified was chosen.

• The fifth is a 10+ year veteran car salesperson. She sells luxury vehicles and is phenomenal at her job. The dealership owner told all the sales people (including the "top producers") that they'd have to take a $50,000 pay cut, yet the next week he flew overseas on his private plane with his family for the next 2.5 weeks.

• The sixth is a Realtor who had to make a tough decision to leave his current brokerage for a different brand who truly sees his value, respects his hard work and is willing to pay him accordingly.

• Another is a mortgage consultant who can't seem to get himself out of a slump and drum up new business. Instead of "networking" he said he finds himself "chasing Realtors like a personal injury lawyer chases ambulances"...his exact words.

• The final convo I had (literally in the midst of writing this post) was with a client of mine who works in transportation. He drives a bus, and it's taking a toll on his health (physically & mentally). He's stuck between a rock & a hard place, because they're cutting back on hours and he just bought his family their first home.

While they all work in different professions, they shared the commonality of not being sure of what is "next."

Change is good and necessary, but it isn't always pretty or comfortable. In fact, change can be pretty uncomfortable.

When we stop changing, we stop growing. Don't ever fear change!

For anyone out there who feels uncertain about their future, remmber you've got a BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF YOU!

Here's my advice to you...

1. Believe in yourself, even when others don't.
2. If you're going to have to "roll the dice," bet on YOU.
3. Know your worth, your value and don't accept anything less.
4. Nothing is promised, so always have a "Plan B, C and D."
5. Remember, "sometimes you've got to go to grow."

Stay motivated,

Amber

www.AmberLovesRealEstate.com

The state of New Jersey is requiring a world language program be provided for students in kindergarten through third grade, as explained recently to the public by administrators of the Marlboro, NJ K-8 School District.

Members of the Board of Education heard the administration's proposed plan for these grades during a Nov. 11 workshop meeting.

School administrators believe that some additional staff will be necessary to deliver the foreign language instruction.

An overview of the plan to introduce students in younger grades to a variety of languages was given by Victoria Andalucia, the district's supervisor for world language.

• American Sign Language would be introduced into the classroom for kindergartners at the Marlboro Early Learning Center.

• Students in grades one through three would receive exposure to three languages.

*First graders would learn Mandarin Chinese*

*Second graders would be taught Spanish*

*Third graders would be taught French*

• Third grade students currently choose between French and Spanish to continue with for fourth through eighth grade.

• Board members said the Marlboro district prefers to conform its foreign language selections to the options that would be open to those students upon entering the Freehold Regional High School District.

• The instruction for these languages would take place through video programming, like the Salsa program, which teaches Spanish, and the BBC's Muzzy program in French.

• For American Sign Language, there are staff members at the Marlboro Early Learning Center who know basic signs and that developmental programs are offered for the language. With the other two language options, school administrators would like to see support offered to those particular teachers.

A survey was recently offered to parents concerning the language program. 1,557 parents took the survey which asked what language they'd like their child exposed to. 13% of the respondents selected French, 22 % selected Mandarin Chinese and 59 % selected Spanish. Administrators may consider incorporating a language like Italian into the program in the future, to satisfy popular demand by a large # of parents.

Information courtesy of:

Realtor-Associate / Multi-Million Dollar Producer

Weichert, Realtors (Marlboro/Manalapan office)

455 Route 9 South - Manalapan, NJ 07726

917-723-5645 - cell or 732-536-4400, ext 199 - office

www.AmberLovesRealEstate.com

"Thank you for the referrals of your family, friends and colleagues. It is the highest compliment you could ever pay me."