Anne Barrier ABR ASP CRS GRI e-PRO

Absolutely in this case! The Humane Society of Catawba County has been chosen by Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar as their charity of choice in Catawba County for 2010. Every Monday when you eat you only have to drop your receipt into the designated jar at the check out counter and a portion of the proceeds go to the Humane Society! How awesome and easy is that?

Because of the economy, many of our pets and animals are feeling the brunt of loss. Families are surrendering dogs and cats in record numbers here. The Catawba County Animal Shelter is extremely overcrowded. They are forced to euthanize animals every week.

The Humane Society is a no-kill facility, but they are at capacity.

How can you help? Eat at Buffalo Wild Wings on Mondays and make sure your receipt gets counted! As you chow down on chicken wings, burgers and fries remember the dogs and cats you will be helping!

I noticed a disturbing trend in my blogs from last year - negativism! Bad! Not the way I want to do business and not what I truly have to offer - my apologies and on to a new year. The banks in this area are looking for business again, which is a good thing. The tax credit for homebuyers is fantastic and still on. Buyers need to jump into the market and get that first house even if it's not going to be their "forever" house. Sellers - you better make sure your house is priced right and staged perfectly. Your competition is fierce especially in the Hickory NC area that I serve. Foreclosures are still coming in hot and heavy and this gives buyers so much to choose from. There's lots of excitement out there to be had in this time.

Sometines it's easy to get caught up in the day to day stress and flow of real estate sales and forget about one of the main things we can offer to our clients. Access to the community! My clients know they can go to www.abarrier.com and find out what's happening at the art museum, the historical association, the Catawba County Humane Society and other areas of interest. Especially newcomers to our area don't always know what we have to offer.

Real estate is so much more than buying and selling homes - it's about helping people create lives.

I keep waiting for the bottom, and I hope we hit it last fall and winter. Although foreclosures are still coming on the market daily and the phones are still too quiet, there is a difference in the air. People are emailing more and phoning less. I have gone ahead and made an investment in my web site that I hope will pay dividends later this year. As Will Rogers said "Don't say whoa in a mud hole"! I have been working with good buyers and my listings are being shown more. I won't say we're rebounding - it's more of a glacial inching but I see forward movement. Let's go ahead in 2009!

I just came through the most horrendous ordeal of over 30 years in sales and business. This woman has driven me to drink (a very short drive) and almost to insanity and sickness. For some reason, I just couldn't get rid of her. I kept thinking about the commission on these tough times and also, my reputation as a closer. I needed to get my head out of my butt a little faster than I did and let her go. There comes a point where you think you have so much invested in the transaction that you cannot let it disappear. However, when you are taking so much crap from someone who is so stupid that it's unbelievable, it's time to cut the strings. I let her walk away from the deal and when she mentioned house hunting again, I said "Good luck, I wish you well".

Refresher 101 for me - don't be afraid to fire someone. The relief is much better than the paycheck would have been!