Lola Audu~Real Estate Broker/Owner Grand Rapids, Michigan Real Estate

When you take a look at things in black and white, you see things in a different way.  This past year, I've taken several snapshots of a variety of areas in Grand Rapids, MI and converted them to black and white images.  This slide show done with Real Estate Shows captures some of these images which are as diverse as a giant cabbage rose at the Fulton Street Farmers Market to a downtown highrise taken from and adjacent parking ramp.  To view more of my images from my walk-abouts in Grand Rapids, Mi....vist my Flickr profile.

Passing the soccer ball correctly is perhaps the most important skill set that budding soccer players have to master. It is often the Pass, not the shot that enables the scoring of the goal. In soccer terminology, that pass is revered...it even has a special name. It's called an Assist.

Passing the ball correctly and accurately allows a good team to dominate the playing field. One of the drills which our sons practiced over and over was called "touch & pass."

I'll be honest with you, when I first saw this particular play in operation on the field, I didn't like it. Here was my son blazing down the field with other players in hot pursuit...the sidelines cheering with vigor and the coach was yelling....PASS THE BALL!!! What? Why?

Well, it took me some time and education from my kids to understand the finer nuances of the game.

In soccer, it is important to regain control of the ball and to maintain that control at all times. When a ball is passed across the field, it comes at a player with a force and momentum of its own. If a player does not Secure the pass, the ball controls the play not the player. To the bystander, the difference may not be readily discernible, but it's a significant issue which will affect the next aspect of the play which is ACCURACY.

Why Accuracy Matters...

Without control, it will be impossible for the ball to be passed with ACCURACY. A skilled soccer player will touch the ball in a manner which allows him to CONTROL the ACCURACY of the next action which is to PASS it to a properly positioned team mate.

By being in control of the ball, the player ensures that the pass is just slightly ahead of the team mate giving him the incentive to move forward and advance the play towards the goal. A good passing game also keeps the offensive line off balance because the ball is continually changing sides over the field thereby taking away the ability of the offense to gang up on the player who eventually shoots for the goal.

Steadying the Transaction...

In a successful real estate transaction, one can also see the elements of a good passing game in motion. Coordination of a transaction is one of the most important skills that a good real estate agent brings to the table. It starts with steadying the game by selecting the RIGHT PRICE.

Often homeowners are excited and/or misinformed about the current dynamics of the real estate market. When people enter the real estate market with unrealistic expectations, this produces a destabilizing force. It is the job of a good agent to steady the conversation, educate and give the home owner the information that ACCURATELY reflects the current terms and conditions of the real estate market in their area.

Moving the Deal Forward ...

Once, the right price has been SET, a good agent sets in motion a number of actions which will MOVE THE BALL FORWARD. These include: Executing a Brilliant Marketing Plan which highlights the Home Listing Features on the Multiple Listing Service, Contacting interested parties in the community and within the agents' referral network, Incorporating the latest Media and Web 2.0 Applications including Blogs, Open Houses and Expanding the listings' accessibility on the World Wide Web.

Securing the Goal!

These activities, over time will SECURE A SALE. At this point, the final coordination goes into effect with Negotiations, Transaction Management, Inspections, Repair Coordination when applicable and finally culminates in a SUCCESSFUL CLOSING.

All this team works requires an agent who has their eyes of the Right Ball and knows how to work with their team to make sure your goal of Selling Your home is Accomplished while you're on the playing field. Failure to do so will result in the game ending without Scoring...in real estate it's called an Expired Listing.

If you're thinking about placing your home For Sale in Grand Rapids, Michigan this year, take advantage of a Real Estate Team which understands what it takes to SCORE the GOAL and Get Your Home Sold! Audu Real Estate has assisted hundreds of individuals and families to move successfully.

We have also facilitated highly skilled executable plays which involve complex negotiations with banks for Short Sales and Foreclosure Transactions.

To receive a competent, thorough and professional evaluation of your home and a COMPREHENSIVE PLAY BOOK STRATEGY to Market & Sell Your Home, please contact us today! (616-791-0511)

Click Here to Read More about Grand Rapids, Michigan

this blog post is part of the 'oldies but goodies series' and was orginially published in a slightly modified form in January of 2008.

Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved

Have you ever bought a book because of just one chapter? Or gone to a restaurant because you just love one singularly scrumptious dish? I have...I bet you have too.

In a world of plenty and an overwhelming abundance of choices, standing out from the crowd is an important part of business survival. This past week, we drove downtown to check out a new restaurant offering in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. We'd heard about the Winchester from some friends.

The Winchester is a new gastro pub located on 648 Wealthy St. SE. Some friends had urged us to check it out. Stepping into the restaurant revealed the validity of the recommendation. Every table was full; and at 5:15 there were very few spaces left at the bar. Two women noting my plight, waved me over and began to wax rhapsodical about the place. I looked at them closely...they weren't drunk; they were simply true fans who had found something good and wanted everyone to know about it!

As I grabbed a menu to go, I knew that I'd be back. The fish tacos are calling my name. :)

Today, being a 'jack of all trades' will be an increasingly difficult job to maintain. At a time when jobs are being lost by the millions on a monthly basis, it's imperative that professionals of all varieties take the time to understand WHY certain businesses such as the Winchester are flourishing during challenging economic times. Personally, for me it all boils down to the 'experience'.

I think that there are a few significant elements which help to determine whether an experience will be memorable for the consumer or simply fade into memory. If a business or business professional concentrates on these issues, they will greatly increase their chances of success in any economy!

Create A First Class Experiences...

In a world overflowing with mediocrity, a first class experience stands out. It's a little counter-intuitive, but think about it...if you had limited resources, wouldn't you want to get the best bang for your buck? The Winchester is located in a historic building which has been gutted to the core and lovingly renovated. The owners are planning to move in to an apartment above the restaurant. Now, that's true commitment! Those who create consistent first class experiences for their clients and offer more than they promise will be big winners.

Get Rid of Unexpected Surprises...

People don't like surprises. There's enough stuff making folks anxious these days and most people prefer to pay for an experience which is predictable. Witness the success of franchise organizations. But what is lost in the typical franchise experience is uniqueness. The thing about humans is that we are unique (hence the term individuals) and we crave unique combinations. Any business which is able to marry the benefit of a guaranteed service proposition with a unique element or value which stands out from the crowd will benefit in a time of economic uncertainty.

Provide A Value Proposition To Your Menu...

As I browsed the menu I picked up at the Winchester, I noted that most of the items were less than $15. I could count on having a dinner which wouldn't break the bank! No wonder the place was crowded and full of neighborhood regulars. Great food and great value. An unbeatable combo for sure.

As real estate professionals, there's much to take home from this example of a new restaurant which seems to be thriving when many businesses are fading. It's easy to get caught up in the gloom and doom or to spend our time chasing the new formula for success when in reality, the recipe is quite simple

Consumers want a First Class Experience that Doesn't come with Unexpected Surprises and which Provides Good Value. It's really not that complicated.

Copyright 2009 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved

Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation.

Quote by C.S. Lewis

Yesterday, real estate professionals in Grand Rapids, MI had the unique opportunity to participate in the Survival Strategies Summit which included the tagline "It's a Jungle Out There!". The event drew over 400 individuals from different segments of the real estate industry although the vast majority were real estate agents and brokers.

The speakers included Dr. Jerry Teplitz and Jeremy Conaway the President of RECON Intelligence Services.

Conquering the Jungle...

Conaway urged agents to understand the importance of taking charge of their own success and gaining a realistic appreciation of the fact that we are all in this together...the broker's success was and will continue to be intertwined with the agents they supervise.

It was interesting to hear this in light of recent trends which have to some degree pitted agents against their brokers and vice versa.

For much of the past decade, the focus has been on agent centric models which allowed for greater autonomy and sometimes marginalized broker authority and control.

These events occured against a backdrop in which the brokers continued to carry a burgeoning weight of liability yet had less control over the agents who worked with them.

This new found independence contributed in some measure to the dearth of training as many brokers no longer mandated agents to attend company meetings and to some degree abdicated the responsibility of training and supervision. And to be frank, with profit margins eroding, many brokers simply could not afford to place resources into education and ongoing supervision.

Taking a postive charge...

During the presentation Dr. Teplitz used behavioral kinesiology to demonstrate how powerful our resentments can be. He proved to all present that not only were we affecting others through negativity, even when it was unspoken, but more importantly we were doing great damage to ourselves. Watching how the body weakened through his exercises with various members of the audience was unsettling.

Although many were initially skeptical about some of the information, it was clear that what Dr. Teplitz was saying had tremendous implications for our well being and professional success. It also made me think about how beneficial the practise of humility can be as a precursor to maintaining a positive attitude.

What is practical humility?

Humility is defined as 'the state or quality of being humble; freedom from pride and arrogance; lowliness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth;" When we are humble, we recognize the true importance of others in our lives and do so with gratitude. We also take responsiblity for how our actions impact the lives of others.

Practical humilty enables us to act with integrity regardless of whether we are observed or not. Freedom from pride gives us the capacity to have an ongoing learning experience with life...not thinking that we know it all while missing the emerging lessons which occur when we are humble and observant.

Humility protects us from making mistakes which we later regret and enables us to quickly admit error because we are able to discern the truth of our intentions more clearly. Humility is really the salve which greases the gears of momentum and progress by which we all strive to move forward. When we understand the nature of humility in this way, it becomes an empowering grace.

What difference does it make?

I remember a long time broker telling me that so many agents were so busy hopping for place to place that their customers who were looking for them didn't know where to find them! Indeed, perhaps the search for greener pastures may mask what many real estate professionals would rather not face... the nagging internal crisis which continues to hamper their forward momentum in life. Humbly acknowledging and taking responsibility for actions and the results we have created is a start in the right direction.

Conaway challenged agents about the negativity that some harbor about themselves and the exterior situations which some have allowed to define their role in the current market. He also urged agents to think not just about themselves, but also about the welfare of their brokers. In his words...'you'll never have a broker treat you better than the one you have today.' I wonder how many believe this to be true...

Notes on the event can also be followed on Twitter through the hashtag #GRAR

Related Stories:

Realtors get postive view in difficult market at Survival Summit

If you'd like to watch a video by Dr. Jerry Teplitz about Behavioral Kinesiolgy, click here

Copyright 2009 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved

When the news broke that Grand Rapids was the 5th most affordable city in the United States, you would have thought there would be cheering and dancing in the streets. After all, isn't affordability a great thing in the era of recession fears and increasingly dire economic news?

Well, if there was such thing as negative miracles, somehow this normally great news is being apprehended by the boogie man...fear of the unknown. News reports indicate that potential buyers fearful of further declines in the market are determining they won't buy now even though prices haven't been this low for more than 20 years! Wow!

Well, I'm glad that I'm living in a parallel universe. These past two weeks have been some of busiest we've had at Audu Real Estate. We're taking buyers out and some of the deals that we're seeing are so good that we're being told that we're offer #2 or #3. Today, I fielded several requests for home showings on homes we have listed!

When opportunity knocks, we have determined that we don't want to be sleeping. We've found that it's better to open the door because often opportunity doesn't stick around, it keeps on trudging towards the next likely candidate. What FDR said remains true... 'the only thing to fear is fear itself.'

So, if you're a homeowner who would like to sell your home or a home buyer who wants to check out what the incredible options are right now....give us a call or e-mail us at info@auduhomes.com. We're eager to be of service.

Click here to pre-view homes

Copyright 2009 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved