Brendan Winans -- Previews International

Not too long ago, my mother started a relationship building company. Cup Of Conversation...

The Product: A simple coffee mug with the words "Cup of Conversation" on the sides

The Mission: To change the world, one relationship at a time

Here is my parent's story, the reason behind the passion:

A "Cup of Conversation" was born when my husband of 25 years and I were in a "valley time" of our life. At about year fourteen, and after determining that there was to be no divorce for us, we decided that whether we lived together happily or unhappily was up to us. Being the really bright people we are, we decided it would be more fun to be happy. In the previous years we had gotten caught up in our incredible kids. So, we decided to get to know each other better. We started having a coffee date every Saturday morning. The rules were: the kids couldn't interrupt us unless blood was squirting or the house was on fire; and we couldn't focus our conversation entirely on our kids. We had to concentrate on each other.

That was about ten years ago now. Plenty of "Cups of Conversation" later, we're still having our Saturday morning dates. It's completely the highlight of my week.

We all need to feel listened to, encouraged, and believed in. Friend, spouse, child, neighbor or co-worker, encourage someone today by taking your mugs on the road. Create your own story, tradition or even book material.

Talk much and talk often,
Patrice

If you have a story that you would like to tell, you can have it posted on the Cup of Conversation website! (visit the website for more info on posting your story. www.CupofConversation.com)

Relationship building is key to our overall well being, Cups of Conversations can be the catalyst. If you or anyone you know could use "Cups of Conversation" you can place an order on the website. http://www.cupofconversation.com/

Also, to hear more of her stories (as they can be incredibly motivating) visit her blog. www.cupofconversation.wordpress.com

I encourage you to please visit the website, to hear more stories, or to add your own. I guarantee you will be moved.

If this story touched you in any way, please feel free to re-blog it, help more people by spreading the word.

Thank you,

Brendan Winans

Wow... pretty negative title huh? hear me out...

So for those of you that have read a vast majority of my blogs, you should know by now that I try to motivate Realtors by using the tough love technique. It usually says something like "stop complaining" and "start working".

And although that works for me (and yes that means I'm making money in this market) I still hear people complaining, whining, crying... everything BUT working.

So I got to thinking, maybe these people are simply not ABLE to adapt to this economic climate. Maybe they are wired a little different and just simply cannot understand how to function, or to work, in this environment.

*Let me make a quick disclaimer*-- I'm not making fun of, or teasing anybody right now. I'm actually pretty torn over this thought. I mean, what's so special about me? Why should I get to do it, and someone else can't?

Were you guys ever in math class, and the teacher was going over something soooo basic... so very easy, and yet there was a classmate that just couldn't get it no matter how many ways you tried to explain it? His brain was simply wired different. Well, I doubt he grew up to be a math major... if you know what I mean.

This is called Social Darwinism. And it is times like this when it makes itself known.

It is easy to do well in a hot market... the climate has changed, and those who cannot adapt will die off and leave less competition for the rest of us. As sad as it sounds, it's a good thing. It wipes the slate clean of those who really shouldn't be in this business.

So what am I trying to say by writing this blog... hmmm. I'm still sticking to my guns as far as the whole "stop complaining" thing goes... mainly because your hurting my ears and it's getting wicked annoying!

However, if you are complaining... it's time to reassess your situation. Ask your self "am I complaining just because I can?" or "am I complaining, because I have been thoroughly unable to adapt to this market?"

If the latter is more like you... then you have my condolences. And if that IS you, maybe it's time to end the complaining and begin a new line of work...

So this may not seem like a happy go lucky post... but maybe it helped someone realize that this isn't the career they want to be in! Or maybe it helped a "complainer" realize that he CAN adapt and should close his mouth and get back to work.

:)

Brendan

Wow... I'm honored *Crowed Cheering Noise in the background* um first of all I'd like to thank all the people who got me here....

Eh em.... REALITY CHECK!

No but seriously people, I was asked this question not too long ago, by someone considered to be a veteran in the business. To tell you the truth, it was not the first time I've been asked this.

First off, do I deserve these questions? Personally, I don't think so. I've only been doing what I've been taught to do, and what I THOUGHT every agent was doing (and lately I've been doing a little less than that, and should humble myself and get back to the basics).

So my first real answer as to "How I do it". I'd have to say my faith in God. Think what you may, I don't really care, the results are there. The Bible says not to worry, and that God will provide for all of your needs (please make a note at the word "needs" and not "wants"... I've made that mistake more than a few times haha!). He has provided for my business in ways that I couldn't understand even if I tried!

My second answer is that I work. That's right, I find SOMETHING to do in real estate every day from at LEAST 8AM - 5PM. Whether it be servicing listings, checking up with my buyers, prospecting, re-organizing all of my stuff (hugely important, great news report about Clutter VS. Stress last night on the news... i'll try and find it for you after I finish this post). Anything you can do will help, doesn't matter if it only helps a little, it's helping more than if you did nothing at all.

Third... this one gets under my skin... bare with me. But if I hear ONE more person tell ME it's a bad market... oh man.. it's gonna hit the fan! IT IS NOT A BAD MARKET, times are tricky for the money market. You know what? THAT'S LIFE! Get over it, there is a way to work in this market, figure it out! Don't EVER waist MY TIME by giving me a false report as to how my business is, or should be. I swear my answer for the next person to say "oh the market is soooo bad" as a result of me asking "how are you?" I'm just going to tell them "Well of course it is for someone like YOU!" UGH!....

...I'm not really going to say that... that would be rude. I'm more patient in person than I am on paper HA!

Here's the deal, it's not the HOT market you are used to, everyone and their brother cannot sit around and accumulate a bunch of business. I wouldn't think I would have had to explain that... but you gotta do what you gotta do! Stop doing nothing, and then complaining that your results are nothing. Get back to the basics, Prospecting, Farming, EVEN COLD CALLS FOR CRYIN OUT LOUD! If you can get one appointment for every 100 cold calls... isn't that more business? You are not above ANY method of prospecting... humble yourself and get it done!

Sorry for the "tough love" technique, but I'd rather you guys "not like me" and have your business flourish as a result. Than to be your buddy, and have you continue to whine at me.

Until next time, try not to enjoy this market TOO much!

-Brendan Winans

OK... it's time to clear up this massive misconception. Just because your friend's ex-girlfriend's sister's boyfriend's brother sold his modular home by himself, doesn't mean you are going to save money by selling real estate without an agent. This holds true for BOTH sides of the deal.

Let us start with the buyer, because that is the most basic concept...

You will not save any money (and will most likely spend MORE money) by buying a home without the representation of a Realtor.

Allow me to elaborate...

I will start by making the legal disclaimer that ALL commissions are negotiable and none are set in stone. So, a listing agent signs an agreement with a seller. In this agreement there are several key points. Two of which, are the following: 1. That the agent owes the seller "fiduciary duties" (meaning, he MUST look out for the sellers best interests, and work to achieve maximum profits for the seller). 2. That the agent will work for X% commission. Now, in marketing the home, the agent states that he will pay a portion of the X% to any Realtor who brings a buyer. The rest of the X% he walks away with. When a buyer comes along to purchase the home with out representation of a Realtor, the Listing agent switches to what is called a "Transaction Broker" (which was intended to be a "neutral party" in the mix) however despite his neutrality on paper, HIS AFFILIATION IS STILL WITH THE SELLER. Not to mention when the deal is done the X% commission is still paid, the only difference is, he doesn't pay a portion of it, and walks away with the whole amount. By doing this, not only did you not lower any commissions involved, but you limited the extent to which you could negotiate prices and terms. Should you have gone in with representation, the commission would have stayed the same, but you would have had a better chance at lowering the purchase price because you are using someone who is trained and practiced at negotiations, and who owes YOU fiduciary duties, and has to look out for YOUR best interests!

This brings me to the seller... For Sale By Owner, FSBO'S (pronounced Fiz-bows) as we in the industry like to call them.

Place a FSBO sign in your yard... or a target on your forehead... what's the difference? really?

Opting to sell your home yourself? I behoove you to reconsider! For several reasons:

1. You will be hounded by Realtors trying to convince you to list with them (they are just trying to put food on the table, don't get mad at them).

2. You will need to price your home correctly (don't tell me you went off of Zillow, or an appraiser... one bases its opinion off of tax assessments, and the other off of what a bank would lend on the property). Pricing too high and adjusting later doesn't work either, because it creates a stigmatization of the property because of the amount of time it will spend on the market.

3. You will still need to offer a commission to the buyer's agent.

4. Given the Buyer's agent's expenses, the price to market the property, the lack of experience in pricing, and the other agent's best attempts at working you over to get the price lower, and what you will lose by eventually having to lower the price... you are going to spend well over what you would have spent by hiring an agent.

Look, I'm not trying to be rude, don't feel bad if you thought you could save some money by doing it this way. Part of my job is to save you money.

You have a need, I am licensed and trained to meet that need... And frankly, I'm pretty dang good at it too

Don't be reckless, do your due diligence, and use a Realtor.

-Brendan Winans

I was thinking on this subject after reading a fantastic post by Billy Manders entitled "Helping High School Kids Become Financially Educated...". A concept that came to mind, whilst pondering this nugget of a post... Is the fact that "You won't know, what you don't know, about a subject until you try to teach it". Go ahead.. soak that one up for a second...

... Okay, so my question is. How, as a population, do we expect to teach our children sound financial practices if we don't even know them ourselves?

Not only do we need to get ourselves out of a financial pickle, we need to make sure our children don't stumble into the same problem.

These two issues have the same solution, "education". We need to educate the masses on sound financial principles. If the average American has less than $3,800.00 in their savings and over $9,200.00 worth of credit card debt... then we need to show them (them being everyone) how to make good use of their income to both put away, and eliminate debt.

I'm not just talking about a little seminar on saving... or a CE class on finances. I'm talking about a national program dedicated to educating the masses. How are we supposed to teach a subject to the kiddo's that we don't even know ourselves?!

If the average savings rate is -2%... than we have an issue here folks... it's called living outside of our means. It's the real American Dream of having everything and borrowing the money to buy it with... YIKES!

I mean, tell me I'm not alone on this.

-Brendan Winans