Doug Rogers- Your Pineville Louisiana Agent

Manic Monday certainly lived up to its name! I had a list of things to do today that would put Santa's little list to shame. This was also one of those days when random past prospects would appear.

The only "easy" thing to do was a 4pm closing. The work being done, all I had to do was go eat some chocolate mints and hand over the keys. So when things got busy, I would imagine me sitting at the settlement table doing absolutely nothing.

Finally the moment arrived. The parties met and people started signing. Then it happened. Whatever Monday Mojo I had left was spent. The closing attorney asked me for the deposit check (this was my listing). Guess who forgot to request the escrow check??

Of all the major things I could have screwed up today, I tripped over something simple. Normally I sit down with the file the morning of closing and go through the checklist. Not me, not today! I had too much fancy real estate going on to worry about the basics. Looks like I will be bring donuts to the office tomorrow...

If my house won't sell for 150k, let's raise the price to 170k. Okay sounds great! Thanks for doing business with ABC Realty, I will update the MLS. Seriously, how does this EVER happen?

While well priced homes are moving here in Central Louisiana, over priced homes ain't! There are several homes active in our MLS that have undergone price INCREASES lately. What kind of Realtor agrees to this?

As homes sit vacant, costs continue to accrue. Mortgages must be paid, utilities kept on (ever tried showing a home with no heat or AC), not to mention living expenses at the new place. So clients feel that the only way to make up this difference is to raise the price. If only we could get "X" for our place, our family would have a chance. Who can blame folks for looking out for their family?

Sometimes though pain must be endured to stop the bleeding. As Realtors we have a responsibility to shoot straight with our clients. Do you REALLY think that home will command a higher price? Odds are against it. Part of that commission we earn is compensation for such difficult issues.

Be frank with your sellers. If the house hasn't sold for 150k odds are you need a price reduction. Allow your clients to vent (even if it is directed at you). This standard is what separates Realtors from mere licensees.

Just got back from a thrilling softball game. For anyone who has never seen 10 year old girls play, let's just say things can get intense. With all the activity on the ground, folks still looked at the scoreboard to judge the game.

This got me thinking, as a dad what does my scoreboard say? With four daughters time is limited. Combine this with multiple clients and that "sand in the hourglass" gets a bit thin.

How do we decide the balance? I NEVER want to become one of those dads who rarely makes it to the park. One the other hand, have you priced an Mizuno bat lately?? In order for the girls to have the nicer things, daddy will have to miss a game now and then.

I think as Realtors/ parents we need to be upfront with our kids. When I can't make the game, they know it is because of work. To bring this point home, I have the girls purchase ALL of their equipment. They can do extra chores for high wages, but when they want that Mizuno bat the cash comes from their hands.

Perhaps this will teach them the importance of hard work and the sacrifice it entails. Maybe even they will start learning balance for themselves. When the last kid leaves the nest hopefully I'm still ahead on the Daddy scoreboard!

How much time do you spend at the real estate office? For some reason the whole work from home deal is tough for me. After all, what client can compete with 200 plus channels of HDTV??

I see going to the office as a natural thing to do. For me at least driving to work helps me focus. If I stay home, there is always yard work, Laundry, or other chores to take the time.

But thankfully, my broker doesn't make me do laundry (not yet at least). The office is also located in a high visibility area. Part of me thinks it helps for my clients to see the ole jeep at work everyday.

Much can be learned around the office coffee pot. Odds are other agents in the office are facing the same problems as you. I have picked up several good ideas just from interacting with other agents.

While the technology is here to allow agents to work from home, for the foreseeable future my first cup of coffee will come from the Century 21 kitchen! How about you??

I decided to introduce my 1o yr old daughter to the glamorous world of real estate today. After a nice McDonald's breakfast, we went to one of my listings AND MOWED THE LAWN!! We picked up sticky pine cones, and pulled weeds from the flower beds.

After about an hour, my daughter asked why we were doing this. Without thinking I said, "because my client needs me to". And you know, this made sense to her.

More importantly, this makes sense to me. My client had to move for work (he is in the military) and is paying two mortgages. Why wouldn't I spend a couple of hours and mow his yard? Is my time really that valuable?

At the end of the day Realtors are here because we help solve our client's problems. And my daughter thinks that is pretty cool!