Cherry Temple

I visit another board sponsored by a home and garden network featuring real estate and decorating shows, you all know the initials. The posts on there are really eye opening about how many of us are running/ruining our real estate businesses.

Take a stroll through some of the topics -

"I can't sell my Miami Home - The poster has been trying to sell her home for 2.5 years. Her agent blows her off and doesn't bother to answer questions, just says we don't do it that way here. Currently, the agent is away on a 2 week vacation, it seems the poster has no one at the agency to contact with her concerns.

Next post after several responses critiques of the photography - really bad, and the write up - very confusing.

Subsequent posts it comes out that if she wants more marketing of her home, video tour etc, the agent told her she could pay for it. The comments go on and on. After several more posts the general consensus is to dump the agent and go shopping for a new one.

Another Post -

This person - their listing just disappeared and no one can figure out why. She has questions about why so few showings in a short period of time, the response from the agent according to the poster is they need to cut down a tree, instead of take better photos.

After more posts - it seems the listing agent is not being communicative and doesn't seem to be very proactive.

last one, but I could go on;

"These buyers are confused about what is a cash sale vs a mortgage and if they change their mind mid stream what affect will it have on the purchase. The agent didn't or wouldn't answer so they came to the board seeking answers.

(I was going to post the actual comments in quotes, but decided I didn't want to run afoul of the Permission to Post question.)

Now, what do all these have in common? Where is their real estate agent? Why are they not doing their job? Isn't that what we get very nice commissions (sometimes) to do?

Why are they on a public forum getting advice from strangers with no knowledge of real estate in their market? Because the real estate agent got the contract or the listing and disappeared. We all love to trot out the list of everything we do to earn our commission, but looks to me from looking at other boards, a lot of us are not walking the walk.

So, what questions are your clients asking in an open forum.

Oh, many times Mr and Ms Agent - the listing info is included and everyone can see who it is giving such bad service to their clients.

I just thought ya'll like to know.

Boris was a part of our family from shortly after DH and I said I do. Found on a local tennis court on Halloween by my husband the tennis player Boris came into our lives almost 19 years ago. He was such a loving and cuddly kitten, always nuzzling us under our chin and loving up against our arms. Just a few days later the whelps told us not only did we have a new pet, but we also had ring worm.

That was life with Boris. From the moment he entered our home he was fascinated and frightened by the great outdoors. He would make a run for it and once out the door he was completely frantic, so the search through the shrubs and sending back into the house. Then he learned a new trick. Hiding. Our favorite was when we had tickets for a show 100 miles away and no cat to be found. After completely changing our plans for the day we found him, safe and sound behind the washer; we just barely made the show, much less doing anything else.

Over 18 years I could write a lot of stories, how he really disliked most dogs, how he would ride downstairs on the back of our persnickety cocker spaniel, how he hated other cats even more, how he hid from anyone who wasn't in the house the first day we found him. The very long ride from Richmond to Myrtle Beach wasn't helped much by the medication provided by the vet.

Life with Boris was usually pretty quiet, an ocaisional run in with the dogs, then he started to mellow after about age 14. He came to an understanding with the dogs, you leave me alone and I won't scar you for life.

As he grew older and started to have minor problems we just made him as comfortable as possible, special foods, slip covers and towels on all the chairs and special spots, whatever the old guy needed.

Then earlier this summer, something wasn't right. He had become more social as he grew older, but his gait was a little off. By the time the vet saw him it was much worse, Boris had had a stroke. Of all the things I worried about as he grew older, diabetes, his heart, cancer I never thought of stroke.

Luckily for me Bill was home for the weekend and was there with me as we said good bye to our old friend.

Out here on the coast we've been hit hard by the current problems with the economy. Horry County saw fit to cut funding this year to almost all social service agencies in the county. Many of the agencies provide services to residents and visitors that are tax payer provided in other areas of the country. The agencies depended on the small amount of county funding (about $25,000 a year) to show grant agencies they have local support. So, not only do they lose that money, they are out of luck with some grant agencies.

The service agencies are also seeing a decline in contributions from donors. Some large donors are cutting their contributions in half. What does this mean?

Our shelters are facing severe shortfalls in revenues and may have to close doors or reduce services to families in need. CASA (Citizens Against Spousal Abuse) the local shelter for abused families is facing a financial crisis. In the past year they have closed counceling offices, reduced staff and cut services.

The folks in the Active Rain community can help.

Many local civic organizations are sponsoring events to help local service agencies. I belong to Zonta Club of Myrtle Beach. We are part of Zonta International, a service organization of professionals dedicated to improving the status of women worldwide. Our local projects include helping CASA with our money, time and talents. Right now they really need our money.

Zonta Club of Myrtle Beach is selling tickets to the Pelican's Ballgame on August 2, 2009. Tickets are very inexpensive and at the game we will have places to donate food, money and participate in a silent auction.

So come on out to the ballgame and help a family in crisis.

Joanne Patterson, Director of CASA and R. Walker of Zonta Club of Myrtle Beach