Connie Goodrich, CRS (McKinney Realtor) Texas

You open to Active Rain and click on the posts. A diverse world opens with each member's post. Words of wisdom, a frustrating experience, a tear of sympathy, pictures of beauty, tips, advice, points all unfold. You feel a kinship; pick up an insight, blush, laugh and smile. Our members know how to share and uplift and get you enraged at some passion or injustice.

Now is your opportunity. You have a bad moment, you write, members comment to express their compassion, share a similar story; you feel you are not alone. Our post can be the therapy that keeps our sanity in a bad moment. Like sharing your moment with a best friend to have a pat on the back and others come to your rescue. They are there to share in the joy of success and are truly there to celebrate the moment. Need some help to solve a problem; our members are there with answers and suggestions.

Active Rain is our therapy. We can post our emotions and then release it to move on. There will be a member to remind us to be positive. Isn't it great? Our very own on-line therapy with just a stroke of our keyboards. Dr. Active Rain is there for us.

We certainly have challenging moments as a Realtor. It seems that the day of smooth transactions have become more rare than typical. With the strict mortgage processes now in place, even a very qualified buyer must jump through hoops and underwriting delays are almost a given. Some buyers have attitude that it is their market to seize and conquer so their offers become low. Some sellers believe the market has affected everyone that is everyone but them. Feel like the real estate process is more like having teeth pulled? A process that is dreaded on the onset and painful. If this is how you feel then it is time to just "Let It Go"!

Patience and a positive outlook will give you a whole new outlook. Just realize that some things are just out of your control. As a Realtor, our job is to paint realistic expectations. If we warn of the possible bumps in the road to our clients then if they arise all are prepared. If we have to listen as our clients vent, then lend an ear and be there. Let them know that being frustrated is unfortunate and many like them are experiencing similar inconveniences and frustration.

As the bumps arise in your business and disappoint arises you have a choice. Do you let it hang on you and your moral or do you let it go? Learn from every experience, improve where it is needed, be the one that people love to be around because you have the ability to bounce back and move forward. By letting go new doors will open, you and all you touch will rise above and soar.

Your listing is about to expire and you are concerned about retaining the continued opportunity to market the home. Are you prepared to successfully gain the extension for your services or is your confidence waning? To give you the highest edge to masterfully retain the listing, a few suggestions to consider:

•· In MLS run all the homes that have gone under contract since the day you listed the property in the competitive area. Bring the under contract and sold information with you. Prepare by looking through the list and making notes as to the points of difference with these homes and the home you have listed. It is amazing at times that very few have sold or gone under contract. The message, no Realtors are selling, it is a quiet and need to be patient market. If a lot have sold there is a good chance it is in regards to superior amenities, price, and location. May be a good time to not only aim for an extension but price reduction as well.

•· Bring a pad of paper in to take notes. Ask the question - during the listing period is there anything that you felt I could have addressed differently or would have liked me to do? Now this is a gut question so be prepared to hear from the heart of the seller. Be quiet and listen. List the points if any are given. Do not try to address each item as brought up, just take down the points. When they finish ask is there anything else they can think of? Then when they have finished then you take each item one by one and address. Give reasons for why you did not do the activity i.e. advertising. If you feel it is valid, be honest and ask if you commitment to do the things you both agreed could you move forward with an extension?

•· The old - "We just feel a new fresh company may bring new activity" comment. Ask what you feel a new company can do that you have not already done. If they think"freshness" is needed then be prepared to discuss that many sellers have felt that way and the facts are ... and have a good discussion of your visibility, commitment, why a new company will not be the problem solver, etc. If you have maintained a good relationship during the listing, you will have gained their respect of an honest discussion.

•· If you cannot get a full renewal time then go for a shorter period with the agreement they will extend more if you fulfill your marketing efforts and all discussed and agreed.

Most of the time the ability to renew a listing is built on the relationship and trust you have established throughout the listing. If you have kept diligent to your marketing commitment, communication and demonstrated effort a renewal should be an easy task. After all, the seller knows you are a person of your word and by that time you are a familiar professional they feel comfortable.

Business as usual. Why fix it if it isn't broken? Just to name a few sayings we toss out in our day to day lives. The problem is that we are called to a higher standard of excellence. To be the ultimate agent, the one the client remembers. We must color outside the bolded lines and give more personal attention and caring attitude in order to give the exceptional great experience to our clients. You now must jump through the flaming hoop to deliver.

Going the extra mile means doing things that are not necessarily your favorite task. I detest open houses and still have reasons not to hold them open. The perception from some of my clients is that the Open House will sell it. I said the perception not reality. But the reality is that my client strongly believes that is the case. I will hold Open Houses. No need to present reason this usually doesn't work, or the benefit is to pick up buyers, etc. I just decided no harm and prepare to make it a useful time by working on other things. Happy client and I am working one form of an opportunity to sell their home.

Being the one to call for all needs, the consigner service to help. This means being there to help them is color selections, finish choices, going to the stores with them. Being more than just a Realtor is necessary, you must genuinely care and not just drift along on typical Realtor responsibilities but put some heart in your business.

Are you doing more than just what the average Realtor would do or are you aspiring for excellence? Find out what is important to your clients and make sure you incorporate that into your plan for their marketing or home finding venture. If it is an unreasonable expectation then make sure you communicate your points of explanation of why this would not be beneficial and they are comfortable and satisfied with your reasoning. Be sure to ask them what would make their experience a Ten and then a Ten Plus. Be the Realtor who asks and listens and makes it a Ten Plus, Plus. Most of all listen and communicate. A skill that I believe many Realtors have failed miserably in achieving and it is the easiest task to accomplish.

A group of professionals posed the question of "What does love mean to you" to children from the ages of four through eight. Their responses makes us understand that children truly do soak things in at a higher level and are broader and deeper than anyone could imagine.

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over & paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." - Rebecca age 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy age 4

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume & a boy puts on shaving cologne & they go out and smell each other." Kari age 5

"Love is when you go out to eat & give somebody most of your French fires without making them give any of theirs." Chrissy age 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri age 4

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and talk more. My Mommy & Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss." Emily age 8

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents & listen." Bobby age 7

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.: Nikka age 6

"Love is like a little old woman & a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy age 6

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage & I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me & saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." Cindy age 8

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.: Clare age 6

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine age 5

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly & sweaty & still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris age 7

"Love is when a puppy licks your face even after you have been gone all day." Mary Ann age 4

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes & has to go out & buy new ones." Lauren age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up & down & little stars come out of you". Karen age 7

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet & she doesn't think its gross." Mark age 6

A four year old lived next door to an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry." That is true love.

Seems we all can learn lessons from children.