Darla Dennis

I don't know about you, but my phone use to be so light. I would pick it up and it would fly to my ear and my fingers would happily dial a number and with excitement and enthusiasm i would speak to people about how I can help. (Flash Forward) 4 years later, my phone is like wrestling a snake to get it to my ear, my fingers move the pace of a sloth and then the words come out - like a turtle.

How did this happen? My Health! - I was in a Car Accident less than a year ago and I have been in pain, going to Dr's who give me medicine that only hide the pain, they make my lethargic and make it hard to think! And I attended 9 funerals in 9 months consecutive-tough to have time to grieve. Can you Say "Depression?" And then it happened, I listened to the news and the "gloom and doom" being preached about the real estate market, and began to believe it. Okay It was a tough year....

What am I to do about it? Allow myself to Greive, be faithful with my nutritional suppliments and exercise. ( My other job is Regional Director for Mannatech, www.mannapages.com/darladennisif you are looking into suppliments) When the Body and Mind are Healthy, a Healty Business will arise! Besides, I know the truth about Real Estate - PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BUY AND SELL HOUSES! Get back on that horse, Cowgirl UP!!! I am on my way to better Health, Nutrition and Better Business! I share this with you, If you are feeling like I was, then take a good look at your past 12 months.

I Closed two Sales in July - A new listing (Listing # 10013756)

The purpose of telling you this is The news said that Sale were down. Some things I am going to do in my business is "RALLEY THE TROOPS" Nothing like a good ole' Lets go Team! , You can Do It! and PRISES!

WE ARE...THE DREAM TEAM.... WE ARE... (Fill in the Blank) ... yea!!!! (Dare you to Do this out loud in your Office while you are reading this. :) Be Safe out there and Remember to have Fun!

Okay I had fun writing this, I hope you enjoy it too. Maybe there is some helpful tips in here somewhere!

Darla

Sometimes I just shake my head and chuckle, you have to love people or be great at sales in this business. How many Awkward moments make up your career and how do you handle them.

Awkward seems to be my friend... has this happened to you?

When I first started with my Real Estate career, I meet my friends at the office signing docs with another, (my friends, bbq at my home, church together, years invested) The "friend" would look at me with a Deer in the Headlight look and a "Oh I didn't know you were working here" (fake smile) !!! Well, I work in an small office in a town of 100+ thousand people and we all seem to know a lot of the same people. (I have since began prospecting outside of my sphere of influence). But, It just happened again- Only this time, I was the one the client came to see and he walked in Deer in the headlight look as he was met by buddy sitting at the front desk. I hate awkward.

My conclusion? Kmart or Target, It is the clients right to choose whom they hire. I try to remain gracious.

The Break up:

Break up Client: I have been working with a client for 2 years, they call and say "we have one week to find a place"...so we decides to look at new development properties, we walk into the office and the New Home Sales Rep calls the clients by name. Now I have the Deer in the headlight look, seems they have met with this Sales rep regularly, even picked out granite just the other day for 4 Years!
The client thought that having a REALTOR with her would give her an edge with the Sales Rep. I am breaking up with this client.

The Long Shot:

I have worked with clients that everyone told me would not amount to anything, they are just looking and waisting your time. Those sales have brought me $45,000.00 and another one closing this coming week. So we must decide for ourselves who is right for us.
Happy Sales to you, Darla

A loan modification is the first step in keeping your home, during turbulent times. Keep in mind that a loan modification can take up to 6 months or longer. Be patient and persistant. For free counseling go to www.HUD.com.

I hope that these simple tools will help you to be successful in your loan modification. Before you decide to short sale, start with a loan modification or workout plan. Often this can allow your payments to be dropped for the period of the workout plan.

#1 Get a calender or a day planner or make a call log to document the times and dates of each communication. Most computers have programs. www.avery.com has free templates available that you can download and print under calenders. Or you will need several yellow pads or notebooks to take notes. Make a box or file keep everything together.

#2 Get 4 months to 6 months worth of your expenses and assets together: Bank statements, paycheck stubs utilities (phone, cell phone, power, trash, water etc.), credit card payments, auto expenses. Break it all down in expenses and assests in your note book. and keep your paperwork together as you will need to fax or mail COPIES with your packet. You will need to refer to this paperwork during the process. you may need the past 2 years of taxes. If you do this before you call, this will help you get information to the financial institution's customer service at the time of the first call.

#3 Call your financial institution and ask about work out plans available to you. They will ask your for your financial information over the phone. (see you already have it together and this will save you time and stress). Most institutions now have the workout plan on their websites for you to download and print.

#4 WRITE DOWN THE DATE, TIME AND THE NAME OF THE PERSON YOUR TALK WITH AND A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT WAS DISCUSSED. (make a call log in your notebook or day timer and do this every time you call)

#5 Continue to get the workout package together and send it either by by fax or certified mail. Get a fax confirmation receipt, the time, date, fax number, how many pages were sent and sent confirmation will be on, attach it to the documents. If you mail the workout package, send it certified mail, you have a receipt that it was recieved by the financial institution. (each time you send paperwork to the financial institution get a receipt)

#6 Document everything. Keep your paperwork in chronological order with the newest information on top working backwards. You will often have to refer to your call list and sent document confirmations.

#7 Call Every two weeks for the first 30-90 days on the same day approximately the same time, after 30-90 days begin calling every week on the same day and same time. When you call - Set aside at least an hour so you are not rushed. Remain calm and state clearly why you are calling, what it is you need and make sure you are clear on what the financial institution needs. You will speak to a different person each time you call, if a man answers, hang up and call again. If the person you get is not helpful, hang up and call again. Each customer service rep will be different, you want someone who will be polite and straight forward so you can get the facts and get done what you need to get done. Each time you call the customer service person will read over the previous notes left from your previous phone call. Have your call log in front of you, as their may be a discrepancy in what the customer service rep tells you to do. Sometimes you will be told that someone will call you, call the next week anyway! If they tell you will be receiving something in the mail, call next week and see if it has been sent.

Often the reason a loan modification does not go through is because of a lack of communication. Don't let this happen to you.

You are the one that is going to make this happen, Stay on top by calling often, ask questions and get clear direction. If you do not understand, ask until it is clear to you what you need to do. Take the drivers seat and the loan modification should be smooth and successful! Good luck.

*This post is meant only as a tool to help navigate a difficult process, this is by no means a guarantee.

NEW YEAR, 2ND MONTH AND I AM ALREADY A MONTH BEHIND ON MY PLAN! WIFE, MOM, REALTOR - I KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO, I EVEN KNOW HOW TO DO IT, THEN, life happens! Sickness, first one husband, then a child and the next child, are you kidding me even the DOGS!

I am attempting to make calls, while in the background you here, "Honey, can you get me....???"

I try my best to focus on the important client call: then, I hear another Louder call, "Mommmmy????!" (my teenagers, are texting me while I am trying to talk with my client. Then the final straw...MOOOMMMMMYY I AM GOING TO ...........(VerySick noises!)...!!! Ok!!! I quickly get off the phone with my client, change out of my work clothes, change my schedule for the day, and now I get to clean up messes?!

How am I every going to make my month - Well, January I didn't, and into February I am not because now I am SICK!!!

So has anyone else had a year like this?

Here is my solution....Keep your sense of humor!

Most of my clients know me, so I simple call and explain my situation, and I do not want to spread it to them. Most people appreciate that. We do what we can over the internet, which is most of the transaction in our technological age. I schedule appointments and follow up with my Buyer's to the best of my ability between taking care of all the sickies.

If I have showings scheduled, I will explain what the situation is at my house and ask if they would like to go with one of my team mates or reschedule with me for the near future. Most people are very nice.

So I will keep my sense of humor, rework my plan and I still will shoot the moon while I aim for the stars!!

I hope Health, Wealth and lots of laughter to you all!

Lately, I have heard from many Seller's across the nation, that their Agent's have used REO's and Short Sales for comparables on their Fair Market Value home. When I do some researching in their market, I find that there are a plithera of Fair Market Homes that can be used for their comparables. So how do you help your client, when you don't know the Market?

Simple, Ask a local agent for a CMA on your client's property. If they give you a CMA package with REO and Short Sales, with no FMV properties, then they are probably not the agent for you.

Although all the markets are lavish with REO's and Short Sale properties, we don't want to forget about your Fair Market Value Seller's and Buyer's. I have clients who want to buy a Move in ready, FMV home. They don't want to fix up a home. We need to remember to market our Fair market property's equally as efficient as our REO's and Short Sales. It won't be long until we are back to selling only FMV homes.

Have a Joy-Filled Day!

Darla