Donna J Stephens

Where can a REALTOR® put her sign?

Why can't we put an additional sign, such as a Warranty sign, in the yard?

If the house sits on a corner, can we put out two signs? How about a sign on the golf course side or lake side of the property, as well as in the front?

What about an "OPEN SUNDAY" sign or directionals? OH MY!

Who is in trouble if the rules are broken?

On April 14, 2009, the city of Omaha enacted a new sign ordinance, which became effective on April 29.

With few exceptions, the City of Omaha Municipal Code Sections 55-821, et seq., prohibits and/or restricts sign usage. There is an exceptions for on-premises real estate signs. (yea) A "real estate sign" is defined as a "temporary sign which is used exclusively to announce that the property upon which it is located is for sale, lease or has been sold or leased".

• NUMBER OF SIGNS: Only 1 per street frontage. If the home sits on a corner lot, or sits between two right-of-ways, then the dwelling may have two signs, or one per street frontage.
• SIZE OF SIGNS: Basically it says 10 square feet max for residential. No extra place cards can be added if they make the sign over 10 square, such as "SOLD" or "OPEN".
• TIME LIMITATIONS: "Signs must be removed after 10 days of date of closing". (Does that mean we must wait ten or more days? Probably not.I believe they mean within 10 days of closing.)

Any additional signage of any kind indicating an open house or similar event or promotion is prohibited on that specific property. (So now it must be placed on a property that is not for sale or lease) Thus for example the use of off premises directionals indicating an open house or or other event are prohibited unless the sign is on the property of another and that owner has given the REALTOR® express permission allowing the sign on their property. (So two of us can not put directionals to an open house on the same property next Sunday, sorry.) In no event may signs be located in the right-of-way, which includes the area between the sidewalk and street curb. (So the sign police are working Sundays now???)

The owner of the property is the party responsible for ensuring compliance and will be held responsible in the event of a violation.The City will notify the owner of any violation and there may be a $50 fee charged should the City decide to re-inspect, for each inspection.

The City may also Prosecute sign violations criminally. (How would you like to have that on your seller's record? Not good for references!)

WHY REDUCE JUST $2,500???

1. To get more showings!
2. To sell the home!

This perfectly beautiful home was priced at $137,500 for just over three weeks. We had two showings. The homeowners strongly suspected that at least one of those showings was an agent who wanted to compare the home to a similar home down the street that she had listed.

We reduced to $135,000 and had three showings on Saturday and another three on Sunday.

Within ten days the fabulous home was sold.

The $135,000 mark catches all the searches up to $135,000 AND those going $135,000 and above. This may account for the sudden interest. It is a lesson to use and pass on to your sellers.

Okay Men, you are Happier People, and here's some reasons...

Your last name stays put.

The garage is all yours.

Wedding plans take care of themselves

Chocolate is just another snack.

You can be President.

You can never be pregnant.

You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.

You can wear NO shirt to a water park.

Car mechanics tell you the truth.

The world is your urinal.

You never have to drive to another gas station restroom cuz this one is just too icky.

You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.

Same work, more pay.

Wrinkles add character.

Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.

New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.

One mood all the time.

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.

You know stuff about tanks.

A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.

You can open all your own jars.

You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.

Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.

Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.

You almost never have strap problems in public.

You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.

Everything on your face stays its original color.

The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.

You only have to shave your face and neck.

You can play with toys all your life.

One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.

You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.

You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.

You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.

You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder my husband is so happy. It's a wonder I love them so much! I am jealous, because for every item listed here, there is a negative when it comes to women.

Do you think I could just relax and try to think like a man?

I can't, I can't, do the dirty bathroom. I just can't.

Donna Stephens & Marlene Wyman Working for YOU!

Cousins and Business Partners

Life long friends and buddies.

I appreciate Marlene Wyman. She is my friend, my business partner, my cousin, who is like a sister. We started selling Real Estate in 1995. We joined as a team in 1998.

We compliment each other. She is detailed and organized. I am not as much. One of us is usually on time to the list appointments, the other a few minutes late. We seem to take turns. She has the tape measure, camera and all the tools; I have a pen and a latte.

Marlene is precise and takes her time in checking the details. I get things done quickly, not as detailed and I am off on the next thing. She is sensitive, tackful and kind. I am straight forward and to the point. I often see things with a quirky sense of humor. She tends to be more serious, but likes to tease her sisters, daughters and friends. Marlene and I have fun while we work together.

My favorite thing she often tells me, "THAT DID NOT SURPRISE GOD!" I love it! I am usually upset about something and sounding off and she reminds me, "God has it all in control".

We are celebrating 10 years working together and looking forward to the next ten!

In answer to the question, "How do I deliver the bad news?"

We just have to be honest and spit it out. I think of it as being a reporter. I am not responsible for the news, I just report it. I don't have to be cruel or mean. Just say it.

People usually appreciate our honesty. I tend to be straight forward, even when it is not easy.

I find it is best if I have kept communication open and have talked to the sellers often. It's much more difficult to deliver bad news if you haven't spoken to them in weeks!

I make it a point to talk to them once a week. I TRY to make it a habit. Sometimes I have to report that I have nothing to report. I just ask them how they are doing, have a little conversation, keep in touch. We have daily emails that go out to them regarding their neighborhood statistics.

We mail out copies of their ads and talk about marketing; showings; buyers and agent comments; possible improvements that can be made to the property; and price adjustments.

After a purchase contract is accepted we keep them informed of the process.

12 STEPS TO DELIVERING BAD NEWS

1. Gather all the information.
2. Make sure it is a fact.
3. Call my business partner, talk and in desperate situations, (rarely, really!) I cry.
4. Gather myself together. Now I am ready to tackle the problem.
5. Talk to all the parties involved. (Loan Officer, Inspectors, Co-operating Agent, Brokers, Title Company, Termite Inspector, Builder, etc.)
6. Seek advice of the experts to see what options we have to remedy the problem.
7. After I have all my ducks in a row, contact the seller.
8. Have my notes in front of me and go down the list.
9. Report the Who, What, Where, When, How and Why.
10. Report the options I have explored on their behalf.
11. We discuss the problem
12. They decide what to do about it.

One thing I try very hard not to do is to share the bad news before I have confirmed it. Worse than sharing bad news is going back and telling them it wasn't true. I think you lack creditability when you do not have all the facts. They may lose confidence and find it hard trust us.

Part of our job is to shoulder the tuff stuff and not rush to tell bad news. If it is late in the evening, I prefer to wait until morning to talk to the sellers. They may as well get a good nights sleep. No sense in all of us losing sleep!

I hope this helps to answer the question, "How do I deliver the bad news?"