James Dray

I started on ActiveRain on 01.26.09 and wrote my first blog on 02.02.09. I have tried to keep whatever heading I started out with no matter what the subject and relate it to real estate in some sort or fashion. I think I've done a pretty good job but I have been neglecting posts lately and it has shown.

There are agents who are climbing up the roster so fast it's hard to keep up with them. So I decided to take a look at some of the posts of the other agents. It's amazing to find out how interesting some of the blogs are. I'm no young thing into this world but as far as real estate goes I'm still amazed at the amount of information I don't know about. The real estate market is changing daily and I keep up with the changing market by reading blogs from fellow agents on ActiveRain. I can see why these agents for the most part are moving up and I applaud them for their efforts and the information they provide.

Those of you moving up the ladder congratulations as you continue your climb. For those of you like me who are running out of steam not for the market but for thoughts I would encourage you to read the blogs of your fellow agents. Have a great day listing and selling, remember "It's a great day to buy or sell a home."

Visit me at www.sellnwa.com

It's almost time again for my annual meeting with the broker(s). They want me to bring my goals for next year and my schedule among other things and that got me to thinking.

My goals this year was to survive and I did. I did so and achieved what goals I had set for myself and surpassed those so far it surprised me. So next year I'm setting a goal so high that when I make it (and I will make it) and surpass it, it will come as no surprise. Can you guess what book, audio and DVD I've been listening to time and time again? Anyway once I have set the goal I know it will take a lot of work to accomplish what I want to achieve.

Once I set the goal I have faith I will achieve the goal and I will not worry about it on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. I move on and go on about doing my job like I've been doing I'm just setting my goals a little higher.

If you're like me you have survived the last two years than you're a survivor. Get back into the game and set your goals higher than you ever have, have faith that you can achieve it release it and move on. The rest will take care of itself. You can't just set on your duff and not do anything. You may need to work harder or change your tactics. But in the final analysis the results are up to you. Remember "It's a great day to buy or sell a home."

Visit me at www.sellnwa.com

Over the weekend I had some company come in and visit. We went out to eat Saturday and Sunday morning both we both woke up sick. Won't go into a log vivid description but it did not take a brain surgeon to figure out we had a touch of food poison. It being a Sunday I had a choice to make. Either go to the local hospital emergency room (can we say $$$ man) or to the number one cure all in my family my wife. She keeps everything (medically speaking) so that if it comes up again she has the cure. Well sure enough she gave me the pill, I went to sleep and when I woke up everything is how it should be.

That got me to thinking in real estate matters when I have a question of course first I go to my broker. But there are times when she is in a meeting, or for one reason or another unavailable. There are actually two brokers in the office and most of the time you are able to find one of them. There has been on occasion those special times when you just can't find those two. Okay on those rare times when you can't find your broker who do you turn to get your answer? Why ActiveRain or course. You agents who post blogs on subjects are all over the right subjects that I like to read about. They keep me informed about markets not only in my part of the world but in other parts of the country. What a great and valuable tool this is. Okay it's 03:00 AM Central Standard Time Monday and now I need to read the local paper shave and get ready to go to work after I read a few blogs have a wonderful week listing and selling but always remember; "It's a great day to buy or sell a home."

Visit me at www.sellnwa.com

I went to our weekly sales meeting last week. As I sat down I was not ready for the talk I was about to receive. Keep in mind for 29 years I was a hard-core cop. You name it I've seen it for those of you who have not been in the military and been in battle or in law enforcement we can tell you stories that can curl your toe nails. Anyway during the meeting the speaker was so focused on his presentation you could tell he was talking from the depths of his soul. He was passionate to the point of almost breaking down to tears. When someone is that committed and focused you need to pay attention to the speaker you don't find many of those these days. We will cover two of the seven points I took away today and the rest later.

I have found even in myself sometimes I am so focused on a subject I can tune out the rest of what's going on around me. At times that's a good thing and at times it's not. Let's discuss commitment just a little. When you first get a new client we are all focused and committed for awhile until or unless it becomes difficult to find the client that "special" home or property they are wanting. Other things come up and the client is placed on the back burner and in time they are not forgotten they are just passed by as we move on. Did we not take an oath to serve the client?

All I'm saying is that I think from time to time we need to step back a few paces and reevaluate ourselves. Remember when we first started and how we felt when we got that first buyer? Remember that first paycheck and how good it felt and how hard you worked for it?

Maybe just maybe it's time to get focused and committed again just like you were when you first started and to feel that feeling. Like the speaker who was so passionate in the message maybe we need to be that focused and committed as I'm sure the vast majority of us are to the client. I've reevaluated my commitment have you? Remember "It's a great day to buy or sell a home."

Visit me at www.sellnwa.com

I find myself doing what I said I would not do. When I was a police officer and met up with other law enforcement officers no matter where it was without fail we would talk shop. That is we would talk about what was going on in the business. It didn't make any difference if it was a State, county or municipality it was all the same. Each had it own thing going wrong and there was always room for improvement. Then without losing a beat we would get into the local person(s) who were the trouble makers and the fights, chases and wrecks we worked etc.

In real estate it's not much different; the subject matter has changed of course. We don't talk about blood and guts and that sort of thing but its shop talk all the same I'm drawn right into it and I love it.

I told myself I would not get into this sort of thing but I can't help it. I like hearing how other agents get listings, closing deals, what techniques they might use to get clients. You can get valuable information and maybe tweak some of what you're doing to get more clients. Have you obtained information that made you change the way you do business and has it worked for you? Man I love this job. Remember "It's a great day to buy or sell a home."

Visit me at www.sellnwa.com