Janet Fetterman

University of Central Florida Business Professor in yesterday's news was rescheduling a graduating seniors business class in which 200 out of 600 students cheated on a midterm exam. One of the students interviewed on national tv was indignant and he said: "College cheating on exams, everybody does it, why is he (the Professor) trying to make this a moral issue?"

If I had dentures, they would have dropped out of my mouth. This guy is a graduating senior and quite obviously a cheater and he considers himself to be the norm. I'm sure his parents are just so proud! To know that they funded an education resulting in a degree that is all a fraud must make them feel all warm and fuzzy.

We currently are in an economic collapse of global proportions because of this type of insanity. The banking industry created loans for segment of the population whose likelihood of repayment was high risk but they did it knowing that they were going to make a windfall up front, then those creative geniuses repackaged and sold off these new bundles to unsuspecting investors- nothing immoral here....

The latest is pencil whipping foreclosure documents which is holding up closings left and right and once again delaying recovery that hurts not only our nation but nations globally.

When did we lose our moral compasses? It is obvious that this student doesn't see the ramifications of his actions, he is only looking out for himself. He has only his government- politicians and institutions to look to as role models. Isn't this what they have shown him all along? Self serving interests justify the means.

We MUST get back to honesty as the only policy. We MUST get back to what is the good for all and not just selected parties. It must be a commitment that each of us make every day and renew every day in each and every dealing whether it is personal or business. This is the only way we will save our society and get back on track and stop the insanity.

Isn't technology a wonderful thing? ....when it works!!! LOL I am working my way through my IMSD course materials and I just added my Zillow Widget to my Blog page here so that folks can now see my inventory. How cool is that?

It usually takes me some time...I read way too quickly and process my understanding way too slowly but on the 3rd ok...5th time through, after my walk around the block and deep breathing exercises, I usually figure it out.

When it works though, the victory is SOOOOOOO sweet. I feel like SUCH A TECHIE.....LOL, yeah right. But, here it is, working, on the right, my Zillow inventory...it is coming together...YAY...thank you, everyone who helps and gives their tips and encouragement along the way. I just had to share my victory with you today, on this beautiful sunny Floriday day.

Wishing you sunshine......

Janet

Port Orange Superior Sheds offers superior service not only before but during and after the sale. Wow, what a pleasure it is to deal with a company that is looking out for their customers. My dear sweet uncle was in the market for a storage shed and I went out shopping. I checked out the mega stores but I'm always looking to shop with the local Mom and Pop shops when ever I can.

The day I stopped in to Superior Sheds it was bucketing rain in Port Orange to beat the band. Pete Padberg came running out of the office with a huge golf umbrella opened up so that I wouldn't get wet. What a gentleman...you know right then and there I wanted to buy from this fella!

We both made it in to his office and looked at his selection and he really asked me some very good questions about the use and needs involved for the storage shed. Certainly questions that the mega stores didn't pose and the other three shed dealers didn't delve into. He listened, he made suggestions and he even offered up ways I could save money!

We wrote up the deal, he sharpened his pencil and by golly his prices were really good. I felt I was getting a superior product at a value, what more can I say? The delivery, set up and tax was all included in the quote and I was happy with it.

I had to reschedule the original delivery date because my contractor was not ready. Pete started making calls to see if he could assist. As it turned out, we moved the date to the following week but I sure appreciated his concern- he had already been paid in full but he was still on the job.

The shed was delivered, set up and looking great. Pete called me up to make sure I was happy. I am a very happy customer. So happy I am writing this blog and recommending Superior Sheds of Port Orange Florida. They have a display lot at: 5347 Ridgewood Ave, Port Orange Florida 32127 and you can call Pete Padberg directly at: 386-304-3506...tell him his happy customer Janet Fetterman sent you.

First of all, let me say that in theory, I fully support and see the value of a Board of Realtors and a Multi List Service. In practice though, I can tell you that not all boards are Realtor Friendly and some have lost sight of who they serve. Sort of like the IRS...we pay their salaries to hire more agents to audit us to pay more taxes....

I belong to 6, yes SIX MLS Boards and systems. Of the six, one board is incredibly hostile. Why are they hostile? A Board is made up of agents and those agents are human beings.

Even though this board has an automated checking system to police errors in the listings, this system has a button that can be pushed anonymously that will send out a fine notice for information errors. So if you have an agent, or two or three in town who obviously have nothing better to do than read MLS new listings and if these two or three people are....shall I say petty....they can mess with you and your office and cost you money and time and time is money.

If the offending agent doesn't correct the error within 48 hours, the fine is $25 and it is on a sliding scale upward for multiple offenses. Therefore, a button pushing agent can effectively create anonymously potential fines not only on required line items but non-required line items in the MLS.

One day we input a listing and hit the upload instead of the save button and the listing went live by mistake. Within 6 minutes there were 5 violations sent to my email box. I wasn't inputting the listing, my assistant was and I was all of a sudden flooded with fine alerts. Six MINUTES...and $125 in potential fines, of which 5 items were not required items to begin with. To say that my blood pressure spiked is an understatement.

Of the remaining 5 other MLS systems that I belong to, I will have one error-alert to every 15 alerts that are received from this particular board.

This situation is so hostile to me that I've considered pulling my listings and my membership and placing my listings in the neighboring 2 over lapping systems. That would solve these petty games for me. However, it would hurt the listing agents who only belong to the offending mls board/system. It would hurt my seller clients by not having the listing in the primary board.

So I remain putting up with this stuff. I try to continue on the high road and I speak at this board to educate and serve from time to time. Public relations efforts, office procedures and real efforts to win over this boards' agents have been met with mixed results.

I must tell you though-this is a real thorn in my side. Obviously I have some enemies who for what ever reason wish to create havoc in my business.

When I come across an error in a listing, I pick up the phone and speak to the agent in a nice way- the way I wish to be treated. If an agent's sign is down, I pick it up and stick it back in the ground. If their lockbox is on the door and I've taken over the listing...I leave a message, or two or three even, for them to get their sign and lockbox. The last thing I do is file a complaint with the board- that I save for serious offenses.

I want agents in the area to show my listings and I want to cooperate with them. That is what co-broke means, that we are all cooperating.

My solutions to the button pushing mls systems is to take away the anonymity. If someone has to face their accuser, they will be less likely to be petty.

To those button pushing agents out there....give me a call, I'll keep you so busy showing and selling houses, you won't ever waste a precious moment of your life reading other agents listings again, unless it is for the purpose of setting up a showing appointment where you will actually potentially earn money.

Island Estates is a gorgeous coastal community in Palm Coast Florida. Lush and lavish landscaping, homes that are manicured and pristine are the order of the day. This gated community presents privacy and a 5 Star Resort lifestyle.

July 1, 2010 from 7 pm to 9 pm Sellstate Concord Realty will hold an Invitation Only Reception tour of 31 Island Estates and 9 Island Estates. Refreshments will be served and contractors, landscapers, decorators and mortgage brokers will be on hand to discuss restoration of these two bank owned homes back to their original glory.

31 Island Estates is listed at $1,020,000 and is located on the Intracoastal Waterway. There are requirements however to gain gate access.

Only Qualified Buyers are granted access to this community. You must be accompanied by your REALTOR. If you do not have one, we will gladly become your representation. You or your REALTOR must provide Sellstate Concord Realty with Proof of Funds if you are paying cash or a Bank Preapproval on Letterhead if a mortgage is involved in your acquisition. E-fax this documentation with contact information to: 866-642-5214. RSVP must be completed by June 29th, (Tuesday) in order for us to make gate clearance arrangements.

Tomorrow we will have online the Virtual Tours of these homes.

We look forward to seeing you there!