Jim Paulson (Owner/Broker)

Are you brave enough to see if your legacy stands the test of time? Will you have left your mark on the world. Yes, my friends, Google will tell your legacy so start planning it today!

This is pretty neat how it works out... DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST... It takes less than a minute... Work this out as you read... Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out...]

1, First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (try for more than once but less than 10) ...
2. Multiply this number by 2 ...
3. Add 5 ...
4. Multiply it by 50. I'll wait while you get the calculator ...
5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1759 *; If you haven't, add 1758 *...
6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born ...

You should have a three digit number ...

The first digit of this was your original number (i.e. how many times you want to have chocolate each week) ...

The next two numbers equal ... YOUR AGE! (Oh YES IT IS!!!)

I don't know about you, but I always enjoy acheiving my goals. One goal I set a few months ago was to reach 1,000 Profile Views on AR. Well today is my day!

I would have gotten here much sooner had I not taken about a four month break from November through mid March of last year. (embarrassed to have that show up on the screen shot).

I am still trying to analyze why and how some of the posts get so many more hits than others, but at least I know that people are not only reading some of what I have to say, but also taking another more important step of learning more about me on my profile.

Since real estate can be kind of a numbers game, I am hoping that some of these will begin to turn into referrals for people relocating to Boise, Idaho or hoping to take advantage of our great four season climate and buy a vacation property in Idaho from me.

I can't believe how many people are caught up on averages these days. I personally believe in being unique with a purpose!

For example, why is it when Realtors do a CMA on a house they take the time to differentiate the home they hope to write on offer on or list, to see what sets it appart to determine value, yet they don't typically take the time to do an analysis on themselfs to see where they are different and where they add value? I make sure that my marketing presentation sets me apart from the other 3,200 Realtors in Boise, Idaho. I make sure my research is backed by facts, not just my opinion. I make sure my clients in Boise know that I know about Boise real estate!

Do you do this in your market? You should, because, no offense, but you aren't average! The "average" person in the US is either 49 percent male or 51 percent female. Odds are, you are different in that one category alone compared to half the American population and we have lots of traits to consider still! (people that have had sex changes don't count since they cheated)

The median age of in the US according to the 2000 Census was 35.3; so I am already over the hill at 47.

The average mortality rate of an American male is 75 years old so according to statistics, so do I have to wait 28 more years to be "average" enough to die?

• The typical Realtor has only been in business for 8 years and yet I a have been for 18.
• Less than half the Realtors have had websites for at least five years and yet I have had mine for well over 10 years.
• Only 77 percent of the Realtors claim real estate is their only occupation.
• A typical residential Realtor completed 8 tranactions in 2007 and I closed nearly 30.
  
• Fewer than 4% of the Realtors have the CRS Designation; yet I have had mine over a decade.
• Only 14 percent of the Realtors own three or more properties, so I am glad to be in the minority!

A few years ago, someone asked me "what is normal?" My reply . . . "The average of the extremes, of course!" Therefore, since I have been known to go to extremes, I guess I am really just pretty normal, albeit far from Average!

The scales of justice may appear blind, but they do eventually come to balance. Please check your own state laws to see what is allowed and what isn't. Here is a pretty good source:

http://appraisalnewsonline.typepad.com/files/bpo_state_laws.pdf

I have posted several blogs about BPO's in the past and the one point I keep trying to drive home is who the person requesting the BPO should determine how you respond. I have heard several agents say they have done over 1,000 BPO's without a listing. I would bet that most of those BPO's were done for third party servicing company's that are not even authroized to list a property! Why would anyone ever do a BPO for free for them?

I have a different price tolerance for BPO's depending on possible outcomes.

• If there is really a chance of getting a listing, I am not worried about being compensated;
• If there is zero chance of getting a listing, I only do them if the amount of time their requirements would average equates to the fee they are willing to pay;
• If they require unrealistic analysis or their automated quality assurance will kick out the BPO due to the way they expect to see data verses the data we have available, I either reject their request or charge them accordingly.

I have created my own disclaimer that addresses every issue for the state of Idaho and upload it with each BPO I do. I emphasize in it that in the state of Idaho, only a licensed Broker (not just a Realtor) can do BPO's, since I still know of agents that do them even though the law prohibits this practice. I had one agent get upset at me for taking the time to email her the actual code since she didn't believe me! I think she was upset since she thought I was trying to take away the little bit of income stream she had, but I really was trying to help her keep her license so she could have income!

I have started uploading my own marketing plan for each BPO just in case I have an opportunity to eventually list the home.

I did one PBO on for a third party vendor that actually called me after the fact to request I cancel my invoice since the lender ended up calling me direct to list the property. I agreed to since it was nearly a $2 million dollar listing and my invoice was only for $250. Some of them charge a referral fee on the listings, so this was a small price to pay.

For those of you willing to work for free, when are you heading to Boise, Idaho? I could use an assistant!