Laura Kombrink

Here we sit...between a rock and a hard place. Congress arguing over the best solution for the financial crisis. As usual they look to the people to foot the bill and scare us with dire consequences if it is not passed. After just passing the largest budget in history...we are being asked to dig even deeper into our pockets. I've even heard it said that paying taxes is "The Patriotic Thing To Do."

I'm no financial wizard...so please forgive my ignorance...but I think that congress has failed to look outside the box for a solution. Of course if they don't find a reason to tax us more, they won't have control over more of our money.

What about this?........I was just sitting here thinking about all the countries that have benefitted from the United States since the last depression. How many countries have received money for aid and war efforts which was directly paid for from our taxes? Did we not protect Kuwait from Iraq during the Gulf War? Did we not help prevent Hitler from taking over all of Europe? Have we not sent humanitarian aid to countless nations?

If our economy fails...it will have a ripple effect felt around the world. We've seen this concern as we watch world wide markets shake with the daily debates and indecision of congress.

Why not go to those countries and find out what they can do to help stabilize this market before once more asking the american citizen to sacrifice a little more?

Maybe I just see things too simplistically........

How many ethics classes have we all had to take as Real Estate Agents? We laugh and roll our eyes when we think about how often we are required to attend an ethics class. Many of those who have been in the business a long time can even quote portions of the code of ethics.

The code of ethics was developed (as I understand it) to protect the public, and to help us conduct business with one another in a professional manner that lifts the image of the real estate industry. I know that we all have at least a working understanding of what is outlined in the code of ethics.

On occasion someone may violate a code unwittingly. However, I have seen in the last few months some very blatant violations by members of our profession who have been in business long enough to know better.

I think that we need to take a lesson from what we are seeing in the financial market.

I am a competitive person by nature. I love to go up against someone and test my metal...so to speak...in order to achieve a goal. A healthy spirit of competition is a great thing and as an agent...when I win...it means that I come out ahead financially. Does this mean that I will do anything to win?

Absolutely not!!! We have seen what happens when people compromise their ethics and integrity for the sake of making more money. We are experiencing the damage that this type of mentality inflicts on the public as a whole.

We as agents have been working through a very challenging time in our careers. Paying the bills can sometimes be very tricky as some of us have seen a very deep decline in the number of transactions we have completed this year. It is even more competitive out there than ever. We must be very careful to uphold the code of ethics that we as a profession have imposed upon ourselves.

We must not be willing to do anything to obtain business and we must be very careful about walking the fine line between what is ethical and unethical in this business.

So, the next time you are in an ethics class...take a moment to reflect on the way you are doing business and make sure that you are upholding the principles that have been set in place to protect our profession and the public.

In my life I have had many mentors. I usually choose strong successful women, however there are a few great men sprinkled in there as well. I have worked very hard to pattern myself after these people in order to strengthen my character and emulate the principles that I have observed in them.

In the last few months, however I have seen two of my mentors do some things that were not "the right thing."

At first, I was greatly disappointed and hurt by what I observed and I must admit that I allowed this to bring me down a bit. I have seen some of the most successful people I know turn to dishonesty and back stabbing to hang on to what they have. They themselves have abandoned the very principles they taught me to live by for a successful life.

Why would they do this? I believe when people reach a certain level of success and comfort they begin to love this more than the principles that got them where they are. Fear of losing what they have may cause them to do things they would not normally do.

I had a pastor many years ago who used to say that Doing The Right Thing Is Always The Right Thing To Do. I have gleaned many great things from many great people, however no one is infallible. As for me...I will do the right thing and treat others with integrity and honesty even if it means that I will not be able to manipulate them for my own personal gain.

People always say that things happen for a reason...and usually at the right time. I have to say that I whole heartedly agree!

I decided 3 months ago to become a Real Estate Agent after having coached agents for over 2 years. Prior to doing that, I was an EMT which was something I had wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. I ended up injuring my back and after surgery and re-injury, I was told I could no longer do the job.

I was devastated. I had spent 2 1/2 years studying for nursing before deciding to work out in the field on an ambulance. I loved what I did and didn't know what to do next. However...things happen for a reason. I got a job working for an IVR call capture company in their customer service department and began to educate myself on the Real Estate business. I worked directly under a gentleman by the name of Rick Owens. His wife is a Realtor.

From their I started working for a Consulting & Coaching company and learned much more about the Real Estate industry than I could possibly lay out in a blog. I worked for a wonderful man who taught me how to help agents meet their personal and financial dreams through selling real estate.

From there I made the decision to get licensed and the natural course of action was to go ahead and take the dive to do it myself. I joined a local brokerage after extensive interviewing and started working.

At my orientation I ran into my old boss, Rick Owens, and found out that he had joined his wife's team. We talked off and on over the next couple of months and found out that they had decided to open their own office. I met with them and it was just absolutely perfect timing. I decided to make the move to work under Tammy and the excitement is just uncontainable.

Tammy has built an amazing business over the years and her attitude is phenomenal! Her phones ring off the hook! Her marketing rocks! Leads flow in like crazy! Right now they are gearing up for the move to the new office on the Beltline in Collinsville and although they aren't getting much sleep, you can just see the pride and excitement in their faces.

Things happen for a reason...and I know without a doubt that I have made the right decision to get into real estate and to work for Tammy Anderson-Owens of RE/MAX Preferred. I am looking for many great things to happen this year!

I definitely would recommend stopping by to say hello and just soak up the positive, busy environment that you find at Tammy's office. If you have any real estate needs, you can be confident they will professionally and knowledgably handled in this office.

Laura Kombrink
Kombrink Real Estate Group
RE/MAX Preferred
204-A Main Street
Collinsville, Illinois

618-345-2111
618-363-2452

Come and check out the 2008 Italian Fest being held Friday and Saturday, September 19th & 20th from 11 AM - 10 PM! There will food and entertainment as well as whellbarrow races, cooking contests, kiddie parade and more!

Don't forget to stop by the beer garden Saturday evening at 5:00 PM where you can meet Laura Kombrink of Kombrink Real Estate Group out of RE/MAX Preferred in person!

"Come have a drink with me and register for my Preferred Buyer Program! I've just joined the RE/MAX Preferred office out of Collinsville and I'm very excited! Some of the best agents in the area work out of this office and I'm very proud to be their latest member!"

If you like music, food and fun then this will be the place to be this weekend!