John Meechan

I'm making a Leap of Faith this coming Year-2010...

I want to specialize in one Township and Just List Homes and work for category "A" buyers. The seller volume is there and this particular area does not have a GO-TO Specialist. Just alot of agents hitting and missing as the area's Top Producer.... I already have the #1 MLS ranking for most closed transactions since 2005 for Wall Twp, So I don't have to re-invent myself..

My biggest concern is-- Will other sellers from neighboring towns shy away from my services and Will I leave money on the table?

Any thoughts out there?

Lessons from my 5 kids.

I got into Real Estate to be around my Family more.. 6 Years now.. My wife is still not used to it.. But she's coming around. This profession has given the most unexpected gift. A relationship with my family.

I tell my clients all the time- If I hit the lottery tomorrow, I would never change professions.

Here's what My 5 kids have taught me...

* I should have trained more before I took this position.

* I know how to play a "zone defense" now.

* Moms are better at everything, except for piggy back rides, secret handshakes and cranking up AC/DC.

* All kids under 9 years old, love AC/DC.... LOUD! ---- Moms- not so much.

* 5 kids having a dance party is one of the best things on earth.

* If you don't make cleaning up the house a fun game, you will live in a home with toys everywhere. EVERYWHERE!

*There is no such thing as a quiet home office.

* No one has invented the "kid safe taser" yet.. (I Google it every morning)

* Twins girls plan their escapades late at night.

* Playing hide and seek with children is a very serious sport, they can tell when you are not into it.

* 2^nd grade math can sometimes be hard.

*Cigars are not good "show and tell" ideas.

* Having 5 kids is like having a gang. Sometimes I'm not the gang leader.

* Taking a nap is harder than winning the lottery.

* "Time out" does not work... My dad had a different kind of "time out"

* Dropping your used gum on the carpet is sometimes easier than walking over to garbage can.

* Mom taking 3 kids to the store, leaving 2 home with me is like going on vacation.

* Jumping on a bed is way more fun than going to bed.

* There are 4 major food groups: Hot dogs, cheese, candy, and chocolate milk.
* Pizza may take the place of the first 3.

* Nothing can replace chocolate milk.

*Peanut butter on a spoon is a whole meal, or a donut, or a cup of pudding, or a bowl of crackers .. (When mom is working)

*5 Kids in a tub is funny... for them.

*Being on time ever again is -history.

* 5 kids watching tigers eat a water buffalo in the discovery channel is cool... 5 kids finding a small spider in the bathroom is a Terrifying.

* Putting sunscreen on 5 kids is like making 5 cats walk in a straight line.

* Staplers are not good toys.

* To a 1yr old, there is nothing funnier than a wooden spoon and some tupper ware

*8 yr old girls know more about fashion than dads do.

* 8 yr old girls are tougher than 41 yr old men.

* A sippy cup that was lost under the couch for more than a week requires a strong gag reflex.. WOW!

A 4 year old girl with the sweetest smile and bluest eye, dropping the f___ word is hilarious. (But not in front of company)

Never use the word maybe when negotiating with children.. It always backfires.

Wake up every morning with a plan.. If you don't.... I can guarantee that they will have one for you.

* If your 6 yr old son asks you be his little league coach next year... DO IT!

* Don't use a real phone when it's time to teach your kids how to dial 911... The cops in our town don't knock...

*Kids pick up using a desktop computer faster that you and I did.

Five hours of sleep is enough.. not healthy, but enough.

The toughest problem I have on a listing appointment is finding the best (softest and effective) way to calling someones home out of style, smelly, etc.. One of my first trainers call it -The Art of calling someones Baby "Ugly"

I still find it a challenge to tell a sweet older couple that the kitchen they put in 35 years ago( that they refer to as the new kitchen) is outdated and holding back the home from fetching a higher sale price. I find it one of my biggest challenges when I need to deliver this message and still gain the trust and credibility I need to get the listing.. I need some help here..

Telling a Woman (or Man) who thinks they have lots of hip, trendy style that they are way off base and need the help of a professional stager or interior designer is like walking through a mine field..

Telling a family that all the interior painting they just finished is the wrong color and still getting the listing is like very delicate surgery.

Please Help.. Help me with my ugly babies..

I recently had a conversation with a fellow agent who can't seem to "get out of the fog" in this current buyer's market. She still embraces the seller's market mentality and wears the facial expressions to prove it.. Buyers are liars is what she still thinks. My challenge to her was this-- Treat all your buyers like sellers. Start with a mandatory initial consult. Listen to their needs, explain the process, show them how you builda strong contract, explain the power of working with ONE buyers agent, effective ways to search for properties, how your negotiation skills will benefit them, how to approach FSBO's and how you can still represent them. This consult will builds a lasting bond of trust between you and your buyer.

If the prospect can not spend 45 mins in your conference room then you can question theirr motivation and consider them a category B buyer. Refer this time water out..

100% of my buyer clients that spend time with me in this fashion to one of 2 things. They buy a property through me or they don't buy at all. I never lose them to another agent or a FSBO.

Also they tend to refer me during the buying process because they are excited to share all this new found info and the strong relationship they just established

Keep your chin up and stay optimistic.. Treat your buyers like you wanted to be treated when you bought your 1st home.