Matt Nuzie -Realtor -ABR- 1st Time Home Buyer Specialist - Connecticut -

Well if the Soap Opera truly was like sand in the hour glass, then how come the characters die and come back to life so frequently? Once the sand gets to the bottom of the hour glass it is difficult to get to the top, without someone flipping the hour glass. WE ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUR GLASS AND IT IS TIME FOR SOMEONE TO FLIP IT AROUND...

"All the ADVERSITY I've had in my life, all my TROUBLES and OBSTACLES, have STRENGTHENED me... You may not REALIZE it when it happens, but a KICK IN THE TEETH may be the BEST thing in the world for you."

~WALT DISNEY~

Walt Disney, the same Walt Disney that created the mega theme park, DISNEY WORLD?

Kick me square in the teeth, I'm ready for it. I think we all are. I don't believe in using force, it's just not my style, but I will instill fear by showing an example in history that will SPEAK VOLUMES;

JAPAN: THE LOST DECADE...

Economic expansion endud suddenly in the early 1990's for Japan. Previously, Japan's economy was expanded and growing astronomically. They were finding that land values were incredibly high and interest rates were extremely low. This easily available credit, sound familiar?

Massive borrowing and expansion took place in Japan, the borrowed money was invested heavily in real estate, and the stock market both domestic and foreign. Once Japan, realized that they couldn't sustain this bubble (resting on unrealizable land values), the interest rates were sharply raised in an attempt to reduce borrowing and decrease affordability. This led to a massive crash in the stock market, debt crisis & left the banking sector to be bailed out by the government.

The banks could not sustain themselves forcing many to close their doors. There are currently only four national banks in Japan. Credit dried up and became extremely difficult to obtain, due to the distressed banking situation.

This chain of events is known as the "LOST DECADE." Economic expansion came to a stand still in Japan during the 1990s. It took Japan 10 years to get out of the economic mess caused by inflated land values and low interest rates.

DOES HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF?

"Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation."

~JOHN F. KENNEDY~

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

While stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on the highway, I think to myself, "If everyone stepped on the gas and went 65 mph, there wouldn't be any traffic (assuming there is no construction or accidents)!!"

A parallel can be made to the real estate economy. If everyone was on board and echoed the same message to their clients:

NOW is the time to BUY.

Take advantage of the $8k Tax Credit.

HISTORICALLY LOW interest rates.

Before we know it, demand would increase. As we learned in high school economics; price & demand are dating. Price of goods and services increase as the demand increases. If we can get the buyers OFF the SIDELINE, absorb the supply, the outcome would be; DEMAND in the Real Estate market. Yes I used the word DEMAND and REAL ESTATE in the same sentence. It is time we bring REAL ESTATE back into DEMAND.

EXTRA!! EXTRA!! READ ALL ABOUT IT, REAL ESTATE ECONOMY 4 YEARS FROM ROCK BOTTOM!!

Breaking News from the Negative Pessimistic Economist. This award winning Economist (1st Grade Spelling Bee Champ) has been featured in late night infomercials airing between 3:00 A.M - 4:00 A.M and was recently published in the National Inquirer. Just minutes ago he prsented us with convincing evidence that the bottom of the real estate market is at least 4 years away. His calculations were done with out modern technology, all he needed was the use of his hands and toes (for counting purposes). This anonymous economist made this forecast while standing on his head.

As you know, MONEY HUNGRY News Channel is your number one source for the LATEST and GREATEST failure in YOUR WORLD. Stay Tuned...

ENOUGH, ENOUGH & ENOUGH. I have had it. I can't take 100% authenticity for the following idea, but I had to endorse it;

WHAT IF WE...Organized a coalition of all the local companies and industries that advertise in the print media and pulled all our advertising. Making it extremely difficult for the news companies that rely on advertising to stay in business.

We then make it EXTREMELY clear that we will not continue advertising until they start writing articles that promote the positives in our respective industries. We all know, times are tough, but even in tough times there are positives. It is time the news outlets start building the moral of the country, not tearing it down.

CHANGE starts at the bottom, it starts in the trench's, it starts with us, it doesn't start in WASHINGTON! We are in the field every day, educating people about the market.

What type of message are we sending?

Are we driving 65 MPH?

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

On February 9^th 2009 a DJ Company was the highest bidder (91 bids) for the telephone number 867-5309. Why did this telephone number have market value? This phone number was made famous in the hit single "Jenny (867-5309)" by Tommy Tutone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMxSMxnwAE0. The success of this song made the telephone number popular, memorable & valuable for business's in the music & entertainment industry.

As Real Estate Professionals, we strive to separate ourselves from the competition. We work to create our own 867-5309. However, there's always the school of thought that would say. "High level of service and market knowledge beats a catchy jingle any day." TRUE, but combining the two creates the Nike effect, JUST DO IT!

Marketing 101: They are Branded, Are you?

Nike, McDonalds, Gatorade & Polo are market leaders in their respective fields and recognized by a wordless logo (swoosh, yellow arches, lightning bolt & a jockey on a horse). My goal is to advertise my business without using a single word! Attaining brand recognition is the crème de la crème in marketing.

Marketing 201: Synecdoche, Huh?

What if your firms name was listed in the dictionary as a verb & was defined as: TO SELL REAL ESTATE? I know this idea is out in left field and may be hard to conceive, just hear me out. Do you think when Google launched; the founders thought the term "Google" would be entered into the Mirriam-Webster Dictionary as a Verb? IT WAS.

Examples of a Synecdoche...

Google - To search for something on the internet.

"Google Italian restaurants in New York before we leave."

Xerox - To make a photocopy of a document.

"Can you Xerox the company newsletter?

FedEx - To ship a package.

"Don't forget to Fedex the package first thing in the morning."

RE/MAX - To sell a home.

"I am going to RE/MAX next month and move to Florida."

""Heroes are remembered but legends never die." - Babe Ruth

Make it a Great Day!

In honor of my favorite HALLMARK HOLIDAY right around the corner, I'd like to point out a few comparisons between Relationships and Real Estate.

1) A Meeting with a Potential Client - Going on a First Date

You can't stop thinking about it all day. You make sure your shirt is pressed and your pants are ironed. An extra squirt of cologne before leaving the house and some mid-day mouth wash is a must. You get a cold sweat about 10 minutes before the meeting/date & you practice the ice breaker introduction all day!

2) Cold Calling - Asking a Date to the 6th Grade Dance

6th Grade is a tough year for many. Acne, puberty, squeaky voice - you get the point. You may have to ask a few different people to go to the dance, before you land a date, similar to cold calling.

3) The Home Inspection- Taking your Girlfriend or Boyfriend to Meet your Parents.

The home inspectors opinion is very important in keeping the transaction together. Your parents opinion of your girlfriend/boyfriend is crucial in taking the relationship to the next level. (You can deny it, but it's the truth).

4) Farming a Neighborhood - Signing up to Match.com or E-Harmony.com (26 levels of compatibility)

You never know, you may get lucky! Routinely mailing to a specific neighborhood is similar to searching for your soul mate via internet dating. If someone likes your credentials you may get a listing, if someone likes your profile, you may get a date!

5) Submitting an Offer - Proposing to your Significant Other

Selecting the ring is similar to deciding what price to offer on a house. Depending on the market you may have to increase the offer or bump up another karat. Your future wife/husband should love you for who you are, but a nice diamond never hurt anyone.

6) Giving a Referral - Setting a Friend up on a Blind Date

You love working with the professional you are referring but you're never 100% sure how it will go with your client. Similarly, your college frat brother may be a sweet heart, but you never know how he is going to treat your sister!

7) Reducing your Commission - Moving in with your Spouse

Everyone has to kick in a little for the greater good! You may have to share the TV on Sunday night so your wife can watch Desperate House Wives.

8) An Expired Listing - The dreaded Divorce

You tried to work it out, but in the end it is just better to go your separate ways.

9) A Listing Appointment - Speed Dating

You may have less then 20 minutes to prove to someone why they should list with you and not the 1500 other Realtors in your market. Speed dating only allows for a 1 minute interview to get a date (as seen in the movie, The 40 Year Old Virgin).

10) A Short Sale - Getting Married in Vegas

Money is a little tight, you skip the big production, exchange rings & kiss!

Make it a Great Day!

Door knocking, Really? The last time I knocked on a door was in 5^th grade, only then we used to run away. A little game called door-bell-ditch, possibly a Connecticut thing? Now I am selling the houses I used to run from, go figure?

After a good High School education followed up with a degree from an institute of higher learning, I found myself parked outside a complete stranger's house at 1:30 on a Tuesday afternoon. I was going to knock on their door and ask to sell their house.

I swallowed my pride, put aside my pre-conceived notions about door knocking and grabbed my portfolio. The tension and nerves built up, I sweat through every article of clothing that was attached to me. I cut the ignition, opened the door and then it hit me;

"They're trying to sell their home on their own, they are the crazy ones. I do this for a living, they NEED my services"

After the epiphany, I walked confidently towards the front door. The rest is history...

Not every story has a happy ending (Case & Point: Alex Rodriguez); I did not get the listing. Although, I had a great conversation with them & stayed to watch The Price is Right re-runs. (It was an older couple; they were big Bob Barker fans).

The lesson I took away from my door knocking experience;

Practice makes Permanent...

Whoever coined the phrase, "Practice makes perfect" - Was a fake, fraud, scam and just completely wrong. If you practice learning you're A,B,C's ; by reciting; C, A, F, X, U - You will be perfectly WRONG.

Practice makes Permanent. The way you practice will dictate how you perform. It is crucial to practice good habits and techniques if you desire "perfect" results. Door Knocking can serve as a great practice session. It is the under card fight before the main event.

Door Knocking enabled me to get in front of FSBO's and run through scripts and dialogues. Next time I am called in on a listing presentation by someone who has reached out to me, I will have the confidence of the 1992 USA DREAM TEAM!

Make it a Great Day!