Carol Ann Doucette

Even though we have several feet of snow on the ground, the longer days and the intensity of the sun has caused spring stirrings in my heart. Living on a lake in Maine, it is hard to curtail the pending excitement of ice out, gardens springing forth and showing property on Maine lakes. Most recently several of my clients have asked if I still work in other areas beyond the Lakes Region. I realized that my love of the lakes has become so prominent in their minds that they think I have forgotten the many other wonderful communities surrounding Greater Portland. Last summer, I was fortunate enough to list a home in Portland which went under contract in less than a week. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed working in those neighborhoods with vintage homes close to services. In December, a group from our office helped stage a home in one of those neighborhood creating a very desirable result and going under contract in less than 10 days due to our efforts. I am anxious to have that opportunity again and have been actively pursuing opportunities to utilize my staging skills once more. Having formerly managed my own wallpaper and painting company, my wealth of personal experiance of products and their application would also be helpful to those homeowners looking to do some freshening up of their home before listing. Full service brokers come in many forms these days. Creativity in all areas gives our clients the best value possible when searching for their next broker to represent them. It is always surprising to me how many homes don't have virtual tours, or tours that do not include pictures of the surrounding community. Below are a few links to tours I have created. My goal is for buyers to get the true feeling of my listings and be drawn to experiance it first hand. Maine has such beauty. Those from away need to see as much of it as they can if contemplating coming in our direction.

http://marketing.remaxdesigncenter.com/06/31606/673946

http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?T=1131093&prt=10003

http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?T=1085504&prt=10003

http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?T=812536&prt=10003

New Book Recognizes RE/MAX Customer Service

RISMEDIA, March 3, 2009-Customer service practices of the global real estate network, RE/MAX, have been held up as an example of best practices in a recently released book, "The Customer Rules: The 14 Indispensable, Irrefutable, and Indisputable Qualities of the Greatest Service Companies in the World."

The book's authors, C. Britt Beemer, a leading consumer research and marketing consultant, and best selling business author Robert Shook, document the practices of 14 companies that have built their corporate culture on the concept of unsurpassed customer service. In their book, the authors also rely upon extensive market research they say is unprecedented in scope.

"We're very honored to be in the company of these highly respected organizations, and to have our customer service practices recognized as some of the best," said Dave Liniger, chairman and co-founder of RE/MAX International, Inc.. "From the very beginning, RE/MAX has worked hard to create customer service policies that respect both our Sales Associates and the consumer."

Other companies described in the book include; Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Johnson & Johnson, Lexus, and Harrah's. Through a description of the qualities that make these companies successful, the authors offer insights into the creation of unshakeable customer loyalty, even in these difficult economic times.

"While many organizations are eliminating jobs and services, these companies do what they need to do to make customers keep returning in a difficult environment," says Beemer. "Everybody benefits; the company, employees, and consumers."

In the case of RE/MAX, the book describes how the company's founders inspired extensive customer service practices throughout its history. As a franchise organization, RE/MAX considers its customers to be franchisees, Sales Associates and the public.

RE/MAX has also been recognized as the leading real estate franchise by the oldest and most respected ranking, "The Franchise 500 Survey," published in the January edition of Entrepreneur Magazine. RE/MAX has held this top honor for 9 out of the last 10 years.

"The Customer Rules" is published by McGraw/Hill and is currently available in book stores and online. It can be purchased from retailers like amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Borders.

Most recently I conducted an Open House on a charming cottage style new construction home on Little Sebago Lake in Maine. It was a sunny but chilly Sunday and it was pleasant being inside looking at the indigo blue water and the seldom seen whitecaps on the lake. I was pleased to have a flurry of activity with several parties arriving at once to view this home. Lake homes always attract would be buyers who dream of ownership and living the lifestyle that lake ownership affords. One of the parties commented on the fact that they were cash purchasers and that was a good thing since it was practically impossible to get loans today. I was shocked at this perception. Shortly thereafter a mortgage broker arrived who was also a neighbor. Neighbors love to see what is happening in their area to put their own value on their home when matched against what they see. As the conversation progressed, I mentioned to this mortgage broker that she should speak to the other party who had made the statement about the inability to obtain financing in this real estate market. What a perfect opportunity to dispel an inaccurate belief! The bottom line was that loans are readily available to those with good credit and she had several examples to prove that with current start up projects in Maine being financed through her mortgage company. There are also funds available for second homes, for those who are going in that direction. It is very easy to buy into the incorrect information that is put forth as blanket statement for the whole United States. In Maine, our prices did not go as high as many other areas during the fast appreciation years so the falling prices are not as severe. The key as always to selling is correct pricing. This summer I listed a home that went under contract in less then a week when priced to sell and it was not bargain basement pricing. Right now there are some fabulous opportunities in the Lakes Region of Maine. Many folks who could afford the luxury of a second home are no longer able due to the decline of stock market revenues. There are fabulous homes now listed in the $800k range which a few years ago would have been listed for close to 2 million dollars. For those who are investors, now is the prefect time to purchase. Don't listen to those gloom and doom forecasters. Check with local real estate agents in the areas that you are interested in for the real story. If you are looking for lakefront investments call me for an up to date report.