Patricia Murray

WE (well, me lately) seem to always write about how terrible service is or how we did not get what we paid for or the people we have to deal with who are socially or emotionally or intellectually challenged. You get the idea.

Here is a post that tells you of great service to both me and my clients, consistantly for at least 6 yrs. since I lived in Naples, FL.

Jose Puertas owns "Blind Expert." He is a distributor for Hunter Douglas and also does custom window treatments. I have used his services a couple of times and many of my clients have too (from entry level condo's to multi million dollar homes). All have come back to me and let me know how happy they were with his work and service. He listens to what you want or think you want and then directs you to make good choices, both visually and financially. He is hands on.

Troy owns Anglers Pool Service. He works a lot in the North Naples area. I have recommended his services in The Strand, Pelican Marsh, Vineyards, Carlton Lakes. I know he has other area's he works in too. He is very knowledgable and takes care of issue's as they arise and his company does the weekly maintenance service we all need for our pools. A few of my clients also used his services to install the aqualink systems for their pool and were very happy with their price and service.

There you go... 2 great recommendations and more to follow. They deserve the recognition, they work hard and do a great job.

Pat Murray

Premiere Plus Realty Co.

239-404-0759

PENDING SALES AT THREE YEAR HIGH Report Shows Inventory Declines 7.6 Percent

The report provides annual comparisons of single-family home and condo sales (via the SunshineMLS), price ranges, geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. The statistics are presented in chart format, along with the following analysis:

Overall pending home sales for properties less than $300,000 saw a 178 percent increase, with 587 pending in February 2009 compared to 211 in February 2008.

Single-family pending home sales increased 131 percent overall, with 450 in February 2009 compared to 195 in February 2008.

Overall condo pending sales increased 26 percent, with 358 in February 2009 versus 284 in February 2008; and pending condo sales under $300,000 increased 77 percent with 266 in February 2009 compared to 150 in February 2008.

Ok -- it has been a couple of weeks and I really have not yet recovered from my bruised ego since the attempt at the Miami Marathon in January. I trained and did all that was expected and..... I just had a bad day....not just a bad day... one of my worst running days I can remember ...... My body just didn't feel like my own and I ached and dragged myself over the 1/2 marathon finish line.... embarrassed and so disappointed.

So..... I am one to not give up and finish what I start (or is it pure ego and ingnorance?) I have regrouped a bit and will put another on my calender for the fall. Right now I will back off of running - just a couple of days a week and focus on total fitness, dropping a couple of pounds and licking my wounds.

I will continue to read all the blogs to keep me inspired. Keep on running!

Comcast -- 9 phone calls, 3 hrs. 14 min on hold, 1 missed scheduled service call to come out to "fix" the internet problem.... never showed.... Please, Please,,,,,, I beg you ..... I want to give you my money, I want your service desperately, please, can I buy and pay you for your service?????????? CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME????????????? apparently not, I ended up getting embarq, the local phone service to hook up my internet connection because I need to work! Can you believe this? 10 days later and comcast has no clue....

I know it isn't an isolated problem since many of my clients come back and tell me similar stories. I am "over the top" aggitated with this lack of customer service, but who really cares over there at comast? You get the customer service people on the phone, very polite and nice, but have no idea about taking "ownership" of the given situation. It is always passed on, with a polite apology, but never any results.

I was having a conversation with somebody who had the same experience and we came to the conclusion we would prefer total jerks, but had the skills to solve the issue's as opposed to a clueless "kind" ditz's with no clue of how to use their critical thinking skills to take charge and solve the problem (similiar to a childs mentality).

Everybody has problems with most services, that's ok... it's how you choose to solve the problem that keeps the customer. I am shouting it from the rooftops ---- to all residences in SW Florida.... down with comcast..... they won't pay attention until they see a large decrease in sales..... individual choice is always ours as our voice.... just like an election.....

I don't want to hear other "they were wonderful for me" stories or comments.... it doesn't matter..... what matters for a company for me to recommend them to my clients and neighbors is that they do a good job steadily --------

I got that off my chest.... stay tuned for book 2, 3 and 4!

Finally.... Finally.... Finally..... that's all I can think when I go over in my mind the last 6 months with this one short sale listing. The seller was great, the buyer was great, the agent for the buyer was great.... guess who was the pain in the neck????

Country Wide was the first disfunctional institution, then the second mortgage was held by a smaller bank, Third Federal. With all the news, all the documentation and all the personal information shared to all, we never got a call back from either bank. All the calls were made by the seller's attorney and their title company.... every day. We had the first offer, the first week of the listing in April. Then Country Wide never responded, until we again.... had to call every day and bug them .... continuously.... we lost the buyer -- after waiting 2 1/2 months.... the buyer walked.

Back on the market..... another offer within 2 weeks -- full price, cash with proof of funds submitted with the contract...... another appraisal... (appraisal less this time since the market came down a bit)---- again --- phone calls, more phone calls...... 2 months later.... approval from the first mortgage company (they were getting paid in full .... what took them so long when the 2nd mortgage co. was taking the fall?) ---- then... the 2nd mortgage company denied the short sale---???? Attorney on the phone to try to get a reason.... they thought the seller had "hidden" assets... with everything documented; bank account numbers, credit card numbers, other debts, etc.... all open for all to see --- credit reports with every debt reported...... no proof but this one guy, who ignored us through this whole process before he even saw the paperwork, just "had a hunch" ---?????? and.... for this property to go into forclosure it would cost them more money then what they would lose with the possability that the seller would have to claim bankruptcy and they would get nothing!

Ok - somebody who still has a job --- not a real high position within the company, "just had a hunch" ... the arrogance of it all...... The power some have in this situation just infuriates me....

Needless to say, the attorney got what we needed to close the sale. Finally........ The seller can move on with her life and rebuild, the buyer can enjoy his condo and we get paid! Probably made about minimun wage on this one.... another one..... what we don't do!