Tony Orefice Realtor/Concord NC, Charlotte NC

Another year has gone by...it's

Christmas time again!

Deck the halls...

Trim the tree...

String the lights...

Wrap the gifts...

and most of all...

Spike the Egg Nog !!

hic! : )

From our home to yours...

We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas,

and a Happy New Year !!!!!!!!!!

May 2009 be, for you all, healthy, happy, and prosperous !!!

Your friend,

The Suddreth Group

980-254-7263

We've had a bit of bad weather lately. Just coming out of a drought, now all we get is rain. But hey, I'm not complaining. I stepped out of my front door, looked up into the sky and thought how beautifully menacing it looked. I was taken in by the shades of blue and gray. Enjoy!

On Dec. 13, 2008, the Cabarrus County JROTC programs hosted a Dining Out. It was held at the

North Carolina Army National Guard Armory in Concord, located at 1501 Old Charlotte Road.

"A Dining Out is a formal military dinner that allows for military members to meet socially at a formal military function. It's purpose is to enhance the esprit de corps of units, give the commanders an opportunity to meet socially with their subordinates, and enable military members of all ranks to create bonds of friendship and working relationships through an atmosphere of good fellowship".

For me, it was a great night out with my son,

Cadet Orefice, Airman 1st Class.

It was good to see all these young men and women gather together.

All the parents were very proud!

Cadet Orefice with his commander, Lt. Colonel Martin.

I couldn't have asked for a better leader for my son. Lt. Colonel Martin is

kind, respectful, and overall, a great guy!

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America..."

This is the Grog bowl. A game was played where members had an opportunity to "report" on fellow members if they did something wrong during the festivities. Boy!, there sure was a lot of "ratting" on each other going on. If your name was mentioned, you had to go up and drink from the Grog Bowl. Later, I was told that it tasted like lemonade mixed with salt and hot sauce. YUCK!!!

I always enjoy going to activities with the JROTC. One of their acquired traits is respectfulness. It was refreshing to be addressed as "sir" by these young men and women. Yep! no regrets here.

Keep an eye out for the next Tony Tours the Town....The Concord Chronicles.

Broker/Realtor

980-254-7263

I recently had a listing that I took for a list price higher than I advised the sellers should ask for. I know, I broke cardinal rule #1.

They were friends of my wife, so I didn't want to insult them. I advised them, as per comps and new construction in their area, that they should list at $249,900. The husband was so adamant that he not lose money (they paid $250,000 for the house 2 years earlier), that I did as they asked.

We signed a 3 month contract for a list price of $269,000 and I got to work marketing their home. I stress marketing, not listing, because I just don't put it on MLS and hope it sells. I do much more. Flyers are printed and distributed, postcards go out in the mail, emails are sent to agents that have worked that particular area, open houses were held every other weekend!, the listing was advertised in a major RE magazine, etc.

What made this more of a challenge was that the sellers put earnest money down on a FSBO and had 3 months to buy. I did all that I promised to try to get their house sold. After 1 month, I talked them down to a list price of $264, 900. We still had no one even come to an open house, let alone have an agent bring clients to see the house. Another 2 weeks later I was able to talk them down again to $259,900. Believe me, it wasn't easy but I did what I had to do. After 2 months, I approached them again. Hesitantly, they agreed to drop the price again to $254,900. Mind you, no lookers at the house at all.

When there were 2 weeks left to their contract, my sellers emailed me asking to be let out of their contract. They stated that they had to get the house sold and wanted to go to a larger, well-known company. They believed that would get the house sold faster. Knowing that they had earnest $ on the line and because they were my wife's friends, I let them out of the contract with two weeks left on it.

Cut to today... 5 months later and with a large RE firm, the house is still on the market! The only advertisement I've seen for it is an ad in a magazine. I don't think their agent even holds open houses (I know, some of you don't think open houses are effective). What got me was the initial asking price the new agent got them to list at....$249,900!!! Sound familiar??

There's a part of me that wants to call the sellers and ask, " You let me go and hired another agent, how's that working for ya?!" Of course, I know full well how it's working for them. It's NOT!! LOL Let me stop revelling in others' misfortunes.

As my title suggests- Don't Overlook the Little Guy! There is a huge misconception that a larger agency means better results than a small agency can supply. I did much more for those sellers than the big company agent is doing. I will continue to maintain my sense of work ethics and my future clients will reap the benefits.

Look to the upper left of the rainbow...there's a second one! That's a first for me.

There I was, driving along, minding my own business...when I looked up and, "oh s**t!, look at those rainbows". Of course, they were brighter than my pic depicts but you get the picture (pun intended). I held up traffic to get this shot..."honk yourself, can't you see I'm taking a picture. I need it for my blog", was my reply to the onslaught of car horns blaring at me. Like I always say...the blog must go on!