Bob "RealMan" Timm

SUN DOGS, You Really Don't Want To See Them.

These are "Sun Dogs" and you really don't want to see them (in person). What you have here is two pictures with a "sun Dog" on each side of the sun. If I had a panoramic camera we could eliminate one of the suns in the middle. The Sun Dogs almost form a rainbow around the sun.

The key to Sun Dogs is that it needs to be below 0 degrees outside or colder. The colder it is outside the more spectacular the Sun Dogs. When I woke up today it was 8 below zero (that's 40 degrees below freezing) actual air temperature. Then there is this thing called "Wind Chill". The weather service is warning that it will be windy today causing a wind chill of up to 45 degrees below zero.

What do we do when it's 45 degrees below zero? You make sure you have several layers of clothing on and you go out there and attend to business just like any other day. Obviously those who work out of doors need to come in frequently to avoid frostbite. On a day like today a person who is not properly dress may experience hypothermia within a few short minutes.

OFFICE SWEET OFFICE

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE OFFICE

Office Sweet Office. It's small, it's ugly, but it's mine.

After a summer of conducting business out of my mother-in-laws basement, Starbucks, and the public library, I finally have an office to call home office.

With all the positives it's easy for me to overlook the ugly color of the building (which I will repaint this spring) and the fact that the interior needs a little spritzing up.

The next big step is to get that secretary I've talked about for 2 or 3 years. I hired one and she quit before she started because she didn't like the interior colors of the office. This despite the fact I told her she could pick new colors and I'd paint!

I thought the colors were a little loud myself but I kind of like them and now that I've added some "stuff" like desks and bookcases I'm rather pleased. The pic to the right is the reception area that eventually will have a receptionists/secretaries desk.

I'm located on BROADWAY, how cool is that! In Minot Broadway is thee main Street with the heaviest traffic. I've already had more walk-ins in a month then I had in a year in my old location. I'm not knocking the old location, how great was that to be in a movie theater, across the street from a big park, and also on a main arterial of the City?

I'm far from finished with my office project but here are a few more pictures. The pic's include my desk as well as the desk for my personal assistant, my conference area for when I'm meeting with clients and viewing MLS listings, and the play area for kids to run wild while Mom and Dad look at listings with me. In the play area I need to and have removed most of the "junk" and to restock the office with a toy-box and kids furniture.

After spending the summer in my mother-in-laws basement because I lost my home, my office, and my rental property in the flood that destroyed 1/4th of our City this place really looks beautiful to me. Once again it's a joy to actually "GO" to work and to have a place for friends and clients come and visit.

Oddly enough despite the tragedy that struck our City and my family personally 2011 was the best year I've had in business. 2011 was full of blessings thanks to all the kind people who let us know they cared, many who never met us, but all eager to help out those in need because of the tragedy that struck our City.

Who Says An Old Dog Can't Teach YOU New Tricks???

Jack is a 12 year old mutt. He loves to fetch but we've never known him to actually catch a ball. Even at the age of 12 he will run after a ball much longer then your arm will hold out throwing the ball.

Jack has never done steps. He will run up them (in shear terror) if he has to but forget him ever going down steps on his own.

So what will he do if he is in the mood to play fetch and no one is paying attention? He just throws his ball down the steps and expects YOU to go get it.

This is new behavior he's learned since we became (flood) refugees living at Grandma's house while our home is being rebuilt.

With my office being downstairs (until I relocate into my new space sometime this month) I am usually the one Jack makes fetch the ball. What also adds to the "weirdness" is that when I toss it back up the steps he always catches it.

If I don't get the ball or if no one is around to get the ball he will just stand at the top of the steps and stair down until someone does get it or he gets hungry or tired and wonders off.

Four about 4 years now I've been working under the oldest active Broker in North Dakota, Mr Earl Allen. I'm wondering if he may not be the oldest active Broker in the USA. Earl is a spry 92 years young.

Some people are questioning Mr. Allens clarity of late and I say shame on them. Earl knows more about Real Estate than any man I know and as the old saying goes he's probably forgot more then we ever hope to learn.

I am really proud to be working under a living legend like Earl. I've learned a lot. You talk about old school... I'm learning things first hand that go back to the foundation of North Dakota Real Estate.

Yes, someday I'm going to have to tell people that I knew and worked under the legend of Mr. Earl Allen but today I can say that I'm still a student of the best man in North Dakota Real Estate.

Those that critisize this man need to realize that even if they live to be 200 years old they will never measure up to this man and his dedication to Real Estate as well as his dedication to the principals he believes in.

Long live the great Mr. Earl Allen!

HURTING CONTRACTORS NEED TO HEAD TO MINOT ND

It's been a while since I sent out a plea for contractors to come to Minot if they want business. Business that they can charge full price for, rebuild their companies and retain their good workers. Minot and Western North Dakota is, and will remain, America's major boom area for a minimum of 5 years and more likely for 20 years.

In the last week it has been re-affirmed that Western North Dakota is sitting on more recoverable oil then Saudi Arabia. WAY more!

For several years now I've been posting about our major shortage of workers. ANY entry level job, even McDonnald's, is now starting it's people out at more then $10.00 per hour with benefits. Truck drivers are getting $100,000.00 a year or more. Carpenters, electricians and plumbers are getting whatever they want to charge.

Here is an example of how short we are of professionals in the building trades. I recently had my home home wired by an electrician who came up here from Southern MN (in an effort to save his failing business). I caught him his 1st week up here about a month ago. The power to my home was interrupted yesterday when a carpenter cut a power line. I called the electrician and he told me he and his entire crew is now booked more then a month out. Remember he has only been here less then a month!

The building up here is crazy and I can assure you that no matter what (other then the environmentalist wackos killing the oil industry) the building will NOT catch up for many years.

There is one catch. Keep in mind what I'm saying about the need for building contractors. There is nowhere to stay in Minot if you do not already own a home. I promise you: You will NOT find a single hotel room in Minot ND, housing is that short.

We need you here, bring your own place to stay and you will make money like you never dreamed. I am a Realtor, not an employment agency. If you have questions call professionals that can help. If you want to buy a home call me. Please think about all I've said when you think about housing. In a mad market like this there is NO seller financing, no rent to own. Don't ask me the stupid question: would your sellers consider renting? This is a sellers market. If you want to rent call a property management company and get on their waiting list... they should have something for you in a couple of years.

AMAZING ART by The World's Greatest Artist!

Any one who has or had vision has viewed this artists work at some time or another. He has worked with every form or art known to man and most likely some art we are not even aware of. I'd like to say that my favorite works are his visual presentations but when I think of his musical skills and culinary skills it's really hard to pick my favorite.

This post is about a very recent work, finished sometime last night or very early this morning. This beautiful piece was created under his pen name Jack Frost and this particular piece was created on top of my mother-in-law's car.

I know frost is easily explained away but can science explain the endless and beautiful patterns left on glass and metal? Although I hate the indication that winter is near I love to look at the works of Jack Frost.