Robin Gulledge/Cedar Park, TX ABR,CRS,GRI

I don't like new years resolutions; they never seem to work. However, I am taking a look at my previous year in business and seeing what I can do different. My goal is to not only have a better bottom line but to be more at peace with what is going on in my world at any given moment. What am I doing different? I recently took a class titled 'Ninja II" in Lewisville Tx and was reminded of keeping track of productive and nonproductive activites. I was reminded that the only real Productive time is time spent face to face with a client in a selling situation such as: showing homes to qualified buyers, writing offers, presenting offers, presenting counters, listing presentations. Now indirectly productive time is all forms of prospecting such as completeing CMA reports, open houses, previewing homes for buyers, touring homes for specific buyers or sellers, counseling interviews. And the real big wake up call for me was that everything else I do is considered nonproductive time. Weekly sales meetings, training classes, property tours, and anytime spent on 'the deal' while the property is pending or in escrow. Now you can argue this all you want but it makes me take a look at how much productive time I actually do accomplish on a daily or even weekly basis and just becoming aware of that is an eye opener. So what I am doing different this year is not only setting a weekly goal for productive time but also tracking my time and in turn having a better bottom line in 2009.

I love my chosen career path and I absolutley love the RE/MAX office I work at in Cedar Park Texas. My sales manager, David Matthys, always knows just the right thing to say to me when I go to him for counsel. He is a great listener and has a great sense of humor ( so important for our profession). Lets face it, often times we don't like the other agents attitude or maybe our clients attitude but that doesn't matter. What does matter is that we deliver accurate communication in a timely and effective manner. Sometimes this requires us getting out of our own way. So I say this to myself and to all my fellow associates. Just the facts man, just the facts. Leave the drama for the stage!

I was out on an appointment and retrieved my voicemail only to have my office leaving me a message. I had received a delivery and it was perishable so they put it in the refrigerator for me. Well my first thought was, OK what practical joke did my friend and associate Janet pull on me this time? AmI going to find something in the refrigerator with my name on it that has long expired and has fur growing on it? Well to my surprise I discovered it was for real, a bonafide delivery called an Edible Arrangement. It was an eye catching arrangement of fruit in various shapes, some had been dipped in chocolate (my favorite). The card was from a recent home sale for a young newlywed couple that had closed at the end of July. The transaction had a few bumps, but nothing too out of the ordinary. The card read, Just paid our first mortgage payment and we were thinking of you. Thank you for all your help, we love the new house! After tasting a few of the treats and sharing it with my office I quickly got on the phone and called my client gushing with excitement and gratitude. I share this with you all because even though there are times we feel beat up by other associates and don't feel appreciated by our clients someone comes along and re-energizes me to go back out and keep doing what I enjoy doing, helping people buy and sell their home. Its a sign, its a sign, thank you very much universe!

I spent 3 hours yesterday of my valuable time with Pat Zaby, a real estate guru, certified CRS instructor and professional speaker . First of all I am proud to be associated with RE/MAX of Texas because they are the ones who brought him to our great city of Austin and my time was well spent. I was hanging on his every word and I got a lot of new ideas to implement. Sure he had his products to pitch, but you can't blame the fella. He has produced 'systems' that can really make a difference in your real estate business. I was really excited about his ideas on the best camera to use for house photos (Kodak Easy share Z1015) that has a 22mm wide angle lens and costs somewhere between $198-$228. He also mentioned the Flip video for videoing homes to put on the web for a price tag of $121. If you get the chance to attend an event where he is the speaker or perhaps instructor he will be well worth your time.

Room to Roam in this 4 bedroom 2.5 bath home with over 2.5 acres of land in the North Rim Subdivision located in Leander Texas. This home sits on a corner lot, heavily laden with trees to create a private back yard haven. It is a 2 story , red brick ,3500 square foot home with a formal living and dining, study, family room and large open kitchen all on the first floor. All bedrooms are up with a game room and a bonus room that can be used as a 5th bedroom or a media room. The back yard features a covered patio and a large in-ground pool and deck. The subdivision is close to lake Travis with lake access to enjoy our year round warm temperatures. see below the virtual tour

http://vt.realtour.biz/?P=35762&T=NOTIDX