Todd Pierceall

Okay people, snakes don't bother me but this one would make me scream like a little girl. A friend of mine sent me the photo that was taken last week on a golf course in Greer, S.C. . All I know is it is an Eastern Diamond Back Rattle Snake.

Update: The picture is starting to circulate around the web and I have learned the snake weighs 97 lbs and is the largest Eastern Rattle Snake ever discovered!

Okay, I am usually ranting and raving about something in real estate but tonight is different. As most of you know real estate agents don't truly get to make their own schedules and therefore I do not watch a lot of television. I am a sucker for the talent programs however. You can set your DVR and watch it when you want and not have to follow a story line. I watched America's Got Talent tonight. I haven't watched it before but I think all of the publicity surrounding Susan Boyle on the British version made me tune in.

If you did not see it you have to find it on YouTube or something. The last act of the night was tremendous. Three kids singing God Bless America. Not only were they fantastic singers, the story behind their singing was truly inspirational. Their mother was seriously injured in a head on collision. She spent eight months in a comma. A she lay there her kids began to sing to her. Soon they were singing for other patients in the hospital. Now they were on a national stage and it was an emotional performance.

Trust me, if you want to feel patriotism or want to see a family that truly got it right with life's lessons you have to watch it somewhere. I will search to see if I can find it and post it for those that want to watch.

I will sign off now feeling so proud of my country and for the family that poured out so much love for it.

I wrote a blog many moons ago about real estate agent photos. The photos I am referring to are the ones that agents put on their businees cards or mailers. (not photos such as you find on social sites like this one).

I recently saw a photo of an agent that I knew and I called her to tell her there were flyers with her name but someone else's picture. She told me it was her high school photo. This is a woman in her late 40's. I ask her why she did that and she said she thought it would get her more business. I am thinking not.

I also had the displeasure of going with another agent to view a home with one of her clients. She brought her toy poodle with her. She said clients love to see the little dog (I'm still not sure it wasn't a rat). The dog was bouncing all over the vehicle and getting in the clients lap. The client did not at all seemed pleased. When I last spoke to the agent she had not heard from the client in over a week. Anyone reading this suprised?

My point to this is that clients want to know who they are working with. They want a professional that is honest. Not portraying your accurate picture is not truthful. If it was then it would say "this photo is 25 years old" underneath it. Bringing your dog on showings is not professional. I have two dogs that I love. I take them on rides and trips with me. I would NEVER take them on a business appointment.

A professional image goes a long way. That is not to say that you have to be dressed to the nines everyday. I have several rural customers that would run if they saw me pull up in a suit. They don't trust those "city slickers". I put on a nice pair of jeans with some walking boots and a clean shirt. It portrays a clean image but not an image they can not relate too. Know your client! It will take you a long way.

I am assuming that everybody else is like me in that your clients are probably calling like crazy every time they announce a new federal program to help people purchase homes. Tax credit, tax credit as down payment, first time home buyer program, tax credit for any home buyer, etc.

The more information they release they less we know. I have to tell clients that I know as little as they do. The press releases need to be held back until they have a program in place and ready to launch. All of the rumors are doing more harm than good. I have loss two deals already because the clients said they were not in a big hurry and wanted to see what happens with the tax credits. They could be waiting forever!

If the federal government wants to really help then release programs that are ready to go, get rid of this new appraisal requirement fiasco and clamp down on these unscrupulous lenders.

I will keep this quick and simple. Here is your chance to provide input (that will actually get consideration) on what you would like to see from a real estate company as an agent. I own my own company and I am always looking at ways to make it better for my agents. I wish you all could come work for me but as we know that is not possible your input could be beneficial to other agents that do work for me. Post your thoughts (serious ones) and thank you for participating.

Todd Pierceall
Prestige Properties
www.prestigeproperties4u.com