Endwell, NY

As I sit here on the night before another Open House on my listing which was previously a FSBO, I am contemplating releasing him from his listing contract. I know what some people are saying, "Why would you do that ?" Well, here is the story...

I visited the FSBO's Open House back in December 2009. I visited the house with the intention on previewing it for any future buyers that I might have had. Once inside the house I could tell right away that he was way over priced. In my opinion it was approximately $45,000 over priced. Now this is a huge amount of money in my market where the average sales price is $110,000 (SearchBinghamtonMLS).The seller was asking $159,000.

I did not solicit him for the listing but did offer my advice if he wanted it. He asked me what i had thought about the price and the house. I told him that I would need to do my homework and would love to make an appointment to come back and speak to him. He asked me for my marketing presentation and I, of course, told him that I would be happy to show it to him.

After doing some comps for the area I figured he should be priced somewhere between $105,000 - $109,000. We all know that we don't hold crystal balls and if we did we wouldn't be selling real estate. He was very impressed with me and my company's DigitalMarketing Strategy (Patting myself on the back) and decided to list with me.

He wanted to start the list price at $118,000 and I agreed with the understanding that we would look at the activity and adjust it accordingly. After one week I suggested he lower the price, my suggestion to him was to lower it to $109,900 knowing his situation and that he really wanted to sell it. He refused and lowered it to $114,000. After 45 days on the market we received an offer. I don't want to disclose the exact amount but after some counter-offers it was very near what I had suggested but not near the amount that he wanted. He still would have made money from the price at which he purchased it but was concerned because of the money he has layed out to help the family member cover the mortgage and other expenses. He is trying to recoup that money.

After this Open House I think I will tell him he has 2 options at this point... he can either rent it or drastically reduce the price to get it sold.

My Uncle Dennis, Denny (my cousin) and I last Sunday August 16 went Golfing at Endwell Greens in Endwell, NY.

I am one never to complain, but I felt that I needed to express my disappointed I had at this course. It is now been close to a week and at first I thought to myself that I was not even going to write a negative review, but it still eats at me on what happened.

Saturday I called Endwell Greens the night before for tee times. I spoke with a very nice Lady two times on the phone too make sure the price she quoted me over the phone for a Sunday tee time was right at $30.00. When we arrived at the clubhouse that morning after scheduling the tee times the night before I found out it was $45.00. I explained to the Ranger in the clubhouse what had happened and very unprofessionally and rude said "NO". Did not even apologize or express any emotion. The Ranger made me feel that I was bothering him for discussing what happen and the situation.

Being that it is a Sunday morning figured it would be difficult to schedule another tee time. We decided to play figuring it would be a nice course and amenities and we are here might as well!
Here is where it really starts to go down hill and my extreme disappoint with Endwell Greens Golf Course.

First let me say this before I give you my list. I have no problem paying 45.00 for a course but you better live up to the service and course!!!

• Driving Range was Behind a Shed and No maintenance done to the driving range at all. Weeds, Clover patches...... Had to walk through Broken down golf carts and tractors to get to the range
• No Ranger or worker to tell you what golf cart to take. Just a Key with No number given to you.
• Golf carts were all wet with dew.
• No towels to dry them off
• Golf cart had rust and rips in the seat
• Being in the middle of summer one would think they would have bug spray "for sale" at least. (remember just paid 45.00)
• Now, just getting to the golf course the grass clippings were left all over the course instead of using a bag or sweeper.
• Little maintenance too barely cut the tall grass. No mowing in over a week some areas
• Missed spots of cutting in fairways and fringe
• The worse 3 out of the 18 holes for the Greens were not playable at all!!!!
• Dirt and small stones were literally on the greens.

Like I said I am not one to complain but if you are going to charge $45.00,especially in today's economy you better make sure you have the Service and course to back up what you are charging golfers!! I would not recommend this course to anyone playing in the Endwell, Binghamton, NY area. There are so many other beautiful courses at $30.00 on a weekend you can play in that area. Click here to Find some in your area. Golf courses

Not everyone knows that WR Yelland designed churches and funeral parlours too.

Clarksburg Community Church. Located just South of Sacramento California in the Delta town of Clarksburg California, this church is at the heart of the community. This design is classic Yelland through and through. One of his most distinguishing design features is a brick and stucco checkerboard at the gable ends of some of the gables. This church also has classic yelland bricked arches and a great clinker brick cat slide roof. Part of the roof is a double conjoined gable.

Chico Trinity Church. Located in the Butte County college town of Chico, this is one of the largest churches designed by Yelland. It appears to be a prototype for some churches here in the East Bay which follow the same design pattern as this beautiful church. Located at the corner of 5th and Flume streets in Downtown Chico, this church has a large church main chapel on it's right side. On the Left side of the church is a smaller single story chapel. Joining the two wings is a two story office and class room wing. The entry to this church has a fantastic tan brick lattice over a red brick field.

The same basic design can be seen in the San Leandro Community Church located on Bancroft Avenue.

Brentwood Methodist. Located in the Contra Costa Delta town of Brentwood, not to be confused with the Southern California Los Angeles District of the same name. This church was built from before the turn of the century. It may have been moved to it's current location. The work WR Yelland did to this church was to do an addition creating a centralized entrance and office and classrooms.

United Methodist Church of Endicott - Endwell, Ny. This is by far the furthest Yelland ever built. It is still classic Yelland. On it's steeple are classic Yelland turned finials. The interior ceiling of it's main chapel is an extruded barrel vault. That ceiling is very much like the ceiling, in shape, to the ceiling of my parent's home (Derry Residence c. 1927). This design makes me happy to see another example of a Yelland Barrel Vault.

Yelland also designed the Hislop Funeral Parlour in Auburn California. It is now known as the "Chapel of the Hills" Looking at this and the Clarksburg Community church, you can see the family relation to each other. A beautiful design.

Chico Trinity Church

Clarksburg Community Church

United Methodist Church