Marysville, WA

Sometimes clients come to you from the strangest places. The moral of this story below is this:

• Always watch for opportunities in every place you go!
• All challenges are opportunities in disguise!

Our Real Estate office was having a food drive at a local supermarket. I was out front collecting food when I just happened to look up to witness two vehilces coliding in the supermarket parking lot. I walked over to the "crash site" to see if I can help. I approach the driver who was run into. She is shaken up and very upset. The person who crashed into her is yelling and blaming her for the accident. I call 911 and stay with the drivers. After a while, insurance info is exchanged and the police arrive. I give the driver my business card and ask for her info in exchange.

I stayed in touch with her for 6 months before she called me out of the blue one day. She wanted my help in buying a condo! Of course I have worked to foster that relationship during those 6 months. Pop by's, cards, and phones calls monthly. It paid off! I was able to help her find the perfect condo and we proceeded to close, as they say!

It just goes to show you that any moment could be the opportunity to increase your business. Put others first, "giver's gain" and all!

Jim O'Day

RSVP Real Estate

425-359-2708

Jim@rsvpre.com

Brandon and I enjoyed four fun filled hours playing paintball in Arlington last weekend. Skinny Joe's Paintball on the Burn Road in Arlington charges $30 a player for four hours of Paintball blasting fun! We had our guns, air, paintballs and protective gear all included.

Skinny Joe's field is split up into four different sections. All of the fields are unique and create a great experience for the newbie or the seasoned pro. Brandon and I had a blast, even though we were teamed up against some real pros. These guys showed up in full camo, with top of the line guns and accessories that would have made Rambo jealous! As novice players we felt part of the team and had a blast.

We blew through the paintballs and bought some more. Each game was about 10 minutes or so - until the last man (or woman) was standing. We went home with a bunch of extra paintballs, some bruises and a lot of good memories.

We highly recommend Skinny Joes! We will be back soon to get shot at, and, to be sure, get our shots in as well!

Jim

Jim O'Day

RSVP Real Estate

425-359-2708

jim@rsvpRE.com

Ok, sorry to mislead you. The title was tongue in cheek. When I first started Real Estate 3 years ago, I thought I needed to read books. Gary Keller, Jeffery Gitomer and other authors filled my days. I read The Millionaire Real Estate Agent three times! The Sales Bible sat by my bed for two months and I highlighted it, read it and re-read it.

Ok, after reading those books it was time for me to get started! I know it all, right? Ok, but one more book to make sure I had it figured out. If I did not know EVERYTHING, what if I looked stupid when a client asked a question? So there I was was reading just one more book. Problem was, that one more book turned into two or three.

Ok, now I was ready. I knew it ALL! I hit the road running and fell flat on my face. I ran into questions I had no answers for, and clients that didn't follow the book! I attended home inspections that found issues that I knew little about. How about the time my home inspector Paul (Who is the best, period! with A-Team home inspections!!!!!!) asked me to come out and look at the siding on a home. As I stood there, Paul easily and nonchalantly pushed his finger all the way through the siding! AGGGGHHHHH!!!!!! What do I do now?

I wanted to share that learning from books in great, but until you get into the meat and potatoes of real estate, you know nothing! I quickly learned that balance is important in real estate, as well as in life!

Read, learn, practice, learn more, read more, do more. I also learned that YOU NEVER KNOW IT ALL. My broker was always there to help and answer questions. If I dod not know an anwer, I never made it up. I made a phone call, shot off an e-mail or went to see someone I respected.

If it is slow at the office while I am on floor, I NEVER hang around the water cooler and complain about the terrbile market. Instead, I read. And only one book!

Jim O'Day

RSVP Real Estate

jim@rsvpre.com

425-359-2708

1. It takes a lot of hard work to be a GOOD agent
2. Dealing with difficult people is overrated
3. You have to be a counselor/ inspector/ adviser/ driver/ waiter/ painter/ etc...
4. It cost$ money to be in business
5. People want to look at homes when they want to look at homes
6. Buyers are liars
7. Sellers are impatient
8. NO ONE is buying or selling right now
9. Splits are a killer
10. Taxes? Don't even get me started!!!

Sounds like a a lot of complaining, whining, anger and frustration? YOU BET IT DOES!!

Now why we do what we do:

1. The smile on the young couples face when you hand them the keys to heir first home!
2. Your awesome children who like to eat and wear clothes!
3. We get to make dreams come true every day!
4. The freedom of being your own boss
5. People are ALWAYS buying and selling for various reasons
6. The small price we pay to be in business pays big reward$ in every area of our lives
7. Dealing with people is a privilege of serving others
8. Buyers need our guidance through the whole process, as do sellers!
9. We get to pursue our passions daily!!!
10. Hard work makes us sleep good at night!

The goal is to be our very best every day and always help others and the $$ will follow. Avoid negative agents like the plague and spend time with your kids and family every day!

Jim O'Day

RSVP Real Estate

425-359-2708

jim@rsvpRE.com

I hear a lot about CURB APPEAL, but what does it mean????

A buyer's first impression of your home for sale means everything!!!! You never get a second chance to impress those picky house hunters! In today's market you are competing against 30 or 40 other homes within 5 miles of yours! Similar in price, condition, beds and baths, and square footage. When they are touring ten homes a day, how can you make yours stand out?

• Paint is cheap! Paint your porch, trim, front door, and whole exterior if need be

• Paint is cheap! Paint the inside of your home. Nothing pops like clean walls!

• New hardware, new front door, new entry mat.

• Clean all the windows!

• No Pet smells (biggest turn off by far from my independent research)

• Mow the grass. Pull the weeds... trim the hedges.

• Paint is cheap! Paint the fence or stain the fence!

• Pressure wash EVERYTHING: Driveway, garage doors, annoying neighbor kid

• Clean and de-clutter your entryway!

• Nothing in the yard! Put away the toys, bikes, and garbage cans

Hint: Have waterbottles for potential buyers with your property on it on a sticky label! I do it for ALL of my listings and it gets attention. Now you have buyers walking around the rest of the day with your home on their bottle (and on their mind)!!!!

Jim O'Day

RSVP Real Estate

425-359-2708

Jim@rsvpRE.com