Staged for Contracts!

Earlier this week, I posted a video about our listing on Papaya.  You know the really clever/corny video.  Well that house was put on the market on 01/07.  It was put under contract [with multiple offers] in a total of EIGHT days.  Yes, EIGHT days and it is gone people!  And to think, the sign rider wasn't even out with the Video QR Code.  I thought for sure that the video was going to sell the home.  :)

This extremely fast sale says a lot of things.  One, Bobbie McGrath knows what she is doing.  The woman can "taste" a room to perfection!  Two, the homeowners really listened to her and did what she asked.  Can we say it paid off?!!?  Three, the real estate market is very much ALIVE!!! 

The home is absolutely beautiful and the hard work of Bobbie and the homeowners made it stand out even more.  How rewarding do you think it was for Zach to call them on Day Eight and say we have two offers?!?!  I was beyond excited because it couldn't have happened to nicer people. 

Here's to more contracts and FAST sales!!!

Reward, Yes! Family, Yes!

I think anyone who reads this blog consistently knows that I love my job, my coworkers, and my boss!  This week I realized two important things: (1) Just how rewarding my job is, and (2) My coworkers aren't just my coworkers, they are my second family. 

Reward.  This week I was so happy because Zach was able to find a friend of mine a great home.  After looking for a little over a month, they have found "the one" and have it under contract.  It is always refreshing to find someone the perfect home, it's even sweeter when it's your friend!  Yay for Jared!

Family.  A person's family is essential to their growth and strength as a person.  I would say that my coworkers are just that.  They are extremely supportive and positive.  On a day-to-day basis, I am constantly learning from them.  In the eight months of me being here, I have grown so much and am much stronger.  When going through a rough time recently, they have given me so much support.  I feel so much love.  It's very rare to find people like them.  They are simply AMAZING!  I wouldn't trade them for anything.  Okay well, maybe George Clooney! :)

Here's to more growth and reward!

Papaya Anyone??

One of the things that we must do when we have a new listing is make a short, 30 second video about the home to link with a QR-Code.  Don't know what a QR code is..."Google It."  When you are more of a lisitng agent and have a bunch of listing, I can only imagine how lame and redundiant the videos could seem.  Not with my boss!!!!  He is just too clever for his own good. 

Check out his latest video for our new listing on Papaya Drive.  It is genius if you ask me.  It is definitely memorable.  Things like this video are why I love working with him.  He is just GREAT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g09YJAFMF7A

Here's to more memorable videos in 2012!

Kindness over Rightness

This past week had it's ups and downs, mostly UPS!  But there was this one instance where it was DOOOWN!  I had a situation come up in which miscommunication occurred and an appointment was not met.  When I called the man that didn't show up, he was rude to me and not helpful.  I, being the worrier and freak that I am, called Zach trying not to sound panicked.  Zach said he was going to call in a favor.  He did and the appointment got rescheduled for that afternoon, even though I was told it wasn't possible. 

Zach asked me to meet the guy at the home even though the home owner would be there.  "Oh great, he is feeding me to the lion!"  This guy, though he has never met me, is always mean to me.  Why, I don't know?!?  Goodness, I was being forced to face the mean devil!  On the way there I gave myself a "pregame speech" because anyone who knows me, knows I don't do well with confrontation.  I knew that I had to be the bigger person and, I knew that I had to have a smile on my face the entire time.  I had to kill the devil with kindness no matter how hard.  I was praying that my nervous/awkward laugh wouldn't come out [it's terrible]. 

To make matters worse, I had to sit in my car and wait on the man for like 30 minutes!  He finally comes and I get out to introduce myself.  It went a little something like this:

ME: "Hey _____, I am Candace.  It's nice to finally meet you." 
Mean Man: "Hey Candace."  [straight face]
ME: "I am sorry for the confusion today and I really appreciate you coming out here."
Mean Man: ....[silence, walks right by me and doesn't acknowledge my apology]

The moral of this story, to me, is that even when being the bigger person, you may not get the outcome you want.  I thought that being the bigger person and apologizing to this rude man would make the situation better.  It didn't, he was still rude.  Which begs the question, at what expense do you pay to prove a point?  For him, he is losing business so, it's an expensive price to pay.  I think in business and in life you should always do the right thing.  Being right is nice, but doing the right thing is better [for everyone]. 

Here's to always being nice and always doing the right thing!

Candace, Candace Oxendine!

I think we all can agree that there is a need deep down inside of us to feel important.  No??  I know I do!  This past week Zach asked me if I would like to join him in a meeting with some folks down at the Town Hall in Fuquay.  While most of you will think that the "Town Hall of Fuquay" isn't a big deal, it is to me.  I felt so important walking in with the maps and plans for the land we have listed.  I felt my level of coolness went down a notch though when Zach and one of the guys we were meeting with brought out their iPads.  Me, I had my pretty little notebook! I know the iPad is very chic and pretty but the notebook isn't terrible, is it? :)

Back to the point.  Though I never spoke, I walked out of that meeting feeling like a million, trillion bucks.  I love being included on things whether its a multi-million dollar land listing or a listing appointment for a $100,000 house. 

Zach isn't dumb, he is far from it.  He knew exactly what he was doing...he was building this Little Angel's confidence. 

Here's to me continuing to feel important!   

GO 90X

I'm sure you are saying, "Candace it's called P 90X."  Well if you did say that, then YOU my friend are wrong.  GO 90X is a program that we do here at Go Realty.  It is designed to enhance your business like P 90X is designed to enhance your body.  We are gearing up to start our GO 90X the end of this month. 

It of course is designed for agents, but this time around, I will be helping Zach (sshhh...don't tell anyone).  I won't be doing the "Focus" or "Core".  I envision myself actually mailing the "mailings" and things like that.  I sure hope my efforts aid in the growth of his business.  :)

I really think I am going to like it!  I think that it will help me and Zach stay organized.  And to help with the motivation, the prize for the alumni is a trip to VEGAS!!!


    BEFORE GO 90X                                                         AFTER GO 90X

Here's to a rockin' business, a rockin' body, and a trip to VEGAS!

Who wants more money?!?!

I realized not too long ago that as a broker assistant it might be a good thing to know as much as I possibly can about the market.  So in attempt to broaden my knowledge and stop the "fake it until I make it" attitude, I have been reading real estate articles on a regular basis.  I have deemed Wednesday's as my "Knowledge Day."

On to this weeks article...

According to this article that I came across on Yahoo, right now is the time to refinance your home.  Rates are the lowest they have been in 60 years!  Yes I said that SIXTY years!!!!  And on top of low rates, banks are also offering incentives to refinance. 

Here's to refinancing and saving money!!!