Inspired Real Estate For Today

Raising the Service Bar...Real Estate Nightmare or Window of Opportunity?

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:39:31 -0600

RE-Thinking the Customer Service Business...

Today, while going through a very busy car wash, the attendant who is wiping off my windshield indicates that they have a' new service' They are going to check your windshield for dings & dents PRIOR to taking your car through the car wash.

I'm surprised & even a little impressed...

HOW PRO-ACTIVITY IS BEING RE-DEFINED...

Being Pro-Active is a term under-going metamorphosis. When I started my real estate business almost 15 years ago, pro-activity meant that you quickly took care of the problem once it was brought to your attention. It was considered ill-advised to go 'looking for trouble'! Prior to getting in line for the wash, I was not concerned about dings and dents on my windshield. But now that they mentioned it...

What do you think? Would it have been wiser for car wash attendant to NOT say anything and ONLY bring the issue to my attention if they noticed a problem?

Some additional questions come to mind. Was the local car wash really concerned about dents to my windshield or were they simply trying to protect themselves from complaints in the future? Had their equipment been known to damage windshields in the past? Questions which were non-issues to me prior to the mention of their 'new service' offer.

WHY FOLKS ARE ANXIOUS...

Because unpleasant surprises are increasingly common, consumers have taken the management of expectations into their own hands. Real estate consumer experiences are no exception. Take a moment to view the entries on this site. How we manage the customer service experience will determine the future value of our industry.

Our Board recently introduced an Integrity Pledge. The 3 page document details an exhaustive list of items that brokers and agents who sign it will do to serve the customer. You can view the detailed document here. It's a valiant effort to deal with the fact that there is an increasingly unbecoming lack of professionalism in our industry. I've signed the pledge. I want to raise the bar.

RAISING THE BAR:

However, questions arise: Are we inadvertently bringing attention to the fact that our minimum service levels contain elements which the average consumer assumes are a part of the package or were not concerned about prior to the reminder. After all, I wasn't concerned about my windshield until they mentioned it.

Do consumers rightly assume that professionals will do what's right by virtue of the term? Or is it prudent to pro-actively define the level of expectation?

On the other hand...does signing a pledge better serve as an appropriate attempt to forestall the impact of negative ratings which may paint a distorted picture without presenting the other side of the story? Will it serve to effectively raise the bar by bringing into clear focus intrinsic elements of customer service?

Our Integrity pledge is aspirational in nature and enforcement rests with the managing broker. The hope is that the aspiration will serve as inspiration for our agents to do a better job of service.

I'm curious...how is your company or board dealing with the new challenges of customer service? Are you being pro-active or hoping these consumers will loose this 'desire' to share their experiences with with the whole world?

Picture courtesy of sappymousetree on flickr

Picture of weigh lifting courtesy of jontunn

Lola Audu, is the Designated Broker & Owner of Audu Real Estate. Our company specializes in helping people buy and sell homes in the greater Grand Rapids, West Michigan area. We've had the privilege of helping hundreds of clients succeed in their goals of purchasing and selling property including demonstrated success in the negotiation of Short Sale Transactions. You can contact us via e-mail @ info@auduhomes.com or by phone at 616-791-0511.

Happy New Year! Presenting 3 Brand New Home Offerings for 2010 ~ Audu Real Estate

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:33:32 -0600

Well, 2010 is finally here. At Audu Real Estate, we were working hard until the end of 2009. For those who predicted that the end of the year would lapse quietly into oblivion, they didn't factor in a number of hard working agents in Grand Rapids, Michigan who were busy helping buyers get homes in time for Christmas and assisting homeowners in preparing their homes for sale.

Although, there were days that we wondered if the Christmas presents would ever make it under the tree, as time for shopping was a premium, the ultimate satisfaction came in helping our growing family of clients reach their goals.

As we enter into 2010, we are reminded that we've been given a clean slate. Unless we choose to carry it forward, the old baggage of last year can be dropped off at the curb. It's time to determine what road map you're going to follow. Best Wishes to all our clients who have helped us to practise the Art of Real Estate as an ongoing source of inspiration. Here's to you!

Presenting: 4910 Weatherstone Lane, Kentwood, MI 49508...

Presenting: 3136 Locke Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418

Presenting 319 Burt Ave, Wyoming, MI 49508

Reconciling the Mumbo Jumbo...How Do the Headlines Relate to My Neighborhood Re-Sale Value?

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:16:38 -0600

It is not yet noon this Monday morning (12/14/2009). Yet, I have already had several conversations with clients who are disconcerted. On the one hand, they have heard that the market is improving, but the news about their specific home in their specific Grand Rapids, Michigan neighborhood seems to paint a different picture. This information seems at odds with recent headlines.

They are not alone...

Those of us in the Mid-West have been listening to the media reports that the economy has turned the corner and that jobs will come roaring back in the spring of 2010. But current reality begs to differ. This news seems to obscure the reality that our unemployment rate in Michigan is still one of the highest in the nation. The recent newspaper headlines about the surge in year to date home sales may inadvertently obscure some very pertinent details. Facts which if they happen to relate to the situation in your particular neighborhood dramatically alter your perception of the real estate marketplace.

It is said that perception creates reality. But it is the facts which ultimately ground reality. But facts sometimes mask the underlying assumptions which serve as their bedrock foundation.

While it is true that there has been an increase in sales over the past year (sales year to date over 2008 are currently up about 35%), it is ALSO true that these sales have largely comprised of distressed properties and therefore PRICES have been driven down almost 13% since the same period last year. And remember, 2008 is on the record for being a year in which home equity plunged dramatically across the nation.

Going back to the conversations I alluded to earlier...in one case, a home that was sold for $90,000 just a mere 3 years ago has been re-sold and closed in June of this year for $38,000! This is not an isolated situation. I have witnessed many homes within the last year that are now retailing for 60% - 75% of what they would have retailed for 3-5 years ago. That's quite a loss!

So how does one reconcile these numbers? Are homes selling? Yes! Are there bidding wars on the best deals? Absolutely! We've had the experience of being told to 'take a number' to await word on a multi bid situation. Most of these homes selling today in bidding wars are retailing so far below normal market values, that buyers are waiting in line to get a good deal.

But even these situations should be approached with caution. Under- market pricing does not guarantee a smooth path to home ownership. Some of these homes have been abandoned and severely neglected or they may have hidden underlying issues. It's important to do careful and thorough research and to have a complete inspection.

If you're considering flipping a property for a quick profit, it may be prudent to check with your mortgage company to ensure a comprehensive understanding of potential limitations of your financing vehicle in the new lending environment.

Lastly, make sure you have a realistic appreciation for the current housing values in your area. A below market purchase not only impacts the homes around the neighborhood, but will also impact the re-sale value of the remodeled home you intend to place back on the market. This factor should also be kept in mind when contemplating an area which has been dramatically impacted by the housing crisis.

We are available to provide comprehensive counsel and statistics on neighborhoods in the Grand Rapids area for home owners, home buyers and investors. Please contact us for a confidential inquiry at: info@auduhomes.com

Putting Fear in it's place...Is Real Estate A Numbers Game or A Mind Game?

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:03:59 -0600

"If you follow the usual prescription, not only will you put yourself on a path to burnout but you'll also miss a singular opportunity to turn the issue of fear to your advantage"

Tyler Lewke - Founder of Lewke Partners in Crystal Lake Ill.

Mr. Lewke made this arresting statement in the Commentary section of the latest issue of the Realtor magazine. It was response to a question posed about the biggest challenge facing today's unsettled marketplace.

How would you have answered the question? Would you say our biggest challenge is technology, new national players in the real estate marketplace, broker profitability, inadequate training, the credit market...to name a few?

According to the author, in his opinion "Fear has become the largest obstacle in transactions. All the skill in the world, all the prospecting, all the social media won't matter if we don't recognize the fear. If you listen to what customers and your colleagues in the industry say between their words, you can hear the fear, and you need to address it."

Are you hearing the fear? Are you aware of the fact that you need to listen for it? It shows up in some many different ways. For some, its' an inability to focus. Time spent playing around on the computer is somehow easier than actually getting out and meeting people. For others, it's the exact opposite...frenzied activity, chasing every 'potential solution' fearing that stopping for a second may signal the end of a career.

Real Estate has always been a numbers game like most sales based professions, but lately playing the numbers game is likely to be a recipe for the disaster. I'll never forget a real estate team that I encountered during my early years in the business. They were so focused on the numbers game that they asked the broker to literally take away their desks and chairs and install only a counter to facilitate the hundreds of cold calls they were making every single day!

Cold calling definitely has it's place as a viable form of prospecting, but in an era in which a negotiation for a short sales can take months, Mr. Lewkes points out that this type of 'militaristic approach to prospecting is a path to burnout and will also cause us to loose sight of some unique opportunities to address the issue of fear in ourselves and our clients effectively.

Dealing with Fear starts with awareness. Fear drains huge amounts of energy. When we're locked in it's grip, it's hard to think clearly and even harder to respond proactively. Awareness of the fact that our thoughts and actions are being influenced by fear has a way of dispelling the shadows. Fear drives with ruthless cruelty when it is shrouded in darkness. When we admit our reservations and our fears to ourselves and others, we often find that we are NOT alone and there may be far more support than we could have ever envisioned.

Facing the Fear within ourselves also allows us to listen to what our clients are really saying in between the lines and to address real issues rather than phantom ones. Facing the Fear enables us to invest energy into creative solutions and can facilitate the patience to persevere in spite of the odds.

Courage is not about the absence of fear, it's the ability to walk through the vice-grip and face Fear head on. Experience proves that Fear will always blink first when faced with the power of Courage. Recognizing, admitting and dealing with our fears greatly aids our ability to counsel others who are facing the same issue. And in today's world, the field of the afflicted is crowded.

Courage transforms into compassion when it links arms and walks another through the trouble to the other side. It is this sort of action which has the ability to transform our lives and our profession because it presents an incredible opportunity to support those we serve and provides an intrinsic value which goes far beyond the dollars and cents!

picture courtesy of flickr photostream of Mr. Kris ~ creative commons' license.

Click here to read Mr. Lewke's inspiring article on Putting Fear Behind Us in it's entirety.

Before you Walk Out That Door for the LAST TIME...

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:29:42 -0500

The world of real estate has always held a fascination for folks like me. But things have a way of getting really strange when people who don't spend their waking, working moments around the mayhem and milieu of the brokerage world start telling astounding tales about their recent 'encounters' in real estate country.

Over the past month, I've had several conversations which would have been considered 'beyond bizzare' just a few short years ago. Folks talking about people they know walking out the door of their homes and just giving the home back to the bank as casually as they might refer to a decision to perhaps purchase a car.

I know you might be thinking at a cursory reading that this reckless attitude is just symptomatic of the chaos that has been the hallmark of so much recent madness, but often during these exchanges, I actually sensed something else. As I listen intently, the story involves so much more than initially stated. There's an underlying, increasingly recognizable sad thread.

The bundle of trial includes years of struggle, trying to find jobs, being laid off, piling up debt to survive, ravaging investment accounts, pulling home equity out to last just a little longer, and then the straw that breaks the camel's back occurs...one more thing that could not be anticipated which tips the scales.

Absolute & total weariness...and with resources strained beyond measure, it seems that the only thing to do is ...WALK AWAY. But before you do...

STOP.

Before your feet set in motion a chain of events which will potentially impact your life for the NEXT DECADE, please consider ALL your options. TALK to someone. I'm astounded by the number of people who go through the ENTIRE Foreclosure process without talking to ANYONE about their options.

That's right...

You do have OPTIONS. Before making a decision to simply stop attending to your obligations, ASK someone for help. Speak to an Attorney, contact a Real Estate Broker or your Mortgage Lender. Preferably, engage with all three sources or more... Information is power when it comes to a decision which can handicap not just your ability to get a new home, but your ability to have a measure of control over your financial life for the foreseeable future.

Just for Starters, Ask about the following:

Will your bank accept a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure AND forgive your debt in it's entirety?

Can you pursue a Short Sale?

What are your options for Loan Modification?

What are your legal options and obligations?

An old African Proverb reminds us that "No Condition is Permanent in this world." Remember this truth...especially when things are tough. This too shall pass...eventually.

picture courtesy of hoyasmeg on flickr

Real Estate Agent...Will Your Grade Determine Your Value in the Future?

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:40:10 -0500

I'm one of those people who checks things out online BEFORE I go. Why not? I figure there is more to be gained from taking advantage of the benefit of other people's experiences before spending the gas, time and money to discover the truth myself. Apparently, there are a lot of folks like me.

Did you know that the according to Wikepedia, the first ratings site was created by Michael Hussey and called 'RateMyFace.com. I was intrigued to discover that ratings sites started out as dating sites for the most part and evolved over time to include all sorts of other services, including sites rating professionals such as lawyers, doctors and teachers.

It was also interesting to learn from this book about the founding of Facebook that this popular site also had a ratings component behind it's inspiration. It's founders envisioned it as tool to enhance their social/dating scene during the college experience at an Ivy league school.

Today, the concept of consumers determining the Value of a product or service through ratings is quickly developing a huge cache in terms of credibility. People trust what other people have to say about something, even more than the owner or creator of the product.

The viral nature of social media has accelerated the trend. In Grand Rapids, the concept of ratings by a community took a giant leap forward through the launching of Art Prize this fall. Artists from all over the world will be displaying their work from September 23 through October 10, 2009 in venues throughout the city. The winner of the Art Prize ($250,000) will be decided on by...you guessed it, members of the public who register to vote!

This is why I find it especially intriguing that a Google search for the term 'Rating Services for Realtors' with a hit total of approximately 2 Million, does not highlight a single comprehensive ratings database for real estate professionals or their services on the first 2 pages! A perplexed consumer asks the question on Ask.com... wondering WHY one can find information on a number of other professions, but not a comprehensive database for Realtors?

There are a few associations which are exploring the utilization of a Ratings Service such as the Houston Association of Realtors®, but these are few and far between. It might also interest you to know that the Google search results for Rate your Realtor number 13,000,000! Some of the sites on the first page are powered by consumer generated content and data exchanges. This is something consumers want, are searching for...and may ultimately successfully create for themselves.

And it won't just be about Realtors®. Can you foresee a time in the near future in which community ratings will play a bigger part of defining the value of any particular area? Today, Walkability scores for neighborhoods are increasingly a part of the data supplied to prospective new home owners on some aggregate databases.

The list of options which consumers might be interested in about a community is potentially endless...think school ratings, environmental awareness, diversity, employment opportunities, medical services. From a consumer perspective, it would be helpful to be able to download a comprehensive profile of a community, then select the issues that were most important and see what others are saying or not saying in one place. What do you think? Are Realtors® missing the boat by their lack of proactivity in this area?

Picture courtesy of Wolfgang Staudts' photostream on flickr

Wordless Wednesday...What Summer looks like...

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:35:45 -0500

Watching oyster boats on the Chesapeake Bay puts one relaxed vacationer (my hubby) to sleep.

Contrary to Appearances....

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:41:46 -0500

I've wondered about this sign. This picture was taken while visiting Harbor Springs, Michigan; a delightful resort style community. Michigan is sometimes referred to as the land of a thousand lakes. During the summer, large bodies of water are almost irresistible as the weather warms up.

Along the pier, there were many, many boats anchored to the docks; almost as far as the eyes could see. I had to wonder where their owners were. On such a gorgeous day, isn't it the right of any seaworthy craft to be on the water where boats belong? But, perhaps these lucky individuals were busy making the money to pay to anchor the boats along the pier. After all, the last I checked, money doesn't grow on trees does it?

But there is an irony to such things. Kinda like the no diving, no swimming sign perhaps... Such is life.

The Mis-matched Hanger...

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:00:50 -0500

A few years ago, I received an unusual housewarming gift. It was wrapped within a tastefully crafted large gift bag. Inside, the bag was filled with solid, dark mahogany stained wood hangers. They were beautiful, but I was a tad perplexed. I had plenty of hangers...all sorts; wire rimmed hangers, clear plastic hangers from clothes bought at the store, padded hangers, solid plastic hangers, paper covered hangers from the dry cleaners & even some wooden hangers...

My friend politely explained her gift. She said, "Lola, you have moved into such a beautiful home. Everything in your home seems to match your gracious decor. Except, when you took our coats to hang them, I noticed that the hangers in your closet didn't match your house. So, I bought you some new hangers."

I really hadn't paid much attention to my hangers; after all, they were hidden in my closet and glimpsed only for a few moments when I took one out to hang a coat. But, the principle behind the gift got me to thinking...how many mis-matched items were still hanging around in my life even as I had moved on?

In fact, most of the hangers in my closet were simply items that I had randomly collected from a variety of sources. As long as they hung clothes, who cared what they looked like. But upon reflection, I had to admit, some of them did a much better job of preserving my clothes than others. In fact, some of the hangers actually ended up mis-shaping garments that were placed on them.

I'm thinking about how this relates to life. How often do we continue to 'carry around' all sorts of things and people contacts which are no longer active or vibrant in our lives? To what extent are we filling the closets of our lives with issues that no longer resonate with the direction in which we desire to move?

Hanger picture is courtesy of aldrin muya's photostream on flickr.

Grand Rapids Real Estate Agent, Sue Prins ....Stretching Threads of Compassion.

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:34:43 -0500

Grand Rapids, MI agents don't have to wait for the yearly announcement of the 'Good Neighbor Award' to support and celebrate one of our own local Realtors®. It's wonderful to live in a community in which so many individuals give of their time and talents to serve our local community.

And then, there are some agents like Sue Prins, a real estate agent with Five Star Real Estate, who stretch arms of compassion across the globe to touch the lives of those who are less fortunate.

I recently completed a transaction with Sue; one which took about 3 months to negotiate. It was really refreshing to work with a professional. One of the unanticipated results of our 'extended deal' was that I became aware of Sue's interest in helping people in an impoverished area of South Africa become self-sustaining by starting a business. The initiative is Vox Threads.

Here's a few excerpts from Sue's letter about the project:

The initiative is basically set up to help impoverished communities like Kliptown to be able to produce sustainable income for their livelihood ( food, clothing, water, electricity, and schooling for the children etc.)

The intention of Vox Threads is to work with the men and women in these communities and set up an ongoing (assembly line type) of sewing business. We will teach them how to sew and how to market the products.

We will be setting up sewing stations with work teams, finding out what skills people have, teaching them the skills they need and helping them produce the products for market. We will also set up teams for marketing the product. There are various markets they can bring them to in SA. We are excited too that we have a number of stores here in the US that have already committed to carrying the products here as well.

The people in Kliptown are so excited to begin the initiative and to have the opportunity to produce income.

We are excited to bring the people of Kliptown this hope of income but we are even more excited to share with them the HOPE that is inside our hearts- that is the Love and Eternal HOPE of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

This is quite an expensive undertaking for Sue and her family. Her daughter is also accompanying her on the trip. They are not only raising money for the trip (ariline tickets have recently increased significantly), but are also buying equipment when they get to South Africa.

If you'd like to know more about Vox Threads or would be interested in supporting this mission, please contact Sue Prins @ sueprins@grar.com

To learn more about Kliptown, South Africa....click the link.

Additional Support Information for Sue Prins Vox United Trip:

Tax deductible contributions can be made by check to VOX United. It is very important however that it is written in the memo where you want your contribution to go. If you want it to go towards sewing kits write "Vox threads sewing kits" in the memo

If you wish to support me and my daughter's trip expenses you will need to write "Vox threads

Understanding the Power of the Gift...

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:46:18 -0500

I just read a post by Sally Cheeseman that stopped me in my tracks. Sally quotes Qunicy Jones in an interview about Michael Jackson.

Quincy goes on to say:

You have to be spiritually grounded and you are really a terminal for a higher power,

And if you don't understand that, you know, it can be very complicated.

And.....I've seen a lot of people misinterpret what success is all about.

One online descriptive defines a terminal in the following way: "a contact on an electrical device (such as a battery) at which electric current enters or leaves." If a terminal is not grounded, the results can be disasterous and even fatal, because the electricity which is passing through the unit is so incredibly powerful.

Had you ever thought about how powerful the breath of life in you is? Every human being is an expression of the Divine power of God. Every gift and talent is an expression of His creative genius and inspiration.

It occurs to me that being grounded spiritually has it's base in humility; an understanding that whatever gifts and advantages we bring to this planet are a gift that simply flows through us...not a possession which we own. Humilty also serves to protect us from being blown away by hype, which will topple you over as quickly as it lifts you up with hot air.

Understanding this, as Quincy says makes all the difference in the world.

Picture is courtesy of jdl deleon on flickr

What It Means to Live Life in RE-Cognition...

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:06:28 -0500

Yesterday, the world learned of the passing of two legends...Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Although their lives were very different, they both lived in the glare of the spotlight and endured the best and worst elements of what that entails.

While superstars live center stage in a larger than life fashion, what strikes me is the deep drive and desire for recognition that exists in all of us. We all come into the world with a desire to be somebody.

Life plays out our personal dramas. As I look back in light of recent events, I wonder to what extent we really are more in a search for significance and affirmation than recognition and fame...

*Post below initially posted in July 2008

Most of us emerge on planet earth with all the stridency that our 8 to 9 pounds of flesh can muster. So much so that the infant who emerges without a lusty yell is promptly spanked on the rump to produce one. After all...one has arrived. Say so!

Sideline living is against the grain of human ego. A newborn baby in a household quickly demands just about everyones' waking and non-waking moments. While we relish the joy of observing the expansion of new life in a newborn, this quickly becomes old by the time the child hits the terrible twos. Who can blame the toddler? Relinquishing prime real estate territory at 'the center of a universe of ONE' cannot be easy.

But, I suspect that the inclinations of the toddler do not fully disappear. In most of us, they simply retreat underground; temporarily masked by the need to adhere to social norms but always eager to assume center stage if and when the opportunity arises. A silent witness to the most debilitating form of human suffering...the deep yearning to be given permission to live life with gusto.

Several years ago, I wrote a devotional which I shared with some staff members at a local church. The mediation was entitled "Living in the Margins." At the time, we were attending a church which had gone through a number of significant transitions which had left many feeling somewhat fragmented emotionally and spiritually. It was a feeling of disconnection and disorientation...a struggle to regain ones' footing; to reclaim ones' place.

It was around Easter and I was drawn to the story of the Crucifixion of Jesus from a perspective that I had never considered before. I began to study the sideline characters in this well known narratives ...the possible stories of individuals who garnered few eloquent sermons. These ordinary folks whose contributions remain on the sideline of of the most important titanic drama in human history.

It was their stories that engaged the imagination of my mind...

I started thinking about what it must have been like to be merely passing through Jerusalem and then suddenly conscripted, without the benefit of hire, to carry the cross of a man who was stumbling to His the death like an ordinary criminal.

Then there was Pilate's wife, a well to do lady. She had a nightmare about the man her husband was about to sentence to death. This nighttime terror haunted her soul's dreams and forced an urgent entreaty to warn Pilate about her apprehension.

Witness the women who were considered as little more than chattel to be owned by men...following at a distance, and watching the last gasping breath of the Son of God.

I thought of a rich man who gave up his burial plot for a bruised body to be laid...a body which had been publicly scorned by passersby.

As my thoughts wove around the potential stories of these individuals, I was struck by the remarkable experiences that were only available outside the crowded confines of the scriptural text. Lives whose contributions emerged within the margins and not on the central stage.

It was their position at the sidelines which afforded them the benefit of these unique and extraordinary moments.

But, why is it that so often we yearn for the extraordinary but strive to find it within the crowded confines of the norm? The middle place, the popular position, the cursed bane of compromise which robs us our uniqueness while promising us safety in numbers?

It is in this place of false security that we pay with hands outstretched; fiercely grasping the awful price required for our souls. Unaware that it is the one thing for which no earthly compensation is large enough to ransom.

In this trade, the devil laughs at our naivete. For he knows that we have not outgrown the proclivities of that tempestuous toddler, we have merely traded the newborns' scream for a dull, blunted soul searing roar.

A meager return for an immortal life which entered the world unfettered, knowing that the cry which brought it here was never meant to be imprisoned within the limiting confines of conformity. Nor could it be lulled by the lust for the limiting essential nature of personal fame. (italics added 2009)

And inside, the scream continues unabated...unheard by human ears, reeling with staggered desperation within the human heart. For it knows that it was sent on a unique mission. The scream bears silent witness to the inner desire to complete our unique mission in life with integrity, knowing that we enter into this life alone...and we we are all destined to leave it in the same fashion.

***********

Michael Jackson & Farah Fawcett...May their souls rest in peace.

Mouth picture courtesy of Phineas H's photostream on flickr.com

This entry is part of a larger series entitled..."What it Means..."

The story of the Crucifixion can be found in the Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke & John

When Foreclosure Goes Upscale ...Part 2

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:09:56 -0500

Just over three years ago, a select group of brokers and agents in Grand Rapids, Michigan got together in a conference room at the local board. They had been tasked by the Board of Directors to study and make recommendations about a problem which seemed to be mushrooming across the local community. Foreclosure and Short Sales has jumped from being barely a bleep in the statistics to trending into the double digits over 10%.

Click here to continue reading Part 1.

Meeting the Luxury Home Challenge!

As values tumble, the challenge of selling a home for a good price particularly in the luxury home market requires some special skills. Let's highlight a few areas in which a home owner can make significant strides towards ensuring that their home is more likely to provoke a second showing encounter!

Know Your Market!

Do you know who your clients are? Where are they likely to come from and what their motivation for buying will be?

It is a loose rule of thumb to estimate that the average move-up buyer will be purchasing a home at a price range which is approximately 50% above their current home value. So for instance, if your home is priced at $500,000, your buying pool will come from the $325,000 price range. It is prudent to make sure that you and your agent have a handle on the inventory and sale prices of the homes which will be likely to provide a source of buyer leads for your sale.

Present Properly!

I continue to marvel at the number of homes in the higher price ranges which don't have ANY pictures online or very poor quality shots. With record levels of consumers searching online and skyrocketing gas prices, it is a real disservice to your home not to have it marketed in the venue which drives the most traffic...online marketing.

Now, even the best photographer will be hard pressed to deal with a poorly staged and cluttered dwelling. If you're serious about selling a high end home, you'll have to put significant effort into making sure that your home stands out. Luxury homes should be artfully staged. They should also be clean, clutter free and available for showings. Recognize that a little inconvenience may be necessary to accommodate serious buyers. If you're in the market to sell, remain ready to show!

Price to Sell!

In the past 24 months, I have witnessed more multiple offer situations than at any other time in my career. Bidding wars are occurring on homes which are perceived to be a good value. A well know agent in our area recently made a comment that went something like this...'if money is not an issue, there is not enough quality inventory in the area.' This means that luxury homes which are staged, presented and priced competitively are still in demand.

Be Irresistible!

Remain irresistible and memorable! While staging your home correctly will increase the chance that your home will linger in the buyer's memory as they trudge through multiple home showings, being irresistible will make people stop and THINK about why they really can't afford to miss out on a deal!

Creative incentives when coupled with strategic pricing can make a real difference when it comes to selling luxury homes. We've witnessed home owners paying for 6 months of the buyer's mortgage payment or throwing in high end upgrades and even cars. While this may seem outlandish, when you consider that many home owners are reducing prices by $100,000 or more to entice an offer, it may be cheaper to be generous up front!

When You're Ready to Move...

Select the right agent! A good agent will provide a comprehensive market analysis and pricing strategy. This plan should include advertising your home online in a number of popular real estate portals in addition to traditional advertising mediums. In today's media savvy marketplace, the competition is driven by value and presentation.

If selling your luxury dwelling will require the negotiation of a Short Sale, it is critically important that you deal with an agent who has successfully handled transactions which involve negotiations with lenders who are owed more than the sale of your home can support. Don't saddle your sale with additional baggage by not entrusting your negotiation to a proven professional.

Click here to read more articles about Short Sales...

We're always available to answer your questions and provide informed counsel and recommendations.

What It Means to Live in Peace...

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:29:35 -0500

You don't know you've lost Peace until you can't find it. Sometimes you don't know you've lost Peace because you've never had it.

Peace is not an absence of challenge or trial. It is not a promise or guarantee of the avoidance of hardship. Rather it is the stillness which draws from a deep well spring the knowledge that all that really matters...is well.

Peace is not about being popular or well-liked. In fact maintaining it will sometimes require doing things which are deemed disagreeable and opposed. However, Peace cannot be divorced from Truth and the Integrity to live a life which is free of duplicity.

Peace does not guarantee that you will never have aught with your fellow man. However, it will provide the pre-requisite humility and wisdom to understand how to surrender in love knowing that the personal battles we fight are ultimately temporary in nature. Peace knows that real victory lies in understanding the profound and empowering universal truth of the power of Love. That is eternal.

Peace means you can look your enemy in the eye without malice in your heart because you know that the lessons he was sent to teach could never have been learned without the pain of the gift of his strike. Peace allows you to laugh again...It's not about forgetting about the wound, but being confident that the healing of the scar has made you stronger than you were before.

Peace is being able to leave it alone...lay it down. It is the strength to walk away and be free from the temptation to look back. Peace is a good night's sleep & a refreshing wake-up in the morning.

*This post was first written in July 0f 2008. When I read it today, I was encouraged. I hope that it will refresh and encourage you again in some way. Peace & Blessings to you...

Shifting Sand...What Realtors® Need to Learn from the Monetization of the New Home Buyer $8,000 Tax Credit 48 Hour Disappearing Act!

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:14:49 -0500

Today, I was reminded of how fragile the ground upon which we stand is. This picture was taken along the banks of one of the most magnificent bodies of fresh water in the world...Lake Michigan. Standing at the top of the dune, my eyes were drawn to the sign asking us to stay OFF the Bank (Fragile Area). You see, in some spots along the lake, there is a problem with shifting sand. Some residences have required significant under-girding to secure them from sliding down the hill.

This evening, I've reviewed a number of blog posts about the $8,000 Tax Credit that WAS, and now appears to BE NOT...and perhaps may reappear in the future in a modified version. I can't help but think of how fragile our systems of communication are. At a time in which news is instantaneous and can be projected onto the world stage in the twinkling of an eye, we are all vulnerable.

Within the past few years, we have witnessed the demise of many newspapers due to shrinking sales revenue. It's very difficult for hard core reporting to compete with the immediacy of millions of newly arrived online commentators. But, in our rush to know everything as soon as possible, I wonder if we are in the process of sacrificing something far more important...the truth.

Truth, is not easy to uncover precisely because falsehood is so insidious and conspicuous. Truth may not be clearly evident in the cursory glance and often requires real digging to unearth. Truth also functions in tandem with discernment; the ability to understand what a thing or person really is and make a right judgment. This requires a certain level of maturity. In an age when opinions masquerade as facts, we're all prone to error.

I recently returned from the Real Trends Gathering of the Eagles Conference in Dallas, Texas. My experience has me thinking about how dramatically the real estate landscape is changing. New brokerage models and ideas about how to manage agents and transactions are being explored as brokers struggle to deal with rapidly shifting market realities.

The power of Shift, is that it takes you to a new place. The danger of Shift is that you may not be entirely prepared for unforeseen consequences. As much as I understand the embarrassment and frustration felt by many with regards to confusion regarding the announcement of the monetization of the $8,000 tax credit, I think that there is a wider issue worth examining. We need carefully reflect on how our industry is going to take advantage of these incredible new tools available online and through social media in a manner which benefits our members and the public while guiding all of us through uncharted territory.

This is an opportunity to not just release pent up frustration, but to offer constructive channels of dialog about ways in which we can choose to rise to the challenge of creating a new path of progress forward. Your thoughts?