Paul*Mart Supercenter

This week begins the National Association of REALTORS annual conference in San Diego California.  I look forward to this event every year since this is one of the best educational experience a real estate professional like myself can obtain.  Thousands of REALTORS gather together to learn the latest in technology, real estate practices, and most importantly learn from each other to better serve our clients and customers.

But are you ready to meet? Here are a few tips to make sure you don’t miss the most valuable part of this conference:

1.  Don’t be shy.  The people here are just like you, they want to learn and learn from you.  Say Hello to everyone.  Leave no one out.

2. Get up early.  There is a lot of networking going on before any of the sessions start.  Go have breakfast at any nearby restaurant by 7 a.m. and you will see floods of REALTORS sucking down the morning joe.  Doesn’t matter where, they will be there.  Never sit alone.  Suck it in, go up and say Hi, and you have just added to your referral network.

3. Wear your badge everywhere.  Yes, it may be a little geeky and not look that great with your new dress/nice suit, but everyone does it and it is a quick identifier that others will also see you and may even buy you coffee!

4. Stay up late. When the sessions are over, there are plenty, and I mean plenty of places where vendors, state associations and tweet-up’s are going on just for you.   Don’t miss a one.  Remember, the people there are just like you and want to network as well.

5. Sleep when you get home.  It is only 4 days, you can do it!  Don’t miss anything.

6.  Go to every session you can.  No sleeping in!  If you go to one and it is not quite what you thought it would be, quietly get up, and go to another one.  However, plan this in advance.  Know what you want to see to make the best use of your time.   Check out the session schedule by clicking here.

7.  Free pens.  Tempting I know.  Vendors are an important part of the conference and you must go to the trade show floor.   I have brought bags and bags of goodies from the floor so I wouldn’t have to buy a pen again.  After 15 years I strongly advise you to buy pens, quit waiting in line to play games and just go to the product booths that are really of interest.  You can spend days here, but not necessaily the best use of your time.  Plan 4 hours here.

8.  Take lots of business cards.  Let’s face it, we get bombarded with cards.  Mark them. That’s right, take one of the free pens and put a mark on the back of the cards that you need to keep.  Then when you go back home and start sorting them out, it will help you remember who is who.

9.  Don’t be distracted.  San Diego is a wonderful city with plenty to do.  Just don’t.  Stay focused for the real reasons you are here.  If you stay after the conference or go early, great, enjoy the city.  But during the conference don’t be tempted to take a day off; time is short and this is business.  You won’t have an opportunity like this for another year.  Make your business double in growth with what you learn here.  Stay focused.

10.  Friday, 2:30 to 4:00  A shameless plug yes, but come to our session, 8 Effortless Tips for Tackling Rental Property Management.   Not in property management you say?  Sometimes sessions like this one have way more than what meets the eye.  We will cover promotion in social media, advertising your listings/rental homes for free, creating a niche, and how to deal with investors.   Invest in what you sell.  Learn more about investment real estate which is a huge growing segment of our real estate industry.   Learn something new.  We are full time practicing real estate brokers who do this everyday just like.  Come share ideas with us.  We are not selling anything.  Besides, come say hi, we would love to meet you.

So make sure you look for us and I might even buy the coffee

The crowd starts to form

This is the way it should be.  People, hundreds which turned into a thousand plus standing on their feet applauding.

Here I was in the Dallas airport just switching planes to go to my next destination when I hear a few people staring to applaud.  A little unusual I would say for an airport, probably just a few rowdy college football fans coming in for the big Texas Oklahoma game.  But as the noise continued to grow louder and louder I had to go look.

As I turned the corner there they were a large group of strangers all standing looking up and making a huge raquet.  Did some rock star show up?  Better.  Bigger.

On the second level just above us walking along the sky-walk was our troops coming back from Afghanistan.  It was a moving experience.  A welcome that they totally deserved.  Everyone stopping from running to their next gate, trying to get food, sorting out where they should be, to stand at attention and give these young men what they deserve; respect.

Weather you agree with the war or not, they are there fighting everyday for all us.  They are bigger heros than any celebrity or star, and all those strangers on this day in Dallas gave them the admiration they truly deserved.

I want to thank all of those travelers who took a moment to stand up for those who are heroes. ( I just wish I had my better camera so you could have seen the smiles on the soldiers faces from the warm welcome home)

Today I began to run.  I know, I know, but I am being pushed; and dragged for that matter (by my dog).  Pushed by the fact that I am not getting any younger and constantly reminded that if I don’t get my heart in shape, well, that’s it.   My life insurance salesman/friend who has had 2 heart attacks and 9 bypasses, has said that most men in their 40’s who have heart attacks don’t make it.   Hmmmm, more life insurance?

So in the upcoming days I will try to keep up the running as I gasp for air and often stop to walk; like that makes it easier.  Everyone tells me how much better I will feel by absorbing the fresh air, the blood pumping faster through my body, and my brain clearing all those cluttered up thoughts.  I hope it is true because so far I have stressed more thinking about all the stuff I have to do, hurt my knee when it was fine prior to, and it is just not that fun.  I would rather be eating a Snickers bar and writing this blog.

But my dog is happy; she loves it.

I have just added a new category on my blog for stupid stuff that people think up that we are suppose to buy into.   First up, cat food.   Not your ordinary cat food mind you, but we are now suppose to feed the furballs in courses.  The brains at Purina have now decided that Appetizers for cats is the new rage.  You have got to be kidding.  I am suppose to feed these things a 4 course meal, probably set out the good wedding china too I suppose.

In financial times like these, appetizers for cats should not be on our shopping list.  Funny thing is, it is more expensive that tuna in a can.  I don’t get appetizers every night for dinner so you can be sure those lay around, do nothing, shed everywhere felines aren’t either.  How big of a gourmet could any animal be that licks its own butt?  Butt flavor cat food; now that I would buy.

This week I had the opportunity to meet again with Congressman Roy Blunt.  I was there for the “JDRF Promise to remember me” campaign.  At first he was very political but when the 4 year old blonde looked at him with those beautiful eyes and showed him her insulin pump, it was all over.   This disease affects these kids for life, and he once again pledged to support research for juvenile diabetes.

Now I have had a few issues with Roy over the years, but very few.   One thing that was so critical for me at this meeting was he made a point to listen and engage everyone in the conversation since there were about 20 people there.   He took interest, made sure the kids were able to speak as well, and although I know he has a tight schedule he made sure that we were not rushed and gave plenty of time to hear our talking points.

I sure wish some of the other Congressmen/women would do the same, even if they don’t agree with the cause.  I know they have a hard job, but they asked for it!

I own Martha Stewart stock.  Yes, I hear you chuckling from here.   The value of the stock is about 95% less that what I paid for it years ago.   It just is what it is.  Nothing I can do about it except sit on it, sell it, or cry.   I don’t know anyone that has some form of stocks that has not lost value in the last year or so.   It is what it is.

But for some reason when it comes to homes and decreasing values, as a real estate agent I still constantly hear, “I have more invested in this than the what you think it is worth.”  Just because you paid thousands for upgrades, additions, and personal touches that does not mean you will automatically get it back, or even profit for that matter.   We have a hard time understanding why home values have decreased but take stock prices at face value.   Your home is worth what the market will bear, that’s it.   Even if you have $350,000 in the home, it does not equate to what the home is actually worth.  Hey I don’t like it either, but it is what it is.  I paid $37 per share for Martha Stewart stock and therefore I should get at least $40 if not more because I own it.   Any takers?  Oh, by the way my stock has an upgrade feature; a beautiful new plastic sleeve to keep your certificate wrinkle free.

My good friend is a Type 1 diabetic.   Truthfully, I had not idea what that meant when I first met her; she looked fine to me.   But as I have learned more about this dreadful disease, I now realize the struggle that diabetics go thru every day.   I was just used to seeing the Wilford Brimley commercials so it had to only affect old people, but had no idea what it was all about.

But now I know that it is about glucose (sugar) levels in the blood.  You check this link out for some more basic information about this diesease.   Yesterday, for the first time in over 4 years, my friend became normal.   She actually got here A1C level to a normal stage.   As she would say, w00t!!! The A1C is kind of like Albert Pujols batting average for the St. Louis Cardinals.  It is an overall average of where their sugar levels have been for the last 3 to 6 months.

With all that said, I just want to wish sugarcube Congratulations on a job well done.  It is nice to see her normal; well at least sugar wise anyway

The last time you rented a car, did you take it and have it waxed before you returned it? Hardly. According to the agent I spoke with at Thrifty Rent a Car, most don’t even throw out their own trash, rather leaving it for the agency to clean up. It is also rare that someone actually trashes the car either. Most just use it and drop it off; hey, it’s a rental!

I am constantly asked about all the “bad” tenants that I must deal with on a regular basis. Well it is time to set the record straight. About 5% of tenants are exceptional, 92% are just normal and 3% are problem children. But the 3% are the ones who make the most noise, cause the most problems, and likewise are the ones we always hear and talk about.

Homes are kind of like rental cars. Most just live in it, don’t really abuse it, but don’t love on it either. Then there are those few that plant beautiful flowers in the front yard, wash the exterior every year and keep it spotless. Then there are those that we all hear about; like the lady in a 700 square foot 2 bedroom that left 2.5 tons, yes tons, of trash for us to remove. Or the guy who had 4 unapproved pit bulls, left them locked up inside and had their way with the home. Just be glad I don’t have a way to make this post a scratch and sniff.

P.S. I learned one thing today, I like life savers.

More stories to come…

I am so excited about a recent speaking engagement with my friend and colleague, Jessica Hickok.  We were selected to do our rentals Tips & Tricks seminar at the National Association of REALTORS convention in San Diego this fall.

Therefore, I have approximately 4 months to show her how to really do the Paul Dizmang pose.

I just came back from a 90 minute presentation that was suppose to be all about e-PRO, a certification endorsed by the National Association of REALTORS. I actually went to an e-PRO course when it first came about about 5 or 6 years ago at our National Convention.

First understand that I am all about technology and want to absorb everything web 2.0 that is out there. When I first went to the presentation 5 years ago, I was not impressed. They could not explain what it was or what you would really learn for that matter. What I was told was, it will give you more certifications behind your name and that will impress people with your knowledge. I could not believe my ears.

Today however, I was going to give it another chance. I am an education junkie who can’t get enough about this real estate business. But what I got was about 10 minutes explanation of e-PRO which still did not explain anything other than it does not to appear to have been updated in the last 5 Years and once you are certified you are certified for life! Please! That means those who have an email account are on top of technology? If this is the image we are giving to our customers, I think I will pass. For almost $400, I would expect the latest information out there, not how to do social networking….oops! Social networking is not covered in e-PRO; but may be one day in e-PRO 2 according to today’s presenter.

One very telling thing about this program is that for a intense online course, no one can seem to explain how it will benefit me and make me more productive as a REALTOR. I would think that for such an “intense” course, one could easily talk about the benefits for 90 minutes or longer. Instead, I heard about things that are not even offered in the course (which was good information, just not relevant).

I would love to tell you that e-PRO would be great for beginner’s and expert users alike as was stated, but since I am still unsure of what the darn thing is I think I will use the $400 to buy more great books on CS3, fill my SUV full of gas, and continue learning about web 2.0 & 3.0 via the old fashioned way….