"The proudest moment of my career was..."

Well, the challenge continues. Today's topic is probably the hardest one for me so far this week. I have been very fortunate to have many "good feeling" moments through out my career so far, which hit 10 years a few days ago, but which moment was the proudest moment?

What was the proudest moment of my career?


I started looking back over the last ten years trying decide. Was it one of the times I have handed someone the keys to their new home? Was it selling a home for someone that was in a financial strain and needed to sell before being foreclosed on? Was it my very first sale or the BIGGEST sale? Was it a family that I helped settle an estate after a loved one passed or a divorcing couple going their separate ways? Was it the single mother buying her very first home or the newly wed couple? Maybe it wasn't a sale at all?


Then I thought, what about the first time I saw my name on a sign or in a paper or magazine? What about that first call from someone that I had never met, but they were "referred" by a friend? Was it my daughter walking around the house when she was just a year or two old repeating "ANDYSOLDIT dot com?" Sure, all of these made me feel good, but I don't know that they would qualify as my most proud.


"The proudest moment of my career was..."  when my name was called at a CENTURY 21® awards banquet for the very first time to receive the Century 21® "Quality Service Award" and having a room full of people that didn't know me, standing and clapping.


This isn't an award solely based on the number of sales or sales volume. This award is given to agents in which their clients have been surveyed about their experience with their agent, the job that agent did and the service that was received. This award is given to a very small percentage of Realtors® within the Century 21® family and I have been blessed to receive this award every year since 2004, now receiving the "Quality Service Pinnacle Award".


It's great to know that if you serve your clients well, they'll return the favor.

"The 5 Things I Like Most About Myself are..."

Today is Day 3 of the "Week of Blogging" in our Superstars Coaching Group, led by Social Media Coach dotJenna . When I found out what we were doing this week and what the "Assignments" would be I was a little apprehensive. However, this week hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. Of course, for me anyway, it's a little easier when you are given a topic to write about.


Today's topic is: "The 5 Things I Like Most About Myself are..."


Now, you'd think it would be easy to think of five things that you like about yourself, right? Well, it is, but what are the five things that I like the most about myself? This took a little soul searching. Remember, these are the things I like about myself, not what others like about me or what I would want others to like about me.

So here's my Top 5:


1. Integrity-     This is something that I take a lot of pride in. I was very fortunate to grow up in a home that this was just a way of life. I didn't have to try and learn this later in life, it was instilled in me at an early age. If it had not been, upon joining the United States Air Force in 1997 would have been, as Integrity First is Core Value number one. 


2. Truthfulness-   This isn't one that I have trouble with, but sometimes others have trouble with it. What I mean is, from me, you get the truth. You may like it, you may not. I think this is a very important trait for me as a Realtor® as sometimes people want you to tell them what they want to hear, not what they need to hear. This may be why I turn down almost as many listings as I take. I won't take a listing just for the sake of putting a sign in the yard with my name on it if I don't think I can sell it, it's that simple.


3. The Ability to Think for Myself-   Granted I am always looking to gain insight and input from others on different topics. Many others have much more knowledge in different subjects or maybe just another way of doing something that I hadn't thought of, but this isn't really what I'm talking about. I'm referring to being able to make my own conclusions about something even if I'm going "against the grain" and not agreeing to do something just because someone or a group of people want me to.


4. Work Ethic-   There may be a more streamline way of doing some things that I do, maybe easier, less time consuming. I'd love for someone to show me a better way so I can get more done in less time. However, I don't know of too many people that will work harder at trying to be the best they can be. Sure, someone will always be better, but my goal is to BE that someone.


5. My Stunning Good Looks    My Sense of Humor-   Maybe there was a reason I was voted class clown in high school. Maybe there's something behind being able to make people laugh, especially when they are having a bad day. Maybe it's the kids at church or in my daughter's class at school that are always wanting me to make some type of animal noise? Maybe it was the time that a co-worker's granddaughter to me to school for "Show and Tell"? Maybe, who knows? 


I like being me, it's who I am...

"I Have a Confession to Make..."

In order to keep with the theme of Blogging for the week, today's title is "I Have a Confession to Make..." The title itself made me stop and think. Do I tell about something from my childhood, from my teenage years, from my single days in the Air Force and traveling overseas or something from my present life? Then I got to thinking, it doesn't have to be "juicy", it just has to be real.


Well, "I Have a Confession to Make..."  I LOVE MY JOB!
Some of you may be thinking "this guys is nuts", but those that truly know me already knew this. Not the "nuts" part, but that I love my job. (or maybe both)People tend to use the "L" word all of the time describing various things. They Love this and they Love that, but reality is they just really like it.

Now don't get me wrong, I love my wife, our family, my parents, Jesus and my church family even golf, but I am passionate about Real Estate. How many people do you know that do not look forward to a 3-4 day weekend? Huh, did I just say that? I can't stand 4 day weekends! How many people do you know that actually look forward to getting up each Monday and going to the office to work 50+ hours during the week and knowing come Friday you may not have received a paycheck that week. Sure, some weeks you receive multiple checks, some small some not so small, but maybe not every week.

My wife use to think I was just a little obsessed. That was until she realized just how passionate I was about it. Yes, I'm a Realtor®, but it's more to me than "I sell houses" I get to help people.

I also buy houses, make'em pretty again and resale them. I own rental property, not everyone can buy a house, but they still need a place to call home. I talk about it, I Facebook about it, I Tweet about it, I watch it on tv, I dream about it, I LIVE IT and I LOVE IT!
That's my Confession and I'm sticking to it! 

Guess What, I'm Still a Person!

Today, I was told by my Social Media Coach dotJenna that I needed to "share my feelings". So here I go.


I first want to start off by letting you know that I absolutely love what I do and the career I have chosen. However, at times, because I have chosen to be in the public eye in building a business as a Realtor®, some expect me not to have an opinion outside of real estate. For those that know me, you know I have an opinion. Many times over the last ten years I have chosen, for fear of loosing current or future business, to keep my opinions to myself about certain topics.


So what are the two biggest topics that are the most troubling to people, Politics and Religion (I've been told not to talk about either). Guess what, I am a Christian and don't care who knows it! I am also very conservative when it comes to politics and am tired of all of the blame game in Washington. Stop pointing the finger and do something.


I have personally seen an agent, along with her husband that owned another small business, very openly support a candidate and all but loose both businesses because of it. It is this very thing that keeps me from openly supporting candidates on the local, state or national level. It doesn't take very long in talking with me to know where I stand, but I'm not going to sport a bumper sticker or yard sign.


So, from a person that always has an opinion, keeping it to myself isn't always easy. Guess What, I'm Still a Person.

Robertson County Real Estate Market Update

Robertson County Real Estate Market Update through June.

The numbers are in. Through the first six months of 2011, Robertson County Real Estate sales are down 23.5% compared to the same time last year. Although this is not what any of us want to see or hear, it is a 1.5% improvement compared to sales through the May time frame. Not only are sales down, but average sales prices are down 8.5% as well. Not all price points are off this much.

However, we have seen a drastic difference in the lower priced rental/investment properties. Many homes that were selling in 2005-2006 in the mid-$30s to low-$40s are selling for as little as half that, some even below $10,000. If you are looking to invest in Robertson County Real Estate, now is just as good a time as any.

There have also been building lots that have come available at various times. If a home has been torn down, either by the owner or by the city itself, these lots are being purchased for as little as $4,000-$5,000 and are a great place to build a new home. Some investors are buying these lots and building 2-3 bedroom homes for rental purposes. While they may still be rental units and not owner occupied homes, the new homes are slowly revitalizing and adding value to these areas.

If you have any questions regarding Robertson County Real Estate, give me a call anytime 615-308-4022.