Gary Woltal's Blog

From our early development we attempt to communicate with others in many fashions. There are grunts and groans. There is crying. There is rudimentary forms of sign language. As we grow we have to be better at what I find is an essential element, especially in Real Estate, with all its complexities. And that is the art of

                           TRANSLATION.

Ever see those funny headsets for language translation at the United Nations? They have this thing down to a science.

I think one reason many teachers that become REALTORS do so well is they are skilled in the area of education. They know how to translate ideas into understanding. They also bring nurturing and encouragement to the party.

For lenders alike, and other professionals like Stagers, you need to explain the what (what is an Adjustable rate mortgage, what makes a house present well?) and the why (why will power lines over your house hurt your resale some day).

Those with these good "translation" skills, are tuned into the wavelength, the behavior patterns of the listener and in the end get through. "Getting through" to other people is what makes you excel at your craft and not just communicate the basics. Be an excellent translator and don't have your words and ideas fall on tin ears.

I saw the new Ironman movie over this past weekend and enjoyed the story with the theme of being a Super Hero with extraordinary powers.

In Real Estate and in life if I could be

     KING FOR A DAY

and wave my magic sceptre, what would I wish for?

How about flexibility from lenders with borrowers in distress? Sellers to set realistic prices on their homes. Buyers to be confident and "look" for homes first and then "make a decision." A world economy that would moderate gasoline prices to quit stressing everyone out.

What about life in general? How about being just a little kinder to your fellow man today than you usually are? Opening up, breaking the ice and talking to a stranger. You know, you only are a stranger till you have that first conversation. How about effective communications? Choosing appropriate words. Clear thinking, writing, and speech. Sprinkle in some humor. Quit being so darn SERIOUS about everything. More hugs, smiles and laughter would be mandatory for at least this one day you hold the magic wand. For those with aches, pains, illnesses, grief, or tremendous problems weighing them down, a day where the load was lightened by someone in your life who could give you genuine help and lift your spirit.

What powers would YOU show the world if you were King (or Queen) for a day??

One of the absolute most fun things about working with people in real estate - whether you are a Realtor, Feng Shui consultant, Stager, Lender, Title Co. Officer, Inspector, or Appraiser is you get to

           CROSS GENERATIONAL BOUNDARIES.

You may get the sweet old lady or the cranky old fart to work with. You may have the young couple that are first time home buyers or a middle aged divorced couple with a pack of kids. You may have the early 30's career single female or people at retirement age downsizing and looking for that retirement home.

Greatest generation, baby boomer, Gen X, Gen Y, Millennials, what a gamut to work with. Use print media for advertising with the 65+ crowd but you better be great at texting with the under 25 group. Doesn't this just make life gloriously fun? Is it Hi-Fi or Wi-Fi? Is it the dog ate my homework or my dog ate my computer?

All right, enough serious stuff. Some poke fun that I poke fun at others. Truth be told I poke fun at everyone. I am an equal opportunity funster man. Today I poke fun at my generation. Those irrepressible ones that were born to parents of the World War II generation. The oldest ones are just starting to collect Social Security. Never take life too seriously, y'all --

             THE LIGHTER SIDE OF BABY BOOMERS

In the circles of Real Estate, I hear from the downtrodden all too often. We can't afford this house. I'm not making any money in this business. I can't find a buyer. My listing expired. Have you seen the price of gasoline lately? I can't get that loan.

It is all too easy to get wrapped up in negativity. But you know what? Whether you are having a good day today or a not so good day today,

                   Every Flower Deserves A Drink.

What I mean by that is we all need inspiration from time to time. Even me. A positive message from someone whose opinion or thoughts you value or who just gives you a smile or a laugh, really brightens your day.

Allow inspiration to bring forth from within you the beauty that is you. Do not let others squash your day. Bring all your talents and gifts to bear in the world. Maybe you just needed a little water so you won't be parched on a hot, dusty, and dry day.

Remember to be YOU. That's who you were meant to be. What would a sundial be if it thought it should be in the shade?

I count as blessings all around me who lift hearts. When you are having one of those really good days lift others and give them a drink of water. You'd be amazed how that wilting flower just comes back to life!

For someone like me, a REALTOR, and many others who read and write blogs, we are comfortable with technology and providing excellent service to our clients. EVEN I, am amazed though how

                        WE MUST EMBRACE CHANGE.

If not, guess what? The skills just go obsolete anyway. I recently came across a story from an Australian web site that highlights how many skills have gone obsolete in such a short period of time. Just look at a few on the list:

* Formatting a floppy disk

* Changing the ribbon on a typewriter

* Adjusting the rabbit ears on your TV set

* Winding your watch

* Using a pay phone

*Licking stamps

* Long division (other than for school)

* Calling a radio station to find out what song is on

* Defrosting a refrigerator

* Writing in cursive

* Using the Dewey Decimal System to find a book

* Mowing the yard with a push mower (may be coming back, though)

The web site is Obsolete Skills, and it is fascinating when you think that one day skills are in use, and then *Poof* they are no more. I do wish we still had some of the craftsmen skills I see in architecture in old buildings, like train stations and government buildings. Those people knew about artistry.

So whether REALTOR, Stager, Title Officer, whatever you find yourself doing, stay abreast of the new skills coming your way. And when someone says Wicki, Widget, Google Juice or MP3, STAY YOUNG and a lifelong learner. Your brain will thank you and so will all the other people around you who you will help keep up as well.

You know, there's a lot we can learn in Real Estate and life from NASA. One of the agencies of the Federal government that we do probably get the most bang for the buck teaches us many times about redundancy. I'm talking about back-up systems.

           ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN B

NASA builds redundancy with parallel systems in case one fails. The creativity of using the Lunar Module rocket engine to power the astronauts around the moon and back home when the Service Module rocket engine exploded was one such "back-up" plan on Apollo 13.

In Real Estate, what happens if things don't close on time? Where will the buyer go? What if your only offer falls through, will you still keep the listing? What if you lose primary Internet access to your MLS? Where is your back-up connection? Or, humorously, if this real estate gig doesn't put food on the table, what am I going to do for a "real" job?

On and on, the Plan B thinking goes. Look in life. The battery in your watch dies. Check the clock on your cell phone. Your primary car is at the dealer for repair, switch over to car #2 and ride share with the spouse. The refrigerator appears to be not cooling anymore. Is it time to run up to the convenience store and get a chest full of ice? Plan ahead for the Murphy's Law events in your life that inevitably happen. We can't be fast enough on our feet to cover them all, but follow the Boy Scout motto of "Be Prepared."

The Always have a Plan B rule is not absolute. I know those close to me with terminal illnesses as I am sure you do as well, and many things are out of our control and you only see a Plan A as far as a path. But it is these times that allow us to grow in other areas of acceptance, prayer, and peace.

I've got most of my Plan B's covered but when that has not been an option it has always reminded me to ALWAYS live each day to its' fullest, AND BE HAPPY, no matter what!

One role of the REALTOR as ringmaster to a transaction between buyer and seller that is vastly undervalued and not well understood is that of

                                         PEACEMAKER.

This is important during a negotiation. Our negotiating skills, honed over time from our life, family, and work experience, should be something we point out as a strength during a listing presentation or when trying to move a For Sale By Owner advertised property to a full service agent representation. Do not underestimate the skill you bring as a REALTOR to get both sides to some happy mid point where it is a WIN / WIN deal for all parties. Hopefully the agent on the other side works with you as well.

I have always been a natural peacemaker. I don't understand astrological signs probably as well as many here reading this do, but I am a LIBRA, and they say they seek harmony in all things. I have always been able to see big pictures and weighing the two sides of something has been fairly straightforward for me. A weakness has been avoiding confrontation which you really can't do if you are going to be a good negotiatior. So my natural calm comes into play and I point out where each side has a point and where they are flexible to move toward the other's position.

Unfortunately in the real world some people on one side or the other can be completely irrational. Like sending out trial balloon low ball offers, getting a counter, and then running away. What was that all about?

Being a peacemaker involves lots of listening between the lines and finding out what's really important to someone. I think they say blessed are the peacemakers because if they achieve what they are trying to do the result is happiness and no more tension. Only some have the ability to pull this off.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. So there must be a little bit of the divine in all those that keep us out of the wars in life. Have peace in your heart and spread it to all you encounter each and every day. This will make it just a little better for all the rest of us to find a bit of heaven here on earth.

A little departure now and then off the well worn Real Estate path is good for one's soul.

It's time for a tale I came upon today that reminds us that lightening our load with a little humor now and then is

                   VERY GOOD FOR US   : ) 

A man was washed up on a beach after a terrible shipwreck. Only a sheep and a sheepdog were washed up with him. After looking around, he realized that they were stranded on a deserted island.



After being there awhile, he got into the habit of taking his two animal companions to the beach every evening to watch the sunset.



One particular evening, the sky was a fiery red with beautiful cirrus clouds, the breeze was warm and gentle - a perfect night for romance.



As they sat there, the sheep started looking better and better to the lonely man. Soon, he leaned over to the sheep and put his arm around it.



But the sheepdog, ever protective of the sheep, growled fiercely until the man took his arm from around the sheep.



After that, the three of them continued to enjoy the sunsets together, but there was no more cuddling.



A few weeks passed by and, lo and behold, there was another shipwreck.



The only survivor was Hillary Clinton.



That evening, the man brought Hillary to the evening beach ritual. It was another beautiful evening - red sky, cirrus clouds, a warm and gentle breeze - perfect for a night of romance. Pretty soon, the man started to get 'those feelings' again..



He fought the urges as long as he could but he finally gave in and leaned over to Hillary and told her he hadn't had sex for months. Hillary batted her eyelashes and asked if there was anything she could do for him.



He said, 'Would you mind taking the dog for a walk?'

Have you ever wondered if we could outsource the CSI team? Not those Miami or New York TV spinoffs, but those good guys over at Las Vegas.

                 DOES CSI MAKE HOUSE CALLS ?

I mean there is much to investigate.

Don't you think so? Why for example, is this particular house on Mulberry Ln. not selling after 137 days on market and that other similar looking one down two blocks over on Bluejay Dr. sold in 15 days?

These are the mysteries of the universe, or maybe not, but the mysteries of the Castlegate neighborhood or whatever your local neighborhood might be called.

Do you think our crack CSI team could decode what is working and what is not?

Let's travel to the morgue and take this one apart, piece by piece.

How is the condition?

How is it priced compared to the competition?

Are the amenities and kitchens and baths up to date?

Is it staged well?

What about the curb appeal?

What about location, neighborhood, school district?

How is the market in the area and which size / price range homes are selling?

Have I left anything major out? How about exposure of the home by the REALTOR and the marketing plan?

Some day I will write a book and make a million dollars from it on "exactly what sells a home." I'll take lots of notes from my CSI team.

I do know what doesn't sell a home. A few items you may need to be aware of are socks on the stairs, charcoal bags at the bottom of the pool, kitty litter smell, smoky smell in the furniture, dated kitchens, tall weeds in the backyard, Mooseheads on the wall, toys strewn all over the floor, a pool table in the dining room and water color in the pool that looks like you just discovered the black ooze from the Jurassic era. Oh, and just price it sky high too.

You really don't need the CSI team to make a house call to sell a house. Just put your trust in an excellent REALTOR and their team of Stagers, Inspectors and Appraisers.

With this in mind you'll have this little show wrapped up in under the usual 60 minutes.

As a male REALTOR I don't ever want to compete with the natural intuitive powers of the female homeowner or homebuyer. I think for some reason they just "know" things men can't ever grasp.

In terms of plunking down your remodeling dollars and creating the wow factor for selling your house, nothing beats updating a kitchen. Complimenting a woman homeowner recently on the gorgeous job she did on her newly remodeled kitchen, she said, "Gary, you know a kitchen is a woman's jewel." Seeing many houses for sale I would say it is Royalty, the "crown jewels."

You can't go wrong with a kitchen update. I think this has to do with the nesting instinct of women and gathering the family together for food or friends over the house for socializing.

Enhancements include granite or tile countertops, decorative backsplashes, ceramic tile flooring, undercabinet lighting, designer sinks and faucets, multiple gas burners or flatop electric cooktops, stainless steel appliances, quiet dishwashers, large islands, tremendous cabinetry, walk in pantries, double ovens, wine refrigerators, barstool areas, glass cabinets, butler's pantry, and the list goes on.

For your own lifestyle sake or for the resale of your house bring your kitchen into the 21st century.

As one woman told me, "I absolutely LOVE my kitchen," and I think from all the compliments she received from the other ladies at a recent social gathering, it generated many positive feelings from her friends as well.

Keep beautiful kitchens at the top of your list when it comes to taking your home to that next "Wow" level!! The photos say it all.