Expectations

July 15th, 2011 by Christina Yeakel

Here I go again, expecting those around me to live up to my standards. I just don’t understand why my friends and family so often let me down by not acting the way I want them to. What a disappointment! Why are they not more like me! Think like me!

Of course I am being a “little” over dramatic. But the truth of the matter is, we all from time to time are disappointed in those closest to us. Sometimes we are surprised by their reaction, or what we may consider as an over reaction, to our “choice” words of encouragement or misguided suggestions. It is these times that task our abilities of patience and finesse, particularly when we know that all misunderstandings could have been prevented if we had not projected our point of view on the situation and others.

In business, misguided points of view or expectations are what is responsible for more business failures than anything else. False projections on the worth of a business; sales projections that were never achievable; contractual promises that were unrealistic are examples of expectations gone awry. Many times the foundation of these failures rests in a concept of our own worth and achievement, or the ungrounded potential of the business’s ability to excel in other than a perfect market condition.

Let me bring this a little closer to what I experience in the real estate market. I find more often than not that buyer and seller’s expectations are what cause the inability to bring a sale transaction to a satisfactory completion. Sometimes our expectation of the worth of a property may far exceed the reality of the comparable sales. Sellers sometimes feel that all potential buyers should be as credit worthy as they are; after all they acquired the property when values were elevated and dutifully made their mortgage payments on a debt that now exceeds the worth of the property. Buyers believe that no matter what the listing price, it far exceeds the value of the property, and their expectations of depreciating home values are corroborated daily by the media.

Expectations are what keep me in business. A buyer or seller will have his or her own perception, wrong or otherwise, of how their sale or buy transaction will be consummated.  The Realtor lives in a world of melding the expectations of both parties and bringing them to a level where both can be comfortable in the outcome. It is a challenge! I love my business!

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The Little Things Make the Difference

June 14th, 2011 by Christina Yeakel

It seems like yesterday that I started this series of newsletters for my favorite clients and friends. Looking back however this is my 63rd edition. In the beginning, I would never have thought that I would have this much to write about or ever dreamt that it would be interesting to those who received it monthly. I have been quite surprised on both counts!

On the first count, the real estate market in the past few years has fueled significant interest that has been a ready source for topics. I also have been fortunate to be the beneficiary of interesting and meaningful life experiences in and out of my work that provide the fuel for my creative juices. I enjoy sharing these experiences.

On the second count, this past month, my efforts to provide an appealing and timely newsletter were reaffirmed once again. I was pleasantly surprised when a new client who had been receiving the monthly publication for several years expressed that they look forward each month for its arrival. I asked them what they find interesting, and surprisingly, it was not the most current properties or comparables on the market in their neighborhood, but the narrative that drew their attention. Of course I thanked them for their sincere and unsolicited thoughts. Later, I thought to myself how special their words were to me. It actually brightened the rest of my day and affirmed that my efforts were not in vain.

The lesson of that day was very simple and clear to me; we can make a difference in someone’s life with little effort. A spoken word of a sincere thought that tells them that they are appreciated for what they do goes a long way. I now try to carry that thought daily to all those who provide a service to me. It could be food server, store clerk or maintenance worker; anyone who provides a service that deserves our appreciation, they will also relish an expression of our satisfaction. You might even include those closest to you. I am sure that family and friends are no exception.

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A Message For The Season

November 11th, 2010 by Christina Yeakel

My special Summer People may be in the doldrums by now with the shorter days and the clock changes. Maybe you are one of those that are severely affected and cannot overcome the mental anguish brought on by the change. Your daily lament about the lost daylight, cooler days and lack of spending time with your favorite outdoor activity (special note to my golfers). However, this time of year, some of you come alive and are aptly called my Winter People. You look forward to this inevitable seasonal change; it signals to you the beginning of the Holiday celebrations and the ensuing joy and spirit that follows with sharing the spirit with like-minded friends and family.

Move over Summer People, this month we celebrate the antitheses of all that you relish. It is time for you to relinquish the long spotlight of warm weather celebrations and activities. Let your brethren delight in what makes them your opposites. It is their time to bundle in the warmth of their favorite sweater or jacket that they have looked forward to donning all summer long. Let them long enjoy the lingering sights and smells of the first lighted log in the fireplace. Celebrate with them the Sounds of the Season that begin streaming on our radios earlier each year, even before Thanksgiving.

Whatever your penchant for the seasons of the year, we can all be reflective and thankful for the varied gifts and blessings received this year and look forward to capturing those moments of joy and celebration that are soon arriving.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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The American Dream

June 10th, 2010 by Christina Yeakel

Dreams, we all have them. Some we remember, most we do not recall. Others awake us with vivid recollection, sometimes containing frightful thoughts. Some, if we are fortunate, stay with us throughout the day with pleasant thoughts that refresh and shape our attitude at least for the day.

 However, the dreams that can affect us most are those that do not come to us in a night’s sleep. They are forged, normally in our early years, and refined as our life experiences allow. These are what I call Living Dreams. Most of us carry them around a lifetime; few are brought to fruition. The reasons may be numerous and individual, but it is popularly believed that most dreams are seemingly just beyond our reach no matter what our circumstances. However, I disagree with that premise.

  I see too many examples of clients achieving one of their life goals in home ownership. For some it has taken years of saving and sacrifice. Others may have been more fortunate and the ability to find the American Dream was attainable much earlier in life. This does not lessen the importance of their life goals, but merely allows them to redirect their desires and efforts.

  If you are to be persuaded by many of today’s economists, the American Dream is dead. It does not make financial sense and introduces unnecessary risk in an already fragile economy. It is said that this was a dream of our fathers and has little relevancy today. I surmise that in a highly transient and accelerated society that seeks change for its survivability and vibrancy, this type of thinking is germane. But maybe it is this thinking that perpetuates the economic and social problems that surround us. Perhaps if more people dreamed, planned and achieved home ownership, the American society as a whole would be more accountable and responsive to our families, neighbors and country, and our economy would thrive.

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