Re/Max Realtron Realty Inc., Brokerage.

The Spirit Of The Season!

Alex Pilarski — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:50:58 +0000

December is one of my favorite months! The snow and crisp temperatures are novel enough to enjoy and everyone is somehow nicer, more pleasant and patient in the Holiday season. People smile, hold doors open and more drivers stop and allow you entrance into their lanes.

My favorite day of the year is December 21, and it’s just around the corner! No it is not my birthday; it’s the shortest day of the year! From that day on, the days start to get longer and I get the sense that we are now moving towards summer and that spring is around the corner!

The Holiday Season really does bring out the best in all of us. Last year I joined an organization called Kiva. It is an on line organization that facilitates micro loans ($25) to budding entrepreneurs around the world. When these loans are repaid, I use that money to loan to another entrepreneur. It is really a good feeling to help people around the world.

I put in a certain donation amount and as it is returned, sponsor another person. I have loans out to a lady in Pucallpa, Peru, who needed $525 to buy stock for her grocery store, another lady in Capas Arwas, Binalonan Pangasinan, Philippines who needed $325 to open her grocery store, and others in Bolivia, Uganda Nigeria and Cambodia, just to name a few.

Go on line at https://www.kiva.org see who is asking for a loan and decide which group or individual you would like to “bankroll”. As that loan is repaid, use those funds to “bankroll” another person. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving.

Make your Holiday Season better by helping others in need!

-Alex

CREA and the Competition Bureau

Alex Pilarski — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:25:07 +0000

CREA Statement

“The media has inaccurately reported that a proposed resolution between CREA and the Competition Bureau would result in members of the public being able to access the MLS® System to list their homes for sale without involvement of a REALTOR® member of CREA. This is incorrect. The MLS® system is a system for REALTOR® members of CREA. It would not be appropriate for CREA (or, in CREA’s view, for the Competition Bureau) to comment further on ongoing settlement discussions. If a settlement is reached, that will become a matter of public record.”

Discussion Points

Specifically, the Bureau would like CREA to change/remove the following CREA rules:

Section 17.1.1.1: Agency

A listing REALTOR® must act as agent for the seller to sell the property and to assist the seller through the entire time of the listing contract.

Section 17.2.1:

The listing REALTOR® shall receive and present all offers and counter offers to the seller.

Section 17.2.3:

The mere posting of property information in an MLS® system is contrary to CREA’s Rules. A “mere posting” occurs when the listing agreement relieves the listing member of any obligations under the Rules, including the obligation that the listing REALTOR® must remain the agent of the seller throughout the term of the listing contract.

Section 17.2.6:

Only the listing REALTOR® name(s) and contact information may appear on REALTOR.ca. The seller’s name or contact information shall not appear on REALTOR.ca or in the public remarks section of the MLS® system.

As you can see, the media has really not reported this issue correctly and clearly to the public.

The changes that the Competition Bureau want CREA to make would drastically change the agency relationship that the real estate business operates under and would be in contravention with other rules and regulations such as RECO, the Privacy Act, Errors and Omission Insurance and perhaps Common Law. This is not just a simple matter of allowing a homeowner to place his home for sale on the MLS system without the involvement of a real estate agent.

This issue raises the question, what does an agent really do? Does a house sell itself?

What Does an Agent do?

In my opinion, an agent has four main objectives:

Ensure the Seller is legally protected by having a contract which lays out the full understanding of the sale details between the two parties and that the contract is legally enforceable.
Attract many buyers to the home so that the Seller gets the best price and terms possible. More buyers result in more offers which allows the Seller to get the best price, terms and conditions.
Help Buyers and Sellers make the decision right for them
A home is the most expensive personal purchase or sale that a person will make in their lifetime. It is a time of stress. A good agent’s job is to make the buying/selling experience as easy as possible.

To achieve these objectives, a professional, experienced, committed agent does the following

Advice on neighborhood trends to determine the best asking price.

Advise on how to prepare the home to get maximum price

Stage the home

Attract buyers via:

Area flyers
Open houses
Agent open houses
Personal Data base
Personal Web site
Company web site
Corporate web site
Virtual tour/pictures
Advertising

Make all appointments for buyers and agents interested in seeing the property

Follow up with agents who showed property to get feedback on the property.

Call all agents who showed the property when an offer is registered to get more offers.

Present all offers

Negotiate all offers

Ensure offers are legally correct to protect seller

Hold deposit

Be present at home inspections

Ensure all conditions are met

Send all documents to solicitor

Liaise with solicitor

Communicate with seller before, during and after the sale is completed.

Not all homes sell. All of an agent’s work is done on commission. No sale no pay.

-Alex

Whining and Goals, Diametrically Opposed!

Alex Pilarski — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:45:52 +0000

Given the choice of fixing a problem, learning from the experience, becoming a better person, the average individual chooses to complain, bemoan the heavens, finds excuses and WHINES.

As a real estate coach, mentor and trainer for over 35 years, I have found that busy people have no time to whine and busy people are usually people with goals. Busy people have the same aggravations, disappointments and frustrations as other people, would love to whine and complain, but are too busy to do so. It reminds me of that old bumper sticker, “When it slows down, I will have a nervous breakdown.”

Wait a minute you say, that’s a far stretch!

People who spend their time whining are individuals without goals?

YES! People with set, specific, tangible goals do not have the time to whine! They all have their share of tough days and disappointments. They may vent, (a 5 minute whine) but then move on towards their target, their goal. A goal oriented person will analyze the results to ascertain what went wrong and then change their strategy and actions to ensure they get different results. Because not changing or improving keeps them from achieving their goal!

I believe that many of the issues we face today as a society are created because as children, we were never taught how to set goals and the value and significance of goals to our lives.

From “shopping/browsing” when we don’t need anything, to hours of video games daily, to TV watching ad nauseum, the majority of people are bored and are looking for ways to pass the time. Consider the following, Nielsen Media Research, Inc. reported “Americans now watch an average of 4 hours 35 minutes of TV every day. This is up three minutes from last year. Furthermore, a TV is playing in the average American household for 8 hours and 14 minutes every day. That is also another record.”

Goals do not have to be monetary in nature, but anything you desire.

Try some simple goals to keep you motivated and focused.

Becoming better at your job by reading articles/books about your chosen field.
Improving your vocabulary.
Getting and or practicing a new hobby. (Try “Googling” your favorite hobby, you will be amazed at the amount of material available.)
Improving your golf game.

These goals may seem to be ineffectual and have nothing to do with preventing us from whining. But the truth is that as we work towards our goals, we start accomplishing and achieving and becoming happier!

Set some simple goals and watch your life improve and the whining levels go down!

Below is a great article on setting goals by goal setting expert Arina Nikitina,

SMART Goal Setting: A Surefire Way To Achieve Your Goals.

by Arina Nikitina

I encourage you to pick up a pen and a piece of paper and jot down the goals you want to reach. Look at each goal and evaluate it. Make any changes necessary to ensure it meets the criteria for a SMART goals:

S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely

Specific

Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen. Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do.

Specific is the What, Why, and How of the SMART model.

WHAT are you going to do? Use action words such as direct, organize, coordinate, lead, develop, plan, build etc.

WHY is this important to do at this time? What do you want to ultimately accomplish?

HOW are you going to do it? (By…)

Ensure the goals you set is very specific, clear and easy. Instead of setting a goal to lose weight or be healthier, set a specific goal to lose 2cm off your waistline or to walk 5 miles at an aerobically challenging pace.

Measurable

If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. In the broadest sense, the whole goal statement is a measure for the project; if the goal is accomplished, the is a success. However, there are usually several short-term or small measurements that can be built into the goal.

Choose a goal with measurable progress, so you can see the change occur. How will you see when you reach your goal? Be specific! “I want to read 3 chapter books of 100 pages on my own before my birthday” shows the specific target to be measure. “I want to be a good reader” is not as measurable.

Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your goals.

Attainable

When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop that attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. Your begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals.

Goals you set which are too far out of your reach, you probably won’t commit to doing. Although you may start with the best of intentions, the knowledge that it’s too much for you means your subconscious will keep reminding you of this fact and will stop you from even giving it your best.

A goal needs to stretch you slightly so you feel you can do it and it will need a real commitment from you. For instance, if you aim to lose 20lbs in one week, we all know that isn’t achievable. But setting a goal to loose 1lb and when you’ve achieved that, aiming to lose a further 1lb, will keep it achievable for you.

The feeling of success which this brings helps you to remain motivated.

Realistic

This is not a synonym for “easy.” Realistic, in this case, means “do-able.” It means that the learning curve is not a vertical slope; that the skills needed to do the work are available; that the project fits with the overall strategy and goals of the organization. A realistic project may push the skills and knowledge of the people working on it but it shouldn’t break them.

Devise a plan or a way of getting there which makes the goal realistic. The goal needs to be realistic for you and where you are at the moment. A goal of never again eating sweets, cakes, crisps and chocolate may not be realistic for someone who really enjoys these foods.

For instance, it may be more realistic to set a goal of eating a piece of fruit each day instead of one sweet item. You can then choose to work towards reducing the amount of sweet products gradually as and when this feels realistic for you.

Be sure to set goals that you can attain with some effort! Too difficult and you set the stage for failure, but too low sends the message that you aren’t very capable. Set the bar high enough for a satisfying achievement!

Timely

Set a time frame for the goal: for next week, in three months, by fifth grade. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.

If you don’t set a time, the commitment is too vague. It tends not to happen because you feel you can start at any time. Without a time limit, there’s no urgency to start taking action now.

Time must be measurable, attainable and realistic.

- Alex

Is Green making you Tired, Disappointed, Discouraged, and Disheartened?

Alex Pilarski — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:32:12 +0000

It‘s doing that to me. We do our bit, separate our trash, compost, installed water reduction measures, etc, and then we find out that all of our efforts are “eaten up” by a small town in the third world burning toxic waste, polluting the atmosphere and contaminating water systems. I ask myself why bother, it’s an impossible battle, no one cares! Why do we feel this way? Because we want to win, we want to be heroes, we want to make a difference, we want our efforts to matter!

We are discouraged because we seem to take one step forward and someone else pushes us back two steps. Maybe we should just give up! BUT WE CANNOT! Going Green, no matter how small our individual efforts are vital in a battle to save our planet and our species. Melodramatic, I do not think so.

I remember an experiment in high school. We took a jar filled with water and started adding red dye. The first drop hit the water; the area around the drop turned red, and then cleared up as the water absorbed the dye. This happened drop after drop, clear water no color until another drop went in and the water turned not pink, but a deep dark red, just like the color of the dye. The water could absorb a lot of dye without an appreciable difference. At any time we could have stopped adding dye, the water was still clear. But once the limit was reached, it was too late to go back.

Our planet is that jar. Our atmosphere and water systems are the water in that jar. They can absorb a lot of toxic material without affecting the majority of people. Yet we all recognize that there is a problem, more respiratory problems, more cancers, and more allergic reactions. Something is happening!

I believe in people! I know that eventually we will get it, but it takes time. A car traveling at 60 kilometers per hour has to slow down to zero before it can start reversing. As the vanguard of the “green revolution”, our job is to do, promote and get converts until the problem and the solution becomes evident to everyone. One step forward, two steps back is one step back, a lot better than “two steps back!” Every little bit helps, keeps the water from turning red, keeps our air, and water treatable, and a polluted environment still reversible.

Every great revolution had its early proponents, these who were ridiculed and made to suffer. But they persevered, endured and fought for what they knew to be right. People like Gandhi, Harriet Tubman and Nelson Mandela.

This “Green Revolution” is the most important fight the human race will ever have, our survival. This is revolution we cannot afford to lose.

What is our job?

1) Keep doing what you can, every bit helps. If its only low energy light bulbs, great!

2) Add another little bit as you can. Compost or dispose of batteries in a proper way.

3) Stay positive. It will not be changed overnight.

4) Encourage other to do their best.

Do your best and get more time for our kids and their kids to fix the problems previous generations have created.

- Alex

I HATE VOICEMAIL!!!!

Alex Pilarski — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:45:50 +0000

And so say we all. Yet its use is growing. Why, primarily, because we have moved to a leaner, meaner society. It’s cheaper for a company to have a voice mail system than a receptionist. It’s cheaper to have one receptionist than two! It does not matter what the customer likes, it is a way for the company to save on staff and customer relations be damned.

BUT satisfied customers translate into more business, and that translates into more income for the company. That is precisely why at RE/MAX Realtron we have hired more staff because that leads to more customers!

Unfortunately with cell phones and answering machines, we have to have a personal voicemail, so here are some rules to help you get and give better messages.

You’re Voice Mail Message.

Short and sweet! The caller knows that you are out; get to that BEEP as soon as possible! “Hi its George, leave a message at the tone”

Leaving a message.

No one wants to play phone tag! Leave a precise message.

A perfect message!

“Hi, this is Bob Smith with REMAX Realtron at 416-222-8600. I’m calling to let you know that we have received your information and I will have a response to you by Friday. If you have any questions, please call me. Again, Bob Smith with REMAX Realtron at 416-222-8600

Why perfect? It provides all of the information the party requires without further phone calls or guessing, the phone number is left at the front and end of the call for ease of writing, the agent has properly identified themselves.

Realtron Hours of Operation without voicemail!
Monday – Friday 8:00 AM -10:00PM
Saturday and Sunday 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Holidays 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

“Open Longer to Sell More Homes”

PS. Did you know that a caller will stay on hold a maximum of 18 seconds before they hang up?

PSS. Did you know that 37% of callers will call a competitor rather than leave a message?

PSS. Did you know the Call Centre handles 500-700 calls DAILY, before the office opens and the extra hour after we close?

-Alex

New Cell Phone Law Starts October!

Alex Pilarski — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:35:26 +0000

That’s what we need, another law limiting our rights as citizens!

I was watching National Geographic the other day, and they flashed an amazing statistic – 9 people a year are killed by shark attacks, and 749, by defective toasters. I guess I should be happy I am allowed to keep my toaster!

Here is the new law:

It’s called Ontario Legislation Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act, but the bottom line is that it limits wireless communication use while driving.

Below are question’s and answer’s based on the most up-to-date information currently available about how this law will be applied:

Q1. When does the legislation take effect?
A1. The legislation will be in effect from October 2009, but it is understood that there will be a consumer awareness and education period initially, where the police will be lenient about violations.

Q2. What devices are not allowed to be used while driving?
A2. Drivers cannot use handheld wireless communications devices while driving. This includes cell phones, BlackBerrys, iPods or other portable MP3 devices, PlayStation portables or Gameboys. Drivers cannot view display screens on devices that are unrelated to driving such as a laptop or DVD player.

Q3. Does that mean I cannot text message or respond to emails while driving?
A3. Text messaging and emailing are not permitted while driving.

Q4. If I have a hands-free function, such as Bluetooth, can I use my phone while driving?
A4. Yes, using a hands-free wireless communications device, for example a Bluetooth, will be permitted.

Q5. My hands-free device requires me to press a button to accept a call. Will this be allowed?
A5. Yes, pressing a button of a hand-held device that is secured in an accessible place to activate the hands-free mode for an incoming or outbound call is permitted under the legislation.

Q6. Can I use the key pad on my phone to dial a phone number?
A6. No. You can only press a button to accept (or end) a call, or to initiate a voice activated dialing feature.

Q7. What about calls to 911?
A7. All calls to 911 are permitted while driving. However, before placing a call it is advisable to stop safely at the side of the road.

Q8. Will I be able to use a GPS device while driving?
A8. Yes, GPS devices that are mounted on a dashboard or windshield are permitted to be used. You are not permitted to use GPS if it requires you to hold the device in your hand. For example, using Google maps while holding your BlackBerry in your hand would not be permitted. You are also required to pull over to the side of the road to input addresses into your GPS, you cannot type while driving.

Q9. What are the penalties for using a cell phone while driving?
A9. Fines range from $60 to $500.

Q10. Are there any demerit points associated with an infraction?
A10. There are no demerit points for a violation; however, if the driver causes an accident or injury while driving and using an electronic device, they could be charged with careless driving or dangerous driving. Both of these offences have associated demerit points.

-Alex

Technology Etiquette: Emails

Alex Pilarski — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:22:27 +0000

I put my email address out there and encourage people to contact me if they have any questions about the industry, the company etc, which means I receive a lot of “feeler” emails – that is, emails from people who simply want more information. I call these “feeler” emails because they’re usually not very specific, quite brief, and aim to gauge my character by whether or not I respond.

As real estate agents, some of your most important leads might come from “feeler” emails as well. Potential clients email you for more information to see how you will respond.

I’ve learned that:

1) The clients who contact you by email want to be contacted only via email. That is their preferred method of communication and you should not contact them any other way without their permission.

2) People who contact you by email expect an instantaneous (or nearly instantaneous response). They may have emailed several people at once, and the longer you wait to respond, the more chance you have of them moving on or having another agent beat you to it.

3) To save you time, have several pre-formatted responses stored on your blackberry or computer so that when you receive a request for information, you don’t have to compose a new letter, but can respond almost immediately.

When it comes to technology etiquette, the rules change as technology changes. Some rules, such as always double check spelling and grammar, are common sense. Others are learned through experience.

What are some helpful “rules” you’ve learned which has helped your real estate business? Be sure to let us know in the comment section!

How Much Do You Need to Retire?

Alex Pilarski — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:42:15 +0000

That’s a real monster under the bed, isn’t it? What do I mean? Remember when you were a child and you thought there was a monster in your room? If you closed your eyes tight and stuck your head under the blanket, the monster would not see you and go away. That’s called the ostrich syndrome. If you can’t see the problem, it will go away. While this approach worked with bedroom monsters, it does not work with real monsters, such as retirement.

The first step in overcoming your “monster” is to face it, to acknowledge it; otherwise you cannot escape or defeat it.

Let’s look at the retirement monster.

Have you ever noticed/wondered about the senior citizens working at Wal-Mart, McDonalds, or serving coffee at the local diner? Do you fool yourself into believing that they are there because they are lonely and are looking for company?

Let me be brutally honest with you.

They are there because the $1,000 per month they get as their old age pension is not enough to pay for rent, food, hydro and clothes! How did that happen to them? Was it because they were mean, nasty, of a different culture or just not as smart as you?

Well, once again, let me be brutally honest with you.

They were once JUST LIKE YOU. Young, vital, full of promise and potential and never planned for their future, JUST LIKE YOU! You can learn from their mistakes or commit them yourself. That greeter at Wal-Mart could be any one of us if we follow the same path as they did. You decide.

Step one:

See the problem. You will get old, you will stop earning at your current level, and you will need extra income to supplement your old age pension.

Step two:

Calculate how much you need. Unfortunately, it will be similar to what you need today. You will still need cars, clothes, holidays, rent, and taxes. No more kids at University or weddings, but grandkids are just as expensive! All of that income has to be passive since you do not want to work at 85 and what happens if you live to 95?

If you need $75,000 per year now, that’s what you will need in the future. Yes, inflation occurs but it will be the same for your sources of income so that will not be a factor.

Step three:

Figure out where the income will come from.

Term Deposit

$1,000,000 term deposit at 4% annual interest is $4,000 per year. So to get $75,000 you need a $1,875,000 term deposit or another source of income, a rental property or an income generating business.

Rental Property

To generate $75,000 annually, you will need to generate $6,250 NET monthly via rental income. Purchasing a property, amortizing it over 15 years, means that the mortgage is paid off in 15 years and the rental income is net. You need two properties like that which today rent out for $3,125 monthly.

Income Generating Business

Coffee shops, flower shops, food franchises, stores, are all forms of income generating businesses. The problem with them is that they require work and effort. Being cash businesses, the owner has to be there, which is not really retirement!

Give Your $$ to Others to Manage

For example, the stock market, Bernie Madoff and other no muss, no fuss, high return schemes. There is no Santa Clause, there is no free lunch, and there are no quick get rich methods. (Unless its illegal and you are looking forward to a huge guy named Bubba as a cell mate.)

Retirement is a difficult monster. But it’s one that has to be faced by men and women alike! In our society, the husband takes care of the wife. With 56% of couples getting divorced and women living longer than men, the smart woman starts planning her own retirement.

So, there is pain in managing a rental property, there is pain in saving money for a down payment and there is pain in prospecting daily to make money for your retirement. But if you DO NOT, the pain of not having, and working in your 70’s, 80’s and 90’s is much worse!

You decide. You can pay for life now or later, but you will have to pay!

–Alex

The Internet

Alex Pilarski — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:22:09 +0000

When I first started out in this industry, the internet was unheard of. In fact, I didn’t even own a computer at the time. However, as times changed, I saw the value in adapting and optimizing the ever changing technology. I am proud to say that Re/Max Realtron was one of the first real estate companies to invest in hardware, software and technology training to bring our agents into the digital era.

Today, it is unheard of to be a successful agent and NOT utilize the internet. Back then, when people needed information, the first thing they did was open a large, heavy book called the Yellow Pages. Today, they go online. As agents, we cannot afford NOT to be where our clients are.

At Re/Max Realtron, we offer a standard template website for $40 a month which features agents’ listings and an optional “About Me” page. Some agents choose to hire their own graphic designers and programmers to design a comprehensive website to give them an edge over the competition. Others choose to have throw-away websites for EACH listing. Some have all three to maximize exposure. Whatever route they choose, I encourage all my agents to get online.

Below are some strategies which I’ve found helpful when it comes to deciding how to utilize the internet.

Search Engine – make sure that your website is not only be stocked with listings, but that you also have a search engine which will allow your clients to find what they are looking for in a fast, easy and effective manner.

Web Addresses – The simpler, the better. Some people choose long, complicated names which are hard to read, difficult to remember and taxing to type.

(Compare www.thebesthomesandcondominiumsintoronto.com with www.apilarski.com)

Promotion – Once you have a website, promote it on your business cards, flyers, feature sheets, letterheard, bus benches, etc. Even if you don’t get a client, your website will help you INCUBATE leads at no cost or effort to you. Clients will visit your website on their own time, and when they are ready to commit, they will call you.

What are some strategies you find useful? Let me know in the comment box!

Alex

Are You Ready for a Couple of Lessons?

Alex Pilarski — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:59:36 +0000

Wow, what a great market! Lots of buyers, low mortgage rates, multiple offers and well priced homes selling quickly! It’s a great time to be in real estate.

It seems that the fears we were facing six months ago, crashing stock market, minimal home sales and a deepening recession, all seem to be behind us. Those people who had the courage to go against the general accepted ideas, invested more into the stock market, and bought real estate did really well. Those who panicked and sold were the big losers.

Lesson # 1

Doing what everybody else is doing is not necessarily good. Remember what your Mother said, “If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you?”

First the real estate market was slow, now it is frenetic. What will tomorrow bring? While that is an interesting question, the bigger and more important issue is what are you doing today given the current market conditions? In other words, how is the present affecting your actions? Tomorrow will be different and will require it’s own adjustments and actions, but that will be tomorrow.

Lesson #2

“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the Present.”

Author: Unknown

The sun is shinning….are you making hay?

2009 marks my 37^th year in real estate. During that time period, only one thing has remained consistent about the real estate market, inconsistency. Take advantage of the market today, tomorrow, it will be different.

Alex

I am an optimist because I have never met a rich pessimist.

P.S. Don’t forget to leave a comment!