by CHRIS CARRAGHER on APRIL 22, 2013
My Featured Listings!
Do you think this will catch on?
I just learned about a new gym in Portland, Oregon that has no membership fees. It’s a community-and-sponsor-funded facility that simply asks you to “pay it forward” by completing three random acts of kindness. You can read about it here.
I thought this was pretty clever and not just because of the business model, but because they’ve figured out a way to connect positive emotions to something that’s good for you, whether it’s working out or giving back. I’d like to see if this could work in other types of businesses. Any thoughts?
Irene
Bean Group Supports Military Personnel through Real Estate Rebate Program
Bean Group, one of the fastest growing real estate firms in New England and a proud member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE), is now providing financial incentives to military personnel buying or selling a home.
As a partner of LeadingRE’s Military on the Move™ program, Bean Group is offering qualified active duty, retired, and wounded service members a cash rebate based on the actual sales price of the home, or credit at closing, in states where allowed by law.
“We’re honored to support our servicemen and women through the Military on the Move program, and look forward to providing them with the attention and support they deserve.” said Michael Bean, CEO of Bean Group.
With more than 300 Realtors and 15 office locations throughout Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, Bean Group currently serves the following military bases through the Military on the Move program:
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Hanscom Air Force Base
Natick Soldier Systems Command
Cape Cod Air Force Base
Cape Cod Air Station
To learn more about Bean Group, or the Military on the Move program contact Sharon Campbell, Director of Relocation at 800.450.7784 ext. 7377 or [email protected].
Fanatical Training
The idea of a week long company orientation would make most of us yawn. But Rackspace, a web hosting company in San Antonio, puts one on that is anything but boring. Check it out here.
What do you think… fun or a plain waste of time?
I hope you have a fanatical week! I’m here if you need anything.
Irene
New Goals
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Irene Gaffigan, Associate Broker, CRS, e-PRO
Website: http://isellvermontrealestate.com |
This from Jackson Gore at Okemo Valley!
Jackson Gore is Open! We’ll have 37 trails with 8 lifts spinning starting at 8 a.m. Don’t forget that you can get a $39 lift ticket at the clock tower ticket plaza or the Jackson Gore Archway if you donate 5 or more non perishable food items. The Rail Jam is also today– registration is in the clock tower base lodge with the event itself in the Jackson Gore base area. Come to the Okemo area and Ski with us!
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If you are considering listing your home for sale or buying Real Estate in Southern Vermont, please give me a call at 802-353-1983, visit my website or email me at [email protected]
Yuck, Ouch Inspections!
I just saw this sad article about a woman in Canada who bought a million dollar home. She thought that having an architect and engineer walk through the home would be enough to verify that it was safe for habitation, so she didn’t get a home inspection. After closing, she discovered that the walls were totally and completely infested with mice. Yuck!
Worse still… the damage from their droppings and urine is so severe that the house has to be gutted.
Enough said, right? Here’s a link to the article – don’t be shy if I can help you with anything!
Best,
Irene
Aubuchon helps the people in NY and NJ affected by Sandy.
The below is a Press release from Aubuchon Hardware to their Stores; I spoke to Tom in Ludlow store and he told me that money can also be contributed and receipts will be given. So stop in and donate what you can!
MANY TOWNS IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE SANDY. THE DEVASTATION IS HISTORIC AND MANY FAMILIES ARE LEFT WITH NOTHING. AS YOUR HOME TOWN HARDWARE STORE WE WANT TO SHOW THOSE IMPACTED THAT OUR COMMUNITY CARES. AUBUCHON HARDWARE HAS PARTNERED WITH SPARKRELIEF. ORG TO PUT FAMILIES WHO WANT TO HELP IN TOUCH WITH FAMILIES MOST AFFECTED BY THIS DISASTER. SPARKRELIEF.ORG IS A NON-PROFIT COMPANY THAT IMPROVES DISASTER RELIEF WITH A SIMPLE SYSTEM FOR POSTING AND FINDING RELIEF INFORMATION. THEY PROVIDE A PIPELINE OF PEOPLE IN NEED TO FOLKS WHO WANT TO HELP. AUBUCHON HARDWARE HAS OFFERED THEIR ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE LOCATIONS AS DROP CENTERS FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF MATERIALS TO THOSE MOST IN NEED. PLEASE DONATE CANNED FOOD, GRANOLA BARS, FLASHLIGHTS, BATTERIES, AND GENTLY WORN WINTER COATS TO YOUR LOCAL AUBUCHON HARDWARE STORE, THESE ITEMS WILL BE PICKED UP AND DELIVERED TO THE TOWNS HIT THE HARDEST BY THIS STORM. LETS SHOW OUR FRIENDS IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY THAT OUR HOME TOWN CARES ABOUT THEIRS.
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If you are considering listing your home for sale or buying Southern Vermont Real Estate, please give me a call at 802-353-1983 or email me at [email protected]
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Irene Gaffigan
Broker, CRS, e-PRO
36 VT Route 30
Bondville, VT 05340
Direct: 802-353-1983
Toll Free: 800-659-1819
Fax: 802-779-0152
Web: www.isellvermontrealestate.com
Five Habits of Highly Productive Real Estate Agents
I’ll let you in on a little secret. You could take the title of this blog and replace “Real Estate Agents” with your profession and you would increase your productivity! But Real Estate is my business and time management is a real challenge that I want to address from the perspective of being a Real Estate Agent.
With so many distractions, it is a wonder that real estate agents are productive at all. Working to become a highly productive real estate agent is an ongoing process. Creating habits that produce consistent results allows you to achieve your maximum potential. Between phone calls, emails, listing presentations, prospecting calls and buyer appointments, how do I stay productive?
I keep myself focused, alert and on tract with these five habits:
- Focus on the Most Important Tasks. Be mindful to focus on income generating tasks and tasks that produce results. Schedule time on your calendar and list out everything you will work on. Number each item and work through your list. Complete what you can during your scheduled time without any interruptions or distractions (see #2). Do this every day.
- Remove Distractions. The day can quickly get away from you between the phone, email, Internet and any other interruption. Turn it all off and stay focused on your task at hand. Don’t allow yourself a quick vacation on Facebook or getting off track by answering emails. Cut yourself off from all distractions, work down your list and take a break once you are complete.
- Use Positive Affirmations. Crazy, I know but they actually do work! They can take a negative attitude and turn it around just by repeating a few constructive, upbeat words.
- Take a Cat Nap. Making time and grabbing a few z‘s might seem like an odd productivity tip, but studies have shown that feeling refreshed after a nap can significantly improve concentration and performance. 30 minutes is all it takes.
- Set Daily Goals. Wake up each morning with your goals outlined. These should be incorporated into your daily tasks. Setting your sites on a goal each day offers clarity and promotes a more sustained drive.
Here’s a bonus. Break out of the norm. Don’t be afraid to branch out and try something that makes you a little uncomfortable. Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be an amazing place that offers growth potential you never believed possible. Whatever your profession, these habits will contribute to your productivity.
Until next time, Irene
Is the Economy Encouraging Home Buying?
There seems to be a shift in several key housing market indicators, according to Fannie Mae’s March 2012 consumer attitudinal National Housing Survey. More Americans now expect both home rental and home purchase prices to increase over the next year. In addition, confidence in consumers’ views of their own finances is stabilizing. Are these trends providing Americans with an increased sense of urgency to buy a home?
73% of Americans now believe it is a good time to buy a home. This is up from 70% in February. “Conditions are coming together to encourage people to want to buy homes,” says Doug Duncan, Vice President and Chief Economist of Fannie Mae. “With an increasing share of consumers expecting higher mortgage rates and home prices over the next 12 months, some may feel that renting is becoming more costly and that homeownership is a more compelling housing choice.”
A number of factors seem to be contributing to Americans’ Expectations:
- Home prices are expected to increase over the next year.
- Mortgage rates are expected to go up over the next year.
- People feel “it is a good time to buy”.
- Home rental prices are expected to increase over 4% – a significant increase.
There appears to be good news about the economy in general and Americans’ household finances. There was a rise in confidence in the overall economy this month. 35% of respondents think the economy is on the right track. A very low (12%) of respondents think their personal financial situation will worsen in the next 12 months. This is good news for everyone.
For more information, visit http://www.fanniemae.com.
Until next time, Irene