Mama Liz's Blog: February 2009

Is has Been A Long Day Today

 

It has been a long day today

Today has been a long day as was yesterday.  Why? Because I cannot talk and how can a broker not talk.  I have had laryngitis for 4 days now and each day seems a little worse.

Hey, I'm not complaining.  I am alive, I do not have a cold or anything else. My cancer is in remission. Being "speechless" is the least of my concerns, right?

I have had a wonderful interview today with a potential recruit --- a very experienced and knowledgeable sales associate.

I was able to set up 2 different groups on Linkedin ----- thanks to Rebecca Levinson


I have become more active on Twitter.  It is difficult to do it all and work as a Broker-in-charge, Relocation Director, Chief Operating Officer, Trainer and VP of AgentOwned Realty.  But, hey, I'm loving it.
 Plus, I'm the best Grandmother and the best Mother and the best wife.

 

 

And if my life isn't wonderful enough, I have the most beautiful chocolateNellie - my chocolate lab lab.           

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mama Liz's Signature

 

 

 

The AgentOwned Realty serves your real estate needs for:

Charleston, Johns Island, James Island, Mt. Pleasant, Isle of Palms,
Sullivan's Island, Daniel Island, North Charleston, Summerville,
Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, Santee, Manning, Sumter & Florence.
 all in South Carolina
6 comments • Liz Loadholt Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC • February 27 2009 03:25PM

Don't Stick Your Head in the Sand!

 

Don't stick your head in the Sand

ostrich with head in the sand




A lot of real estate sales people have their head stuck in the sand now.  The old "woe is me" attitude.



That attitude never got anyone anywhere.  As a cancer survivor, I know that you cannot stick your head in the sand --- you must "live".  The same is true with the economic situation.  You must "live" --that is,
  • get up in the mornings with the attitude that you are going to "work"
  • actually "work"
    • contact you sphere
    • go where people are so that you can drum up new business
    •  
      • my favorite place is the grocery store - wear your name badge
    • find first time home buyers -- what a great opportunity with the $8,000 tax credit (gift)
    • contact FSBO's
    • contact Expired
  • This is a great time to get listings with the market turning around.

Get your head out of the sand ---you can do this!!!!!!!

 

Mama Liz's Signature

 

The AgentOwned Realty serves your real estate needs for:

Charleston, Johns Island, James Island, Mt. Pleasant, Isle of Palms,
Sullivan's Island, Daniel Island, North Charleston, Summerville,
Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, Santee, Manning, Sumter & Florence.
 all in South Carolina

 

17 comments • Liz Loadholt Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC • February 24 2009 04:13PM

Huge Pick Up In the Market

 

Huge pick-up in the market


I am just too excited --- just had to write this blog.
Just this afternoon, I have had 4 agents talking about getting contracts ratified.
One agent has just ratified 3 contracts and working on the 4th.
Another agent has ratified 2 and working on new folks coming to town this weekend.
Another agent just ratified a contract.
Another agent just got a contract in on one of his listings.
Becky, our in house loan officer, was extremely busy today!!!!

Yeah!!!!   Hallelujah - Praise the Lord.

Mama Liz's Signature

 

The AgentOwned Realty serves your real estate needs for:

Charleston, Johns Island, James Island, Mt. Pleasant, Isle of Palms,
Sullivan's Island, Daniel Island, North Charleston, Summerville,
Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, Santee, Manning, Sumter & Florence.
 all in South Carolina
8 comments • Liz Loadholt Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC • February 23 2009 04:39PM

Little Johnny --- Finding Jesus

Little Johnny - Finding Jesus

 

A Sunday school teacher is concerned that his students might be a little confused about Jesus, so he asks his class, "Where is Jesus today?"

Steven raises his hand and says, "He's in Heaven."

Mary answers, "He's in my heart."

Little Johnny waves his hand furiously and blurts out, "He's in our bathroom!"

The surprised teacher asks Little Johnny how he knows this.

"Well," Little Johnny says, "every morning, my father gets up, bangs on the bathroom door and yells 'Jesus Christ, are you still in there?!'"

 

I thought this joke was really funny and thought some of you may enjoy.

Mama Liz's Signature

 

The AgentOwned Realty serves your real estate needs for:

Charleston, Johns Island, James Island, Mt. Pleasant, Isle of Palms,
Sullivan's Island, Daniel Island, North Charleston, Summerville,
Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, Santee, Manning, Sumter & Florence.
 all in South Carolina
3 comments • Liz Loadholt Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC • February 22 2009 03:00PM

How to Refer to My Grandchildren

 

How to Refer to My Grandchildren


As I was responding to a comment on one of my blogs, I had this idea.  I have an issue that I feel you folks out there can help me solve.

The agent/owners who work under my broker's license are each and everyone very special to me --- I feel like they are my children --- they started calling me "Mama Liz" about 4 years ago. You see, we have this Mother/Child relationship.  As these young folks have babies of their own, I feel like I just became a Grandmother again.

Now, my dilemma is:  how do I refer to these babies?  Are they "my grandchildren", "my adopted grandchildren", "my AgentOwned grandchildren"?
Or does someone our there have a better idea?

Obviously, I don't want to belittle my blood grandchildren who are so precious to me.  Isn't this a wonderful problem to have? Below in the first photo are my 3 grandchildren (blood). Owen, Wilson & Eliza

Liz's 3 blood grandchildren

 

Liz holding an AO grandchild            Liz holding an AO grandchild   Liz and Maddie      Liz holding an AO grandchild

 

Just some of my AgentOwned Grandchildren.

 

Thanks for your help

Mama Liz's Signature

 

The AgentOwned Realty serves your real estate needs for:

Charleston, Johns Island, James Island, Mt. Pleasant, Isle of Palms,
Sullivan's Island, Daniel Island, North Charleston, Summerville,
Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, Santee, Manning, Sumter & Florence.
 all in South Carolina
9 comments • Liz Loadholt Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC • February 22 2009 01:54PM

Virginia's Vehicle Safety Inspection

We seem to have a lof of our folks going to the Virginia area, so thought this was worthwhile to re-blog.

Mama Liz's Signature

Via Chris Ann Cleland, GRI (Long & Foster):

If you are relocating to Virginia from another state, you may be surprised by our annual Safety Inspections for vehicles.   I've lived in Virginia my entire life, so it's something normal to me.  However, when I talk to relatives in Florida, for instance, they are shocked at the idea of a vehicle undergoing a mandatory safety inspection.

The Virginia State Police Safety Inspection inspects over twenty components of your car annually.  For instance, horns must be operational; turn signals, headlights, brakes and seat belts too.  Safety inspectors check your windsheild and mirrors, floor board...even the illumination of your rear license plate.

Not having your annual Safety Inspection can cost you.  You may receive a ticket.  Or in some cases, your car can be towed.  Many HOA's (Home Owner Associations) will tow a car with an expired Safety Inspection.  

To view the complete list of Safety Inspection items and procedures you can simply click this link and be transported to the Virginia State Police's website where the inspection is laid out in detail. 

Most gas stations and service stations, have the ability to perform your safety inspection.  Just look for the Insepction Station placard, also seen by clicking the featured link.

2 comments • Liz Loadholt Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC • February 21 2009 03:15PM

To Pass Or Not To Pass? That Is The Question

I feel very strongly about this, so I felt it worthy of re-blogging.

Mama Liz's Signature

Via Jim & Maria Hart ~ Charleston, SC Real Estate (AgentOwned Realty):

This one hits a nerve with me and I wanted to get your opinion on the matter.

What are your thoughts on funeral procession etiquette? I only ask because this past weekend, while driving home with my family, I had the privilege to pull over and pay tribute to someone who I did not know. I am one who believes that you should pull over when you are passed by a funeral procession. It takes two minutes at the most and I feel it means so much to the grieving family to show your respect for their loved one. While I sat there I receive a few "honks" from the vehicles behind me that could not pass and were forced to stop. Of course, I paid them no attention and if I could I would have pulled completely off the road to allow them to pass. I realize that others don't always feel or think the same way I do.

I am sure we have all experienced this first hand and wish for the respect to come full circle. However, I can say the number of drivers that pull over are few and far between.  Have we become a nation that stopped caring for those how grieve or for those who have passed. I certainly hope not. Upon looking into this subject further, I found that some states require you to pull over and most simply ask that you yield or slow down.

What are your thoughts on this touchy subject? Weather or not you agree with me, I simply wish to know. Thanks for your time and attention, Jim

 

*****************************************

We proudly serve and sell real estate in and around all of Charleston, SC.  If you are thinking about purchasing or selling your home in Charleston, Johns Island, James Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, North Charleston, Hanahan, Summerville, Goose Creek or other surrounding areas, and more importantly, want to work with a local area expert, contact us at your earliest convenience.

 

Jim and Maria Hart
Realtors®/ Agent Owned Realty
(843) 364-9845
hart@agentowned.com

 

Copyright © 2009 by Jim and Maria Hart (AgentOwned Realty).

0 comments • Liz Loadholt Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC • February 21 2009 03:14PM

Handling Other People's Money

 

Handling other People's Money

money  Licensed real estate agents in SC are responsible for the earnest or trust monies collected from their clients/customers.  Mishandling of these trust funds can cause a real estate agent to lose their license (worse case scenario).

Yet this is the major area in which real estate agents are disciplined in SC.  The rules are simple:
  • Any earnest/trust monies for a sale in the form of a check must be deposited within 48 hours of ratification of the contract of sale (weekends excluded)
  • Any earnest/trust monies for a sale in the form of a money order, cash or cashier's check must be deposited within 48 hours of receipt (weekends excluded) regardless of whether the contract is ratified or not
  • Any earnest/trust monies for a rental must be deposited within 48 hours of receipt regardless of the form of the monies

You would think this would be simple enough.  But so many real estate agents "forget" that the check is in the file or they just don't even turn in a ratified contract until it closes.

 

Mama Liz's Signature

 

The AgentOwned Realty serves your real estate needs for:

Charleston, Johns Island, James Island, Mt. Pleasant, Isle of Palms,
Sullivan's Island, Daniel Island, North Charleston, Summerville,
Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, Santee, Manning, Sumter & Florence.
 all in South Carolina
3 comments • Liz Loadholt Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC • February 21 2009 02:52PM

A Burglar is in Big Trouble

 

 

A Burglar is in Big Trouble
A burglar has just made it into the house he's intending ransacking, and he's looking around for stuff to steal.  All of a sudden, a little voice pipes up, "I can see, and so can Jesus!"

Startled, the burglar looks around the room.  No one there at all, so he goes back to his business.

"I can see you, and so can Jesus!"

The burglar jumps again, and takes a longer look around the room.  Over parrotin the corner by the window, almost obscured by curtains, is a cage in which sits a parrot, who pipes up again, "I can see you, and so can Jesus!"

"So what," says the burglar, "you're only a parrot!"

To which the rottweilerparrot replies, "maybe, but Jesus is a rottweiler!"

 

 

Mama Liz's Signature

 

The AgentOwned Realty serves your real estate needs for:

Charleston, Johns Island, James Island, Mt. Pleasant, Isle of Palms,
Sullivan's Island, Daniel Island, North Charleston, Summerville,
Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, Santee, Manning, Sumter & Florence.
 all in South Carolina
3 comments • Liz Loadholt Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC • February 21 2009 02:38PM

Friday Funnies

 

I love to Laugh


I love to laugh.  I am always looking for jokes to use when I teach my continuing ed courses.  I thought the one below was hysterical.  No one else seemed to like it as much as me.  My grandsons said, "Grandmother, that is just dumb"  That made me laugh too.

A judge was punishing three men because they had committed a crime.  Their sentence was a few years in the desert.  He said that they could each take one thing with them.

The first guy decides to take an umbrella, so that he can have shade whenever he wants.

The second guy decides to take a water bottle so that he won't get thirsty.

Finally, the third guy decides to take a car door.car door

The judge asked, "Why in the world would you want to take a car door?" The man replies, "Just in case it gets hot, I can roll down the windows."

Anyone out there have some good jokes, I would love to hear about them.

 

Mama Liz's Signature

 

 

 

The AgentOwned Realty serves your real estate needs for:

Charleston, Johns Island, James Island, Mt. Pleasant, Isle of Palms,
Sullivan's Island, Daniel Island, North Charleston, Summerville,
Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, Santee, Manning, Sumter & Florence.
 all in South Carolina

 

 

 

4 comments • Liz Loadholt Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC • February 20 2009 04:26PM