If there is one thing that I truly believe causes conflict with friendship and professional relationships is the behavior that comes with discussing and ranting about religious and political views. Okay, it's more than that. It's the trying to incite an online 'riot' of sorts.

Yup, we all have our opinions and when it starts getting mean, nasty and downright negative it's disrespectful to this platform as well as the intent of this network. A REAL Estate Network. Then to top it all off with the ulterior motive of trying to force ones opinion down another persons throat it is then that it becomes unprofessional and downright judgmental and prejudiced.

And that's just MY opinion.

I CHOOSE to detach from unhealthy (bashing and such) discussions on these particular subjects. We ALL have different opinions and transparency in my blog does NOT mean that I need to divulge my personal preferences for you...let alone even my close friends face to face. 

It does NOT mean I let anyone run all over me either.

I will tell you all this. I have my own beliefs and my own views and I will not push them on you and I expect the same from you. Please DO NOT write in my comment section with your religious or politic views when it has nothing to do with what I'm writing about.

 That IS just plain rude. 

It is with a heavy heart of reading all the ranting, bashing, unprofesional and negative behavior that I write this:

Try and be mindful and respectful of the next person's opinion. If they don't believe in the same religious faith, your favorite color, why you believe your ideas are better than others or even your choice for president, mayor or whomever it does NOT give you the right to disrespect them. If you choose to believe in all the junk that you get in your emails or online about any subject that coincides with the Star Magazine or Enquirer (lol) then by all means...that's your choice.

It's not mine.

Remember, in two days there will be a winner and in life there will always be someone who doesn't agree with you about something....... but ActiveRain and all its members will still be here and the legacy you have left behind will still be here as well.

We ALL will remember. 

They ALL will remember.

This afternoon my seller called me and said a woman knocked on his door. She said her husband was parking the car and they wanted to come in to look. My seller asks the woman if she has a Realtor® and she eagerly gives her Realtors® business card to him.

My seller is great at following my instructions :)  He hands the woman HER Realtors® business card and hands her mine while telling the woman she needs to let her Realtor® call me to make an appointment.

Please educate your clients!

• My MLS agent instructions say to call the LISTOR (me) before showing. It does not say send your clients alone to the listing and knock on the door and ask the seller if they can go in.
• Educate your sellers to NOT let just anyone in the home. I've heard of people posing as photographers and knocking on doors to take mls pictures. And they were just there to case the place.
• Educate your buyers to call you if they want to look at a listing you sent them (the woman had a listing sheet in her hand) Do YOUR job!

Now, I don't know if the Realtor® just sent them on their own or not but no matter what... it was rude to just pop in on my seller and ask if he can open the house for them.

Educate your clients....or GET educated!

The nerve, huh?

A Realtor® has eyes and ears open. Listening to a clients needs (or even wants) IS the most important part of my business. For instance, let's take the First Time Hawaii Home Buyer. As an example I'll use the First Time Hawaii Home Buyer who just Relocated to Hawaii and has no clue what the Hawaii Housing Market is like. It's a stressful and sometimes really scarey process for them and it is imperative that I keep a level head so I can be there for them and walk them through the whole process and relieve some of that stress.

It's one thing to understand what they're going through and be empathetic to their needs. I'm a chameleon and I have the ability to change to each situation and circumstance. No two transactions will ever be alike and I plan on making each transaction a Magical Ride to Home Ownership.

It's another thing to buy into their drama emotionally and cause more of a disruption in their lives than they already have.  

So, for the First Time Home Buyer Moving to Hawaii there have been many situations that I tune in to and nip that emotional turmoil in the bud:

• Termites?  There's termites on this island?  There are termites everywhere and there will be a termite inspection later on. Be rest assured that if there are any active termite action going on that the seller is required to take care of it. (and then the wife says...ewww.....bugs) How would this situation turn out if I said, "Oh, geez. I can't stand termites and when they ‘come out' and drop their wings they look like worms."  Eww.
• Riiiingggg!  Sally, my spouse is a $%X%$% and I want to cancel the contract!  I'll let the seller's agent know and you will need to sign a cancellation form from escrow. Sleep on it over night and let me know in the morning if you folks ironed out your differences. How would this situation turn out if I said, "Yeah, I agree. You need to get rid of him/her." Ewww.
• The Loan Officer said this was a 100% financing deal so why do we have closing costs? Did the Loan Officer give you a Good Faith Estimate? Yes?  Look on the form that he went through with you and also remember that we asked for $$$$$ for closing costs credit from the seller on your accepted contract. These are normal fees associated with purchasing the home. How would this situation turn out if I said, "You mean you didn't hear me explain five times about closing costs?"  Eww.
• Why can't my friend do the home inspection? He's a great handyman!  A professional home inspector will go through all the areas of the home and let you know what is/isn't going on with the home. Electrical, Plumbing, Structural or Hazardous items will need to be remedied.  Though your friend may be a great handyman I suggest that you hire a Professional Home Inspector who does this for a living and knows our Hawaii Laws. How would this situation turn out if I said, "Hey, it'll save you money and if he misses something you can blame him."  Ewwww!
• I want to look at lower priced homes now (after looking at 20 properties). Well, if you think you may be over extending yourself that would definitely be the way to go. Talk to your Loan Officer again and make sure that you are comfortable with the monthly payments you'll be making. How would this situation turn out if I said, "Oh, just go for it", or "What's the matter with you? You need to just stick to your original plan", or "Make up your mind". Ewwwwwww.

These are just a few instances that changed the whole course of my relationship with my clients and put them at ease with me and their home buying process. Explaining each instance simply, to the point and giving facts and not buying into THEIR emotions makes a difference.

Guiding them....through their Magical Mystery Tour to Home Ownership.....

And......

Keeping my boundaries healthy and being assertive earned me respect as a Real Estate Professional.

© 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog. All rights reserved.

So, you want to use your clients pictures, videos and their "testimonial?  How about the picture of your Hawaii Home Buyer standing in front of the home that just recorded?

How about a video testimonial of the Hawaii Home Seller saying what a great Realtor® you are? How about just having fun with your clients?

MAKE SURE you get a signed statement allowing you to use their pictures, videos and testimonials for any blogging, advertising and marketing.

While explaining how blogging is a great way to tell the stories "with a little bit of me in it" or how am involved on many Real Estate forums and platforms I ask if they would like to participate in my marketing and advertising.  I let them know that it will be a story of how we met, connected again or referred by someone else. I ask them to also include a short testimonial.  If they are a. o. k.  with it I whip out my form.

Basically, my form states:

Authorization, Reference & Testimonial

 ____________________ gives permission to Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, Realtor-Associate® with Century 21 Liberty Homes to use ________________'s pictures, videos, stories and any other marketing and advertising material for her websites, blogging and Real Estate related websites while telling our story and what transpired through our purchase (or sale) of ourproperty located at:____________________________.  Following is _________________________'s testimonial regarding my experience with Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman.

<<yadda yadda yadda>>  (they write)

<<yadda yadda yadda>> (and they write some more)

Printed Name:  ___________________________

Signature:________________________________

Date:  ___________________________ 

It's also a great form to keep in your "TESTIMONIAL BOOK".

Or shall we say.....References?

© 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, All rights reserved.

 *If anyone has any additonal input of what I can add to this let me know!  I want to be as thorough as possible.

After receiving a call for a possible listing I gathered all that was needed for my listing appointment. With my Seller's Presentation Booklet (now so full I fear I will have to move on to a bigger portfolio or weed out unnecessary documents), the listing agreement and profile sheet typed out, the Seller's Real Property Disclosure form ready, the tax records, building permit from the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting site showing that an addition and alteration was done...but no detailed info, tax payments and so forth. Quite a bit of info and documents that I managed to get together in the course of three hours.

The Listing Appointment:

• Beautiful upgrades from top to bottom!
• Pleasant folks with personality to kind of match with mine...cool.
• Very informative and received all the info I presented to them gracefully

UNTIL.......:

• That the "mold" that was under the flooring (before they installed other flooring) was cloroxed....
• And then the other one said..."no it wasn't".
• I ask, "Was the electrical work done by a licensed electrician?". No.  And got very evasive and a little touchy.
• And then they say that they will hand it over to a Relocation Company if it's not sold in 60 days. 

After going through an hour and a half of the tour of the house, the details, the marketing and so on ....we discussed the pricing. That was before the Relocation Company was even mentioned.  Having a sixty day listing at a 10k over the last sold, the evasiveness  on 'issues' and most of all.....NOT BEING UP FRONT to begin with really turned me off.

It became a matter of loyalty, honesty and ethics.

 It began to eat away at me and my gut feeling told me to ..... 

What would you do?

Century 21 Liberty Homes is known for not just our outstanding agents in the Mililani area but for it's Property Management of over 100 rental units (single family, townhouses, condos).  I am a Realtor -Associate® with Century 21 Liberty Homes and I also work in our office part time as support for our agents, property management and administration section.

I have seen the worst of the worst as far as the devastation a tenant can cause and leave behind so I thought that a Code of Ethics would be great not just for Buyers and Sellers but for TENANTS too.

At the very least spell it out for them so that they have it black and white. Maybe even make a magnet out of it so they can put it on their refrigerator. As you all know I am a condo owner with tenants above me who failed neglected to tell anyone that there was a massive amount of water that mysteriously appeared a week ...yes a week...before the water fell through our ceiling. You can read it here if you missed it:  Bathroom & Kitchen Leaks- Responsible Condo Living in Hawaii

I don't have any rental units but I surely would consider adding a LARGE ammendment to the rental agreement that spells out something like this:

•  REPORT ANY INCIDENTS IMMEDIATELY (including but not limited to water/plumbing leaks or water spills, electrical mishaps, hazardous situations or structural damage) And in case you don't know...if you neglect to take action then you could be liable for damages. Call your landlord, property manager, security, the association, the maintenance company.
• PLEASE TAKE CARE OF MY PROPERTY and at the very least...clean up after yourselves. Take pride in the appearance of your living conditions. Don't spill stuff on the carpet and leave it so it stains. Maintain the appliances (clean out the dust bunnies!) so they don't overheat and cause a fire.
• IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AND YOU CAN'T GET AHOLD OF YOUR LANDLORD  call a plumber for a leak, call an electrician if there are sparks flying around, let the neighbors below and on the side of you know that something happened that could possibly damage their unit. Again, you could be liable for not only the damage you caused to the unit you reside...but to other units that were damaged as well!
• FOLLOW ASSOCIATION AND CONDO ASSOCIATION RULES!   What part of Association Rules do you not understand? You chose to rent in this complex that has rules...so follow them.
• RESPECT YOUR NEIGHBORS  Be aware of being a nuisance to the neighbors. If you live above someone...don't stomp and let your children bounce of the floors (which is someone else's ceiling). Don't park your bicycle or stroller in front of their door or bang your car door against theirs when you're getting in the car.
• DON'T THROW WATER OFF YOUR FRONT AND BACK PORCH when your neighbors underneath you are walking out their front door or lounging in their chairs on their back porches.  For one...it's the rules of the complex association...for another common sense that someone might be underneath. And yet another, why are you going to sweep your trash off your balcony? So the owners underneath have to not only clean their own porches....and then clean all the stuff you just dumped on theirs...again? 
• YOU BREAK IT..YOU FIX IT. Common sense tells you that if you break something you are responsible to replace it. Don't conceal, lie or fabricate stories to push blame on the owner just because they own it. Be accountable for your own actions.
• IF YOU HAVE GUESTS IN YOUR UNIT PLEASE MAKE SURE THEY ABIDE BY ALL THE GUIDELINES AND THE RULES OF THE ASSOCIATION TOO. You are responsible for your guests and their actions too!
• TAKE CARE OF THE UNIT AS IF YOU OWNED IT! You may not own it but it is your responsibility to take care of it and leave it in the same condition as you originally rented it in.

Just because you pay your rent on time doesn't warrant you as a great tenant. The mess you create or leave behind can also go on your rental history and rent check as well. It can also leave you liable for the neglect or irresponsibility of your actions that create damage to other units as well as the one you are in. The respect and responsibility you have for your rental unit labels you as a good or bad tenant.

Information and Laws for the Hawaii Landlord and Tenant:

Chapter 521 Residential Landlord-Tenant Code of the Hawaii Revised Statutes

Residential Landlord-Tenant Handbook (PDF) 

* If you are looking for a rental unit or need assistance with property management please call our office at 808-625-1776.

© 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, All rights reserved.

Over a year ago I wrote the basic Real Estate Code of Ethics for the Buyer and Seller. I figured that we Real Estate Professionals abide by our   Code of Ethics (REALTORS'® Pledge of Performance and Service) and if there were some sort of guidelines for the Buyer or Seller (on top of the Buyer's Representation Agreement or Listing Agreement) I would dream that they would follow them. Is it just fantasy?

1. I will be loyal and honest to my  REALTOR® and respect that they are thinking in my best interests. (I mean, I did come to them for help in the first place, right?)
2. I will listen only to my REALTOR® regarding real estate matters because they are the experts in real estate (not me, my friends, my associates nor my family who know nothing about Real Estate but 'think' they do)
3. I will follow the contingencies and timelines in the Purchase Contract and do "my part" for the transaction by following my agent's lead.  (and not blame them when I don't do as they ask in a timely manner ...or because I went bar hopping the night before)
4. I will not verbally, emotionally, mentally or physically abuse my REALTOR® (or for that matter any other human being, animal or any other living thing because I had a fight with my significant other)
5. I will ask my REALTOR® for referrals to home inspectors, loan officers, surveyors, title companies, escrow companies, tax people, etc. and not expect my agent to produce answers to questions they are not an authority on. (nor will I try and pretend I am the all mighty expert)
6. I will not call around to other agents or interfere in an offer or listing I have with my agent so that I can be "on top" of my transaction. (I admit I have control issues and need to leave the work to the professional)
7. I will let my agent know if there are any concerns so that we can come to a "meeting of the minds" relationship. (instead of 'expecting' my agent to read my mind or be a fortune teller)
8. Refrain from exaggeration, mis-representation, or concealment of pertinent facts related to property or transaction. (in other words I won't lie about the pending divorce nor lie about the floor caving in from termites and the patch job my buddy and I did)
9. Respect the exclusive representation or exclusive brokerage relationship agreements that other REALTOR® have with their clients just as my REALTOR® does. (instead of sneaking around and going to the seller's property to 'catch' them and quiz them for details or calling the buyer to renegotiate ...under the table)
10. I will not purposely create an environment that prevents my REALTOR® or a REALTOR® Representing a Buyer from showing my property to ready, willing and able buyers.  (Sellers: If you plan on staying home for showings, please don't make the agent/buyer uncomfortable with YOUR opinion on what the buyer can do with the room)
11. I will never plan trips out of town or out of the United States without first checking with my agent. (Courtesy -in case there may be something to sign or do during this crucial time! )
12. I will not purchase a new car or take out new (or even max out the ones you do have....George Souto (McCue Mortgage Co.) input)   credit cards while in escrow (Buyers: And then rack em up so when the docs go to underwriting you all of a sudden have a low credit score and your income to debt ratio makes you no longer able to qualify)
13. I will call my Realtor® if I'm going to be late (or not show up at all.)
14. I will give my Realtor® input and ask questions if I have a concern (instead of holding it all in and then blowing up when I don't get my way)
15. Please do not call me from the car, all excited, because you entered a new construction development, against my direct orders, and "forgot" to tell them you are represented by an agent. Susan Mangigian, West Chester PA Realtor  And...
16. Please do not expect me to be excited because after showing you 14 homes on a Saturday, you left me at the office and drove past a for sale by owner and went in and LOVE IT!!!.Susan Mangigian, West Chester PA Realtor
    

     

     

     

 And after all is said and done...... "a nice thank you'" for your appreciation to your Realtor®

is the most rewarding thing they can hear.

Howard Goff (Realty Executives) and  Robert L. Brown~Grand Rapids Real Estate Flexit Realty, West Michigan (www.mrbrownsellsgr.com) happened across the old post yesterday and I thought...why not bring it back to life with ....

An open invitation to add to your COE points for buyers and sellers to this list!    (I will post them continuously after # 14 on this post.)

© 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, All rights reserved.

I often sit and ponder ...on this thing called life. Back then...and now. My life now surely is unlike when I was younger. Gung Ho! Sporadic, impulsive, not consistent, spur of the moment and a radical gal with a rebel attitude.

Nothing could touch me (I thought) and I was invinsible (I thought) and not replaceable (I thought). 

That's what I get for thinking!

My beliefs instilled; taught by my parents, and most likely passed on from their parents through generations of what they all believed...what was best for us. At some point, I became an adult and changed my beliefs to suit my own needs....or maybe not.

My life didn't turn out the way I thought it would. I did the complete opposite of what my parents taught me and it took years to grasp the meaning of why. Learning lessons.

The whole irony of this is that I taught my children the complete opposite of what I did in those younger years. Maybe that's why they are responsible adults and didn't follow those "hard" lessons of life ...the ones of hard knocks. The ones like I HAD to go through to get to where I am today.

What does success mean to me now...compared to back then?

• Success is not measured by how much 'stuff' I have but by how hard I worked to get it. (how much or how little does not measure who I am)
• Success is earned from respecting others NOT running over them to prove my point. (in turn the respect comes back)
• Success is the gut feeling at the end of the day that tells me I have had a day lived right (and allows me to sleep well at night)
• Success is factual and not assuming. (Get the facts and don't let the assuming get the best of me)
• Success is within. It works from the inside and shows through to the outside. It's seen in my demeanor, in my walk, in my talk and in my attitude and behavior. (others can see from the outside in so no one is fooling me....but me)
• Success is real and is not letting things outside myself dictate how I feel about myself. (what others think does not dictate who I am)
• Success is being content with what I do have; not what I don't have. (cup is half full; not half empty)
• Success is being able to look at myself in the mirror and the person staring back is smiling and happy.(It's when I start talking and answering myself....is when I'm comfortable in my own skin LOL!)
• Success is having balance in my life and making sure my priorities are on target (time for family, bills paid, not overdoing anything that would upset the piechart of my life)
• Success is understanding that we live and die and it's what I do in between that matters. (What kind of legacy do I want to leave behind? What am I going to be remembered for? It sure ain't gonna be for the kind of car I drove!)
• Success is constant in this continuous learning lesson and cycle called life and without the contant changes of learning and growing I would be stagnant. (Living life without risk and trying new ways for things that didn't work before is agreeing to stop living.)

Success in Real Estate can be measured in many ways and for me it's mostly about how I interact with others because I believe our industry is about just that.

Interaction.

It's the 'quality' of relationships we have with others is what a professional is worth.

I got off my high horse a long time ago. And it suits me just fine.

Should family and friends get involved and give their "advice" in the property selling or purchase process of their family/friends when they are not a real estate agent? That is the question and "court is in session"!

In life situations, as in business I believe there are two sides to everything. ALWAYS. Otherwise, how would I come to a decision of any one point being made?

In this case I will look at the pros and cons of "helping" family and friends with their real estate decisions when they have an agent. It can be beneficial or it could be detrimental in the sale or purchase of the property.

Please give your input so I can add to this list and in the end we all can come to a decision (or opinion) together to give insight to others as well.

The pros of having family and friends getting involved with the sale of the property:

• The family/friend is "associated" with the Real Estate Industry and knows "some" of what is going on and feels that they can benefit their family/friend.
• They are emotionally involved because they are friends/family and feel they can "help" them with not getting "ripped off"
• They "care" about their family/friend and want to make sure that anything "bad" about the property should be addressed.
• They could be helping them get a better deal because of all of the above.

The cons of having family and friends getting involved with the sale of the property:

• The emotional involvement can alter the "advice" they are giving because everything is looked at in an emotional state and not in a professional business sense.
• They do not have a real estate license and aren't qualified or licensed to give advise.
• They may cost them the sale if they are giving incorrect information.
• They will be blamed by the family/friend if the sale is jeopardized.
• They already have a real estate professional who is assisting them and that real estate professional is not letting emotion get in the way of their better judgement. ( I could go on an on but we get the idea here)
• Added stress is doubled...may be tripled ..for the decision making process for the client because there are "too many" chiefs for a decision the client should be making with the assistance of their agent.

Believe me, I have been in several transactions where the family or friends are giving their advice. It was stressful and a struggle to prove that I was THE professional and worthy of listening to. I also took into consideration that the family member was "highly trusted" and it made the job harder although at times I had to show understanding and compassion when trying to get MY point across when the family/friend was wrong.

My opinion is I do not appreciate when others get involved because it most often than not jeopardizes a transaction and stresses the client out to no end. I have had instances where the buyer/seller put everything on hold because of it.

A real estate transaction is always stressful for all parties involved and with a real estate professional's sound advice we are geared to take on the stress and make the transaction as smooth as possible.

Now...the jury is in.....let's hear from you all.

Mahalo!

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, RA     * Century 21 Liberty Homes*

95-2214 Kipapa Drive, Mililani, HI  96789

Direct Contact:  808-375-1404                                                          

www.hawaiihomesmarket.com 

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Mililani Hawaii Real Estate Blog 2007©

All pictures the property of Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman© 

Hawaii Relocations