Client Gateway for Buyers... a cool bonus.

One of the great features I offer to buyers is the Client Gateway. If you aren't familiar, it is a custom private webpage that lists all of the properties that meet the criteria we decide on. As new listings are entered into the MLS, they show up in the Client Gateway the next morning.

The example shown is a Gateway that I have set up to keep an eye on new listings of homes with 4 or more car garages in Gwinnett County, GA.

A great feature of the Client Gateway is the ability to organize the properties. While reviewing the properties in the Gateway, one can select "Like", "Possibility" or "Dislike". Properties that are shuffled to "Dislike" drop from the front of the site. Those labeled otherwise will have a bar showing that status. They can be arranged by price, age, number of bedrooms, subdivision or city name.

While surfing in the properties, aside from being able to class them, one may also map them, email them to a friend or family member, make notes or send a message to me about the property.

We've long had the ability to send clients listings as they came on the MLS, but this is a MUCH better way than the old email system. Under the old email system, each day there would be a new email. If one liked one of the listings, then they couldn't delete the mail, or they needed to print out the listing for filing. Now, they are much easier to organize and retrieve.

The Client Gateway is just another great service I offer my buyers. If you are interested in having a Client Gateway to track properties you may be interested in buying, let me know. I'm happy to set one up for you while we work together. I look forward to hearing from you. Drop in to my website and send me a message.

U is for Ultimate

Ultimate. There is a loaded word. For me, it brings to mind a 3,000 square foot garage with high performance floor coatings, a pair of lifts, a dedicated welding bay, loads of tool storage, a kicking HVAC system, and compressed air available in each work space. Of course, there would be a trolley system to move heavy junk (I like heavy junk), and workbenches that could handle the weight of Dana 60 axles and engines.

For someone else, ultimate might mean a darkroom in the basement with a 12 foot sink, and the capability of printing 4x5 negatives to 20x24 prints. Of course there would also be great ventilation and a sound system to let the user jam out while printing.

For our third person, ultimate might mean a play area in the yard that would make both McDonalds and the local county park jealous. There would be a pirate ship and a space ship. Swings, slides and an obstacle course would just have to be there.

Maybe ultimate could be a master bath worthy of a fine spa. Imagine relaxing in the jetted tub with soft music and filtered light. Candles providing a warm atmosphere and wonderful aroma.

Ultimate could also mean a commercial worthy kitchen. High performance refrigeration that keeps temperatures steady with but a single degree of variance, six burner stove and double ovens. Maybe it means a dedicated griddle on the stove for eggs and pancakes in the morning. Granite, stainless steel or even concrete counter tops might also be in the picture.

For yet another person, ultimate might mean a media room that makes all of your friends want you to have a movie night on Saturday, and a football afternoon on Sunday. A wall of video, and a virtual wall of surround sound. More definition that Webster, and recliner for every viewer might be part of that ultimate package.

What is the point of all of these descriptions? I would guess that almost every reader has a slightly different take on "Ultimate" to meet their personal needs. I have one view, my wife another, and my three year old son would have yet another. An Ultimate House will be even more personal than your favorite place to eat.

I'd love to hear about YOUR ultimate house. What makes it the supreme place for you to be (or want to be)? And, when you decide you need to find that ultimate house, let me know. We'll find it for you.

Wouldn't you love to own this wonderful "INVENTORY"?

I'm about to post up another rant...

I have long had an issue with business school terminology sneaking into general usage. It all goes back to about 1987 when I worked at the Heartthrob Cafe & Philadelphia Bandstand in downtown St. Paul, MN. I was a Soda Jerk. It was a great job, and there was a pretty good staff.

One of the managers that came in when the restaurant opened was a business school graduate from Chicago. She found out a couple of things during her first winter in Minnesota. The first thing that she found out was that Chicago wasn't really that cold. The other thing she found out was that people don't want a big plate full of grilled product. There was a corporate head chef that went around to all of the locations and made sure that every single dish was up to snuff. He met with the staffs to make sure that the delivery experience was exactly how it should be, and he wanted everyone in the place to remember that people were choosing to give us money in order to eat great food. Notice that it wasn't product, but food.

I don't remember the manager's name that said the offending phrase, but I remember the exchange well.

Manager: "Remember, when you deliver product to the table,.."

Corp Guy: "Excuse me, what did you say?"

Manager: "When you deliver product..."

Corp Guy: "Stop. (looks at assembled staff) You don't deliver PRODUCT. You deliver FOOD. People eat FOOD. People don't eat product. I NEVER want to hear our food referred to as product."

Manager: "I think you are just being picky. Everyone knows that the product is food, but it is just easier to call it product. That was how we did it in business school."

Corp Guy: "So, your telling me that in business school you learned that people would prefer to eat a plate of product rather than a seared, hand rubbed steak that is cooked to perfection? I bet they would also prefer to listen to product rather than dance to a great song. How about commuting to work in a product rather than enjoying the drive in their convertible Mustang? It isn't easier to say product instead of food, car or music. I think you are smart enough that your vocabulary can include all of those words."

Manager: "That's unfair..."

Corp Guy: "Really? Do you think that all of the wait staff should go up to the tables and ask them how their product tastes? Or if everything is fine with the product? Does anyone need more product?"

Manager: "Of course not."

Corp Guy: "Why?"

Manager: "It doesn't sound special or appealing."

Corp Guy: "Really? But we shouldn't think of it as food? We should think of it as just a random product? No, I think what needs to change is that you need to remember what we do here. We serve food."

Manager: "Yes Sir."

She never called it product again.

So, was there a point? Yes. Many of us do the same thing with homes. We refer to them privately, and sometimes even publicly as inventory. These are the places that our clients raise their children. They find out the best and worst news of their lives. They retreat to these places to relax, enjoy family time, and rejuvenate themselves each day. They spend their time, money and energy to show the world that they love this place.

It isn't inventory. It is someone's home. People don't do all of that for their inventory. Inventory isn't where the heart is.

Home is!

House Stalking... and Garage stalking, too!

Not too long ago, I had a friend and client tell me that he and his wife were "stalking" a house.

Around the corner, in the same subdivision they were in was a house that they loved. In their case, they were friends with the owners, and joked that when their friends moved, they wanted the house. It got me thinking... always a dangerous act.

My wife and I have been stalking a house, too. We don't know the owners. We just admire it as we drive by. Every day. Several times. OK, the route to my son's daycare goes right by the house, so each time we go to take him or pick him up we drive right by. There is a beautiful front yard. We are talking about a golf course quality yard. I'd have to hire someone to keep me from killing it. There is also a full basement. My wife likes that. But, the draw is the "extra" garage. If I had to take a guess, I would say it is in the 3,000 square feet range. Of course there is a three car attached garage, but that would be for my wife's minivan, and some lawn stuff. The 3,000 sf garage would by my "man pit." I could spread my automotive projects all over the place. I would be in heaven.

But, it's too much. Well, it isn't for sale yet, either. But, if it was it would be too much. Maybe by the time the current owner tires of it, we'll be ready to get it... or we will have built a home to fit our needs. I'm not that patient.

So, who else has stalked a home? Did you get it?

Post script>> I have to admit that I posted this on another blog I wrote for a real estate specific site. Shortly after posting it up, I was contacted by a writer with the New York Times. He was writing a story on this very thing... I'll keep you posted of any cool news.