Raleigh - Durham...A Real N.C. Girl's Perspective

The Cleaning Woman

There was a little, old cleaning woman that went to the local church. When the invitation was given at the end of the service, she went forward wanting to become a member. The pastor listened as she told him how she had accepted Jesus and wanted to be baptized and become a member of the church.

The pastor thought to himself, "oh my, she is so unkempt, even smells a little, and her fingernails are not clean. She picks up garbage, cleans toilets - what would the members think of her." He told her that she needed to go home and pray about it and then decide.

The following week, here she came again. She told the pastor that she had prayed about it and still wanted to be baptized. "I have passed this church for so long. It is so beautiful, and I truly want to become a member."

Again the pastor told her to go home and pray some more. A few weeks later while out eating at the restaurant, the pastor saw the little old lady. He did not want her to think that he was ignoring her so he approached her and said, "I have not seen you for a while. Is everything all right?"

"Oh, yes," she said. "I talked with Jesus, and He told me not to worry about becoming a member of your church."

"He did?" said the pastor.

"Oh, yes" she replied. "He said even He hasn't been able to get into your church yet, and He's been trying for years."

Author is Unknown

The other day...while preparing a Bible lesson for my pre-teen class at church...I came across this story/joke. It is supposed to make you laugh...(I DID laugh)...but it also made me really stop and think. This story immediately triggered a memory of something I heard when I was a little girl...something that bothered me deeply...even as a young child.

As many of you know from my other posts...I grew up in North Carolina in the seventies...during a time of racial instability. Although desegregation had brought the races together within the public school system (at least physically), the mindset of the 'average' North Carolinian was still very 'black and white'...'us and them'. Neighborhoods, supermarkets, movie theaters, restaurants and EVEN churches were separated like laundry...whites with whites and colors with colors.

One day, when I was in a bus station, I overheard this sweet, old lady talking to a young mother with her children. It caught my attention, because she was telling the young mother about Jesus. Having been raised in a Christian family, I tuned in when I heard the name of Jesus. (I STILL DO!) I listened as the old lady patiently led the young mother to Christ. Then...I heard her say..."Now that you know Jesus, you should find a nice black church to go to." ::WHAT??::

Even at nine years of age, I KNEW that what she said was wrong...VERY WRONG. I remember thinking..."IF we ALL have the SAME JESUS living inside of us...why can't we ALL go to the same church?" For days, I was troubled by what I had witnessed. Then...I realized that I would never be able to understand what I had seen...that it was not based in logic...it was based in prejudice.

According to Miriam Webster, 'PREJUDICE' is defined as 1: injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one's rights 2: a (1): preconceived judgment or opinion (2): an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge b: an instance of such judgment or opinion c: an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics.

'Prejudice' has a voice, and it says..."I'm better than you are because my skin is lighter than yours...because I was born into a wealthy family but you are poor...because you don't speak my language...because I'm taller than you...because I have a 'better' job than you...because my clothes are newer and more expensive than yours...because I go to a 'better' school than you...because I NEED to make you LESS so that I can be GREATER. Prejudice feeds on the real or perceived weaknesses and faults of another...for the sole purpose of elevating itself. Prejudice is a 'bully' (a blustering browbeating person; especially : one habitually cruel to others who are weaker)...who forces himself on anyone who is an easy target...just to hide his own insecurities.

Society is a reflection of ALL of US. IF prejudice is present in our neighborhoods, schools and churches...in our society, it is because PREJUDICE is present within US! Conversely, IF we are to rid our society of prejudice, we must begin inside our own hearts. LET'S TEAR DOWN THE WALLS OF PREJUDICE THAT SEPARATE US FROM ONE ANOTHER!

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR® -- The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Visit our website at www.ElizabethNieves.com

Yesterday, I came across a blog by Tom Plant that had a hilarioius video. After watching, I simply commented to him that I enjoyed the video and wished to learn how to incorporate video into my blogs. Less than an hour later, Tom called me and left me the nicest message. He told me that he would love to 'walk me through' the process by phone...to just give him a call back whenever I was in front of my computer and ready to learn.

When I finished with my client, I gave Tom a call. In five minutes on the phone, he taught me how to embed video into my blogs. More important than the knowledge he shared, Tom shared his time and energy with me. He invested in me...freely and unselfishly...and really, REALLY blessed me!

Tom, I just want to let you know how very much I appreciate your willingness to give to me...someone to whom you owed nothing. I will not forget your kindness, and I will 'pay it forward' to anyone who needs my help. I will pass on this gift you have given to me.

In honor of you...Tom Plant...I've added this (my first) video to this post. It is called 'Thank YOU' by Ray Boltz. Please accept this as my gift of appreciation...my way of saying 'THANK YOU'!!

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR® -- The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Visit our website at www.ElizabethNieves.com

SINCE today is Friday...and SINCE Friday comes at the end of the week...and SINCE I want a good excuse to tell this story...I'm going to USE today being FRIDAY as my EXCUSE! ::LOOKING AROUND TO SEE IF THAT FLEW...AND MOVING ON::

(Just a few short years ago...) When I was sixteen years old, I had a summer job at Wendy's. (It was a horrible job, but that has nothing to do with this post.) One afternoon...listening to music and daydreaming about what I would do with the rest of my day...I was driving happily along after finishing my shift. I had a white Mazda RX3...standard...that would backfire every now and then when I changed gears quickly. (Keep this in mind, as I continue the story.)

As I was driving along, just about to turn onto the highway, I noticed something (out of the corner of my eye) that didn't seem quite right. I looked closely and saw a young guy standing behind an old man. The old man was mowing his lawn, and the young guy had come up from behind him and was strangling him with a tshirt. It seemed as though the young guy was trying to take the old man's wallet, but he could not get it free from his pocket. In his adrenaline-driven panic, he was choking the old man...close to death.

Without thinking about what I was doing, I whipped the car around and started heading directly for the old man and young thief. The young guy released the old man and bolted down the street...with me hot on his trail. We were inside the city limits...with a stopsign at each corner. Therefore, I had to stop and go a lot...but I kept the punk in my sights. We had traveled six or seven blocks when I heard many frantic voices screaming..."They done shot Bobby...OH MY LORD...They done shot Bobby!" Just then, I saw the young thief take a dive through the air from the street to a house below street level. As he landed, I saw that the source of the screaming voices was ten or so hysterical people on the porch of the house he dove onto.

Satisfied that I knew where he lived, I turned back around to go check on the old man and call the police. As I drove back up the street, I saw people lined up along the sides of the road...straining to get a better look. They were looking at ME! Then, I saw five police cars in front of the old man's house. "GOOD"...I thought..."NOW they can go get the bad guy!"

Still pumped up from the chase, I parked and jumped out of my car...heading toward the police and yelling, "Let's go get him. I know where he lives." They were standing in the old man's front yard...in a circle...and they were NOT moving. They were also staring at me. "Come on...I KNOW where he lives!!!"...I screamed. ::WHY AREN'T THEY DOING ANYTHING?:: Two officers began to walk in my direction. They looked at me...then looked at my car...then looked back at me. By this point, I was really frustrated that they were not reacting..."Sir...PLEASE...come with me. I can show you where he lives."

At that moment...I had that same (icky) feeling that you get when you are called to the principal's office but you don't know what you did wrong. ::HEY GUYS! DON'T YOU KNOW THAT I'M THE HERO HERE?:: One officer spoke up, "Maam...is that your car?" ::DUH...DIDN'T I JUST DRIVE UP IN IT?:: "Yes, sir, that is my car." Then he said, "We have received many reports from the neighbors...of a white lady in a white Toyota...chasing a barefooted black man down the street...shooting at him. What can you tell us about that?" ::OOOOOOMMMMMMMGGGGOSSSHHHHH...THEY THINK I'M THE BAD GUY!::

Trying NOT to laugh...cuz no one else was laughing...I said, "Sir...as you can see, I don't have a Toyota. It is a Mazda. AND...I was NOT shooting at anyone! My car backfires when I change gears too quickly. That is probably what people heard. NOW...can we please go get the BAD GUY???"

Still a bit puzzled by what had occurred, the two officers escorted me to their car and asked me to show them where the perpetrator (I really wanted to use that word!) lived. When we arrived at the home, the officers lined up ALL of the young men who were in the house...ALL eight of them...and asked me to pick out the guy I had seen strangling the old man. Of course, he was not there. In the time it had taken for the officers to realize that I was NOT the bad guy, the real bad guy had gotten away. As far as I know, they never found him.

Through the years, I've thought about this particular day many times and tried to imagine what the scene must have looked like through the eyes of EVERYONE ELSE. From my perspective, it was sooooooooooooo utterly clear...it was absolutely cut and dry. There was a victim and a predator...a good guy and a bad guy. (AND ME...the HERO!) And...YET...from their (the police officers' and witnesses') perspective...from where they were standing...it was not so clear. In fact, they got the facts turned completely upside down and inside out.

That thought led me to this question: How often do we (humans) see something or somene and make a judgement...without realizing that our glasses are fogged up...that our view is distorted...that our perspective is JUST PLAIN WRONG? How many times do we walk away believing what we have 'seen with our own eyes' when we've really not 'seen' anything at all? HOW DO WE DISTINGUISH TRUTH FROM DECEPTION...ESPECIALLY WHEN THE DECEIVER IS...OUR OWN SELF?

I'm glad you asked!

Proverbs 3: 5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

IF we trust God...REALLY trust Him...TRUST Him with ALL of our hearts...He will reveal truth to us. He will allow us to 'see' more clearly and understand more fully. Our perspective will allign with His perspective...and He will bring our vision into focus. What once was cloudy will become clear...what was once confusing will become simple...what once was gray will become spectacularly colorful.

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR® -- The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Visit our website at www.ElizabethNieves.com

YES...It is TRUE...This is my 50th post to ActiveRain. I can hardly believe that I've written so much in such a short period of time. That 'gift of gab' thingy is really getting out of control!

Over the past month, I've written about my children...my mother...my clients...my childhood...my relationship with God...my memories...my favorite quotes...my poems...my perspective on life, love and real estate. I've shared from my heart...without reserve. The ONLY thing (person) I have NOT written about is MY BEST FRIEND...My wonderful, handsome, amazingly loving HUSBAND! Tonight...to celebrate my 50th post...I want to introduce ALL of YOU (my AR friends) to this INCREDIBLE MAN...my GIFT from GOD...Diego Nieves.

Diego and I met six years ago in a tiny town called Zebulon, NC. I moved to Zebulon (even though I had never been there before in my life) to get away from the city. My tiny home in Zebulon had been on the market for two years before I found it and needed a LOT of work. After having lived in an apartment for a year, I was excited to have a yard in which to plant flowers. As soon as I moved in, and before doing anything to the interior, I started working on the yard.

My first day off work, I spent the entire day (8 hours) in the yard...pulling weeds and cleaning out the overgrown flower beds. I was a MESS! At the end of the day, I realized I had NO FOOD in my refrigerator. I decided to 'pop' into the local grocery store to get some yogurt for dinner. I mean...I was new in town...I would not see anyone I knew!

As soon as I walked into the grocery store, I saw HIM! My heart started beating faster, and the rest of the crowd faded away. That surreal moment only lasted a few seconds...as I suddenly remembered that I was covered in dirt from playing in my garden. ::OH MY:: I covered my face and started saying outloud to myself, "Don't look at me. Don't look at me."

As I walked past HIM, I wanted so badly to look back...to make eye contact with him...to see his smile. I made my way through the store...grabbed my yogurt...and took my place in line. From my vantage point in line, I could see him talking to another gentleman. There was a guy in front of me checking out, so I leaned to the right to get a better view. I was watching him talk and laugh...and I was thinking, "I need to go home, take a shower and hurry back to meet this guy!" At that moment, as if he were reading my thoughts, he looked up and over at me. Embarrassed to be caught staring, I smiled shyly. He smiled back, and I melted. END OF STORY!

Well...actually...that was not the end of the story. As our eyes were locked on one another, I heard a little voice inside of my heart. It said, "Elizabeth, just walk out that door. You don't have to do anything. This man is going to be an important part of your life." So, I did. (STILL not the end of the story!)

As I left the store, the fresh air must have brought me back to my senses. I realized that I was going to be late for an appointment with a client. My car was a mess, and my garbage cans at home were full of yard debris. I pulled down to the end of the shopping center and began gathering all of the trash that magically accumulates in my car. My head was practically buried under the seat when I caught a glimpse of someone outside of my window. I looked up and was absolutely shocked to see HIM standing there.

After I caught my breath, I opened my window and said 'hello'. He introduced himself and told me that he was only in town for a few weeks...and asked if I would like to have dinner with him sometime. Wanting to scream "YES...YES...YES" (but thinking that was probably inappropriate)...I said "Sure, I'd like that." We exchanged phone numbers, and I left to go get showered for my appointment.

From the moment I drove away, I could not stop thinking about him. I have no idea what my client said in our meeting. (I know that is a TERRIBLE confession, but it is true!) I could not eat or sleep all night long. I must have checked my phone 600 times...just to make sure it had a signal and was working. I even took my phone with me to the bathroom when I showered. I was certain that he was going to call, and I was determined that I would NOT miss THAT CALL!

The next day, around 11am, HE CALLED! I recognized the number and took a deep breath before answering. He said, "Hi Elizabeth, I'm not sure if you remember me...this is Diego." ::REMEMBER YOU? HOW COULD I EVER FORGET YOU?:: I said (calmly, of course), "Sure, I remember you. We met at the grocery last night. How are you?" He said, "I'm great...just wondering if you would like to have lunch with me today." ::WOULD I LIKE TO HAVE LUNCH WITH YOU TODAY...AND TOMORROW...AND FOREVER!!!:: "Oh yes...that would be nice."

Now we are close to the end of the story...well, the beginning really! I accepted his invitation to lunch, but we never had lunch. We got lost in the country (we were both new to the area) and then caught in a horrible/wonderful thunderstorm. The skies turned black and rain poured down in sheets. We sat in the car, on the side of the road, and talked for hours. Neither of us even realized when the storm had passed...we were so engulfed in our conversation.

Like I said, that was six years ago. We've had a million lunches and dinners together, and we've worked together almost every, single day. YET...my heart STILL beats faster when I look at him...his smile STILL melts me...and I STILL sneak peeks when he doesn't know I'm looking. I went out for yogurt, and I found the LOVE OF MY LIFE!

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR® -- The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Visit our website at www.ElizabethNieves.com

If I were to ask you right now...right this minute...to tell me what you REALLY, REALLY (with ALL of your heart) want out of life...could you do it? Could you put into words your dreams...your aspirations...your secret 'wish list' of 'THINGS I MUST DO BEFORE I DIE'?

IF you could tell me WHAT you want...could you tell me HOW you plan to make it happen? Could you share with me your VISION of how you will one day accomplish your greatest dream? Could you? Is your dream...your goal...written down...OR...is it sitting on some shelf in the back of your mind?

Fitzbugh Dodson said, "Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination."

Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no VISION, the people perish."

Charles C. Noble said, "You must have long term goals to keep you from being frustrated by short term failures."

We humans are created for a purpose...a divine purpose. Mother Teresa said, "We have not come into the world to be numbered; we have been created for a purpose; for great things: to love and be loved." I like to think about it this way...I am here (here being Planet Earth) on a mission from God! And guess what, my friend, SO ARE YOU!!!

Last month, I ordered a new laptop. I had my new laptop built to my specifications...exactly as I want it...to perform the tasks I need it to perform. In the same way, God built you and me...piece by piece...to function a certain way...to perform a specific purpose...HIS PURPOSE. IF my laptop does not do what I want and need it to do...it is useless to me. IF we spend seventy-five years living on this earth...but NEVER accomplish what we were put here to do...we have not really lived at all.

I want to challenge you to stop what you are doing...RIGHT NOW...and think about YOUR GOAL...YOUR PURPOSE. It is not as difficult as you think. Usually...we have a 'thing' that has always been 'there'...down deep inside of us. It is THAT 'thing' that comes to your mind when you watch an inspiring movie or hear about someone overcoming great obstacles to accomplish something amazing. It is THAT 'thing' that makes you want to take a leap of faith from mediocrity to greatness. YES...IT'S THAT THING!

Benjamin Mays once said, "The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach."

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR® -- The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Visit our website at www.ElizabethNieves.com

IF you have been involved in the real estate business for longer than… ::looking at my watch:: …ummmmm……THIRTY MINUTES…you have probably figured out that there are a few SHARKS in the water. IF you have not realized it by now, I’m sorry to be the one to burst your bubble. However, the TRUTH will set you FREE!

Throughout the six years that I have been a part of this industry, I’ve seen EVERY kind of scam and abuse you can imagine. I’ve seen some cases that I NEVER could have imagined and would not have believed if I had not witnessed it firsthand. YES…there are SHARKS ‘out there’ in the water…and they are wearing expensive business suits and passing out business cards!

Being a survivor by nature, I’ve developed a unique way of avoiding the ‘sharks’ in this business…by choosing, instead, to FLY with the EAGLES. I have chosen to associate with people who are positive and giving…people who care about the world around them and go out of their way to make it a better place. I seek out and find those people, in this industry, who don’t struggle with ‘gray areas’ or ‘how close is too close to the line’…people who understand that serving others is the true secret to success. These people are my ‘eagles’…they are my heroes. They keep me soaring above the dangerous waters where the ‘sharks’ are ever lurking.

Since becoming a member of ActiveRain…I’ve had the honor and privilege of meeting some of the truly AMAZING EAGLES of this business. From YOU…I have learned so many valuable lessons. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience with the rest of us. YOU have been a great source of information and encouragement…and I thank you from my heart.

During the past four weeks of ‘playing in the RAIN;…as I have sought and discovered the ‘eagles’ who ‘nest’ among us…I’ve found myself DANCING with ANGELS! These ‘angels’ welcomed me to the ‘rain’ with open arms and open hearts. They watched over me everyday and encouraged me to freely share my heart. These ‘angels’ don’t wear silver-lined robes…they don’t have eight foot wingspans…and they don’t fly their clients to see properties for sale.

On the outside…they look just like you and me. BUT…IF you look closely…IF you listen to their words…you’ll quickly realize that they are NOT just like you and me. They give…not out of their abundance but out of their need. They share freely…openly and without reserve. They seek out those who are most in need of an encouraging word…a gentle touch…and they rain blessings over us all. They remind us ALL to be more than we are and give more than we have. 

Here are MYActiveRain ANGELS...and I want to share them with YOU:

Kris Wales

Diane Rice

  Alecia Barnes

Grace Safrin

Diane Velikis

Andrew Trevino

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR® -- The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Visit our website at www.ElizabethNieves.com

Today...I spent the WHOLE day on the road...showing foreclosed properties to investors. Getting in and out of the car, I got ABSOLUTELY SOAKED FROM HEAD TO TOE at least four times today! And...you know what...I could not have been more thrilled. In fact...IF I could have gotten away with just spending the WHOLE day playing in the rain...I would have done it. Despite my best efforts, I just could not quite think of a good way to explain to my investor clients my uncontrollable urge to dance around in the rain.

For months, North Carolina has been experiencing a severe drought. Rivers and lakes have dried up (SEE RECENT PICTURE OF LAKE MICHIE)...lawns are brown and ugly...many wells have even gone dry. According to the experts, North Carolina needs at least 15 inches of rain to ease our current drought conditions. IF The National Weather Service is correct...North Carolina could receive up to 3 inches of rain by Saturday. Although 3 inches will not 'fix' all of our problems...it is a good start.

SUN...SUN...Go away...Let it RAIN ALL the DAY!!!

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR® -- The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Visit our website at www.ElizabethNieves.com

I, Elizabeth Nieves, am the proud and rightful inventor of ‘MONSTER SPRAY'. YES...YES...YES...I KNOW you are thinking that a little, country girl from North Carolina could NOT possibly have been the first to create such an amazingly useful product. ::slightly puffed up:: Oh...it is true, my friend. I assure you it is very true. (Just ask Former V.P. Al Gore...He'll vouch for me! I invented it around the same time he invented the internet.)

For those of you who may not be familiar with ‘monster spray'...and certainly that is only a small handful of you...I will introduce it to you and share how this glorious product came to be. When my oldest daughter, Avery, was 18 months old, I decided that she needed a ‘big girl' bed. I found an antique captain's bed...from a long-retired navy ship. It was beat up and bruised, but I brought it back to life by sanding and refinishing. It took me weeks to complete. (Afterwards, I was beat up and bruised, too!)

During the weeks that I worked on her bed, I kept telling Avery how wonderful it would be for her to have her own ‘big girl' bed. She was really excited...until the first night that she was to sleep in her new bed. That night...after I tucked her in and sang her favorite song...she ‘popped' out of bed and announced that she could not sleep. Another song...another kiss...and she was on her way to sleepy town. Five minutes later, she ‘popped' out of bed again. This time, she announced that there were monsters in her room...that she could see them.

Being ‘SUPERMOMMY' (that really is my official title)...I did some quick thinking and went back in her room with her...to look for the ‘monsters'. From her bed, we quietly waited for the ‘monsters' to make their appearance. They must have been afraid (as they should have been) of ‘SUPERMOMMY' because no monsters showed up. Avery told me that they would only come out if I left the room. That gave me an idea.

I quickly ran and found an almost empty, clear hairspray bottle. I cleaned it...filled it with warm water and some of my perfume...added a few drops of food coloring.  I then made a label that read ‘MONSTER SPRAY'...and gave it a few cute designs. (See now why I'm SUPERMOMMY?) I was ARMED and DANGEROUS...and READY to fight the ‘monsters' in Avery's room. Three spritzes of ‘monster spray' later, my baby girl was asleep. (AIN'T NO MONSTERS OUT TONIGHT!!!) MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! ::putting her spray gun away and taking a little bow::

Avery is twenty now, and it has been years since I've had to use ‘monster spray' to get her to sleep. (I tried it once when she was sixteen...discovered that teenagers are immune to ‘monster spray'!) However, the other day, when I was dealing with a particularly difficult agent, I had the thought... "I wonder if ‘monster spray' would work on this guy!" ::lightbulb shining brightly:: I chuckled just picturing myself pulling out my secret stash of ‘monster spray' and saying, "Excuse me, Mr. REALTOR®,  do you mind if I spray you with a couple of squirts of this stuff? Don't worry...you won't feel a thing...but I'll feel sooooooooooo much better!"

That very day...'MONSTER SPRAY' for REALTORS® was born! IF you are suffering from any of the following symptoms...‘MONSTER SPRAY' for REALTORS® is for YOU!

• Closing delays (2 sprays)
• A phone call from your sellers to complain that no one is looking at their home (when you've explained to them eight times that there are five other homes on the market in their neighborhood AND theirs is the most expensive.) (1 spray should do...prior to each conversation)
• You've been showing your client homes for three months, and today they told you that they have decided to use their down payment money to buy a motorcycle. (4 sprays and an aspirin)
• You arrive at a closing for your out-of-state buyer (who has all his worldly possessions on a truck in the parking lot) and learn that the sellers can't close because they need to bring $6,000 (that they do not have) to closing. (6 sprays, two aspirin and a massage)
• You drive 100 miles over five different counties and show your buyer client the 14^th house in the same day...when she tells you that she probably wants to increase her price range by 100k and look at homes closer to town. (Dosage not known... ‘monster spray' has not been tested under this level of stress. Use as needed.)
• You FINALLY find the perfect home for your buyer client...but they want to take a second look...then a third look...then they want to bring a friend to see it...then they want to think about it over the weekend...then another buyer thinks it is perfect and actually makes an offer...then YOUR CLIENT is upset with you because they lost the home to the other buyer. (Take a HOT bath in ‘monster spray'...and try to avoid people for at least 24 hours!)
• You go to a listing appointment...fully educated and prepared. You present the sellers with your suggested listing price, but they tell you that another REALTOR® (and their neighbor) told them their house was worth $10,000 more. They tell you that they want to hire you, because you are so knowledgeable and professional, but they want to list it for the higher price. You insist on your price, but they are determined. You agree to take the listing...and to test the market with the higher price for two weeks. You explain that ‘The market speaks'...that two weeks will be enough to determine if the market will, in fact, support the price. Two weeks pass without any showings. You call to tell them that it is time to reduce the price, and they yell at you for ‘wasting two weeks' of their precious market time. (‘Monster spray' will do nothing for this situation! You will need the patience that ONLY GOD can give you to hold your tongue.)

***All of these examples are real. YES...NOW you can see why I invented ‘MONSTER SPRAY' for REALTORS®!!! ***

‘MONSTER SPRAY' for REALTORS®

Just SPRAY...PRAY...and watch your 'MONSTERS' go away!!!

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR®, 'SUPERMOMMY' -- The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Visit our website at www.ElizabethNieves.com

Today was ONE OF THOSE DAYS when I just needed to end the day with a good laugh. I thought...'Why not share my laugh with my friends on Active Rain?' I mean...it is more fun to laugh together!!!

Here are some funny signs that have been spotted around the world:

In a Tokyo bar:

"SPECIAL COCKTAILS FOR THE LADIES WITH NUTS."

 
Cocktail lounge, Norway:

"LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BAR."

Doctors' office, Rome:

"SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES."

Dry cleaners, Bangkok:

"DROP YOUR TROUSERS HERE FOR THE BEST RESULTS."

In a Nairobi restaurant:

"CUSTOMERS WHO FIND OUR WAITRESSES RUDE OUGHT TO SEE THE MANAGER."

On an Indian river highway:

"TAKE NOTICE - WHEN THIS SIGN IS UNDER WATER, THIS ROAD IS IMPASSABLE."

In a Swiss mountain inn:

"SPECIAL TODAY - NO ICE-CREAM."

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR® -- The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Visit our website at www.ElizabethNieves.com

We have all heard these phrases: 'TALK IS CHEAP' and 'SHOW ME THE MONEY' (from the movie Jerry McGuire). People are sick and tired of empty promises. From politicians...car salesmen...infomercials...TV ads...EVEN pop-ups on our computer screens...WE ARE BOMBARDED WITH PROMISES OF SOMETHING GREAT! In your experience, HOW OFTEN DOES THE PRODUCT EQUAL THE PROMISE?

IT IS TRUE that words have power; however, the most compelling words without supporting action is like a beautifully wrapped giftbox with nothing inside. (SURPRISE...I GOT YOU A BEAUTIFUL BOX OF AIR FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!)

All of us here at Active Rain are involved, in one aspect or another, with the real estate business. In no other industry is there more of a need for TRUE CUSTOMER SERVICE than real estate. Our clients...BUYERS and SELLERS...are making one of the largest and most important financial decisions of their lives. They are trusting US to lead them through that process with 'due care and diligence'. Furthermore, it is our 'fiduciary duty' to act in the best interest of our clients...AT ALL TIMES.

I am under contract with a young man right now...a first-time home buyer...soft spoken and very trusting. For five months, he had been working with another agent. He was referred to this agent by a family member, so he did not hesitate to 'sign up' with her. She set him up with an automated property search (which is great), but then she just forgot about him. He would call her to make an appointment to see a home he thought looked like a good deal, but she would take days to call him back. When they would finally go out to see a home...and he wanted to make an offer...she would take a week to get an offer ready for him. On three occasions, they lost good properties because of her delays. He kept working with her, because he did not know he had any choice. I mean...he had already 'signed up'...RIGHT?

One day, this young man called me from my website. He immediately told me that he was working with another agent, but he explained his lack of confidence in her commitment to really help him. He told me that he had been seeing my ads for a long time...that he wanted to work with me...that he had heard that I really care about my clients. He told me that he wanted to work with me so much, in fact, that he was willing to wait one more month for his contract to expire with his agent. (YEAH...THAT BLEW ME AWAY!)

It turned out that he did not actually have a signed agreement with the agent. Well...he had signed it...but she never had. We immediately began looking for homes.

A week later, we found the most incredible deal on the market. It was perfect for him! We made an offer at 10 pm on a Friday night. (He was SHOCKED that I was willing to write an offer the same day we looked at the home.) This home is such a great deal that we had a lot of competition...three other offers came in the same day as ours. I negotiated for ten days back and forth with the listing agent...and now we are closing on October 29th! HE IS THRILLED, AND SO AM I!! There is NOTHING more rewarding than helping someone obtain their first home. I LOVE IT!!!

Shiny...clever ads in The Real Estate Books are wonderful! Informative and 'splashy' websites are fabulous! Blogging is an amazing way of telling the world who you are and what you can do for them...I LOVE BLOGGING!!! Just be very sure that whatever you are advertising...whatever you are promising...YOU ARE DELIVERING.

GIVE good 'LIP SERVICE' and you'll get clients for one transaction. GIVE good 'CUSTOMER SERVICE' and you'll get clients for life!