Countless times I have wondered, pondered, assumed and presumed. The THINKING can drive us nuts if we allow our own thinking to interfere with good, sound advice.
I've watched the changes and the upgrades to ActiveRain and the red flag whatsamajigger doodad (ugly in my opinion) next to my points go up, go down and all around. I speak my mind I email my thoughts to ActiveRain and most of the time get a quick response.
Other times I just need to pick up the phone and talk to someone so I can get a clearer picture of what's going on. I tried to call Bob Stewart (he's the very busy man lately) and get no answer. I next called Rich Jacobson and get a hearty 'hello'. I identify myself even though he already knows who it is. (ever the professional :)
Going through some concerns and issues with Rich that I have regarding the Localism site and the 'new and improved' outside blogs I received straighforward answers and advice and at the end of the conversation I am very pleased with myself for picking up the phone. It sure beats writing a whole long post about my 'concerns' just to rant about what I don't like or writing down assumptions and getting the same from the comments.
When in doubt ASK!
What a concept!
This tip applies to all walks of life, all careers and industries and basically just a part of life. Why?
- We can NOT live on assumptions. Assumptions are NOT facts and everyone has different thinking, different opinions. It's called being human but when emotions get in the way those assumptions become very distorted.
- Unsure about a problem in my transaction. I call at least two other experts to give me second and third opinions. The first one (me) doesn't count if I'm unsure right?
- Blogging is for the birds.Uh, yeah right. I'll just keep blogging and getting leads, contact and closed transactions by writing rich content, gearing toward my niche market and gaining plenty of connections with my peers all because of it!
- Online conversations are real? Uh, I think I take my chances by reading and only until someone proves otherwise (mean bantering, closed minded opinions) is when I form an opinion about the person. Usually, when someone is being a little transparent in their writing is when I tend to believe more about the persons info. It ain't real unless I can see it.
- Presume that ActiveRain is just out to get me. Get real. Come March it will be two years I have been a member on ActiveRain. Have they EVER done anything to me besides give me google juice and business? How about making connections with peers and meeting people face to face?
- Seller assumes it's still a Seller's Market and they make the rules. No matter what, we cannot force someone to buy your home.Putting up barriers to MAKE someone go through the entire transaction is unappealing and the buyer will go elsewhere. You are putting up barriers to not get your home in contract is what is going to happen. If you are not going to listen to the information and advice of your Realtor® then you should go get your Real Estate license.
- Buyer assumes that all markets are to be looked at as NATIONWIDE. Wrong!!! Honolulu County has a decline in sales prices of about 3% when compared NATIONWIDE. Do not expect to come from severely declining markets and expect our market to compare. You may lose the home you really love because you did not listen to your Realtor®.
All these assumptions, presumptions and unrealistic thinking can cost you friendships, readers, connections, the sale of your home, the purchase of your dream home, a relationship and being a reliable and trustworthy person. Having unrealistic expectations from your stinking thinking will be the cause.
When in doubt....ASK!
And then....really LISTEN!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2012 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
All rights reserved.
Can I be the 'special' one who can request a suttle number of points instead of the 'clashing with my profile pic' flag? I mean, I look like Christmas again....lol!
I don't like the red flag either. Thanks for sharing your insight. May 2009 be one of change and prosperity.
Thanks for sharing. Good luck in 2009.
aloha Sally - always appreciate your blogs, and I agree with you - Activerain has been awesome to me too :)
Lance
Sally, I couldn't agree with you more that assumptions can get you in trouble and a direct phone call works very well to clear things up. I thought the red flag was gawdy personally. Yeah, points ARE NOT important. BIG FLAG there.
Sally,
Great advice universally, not only in business!!! I learned long ago, that things are rarely ever the way they SEEM...There's my opinion, your opinion, and then the way it actually is!!! LOL, Thanks, Fran
Sally, whatsamajigger doodads are part of what makes life worth living! LOL. We all know what happens when people ASS U ME things.
I don't know of any other social network the size of ActiveRain that has the kind of helpful accessibility that ActiveRain provides. While we don't always 'perform' the way we would like to ALL the time, it truly is our desire and passion to support our members with the service they deserve!
Sally, as always, I enjoyed talking with you!
Sally,
Sound advice. You are right, and Brian summed it up that when you assume it is generally not pretty.
In RE, it can get you in a whole lot of trouble if you assume something without checking the facts. Same holds true in the real world.
Judy
Sally - Being "Old School" I am adamantly against change of any kind; especially the "assumed" kind of change.
Wishing I were in Hawaii.
I appreciate you!
Bobby Wallace
What flag is everyone talking about? Ha, am I missing something here? I liked your post... message is bang on.
I like the Ass U Me thing......Don't lots of people assume lots of things about Realtors??? Wouldn't you like for a pre requisite to purchase property be that the buyer or seller has to MAKE A LIVING in Real Estate for 1 year before they are allowed to purchase property ir sell property?? There would be a lot less FSBO's and the commissions would go through the roof!!
I love to go to the source instead of assuming ! ... many times the assumption is wrong so it's great practise to seek out the actual reality.
Nice post as always Sally
This is very good advice Celeste, especially your second bullet. No matter how much experience we have, it's always very beneficial to get another competent broker or agent's opinion.
Featured @ Club Chaos
Sally, Good for you for picking up the phone. I hate to bother them with so many other members but they don't seem to mind very much :) I don't assume anymore--or try not to. I try and ask. I've made mistakes on presumptions!
I had an out of town buyer email me asking me drive times to the airport from two different towns.
I told her the one town was "way out there" and would take around 45 minutes. and the other town would be about 25 minutes.
He replied back to me and basically said I didn't know what I was talking about. He had gone right to the top and called up the mayor of that town. That mayor said he has a brother in that other town and when they travel together, they end up getting home to their respective homes at about the same time.
I stood corrected because what do I know. I'm just a simple real estate agent. But I told him to check it out on a Google map. The "way out there" town was 48 miles and the other town was only 28 miles and had direct access via the interstate.
It was interesting though. He said that he had called up the mayor of Moscow once to get information and ended up getting hired for some consulting work that they needed. He had also gotten through to the mayor of D.C. I think I'm going to call Obama and see if I can get some answers too.
This is going to be such an interesting conversation (LOL). Anyone know how many peeps we can have on a Team Blog? :-)
I just finished writing a blog where I made an assumption about someone who made an assumption about me. I probably should have read your post first.
Valerie: It will be as long as I keep level headed and ask when I'm not. :)
Nate: okay...you're welcome
Lance: Oh, thanks much....dontcha love this place?
Gary: Oh...it is...and makes me look at Christmasy with the green border around my pic lol. No kidding....I love points...and love when I make milestones..but goodnes...please get me out of the spotlight for points. Makes me want to yell out that I'm a multi million dollar producer hahaha!
Fran: Sure is Fran! No kidding...especially in this warped mind of mine.....when emotionally dysfunctional lol!
Brian: hahahaha! of course....now let's spell it out for everyone lol!
Rich: You and me both. I'm happy when you guys answer and I get to speak to a live person... not that punch 2 for this and 4 for that and thank you and hangs up on me. lol! You mean you all aren't perfect? Well, I just better assume that you're human too :) :) Thanks Rich ...I appreciated your time and expert advice and opinions. :) :)
Judy: No kidding! :) And THAT is a fact. :)
Bobby: I'm glad I changed that mentality ...being over 50 is a good thing when change is accepted as a challenge :) Thanks.
Eugenie: Look at your home page .... for the flag. And the message is clear don't ya think?
Karen: Well, it sums it up for sure....it is making an ...... out of you and me when I assume doesn't it? I just think a COE would be just fine.
Sheldon: No kidding. Get clear and consise info and yeah...my warped thinking sometimes gives me a kick in the behind. I sit and shake my head at myself after I find out the facts :)
Chris: It sure is....and makes it three times a winner :)
CTS: Oh thanks much!
Carole: Believe me...they love to help when you have valid questions...and believe me.....they ignore my calls if it's just a nagging thing LOL! I've made plenty in my life too....so as we grow a little more mature we gain insight that sometimes it's NOT a good thing to stay stuck in ones own mind :) Happy Day to you Carole!
I love this post - I like how you just tell it like it is.. Keep up the good work thank you for your contributions to the Rain.
Sally Jo, they change one thing and I'm stumped- that it's a site (AR) that I enjoy makes it easier to stay "stuck". That, and a lack of computer savvy- not AR's problem!
I definitely agree with you. If you dont know something just accept the fact that you dont know it and ask! Thank you so much for sharing that with us! I hope you have a great day!
Tim: Well, I guess he is assuming that all top people know their directions.
CTS: Ya think? lol. Let's see :)
Kelsey: Wow....that's a hard one. We all learn the ropes around here after conversing with others in writing. Can't really see the mannerisms and demeanor they are displaying when they are writing something and we take it a different way....better to ask ..don't ya think?
Rebecca: Thanks....there's only one way to do it...in personal and biz...straightforward.
Auntie! Staying stuck is easier for the moment and detrimental in the long term :) How are you?
James: No kidding....nothing hard about asking....unless it's false pride standing in the way :)
Good post Sally but you left out one thing about the crew at AR. We pick on them all the time and they don't get mad, most of the time.
They laugh along with us. I think.
There i go assuming again, sorry.
Rich, I'm correct, aren't I???? LOL
Good point about the different markets!
Cameron: Of course not! :)
Brian: And real life too :)
You mean it's not a sellers market..... where have I been?
Great post, good information, thank you.
Patricia Aulson/ Portsmouth NH Real Estate
I'm not liking Locialism much either but I am trying to sit back and figure it all out. Maybe I should pick up the phone too.
Sally.....I love you phrase at the end.....and I think I will start using it too.... The "Stinking Thinking". I've been out of the loop here on AR for about 10 days......and am back in the groove. I will have to read about the new stuff on outside blogs & etc..... I just haven't had the time yet.
assumptions??...I don't even know what those words mean:))
Thanks for your blog, glad to know lots of people are out of the loop. Time to catch up!
Hi Sally - I don't like that big flag coming out of my head either. When I first saw it earlier today, it kinda scared me, and I thought there was a bug or something on my page.
Ann
Good post Sally, and I agree, the AR guys always do get back to us, even if they are busy.
Thank goodness my red shirt doesn't clash with the "red flag"...When I get my new picture done I'll be sure to coordinate my pic with that flag...LOLOL!
Sally...
Although I have been around for a bit now, and have moved up through the ranks, I have never actually spoken to anyone at ActiveRain. Emails yes, prompt good answers, yes, but no actually phone conversation.
So I'm ASSUMING that it would be awkward at this point, although my ASSUMPTION is probably incorrect. I have had actual conversations with about a dozen members, and I few I speak with on a regular basis.
That's pretty cool.
Sally, Great advice! Isn't amazing what AR can do for you, both online and in the "real world"? Great post!
Sally I learned a long time ago to not assume anything. I saw some place the word assume broken down like this, when you assume you make an ASS out of U and ME ............. LOL
I have to agree with people getting back to you....it helps a lot when we have issues. That type of Customer Service is missing in so many companies these days. Your post had a lot of good info...when in doubt ask, what a novel concept :)
Russ: Where have you been? lol.
Pat: You're welcome.
Monika: Pick up the phone!
Christine: You'll get around to it!
Neal: Hey buddy! Me either :) :)
Shelley: Good for you!
Ann: No kidding...that's a little to 'busy' for me :)
Karen: I refuse to ...it's MY page :) :)
Richard: Well, you can call me anytime! :) :) Call em call em...not awkward....you got a question...ask em!
Ilyce: Oh, yeah.
George: You just had to go and break it up for everyone huh? lol lol!
Kathy: It sure does. I have found though that they don't like me when I'm nagging lol! I really had a pleasant talk with Rich. He's pretty cool :)
Sally, there is no doubt in my kind that there is all kinds of business to be done right here on AR! Thanks for the great read. Take care and happy blogging!
The times they are a changing! The only constant is change! We are going to be faced with so many changes in our business this year, not just on AR! We have to be flexible and roll with it, Realtors can survive anything!
If I am unsure about something, I will always ask for help, and then, like you said,really listen to the answer. What's the alternative? make it up as you go along?
If you don't ask, the answer is no.
Asking for something big is as easy as asking for something small, you might as well ask for something big. :)
Hi Sally:
You're right on target here...
In fact, I try not to use the words Assume or Presume..
Just be clear about where your are going, no assumptions.
Sally, like you I have questions about where AR is headed and some concerns. Asking questions is always a good idea so I'm glad that your concerns were put to rest.
Sally, love your post and how you put it together. Assumptions are called assumptions for a reason. They are NOT facts. They are skewed by personal opinions, lack of information or as I call it "headline education". Around our market in Oklahoma (which is a stable one) there is a lot of "experts" who have assumed the national media knowledge. They do such a big disservice to themselves and friends. YOu know how how important those buying helpers could be to the process...LOL...oh, well....what a concept, eh? JUST ASK!
Sally - I totally agree with you - and it seems like the miscommunication of an assumption can REALLY cause some problems in real estate transactions!!! So thanks for the blog post - and a reminder to always clarify to the best of our abilities!
Hi Sally,
As always you are right on! Now about that big flag...yuck! LOL :)
Many times we're "off" in our assumptions and that can get us in a lot of trouble!
Jason: There are no limits that one can do with all the info here :)
Anonymous: Chameleons..that's what we are :)
Great post and you are right making assumptions are not the answer in anything that we do.
We just read a few blogs that were ranting about the new changes here on AR and the cost of an outside blog, yada yada. AR is always going to be changing, it has to and some of us will like what they do and others won't. That is the funny thing about change, it changes, and let's face it some do not like change in any form. What we all should remember is that what we choose to do is all about choices. If you don't like what they are doing with AR then it is always your choice to stay or your choice to go. Or like you did pick up the phone and talk about it.
I've tried three times to comment on this post. It's impossible. So, I decided to simply put the New Outside Blog in the same box with Localism.
I just want my great little old Outside Blog.
Barb: Yeah...making stuff up just doesn't cut it for us does it?
Mark: Asking for help (for some) is a big thing. I'd rather ask than be wrong and a fool.
Toula: Great.....then we are on the same page :)
Tom: Clear indeed.
Gena: Nice talking to you....I think we both know what's up :)
I am assuming you get the answers you were looking for. LOL
Sis - I'm assuming you thought you were going to get the gold star on this one. You really do a wonderful job in taking a lessons and extending them to other aspects of life. I don't "get" the new outside blog just yet, but I really haven't done a lot of digging.
Hi Sally,
I have to go along with Jason above. I have not done much digging either but I think the bottom line is that a company can't run for free. It just can't. I feel as if a small contribution monthly isn't asking too much as it will insure revenue for the creators and make it a viable "purchase" from another entity. That's the point. They create a company to sell and then create another. It's brilliant. I think AR is here for good one way or another.
The AR guys are always good at getting on the phone to help answer any questions and I'll bet they've been bombarded this time! I'm like you. I don't ASSUME anything. That'll usually bite one in the booty!
Anyway, many of us old farts are still looking for our cheese...have you seen it? LOL
Later in the rain~Deb
Always best to get the facts straight from the source!
Bo: Exactly...not facts at all. I love to ask. Sometimes I get some great answers...and every instance can be a learning lesson...and growth :)
Emily: It is most definitely important in all aspects in life ..... how else does one communicate and gain knowledge? :)
Suzanne: That is ugly isn't it...who is the interior designer of this house lol!
Patty: Exactly....and if I want to do it I will...if not I won't .....there's really no sense assuming and ranting....especially in our business. Our clients rely on us to give them facts...and if we do not educate, ask questions and keep on learning...how can we be the professionals we claim to be? Thanks :)
Lenn: I don't understand that...in the same box? Hmmm.
Randy; You Assumed right lol!
Jason: It is ALL relevant :) Hugs for being a lil bro :)
Deb: The bottom line for me was assuming...can't do it here...can't do it there...can't do it anywhere. And when it doubt....ASK. :)
Kelly: Exactly! And where's the source?
Sally, you're right in this post. You know what "assume" really means, right? I always like to get the answer from the source. I am patient though and typically will wait until someone explains it clearly enough that I do get it. ;-) If not, I go to Brad or someone like him...;-) I'm not putting his last name down, or he'll find this comment. You know who I mean. ;-)
Teri: Why of course (I think three comments mentioned the terminology lol) I do as well. Yup and it's a good thing we have the option of calling someone here isn't it?
Sally,
Blogging isn't for everyone but there are countless real estate agents and mortgage consultants who refuse to give it shot just to see how it is. They are missing big opportunities.
Hi Sally,
Blogging is for Birds. Eagles that soar. Happy Blogging. Of course, considering how well you complete this task, I am going to assume that you enjoy the time spent.
I think we all receive so much from ActiveRain that I find it hard to complain when things get kooky. It can get frustrating, but still........
I agree with you. Rich is a great guy and very helpful. I am glad you called.
Esko: Never know until one tries right?
Derenda: You assumed right! :)
Ann: Why of course...everyone gets a little frustrated...but venting all over the platform is not going to get a straighforward answer. :)
Melody: Me too.
GREAT post Sally. It never, ever hurts to ask, especially when you're not sure about something or want something clarified. There is no pride lost in admitting you might need to ask once in awhile:)
As for AR, they are a company online and will have their share of hiccups, but they're always very concientous about addressing issues and taking care of stuff as soon as they can. Its important to remmeber they're a business like any other.
In the same vein, I'd like to ask you if you have any interest in contributing to The Real Estate Wiki? (Forgive me asking if you already do:))
We're looking for new contributors and volunteers in 2009, would you be interested? Its super easy to register and add an entry on any topic that might be useful for other people looking for real estate information. Even if you just posted once in awhile, it would help us out a ton; it could be your volunteer work for 2009;p
Sally- Congrats on your gold star:)
What I don't get is why do people make such a fuss about things AR does, if they don't like it, go somewhere else or stay and deal with it. But don't bad mouth. It is funny how some people think they run the show when they don't:)
Personally, love the red flag:) And you look stunning in red.:)
DJ: Thanks for your comment.
Katerina: Yeah...too many chiefs sometimes .... I don't like the red flag at all. But then...that's my opinion :)
I'm mesmerized by that goofy picture - where on earth is it?
Sally - I have made so many calls lately because of site questions and these guys are great with responding!!!! I love ActiveRain more and more each day!!!