Gary White FlexIt Realty~Real Estate & Updates, Grand Rapids & West Michigan

I have been hit!  Twice as the case may be....the first I was in the middle of whatever.  The second was by Kim Peasley-Parker. She has been a reader of some of my crazy rants....zany thoughts and some interesting outlooks....hopefully.  So she wondered how someone could be so twisted and asked me to do an MeMe to find out a bit more.

I am not used to sharing much....so this is not easy...the YOU factor always has worked for me.  The I factor has taken care of itself.

First...why am I the way I am.....hummmm  Many factors:

• I moved 19 times before graduating from high school....friends were not for very long...so new faces and places were the norm.  Caused by a father that was shattered by WWII he never put his life back together.
• Upbringing, middle class
• Still hold some high school records in track...once they changed to meters my yard records will stand forever!  Interesting
• Influences, grandmother and books.....you can travel, dream and escape!
• Education...beyond value that words can express...real world streets and class room multi-degreed with most notably University of Michigan.  (Marketing, Finance and an associates in Computer Science)
• Work history: President of a 300 member workforce UAW plant, owned own company later retired at age 52. My fortune made....more than I deserved....never to be required to work again!  I love the challenges that work and real estate create, I will always work at something.
• Real Estate..an easy transition, couldn't stand retirement....held builders license for 15 years acted as contractor.  Now hold many designations, CRS, GRI, ePRO, ABR, QSC, RECS finishing BPO certification and have a Brokers License in the state of Michigan.
• Likes: God, family, people, sailing, golf, travel, reading...lots of reading and personal time for reflection
• Public service side.....I am a professional ventriloquist and spend time at hospitals, nursing homes making people smile again....sometimes a belly laugh!  A blessing beyond words.
• Military...served in Vietnam....still duck with loud noises....never hunt anything.  I learned more about myself and what I can do way beyond what I wanted to know!

This only tells you the surface....not the complicated, thoughtful or aggressive sides of Gary White....just words.  I enjoy the smiles I get when I help people reach dreams and levels they never thought possible.

Twas a few days past Christmas and the only one in the house was MeMe!

Hope this helps you Kim....I never put my life into words before pretty small when you consider the works of the world.

Living in a northern climate breeds hardy souls.  We put up with a lot to enjoy the change of the seasons.  Just relocating back after five years is a shock to the system.  I grew up in the Midwest so I knew what to expect.  We lived with hurricanes...lawns that needed mowed twice a week in the summer and trimming trees, scrubs and bushes when living in Florida.

The winter months allow a break from the lawn, flower beds, trimming etc..  We now bring out a whole new group of equipment to handle the snow.  Of course moving back I had to purchase a snow blower, a snow shovel, deicing salt....environmentally friendly of course.

So now I have the equipment...not before we had an ice storm, snow and me with no shovel or snow blower.

Winter in the northern states is different because we have snow removal equipment for the roads.  That does not mean we know how to drive in the first snow.  That also does not mean all roads are cleared at the same time.  So what you drive as a Realtor is can also be an issue.  It can mean the difference in making appointments and cancelling appointments.

We are in the middle of a winter storm....it is snowing.....accumulating and did I say snowing...we are expecting 8" tonight.  The problem with this storm is the holiday season and the number of travelers.  We have already had concerned family members calling for weather updates.  Sure you can look at the at NOAA or the Weather Channel but they don't have your area like you see it looking out the window or your local services.

It was just last year I was swimming and my northern friends were dealing with the snow....now they are laughing with me....I think.  You have to love the change of seasons to live in the northern climates.

Happy Holidays....let it snow!

We sometimes do not perservere in real estate.  Take a new look at a listings....change marketing strategies, make price adjustments, new photos as the seasons change, help our clients persevere.  We all have had examples ....I just had a living example.  My mother had a severe stroke five years ago.  She was an example in how to over come change....how to hang in there, how to adapt.

She never complained through therapy.  Her stoke initially left her paralyzed on the left side.  She attended rehab stuck with it to learn walking, eating and basic skills.  Her stoke tricked her by only allowing her vision to see the from the center line of her nose and right.  So if you set diner in front of her she only could see what was on the right half of her plate.  Rotate the plate 180 and then she could see the other side of the plate!  It was extremely difficult.  She eventually learned how the handle nearly all these changes.  Many of these disabilities imporved over time.

My mother had many health issues that were working against her.  Her lungs were riddled with scare tissue from over 40 years of smoking.  After the stroke she was on oxygen 24/7 caring tanks, motorized pumps, yards of tubing to supply the precious air.  She hated the hose, it cramped her style!

We have competition in real estate...sometimes the competition makes adjustments that affect our listings.  We have to keep our marketing information up to date so we can understand the necessary adjustments to recommend.

My mother just kept making adjustments in her life to do more, to enjoy more.  Our adjustments allow our clients to reach their goals too.

Four days ago my mother fell, hit her head...she was rushed to the hospital with a huge black eye from the fall.  She really didn't remember how or what happened.  They found a blood clot on the brain caused by the fall.  Her condition deteriorated, we had emergency brain surgery to help save her life.  She just didn't have enough working body parts to help her survive.  Sadly she didn't survive....she passed away December 20th.  She did that as gracefully as she handled life.  She was 79.

We all can learn from people that have that little extra...and they usually don't mind sharing.

I was home early for once and my wife and I were chatting over the past weeks events.  Christmas shopping done....she did it!  The door bell rings...somebody selling something....again!

It seems we are one of the targeted neighborhoods for solicitation...we can see them coming!  This time was a bit different.  The gentleman introduced himself and off into his programed spiel.....my wife stood up on her way to the door, to rescue me, to say....bye.  He sees her coming and cuts to the chase and says....I represent the wheelchair basket ball league.

We both looked at each other and laugh.  He looked like he was at gun point.  He was bewildered and very quiet for the first time since introducing himself.  Then he said very seriously did I say or do something wrong?  NO...I played on the Grand Rapids Pacers wheel chair basketball team in the 70's.

He gave me a good look and said, "you don't look disabled".  My wife....always ready....says...."oh he is it just isn't noticeable"!  They laughed.

I dislocated my leg at the knee racing motorcycles many years ago.  Being athletic and the league struggling I was allowed to play based on limited function guidelines.  I played one season.  I made some great friends and learned some very valuable lessons about people with disabilities.  They may not walk, they may not have legs or all the formed part but they are competitive, they are smart, they are determined.

Many times the public has a stigma attached to people that are disabled.  They park in the handi-cap parking spaces at the mall.  They have their own entrances, even ramps.  If you had to do a day of their life you might find you would never park in a handi-cap parking spot again to run in for something quick.  The handi-capped or disabled...which is definitely the wrong word! Are more determined than any able bodied person.  They have to be.  Just opening up doors with hand crutches or wheel chairs is a daily occurrence...some have mechanical help.

I was reminded of those days when the gentleman who was selling discount coupon books to raise money for the program said the name of the organization.  I owe them a lot for helping me recognize the reality of who they really are and why I appreciate their struggle.  We bought the books....guess what some of our friends are getting for Christmas!

They don't have the attitude, they live with our attitudes every day.  They know who they are!  Give them a hand it is only for a moment...their struggle is a lifetime.

Just a smile and opening the door will be welcomed gift, do it all year long.  Have a Great Holiday Season.

The market has created something different than in the late 70's early 80's.  That market was interest rates and money issues....lack of money for lending.  This market may be lack of money too, but created by lending options that created a  false sense of security and affordability.  We also know that deception was also a lending problem.

Many look at the neighborhoods with foreclosed home and see the devaluation of other homes as a bi-product of the foreclosures.  This may have some impact on pricing but these are depressed properties and can not be considered like the normal residential property.  The foreclosed homes are not usually in the same condition of repair so making a price comparison is difficult but buyers and agents try this approach all the time.

The real reason the values are dropping is more of supply and demand.  Over supply of homes creates more pressure on price which interprets to lower values.  The fewer homes available and a higher demand for the homes available because of fewer homes with more buyers...higher price per home.  New construction offers buyers a real opportunity as well.  The market has crossed al sectors.

This particular market has also created budgetary issues for municipalities, less taxes are being paid.  We compounded issues created with this market.

This market offers unique opportunities for sellers and buyers along with investors.  Sellers may sell lower but they also are going to purchase at a lower price and regain the value on a higher priced home when the market turns.  Buyers are going to get great bargains in this market.  Investors can find some real deals with a little patience and due diligence.

This market offers some real opportunity when we understand and know the market.

How do you use this data to improve your production in this market.

Like many of you I started when only a few forms were necessary to create a listing and sale.  As time has pasted and agents that are no longer with us created havoc in our industry with short cuts, deception and lies the papers to stop the practices have mounted up to a real pile to take a listing and even to write a purchase agreement.

I now disclose which side I work for....they knew if I listed the house I was working for them....then someone got the bright idea to represent both parties without telling either party.  That was known and is known as the "double dip" and baby it isn't ice cream...or is it!  Now most states have agency of some form or another to make sure the seller and buyer knows who represents them in a transaction.

Property disclosures have changed too.  Now we have added a few questions like mold....has any seller ever had mold tested before an offer came?  Did most of them know what it was?  Monsanto one of the fake stucco manufacturers had a problem where mold developed behind the siding panels...this created another disclosure document and the list goes on and on.

Today I use a laptop....just like so many.  I write my documents on my laptop not like so many.  I have a tablet laptop.  I wanted to be able to do my listing presentation (PowerPoint) from my laptop, write the listing or purchase agreement from my laptop and print documents on the spot for my sellers and buyers.  That is what a tablet is supposed to do.....right?

It takes a bit more than just buying the laptop. 

1. Buying the right laptop with good recognition software (OCR)
2. Scanning in all the forms.  (that alone does not work)
3. Finding a population software (this is needed to create the blank areas so you can fill them in on the forms needed)  This requires you to manipulate every form you currently use or will use.
4. Testing to make sure different forms of handwriting will be recognized.
5. Finding the right printer so you don't go broke buying replacement ink cartridges.
6. Finally making sure you laptop and your printer communicate wireless...either Infra Red or Bluetooth.  You could drag out the trusty USB cord...I didn't want to be concerned with cords.  I also use a battery backup printer which I have found to be very reliable.

So after all this is it worth the effort?  I can email an offer from my clients living room.  Are they impressed?  Do they tell everyone at work and any neighbor that will listen? YES!  It takes time to set up.  It takes longer to find the right combinations of hardware and software to create your 21st Century office than the actually setup time of doing the implementation.

For some the reality is "paper" works just fine.  For me I want the Shock and Awe factor so I get more buyers and sellers without advertising....my clients will do it for me!

Are you there....have you created your 21st Century office?  If so how did you approach the process?

Living in the Northern climates allows us to experience what few in the South ever get to enjoy.  Sure living in Florida....it rains hard enough to slow cars to a crawl, the winds rip shingles off the roofs sending them like Frisbees rockets though pool screen, Dallas and Atlanta get black ice....even a rogue storm can paralyze Southern states because of the lack of equipment.

In the North we have the first snow jitters....people have driven on snow and ice for years...but the first one is always special.  Buckle your seat-belt check your air bags.....they whiz by like it was smooth dry pavement!

I watched one intersection for 15 minute and seen 4 fender benders.  Nothing significant...just bruised egos and dented cars.  You could tell who was going to get hit....it was like an arcade game only you didn't have to put in any money!

They would zoom up to the lights and hit the brakes as though it was dry....and slam, crunch, thud.  A couple got out of their cars....they were really nuts...slippery and looking over the damage like they were going to send in an adjusters appraisal.

The ditches we lined with people thinking they could be the one that make that little move to get ahead of the next guy.....and the twirled gracefully off into the ditch.  No real harm no injuries other than maybe pride and the spouse they face when they get home.

The innocent ones are the real losers in this type of driving event.  Many are cut off, spun off into the ditch having no choice.  You can only hope someone got the plate number of that bat-mobile.  Or the ones sitting at the light and bam!  All of our insurance premiums go up over this type of driving.  I drive my big Avalanche during these events.  They can hit it but the likelihood of injury from cars is minimal.  The injury from a semi.....well let's just say you can not prepare for that type of collision.

I sat at an intersection in the service on a lawn chair during a ice snow event in Alabama....watching the Southern drivers whack each other.  Less than an hour there were 10 collisions.  Being raised in the North we expected the driver to be novices and they were.

Every year we can count on the same scene repeating itself until we have had a few days of driving on the ice and snow. 

Does your area have something that bring out the crazy in drivers?

Have you ever heard out of the mouths of babes?  Children are some of the most brutally honest people on the planet.  Last Christmas my 4 year old grand daughter said while watching the Macy Santa Parade...she sees Santa and gets all excited...then puts her hands on her hips and says....."hey Santa is to Fat to get down the chimney"!  He older (6 year) old sister, replied, that's why they make front doors!  He doesn't have to do that anymore.  We all laughed until we cried....you had to be there...it was a Kodac moment.

But the truth is they were both right.  Santa is to fat to get down the chimney.  The myth of that has been passed on for generations....I didn't try to research how long or even how Santa became Santa.  But the reality is....we have front doors so what is the point of jumping from roof top to roof top?

Well we have myths too.  Some of them I hate but I still hear them....I have even seen it printed here...."buyers are liars"....not really they just haven't made up their mind to buy "my listing or yours"  they bought someone else's....drat.  The lender is responsible for finding out the credit truth.  Many buyer know they are marginal....yet some with very good incomes can not quality because of debt to income ratio.  They may not know that either.  But they can work their way out because of the income.  The shattered credit buyer they have a harder recovery.

Another myth....everything will sell if it is priced right.  Three Mile Island hasn't sold! Homes that were in wonderful neighborhood that have now suffered from urban blight with factories and parking lots replacing residential homes have lost huge value.  If they are of no value to the commercial sector they will probably become sub-standard rentals.  The concept is correct just in practice it is not always true....but we hope.

Stigmatized property can either be born of myth or reality.  Probably the most notorious was the home of the Manson murders.....that home sold again in the last few years I understand.  It was vacant for years and then the home was removed and another home put on the lot.  Other examples of suicides, shootings and illness have plagued properties.  The agents do not disclose the information and are not required to do so....but the community....I was in a restaurant, small town....a customer said looking at the Corey place?  I replied it was very nice....was a funeral home...makes the weirdest noises at night.  The patron said, and they added....good luck with a rye smile.  He gave me the willies!

It is funny how myths keep traveling through decades and blend with some reality...but never quite "cross over" as they say on "Ghost Whisper".

How many myths do you know of that travel in our business?

I have never worried about how I stack up....maybe because I don't care about that.  What matters is I don't lose money, "I" create a happy environment for me and my clients like the result.  Now those things I care about.

Number of transactions?  That may be nice for bragging rights it is hardly a gauge of success.  Numbers of transactions is more of a gauge of busy and how many assistants you pay to help you.  It certainly is not a gauge of profitability.  If that was the case we would not see teams breaking up....or leaving the business.

Advertising budget...that is interesting public perception and agent perception.  Public sees your face you must be successful....agents think they really have deep pockets I wonder how long this will last?  Not every one that advertises is making money....but they certainly are spending it.  I think you can have a blend and they know you, remember you and spend 50% less to create the same image.  That is just my thoughts....works for me!

Listings...the one with the most listing probably is making the most money.  Well not if they are not priced right you are probably looking at the person with the most headaches....sellers are calling, advertising dollars are flying out the window and buyers are a scarce as hens teeth.  Listings are only as good as the price you listed them at.  If they are no longer competitive you are not going to sell them.

Cars....think like this.  I have a few (3) very nice cars...is that a gauge of my success?  Here is a little thought to dispel the myth of the Lincoln.  This man drove an old pickup.  He was up early greeting clients, offered more service than the client expected.  Always smiled and worked to get the best price he could for his customer.  He drove that pickup for 30+ years....his name.....Sam Walton founder of Wal Mart.  The shinny car is a status symbol and may even create a image of success but the bottom line is if it doesn't leak a little oil on the driveway...you are good to go.  It is you and your presentation that creates your image.  It is your service and responsiveness to client needs that creates the image.  Sure I have nice cars...but they are not who I am...they don't get the car to represent them....they get me.

So how do you stack up?