Seattle Home Inspector's Blog

I love that photo- do a contest to 'name it'  I like how you are positive it is a sign that we need to sure up and prepare for what is to come. 

I call it "They're out with Clients!"   where are the office agents? No cold calling, we have other tech tools for assisting the public.  The phone bank is there for when the market turns and the 'Order Takers" get to return to the game.                     cheryl(Always with a Client)willis

Cheryl, having them all ring at once would indeed be painful! Charles (Ever-ready) Buell

Charles, I want to know where is the RED phone? lol. If they all ring at once the caller will be hearing - "Charles Ever-ready Buell Home Inspector, please hold..." lol ~Rita

Dang, Rita, there really does need to be a red phone!

How is this Rita?

Looks like my desk before I got rid of the home phone. I sure do hope things get busier soon!

Lizette, unfortunately, we tend to look at the "ups-and-downs" in the time frame of whether their is food to put on the table.  The market place doesn't eat so it doesn't consider such mundane things:)

We  are more than READY here in Saint Pete Fl. and I believe we will have a busy season.

Anne, it will be interesting to see what happens.

Chuckie Bee,

You running a boiler room there? Looks suspicious to me.

Steve, it is actually the phone bank that is going to be necessary when my next post about your assistant hits the wire:)

Picture one phone.  My office...

Picture one cell phone.  My other office...

Jay---I actually have only the cell phone now---unless you count the fax line in my wife's office.

thanks Steve, "Broiler Room' was the term I couldn't think of, way before my time.  You must hang with a fun crowd- inspect a lot of former bookies properties?   cheryl (forgive me I am still sick, that probably isn't funny, my bad)willis

Charles, you write the neatest blogs.  How'd you get that snail in the sentence?  I think you are spending more time on your blogs than your wife or your kids or your home inspectin'.  : )

Cheryl, glad someone has finally figured out Steve-----more on his illustrious assistant is coming soon----to a blog near you.  I love all your "Cheryl (cracks me up) Willis signatures:)

Barbara, it is just a little picture inserted----same way as the smilies:)  My sweetie fools around on her computer as much as I do probably----and I just cram AR in whenever I can.  And----I probably still do spend too much time at it though----a guy has to have some fun:)

turn the lights out and see if there is light blinking on any of them... just a thought.

Tammy---wouldn't it be nice if there were a whole bunch of them blinking?

I've got few extra phones that I don't use anymore. I can send them to you....just in case :-)

Hey the time is coming.  It all runs in big cycles we just have to be able to wait till it comes around.

Thanks Jim----but please mail them to Steve Smith:)

Jack, would that be a cycle similiar to day and night or the next ice age?:)

What scary phone pics! Great ideas to be prepared... And it goes along with my fortune cookie saying from this evening's dinner: "Your investments of time now will lead to success later."

I'm ready for the floodgates to open.  Bring on the business.

I, too, am ready for more business to shake loose in 2009.  Great attitude, my friend.

Charles, you better get ready!  I've read enough of your posts and comments to know that you are top-notch!

Oh my gosh, please tell me that picture is NOT your office! Well, I got my laugh of the day over that one...good post. - Carla

I love the photo!  What a hoot, I thought I was ready but I need to get a few more phones lined up.

How about update, improve, and enhance,your education?

Charles~ Yes, this year was definitley the year to get ready for the mad rush!  I am completely ready ............

Holy Moly----can't believe this fun little piece got featured:)  I am happy to take what I can get----but now what about tomorrow's REALLY good one:)

Mara, awesome fortune cookie.

Justin, amen!

Thanks Jason

Darla, thanks so much for your kind words.

Carla, nope not mine----that would be my buddy Steve's office:)

Valerie, can one have too many phones?

Dena----excellent----should have included that on the list as well.

Vickie, let em' ring.  Perhaps we should say "ring" in the New Year?

Charles.. Let the flood gates open.. I'm ready for it. we have been very fortunate in our area that things didn just dry up like other areas

Mr Charles,

I regret to inform you that, by the powers vested in me by the law, your phone bank is now shutdown. We have information that you were running some sort of termite scam. Your beeman boiler room is now sunk.

Nutsy Wallenda, part-time police

Charles - we are putting systems in place, looking at our entire business plan and marketing plan in anticipation of busier times. We are grateful for the business we have and will be ready when the pendulum swings!

After working at the phone company for 27 years, seeing your 'phone room' scares me.  LOL.  I've seen this place in person and it's a frightful place.  hahaha

Roland, thanks for commenting.

Nutsy, your jig will be up tomorrow:)

Sharon, it really is nice to actually have the time to catch up with so many of those things that we have to let slide when we are too busy.  Plus we get to have a little fun here in the Rain.

Doreen, this was actually just one very small area that looked like this----it was a business that repaired and manufactured custom phones.

Just came back to check. Perfect. Love the RED phone! Made my day night. ~Rita

Rita----even the president has a red phone:)

I see Nutsy got you!  LOL, fun blog to read Charles!

Charles, Congrats on another star... I am taking this time to rework websites and get things ready for the start of next year...

~~ Michael

Cute. But although the market has been painfully slow, ours has never fully stopped. But I did take the down time to update many things. So yes, I'm ready =)

 For me you are speaking about the Power of Now - make the best of it. Great post! Janice

Charles, I too am ready for 2009.  It's gonna be a great year, and I want to be prepared.  My office has never been more organized, My forms and marketing materials are up to date, I still need to get that haircut tho'.

I am ready for the floodgates to open... how long do you think it will take to hit Ohio?

That picture looks like the place where Obama headquarters callled me a zillion times from.

Charles, I am so hoping this is not your actual office????

Great positive Blog...I love the fact that you are helping give ideas to complete instaed of sitting around and dwelling on the current situation...looking forward to reading more...congrats on the feature

Bring on the flood gates!

Watch out.  My first advice to folks during the slow times is, stay out of the mall.  Do you really need new clothes????  Perhaps new overalls to wear when crawling in a crawl space. 

I am ready for the phones to ring again.  Since then announced the 4.5% potential interest rates this week, the phones have started to ring.  Happy HOlidays

Don

I think you are right! I better add a few more lines! I remember when the phone used to ring all the time during the dinner hour and I would complain about it.

Hi Charles,

I like this idea the most:  "Send out some thank you letters."

I do believe that just because "business is slow" doesn't mean you shouldn't be working on your business.

I think now is a great opportunity to build equity in your business.  Start a monthly newsletter, fortify new relationships, work on getting some media attention.

There are a lot of things you can do to improve your business while not working in the business - now would be a good time to do that.

I liked this blog, I hope that you are right and the floodgates are going to open! We just need to make it through the holidaty!!

Hi Charles, loved your post.  After we get out haricuts how about some new pictures for our business cards and profiles??

I am armed and ready!!!! Bring it on.

Charles, you filled my mail box with comments.  I comment on your great post and the neat snail and the world finds you.  I thought I had some mail this morning but it was all for you!  Congratulations on the feature.

Love your optimism...smuthers some of the whining that has clouded AR....we have had a great year and will have a better one next year...it's that handsome assistant I am picturing....probably virtual so he doesn't get in my husband's way....happiest of holidays to you and a prosperous and phone filled new year !

Very cute post - the phone calls will also probably come sooner than later !!

You're right! Taking this time to do the things you've overlooked and preparing for the turn-around is a good idea.

It will turn once we got focused on fixing the housing market.  Hope the 4.5% happens.  That would be a good start.  I too love the phone picture.

We are all ready for the mad rush.  Will keep praying I am here to enjoy it.

Taking listings is something that we are focusing on right now even in a slower market because we feel that if we take more well priced listings we will attract more buyers and eventually these properties will sell.

Great article . It made me laugh this morning. Good luck to all !

Lillian

Thanks for the laugh!!! Hope you get all your items checked off your list!

My only question - how many CELL phones do you have? :)

Charles -

Great attitude, and you need that these days!

Few in our business naturally look to the positive - and you do!

Things will get better, hopefully SOON - and NOW is the time to build the foundations of increasing market share when it does.

Thanks for sharing!

DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO

Charles, I agree that we need to lay a solid foundation now, so we will be ready to start building next year.  Love those photos!

Join my NEW group for professionals who work from their home office at http://activerain.com/groups/virtualoffice

Regina P. Brown
Allison James Estates & Homes
www.ReginaBrown.AllisonJamesInc.com

You are right Charles now is the time to get ready for all that might be on the horizon in the spring. I have lots to do to prepare. You are on the mark!

Charles: Great post! Thank you! And I'm glad you're busy. I agree with you. The professionals who are continuing to do their job are the ones seeing results. Not like they used to, but producing nonetheless. And those people will be poised to take advantage of the next uptick. My prediction is Spring or Summer in our neck of the woods.

Charles: I've been in the business for 5 years, have been a good producer, have my brokers license and am working on my GRI. I can honestly say that during this downturn I've learned more about the buying and selling of real estate than I did during the boom years when I first got in the market. This downturn has made me a more knowledgeable agent. Hopefully, some of the systems I've put in place in the last few months will serve me well in the new year. Hoping business is good for everyone!

April, I am afraid old Nutsy gets his due in my post of this morning.

Michael, thanks----it is a good time to catch up.

Lisa, ours has never completely stopped here either----a little slower however----it is always slow this time of year.

Janice, thanks for commenting----there are always things we can do.  If all else fails----blog!

Amy, have fun getting your hair cut.

Kevin, that is one of the directions I considered going with that picture (looks like I chose correctly).

Diane, I don't get your question.  Doesn't everyone's office look like this?

Tim, thanks----even though I think some of my advice is at best "wacko"

Toula, man could I make some money if I could predict when they will open.

Lenn, awesome point, I really think one should only shop when they don't have time to.

Don, thanks for the comment----I think we are all ready.

Angelica, don't you wish that buying more phones was all it would take to open the flood gates?

Mark, I put one together through Constant Contact (I will come back in and put a link in)

Russ, most certainly, any fooling around you can do here in the Rain helps.

Tera, yup----it is always slow this time of year----the slower it gets the more pent up demand there will be.

Barb, I know I need to update my picture even here in the rain----keep threatening to do it.

Caren,----be ready.

Barbara, ME TOO----I thought they must have all been duplicates or something!  (did you see we are on the featured page at the same time?)

Sally, thanks, I am always open to a little misguided optimism.

Christopher and Stephanie----don't we all hope so.

Sandy, there are lots of things we can do in place of whimpering.

Mark, there will always be things beyond our control----and people will always need places to live.

James, good point.  We all tend to think that the ups and downs of cyles is "timely."  Are we talking about the cycles being like "day and night" or like "ice ages."  (the later would be very painful indeed)

Morgan,  it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Lilian, laughter is always the best medicine.

Monica, well----only one "live" one----a whole drawer full of dead ones.

Dean, thanks for your kind words.

Regina, thanks I will check out your new group.

Getting ready to catch the next wave is the right thing to be doing rather than dreaming that business can remain high if we only work harder.  Now you seem to be taking that to the next level with all those phones!

Kathy, thanks.

Paul, sometimes you have to keep working in the direction going even when you feel like you are spinning your wheels.

Jennifer, like you, I have also found the silver lining in the downturn.

Richard, my phone bank is ready----so is my bank account.

Mark, for some reason the system won't let me edit my comment.  Here is the link to Constant Contact if you are interested in a good email flyer/newsletter service.

Great suggestions and congrats on the feature.  We will all be well molded professionals when the phone starts it's ring a ding again.  KM

Kristin, thanks for commenting----it was a fun little post----I never dreamed of its getting featured.

Charles, do you know any good inspectors like you in Greater Vancouver, BC area?:)

Olena, I wished I was licensed in Canada----what a great road trip!  I will look into it and get back to you.  My buddy Steve Smith from Bellingham (he goes to Point Roberts a lot) may have some ideas.

I've discovered throughout my career that if I'm Pleasant, Polite, Personable, Positive, and Professional, and do my marketing persistently and consistently, I only experience "slow times" when I take a vacation. Of course, it's been years since I took a vacation; too much work to do -- LOL.

Russel, so true, and that is a heck of a bunch of "P's"----I would add "Puntual" to the list:)

Wow Charles - talk about people responding to your original blog!  Way to go!

I have been waiting for next year for 3 yrs.  We started 3 yrs ago and every year we were being told next year!  Well it will be next year!  We are ready.  We have done tons of education - one more GRI class, working on CIPS, education done and doing our e-pro!  We are ready for the phone calls.  We are out there getting our names out and we have aligned ourselves with a group of professionals we can work with. 

We were just given an award last night at our Christmas Party for the Top Team in our company which happens to be the top company in the county.  We were so excited as we really worked hard this year.  We have only been with Remax 1 yr and we feel it has really paid off for us.  The brand and what we have done has helped our business considerably.

I wish everyone a great 2009.  We pay 30% referral and will help educate you and your customers on the value of living in the Hernando County areas. 

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

Bonnie Barbieri
www.HomeInTheSunGroup.com

Funny post, Charles (liked the images) but you're right.  The best thing any of us can do in a slow time is to retool, rethink and PREPARE for what will surely come...

Never underestimate getting haircuts or having warts removed. Good hygiene is important Charles. Even in slower times.

Mr Charles,

I would suggest that I agree with Mr. Russel. You might be busier if you did not spend as much time bashing some of the forest creatures. Also, getting a phone that works would be a big help I am sure.

Nutsy

Bonnie,  thanks for the comment----it is important  that we each, at every step, do what we can to keep the wheels greased----kind of like the fire department----they never know when they are going to be called into action.

Kris, yup----there is always something to do----even if it is to blog.

Nutsy, I would have to add a few more "P's" to your list----Puke, & Pokey to name just a couple:)

Nice red phone!  What about waxing the car?!  tis cold in Chicago and I stood in the cold for a 5 hour inspection.  They couldn't let me put wood in a barrel to warm up!  Ah shucks!

Waxing a car in Chicago?  This time of year?  Now that seems like so NOT in my future:)

You had me with the lead line.  I wanted to just jump down here and holler YES!  but I was nice and read the whole thing.  It all sounds well and good.  Except for the buying new clothes part.  Which I can't do since I have no money because the #@%$* phone wont ring.  And I really need some new clothes because I quit smoking and gained weight and now my clothes dont fit......hmmmmm  OK so do your magic just like you did with the RED phone and make the dang things RING!

:)

Debbie

Debbie this will have to do:)  "Yes, may I help you?"

Interestingly, after coaxing along a couple of buyers for months, things seem to be coming to a head for both, and it's very possible contracts may be written during the next 2 weeks. Add to that a recent referral that also wants to fly in and buy over the holidays, and I'm about to tear my hair out.

You see, thinking the end of December was going to be dead, dead, dead, I made plans to go out of town.

'Life is what happens while you're busy making plans.' ~John Lennon

Judy

You betcha.  Open them gates.  I've got my boat already to float!

Judy, so true.

Erby, one thing is for sure the flood gates opened on the comments to this post:)

cute: )  Yes I am ready!

Great pic of all those phones, looks like my office!

Thanks Courtney

Jon, seriously?  Just kidding.  Steve Smith is the only person I know with an office just like this.

Great picture!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't wait for the floodgates to let loose!  Great picture and love the red phone!  No pink one though? Or neon green? Or purple????? No flashing phone???? lol

I think that the dam is beginning to burst here in "Hotlanta"... and I'll be ready with at least 2 or 3 phones!  (great pic!)

Charles, great picture and very funny post. I look for 09 to be great. not because of the market changing but because I am changing. I am going after it all and we'll see what happens uh.

Good time of year to focus and plan our work, then work our plan in 2009

Thanks Pippa

Sonja, I don't think I am going to go back in and edit in all those colors:)

Kerry, thanks for the "flood" of comments----I am going to delete the duplicates:)

Charles, good luck to you.

Rob, we all just have to keep on keepin on.

Charlene, It's nice to see someone looking at the light at the end of the tunnel.  I hope that we all come out of this recession with a little more business than before.

Good luck!

Ryan, I am not really sure I see any light at the end of the tunnel----I am confident that the tracks are still there and as long as I keep moving.............

Looks like the floodgates already opened ...all the comments on this here blog. I don't get it. ??

Kevin----it is one of the great mysteries:)  Must have tickled the funny bone of the AR gods just right.

BTW, is that a NEW picture of you... or an OLD NEW picture of you?

Kevin---the picture was taken yesterday.

Charlie - Congratulations on the feature! I know one thing is for sure, I won't have as much time for blogging when the floodgates finally open! And, with all the agents dropping out of the picture, I better save room for more pie!  

Carol, when the flood gates open----we are all going to be singing the good blues:)