ThingamaSavings

“ThingamaSavings”

I am a BIG HUGE Gigantic Believer in the “idea” that sometimes you just want to learn something. You DON’T WANT to be “Sold” on Something.  Most of our time is spent with campaigns to SELL us on something.  I get extraordinarily tired of this continuous bombardment towards my willpower & eventually my pocketbook.  I am one of “those People” that like to get educated before I BUY.  I have less buyers remorse and can feel good about myself and what I’ve done because I’ve really given my best towards making a good decision.  My God that sounds strange doesn’t it, coming from a woman that has spent most of her life as a 100% commission Sales Professional.  Geez Grace, what’s the matter with you?  Well, if the truth be known, I don’t like sales people.   Those pushy…get it now kind of people, who could care less about the loss of sleep or hardship a quick, snap decision is going to have on me.  Now, I’ve been SOLD just like many of you have been “SOLD” and have some credit scares to prove it. It’s no ones fault but my own. I didn’t have the courage to say, HEY, step back, let me breath here a minute and think….What are my choices?  Is this really the best thing today and tomorrow…not just, in the second?  I have really learned through the course of “life lessons” to slow down and really try to understand what I am doing and why.
As a Realtor who has been practicing her profession for nearly 20 years now, I really practice what I preach.  My whole career I’ve tried to empower my customers with knowledge.  Provide them with a toolbox to use to build their own dreams about owning a home or selling a home.  I really encourage my customers to get connected, get involved, understand what you’re doing and why.  I really “cheer-lead” them through the steps in the process.  My lack of a ‘fall out rate’ is superior due to this approach to my business.  Now, granted….it does cost me some business, as I’m not a “know-it-all” control freak.  I actually, don’t want to know it all and wouldn’t want to control everything due to the fact that I wouldn’t want the headaches associated with that unnecessary pressure on me.  I have always partnered with really good people whom I trust to help me walk customers through the processes in the purchase or sale of a home.  My experience has shown me many things one very important one is that if your customers feel empowered and responsible for their own decisions, they are happier and more self confident through the process and after the closing. Knowledge is the KEY to responsible decisions. Now with all that said, please note; we still need those “closers” in our lives.  Those people that once we have all the necessary information and knowledge…. grab our hand and say, “okay, let’s go …let’s get this for you NOW and make it happen!”

I share this with you now …. In Our GREEN Blog because I want to “CHEER-Lead” you into getting involved in some of the changes going on in our marketplace.  In our local neighborhoods, in your Utility Invoice Envelopes, etc… you’re hearing about AUDITS.

At FIRST IMPRESSION , that sounds rather negative.  I initially related it… to the dreaded IRS AUDIT ,  my accountant warns me about yearly…especially during the years I earn money.  :}  How important record keeping is and saving my business receipts…blah, blah, blah.  (She is one of those people you hate to listen to…but have to… or else!)
Another impression of AUDITS is in the workplace. BROKERS AUDITS …”arrgh.”  There goes 2 or 3 days of production time.   How about on the Production Floors of Companies….those ISO AUDITS , making sure you have a quality system in place, accountability, tracking details, and so on….and so on.
WOW… sounds rather DAUNTING! SEEMS like a big time waster… or is It ??

I always use this scenario….because its effective as it’s so similar. I jumped into this business in the beginning of the 1990’s.   My Mother was an established and very successful Broker in the Scottsdale, Phoenix Marketplace.  She was the head of a beautiful subdivision with a tremendous success record in residential sales of her new home subdivisions and with her resale clientele.  She introduced me to Real Estate and provided me with great training.  During this time period, the market was rebounding from the fall in the mid to late 80’s.  My Mother was one of those very successful REALTORS even during the time when Interest Rates were over 12% on home loans. She LOL’s  all the time now (in her early 70’s) about how everybody is crying the blues about the real estate marketplace.  Seriously she says, “Do you people just not understand how fortunate you are to be working in this environment.  My Goodness, Buyers incentives, Tax Rebates, Low…Super Low Interest Rates…amazing loan packages, etc.”  When I listen to her….I usually emerge stronger and more positive about our present and future.

• So in the beginning of the 1990’s as the marketplace was rebounding, there was a big push…to create more jobs and provide more support to sales transactions with the use of Professional Home Inspectors. As with all change…many in the beginning opposed the inclusion of these Professionals. I would hear around the campfire (in the office at the coffee and donut central gathering spot)…comments like;
  “They are going to kill our deals.”  “We don’t need these people to complicate our transactions and talk to our BUYERS and SELLERS.” Some Realtors used to hate to have anyone other then themselves talk to their customers.  It was almost a taboo.  (I never understood that fear and for the most part our Profession has matured and you see much more communication and coorperation.) We made it through the tunnel and emerged: Professional Home Inspectors have provided great knowledge to our customers.  Once we got passed the fear of inclusion…..Our Profession benefited greatly as Our Customers became more informed.  They helped to educate the consumer and empower more responsible decisions for Buyers and Sellers.
  Here we are today ….the market is beginning to rebound.  We see a push in the marketplace to create more jobs and more opportunities for empowering our Buyers and Sellers.
  Enter:  Energy Audits!
  

So what is an Energy Audit?  Simply put; it is an inspection (similar to home inspections that look at the condition, age and material properties to your home and systems.)

Home Energy Audits focus on the PERFORMANCE of your Home.  How is everything working together to get the most for the least to help keep costs down on operating and continuous maintenance expenses for homeowners.  There are many benefits which include the SAVINGS…(most are going to emphasize) as well as Health and Wealth for you and your homes future.  Sustainability is really all about how we get along for long periods of time with each other in-mind.  That’s rather a personal definition, but its all about holistic concepts and understanding.  We are not just parts operating independently without consequence. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts, which means that from an unimpressive assembly of parts can be built an object of consequence or beauty whose value is greater than the combined worth of the parts.  (*I was helped with this definition by barney on April 25, 2000.)

This inclusion is not to be dreaded! You are going to have many choices available to you as this becomes more commonplace in the market.  When you see ad’s and hear about these opportunities in Your neighborhood, go to the meetings, find out what’s going on and how you are going to benefit and what the cost is going to be and how long it will take before you see a return on your investment. Ask Questions, Empower yourself to make good decision about your homes performance.  Understand the real reasons why it’s important and then don’t be afraid to find that Professional that will grab our hand and say, “okay, let’s go …let’s get this for you NOW and make it happen!”

Go to EWCEC.ORG for more information and a schedule of upcoming non-profit, FREE, no obligation Energy Awareness Education in your Neighborhood.