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Lost my car keys again

By Teresa Boardman, Wednesday, June 11, 2008.

I wear a pen on a chain around my neck; it is my only hope for being able to find it when I need it. My husband finds my car keys in the refrigerator as I run around the house frantically searching for them. Everyone tells me this is a good thing.

My neighbor sees me at the grocery store and says, "How are you?" and "I have not seen you for weeks." I tell her that I have been busy. She smiles and says that's good, as I drag myself to the checkout line and get ready to make that all-important plastic or paper decision.

Some days it seems like I spend all my time on the phone. They call it negotiating but it seems like I am arguing all day. more...

Foreclosures are NOT bargains

By Teresa Boardman, Wednesday, June 4, 2008.

Radio ads, printed ads, Web sites, news broadcasts and television shows give consumers the message that they can find bargains or even achieve wealth by purchasing bank-owned homes. Media hype is all around and in my market we even have bus tours of foreclosed homes.

Real estate agents are bombarded with information on how to get rich selling foreclosures. Opportunities exist for investors and agents who want to run a high-volume, low-commission business. The homes and the opportunities are not as wonderful as the marketing leads us to believe. more...

The open house workaround

By Teresa Boardman, Wednesday, May 28, 2008.

Last week's article, "In protest of open houses," caused some protests of its own, so I am following up with some thoughts on marketing and prospecting. I spend 10-15 hours a week prospecting -- every week without fail, no excuses.

Some readers contacted me directly by e-mail regarding last week's article. They all said the same thing. They are struggling to get business; the market is slow; and they have not had success with open houses and no longer want to do them. In every case, their broker/manager is telling them that they need to do more open houses. They were relieved to hear that not every agent believes in open houses. more...

In protest of open houses

By Teresa Boardman, Wednesday, May 21, 2008.

I don't hold open houses; I don't believe in them. There, I said it and my secret is out. What kind of Realtor am I?

When I first became a Realtor, the manager in my office told me that if I did not change my attitude about open houses I would not do well in real estate. New agents were taught to do anything -- and I really mean anything -- to get business. I held a few "opens" every weekend in those early days, and I hated doing them.

Agents in my market complain about hosting open houses. I ask them why they do them. more...

Real estate poker game misses a full deck

By Teresa Boardman, Wednesday, May 14, 2008.

Real estate is local, but my experiences over the past several months are similar to those of real estate agents around the country. My job is like playing poker without a full deck. Not all of the homes I list will sell. A few years back getting a listing almost guaranteed a paycheck, and no agent would admit that they can't sell every listing. Today, the only guarantee is that listings will generate expenses, and sometimes we need to say no to a potential seller. more...

Not buying into the 'green' movement

By Teresa Boardman, Wednesday, May 7, 2008.

Editor's note: Inman News would like to introduce the first column in what will be a regular series from well-known real estate blogger and real estate broker Teresa Boardman.

I hate to admit it but I am old enough to remember the very first Earth Day. It was kind of a new idea, a huge grassroots movement to protest what was going on with the environment and to educate the general public on environmental issues, like air and water quality. These days, being "green" is all the rage again, but much of it doesn't make sense to me anymore. more...

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