SpencerBarron.com

Starting the 24th of February there is a great chance to try out a few new restaurants. People are creatures of habit. Few venture from the few places they are comfortable. Why not get out and try something different? Get out and be adventurous. Some of these places have great food, but the prices may scare you off from experimenting. The fixed price menu for a three course meal gives you a chance to know what you’re going to spend before you get there. Take advantage of Restaurant Week to add a place or two to your usual routine. My personal favorite? Try Gumbo’s Louisiana Style Café if you haven’t yet.

Denver Restaurant Week 2007
Presented by the DENVER METRO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

Denver Restaurant Week is a seven-day celebration of the culinary scene in Denver. For the week of Feb. 24 to March 2, participating restaurants will offer a multi-course dinner for the fixed price of $52.80 for two, or $26.40 for one (not including tax or gratuity).

It is a wonderful opportunity to visit some of Denver’s classic restaurants – and some of the city’s newest – to sample a variety of the exceptional dishes now being prepared by Denver chefs.

Being a real estate broker is not an easy job.  Real estate has the potential to make you a lot of money but the truth is it’s not easy money.
I would like to share a couple of things that I feel everyone, especially people thinking they should get into the business, should know. 
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is your strongest ally and strongest opponent.
     The NAR has vast resources available for you to be successful.  In fact, I dare say it’s impossible to succeed in real estate without being a member or at least dealing with them.  They have gone to bat for you on every level of government to make sure its members can make a living for themselves.  They provide education and training to their members to better equip them for success. Their code of ethics have provided a guide for conduct that usually exceed what your state requires of a real estate agent.  The code also provides a way that the public can seek some retribution when the rules are broken.
    A drawback is that while you have the support of a large group of individuals, you also have the pressure to fit in.  Agents are encouraged to ‘protect their’ commissions. Agents at larger companies are told to sell people on their personality, their work ethic, and their brand.  “Put your picture on your cards and wear your Realtor pin”, is that really going to help you?…maybe but don’t believe all the hype.  Test the ideas to find out what works and what doesn’t.  There will be a lot of propaganda you will be confronted with.  Sift through it and figure out what works for you.
   I see competition on pricing as the most important issue facing the industry.  The job is easier than it was 10 years ago.  Home prices have grown faster than the cost of living.  The same percentage commission would go a lot farther today than it did in the past.  The public knows this so don’t feed them a load of crap if you expect them to respect you.  Find a business plan that works for you.  Check with your employing broker what flexibility you will have in negotiating your commission.  Compete on price to build your business.  Why else would someone hire an entry level Realtor?  Your skills?…  please.  And nobody wants to give thousands of dollars to you just because you have a pretty face either. (Well, I can’t speak for everyone.)  You price your services based off what you bring to the table.  There will be times when you’re going to be up against a monster agent, how will you compete? 
The competition will be fierce so prepare yourself now.
If you’re just getting started, remember these things.
TOP TEN things I wish I knew when I started. Read the rest of this entry »