Bonita Springs Florida Central

After many years at sea, a pirate decided to retire. Since he had suffered injuries on the job, he thought that he should collect on his worker's compensation insurance. He had a wooden leg, a hook where his right hand should be and a patch over his right eye. The agent assured him that he would be compensated if the injuries were work related. "How did you get the wooden leg?" asked the agent. In a booming voice the pirate replied, "Me and me mates were on the high seas when the boom swang 'round and knocked me into the sea where a shark bit off me leg." The agent replied, "That is certainly work related. How did you lose your hand?" "Well matey, me and me mates were on the high seas when the boom swang 'round and knocked me into the sea where a shark bit off me hand," said the pirate. "That's also work related. Now how did you lose your eye?" asked the agent. The pirate replied, "Well matey, I was laying on the deck one balmy day catching some rays when this seagull flew by and dropped his dooty right in me eye!" "What does that have to do with the loss of your eye?" said the agent. "It were the first day with me hook!"

Almost daily I receive an email from a company called Video on Demand Real Estate.  Usually duplicate emails, too.  There is no unsubscribe button on the email.  When I reply to the email it bounces back.  I visited the website and submitted via their contact button and asked to be removed.

I just want off of this list.  I have no interest in this product.  What do you, the members of Active Rain, recommend I do.  I explained in the "contact" email that I will report their SPAM without an unsubscribe button or opt out button to authorities.  I just don't know what authorities.  I've never had such an issue before.

By the way, there is small print at the bottom that looks like unsubscribe literature, but reads:  You are receiving this email because you are either a member of NAR, or are on one of the following sites owned and operated by Primec Real Estate Services, Inc. PrimeAgents dot com,TheRealtorNet dot com, LinkedRE dot com, RealEstateBio dot com or AgentsByTown dot com.  I took the . out, they don't deserve my link.

Your suggestions are welcome! 

I just saw this fascinating story on CNN.  It's about Panda, a miniature pony who is trained as a guide for the blind.  Trainable, house broke and talented ponies.  I can't even get my dog to "sit" on command! 

It's part of the "Panda Project" guide horses for the blind.  I found a touching story of how the program started:  HERE.

US Top Beaches

• · Fleming Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii - National Winner
• · Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin, Florida
• · Ocracoke Island, Outer Banks, North Carolina
• · Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
• · Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
• · Main Beach, East Hampton, New York
• · Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• · Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
• · Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii
• • Barefoot Beach Park, Bonita Springs, Florida

The sunset tonight at Barefoot Beach...

My trusted companion, Jack - Miniature Doberman in a back pack.  He goes everywhere with me!

and fade to black... 

Agent X vs. The Bonita Springs Agent

On my way home from work today I stopped at an open house a few doors down from my house.  I have spoken with the agent holding the open house a few times before.  I toured the home and then shared with the agent that I am thinking of putting my home on the market, maybe in a few months.  Spur of the moment, I offered for her to show it to anyone she felt that were qualified and interested.  I even had her come over and take a look at it.  It is a pretty home.  (Spoken like a mother speaking of her child)  Keep in mind, we are ALMOST done with the remodel of the last bathroom.  Oh, did I mention it was someone's birthday Wednesday?  This was in the living room.  Plus baskets of candy and flower bouquets on the tables and counters.

My thought for inviting her in is that she sits open houses all the time.  There are currently five homes on my street available for sale.  All five homes available are grossly overpriced and will not sell, or shall I say, will likely not appraise.  I thought Agent X would be a creative avenue to bring in buyers without having another home clogging the MLS.  I wasn't prepared for what was about to happen.

About an hour and a half later the door bell rings.  You guessed it.  Agent X was there.  Two strangers were in the side yard milling around.  Listen, we're not slobs, but we do live here.  I don't remember where I took my last pair of shoes off, for crying out loud.  I agreed to show with a 5 minute reprieve to make sure the toilet seats were down and there was nothing too embarassing in plain sight.  I whirled around the house, opened the front door and ran out the backdoor.  It was a challenge to stay out of the "picture".  I didn't want to be the seller that stays an makes the buyer's uncomfortable.

Maybe 15 minutes later the buyers came out back to ask me questions about the neighborhood, home and area.  I answered what they asked and tried to not become over involved with the showing.  They left shortly after taking another pass through.

Agent X just called.  The buyers actually liked the house.  They'd like to come back for another showing tomorrow.  I think this was just one of the strangest chains of events that could have happened.  What are the odds I would stop and invite an agent to show my home and the first buyers that see it are already coming back? 

All I can say is; I am so glad I did the laundry last night!

Alright, I didn't let them stay but they were around for a few hours. One of them left a present on the lanai.  Thanx!

Jon and his friends found four puppies in an appliance box on the side of the road.  All but one has a home.  The boy with the white toes, chin and bib needs a home!  They appear to be part lab and maybe hound.  Two of them were red.  Call today for your FREE, yes Free, GENUINE, REALTOR friendly, highly fashionable, Bonita Springs, Florida puppy.

Supplies are limited, act fast!

  Look at that FACE~!

Are You Lucky To Be A Realtor?

Today was a day to get together with some of my family.  My Twins turn 19 in a few days. I threw them a get together.  Today I had a birthday party for them that was the same old, same old (for them).  They are bored by my antics, but glad their grand parents showed up.

They were thrilled by my parents showing up.  Mom, who scratched thru a health scare this year and Pappy who made it thru Mom's scare, only to have a stroke....and live with no imparement.  The flexibility of my occupation made everyone, including me have quality of life.  It made me realise a few things. 

Iam so lucky that:

• I am  so lucky that I have a great career that I can blend around my family.
• I am so lucky I have great, understanding clients.
• I am so lucky that I can find a way to take a day off for a friend, my family or even myself.
• I am so lucky to make that award ceremony for my kid.
• I am so lucky I was at EVERY teacher conference.  Never missed one, ever!
• I am so lucky that I was there when the coach hugged my kid and said good job. (Belinda Zivich rocks)
• I am so lucky have dependable REALTOR friends to bail me out in a "tight time frame" when I am overwhelmed with work. (Muchas Gee, Linda and Carey.)
• I am so lucky and greatful for Active Rain.  It teaches so much.  This forum offers so much and teaches so much at the same time.

One of the pinata spankin's with everyone that mattered watching, and Active Rain extended famiy.

BE THERE FOR THE PINATA SPANIN' -Your career will allow for it!

Today I have the opportunity to work with a buyer.  Not just any buyer.  An honest to good, repeat customer, prequalified, knows what he wants, no bull buyer.  By no bull, I mean: I have a list of what he wants to see, in the order he wants to see them, plus five alternate homes to see, in the event the homes (1-5) don't pan out.

Yesterday I hopped in my car to preview the homes on the list.  I turns out the homes 5-10 (the alternates) are in one gated community by Divosta Homes - Village Walk of Bonita Springs.  I thought, while I was there, I'd preview the alternates or at least get to the bottom of their occupancy issues.  If we decided to see them I wanted to be able to walk right in.  The experiences I had trying to get information about these homes was amazing.

• Agents that don't return calls.
• Agents that aren't in the state, as in for months, they live here seasonally.
• Agents that haven't got around to putting a key box on the house (It was listed in August 06).
• Brokerage offices that answered the phone "Hello".  The main phone number.  "HELLO!".
• Agents that gave me the "go ahead" and I got there and there was a coded box on the house not a supra.  I wasn't given a code.
• Agents  that acted like they were a friend helping the list agent.  This one stumped me.   I figured they must have bill collectors calling and they're paranoid and just pretending to be someone else.
• All but one of these VACANT homes didn't have a flyer box with information.  The one that did have a flyer box had a MLS report with the price x-ed through and a new price scribbled on.
• Most had no directions to the home in the MLS. It's a brand spanking new community - not on google maps. 
• One agent (who my call was forwarded to) was so relieved I called back to ask another question.  She did  try to call me, but got some place called  "XYZ" on mistake.  Uh, XYZ was the name of her brokerage, serious, she didn't recognize her own brokerage name, phone number or receptionist.

My decision after seeing the alternates.  Two will not be shown.  I explained to one agent that sellers aren't growing on trees and I refuse to make my buyer wait for someone to show up with a key for a home where there are a dozen identical properties available that are ready to be seen.  Another home was $70,000 more than any other home, and it offered less features. 

I will be showing an one extra home which was not on the list.  My voicemail:  An agent called me back on one to say the owner has two properties in that neighborhood and one had a price reduction to fit the budget, plus upgrades, plus a few bonuses the seller was throwing in.  I called he back, thanked her and let her know what a great job she did and explained the situation with the other homes.

I feel bad for these sellers.  They don't even know what is NOT being done for them.  There are fine agents, with listings in that same neighborhood, that offer their sellers FULL SERVICE real estate.  Color flyers, visual tours, floor plans, they answer the phone or offer courteous return phone calls, the MLS is complete with directions and proper fees.  I know, because I have a listing in this community and I'm delivering for my seller.  I can't imagine engaging in a negotiation with some of the "listing agents" I spoke with.  If they can't manage a vacant home, I can't imagine them managing a negotiation, sale and closing.

Bonita Beach is located on Florida's gulf coast just a few miles north of Naples and about two hours south of Tampa.  The white sand beaches of Bonita Springs have been a favorite destination for world travelers.  Unfortunatly, too much time goes by between visits to the beach for a lot of locals and long time residents.  Enjoy the photos I snapped when I stopped to smell the roses and the beach breezes. 

Bonita Beach Preserve is located at the South end of Barefoot Beach.  It is a State Park and Gopher Tortoise Preserve.  Between 12 noon and 3:00 p.m. the little "Sherman Tanks" are everywhere.  Admission to the park is $6.00 per vehicle.

There are also several varieties of birds in the area. A few were kind enough to let me get close.

A place of treasures was discovered close to Wiggins Pass.  Tide was going out.  The sun was going down.  The treasures in this castle included shells, sand dollars, ribbon, rope, bouys, branches, sticks & seagrape leaves.

                                                   Do you suppose there is a Bonita Beach Cowboy?    

                                               Fair game.  Non-living shellfish, left it for the visitors.

                                                     Another great Bonita Springs, Florida sunset.

                             There's never been a better time to buy real estate in Bonita Springs, Florida. 

                                             Come to Florida and get your Bonita Springs Sand Castle.

Chris Griffith - Keller Williams Elite Realty - Bonita Springs Florida.