Do manners really matter?

I am reading a book called Manners Matter. I am realizing that both I and almost 95% of people I know have never been properly taught the art of manners. Today let's start with personal hygiene. The art of washing your hands. Most people wash their hands if they pick up a large chunk of mud. Seems obvious. However, many adults have nasty fingernail dirt and feel comfortable with that. Not good.
Too often adults will use both a public or private bathroom and leave without washing their hands. This is outright disgusting and unsanitary and makes me want to throw up. Not good. Having two children I see the importance of continually reinforcing the behavior of washing your hands. Not only for sanitary purposes, but for the art if first impressions. If I met someone ( say a vendor, restaurant owner, business owner etc.) in a bathroom and noticed they did not wash their hands, I can confidently say they I would leave the restaurant never to go back. I would never want to shake their hand or be near that person again. Sad but this is the truth.
Start by always washing your hands every time you go to the bathroom. You do not have to soil your hands for it to be necessary to wash them. If you have kids teach them to do the same. How many customers, deals, friends and cash have your lost ( literally slipped out if those nasty/dirty hands of yours) because of your total disregard for keeping yourself clean? I will tell you how many. Too many. Being aware of this will thrust you into a better place in life because now you will start paying more attention to details that otherwise were not in your view.

Details matter.

Until next time....Have a great day.

Jim Mauldwin
"Real Estate Sales By Referral"
Since 1991

Should it be hard or easy.....to business with you?????

Yesterday I was out previewing homes in Willow Glen ( a nice neighborhood ) in San Jose. Many of the homes I was previewing were priced at well above the 1 million dollar range. One in particular stands out in my mind. It was a brand new home and vacant and listed just below $1,700,000.00. I planned to walk through the home and jot down some notes. Only one problem. No lock box. I noticed that the mls comments stated to call the agent at a particular number. However, it did not state that I needed to schedule a time with the agent to see the home. Needless to say I did not get to see the home on the inside. After ariving at the home and looking for 10 minutes, I concluded that there was no way to access a key to get in. For some reason either the owner or agent or both are not making it easy to see this home. This is bad business in my eyes. Our job as business owners or employees is to make it easy for anyone to do business with us. Make it a pleaseure to do business and work with you!!! If we can do that, people will go out of there way to be part of " OUR " experience. If you sell houses, clothing, perfume, roofs, rent videos or offer hamburgers, make it your business to make it easy to do business with you.


Have a nice day.

Jim

Should you be a person who goes out on a limb for others....or not?

So many people will not take a stand for anyone. Especially if it is inconvenient. If the need is right there with little to no inconvenience, maybe. If it will steer them off track for 5 minutes or even longer, most people will say forget it. Unless there is a definite financial or other gain involved. Very curious..... How about we just go out on a limb for someone because it is the right thing to do. If there is a need, fill it.

As always......

Have a nice day.

Jim

By the way, love your family.

I was out previewing some homes in Willow Glen ( San Jose ) earlier today. One of the homes ( now a bank owned / REO ) is a nice 2 bedroom 1 bath home with a 1 car garage in a great neighborhood. The surprising thing about this house was not so much about the house. The interesting thing about this home was what the previous owner did to the house. All of the exterior light fixtures were removed from the home. 98% of the interior light fixtures were removed. The heating vents and thermostat were removed. The stove, hood, oven and the kitchen sink were also removed. All of the doors to the cabinets were removed. The water heater and home central air heating unit were also removed. The bathroom faucet fixtures and toilet were removed. Lastly, two sets of double doors were removed leading from the bedrooms to the back yard. This does not surprise me in the least. It does say a lot about the entitlement attitude so widely spread these days. If a home had these items when someone moved in, they should have these items when you leave. Weather you sell or give the home away. Seems right to me.

Jim Mauldwin
"Real Estate Sales By Referral"
Intero Real Estate Services
408-482-0992