Do Your Homework

The old adage that has if it looks too good to be true, it probably is holds true almost every time.   I have come to realize that you really do get what you pay for.  Let me give share wit you how I learned apt his very valuable lesson. .

Just a couple of days ago I made a dreadful decision that would prove to be the lesson I learned that prompted this very blog post. My son's birthday is this Friday. As usual he gave us his list weeks ago as to what he wanted. He decided that this year he wanted a  tape recorder. He was very specific on what kind of tape recorder. It had to be digital.  It also needed to be big enough to fit in his hand. He wanted it to the size of a phone. Ok I thought, this is going to be a challenge. We happened to go to Kmart shortly thereafter and I thought, let me check if they have this tape recorder. Willa,  I found it. And it was only like 30 bucks. I thought I was a winner. It had buttons just like he wanted, it fit in my hand and it looked like the old school recorders. My son loves old school so I didn't hesitate and I purchased this recorder and checked off in my mind his biggest present was bought and I had to save at least a hundred dollars over what I thought I would have to spend. The item was put away to later wrap and get ready for his big day. After all he was turning 17 and we had to make his day special. A couple weeks go by and I overhear my son say that we is going to start a podcast as soon as he got his recorder. Immediately I felt a  panic come over me. I asked myself, did I buy a recorder that could be transferred to a computer?  Was it an MP3 recorder?  That's what you need if you are going create a podcast.  Where did I put that darn thing?  I needed to check to make sure it was the right thing he needed. I had trouble sleeping that night because I left it in my office so I could hide it and also wrap it there. The nest day I check it closely and it is totally the wrong thing. Now what?  His Birthday is less then a week away and I have the absolute wrong thing. I can't pass that off.  So the panic turns to  my adrenalin pumping  way to fast. I start to look online for the one he needs. Two hundred dollars later and some missed sleep and a whole lot of stress later, oh and some fifty dollars in shipping costs to make sure it reaches us in time, I now had my son's birthday gift. Where did I go wrong?

 Two things come to mind right away as I look back over this dreadful experience. First thing is I didn't do my homework to assure I was looking for the right thing. Secondly, I let my frugal gene take over. Well that cost me in the long run.  I knew it was too good to be true but I bragged and bought it anyway. I hope I learned a lesson. I had wasted precious time, more money then I had to because of the rush fees and not to mention the list sleep and stress. This may sound ridiculous to you but what is your tape recorder, in what area have you done almost the same thing and paid dearly in the end.

If I could help you all learn a lesson from this fiasco then I will feel like it was not in vain.  It's always important to do your homework before you jump in and especially before you waste a bunch of time and money doing it the hard way.

Until next time,
Tammy Rodriguez
www.aaarealtyllc.com
www.flpaintcontractor.com
www.alwaysclearwater.com

You can not be afraid to take a risk

Risk is absolutely a common thread to success. The more risk, the better the outcome. We know that there are several different personalities out there that makes up us as humans. What separates the most successful correlates directly to the risk factor. To bring this point home we look at the Lottery. You pay a dollar or up to a few dollars and risk that money on a win. Try to tell a big lottery winner that it's a waste to play the lottery. On the other hand for those that have risked and lost, it may ruin a future win if you don't learn from the loss so that next time you increase your chances on a win. You learn to calculate the loss.

A key component to winning is strategizing and then planning and then putting the plan in motion using specific action steps and marketing plan. Lastly you need to follow the plan and continue to make adjustments as you go along. Your still taking a risk but the stakes will be more successful.

So to wrap up this business tip, I would say to be prepared to take a calculated risk pretty munch in everything you do. There are some wonderful books written on risk taking and also on planing strategies.  Google some and grab yourself a few or even better save paper and use either a kindle or the kindle software available on you tablets and smart phones.

Until next time, I bid you a farewell,

Tammy Rodriguez
Http://www.aaarealtyllc.com
Http://www.flpaintcontractor.com
Http://www.alwaysclearwater.net

You don't know what you have until you lose it.

Just a short 1 and 1/2 months ago my mother left this world.  When I call this post you don't know what you had until you lose it, I am speaking about my mom. I am also speaking about the whole concept of losing what we had.  It may be a close loved one or it could be you lost your favorite Dry Cleaners cause they made you made and you left to go to a competitor.  Bear with me here for a few minutes so you can understand exactly the point I am trying to make. 

I miss my mother beyond measure.  I spent many years fighting with her and some years when we didn't even speak.  Thankfully though before she died our relationship was great. But now that she is gone and I can't make up for lost time?  I can't say how ridiculous the non-speaking times were.  I can't call her and tell her how may day was as I had done each and every day for the last year or two.  I can't ask her opinion on this very important thing going on in my life.  I can't tell her when I don't feel good and want my momma.  I can go on and on talking about all the things I can't do anymore.  I never knew how much I would miss it when it was gone.  I think we take the people important in our life for granted! 

Then I wanted to take it even another step more.  I used to trust my lawn guy to always do the right thing with my lawn.  Then I got greedy.  I thought he was charging too much and I thought the job was not all that good.  I started to think that I could find someone to do a better job at lesser money.  Then he made the mistake of cutting my lawn too short.  That was it, I was done with this lawn guy.  First I thought I would do it myself- what's the big deal right?  So we bought a lawn mower and I tried it myself.  Wow that wasn't so easy.  Then I had my husband show my oldest son to mow.  I thought he was lazy anyway and doing our lawn should be his responsibility.  Well he stunk at it and I was starting to wonder if I did not wrong thing by letting that lawn guy go.  But did I call him back and rehire him?  No! I thought well I will hire someone else and get it done cheaper.  Over the next few months, we went through about 4 different lawn guys.  Most of them wouldn't even show up. 

I then realized that I didn't know what I had until I lost him.  My lawn guy was a great guy.  He never lost his relationship with us and always remained friendly.  I finally said ok get him back.  Not only do I want him to do my own personal lawn but also I want him to all of the lawns for the owners homes we manage. 

To take this even a step further, when I really needed help with something that was a delicate and very important life changing, future success in an other business could depend on it, it was my lawn guy who came through without a hesitation.  He found someone for us to do what we needed done.  I pulled out all the people that I had helped in the past and so and so on and not one of those people came through for me but my lawn guy did.  I did not know what I had until I lost it. I learn a huge lesson from my lawn guy.

I know that to compare the two sounds off but if you think about in our life the times we give up on people, first and foremost our family and then maybe it's your Dry Cleaner who made a mistake or your lawn guy.  Stop and deal with the issue.  Without that person or business, life might not be what we had hoped.  We need not give up on each other.  You have heard the old cliché that business is business, well I say people are people.  Let's try and be more understanding and communicate more with who is in our life and we can avoid a lot of pain.

For Now,
Tammy Rodriguez
http://www.aaarealtyllc.com
http://www.flpaintcontractor.com
http://alwaysclearwater.net

December 5, 2013

Old Unused Medications

If you have been in a situation where you have in your possession medication that will not be used and it's either expired or from a loved one that has passed away or for any other number of reasons, don't just throw them in the trash and definitely don't throw them down the sink or toilet.  You know that it will become part of our water table and could wind up making someone sick.  Take the meds in sealed containers and drop them off at your local police department or Sheriff's office.  They have the means to properly dispose of them.

AAA Realty is underway with their annual Food Drive for Harry Chapin Food Bank

Stop by their office between now and December 23rd to drop off food for Harry Chapin Food Bank.  They are very low on food reserves so please stop by AAA Realty located in the Lehigh Towne Centre and help this very needy cause this holiday season

Pay It Forward

It's that time of year where people are most festive and giving.  It's really important to give especially now so that we can still feel human.  There is so much going on in the world and in our own neck of the woods that reaching out to someone with no expectations in return can bring some joy that is beyond measure.  My family has been thinking about how and who to help this year especially when this is a difficult time for us just losing my mother just a very short time ago.  That's enough to make you not fee very festive but we are going to rise above that and help make someone else's life a little more joyful.  We are moving forward with some ideas.  We have a client that just lost his wife and he is alone this year.  We have another client that is going through a difficult situation with her partner and it has left her and her two year old son alone this year.  We know we have to step in these people lives in some way and we are working on how.  What about you?  Who's life can you impact this year?  I challenge you to do it in a big way and watch how much joy it brings you.  Don't focus on your problems but instead focus outward and help others.

Until next time remember to use local small businesses whenever possible.  We are the backbone of America.  A+ Property Management LLC is a local Painting Company that is licensed, insured and is offering 10 Percent discount right now for work booked before the end of the year.  Check them out at http://www.flpaintcontractor.com

My best
Tammy Rodriguez
http://www.aaarealtyllc.com

 

December 3, 2013

22 Days Till Christmas

I have even started to shop.  Missed Black Friday, spent the day on the boat.  Skipped Cyber Monday- just couldn't be bothered.  Why am I fighting the erg not to have Christmas.  My mother's passing and the new dog who will at the least eat the tree if not dump it over and ruin it anyway. since I have 3 kids, I guess I better get moving and get something for them.

In The News

Paul Walker from the hit movies Fast and Furious was killed going fast and furious.  I guess if your gonna go you might as well be doing what you love to do.  Sorry to all the girls who are heartbroken though.  Amazon is working on a drone to deliver packages.  I am sorry but my humble opinion thinks this is just a marketing ploy set to break right at Christmas season so Amazon is on everyone's mind.  They are smarter than most of us.  As far as realizing that feat, I really doubt it.  Too many logistic problems. 

Housing outlook for 2014

Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, was a bit cautious when he announced that he felt the sales would remain flat, that prices would increase 6% and that rates will rise somewhere around a point (Wall Street Journal Reports)  My opinion for our local community here in SW Florida?  Same Same.

HVAC tip

Weather requiring heat is coming so make sure your coils are clean.  Also change your filter.  These are items that can cause fires or other issues when you turn that heat on. 

Painting and Pressure Washing Time

Now that the weather is nice, the rain has slowed, left behind for us is mold, mildew and the necessity for painting.  Check out http://www.flpaintcontractor.com for tips and sales going on right now.

I want to wish you all a productive Tuesday and make sure you don't forget to reach out and help someone this holiday season.

Till next time,

Tammy Rodriguez
Http://www.aaarealtyllc.com

Place a Tenant or It's Free

Place a tenant in your rental property or you don't pay?  Don't you think that we as a property manager or rental agent should be held accountable for working and doing what it takes to rent your property or you should not pay us?  Having an inventory of homes for rent doesn't mean squat if they remain in inventory.  What does it take to rent your home?  It takes a lot of work.  First you want to market it in such a way that it is available to be seen in pictures and on a map all over the web.  Not just craigslist either.  Even though craigslist is a must, there are also many other places that potential tenants are looking and in fact due to the high number of scams running through craigslist, many tenants are looking elsewhere.

Is there a timeframe that it should take before it' taking way too long and there is the potential for losing money? The best answer I can give you on this question is a two part answer.  First is the rental property marketed at a price that is fair and reasonable.  If this answer is no, the property can sit there for months without any activity.  Secondly the way to know how long is too long is to see what the average what is called in Real Estate "Average Rental Days on Market". If your property is marketed properly and is priced right you should fall within that time period.

For more information on your rental properties and having a property management company either take over or even take over while a tenant is in place, we can answer all the questions you might have.

Contact us toll free at 1-888-243-1720 or locally at 239-368-8520.  We look forward to speaking with you.

Regards,
Tammy Rodriguez

AAA Realty LLC and Property Management

http://www.aaarealtyllc.com