May 4th, 2008
There are many projects you can do yourself to save money and many ways in life to “cut costs.” The real estate business is NOT the place. People do…we don’t recommend it. When you try and sell your home on your own to save a real estate commission you short change yourself by less or the wrong exposure out in the market place and little or no advice when it comes to negotiations. So once you realize that this is the only way to engage in the real estate market, how do you decide where to go? It certainly doesn’t cost you any more to work with a top agent. Not ONE PENNY more as a matter of fact. Years of experience out weigh the “glitz and glitter.” The truth is the “Big Companies” are not the ones selling or buying, that is just for the advertisements. The agent you deal with is actually the one handling your transactions. The Big Companies are detached from you and often times from the agents licensed with them. The individual agents become almost companies within the Big Company advertising only their phone numbers and email addresses. Without this connection directly with them you will probably get lost in the Big Companies’ sea of agents. Unfortunately this kind of activity promotes competition between agents within the same Big Company. With so many hundreds of agents within the one company, the individual agents lose their identity., With a Boutique Company, such as: Koslovsky Realty, we offer agents who work together, cooperate with each other and most of all respect each others’ transactions. So many times we have been approached by those Big Companies who saw the quality product we offer and have tried to get us to “get on board” with the new wave. Not for us. There is more control and accountability within our office. There is immediate response and assistance in our office. We have weekly meetings where we share experiences, information, and updates on what is happening in the real estate world. Our agents are seasoned, and know how to handle themselves in real estate situations. It’s a hard thing to say but most of the “hiccups” In the last few deals have been the fault of the cooperating agents at other firms and usually with agents who have been in the business for a limited time. Our polished agents were able to handle those transactions without even a disturbance to the buyers or sellers. Don’t sell yourselves short. Work with an experienced agent who has the benefit of a great support system within their office. Don’t get fixated with individual properties advertised and let that determine who you should work with. To get the most out of your real estate needs you really have to get yourself the BEST agent out there. That TOP agent will help you with ANY property, at ANY time and ANY place. call us. We’re here. Our TOP agents are ready.
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April 27th, 2008
Too many people today live their lives in a very ordinary way. They get up, go to work, do their jobs, leave work, and have their evenings and weekends. Even with all the awareness out there about the environment and needs of others, not enough people are truly “giving of themselves.” I don’t really believe you can fully appreciate all you have in your own personal life until you reach out and give not just money, but time as well. Part of what makes any successful person who they are is what they also do for others. How sad for those who isolate themselves and don’t participate in the greater good of the community around them. At Koslovsky Realty we are blessed with agents who are not only sharp in their real estate skills, but are also caring and very giving human souls. Our “Friends of the March of the Living Annual Golf Tournament” was successful in raising over $85,000.00 last Sunday due to the efforts of Chairman Sid Koslovsky and the participation of several of our agents. In addition, we boast the award received this past week to Loretta de Vries by the Red Cross for her heroic efforts in raising funds for the Dialysis Foundation. Her work along with other agents in our office has helped countless individuals in their hours of need. When you are doing your Spring cleaning this week, especially for the Passover holiday, remember there are countless others out there who are not as fortunate as you. There are various organizations that can use your discards that are in good condition. When you are moving (after you have sold and purchased with an agent from Koslovsky Realty) please consider donating your furniture to a shelter or a needy family. It’s not all about the tax write-off (with all due respect to the accountants out there.) I promise you, it feels good, and connects you to your friends and neighbors. When you read this column, many of you will be having your morning coffee as you recover and reminisce about last night’s Seder and prepare for tonight’s. Perhaps you are leaving for Shul or going to Church. Please take a few extra moments today to think about planning how YOU will give back starting this week. I promise you, it feels great.
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April 20th, 2008
Our lives are basically a roadmap through which we navigate. We start out at a certain point and continuously make decisions as to where we are going and what we are doing. Some people travel many roads and change their course of direction over and over again, while others don’t travel as much and keep the trip simple, uncomplicated. There are also those who choose the paths less traveled and look for every nook and cranny and never seem to be settled. We choose careers, life partners, how many children we will have, where we live, and our vacation spots. We do all this with our roadmaps of life. Teacher, doctor, electrician, plumber, or perhap s a realtor…one, two, six children…house or a condo, buy or rent…ski vacation or beach, cold or warm climates. Hopefully we don’t do this alone and make the important decision of life partner. This is the tricky path choice. This is the choice that can make you lose your sense of direction or make your road trip the best and most exciting it can be. I don’t think many people choose to make the trip alone but when and if that happens, you pick up your map and continue your trip. This past week I attended a funeral of a woman who passed away one day shy of her 89th birthday. Her husband of 92 was there along with his three sons and their wives to sing her praises. They were together for 70 years, lived in the same house for 58 years and had what was expressed as “ordinary, normal lives.” How beautiful, how touching, how extraordinary. Not grandiose, just settled, uncomplicated, yet more enriching and fulfilling than if they had traveled far and wide. Our choices don’t have to be so varied and diverse within our lives. You don’t have to live in many places during the course of your lifetime just maybe a few. Perhaps you begin in an apartment you rent when you are first married and starting out, and then move to a small house or townhome. If you can and choose, perhaps there is a larger home in the plan, and later on and as they say “at the end of the road,” back to an apartment when it’s only one or two of you again. It’s all your choice, and your roadmap. Call us at Koslovsky Realty if you need us to be part of your travels through those choices in life. It would be our pleasure to assist you as you make your real estate decisions.
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