Minimalism advocate D.H. Mondfleur once said, “Cell Phone are the latest invention in rudeness.” In fact, 68 percent of Americans say they observe poor cell phone etiquette—such as with overly loud conversations—at least once every day, according to a national poll from market research group Synvoate.

Could you unknowingly be one of these offenders?

Here are some basic cell phone etiquette rules to keep in mind when interacting with colleagues and customers.

1.      Remember who you’re working with.  How would you feel if you were having and important conversation with a sales associate, and she broke off the discussion every time her mobile phone buzzed?  Your customers are your boss.  They want your attention, and you’re compensated for the time you spend with them.  Block out all other issues while you’re working with them and make sure you give them your full, undivided attention during the appointment.

2.      Bluetooth headsets are not meant to be permanent.  It’s good to used hands-free devices such as Bluetooth headsets, especially when driving or multitasking—but they don’t have to be affixed to your head 24/7.  If you’re showing a property, attending a meeting, or simply having lunch with a client, get  rid of the headset.  Bluetooth is fine when you’re alone in your office or driving in you car, but try to avoid keeping in your ear all hours of the day.

3.      Talk at a normal tone.  Seventy-two percent of people in the above-mentioned Synovate survey said the most annoying cell-phone violation is people who talk to loud.  Most cell phones can pick up very quiet noises.  Not to mention, most people around you don’t want to hear your entire conversation.  Some experts suggest a 1—foot zone, meaning you should try to be at least 10 feet away from other people when talking on your cell phone.  While this rule may be difficult in some situations, try to practice speaking at a soft and normal tone.

4.      Don’t forget vibrate or silent modes.  Next to the “loud talker,” the most annoying cell phone habit is a loud, annoying ring, especially when it blares during a meeting or other relatively quiet function.  Make it a habit to check you cell phone regularly when entering a meeting or important gathering to make sure your cell phone is either turned off or switched to the vibrate position.

5.      Avoid goofy ringtones.  Hearing your favorite song every time your phone rings may seem cute to you, but it could be construed as offensive, obnoxious, or simply unprofessional to others.  Stick to generic-sounding ringtones when programming your phone.

6.      Don’t text and drive.  Chances are that you’ve passed someone on the highway that is driving and trying to text.  Don’t be that person!  (Don’t be near that person, either!) This is dangerous and should be avoided at all times.  Plenty of major road accidents involve texting.  If you must text in your automobile, do so while your car is parked.

7.      Don’t reply to a missed call with a text.  In general, if you miss a phone call from someone, avoid responding with a text like, “What did your need?”  This rule can be broken in certain situations, however. For example you might be in a movie where you need to reply with a text indicating you will call back as soon as possible, but do so sparingly.

8.      Avoid talking on your cell phone in certain places.   Most people will agree that certain places are off limits to talking on your phone—for example, at the movies, in elevators, while standing in line at the bank, and during a meal at a restaurant.  If you have to think twice about whether you should use your cell phone, you probable are not in a good place to be talking on it—so put it way.

9.      Don’t multitask unless you need to.  We’ve all done it, but it’s bad phone etiquette, and the person you’re talking to can tell when you’re distracted.  Sometimes its inevitable.  But when possible, stop your other tasks, focus, and give the call your full concentration.

10.  Let callers know when you’re using your cell phone.  In many circumstances, it’s good to remind or inform the other party that you’re using your cell phone in case distractions or a disconnection arises.  Plus, some information may be confidential, and your client or customer might not want to share sensitive information if she knows you are communicating through a mobile device.  When applicable, take the time to let your callers know you are speaking on your cell phone, and if they have any important or confidential information they wish to share, you will call them back from a land line or meet them in person.

In any case, the next time you reach for your smart phone, be sure to remember some of these simple phone etiquette strategies—your customers, and those around you, will be glad you did.

John D. Mayfield is a sales coach, author and broker/owner of Mayfield Real Estate in Farmington Mo. You can contact Mayfield at www.5-minutes.com/abut_John.htm.  Reprinted from Realtor Magazine online May 2009 with permission for the National Association of Realtors.  Copyright2009.  All rights reserved.

It's a great time to invest in luxury real estate

The news is more and more positive across the Country, home prices have risen for three straight months and the number of sales have increased for four straight months.  Great news?  Any positive news is great after the real estate market our Nation has been weathering.  However, real estate values are hardly skyrocketing and, while increasing, sales volume is hardly knocking homes off the shelf.

It is a buyers’ market, there is no doubt about it and the buyers getting the best deal are those buying luxury real estate.  Luxury homes have had the biggest drops in pricing and for those with deep pockets the savings can be tremendous.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal points out the significant drop in price among luxury real estate.  Data is showing that while mainstream home prices are stabilizing, luxury real estate, homes selling for $2 million or more, are dropping their asking prices an average of 14%.  The article states, “Bottom line: At the high end, it’s a good time to be shopping for that dream home.”

If you have been dreaming of luxury real estate and have the money, this could be the time to make your dream come true.
Click here to visit the Wall Street Journal article “Seeking Real Estate Bargains? Try Looking at the High End”.

If you decide to purchase a home by December 1, 2009, you will be entitled to an $8,000 tax credit. This amendment to the economic stimulus bill will be available to if you purchase your first home between 1/1/2009 and 12/1/2009. Home buyers will be entitled to claim a total tax credit of $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is less.  To avoid possible abuse of this credit, it is only allowed for your primary residence and will only have to be re-paid if said house is sold within two years of purchase. Keep in mind that you must close on or before December 1, 2009 to be eligible for the credit. Most closings take about sixty days, so with that in mind you must go under contract by October 2nd, 2009 – this gives you seventy-three days from today to find your first home. If you manage to meet these deadlines, all you have to do to claim your credit is fill out I.R.S. Form 5405.

For more information about this credit go to the IRS website.

Significant Historic Dates in U.S. Immigration

Naturalization Act of 1790: Stipulated that “any alien, being a free white person, may be admitted to become a citizen of the United States”

 
1875: Supreme Court declared that regulation of US immigration is the responsibility of the Federal Government.

 
1882 The Chinese Exclusion Act: Prohibited certain laborers from immigrating to the United States.

1885 and 1887: Alien Contract Labor laws which prohibited certain laborers from immigrating to the United States.

1891: The Federal Government assumed the task of inspecting, admitting, rejecting, and processing all immigrants seeking admission to the U.S.

1892: On January 2, a new Federal US immigration station opened on Ellis Island in New York Harbor.

 1903: This Act restated the 1891 provisions concerning land borders and called for rules covering entry as well as inspection of aliens crossing the Mexican border.
 

1907 The US immigration Act of 1907: Reorganized the states bordering Mexico (Arizona, New Mexico and a large part of Texas) into Mexican Border District to stem the flow of immigrants into the United States.

1917 – 1924: A series of laws were enacted to further limit the number of new immigrants. These laws established the quota system and imposed passport requirements. They expanded the categories of excludable aliens and banned all Asians except Japanese.
 

1924 Act: Reduced the number of US immigration visas and allocated them on the basis of national origin.

 
1940 The Alien Registration Act: Required all aliens (non-U.S. citizens) within the United States to register with the Government and receive an Alien Registration Receipt Card (the predecessor of the “Green Card”).

 
1950 Passage of the Internal Security Act: Rendered the Alien Registration Receipt Card even more valuable. Immigrants with legal status had their cards replaced with what generally became known as the “green card” (Form I-151).

 
1952 Act: Established the modern day US immigration system. It created a quota system which imposes limits on a per-country basis. It also established the preference system that gave priority to family members and people with special skills.

 
1968 Act: Eliminated US immigration discrimination based on race, place of birth, sex and residence. It also officially abolished restrictions on Oriental US immigration.
 

1976 Act: Eliminated preferential treatment for residents of the Western Hemisphere.

1980 Act: Established a general policy governing the admission of refugees.

 
1986 Act: Focused on curtailing illegal US immigration. It legalized hundred of thousands of illegal immigrants. The 1986 Immigration Act is commonly know as the 1986 Immigration Amnesty. It also introduced the employer sanctions program which fines employers for hiring illegal workers. It also passed tough laws to prevent bogus marriage fraud.
 

1990 Act: Established an annual limit for certain categories of immigrants. It was aimed at helping U.S. businesses attract skilled foreign workers; thus, it expanded the business class categories to favor persons who can make educational, professional or financial contributions. It created the Immigrant Investor Program.

 
USA Patriot Act 2001: Uniting and Strengthening America by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism. 

 
Creation of the USCIS 2003: As of March 1, 2003, the US immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) becomes part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The department’s new U.S. Citizenship and US immigration Services (USCIS) function is to handle US immigration services and benefits, including citizenship, applications for permanent residence, non-immigrant applications, asylum, and refugee services. US immigration enforcement functions are now under the Department’s Border and Transportation Security Directorate, known as the Bureau of US immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

I want to tell you about a great new way you can search for homes – right from your mobile phone.  I have partnered with Smarter Agent, the nation’s leader in mobile real estate technology, to provide this mobile search capability to ALL of my clients!

My tool will allow you to search homes for sale anytime, anywhere – right from your cell phone!

Wherever you are, driving, or walking around looking at properties, you’ll have access to all of the MLS information on the homes for sale around you, with just one touch of a button on your cell phone.   Hit “Call to See” and you will be put right in touch with ME, ready and waiting to serve all of your real estate needs.

It’s so easy to do!  Just go to this website, http://www.smarteragent.com/hfs/melcheragency/romeroteam , enter your cell phone number, wireless carrier name and phone type, and the application will be sent to your phone by text message.  Just click on it and the application downloads right away.

I know you will love this great new way to look for homes.  So don’t delay – start searching for your dream home TODAY!

Always at your service

Like a drug intervention, a closet reorganization can force a pack rat to confront long-term bad habits, such as hanging on to jeans that haven’t fid in years or clothes that went out of style with the powder-blue tuxedo.

If you suffer from packratitus, it’s time for a cold turkey closet cleanup. And by cleanup, I mean clean it out.

First step:  Empty it. No kidding. Take everything out of your closet: clothes, shoes, belts, ties, Christmas gifts that have been hiding there since 1982. Remove shelves, shoe racks and furniture.  Take a look at your empty closet, perhaps for the first time since you moved into you home. 

Now the work really starts. Here is the rest of my 12-step program for letting go of your closet clutter.

v     Divide your closet contents into three piles: haven’t worn in two years or never liked, seriously out of style and love more than chocolate.

v     Root through the first two piles for items that are in good shape and might be useful to someone else.  It’s true that one person’s trash is another treasure.

v     Throw away anything that is worn out. One person’s trash also can be another’s person’s trash.

v     Find local charities that accept gently used clothing and household items, and pack up your usable items. Take the time for this step; more people than ever need help through this recession.

v     That leave you with one pile of clothes, shoes and accessories you want to keep.  Look at each item.  Once you reacquaint yourself with what’s in your closet, you may find that you need to buy fewer new clothes thanks to the good things you’d forgotten. I have to admit that I bought a handsome new jacket only to get it home and find a long-forgotten, almost identical coat hiding in the back of my closet.

v     Scrub the closet from baseboards to ceiling with TSP-trisodium phosphate, a powdery cleaner that removes grime, stains and mildew.  Don’t use TSP on your wood floor, as it can stain.  Clean your floor with a cleaner designed for your wood, carpet or tile.

v     Paint an area you’ve ignored because you didn’t want to empty your closet. Use a semi-gloss enamel that’s easy to clean and can hold it own against scuffs from shoes and scrapes from hangers.  If you prefer a paneled look, install a cedar closet liner.  It’s a simple job because of its tongue-and-groove design.  Line the walls and the ceiling.

v     Once the liner is in, install new shelves.  Use a solid material such as a three-quarter-inch MDF (medium-density fiberboard) which is more durable than wire racks and less abrasive than plywood.  Support your shelves with a sturdy wall cleat anchored to the studs every 3 or 4 feet, and finish it with a bull-nose edge so it won’t have corners to catch on your clothes.

v     Replace your wooden closet pole with a sturdy chrome rod that won’t bend or damage as easily.

v     Return your ”must keep” clothes and accessories to their rightful place. Group similar pieces: jeans, slacks, skirts, shirts, jackets, suits. That will make everything easier to locate next time you’re getting dressed.

v     Make you way through the house and do the same for every closet.  Don’t forget the kitchen pantry, linen closet, vanity cabinet and under-the-sink cupboards that we all use as catch-alls.

Rosie Romero – The Arizona Republic 

 Napolean Hill book, Think and Grow Rich, a tome which has changed the lives of millions. Hill writes in one chapter the method by which desire for riches can be broken down into six steps.

First: Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire. It is not sufficient merely to say “I want plenty of money.” Be definite as to the amount.

Second: Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire.

Third: Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire.

Fourth: Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.

Fifth: Write out a clear, concise statement of the amount of money you intend to acquire, name the time limit for its acquisition, state what you intend to give in return for the money, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it.

Sixth: Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after arising in the morning. As you read, see and feel and believe yourself already in possession of the money.

The book further goes on to say, never in the history of America has there been so great an opportunity for practical dreamers as now exists. The six year economic collapse has reduced all men, substantially, to the same level. A new race is about to be run. The stakes respresent huge fortunes which will be accumulated within the next ten years. The rules of the race have changed, because we now live in a changed world that definitely favors the masses, those who had but little or no opportunity to win under the conditions existing during the Depression, when fear paralyzed growth and development.

What’s amazing about this book is that it is timeless. It was published in 1937 during the great depression yet the principles apply even today. As well, these lessons may be used to accumulate not only financial riches, but also all of the hopes and dreams we aspire to

Visit http://www.naphill.org/

Paying attention to how your home will appear to others will help you sell your home

If you are trying to sell a home in today’s market there are a few things to keep in mind that will help your home stand apart from the pack.  Prioritize and analyze what will fit in your budget and take the steps necessary to make your home show well and appeal to prospective buyers.

• Fresh & Clean: Inspect your home inside and out. Does it need a coat of paint? A fresh coat of paint will always be recouped in the sale of a home and is well woth the cost.  Does it look clean and tight?  Pack up the mess, the more clutter free a home the better it will show.  Likewise an empty house shows better.

• Curb appeal: Pay attention to your home as if you were a potential buyer.  Is it inviting?  Clean?  Shore up your landscaping, make sure that your lawn is green and well-kept, that your flower beds are weeded and mulched, and that the exterior of your house is clean and respectable.

• Inspection: There will be a home inspection completed by the buyer be prudent and do one yourself.  Attend to items that could possibly hold up the sales process.

• Best areas of a home to update and remodel? The Master Bathroom and the Kitchen.  Don’t spend the money to gut and redo your entire home but remodeling the master bath and kitchen areas of your home will make your home more appealing and grab a buyer’s eye.

• Evaluate: Are the remodel/updates going to net you more than you are putting into them?  It is very important in the ned to pay attention to your local market and make the improvements that will help you not hurt you.  If you are not going to get the money back that you are intending to put into your home don’t do the changes.  Do the low-cost improvements and make do by making your home clean in its appearance.

Check out YahooRealEstate.com for more information and ways to sell your home.

If you currently are in a situation where you must sell your home and you owe more on your home than what it is worth to sell, a short sale can be a very good solution to your problem. Many myths have evolved over time, but understanding the reality is a way to help yourself. Seven short sale myths are:

1. Short sales are impossible and never get approved. It is true that short sales are more difficult but they are not impossible. A Certified Distressed Property Expert has extensive training to help homeowners in distress.
2. Banks Don’t Accept Short Sales. In reality, banks are doing whatever they can to avoid a foreclosure.
3. You must be behind on your mortgage to negotiate a short sale. Many lenders today focus on verifiable hardship, monthly cash flow shortfall and insolvency – not just people in default.
4. Buyers Avoid Short Sales. Many agents report that buyers call them looking for short sales. Short sales are becoming synonymous with a “good deal”, specifically with international buyers.
5. Listing your home as a short sale is embarrassing. Recent estimates state that 1 out of 5 homeowners in the U.S. is in this situation. You are not alone!
6. Banks prefer to foreclose. Banks do NOT want to foreclose. Banks, investors and the federal government have all publicly stated that if a person qualifies for a short sale, then the deal needs to be considered.
7. There is not enough time to negotiate a short sale before my foreclosure. Many lenders today will stall a foreclosure up to the final day of the process, with a legitimate contract.

For more information about short sales go to About website.