Big Canoe, GA

When I worked on Wall Street in Banking ( Yes I confess to sins in my middle youth) which was right after my earlier Woodstock youth, when ever we put in a system for the bank we would have a post mortem. If the implementation went well there would be 4 or 5 of us at the event. If it went poorly and depending on the impact the numbers grew. So tons of folks are talking about the election so I thought why not do the post Mortem.

52 percent of voters voted for and elected Barrack Obama. It was a historic event in the sense that we as Americans transcended race, and in a post 911 America an Arabic name. Now 52 % percent could be wrong and if we are we unelect him in 4 years. But for now we elected him. So for the most part we voted for the man and his platform. Race and his name was not an issue.

Today all over the networks we are hearing a ton about race and the event. Why , Because we all are now looking back and seeing what we did, and how important it was. It was important because a man is entering a White House that was in part built by slaves.

This guy may be the worst President ever, or the best, or some where in between. But no matter what," we the people" showed CONVINCINGLY that the American dream is a beautiful thing that is obtainable by any American with the right stuff. I am happy and proud not because I think Obama will be this great president. I don't know what kind of president he will be. But because we decided a race on what we thought were the merits of the man.

What this means for us in Real estate and the politics involved is not really what I am blogging about.. This blog is an observation about our great country and why it is so great.

After the sun came up this is what the day revealed. This is living in the North Georgia Mountains. You might think you need a lot of money ,but you would be wrong. Homes with views like this can be purchased for less than 250,000. Lots and land sometimes as low as 30,000 for big views. So we saw the sun rise i my last blog. It alluded to what might be. With the light we see what is. Whether you are looking for your self or your clients the North Georgia mountains provide affordable beauty. If you are not looking shed some light on your day and see what beauty and surprises it holds for you. Visit us for more at www.allmtnrealty.com

It is sunrise in the Mountains and a new week. The outlines of things are still dark. But the day promises to be a full one. Later today as the light develops we will see what this Autumn day brings. All things we do start with the band of light . As we explore and pursue the light shows us the path we are too take and what awaits us. So we begin the day with shadows and faith that things will reveal themselves.

Today after I dropped the kiddies off at school I happened across a cold wandering brindled puppy with a black button nose and socks. "Screech" went the brakes and out I jumped to save that puppy from certain doom! So he runs to me in a pitiful manner and lets me pick him up. At some point I found myself driving down the road with this warm sleeping pup on the passenger seat and the sale was made, JUST LIKE THAT. I worried about what I'd do with him when I got home!

I live in Big Canoe, Georgia (and sell Big Canoe real estate) where they have a very active Animal Rescue. I called the director, met her in her driveway, and  she followed me over to the Big Canoe Animal Shelter where she gave the little fella some Front-line for his fleas, dewormed him, gave him a collar, leash, and some food.  My only part in this is to foster him until he gets adopted or until a space opens in the shelter. He is NEXT on the list. Please note this is yet another UNPLANNED event in the series that is my life! Why did I do it? BECAUSE he was IRRESISTIBLE! Then the light bulb went off over my head!

As a former "philosophy major" (see Mom, my education is useful!) I feel comfortable tying two completely different concepts together and proposing a whole new approach to increasing sales. It could almost be foolproof if we can bring the theory to reality and try it our in the real estate field. Please read the following general puppy questions    

Why are puppies so irresistible? Puppy breath, floppy ears, cute clumsy paws,

Where are you most likely to come across a puppy? A grocery store parking lot, the paper, side of the road.

Of the puppies you may have acquired over the years, how many of them were adopted on the spur  of  the moment? How many were planned? Personally, I have done both, but more of them were spur of the moment.

Thank you for getting this far. Hopefully you agree with many of the sample answers I have written and you may have a few of your own. Now apply these to your customers. See questions below:

What homes do your customers find irresistible? Some homes are just plain cuter than others and beckon buyers! But to be honest beauty is in the eye of the beholder and every house is attractive to someone.

Where do your customers find these homes?The paper, Internet, drive-by signs, and visiting friends in their neighborhoods. Who out there has never pulled a flyer out of a 4-Sale box in a friend's neighborhood?

Of the homes that your customers have bought, How many were spontaneous? How many were planned?This is not exactly the market for spontaneity but I had a sale this month that was, BECAUSE the house was so irresistible!

OK Obviously the first question is related to desirability; puppies are cute, and they just make you feel good. When your customers are in a home that makes them all giddy, remember it and step off to the side to check your voice mail or something to give them time to bond with the house. If possible spray some "PUPPY BREATH" air freshener too!

The second question is advertising. Like puppies, your listings are irresistible to someone, but they won't know it until they SEE IT. Check your exposure and think of at least 3 more places you can post that home.

The third question ties in to the first. It's the "tail end" of your meeting with the customers. Most of my customers come to me with plans to buy a home. Some want to wait a few years, until they retire. Others are considering moving and shopping around at neighborhoods. This is the part where the puppies have the advantage. Most of the time puppies are "FREE" to good homes. Rarely do you see a sign that says "Free Home" to good Buyers! The whole point is to try to convert the "Someday's" into right now"Right Now's" by making the home irresistible!

Please take this all with a grain of salt I'm suffering from a case of Puppy-Love!!!

~Karin Elliott 
Featured Big Canoe Real Estate
Living in Big Canoe

Big Canoe, Georgia is a gated resort community located in the North Georgia Mountains. Each year Big Canoe celebrates the beginning of Autumn by hosting Oktoberfest with friends, festivities, fun, sausages and of course a genuine Oom-Pah Band! This Oktoberfest was a big hit with the largest crowd ever more vendors than I have seen as well.

It was a lovely sunny day with a slight breeze and cool enough for long sleeves. Many friends and neighbors were seen carrying umteen different hand-made crafts purchased by the vendors in one hand and a big old Warsteiner cup in the other! Others went straight for the food lines and came out happily with brats, sour-kraut, German Chocolate cake, brownies, and or course delicious Bavarian pretzels with extra salt! The Oom-Pah band played for all of Big Canoe to hear and there were some brave (possibly too much Warsteiner) neighbors that shook their groove things out on the dance floor. We watched them from our table under the very large tent.

Big Canoe Animal Rescuewas a very popular venue with some very handsome rescue-dogs ready to be adopted. The community volunteers for BCAR are truly devoted to rehabilitating and finding homes for these sweet dogs. It wouldn't be Oktoberfest without them.

There are many other Big Canoe community events throughout the which makes this neighborhood such a treasure. This serene neighborhood allows you to be completely secluded when you want to be but at the same time you can fill your calendar to the gills with social events.