After my previous blog about clutter, clutter, everywhere clutter, I had a bad taste in my mouth.  If you look at the picture in the precious clutter post, you will understand.  So I wanted to go in the opposite direction. Talking about our marketing consultants helps take the bad taste out of my mouth.  Ron and Alexandra Seigel are the people responsible for starting us on the path to true excellence and for the look and style of this website.  Ron and Alexandra have helped us to become the black sheep of excellence we wanted to be in our business, and even in our life.

Somehow I stumbled upon Ron and Alexandra several years ago.  Victoria and I were just starting to work together, and it was obvious to us that my methods of business were a little too hickville for Victoria.  My training had been a little more Jeff Foxworthy than Beverly Hills style of elegance.

They say when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.  Well in our case, the teachers appeared.  I don't even remember how I foung them.  I searched the internet and they appeared.  This was a great lesson showing the power of the internet. 

We met with Ron and Alexandra and had an instant rapport.  They understood exactly what Victoria and I were trying to do.  We wanted to become a team, and we wanted to become Downtown San Diego condo experts.  Victoria already knew Downtown San Diego because her Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE) professors were Downtown San Diego developers and builders.  Along with these professors' education, Victoria had earned her MBA, MSRE from the University of San Diego, and her California Broker's License.  We had begun to gather the pieces of our puzzle.  Ron and Alexandra helped us to put the puzzle together.

We transformed our business due to the help from Ron and Alexandra Seigel and they showed me that it is never too late to change your business model, no matter what the model might be.  Our business has exploded as never before.  I would suggest you read their blog, Language of Luxury if you have any interest in upgrading your life or your business. 

The above photo is in one of Ron and Alexandra Seigel's blogs, The Black Sheep of Excellence and I would suggest you read it no matter what your job.  If you want to better yourself, better your lifestyle, and better your environment, whether mental or physical, visit Ron and Alexandra's website at Napa Consultants. 

Our goal is to give you the best real estate experience you can find and provide the black sheep of excellence.  Our change to Willis Allen Real Estate has given us one more puzzle piece to enhance our goal of being the best of the best!  Thanks Ron and Alexandra. 

This is a series of articles by Sharyn and Victoria Crown, Downtown San Diego real estate agents.

Do you ever cruise around the internet looking at a wide variety of sites?  I do and it's especially fun to look at real estate sites.  Imagine how my interest was piqued when I came across this photo of a home for sale in Texas.

Clutter is obviously universal. Would you want your bedroom to look like this if you were selling?

Leif Swanson is a real estate agent in Phoenix and he has a really funny blog named uglyhousephotos.com.  This is one particular bedroom in a Texas home.  However, this could actually be here in San Diego as well.  Sometimes when showing properties, whether in Downtown San Diego or other areas in San Diego County, you see homes like this. 

Over the years of my career, I have often wondered if people show their homes like this when they are selling, can you imagine what their home or condo looks like when they aren't selling?  This is why your realtor hands out "Steps To Staging Your Home."  I used to be very tactful about clearing clutter when selling, but now I just say, "pick it up, clean it up, and trash it."  In reality, most sellers, even clutter challenged sellers appreciate input as to how to make their home look its best. 

I have noticed when we show condos in Downtown San Diego, there at least isn't as much room to clutter since downtown condos tend to be smaller than those located further from the Downtown San Diego core.  It would be sexist to say that men tend to be messier than women, but I can say that rarely do I see stacks of women's undies on the floor.

This is a series of articles by Sharyn and Victoria Crown, Downtown San Diego real estate agents.

This new year brings a lot of new laws and changes.  Those of us in real estate are become familiar with what we can the HUD closing statement.  HUD (Dept. of Housing and Urban Development) controls how lenders show loan costs.  If you are a buyer and have purchased  before, you will see some changes that are supposed to simplify things for you.  I am not sure yet how simple this has all become.  Time will tell once we all get used to the new form.  If you would like to see a full-sized copy just click here for  the HUD Closing Statement 

This is a sample of the new HUD closing statement. Click for the full size document.

This is a series of articles by Sharyn and Victoria Crown, Downtown San Diego real estate agents.