Coweta Fayette Real Estate & Newnan Homes for sale blog by Richard Weisser of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers

When I awoke this morning, the room was much brighter that usual. The first thought that jumped into my mind was “oh my goodness, what time is it?”

It was 8:37 A.M. to be exact. It was official:

I had slept in!

And while that might be a common occurrence for many, for me it only happens if I’m ill. I never use an alarm clock as my natural internal rhythm stirs me out of bed at six every morning.

I guess that I was just really, really tired. Fortunately, I don’t have any appointments this morning so there was no adverse side-effects of my lethargy.

And it actually felt pretty good!

Like everyone else, I have a list of unfinished projects that need addressing. I’m not really talking about things that I want to do or am planning to do, but projects that have already been set into action, with money spent and time invested.

The unfinished items include everything and anything from some incomplete home improvements to revamping several websites to getting better organized.

As the list continues to get longer and longer, I have dismissed my inability to keep up as a natural occurrence commensurate with my age. Perhaps I am slowing down a bit as time takes its toll.

But I am not ready for the retirement home yet, and I’m pretty robust for my years. So I came to the realization that my inability to keep up with these activities is actually related to my work as a real estate broker.

Very simply put; the real estate business demands a lot more time than in years past. Not only does it take a lot more effort to generate leads and create new business, but transactions in progress require substantially more work than in the past.

It is not uncommon to spend an hour a day on each transaction that is already “in the drawer,” two to three hours doing online marketing and social networking, and another hour scrubbing leads and following up on prospects.

That’s not counting the actual hardcore business of preparing listing presentations, scheduling showings, and actually meeting with clients to list a home or to show property. It makes for some very long work days.

This leaves very little remaining time to complete all of these unfinished business and personal projects that I have started.

There are just not enough hours in the day!

Coweta County has experienced some troubling economic times over the last few years. And during that time, the consumer hasn’t gotten any relief.

As a matter of fact, the average citizen has been hit with higher food and gasoline prices, the suspension of the Homestead Exemption on their property taxes, and higher prices for public services.

And now there’s a new wrinkle is the diminishing disposable income fabric. This year’s record high temperatures have produced utility bills that are in some cases DOUBLE what they were last year.

Homeowners and tenants are struggling to pay electricity invoices that are nearly equal to their mortgage payments or rental amounts. It’s not just the hot days that have caused the problem, as high humidity and overnight temperatures have kept the air conditioners running all night long!

And more money spent on keeping your cool is less money spent is local stores and restaurants. It is truly an economic challenge that was not expected.

And it couldn’t have happened at a worse time!

I use state-of the art-anti-virus software. I don't open attachments that I am not expecting to be sent. I don't visit dubious websites.

And yet my computer was attacked last night and is paralyzed by a debilitating bit of malware. I feel violated. I feel sick.

And I wonder why nobody has addressed these repeated acts of criminal extortion? People are being robbed of their money and their time every day and yet these wicked perpetrators are allowed to continue unpunished.

It's not like you would have to be a master detective to find them. All you have to do is follow the money.

And there are accomplices that could and should be implicated. The credit card companies and shopping card services that take their cut are not doing all they can to put an end to this madness.

Is there no law enforcement in this area? What is being done? It is an assault against polite society that should not be tolerated.

And I'm sick and tired of it.

Trust is a wonderful quality. It is very satisfying to have enough faith and confidence in a person or a company to take them at their word.

And most of the time, everyone involved in a verbal commitment really does mean to keep their word and to stick to it.

The problem is more one of fading memories. As time goes on there is a good likelihood that one or both parties committed to a verbal agreement simply forget the details of the mutual pact.

The act of insisting on a written agreement is not necessarily a lack of trust. It can often be an excellent “memory aid” in the event of confusion down the road.

No matter how simple or unimportant an arrangement might be, a written agreement can actually become a relationship builder, and not a friendship destroyer.

As I said, trust is a wonderful quality!

Don't let it ruin a good relationship forever.

I participated in a charity event last night, and the emcee that introduced me was very gracious and mentioned my real estate business and suggested to all present that anyone that needed a good real estate agent call me.

And while I appreciated his kind efforts to compensate me for my participation, I felt a little awkward at the same time. After all, I was there to support the charities and not promote myself or my business.

But a good marketer does get involved in community affairs, and does join fraternal organizations, and volunteers for charitable work. It’s all part of getting in front of the public.

And as an active community proponent, it is natural that the additional exposure will contribute to your base of business.

Some might call it “giving back,” while others might call it “paying it forward.”

But it really is a “win-win” for both your business and your community.

Procrastination is pervasive in our busy society. This year, I was very busy and was unable to complete my returns by the deadlines. And so I filed for six month extensions.

The extended deadline for corporate returns is September 15, which is just a few weeks from now. Personal returns are due by October 15 which adds a little breathing room, but it will be here before you know it.

So if you are like me and have postponed the inevitable, it’s time to get to work. Those statements and receipts become more and more elusive as time goes on and the odds are that preparing the return will be a lot harder know than it would have been six months ago!

There are only two certainties in life and we all know what they are!

And when forced to make a choice, I prefer the latter!

Any real estate agent will tell you that the business is prone to cyclical amounts of activity.

There are times when the phones are ringing off the hook and you have more clients than you can handle, and corresponding times when business is slow and nothing is on the books for a closing.

Many agents use the slow times for additional marketing efforts, and use the lulls opportunistically to generate more business.

However, this behavior only contributes to the fluctuations of highs and lows. Because if you wait until there is NO business before you try to get NEW business, the peaks and valleys of the business cycle will become more extreme.

The best way to moderate the swings is to market and lead generate consistently and constantly throughout the year. It is most important to maintain these activities bury the busiest periods as well, because the pipeline of business must remain full and flowing or there will be dry spells down the road.

It’s hard to set aside marketing time when things are going crazy. But it is essential for maintaining a steady stream of potential customers.

And for smoothing out the highs and lows!

I just spent all day helping some friends move, There was plenty of packing involved in addition to moving a lot of heavy furniture.

And now I am very tired, but it a good kind of tired, The kind of weariness that comes from a day of hard work and strenuous physical activity.

It’s a good feeling that renews the spirit and clears the cobwebs inside the old noggin!

But even though I feel the better man for doing it, I’m sure gad that I don’t have to do it again tomorrow!

Coweta County Georgia was one of the fastest growing counties in the nation in the early part of the decade. It ranked in the top ten U.S. Counties in growth for several years, and even hit the number one spot for a brief period of time.

But with progress, there is always an associated loss. Much of the county’s rural charm and scenic beauty fell prey to the earth movers and bulldozers. As a matter of fact, there was so much development that the loss of greenspace and natural elements was alarming.

When the real estate market reached the saturation point, the machines stopped and the disappearing natural landscape was granted a reprieve. What is very bad for the real estate business is very good for the environment

It’s a trade-off with some positive benefits.

And it is one that I am willing to accept!

I was in downtown Atlanta the other morning, I had to hand deliver some documents and I did not want to use an overnight service.

Downtown Atlanta is about 40 miles from the office, so it’s not a short trip. And you have to deal with traffic and all of the other impediments of urban driving.

After my delivery, I was just starting to head back to Newnan when I saw a most beautiful presentation of the cityscape in the morning sun. It almost took my breath away.

I had my camera (as usual) but to get the shot I would have to turn around, go though a traffic light or two, park, and take the shot.

I looked at my cell phone and decided that I did not have the minutes to spare. I had to be back at the office by 11:00 A.M. and I hate to be late!

So I continued back to the office, forsaking the opportunity to take the photo. It gnawed at me all the way back to Newnan.

And of course, I was on time, but the party that I was meeting was thirty minutes late. I could have taken all of the shots I wanted and given up nothing!

The next time I see a shot, I’m taking it. Life is too short, I love photos. I’m not going to pass on another one!

Over the last week or so, the air conditioner at the house has been running a lot more than usual. Even at night, it seemed to be working overtime to maintain a pleasant temperature inside our domicile.

That didn’t surprise me. It has been oppressively hot and muggy here in Newnan Georgia for some time. And even the slightly longer nights are not offering much relief, with temperatures only dropping into the high 70’s.

But finally, after a week or so of worrying about our next utility bill, I decided to give the A/C units a service check.

And when I did, I discovered that both units were in need of some significant maintenance. As a former A/C mechanic, I was able to get the air conditioners working perfectly in just a few hours.

This got me to thinking. Sometimes the problem isn’t obvious. Had I continued to attribute the poor performance to the extraordinary heat, I would have never addressed the real issue of a less than optimized A/C Unit.

In business, as in life, we often miss the root cause of an issue by making assumptions and not correctly diagnosing the problem. And that underlying and ignored problem will become worse and worse as time goes on.

In order to properly take care of any situation that may be problematic, you must first correctly identify the problem.

And then and only then, you can fix it!

A successful negotiation between buyer and seller that results in an accepted Purchase and Sale agreement is often described as a meeting of the minds.

It’s the point at which adversarial interests mutually acknowledge that the terms and conditions of the sale are agreeable to both parties.

But it doesn’t always happen. Many times, negotiations can go on for days without a successful resolution. Although the seller wants to sell, and the buyer wants to buy, the chasm that divides them is just too wide to cross.

And after each party has made their”highest, best, and final offer”  without an acceptance, the chance for a meeting of the minds is gone..

In those cases, it’s best to respect the needs and desires of each participant, and move on to the next potential deal.

And start the process anew.

There is a natural tendency when faced with a tenuous situation to “take the plunge” and deal with the consequences later.

But you should always bear in mind that someone else’s interpretation of “dealing with the consequences” may differ from yours.

You might envision a nice roundtable discussion with everyone working together to achieve a harmonious resolution.

However, the harmed party might be thinking more along the lines of attorneys, juries, and torts.

Lawyers love gray areas, and are bound and determined to turn them into black letter law in the court of jurisprudence.

Before moving into unknown or unsure territory, always ask yourself:

Is it really worth the risk?

There are many times in both business and in life we are champing at the bit to jump into a conversation, offer advice, or just add our two cents worth to the debate.

The problem is, that in order to have a successful dialogue, it is important to listen first, digest what is said, and then speak in turn.

It’s hard to do sometimes when the mind is in “race” mode and you’re ready and raring to go. But if you jump in too soon, not only are you losing your own ability to have a shining moment, but you may be jeopardizing the entire conversation’s chances of achieving a successful conclusion.

Sometimes the best thing that one can say is nothing.

Until it’s our turn!

I got a call from a nice young man yesterday afternoon. He was here from out of town for the weekend and had found a house on the Internet and wanted to see it right away.

The problem was, my business partner and I were already scheduled out for the day and we were physically unable to set aside enough time to properly help him.

We did manage to squeeze in enough time to show him the house he wanted to see which did not meet his expectations, and then he asked if we had “others” that we could show him.

We did have others that we could show him, but we did not have the time to either set up the appointments or to show the properties. We told him that we would be glad to allocate some time the following day, but he insisted that he would be returning home in the morning.

I explained that real estate sales was a service business, and that we worked by appointment. And in reality, our time was better spent with pre-qualified, ready, willing, and able buyers that had been scheduled in advance.

I suppose that many people assume that we sit by the telephone and wait for it to ring. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We are constantly adjusting our schedules to both meet with clients and to deal with all of the necessary paperwork and follow-up. It’s a struggle just keeping up with everything that needs to be done.

And in order to best serve our clients, we need to set aside enough time to take care of THEIR needs! Otherwise, we will both be disappointed with the outcome.

Coweta County Commercial Real Estate

Coweta County Industrial Real Estate

Located in the heart of downtown Newnan, this historic hosiery mill offers approximatelty 44,000 square feet of industrial/manufacturing space. It is fully operational and is currently in use. All utilities are available.

The property is also suitable for conversion to residential lofts, retail shops, or as a mixed-use development. The structure sits on 4.75 acres adjacent to the CSX rail line.

The possibilities are endless, and are limited only by your imagination and city approval!

Asking Price is $1,500,000.

Complete details Newnan Commercial Real Estate

As the real estate market began to decline in Newnan Georgia, it became readily apparent that many premium attributes of properties were losing value at a rate faster than the market as a whole.

During the heyday of the boom years, historic properties were in very high demand in Coweta County Georgia. And we have plenty of them, including many antebellum homes and plantations.

However, as prices dropped mortgage lenders became more and more cautious; the intrinsic value of history and charm no longer translates to monetary value.

In many cases, distressed homeowners can no longer afford to maintain these gems of history, and many are upside-down and are unable to sell their property.

As a result, there is a good chance that many of these historic structures could be lost forever. They will disappear as mere collateral damage of the current real estate market.

It’s a sad legacy of the times.

As online social networking becomes more intertwined in the fabric of everyday life, there seems to be a general shift towards virtual interaction with friends, colleagues and customers.

And although this trend allows for the maximum amount of online social-butterflying with the least expenditure of time, I often wonder if all of the exposure comes at too great of a cost.

Because every minute that is spent in the virtual world is one less that is spent with real, live, breathing human beings in the real world of everyday life.

Are we giving up too much of our humanity for the sake of convenience? I for one, still enjoy the pleasure of good company. At the office, we still have lunch in groups and talk about our lives in general outside the world of real estate.

It is still possible to enjoy social networking in the REAL world! It may be old-fashioned, but it still works!

And it feel pretty good too!