Taking a Break From Listing and Selling Real Estate.

I now have to go back to listing and selling real estate but it is always  fun taking a break.

Until Phoebe adjusts to us,  I am going to show you a few of my outside friends.

Using the Tripod suggested by William Johnson, I am able to get some clearer photos.

I really like capturing my squirrels and the photos below are better than these greedy little critters! or even these.
                     




                                  


Couldn't resist the pretty daffodil while on a listing appointment..no tripod this time.

                                        
I now have to go back to listing and selling real estate but it was fun taking a break.

Taking a Break From Listing and Selling Real Estate.

Thank you William Johnson, I took your advice!

Thank you William Johnson for your suggestion. I took your advice! I love being able to see the squirrel's eye, the light through his/her ear, the individual hairs of the furry tail and the buds on the tree. All because I took your advice.


                         


This was a comment made by William Johnson about my Spring Robins in Baltimore.

''I am going to recommend you use a tripod. It is not always convenient so here is a better compromise. Buy a monopod. I have a really neat one ( light as feather with magnetic ball head for fast release of camera) that would be great for a point and shoot camera. I use it when I don't carry my tripod or in a crowd of people at some of our events here in San Diego. It doubles over as a walking stick so it is very cool looking as well. It helps hold the camera from shaking ( even a tiny bit of movement can make the photos less sharp).  Once you have it, keep it handy and the difference in the quality of the shot you simply will not believe until you see for yourself...''

My TrekTech Pod II arrived this week and I have had very limited time to play with it. The photo above was taken using the tripod..a first for me.

The next time I see those robins, I will have better photos for sure!
Thank you William Johnson for your suggestion. I took your advice!

It's All About Teamwork! Whose Team?

It's all about teamwork or is it? Guess it depends on which team you are on.

In the beginning the feeders were meant for the the Birds. And slowly the squirrels took over. We tried many different squirrel proof (ha..no such thing) feeders..even coated the wires with Vaseline. Those adorable critters can get around anything. Greed.....When Enough is NOT Enough 

 

I have to admire their tenacity and their teamwork. They take turns on the feeder, do some acrobatics, eat for a while, knock down a lot of seeds, hop off and eat what's on the ground. Quite efficient for the squirrels. They have figured out the art of teamwork!

   
They take turns. One on the feeder, two enjoying the fruits of the worker above. The big black birds are sharing in this ground feast.

That feeder has now been emptied by the furry mammals....not be refilled for awhile. It is time for the pretty colorful birds to enjoy their own special feeder (with the tiny mesh holes) without interference 'teamwork' .

                                                  
A few days ago all 3 feeders were full.

It's all about teamwork...but you better know whose team you are on!

Gunning for Greed!

There was a lot of reaction to my post about greed and some very greedy squirrels. After reading some of the comments on my post, TLH, Lee took a comment seriously and went out and bought a water gun to help in our attempt at behavior modification and attitude adjustment.

It's called "The Equalizer", and with a range of more than 40 feet he can really have fun getting after those greedy critters. Does it work? Well, it is very accurate and immediately effective but only if you actually hit one. Just getting close was not good enough. Tough little critters. Don't know about long term lasting effects. I have a feeling there will be none.

For the animal lovers out there, don't worry – the squirrels still have their own feeder. All Lee is doing is teaching them which feeder they can eat from and which is reserved for birds.

I think Lee will tire before the squirrels. What do you think?

Greed...When Enough is NOT Enough

Some can call it greed. You can give and give and give and there are those who will still take more. You have to know when and how to be in control. In other words how to put a lid on it.

You know I love my mini aviary and the colorful birds it attracts. But we have other visitors that just won't give up. They have managed to get into the bird feeders in spite of the "guaranteed" guards that are supposed to protect against the furry playful rodents. In addition to the plastic shield, which they were able to navigate, Vaseline on the long "S" hangers and "squirrel proof" bird feeders, the cute but pesky critters could always figure out a way to get to the seeds.

So then I thought, let's try two feeders with the same food, thinking one for the furry and one for the feathered. That meant purchasing more sunflower seeds which I placed in the brown container on my porch. That seemed to work - the pretty finches and other colorful birds were back. What a delight!

And then....

I bought a larger bag of sunflower seeds to supply both of those large feeders. And wouldn't you know it, the bag was too much for the can. I closed the paper/mesh bag and covered it with plastic and then put the can lid on top. There, that should do it.

A few hours later, I heard some noise out front. The lid was on the ground, the seeds were all over the stone porch, and the furry critters were inside the bag and chewing through the bag and the plastic. Why you greedy creatures! Remember, they already had their own feeder at this time, but that was not enough. No, they emptied the squirrel feeder and started on the bird feeder. Time to refill so there is enough for everybody. Then I repaired the damage and put the lid on TIGHT.

How does this relate to real estate? With some clients, enough is not enough. Not enough advertising, not enough contact, not enough showings, not enough offers, not enough attention. You name it, enough is not enough.

How do you decide when to put the lid on?

I love working with my sellers, the ones that are referred, the ones that appreciate what I do, the ones who are pleased with my efforts, my phone calls, my emails, my texts, my ads, my blogs, my google juice, my Realtor.com, my updates, my negotiating skills...etc.

And then there are those few clients who I choose not to work with from the beginning, because enough will never be enough.

That's an important thing to learn – saying "No" to working with people who will never be satisfied no matter what we do.