Did I mention the Arizona Department of Real Estate gave me 90 minutes to get my business up and running? 90 MINUTES!
I was told four weeks. Experience suggested it would be six weeks. The three weeks, six days and twenty-two and a half hours might have made a difference. Just saying.
Instead my logo wasn't done. My business e-mail address wasn't ready. My web site still isn't done. My business cards and signs were contingent on my logo. My listing agreement for my house I have wasn't completed. My bank account wasn't open. And the list goes on.
Above all that, I have taxed the patience of Scott my graphic artist, Sarah my marketing rep and I have no idea what the girl at the sign company might be saying about me, but I am sure it isn't pleasant. Usually I am pretty easy going, but because this is for my brand, I am super-fussy. "Can I see this sign with the blue on the bottom. Would you please bold only my name and make sure my phone number is a font smaller. May I see the same piece with green instead? Please use a serif font for my tagline and a sanserif font for my logo. Now may I see that the text the other way please? I just want to verify.
I am a true delight.
None of this of course comes for free, though Scott didn't charge me nearly enough for the work he did. The sign company throws in the cost of the artwork for "free." I owe my marketing rep lunch, dinner and babysitting at this rate. If I had the extra three weeks, six days and twenty-two and a half hours, I could have budgeted for this much better. Instead, I had emergency start-up costs. Necessary, but geeze! Isn't bureaucracy supposed to take longer than promised not shorter? I suppose this is a happy problem.
I have given myself through the end of this week to get my business up and running. Then I need to go make some money.
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Friday, January 5, 2018
The Logo
Earlier this week, when I thought I was starting a brokerage in March, I pulled up my old logo. I kept my old business name from years gone by (It closed in 2011) because I like the name, I own the domain name and frankly, it is kinda catchy. Anyway, I looked at the logo--a logo I used to really like and said, "meh." It would work. But the more I stared at it, the more I had reservations. The logo was created in a time when American culture was in a different space. And so was I. The logo reminded me too much of that. To me it screamed "backwards." I want forwards.
Doing what I always do when I need something designed, I called Scott. Scott and I first worked together when I was freelancing at a magazine long ago. Then, one of the publishers branched out and stole us away. And then I opened an accidental business, wrote a book that needed a cover and got a real estate license. So, I have pretty much kept Scott busy ever since.
On Tuesday, I sent the logo to Scott--he designed it, actually--asking him to do something with it. "Fix it or something," was the concrete direction I gave him. After a few several e-mails of me saying "something," he and I had a phone call where he begged for direction. Apparently in the past 18 years, Scott hasn't learned to read my mind.
The true issue is I have no artistic inclination whatsoever. I know what I like and what people tell me I like. I understand Comic Sans font is out (was it truly ever in?). I understand certain colors on the spectrum go together. But that's where my artistic understanding ends. And now, Scott, my go-to guy in these types of situations was asking me to tell him what to do! This role reversal unnerved me. I gave him what I thought was reasonable guidance. I said things like, "Why not make one of the letters a key?" Because, you know, real estate = keys. Right? Here is part of what Scott gave me.
In his defense, I also mentioned I would like the colors green and purple in part of the logo. I did not mean not these greens and purples. Apparently Scott proudly belongs to a class of people who think "eggshell," "ecru" and "tan" are the same colors.
I then gave Scott some Pantone colors--including blue and gold. This is what I got. You can kind of see the green Pantone I gave him in the graphic below. I accidentally cut it off.
Doing what I always do when I need something designed, I called Scott. Scott and I first worked together when I was freelancing at a magazine long ago. Then, one of the publishers branched out and stole us away. And then I opened an accidental business, wrote a book that needed a cover and got a real estate license. So, I have pretty much kept Scott busy ever since.
On Tuesday, I sent the logo to Scott--he designed it, actually--asking him to do something with it. "Fix it or something," was the concrete direction I gave him. After a few several e-mails of me saying "something," he and I had a phone call where he begged for direction. Apparently in the past 18 years, Scott hasn't learned to read my mind.
The true issue is I have no artistic inclination whatsoever. I know what I like and what people tell me I like. I understand Comic Sans font is out (was it truly ever in?). I understand certain colors on the spectrum go together. But that's where my artistic understanding ends. And now, Scott, my go-to guy in these types of situations was asking me to tell him what to do! This role reversal unnerved me. I gave him what I thought was reasonable guidance. I said things like, "Why not make one of the letters a key?" Because, you know, real estate = keys. Right? Here is part of what Scott gave me.
In his defense, I also mentioned I would like the colors green and purple in part of the logo. I did not mean not these greens and purples. Apparently Scott proudly belongs to a class of people who think "eggshell," "ecru" and "tan" are the same colors.
I then gave Scott some Pantone colors--including blue and gold. This is what I got. You can kind of see the green Pantone I gave him in the graphic below. I accidentally cut it off.
Then I sent him a palette with a few color selections that caught my eye. Coincidentally, Google said these colors were "trendy." Because I was still hell-bent on something quasi-purple, I suggested the Tawney Port might be a nice idea. He gave me Autumn Maple.
The major accomplishment on Wednesday was to decide (via committee of Scott, Marty, Buckaroo and myself) the key wasn't working in the logo. So, we went with a house icon. After all, I am selling houses, so there might be a correlation. Here is the house he gave me.
Now to be fair, Scott is all kinds of awesome. Marty has been lamenting that the poor guy was seeing an ugly side of me today, as I micromanaged this process with nano-changes (how about a door mat or flowers?). Incidentally, Scott mentioned the orange "popped." He is right, it does. I still hate it.
There were a few micro-issues with the font too, but once we got those worked out (solid color, no shadowing please,) we went back to the icon. Truly, the house felt incomplete. Buckaroo said it needed walls. It made me think of the burned out buildings I have seen. No, this would not do. So, I set Scott to work on a few house designs, including ones I drew on my phone with my jeans as the backdrop (I was parked at a red light).
Scott responded with the following pictures and an optimistic "How are these? Is this your vision?"
It was not my vision. Buckaroo shook his head. Marty offered his pity to Scott. I mentally tallied how many hours he had worked on this and how much I was going to owe him.
We had all liked the concept of a house. It was the first house I just didn't like. When I looked at it again, I realized what I didn't like was that it just looked incomplete. So after we dithered about the house design all day Thursday, I told him to please put eaves and a doorknob and please send it back.
In three minutes flat, Scott sent me this.
And it was perfect.
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Full Steam Ahead
Tuesday, while I was taking my classes online to finish up the last requirements I needed, I talked to El Jefe. He was supportive. He told me to come on back when I got bored from doing this myself. I am always welcome at his office.
I had talked to Jane earlier in the week and she actually interviewed (from my introduction) with Mrs. Hufflepuff yesterday. I believe she is going to join them. Also, she and Mrs. Hufflepuff are now Facebook friends. Jane also admonished me for being nervous in talking to her. Turns out she was planning on leaving El Jefe anyway.
Yesterday, I turned everything into the Department of Real Estate at 11 and was approved by 12:45. Just the approval process from the Department alone I am told takes three weeks. It didn't even take three hours! Since then I have been moving non-stop. Everything electronic with my name on it has to be changed to reflect I am a Designated Broker. Technically this blog too, if I used my name. But let's resolve this right now: Me writing this and you reading this in no way implies agency. Are we good?
Later today, I get my listing back. El Jefe signed it over to me but there is some paperwork involved that requires a small extortion fee from the realtor association. Today I also open a bank account and (hopefully) get business cards and a couple of signs made. That is, if my graphic artist and I can hash something out. Its been fun collaborating, but I am afraid he is going to charge me a PITA fee if this goes much longer. Eventually I will have an e-mail address and a web site.
The last item on my list for today is just to breathe.
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
New Brokerage Update
A few interesting opportunities presented themselves on Monday. First, El Jefe, sent out a new employment agreement for me to sign. This one is favorable, but I don't want to sign it. I want to leave. Nothing made me want to get going more than reading over the though-favorable-not-what-I-wanted employment agreement.
Second, it turns out, external "back up" hard drives break. And never let it be said they do it when you are in a chill mode. "Yea, I need that file, but if I never see it again, no biggie." It doesn't work like that. Instead--as a friend told me--it is more like "I hope I saved that file from 2004 because the world will end if I don't have it." Incidentally, my logo was originally created in 2004.
And as a side note, apparently not everything put on the Internet is still on the Internet. Including my logo. But, because I am a bit of a computer file hoarder, I found the old logo on my former laptop (now Marty's laptop). When I saw the logo, I thought, "Meh, I don't love it as much as I thought I did." so I sent it out to my graphic artist friend who will hopefully be inspired. If he isn't, well, I will deal with it for now. But it won't be my permanent logo.
Monday I also called my client, the one listing I have. She said she would cancel at a moment's notice and go with me. I explained she might need to say this in writing that she feels this way, because I don't see El Jefe being so cooperative me taking a $539,000 listing from him. "Whatever you need," she said. I so appreciate that.
Everything about the "let's start a brokerage" hobby is moving faster than I anticipated. That isn't a complaint, but an observation. And for the most part, it is falling into place easily.
Second, it turns out, external "back up" hard drives break. And never let it be said they do it when you are in a chill mode. "Yea, I need that file, but if I never see it again, no biggie." It doesn't work like that. Instead--as a friend told me--it is more like "I hope I saved that file from 2004 because the world will end if I don't have it." Incidentally, my logo was originally created in 2004.
And as a side note, apparently not everything put on the Internet is still on the Internet. Including my logo. But, because I am a bit of a computer file hoarder, I found the old logo on my former laptop (now Marty's laptop). When I saw the logo, I thought, "Meh, I don't love it as much as I thought I did." so I sent it out to my graphic artist friend who will hopefully be inspired. If he isn't, well, I will deal with it for now. But it won't be my permanent logo.
Monday I also called my client, the one listing I have. She said she would cancel at a moment's notice and go with me. I explained she might need to say this in writing that she feels this way, because I don't see El Jefe being so cooperative me taking a $539,000 listing from him. "Whatever you need," she said. I so appreciate that.
Everything about the "let's start a brokerage" hobby is moving faster than I anticipated. That isn't a complaint, but an observation. And for the most part, it is falling into place easily.
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
She's Back
Well, Mrs. Worrier is back. She has found a lovely home (on Zillow--because she is refusing to allow me to send her listings) for $1950 a month. It is managed by a property management company, so I don't know how far along this process will go. I do know I am not getting out of my comfy chair to show her this home until this, and her other unrealistic requests are addressed.
I looked at the photos and I can already see lots of dangerous issues. There are built in shelves--she will be worried her kids will climb them and fall. There is a landing at the top of the staircase, where her children may tumble to their demise. There are windows the littles can fall out of. There is a bathtub the cherubs can drown in (after they fill the tub up, of course). There is a stove, sidewalk, and locks on the doors. And the list of potential hazards goes on.
The home is 3,800 square feet, five bedroom and has a three car garage. I think the place should rent--easily--for $2200 if it weren't the first week of January. The Worriers simply cannot afford that much money for rent. So, Mrs. Worrier asked me if I could please check and see if the owner would be willing to take $1700 a month for a two year lease. Honestly even if they were to get a rent reduction, they still can't handle the water, utilities and maintenance costs. The house is huge.
I have to tell you, I have no idea why potential renters think this is a bargaining tool. You are offering less money--which means, most likely, you can't afford the rent--for an opportunity to stay longer. Why would a landlord do this? Let's see... they can take a one year lease and make roughly $23,400 for the year, and then next year raise the rent if necessary, or take a two year lease for less money and be locked into a business relationship for longer and for less proceeds.
In the metro Phoenix area, we have not been in a tenant's market since 2010 and I don't see it changing soon. Tenants really have little bargaining power and I don't know for any reason--even when there are more homes to choose from--why a landlord would willingly agree to this.
There are homes available in Mrs. Worrier's price range. But they aren't good enough. They are "too small" (Marty and I grew up in significantly smaller--and Marty lived in a larger family than the Worriers) and not "new" and "modern" enough. I honestly wish someone would be able to explain to the tenants and buyers of the world, if it is new and modern today, it won't be in three years. There truly is an argument for functional and utilitarian.
I looked at the photos and I can already see lots of dangerous issues. There are built in shelves--she will be worried her kids will climb them and fall. There is a landing at the top of the staircase, where her children may tumble to their demise. There are windows the littles can fall out of. There is a bathtub the cherubs can drown in (after they fill the tub up, of course). There is a stove, sidewalk, and locks on the doors. And the list of potential hazards goes on.
The home is 3,800 square feet, five bedroom and has a three car garage. I think the place should rent--easily--for $2200 if it weren't the first week of January. The Worriers simply cannot afford that much money for rent. So, Mrs. Worrier asked me if I could please check and see if the owner would be willing to take $1700 a month for a two year lease. Honestly even if they were to get a rent reduction, they still can't handle the water, utilities and maintenance costs. The house is huge.
I have to tell you, I have no idea why potential renters think this is a bargaining tool. You are offering less money--which means, most likely, you can't afford the rent--for an opportunity to stay longer. Why would a landlord do this? Let's see... they can take a one year lease and make roughly $23,400 for the year, and then next year raise the rent if necessary, or take a two year lease for less money and be locked into a business relationship for longer and for less proceeds.
In the metro Phoenix area, we have not been in a tenant's market since 2010 and I don't see it changing soon. Tenants really have little bargaining power and I don't know for any reason--even when there are more homes to choose from--why a landlord would willingly agree to this.
There are homes available in Mrs. Worrier's price range. But they aren't good enough. They are "too small" (Marty and I grew up in significantly smaller--and Marty lived in a larger family than the Worriers) and not "new" and "modern" enough. I honestly wish someone would be able to explain to the tenants and buyers of the world, if it is new and modern today, it won't be in three years. There truly is an argument for functional and utilitarian.
Monday, January 1, 2018
Happy 2018
In other news, the Arizona Corporation Commission sent me an e-mail Friday. I am approved!
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