Author: Brett Furniss

Charlotte Property Management Weekly: The Tipping Point is Coming- Are You Prepared for Lease Purchase?

“I understand that qualified buyers are becoming scarcer by the day. More and more houses I list are sitting vacant on the market while the owner eats the mortgage every month. Do I just tell them to wait for the market to come back or is there something I can do?” (Charlotte Realtor)

“In sociology, a tipping point or angle of repose is the event of a previously rare phenomenon becoming rapidly and dramatically more common. The phrase was coined in its sociological use by Morton Grodzins, by analogy with the fact in physics that adding a small amount of weight to a balanced object can cause it to suddenly and completely topple.” (Wikipedia definition of “tipping point”)

“The Times They Are A-Changin’” (Bob Dylan)

Charlotte Property Management Weekly: Sales- You Gonna Do It the Hard Way or Like Rick Pitino?

“I’m okay at sales. I send out 1,000 postcards and call all my internet leads every month. I’m just trying to figure out how to convert more of them this year.” (Pensive Charlotte Realtor)

“That’s right! You’re not your dad. He could sell a ketchup popsicle to a woman in white gloves.” (David Spade to Chris Farley in “Tommy Boy”)

“Put. That coffee. Down. Coffee’s for closers only.” (Alec Baldwin in “Glengarry Glen Ross”)

Charlotte Property Management Weekly: Thankful for an Awful Year: Next Top 2 Business Takeaways from 2009 (Part 2)

“The MacArthur Foundation gave out its annual genius awards. This year’s awards went to a journalist, a mental health scientist, and a couple who sold their house three years ago.” (Conan O’Brien from The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien)

“Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light.” (Ralph Blane)

In last “Charlotte Property Management Weekly’s” episode, I discussed the first two takeaways from businesses looking to survive this tough economic environment. This article will focus on the other top two business adjustments I’ve seen businesses take in 2009. Without further ado, they are:

Charlotte Property Management Weekly: Thankful for an Awful Year: Top 2 Business Takeaways from 2009 (Part 1)

“Oh… Deck the halls with boughs of holly (picked for free from the yard), fa la la la la, la la, la, la… ‘Tis the season to (fake) be(ing) jolly, fa la la la la, la la, la, la… (“Unthankful” Charlotte Business Owner)

“…give thanks in all circumstances…” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

“Left a good job in the city

Charlotte Property Management Weekly: Can You Beat UNC Coach Roy Williams in a Pie-Eating Contest?

“I’m not making any money. The economy is killing my firm. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t in anything but survival mode at this point. My New Year’s resolution this year is to be able to make a 2011 resolution with a roof still over my head.” (Charlotte business owner)

“Creativity without implementation is irresponsibility.” (Ted Leavitt at the Harvard Business School)

Charlotte Property Management Weekly: Jack Welch is Envious of Your Real Estate Firm?

“I’m not sure what we are going to do… Revenue is down and costs are the same. We are scraping by on a few first-time home buyer sales that come through. Worst of all, my employees are having a hard time making a living in this traditional brokerage business model.” (Frustrated Charlotte Real Estate Firm Owner)

“Most small companies are uncomplicated, simple, informal. They grow on good ideas regardless of their source. They need everyone, involve everyone, and reward or remove people based on their contribution to winning.

Charlotte Property Management Weekly: Lies, Damn Lies, & Rent-To-Own Statistics: 5 Ways to Increase Your Odds of Sale

“I’m sorry. My Broker-in-Charge does not permit us to do lease options. She said the percent of people that actually purchase is 8%.” (Charlotte Realtor)

“Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination.” (Winston Churchill)

Wow- 8%! I still can’t get over that figure.

Charlotte Property Management Weekly: Hoop Dreams & Lottery Ticket Listing Agreements

“Sure your home will sell. Besides (wink, wink), do you really want some dirty tenant destroying your house and using the would-be rent money to up fit their new meth lab?” (“Aggressive” Charlotte Realtor pushing for a “sale only” listing agreement)

“Everything became pretty clear at that moment. Being a rock star looked like a great job.” (Singer Tom Petty reminiscing about meeting Elvis Presley as an 11-year old)

Charlotte Property Management Weekly: “(Real Estate) Investing with the Stars”

“What do I look like to you? A moron? Don’t answer that… But seriously, my real estate investment properties are illiquid and have declined in value. You still say I should double down?” (Charlotte Real Estate Investor)

“Buy straw hats in the winter…” (Russell Sage, Wall Street Financier)

Buying (and selling) at the right time is the heart of many popular Wall Street mantras on how to become wealthy

Charlotte Property Management Weekly: Tenant Tradeoffs: Another Piece of Chocolate Cake or Look Good With Your Shirt Off?

“I don’t like the prior bankruptcy on this prospective tenant, but they make great income. The other tenant has a 430 credit score, but has perfect landlord history. Should I accept either into the property?” (Charlotte Property Manager)

“If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.” (Crosby Stills Nash & Young)

One of the main things I learned during my MBA classes was that business, like life, is all about tradeoffs.