Tony & Darcy - The C Team's Blog

I chose a thought from our Nations past as today's thought.  When he was President, John F. Kennedy hosted a dinner with I believe several Nobel Prize winners made the quote:

"I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House - with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

That is the back story for the wisdom of the quote that I have chosen for today.  I decided to this quote as I read it in a posting that an old school mate put on Facebook.

"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government."

Thomas Jefferson

I found this something to think about it today's political climate.  This was what the writer of the Declaration of Independence had in mind as his definition of Good Government.  It seems that we have lost sight of what our Founding Fathers thought Government should be.  Just something to think about.

I like to watch the TV Show Monk on USA Network.  I find it to be well written and brilliantly acted.  It is the highlight of my TV watching during the summer, well after the MLB All Star Game.  Those that watch the show know that Mr. Monk is a brilliant detective that is afraid of, well everything!  He has every phobia known to man.  Last night's episode had him playing a mafia hitman after his doppleganger (the real hitman) is killed.

This scenario presents a huge problem for the phobic Mr. Monk, he has to summon strength heretofore unknown to him.  He needs to act like a mafioso hitman, and emote an aura of toughness.  A task that is difficult for the mild mannered detective.  Without giving away the show, Mr. Monk does summon up the courage to be something that he normally isn't and is successful in his ruse.

What does all of this have to do with Real Estate?  We need to be able to summon the strength to do what we don't normally like to do.  I don't like to prospect, but it is the lifeblood of this business.  Some don't like to give listing presentations, or ask for price reductions.  It doesn't matter what it is that we don't like to do.  If we are to become successful, we have to do those tasks that we find difficult or uncomfortable to do.  That is what successful people do, they do what needs to be done, whether they like to or not, they do it.

Make it a great and productive weekend!

I have been spending some time categorizing my contacts through my Social Media.  Okay, I have been on my Face book page grouping my networks, but it sounded a little better in the first sentence.  I have noticed some things, first off, Facebook is addictive.  The other thing that I noticed is that there are a lot of agents out there on Facebook and in my friends lists that I have no idea where you practice Real Estate.

I know that the purpose of this is to be a networking tool as much as a learning tool.  It is hard for me to network effectively if I don't know where an agent is working.  I really am using this to build up a referral network.  The problem becomes when I have a referral that may be right up someone's niche and I don't know whether they live and work in Florida, Wisconsin, Canada or Texas. (as an example)

It is great that you're branding and doing the whole network thing, but I would like to see quickly what area you work it, so that when I have a referral I can contact one of my Facebook, or Active Rain friends and send them a referral!  They can sell them a house and we all will be happy!  It isn't hard and I do understand that with so many criminals out there that you don't want them to know where you live, but an office address would be great also.  Anyway just a thought!  Make it a great Friday!

I have posted a lot of quotes about doors and windows, so I thought that I would post one more.  It is from Robert Collier.

"You can do anything you think you can. This knowledge is literally the gift of the gods, for through it you can solve every human problem. It should make of you an incurable optimist. It is the open door."

I really believe that this statement is true.  The human mind has an incredible ability to accomplish great things, as long as we let it and thus ourselves believe that it is possible.  This is really the open door or window that seems to open up when another closes!

Believe, trust, accomplish, succeed.  These are all words that we need to believe that we are able to do.  Make it a great day!

The Utah Tax Review Commission which advises both the state legislature, and the Governor, are bringing up the idea of a tax on services provided.  This is something that all Utahn's need to be aware of and need to contact their legislators to tell them that we can't afford another tax!  This will tax any service that is rendered, whether it is a mechanic, hair dresser, realtor, lawyer, doctor or some that I haven't mentioned will be taxed.  The translationg: you will be paying more for services if this goes through.

I know that as a Realtor, I pay income tax on my income, I pay self employment tax for being self employed, and I am fortunate, I have a job that provides my health insurance or else I would be paying for that.  With the idea of service tax, even if I do have insurance, I will have to pay more for it, as well as a tax each time that I see a doctor or a dentist.  With the economy in shambles, I wonder if it isn't time to reduce taxes rather than finding new and creative or updated is a word that was used with this study, to raise taxes.

I am getting tired of taxes or fees which are also taxes!  I am also getting tired of mandates whether spoken or implied to Police Agencies to write more tickets to generate more revenue!  Enough is enough.  When you purchase a home, you will pay property taxes on it as long as you own it.  It is worse when you purchase an automobile, you will pay sales tax at the time of purchase, as well as licensing fees (property tax) to drive it for as long as you own the car. 

If this proposal gets wind and takes off and is passed when you purchase a home, not only will you be paying sales tax, you will be paying more for the services that went into the purchase, the realtor, the appraiser, the home inspector, the title company, and the mortgage broker will all have to charge you a tax for their services!  That is without any repairs being done, because each person or company that works on that purchase will need to add their tax to the final cost of the home.

What happened to the concept of no Double Taxation?  It is oddly funny that the Revolutionary War's flames were fanned by a simple tax on stamps and tea.  What would John Adams, John Hancock, George Washington and the rest say to the current tax structure just at the State level?  I am not even talking the Federal level.  I wonder if in Utah, if a grass root campaign may be necessary to rid us of property tax?  Better yet, lets all contact our legislators and let them know that if new taxes are proposed by them, we will make sure that come the next election, we will have new representation!

To read an article in the Deseret News about this:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705323365,00.html