On The Rocks "Call Me A Duck"

Do you need a Realtor to help sell your Real Estate?

A real estate professional can assist you fully understand everything you will need to understand concerning the home selling progression.

Not all real estate licensees have proven to be the same ; only individuals that are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) are appropriately called REALTORS®. They proudly exhibit the REALTOR "®" trademark on their business cards and other marketing and sales materials.

REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a contract honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics and are required to sustain a greater degree of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reported that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.

Real estate transactions tend to be one of the largest financial transactions of the majority of people’s lifetime. Transactions these days usually surpass $250,000. If you had a $250,000 income tax problem, would you make an effort to manage with it without the assistance of a accredited professional accountant? If you had a $250,000 legal issue, would you deal with it without the guidance of an attorney? Looking at the small upside charge and the significant downside risk, it would be smart to work with a professional REALTOR® when you are selling a home.

If you are even now not sure of the benefit of a REALTOR®, here are additional reasons to use one:

When promoting your home, your REALTOR® can offer you up-to-date details on what is happening in the current market as well as the value, financing, conditions and state of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your home sold at the very best price, quickly and with minimal hassle.

Often, your REALTOR® can advise repairs or cosmetic work that will noticeably improve the salability of your house .

Your REALTOR® markets your real estate to other real estate agents and the public. In quite a few areas across the country, over half of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate realtor other than yours brings in the buyer.

Your REALTOR® operates as the marketing manager, circulating data regarding your property to other real estate brokers through a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses for real estate agents, etc. The REALTOR® Code of Ethics demands REALTORS® to make use of these cooperative relationships when they benefit their clients.

Your REALTOR® will know when, where and how to promote your property. There is a misconception that advertising sells real estate. NAR studies exhibit that 82% of real estate sales are the end result of realtor contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, family and personal contacts. When a property is promoted with the support of your REALTOR®, you do not have to let strangers into your house. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and go along with qualified prospects through your house.

Your REALTOR® can help you fairly evaluate every buyer's proposal without compromising your marketing position. This original agreement is only the starting point of a process of appraisals, inspections and financing - and a lot of possible pitfalls. Your REALTOR® can help you compose a legally binding, win-win contract that will be more likely to make it through the process.

Your REALTOR® can help close the sale of your real estate. Issues may occur between the initial sales agreement and closing (also called settlement or escrow), for example, unanticipated repairs might be required to acquire loans or a title issue is identified. The required documents alone is complicated for a good number of sellers. Your REALTOR® is the best person to objectively aid you deal with these difficulties and proceed the contract to closing.

Sorry Public Schools - Our Kids Deserve Better

How bad does the public school system have to be for us to admit that the system is broken? Who is willing to stand up and declare "The days of redirecting and shifting problems, while pretending that a great solution will miraculously appear is over. Let’s call it as it is. Public Education is inferior, bankrupt, and is a disservice to our children." How bad are we, as parents and community members, willing to let it get before we pull the plug.

I am not a radical looking to abolish education or the government. I would love to have a party, Republican or Democrat, pull up their big boy (or girl) pants and take ownership of education, think outside the box, and create a real solution. I honestly believe that those appointed to these powerful positions really do want to address the education crisis; the problem is the system in place will not let them. Leaders with the intention to do great things are handcuffed and bound by the ways of old. It is up to us. As a former educator and parent of two in the Eugene 4J school district, I am no longer willing to turn a blind eye and gleefully embrace parental ignorance when if comes to my children’s education.

The time is now. One may say that this massively flawed system is unchangeable and I agree. Instead of putting all of our money and efforts into finding a manageable solution of increased class sizes, budget cuts, and school closures I propose a radical new approach; Let’s treat education as if it is not an entitlement, but as household necessity. If the free education system provided to us is completely inadequate and is some cases not even safe for our children, than as a parent make a decision. If you do not like your child’s education chosen for them, then why don’t you choose it for yourself. Decide that if your government can not or will not make your child’s education a priority than you will.

I know that taking ownership of your child’s education is not possible for everyone. The idea that a parent that struggles to put food on the table should "buck up" and send their child to private school is absurd. I think that school vouchers is a valid answer. If a school is worried that no one will select their school than GOOD! Perhaps that school does not deserve our children. Parents would finally be heard when they state that their children should not be forced to attend that school because they are unfortunate enough to live within their claimed territory.

I do not claim to have the solution or imply that I have the answers. What I do know is the time is now. If there was ever the perfect moment to introduce a fresh structure of education, an efficient model for an American Classroom, and innovative method of teaching to improve performance, it is now. I foresee a great opportunity for parents to take an active role and provide exactly the education that you feel your children deserve.

Without students the current system will not exist. As a parent dedicated to my children’s education I choose to homeschool last year. Not because I wanted to, but because I didn't have a better choice. It is a shame that I send my daughter off to school every morning for a social education. My husband and I currently view school as purely a social skill building opportunity. Her academic education happens at home. From my understanding 4J receives $10,000 - $12,000 a year per student. If my student and 9 other students worked together and spent our combined $100,000 - $120,000 a year and hired our own teacher, choose to spend their education dollars on education tools relevant to them, and had a class size of 10, I dare you to tell me that those children would be at a disadvantage.

If parents banded together and came up with their own solutions, best for their children, without feeling obligated to use the current education system provided, change would happen. It would have to.  It is time for the public education system to realize that without students they simply will not exist. 4J has asked me to sacrifice my children’s education, essentially their future, for the sake of their program. As parents it is time to take a stand, enough is enough. Our children are not little walking fundraisers for their schools. It is time that we demand that our schools deserve our kids. It is our children’s right and our responsibility.