Articles for REALTORS

Gilbert, AZ Horse Property for Sale

2007-12-07T07:47:00.000-08:00

No HOA-1.12 Acre Horse Property w/ room for round pen & riding. Home sits on front of lot for maximum usage of land. Tastefully painted w/ stone-look tile throughout & remote control lighting. Large courtyard in front for relaxing. Slab granite in the bathrooms & granite tile in the kitchen with stainless appliances makes this the best horse property for the money. Large covered patio, RV slab & gate with additional parking…great place for horse lovers, tradesmen and contractors. Master bath has a jetted tub, glass block & smoke glass shower. Master bedroom has sitting room w/ Pergo flooring looking out at your mountain view. Get your agent to show you this one!

Gilbert, AZ Horse Property for Sale

2007-12-06T11:30:00.000-08:00

This is it! Horse Property in Gilbert. 2.1 irrigated acres with a beautiful home. This home has it all! Horse setup is close enough to home yet far enough away to enjoy your park like backyard. Four 15x20 covered stalls with misting & lights, auto water, lighted arena, tack room, wash rack. Two GREEN and irrigated pastures that are fenced and cross-fenced. Your entire property is fenced with no climb horse fencing.
Your new home has beautiful upgraded maple cabinets. Two living areas, a half bath off the main living area, nice open kitchen with built in desk / office area. Neutral colors, with tile in all the heavy traffic areas such as kitchen, dining, laundry and baths. New granite in the master bath, large closet space for storage.
Outside you have a front patio and lots of place for parking toys, trailers, etc. The backyard looks out over the San Tan Mountains and offers you AWESOME views. You have a sparkling pebble tech, saltwater pool with boulders and a waterfall. Plenty of green grassy areas for kids and pets. BBQ area with gas grill and seating. You will LOVE this beautiful home...great location. If your kids go to Charter school Ben Franklin, it is right across the street! Call Michelle Shelton at 480-626-0312 or shoot her an e-mail at michelleshelton@yahoo.com . Search the MLS for horse property FREE at www.askmichellshelton.com Search the MLS with a click on your favorite areas on a valley map www.mapazhomes.com . Keller Williams Realty Southeast Valley.

FREE Gift Account

2007-10-05T16:45:00.000-07:00

How is the Market?

2007-10-05T15:36:00.000-07:00

In Arizona, the market is still rolling strong. I know, that is not what you are hearing from many of the whining REALTORS. Sorry, that is how I see it.
Now we actually have to have skill to make a living in this Industry.
My question to you is this....if you are struggling, what are you doing to improve your value? Are you learning more? Are you checking out new marketing techniques to better serve your clients and generate more business? Are you door knocking FSBO homes and previewing 5 to 10 homes per week? If you answered "No", then I would ask you, WHY NOT?

Just my thoughts on a Friday.

Why Should You Commit to One Real Estate Agent?

2007-10-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

Why should you commit to one Real Estate Agent?
By Michelle Shelton
Buyer Broker Agreement? What’s that? Most agents don’t ask their potential buyers to sign anything. It is too…well…you know…uncomfortable. Hmmmmmmm.

A professional is viewed as a professional for a reason. They value their own time and energy as well as their clients. Of all the paperwork required, I often wonder why the Buyer Broker Agreement isn’t one of them.

Personally, I take anywhere from 20 to 50 phone calls per day from my listing signs. Most of these individuals do not have an agent or they are not happy with their agent’s performance. When someone calls without representation, I also extend an offer of my services, but there is a catch, they must be willing to sign a buyer broker agreement. Why? It is the right thing to do. I often hear agents griping about how people run them ragged and use them up and then go and buy from someone else from a sign or perhaps a for sale by owner. In my opinion, this is the agents lack of educating their clients on the value they bring to the deal.

Even though I have a high energy level and run at high speed most of the time, there are times when it can still catch up to me. Prioritizing, organizing and actually roping in time, is certainly a challenge. One of the ways this can be done is to fully commit to my clients and like a good marriage, why would the commitment only be one sided? After all, if I was committed to my husband and he was not committed to me, it seems a bit unequal, unfair, and even unhealthy to continue in such a relationship, doesn’t it?

Many people talk about commitment as if it is stomach gas. Firs they feel committed, then they don’t. I don’t think commitment is a feeling at all! True commitment is a conscience decision to follow something through to completion and give it your all to make it work.

I met a man once that wanted to do business with me. He continued to talk about his high level of commitment and integrity. He didn’t talk about it in a way of saying he valued integrity, he talked about how he had integrity. When it came time to do business with this man I asked for the terms we had agreed to in writing. He became angry and said his word was his word and he didn’t need to put it in writing. He told me I was questioning his integrity and he didn’t like it. In return, I simply stated that everyone that I knew that had integrity, didn’t have a problem putting it in writing.

Failure is not an option. It is required!

2007-07-22T17:13:00.001-07:00

Failure is Not an Option . . . It’s Required!
By: Pete & Theresa Shrader
Recently an article was forwarded to me that was written by a semi well known public speaker gurus about failure. In the article he strongly discounted the tried and true “sayings” that most of us have heard such as:
“Learn from your mistakes”
“Never make the same mistake twice”
“You only fail when you quit”
"Failure is an event not a person"
The author says that failure is an event and a person.
He pushes that "failure can be avioded" and that that “It’s stupidity or mediocrity that stops you” from succeeding.
He lists 18 reasons why people fail. He says people fail because they. . .
are self defeatists
have a lack of belief
have a limited self image
are lazy
are not prepared
don’t do their homework
procrastinate
have poor timing
say the wrong things
show greed
are insincere
are not perceived as trustworthy
don’t work their butt off
don’t follow their plan
try to do everything themselves
make excuses
don’t do their best
don’t love what they do
All of these “reasons” can be overcome through trial and error or what I call “perseverance through failure”.
Persevering through failure. . .
produces success which proves to us that we can succeed
builds our belief
improves and expands our self image
proves we are not lazy
makes us more prepared
forces us to do our homework
is the opposite of procrastination
improves our timing
helps us correct the way we speak and what we say
keeps our greed in check
increases our sincerity
makes us more trustworthy
is hard work
is the roadmap to success
causes others to share your vision and to want to help you accomplish it
eliminates the need for excuses
forces us to be better and do our “new best”
causes us to love what we do or leads us to something else
If we were all automatically able to do everything perfectly from the start there would be no value in what we do. Everyone would be as good at everything as we were and, likewise, we would be as good as everyone else at what they do.
Those who try, fail, and quit a particular business or sport (insert any business/sport/etc) make those who try the same business or sport and subsequently fail, not quit, try again, and succeed, worth their salt.
Failure is the foundational cornerstone for success - other people's failure as well as your own.
Failure is the mother of competition. There can’t be a winner if there are no losers.
Failure makes people try harder, be better, become more, look for new solutions and ways of doing things, and be more efficient.
Failure is not optional but quitting is.
Quitting is the decision to give up, not trying again, not becoming better at what you are trying to do, or trying to do it a different/better way.
Success is where opportunity and preparedness meet.
Persevering through failure prepares us for opportunities and increases our ability to see the opportunities that are all around us.
The biggest mistake we can make in life is to think we “are” failures just because we fail at something.
The second biggest mistake that we can make is to think failure should be avoided.
If we aren't willing to fail how will we ever discover what we like to do, what we are good at, or what our purpose/calling in life is?
The third biggest mistake we can make is to take advice from people that are misguided.
There are three types of people in the world. People that can help you, people that can hurt you, and people that don't make any difference. -Pete

Cool Gilbert Horse Property

2007-07-09T20:45:00.000-07:00

Located in Gilbert off Higley and Guadalupe. This one is a must see 1+ acre with a block barn and the perfect horse setup! A large pasture buffers you from the neighbors. No HOA - awesome setup for tradesmen. Call for details 480-626-0312

www.askmichelleshelton.com for more photos

MLS Dues - July 9th

2007-07-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

Don't pay late fees! Pay your dues today!
IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY, PLEASE PAY ON-LINE TO ASSURE YOU MAKE IT BY THE CUT OFF DATE. PAYING ON-LINE IS QUICK, EASY AND SECURE. YOU WILL BE GIVEN A CONFIRMATION CODE INSTANTLY. PLEASE FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS BELOW TO PAY-ONLINE.

Invoices for the annual ARMLS MLS Fee were mailed to each subscriber on May 30th. The amount due is $156 and covers the ARMLS MLS Fee from 7/1/07 through 6/30/08. If ARMLS does not RECEIVE payment by 5:00 PM July 9, 2007, your MLS and Lockbox service will be shut-off and a $15 late fee will be added to the amount due in order to restore service.
PAY ON-LINE!

To pay online login to tempo, click on my page, click view current invoice and log in to the secure paymen site using your agent ide and password.

New Zip Codes in Effect July 1, 2007

2007-07-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEW ZIP CODES IN EFFECT ON JULY 1, 2007
On July 1st new Postal Zip Codes went into effect. I believe that the old/current zip codes will still be used for 1 year as the system and consumers catch up to the idea. Check with the US Postal Service for clarification.
Click below to view the new Postal Zip Code Area Maps.
Avondale-Goodyear Zip Code Map
Casa Grande Zip Code Map
Chandler Zip Code Map
Gilbert - 85234, 85296, 85295
Gilbert - 85297, 85298
Gilbert Zip Code Map
Glendale Zip Code Map
Marana Zip Code Map
Maricopa Zip Code Map
Queen Creek Zip Code Map
Scottsdale Zip Code Map

Arizona Horse Property for sale!

2007-04-24T18:37:00.000-07:00

Awesome listing in Lehi area.......check it out on our site at www.askmichelleshelton.com

How to hire the best REALTOR by Michelle Shelton

2007-04-08T02:35:00.000-07:00

Buyer Broker Agreement? What’s that?
By Michelle Shelton

Most agents don’t ask their potential buyers to sign anything. It is too…well…you know…uncomfortable. Hmmmmmmm.

A professional is viewed as a professional for a reason. They value their own time and energy as well as their clients. Of all the paperwork required, I often wonder why the Buyer Broker Agreement isn’t required. Personally, I take anywhere from 40 to 50 phone calls per day from my listing signs. Most of these individuals do not have an agent or they are not happy with their agent’s performance. When someone calls without representation, I also extend an offer of my services, but there is a catch, they must be willing to sign a buyer broker agreement. Why? It is the right thing to do.

I often hear agents griping about how people run them ragged and use them up and then go and buy from someone else from a sign or perhaps a for sale by owner. In my opinion, this is the agents lack of educating their clients on the value, they, the agent, bring to the deal. Even though I have a high energy level and run at high speed most of the time, there are times when it can still catch up to me. Prioritizing, organizing and actually roping in time, is certainly a challenge. One of the ways this can be done is to fully commit to my clients and like a good marriage, why would the commitment only be one sided? After all, if I was committed to my husband and he was not committed to me, it seems a bit unequal, unfair, and even unhealthy to continue in such a relationship, doesn’t it? Many people talk about commitment as if it is stomach gas. First they feel committed, then they don’t feel committed. I don’t think commitment is a feeling at all! True commitment is a conscience decision to follow something through to completion and give it your all to make it work.

I met a man once that wanted to do business with me. He continued to talk about his high level of commitment and integrity. He didn’t talk about it in a way of saying he valued integrity, he talked about how he just had integrity. Integrity, like any character trait is not something we have….people don’t just have patience. These traits must first be recognized and then developed. When it came time to do business with this same man I asked for the terms we had agreed to in writing. He became angry and said his word was his word and he didn’t need to put it in writing. He said I was questioning his integrity and he didn’t like it. In return, I simply stated that everyone that I knew that had integrity, didn’t have a problem putting it in writing. Hmmmmmmm. This didn’t make him happy. But of course, it is not my job to make other people happy is it?

I do feel it is my job to extend honestly, fairness and mental health to others and I do expect these things in return. Why would I value a clients time when they don't value mine? You get what you give.

The next time someone asks you to look for a home…take a minute and say, I have a slot open to help you find a home…and…let me tell you how I work…at this point, explain the buyer broker agreement to them in depth…tell them it is not about obligating them…it is about YOU committing to them fully and it should be about that! Professionals protect their clients and want what is in the clients best interest.

If you are not giving your buyers your commitment in writing, you are not doing them any favors. Buyer Broker Agreements also protect your clients from the wolves out there that will hound them and beat them up. Do what is right and best for everyone and take control of your business. Be a professional! Use a Buyer Broker Agreement with all of your clients.

Michelle Shelton lives in Gilbert, Arizona on horse property with her husband Paul and their five children. Michelle is an author, educator, recruiter and licensed Arizona REALTOR. If you would like Michelle to assist you in purchasing or listing a property in Arizona, please visit her website: http://www.askmichelleshelton.com/

Hiring a Neighborhood Specialist to sell your home may not be the best idea!

2007-04-08T02:34:00.001-07:00

By Michelle Shelton, REALTOR

My husband and I were eating breakfast at the Good Egg the other morning and couldn’t help but over hear a fellow talking to his elderly parents about their home. It was fairly obvious that his father had a hard time hearing and the louder he talked the more I was tuning in to what he was saying. “Dad, the real estate market in Arizona is going crazy right now!” He said. “Huh?” His father grunted “THE HOMES ARE SELLING IN A MATTER OF HOURS.” He said louder. “HOURS?” His father yelled almost in half a question, half disbelief. “Yes,” He continued, “What you need to do is look for the signs in your neighborhood with the same real estate agent’s name on them. These agents are the neighborhood specialists. They sell all the homes in the neighborhood and they know what is going on in that particular neighborhood. That is what you should do. That is how you find the best agents.”

I nearly choked on my toast! I sort of heavy sighed and my ears were getting hot by this time. It was all I could do to compose myself. I continued listening, all the time in disagreement with much of what the well intentioned son said to his parents.

My husband leaned over and said, “Yeah right. Just because someone gets a bunch of listings in a neighborhood makes them a specialist. That poor guy is giving his parents the worst advice I have ever heard!”

“I know but it is probably what a lot of people think.” I said.

My husband was fuming by this time and said, “I think it is a hit and miss method of finding the best agent. Those attorneys that are ambulance chasers have their signs all over the TV and on bus benches, just because they have a sign out doesn’t mean they are a specialist! Those guys are snakes…just like some real estate agents! You know, you have seen it. One crummy agent gets a listing and the next thing you know bam…they are listing homes all over the neighborhood. Doesn’t mean they are good…a lot of them hang a sign and walk away. Anyone can call themselves a neighborhood specialist. What he is telling his father is ridiculous!”

I could see my husband was upset by this! I couldn’t believe this had hit a nerve with my quiet and well mannered husband. He was mad!

“Why are you so upset by this?” I asked.

“Its not a good way to select a professional. People should spend more time finding out what the agent does after the sale. I see you making deals happen. A lot of them would never close if you weren’t on the phone nagging lenders, title companies and other agents!” He nearly shouted at me.

“Nag? I don’t nag!” I said as I smiled at him.

“Well, you know what I mean.” He said in a calmer voice. He continued. “With the market the way it has been the past few years, you know there are more agents going through real estate school now than ever before. Think about it. What if the agent can’t negotiate strongly or they don’t get the paperwork in and follow timelines? Not everyone is as obsessive / compulsive as you are! A lot of them are discount agents because they have nothing else to offer a client except a discount. The homeowner wants to save money and they think all agents are the same so they go with the discount agents. You know some of those agents are either not the sharpest tool in the shed or they are simply greedy and list a bunch of homes and have no marketing skills at all. They throw the house on the mls, put a sign in the yard and hope for the best...most of them overprice so they can get the listing in the first place and then the home sits and they collect buyers from their signs while the poor owner wonders why their overpriced home hasn't sold. Some of them lie and are crummy at life, how could they specialize in anything?” He snorted in disgust.

“You are right, you don’t have to convince me.” I agreed. “But you know there are a lot of professionals out there too. I work with them every day. Our office is filled with them.” I repeated. “Filled with them.” And as a professional, I am bound to follow a Code of Ethics and I am not supposed to slander other REALTORS!

“Yeah, yeah, I know, your office has some great agents but your office gives extensive training and you fully train the agents you bring in under your wing. I don’t see a lot of brokerages doing that. Most of them show you the phone and say good luck. That is why so many people fail in the first 6 months to a year.” He said.

“You know most companies aren’t like that at all. Most of the agents I have seen don’t have a clue.” “I know. You are right. There ARE a lot of unprofessional agents that really don’t care how they treat their clients, they are just in it to collect a check. More people should shop around and find the right agent to sell their home. I agree with you so lighten up.” I said to him.

Of course I slipped over discreetly and passed this fellow and his parents my business card and introduced myself. His mother quickly asked, “What neighborhoods do you work?”

I just smiled and said, “A lot of different neighborhoods, all in the East Valley.”

“Oh.” She responded coolly.

After what her son had just told her, suspected they wouldn’t call. The unfortunate thing is they have about a 50/50 chance of getting someone skillful. And in my opinion, skill is only a small piece of the pie. I think it really takes five key ingredients to find a truly successful person in any industry, especially real estate because it is most people’s largest asset and they are paying you a lot of money to use great care and skill in selling their home. Skill is only the first key ingredient. Skill is completing all the necessary documents in a timely manner and providing the sellers with an education on the process of selling their home. Also, skill is very important in pricing a home correctly and marketing is huge. Getting maximum exposure is honestly what most of it is about.

Are you wondering what the other four keys to a great agent are?
Number two is character.
Character is a person’s internal compass that guides their decisions. It is a guide to treating people honestly, respectfully and fairly.

Number three is philosophy.
Philosophy is how deeply they ponder character, situations and people. Philosophy is sort of the purpose behind the character. How they see life in general I guess. My favorite philosophy is a simple one that most of us learned as a child. It is called the ant philosophy and defines the character qualities of work ethic, purpose and diligence.

Number four would be attitude.
Attitude is how they respond to people and situations. When something goes wrong, are they negative or do they have an attitude of getting things done without anger, procrastination, and pettiness. Do they know how to motivate others to work with them or do they tick people off wherever they go?

Lastly, number five is goals.
Goals are important because you have to have a plan in selling your home. How quickly do you need to sell? How much will you make on the sell of your home, what fees are you looking at? Without a goal or target, how do you know where to aim? Goals stem from both needs and wants. Strong goals push you toward results. To make the picture a little clearer in your mind, let me ask you, have you ever worked with someone that had a high level of skill, character, goals, and philosophy about their job, yet displayed a crummy, negative attitude? Or perhaps their attitude was good, yet they just didn’t have any direction or goals in life and you suspected they would never get very far in their career, let alone their life.

Or worse still is maybe they had a great attitude, strong skills, strong philosophies, and they achieved their goals but they stole, lied and cheated to get what they wanted.

When selecting an agent to help you with buying or selling a home, it is in your best interest to find someone that works on all five key ingredients that will make them a success, isn’t it? Of course it is! When they are truly a success in every sense of the definition, you will enjoy success too, right?

Michelle Shelton lives in Gilbert, Arizona on horse property with her husband Paul and their five children. Michelle is an author, educator, recruiter and licensed Arizona REALTORÒ. If you would like Michelle to assist you in purchasing or listing a property in Arizona, please visit her website: http://www.askmichelleshelton.com/ or contact her directly at michelleshelton@yahoo.com

Arizona Horse Property

2007-04-08T02:31:00.001-07:00

Arizona Horse Property can be difficult to sell. It is higher priced and typically more unique. This makes appraisals and lending difficult too! Select an agent carefully and don't go for the first one to offer a discount...they won't be able to afford to market your home the way it should be. Throw survey, septic and pricing in the mix and you need a highly skilled agent to sell your home.

Search Arizona MLS by Map - FREE for a limited time!

2007-04-08T02:28:00.000-07:00

Are you looking to buy and sell a home in the near future in the Phoenix area? If so...you will love this new exclusive mapping tool! You can go to http://www.michellesmap.com/ and click anywhere in the Valley you might potentially want to live. Once you have selected your areas you will begin receiving daily emails with listings in your selected neighborhoods. All the data is pulled from the powerful MLS so you won't miss any listings. Are you hunting for horse property in Arizona? http://www.askmichelleshelton.com/ Thank you for stopping. I look forward to the opportunity to help you in your home purchase and sale. Michelle Shelton AZ Mastermind Group http://www.azmastermind.com/

Michelle Shelton in the business Journal

2007-04-08T02:27:00.000-07:00

Strategy to get your home in arizona sold - FAST

2007-04-08T02:26:00.000-07:00

By Michelle Shelton, REALTOR® Because selling your home may be one of the most important financial decisions you make...there are Essential strategies you absolutely MUST know! So, you are thinking about selling your home. Hmmmmmm. For most of us, selling our home means cashing in on the largest thing we own, right? Because of this...you would agree that is should be handled with great skill and care if you really want to get the most for your home in the shortest amount of time possible, wouldn't you? Of course! Can you answer "yes" to any of these questions?
Would you like the tools needed to maximize the profit you receive on the sale of your home?
Would you like to maintain a certain amount of control over the purchase of your home?
Are you looking to reduce the stress associated with the sale of your home?If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you will absolutely must read this entire report! So what are the essential strategies anyway? Strategy #1- Do your homework and then set your price! Do you know how to come to a price that is not too high and not too low? You know, a price that is.....as baby bear puts it....juuuuusssssssstt right. The process of pricing your home should not be taken lightly. There are consequences of over and under pricing. An experienced REALTOR® should be good at doing their homework. I am not talking about someone that pulls a few sales off the MLS. A great agent will call on pending sales in your neighborhood and talk to other listing agents about what price these homes are currently under contract for. A great agent will also research and find recent for sale by owner homes and exclusive listings that have sold. If you list your home too high, you will lose the momentum of buyers excited to see the new listing on the block. Then you may have to lower your price to entice them back later. If you price too low, people might think there is something wrong with your home. The goal is to create a buyer's frenzy and get as many potential buyers through as possible. Strategy #2 - Ask yourself, why are you selling? Once you know....keep your mouth shut! If you have a job transfer, divorce, or pre-foreclosure, don't spill the beans. Although you may NEED to sell quickly. You are more in a position of power if potential buyers think you merely WANT to sell. Don't tell your neighbors, potential buyers, investors, or anyone your reason. Consult with a savvy REALTOR® and discuss your reasons only with them. Your reasons will affect your negotiation strategies. Tell your agent how important it is to keep things "under wraps". They have a fiduciary duty to you, their client, and make it clear you expect them to respect that relationship. A great agent will be able to advise you on a strategy according to your needs...such as a quick sale or the most money for your home. Would you like to receive more strategies about buying or selling your home? Don't miss receiving our FREE REAL ESTATE REPORTS....after all you need to know what you have been missing! Don't be left out one second longer. Get it NOW.

What can a smelly old goose teach you about leadership?

2007-04-08T02:24:00.000-07:00

In the 1990's we lived on a farm in Iowa. Since I grew up in the country, I thought I knew everything there was to know about country living. Imagine my surprise at learning something life changing from a couple of old geese! When we obtained the farm I wanted to have the full experience so I began to collect animals. We acquired cats, dogs, chickens, an old horse, guineas and the pair of geese. I recall the wisdom that came from the animals. One such piece of wisdom was on leadership. Leadership can be applied to our families, friends, business associates, co-workers and relatives. True leaders are not born, as we are often taught. True leaders are developed. True leaders find out what others want and then they weigh the best solution to create a win / win situation. Leaders face the challenges head-on and don't whine, 'It's too hard.' They take the time and energy required to develop their character, skills, philosophies, attitudes, and goals and then? Then they allow these things to be their guiding force. Fine leaders understand that others look up to them. They grasp the concept of this immense responsibility and joyfully take on the task. Good, bad or ugly. So, how can a smelly pair of hissing geese teach you more about leadership? Well, on the farm we owned 4 acres of woods and at night it was crawling with opossum, raccoons and coyotes. Of course that meant that each night all the feathered animals would have to be secured in the chicken coop. The chickens and guineas didn't have a problem with going in at night. The geese? Well, they were another story! The geese were stubborn. They had ideas of their own. They did not want to be told what to do. Does this sound like anyone you know? Each evening all five kids, two dogs and I would do the ritual “goose dance” where we would chase the geese with big sticks, brooms and any other intimidating item we could find. We would attempt to forcibly push and shoo them into the chicken coop. At times my husband would strategically suggest some new technique. Yet, NOTHING worked! Barking, yelling and honking were standard sounds during the ritual goose dance. Finally we would manage to circle and herd the geese to the chicken coop door. They would reluctantly jump over the threshold and we would quickly and angrily slam the door shut behind them while shouting angry words and stomping toward the house. I was not happy. The geese began to consume my thoughts. What motivated these stinking, stupid, stubborn birds? Why did they have such a mind of their own and why were they so...well....you know...difficult? Didn't they realize it was for their own protection and we were attempting to do what was best for them? After all, we KNEW what would happen if they stayed out at night. They would be goose dinner for some prowling animal in the woods. I can't say as I blame them. No one likes to be told what to do. Pushing someone never works. No one likes to give up his or her freedom and ideas. Even if you realize something they don’t and it is for their own good. Then it dawned on me that perhaps…..just perhaps, the geese were like people. Yeah….maybe they had a mind and personality of their own. Maybe I needed to find out what they wanted. When I showed them how to get it, they would actually WANT to go into the coop. Maybe I could lead them. It was time to get creative! That evening I opened a bag of corn and spilled a few kernels in front of the geese. They quickly waddled over and gobbled it up. I had found the answer! Woo Hoo!!! I was in front of them….I was leading them. They were following me! I took the corn and kernel by kernel, they followed me right into the coop! I ran out and slammed the door shut and this time, I smiled! No cursing, no anger. I was happy! I took my stick and danced around with it…you know…John Travolta style. STAYIN ALIVE, STAYIN ALIVE……….AH AH AH AH….STAYIN ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE. Living on a farm means no close neighbors monitoring your behavior so you tend to be...well, let's say...more…you know…uninhibited. I had just learned the power of leadership from a couple of stupid, hissing, stinking, annoying birds! I was so happy! From that moment on the geese were led in each night. I was even able to teach my children to be “leaders”. What a concept. Teaching others leadership. Leadership is a skill. Skills can be learned…you don’t have to be born a leader. If you want to become a strong leader, ask yourself, these questions: What motivates your associates, employees and team members? Are you attempting to get what YOU want by pushing or do you take time to find out what THEY want and then show them how to get it? Are you bossing your team members or are you leading them in the right direction? Are you creatively designing situations where everyone wins? You never know, someday they might even thank you. After all….anything is possible when you develop leadership skills! (c) 2005 Michelle Shelton, All rights reserved Michelle Shelton is a licensed REALTOR with Keller Williams Realty Southeast Valley in Gilbert, Arizona. Michelle specializes in teaching clients the entire process of Real Estate. She believes that the more educated her clients are, the less anxiety and stress they will have when buying or selling their home.

Search Arizona MLS by Map - FREE for a limited time!

2007-04-08T02:22:00.000-07:00

Michelle Shelton in the news!

2007-04-08T02:21:00.000-07:00

Horse sense: Bucking the urban trend, developers fill need for equestrian properties The Business Journal of Phoenix - October 13, 2006 by Christia Gibbons The Business Journal Print this Article Email this Article Reprints RSS Feeds Most Viewed Most Emailed With all the talk of urbanizing Phoenix's sprawling metro area -- going up, not out -- there remains a committed set of people looking for wide open spaces. For their horses. Since Anne McCormick started wintering in Scottsdale in the 1940s and created a devotion to Arabian horses, the area became an equestrian paradise. After her death, her horses and ranch were sold, and probate was completed in July 1970 with the sale of 4,236 acres to Kaiser-Aetna for $12.1 million or 5 cents per square foot. Numerous subdivisions, McCormick Stillman Railroad Park, several resorts and a lake later, equestrians have been pushed north. "There's a need for equestrian property," said Ron Coleman, principal and East Valley specialist with Scottsdale-based Land Advisors Organization. "It's always there, especially in Scottsdale and North Scottsdale." Now instead of lining Cactus Road and Shea Boulevard, horse property is found in the Dynamite Boulevard area, and in Carefree, Cave Creek and Rio Verde. Three horsemen who formed Monogram Cos. five years ago were looking for a place to do this kind of specialty development. "We're natives. We've seen the sprawl and we've seen the growth," said Don Allison of himself and partners Russ Hermann and Dan Hellman. "We think it's our responsibility to bring high quality to areas that have been passed over." As a result, one of their developments is the 40-acre, 18-home, gated Turquesa Equestrian Estates, an equestrian community with custom home lots and Skystone Ranch, which includes a resident barn manager, individual barn stalls, lighted covered arena, hot walker, round pen, turnout, covered trailer parking and an owner's lounge. Some construction is scheduled to be done by the end of the year. Lot prices begin at $980,000, and the community is on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Peak View roads. "There are a huge number of equestrian enthusiasts who want quality boarding and to spend more time with their horses," Allison said. Horse owners can have vet service, horseshoeing and feeding within short walking distances from their homes, and can avoid riding their horses on any main streets, Allison said. "We're geared for the family, for general equestrian use. We're not catering to one discipline," he said. He likened Turquesa to a golf community, with membership fees. Howard Peterson of Peterson/Grace Custom Homes and developer of Will Rogers Equestrian Ranch in Queen Creek, agreed with the golf course analogy. "What's neat about an equestrian community is that it brings together people with a common interest, like a golf community. That's the neat thing about golf." The equestrian part of his community offers covered stalls with a fly misting system, English and Western lighted arenas, round pens, hot walkers, and miles of riding trails in the Queen Creek Wash. Petersen said Scottsdale isn't the only place for equestrian life. "Scottsdale is full of horses and valuable land, but not everyone in Scottsdale goes north," he said. "Everybody loves to have their horses, they just haven't figured out how to do it with land prices." Petersen said Will Rogers Equestrian Ranch is "pretty much built out" and people from probably all the states but "Alaska or maybe North Dakota" live there. Michelle Shelton of Keller Williams Realty Southeast Valley specializes in finding horse property for people. While the market for such real estate aligns with what's going on in the residential world, there still is a strong market, Shelton said. "I get e-mails and calls every day." She takes prospective buyers on tours of the entire East Valley from Cave Creek to Queen Creek and from Scottsdale to Apache Junction. "I think they should have more equestrian properties like Finley Farms (in Gilbert), Will Rogers, etc., as people love the fact that they can get more home and still keep their horses." Get connected Land Advisors Organization: http://www.landadvisors.com/ Michelle Shelton: http://www.askmichelleshelton.com/ Turquesa Equestrian Estates: http://www.turquesaestates.com/ Will Rogers Equestrian Ranch: http://www.willrogersranch.com/

Arizona Real Estate News

2007-04-08T02:19:00.001-07:00

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Showoff Business Cards

2006-12-17T06:15:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves our showoff business cards. For anyone considering them, you won't be sorry! Scott does a great job of follow-up and the artwork and colors are fabulous! A bit pricey, well worth the money!

Jenny Howie

2006-12-17T06:12:00.000-08:00

Jenny Howie is AZ Mastermind Group's Executive Assistant. She rocks! Jenny anticipates what the team needs before we even know we need it! Our team has come so far just since she has joined us. She is eager to attend every training she can and we are so very fortunate to have her be part of our group. Our clients are going to have the best real estate experience ever - guaranteed!

Desert Reins

2006-12-17T06:09:00.000-08:00

Some very nice people came to visit with us about a unique opportunity for a equestrian community. Personally, I think it is a great idea! I won't disclose the location now as I don't want to foul anything up for them....in the future when we start marketing this property with utter excitement, you will want to know all about it. Heck, I might even build a home there it is going to be so cool! ~ Michelle Shelton, Partner, AZ Mastermind Group