The McLaughlin Group Team

The McLaughlin Group Team
www.TheMcLaughlinGroup.com

Monday, April 30, 2012

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 321 Quiz Show

Match the city with the price per sq. foot. What city has the highest? Data from March 2012 Simi Valley 93063, Oak Park 91377, Westlake Village 91361, Agoura Hills 91301, Thousand Oaks 91360, Newbury Park 91320, Moorpark 93021, Simi Valley 93065, Thousand Oaks 91362 $317,$267,$235,$278,$206,$251,$204,$197,$273 And the answer is: Westlake Village-$317, Oak Park-$278, Agoura Hills-$273, TO 91362-$265, Newbury Park-$251, TO 91360-$237, Moorpark-$206, SV 93065-$204, SV 93063-$197 This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

Friday, April 27, 2012

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 320 Storybook

Last night I was with realtor friends celebrating a couple birthdays and the stories began. When you get a group of realtors together, it truly is a time for stories. There were some good ones, funny ones and even a sad one. The storybook could go on all night long because as a group of professionals, we are truly entrenched in people's lives and we see the best and the worst. Here is a picture of all of us last night telling our stories. This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 319 Multiple Offers

After almost 3 years of slow to moderate activity on homes, you now almost have panic buying in some price ranges. We have been in multiple offers and I am talking about 3 or more on a number of transactions lately. I wonder with the lack of inventory if this will be the norm through the summer or if inventory will pick up and calm things down a bit. I have to admit, there's a bit more excitement out there, but when you are representing a buyer in one of these, it's excruciating for them. Is this the beginning of a turn around? Only time will reveal the answer so I will revisit this in 6 to 8 weeks to see if the dust is still stirred or if it has settled. This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 318 Feel the Heat!

I can't recall what group sang that song but after the siesta last night, coupled with the heat today and showing properties all day long...I am feeling the heat. Great weekend, 2 houses sold so far but hoping for one more this weekend. I guess we could call it a hat trick, we will wait and see, no actually, we will work and make it happen..Nothing is achieved by the wait and see attitude. Did i mention what a great time we had last night, I tell you this 39 year old body is feeling it. This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

Friday, April 20, 2012

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 317 Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Dave! Two tips on your birthday: 1) Forget the past, you can't change it. 2) Forget the present, we didn't get you one. Your team wishes you the best 39th ever! This is your team, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 316 Staying Power

This business is an emotional one. I tell you, losing a listing hurts. You win, lose, win and lose again but you have to keep going with the eyes focused on your end goal. Just yesterday a listing came up that struck me in the gut, and you process, analyze and then you make a choice: move forward, work harder and smarter, or give up and play the blame game.

This is Dave, moving forward with The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

Monday, April 16, 2012

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 315 Single Story w/Forever Views




Gated community over 3300 square feet, incredible privacy, unreal master suite, beautiful appointments, putting green and chipping tees along w/sandtrap, 3 car garage, and forever, forever views. Live today at $1,149,000.

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 314 Wildlife Disclosure

So you know how all the companies have their generic wildlife verbiage in all their addendums. My question is: When a neighbor of one of the properties that you have for sale, tells you that a mountain lion killed two of their goats, does the verbiage in the addendum cover you? My guess is no. After all, would a mountain lion that roams freely materially affect someone's decision to purchase a home? Maybe. I know I would love to have one around but I would not be considered your average buyer. Oh well, I will note it on the agent visual disclosure, not that I have seen one, only that I heard one was around looking for some different menu options.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 313 Blinds are WIDE OPEN


Hello there! Spring is in the air and it is obvious by this couple's PDA (public display of affection). While walking by this house we noticed the BLINDS were really WIDE OPEN. For some strange reason, I feel like this duo maybe found their new Green Home without a realtor but if they had used The McLaughlin Group, we would have bought window treatments for their new pad.

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

Monday, April 9, 2012

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 312 Field of Dreams



Nothing better than a silk wrapped toddler wandering in a field of herbs and fruit with her Easter basket in hand on an 82 degree Easter Sunday. A little sun, a lotta family; simple pleasures.

This is Laurie, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

Friday, April 6, 2012

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 311 Box Score for the Group

Year to date stats and figures for the Group

7 Closed transactions to date
14 Transaction sides in escrow
21 Active current listings

We just completed the first lap of the mile and we are so close to the pace we need to maintain...Have to keep running, don't look back, look forward and keep on truckin.


This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 310 Entrepreneur Tie In

Here is a quick note about family members of The McLaughlin Group and the businesses that they run and have just started in the past 5 years.

Casey, my older brother: Owns and operates Superior Fluid. High pressure valves, fittings and tubings sold all over North America. Oil Companies, Amgen and many other companies with sales of nearly 4 million last year. sales@superloknorthamerica.com

Nicole, daughter of Laurie of our group: Owner and creator of "Teddy Needs a Bath." Marketed as the best way to clean stuffed toys and available at numerous stores and locations including: Babiesrus & Drugstore.com. and at Teddyneedsabath.com

Craig, husband of Shawn of our group; Recently opened up 2 chiropractor and sports medicine offices with locations in Agoura Hills and Simi Valley. Boostathletics.net

Dlyan in our group and his brother-in-law Tim: Creators of "The Pro Post." This service allows for consumers to post a job, like a home repair and multiple professional contractors reach out to the consumer to provide bids for that job.
Thepropost.com

I'm feeling like a need to start something up here to compete with all these entrepreneurs. I think this creative spirit and drive to succeed is what makes our country great and makes our group and our families pretty darn cool.

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 309 Life is a Highway

Country rock group Rascal Flatts song "Life is a Highway" was on the radio on the way in. I think it relates to life and real estate and since this is a blog about both, I thought I would just drop the chorus on you and see if we agree that there is a correlation. "Life is a highway, I want to ride it all night long, if your going my way I want to drive it all night long."

Life: We have no choice but to stay on the highway of life unless you choose to jump and jumping is not really an option. The chorus pounds the point about wanting to ride the highway which is an affirmative or positive outlook on the ride of life. And when you have a spouse, friend or family that's going the same way, it appears that driving all night long (life) could be pretty cool if not down right enjoyable.

Consequences: Now merge onto the highway going the opposite direction and you have a major ugly pile up. Choose not to ride the highway everyday and life is missed.

Real Estate: Sellers if you find a buyer that's on your house and heading your way, my advice, open the door, turn the music up and offer to let them ride all night long or at least until escrow closes. Realtors, let us do most of the driving and our clients can sit back and enjoy the ride. A quick reminder to keep the lights on so we know where we are heading.

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, Sunday morning, merging in (I hope in the correct lane) and keeping it real in real estate!