BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 85 - Ahhhhhhhhhh

Simple pleasures in life. Gotta grab a few every day. Sit back, relax, with your favorite beverage and your favorite friend, dogs included :) By the way, this is a new listing of ours in Oak Park, 421 Sunny Brook.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 84 Just Moved In

This new family just moved in to Westlake Island and unlike most smart families, these feathered friends did not need the services of The McLaughlin Group.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 83 Leader is Gone

OK, Dave has left the team for 3 days for a Luxury Homes Conference.....and we are in charge, hee hee. Pizza has been ordered, balcony table has been set, music is on and friends have been called. Wait, are we getting this wrong? Dave said that this weekend will be jamming....what exactly does that mean? We might have to cancel the band.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 82 The Heat

As we approach summer, so many of us forget that the Conejo Valley heats up over the next few weeks. That is why I am attaching the new picture from our new listing on Lake Lindero Drive. Picture the cool down in this back yard and think about those hot summer evenings that are heading our way.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 81 Perk Seekers

Recently Jet Man has been in the news flying over the Grand Canyon and before him it was Evil Knievel. These guys we all refer to as, thrill seekers, stretching the boundaries of sanity to perform stunts that are utterly pointless and dangerous. They seem to struggle with saying no to the craziest of death defying feats. There is a new breed emerging, opportunistic, quick to accept and always looking for the next perk. I now refer to them as perk seekers. They prefer to associate with friends for sure, but more importantly, friends who are connected. Whether it be a mountain cabin, beach condo, buddy passes on an airplane, invite to a cool party or a film premiere, and similar to the thrill seeker who can't say no, the perk seeker is unable to turn a freebie down. Hopefully, if you know one of these emerging characters, you realize this is a harmless flaw, not a fatal one.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 80 I'm Spent

Two friends for many years parting ways and parting lives. Lots of that going on out there. Stuck in the middle doing a job, wanting to inspire, comfort and encourage but tasked to sell a home and not to choose sides. Real estate is not always easy and fun, in fact, it can be a highly charged and an emotionally exhausting job. Popping up at 2 or 3 in the morning, worried if you got it all right, wondering if the seller has secured a place to go or if the buyer will perform. I rest in the fact that the task was completed, the home closed and new paths may begin but I still think of my friends. I remember a few weeks back on the blog, when we posted that adorable photo of the baby smiling and saying something to the effect that this is how we want all our clients to look like after they close escrow. Unfortunately, in some circumstances, those smiles will never come and no celebration will occur.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 79 Hanging Out

Our group hanging at a local spot in Agoura. We love what we do!

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 78 Mother's Day

A special thank you to my mom on this day.

No better childhood could I have asked for, no better love ever offered, no better counsel ever given, no better support always provided, no better grandma to the girls and no better friend to a son than you have been. On this Mothers Day, I wanted you to know that your light is bright and you are loved.

To all the Moms, have the very best day.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 77 The Gala

What a terrific night last night as so many from the Conejo Valley gathered at the Four Seasons for a celebration of life, celebrating 20 Years for the Wellness Community. Inspirational stories of survival, volunteerism and charity all spinning on the axis of hope. The Wellness Community offers hope to those diagnosed with the cancer and hope to the families who are so impacted by that haunting news. You can put a price on most anything in this world but hope is truly priceless.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 76 Humility

A quote from T.S Eliot: Humility is the most difficult of all virtues to achieve; nothing dies harder than the desire to think well of one's self.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 75 The 5 to 1 Method

Here is a great tip from a book titled Rock Solid Leadership: For every one time you offer constructive criticism, make sure to acknowledge them for five things they've done right.

Apply that rule to every relationship at work or home and I bet life would be a bit smoother for all.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 74 Why Social Media?

Here is the answer in a nutshell. According to Parade magazine, 927 Million dollars was spent on online dating last year and 17% of all marriage's in the last 3 years met online. If it is good enough for meeting the love of your life, surely it must be good enough to help people find their next home. Check out our blog, like us on facebook or follow are tweets!

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 73 Desire

Is there any substitute for desire? Some attribute others' successes to luck, timing or connections but in reality, upon analysis, desire is always at the core. A quick story about a very successful NFL QB who rose to the top. This friend was not even a starter QB in high school, had to go through the Junior College system where in his final year he suffered a broken wrist but continued to play. He then transferred to North Carolina State where his first coaching staff was fired and in his senior year became the ACC Player of the year. On draft day he was overlooked, went to Canada and played there, got hurt, came back with the NFL strike and played in Atlanta, then went to the Detroit Lions and became a starter and then went on to the Chicago Bears where his name is littered across most of the Bear's passing records. What most people fail to realize is how easy it would have been for him to give up at any point along his path. Most do not comprehend the hurdles that were required and the unparalleled desire that burned inside of him. Any successful person, no matter the field, possesses this desire. Take a page from Erik Kramer's playbook and let that desire propel you up your mountain.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 72 Piece of Crap

Hi, this is Al, Laurie's husband, and I want to tell you all one of the down sides of having your wife work with The McLaughlin Group. First, I have to tell you a joke that we have shared for years, so you can understand it fully. Here goes: Two men are sitting on a park bench and a beautiful woman walks by. One guy whispers to himself, "Piece of crap!" The other guy looks at him peculiarly but says nothing. Soon another incredible woman walks by and again the man whispers, "Piece of crap!" When the third smoking hot woman passes by with the same comment, the other man says, "OK, I don't get it, 3 fantastic women walk by and each time you say, piece of crap, how can that be?" The man responds, "Piece of crap is what I have at home!" Now, my dilemma; when Laurie comes home from work, after dealing with The McLaughlin Group's many multi million dollar estates, I ask her how her day was and she looks at our home and whispers, "Piece of crap!"

This is Al, husband of Laurie, of The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 71 That's Sick

When traveling with the younger buyers and touring them through different neighborhoods, I have noticed a change in the definition of some key words. Words that I once thought had a negative tilt, now go completely opposite to the positive side. Here are 4 quick examples; Sick, fat, ridiculous and bomb. "That pool was sick", "The home theatre is ridiculous", "That place is a bomb", "That pad is fat". I have now stopped saying "Excuse me?" or "Come again?" and instead just shake my head in agreement, turn up the stereo, put the cap on backwards and say in response, "Lets go back to the office and write up a sick offer on that fat pad and see if we can move you into that bomb." "Ridiculous, right?"

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 70 Recap

Many days in the office we will do a recap of the day's happenings. What one agent heard at the appointment is completely different than what the other agent heard. What was a highlight to me was a not so significant point to the others. This is the same thing we all do after a party recapping the highs and lows of the previous night's festivities. I think it is good to reflect, recap and try to hold on to those very memorable moments that happen throughout the day. And the not so memorable ones, try to laugh them off and look forward to the sun rising the next day.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 69 Are Buyers Liars?

What a classic line in real estate repeated time and time again by so many agents. There might be just a bit of truth to it but more than likely it was originally the agent who was not listening to the clients' needs or wants and the agent was stunned with the home they bought. I think instead of saying buyers are liars, as an industry we should change it to agents are poor listeners.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 68 Birds of Prey

I have always loved this time of year out in the Conejo Valley. After the rains the hills are green, colors everywhere, and the birds are out in force. I especially enjoy watching the Hawks do battle with the Ravens. They are all out looking for an easy meal with all the young ones just taking flight. You can watch some incredible aerial combat between the species. As spring arrives in real estate,new listings start to hatch like baby birds and the agents are out doing battle to earn the business. Obtaining listings is a competitive endeavor but instead of aerial combat, sellers deal with verbal and evidential combat between the agents. Agents must be prepared to articulate their message and speak to the reasons why a seller should pick them. Birds of prey have incredible focus and vision and Ravens are very smart. I hope when you sit down with us, both birds show their feathers.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 67 Easter

Ahhhh...lots of good food, egg hunt (with candy and money), friends, family, a little sunshine....great concoction for a nice Easter. Hope yours was just as good!

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 66 Frustration

I am confident we all have days where frustration wants to boil over. You have had the same conversation over and over and yet there is no understanding. What is it that they don't get or what drives us so crazy that we want to shake them until their senseless body says "okay, I get it." Maybe just a small bat to the rib cage would accomplish the same thing. But even though we feel that way, you can never ever show it and I'm sure all of you in your varying professions know what I am referring to. Much of it must come from the true possibility that the issues in our field or your field, we see so often that it's the routine and we forget that for the ones we are dealing with, the ideas may be completely foreign to them. Breathe, slow down and talk about frustrations with others on your team or in your profession, so that you never boil over.

Well, I'm off to the egg hunt to enjoy the little ones pursuing those plastic eggs hoping I don't get frustrated that Miley misses the big Chocolate one.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 65 Cell Phones

How did we do it? Can you imagine life without these gadgets? I do not want to speculate on how much business is conducted universally by cell phones, but I would guess the number to be over 50%. Cell phones are great tools but they can also be a huge annoyance. There is never a down moment unless you literally leave that gadget behind. Hopefully, with seven in the group, 2 or 3 of us can leave it behind for this weekend. We just have to decide who are the lucky few; and I won't be one of them.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 64 Did You Hear Me

Funny how selective hearing is developed over time. It starts when we are too young to even understand the phrase, but it can get you in trouble. Watching TV, can't hear mom yelling at me to clean the room. Watching a cute girl in class, but don't hear the teacher remind me about the test the next day. Listening to a great song, missed the comment from my wife to pick up cat litter. It becomes a major problem in the office with a team of 7 when we are all busy at our computers and someone alerts me of an important issue or meeting with a client and I don't hear it; she's standing right at my desk and I don't hear a word. Maybe if she would have yelled touchdown, I might have heard it.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 63 Today's My Birthday

Having a great day. Still at the office with my family and friends. Life is good.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 62 All in a Day's Work

I woke up with the usual hunger to get the day going. Not that it was going to be an unusually busy day but so many little things to accomplish. Water heater strapping at a mobile home, scheduling the pest reports on two properties, showing some rentals, a listing appointment and a small team malfunction. The highlight, coming to terms on another property and opening up our 28th escrow this year. Staying busy, staying focused and loving what we do.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 61 Matchmaker

Two buyers, both on different paths and not knowing their story, we started the tour of this potential new neighborhood. Impossible to describe the expressions, emotions and energy that I felt from them as they looked through the homes and started to fall in love with the lifestyle this particular neighborhood could provide them. Older homes, filled with character and charm, waterfront, fantastic views and peaceful serenity. I start to feel the pressure of uncovering a potential gem that would meet their criteria and wonder with such a limited inventory, if I will be successful. I guess you could say, I become the matchmaker, much like a dating service. I begin to develop an understanding of what they are looking for and then I'm charged with the duty of hooking them up. Finding love is not always easy and neither is matching up a potential buyer with their dream home. As we parted, I felt satisfied that the seeds of love were planted and I have a chance now to hook them up......with their dream house of course.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN day 60 Formula

All of us use formulas in some fashion or another. There is a formula for success, a formula to figure out an area, a formula to create a chemical reaction but how about this next one? A formula for where the back-up in the septic line occurred based on the size of the pipe, amount of water, the amount of time the water ran and I'm not sure what else. My formula would have been to just grab a shovel and start digging but think of the sweat and labor vs. the formula that the client put together. See the difference between an Oregon State Degree and a Harvard/MIT degree?

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 59 Giving

I'm pitching; hope you don't mind. I volunteer with a fantastic cancer support group, The Wellness Community, in Westlake Village. It provides a home-like environment where people with cancer, their families, and friends can come to gather information, support, and learn tools that may be helpful in fighting cancer; all free of charge. Super cool; includes yoga classes, meditation, group therapy, and kids' classes to name a few. We are having an incredible fundraiser Friday, May 6th, at the 4 Seasons; great food, live auction, fantastic entertainment and a good cause. Please join us; go to www.twcvv.org/ and click on the Celebration of Life 20th Anniversary Gala. It's so nice to give back :)

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 58 Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word

Why is it that this word makes most people uncomfortable? Elton sang about it. I think I know the answer and would love to hear about your theory. When we say the word, we are admitting to some type of transgression or mistake so that makes most people uncomfortable. No one likes to admit they're wrong. On the receiving end it might be that we are so used to hearing sorry that we are skeptical. Is the person delivering it truly sorry or just providing lip service? Is the word overused by some and rarely used by others? Of course it is! However, I believe that in saying it or receiving it, there is a certain sense of relief offered to both sides. Similar to how Aloe relieves a sunburn, the word sorry also soothes. One of the toughest things in this business is to say you're sorry, move on and attempt to do it better the next time. For a peaceful nights rest, here is my advice: Accept apologies with grace and deliver apologies with humility.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 57 New Team Photo

New Group, new dynamic, fantastic setting.....can't complain.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 56 My Girls

Time flies! It's already Spring, the rain has stopped, it'll be 85 this weekend and we're already in the second decade of the millennium! Hold on! Time goes by so fast and sometimes I have to sit down and notice the beauty and fun that I have in my life. This picture represents both; all my fun and such beauty. Hi girls, thanks for being in my life; nothing better. Ahhhh, this is why I work 7 days a week.

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