January :: SoundBiteBlog.com 2007 :: SoundBiteBlog.com

Recently, Sparky and I decided we should show our ladies a good time. After much conversation and thought we settled on ballroom dancing to show our spouses (or is it spices) what classy, athletic, graceful and attentive men they had married.

The one small problem with our plan was neither one of us will ever be mistaken for Riverdancers. So, after further debate and discussion we agreed dance lessons would solve all of our problems and how hard can it be anyway?

The first lesson was cancelled because of weather. But Thursday we finally had a chance to show our stuff to our partners. I learned several things at our first class.

• It is not wise to tell your wife “It feels like I’m driving an anchor”.
• It is possible for someone to step on their own foot while doing the box step.
• It’s hard to converse while muttering “1 and 2 and 3 and 4″.
• In a county this small, someone is going to recognize you.
• The instructors don’t do this for the money, they do it for the laughs
• Being graceful is over-rated

Other than an ego bruising, it was fun. We decided to go back next week. We’ll let you know if we are still married after the six weeks are over. And, we’ll let you know when we will appear on Dancing With the Stars!

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Posted in Laugh Tracks, Miscellaneous | 9 Comments »

Washington State’s Mortgage Broker Practices Act law and rules went into effect January 1, 2007. The new licensing requirements for Loan Officers demand that Loan Officers include their new license number on their business cards. Maybe it’s just me, but isn’t that a bit discriminatory? Doctors have to be licensed, but mine doesn’t have a license number on his business card. Nurses are the same way. I used to be licensed to sell Life, Accident and Health Insurance but I wasn’t required to emblazon my number on my business cards. What’s next, my license number on the door of my car like contractor’s have?

The new laws are a long overdue improvement to the mortgage industry. I have no argument with the need or the benefit. Before now, a convicted felon could handle mortgages in Washington as long as they were willing to lie on the employment application and their new employer didn’t perform a background check. The new regulation takes care of that problem. The new regulation also requires ongoing education. I am all for that too. There has been way too much mediocrity and downright substandard hiring practices before now. Anybody’s Aunt Bessie could write loans out of her basement in the past.

The real irony here is that Lawyers in Washington State are required to be licensed but you won’t find a lawyer with his or her license number on his or her business card. Why is that? Lawyers were involved in the creation of this law. You would think they would craft the law to reflect business practices common to their industry. No, it appears that the lawmakers view Loan Officers in the same light as electricians or building contractors. Used car dealers have arguably the worst reputations around and they are also required to be licensed. But they are not required, you guessed it, to have the license number on their business card. There is a silver lining though. This will be a bonanza for the printing industry. 10,000 Loan Officers in Washington State need to get new business cards!

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Posted in Bite Me Blogs, Miscellaneous, Mortgage Bites | 2 Comments »

From Sparky: Rich Jacobson of Windermere Real Estate in Silverdale WA.

Okay, so let’s breach a topic that most people, especially real estate agents, would rather ignore.

Let’s say that you’re a Buyer. You and your wife have been working with Agent Smith for a couple weeks now, and things just aren’t clicking. He’s an okay guy, but he’s got the personality of a bent trash can. He’s not very attentive and he seems to miss some of the most basic details.

What do you do? What CAN you do?

First, you need to realize that most professional real estate agents take their duties and obligations towards their clients very seriously. They diligently strive to represent their client’s best interests to the fullest extent possible. Regardless of Agent Smith’s shortcomings, in his mind he may have been making a legitimate effort and investing his valued time in assisting you. That is something that should be taken into account.

Secondly, as hard as an agent may try, they can’t always be all things to all people. There may be that rare ocassion where personalities differ or collide. That’s okay. No one is right or wrong. It’s just a reality of life. The truth is that nobody wants to be in a working relationship that isn’t working! Agent Smith may actually be feeling the same way you are.

If possible, your first step should be an attempt to discuss the matter directly with your agent. However, some people may not feel comfortable with this approach, depending on the nature of the differences you’re experiencing with your agent. Another option would be to share the situation with the agent’s Managing Broker. Most Brokers are genuinely concerned for the welfare and satisfaction of their Brokerage’s clientele. Call the Broker. Set up a time when you can meet. Share your feelings and thoughts openly. A good Broker can help facilitate and mediate such circumstances. If things can’t be worked out with Agent Smith, the Broker may be able to recommend another agent within their office that might be a better fit.

It should also be mentioned that if you signed a Buyer’s Agency Agreement, you still have a contractual obligation to Agent Smith. That’s not to say that you can’t be released from that obligation. Just be aware that it may exist.

The primary point being made is that you shouldn’t just automatically jump ship at the first sign of trouble. or difficulty. Open and honest communication is the key. Share your feelings with your Agent, or with the Broker, and work towards a mutual resolve.

The process of buying or selling a home is one of the most significant situations you’ll face. You deserve an agent you can trust, respect, and work well together with.

Rich Jacobson, Your Professional Agent on the Kitsap Peninsula

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Posted in Buyers, Real Estate Bites, Sellers | 4 Comments »

This is the first post of what will, hopefully, be a long series of articles. SoundBiteBlog.com is the creation of two guys who met in the Real Estate arena and became friends. Both of us drink too much coffee, love to laugh and are passionate about our families and our careers. Sparky is a Real Estate Agent and I, Buckwheat, am a Loan Officer.

If our plan works out this website will become the place to come for a little entertainment and alot of information. Although we will be taking a playful and slightly irreverant approach to our artices, both Sparky and I believe strongly in sharing knowledge. Many of the article we plan to post will be educational and informative. But not all. Some of our posts will be about things like crusty sea creatures.

The format of the site is….hmmm, well I guess we don’t really want one of those. Too restrictive! We will write whatever catches our attention that day. Or, we might write about what happens to be going on in the Real Estate industry or the Mortgage industry. We may even write about the trials and tribulations of having a career in Real Estate. No matter what we write, you’ll have a good read. And if you have something you want to find out more about, by all means, drop us a note or leave a comment. One of us will address your topic.

Don’t think for a minute that Sparky and Buckwheat are two amatuers who decided a website might be fun. We do think a website of our own will be fun, but we aren’t amatuers. Both of us are very active members of ActiveRain, a national network of Real Estate Professional. As a matter of fact, a little horn-tooting is going to happen now. Rich and I are the top ranked Realtor and Loan Officer in Washington State. And we are well-known nationally because of the 300 articles we wrote for the ActiveRain network.

This website started over cups of Starbucks coffee. Nobody knows how it will end. Feel free to jump in and enjoy the verbal banter that is going to be a big part of this site. It’s more fun when there are more people.

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Posted in Miscellaneous, SoundBite Bites | 12 Comments »

Glen,

Sorry for the delay. My wife worked late with clients yesterday and brought the camera home too late to have any decent lighting. These photos are also quite large. I removed the protective plastic after the first two pictures so you would have a better view.

As you can see, this is a long-block rebuild. The heads were rebuilt at the same time as the block. Everything internal is brand new and has been lubricated. Because this is a rebuild, you will want to make sure to hand-turn the engine in one complete revolution before you fire it up the first time. Also, you will want to baby it during the break-in period (first 500 miles) and put fresh oil in it at 500 miles.

The additioanl new parts that you will get include the intake manifold gaskets, exhaust manifold gaskets, exhaust manifold heat shields, thermostat, timing belt and various other gaskets that are needed for a full rebuild and re-installation.

As agreed on the phone, the price is $1500 cash.

If you click on the pictures, you will be able to open them into a full-size view.

Front Wrapped	Rear Wrapped	Front Unwrapped
Rear Unwrapped	Side View	Side-Top View Unwrapped
Side view	Side view	Additional new parts
Top view, Heads rebuilt	Top view

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Posted in Miscellaneous | 2 Comments »