Hidup & Pilihan

Ni sekadar nak mengomel tentang hidup dan pilihan. Tentang kehidupan kita yang sentiasa dipenuhi dengan pilihan. Semuanya tentang membuat pilihan. Terjaga diwaktu pagi, kena pilih nak katup mata lagi atau bangkit, perut lapar - kena pilih nak tahan atau nak makan. Nak makan apa? Nak minum apa? Nak makan dengan siapa?

Setiap pilihan dalam kehidupan saya yang saya rasa paling simple antara sedar atau tidak akan mempunyai kesan tersendiri. Cuba lihat kembali pilihan yang kita buat 10 tahun atau 10 minit lepas dan kesan terhadap diri kita  dan adakah ia mampu merubah hidup dan pandangan kita tentang kehidupan. 

10 minit tadi saya sangat dahaga. Sebabnya pagi tadi saya memilih untuk tidak minum selepas sarapan. Apa agaknya outcome yang boleh jadi jika saya bawa bekal air selepas membuat pilihan untuk tidak minum selepas makan pagi:

1. Kalau saya bawa bekal air, saya tak akan sedahaga begini.

2. Kalau saya bawa bekal air, saya akan berulang ke tandas (masalah bladder pendek hehe)

3. Kalau saya bawa bekal air, saya akan duduk dimana sahaja yang mempunyai wifi tanpa perlu order minuman.

Kalau lihat 10 tahun lepas, harus saya menangis lagi.  Atau mungkin saya akan gembira jika dipandang dari segi yang lain pula. Setiap pilihan yang saya pilih telah membawa saya kesini hari ini. Dari segi career paths, men, friends, clothes, movies and books. All those made me me!

Is there anything that I regret?  I'm human and yes, there are more than a few, let me list it:-

1. Should have quit my job and get in real estate asap

2. Should have bought the gold Mini Cooper that I like in 1995

3. Should have buy gold when it was 30/100g (my mom asked me to but well...)

4. Should have keep my mouth shut when I should 

5. Should have learn languages

6. Should continue and sharpen my writing skill

7. Should and never allowed my self to be this fat. 

8. ...the list goes on.

Now a choice to be made:

What's for dinner?

I am tired

Being a real estate negotiator is not easy. The job is tough, competition is even tougher and sadly the income is not as rewarding as people want you to believe.  Having said that, there is lots of things that I love being real estate negotiator. I love the flexibility and ample time that I have, I love that I can pursue other project. I love meeting people and for that little sacrifice I have a dream to be a license real estate agent someday. 

Becoming a licensed agent is my retirement plan.  I imagine that when I'm in the age where I no longer has energy to go out and show people houses I can delegate to the staff to show that house, when all I want to do is travel the world and kicking off my bucket list I know I have my license to ensure a steady source of income.

So in 2012 I registered myself to Board of Valuers and Estate Agent for the examination to be one. The process to be a licensed agents:

1. Part 1 - 6 papers
2. Part 2 - 5 papers
3. Two years of practical/internship
4. Interview by the examination board.

I didn't put a deadline but if all go smoothly I should be doing my internship by now!

How life has other plan and sometimes what you wish for didn't fall thru.  My heart broke into pieces when I received the result last Monday. I failed (again) Accounting (expected) and Law (surprised).  I thought I did well in Law paper. But Lady Luck is not with me!

For now I want to put aside my dream, put it in box and lock it and put it far away so I won't cry.

p/s  but I do not want to look back and regret for not strive for it. ugh! What to do next is clear. But frankly, I am just tired.  

STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST - AUSTIN KLEON

That is my 2015 gift from the husband. Apparently he is now encouraging me to start writing again commercially. My husband is the writer of Ask the Lawyer! series and also he wrote fiction with local publisher Fixi.  I have been berangan-ing to be a writer myself but too afraid to get it done. Maybe with this book I will find some pushing factor to write.

Anyway, back to the book.  It is an interesting and one good inspirational coffee book.  

So, if you are like me, stuck in rut and getting deeper into lazydom we definitely need something to fire up your gut and I hope this will help tremendously.

Basically the book teaches how to move forward by watching the people you admire adn copy their work. Copy how they do it. How their work schedule like, what inspire them, how they write and who they read.  Or if you like to paint and draw, find what make your idol special. Find it and copy it.  

Remember, if you copy from one it is plagiarism but if you copy from many it is called research.  Don't worry, you can't replicate your idol...slowly the real you will take over and that work will speak the loudest in your work. 

I find this advise is a bit not practical as I'm depending on my smartphone but I'm happy to give it a shot and been writing bit and pieces of my thought but not daily as I should.

The book shared how Jerry Seinfield is forcing himself to write everyday and using calendar to track all his writing.  So, from the daily jabbering surely there's some worth saving eh? 

Who am I kidding? Surprisingly it is in the book.  Important reminder.

Anyway, I wish I can publish my story before end of year and all I need now is lots of discipline to write it.

Wish me luck!  

Kisah Hidup Seorang Agent Hartanah / Life as Realtor (Part: 1)

Saya sedang mood nak bercerita...baru balik viewing di Bukit Bandaraya Shah Alam.  Panas betul hari ni...kering tekak bercakap tadi.  Sambil baring-baring ni meh saya nak share pengalaman enam tahun dalam industry Real Estate berurusan dengan tuan rumah dan bakal pembeli & penyewa.

Cerita ceriti berikut bukanlah pengalaman sendiri semuanya... ada juga dari rakan seperjuangan dan tidak ikut chronology dan pastinya ada kena mengena dengan yang masih hidup dan rasanya belum ada yang mati. Jangan saman saya ye kalau terasa atau tak suka :)

Ada satu rumah ni...lokasi Shah Alam. Masa tu saya baru start kerja dan semangat tinggi. Saya buat cold calling di kawasan perumahan baru. Rumah cantik tau...super link and exclusive area.  Lepas tu seorang owner ni setuju untuk melantik saya sebagai agent. Dengan gembira pasanglah sign board & mendapat panggilan untuk viewing. Pergilah saya dengan senang hati. Sedang viewing terus dapat offer. Bertambah senang hati saya. Call lah owner ni...sekali dapat berita sedih daripada owner...rumah tu bukan milik dia lagi...masih hakmilik pemaju. Kisahnya, loan dia tak lepas for the whole two years during contruction time. Hebat tak mamat ni? The intention was to make profit atas angin tak boleh. Buang masa saya & buyer pun marah saya sebab tak cek betul-betul.  

* Saya sedih. 

Lokasi di Kelana Jaya. Rumah single story di SS5. Letak signboard lepas tu terima panggilan non stop. Aduh...sukanya hati. So accepted offer dari Aunty ni. Dia nak rumah dekat kakak dia. No deposit as she want to transfer fund. Have to wait three days. Dalam pada tu saya terima satu call from a very persuasive Aunty nak view. Hey hey, rumah tu tak ada deposit lagi so I'm obligated to owner to promote his house. Pergilah layan & dapat offer RM10k higher. Nak bayar dan-dan tu juga. Saya pun call owner and dia suka. Saya terus accept deposit cheque tersebut.  Aunty 1 punyalah marah sebab saya tak call dulu sebelum accept deposit from Aunty 2. Dia kata : "I don't expect this from a Malay agent..."

* Saya sentap...pedih wor....

Lokasi :  Condo mewah di Jalan Ampang.  Sewa RM8k. Saya pergi kira duit deposit depan tenant. Macam tak percaya camtu.  A Russian & apparently that consider rude.

* Saya segan. 

Lokasi : Condo mewah KLCC.  New listing. Kawan ni happy sangat dapat listing baru dan dengan gembira pergi buat inspection & nak ambil gambar to advertise.  Sekali dalam masterbedroom there was too many risque photos of the wife on the wall and all over the room.  Frame besar to frame kecik. Kwan ni jadi segan tapi saya tak percaya dia segan...kalau ada pun pasti rasa itu hilang kejap jer, saya pasti dia tak dapat lawan curiosity & nak juga pandang gambar-gambar tu kan?  Agaknya macamana kawan saya buat viewing, adakah dia sorok frame tu semua dalam stor?

* Saya harap itu listing saya hahaha

Ada kisah tragic ni. Kucing saya shred deposit bank draft. Even worse nak kena pulangkan sebab deal aborted. Prospect tu gelak kat saya tapi terasa juga tikaman didada. 

* Saya malu (sampai sekarang)

A lady called for my house to let. Said she's coming with her husband. But at the designated time she was alone. Why? Husband dia kenal I. How? His other wife is my colleague. Ah, drama!

* Saya terbeban dengan rahsia.

Yang ni, pengalaman kawan saya. Owner minta dia pastikan yang tenant adalah ahli sunnah sebelum disewakan rumah dia.  Tapi kawan saya kata yang prospect tenant adalah Melayu Malaysian.  Owner kata.....sekarang dah tak boleh percaya dah.

* Saya gelak.

Cerita belum habis lagi...tapi saya mengantuk pulak...toodles! 

p/s: there's more :)

CONDO FOR RENT- KOTA DAMANSARA

Hi all, 

How's February treating you guys so far?  I have few listings in Kota Damansara that I like to promote. Do share this posting to anyone that is looking for a place to rent. 

Pelangi Sentral Condominium

Studio unit with one bedroom & one bathroom

Complete with kitchen cabinet and cooking hob

670 sq ft

Asking for RM1,500 per month 

Kiara Park Taman Tun Dr Ismail Condominium

3 bedroom & 2 bathroom

Partially furnished with kitchen cabinet

1,400 sq ft

Asking for RM2,500 per month  

Metropolitan Condominium

3 bedroom & 2 bathroom

Partially furnished with kitchen cabinet

1,300 sq ft

Asking for RM2,500 per month  

Parkville Sunway Damansara Townhouse

Top floor & End lot unit

3 bedroom & 2 bathroom

Partially furnished with kitchen cabinet

2,100 sq ft

Asking for RM3,000 per month  

Surian Condominium

4+1 bedroom & 4 bathroom

Corner Unit

Partially furnished with kitchen cabinet

2,200 sq ft

Asking for RM4,000 per month  

Terms & Conditions:

Long term tenancy at minimum of 12 months. 

Two months security deposit

One month advance rental 

Half month utility deposit

Tenancy agreement

Be Millionaire Real Estate Negotiator

Wahhhhhh...baca title ajer boleh teruja tau. Awal bulan dapat e-mail circulate dari office tentang talk diatas. Speaker adalah Mr Collin Tan. Disebabkan tajuk seminar sangat menarik dan tambahan pula cuma 45 minit maka saya dan beberapa rakan telah invest petang Jumaat kami. 

Seminar diadakan di HQ untuk semua REN Reapfield dan percuma. Rugi kalau tak pergi...setahu saya Colin Tan ada 8 hari seminar dan fee dalam RM2+++. Belum lagi ada kesempatan masa dan tenaga dan sertai. Btw, Colin Tan a property guru from Singapore and own a property agency there. 

He started his training on time, 2pm, didn't wait for late comer and straight to business. 

He thought me that A REALTOR IS NOT JUST SALESPERSON OR NEGOTIATOR.  

Wow! Senang lah nak kata tapi apa 'just' tu? Maknanya kita bukan robot yang hanya buat 5 cycle of REN...perlu tukar mindset. Kena buat more than cari listing-seller-promo/viewing-buyer-close, lima benda ni memang kena diulang kalau tidat buat salah satu memang tidak ada income.  

We are ----------> SUPER REALTOR 

and to do so we must build four personalities to shape our self to be one. 

1) Creator

2) Businessman

3) Super salesperson

4) Investor

Property market is now getting too competitive and some area has more REN than the listings itself. REN lain buang your banner? Curi listings? Mean and tak mau co-broke? ah, itu semua asam garam kami. Sebab itu nasihat saya kepada orang baru - kuat semangat dan kena cekal. 

Let us work hard for and after all 2015 is another 48 days!

House For Rent @ Shah Alam & Kota Damansara

Listed below is properties for rent that I have today. All is move in condition and good location. The landlords prefer long term tenancy, least 2+1 year. 


Shah Alam 

Double Storey Link

Location : Bukit Bandaraya
Bedroom:  4
Bathroom: 3
Furnishing:  Fully furnished
Rental :  RM1,700


Location : Seksyen 6 
Bedroom:  4
Bathroom: 3
Furnishing:  Fully furnished
Rental :  RM2,700  (end lot)

Location : Bukit Jelutong
Bedroom:  4
Bathroom: 3
Furnishing:  Fully furnished
Rental :  RM1,700

Semi D

Location : Seksyen 7 
Bedroom:  5
Bathroom: 5
Furnishing:  Partly furnished
Rental :  RM3,00  (end lot)

Bungalow

Location : Bukit Bandaraya
Bedroom:  5
Bathroom: 5
Furnishing: Basic 
Rental :  RM4,000

Kota Damansara

Double Storey Link

Location : Tropicana Homes Resort
Bedroom:  4
Bathroom: 3
Furnishing:  Partially furnished
Rental :  RM2,700

Condominium

Location : De' Rozelle, Sek 10
Bedroom:  3
Bathroom: 2
Furnishing:  Partially furnished
Rental :  RM1,700


Do call me @ 0133807988 for viewings. Have a great day peeps!

Can I be a Real Estate Negotiator Now?

I received a few emails and calls from inquiring about it is a good time to be real estate negotiator. Payah nak jawap. Soalan ni tak ada direct YES / NO. It has to be experienced. (Sekurang-kurangnya dikaji). 

Soalan ni banyak daripada orang yang bekerja tetap, yang punya gaji bulanan tetapi tertekan dengan masalah kerja. Saya agak-agak mereka sedang berkira-kira untuk menjadi self-employed but in a very early stage. 

Sebelum buat apa-apa keputusan, saya nasihatkan kenal pasti perniagaan apa yang hendak dimulakan...Tanya diri: 

What 

Where

When

Who 

How

dan jangan lupa yang penting, cukupkan simpanan (sekurang-kurangnya enam bulan untuk tanggung diri & commitment). 

Kalau dah tekad nak juga jadi REN, ini nasihat saya:

Pertama, pilih agency. Ada banyak agency yang boleh dipilih...kadangkala satu kawasan punya tiga atau empat agency bersaing. Kenapa begitu? Kena find out. Please remember this, a good agency will make your work half done in getting new listing. The owner will trust the name you represent. Some negotiator will choose agency according to fee they received. Basically it is your choice to choose. Most big agencies will provide training to its negotiators and guide you along the way. However there are some who don't especially agencies that giving fee up to 90% from commission collected. I always wonder how these firms survive with only 10%. 

Kedua : identify and study the market. Dimana slow dan dimana booming. Alhamdullilah saya close RM3juta bulan lepas. Rumah banglo dua tingkat di USJ 5. Best kan? Tak juga....tak sustainable. Sebab berapa banyak pula banglo untuk dijual Subang Jaya? Kawasan tersebut kawasan mature yang kebanyakan pembeli beli untuk duduk. Tak banyak new listing in market. Now, bring your attention to Bukit Jelutong, satu lagi perumahan dibangunkan oleh Sime Darby dan juga freehold. About 15km from Subang Jaya. Kawasan yang agak baru (2000) dan masih lagi membangun dengan banyak lagi fasa baru. Baru-baru ini rakan saya close satu deal RM4.2m di Jelutong Heights. Seronok kan? Lebih seronok she is consistently closing properties monthly. Imagine a 3% from at least RM1.5m property. Nice huh?

Nota: Pilih kawasan farming

Ketiga: Just do it. Sadly, market is slow now. People are choose to wait and see. Wait for budget, wait for GST (Good & Services Tax), wait for new year...One has to be strong and just carry on. There is time that I wish I still do unit trust. My friends are doing well there. Property market down and share market is up. That is the vicious cycle that property agents has to accept. It is norm...1997, 2008 and now 2014. I believe next seven years will be the same. 

Nota: Understand market

Keempat: Marketkan diri anda. Brand yourself. Tell every one. Don't be shy. But don't bluff. Buyers know. Treat them with respect. You wouldn't know who is your clients. 

Well, that's it. That is what I can share for now. I'm sorry if I didn't reply your e-mail in details. 

Enter with caution. Good luck!

I'm in Tokyo

Ohaiyougozaimasu!!! Hello Tokyo! This is one of the place that I don't think I can be in tho growing up with Doraemon and Ultraman. Off from the bucket list!

There is small hiccup. Husband has a problem with his visa and not allowed to board so I'm here by myself.

Arrived at 11pm and took Limosine Bus to Shinjuku Station. It took about 45 minits via highway and the city so quite from Haneda Airport.  I walked to our hotel for 20 minit in rain while lugging our 20kg (ok,15kg) luggage in the rain! (Tickets to Shinjuku Washington Hotel finito). It was an experience and I have no problem with rain. Always love rainy night. Tapi sebab menarik beg tu...

Anyway, I thot our room will be tiny and comel like the movie but it exceed expectations.  Or maybe because I'm alone it feel cozy and oh-so-comfortable.  See how tonite when he is here.

It is 9.30 and I'm ready for my walkabout! Excited!

Lari dari jerebu

Syukur esok akan ke Kuching. Dapat juga lari daripada jerebu yang sudah mula terasa. Tekak sudah pedih, hidung sudah berbau, langit sudah kelabu dan hujan lama tidak membasahi bumi.

I am Always Working

I refuse to accept that for Real Estate Negotiator (ren), you are working only when you are showing houses to potential buyer or meeting new owner. No. It is more than that.

There are five cycles as ren:-

1. Prospecting
2. Seller
3. Buyer
4. Viewing
5. Closing


Prospecting

There are so many way to do this. You may see me looking at my phone constantly but do you know I am blasting sms/WhatsApp/e-mail to my potential clients. I send season greetings cards and also Thank you cards. Driving around housing estates and talking to security guards. A day out can be a work day if you know where to do prospecting. Seriously!

Seller

Your seller is the supplier to your stock (listing) to sell. He can be anyone. Your ex-boss, your ex, your sister, brother etc etc. Keeping in touch is also way of maintaining good relationship with your potential seller. 

Or, you can network with your colleagues. Easy peasy

Buyer

Easy to come by. Market your list and subsequently potential will come along and be your buyer. Again, network with your colleagues. They might have a buyer. 

Viewing

This is the fun part. Let the potential buyer see the unit. Let them touch it, feel it, visualising it. 50% chance of closing is in your hands.

Closing

This is hard for me. I do not have mojo to persuade and charm people with words. Always I let the house sell by itself. Off course I will do my best ensuring the property is suitable with potential buyer but I don't believe in forcing people to put down payment like some ren. 

So, when people tell me that I have an easy job I just my eyebrows. I'm always working.  Unlike you, you can clock out and not answer calls from your office.

Hot day but when you have to hand a signboard, you got to go!

Then you go home prepare a good meal!