Ray Carman – Auctioneer

Recently my friend Bill Seaver published a post with the most recent Facebook user stats. To say the least they are quite astounding. It never ceases to amaze how many people have joined FaceBook and how much time they spend there daily. I have personally been on Facebook for a few years, and this past year incorporated a Fan Page for our Auction business.

The big question is how will this media outlet be a factor in Auctions? Personally, I think it is going to be huge. Here is a few reasons why -

1. The visibility of your auction can reach millions in the matter of minutes. If an auction is properly marketed on FB, then you could see residual hits from friends and fans re-posting the ad/video/article in the matter of minutes. This past fall, I saw first hand how it could work as people quickly spread some of our videos around and our hits went up dramatically.

2. You can use FB to reach your friends when you are going to have am auction. They in turn can pass the word to their friends, and on and on. Once again, this brings immediate attention to the auction sale, and if the ad, pictures, and/or video are interesting, then it will spread quickly.

3. Facebook allows for those last minute updates and reminders to millions where email data bases are limited in their scope.

4. Facebook allows for real time updates from the auction site which I think people find interesting. This can in turn lead to some real time opportunities for people to bid online for items up for sale. This is going to be a process in progress, but I can really see some huge potentials with it.

Thanks to Bill for publishing those stats and lets see how Facebook drives our auctions this year!

Ray Carman

This past week I was given the opportunity to share a 10 minute presentation on our company and what we do. As a part of this presentation, I was able to share briefly why our company is a great choice for your auction needs. I wanted to briefly share the three main reasons here and why it is important to the client choosing an Auctioneer.

1. Family Owned Business operating since 1910. Yes, we have 100 years as a family in the Auction Industry in Tennessee and Kentucky. Why is that important? Because it has now led us to having 9 full time auctioneers in the family, a large crew of Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Grandkids that all work together for you. This allows us to service any and all auction needs with great experience and professionalism.

2. A company you can Depend on, Rely on, and Trust in. Our foundations were laid on Honesty and Integrity. We strive to give the most professional service that is backed with a person you can trust in. If you do not have faith that the auctioneer is working for you and not just the commission check, then it is going to be a very difficult journey. However, at Gene Carman, our goal is to not only do our job, but form a reliable relationship with our clients.

3. A company that will WORK. Yes, it is amazing how many times you run into a situation where an auctioneer would like to sell your valuable assets ( Real Estate ), but really would rather not “mess with” you personal property you have to liquidate. Yes, I admit, it is VERY hard work and requires many hours of preparation and back labor, but it is YOUR merchandise and it deserves just as much work as your Real Estate as well. With our large family, we know what the work is like, and we are not afraid to dig in and get it done.

4. Passion. We simply love what we have been given to do and we love working for/with people. This is not just a job or a career, it is what we ENJOY doing.

If we can ever be of service to you or someone you know in any way, please let us know.

Ray Carman

Yes, it is unbelievable that our family has been blessed to have the honor of serving Middle TN and Southern KY in the auction industry for 100 years. All starting with my Great Grandfather, Jim Carman, when in 1910 he answered the need for an auctioneer in his home county of Trousdale. What started as a willingness to help a neighbor and friend turned into of  the longest lasting family heritages in the business today.

I cannot remember a time when auctions were not a part of my life, including the day I was born, Saturday, Dec 13th, 1975. My father, Harold Gene Carman Jr, was off with the other family members conducting an auction in Macon Co when I decided it was time to arrive. My mother had to send for my father who came and off we were to the hospital. Ever since that day, I have been connected to auctions. From working at them since the age of five, to having my very first auction in the  mid 1990’s, to brokering and conducting an auction on my very own wedding day, April 8th, 2000. We even had snow that day and the hired photographer got a picture of my wife calling me to ask if I was coming, cause I was running a little late (30 minutes) due to the successful auction and following paperwork. But as you can tell, I made it and have been blessed with the most amazing wife for ten years.

This year is a milestone for us as a family, and we owe that to several different things:

1. God’s grace! Without the blessings of Jesus the Christ and the many prayers ( and early Saturday morning breakfast feast for all thee years) of my Grandmother, Dorthy “Me-Ma” Carman, we would not be here.

Gene Carman Sr and Me-ma with our latest addition, my son, Truett McGraw Carman

2. To my Grandfather, Gene Carman, who taught us all the true meaning of integrity and hard work. His perseverance even in the toughest of times kept us all going and striving to offer unbeatable service combined with integrity and honest hard work mixed with sweat, tears, and joy. He still conducts auctions on a weekly basis in the auction season.

3. Loyal customers who have continued to grace us with their presence at auctions. I can honestly say, every Saturday it is very easy to look up and recognize a large portion of our auction crowd as they have truely become extended family through out the years.

4. Our clients who have entrusted us over and over to handle some of their most valuable commodities in Real Estate and personal property and have honored us with the privilege of walking them through countless Estate Auctions, sometimes only having met us but having been referred to us by a common friend or acquaintance.

So how do we celebrate? By offering you more of the same! Honest hard work founded on Integrity!

Without these key ingredients this cherished heritage would not be possible. So from the bottom of my heart, I would like to say “thank you” for giving us the honor of serving in the auction industry for so long in Middle TN. I am truly looking forward to this year of celebration by giving you, our clients and customers, more of what you have come to expect from us. And by seeking to glorify God in all I do, I hope that those we serve will receive the blessings that He has sent our way.

If I can ever serve or assist you in an Auction, whether Estate, Real Estate, or Benefit Auction, please do not hesitate to call! And I hope our next 100 will be more of what has already been as we celebrate 1910-2010 with you!

Ray Carman

Here is the gut check time for Social Media and business in our world today, and the question, Are you game? As with anything else, Social Media has a dirty little secret, or so I think. It is true that it is very cost effective. For example, this website cost me around $1 a month to own. IT has not cost me much of anything to keep up or have it put out there. I have paid a few friends to do some things for me, and honestly, most of them have worked for free, or close to it. I have not sent any money to anyone to drive my Google ratings or anything of that sort. so, money wise, it has been VERY cost effective.

However, here is the dirty little secret part. IT TAKES TIME! And frankly, plenty of it. If you want to keep a site fresh and up to date, you have to have time involved. You have to put forth a personal effort to keep things changed and up to date. And, if you are like me, you have to do most of it in your off hours or while you are at home, eating into your family time. I know many times, I start a post, video, or updating a page ( like Upcoming Auctions), and I have a call come in, or appointment show up, and have to stop and take a break, and finish when I get home. Which means it cuts into family time.

But not only this site. We also have Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedN, Activerain, and others IF you want to get on top in this world of Social Media. The key SEEMS to be that you have a presence EVERYWHERE possible. And the truth is, yes, it doesn’t cost a-lot of money, but it does cost time. And for those of us who remember the first lesson in business class, “Time is Money.” So though it may not cost much monetarily out of your bank account, you really need to stop and think about how much it is costing you in time. Then, if you find yourself trapped into losing family time so you can keep up a social media presence, then you should, in my opinion, multiply your cost by a million times over. Cause money cannot replace family at ANY price.

So, how do we manage this beast of a Social Media presence without it “costing” so much? Here are a few things I have learned.

1. Be okay with just saying no. If you miss a few days posting or have to give Facebook up for a few days, you will be okay, and you might find yourself actually saying something worthwhile, aka, something the reader actually wants to hear instead of how great your last meal was.

2. Use your time wisely. Write a few blog post at one sitting and set them to publish at different dates. This can easily be done on just about any blog site and will free you up from always having to write a post when you really don’t ave the time.

3. Count the real cost before you begin. Facebook, blogs, and other social media sites have a “newnees” factor that is attractive for awhile, however, they can become addictive if you are not careful. Sit down and figure out how much you want to “spend” on Social Media, then only allow yourself to spend that much time using, updating, and harnessing Social Media.

4. Take the weekends off. I have started only updating on weekends if I am at an auction and I want people to know where we are. Otherwise, I have made the choice to “Just say No!” to anything other than Twitter via my blackberry on the weekends. And then, it is only if the girls or family is doing something or have said something, that I think the rest of my family will find amusing or helpful.

Social Media can be a huge benefit to your business. I have the real proof in several transactions over two years that have brought in several thousands of $$$$’s. But, I have also paid the HIGH cost at times in loss of family time and high stress levels in trying to keep the “beast” fed. So, if you find it has become overwhelming, take a break and reconsider your motives and goals, then proceed forward from there.

Ray Carman

Yes, its true! Not everything in the world of Real Estate is glamorous and pretty. Not always does everyone get on the same page or get along, and when these things come up, usually there is only one person who suffers the consequences, the Client/Customer.

I was told years ago by my Father and Grandfather to “ALWAYS do your business with the honesty and integrity.” So I have always given my efforts to do that. Along the way I have made mistakes and learned some hard earned lessons. But recently, the fact of doing business without integrity was put on display in front of me, and the end of it all seems to be the same, people get hurt.

In a recent situation someone I was involved in a deal with decided to take the path of lies and deception in order to try and further themselves along ( aka, more $$$$) in a transaction. Amazingly though, all the effort was put forth to earn a very small amount of money. Lies were told and plans were set in order to destroy reputations. Unfortunately for the person weaving this web, they forgot that ultimately truth will win out as the facts are brought to light. And they did!

However, the damage was done as people (customers and clients) were caught in the middle and relationships were ultimately damaged. And for what, a few extra bucks? People who give themselves to a path of dishonesty can never seem to find the door out, which is confession and apologies.

I do not know how the final chapter in this saga will play out, and I hope everyone involved will learn the lesson provided to them through it all. For me,  it was a good reminder that even if LOTS of money is involved, there is NO amount of $$$$ that will replace honesty, integrity, and friendships.

At the end of every real estate transaction there is the closing company. Usually a title company or an attorney. They may be at the “end of the line,” however they play a vital role. Without them closings would not be as they are. They search the title, prepare the paperwork, and conduct the closing. And when doing your closing, it is VERY important to choose the right attorney/title company.

“Aren’t they all the same?” is a question I hear alot when it comes to closers. And the answer is “NO!, they are not!” They may perform the same work, however they can be different in several very important ways.

1. Efficiency. The work can be measured not just by how they conduct the closing at the closing table, but how efficient they were in getting the paperwork and people prepared prior to the closing.

2. Professionalism. A closing company has to deal with many different people along the way in the closing. Byers and Sellers. Loan Officers and Processors. Agents for the buyer/seller. In order to manage and balance all these people, you need a high level of professionalism as it is certain issues will arise during the process.

3. Flexibility. These problems that will arise will require that everyone be flexible. And the conductor of keeping people informed usually sits at the desk at the closing company. So a good amount of flexibility is required.

4. Effective. The closing company needs to be able to produce when the time is right. Being prepared to handle last minute changes and issues in order to bring the closing together.

5. Finishers. When the closing is completed, it is not over. Usually there are two closing companies involved (one for seller and one for the buyer), and Docs have to be exchanged. SO getting them to the proper place in the right time is key for money dispersal and finality of the closing.

So wen you choose your closer, be sure they are able to get the job done!

Sometimes in Real Estate, life just happens and you just have to laugh. One of those moments happened to me this week and I thought it worth sharing with you.

I was out Tuesday showing a few houses to some friends of mine in the White House TN area. We had picked out three to look at and were able to get into two of them . The first one was a little dream home someone had done a great job rehabbing. It looked great. Unfortunately, someone else had already fallen in love with it and had an offer to purchase on the home.

So, we moved on to the second home. Here is where the fun starts.

The owners had left town for a few days and we were told we could enter by using the sophisticated Sentri-lock on the front porch. I approached the house and picked up the box to enter my card to obtain the key. NOTHING happened. No lights, no beeps, no nothing. I immediately knew something was wrong.

I tried “waking the box up” by pressing enter. It seemed to work, but all I could get was the error message for the code. Now, I knew I had updated my card the evening before, so it was not that issue. Yet here we stood on the front porch, in the blazing sun, and they had their two young one with them.

So, I did the responsible thing and called support at Sentrilock. I was put in touch with a tech and we tried walking through the process of getting this box to open. It was not easy. The box did not want to co-operate. After FOUR times, finally the box seemed to be functioning and wah-lah, the box opened!

AND TO MY SURPRISE, after all that work, there was NO KEY IN THE BOX!!!!!!

That is right, there was no key in the box that did not want to open. So, I did the next best thing, I called the listing agent. I told them what was going on as I was strolling back up to the front door. That’s when  this old country boy thought popped in my mind, “Check the mat.”

and WAH-LAH, there it was, bright and shiny under the mat, a key to the house. What was I thinking? Why would I waste so much time on this box when all I had to do was roll up the mat. So we were in…………

only to find a dog in the house who had…….yes……..had peed all over the kitchen floor.

Needless to say, we moved along!

You ever had one of these days?

Yes, suddenly, the real estate market in Middle TN, Sumner County in specific, has seen a rush. And it is really no surprise. As earlier this year, the Federal Govt had set up a $8000 tax credit to first time home buyers to anyone who buys a home who has not owned a home in at least three years. The key, close your new home before Nov 1st.

SO the rush has begun. People who want a house and want to use this available tax credit have suddenly emerged. That is the main reason we have seen a sudden rise in the market place. And many Realtors are very glad to see it. So are sellers of both new and older homes. Some house builds have started up in the area, and it could not have hit at a better time for the person wanting to sell.

Here is the key though. For the buyer, you HAVE to get yourself in position to close on your new home before the deadline. But, even more important than that, be sure you are only buying a house that fits your budget. If you cannot afford the home, DO NOT use this tax credit as a means to enter the world of foreclosure in the near future. Talk to your Mortgage Consultant and ask them to work with you in deciding what is the best amount of house for your budget. Then move forward.Here are a few tips:

1. Make sure your house payment stays below 40% of your monthly income. I prefer lower than 30%, but DO NOT go over 40%.

2. Make sure you are still able to save a little each month for that “just in case” moment. Just in case there is a job change or loss. Just in case there is a transfer. Or just in case you get sick and have some unexpected time off.

3. Don;t try to keep up with the “Jones”. Buy a house that fits your needs, not your wants.

Follow these keys and you can buy a house you will be able to enjoy and STAY IN until it is time for you to move again.

If you want any help in this process, I, or anyone here at Priority One will be thrilled to walk with you through these steps!

Ray Carman

In any profession, this is not necessarily the easiest thing to do. When things are tough, sometimes it is easiest to do what will make YOU the most money. This is even more natural when things in your chosen profession are not going very well.

When I was a wee young fellow, my Grandfather and Father were very persistent in practicing and preaching “Honesty and Integrity.” They preached it so much that sometimes my ears hurt. But what really stuck was how they lived it. I sat in so many meetings growing up and listened to each of them, together and individually, turn down business because it was not in the clients best interest to hire them for the job.

Again, recently, this happened again as my father called and ran a scenario past me regarding a potential auction. We discussed the facts as they were presented to us, and it was evident that our services were not best suited for the client and in the long run would do him more harm (cost him more money) than good. Needless to say, the potential client was shocked to hear it when we did not recommend an auction for his case and were therefore not going to take the job. After explaining the our view points and the risk he was taking, he was still willing, however, we knew it was not for his best.

Now, could we have taken the job and made some money? Yes! But at what price? If we knew the property was not going to bring what the seller was wanting, and yet we went forward anyway, then not only is he then stuck with a property that has an “auction price” attached to it and leaves future buyers sending in low bids, but it also leaves a mark on the reputation of the ability of the salesman to do his job. It is good for neither side.

However, as the years have passed, and several of those clients who were “turned down opportunities”, have surfaced again and again, they now tell folks that what my Grandfather and Father did, in turning them down, was the biggest favor they had ever had. Some even went on to try other companies seeking fast paydays, and found that what they had heard from Gene Carman was true, and oh how they wished they had saved their money and listened. And what has that meant for our future business? Alot!!! Honesty and Integrity go a LONG way, even if it does not put money in your pocket today!

All that to say, even when times are hard, Doing the Right Thing ALWAYS pays off in the end!

Ray Carman

Here recently, this particular question has come up a few times in and around some of my real estate conversations in Sumner and surrounding counties. People are wondering what is the best route for them and their homes right now. Many people have been forced to move due to job needs or other situations, and they have had some trouble selling their home in the current market. Many times. the thought of two mortgages is maybe just too much to bear and they are wondering what to do with their current dwelling.

My personal opinion on the situation is this:

1. If you can drive around your neighborhood and count more than a dozen homes currently on the market, then you probably would be best served to seek a good lease tenant for the time being. With too many properties, and more than likely, some belonging to banks who are selling at discounts right now, your ability to sell your home is going to be inhibited. People tend not to want to buy in an area where supply seems to be too high.

2. If you are in a rural area and the market is slower than usual (takes more than 120-180 days to sell), then you probably want to consider a lease on your home.

3. If you are mortgaged on your house and your current market will not allow you to come out even or better, then you might want to consider a lease. Remember, there are still people out there who can pay your mortgage amount on your home, but with current lending regulations, cannot get a loan for a purchase. So allowing them to lease or lease purchase your home will help keep your mortgage paid and allow them to build credit and potentially equity to buy from you at a later date.

4. If your house has been on the market for more than 6 months, you might want to consider a lease. As stated above, there are more potential lessors who can pay your mortgage or better than there are qualified buyers right now. A lease or lease purchase may be your best option.

Of course, all this is situation dependent and you really need to speak to an expert in helping you work through these details and help you during the lease process. Thus a well trained and highly profession Property Manager should be your next phone call. Our very own TN Property Manager would be happy to walk you through the potential of a lease or lease purchase on your home.

Ray Carman – Broker/Auctioneer