Ray Carman – Auctioneer

When property transfers to a new owner, it is common policy to make sure that the title is clean ad the new owner will have a free and clear ownership of his new purchase. However, have you ever thought of the other issues that might pop up with your title?

In our day and age, HELOC’s and lines of credit are often opened and used to make upgrades, repairs, or use for other things. When a LOC is opened, the bank places a lien on your property in order to secure any potential debt you place by using said LOC. This can have several implications down the road.

Often, people refinance or swap banks. It is paramount, that in that process that you are SURE that each previous LOC is not only closed, but also that the lien has been released for several reasons.

1. If not done properly, when you go to refinance, you may hit a road block with an unrecorded release that can hold up your process.

2. If you happen to get into a pinch, and “re-borrow” money from the old bank, they may simply use the old LOC lien and thus cause some major title issues for you and your new mortgage holder.

3. And when you decide to sell or auction the property, you may run into some hurdles that could take months to cure, especially if you have the scenario of #2 in your title chain.

So here is something you can do to help stem the issue. If you ave a LOC or have refinanced your home. have an attorney or title company run a quick title check on your property. It may cost you a couple of hundred dollars, but in the long run, it could really save you a ton of headaches and frustrations.

Ray Carman

Ever have one of those MOMENTS that just sticks with you? I have one of those moments regarding my auction career! The first time I “auctioned” something off.

I was 6 years old and my Grandfather, Gene Carman, always enjoyed showing his grandsons off, as well as teasing them. Part of the “trip to manhood” included a little jiving at an auction. He would always ask if we were interested in selling something at the auction, in front of the crowd of course. If we seemed a little shy, he would egg it on by saying “your brother or cousin did it!” So, in a sense you were stuck.

I was sure I could handle it, but was not very bold about standing in front of a crowd. So, Pa handed me the microphone and told me what to sell. I turned and instantly was frozen by the faces of the crowd, so I jumped behind the biggest thing I could find at the moment, and that was Tom Garrett, Pa’s faithful handy man / hardest worker I have ever known, for the past 30 years. I stood as still as I could behind Tom and began selling the item.

Needless to say, I was nervous as a cat, and it did not help any when my uncles started calling bids out faster than any 6 yr old could count. By the time I was done, I was sure I would never make it in this business. But, it was all fun and looking back, I imagined everyone had a good laugh that day, and so did I!

And just to let you know, I have passed this on to my oldest daughter, who at the age of six sold her first item ever at auction. However, she does not suffer too much from stage fright, and if she wants, has a GREAT career ahead of her as an auctioneer!

See you next week!

Ray Carman

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

Yes, believe it or not, this is a question I have had to answer often. The most obvious reason I share with people is the family heritage. It is difficult to break with such a long heritage in one business. When you start waking up at 5am on Saturdays at the age of 5 to go “work with Dad” (not sure how much actual work we accomplished at that age, lol), and you are around auctions all your life, then it would seem only natural that one would become an auctioneer.

When I went off to the Reppert School of Auctioneering in 1996 my purpose was to simply add something to my resume. I had attained my real estate license in 1994, and it seemed logical for me to get my auctioneers license. To be honest, I was not very excited at the time, because I was not one who would jump at the opportunity to stand in front of people and be heard. I was very content to be the “grunt” at auctions. However, if I wanted to advance in my career, becoming an Auctioneer just made good sense.

Today, when asked Why am I an Auctioneer, my answer is simply this, Passion.

As I have grown older and handled more auctions, I have realized how much enjoyment I get from assisting people and conducting auctions. Truth is, they are FUN! There is lots of hard work involved, and sometimes you have to deal with cranky people, but these things even are part of what makes this career so enjoyable. I have grown to enjoy the microphone and the auction cry, but my most enduring part of each sale is the people I get to work for. Knowing they have entrusted me with their assets at auction, gives me the desire to do all the more I can for them. I hope my clients and customers at the end of the day, can look at the job I have done and that they can see this passion flowing through.

After all, they say if what you do is not your passion, then you must be doing the wrong thing.

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

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!

After reading Bill Seaver’s recommittment to blogging, I decided I too have been neglecting to post as frequently as I should be. I too have been extremely busy and have found myself putting off posting here due to life being so hectic. For that I apologize and will too strive to be more efficient in the posting in the future.

From all the chatter, (talking amongst agents), business has been booming in the Sumner County area over the past two months. Those who were able to ride out the waves of uncertainty caused by the debacle in the financial systems last fall, have found themselves in the middle of a new storm. People who are now trying to make it in before the great interest rates disappear. Also, many folks are working to get this $8,000 offered by Uncle Sam that they are saying will disappear in Nov. (I have heard of an extension, but we will see.)

All this means, if you are in the market to buy or sell in Sumner County, now would be a great time.  So feel free to give us a call.

A quick auction update: Auctions are coming in really fast and some great ones are ahead of us. So keep an eye out for those at www.GeneCarmanAuction.com.

Ray Carman

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