Negotiating with Bullies - A Perspective Based on A Christmas Story

One of my all time favorite movies is A Christmas Story. It took place about the time I was growing up in the suburbs of Denver. Readers in their sixties and over should appreciate the town, the houses, the school, the neighborhood, the situations, and the characters that are portrayed in this classic.

One of my favorite scenes is that of dealing with the bully. We have all encountered bullies in our lives. Collectively we have one in Washington that looks a lot like the kid above. But I will leave that topic for a different forum.  About forty  years ago I attended a training session on how to negotiate hosted by Herb Cohen, the author of You Can Negotiate Anything.  I won't bore you with what he taught me and the group of commercial loan workout negotiators from across America.  It was the very best educational event I ever attended.

I encountered at least one bully in my life. It is not fun. In fact it is scary no matter if you are smaller than or bigger than the bully because small bullies can terrify some bigger guys. Not all. But some. Mr. Cohen taught me about a negotiation tactic bullies use to get their way. The stand up and say something outlandish and walk out of the room. That's it. And then he said what people in the room will inevitably do. And it is not to clap or to celebrate.

I was working for a really big bank that had loaned a lot of money to a west Kansas farmer who I will call King.  King owned or leased several sections (square miles) of land plus the family homestead. My bank's Ag lender gave King a huge unsecured loan. Lenders back then were paid commissions based on their loan production. The loan had to go through committee, so the Ag guy was not the lone screw-up involved. As soon as we (my department) got involved, we flew to Kansas and obtained mortgages on the owned land and obtained security interests on all the owned farm equipment but not his airplane.  We later attended creditor meetings in Omaha and still later Garden City, Kansas.

The group of lenders flew to a Garden City to hold a meeting attended only by his lawyer not King. His lawyer was described to me as a big shot Republican who ran for governor but lost. I don't know if he lost the election or simply did not get the nomination. But he still had his name recognition and his presence: just like the bully in A Christmas Story.

The creditors were asking for things the lawyer could not give because King did not the cash needed to satisfy the claims against him. I remember sensing the lawyer was about to erupt. Then he did. He quickly stuffed a bunch of papers in his briefcase, loudly said something, and quickly walked out of the room. All of the other lenders got up and chased him and begged him to come back - to negotiate.

I didn't go. I told the two other bank officers to sit and wait. I said the lawyer would return. What Herb Cohen had taught me was playing out in front of my eyes. The other lenders persuaded the lawyer to return. They lessened their demand and agreed to some kind of short term peace.

The three of us returned to Denver and initiated foreclosure on all of King's assets in which had a security interest. I am not claiming to have beat the bully. He was only the tough guy protecting his client. But we got a lot of money by liquidating King's assets.

Key West - A Couple of Days Before Christmas Story

This is true. I don't make stuff up. Sometimes my memory plays tricks on me and I get things a little screwy, or I can't add correctly, but for the most part if I write it in my blog soon after I experience something, it will come out true. This is the case here. And it should make my Dear Readers laugh or at least chuckle. We all need to chuckle.

I recently met with a couple that I sold a place to a few years ago. I was sitting in their living room petting the family dog and swapping stories about Key West real estate - what else? We were discussing all the changes they made to their home. Then the man's eyes darted to the left as if looking through the bedroom wall - the one with the Comcast box.

He mentioned the time when the contractors were working on the house.  He recited a laundry list of little changes they made to their Key West getaway. I perked up when he started to talk about the porn bill.  It seems that the contractor or one of his workers had racked up a $300 Comcast bill for  porn videos that were viewed the month the contractor was supposed to be remodeling the house. I think that's when the Mrs. remarked there was one day someone watched three porn movies. I think porn movies last about two hours so that means somebody (or somebodies) charged the owners a lot of money to watch the porn the owners had to pay for. Talk about over-billing.

I then asked who the contractor was. The man said the contractor's name. I'll call the guy "Mort" because I might get sued if I said the real name. I know Mort. I may have recommended Mort to this couple. I have recommended Mort to other people who wanted a contractor who would take on smaller projects. I said "He's so old, I didn't know he still had a dick!" The lady looked at me like what did you just say?

"Welcome to Paradise" - 915 Washington Street, Key West

Christmas is arriving early this year. But I must warn you, if you snooze, you'll lose. If you doubt this Mr. Thomas, you will be sorry. I know this to be a fact and not some Realtor mumbo-jumbo. The adorably sweet Casa Marina Cottage located at 915 Washington Street in Key West was just listed for sale.

The listing Realtor (not me) describes it best as she writes:

"Classic Conch Home in prestigious Casa Marina neighborhood. This three bedroom, 3.5 bath historic home has an expansive, large, comfortable front porch on beautifully landscaped corner lot in Casa Marina that whispers “Welcome to Paradise.” Soaring ceilings and light-filled windows in the open floor plan living room and kitchen connect through French doors to the secluded outdoor entertainment areas with pool, deck and private conversation spots. Corner lot ensures you enjoy every Key West breeze. Rare off-street, covered parking for you and your guests. Gleaming hardwood floors throughout are accented with custom tiles in the kitchen and master bath, bringing a touch of classic Old Key West to this home. Choose either of the two en-suite bedrooms for your master, third bedroom with bath plus a lock-out door is a perfect office or guest suite. This home in one of Key West's most desirable residential neighborhoods has been updated and lovingly maintained. Move-in ready for those desiring that special classic Key West look-and-feel with potential to add your personal touches."

It is such a joy to view a home that is truly loved and taken well care of. When you look at the exterior of this house for the first time you will instantaneously know it looks equally charming on the inside. It's like seeing a little boy or girl with a freshly scrubbed face, combed hair, big smile, and clean clothes. Precious is easy to recognize. You get one chance in life to make a good impression. This house wins that point! While there are only a few other cottage style homes in the Casa Marina Area, this is the only one with such a presence.

This 1211 square foot home sits on a 3600 square foot lot at the corner of Washington and Grinnell Streets. You just cannot ask for a better location in Key West. The streets are wide and the houses are well maintained. Many of the homes in this area are second homes, and most of the recent home sales were for properties priced well over one million dollars and several in this past year have topped three million dollars.

When you open the front door you enter into the great room with its vaulted ceiling that spans the east side of this home. Multiple sets of windows and French doors at the end provide ample muted light into this wonderful space. The color combination of the bright ceiling, colorful walls, and rich wood floors create a restful space for easy living. The French doors open out to the side garden where the pool is located. The pool is actually located just east of the front porch which faces south. That means you will have sun in the pool area most of the day.

The hallway leads to the three bedrooms located on the west side of the home.  There is a powder room located just on the other side of the kitchen wall. Each of the bedrooms has a bath.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet plus all listing photos of this lovely cottage style home located in the coveted Casa Marina neighborhood. 915 Washington Street is offered at just
$1,250,000. That is a deal!  And that is why I said "If you snooze, you'll lose. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule an appointment to see this sweet home with a precious countenance. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. While you won't be able to own this place in time for Christmas this year, it certainly could be your home for Christmas next year. But only if you act quickly.

1619 Rose Street, Key West - Just Listed

Just Listed, but not by me, 1619 Rose Street in Key West, Florida. I was invited to preview this lovely mid-century home that has been recently totally renovated for 21st Century living. I have shown similar homes in this same area (and sold two nearby homes of the same original design). They did not look anything like this. And that means if you are a looker, you must really take a look at this home.

According to the Monroe County Property Appraiser records, the house is 1610 square feet of living space and sits on a 6100 sq ft lot (61' X 100'). There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Numbers mean nothing when you see the house in person. A large privacy fence blocks viewing the house from the street. The front yard is  minimally landscaped which means less work for the homeowner or gardener. I was truly awed when I first entered the house. Every design element suggested "new", "modern", "clean", and "efficient".  Where other houses of this era have small, boxy rooms, this living area of this home has been opened to allow movement from living space to living space without having to move through hallways which take up potentially valuable living space.

There is an abundance of cabinets and counter-tops in the new kitchen as well as down lights and under cabinet lights.  What the photos don't reveal is that the sliding doors disappear completely into the walls creating a seamless transition from the interior living area to the outdoor space. 

The current owners use the front guest bedroom as a media room. Notice the black cabinet recessed into the wall that was formerly a closet. Today that space provides all varieties of media devices and storage. The barely visible hall leads to the rear guest bedroom which the current owners use as a home office where there a a Murphy Bed system that includes a desk. The Murphy bed system conveys with the house.

I could write an entire blog about the master bedroom, but I'll try to keep my comments to a minimum. The double opaque doors near the dining area open into the bedroom which is minus part of a wall. The bathroom is just plain elegant.  You'll notice the cabinets appear to float. The tile wall at the rear wraps around the corner where you will find the two person shower. Part of the framing of the original house was removed and re-framed to allow the addition of a a transom window in the shower which introduces light into the space. The end wall of the shower is actually an opaque glass door which adds more light into the space. The transom effect carries on into the garage that was transformed into a new super-closet and wine storage area. I told the owners Imelda would be jealous. Finally, look backup to the first picture above of the bedroom area. Another set of sliders open out to the outdoor area.

The owners use the outdoor space all year around. The covered area provides protection from the sun or rain. The table is the perfect place to dine alone or with friends among the garden filled with specimen orchids, many of which convey with the property. There are a lot of little things the owners added that were totally unique to what I have ever seen in a home in Key West that will convey including a living vertical garden that acts as a bit of privacy barrier from the home next door to the west. It is so damned cute. (Photo below)

Not shown in the photos is the east orchid garden and additional covered storage areas. And also not included in the square footage of the house is the storage shed at the far side of the rear garden where large chaise lounge provides a perfect perch to admire the orchids and sip a glass of wine.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 1619 Rose Street. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing of this incredible home that is located within walking distance to either Smathers Beach of Higgs Beach or the private pool where no bathing suit is required.I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

Flipping or Building New in Key West - Be Aware of Lipstick on a Pig

This past Sunday I watched several episodes of house flipping tv show. I thought the woman had horrible taste in design that was only exceeded by her cheapness. Today's blog is not about that show, but about what a lot of people do in Key West when they renovate or build new.  They buy and build as cheap as they can but sell at market price. I think they think the buying public is none the wiser.

I have told this little story a couple of times in this blog. I remember it well. One New Year's Eve day maybe a decade ago I showed a recently renovated home located at the end of a picturesque Old Town lane. The lane dead-ended at this property. The listing broker was also the owner and also the guy who remodeled this house. I could tell he took a lot of short cuts in the renovation of the house just by standing and looking around. He had converted a former garage into a bedroom. He put tiles on what used to be the garage floor and enclosed the garage door opening. The floor sloped to one side and there was a large step-up into the main entry hall. Standing in the entry hall, I looked back at the new double wood door entry. I could see two things: light coming in under both doors and also that the doors were not even on the underside. When we moved to the kitchen there was only one light, a gaudy chandelier complimented by  black granite counter tops, and a shiny brass or gold kitchen faucet. I specifically remember calling out the absurdity of the chandelier which looked okay during the daytime. I said something like "How are you supposed to cook by this at night?"

This same real estate agent-developer had renovated a large apartment house in Old Town and converted it into five or six condos. They all shared the same black granite and gaudy brass faucets. Those cheap condos were competitively priced to a much better conversion a block to the south. I cringed every time I showed one of those cheap condos. I would always point out the flaws to my buyers, most of whom were shopping by price.

Another customer of mine who was a Conch (native Key Wester) purchased a single family home on Stock Island a few years ago. The mid-century one story house was quite large. They created an illegal second unit (rental unit) using the former side door as the new apartment entry door. I was invited over to admire the renovation. As I stood in the new and illegal kitchen, the lady said something about not understanding why it had been so difficult to rent the unit. About the same time she pointed out the light fixture they purchased for $2.98 at Home Depot. She was so proud of that puny little light which may have cost her at least a month's loss of income because the room was so dimly lit. Even poor renters have standards.

Several years ago I wrote a blog about the house owned by a friend from my old gym. His house was located across the street from a half-way house and in an area that had not shared in the rising prices of other areas of Key West. They tried realtor after realtor to sell their house. Finally, one of the reality tv make-over shows offered to help. They painted part of the house and installed some cheap gimmick. It did not work. The house finally sold after the owner left town and reduced the asking price to fit the real value of the less-than- perfect neighborhood.

The flipping tv lady said d something like "I don't care what people think" (about her decorating style).  She should.  And buyers should care even more. They may find odd paint colors and closeout tiles compatible with their lifestyle. But they will have to sell that place someday. After the luster of a has-been tv makeover wears off, the owner may find it difficult to sell a gimmick. In Key West and elsewhere quality endures.