Negotiating, and the value of a second opinion...

Those of you who are familiar with my blog know that I am all about saving money and re-purposing where possible. We are blessed with resources, but I know I can only spend a dollar ONCE. The reason I have become a shrewd negotiator is that knowledge (like the following) is truly POWER.

When I went to a traditional tire installer (in the neighborhood, convenient to my home here in Middle Tennessee), tires for my wife's Toyota Sequoia ended up costing over $950 installed. That's $240 apiece for each tire - and no, the tires weren't made of GOLD - although now the vehicle should drive itself, right?

That said, I recently became aware of alternate ways to purchase tires. I had certainly seen worn out tire shops on the side of the road, but my mechanic pointed me to a used tire shop - he said the other tires on my vehicle are used, why not get a used tire to replace my flat one?

Yes, English was not the native language of the tire repair store. Seeing my confusion, another customer told me about http://bestusedtires.com - that I could order new car take-off tires online with free delivery, then the tire shop would mount, balance and install them for $15 a tire.

Since then, I have bought from their online store:
4 matched Goodyear Wranglers (look and drive like brand new) for my truck = $101 apiece (these are almost the identical size tires that we bought for the Sequoia!)
1 Continental Pro Contact for our Mini Cooper convertible = $50
2 matched Goodyear Eagles for my mother-in-law's car that was in a wreck = $41 apiece

Ironically, the second time I needed them the tire shop was closed in October when I went to have those Wranglers installed - since it was "National Immigrants Day" ??? However, my neighborhood Costco tire shop was open installed them for the same $15 a tire. Far less than the sales tax would have been had I bought the tires nearby!

An Oct 2018 update - I just had a flat on a different tire on our Mini Cooper, and the AAA tow truck driver recommended I get a new set of 4 tires. I checked bestusedtires first, but they didn't have a complete set. However, my experiences over the past 2 years have taught me valuable money-saving lessons, so I did some additional online shopping. From eBay I just bought a COMPLETE SET of 4 Bridgestone tires for $240 = $60 apiece delivered !!! Add $15 per tire for Costco tire installation and I'm riding on BRAND NEW TIRES for $300. And just to make me smile wider (and more confident in my purchase), I found the same set online at TireRack for $530 = more than double the price!

Hope these ideas help you save money and put you in a better negotiating position. I'm not any less diligent when I help you negotiate the best Real Estate transaction - whether you are either buying or considering selling your home, I'd be honored to help you in any way I can!!!

You can always reach me at 615-480-2955 (direct) or bill@nashvillerg.com (you will appreciate my new real estate practice, Nashville Realty Group!)

I am already witnessing firsthand positive results from attending to our borders

There are lots of things I don't like about our current #POTUS. If Obama, Bush or Clinton had pursued what he is pursuing, it would be couched with political bumpers. But both his physical and logical stance concerning our country's borders is spot on.

(1) I have a righteous hatred for mistreatment of dependent children and families. At the same time, our U.S. Constitution provides a legal path to citizenship. I am not about supporting illegal things, including #immigration. Since the invention of air travel, outsourcing of internet-based software development, etc. it is not a simple mile high border wall that will restore the balance of trade.

(2) We Americans love to consume, so we hate tariffs adding to the cost of IMPORTS. But #tariffs are working. Every 1% in GDP growth (eroded over the recent Republican and Democrat administrations) means roughly 10 million jobs regained for American citizens - https://t.co/OVVClBb0nX

- AND -

(3) Saturday I spoke with one of our football parents here in "prosperous" Williamson County who became reemployed with the specific purposes of bringing parts sourcing back to the U.S. Not only did he regain #employment to provide for his family, but American built components mean American jobs.

BRAVO MR. PRESIDENT

Sure, I wish our President had a little more Ronald Reagan (criticized for being an actor) or John Kennedy (a war hero parodied for his Bostonian accent) in him. That said, I refuse to beat him up for trying to do the next right thing for our country. We are commanded to #pray for those we have elected to LEAD us. Let's let God be the judge - He's the only one who is truly in control.

Why does this issue matter to me as a Realtor - with a great Nashville Realty Group ( http://nashvillerg.com ) practice? Reducing the trade deficit means stronger employment and more home transactions. Businesses will increase their need for commercial property to add employees, capacity and equipment. Sellers will have the needed confidence to buy their next home, vacation home or retirement destination. Buyers with stable employment prospects will have the courage to own their first home rather than rent. And of course all of this will have a positive impact on real estate values and the economy.

It is my pleasure helping people. If I can help you with “all things Real Estate” – reach me directly at 615-480-2955 or our office 261-8116, or e-mail bill@nashvillerg.com

Tennessee's Next Governor

For those of you who haven't decided who we should vote for to become Tennessee's next governor, I'd encourage that you watch this video to see why Bill Lee has my confidence and my vote: http://youtube.com/watch?v=I58rfcuegbU - like me, he always try to do the next right thing, and is a Christ-following servant leader.

If you can't see why a Conservative deserves your vote in this election, I expect you would be smart to choose my Gardner High School classmate and Nashville's Mayor Karl Dean - also a man of high integrity - in this video he speaks about challenges facing our Massachusetts hometown http://youtube.com/watch?v=QcgS76WC5ZE

Again, please keep in mind that if anybody understands the real challenges facing rural Tennessee, I can't imagine that anybody has a better grasp than Bill Lee and his multi-generational farm-raised family. Whatever you do, don't sit on your hands - VOTE.

Why waiting on your Credit Score to improve may not be your best idea...

I thought you might benefit from a real life Real Estate experience happening right now...

At the moment, I am currently coaching friends in their 30s on the purchase of their first home. Like many of their peers, they are waiting for their credit scores to improve so they can obtain a loan that is half a percent lower interest. Of course they are continuing to pay rent and not gain the advantage of building equity.

So I showed them the power of EQUITY. If they wait 12 months (and if rates don't rise during that time - unlikely in our local market) they will save less than $1100 on their future annual interest on a $300K home. At the same time, they will not take advantage of paying down $4300 in principal in that same year. To make the situation worse, they will face an additional year of mortgage payments by waiting.

(This picture does not get easier, since with an amortized loan progressively more money pays down principal in subsequent years 2, 3, 4, etc.) Even if they are fortunate enough that the home they are looking to buy does not increase in value in the next 12 months, they have put themselves further behind by WAITING...

(FYI, this year I joined a smaller but more experienced and service-oriented Real Estate practice: Nashville Realty Group - you can reach me for advice at bill@nashvillerg.com or at my same mobile number 615-480-2955)

It won't surprise you to learn: this Real Estate Agent is invested in YOUR happiness!

Want to start (or grow) your business?

New commercial listing on historic Pleasant View Main Street...a perfect location to start or grow your business, less than a mile from the exit 24 interchange, halfway between Nashville and Clarksville on I-24. Easy to get to with or without a Nashville transit decision, "Take the Last Train to Clarksville..."

Check it out: a Main Street commercial address in burgeoning Pleasant View Tennessee

The 1176 sq ft building sits on 2 commercial lots totaling .3 acres - that's about $330 per sq ft to OWN it. Of course you could occupy the building and sell the adjacent Main Street lot. Just so you can compare this opportunity, here are two others within a 1/4 mile - and neither one boasts a "Main Street" address:

a 1400 sq ft modular building on 1-1/2 acres about 1/4 mile from this one listed for $675,000 - almost twice the asking price. Is that extra acre of land worth $300,000 - or wouldn't you rather put the extra money into growing your business?

a 15,000 sq ft strip mall for lease only, being developed at a cost of $5.5 million. That translates to a per sq ft price of $370, and of course the lease payment will be more (to cover the property management fees).

Do the math. I'd be glad to get you a private tour so you can make the best decision!