Western Mass Homes Lesley Lambert

Lesley's Life

My Mobile Office Went Down Today: aka my Subaru blew up

Subaru of America
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Today I am reminded of how linked my days as a REALTOR in Western Massachusetts are to my vehicle…

Yesterday my car spewed boiling hot anti-freeze onto my foot, which can’t be good.  Now mind you, it is a newer car (2008 Subaru) which I purchased for it’s reputation as being reliable and safe transportation.  I decided to take on the larger car payment for a new car in exchange for the peace of mind that not needing regular repairs can give.  Well, as I drove with my scalded foot and the toxic stench from the anti-freeze mist, I can tell you I wasn’t feeling the peace of mind…what I was feeling was much closer to pissed off.

My mom’s husband and my boyfriend researched the symptoms and it seemed that a very rare issue with the heat core had literally sprung open on my foot.  Being so new and low in miles, I was keeping myself calmed with the thought that a warranty would kick in to take care of the issue.  I am so cute when I am naive.

I had called the local dealership to inquire about the warranty and they told me I needed to come in for a service check to look into the issue.  So this morning I drove my toxic and bubbly Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (insert SH for ever CH and you get a better line) to the dealer in West Springfield, MA.

Problem number one: they failed to log my appointment, name or anything about the call that I made the day before.

Problem number two: the service representative kept walking away and making random phone calls without talking to me or letting me know what he was working on.  Finally he calls Subaru America and is told that I am, in fact, out of warranty.

Problem number three: he asks me if I want a quote for the repair, to which I respond in the affirmative.  No mechanic looks at my car, in fact, no one investigated anything outside of my diagnosis.  I am not a mechanic, what if I am wrong?  This issue doesn’t deter our fine customer (dis)service representative who gives me a quote DOUBLE that of what I researched.

Problem number four: DOUBLE?  Really?

So I leave, of course, and just a few miles down the road the car overheats and starts to steam in earnest.  The car and I were at about the same temperature at this point, so I pull over for us both to cool off.  As I sit waiting for Morriss (my boyfriend) to rescue us both, I decide that I will take this time to call Subaru America and state my dissatisfaction with the circumstance.  Throughout this whole visit, my good friend Jeff had been advising me and encouraging me to ask more questions and pursue the issue to the end…I took his advice.

I am greeted by Meghan who clearly payed WAY MORE attention at customer service class than the bonehead at the dealership.  Meghan listens to my story with empathy, asks if I am in a safe location or need any help and then assures me that she is following up on the issue and will be in touch before the close of the day.

Next phone call is to a mechanic at a private shop that I trust who quotes me a price that is more than half what the dealer quoted….can you say scalping boys and girls?  I thought you could!  This mechanic also asks if he can, get a load of this, actually look at the car to determine if my guess is correct before ordering parts.

Within two hours of speaking with Meghan, she has left me a message stating that Subaru America cannot use a warranty to help me out, but will assist me with partial repair cost reimbursement.

So, what I will share with you is this:

I hate the local Subaru dealership and will NEVER EVER use them for so much as an oil change BUT,

I remain a happy Subaru owner as I feel that the company stood by their product and was determined to regain my trust, loyalty and business in a tangible and responsive way.

Meanwhile, I was unable to do several tasks that I needed to do today including reading a water meter for a closing next week.  A reliable car is a must have for a busy real estate agent in Western Massachusetts.   Lucky for my clients and I, my iPhone was working just fine, so I ran business without too many hitches today, even with the car troubles.  My mobile office (aka my car) is schedule for repair next week, when I will be reminded yet again how much I use it and need it to function as a REALTOR.

Thank you Morriss and Jim, and Jeff and Meghan, and my mom and Chris Allen of Allen Afforable Auto Repair in Southwick, MA who will get my business because he is ethical and reliable.

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Abundance and Appreciation

“Worrying about money never paid a bill.”

This was the opening line of today’s reading in “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy” by Sarah Ban Breathnach.  This well worn book has been with me for well over a decade.  Given to me by a dear friend, Fredrika Ballard, I turn to it and re-read it over and over for support and inspiration.    Today’s reading comes at a time that seems providential.

Don’t get me wrong, I have enough money to pay my bills.  But with the way the economy has been over the course of the last few years and the turbulent nature of real estate lately, I don’t feel secure that the income will stay steady.  I think my concerns are not specific to the real estate industry, as I have this discussion with friends in other fields who feel the same uncertainty.  We are all shaken and unsteady in our futures and that can lead to real anxiety.

My mother, who was also a REALTOR in Western MA, spoke often about money and the kharma behind it.  She would caution my sister and I to never live in fear of money or to need it too badly because money senses fear and rejects the scared.   Today’s reading supported what she always said, ” …worrying about money repels, rather than attracts, prosperity…”    My mom was famous for saying, “It is only money, I will just go out and make some more!”    This proactive response created positive energy around her need, thus opening her up to opportunity and giving her the drive to take advantage of new chances.  She was always finding a new way to re-invent herself in her long real estate career and used this skill to create a life that was plentiful for my sister and I.

I endeavor to remember this, but some days it is more difficult than others.  I am a single mom earning her family’s keep with what is probably the worst hit industry in recent memory.  It can start to freak me out sometimes, so I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

First: I don’t spend any time with mainstream media.  I get my news when I want it from the internet and control the negativity.

Secondly: I spend a lot of time with positive influences.   This book is one, my boyfriend Morriss, my mom, my friends, my kids, my cats, my friends in the business all over the world…all ground me and cheer me.

Thirdly: I have been on an austerity diet for years now.  I used to miss shopping at expensive stores and having the latest doo-dad.  Now I get a thrill from finding a bargain, doing without, remastering something I already have, thrift store shopping, flea market sales and hand me downs.  I love saving a buck!

Fourth:  I work.  I work hard and I enjoy my work.  When I am slow with buyers or sellers, I take a webinar or have lunch with a business friend.  I stay proactive and learn new techniques.  If I am busy, I feel in control and proactive and I can stem the anxiety.

I do still, however, tend to worry about tomorrow a lot.  My grandmother would call it borrowing trouble.  Ban Breathnach said it this way, “…calculate whether you have enough money for all your needs today.  If you do, stop focusing on lack this minute.  You probably have all the money you need to take care of today’s needs and more.  It doesn’t matter how much more.  Anytime you have more than you need, you have abundance.  Catch yourself the next time you start dwelling on what you don’t have; switch tracks by noticing and appreciating all you do have.  As this becomes a personal habit, you’ll find yourself coping well with any amount of money you have, rather than worrying about it.”

Such a wonderful reminder to me, and I share it because I am wagering that many of you could use this enlightenment right now.

We are doing fine.  We are making ends meet and we will see better days.  I am abundant in the things that matter most: love, spirit, kindness, freedom, health.  I am learning valuable lessons that couldn’t be bought with any number of real estate sales and I am successfully providing for my family in difficult times.  I am growing my business annually, even while others quit and I will continue to persevere.  So will you.

So to my friends, home sellers and home buyers in Western Massachusetts: I say to you that we are as successful and abundant as we want to be.  We can choose fear and remain in a state of want or we can embrace the abundance all around us.

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Fall in Western Massachusetts

I love living in Western Massachusetts and I enjoy all the seasons, but fall is my favorite. There is something magical about the vibrant colors of the changing leaves and the cornflower blue skies. What could be more lovely than an Indian Summer walk to enjoy the fall foliage?

As a REALTOR in Western MA I get the opportunity to drive all over our lovely part of the state and enjoy the scenery in many places. I created this short slide show to share some of my fall foliage pictures, I hope you enjoy!


Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Construction Update for Westfield, MA

Elm Street Westfield MA is paved
Oh the woes of driving around Westfield, MA lately! The roads have been dug up every way in or out of town and the bridge construction has been ongoing for some time.

I lost a set of reasonably good tires to the potholes that went unrepaired (because they were going to tear up the section of road a month later) and we have all suffered sitting in traffic trying to get in or out of town.

Main Street Westfield being paved-hurray!!

Hope is on the horizon though! The paving has begun in earnest and Elm Street is already passable and Main Street is well underway. Let’s hope they get all of this cleared up before snow flies!

Inman’s Agent Reboot Boston

It isn’t every day that you can share the stage with two great women at a wonderful conference, but today was that sort of day for me. I was honored to be asked by Inman to present at their Agent Reboot in Boston today. Gracing the stage beside me in my first presentation was fellow #twitterqueens founder and social media innovator, Diane Guercio and in the second it was my privilege to interview Sherry Chris, President and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens.

#agentrb Boston w Diane Guercio & Sherry Chris

After a 5am start from a very dark and cold Western MA and then biting my nails through an hour of Boston traffic, I arrived at the conference in time for my first presentation with Diane, “From Clicks to Closings”. Diane and I discussed how we use social media to find potential clients and how we turn those leads into closed sales. It was a short session and went by too fast, but I love presenting with Diane, we work well together. Updated to add this slide deck:

Agent reboot boston lesley and diane

My next visit to the stage was to discuss “Managing Content and Reputation Online”. I led with the slide deck seen below and wrapped up with a Q & A with the lovely Sherry Chris who shared some great advice and perspective from the corporate and broker position.

I was sad to have to leave at lunchtime, but was so glad that I attended and was able to meet Agent Reboot emcee (and long time social media friend I never met) Daniel Rothamel, Madelyn Mock (congrats on running a fabulous event and thanks for inviting me!), Jim Lee (congrats on your engagement), the ever lovely Ann Cummings and the ever charming Gerry “Realtyman” Bourgois.

Managing Content & Reputation Online #agentrb

If you were at Inman’s Agent Reboot and had questions for me, please feel free to reach out!