Fail More Succeed More

     You decide that you are going to be a merchant.  You are going to buy low and sell high.  That is your plan.  You buy a widget for a hundred dollars.  You advertise it for sale for $150.  Nobody buys it. You lower the price and lower the price.  You polish it.  You advertise it more.  It gets dusty on your shelf.  You dust it off.  Finally someone offers you eighty dollars for it.  You sell it.

You will learn more failing than you will ever learn in a classroom

     Maybe you should abandon your plans to be a merchant and go get a real job with a paycheck every Friday.  OR maaaaaybe, you should take that eighty dollars and go offer someone fifty dollars for that widget that they have been dusting and polishing for too long.  Then sell it for eighty dollars.  You have spent the time and effort and money to figure out what widgets are worth and not worth.  Failure is the best way to learn.  Do you think there is a book you can read,"What Widgets Are Worth" by Mr. Widget Expert.  There is no such book.  Fail more.  Succeed more.  You have to fail first.

     Failure is the seminar.  Attend the seminar.  Failure is not the only way to learn.  It is the best way.  It can be expensive.  Not knowing is also expensive.  Those checks on Friday never seem like they are enough.

     www.ronclimer.com     www.climerconsulting.com      

Find A Bargain At An Antique Auction

      The first thing you have to do to find a bargain at an antique auction is show up.  You can't find any bargains sitting at home.  Show up.  Most auctions have a preview of what is for sale before the auction starts.  Show up early so you can look at what is being auctioned.  Look for cracks, dents, chips, missing parts and other flaws.

     Almost all auctions are governed by "caveat emptor", which means let the buyer beware.  If you are thinking of bidding on an electric tool, plug it in and be sure it works.  If you can't plug it in, caveat emptor.

    Decide how much you are willing to bid now.  Don't wait until the bidding starts.  If you are willing to bid $100 for an item, when the bidding reaches $100. shut up.

     If you are a novice dealer, trying to learn what stuff is worth, there is no cheaper way to learn than going to auctions.  You decide that an item is worth $100.  That is your maximum bid.  You notice that that item sells for $180.  After a short while you will learn what things are worth by watching what other bidders are willing to pay.  Those others bidders are real people bidding with real money.  Pay attention.  It is free education.

     Always drive your largest vehicle to an auction.  You have to take these bargains home.  Big stuff is often a bargain at an auction because your competitive bidder is driving a Volkswagen.  They don't bid.

     As you are looking at items at the preview, ask questions of your fellow bidders.  Listen to their answers.  This is more free education.  Ask your fellow bidder,"How old do you think this widget is?".  Often, they will tell you how old it is and how they know that .  You will know next time.  Ask questions and listen to the answers.

     Get to know the auctioneer if possible.  When you bid, you want to be certain the auctioneer sees your bid.  Bid quickly if you want  something.

     Be sure that you understand what is being offered.  Often auctioneers sell  two items as a pair.  They might sell two (or more) items as choice.  That means if they have two lamps, be sure you know if you are bidding on both or your choice of one.  If in doubt, ask.  This is no time to worry about being embarrassed.

     Listen to the auctioneer's announcements before the auction starts,  He will usually explain these things at that time.

     At an auction, you own the item that you bid on as soon as the gavel drops. There is no changing your mind.  If you win the bid, you owe the money.  Auctions are a fun way to find some bargains and at the same time, learn about the value of things.

     In the old days, department stores used to have "bargain basements".  This is where the super bargains were.  An auction's equivalent to the bargain basement is the last hour.  As the auction grows to an end, the super bargains appear.  Most of the merchandise is gone.  Most of the audience is gone also.  At noon, you were bidding against  a hundred people with a pocketful of money.  At 2:30, you are bidding against twenty people that have already spent more than they intended to.  Most people that go to an auction are there for one or a few items.  Once they have bought or been out bid for what they came for, they go home.  Near the end, the auctioneer brings up an item that you are interested in.  There is no one there to bid against you.  You buy it cheap.  Life is good.  Stay until the end.  You have already done the hard part.  You showed up with your largest vehicle.

     Check out an auction in your area.  To find an auction in your area, go to www.auctionzip.com .  You will be glad that you did.  If you have an antique or two that you want to sell and you are anywhere in western Carolina,   contact us at www.ronclimer.com   or 828 755 6996 .    

Find Your Deed Restrictions For Your Property In Polk County North Carolina

     As a Realtor in Polk county, North Carolina, I have listed several  vacant lots and houses on Lake Adger near Tryon, North Carolina.  This big beautiful lake is just down the road from the new Tryon International Equestrian Center.  Officially, Lake Adger is in Mill Spring, North Carolina.  To learn more about Lake Adger, visit our website at www.lakeadgerforsale.com   

Tryon is the first exit in North Carolina on I 26 forty miles south of Asheville

     Since all of the lakefront lots on Lake Adger are in a huge subdivision, they all have deed restrictions designed to keep Lake Adger as natural and beautiful in fifty years as it is today.  When you are buying a vacant lot in Lake Adger or anywhere, you need to be aware of the deed restrictions.  If you would like to read the deed restrictions for a property in Polk county, here is the process.

    Get the deed to the property.  The deed restrictions are mentioned in the deed.  They are mentioned as being recorded in book number ? on page number ? in the public records of Polk county North Carolina.

     Go to http://cotthosting.com/ncpolkexternal.  Click on book page.  Put in the book and page that you learned from the deed.  Click on pages.  Your deed restrictions will appear.  Usually, they will be several pages.  You can print them out if you like.

     I learned how to do this when one of my clients was looking at lot 3 in Hawk Ridge.  This is the least expensive lakefront lot on Lake Adger as of this writing ($99,900).  Here is a link to a video of that lot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N45YBEuquAY

     If I can help you buy or sell property in western North Carolina, I am a full time hard working Realtor.  Call me at 828 755 6996 .www.hendersonvillekw.com                                         www.climerconsulting.com

Preparation Is Paramont

     I was hanging around the magazine section of the grocery store last week.  That is where I spend most of my time when I join my wife grocery shopping.  I was reading a survival magazine for people that feel the need to be prepared in case of a life changing event such as a hurricane, flood or attack by zombies.

     These are articles about how to prepare  an emergency "bug out" bag in case you have to leave quickly as in a forest fire or flash flood.  There are articles about how to purify water and create shelter from a tarpaulin.  Certainly, being prepared is important.

     Let me suggest something you can do to prepare for a more common emergency, a flat tire.  Last year, my sixty five year old brother had a flat tire on Interstate 95.  He was not strong enough to turn the lug nuts on his wheels with the little toy wrench that came with the car.  His flat tire turned into a five hour adventure.

A four way tire wrench is better than the one that came with the car

     I bought him a four way tire wrench for Christmas. This is the perfect gift for the man that has everything but isn't as strong as he used to be.  It costs about twelve bucks.  If you are not as strong as you used to be, buy yourself a four way tire wrench.   Put it in the trunk of your car. Buy one for your dad.  Buy one for your mom.  Buy one for your wife.  Buy one for your daughter. Your seventeen year old weight lifting son does not need one.

     Flat tires are not nearly as common as they used to be.  You don't really care how unusual a flat tire is when you are sitting beside the road.  Today most wheels are installed with a power air wrench.  If you are not ready for American Ninja Warrior, put a four way tire tool in your trunk.

     An ounce of preparation is worth a ton of aggravation.  

     www.climerconsulting.com
   

Motorcycle In The Living Room

     When you buy a new Harley Davidson motorcycle and your wife says,"Let's put that in the living room.", you know you have done good.

     We went to Wisconsin on vacation last month.  I went to the Harley Davidson museum in Milwaukee .  They had a bunch of old bikes at the Harley Davidson museum.   They only had two Hummers on display.  One was Willy G's first motorcycle, a 1948 Harley Davidson 125.  The other was a 1955 Hummer.

This Harley Davidson Hummer has found a new home

     For the benefit of you that don't know, Hummer was a small 125 cc motorcycle that Harley Davidson manufactured from 1948 until 1964.  When I was a kid in Douglas, Georgia, I had a 1959 Harley Davidson Hummer.  My brother had a 1959 Harley Davidson 165.  They were both calypso red.

     After my visit to the Harley Davidson museum, I decided that I wanted to look for a Hummer.  I looked on Craigslist.  I looked on Ebay.  I went to a couple of antique motorcycle events like the one in Chesnee, South Carolina the last week end in July.  There was no Hummers for sale or on display.  I decided to expand my search on Craigslist.  When I got to Atlanta, I found one.  It was fully restored to like new condition.  It was only 550 miles away.

     I hopped in my pick up truck and drove to Port Saint Joe, Florida and bought a 1961 Harley Davidson Super Ten.  If you have never been to Port Saint Joe,Florida, watch the last scene of "Easy Rider".   I am pretty sure I was on the same road where that scene was shot.

A piece of my childhood that will never be forgotten

     As I was driving home, my brother called me on the phone and asked me what I was doing.  I told him I was driving home with a Hummer.  His first question was,"What color is it?".  Calypso Red.

     When I got home, Kathy said,"That motorcycle is too nice to stick in the garage.  We are putting that in the living room."   Life is good.  Do you think I can join the Harley Owner's Group as a junior member ?

Schrade U.S.A. Pocket Knives Found In Box Lot

    An auctions is still a fun and exciting event.  Kathy came home yesterday from an antique auction with another surprise box lot.  It had two Schrade U.S.A. pocket knives in it. 

Pocket knives are very collectible.  You can't have too many.

     Today; in modern America, four per cent of men carry a pocket knife.  Here in the Carolinas, I think that is closer to 75%.  Fifty years ago, when carrying a pocket knife was a socially acceptable practice, there was a pocket knife for every man.  There were big ones and little ones.  There were knifes with multiple blades.  There were all kinds of pocket knives.  In my previous article I mentioned that Coca Cola and many other companies gave away and sold pocket knives with advertising on them.

      Kathy came home from the antique auction with a box with four pocket knives in it.  One is a modern Schrade U.S.A.  with a logo of the "North American Hunting Club" on the blade.  One is an old Schrade that says "Schrade Cut.Co Walden N.Y " on the blade.  It is a gentleman's knife.  It is very small with two blades.  It is shiny.  Kathy also brought home a Buck X 11 pocket knife with the original box. 

     There was also an Elgin pocket watch among Kathy's treasures.  You can open up the back and watch the watch tick.  Inside it says" Elgin Natl Watch Co. U.S.A.   There is a serial number (27126210).  

     Kathy has put these treasures in her antique booth at The Tryon Antique Mall on U.S. Hiway 176 at the South Carolina North Carolina state line between Landrum, South Carolina and Tryon, North Carolina.  Stop by and give them a look.  www.ronclimer.com   

Coca Cola Pocket Knives Found in Surprise Box

     If you have ever been to an auction, you are familiar with a "box lot".  A box lot is when the auctioneer auctions a box of stuff.  There may be five to twenty five items in the box.  This is good for the auctioneer.  Often, the bidders that are bidding are interested in different items in the box.  Box lots are a surprise.  We just recently had such a surprise.  We bought a box lot with several items.  One item looked like a pendant .  After closer inspection, it was a very unique knife.  It has two folding blades that come out from either side.  It was a Coca Cola advertisement with the phrase "Relieves Fatigue" on it.  Coca Cola has not used that phrase since 1906.  This knife is old.  In the picture below, that is a quarter in the picture.

The two blades fold in so this looks like a pendant or coin

     Kathy put the knife for sale at our booth at The Tryon Antique Mall on U.S. Hiway 176 in Tryon, North Carolina.  We also found a small pocket knife shaped like a Coke bottle.  The Coca Cola Company must have sold or given away a lot of different pocket knives as advertising.

     We also have a small pocket knife from the Chicago World's Fair in 1933 with Coca Cola advertising on its Bakelite handle.  We have put all of these little Coca Cola advertising knives in Kathy's booth at The Tryon Antique Mall at 1005 south Trade street in Tryon, North Carolina. 

The Coca Cola World's Fair knife was made by Ideal

     Kathy has other Coca Cola advertising paraphernalia  in her booth.  If you have any antiques that you want to sell, call Kathy at 828 755 6996