Totally confused but always optimistic

Follow-up from Zip Realty

More than a week after the initial contact by the Region Director of Zip Realty, I received a ‘follow-up’ email from him yesterday, saying that he apologizes for not following up.

I also received a Voicemail from him today. Have not replied to either one of them yet.

Here is that email he sent me yesterday.

Dear Mr. Javed:

In reviewing my correspondence for follow up, I noticed today that I had
not followed up with you as I had indicated I would do. For that you
have my sincere apology. If you still wish to change Agents, please let
me know. The reason for my wish to contact prior to addressing your
request was determine your reason for dissatisfaction, not in attempt to
question same, but rather to insure we address it so there is no
recurrence.

If I can still be of service to you please let me know. Thank you for
your patience and again my apologies for my delay in response. 

Sincerely,

Terry Semmens
District Director- Chicago
ZipRealty, Inc.

Sorry Mr. Semmens, recurrence of poor customer service only makes thing worse.

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Not-so pleasing experience with Real Estate agent

If you are going to buy a house/condo (or anything else) in the near future, I have a ‘non-suggestion’ to make.
Do not hire anyone from Zip Realty to be your agent.

I stumbled upon their website while searching for houses 3-4 months ago, and their website looked decent with good search function. What attracted me the most was that they give you a ‘rebate’ from the commission they earn, if you use their agent.

They dont have any physical offices but one of their agent said they are a full service brokerage firm.

So I called/email the agent that their website assigned to me and he said “oh no, I dont work in those areas”, and then he forwards my profile to anther agent.

That was fine.

That day and till now, there has not been a single time that the agent has called me. I have called her several times and emailed her a few times as well. Last time I called her (about 3 weeks ago), I told her that I am interested in these areas and if she can find out more about these houses. She said she will.

No Response.

So even that was fine. I thought may be it is just some lousy agents. So last Saturday May 17, I went online and requested a change in agent.
A day later, their ‘Director of something’ emails me saying, he will call me that day to find out what the problem is and to assign a new agent.

It is Wenesday today and NO CALL FROM HIM EITHER.

If this is case with the director, I do not want to work with Zip Realty and I will never recommend it to anyone.

True the market is not seeing a lot of activity but that does not mean that you don’t follow up on calls and promises.

Posted in Family & Personal, Personal Encounters | 1 Comment »

social stratification

I am taking a Social Stratification class this semester and let me say it has been a real eye opener for me. There are about 10 folks in the class, 2 of them men. We have studied a range of topics so far , from class to status attainment through occupation, wealth attaiment, poverty, welfare etc.

One of the things that was interesting was that religion can be a big factor on how people accumulate wealth. In a study done by Lisa Keister for her book (Getting Rich: America’s New Rich And How They Got That Way) and according to her, Jews are more prone to wealth accumulation and Protestants are less likely to do so, per their religious teachings or instructions.

Then yesterday we were discussing white supremists and white seperatists. And i didnt even realise such groups exist too! They claim their own seperate states on basis of race and some lineage going back to Hashm (sp?).

This class is amazing and very informative. I will share more stuff if i can till the semester ends.

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The ‘Most Dumbest’ Robber

He has got to be one of the dumbest robber ever.

According to the news, a 18-year (rookie robber) went to an auto shop demanding money. The employees responded saying that the manager usually carries the cash and he is not in yet. So the robber left his phone numbers with the employee and asked them to give him a call when the manager comes in.

No, the story does not end there.

So the manager comes in, gives the robber a call, AND HE SHOWS UP, only to see police waiting for him.

Can you believe it?

Seriously, I think he just was not stupid; there has to be something else wrong with him too.

I don’t see how someone, regardless of how stupid, can do that.

Posted in Current Events | No Comments »

Women and Parking

I have hard time understanding why women (most of them), have hard time parking. Actually they have hard time driving overall, but I will focus on their parking ’skills’, in this post.

Their concept of direction is just distorted. They will rotate the wheel to the right when it should be steered to the left and vice versa.

A few days ago, I saw a woman trying to get out of a parallel parking spot.

Instead of the ‘normal’ way to get out of the spot, SHE WAS REVERSING OUTOF THE PARALLEL PARKING SPOT.

Can you believe it?

Of course, her front tires ran over the sidewalk.

Posted in Fun, Personal Encounters | 4 Comments »

Welcome Shelcome

Aamer had given me admin rights way back when but i had recently goten rukhsati-fied and moved to the corn-land and life was just super, uber busy. Not that its not busy now with school and the house. But I think i will be contributing more often now. So lets be rolling out the red carpet…

Posted in Family & Personal | 1 Comment »

The amazing internet..

It is amazzzzing as to what the Internet can do.

I look to the Internet for pretty much anything and everything. In fact Internet is almost always my first choice when researching.

There have been numerous instances where I have been able to help people just by yahooing (or googling) for the specific subject matter. Of course the other person could have done the same but they don’t think of it in that sense. Well at least this way it seems that I know a lot of things, when in reality I didn’t until then.

At least that way I can increase my knowledge as well.

Again, I cannot reiterate enough – Internet is very very powerful thing. All you have to do is – USE IT.

Of course Internet has its drawbacks too, but that discussion is for another day.

Posted in Personal Encounters | No Comments »

Elevator Wait

What is with people who don’t hold elevators for others?

So you get in the elevator and see someone coming from the corner of your eye - why don’t you hold the elevator for a mere 5 seconds to let that person in?

Ok Ok, It is not always that you see the person coming plus sometimes it is easier for you to just travel by yourself instead of allowing that person in (may be he/she is your not so good neighbor at work).

Long story short: Just hold the elevator for a few seconds so the other person can join you while you travel upward (or down).

May be your eyes meet and you start dating each other.

Any stories?

Posted in Personal Encounters | No Comments »

‘Uploading’ a cow

I just came across this video on another blog and it actually is very interesting.
Anyone remember the background music in the beginning of the video?
Notice other things? like the new owner wearing a mask on his face and the people just trying to lock up the back of the truck with one rod. What if the cow slips..?ENjoY

Posted in Fun | No Comments »

The Bush Family and their (Arabian) playland

This morning while I was reading about President Bush’s Mid-east visit, I could not help but notice a few things.
First of all, I am amazed as to the extent that George W. Bush would go to find allies against his current arch rival, Iran (or I-Ran as most people would call it). He is visiting the Middle East to bolster support against Iran and ensure that the Arab leaders re-consider their ties with Iran. Not only that, Mr. Bush has offered arms sale as a token gift to Saudi Arabia during the current trip.. Does that sound any familiar?
A world power providing arms to a developed or developing country to fight enemies on its borders?
Remember 1980’s and 1990’s in Afghanistan and the Russians and the Former USSR and Al-Qaeda, and its implications in late 1990’s and the 21st century? Who says history doesnt repeat itself?

And while working on this entry, I read on Yahoo News that President Bush’s approval in the Kingdom is even lower than the President of Iran or OBL. I guess his tactics aren’t exactly working out in Muslim Holy land!

Another thing that I find amazing is the fact that Dubai declared a national holiday on the day of President Bush’s visit to the emirate? Can you expect the same thing happening in the USA? Most of the U.S. population does not even know when a foreign high official is visiting the country, let alone shutting down all the financial markets and government offices. Granted he is the president of a super power country but this whole holiday issue sounds too diplomatic to me.

And how does Mr. President call UAE as the model Muslim state? Is that because alcohol is sold more openly then other Muslim countries, or is it because westerners could freely roam the country’s beaches while showcasing their skin? (Mind you both are prohibited in Islam). Does he even know what it entails to be a Muslim? I guess having significant investments in the Arab world grants him the license to devise a new definition.

Posted in Current Events, Government | No Comments »