Archives of real estate blog entries for October 1, 2006 (Page 4)

Blog posts


Real estate companies and brokers - 09:07 AM
I was wondering when we would bring real estate companies into the discussion.  Buyers are changing, real estate agents are changing, and the entire industry is changing.  Real estate companies have been absent from our continuous online discussions about the future of the real estate industry.  Why?
Consumers seem to want to use the internet and do their own research and make decisions before calling a professional.  They are not getting their information from the behmoth real estate companies, in most cases those web sites lack any kind of useful consumer oriented content, they are instead reading our blogs and searching the web sites created … (2 comments)

The fruits and vegtables of our blogging - 04:17 AM
When I first saw this image... a woman at the computer with  fruit and vegtables... it reminded me of the fruits on Active Rain so I put it on my order. I am not a good photographer I buy most of my images from Crystal Graphics.
With Active Rainers often getting "puny" about the fruit name graphic at the bottom used to verify our humaneness, I could not resist the image.
I saw the apple, the tomato, the red chili. I did not see the egg until I downloaded the photo and saw it much larger.... do you see the egg?  It is less noticable … (7 comments)

New Orleans Sno-ball Stands, A local favorite!!! - 07:07 PM

One of New Orleans own inventions is the snow-ball which is enjoyed by young and old. New Orleans has several really hot months so a taste of snow in the summer really hits the spot. it is not really snow but shaved block ice put into a paper cone. You have a choice of about 100 flavors buttersctch, watermellon, cherry, tutti fruiti or any combination of flavoring you would like. In the last 15 years cream has been added so you can combine that with any flavor. There are no snow-ball chains that I know of, as it is a neighborhood thing. There will … (7 comments)

New Orleans Historic Homes - 07:29 PM
                                  
                                
                               
I am doing a website page on New Orleans Historic Homes  historic homes so I can give people a taste of this old area of town. Even though the prices may be high for most of these homes there is a small one around the corner. Just wanted to share my latest shots. Neighborhood pages add content to your site along with helping clients choose an area.
… (8 comments)

Joan of Arc , New Orleans French Quarter - 09:52 PM

If your town or city has been around for more than a couple of years, then your town or city has a erected a statue of someone to dedicate something. I take notice because they are a part of your towns history. You wonder who did it and for what reason. After I took the photo, I wanted to know more about the statue and was suprised to find that it was a gift from the people of France to New Orleans in 1958. Joan of Arc 1412-1431 was theMaid of Orleans. Its an exact copy of an 1880 equestrian statue … (3 comments)

It`s Sunday " Do you know where your Realtor is?" - 05:18 PM
I`ve read some great posts today about showing instructions ( daniels and pavey). both professionals discuss how difficult it is to locate a Realtor in South Florida on a Sunday.    
Many times, i believe Sunday isn`t the only day that a Realtor can`t  be found.
In fact lets say it`s difficult Mon-Sat. as well!
There is a home located in Weston that our client wanted to see. It took me 4 x`s to contact the Realtor to no avail and another 2x`s to get to the office.    
The point is that my client realized that the motivation of the … (13 comments)

Cedar Rapids Realtor Shines at Open House Thanks To AR Advice! - 03:48 PM
Hey gang, just wanted to say thank you for all the advice so far from this great community.  I think more first year Realtors would life to fight another day if they had a community as engaging, and sharing as this one.  I had an Open House today and got two couples to work with because of all the tips, advice, and suggestions from other Active Rainers all across the country.  You all seem so far away geographically but you are all very close to my heart right now.  This is what I am doing now at Opens thanks to all … (4 comments)

3 Easy Steps To Great Blog Posts - 09:21 PM
So, I just wrote this for an agent new to blogging and AR. I figured I might as well get some blog points for it as well, and maybe there's some other newbies that could make use of it too. Obviously, I like to think of myself first.
3 easy steps to great posts: 
Step #2 - for your spelling and grammar, either write it into microsoft word,  or writely (or anything that has spell check), before you post. 
Step #3 - add some pictures, spice up your posts (you can just copy and paste).
Step #4 - add some links. Use the power of the web to transfer … (8 comments)

Will home staging work in a conservative market? - 12:09 PM
Home Staging is an effective strategy and business to operate anywhere because what home stagers offer is not a frill. It's a service that homeowners will make huge profits from. And, with real estate slowing down in so many markets, of course homeowners and their agents will be looking for an edge.If you don't decorate the house to sell quickly and for top dollar, the only other alternative is to keep dropping the price until someone buys! That's not a scenario that sits well with homeowners because it's money right out of their pockets.Also, an increasing number of savvy real estate … (3 comments)

The Staging Diva refers first project in Johannesburg, South Africa - 11:56 AM
This week I was able to refer my first home staging project in South Africa to my Graduate in Johannesburg. She just completed the Staging Diva Home Staging Training Program 8 weeks ago, and next Friday she's meeting with her first client, a project I found for her because of my two home staging websites (www.stagingdiva.com and www.sixelements.com).
The client works for a very prominent Johannesburg company which will undoubtedly lead to future projects for Janice, my graduate there. It's also an expensive home that's been on the market for some time with no offers. So, it will be a great "success … (2 comments)

IS THE MARKET PICKING UP?? - 06:28 PM
I have a few signs that perhaps, maybe, we hope, about time, that the market for real estate in Maryland and Northern Virginia is picking up. 
1.  I got three telephone calls this a.m. from callers asking for addresses of Open Houses that they see in my IDX Search Listings site.  The listing agents break the rules and announce the Open House in the Public Remarks section of the listing.  However, my IDX does not include addresses.  No way I'm sending folks to a home by themselves.  Lots of reasons, but not the least is that
I don't want folks knocking on the … (5 comments)

Oppotunities to stay in touch with your Sphere - 04:13 PM
Here are some of the ways that I have stayed in touch with my Shere.
Halloween car  with some of the major events in Portland.Thanksgiving card will events for the monthChristmas and Newyears note with helpful hintsValentine card with suggeted resturants and BB'sMother day card with suggested stores to shop at for giftsFathers day card with suggested gift ideasKnown weddings will always get a personal note from meBirtdhays cards for those that I have records of.4th of july safty card Back to school letterThis is a great way to say infront of people that you know and to have your name seen many times … (11 comments)

What Price do you start with? - 09:01 PM
What price do you start with when listing a property for sale?  You most likely go thru the CMA's, recent solds, client's agenda/requests and a look forward to any market changes on the horizon.  What percentage of the time do you sell your listings without having to make any adjustments in the list price?  If you sell too fast, do you worry that you left money on the table? Do you clients complain that maybe the offer was too low since it came in too fast?  If you don't sell it fast enough than likely the price starts coming down and … (6 comments)

Auctioneer??? Realtor????? - 09:28 PM
How can someone be both? Easy. In the late 80's & early 90's many real estate professionals in Texas went out to get their auctioneering license (it was much easier then) in anticipation of making a lot of money in the real estate auction business. Some did. Many kept their licenses in place.
There are many ways that real estate professionals can augment their services (loan broker, appraiser, inspector, etc) - how about adding auctioneer to that credential list? 
Each state has different licensing laws - so be sure to check what's required in your state. Why not continue to distinguish your … (3 comments)

Have you visited the Auction Center for NAR? - 09:32 PM
realtor.org (NAR is the National Association of Realtors) has great information available for real estate professionals including an auction center. I've posted on this before but will continue to remind real estate professionals that there are a ton of resources and educational information available at their fingertips.  NAR and the National Association of Auctioneers are teaming up for ongoing education in both segments and working together to increase awareness within the realtor community. Take time to check out the articles for yourself. … (3 comments)

Happy New Year!! - 11:49 AM
(Uh, John, this is only October 1st...) Before you dismiss this as just a crazy idea, let me give you one of my beliefs. Everything we have today is a result of what we did 90 days ago. Think about what you were doing in July. Was it prospecting, marketing, going on listing appointments? And today, do you have listings, escrows and maybe a few checks in the bank?
This is the time of year when agents start talking about the market slowing down. They say 'nobody buys around the holidays, it will pick up after the 1st of the year.' With that mindset it … (15 comments)

Millionaire Mondays - 10/02/06 - 07:05 PM
One of the foundations of Keller Williams is that we're a learning-based company. Each Monday, Millionaire Systems presents two interviews with real estate professionals who are using the models from The Millionaire Real Estate Agent (find out how to win a free copy) and The Millionaire Real Estate Investor. Here's more info on the October 2 interviews:
At 2 PM Central, investor Chris Hake from Madison, WI, discusses how he uses his network to find investing opportunities, how to evaluate properties, and the key items he looks for when analyzing a deal.At 3 PM Central, Carol Royse, of The Carol Royse Lifestyle Team in Tempe, AZ, talks about how she trains new team members, … (1 comments)

A reading list of award-winning blogs - 10:36 PM
If you've been on ActiveRain for awhile you probably have a sense that we're just starting to scratch the surface. Right now we're a tight-knit real estate network of 6300+ that really hasn't ventured outside of 'Rainville.' Most, if not all, of our readership and comments come from within AR. And I would guess that less than 5% of Rainers maintain a second (or third) blog.
With those thoughts in mind, I wondered 'what are some of the best blogs on the web?' 'Best' is a highly personal and subjective term, so with the help of Google, here is a short list of award-winning blogs:
Marketing Sherpa's … (1 comments)

Sunday...Is A Good God Day For...The Beatitudes...ROAR! - 04:49 AM
Today is Sunday, so for me, it is a Good God Day for my post on “The Beatitudes”. I hope you are not saying Be-Atta-What? The Be-At-A-tudes…as in Attitude. You know that word right? Attitude…I know it well…I sometimes think to myself that someone has a Bad-it-tude. Although “The Beatitudes” actually have very little to do with Attitude I see them somewhat differently than most. To me they have everything to do with Attitude, Happiness and Blessedness.
“The Beatitudes” can be found in “The Bible” they were given to us by Jesus more than 2000 thousand years ago. I don’t know … (14 comments)

REALTORS: Barbershop Marketing - 03:14 AM
I've gotten a good deal of business from brochures in barbershops.  This weekend, I'm working on a new project for my barbershop marketing:
Blog Books.  You see, not everyone reads the girlie magazines in the barbershop.  Some men actually read Maxim, just kidding.  Seriously, men always have to wait 10-15 minutes to get their hair cut.  When you get in the chair, you tend to read whatever you were reading while you were waiting.
I'm making up some blog books for the 8 barbershops I'm in right now.  I'm going to have 3-4 of them in each shop.  I bought some 3 ring binders … (27 comments)

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