Archives of real estate blog entries for September 21, 2006 (Page 4)

Blog posts


E-mail accounts - 06:25 PM
For your primary business e-mail account, the best is to use your own domain, i.e., Matt@ActiveRain.com or Sharon@ssimms.com   You can then have the e-mail directed to whatever hosting company you're using, and you can change companies whenever you want without losing your e-mail address. If you don't have your own web site, you may want to use Brunhilde@realtor.com and again, direct that to whatever e-mail service you're using.
aol, hotmail, etc are not good to use for business. One reason is the perception that they're not business accounts. Another is that the spam blockers used by these services may block e-mail from … (3 comments)

Got a lemon? Make lemonade. - 06:51 PM
When Signature Bank first opened in St. Petersburg, Florida, it's first and main office downtown had no provision for a drive-through window. Knowing their customers would want this, they provided an interim solution - Romeo. Romeo was set up in the parking lot, near an entrance to the bank. He'd come up to your car, greet you (he was so pleasant that made your day), take your deposit, request for cash, etc. provide you with a cold beverage of your choice (colas, waters, etc) from his cooler, go into the bank to take care of your transaction, and return with warm … (5 comments)

Exclusive Buyer Agreement - 12:33 PM
Just attended the ABR class in Miami...really enjoyed it.  One of the things the instructor focused on was the Exclusive Right to Represent Buyer Agreement.  In her mind, the first thing you do with any buyer is get them to sign the agreement...you don't get in her car, or get any help looking at property unless you first sign the agreement and officially become her client (side note, buyer agreements are state law in Conn. where she is from).  I agree with the concept completely and would love to have everyone who comes into my office or calls about seeing a … (1 comments)

The sky is falling - 03:18 PM
It's been a good year or two since the big high-rise gold rush. Dozens if not a hundred high-rise condo/hotel casino plans were announced to be built. Before ground was ever broken, make-shift sales offices started collecting money from investors and buyers. I myself attended several "promotional" meetings where food and drinks were served and reps would brag on and on about their newest ventures. Sadly, many of these high-rise projects went belly up, (some even before the ground was broke). Some buyers had trouble getting their deposits back and the lawsuits began to fly. I would guess that most of the … (3 comments)

The hard working agents reign - 07:04 PM
One of the homes in my area has had a Help U Sell sign in their yard for about 4 months. I noticed the other morning that the sign had changed to a full service brokerage. I hope the agent works hard promoting the property and gets it sold for the owner. You just can't beat a hard working agent that's willing to put in the work.
 
Brought  to you by Team  Maxwell
… (2 comments)

Pictures - 06:28 AM
I met a delightful young woman last night who would like to buy her first home.  Her price range is about 20% below the average price of a home in these parts.  We met at a coffee shop and started looking at houses in our MLS.
Many homes in her price range had few, or no pictures. The less expensive homes attract first time home buyers.  These people are often young, in this case 26.  The twenty somethings are a generation that has embraced technology.  They expect more from home listings on the internet.
The more expensive homes in our market tend to … (7 comments)

Another observation - 06:38 AM
I read several blogs each morning.  Big issues being dealt with on our blogs seem to only exsist in blog land.  Stories about redfin and Zillow, redfin does not even serve our market and Zestimates from zillow are so far off that the service is probably being kept alive by our obsession with it and fear of it.  We are having discussions about technology, and business models and the future of real estate.  We are making making predictions about how the real estate world will work in the future.  There is no participation from the center of our real estate universe.  The buyers … (2 comments)

Mortgage Brokers Not Regulated? - 12:06 PM
I'm still miffed over that comment in the September 11th cover article in Business Week entitled "Nightmare Mortgages" which said, "Banks tapped an army of unregulated mortgage brokers to do what needed to be done to keep the money flowing, even if it meant putting dangerous loans in the hands of people who couldn't handle or didn't understand the risk."
Unregulated? You've got to be kidding me! On which planet are mortgage brokers unregulated? Furthermore brokers aren't lenders and lenders are very much more regulated. I will admit that I don't agree, at ALL, with the viewpoints shared in the article about … (2 comments)

Lonely blogger seeks .... - 08:20 AM
Back in May long before I knew of Active Rain (when was Active Rain born?) I found a Buckeye Lake Blog ... it was an HER Real Living (same brokerage as me) agent's Buckeye Lake Blog so I did an  entry on Columbus  Best Blog... about discovering this semi-local real estate blog. 
"Columbus Best Blog May. 17, 2006 - Buckeye Lake BlogThis will be a first on this blog. 
A 'Columbus Best Blog' entry about another Central Ohio real estate blog.  This blogger is at Buckeye Lake and the blogger is with the best Central Ohio real estate company,  HER Real Living! 
I found Pat … (8 comments)

Fascinating information about Google - 11:35 AM
This morning's Chicago Tribune's front page (yeah, I do read my paper) has an enlightening article about search engines. Mostly about Google.
Talks about how Google's bots search thorough websites and how often. And, that there are regional data bases.
So, if I'm searching for Naperville on the east coast, I'll get a different list of websites and sponsors (paid advertising...PPC) than if I searched for Naperville on the west coast.
For those of you using PPC, this may help.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/chi-0609210250sep21,1,7300708.story?coll=chi-business-hed&ctrack=1&cset=trueAnd, Google is now just starting seminars in how to advertise on their site.
"Are you getting the most out of your AdWords campaigns? Many … (6 comments)

New Orleans Courtyards - 07:22 PM
Courtyards in New Orleans are an intriguing part of the historic real estate market. With a subtropical climate everything grows that likes water. Many of the apartments in the French Quarter and Uptowns have very creative courtyards that give you the feel you are miles from a city. Goldfish ponds, running water and water lilies add to the courtyard scene. What better place to have a glass of wine after a hard days work. The courtyards are mostly hidden so you will to look hard. Another unique feature of this city that needs to be preserved.Ever been to Pat Obrien's Courtyard. … (5 comments)

Street names, Where did they come from? Great Selections - 07:45 PM
Does your town have street names that tell about the place? People had to name them something but some seem to be way out today. You have to be a great speller to remember many of the anmes here. Coming down St. Charles Ave which is named after King Charles where many of the English settled in the earlier days you run into the names like Erato, Thalia, Melpomene, Tersichore, Euterpe, Urania, Polymnia, Felicity, Chippewa,St. James, St. Mary, and St. Andrew. The list can go on for blocks. Who named these streets? i like the idea that the names are not changed. … (1 comments)

Power of internet website! Always amazing! Bella the dog? - 09:42 PM
 256-479-1550comments: We are looking for info on who our Katrina rescue might have belonged to. She was rescued in the Lakeview area and had eluded her rescuers for 4+ months until being trapped on Christmas Day. We love our girl and take exceptional care of her. We are not looking for herprevious owners because we want to part with her, but rather to let them know she is safe and living a life of royalty. Can you help us, please?Bella is a GS/Husky mix, approx. 3 years old per our vet, and weighs 43 lbs. She has a scar on her … (2 comments)

Your vote counts...Who will Sara pick now? - 06:57 AM

I finally had to take a stand! For the past several days the Michigan Group has questioned my Love for Sara. There were rumors about me.Some emailed asking if I was ugly. One emailer actually told me that I was a Chicken and afraid! Sara, take a look, notice my picture! You can tell that I have a certain  Boyish Charm and Good Looks, Scott is lacking in both departments. I`ve decided to ask the good folks of A/R to help you decide. In case some of you don`t know both Scott and I are attempting to win over the "Fair Maiden Sara" who … (11 comments)

Buyers and Sellers Mouths - 04:51 PM
Why oh why can’t agents I won’t use Realtors here understand that a contract is between the buyer and seller all we are is the negotiation tools that they use to reach an agreement between them. Today I was working a deal with another agent and he seemed to think that my client was being cheap about something. We talked back and forth (almost shouted on my part) I know not professional) today and when we finished with the conversation he said well I guess we will have to take it one step at a time. I wanted to shout bingo … (4 comments)

Approvals are contingent upon appraisals - 02:13 PM
Not only do I offer purchase money loans, I also offer refinances, HELOC’s, commercial, etc.
 Because the value of a home weighs heavily on an underwriter’s decision, I ask questions about the home.  Not only do I get an idea that an appraisal will be clean, it also helps build rapport.  Not to mention, I do not want to waste my, or my customer’s, time and money.  Time is something that cannot be replaced. I have a particular customer who wants to do some remodeling just came back.  She bought an investment property for her daughter to live in.  She owns the property … (3 comments)

We should educate our customer about Zillow.com - 03:00 PM
With all the ranting and raving going on about Zillow, I figured I would put my two cents on. 
 I am all about educating my customer,  This is what I did and this is why.  I explain things so they know what is going on.  I think when the topic of Zillow comes up, we need to educate our customers.
 If you look closely, Zillow takes of average of some of the sales.  I did my home as an example.  Zillow's zestimate of my home is $45,000 higher then what me home is actually worth.  Some of their sales comparsions are detached … (2 comments)

Need a Primer for Podcasting Please - 08:29 PM
Hi gang.  This goes out to you techies.  I'm looking for supplies I would need to get started with podcasting.  Do I need a microphone, software, link from a website that does podcasting on my Realtor website, etc...  Can someone also point me in the direction of information on podcasting.  Thank you for your comments! … (2 comments)

Who Do You Link With??? - 08:40 PM
On page 57 of Search Engine Optimization for Dummies, 2nd Ed. By Peter Kent, it talks about Links.  It says, "When the Web began booming in 1994, it was all about links.  You would hear in the press that the secret to a successful Web site was linking to other sites."
How do you link to other sites?  Who do you link with? Why do you link with some sites and not others, even though they're both real estate websites?  Is there a one stop link shop where you can link up with Real estate websites? 
Thank you for your assistance in … (5 comments)

Realtor Websites and "Web Presence" in Your Community - 08:54 PM
Of the 900+ Realtors in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area,  very few have any kind of "web presence" in the community.  Their websites are static and only provide information.  They are not geared towards immediate feedback, drip email campaigns, links to related blogs, etc...  In my short time as a Realtor, I have worked hard on having a web presence in my community, and it's finally starting to pay off.  My little fifteen page website ranks first page for two key search phrases and in the top ten for the third search phrase.  I've done this all by myself, and no doubt, … (5 comments)

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