Archives of real estate blog entries for September 22, 2006 (Page 3)

Blog posts


Don't forget to refer! - 01:40 PM
We all have certain areas of the real estate business that we love to dwell in.  And that is GREAT!  We should all find our little niche and work it hard.  Then there are those other areas that we just don't care to dabble in.  For me, I have no interest in property management and commercial real estate.  Perhaps, its because they are very detailed and numbers oriented.  I like working with people, not numbers but, I have the greatest respect for agents that handle these businesses successfully.
Also in the course of advertising and growing our spheres of influence we all come … (0 comments)

Want Relo Business? Make it easy! - 02:14 PM
I have been lucky.  I have moved around a lot.  I lived in Rhode Island (Born and Raised), Texas, Guam, Maryland, Florida and now call Los Angeles home.  Why is this lucky? Besides seeing a lot of great places, I have had the experience of looking ahead to my next move.  I know the anxiety of not knowing what to expect... where to move, wondering what's the housing like, where are the best schools, what's the commute going to be like...  How soon do I have to change my driver's license and register my vehicles...Believe me... I can empathize with folks … (2 comments)

Actively Refer! - 03:02 PM
Earlier I posted a blog entry "Don't Forget to Refer!"  which delt with passive leads outside of your normal areas of preferrence...  This entry suggests that you broaden your scope to actively SEEK these leads.  Once you have your referral system set established with top rate agents that can handle your leads, why not actively feed your system?  Add neighboring areas to your website...  Have a page for commercial business prospects mentioning your commercial team...  add another page for property management...  By adding a couple of simple pages to your site, you may add big dollars to your bottom line!
Feel free … (0 comments)

City entices new firm to settle in Morgan Hill - 03:24 AM
The Morgan Hill Times is reporting that the city has made a deal with 247 Workspace that will have them putting down roots right here in town. On the upside, they will be occupying the 42,000 square foot facility on Madrone Parkway, which has stood empty and unused till now. The city is banking on this move bringing jobs and money to the local economy. They are also holding out hope that this move will serve as an example to other businesses who might consider making Morgan Hill their new home. Any quick search on the internet will generate some good … (1 comments)

Morgn Hill considers eminent domain - 03:31 AM
Eminent Domain
 
Those two little words should throw fear into any property owners heart. In theory, eminent domain was originally conceived as a means by which government could get control of properties for the expressed purpose of making community related improvements. Things like road improvements, city facilities, etc. were considered appropriate uses of this power.
Make no mistake, eminent domain is one of the most potentially abused powers of government. In the recent past we have seen government seize private property not for a new school, freeway access or to widen a traffic bound road, but so … (0 comments)

Maintaining a web presence, an issue of control. - 03:55 AM
Pretty much since there were websites, I have had a site of one kind or another. When the time came to create my first real estate related site I decided to go the low maintenance route.
I did not want to have to worry about anything, just have the site up. To accomplish this, I went with www.propertyminder.com. It gave me the minimums of what I needed. It was a good place for clients to do MLS searches and also to coordinate escrows with clients that were web saavy.
However, over the last year or so I have decided that the control freak … (4 comments)

Blogging still Rules! - 11:50 AM
I still think blogging about Real Estate is the best thing since sliced bread, but I've come to a realization.  Sitting at this computer and writing long, thought-out posts for the general edification of the group is a good thing, but not the best thing for a youngster such as myself.  I've been out beating the streets trying to get some business!
After all, I'm still new.  In 5 years when my business is run almost entirely off of referrals, maybe I can afford to spend a little more time in doors.  For now, I need to be out and about.  No … (3 comments)

Blogging still Rules! - 11:50 AM
I still think blogging about Real Estate is the best thing since sliced bread, but I've come to a realization.  Sitting at this computer and writing long, thought-out posts for the general edification of the group is a good thing, but not the best thing for a youngster such as myself.  I've been out beating the streets trying to get some business!
After all, I'm still new.  In 5 years when my business is run almost entirely off of referrals, maybe I can afford to spend a little more time in doors.  For now, I need to be out and about.  No … (9 comments)

Business Intelligence 101 - 06:45 PM
Are you getting creamed in your primary farm market?  What is your competition doing that you aren't?  How can you guage the effectiveness of your own advertising campaigns?  The answer is Business Intelligence.
I've been through Army 97B school (Intelligence Analyst), and I've worked as an intelligence analyst and counterterrorism analyst in the field.  From that experience, I've learned how to decipher the intentions of my opponents and predict their courses of action.  This practice has important business applications.
Don't take a knife to a gun fight.  What we're talking about here is called "Intelligence preparation of the battlefield," or in this case, … (4 comments)

It's all about attitude - 06:48 AM
What do we look for in an assistant? Well, we've learned a couple of hard lessons. One is to look not only for skills but also for work ethic.We thought we had one assistant who could handle marketing, get everything into a system, do the paperwork and handle transactions. We only had one problem.We never knew when she would be there. First, it's the daycare, then it's food poisoning, then it's injuring herself on a 4-wheeler. Next the boyfriend and she have a fight, and we have no idea the status of her work for several days. Is she coming in … (1 comments)

Which jobs are safe? - 06:49 AM
What will you be doing in five years? Most history books ended with World War II. To catch a glimpse into the future and catch up on the most recent 20 years of history, read "The World Is Flat" by Thomas Friedman.It's a real eye-opener about the global nature of business today, and that goes for real estate as well. When you call Dell, who do you get? An Indian at a call center in Bangalore eager to practice English and help you fix your computer. It may be 5 am in India. They work in shifts around the clock. How … (2 comments)

My New Erection - 04:59 PM
Hello All-  I bought a condo- only it's not built.  In fact, as much as I am into delaying satisfaction, three months is a little long for even me.  And, as those of you who have read my blogs in the past, this is my first erection.  This makes it as exciting as it is shocking.  I wonder if once I have it I will even know what to do with it.  I certainly don't want to ruin it, I think rather that I will treat it kindly and take good care of it cause it will be all mine.  I … (7 comments)

Life... - 05:20 PM
Grandma will be 101 in November. She had a stroke today and is in the hospital.  What a wonderful lady that can tell you stories of days gone by.  She tells them in a way that just makes you want to sit there and listen all day.  An avid quilter... and doesn't like squirrels.  A short little firecracker she is...  Boy would the world be in trouble had she not been so old when the internet came out.
Sorry to ramble, was just thinking of her.
… (0 comments)

Pre-Katrina Const. - 05:33 PM
Just amazes me how people have their head in the sand sometimes.  I have a client that is interested in this house that was completed in early 2005 and hasn't sold.
I spoke with the builder who is now a licensed real estate agent and the listing agent.
He informed me that this house was built pre-Katrina and there's definitely no wiggle room in the price.
Things that make you go Hmmmmm...... if it was built pre-Katrina wouldn't the building supply costs be less...hence giving you the opportunity to adjust the price so it would sell...
You ever notice how people say things sometimes just … (2 comments)

Spanish Terms for Real Estate - 12:46 PM
Spanish Terms for Realtors or Other Real Estate Professionals  
abogado-en-hecho = attorney in fact
franquicia = franchise
demografia = demography
depreciacion = depreciation
cadena de titlulo = chain of title
corredor = broker
exclusivo = exclusive listing
escritura de propiedad = deed
agente = agent
asociacion de los duenos = homeowners association 
deudor = debtor
titulo = title   
… (2 comments)

Faster Access on Active Rain - 04:57 AM
Since ActiveRain has allowed up to post photos directly to their server for them to host, I'm sure their storage requirements have gone up significantly. When I've been out of town posting on my laptop, especially in the evening, time between clicks has been excrutiatingly long, despite my broadband access aircard.
Sometimes when I've been out of ActiveRain doing other things, and come back to it, I've found that I'm already logged in - ergo, I'm not logged out.  It might help both Active Rain and all its members if we all remembered to click on the LOGOUT button in the top … (2 comments)

Why can't cell phones be like security systems? - 05:05 AM
Lots of complaints from the public finally brought about number portability, so that when we change cell phone carriers we can keep our old number. But we still have the problem of needing a new phone for the new provider.
Ever been frustrated that you have to have a Verizon phone for Verizon and a Sprint phone for Sprint, etc? Ever seen a new model phone advertised for a good price only to find that it isn't the model for Your carrier, it's for Another carrier? Ever changed cell providers and had to buy a new phone to replace your perfectly good … (4 comments)

What? No MLS? - 06:51 PM
It's interesting that in most parts of Europe there is no MLS, no shared data. Someone wanting to buy a house would have to go to each different estate agent to see what they had to offer. Not only frustrating for the agent who has only his listings to sell, but also frustrating for the buyer who has to describe his needs and wants to a lot of agents.  Then in some countries, the agent doesn't even show the property, or get involved in the inspections. Sometimes all contingencies have to be done before the offer is made - which would … (6 comments)

Protecting Your Image - 12:08 PM
I just got off the phone with one of our advertising vendors and it prompted me to write. He was very excited the other day when he called because they are launching a website in support of their magazine. He knew my role on the team involves our internet presence so he asked me to go to the site and check it out and give him feedback. I'm happy to help out a vendor, especially one that "owes me one" and the more I can do for him the less it will cost our team to advertise with him in the future. … (9 comments)

Real Estate Addiction - 12:17 PM
I noticed the other day that my Tivo is full of real estate related shows. I'm totally stuck on all the reality shows that are related to the real estate market. Let's see there's Property Ladder, Flip this house, House Flip (is that show still on?), Million Dollar Agent (that's my fav) and a slew of shows that follow home buyers and their agents around different cities. I also find myself watching a lot of the home construction and make over shows! I think I might need some kind of rehab...
 
 
Brought  to you by Team  Maxwell
… (5 comments)

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