Archives of real estate blog entries for September 5, 2006 (Page 3)

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Continuing Ed. Who needs it! - 08:00 PM
Ok, I'm off to a 12 hour continuing ed class tomorrow and I will find what I always find.  A bunch of kitchen brokers who haven't sold 5 homes3 between them in the past 3 years.  They will have a bunch of pointless questions with obvious answers and I have to sit through it all looking at my watch wondering if this day will end and if I'll ever learn anything worth while in one of these sessions.  There should be segregated clases.  One for practicing realtors and one for not.
Is anyone else frustrated by this process????? 
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What will you do to get it to close? - 04:28 PM
I'm a little late on this blog - it's been crazy busy and I'm just now getting back into the swing of anything outside of work.   I recently saw the new show "Millionaire Agent" which basically does a walk-about with 2 agents on one (each) of their listings and was amazed at the types of agents that can get such high end listings. 
One agent, called the "blonde bombshell" (sorry, I don't recall her name - and after this blog, it's probably best), had the potential to close a deal worth approx. $114,000 in commission (she'd get both sides of the deal).  … (9 comments)

If I could reach through the phone... - 04:44 PM
I had a deal fall apart last week.  Not because of anything my buyers (who were selling their house in Florida) had done, but because of their Florida Realtor.  Long story short - they put a very good offer on a house here knowing that they will be closing on their house in Florida.  They had an offer and 2 backup offers.  Everything looked great - until I get a call from my buyer.  Her agent had known for 10 days that the first contract wasn't going to go through.  Instead of moving on to the back-up offer, his advice to … (5 comments)

Loan Officers - 08:27 PM
This goes out to realtors. What do you look for in a loan officer when it comes to netoworking? Is there one quality that makes you decide to utilize that particular loan officer? Do you just pick the loan officer that is closest to you logistically? Do you go by the loan officers mission statement? Do you go by the number of testimonials they have?
I await your responses..........
 
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Bad Appraiser - 08:52 PM
When i first began doing loans an appraiser called me saying that he had a fast turnaround time but he charged a little extra for a full URAR $450.00. Again i was new and another buddy say that he was really good. My client paid cod and i was promised that the apprasial would get be COMPLETE and i would receive it within 2 working days. About 5 working days went by and nothing. I called several times a day and his secretary would had the worst attitude ever kept giving me the run around. The branch manager for the office i was working at … (4 comments)

You remember the little things - 06:36 PM

A blog recently talked about the little things we remember about a house. We had a house in Manchester, Tennessee, to which we added a large master bedroom suite. We put in Andersen casement windows, with a diamond pattern mullion. One of the neat, unplanned, memorable features came when the windows frosted in the cold winter - the pattern in each diamond was a heart - the frost edged the diamond and the center, shaped like a heart, was unfrosted.  What a wonderfully romantic sight that was - hearts everywhere.
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Builder contracts - 06:43 PM
One thing I haven't seen in new construction contracts, but I think is important to add, is how the builder will treat construction materials. Certain times of the year Florida gets LOTS of rain. When trusses are delivered to building sites, they are generaly set directly on the ground.  If months go by before they are put into place, there is no air flowing beneath them and they are in direct contact with the wet ground - a potential breeding site for mold. How about contractually obligating the builder to set them up off the ground, say on some logs or … (0 comments)

Flipping Luxury Condos - 06:50 PM
Over the last few years, we've had a lot of flippers buying luxury condos in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. It's advisable for them to be represented by a good real estate agent when they first see the condo, and when they go to contract. That's the only way they can have an advocate through the process.
One often overlooked advantage of using a good REALTOR® is to get their advice on selections and upgrades. Many flippers, unfortunately, buy the least expensive unit and put in no upgrades - which is very evident when several are on the market after completion, and the … (2 comments)

This Staging Story keeps GETTING BETTER... offer is coming in. - 09:12 PM
I told all my fellow Rain Drops that I would keep you posted...
So today the listing agent called to tell me she had a 3rd showing to the same client of the property we JUST finished staging on Friday.
You may all recall that this is the property where the priced was RAISED $50,000 and I just blogged about it on Saturday. Asking Price RAISED $55k after Real Estaging
While I know the deal is not done yet... it sure seems to be moving in the right direction for sure.  I'll continue to keep you posted. But if this goes it will be a "staged … (4 comments)

Realtors, Be carefull out there! - 06:16 AM
REALTORS Please be careful out there!
I know some of you read my blog.  I just want that there are lunatics and some down right dangerous people out there.  We often deal with total strangers in our efforts to sell our clients homes, and seldom even think about the  risk. 
Going into a vacant home with a total stranger can actually be harmful to a REALTORS health.  There are other safety hazards out there too.  I know several REALTORS who have been bitten by dogs and some that have been injured on client properties because of unsafe conditions.  There are also some … (2 comments)

So It's a $1000 Seminar, So? - 09:53 PM
I was shocked. Really, I was. I picked up a publication from a very large investor's association and began to peruse the schedule. Only a few short lines into the speaker's line-up there it was, another one of my clients scheduled to do a seminar. Actually put it together and speak. Fee for the seminar? Only $199. He would have his CD and book available for $499. Wow! I sent a representative from my team who had originated a couple of loans for the guy just in case he needed a little help. She said it was embarassing and hopeless but … (2 comments)

CRS202 just a couple of days away - 03:44 AM
Like I mentioned in my last blog that I took CRS 201 and was extremely happy with the class.  Well the time is coming near to take the CRS202 class that's being offered in Kona this Thursday and Friday.  Should be a lot of fun especially being on a different island for a few days.  Hmmmmm did someone say drinks???  LOL!
This will be my second class and all I need for my designation is 1 more elective credit that is offered through an online class.  Haha yes an easy one!!!!
With the changing market I'm hoping these classes will really help me … (3 comments)

Bank of America Realtor Survey - 12:59 PM
We wanted to share with you a survey that Bank of America issued in August 2006.  We participated in creating this survey and thought you might be interested in the results.  This is a nationwide survey.
You can access the survey by clicking on the following link:
BofA_RealtorSurvey
Let us know your thoughts!
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Is the MLS complete - 08:17 PM
Recently a client asked me what the most popular communities were in terms of sales in the past year.  I thought an easy way to answer the question would be to search the MLS for sold homes and see which sold the most.
What I soon realized was that two newer neighborhoods that were very popular didn't even make the list.  We are all used to searching tax records for FSBO properties when we can't find adequate comps for our CMA's.  In this case, these were new construction communities where the builder chose not to participate in MLS.  This causes several problems … (1 comments)

Lead Management - 08:28 PM
Today I looked into the prospect of outsourcing my lead management.  There are actually companies out there that will follow up on your leads and direct the hot ones to you immediately. 
I wonder if any of you are currently using one of these services.  I would love to hear your feedback on the success/failure rate.
One company will call any lead with a phone number and cultivate that lead for any immediate needs.  If they need you now, they will forward them to the duty phone you give them, otherwise they will note what services the lead is requesting (relocation package, … (2 comments)

My New Year - 02:04 PM
In my youth, the Chicago Public Schools started their school year the day after Labor Day. Always.
I can remember my mother taking me shopping for wool clothes in August! Trying on wool skirts in a small neighborhood store with only a fan blowing hot air. But, what excitement prevailed. It was a new school year!
And it meant a new beginning. New pens; new rulers; new paper; new notebooks. Possibly new friends and definitely new teachers.
So, I always think of my year starting the day after Labor Day. And, that's why I'm going to be working on my business plan NOW. And, … (6 comments)

Old Jefferson, One of the First Modern New Orleans Suburbs - 06:33 PM

People were thinking about moving out of town in the late 1930s and 1940s when Old Jefferson provided that modern home of the time. The two bedrooms and one bath were the norm. It was a simple floorplan, one room in each corner with an eat in kitchen. Most had porches and a small garage which you had to share with an outside laundry room. There were no dryers so you had to have that clothes line. Lamps would light the rooms and there were few ceiling lights, and ceiling fans, no a/c and a large attic fan tyaht would pull the air through … (1 comments)

Website, great place to feature your listings - 08:39 PM
Your website is a great place to feature you properties. You can put whatever you want on the page. You can have any number of photos and make them any size you want. You can design a format that works for you. You can direct clients to your site with adverrtising from flyers and print ads. I only use Homes and Land now because its a quality issue here. The sellers like it as it shows off their property and you can put some personality behind it. Few agents use this feature or fewer design their own pages. Visitors to the … (3 comments)

Prices to gut your flooded house are falling, market forces at work - 09:35 PM
The prices to gut your home has fallen by 50% in the past 8-10 months. The going rate was 1.50 per square foot but you can now get it done for .75 per sq. ft. You need to get this done for the sake of your neighbors who are trying to rebuild. FEMA will pick up the insides for free unitl the end of the year. So lets get it done before you are fined and then cry that you didnt know. If you are elderly or infirmed you can get a non-profit to help you. Unsitely weeds, debris, rats ect. … (3 comments)

Where is The Real Estate Tomato? - 06:58 AM
Last time he posted he was super concerned with Google rankings, Yahoo standings and a host of other issues. Did he leave based on the fact that if double posted, his rankings would be destroyed?
Amazing, great content and a wealth of info. I do hope that Tomato doesn`t get too ripe! Please come back.
 
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