Archives of real estate blog entries for January 1, 2007 (Page 5)

Blog posts


Busted Links - 01:05 PM
Thanks Ardell for pointing out some busted links here on my active rain site. I tried fixing them from my handheld, but only managed to confuse the problem. It seems possible to add links, but not delete them or edit them. Is this an active rain problem or a palm problem? I'm not sure but I will fix it tomorrow from the office. (Headed off on snowshoes into the real world.) … (1 comments)

Thinking of buying a home? Why do you need a REALTOR? - 11:40 AM
HI! I wanted to put this information out there for you, or someone you know who is looking to buy or build a home.  Hopefully it will open doors and help.
Often when someone is considering purchasing a home the last thought is choosing a REALTOR.  This should be one of the first things a consumer should do.  Getting pre-qualified or pre-approved for a loan is next.
*   Interview agents, not all agents work the same.  Make sure you are comfortable with the agent and that you feel that they have a clear understanding of your goals, expectations and needs.  It's important … (4 comments)

What is important? - 01:07 PM
When choosing a property inspector, what is the most important thing that you look for? What can an inspector do or offer that would make your job as a realtor easier and make your buyer more at ease.
Is it the certificaton? Is it the report? Is it the customer service? Is it follow up after the inspectiion?
I pride myself on the fact that I try to educate the home buyer as well as inspect the home for them. I like to make the extra effort and explain to the purchaser how items in the home work and the general home … (2 comments)

Does the media hurt the real estate industry by over hyping negative real estate stories and talking about the possibility of a "real estate bubble"? - 11:58 AM
I have heard many people say that the media is largely responsible for any negative opinion on real estate in the local Washington, DC area. They seem to suggest that if it were not for the media that the real estate market may be more stable and upbeat.  But if this is so, should the media have been quiet when the real estate market was booming 20 to 30% a year?  Was the media responsible for helping to run up prices in the boom years of real estate?  Or did real estate boom for sound reasons? Some people believe that the … (1 comments)

Is Washington, DC real estate headed higher or lower? - 12:08 PM
Many people have said real estate in the Washington, DC area is headed for a further fall.  Some people have emotional reasons, and some people have reasoning based on what they deem to be valid research. I have also heard people talk about why real estate in the Washington, DC area will be stable, and that values may even continue to rise strongly.  The positive news seems to be based on strong local employment growth, a strong economy, and  belief in a city that has undergone spectacular growth and gentrification. And the negative news seems to be based on the fact … (6 comments)

Do It Yourself: - 06:00 PM
The  LATimes ran an interesting article on Do It Yourself Divorce and the problems that crop up when you don't se an attorney. Of course one of the biggies is bigamy and I would suppose you might have a problem tryig to explain to the IRS that you aren't responsible for your ex's tax problems when you aren't legally divorcd … (0 comments)

Oh Happy New Year - 02:37 PM
With the new year I hope you have set new goals for this year that are above & beyond last year's goals (that you achieved also - right?).
That being said please make them
1) reasonable
2) attainable
3) motivating
3) an improvement from past years
4) balanced
5) positive
For instance if you make a goal to make $250,000 this year - that's probably reasonable. It's up to YOU if it's attainable, sounds definitely motivating, possibly an improvement (I know to many that would be going down), balanced? well that depends upon what your other goals are & yes positive for sure. But now that financial goal needs … (4 comments)

Will RE tolerate the banning of terms? -- Are you a Unicorn Hunter? In Truthiness? - 08:23 AM
I may not have thought much about the annual list of banned words from Lake Superior State University, but a news item mentioned a real estate term on the list for 2007.   Lake Superior State University Banned Words List.
The list isn't long -- over the years; it is now approaching 1,000 words.  Dictionaries and people apparently only smile and go on.  I thought the list this year was a bit of a stretch on some items, but there were certainly some things that do annoy me.  We all know about puffing and fraud and bragging, but have we thought about being … (0 comments)

What Queen Esther Knew-Business Strategies from a Biblical Sage-Queen of Persia-Leader-Heroine - 10:53 PM
What Queen Esther Knew - Business Strategies from a Biblical Sage - Queen of Persia - Leader -- Heroine
"Ancient Wisdom: "Wait for people to take you under their wing."  "Modern Truth: "Find someone's wing to grab onto."
This little book has been a favorite for awhile. Written by Connie Glasser and Barbara Smalley, the book follows the Biblical story of Esther, the  Queen of Persia, Mordacai, her older cousin, King Ahasuerus of Persia and the villain, Haman who would like to destroy the Jews living in Persia and accumulate their wealth.   This story is the basis for the Jewish celebration of Purim.
The … (2 comments)

Money, Money, Money - 01:08 PM
Many of us have struggled with the changes that have been taking place in many markets around the country in the last 2 years or so.
Inventories have shot up, marketing times have dramatically increased, and the media has had a heyday with the notion of "bursting bubbles" and blanketed the newspapers, TV and Internet with doom and gloom stories. Buyers have become more leary of purchasing, with predictions of huge price drops. Sellers have increasingly joined the market to capture their portion of the appreciation that has occurred in so many areas, often at alarming rates. As the tide has turned … (2 comments)

Understanding the Realtor® Code of Ethics: Articles 6 & 7 -Disclosing Compensation - 11:42 PM
Here is the 5th in a series of posts dedicated to Understanding the Realtor® Code of Ethics. These posts are designed to explain the Ethics that Realtors® are bound to. For the full Code of Ethics, please visit the National Association of Realtors®.
Before I delve into Articles 6 & 7, I would like to take a moment to bring up a few relevant posts that I have read recently that touched on the Code of Ethics, as well as provide links to the previous Code of Ethics posts that I have written. Please take a moment to check these out, if you … (13 comments)

Office Competition - Motivational and Effective - 10:01 PM
Read an article written by Randy L. Prothero  about helping new realtors. It reminded me of my first years as a realtor. I started in a small office with several top producers. Having no knowledge of how to list or sell real estate, I started watching the other agents, listening to how they handled details, doing their open houses, and basically eaves dropping on them. My office wasn't big on training - they just threw us to the wolves and hoped we would come back with a listing or sale. As a highly competitive person, ending up last was not on my "most … (22 comments)

New Year's Resolutions - 08:56 PM
I'm never very good at making personal New Year's resolutions, but this past month my father had triple bypass surgery.  He'd been having chest pains for a quite some time, but totally put off doing anything about it.  We discovered a prescription from his doctor for a treadmill test clear back in February, but he didn't go in for one until December.  They discovered that the artery feeding the lower part of his heart was blocked 100% (yes, you read that right) and the other main ones 90% and 50%.  They quickly got him in for surgery, but he even tried … (2 comments)

The Word That Sales People Should Love To Hear……….NO!!! - 01:29 PM
If you are reading this Post you are probably thinking why would any sales person want to hear the word “NO”?  The word that sales people want to hear is YES!!!  That is the bottom line in any sales transaction, because without a YES there is no transaction.  So why should salespeople want to hear the word NO?  Well please humor me for a few minutes, and consider the following.
The answer to why sales people should love to, or at least want to hear the word NO is very simple if you just stop and think about it.  Anyone who … (79 comments)

Anyone Use SharperAgent? - 08:23 PM
Does anyone out there in the AR community use Sharper Agent for any of their marketing? 
They have a deal with my new brokerage and I was just checking out their website.  It looks interesting and I was thinking of giving it a shot.  Looks like they have marketing material that can be used as is and many look customizable.  From postcards, newsletters and flyers that can be emailed or printed for direct mail. 
There is a 30 day trial so I'll give it a whirl...but was curious if anyone else had any feedback.  Thanks!
… (2 comments)

Active Rain Tools - 06:15 AM
Have you found your statistics tool? It is on the left side, bottom third of the page. Mine looks like this, of course with more data. What is shown here is for illustration only.
Your profile has been viewed 619 times. Below are statistics for your blog, we will be adding additional statistics such as referrers soon... Note: We did not start recording stats until 11/09/06.
What is the difference is between a view and a click? It seems to me that one has to click to view.  If a blogger has high views and low comments, does that mean there is … (8 comments)

Carole's 2007 Memesolutions - 06:08 AM
The anticipation of a new year, full of promise and hope. Even though I always resist making resolutions on New Year's Day, I have been memed and have no choice. And not only one resolution but five! ? !
1. I resolve to learn one new 'tekkie' program. Yes it will be good for me, but that's not the reason. A few of us determined that we would find programs, platforms, etc that we all wanted to know how to utilize, and each of us would learn one and teach the others in the group; you know, just like in forced study … (42 comments)

Windows Expo Live For Posting Properties For Sale or Rent... - 04:14 PM
'Stumbled on this while surfing the Internet.  Has anyone heard of Expo Live?  Windows has a site called Expo Live where amongst other things you can list your properties for sale, rent, vacation, etc.  Like Active Rain, you need to create an account.  The following is an example of what a listing might look like on their site.  Click Here...  Yet another opportunity for us to get our properties onto a different search engine.
Good Luck!
Liz Streed
… (4 comments)

Steps from RENTER to HOMEOWNER - 01:37 AM
   
Every tenant will not become a homeowner. A TRUE homeowner "to be" is someone who takes responsibility for themselves. They will not look for someone else to contribute to their cause. It is someone mature. It's someone who has added up the cost, and is willing to pay it. It is someone who does not need a "lord" over their land to supervise or make choices for them.
They have tempered their appetites in a prioritized manner. They are not looking for a hand-out. They are goal oriented and realistic. Rents are paid on time every month, and excuses are rarely made. These … (7 comments)

Embracing Opportunity in the New Year... - 12:41 PM
Top sales professionals consistently overcome challenges and embrace opportunity... It all begins with a focused plan, the right mindset and the willingness to learn and implement systems and strategies that will help propel them to the next level in their businesses.
At the dawn of this New Year, let's commit to embracing the opportunities before us and accept challenges as the competition eliminators that they are.
To that end, consider business networking as an effective means of developing a "Positive Word of Mouth Marketing Strategy." 
Would you agree that aside from repeat business referrals are a preferred source of business? Would you also … (3 comments)

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