Archives of real estate blog entries for June 5, 2007 (Page 9)

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Use dialogue to improve your presentations - 06:45 PM
Use Dialogue to Improve Your Presentations
By Peter "The Humorator" Fogel
Every day, we engage in dialogue with our kids, spouse, and co-workers. When we tell a humorous story, we use dialogue naturally and effectively. But we shy away from using dialogue in our "storytelling" during a presentation because we think it's not "businesslike." When done properly, though, it can help you make a more powerful connection with your audience.
Speaking in dialogue takes you from being the abstract "narrator" of your story to being in the same position as your audience. When introducing another character through dialogue, you are automatically making your … (0 comments)

Sneaky Practice - 04:22 PM
I just found something out, and I need to vent.
I was just informed about a sneaky, underhanded practice that a local real estate company does.  When one of their listings close, they don't give full credit to the buyer's agent for bringing the buyer.
What they do is when a listing closes, they go in and put their own name as the selling agent and then put the actual buyer's agent name in as the co-selling agent.  This gives them full credit for the listing and selling side.  The major problem is that when you're listed as the co, you don't … (17 comments)

It's not about the points - 04:45 PM
… (18 comments)

WYSIWYG and HTML Not Linked? You're Kidding, Right? - 08:27 AM
I'm sure I'm not the first Active Rainer to bring this up, but what's the deal with the "WYSIWYG" and "HTML" tabs not being linked? Come on guys, there's not a blog platform under the sun where that's the case. To be forced to save work before going into the other tab is a time-consuming step (albeit a small amount of time) that needn't be. Please tell me that's being remedied.  … (5 comments)

Search Engine Ranking Factors from SEO Experts - 02:36 PM
A few weeks ago - actually a couple of months ago - I mentioned a report on a study done by top-level SEO experts on search engine ranking factors, then stated I would be commenting on those over the course of the next few days. Oops! Never did that. Got sidetracked. But, I'm a doin' it startin' today! 
Want to take a guess at what the experts agree is the numero uno most positive factor in getting ranked in Google? If you guessed using keywords in the title tag, treat yourself to a triple venti vanilla latte from Starbucks! (My favorite drink.) … (37 comments)

Ustream.tv : Broadcast Video Live to the World with a Webcam - 10:45 AM
You've all heard of YouTube.com.  Now we have a four month old company called Ustream.tv. You can now do a live video broadcast via the Internet.   All you do is log in, plug in a video camera to your computer, and you can broadcast live to the world in real time.  People can then communicate with you via  a live chat room.
I began thinking how an agent might be able to use this.  I have had a few clients in the past where one spouse couldn't make the trip into town to look at homes.  The other spouse would be on the … (7 comments)

Should I List First or Find My Next Dream Home First? - 03:28 PM
In a perfect world, a buyer could take their time to find the home that they've always been looking. Then the seller would just happen to be flexible enough to be able to wait to close until the buyer's current home is sold. Let's get real. Life isn't perfect. Coordinating the logistics of two sales is usually quite challenging.There are usually four ways that a buy/sell transaction can play out.
Buy a home contingent on the sale of your home.Buy a home contingent on the sale of your home but with a kick-out clause Sell your home first and then buy your … (7 comments)

WOW, JUST SIGNED ANOTHER LISTING BUT ! - 11:25 AM
Hi  all Doug Beaver here in Sunny Southern California. I would be excited because I just signed another listing. $799,900.00 6% was an expired and the last agent was at 4%. I am about to sign another acre plus property at 6% and next week one will close that has been a roller coaster escrow for ninty days.
BUT..... It has been a lot of work. When I started my first seven transactions where a breeze, fast smooth escrows everyone cooperated. I thought wow this Real Estate Gig is amazing. BUT This last year it has been easier to get listing but … (9 comments)

It Was A Strange Day On The Radio - 01:36 AM
I Had Never Been On A Radio Show Before, So I Had No Idea What To Expect.
I certainly didn't expect the Santa Clarita Business Hour to be punctuated by reports of a suicide attempt on the 14 Freeway. (Click here to see my behind the scenes video)
I certainly didn't expect that the segments I was recording would be punctuated by reports from the steps of the Capitol Building in Sacramento. 
I certainly didn't expect to be sandwiched between a Senator and the Secretary of Education.
However, It did make for some interesting moments off the air and some interesting … (30 comments)

Santa Clarita: Celebrates Life without Cancer - SCV Relay For Life - 07:45 PM

Several weeks ago Dr. Kelly Herta of Aligned Health Chiropractic approached our local BNI chapter (Team Gold) and recommended that we participate as a group in our city's Relay for Life.  With Dr. Kelly at the forefront our group began to learn about the Amercian Cancer Society's grass roots effort, which is an event that started in the mid 80's when Dr. Gordy Klatt of Seattle, WA decided to run for 24 hours in an effort to raise funds for his local chapter of the American Cancer Society.  In just a few short weeks our BNI Chapter began to raise funds, coordinate schedules for the 24 hour event, and … (11 comments)

Need Advice About Vendors - 08:53 AM
I've been looking into recommending some vendors and possibly cross-promoting with them.  Thought I would ask you lovely people here about your experience with those vendors first. 
 This first one is LandVoice (formerly Warnock's By Owner).  Has anyone purchased any of their programs and/or attended any of their teleseminars/workshops?  If so, what did you think of what they had to offer?
 The second one is Real Estate Promoter websites.  I don't know anything about these guys, I found them off of the LandVoice site.  But they promise a return of 12-18% conversion on the site (an astronomical figure by web standards).  Does anyone … (3 comments)

Home improvement and hiring contractors in North Carolina - 07:20 AM
So, you have decided it is time to improve your home, maybe adding a porch or finishing off the space over the garage into a family room.
Good Luck!
You can be "lucky" if you are in step with a few basics in hiring home improvement contractors.
1.  Licensing.  If the project will run over $30,000, a North Carolina general contractor will need to be licensed.  Or you can serve as your own general contractor, if you are comfortable directing and scheduling subcontractors, and gathering materials.  Check out licensed general contractors at the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.  If you meet someone … (0 comments)

Cary, NC Real Estate, Unpermitted Improvements in Cary - 10:57 PM
Earlier, in Home Improvements and Hiring Contractors in North Carolina, I mentioned unpermitted home improvements. 
It is a timely subject.  Every week we see homes come on the market, or take buyers to homes that appear to have finished space that was not permitted or inspected by the Town of Cary Inspections and Permits Department.
This is not legitimate space that can properly be figured into the home's living space.  If a fire starts in an improperly finished living space, and is blamed on uninspected electrical work, the homeowner may find that the insurance company can deny their claim.
What to do?
Face up to the problem, pull … (5 comments)

Real Estate Tip of the Day - June 5th 2007, Tips for Renters/First Time Homebuyers - 04:49 AM
 
So... Stop Renting.
Contact me today for a first time homebuyer consultation. First, we'll tackle your home affordability with my mortgage partner. Then, we'll get started with the home search.
Kristine CroweMaryland Realtor, Proudly Serving Baltimore and Harford County, Dundalk,Edgewood,Perry Hall, and Parkville Real Estate NeedsColdwell Banker Residential BrokerageCell: (410)-588-7996kcrowe@cbmove.comhttp://kristinecrowe.point2agent.com/
… (0 comments)

Sold a Listing and Lost Points - 06:46 PM
 Since I am fairly new to AR, I have been posting my listings and then wondering about what to do with them when they sell.  Well my first one sold so I read all the guidelines about whether we get points for not and that we would not lose them if we already received them and so I edited one and in the heading wrote "SOLD".  All of a sudden I lost 200 points.  While I never post just to get points and always want my posts and comments to be a contribution, it is disappointing to move in the opposite direction.  … (41 comments)

Weekly Nugget - Value - 05:40 AM
What do you value? What is important to you? If you knew that life was going to end in five years, would you still live the way that you live now? Would you still be in the same relationships? Would you fight about the same things? Would you hang on to that grudge? Would you call and reconcile with someone you haven't spoken to in years? What would be different if you knew that the next five years were your last?Give that some thought. Consider if what you're doing and who you're being now is what you truly want for your … (4 comments)

GRI designation - 10:05 PM
So, I have decided to take my career to the next level and have taken my 1st GRI class today.  I started with the Module 100, Business Planning, and boy is my head spinning!!!  I thought I had a decent business plan, however, it was in in my head, nothing was written down.  I knew that was a problem.  I also started looking at my numbers, 'how many times have people told you that you have to know your numbers?'  I knew that, however today was the 1st day that I actually wrote the info. down. 
I guess I needed someone … (4 comments)

Inventory Increases in Ann Arbor - 07:43 AM
Housing Changes in Ann Arbor Board of Realtors  
Last  9 Years
Listings ( all properties)                      Sales                         Days On Market
April 2007          1601                                      298                              87
April 2006           1588                                     355                              86
April 2005          1507                                      407                               77
April 2004          1102                                      372                              69
April 2003           989                                       430                              79
April 2002           987                                       430                              72
April 2001           962                                       371                              53
April 2000           731                                       321                              58
April 1999           844                                       402                              62
April 1998           823                                       398                              62
The amount of homes on the market in the Ann Arbor Area has doubled; we still sell approximately the same amount of homes each year.  Our days on the market have increased. The "Big 3" started restructuring and laying off people in 2001.
These … (16 comments)

THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!!! On MY Soap Box. - 09:27 PM
When I took my real estate class to get my license, they taught me to measure land in 3 different ways. I know how to measure my location at any point in Florida in relation to Tallahassee. This may be good for a game of trivial pursuit Realtor edition, however, everyone knows that when you get your license you know next to nothing.
I am at Keller Williams and am proud to be a part of a company that stirves to continually educate the agents. And did you know all our training classes are free and open to other others working in … (2 comments)

A great Snowbird condo furnished in Ft Myers reduced to $127000!!! - 09:32 PM
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