Archives of real estate blog entries for October 20, 2008

Featured blog posts


New Localism and What I have Learned ~ Get Back to Basics ~ Shifting Into Gear and Revving Up that Motor! - 03:03 PM
Some times you take a "Leap of Faith". You don't really know why you are doing something.....you just know you should. I did this with the New Localism. What I have learned is that it has been a lot of HARD work and that I BELIEVE it will be worth it. I'm going to be refining it some at this point, however it's given me a whole new lease on LIFE and my business.
It's back to basics for me and a good time to take a look at my business plan and re-evaluate what's to come. There WILL ALWAYS and … (19 comments)

10 Free Tools For Investigating a Competing Website - 10:15 AM

This post is a Re-Mix of a post I wrote in 2006, Formerly called: “How to Scope Out a Competitor’s Website and Learn From It.”
It’s always fun and interesting to check out what your competitors are up to. When you type in a search for your keywords, who comes up? Are your competitors ahead of you or below you? Why? Do you know what kind of traffic they get? Do you know how many links are coming into their site?
 
Competitive Research In search engine marketing, competitive research and analysis is everything.  Since search engines are all about … (84 comments)

Is complaining such a negative thing? -- What do you do about it? - 06:07 PM
 

CUSTOMER SERVICE ..... Do you remember what it meant?  When it existed?  It's one thing to be unhappy about a specific service, but what about when you have been lied to or misled?
We as Americans don't seem to complain as often as we should. There are several reasons why we wouldn't complain, no matter how severe the issue.
We just want satisfaction now.... the me me me theory. It takes time to complain and sometimes to complain correctly - we are a fast paced society and we just don't want to take the time. We have pride and … (52 comments)

It Was There All Along. I Just Didn’t See It. Believe In Greatness And It Will Appear To You. - 06:08 PM
Does this happen to you?  You’re searching for something particular and you’re turning the house upside down to find it, but its nowhere in sight.  As you blaze through your house like a tornado tearing through a neighborhood, you have convinced yourself that what you are looking for isn’t there.  When in reality it was there all along.This happened to me yesterday.  I searched all over the place for my vegetable peeler and I searched in all the obvious places: first the dishwasher, then the dish strainer, the drawer I usually keep my peeler in and finally a few unlikely places.  … (69 comments)

Saying Thank You is Easy and Profitable! - 05:48 PM
My Mom always encouraged me to say "Thank You" and she was definitely right! It only takes a few moments to send a Thank You note and the good feelings it spreads can go farther than you can ever imagine. So stock up with a stack of simple Thank You notes and a roll of stamps to take your business to a higher level.
Here are some easy reasons to say Thank You today -
Thank You for talking with me on the phone today. Every phone call should be followed up with a Thank You note.
"Thank You for chatting … (71 comments)

The ActiveRain Newsletter: Your Suggestions Welcomed! - 12:55 PM

A short while back, I posted an article about the ActiveRain Newsletter that we send out each day, and solicited your input on several key points:
1.   Subscriptions:  Are you currently receiving the newsletter? If not, we need to know. Send me an email (rich at activerain.com) using the email account you want to use for your subscription, along with your Company name, Your ActiveRain member category, i.e., real estate agent, loan officer, stager, etc., First & Last Name, City, State, and phone number.
2.   Featured Videos:  One of the elements of the newsletter is a 'Featured Video.' We are … (58 comments)

Helping high school kids become financially educated... - 05:56 PM
Since this credit crisis, I have thought what we need is more education regarding financial matters. We, at the Manders Group, have decided that we would like to help high school kids in our area, state and region become more financially educated. We are donating a $200 scholarship to the "Secure Student" for any parent with a high school child that would like to enroll in this program. I have become very active in the Financial Education community and feel that this is a way to give back. Read about the program below and e-mail me(e-mail address on the right side of … (37 comments)

Free enterprise - it's our past and it's our future - 05:50 PM
The "Joe the Plumber" episode of a week ago has brought to light that free enterprise as an economic system is not real popular with many Americans. That's a real disappointment. It's a little like saying that Americans don't like parades, high school football games, or apple pie.
Free enterprise is the backbone of this country - where any person regardless of their means, station, background, or education can set themselves up in business and attempt to make a go of it. Some are successful, many are not. That's not the point. The point is that we can do it.
Many … (49 comments)

I have a mad seller, thanks to another agent! - What would you say? - 12:03 PM
Have you ever gotten a listing where you know that it could be a problem from the beginning? Well, I seem to have one of those coming up next week! They have already told me they won't allow any showings from a certain brokerage in town. I'm not even sure this is legal, so tomorrow I am making a call to the real estate agency.
What happened is they were in the process of doing a property trade with a very nice old lady who had a property that was too large for her. They had a home that was smaller, … (74 comments)

How to build a network that you can be proud of… - 06:16 PM

I recently read Russell Lewis' post "Trust - The Critical Factor in Referral Business"  http://activerain.com/blogsview/743008/Trust-The-Critical-Factor-in-Referral-Business.  He talks about how referrals from friends, family, past clients and agents has always been a reliable source of his business and it's all built on TRUST.  Go visit his post and see how he's making these valuable resources work for him.
 
One of the best ways, if not "the" best ways to grow your business is through referrals.

When you have helped a client buy or sell a home, they will hopefully have great memories of the experience of working with you … (49 comments)

When Is The Best Time To Buy A Home? How do you answer this question? - 05:58 PM
SO EXACTLY WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BUY A HOME?
My short answer...When you are ready!  By ready I mean financially ready, willing, & able.  
It used to be that home-ownership was a primary goal in people's lives.  Now society is so wrapped up in instant gratification that we do not properly prepare for life's true expenses & do not value true accomplishments (a trip to the Caribbean every year should not be considered an accomplishment if you need to charge it!).  With all of the negative news on current state of the economy & mortgage "meltdown" blah, blah, blah...I think that we need … (45 comments)

Top Three Social Networks to Join and Why - 11:56 AM
Most of my social media handyman posts will be in response to questions asked by Realtors and others. Today's comes from Irina Netchaev, a Keller-Williams Realtor in Pasadena, CA. She asks, "What are the top 3 social networks that you recommend joining and actively participate in and why?"
First, let me say that "three" is the operative word. There is an old proverb that says "a cord of three strands is not easily broken." I think that's applicable where social networking is concerned as well. It's a matter of strengthening your social graph. Being networked with a given individual in three … (83 comments)

Spending time with your family - Priceless ! - 05:50 PM
Football Sunday in our house is a HUGE event. My husband gathers all his snacks, his cold drinks, throws on his football jersey and heads to the game room of our home where he becomes lost in some sort of black hole. Every now and again you hear some sort of scream or cheer and you know, okay, he is still alive in there. Some Sundays are louder than others. His favorite losing team " The Raiders" always seem to fizzle out towards the end of the game and that's usually how I know "he's still alive and well" or at … (50 comments)

6 REO offers in one day, for the same investors. Does that make them "bottom feeders?" - 02:32 AM
There was a realtor who sniffed that buyers and their agents looking for bank-owned and short sale properties are bottom feeders.
American Heritage dictionary defines "bottom feeder" as 1. A fish or other animal that feeds on the bottom of a body of water. 2. One that feeds low on the food chain; a scavenger. 3. Slang a. An opportunist who profits from the misfortunes of others: b. A low or despicable person.
But if the properties have already been foreclosed, and an investor or buyer comes along who wants to buy the property, does that make him a bottom feeder?
… (45 comments)

My New Cool Toy - TwitterKeys ♥ See, it EVEN works on Active Rain! ☂ - 05:51 PM
For those of you who like cute and fun distractions, here's a good one I just "stumbled upon."  It's called Twitterkeys. Twitterkeys allows little icons to be placed on your tweets, which is sort of fun and frivilous. I've googled the information for you, and have pasted the info below. I, for one love stuff like this, and since we always share our good stuff with each other, here's another eazzzeee tool to use when you are twittering, or not! Just simply double click on the symbol you like, control+C and then control+V to your page or tweet. I've even added … (68 comments)

THE COMMUNITY VOTES ON YOUR BLOGABILITY - 08:53 AM
Gosh, doesn't it just tick you off when you post a new entry of what you consider your best work and get no comments?  Of course you wonder, why?
Don't they like me?  They probably do, they just don't care for your post.  Comments are what feeds many here on Active Rain, or should.  Think about it, comments are a reinforcement that what you wrote was worthwhile to many in the community.  Comments are a way of keeping the conversation going beyond your post, thats the whole point, isn't it?
Here is a couple of examples of posts that generate either … (45 comments)

An Offer to Purchase is an Opportunity! - 12:04 PM
"The Pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity.  The Optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."      Winston Churchill
Sunday evening. I spent the better part of the day showing homes to a customer and her daughters whom I have worked with since February of this year.  This customer came to me from Kentucky not knowing anything about our area except that she "wanted to live in Florida". 
Well, bless her heart. And so the process began educating myself about her likes, dislikes, lifestyle, preferences and then making suggestions of areas to explore.  Relatively quickly did we find the perfect community for her and after a couple … (25 comments)

From the RUINS of the WORLD TRADE CENTER - THE USS NEW YORK - Never Forget 9/11 - 12:06 PM
 

In case you missed it, here are some pictures of the USS New York, the warship partially built from 24 tons of scrap steel from the ruins of the World Trade Center.  This is a new class of warship designed for special missions which include anti-terrorist operations - how appropriate!  I may be from the Peace and Love generation, but for me there's no cheek turning when it comes to 9/11.
Some of the details: 
It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft. Steel from the WORLD … (46 comments)

AmericanTowns Another Site For Those That Love The BLOG Juice & Local Exposure - 12:02 PM

AmericanTowns is another site you can use in order to direct more readers back to your blog.
AmericanTowns is your local link to the people, issues and activities that matter most in YOUR daily life.
The site is a virtual "town square," plugging you in to the information and resources related to your city, town and neighborhood. Whether it's town issues and community activism or school calendar events and sports schedules, AmericanTowns delivers the info faster and helps you use it better.
Each community/town can use the sites tools to post local events, news and announcements, press releases, take donations, … (123 comments)

I'm Sorry, I Didn't Realize Your Mom Was A Professional - 05:48 PM

 Lately I have really started to get a big kick out of people who take advice from anyone other than a professional. Not that family members and friends should not be important to ones decision making, but their advice is not always the best. They don't always have all the facts and information that makes a true impact on the situation. Most of the time all they really have is an opinion and not a well informed one at that.
 I received a phone call from a lady the other day that was interested in buying a condo that I … (105 comments)

The Dust Bunny Must Die!!!! - 05:39 PM
Ever go on a listing appointment and know immediately this is one listing you might be better off walking away from?????
It starts at the front of the house---toys littered across the lawn (if the grass hadn't been killed by the stomping of small feet), the front porch is full of trash (not junk- real trash waiting to go to the dump!), and the door bell doesn't work.  When your pounding finally gets the homeowner's attention, you enter the dungeon-like hallway to find yourself in a space that has been invaded by the dust bunny. Obviously, no cleaning liquid has seen … (40 comments)

What Has Happened to Me Since I Joined Active Rain? - 05:40 PM
When I first joined Active Rain I had no idea what to expect.  I had never blogged before, in fact I was not really sure what the term blog even meant.  Over the last few months I have learned more about my business and surprisingly, more about myself.  I am not as shy as I was in the beginning or as worried about what other members will think about my posts.  I comment freely on blogs that I appreciate reading, and I post when I feel that I have something to contribute.  
I am more confident in my business than … (49 comments)

Active Rain Week-In-Review 10/12/08-10/19/08 - 06:57 PM
I was humbled to be asked to write the Active Rain Week in Review.  It was a special week here on Active Rain, with many members coming together to write posts for Blog Action Day on Wednesday, October 15, 2008. 
Blog Action Day brings bloggers together around the world to blog for a single cause and the theme was poverty.  As I have to come to expect in the Active Rain community, bloggers churned out their words in full force and expressed themselves very personally and passionately to raise awareness and encourage action that poverty should be a thing of the … (54 comments)


Blog posts


Part Of My Halloween Costume Arrived Today - 10:38 PM
I got home from the gym today to find a package I'd been expecting sitting on the porch.  It contained a few of the pieces for my upcoming Halloween costume that I'd been waiting for.  I like to have some fun with Halloween, but this year I'm not above making a statement too.  Personally these two characters scare me more than about anyone right now.  So who should I be for Halloween?
Hank Paulson?

 
Ben Bernanke?

 
… (19 comments)

I'm not a lead...I'm a person - 12:19 PM
Stumbled across this video today and found it a really interesting commentary on working with clients on the web.  You can view it at the 1000 watt blog.
Interested to hear your thoughts on this video and what solutions we can find to address a very real problem.
Providing a "service" to the consumer is not the difficult part of a career in real estate. Sorting the "wheat from the chaff" is where most agents experience problems.
It's interesting, the most significant stumbling block many agents have in this business is also the greatest source of frustration for consumers.
On one hand … (7 comments)

What Happens at a Home Inspection in Sunny Southern California? - 11:33 AM
What Happens at a Home Inspection? The home inspector will inspect the property based on an itemized list so they can give you an accurate report of the condition of the home or condo that you are purchasing.  I suggest following the inspector around the home so that when they find something, they can explain it to you.  At the end of the inspection, they typically go over everything they found and will produce a written report.  This report will describe what they found that needs attention by the seller or future buyer. 
Continue reading about home inspections in Southern … (0 comments)

Dover NH Real Estate - September 2008 Market Update - 07:43 PM
As you may guess, I receive many requests from friends and associates for referrals to professional trades and services - everything from painters to attorneys.  Because I've received these requests, and because I operate my own business by referral, I have compiled a Business Referral Directory that lists the finest individuals and companies serving our community.  You can check out this new directory anytime on my website, www.SeacoastHomesForYou.com.  I hope you enjoy this directory and if you or someone you know would like to be a part of it, please give me a call or drop me an email.
Now let's … (0 comments)

Barrington NH Real Estate - September 2008 Market Update - 07:54 PM
As you may guess, I receive many requests from friends and associates for referrals to professional trades and services - everything from painters to attorneys.  Because I've received these requests, and because I operate my own business by referral, I have compiled a Business Referral Directory that lists the finest individuals and companies serving our community.  You can check out this new directory anytime on my website, www.SeacoastHomesForYou.com.  I hope you enjoy this directory and if you or someone you know would like to be a part of it, please give me a call or drop me an email.
Now let's … (0 comments)

Rochester NH Real Estate - September 2008 Market Update - 08:01 PM
As you may guess, I receive many requests from friends and associates for referrals to professional trades and services - everything from painters to attorneys.  Because I've received these requests, and because I operate my own business by referral, I have compiled a Business Referral Directory that lists the finest individuals and companies serving our community.  You can check out this new directory anytime on my website, www.SeacoastHomesForYou.com.  I hope you enjoy this directory and if you or someone you know would like to be a part of it, please give me a call or drop me an email.
Now let's … (0 comments)

Portsmouth NH Real Estate - September 2008 Market Update - 08:11 PM
As you may guess, I receive many requests from friends and associates for referrals to professional trades and services - everything from painters to attorneys.  Because I've received these requests, and because I operate my own business by referral, I have compiled a Business Referral Directory that lists the finest individuals and companies serving our community.  You can check out this new directory anytime on my website, www.SeacoastHomesForYou.com.  I hope you enjoy this directory and if you or someone you know would like to be a part of it, please give me a call or drop me an email.
Now let's … (0 comments)

Hampton NH Real Estate - September 2008 Market Update - 08:16 PM
As you may guess, I receive many requests from friends and associates for referrals to professional trades and services - everything from painters to attorneys.  Because I've received these requests, and because I operate my own business by referral, I have compiled a Business Referral Directory that lists the finest individuals and companies serving our community.  You can check out this new directory anytime on my website, www.SeacoastHomesForYou.com.  I hope you enjoy this directory and if you or someone you know would like to be a part of it, please give me a call or drop me an email.
Now let's … (0 comments)

Kittery/Eliot ME Real Estate - September 2008 Market Update - 08:27 PM
As you may guess, I receive many requests from friends and associates for referrals to professional trades and services - everything from painters to attorneys.  Because I've received these requests, and because I operate my own business by referral, I have compiled a Business Referral Directory that lists the finest individuals and companies serving our community.  You can check out this new directory anytime on my website, www.SeacoastHomesForYou.com.  I hope you enjoy this directory and if you or someone you know would like to be a part of it, please give me a call or drop me an email.
Now let's … (0 comments)

FANNIE MAE MORTGAGE GUIDELINES CHANGING...GET YOUR MORTGAGE NOW - 12:52 PM
KEYWORDS: cobb county ga real estate,cobb county ga housing market,smyrna ga real estate news,vinings real estate news,smyrnaviningstownhomes.com
… (0 comments)

Ex-WAMU executive lists home for $6.25 million - 03:14 PM

Stephen Rotella, who was president and chief operating officer of Washington Mutual when it failed last month after being battered by mortgage losses, has listed his house on Capitol Hill for $6.25 million.
Rotella, who was president and chief operating officer, is entitled under his current employment agreement to a cash severance of $12.7 million if  he is terminated or quits with "good reason."
He and his wife Esther bought the house for $3.78 million a few months after Rotella arrived in Seattle, from KING-TV newscaster Jean Enerson, in June 2005. It's a 7,430-square-foot house and has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a … (4 comments)

A Quiet Reflection on Web 2.0 v Life 1.0 - 02:04 PM
The last couple weeks have been a rollercoaster! Not just through my local Ann Arbor real estate business, but also watching the national news scene.  Politically and financially we are living a momentous occasion in history. But how many of us are too fearful to ponder just what it means?
Who knows, exactly, what will become of these current gyrations?  If you do know, please let me in on your crystal ball!  Mine’s a little murky just now.
Life is a Journey, Open Your Eyes I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep … (2 comments)

Ann Arbor Real Estate Statistics - September 2008 - 02:25 PM

October is here, University of Michigan football is….underway, and the family has crushed and pressed the grapes for the 2008 family vino.  What’s not to love about Autumn in Michigan?!
Ann Arbor Michigan homes for sale continue to move!  In spite of the recent financial hiccups (ed. that’s an understatement!) buyer’s still have access to financing and can still purchase homes.  The credit crunch simply tightened underwriting guidelines on mortgages…about 9 months ago.  The only thing that has changed as a result of recent market manuevers is consumer fear and perception.
From the BigHouseData.com Executive Summary:
Wow! What a month … (0 comments)

Is Your Agent Creatively Aggressive in Selling Your Home? - 02:31 PM
Michigan has been in the throws of a buyer’s market for at least 3, if not nearly 4 years.  Here in the Ann Arbor real estate market, the market is a little more fluid than the rest of Michigan, but as agents, we have had learn to adapt quickly.
Creatively Aggressive is my term for how some agents are representing their clients’ interests in this tough market.  In the examples given, the focus is on protecting the client’s interests and maintaining the fiduciary responsibility between client and agent.
Here’s an example of an agent being creatively aggressive :
The Reverse Offer … (0 comments)

Advertising Your Home for Sale: Marketing Dollars Move Online - 02:35 PM
Following up on a recent post about creatively aggressive means to sell a client’s home, I recently bumped into a post about real estate advertising moving it’s dollars from offline to online locations.
The numbers from the article:
Now with the downturn in the overall real estate market, the total real estate-related ad spending including not only ads placed on the web but in newspapers, television, radio and direct mail, is projected to decline by 2.2 percent in 2008 to $31.6 billion. But Borrell is predicting an 11.3 and 5.1 percent growth in online advertising for 2008 and 2009 respectively.
By … (0 comments)

Finally.....The Real Estate Market Is Normal!!! - 04:59 PM
Hi folks, it seems like just yesterday that my business consisted mostly of listing properties for Mr. and Mrs. Regular Seller. I spent a lot of my time preparing print ads, brochures, virtual tours and making sure I got the properties disseminated throughout the Internet. When I wasn't doing these things I was busy arranging showings, negotiating deals, talking with my Sellers and fielding Buyer calls. Life was good. I was busy helping folks move up or move on. It felt good to help and everyone I had contact with seemed to be in good cheer. 
Now those times are just … (38 comments)

1956 W Mountain Pointe Ave... 4 bed PLUS Large Family Room AND Office/Den! Don't Miss Out! - 03:28 PM
… (4 comments)

1013 BANKS ROSE ST, CELEBRATION FL 34747 - 12:28 PM
 
MLS# S4644109          1013 BANKS ROSE ST, CELEBRATION FL 34747     $$$ 525 $$$

Very well maintained sought after single story home in South Village.  Beautiful Cherry hardwood covers the majority of floor space in this 3 bedroom, 2 bathrooms with a den home.  Comfortable living with an upgraded gourmet kitchen including granite counter tops, tile backsplashes, stainless steel appliances, eat in kitchen, plantation shutters, walkin closets, utility room and two car detached garage. The large master suite over looks the expansive back yard. Spacious open and bright floor plan. Located one block from Spring Park and pool the community meeting place … (3 comments)

2354 CARRIAGE RUN RD, KISSIMMEE FL 34741 - 12:34 PM
 
MLS# S4644118               2354 CARRIAGE RUN RD, KISSIMMEE FL 34741   $$$ 95,000 $$$

SHORT SALE - Great home in a great community. This 3 bedroom/2.5 bathroom home is locate on a desirable corner lot. The first floor is open and bright with ceramic tile throughout.  The garage has been converted to provide an extra room.  New roof 2004. Corner lot. Walking distance to Elementary and Middle school. Zoned for Celebration High school. Listing price may not be sufficient to pay the total of all liens and costs of sale, and the sale of Property at full listing price may require approval … (2 comments)

My New Cool Toy - TwitterKeys ♥ See, it EVEN works on Active Rain! ☂ - 05:51 PM
For those of you who like cute and fun distractions, here's a good one I just "stumbled upon."  It's called Twitterkeys. Twitterkeys allows little icons to be placed on your tweets, which is sort of fun and frivilous. I've googled the information for you, and have pasted the info below. I, for one love stuff like this, and since we always share our good stuff with each other, here's another eazzzeee tool to use when you are twittering, or not! Just simply double click on the symbol you like, control+C and then control+V to your page or tweet. I've even added … (68 comments)

Related links

New Members for 2008-10-20

 Archives:

31 Oct
30 Oct
29 Oct
28 Oct
27 Oct
26 Oct
25 Oct
24 Oct
23 Oct
22 Oct
21 Oct
20 Oct
19 Oct
18 Oct
17 Oct
16 Oct
15 Oct
14 Oct
13 Oct
12 Oct
11 Oct
10 Oct
9 Oct
8 Oct
7 Oct
6 Oct
5 Oct
4 Oct
3 Oct
2 Oct
1 Oct
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006