Archives of real estate blog entries for October 27, 2008

Featured blog posts


Why Blogging Works When You Blog Smart! - 06:23 PM
Tracy Miller recently asked me to put a post together explaining what the benefits or advantages were of being a member of the Active Rain social network.  In the spirit of what Active Rain is all about, here's your "long distance" response my friend...
The benefits and/or advantages of being a member of the Active Rain network are vast.  In fact there has been so much written about this that I couldn't possibly name all of the reasons nor will I since an easy search under the "blogs" tab will help you identify most of those posts but I am going to give you … (72 comments)

There Really Is A NEED For Quality PROFESSIONALS In Real Estate - 12:03 PM
Previously I wrote about Pre-Licensing experiences shaping your Real Estate Career and how you conduct business.  It was about my first time home buying experience yet it was not the one that 'pushed me over the edge' and make get a Real Estate License.
After buying my first home and getting burned out working 100+ hours a week, I changed jobs.  I went to work in an office and hated it.  You have to be tactful in a Corporate atmosphere which I lacked.  I had no problem being honest about anything.  Even if it was telling someone that they were wrong … (53 comments)

Buyer Agent Showing Feedback on Homes for Sale - Do You Find the Time To Provide it or Not? - 05:53 PM
When showing homes for sale, buyers typically have something to say regarding the houses they are looking at. Listing agents look to this information to pass along to sellers, so we may get a different perspective on the home. Maybe the buyer thinks the house is too big, too small, too cluttered, too dark, too light...maybe the buyers don't like the floor plan, the paint color, or the furnishings.
Sometimes a buyer looking at a home can provide information on an item that may not have been addressed with the seller.  Some items can be changed, such as too much clutter, … (147 comments)

Meeting Some ActiveRain Friends in Person for the First Time! - My Day at RE Barcamp (Houston) - 08:55 PM
As soon as I heard that RE Barcamp was coming to Houston, I was looking forward to attending.  In case you haven't heard of Barcamp before (which I hadn't), it is essentially a real estate and social media conference. 
Actually, I heard it referred to as an "unconference", which is probably a better description. 
In essence, the agenda for the day is not set until everyone arrives.  If you are attending and you want to lead a session, you can do this. 
What did I learn?  First, I learned that Paul Chaney ("The Social Media Handyman") is clearly someone that I need to … (96 comments)

The Ten Commandments of Commenting - Thou Shalt Not........ - 12:01 PM

Recently, someone felt the need to promote their own site and services on my blog.  At first, I was really angry and tempted to say some not-so-nice things.  Then, those 4 years of Catholic school kicked in, "forgive them Lord for they (OBVIOUSLY) know not what they do".
So, maybe it's time for a refresher on commenting.  Feel free to add your own...there's no rule that we can ONLY have Ten Commandments of Commenting!
1.  Thou Shalt Not Promote Your Site or Services on Someone Else's Blog.  (if your comment is interesting enough, others will click and visit you for … (103 comments)

Changing Your Sales Philosophy - Property Oriented to Service Oriented - 12:04 PM
Recently, we had a lively discussion in the office.  It centered on a simple question - What is your personal sales philosophy? 
There seemed to be two schools of thought:
Property First:  The first school of thought centered on the property.  The general view was that it was the sales associate's goal to convince the prospect that they had the best property, the best location, the best neighborhood, the best price, etc.  It was a feature based approach and it focused on the property.
Customer First:  The second school of thought centered on the prospect.  The general view was that it … (66 comments)

If You Are an Active Member of Active Rain It Will Increase Your Production . . . - 11:56 AM
Active Rain is a more important business tool than you may think.  Only being here since January of this year I had not the first clue.   For me, I had a website, email, cell phone and thought that was enough.  I thought blogging was done by political types and media types.  Boy, was I wrong.
Being a part of Active Rain not only helps your exposure as far as the public goes, the relationships are very important as well.  They are important for personal reasons, but also business reasons.
Here is how much interaction I have had in the last week … (75 comments)

How a RE- BLOG could get you caught with plagiarism! - 08:51 PM
As many of you know I have written a recent post about RE-Blogging that has stirred a lot of thought. In case you missed the post it has received over 200 comments so far:
I am not convinced RE-BLOGGING is a Good idea - Please Convince Me! The post details how the re-blogger in many cases was garnering a position higher in Google than the person who wrote the post. There are many details that are worth reading. Many of the comments are excellent and may cause you to reconsider if you think re-blogging is a good idea from a search … (177 comments)

I love Picnik.com - 09:20 AM

Maybe this is one of my secrets but most of my photos do not come out of my camera ready to publish, in fact none of them do because they are too large to be put on the internet.
They get resized, brightened, cropped and tweaked. Most of this can be done with really expensive software but I am kind of a tight wad. I use Picnik.com a lot. There is a free version but I am not such a tight wad that I can't spend the 24.95 for a year long subscription to the premium version.
Picnik is on … (73 comments)

Connect | Follow | Friends | Social Networking - 03:40 AM
This week has been a week of refocusing.  Reflecting on what is working – what is not – you see every fall I start my business plan for the following year.  Of course money is tight this year so a lot of my business plan for 2009 has free offerings in it.
Refocusing – refreshing – redesigning I have tags to update, categories to create and clean up and so much more.  With looking at what has worked and what has not I have taken a look at several of the tools I use now and some that I “play with” … (48 comments)

Is Blogging Outdated? - 11:57 AM
                                                       
 Some say that this is the case.That if you are thinking of starting up your own blog, you shouldn't do it. And if you are currently writing a weblog, now is the time to stop. Blogging has been deemed outdated. It has been replaced by more appropriate activities that are more on the cutting edge.
 While reading an article placed on Yahoo earlier today, the writer explains that blogging is completely outdated.If you had a blog in 2004, then fine, but having one today is really little more than a waste of time. This is partially due to the fact … (115 comments)


Blog posts


Beethoven, Helen Keller, Rocky and You! Get Pumped Up...Get Inspired! - 09:21 PM
Adrian: "Yeah. Beethoven was deaf. Helen Keller was blind. I think Rocky's got a good chance." Doesn't matter who I talk to and in any state, if you ask how's biz.. on most occasions there is a hesitation...then the tone changes..to the ever dreaded...business is slow voice.
This morning when I walked in my office..activity..one was turning in a closed file...another finalizing her pending sale and excited about her new listing..the listing machine was doing the usual and was in front of people...price reductions...offers being negotiating...heck in one of the other offices..one of our agents has 4 pendings for the week....while … (7 comments)

Fall in New Hampshire - 08:56 AM
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PRICE REDUCTION: 1823 Gillette Crescent Street, South Pasadena - 04:18 PM
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Leo the Dog saves Kittens from burning Fire - 08:15 AM
In my continuing efforts to bring you the best animal stories to make you go "Ahhhhhhhhhh" in the middle of all the election attack ads, comes the story of an Australian pooch who risked his own life to save some kittens.
This true story will show you how Leo refused to leave the kittens in the middle of a house fire, but thankfully the local fire department got them all out safely. The perfect way to start a Monday!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Copyright © 2008 By Simon L Conway All Rights Reserved.)
Please give me a call if you have questions … (12 comments)

Obama: Constitution has deep flaws. Redistribution of wealth must be legislated - 09:15 AM
It's not too late America. But it is time to WAKE UP. If you are paying attention then you already know that if Obama is elected with a Democrat House and Senate, America will not be a country we recognize in a very short period of time.
And now audio has surfaced of Obama stating that the Constitution has fundamental flaws in it. You better believe this man wants change, but it won't be the change you think you are buying. PAY ATTENTION America!
First of all the redistribution of wealth audio clearly tells you how he intends to … (30 comments)

Catholic Church delivers powerful election message - 02:43 PM
Now it is entirely possible that someone posted this while I was away fro a few days and if so, my apologies. If on the other hand, you have never seen this, then you are about to experience some extremely powerful emotion.
This is from the Catholic Church. It does not tell you how to vote - just what you should perhaps be thinking about when you do. I was incredibly impressed both with the content and the high level of production. These messages can be sent i=out in such an unprofessional manner, but this one clearly is not.
So … (30 comments)

Hailey Grace Cooper Has Arrived! - 09:33 AM
On Thursday, October 2nd at 3:30AM baby Hailey Grace Cooper arrived!  She weighed in at 6 lbs. 14 oz. and has a full head of hair!  She's now 3 1/2 weeks old and we're both doing well.  She is so beautiful and such a nice change from seeing all blue with 3 boys!  The big brothers love their little sister a bunch!  They are always so excited to see her, they just wish she was big enough to play with already.  William and Hailey will always have something to celebrate with their birthdays being only 3 days apart.  William turned 3 … (6 comments)

Fall Tips - 04:30 PM

HELPFUL HINTS:
These easy, affordable touches will cozy up your home for the cooler days and longer nights ahead.
Whisk away whisper light sheers, and rehang your heavier drapes and curtains for a snug, warm feeling.
Sprinkle in low- or no-cost accents, like a wooden bowl filled with juicy pears, ripe apples or other seasonal produce, or a clear glass bowl holding a single leaf.
Light candles infused with spicy-sweet ginger, pumpkin, cinnamon-apple and brown sugar.
They’ll “hug” your home with the feel-good scents of the season! Add seasonal blooms, such as sunflowers, asters and mums to your tables, shelves … (0 comments)

Seth Godin vs Mary McKnight - 05:47 AM
I know many Active Rain members read, follow and admire Seth Godin.
And many Active Rain members know Mary McKnight from right here in the rain; and they read, follow, and admire Mary as well.
Mary has started a new marketing info blog Sacrilicious Marketing ... That's Sacrilicious as in Delicious.
It seems Mary and Seth got into a little "exchange" over Mary posting some opinions about SEO in Seth's new Triibes community.  Here is Mary's post that started it.
What do I think? 
I think Seth is very bright and very good, in fact he's so bright and so good, it gets a little … (11 comments)

Being 24 is not old, HUH?! - 08:36 PM
We lost a very bright, and very capable assistant recently.   (Believe me, you just don't know how capable they are until they're gone, and you try to handle filing and data entry yourself  :-)  )
Sophie left us to return to a full time college schedule.  She plans to become an educator.
While clearing out old stuff, and preparing in general for our upcoming expansion, I came across this on Sophie's desk calendar:

It made me smile.
 
Sophie, honey, you just wait four or five or six decades!! :-)
… (7 comments)

Move-In Ready! 3/2 Home in Soquel on 2/3+ acre lot! - 08:24 PM
Click to see more pictures of 2730 Monterey Avenue, Soquel View more Soquel Real Estate Listings
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Ann Arbor Housing Update: Creativity is Not Dead, Nor is Courtesy! - 08:34 AM
The Ann Arbor area real estate market has been dealing with a buyer's market for nearly 4 years now. While it is comforting, I suppose, that we are not alone in dealing with this market, it can be amusing to hear other parts of the country are just NOW adjusting to the changing marketplace. Take this AP article recently published in the Detroit Free Press. Pretty innocuous article on it's face, but it's that last line that sent me into laughing fits!
"You have to be nicer than you used to be," he said. "Your goal is keep people in the … (2 comments)

Technology Seminar Thursday October 30th~Baltimore GBBR - 11:00 AM
Dave Meurer, National City Mortgage, and 
Margaret Rome, The Real Estate Company of Maryland 
Present
A Day of Technology with Dick Betts
Thursday, October 30, 2008 at the Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS® Office 1306 Bellona Avenue, Lutherville, MD
Today's Top Technology Trends    9 a.m. -  Noon
Some of the concepts covered include:
Creating a technology plan The e-PRO designation Websites and your presence in the on-line world Promoting you and your listings thru domain marketing Email hosting Name branding How blogging affects you Google ranking. Smartphone Fundamentals for the Real Estate Professional      1:30 - 4:30pm
(Palm OS & Windows … (19 comments)

Is your Phone a Smart Phone? - 09:29 AM
A couple of weeks ago I was asked to speak in front of a group of fellow Realtors regarding this simple but difficult subject.
And why is it so difficult? Because we Realtors are bombarded daily to spend money on this or that. We constantly are trying to make decisions that can help our business but not bust our wallets. So I gave my opinions and did a little show and tell - I happen to have a Treo 650, a Blackberry Curve, a Centro, a wireless card for my laptop ( the greatest help beside a phone) and Magicjack. And … (6 comments)

Online Real Estate Marketing is All About Your Niche - 11:12 AM

Today's home buyers want more. It's easy to think that's about home features. But their desire for "more" extends to the whole home-buying process as well. Computer-savvy buyers are concerned about HOW they buy, not just WHAT they buy. After all, these are the same buyers who are accustomed to going online and using search engines for any type of purchase. It's only natural that they'd do the same thing when it comes to finding the home they want.
Consider this -- Buyers look for: • More convenience in how they locate homes • More uniqueness in the experience, to … (2 comments)

Over 100 Closings in South Tampa the last 30 Days - 12:06 PM
It's been about 30 days since terms such as bailout and credit freeze entered the national dialogue... and homes are still selling.
102 residential properties from $30,000 to $3.2 Million closed in South Tampa since September 27th. The South Tampa area runs from Downtown to MacDill AFB, and from Westshore to Bayshore. Surrounded by major employement centers and water there is no better place to buy real estate in the Tampa Bay area.
There are current 1870 homes for sale in South Tampa and lots of choices.
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845 Lake Lotela Drive -- $299,900 - 10:44 AM
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The Pinnacle condos in downtown San Diego score 4.5 stars from the residents living there. - 12:54 AM
The Pinnacle condos located in downtown San Diego were completed in December 2005 and the residents after living there for over a year were asked to review the building rate it in a dozen categories. The results of the survey put the Pinnacle condos near the top of the ranking for the downtown condo buildings. The Pinnacle condos scored five out of five stars in several categories: Views, Security, Concierge, Pool and Building Maintenance. The Pinnacle residents rated the building low in: Noise (mainly from the trains) and quality of construction.
Pinnacle condo residents boasted about the views, especially the … (1 comments)

Helen Ga Real Estate Homes "This Week in Helen" - 11:28 AM
Okay, today is still a great day to visit, but you may think it is March, not October.  Wind gusts make you want to think about flyiing a kite today.  But today is warm compared with the weather wizards predicitions for the next few days.  We may even get our first freeze here..frost on the Pumpkin?  YES!  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will be the coldest days WWs say, making for a more comfortable weekend.  Don't forget your heavier jackets and hats for the children if you are coming up this week.  Be sure you don't forget to pick up some pumpkins.  … (0 comments)

The Social Networking Buzz: TweetBeeps & Tweet-Ups - 11:31 PM
 
Once I mastered the Twitter basics, I set up TweetBeep (kinda like Google alerts) to email me when someone wrote a tweet on something that interested me. For example, any time someone wrote a tweet including the word "Plymouth", I'd get an email. Do you know how many cities are named Plymouth in the world? Lots. Next, I noticed people talking about "tweet-ups". I had no idea what they meant, but had a hunch it might have something to do with getting together. As luck would have it, one of the local agents I was following organized one last week and … (11 comments)

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