Archives of real estate blog entries for November 14, 2008

Featured blog posts


Growth Leader Marketing Program - Anyone want to play? - 03:15 AM
(This one is long, but you may be glad you read the whole thing)Over the next couple of months, I will be embarking on a project here at ActiveRain. Some of my time will be spent helping introduce our network, and the real estate industry to a new product. When Jon first approached me about doing this, my first response was...."I am not going to push a product on our members that sucks" (I'm pretty forward with Jon, I may have used a more choice word than "sucks"). Jon also reminded me that I'm not pushing it, I'm simply putting it … (113 comments)

What They Did Not Teach You in Real Estate School!! - 05:33 PM

 
We all had to sit through this boring class learn about how many days to turn in a deposit check, and how long you have in order to request an EDO (Escrow Disbursement Order), but what they did not teach you was common sense.
I was reading Jim Crawfords Blog about the Potty Stop, and got me thinking.  This is so very true.  So I have composed a list of items that Real Estate School should have taught you, but didn't
When showing property please do not show up in Shorts and a Tank Top it may be inappropriate. Make sure your … (55 comments)

All I did was.... place the furniture properly, add artwork, chandelier and a floral - 05:38 PM
In this example, I would like to demonstrate the critical importance of furniture placement when selling a home.
On viewing listings on the MLS, buyers will not place your listing on their "Must See List" if your photos do not show the space and scale of a room properly. Placing the furniture in a way that is not a distraction to the room is a very important part of marketing a home.
The before and after photos show how well placed furniture actually makes the room look larger. And in Real Estate, we are always selling space and light. The two … (40 comments)

Rain Rocks blog theme, free Twitter background, geeks & gurus - 01:06 PM
.

 
 Hi guys, since my JAZZ Rain blog theme a few weeks ago seemed to be a hit, this week I'm adding another music type Rain blog theme to the collection titled...
 

theme preview

 The graphic above is a preview of the Rain Rocks! blog theme. The graphics for this theme include...
- the blog header
- the background image tile
- the post divider
- and the navigation menu colors
 
 If you'd like to use this theme on your Active Rain blog, all you have to do is download the graphics and then upload … (56 comments)

Making the Change We Need Happen...Active Rain's Michigan Agents Lead the Way! - 01:00 PM
Today, I had the honor of being the Guest Speaker at the Women's Council of Realtors® Luncheon at the Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, MI.  I arrived early to find the members already busy at work, manning the tables and decorating the hall. 
Mary Mishler, the chapter President was attending to the final details and making sure everything was in order.  There was a good vibe in the room and Mary indicated that registration for this luncheon was one of the highest of the year!
The Grand Rapids Chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors® (WCR) has provided real estate professionals in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area with … (44 comments)

Does Deep Discounting and Internet-Based Brokers improve Client Service and Representation? - 03:25 AM
Back in May, the US Justice Department announced that it had reached a proposed settlement with the National Association of Realtors (NAR), staving off a 2005 lawsuit filed against NAR by the Department's Anti-Trust Division. The suit claimed that NAR obstructed fair competition and discriminated against Internet-based residential real estate brokers. The Department said the settlement would enhance competition in the real estate brokerage industry, resulting in more choices, better service, and lower commission rates for consumers.
According to a statement by Deborah Garza, Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division,
"When there is unfettered competition from brokers with innovative … (70 comments)

I learned everything I need to know about Social Media on Twitter - 01:12 PM

I've been on Twitter for several months now, and as my list of followers keeps growing, I occasionally get asked "How do you get so many followers?"  It's a bit hard to explain in 140 characters (the limit on Twitter), so I kept saying I'd write a post about it some day...  Now that I've got an Active Rain account, I figured I'd make my experience with Twitter my inaugural post.
I have a SEO/Business coach, and he has been telling me for about a year that I need to get into Social Media, and I kept putting it off.  … (82 comments)

More Cool Active Rain Blogging Tips - 03:24 AM
I have written several posts about better blogging tips and optimizations here on Active Rain. Some of them were very well-received by the community and many of them were FEATURED posts. I have attached some of them I feel would be a good read, especially for those who are fairly new here in the 'Rain.
Warning: This is a LONG post and I might lose you. But please bare with me. Bookmark this page and come back to it. It will take you step-by-step on making your blogs look better, hence increase your subscribership/readership.
1. Don't lose your audience.
We link … (91 comments)

Five Ways To Kill Your Business - 03:23 AM
It amazes me on a daily basis how many agents that I deal with actually set themselves up for failure by making simple, yet deadly, mistakes in their business.  Some of these mistakes seem to be so simple to overcome.  Yet, time and time again, they repeat the same thing expecting a different result.  That is the definition of insanity. 
So, in the hopes that I can in some small way help YOU avoid making these mistakes, I wanted to summarize an article I found in BrokerAgentPro that lists 5 of the things agents do that hinder their own efforts...and ways … (105 comments)

OUR LAST CLOSING WITH GIFT FUNDS. LOOKING AT THIS SALE, IT MAKES MORE SENSE THAN TARP. - 03:12 AM
THANKS NEHEMIAH!  THANKS MR. BUILDER.
RUMORS ARE THAT THE "GIFT FUND" PROGRAMS WILL BE RESURRECTED IN SOME FORM. 
I have my doubts.  It made too much sense.  The benefits went directly to home buyers.  The sellers voluntarily reduced their net proceeds in order to sell the property. 
Seller's helping buyers is a market force. 
Congress is not receptive to:
Market forces Home buyer benefits Why did Nehemiah disappear?  It defies logic.  Of course, some of the reasons could be:
The gift fund programs didn't lobby Congress (political contributions).  The benefits went directly to the home buyers. The funds were not government … (54 comments)

When Follow-Up Becomes Harassment - 03:24 AM
I've been on the receiving end of some diligent follow-up for the past few weeks, and yesterday I experienced first hand the cross-over from FOLLOW-UP to HARASSMENT.  It's a shame, really, because I am a prospective buyer and I respect/appreciate good follow-up.  But there's such a thing as too much, too little and "just right." 
For several months, I've been thinking of upgrading my Top Producer package to the Market Builder.  That's their post card program that works in concert with their Market Snapshot, which I already have on my websites.  The primary thing holding me back is that I haven't taken the … (88 comments)

Tax Deductions to Remember When Getting a Home Loan - 03:25 AM
When borrowing money to buy a home, there are certain deductions that you are afforded by the ole tax man that you should be aware of come tax time in April. The following are some of the deductions you may forget about when buying a home:
POINTS ~ Points on a home loan are tax deductable if they are used to bring down the mortgage interest rate. For those that don't know a point is 1% of the loan amount. On a $200,000 mortgage a point would equal $2000.00. You would only want to pay points on a loan if you … (84 comments)

Why Put Call Listing Agent Before Showing a Vacant Home if You Don't Answer the Phone? - 05:33 PM
We all have heard the phrase time is of the essence.  But what does that phrase really mean? 
The other day I had a walk-in to my office while I was on floor duty.  The gentleman had found a home on the internet that he wanted to see right away.  He was leaving Myrtle Beach the next morning to go back home and really wanted to see this property. 
The gentleman had already done all his homework.  He had a pre-approval & all the info on the home.  He had view the pictures and just wanted to take a look at … (71 comments)

You've Generated an Internet Lead...Now What Do You Do? - 06:00 PM
I was talking to a few of the agents in our office today. They were talking about success and failure on the Internet (and they were agreeing on how working the web is not worth it). They all agree that we do a good job on the Internet getting and converting leads...but we do so much business (in their minds) because we are either exceptional (I assure you that is not the case) or because we started a long time ago and they have no chance to catch up (again...bad assumptions).
With the limited number of leads these agents have generated they … (80 comments)

A Rookie Mistake by an Agent Who Knows Better - 05:39 PM

There is no good time to lose a client, but it is excruciatingly painful when it happens in a slow market.  Throw in the fact that it could have easily been avoided and it only feels that much worse.
I have a cute young couple who are first time buyers.  I've been working on and off with them for over a year, since they were referred to me by another long term client.  We have worked through financing issues with a couple different lenders, we have worked on defining needs vs. wants, and we have discussed everything from A to … (85 comments)

Is video for selling homes the WAVE of the future or is it just a fad? - 05:38 PM
The age of multimedia is here, well at least in the world of real estate sales and promotions.  My broker just returned from NARS big convention where they unveiled their on line TV site.  As my broker puts it, "Video is the future"
I remember when virtual tours hit the scene, heck I worked for a large real estate web site and we offered a virtual tour of homes in the late 90's.  The response was interesting, agents liked the idea but those who used it noticed that the number of calls and inquiries dropped resulting in a lost of business. … (40 comments)

Better Green Than Blue ! The Innocence and Excitement of the Newbie vs the "Reality" of the Seasoned Agent... - 01:05 PM
In a time when there are so many agents who have either left real estate, or are considering leaving... every once in awhile I talk to someone who is actually considering getting IN... to real estate.  Often these folks have been thinking about real estate for months, or even years, and are wondering if things... being as bad as they have heard... are just "too bad" for them to choose to get into real estate under the current market conditions.
I have seen this scenario happen many times when it is a considering-Newbie having this conversation with other "old-timers."  You know... … (44 comments)

What Do You Do When The Broker Quits!!!!! - 03:14 AM
Well...How's this for a start to the week. You get an e-mail from the owner of your brokerage (this is a person who is NOT involved in the day to day operations of your office - EVER) asking you to be in the office on Wednesday at 4pm for a meeting. WHAT? This can't be good. Visions of all things bad ran through my head....
The office is closing, and we will have to turn in our paperwork at our corporate office (not anywhere close to where the current office is) The 3 satellite offices are being closed and everyone is … (65 comments)


Blog posts


Now That The Election Is Over Are Sales Picking Up In Your Neck Of The Woods? - 08:09 AM
A few days ago, Nancy-Ellen and I were going over stats for the company website..and we had concerns..boy are numbers were down..we were looking at numbers for the month of October..we thought maybe it might be the new company site.
CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty But as we reviewed the stats for November thus far..we found..much more traffic and inquiries for the month of November..more inquires in just 12 days than the entire month of October.
Now for the month of October my numbers were down too...but for the first 14 days of November I have had more traffic...more visits and more … (9 comments)

Do you have GREAT training right under your nose? - 06:23 PM
Please Give Theresa Geyer an Activerain Welcome!
 
Please do not comment on this reblog but on the original post..I am proud...as this is the first post she posted without me yelling at her to hit the post button! 
I sure didn't expect this kind of post from her..this is just a perfect sample of Testimonial Blogging!
Please welcome her..and leave her a comment on her original post!
"Theresa Geyer, REO Specialist Extraordinare"
Via Theresa Geyer, CRS, GRI Ormond Beach Florida REALTOR®:
I consider myself to be very fortunate to have a very skilled real estate trainer at my finger tips.  Midori … (4 comments)

Bail Me Out, Please. - 08:42 AM
This was posted on the local blog L A Eastside by edie.  (Yep, Northeast Los Angeles is very fortunate to be home to many edgy, local bloggers.)
I have to share it, its too good to pass up:
Dear Federal Government,I would like to join the troubled asset relief program. My trouble is I ain't got no assets but I do have some debt I would like relief from as would the millions of low income people in this country and all the people who are losing their jobs................
Sincerely,Broke in Los Angeles
… (1 comments)

A Live Blogging Event | 4951 St Andrews, Ann Arbor, MI | Ann Arbor Real Estate Chat - 08:19 AM

 
This Sunday, I will be hosting an Open House at 4951 St Andrews, Ann Arbor, Michigan from 2 to 4 p.m.  To make the event even more interesting, I will be live blogging throughout the event!
That’s right!  Drop by the Open House for an opportunity to experience this beautiful home in person and learn about the Team366 proprietary Listing Syndication System (LSS).  Or if you can’t make it to the open house, check this space between 2 and 4 pm on Sunday and take part in a chat about the Ann Arbor homes for sale.  This space will … (2 comments)

Niagara County Events - 02:53 PM
Niagara Wine Trail | Share the Bounty Title: Share the Bounty Location: Niagara Wine Trail Link out: Click here
Description: Share the Bounty – Niagara Wine Trail. A chance for us all to give back for all that we have.. Charge for wine tasting this weekend is a non-perishable food item or $2.50/person at each winery. Food goods and proceeds collected are donated to the local food pantry.
Start Date: 2008-11-15 End Date: 2008-11-16
 
November 2008 Niagara Rises Meeting Title: Niagara Rises Meeting Location: Days Inn Link out: Click here
Description: Next meeting of the Niagara Rises … (0 comments)

Join me at an Open House on November 16th 1-3pm - 03:02 PM
Come join me at an Open House on Sunday:
Find out why the people are so wonderful:
Title: Niagara Rises Meeting Location: Days Inn Link out: Click here Description: Next meeting of the Niagara Rises Organization will be held at the Days Inn and will bring together everyone for the planning of Niagara Homecoming! Please come at 5pm for BLOG training if you need it. Otherwise the meeting will start at 6pm sharp! Start Time: 18:00 Date: 2008-11-18 … (2 comments)

December Foodie Events in Central Texas - 10:51 AM
If, like me, you're all about the food, and consider the kitchen to be the center of the home, you'll want to stop in at some of these "foodie" events in Central Texas in late November and December.

Hairson Creek Farm's Annual Open Farm and Potluck.  Farm Tour, Music (bring your own instrument), food (bring a potluck dish). Saturday, November 15.
The Austin Empty Bowl Project. Help raise funds for the Austin Area Food Bank's Kids Cafe Program while enjoying good soup and purchasing beautiful bowls, for yourself or for Christmas presents.  We still use the ones we bought many … (0 comments)

Shop For The Holiday's & Never Leave The House - 03:09 PM
Welcome to the Internet Shopping Mall
How many of you are looking forward to going out and shopping this holiday season?? Do you hate fighting the crowds, finding a parking space, driving all over town to find what you need, not to mention lugging the kids around if you have them.  This year do all your shopping from the comfort of your home!!!
That is why I created the Internet Shopping Mall page on my website to avoid all that but also out of necessity since the closest major retail shopping center to the Outer Banks is over an hour away … (0 comments)

Wichita, KS economic news - 02:09 PM
Wichita, Economic and city update
 
The United Way of the Plains has raised its highest total of funds via pledges in the history of the Charity.  Over $16,000,000 has been pledged to the United Way Campaign.  This is another indication of the strength of the Wichita and Central Kansas economy.
 
Wichita teacher, Vanessa Martinez was one of 80 educators across the United States honored by the Milken Family Foundation as top educators and teachers for 2008.  Martinez was awarded a check for $25,000 for her excellent work in an Elementary school.
 
The Wichita school system Bond Campaign passed … (1 comments)

Want to Sell Your Silicon Valley Home? Here are Some Tips to Get You Started! - 08:10 PM
Selling your home in a sellers' market can be almost euphoric. Selling your home in a buyers' market can be very difficult and discouraging.
In Silicon Valley, as in much of the country, most homes aren't selling. They sit on the market but either get low offers or no offers. In the town of Los Gatos, for every 10 homes on the market, only 1 is selling. What does it take to be in the small minority of sellers whose homes do sell? Today at my Live in Los Gatos blog, that question is addressed: What Does It Take To Sell … (1 comments)

Road Map to Real Estate Recovery - 08:58 AM

Anyone who has driven in an unfamiliar area without directions knows what it feels like to be lost.  People are facing that same sense of panic today because they find themselves in unfamiliar economic territory.   A handful of people vaguely remember being on this road before, but it was so long ago they've forgotten how to get through.
All real estate markets will follow the same road to recovery.  However, not all markets will recover at the same speed because some markets spun out of control more than others.  In Florida, for example, buyers-turned-speculators drove prices up to foolish levels … (2 comments)

Book Review: 'A Matter of Panache' - 09:35 AM
I don't usually do this, but this book is the most compelling book I've read in years and I wanted to let you know about it.
"A Matter of Panache", a unique memoir written by Debra Sanders, is an adventure story that takes readers from the most remote corners of Alaska into the isolated canyon lands of southeastern Utah and onto an army post in Colorado. It is also a fascinating, sometimes shocking portrayal of some of public education's greatest triumphs and most shameful failures.
Debra Sanders spent nearly 25 years championing for the rights of children with disabilities in some of our nation's … (0 comments)

FSBOs on Realtor.com? "Say it ain't so Joe." - 08:19 AM
The big, bold headlines read: "ForSaleByOwner.com Becomes First to Provide New Access to Realtor.com
E-mail NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2008 – ForSaleByOwner.com today announced that it has become the nation’s first “by owner” real estate website to enable home sellers to advertise their home on Realtor.com without appearing on a local Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
This new direct access to Realtor.com follows the May 2008 settlement between the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Association of Realtors..........................................................."
However the truth and facts don't quite support the headlines.
In a story today in Inman News, Move spokesperson Julie … (13 comments)

What sort of listing do you have? - 09:46 AM
There are basically three types of real estate listings; 1 is the most common, 2 is used more often than it used to be, and 3 is what I call a "sort of listing".
EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO SELL: This is the most commonly used listing. If you have an exclusive right to sell listing, it means the listing agent gets paid if the house sells during the term of the listing or in some rare instances, if a seller leases the property, removes it from the market and a few other circumstances. EXCLUSIVE AGENCY: This type of listing means if a … (2 comments)

Grand and Distinguished 4 BR, 3.5 BA in Historic Medford Village, NJ - 01:09 PM
For Additional Information About This Property:http://BestHomes-NJ.com/TR5362247
Visit My Web Sites For Additional Properties and Resources:http://LawrenceYerkes.com
http://BestHomes-NJ.com (includes Commerical/Investment Properties)
Copyright Lawrence Yerkes.  All Rights Reserved.
… (0 comments)

Distinguished Office / Retail Building in Historic Medford Village, NJ - 01:18 PM
For More Information About This Property:http://BestHomes-NJ.com/TR5362265 (Commercial Property)
Visit My Web Sites For Additional Properties and Resources:http://LawrenceYerkes.com
http://BestHomes-NJ.com (includes Commerical/Investment Properties)
Copyright Lawrence Yerkes.  All Rights Reserved.
… (3 comments)

Who's In Control Of Your Listings? Often, It's Not You. - 01:06 PM

How can Agents control where their listings on sites like Trulia are linking to? The answer: not easily.
There's been an explosion of syndication and feed services that send your listings to the various real estate search portals. Your listings are almost certainly being included in such feeds without your knowledge. So it was not surprising to find a lot of confusion with Agents at NAR about how these syndication services work and how REALTORs can maintain control over how their listings are presented in these search portals.
Listing syndication and XML feed services have grown dramatically in the past … (1 comments)

IT'S SNOWING! - 05:19 PM
It's taken a little longer this year than most but today November 14th we finnaly got our first dusting of Colorado Champage Powder.  Now truth be told it wasn't actually the light bright sweep off your drive way kind of snow but rather a heavy late fall wet and cold, but either way today is a good day in the rockies.
 

Living in Colorado offers so much.  An outdoor lifestyle that would be hard to beat anywhere.  When the tempature changes in Colorado you just bundle up and swith gears from the hiking, boating, biking mode to more of the skiing, snow … (0 comments)

November Featured Listings - 05:35 PM
This technogy is pretty cool! It Allows me to show clients selected listings each month that may be of intrest to them. I can personalize each online magazine so that it refelects my clients search criteria or show them all my personal listings. It's done in a program that my franchise, EXIT REALTY, provides. Not being a tech wiz, I'm simply amazed what's possible with just a few clicks. I use to spend hours doing a publisher flyer then copying and pasteing and printing. Tec tools like EXIT's e-listings tool has saved me hundreds of hours in marketing and made me … (0 comments)

Boston’s Rents Are Rising—Time to Become a Landlord - 02:19 PM
Rent prices in the Boston area rose 4.2% this year-the highest increase seen in the past seven years. Many people are shying away from buying, but with the rental market so strong, it may be the best time to buy a rental property.
Safe areas to consider include areas near hospitals and colleges. These areas tend to attract renters who are in the area for a few years and don't intent to buy-you don't have to worry about a shortage of renters even if the rental market changes. However, investors should also consider single-family homes, duplexes and condos in suburban areas … (0 comments)

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