Archives of real estate blog entries for March 25, 2008

Featured blog posts


How To Increase The Number of Blog Subscribers From Your Sphere of Influence - 11:42 PM
Who is reading your blog? Most bloggers assume their subscribers do,right? Your blog post may and likley will also find its way to any number of readers who may read one or two posts and decide they don't need what you are offering or they may be reading you and not even be a subscriber.
Getting your current and past clients, prospects and others in your sphere of influence  to read what you write is for most, a shot in the dark. That is,  unless you are promoting your writings.
Here is an interesting way to do that. Reliably posting daily will help … (74 comments)

Do You Hire Professional Photographers? - 11:45 PM
While reading a recent post entitled Would YOU Say Something? by Kathy Passarette, a Long Island Staging Professional, it got me to thinking about REALTORS®, photography and MLS photos.  In Kathy's post, she was questioning whether or not to mention to a local REALTOR® that the photos of a particular listing on MLS didn't show the home in the best light.
  
Being a Long Island REALTOR®, I know that it is a challenge to get people to pay a professional stager to prepare their home for sale on Long Island.  However, even if we cannot convince the homeowners to pay for staging, … (90 comments)

The Unknowing Expert, or maybe changing an aspect of Active Rain - 05:26 PM
The internet as the wild west? That is the description that was applied to our domain here on the web. In fact, it has been applied to blogs specifically, but I think that it might be more aptly asserted as a title to some online forums on a host of topics (including real estate).
My wife has been switched over to work in the intensive care unit in her hospital. This evening, she sits on the couch across from my desk, reading about some complications which may occur to her patients, asking me about some of the English words that … (20 comments)

No-Show Agents & Ticked Off Homeowners - 10:05 AM

Bonita Springs Homeowners Waiting for a No-Show Would you ever not show up at the dentist, your mother’s house or your sister’s house after you said you were on the way? I didn’t think so. Who would do that? That would be just wrong, rude and inconsiderate, right?
Every day real estate agents make appointments to show buyers of homes and condominiums property. Customarily, in the Bonita Springs area an appointment is required because someone is either living in the home or renting it. The agent makes an appointment for a time frame, for example, Tuesday between 2-3:00 p.m. The … (151 comments)

Systematic Blogging: My Quest for Relevance - 05:28 PM
I've spent the last few days catching up on my lapse...reading a lot of blogs and then feeling overwhelmed, and kind of sad, that I'm never going to be a "relevant" blogger.  I won't be interviewed by Inman News, I won't be asked to blog my wisdom on RE Genius or Bloodhound Blog.  Nope, I'm just me, Karen Rice, a little blogger in a market with a name that's difficult to spell and pronounce.  (Wall-en - paw - pack.  It's the Native American Leni Lenape tribe's fault.)
Then I stopped and thought: is that why I started blogging in the first … (72 comments)

I Got Busted Today -- Oops - 10:06 AM

Well, it happened.  I got Busted today.  Got caught Slacking in the Rain. 
I used to post regularly to Active Rain and I haven't really been around lately.  I have kept up my outside blog, but not the kind of content that I post on AR. 
I got in to the habit of posting Market Reports to Active Rain regularly, along with Community information, etc.  Localism stuff.  I promise it's because I have been crazy busy.
BUT, today I got a call that really caught me off guard.
 It was a Developer of a local Community.  There is still a lot of new construction … (74 comments)

RE Experts - What do you think? - 10:08 AM
I got a call last week wanting me to listen in on a conference call about a new program from RE Experts.  I was skeptical but they said a 20% referral fee and no other charges and it was an 800 number so I did take the time and listen today.  There were supposedly about 140 of us listening in.  It sounded great until they got to the part about the set up fee of $1950 two times (let's see that's $3900).  They said that the fee would be refunded with your first transactions.  Any way you look at it that's … (105 comments)

Active Rain Hidden Feature: Finding Your National Ranking- Hey... I made the top 500! - 10:04 AM
One of the great things about Active Rain is that it's full featured.
At first glance, the newbie can be overwhelmed. Those who've been here a while seem to traverse this blogging platform with ease. Trial and error often yields the results we're looking for. Thankfully- more often than not, that feature we wish Active Rain had is usually available- if somewhat hidden
Here's one example.
I'm a goal setter. I like to set goals for phone calls, contacts, sales, closings, etc.  With Active Rain I'm no different. I first set a goal to reach the top 100 for Arizona. Then … (108 comments)


Blog posts


Calculating "Advantage" Redfin study misleads - 06:00 PM
Hello all, I know it's been quite some time since I've posted.  I saw some posts today I thought I'd pass on.  Seattle based Redfin today came out with a study declaring a customer advantage in savings prices.  Ultimately however as I looked at the numbers and how the study was conducted, I found the results to be less conclusive than they are portrayed.
I'd give the company kudos for their customer satisfaction ratings.  If a company can create a consistent satisfactory experience in this business I think they are doing a good thing for the industry.
The main point that is … (17 comments)

Forbes List of America's Cleanest Cities -- Seattle is Number Two!! - 01:59 PM
 
   
ABC News has come out with an article "The Cleanest Cities in America," about Forbes coming out with it's list for the "top ten cleanest cities."  Guess what, Seattle is number two on the list.  Miami is number one.  Portland, Oregon ranks number five.  The article (written by Tom Van Ripper) says "It's more than just sea breezes pushing these metros up the list. These big cities are also reaping the rewards of investing in efforts to keep clean, even as their populations boom."
 
People comment all of the time how clean Seattle is.  Did you know that Seattle … (6 comments)

Seattle Art Museum Exhibits - 10:34 PM
 
 
To celebrate my birthday, my daughter took me to the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) to see the Ghiberti’s “Gates of Paradise” exhibit (which ends April 6th).  “This exhibition marks the first time that the gilded bronze panels have traveled to the United States since their creation over 550 years ago.”
 
We also saw the “Roman Art from the Louvre” exhibit (which ends May 11th).  The exhibit “portrays nearly 300 years of imperial Roman life and history” and includes approximately 180 pieces.  Besides having a guide we also had audio tapes that were provided with the price of the ticket … (6 comments)

OOOPS! I've been Caught! - 05:14 PM
 OOPS!  I've been caught!  I've been blogging away, minding my own business.  There's not anyone on ActiveRain from my immediate area, so never thought anything of it when I blog about neighborhood issues.  I woke up this morning from an email from an agent friend of mine who sells a lot in my area and also lives about a mile from me.
I thought it was funny that he knew whose listing it was who had the messed up sign.  He also knew the exact house I was talking about with the facelift.
He hasn't signed up with ActiveRain yet, I'm working on … (17 comments)

Muslim boxer condemned for his patriotism. - 09:54 AM
21-year old Amir Khan is a proud Brit! He is often seen with the flag of the country either in his hands or draped over his shoulders.
He is also an undefeated welterweight boxer and following his latest victory, he walked round the ring carrying the Union Jack while thanking his fans.
He is a role model to the young and he is a patriot. Oh... did I mention that he is a devout Muslim? Well he's that too.
And now hate preacher Omar Bakri Mohammed sparked outrage by branding the boxing hero an "ignorant deviant".
Bakri has been kicked out of Britain and is … (10 comments)

A Major Mistake Some Buyers Make In A Buyers Market - 09:59 AM
We have seen it more than once over the past few months--buyers making a grave error that costs them a lot of money and time.  It's not their fault... really.  They are merely victims of pop-media coverage.  They are told over and over and over again that this is a buyers market and they can and should get GREAT deals.  These GREAT deals are described as paying far less than the asking price for the property.
So just what's the problem here?  What is the mistake? 
They don't factor in the fact that NOT ALL listings are over-priced and they lose their … (0 comments)

Home for Sale in Mandarin, Jacksonville, Florida priced under $135K - Video Tour - 11:32 AM
Located in one of the most affordable and popular locations in Mandarin - Lake Mandarin. Close to shopping, schools, entertainment, and so much more! Immaculate Condition with new roof, new paint inside and outside, wood laminate flooring, screened lanai w/ floor pavers, granite countertops in kitchen, DW, Deep Sink, Range, Refrigerator, single car garage, Washer and Dryer and more. Great location and priced below recently sold comparables. Has termite bond/sentricon system too. … (0 comments)

Crawl Space Moisture Control - 12:22 PM
… (3 comments)

Prepare your home for sale checklist - 05:42 PM
Checklist to prepare your home for sale!
Are you thinking of selling your home? Here are a few things that you can do before your home is listed to get it ready to shine in this highly competitive market. It is best to get these items completed before your home is seen by potential buyers. It also sets the stage for the photography of your home for all your advertising. It also has the you getting in the habit of having your home always ready for a showing.
Read Also: How not to get caught off guard for a showing
Bad Real Estate Photos
Get … (2 comments)

Trying to figure out how to afford a home? Check out these resources! - 05:53 PM
There are times that potential home owners need assistance in purchasing a home in Western New York. But where does one start to look for that assistance? Here is a resource list of programs available to Western New Yorkers. Know about a program that is not listed here? Please let me know so I can add it!
Down Payment Assistance and Mortgage Assistance Programs:HART - Allows you to buy a home with no money down.
Nehemiah - Buy with no money down when combined with an FHA loan.
Neighborhood Gold - Allows to buy a home with no money down.
Bad Credit Loans - These … (2 comments)

Duplex, Triplex & Quad Multi-family Niagara Falls Market Report March 2008 - 06:08 PM
Niagara Falls has a wide selection of Investment properties for sale.   Here is the current market report for the City of Niagara Falls including DeVeaux and LaSalle:
As of today, there are 103 active listings and 15 pending/under contract listings in the City of Niagara Falls with an average list price of $50,139.  The highest list priced multi-family unit (2-4 units) is listed for $159,000 the lowest list price is $5,900.Since January 1, 2008 there has been a total of 15 closed multi-family units with an average sale price of $31,026 spending an average of 86 days on the Market (DOM).  … (2 comments)

Once you have an assistant - ways to ensure they stick around - 06:30 PM
I came from the administrative ranks before becoming a Realtor.  Things you can do for your administrative staff that goes a long way in making sure they are happy....
Listen to what they have to say!  They want to feel connected and a valued member of the team.  Real Estate is a fast paced business and it always seems that it is going in 100 directions.   Don't forget:Their birthdayChildren/spouse's birthdaysWedding AnniversaryAnniversary when they started with youThe following are very appreciated when said with sincerity:Thank youGreat jobYou look nice todayWhat do you think about...Can you teach me how to....How did you do that? Make sure … (14 comments)

Are You Waiting for Success? - 04:16 PM
"In this business, success doesn't come to you, you have to go to "SUCCESS".  I've said that many times in my real estate career, especially when talking with new agents. It's never been more true than in today's market.
I had the perfect  lesson last year  selling an historic church that had been on the market for two years, not the whole time with me. It had been used most recently as home, studio, and gallery by a ceramic artist. (Of course I loved that since I was also a ceramic artist in a previous career.) The adjacent cemetery was an issue; … (29 comments)

Foreclosures ain't purdy!! - 03:41 PM

Today, I decided to go out and show a couple of foreclosure homes to a potential buyer. The buyer's a Broker from up north ....so, it was fun.
The house, we looked at, sounded pretty decent in the MLS, 5 bedrooms 4.5 baths with over 2800 sq ft living area and only 4 years old with an in ground pool!!
You know, I know that REOs can look pretty rough inside but I figured it's only 4 years old and it's in a very good neighborhood, how bad can it be?
The home sold for $375,000 in 2006 and was foreclosed on mid … (32 comments)

A Very Interesting Phone Call - 01:04 PM
When I returned from lunch today there were several messages on my voice mail.  One of them was particularly interesting.
An agent left me a message that went something like this.
"Hello Ed this is Agent Ken with ABC Realty.  I am out of town and have buyers who anticipate making an offer on a home within the next week.  They came upon your listing on Bloomsbury Lane and would like to see it today if possible.  Please give me a call at this number (123) 456-789."
I called the number and spoke with Agent Ken and found out that he works in an office that … (2 comments)

Rambler for Sale in Burlington Washington - 05:16 PM
710 E Sharon Ave Burlington, WA 98233
Status: Active
Price: $177,500
MLS #: 28050802
Listing Agent: Susan Jess
Call: (425) 244-4031 - Map it
This Burlington rambler is perfect for the first time home buyers or investors looking for a home under $200,000. There are many areas that make this rambler very attractive: updated bathroom with tile, natural gas fireplace and stove, wainscoting with chair rail in the dining area, hard wood floors, almost new roof (2004), cedar deck, fully fenced backyard (chain link), stainless steel appliances (refrigerator, range and oven, dishwasher), chain link dog kennel attached to the … (0 comments)

Combat Pay Can Count toward Economic Stimulus Payment Eligibility - 09:33 AM
A recent IRS news release states that military personal who served last year or are now serving in combat zones can use the pay they received during that time to qualify for the 2008 economic stimulus package payments.  According to the IRS, Military personnel serving in combat zones have the option of including their nontaxable combat pay on their 2007 or 2008 income tax returns if it helps their eligibility for the 2008 economic stimulus payments.  To receive the stimulus payment this year, combat zone personnel or their spouses must file a 2007 income tax return by Oct. 15. Otherwise, they can claim … (1 comments)

NOW REDUCED! Montgomery AL Home For Sale - 663 Hubbard St. - 08:05 AM
NOW REDUCED!  This wonderful cottage is located in the heart of historic Cloverdale Idlewilde on a quiet tucked-away street. Lovely formal living and dining rooms, cozy sunroom, eat-in kitchen, and master bedroom/bath downstairs. There are two guest bedrooms each with quaint alcoves and a guest bath on the second floor. You'll love entertaining on the private rear deck or having a quiet breakfast on the patio overlooking lush landscaping. Beautiful rose gardens and iron fence separate private deck/patio from large fenced backyard perfect for kids, pets, pool, etc. Driveways on each side of the house and parking pad on the left. … (0 comments)

REDUCED! Montgomery AL Home For Sale - 1230 Woodward Ave. - 08:11 AM
RECENTLY REDUCED!  Bring your contractor and bring this house back to what it once was!!! Seller has already done the Home Inspection and Structural inspection for you. Now all you have to do it to determine how far you want to go with the restoration. Has been a rental property but owner now says sell, so priced accoringly. Has central heat & air, on a great lot, in a great location, but the floors roll like the Gulf of Mexico. If you are looking for an affordable property in the heart of Old Cloverdale, and want a project, then this house … (0 comments)

Montgomery AL Real Estate Market Trends - 01:19 PM
My latest blog post contains the latest Midtown Montgomery real estate sales statistics - take a look today to see how our market is faring! 
Spring is a great time to consider buying or selling a home in Montgomery.  If you would like to get more information about Montgomery AL real estate, please call me at 800-HAT-LADY or visit HomesForSaleInMontgomeryAlabama.com.  You may also sign up to receive automated emails of new listings at EmailMontgomeryAlabamaHomes.com!
… (0 comments)

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