Archives of real estate blog entries for June 3, 2008

Featured blog posts


Pre-Listing Package- Week 2 Challenge - 10:15 AM
OK I know lots of you are looking to find out what Midori and I came up with. She posted yesterday some of what we did. I was going to yesterday, but I was fried and needed to relax! What a week. Like I said the other day, when we got this challenge I knew it was going to be hard for me since I had no listing presentation. I pretty much would wing it. I was only using a CMA from the MLS as one, and no idea about using a pre-listing. I have a listing appointment coming up and … (148 comments)

Sometimes Your Pre-listing Presentation Is Your Only Shot! - 10:03 AM
One of the interesting things about being a real estate trainer is many times good agents could be better and bad agents become good.  Not enough in this day and age..because real estate is really competitive.  I don't mean just by the industry professionals..its our world today.

 
With the various types of models and the wealth of information availabe today being good just doesn't cut it.  You must be superior in order to get good results. 
Imagine the results if you are mediocre. It's been my experience...mediocre produces bad results or no results at all.
Now a pre-listing presentation … (87 comments)

Pre-Listing Package- Week 2 Challenge - 08:46 AM
OK I know lots of you are looking to find out what Midori and I came up with. She posted yesterday some of what we did. I was going to yesterday, but I was fried and needed to relax! What a week. Like I said the other day, when we got this challenge I knew it was going to be hard for me since I had no listing presentation. I pretty much would wing it. I was only using a CMA from the MLS as one, and no idea about using a pre-listing. I have a listing appointment coming up and … (5 comments)

Are You a Victim of Blog Browsing??? - 09:47 AM
Are you a victim of drive-by browsing??? Do you feel like someone wanted to come to your party, but just drove on by?? You could be a victim of blog browsing!!
I'm guilty of this, too.  Sometimes I just want to check in and read comments left for my favorite bloggers, but there it is...right there on My Blog Log..my picture! This proves that I walked right by your door and didn't even wave.  Well....
I have mixed feelings about MyBlogLog. 99% of the time I really enjoy seeing my friends pop up on my sidebar, but when they drive by … (125 comments)

Using Video to Market Investment Properties - 10:16 AM
Selling investment real estate in some areas has become increasingly challenging due to pricing issues – higher prices and rents not keeping pay to provide sufficient cash flow unless the investor is putting down a large chunk of cash.
And marketing these properties can be difficult when there are tenants in the units.
Often the property cannot be shown unless there is a signed acceptance of an offer Or perhaps one of the units can only be viewed with 24 or more hour notice Buyers should be pre-approved (they normally should anyway but I find some agents show clients to properties … (43 comments)

Establish a Niche Market...Stay on Top! - 10:02 AM
 
A good definition of a Niche Market is a Market In Which You Specialize. So many agents seem to be available for anyone at about any time. After viewing the video snip from Brian Block (that is hillarious so click to view), I really began thinking about our diverse markets. Brian uses dialogue that is really too close to home for a few agents...Brian said, "I don't know much about your area or your floorplan and your house is a mess but I really want you to list with me.."
This may come across as funny but how many of you … (86 comments)

Slip covers help give rooms an updated look! - 10:10 AM
I just finished staging a beautiful home that just needed a few finishing touches.  The living room and family room appeared dated because of the gold crushed velvet couches.  I purchased SureFit Slip Covers at Bed Bath & Beyond for $198. These slip covers are fantastic!!! They are like Spanks for furniture.  The sofa and love seat were small in scale and had a very low back and narrow arms so I was a little woried how they would fit. It turned out perfectly.  Don't you just love a happy ending?
 
 
 
The home is in a … (49 comments)

Blogging Network Gathering - Video & Photos! Huge Success.... - 11:17 PM
Join our AZ Real Estate Blogging AR Group
… (38 comments)

AR Success Story - 09:45 AM
I just wanted to share a quick success story with the AR community that AR does work. Yesterday I received a call from a prospect who found one of my blogs on google and contacted me for mortgage advise; we are currently in the process of refinancing their current mortgage. I WAS wondering if my blogs would be found on google and bring in business, but my wondering is over. AR WORKS! Thank you Active Rain! … (17 comments)

Pre-Listing Package or rather Pre-Listing Website - 08:46 AM

FROM BRIAN BLOCK, APPRENTICE
This past week's challenge to create a digital pre-listing package really got the creative juices flowing.  Desiree and I worked throughout the week to answer this challenge and produce a product of which we could be proud.  More important than doing well in the competition was the realization that this could and would be a powerful tool to add to our real estate arsenal for future business use.
What'd we come up with?  The Personalized Pre-Listing Website.
Here's the e-mailed cover letter we sent to Rich with a link to the Pre-Listing Website
(LET US … (18 comments)

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who Has the Fairest Housing of All - 09:45 AM
 
A remarkable story came through my feed reader on the internet which had to do with housing discrimination.  It initially grabbed my attention because it noted that it happened in Englewood, but it turns out it was a different Englewood, in New Jersey.  A mortgage broker in an attempt bring attention to a home going to auction in an Englewood, NJ allegedly sent out a postcard mailer to an entire neighborhood.  On the postcard were the words, “Beware, Help Save the Neighborhood From Negative Elements” and “You get a chance to save your neighborhood and save your neighborhood from unwanted … (30 comments)


Blog posts


Honolulu foreclosure auctions - 03:23 PM
Checking out the foreclosure auction in Honolulu
We have a listing in Makiki/Punchbowl that's a short sale.  The property went on the market a little more than two weeks prior to the scheduled foreclosure auction.  We felt the property was priced well at $750,000 for a five bedroom three bath house in Honolulu.  The buying public did not agree and we dropped the price to $550,000 to get offers on it.  And the offers rolled in, nine within a week!
I contacted the owner's bank and was instructed to send in the highest offers.  We did so and they said the offers weren't good … (0 comments)

Sometimes Your Pre-listing Presentation Is Your Only Shot! - 10:03 AM
One of the interesting things about being a real estate trainer is many times good agents could be better and bad agents become good.  Not enough in this day and age..because real estate is really competitive.  I don't mean just by the industry professionals..its our world today.

 
With the various types of models and the wealth of information availabe today being good just doesn't cut it.  You must be superior in order to get good results. 
Imagine the results if you are mediocre. It's been my experience...mediocre produces bad results or no results at all.
Now a pre-listing presentation … (87 comments)

Technology Tools for Internet Surfers! Not One is Real Estate Related! - 10:50 PM
Here is a list of helpful websites for Internet Surfers...  They may surprise you..most are not real estate related but tools that will enhance your experience on the web.

 
 
For the two finger typer..if you want to be real efficient I highly recommend that you take a typing class, you can either invest in some voice activated software or you can learn to type..you can learn for free at learn2type.com.
Need a spyware removal and guess what it's FREE..check out Spybot Search & Destroy.
How about  public records anywhere in the U.S? 
Need to run full system … (17 comments)

Ok Guys either comment here or try your hand at a post.. - 11:19 PM
Go read Jane's post and comments and do the same.  We are in a private group..so let's get you ready for your public..write your online resume!  You can do it..and if you need to call or email do so!  Let's represent Daytona well! 
… (0 comments)

ActiveRain Status Update - 10:31 AM
In a recent post titled ActiveRain is broken tomorrow, we explained some of the details of our server upgrades and the potential down times and issues members may experience.  In an effort to better communicate this information and messages to members, we are adding a new link on the home page. ActiveRain Status.  This is where we will post messages, announcements, maintenance times, upgrades etc.  In the future, you should be directed via a link to this site for status updates and our communication log.  We will be updating it on a regular basis.  The Goal:  Create a better way for … (0 comments)

Selling Your Book of Business - 10:01 AM
Have any of you ever had to sell your "Book of Business"?  For those who don't understand the term, this is selling your entire database of leads and past clients. 
How did you go about doing it?  How did you set up the price and the "rules"?  By rules, I mean how many years were you to receive referral fees from these leads if you collected a base amount up front.  I can't imagine collecting a base amount up front and then also a referral fee for each and every lead that closes until eternity.
I was thinking something like $25,000 … (7 comments)

Call your Senators and tell them to vote NO on Boxer-Warner-Lieberman - 01:25 PM
Dave Ryan, the executive director of American Solutions, just sent me a letter urging me to call my Senator. I tried, but all circuits were busy! This is a good thing and I will keep trying to help melt down the Senate switchboard!
Right now the Boxer-Warner-Lieberman Gas Tax Hike bill is being debated in the Senate. If adopted, this bill will lead to an increase in gas prices by as much as $3.00 per gallon in the next two decades.
So join me and call the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and urge your Senators to vote against the Boxer-Warner-Lieberman … (21 comments)

Simon Conway - United States Citizen and proud of it! - 02:18 PM


So Saturday came and went. I had already been a Citizen for just over a week and last Saturday was the celebration. My All American Grill Out saw me at my pride and joy - my outdoor kitchen - for the best part of 90 minutes - cooking up a storm and chatting to friends and relatives.
I even managed to get NASA to launch the Space Shuttle Discovery in the middle of my party so that we could all go out into the yard and watch her reach for the skies. The picture on the right is indeed … (20 comments)

Arlington Hieghts Rental Update - 04:13 PM
The rental market in Arlinton Heights is currently very strong and vacancy rates are very low. If you have a home or condo to rent in Arlington Heights you will be looking at it renting for at least 5-10% higher then last year at this time and it will rent quickly.
Renters the home you look at today many times will be gone tomorrow. We have rented multiple homes in under 24 hours. This means if you find something you like you need to act fast and expect to pay close to full asking rent.
Residential Rentals on Market: 61
Lowest … (1 comments)

Palatine Rental Market Update - 04:27 PM
The rental market in Palatine is currently very strong and vacancy rates are very low. If you have a home or condo to rent in Palatine you will be looking at it renting for at least 5-10% higher then last year at this time and it will rent quickly.
Renters the home you look at today many times will be gone tomorrow. We have rented multiple homes in under 24 hours. This means if you find something you like you need to act fast and expect to pay close to full asking rent.
 
Residential Rentals on Market: 91
Lowest Price: … (2 comments)

Google Search: Something I Didn't Know. Duh. - 07:48 PM
If you use GMail, or iGoogle, or other Google tools, you probably have a Google account.
When you surf the web, you can surf in signed-into-Google-mode, or NOT-signed-into-Google-mode

You log in, or log out, by click the Sign in/Sign out link

Here's what I didn't know:  Google delivers different search results when you are signed in, as opposed to when you are not signed in.
Here's the official Google word:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/02/personally-speaking.html
Here are another article:
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/personalized_search_primer.php
Google Personalized Search has evidently been around for a while.  Gee, I wonder how I managed to be unaware of this for so … (14 comments)

36 Alisa Circle, Watsonville - 2/1.5 Townhouse, Great Central Location - 12:41 AM
Click to see more pictures of 36 Alisa Circle, Watsonville View more Watsonville Real Estate Listings
… (0 comments)

Southwest Airlines - Special Airfare to Buffalo! Use it to come home to Buffalo June 26-29! - 05:53 PM
Southwest Sale on Buffalo - it started today and will be on until June 9. We need to get the word out everywhere that IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO FLY TO BUFFALO FOR THE HOMECOMING!  
Act FAST! Tell everyone you know in cities served by Southwest - and there are more than 60 of them - to buy their ticket before June 9 to score discount fares starting as low as $59!
 The Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau has worked with Southwest Airlines to make Buffalo a "featured destination" during just this first week in June - just in … (4 comments)

What kind of Manager are YOU ???? - 08:46 AM

    Are you the manager that greets your agents in the lunch room....walks around the office offering new agents a piece of advice....congratulating someone on a new listing or accepted offer.....
                                                                  OR
   Are you the manager with all too common reputation of spending most of your time with the people who sell the most...but need you the least...? Do you continue to refer business to the people who do the most business rather than the people who need it the most ?  If you get a complaint about an agent...how do you begin the conversation ?  With...."Why Did … (0 comments)

27th Street...Outstanding Car Lot Location Can Be Yours if you ACT FAST ! - 11:31 AM
 
 
                      5516-5540 South 27th Street
                           Milwaukee, WI
   What an Outstanding Location !   All you have to do is turn the key in this building that has a reception area and is ready for business with sales desks inside, surveillance cameras outside and a fixtues that include:
 4 Lifts Customer Service Area    1 Newer Tire balancing machine 1 engine life Transmission Jack 2 welders LOTS of office equipmetn including 6 phone lines, 7 phones, 4 desks, copy and fax machines, filing cabinets Central air for your order writing comfort                        Capacity for 175 cars on this lot of approximately 1.3 … (0 comments)

Is Business SOOOOO Bad you Are DEAF to a Buyer's REPEATING "I am Working With...." - 05:24 PM
 
 
   A while ago we were referred to a seller who would also be a buyer. The Seller was selling a house that had been put in his name by his elderly father who still lives in the house. It is always neat...the bed made, dishes done, floors so clean you can eat off of them.  Grandpa is looking forward to moving to the next county to be closer to his son. His grandaughter will live on the other side of a side by side ranch duplex and keep a watchful eye out for her grandpa.  Soooo on the … (6 comments)

22579 Cornish Road at the Apple Valley Lake Resort (SOLD) - 07:23 PM
Sam Miller RE/MAX Stars Realty 710 South Main Street Mount Vernon, OH 43050 (740) 397-7800 Sam@sammiller.com http://www.applevalleyohio.com … (3 comments)

1385 Park Road located in Mount Vernon, Ohio (Off Market) - 08:18 PM
One of Knox County Ohio's Most Desirable Locations Among Top Quality Homes


 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
… (1 comments)

Portsmouth New Hampshire Real Estate - Market Update - May 2008 - 08:52 AM
Portsmouth New Hampshire Real Estate Market Update For May 2008Real estate and the market activity is always a hot topic, everywhere we turn it's always being talked about - on TV, in the newspapers, on the radio and in magazines, at parties, etc.
The Portsmouth New Hampshire real estate market has picked up quite a bit over the last couple of months, and the proof is in the numbers.  Real estate is so very local, I just wish the media would clue into that and start talking about local real estate markets instead of the 'national market', as they like to put … (0 comments)

Portsmouth NH Real Estate - Seacoast Area Coastal Real Estate Market Update - May 2008 - 02:57 PM
Seacoast New Hampshire Towns Real Estate Market Report for May 2008
Curious about how your favorite Seacoast New Hampshire towns fared this past month for real estate activity?
Here's the latest real estate market reports for NH's coastal towns:
Hampton New Hampshire Real Estate Market Update - May 2008:
Hampton NH Homes:New Listings --  33Total Listings  --  131Sales Pending  --  13Homes Sold  --  13Average Days on the Market  --  181Average Sold Price  --  $431,115Hampton NH Condos:New Listings  --  23Total Listings  --  213Sales Pending  --  12Condos Sold  --  14Average Days on the Market  --  142Average Sold Price  --  $239,250
Rye New Hampshire Real … (0 comments)

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