Archives of real estate blog entries for June 8, 2008

Featured blog posts


The Flip-side to Feedback - Or - This is why I balk at giving it.. - 11:28 AM
I've moaned about giving feedback to a homeowners agent after I have viewed homeswith buyer clients. My main concern is staying loyal to my buyers and unless I know fora fact that a particular home is off their list I will not say anything that could compromisetheir negotiating power.Friday I showed homes to a buyer client. Many homes. All of the homes were in MacombCounty MI. 2 of the homes are definately not in the running for my buyer, and I had his permission to give feedback if it was requested by the sellers agent. Naturally both agents called and asked … (46 comments)

Sssshhhhhh! Jeff Dowler Just Hit 300,000 Points!!! - 11:30 AM
Jeff's not one to toot his own horn, but tonight I noticed he has over 300K points and I think he deserves a shout out! Besides being one of the nicest people here on Active Rain, he writes some of the best localism pieces here.
I've had inexpensive vacations through Jeff. He writes his Localism pieces like you're right there. I've been to Moonlight Beach in Encinitas and the the San Diego Jazz festival. Pretty cool. And I didn't even have to leave my office!
Speaking of Localism, Jeff just founded a new group called VideoUSA which is all about showcasing … (98 comments)

Do You Answer Your Phone When It Rings? - 11:28 AM
A bunch of years ago, I did a Joe Stumpf "By Referral Only" seminar.  And I was totally blown away by a lot of what he said.  But one of the legs of his program was not answering your phone.  No, never under any circumstances!  There was a very long winded message he recommended we record for our voicemail.  It would change every day and give the caller a couple of windows during which you'd return phone calls.  Oh, yes!  And I totally love your referrals!
He didn't care if you were busy or playing some mindless computer game.  When that … (88 comments)

What would you do??? Sunday Afternoon Rant!!! :::edited::: - 03:16 PM
I am going to do one of these quick rant posts "before" I react and value each and everyone of your opinons.
Here's the scoop....     I ran into my office today to pick up some documents..   As I was standing at the front desk one of my colleagues came in ... we chatted briefly - I would consider her a friend or so I thought.
As we are chatting another individual comes in..... I turn around and there is Mr. X..... my past client.   I said hello.   I can see by the other agents reaction that she has some sort of … (101 comments)

FREE Results At ActiveRain Or Pay Elsewhere? No Brainer! - 11:31 AM
I've been away from the Rain for a while.  Life's been hectic.  Hectic but good.
But something happened that made me post today.  The taking advantage of unknowing people happened.  The pulling of wool over the proverbial eyes happened.  I hate when unsuspecting sheep get the wool pulled over their eyes.
What got me riled up?  A competitor of Active Rain, that's what!
I've been getting emails from CityBlogUSA.com for weeks.  "Getting" is an understatement.  It's more like "bombarded."  I hadn't read any until this morning when I opened the latest one.
The email itself was impressive enough.  html, pictures, links, … (56 comments)

Do You Value Your "Social Capital?" - 11:30 AM
Lani Anglin-Rosales kicks off the conversation over at Agent Genius by distinguishing the difference between Adding Friends and Network Building; a must read for the ongoing conversation on social media and brand building across a wide network. Lani suggests that:
"there is no value in friend collecting but there is a massive value in building your network by having criteria for your network, being a connector and fostering that network." -- Lani Anglin-Rosales
I say ditto!
The thing is (and this might vary from network to network), adding someone you don't know and have nothing in common with dimishes your "social … (36 comments)

Dontcha Just Love Blogging? - 11:29 AM
 
 

 
Who said blogging doesn't work?


Closed Escrow


Listing Price $2,225,000


Sale Price $1,755,000


Represented Buyer


Buyer straight off of the blog.


Bring em on baby!
 
Sorry I haven't been around AR much lately, have been very very busy.
 

… (64 comments)

My First Vacant and It's Robbed! - 03:20 PM
I was hired for my first vacant (I had only done 2 occupied) staging and I was ecstatic!  Two men who did property investing had hired me to do their first staging.  One of them was hesitant about spending the money but the other was convinced it would help their house that had been sitting empty on the market for 3 months.
I had 72 hours and no inventory to do this.  I didn't use any rentals.  I got about 12 hours sleep over the next 3 nights but I loved every minute of it and was done on time and … (50 comments)


Blog posts


So You Want A Featured Post-Doesn't Everyone? Time Is Running Out! - 09:25 AM
Each month as we prepare for the Blogger's Choice Selections, I watch the numbers..all of the numbers.
This year we started out with 62 members, we have now officially grown to 188 members! 
In February when I posted The Activerain Featured Dashboard Is Not Enough there were 67,888 members, see how big Activerain is today?...
89, 376 members and still growing..  Featured posts on the dashboard still the same and only 16 at any given time.
So you want a featured Post-Doesn't Everyone?..give them a second chance and have them featured in the Blogger's Choice Group.

As you know the … (8 comments)

Cell Phone Popping Popcorn? - 01:02 PM

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by The Activerain Network and it's members and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Midori Miller AKA Daytona Real Estate Trainer and CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty. Midori Miller and CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty are not responsible for the accuracy or content provided by The Community.

… (19 comments)

The Pirates Ball in Milford CT - 11:48 AM
Catering by Christine
1 Schooner Lane, Milford, CT
203.331.2051 or 203-331-2052  Pirates Ball
June 13th  -    7-11pm
Includes:
Beer & Sangria
 Homemade Chips and Salsa
 Dinner  
BBQ Chicken
Orange Glazed Salmon or Simply Grilled Salmon
Fish, Chicken & Steak Kabobs 
Roasted Corn, Black Bean & Tomato Salad
Roasted Potatoes 
Mixed Green Salad - Choice of Dressing 
Music & Dancing  
Connecticut 's Premier Steel Drum Driven Calypso Band, White Eyed Lizard 
TICKETS $ 75.00
Includes Dinner, Beer, Wine, Sangria, Music & Dancing All Night! 
The Downtown Milford Business Association at (203) 701-0753 
Lisa Blanchard
Perfectly Spoiled Pet Boutique
125 Broad Street,  Milford, CT … (3 comments)

Let's Wave Our Banners for Free Speech! - 11:30 PM
I realize this is not the first post about ePERKS' lawsuit against Vlad Zablotskyy. But I want to give an introduction to the new button I have added to my sidebar here on AR (and will be adding to my other blogs).
It is the CENSORED! eJERKS button to the right.  If you click on the actual logo portion you will go to Bloodhound Blog where you can find the code for two different sized "buttons" just like the one I have posted.
And if you have anything to spare, please donate to the fund being collected for Vlad's defense. Vlad … (3 comments)

Real Estate Professionals: Are you a Sales Person or a Consultant? - 02:39 PM
One of the forums I participate in had this question posed by one of the other members: "Do you consider yourself a real estate consultant or a real estate sales person?  Which do you think is better and why?  What is the difference in your mind?"
I thought it was a great question, and here's my answer.
From my perspective, I encourage clients to think of themselves as running a real estate consulting practice.  Whether they bill themselves that way or not depends on the regulations in their area.
Why a Consulting Mindset Works Best
1.  It reinforces that they are … (5 comments)

The day of rest - for a Realtor!!! - 10:34 PM
WOW! What an incredible day! This has been one of the busiest I have ever had - and that is saying something!!
So it started early with me negotiating on behalf of my sellers with a buyers agent. That one is still on going, but we are now just $15,000 apart on a $300,000+ deal. I hope we can make it.
Then I went off for a breakfast meeting with some clients who through my assistant yesterday, looked at 10 properties. We went through all the pros and cons and then went out and looked at another three.
Then I headed … (18 comments)

Getting Served Can Ruin Your Whole Day - 02:21 PM
Blogger Vlad Zablotskyy was served with a lawsuit yesterday.
For what, you ask?  Did he neglect to disclose soil failure and foundation damage on one of his listings?  Did a tenant fall down the stairs of a rental unit he owns?
No.  Vlad Zablotskyy wrote some blog posts criticizing a lead generation company.
Dennis Pease first broke the story here on Active Rain.
Greg Swann at Bloodhound Blog has covered it in depth, complete with links to posts by several different bloggers.
Additionally, Bloodhound Blog has set up a legal defense fund for Vlad.  You can follow the link below to make … (28 comments)

780 W Cardinal CIR - Oak Creek, WI 53154-6329 - 10:09 PM


Listing Courtesy of:      Andrew Baumbach      HomeSale Realty-Oak CreekPrice: $219,000Property Type: Single-FamilyCounty: MilwaukeeTotal Rooms: 6 Bedooms: 4 Full Bathrooms: 4 Garage Size: 2 Garage Type: Attached Lot Size: .26School District: Oak CreekTaxes: $5113Tax Year: 2007MLS Number: 1018302
Preforeclosure special priced almost 50k less than assesment. Great oppurtunity to live in one Oak Creek's most popular neighborhoods for a fraction of the price of similar homes. Large Living Rm, Kitchen & !st flr laundry. 1 main Floor Bed rm, Large master Bed rm with private Bath & large WIC. Out back you'll find a large deck and swiming pool. and 4 … (2 comments)

Buffalo Homecoming - I am personally inviting you to attend! - 03:18 PM
June 26-29, 2008! Buffalo NY! Come home to Buffalo these days and find out why this is quickly becoming the city to be in! Meet 20 of the most progressive CEO's! Enjoy all the arts and culture we have sititng in our backyard and did I mention all the food? Yes Buffalo may have been in decline in the past, but it is building from where we are and creating an exciting place to call home! So what are you wating for? … (4 comments)

Redecorating ActiveRain - 10:34 AM

Have you ever wanted something just a little spiffier to show off your ActiveRain affiliation?
Something a little fresher? a little more modern? a bit more stylish than what ActiveRain has offered in the past? (no offense meant to AR!).
We did too, so we asked our web guy to come up with some ideas for graphics we can use on websites and blogsites. Linked In, konnects, Facebook, naymz, heck almost eveyone has a badge to use for a profile. We wanted something similar for our ActiveRain profile. Here's what he came up with so far.
If you want to … (8 comments)

Austin Museum of Art - 12:39 AM
823 Congress, Austin TX 78701 // West 35th Street, Austin TX, 78703 // 512-495-9224
This is truly a museum for the casual and creative Austinite. With two locations and loads of interesting exhibits and programs, AMOA is a great cultural destination for students, adults, and even parents and caregivers of young children.
The downtown location is a sleek and modern space, while the Laguna Gloria campus, AMOA’s original home, is housed within a 1916 Italiante villa. The primary home of the AMOA Art School, Laguna Gloria is located on property once owned by Stephen F. Austin, and was the … (0 comments)

Bats In Austin Texas - 12:49 AM
One of the most unique and celebrated attractions in Austin is a naturally occurring phenomenon and costs absolutely nothing to enjoy. The 1.5 million Mexican Free-tailed bats that live under the Congress Street Bridge from March to October emerge at dusk in a breathtaking display. This nightly (almost) occurrence can be viewed in a number of different ways, and is the kind of event that makes living in or visiting Austin so memorable.
Bats are much maligned and misunderstood in society. Often associated with vampires, belfries, and bad hair days, the bat holds a mystique of fright, and is tragically … (2 comments)

Corporate Relocation Buyer Tip - 07:16 PM
Today I spent my day working with a corporate relocation buyer.  We had so much fun touring our community, talking about their previous relocations and sharing stories about our families and we did a lot of laughing together.  Relocation can be very difficult and very emotional for the transferee and it can be equally difficult for even the most experienced real estate professional. 
The best tip I can give you is spend time with the transferee finding out about their current home.  By learning what they love about their current home you will gain critical insight on what they like and more importantly...you will learn about … (6 comments)

Portsmouth NH Real Estate - Seacoast Sunday Scenes - New Castle NH - 08:26 AM
I like to do fun posts on Sundays showcasing the Seacoast areas of New Hampshire and southern Maine, when I have a chance to.  This Sunday I thought I'd show you some pictures from around the little island of New Castle New Hampshire.
New Castle NH is a wonderful little island fulll of narrow winding streets, fabulous antique homes with some new and newer homes mixed in, home to the famous Wentworth-by-the-Sea Hotel, New Castle Common State Park and Beach, and loads of water views almost everwhere you look.
New Castle is the next town over from Portsmouth NH, and was settled in … (0 comments)

3860 Bordeaux Drive, Northbrook, IL 60062 - 08:55 AM
Exceptional home, exceptional updates, exceptional setting and an exceptional neighborhood combined in this renovated one level home!
For Complete Information visit www.3860Bordeaux.com

MLS# 06905505 being offered at $725,000
4 bedrooms, 2.5 Bath with 3018 sq. ft. living area
Like new condition - floors, baths, lighting and more.  Sunny open design with lots of windows blends interior delights with exterior beauty. 

Wrought Iron Gates open into a private landscaped courtyard

One of a kind - Custom built front double door entry.

Large foyer overlooks formal step down living room

Huge living room with wall of windows, … (1 comments)

test - 08:56 PM
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Montgomery AL Real Estate for Sale: 550 Green Ridge Road - 09:18 AM
Montgomery AL real estate for sale located at 550 Green Ridge Road, Montgomery AL 36109 
You can stop your search when you go inside this Forest Hills beauty. You will find a lot of updating done to this 3 bedroom, 2 bath house. The bonus here is the sunroom that is off the galley style kitchen. The laundry room is location inside this sunroom. There are gleaming hardwood floors throughout the house. French doors open from the great room onto the large, shady backyard patio. This house is move in ready and has already had the inspection done for you. Don't … (0 comments)

Montgomery AL Real Estate For Sale: 3402 Wiley Road - 09:20 AM
3402 Wiley Road, Montgomery AL 36106Montgomery AL Real Estate for sale: 
Mid-century modern at its best. Located in Ridgefield. Walls of windows look onto the professionally landscaped lawn & gardens, along with vaulted ceilings. The kitchen has been remodeled with new cabinetry, floor and appliances. Hardwood floors throughout. The 2-car garage is heated and cooled and also has a workshop area. Located on a corner lot with beautiful trees and plantings that provide year-round foliage. This is a must see! Call first no answer-show. The portable pad to the security system will be placed on the chest just inside the front door. Please … (1 comments)

Relocating to Tampa? We are Tampa Relocation Specialist! - 02:32 PM
Tampa relocation - If you have recently learned that you are relocating to the Tampa area, then you may have mixed emotions about the change. Fortunately, now is a good time in Tampa real estate marketplace. The economy is dictating price opportunities that have not been possible in the past. Being a buyers’ market, there are some incredible choices for a buyer that may not allow you to dictate certain aspects of the deal. The Tampa area can provide a backdrop that promotes a healthy living environment with more than its share of activities, and, depending from where you are coming, … (0 comments)

Plagiarism happens - 11:38 AM
Circleville is 30 miles south of Columbus.  I am on the far north side of Columbus. I have been in Cleveland and Cincinnati more times than I have been in Circleville... but here's some semi local news ... links on Google: Valedictorian Admits Plagiarizing Commencement Speech10TV, OH - 9 hours agoCIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — Melanio C. Acosta IV relinquished his honor as Circleville High School's valedictorian this week after admitting to district ...Plagiarizing speech costs valedictorian Columbus Dispatch Sad story.  He was the high school valeditorian.  He found a great speech on Youtube about the  Beatles and he used it as his commencement speech. He admitted the plagiarism.  He … (22 comments)

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