Archives of real estate blog entries for July 5, 2008

Featured blog posts


What was I thinking? Bet I'm not alone... - 01:10 PM

In my excitement to get a domain name for the new outside blog, I really blew it! I thought it would be really cool to use mylocationrealtorblog.com and went ahead and made the purchase. Thanks to Don Fabrizio-Garcia's comment in his blog today, I was reminded how wrong I was. I can use Debbie Small and the Realtor trademark after my name, but can not use a descriptive term with Realtor such as "West Virginia Realtor" or "#1 Realtor."
Did you know that NAR can demand that a user cease and desist using such an address? Wow, that could really fowl up your hard earned SEO ranking.
Given … (77 comments)

Five Finger Discounted Blog - 12:59 PM
If you have a moment of time to spend on me I would appreciate it.  I got robbed, held up, shook down. 
This common crook has stolen my blog content.  Entire blog posts word for word have been copied and posted, right from my feedblitz newsletter.
 
Since this is a blogger.com blogger it has a little spot at the top for the public to flag it as a spammer site.  If you can spare a moment and do so, I would appreciate it. I've done it and some of my twitterers did, too.  I even contacted Lowes Home Improvement to … (99 comments)

A Paradise Sunrise at Makapu'u Hawaii (LOCALISM FEATURED) - 12:59 PM


It's 4:05 am on July 4th, 2008 and he gets up and stumbles to the bathroom. After he's finished he climbs back into bed and snuggles close to her. Just when he's starting to doze off again she startles him wide awake with a "let's get up and drive to the other side of the island to look at the sunrise"!
Huh? He rubs his eyes and asks her, "Are you serious?". YUP!
She jumps out of bed and hops in the shower with the poochie running after him while he turns the automatic coffee pot to 'brew' NOW.
… (76 comments)

Understanding Your Core Competencies in Real Estate Must Deliver More Value To Your Consumer - 01:07 PM
As a REALTOR, your core competency is the basis for whatever makes up your competitive advantage.  So what are your core competencies?  I would answer this as anything you provide your client that contributes to the benefit your client gets from your service.  Secondarily are the systems you might have in place to deliver these to your clients. 
What is unique about your own core competencies is that it is hard for others to imitate or compete with, since they can be uniquely yours.Allow me to illustrate this.Let's say one of your core competencies is that you are passionate about your career.
To … (46 comments)

Why Aren't Agents More Supportive of Each Other? - 01:01 PM
I'm constantly being told by my company's management team (and other agents in my office) how appreciative they are that I share real estate tips and my experiences with them. If I received these types of comments only once or twice, I'd think nothing more of it, but it's repetitive. This blows me away because sharing comes naturally to me. Its implication makes me suspect that maybe other agents aren't willing to come forward or share with other agents, and I don't really know why.
What comes around, goes around. There aren't really any secrets in this business. And there's no … (112 comments)

Would you Want Your Mother To Read That? Where to send your blog to reach the right audience. - 01:02 PM
In his post "Are You Blogging Just For Points" Michael Thornton discusses what he thinks blogging here in the Rain is all about.  It started me thinking about some of the fluff and fodder I see in some blogs.  I can tell the bloggers don't really think about the blog much and are just trying to climb up the old point ladder.  The problem with that theory is that the public (if they are localism or just public blogs) can and will read those things.  Don't think that your name is not googled when someone meets you professionally for the first … (66 comments)

Dealing with the Edith Bunker of Agents - 01:02 PM
Does anyone remember Edith Bunker...."Oh, Awwchie".  That voice. 
 

If you are from a certain part of New Orleans the accent is distinctive.  Darling becomes dawlin', heart becomes hawt, mayonnaise becomes mynez, Anthony becomes Ant'ny.  Affectionately known locally as Yats.  As in "where y'at?"
Now, imagine that voice and that accent on the other end of the phone for days on end, complaining about a transaction.  No, not my client.  Another agent.  One of those "I've been in this business 30 years" agents. 
Day in.  Day out.  New day, new complaint.
And attached to that complaining voice is the stereotypical, … (105 comments)

Hey Newbies... Have You Discovered the Top Bloggers? - 01:10 PM
SubscribeTutorial I've moved many times in my life. With each move I've found it's best to gain my bearings. That is to say, I observe the culture and try to blend in. Every culture has its unwritten rules. This observation technique has not only helped me as I moved into new cities. It also helped me whenever I attended a new school, went to an unfamiliar social function or started a new job.

Joining ActiveRain fits in this list of first time experiences. Some of you have never blogged before. Or, you may not have been a part of an internet … (110 comments)


Blog posts


What's in your Backyard? - 04:22 PM
Localism is a great medium and soon to become better.  It's time to really focus your efforts on educating people about your community.  What do you write about?  One of my previous posts, about the Harlem Globetrotters coming to town was noticed just a while back by someone that wanted to know what time they were coming this year.  Now, real estate is my forte, not Harlem Globetrotters and I'm not that interested in knowing year after year when they will be coming to town.  Watch your localism posts and consider that you may get questions pertaining to them year after year
… (0 comments)

Caldwell, Texas Market Analysis - 11:16 PM
Caldwell Texas, about 35 miles away brom Bryan-College Station is known for three things; kolaches, the Czech Heritage Museum and an awesome school district.  This small town has an approximate population of 4000 people and is the county seat of Burleson County. 
For the seven months of sales encompassing 1/1/08 through 6/30/08 Caldwell showed 23 sales in the Bryan-College Station MLS.  The lowest sale was listed at 86K.  It was a 3/2 home 1304 square foot older home that was active on the market for 116 days and sold for 84K.
The highest sale recorded in our MLS for Caldwell was listed at … (1 comments)

Franklin, Texas Growth - 11:24 PM
Franklin Texas has been growing by leaps and bounds!  Every indication is that Franklin will continue to grow with many industrial jobs coming to this area.  Camp Creek is a heavily wooded lake area that is beautiful and has deer in abundance wandering through the subdivision.  Franklin is the county seat for Robertson County and is in the middle of tons of oil exploration.  Known for abundant spaces and an awesome school district
… (0 comments)

The Importance of Family - 11:28 PM
Last week I went to my mother in laws family reunion.  It was held in the beautiful area of Horseshoe Bend in Marble Falls, Texas.  The setting was gorgeous and it was nice to reconnect with my husbands relatives and see my kids make connections with distant cousins from all around.  Despite the fact that we only see each other every two years I feel more connected with these gatherings than in anything else I do.  The oldest living sister is 71 (my mother in law is the 2nd oldest living at 69) and soon these will be over.  It will … (0 comments)

Fantastic condo for sale - just three miles from Disney! - 10:48 PM
    
Been looking for a Disney area vacation rental? You just found it!
Fabulous fully furnished condo right on the conservation and just 3 miles from Disney!!
It's a one of a kind and it could be your home or you could rent it out.
Upmarket furniture in pristine condition because this unit has been used just by the owner. Manned gated community offering up scale amenities including clubhouse with movie theatre, fitness room large Olympic size outdoor pool, whirlpool and spa, separate toddler pool, video arcade, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, billiard tables, children's play area, picnic and BBQ … (0 comments)

Windermere, FL: Wonderful home for sale - 10:54 PM
It could be that you've come home! Great opportunity to own some Windermere, Florida real estate! This fantastic home is being listed well below what it is worth and this is not a short sale or an REO - just a truly great deal!

This gated community home in wonderful Windermere has everything you could wish for including granite in the kitchen as well as stainless steel appliances.
Plenty of ceramic and nicely decorated, this is a home simply waiting for its new family. Deeded lake access and a community boat ramp leading to the beautiful Chain of lakes. This … (0 comments)

Probably the best home for sale in the Dr Phillips area of Orlando - 10:58 PM

When it comes to finding an exceptional home to live in, it is hard to imagine looking much further than South West Orlando. And within South West Orlando, it is hard to imagine anying as good as Phillips Landing. You simply have to Check out the virtual tour 
This is truly the best home for sale in this exceptional community - it could be the best piece of Dr Phillips Real Estate out there! And Dr Phillips is perhaps the best overall area of Orlando. Don't forget to call me, Simon Conway, for the very best listings in South West Orlando.
This is … (4 comments)

Open House in Grafton, MA 7/6 2-4PM! - 08:43 AM

JCKC Realty is hosting an open house at 72 Samuel Drive in Grafton on Sunday, July 6 from 2-4PM.  Home details are:
Address:  72 Samuel Drive, Grafton, MA 01536Price: $239,900Bedrooms: 2 large with en-suite bathroomsBathrooms: 2 full and 2 half
Description:
Freshly updated townhome in desirable neighborhood. Trendy bamboo wood floors throughout first floor. Double sliders in living and dining rooms leading to deck overlooking the beautifully landscaped patio covered in wild flowers. 2 large bedrooms with en-suite full bathrooms and walk-in closets. Master bedroom has balcony overlooking private and serene backyard. Finished basement, 1 car attached garage, and fresh … (2 comments)

Open House Gulf front 3/2 on Fort Myers Beach, Sunday July 5, 2008 Reduced $100k - 02:59 PM
OPEN HOUSE" Direct Gulf front , Reduced $100k
 Just finished on the annual " Parade  of Homes " !
Owner will include one of the hot " SMART " cars with the purchase of this home !
 Wouldn't this put a smile on her face !
Gorgeous 3/2 direct Gulf front home. Totally decorator furnished home.  I will be hosting this  listing on Sunday starting at  9:30 AM .  If you have been looking for a move-in ready beach front this is it.   If you are on Fort Myers Beach  Thursday  stop in and and say " HI".  This beautiful home is a real charmer with light. … (0 comments)

Reasons to call Buffalo NY home! - 03:30 PM
Why call Buffalo New York home?
Buffalo New York is the largest city in Western New York and with the recent death of our greatest Ambassador, Tim Russert there has been a spotlight on our area.  What makes Buffalo so special?   It is a combination of things, but most importantly it is the people here that make it such a great place to live and work.   No where else have I come across a group of people so welcoming of newcomers, willing to do what needs to be done and diversity.  Buffalo has been named an All-American City, Cookout Capital of … (8 comments)

On TRAC! On the Radio Sunday 12 Noon - 09:37 AM

Let's all get on TRAC !
Sunday June 6th, Margaret Rome will be hosting the live radio program All About Real Estate.
How many Active Rainers will be listening?
Paul Sobwick from  www.TRACauctions.com will be my guest. You might remember that Paul, he's the good looking one, auctioned my Historic Church Are You Waiting for Success?  last year along with many other properties.
Paul and I  will be discussing Accelerated Marketing ... how  properties are sold by giving  sellers yet another option. TRAC - The Realtor's(r) Auction Company - allows all the auction benefits (no commission, no closing costs, "as is", 30 day settlement) while allowing the … (20 comments)

Selling and Failing in Poinciana FL Real Estate!! - 02:00 PM
Hi folks, earlier this week there was a discussion over at Agent Genius about REALTORS® only selling about 20% of their listings. The post was actually about Real Estate Shows but, as blog posts tend to do, the discussion got off topic. Anyway, I'm not sure where this percentage came from but let's go with it since it doesn't really matter for the sake of this post. 
This post is about listing brokers not selling all of their listings and Barry Cunningham, from Real Estate Radio USA, arguing, mentioning that he sells 100% of his properties. He was dumbfounded that we … (38 comments)

Realty Reality - Blog Posts - Highlights - June 2008 - 03:20 PM
Here are some of the Realty Reality blog articles that appeared during the past month of June:
Advantages of Remodeling Now Rising energy costs and a middling economy have dampened consumer confidence, but for many homeowners, recent adjustments to the market may actually have a silver lining. For homeowners who've been looking to make updates to their property, there are a number of reasons that make this an attractive time to tackle a remodeling project...Saving Money on Your Summer Road TripAmericans have loved the open road seemingly from the day that the automobile was invented. This year, the rising cost of gas … (0 comments)

RF Output Reduced From Cell Tower In Response to Concerns - 03:39 PM
According to a recent article in the free local Medford Sun newspaper, The Medford United Methodist Church passed a resolution, with was agreed to by T-Mobile for a reduction in RF emissions.  While all current and planned usage was under the legal FCC limits, it was decided to be safe and limit emissions to just half of the projected output.There are still further approvals that need to take place, including T-Mobile appearing before the zoning board with it's updated proposals.The next Medford Zoning board meeting will be on Wednesday, July 16.
 
Copyright 2008 by Lawrence Yerkes. All Rights Reserved.
… (0 comments)

Celebrate, Market....Remember....Be Grateful....With Eatable Fireworks ! - 08:18 AM
                                                     
 
  We try and do different things for our sphere, our clients and customers...current and past....because we truly do appreciate their business. The fact that they are placing one of their most valuable assets in our hands...or allowing us to help them choose one...Is truly an honor.
   This weekend....We are distributing "eatable fireworks" !  We got pretzel rods...those long thick ones, melted white chocolate and dipped in one end...covered them with multi colored sprinkles and attached a note with red, white and blue curly ribbon...the note said "We get a BANG out of your referrals..Thank you, have a … (7 comments)

A Beginner's Attempt at Taking Photos of the 4th of July Fireworks in Show Low, Arizona! - 05:13 PM
Last night my husband and I and friends, went to the fireworks celebration here in the White Mountains. There were TONS of people and cars, and it took us awhile to find a spot to park and sit.
I had read a couple of articles on shooting fireworks, primed my Nikon D70S and 18-200 lens, my point and shoot Sony, AND my flip video..... Here are just some of the results. It's so interesting NOT using, but in fact, turning OFF the flash, and setting the ISO to 100...very slow. These were fun to take, but I need a tripod and … (19 comments)

“Never say sorry - it's a sign of weakness” WHO SAID THAT? - 04:32 PM
And I always wondered where my uncle heard that saying.....
Today, the day after the Fourth of July... my husband had to deliver a printer to Des Moines, Iowa..
On the way up we saw signs about "The Birthplace of John Wayne" and "The Bridges of Madison County" so on the way back we took a little detour of sorts... to Madison County!
The www.madisoncounty.com website says: "The Bridges of Madison County" was made on location in Madison County, Iowa. A reconstructed farm house provided the key set, with additional sequences shot in the towns of Winterset and Adel, along with … (6 comments)

Sea Isle City Homes Sold for the Week of June 28 to July 5 - 11:30 AM
The following homes have sold this past week:
 
3918 Landis Avenue, Unit 111 sold for $120,000
5501 Central Avenue, West sold for $754,000.
8 65th Street, West sold for $1,100,000.
There was one listing to go "under contract" this past week.
 This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.  Information compiled from the Cape May County Board of Realtors MLS.
For additional information on home sales or rentals, contact Gerri Rescigno, RE/MAX Beach Home Realty, 609-263-3600 or visit http://www.SeaIsleShoreHomes.com
… (0 comments)

How difficult can we make a simple search? - 02:21 PM
Today I spent some time looking at both our local IDX search and our state IDX search from a consumer's eyes. It wasn't pretty.
One of my biggest concerns was that each had a scroll down box to choose the city you wanted to search. Well, some choices were towns but other choices were neighborhoods.
    How on earth would a buyer unfamiliar with the area know which names are part of the area he's considering?
People might know that both St Petersburg and Clearwater are cities on this peninsula that's Pinellas County, but they wouldn't know that 22 of the … (4 comments)

Is there really glass there? - 02:52 PM
"Is there really glass there?", asked everyone who looked at it - and even then, each one had to go up and touch it to be sure.  Though "Museum Glass" is more expensive, it's startling in the difference. With a shadowbox piece of art, it's even more evident. 
That was my biggest Aha a week ago when I attended an opening party for The Frame Shop in the historic Grand Central Business District of St Petersburg. The new business is owned by new residents (and clients) Susan and Jeremiah Rohr, who have settled into a wonderful old bungalow in the Kenwood … (5 comments)

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