Archives of real estate blog entries for August 16, 2008

Featured blog posts


"Majority Original Content" or "What's the Point of Points?" - 09:16 PM
Unspoken rules and guidelines don't cut it. Especially in a social network the size of ActiveRain.
While it's been made quite clear from the very beginning that points are earned and bestowed to ActiveRain members who contribute their own original content, there's been a few 'unspoken' areas that are in dire need of clarification and specific mention. We've been entirely much too lax towards this issue, and it's time for us to put a little more meat on the requirements as to what constitutes 'point-worthy' content.
Let's address the obvious, shall we?
Jokes. There's nothing wrong with jokes. We can all … (175 comments)

Washington Post writes about Real Estate Blogging & ActiveRain - 08:34 PM

"...No longer must potential home buyers and sellers actually speak to real estate professionals to meet them. Instead, consumers are accessing agents' ever-more-common blogs, social network pages or viral video campaigns -- all of the burgeoning options that have been called Web 2.0 -- to tap their expertise and get a sense of their personalities. Some meet agents who quickly feel like buddies; others go with discount brokers and don't have any direct contact with their agent until they're ready to put a bid on a house.
"In this type of environment the cream rises to the top," said Jonathan … (48 comments)

4 Steps to Building Your Brand and Marketing Pieces for FREE! - 07:35 PM

This one is a Doozie!! I know my past few posts have been about one cool tool or another, but trust me on this one too, as it is COOL!
As many businesses such as Stagers, and Real Estate Virtual Assistants know, one of the first priorities to getting off the ground is to create a "brand" for your company, and reflect that in your marketing pieces. From logos, to letterhead, envelopes, business cards and brochures, you name it, WE NEED IT! However, as talented as we are in our businesses, we are not all capable of being graphic designers … (68 comments)

A Home Warranty and Why You Should Understand It Especially During the Due Diligence Period Of Purchasing - 02:22 PM
As a Buyer of property in San Diego, the California Association of REALTORS Standard purchase form provides that you may seek from the seller an agreement to provide Home Warranty coverage on the basic mechanism of the home you are purchasing. While this home warranty should give you some comfort with the coverage it provides, it is not a panacea for all that is or may go wrong in the home.
Along with the contract for coverage, that most Buyers don't read very carefully, there is specific language for the items and issues that this home warranty does not cover. Your experience with … (42 comments)

Do you Color? - Awesome Websites for Color Consultation Education - 02:37 PM
As we all know, color is the quintessential back bone of good room design.  It also is the cheapest and most effective way to improve a space.
For those that include more than staging services, and comprise home decorating options - If you do not include color consultations in your menu of services, now is a great time to explore this revenue booster. 
With fall on the horizon, and the kiddies getting ready to board the big yellow bus, our target market homeowners will be refocusing their attention to their interiors.
Color education does not have to cost an arm and a … (25 comments)

Thank you Active Rain! - 02:47 PM
I was just commenting on a blog and realized I need to give a BIG SHOUT OUT to Active Rain. 
The question I was answering was "Do I really need to blog?"  and my answer is "Most definitely, YES!"
I have been blogging for a little over a year and it is really starting to pay off.  This past month I have received the following from blogging on Active Rain:
1. A Commercial Buyer
2. Two listing appointments
3. A renter who has already moved-in
When I first started on Active Rain, I must admit that I was a little VERY skeptical … (22 comments)

NEW LOCALISM Increases Traffic by 300%! - 02:49 PM
Website Traffic Increased by 300% with the Introduction of the NEW LOCALISM! NEW LOCALISM Increases Traffic by 300%! Yes, you read it correctly--300%!  Most of you know that I'm a 'stats' person and probably spend TOO much time reviewing numbers!  However, this one was just too good not to pass along--I have been wondering lately why, besides the slowed market, my site was getting fewer and fewer visits. For awhile, my blog has been posted on my website and initially it increased my website traffic but, the increase was not that substantial.  Most likely, because I didn't  keep the feed refreshed … (72 comments)

This Week at Agent Genius - 03:06 AM

Here's a quick round up of this week at Agent Genius:
>>If a Realtor Violates the Code of Ethics" by Jim Duncan Jim ponders why the Code of Ethics matters if so many agents don't know about them and a hot conversation about whether or not violation records should be public ensues. "So far as I can tell, the public do not have access to ethics complaints. Where is the benefit to the consumer if violations are kept behind closed doors?" >>Please Pardon the Commercial Interruption by Kelley Koehler Kelley watches the opening ceremonies for the Olympics and is struck … (27 comments)

Are you a Jack of All Trades and Master of None? - 03:19 AM
During a recent round of golf I started thinking about something really too deep to think about while playing golf. That thought was.......What one thing do I do that I would consider myself an expert?

Unfortunately, I didn't come up with anything and ever since I've been thinking about it. I've actually become quietly obsessed with this thought and haven't really discussed it with anyone. Should everyone have one thing they are really great at or should you just be happy being good at several?
I would like to think I'm a Real Estate expert but I don't know if … (27 comments)

ActiveRain Launches "NEW" Video Interface - 03:29 AM
Well.  (Big Sigh w/Big Smile)  Today you will see a "new" icon on the edit tool bar when you go to create a new post, edit an existing post, or leave someone a comment.  When you click on the new icon, you'll soon have one of two options  One: Click on it to seamlessly access your AR Video Dashboard.  Two: Be given an option to create an ActiveRain Video Account.  I have been waiting for this for months. FINALLY!!

Existing ActiveRain Video Subscribers: You'll now be able to bypass the log-in screen at Mixpo.com, and access the your video console … (88 comments)

Unfiltered Customers & a Comfy Old Shirt - 07:37 PM
Recently, I spent the day with buyers.  Not just any buyers but buyers who were referred to me by a prior customer.  The prior customer I met on a run.  He wasn't met through my blog.  I was running by a home for sale and he was getting a flyer out of the box.  I said, "How much"?  He said, "You tell me"!  I guessed $599,000.  It was $595,000.  I kept running.  About an hour later he was in another neighborhood and bumped into that same man.  He questioned me about my almost perfect guess.  That's when I explained I was … (38 comments)


Blog posts


Washington Post writes about Real Estate Blogging & ActiveRain - 08:34 PM

"...No longer must potential home buyers and sellers actually speak to real estate professionals to meet them. Instead, consumers are accessing agents' ever-more-common blogs, social network pages or viral video campaigns -- all of the burgeoning options that have been called Web 2.0 -- to tap their expertise and get a sense of their personalities. Some meet agents who quickly feel like buddies; others go with discount brokers and don't have any direct contact with their agent until they're ready to put a bid on a house.
"In this type of environment the cream rises to the top," said Jonathan … (48 comments)

Bigfoot "fails" DNA test apparently - 04:41 PM
As hoax, this really sucks. It wasn't a very good one and then when you actually supply material for DNA testing that you must KNOW is going to find you out, then the question has to be asked - why bother in the first place?
One of the two samples of DNA said to prove the existence of the Bigfoot came from a human and the other was 96 percent from an opossum, according to Curt Nelson, a scientist at the University of Minnesota who performed the DNA analysis, according to Reuters.
Despite this, Founder and CEO of Bigfoot Inc, host … (10 comments)

Sex offenders cry "it's not fair"! - 06:19 PM
A legal challenge to a Nevada law is underway. The State wants to publish the names, photos, addresses, job details and vehicle descriptions of all those convicted of a sex crime since 1956.
But a bunch of these perverts have got together and filed a lawsuit claiming that they "have rights too". Shame they didn't think about that when they were out there committing SEX CRIMES!
They are claiming it is wrong to bundle them up with the worst offenders, claiming some of them were just "flashers".
And wouldn't you know it - they have a lawyer! - "People think that … (16 comments)

I love stupid criminals!! - 06:27 PM
After successfully robbing a store using a caulking gun wrapped in a towel, the would-be criminal mastermind ran outside to his vehicle - which he had left running for a fast getaway - only to discover he'd left the keys locked inside it!!!!!
Police did make it thereand a short chase began, during the course of which, the caulk-gun totting thief, was actually shot in the shoulder!
Well at least now John Wilkinson,24, of Big Spring, Texas, will have a use for the hydrocodine that he stole from the Stanton Drug Store.
He was treated at the Midland Memorial Hospital and taken … (10 comments)

The best home for sale in Windermere, Florida? - 10:22 PM
  
Real Estate in Windermere, Florida is simply some of the best that Central Florida has to offer. And now we have this great home in a guarded, gated community just waiting for you to come home to. Once you step inside you will know you've arrived home.
Four bedrooms, three and a half baths and almost three thousand square feet in this stylish courtyard home.
The tensions of city life are simply unknown in Windermere, an Orange Country jewel only fourteen miles southwest of downtown Orlando. Here, the sun rises over beautiful lakes and the mists create a … (0 comments)

The best home for sale in the Disney area - 11:39 PM
    
This is the one you've been waiting for!!
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 areas, sundry shop, … (2 comments)

It's Tax FREE Weekend in Massachusetts! - 09:16 AM
I'm very excited!  It's tax free weekend today (August 16th) and tomorrow (August 17th) in Massachusetts.  I'm planning on heading out and picking up some baby items and maybe a crib for our new baby Hailey (not sure if that's how we want to spell it yet) due in October.  Purchases under $2500 are exempt from being taxed minus things like food, gas and tobacco.  I've seen some ads for Rotmans furniture store in Worcester offering DOUBLE TAX FREE on furniture purchases and no interest until 2010 if you're on the market!  They have great quality furniture, we bought a lot … (0 comments)

Anyone out there.....? - 11:35 AM
The past few weekends have been very slow for showing requests on our listings.  Anyone else seeing this trend?  We have a range of homes listed right now from priced right to a little over-priced, but seems like none of them are getting calls these past few weeks.  What's going on?  I've been racking my brain trying to figure out what to do.  We're still trying the open houses, property websites, property business cards, The Real Estate Book and everywhere we can find on-line.  We've been putting our open houses on Google Ad Words and in the newspaper in addition to … (4 comments)

Fort Myers Beach 3/2 direct Gulf front ! Just bring your flip flops ! - 07:03 PM
This gem was the hit of 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 Saturday 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  stop in and and say " HI".  This beautiful home is a real charmer with light. bright beachy colors and decorator upgrades. Furnished … (3 comments)

Localism Community Descriptions - 06:09 AM
Has anyone else put off writing up your Localism community descriptions?
I kept thinking, "Oh, the description editor tool will be difficult and wonky".  "Oh, it probably won't allow me to make edits".  Wrong. 
The editor tool is prefectly OK.  The text can be edited, and re-edited, and re-edited again.
In case anyone else has been putting it off, here's a quick walk through:
Go to Localism.
Log In.
Click My Account.

Click "Write a region description", or if you've already uploaded the description and want to make changes, click "Update region description"

 
It's probably easier to write your description … (11 comments)

Localism Sponsored Community Descriptions: The Easy Way. - 08:24 PM
On my post here:  http://activerain.com/blogsview/644202/Localism-Community-Descriptions,  Pam Dent asked about placing images in a sponsored community description.
I answered I did it the Old School Way, with an HTML <img src> tag.
And then,,,,, the heavens opened, and the moment of epiphany came....
To create your sponsored community description with images, just simply write it as a blog post here on Active Rain.  Insert images with the image tool the way you are familiar with....
Then save the post as a "Draft", like this:  In the "Visibility" drop down menu, choose "Draft", then click "Post Blog Entry"

 
Then click on the HTML … (23 comments)

8 Gold Medals and 70,000 Fans Fill Baltimore's Raven's Stadium - 11:08 PM
The Ravens encouraged ticket holders to remain at M&T Bank Stadium tonight after the conclusion of the team's pre season game against the Minnesota Vikings.  The reason... to watch the NBC broadcast of Michael Phelps' final race of the Beijing Olympics  on the stadium's SmartVision  board.                              
Michael just won his 8th Olympic Gold and Baltimore's Raven's Stadium was filled with with 70,000 fans. Baltimore has so much to be proud of. Look at the crowd that stayed late and watched Michael finish his fantasic accomplishment!
A Gold and A Bronze Olympic Medal! Both Swimmers from Baltimore!
                              
                                     
                                     
 Way to … (18 comments)

The stress of non-disclosure is finally put to rest!!! - 03:29 PM
Hi folks. I posted an article last year titled "Sally's Eyes Will Make a Grown Man Cry", if you haven't read it please take a minute to do so as it was a powerful post. This post is a follow up. 
When I listed Sally's house, the biggest issue, was whether or not to disclose the murder/suicide of her parents. Since this is not something we are required by law to disclose we decided not to. The reason we decided not to disclose was simple, all that the parents, of Sally and her two sisters, had left them was the equity … (41 comments)

Does Your Brokerage Make It Easy For The Public To Find You? - 12:09 PM
Are you easy to find?  Does your company help?
In recent months, I've been noticing either website makeovers on established brokerages or new firms emerging with websites that have a surprising trend: many real estate firms are making it harder for people to find you. Now, I do not really blame these companies. It is good for the brokerages. If they can intercept the public directly accessing you, if they can "capture the leads" and then sell them to an agent for a referral fee, they have just increased their profit. They have created a new "revenue stream".But is it good for … (0 comments)

Knoxville, Tennessee 2nd quarter sales reports - 03:00 PM
Home Sales Report Beginning 04/01/2008, Ending 06/30/2008 … (0 comments)

Good News for Denver Home Buyers July 2008 - 02:34 PM
Denver's real estate market just got better for buyers.  We thought that June prices had bottomed out, but in July median prices dropped even lower.  The drop for residential single-home properties was 3.48% from June to July, but was even steeper from July 2007, a startling 10.1%. 
Condo median prices rose slightly, .4%, from $148,345 in June to $149,000 in July. But prices dropped 5.7% from July 2007.  One possible answer for the less precipitous price drop for condos affordability.  On average condos cost much less than homes.
More homes sold in July than in July of last year, but fewer … (0 comments)

Abbott and Costello 2008 - 12:45 PM
Do you remember Abbot and Costello or am I dating myself. If you do, you'll like this one. A modern day version of Who's on First.
Via Steve Hirschler, Big Bear Real Estate:
If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch,'Who's on First?' might have turned out something like this:COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking aboutbuying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I … (3 comments)

Short Sale Closed - 06:58 AM
Hi!
Yesterday we closed our 2nd short sale. A title company and an attorney were involved and it was another great life learning experience for me. The sellers wanted their own title company and attorney overseeing the deal. We both had LOAs and it turned out well. I am a relationship seller and the title co. and attorney's people are not. The melding of the 2 styles worked beautifully after a few false starts. I am older, smarter, and know better (in my mind) I had to lose those thoughts or at least not act like they are true. The buyers … (4 comments)

Worthington Architectural Review Board - 06:47 AM
Parts of the City of Worthington are subject to the Architectural Review Board... important parts of Worthington, Old Worthington of course, but also High Street.  Dublin Granville Rd? 
Here's a map  (pdf) of areas subject to review...*  (pdf) of areas subject to review... I don't see a legend but the peachy areas are subject to the Architectural Review Board?  They are the Architectural Review District... looks like more areas than I realized. Looks like I answered my own question about Dublin Granville Rd.
The architectural review board is the five member Worthington planning commission plus two people "one of whom must … (2 comments)

Information you should have for a closing. - 01:32 AM
I have heard, and read stories about the nightmares agents have ran into at closings.  A lot of times, it is the other agent who never shows up for the closing, never informed the seller or buyer what they needed to bring to a closing, the buyer didn't know what the payments would be on a home. Buyers have walked away; Sellers have walked away, all because their agent wasn't doing their job.  Don't blame it on the mortgage company; don't blame it on the title company. Keeping in touch with your client, and all parties involved it part of our … (3 comments)

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