Archives of real estate blog entries for October 14, 2009

Featured blog posts


How to WOW your Sellers by being proactive with updates - 11:17 PM
Have you ever picked up the phone to have a seller client ask - Hey, I just noticed the house down the street went under contract - Why wasn't it ours?!
When this happens the agent is often on the defensive /reacting to the situation, not to mention caught off guard.
Here's a simple way to be pro-active and create a WOW experience
Set-up a listing activity search in your MLS that corresponds to your listing - so that it will notify you when a new competing listing hits the market, a price changes or a property goes pending.
Let's play … (161 comments)

I'm So Happy the Recession is Over! Aren't You? - 10:08 PM
I'm so happy the recession is over.  It was a tough one..,but based upon multiple press releases this week from leading economists, politicians and even business news sources...they were all on the band wagon in chorus saying the recession is over.  So it must be true.  It does not matter that consumer confidences is still dropping, and that unemployment is still on the rise.  It also does not matter that many states will suffer major budget deficits in the coming months, air travel is down, and that post offices are closing.  All those signs are irrelevant.  The stock market closed today over 10000 … (132 comments)

Social Media And Blogging - Where Do I Start? - 05:37 PM

So you've heard that social media and blogging can help your business.  Your friends are doing it, your co-workers are doing it, and your competition is doing it. You decided that it was time to start building a descent web presence, but you have no idea where to begin. What you don't know is if you're reading this, you have already begun, so let's get started. 
 
Social Media And Blogging - The Game Plan...
Starting a social media campaign is a lot like starting a new business. You need to come up with a game plan, set long term goals, and … (27 comments)

How to Prevent Phishing Scams - 11:30 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Recent reports abound of consumers email account being phished and American and Egyptian authorities arresting dozens of people in an online fraud crackdown for phishing scams. Its time to revisit the fundamentals of how to prevent phishing. Nobody can do this better than the Anti Phishing Work Group
Phishing Defined
Phishing is a criminal mechanism employing both social engineering and technical subterfuge to steal consumers’ personal identity data and financial account credentials. Social‐engineering schemes use spoofed e‐mails purporting to be from legitimate businesses and agencies to lead consumers to counterfeit websites designed to trick recipients into … (26 comments)

Home Staging A Habitat House - 11:26 AM
What do Home Stagers and a Habitat House Have in Common? 
 

 
 
Well, in this case, the Stagers are designing and furnishing the interior (and exterior!) of a newly-built Habitat house!
 
In an effort to give back to the community, the Central Long Island and the Metro New York chapters of the American Society of Home Stagers and Redesigners (ASHSR) are decorating a Habitat house that was just completed in Bay Shore, Long Island.  All 10 ASHSR designers, as well as Feng Shui consultants and a Curb Appeal specialist, are donating their services.  The Long … (26 comments)

Real Estate: Good Long Term Investment - 09:27 AM
In line with an article we posted regarding the slower increase in home values, yet more evidence has surfaced showing that homes are appreciating at a slower rate. While buying a house is still a fantastic investment, we are compelled to share the following facts and statistics with our readers.
There are many people who believe that buying real estate property is always a good investment because bricks and mortar always appreciates, indefinitely. This is not always 100 percent true, but holding onto an investment for more than a decade usually overcomes any economic slump that threatened its value.
Today, economists … (18 comments)

Marketing Can Be Fun...But Numbers Are Everything - 04:56 AM
As much as I love writing about marketing, I am very aware that effective marketing is impossible without sound business planning.
Good Business Planning
Some of the factors that contribute to good business planning are:
knowing your numbers; knowing who your clients are; know who can assist you and what they can do for you; being aware of what you are doing; having a schedule to dedicate 60% of your time towards building new business by prospecting for new clients; being clear of your budget and time; knowing your peak performance time; and finally - fully planning your year with … (65 comments)

Ok to Take Children to Work? NOT!--Kansas City - 02:52 AM
Consider this...I have a ton of kids, the youngest is 4 years old, 5 , 14, 17, 20 and well the rest are older. I love kids of all ages.  Kids are not the issue. The Realtor taking their kids to work is the issue at hand.
Would I consider taking my children to work? NO! Not to the office if there were going to be others there working and definitely not when showing homes to Clients.
Why?  Simply put, it is not professional.  I want to be presenting myself as professional in my work. Which means when I'm getting out of the … (60 comments)

OMG - The Neighbor From You Know Where - 01:39 AM
I have a neighbor that has turned out to be crazy.  What am I going to do?  Any persons out there with experience and help in these situation, I am open to suggestions.
When I bought my second home, my neighbor was friendly, involved in the neighborhood politics, knew everyone, and was full of life and vigor.  I gave her keys to look after the home when we were gone.
But then, in the last couple of years, she has become overly agressive.  We had an agreement verbally for her to use portions of my property for a second access on her … (82 comments)

Crap, I think we just offended the neighbors - 10:15 PM

I had a listing that had some neighbors that were nice neighbors, but their yard was somewhat of an eyesore. It really wasn't as much the yard as it was the house. It also needed some touch up and my seller was willing to help out.
You see, in today's world my seller and I figured the reason for not painting the house and doing the up keep on the yard was because of the lack of money. But, it turns out that they just didn't see a reason too.


This is where we went from being helpful … (157 comments)

P.A.W.S. CONTEST: Life BEFORE ActiveRain...and NOW - 08:38 PM
During the Fall Season we think of changing colors and the beauty surrounding us. The fall season is significant of those changes and it's a cooling off period from a hot summer. Just like anything else in life, I made changes in order to succeed.....and that includes being a Member and Ambassador of ActiveRain.
Do you remember what you were doing before you joined ActiveRain? What kind of marketing were you doing? Were you socializing elsewhere regarding real estate? If you've been actively blogging and commenting on ActiveRain then you KNOW how this Real Estate Network has had an impact on … (137 comments)

eHomePost | Managing Your Facebook, Twitter and MySpace Presence - 10:43 AM
www.eHomePost.com


We Create, Update, & Manage Accounts
for Real Estate Agents on
Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace



Do you want to capitalize on the benefits of Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, but just don’t have the time? Then you have come to the right place.
We create, customize, update, and manage accounts for agents on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. We manually update each account throughout the day, 7 days a week. We update them with relative content such as industry news, your business information, your listings, your recent company news, interesting articles, videos, quotes, etc.
… (67 comments)

Remember When Graciousness Was a Virtue? Bringing This Quality Into A Stressful Deal - 08:30 PM
 I had a client call me gracious today....we are involved in a difficult escrow closing and nerves are being frayed on all counts. I was flattered and surprised. Such an old-fashioned word. I thought I knew what it meant, but I was compelled to search the definition a bit and really think about what I found.
I imagine you all know the basics and the definition didn't give me a surprise:
gra·cious  (grshs) adj.
1. Characterized by kindness and warm courtesy. 2. Characterized by tact and propriety: responded to the insult with gracious humor. 3. Of a merciful or compassionate nature. … (60 comments)

It's Time to Step Up or Step Aside - Life Before Activerain and Now - 08:27 PM


Yesterday I got a call from the editor of our local newspaper.
"I've been reading some of your posts on Activerain," he said, "along with some of the comments.  This is different than the usual blog site with taunts and arguments.  These people seem to genuinely care about and support each other. Tell me a little about it."
I told him Activerain is a networking site where people involved in all facets of our business can go 24/7 to learn about hot topics and new trends in our business, get tech advice and marketing ideas, get referrals, discuss the … (144 comments)

Travel Vs. Vacation - 02:26 AM
Have you ever considered the difference between traveling and taking vacation? I love to travel. Been to Europe multiple times, South America, Asia, Israel, and Egypt. I did all this during my life as either a student or an entrepreneur. But for the first time when I started to work at a 'corporate' job, I started to take "vacations." These were much less memorable. It was about 'getting away' for a while to try and 'relax'. I didn't think about it much, but now that I'm back to being an entrepreneur, my passion is in my work and the need for … (28 comments)

San Diego Real Estate: The Have's and The Have Not's - 06:10 PM
San Diego Real Estate: The Have's and The Have Not's
 
We have a dilemma in real estate today with no solution in the works. In today’s market we have agents and offices with hundreds of distressed property listings.  We also have many agents that are not in on that but do have Buyers interested in purchasing those properties.The dilemma kicks in right about now. The agent representing the Buyers would call and attempt to get information. No response of course. The Buyer wants to write an offer and then the agent calls to confirm that it was received. Again No … (49 comments)


Blog posts


Ooh la la ~ Coronado Beautiful Custom Map is DONE! - 03:53 PM
A picture paints a thousand words...www.CoronadoBeach.comclick on "Coronado Map" in the navigation or on the left hand side of the website.Hope you like it!Cherie YoungOnline Marketing Strategieswww.CherieYoung.comwww.BeautifulCustomMaps.com760.782.0103
… (0 comments)

Ooh la la ~ Coronado Beautiful Custom Map is DONE! - 03:54 PM
A picture paints a thousand words...www.CoronadoBeach.comclick on "Coronado Map" in the navigation or on the left hand side of the website.Hope you like it!Cherie YoungOnline Marketing Strategieswww.CherieYoung.comwww.BeautifulCustomMaps.com760.782.0103
… (0 comments)

Panama City Real Estate - Gated community home for sale... - 10:08 AM
This 3 Bedroom/3 bath Mediterranean style luxury home is located in the gated community of La Valencia in Panama City Beach, Florida.
This home is being sold as is and partially furnished and has been well maintained.
Features of this home include:
Crown molding Wood and tiled flooring Great room with high ceilings and an open floor plan Breakfast bar Dining area This neighborhood is a short distance from shopping, restaurants and other family entertainment venues.
 
For pricing and additional information, please view the listing or view the video of this Panama City Beach home for sale in … (0 comments)

5638 Co. Rd. 228 Cheyenne Wyoming. Great Home on almost 40 acres of Land - 12:43 PM
5638 Co. Rd. 228 Cheyenne Wyoming. Great Home on almost 40 acres of Land.  This home has on the main level 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, a large kitchen with an island, formal and informal dining and formal and informal living.  There is a large pantry and a family room with a wood burning stove.  The basement is unfinished with 10' ceilings and a walk-out door.  The basement is plumbed for another bath.  Each level of this wonderful home has over 2000 sq. ft. of living space.  Heat is propane forced air.  Oh, I forgot to mention that this home sits on almost … (0 comments)

1236 Somerset Lane - Westcliff East - Newport Beach CA - $4,995,000 - 05:08 PM
Offerings are subject to errors, omissions, prior sale or withdrawal without notice.DRE Broker License Number: 00464662
Home | Site MapFor more information, photographs and other available properties, go to :Orange County coastal real estate in Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach & Newport Coast
… (0 comments)

Buyer's Choice Act hits California! - 01:03 PM
Buyer's Choice Act hits California!
The Governor just signed emergency legislation that insures the Buyers the Right to Choose Title and Escrow on home purchases.
This applies to residential purchases of less than four units.  If the seller fails to comply they can be held liable for up to three times the cost of Title and Escrow.  Failure to comply does not invalidate the transaction. 
The seller can still recommend Title and Escrow services, but they need to have the buyer sign a disclosure.
This of course is all directed at the banks dictating the services to buyers.  Now will it … (8 comments)

What happened to Global Warming? - 09:43 AM

OK I admit it - I stole the headline. But where I stole it from might come as a bit of a shock. I stole it from the BBC. When even the BBC starts to question the validity of the greatest con ever perpetrated on mankind then you know there is a problem.
Last time I was guest hosting for Bud Hedinger on 540 WFLA, one of my guests was Phelim McAleer - an Irish film maker who's movie "Not Evil, Just Wrong" comes out this week (Remeber where you heard it first!!).
Now it would seem that the rest … (19 comments)

Decision time for ActiveRain - 02:07 PM
I have been a member of AR since it's very early days. I have seen a lot of changes in that time - some good and obviously some not so good. That is the nature of things.
What however, has always been allowed is content on our personal blogs that has nothing whatsoever to do with real estate. I have posted about real estate, about music, comedy, my dog, my kids, Jack Bauer and 24, movies, the high school tennis teams I coach and on and on. Sometimes people agree with me and sometimes they do not. Most of the time those … (72 comments)

Day 62: 100 Days of Central Mass Features Worcester State College - 01:14 PM
Worcester State College is a public institution of higher learning located in the heart of Central Mass.  The campus is set on 58 acres in the desirable west side of Worcester and was founded in 1874 as the Worcester Normal School.  In 1932, the name was changed to Worcester State Teachers College.  By 1963, the once teachers college had made the transition to one offering liberal arts and science studies, and therefore the word "Teacher" was dropped from the name. 
Worcester Magazine's Readers Poll voted Worcester State the "Best College in Worcester" the past 4 out of 6 years.  The Princeton Review … (0 comments)

Why'd You Hire THAT Guy? - 02:04 PM
Here's a funny list of all of the WRONG reasons consumers choose their agent to represent them.  I always hear these stories and wonder...Why'd you hire THAT guy???
He's my mother's boyfriend's brother, he has to represent me. She's a bartender at the local hot spot.  Plus, she's hot! We work together 6 days a week at the car lot.  He has a real estate license for the nights and weekends. He has 30 listings, he must be "the best".  She has a website, must know what she's doing.  Their office is located 1/2 a mile from my house. We went to … (11 comments)

Google Wave: Find Public Waves - 08:27 PM
Did you receive a Google Wave invite, set up an account, but now you feel small, alone, and unwaved-at?
Find some public waves!
In the search box, at the top of the center panel, just type  (or copy and paste)
with:public 
Then click the search icon.
In fact, with:public will probably return way TOO many waves.  So just narrow it down with a keyword.  Some examples:
with:public lakers
with:public dodgers
with:public trojans
with:public bruins
with:public real estate
with:public los angeles
with:public GLBT

… (13 comments)

Are you participatin in Blog Action Day? - 10:56 AM
Blog Action Day is an annual event that unites the world's bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day on their own blogs with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be the largest-ever social change event on the web. One day. One issue. Thousands of voices.
Blog Action Day is tomorrow -- so how can you assist by writing about Global Warming?

 
Thank you for visiting our Buffalo Real Estate website. If you enjoyed this Best Buffalo Homes post, make sure you subscribe to our RSS … (4 comments)

3317 Old Post Drive Pikesville, Md. 21208 4 Car Garage Rancher! - 05:32 AM
… (31 comments)

Short Sale Approval letters - 04:10 PM

Hi folks. Ever wondered what your Short Sale Approval will look like? Wonder know more. I have embedded several Short Sale approvals that I recently received for my sellers. These will give you an idea of what to expect when you sell your Central Florida Short Sale.
I have included:
Bank of America Short Sale Approval Wells Fargo Short sale Approval GMAC Short Sale Approval Green Tree Short Sale Approval HomEq Short Sale Approval ASC Short Sale Approval Chase Short Sale Approval 1st Horizon Short Sale Approval PNC Bank Short Sale Approval Fifth Third Bank Short sale Approval I have … (14 comments)

Des Plaines Park District Community Band - 12:37 AM
Autumn Winds
Sunday, October 25, 3:00pm
The popular Des Plaines Park District Community Band,under the direction of Lawrence J. Carle, in concert atthe beautiful Prairie Lakes Theater.Tickets: Adult $5, Family $12, Senior/Student $3.Children under 6 are free.The program includes:Entrance and March of the Peers, from Iolanthe (Arthur Sullivan)A Pittsburgh Overture (Philip Sparke)Credo (Robert W. Smith)On the Campus March (John Philip Sousa)Selections from My Fair Lady (arranged by Robert Russell Bennett)Barnum and Bailey’s Favority March (Karl King)The Des Plaines Park District Community Concert Band is agroup of local and area music enthusiasts who enjoy playingtraditional and contemporary tunes on numerous occasionsthroughout the … (2 comments)

80+ Home update on Birmingham Alabama foreclosures for sale 10/14/09 - 07:58 AM
80+ Home update on Birmingham Alabama foreclosures for sale 10/14/09. The 8k tax credit is ending soon so let me know if you are interested in any of these homes or others currently for sale. Today's foreclosure list includes homes in the following cities/areas: Fultondale, Birmingham, Center Point, Roebuck, Trussville, East Lake, Woodlawn, Tarrant, Avondale, Hoover, Bessemer, Inverness, Chelsea, Pelham, Alabaster, Maylene, Montevallo, Hueytown, Pleasant Grove, West End, Ensley, Midfield, Adamsville, Graysville, and Forestdale.
31 New Listings:
http://bhammls.net/BAARReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=US11127393
50 New Price Changes:
http://bhammls.net/BAARReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=US11127394
Gusty Gulas is an Associate Broker/Realtor with Realty South in Birmingham Alabama. For all of your Birmingham residential … (0 comments)

5317 MYRICA RD, ORLANDO FL 32810 - 01:25 PM
 
 MLS# O4941016                      5317 MYRICA RD, ORLANDO FL 32810    $$$ 105,000 $$$

Purchase this property for as little as 3 percent down! This property is approved for HomePath Mortgage and HomePath Renovation Mortgage. Bright, open and airy floorplan. Spacious kitchen with tile counter tops. Fabulous stone fireplace in family room adds that cozy touch! Nice open backyard with enviting pool ready for those year round pool parties! Come see this one today. *If exact square footage is a concern, please have unit independently measured.
For the latest status on this property and many more like it in Orlando, contact Steve Glose … (1 comments)

2952 LUCAYAN HARBOUR CIR # 104, KISSIMMEE FL 34746 - 01:29 PM
 
 MLS# O4940683              2952 LUCAYAN HARBOUR CIR # 104, KISSIMMEE FL 34746    $$$ 99,700 $$$

Wonderfully furnished townhome in a fabulous vacation home community. Light and bright with spacious rooms and just minutes to all major attractions including Disney, Sea World and Universal. Don't let this one pass you by! *If exact square footage is a concern, unit should be independently measured.
For the latest status on this property and many more like it in Orlando, contact Steve Glose with Keller Williams Realty direct at 407-616-7286 or visit www.thefloridalivingteam.com. You can also email at steve@thefloridalivingteam.com
… (0 comments)

"Leave the Dogs & Ponies Behind....Come and List Our House..." - 08:05 AM
 

       We recently got a call from a potential seller who made it clear that the charts, graphs, pictures, power points, binders, videos, etc. need not accompany us to the listing appointment. The seller and his wife are successful business owners with a thorough understanding of what they want...and wanted us to give them the information they needed to sell their house quickly...as profitably as the market would allow...they had done everything a house could ever have done to it...from a finished lower level to new woodwork, updated kitchen and baths, in ground sprinkler system, brick patio wtih waterfall....lovely … (11 comments)

Want to make money in Real Estate? Stay Healthy...Worth Reading! - 03:14 PM

Prevent Swine Flu - Good Advice                 Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc.. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).         The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know         The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to … (2 comments)

Related links

New Members for 2009-10-14

 Archives:

31 Oct
30 Oct
29 Oct
28 Oct
27 Oct
26 Oct
25 Oct
24 Oct
23 Oct
22 Oct
21 Oct
20 Oct
19 Oct
18 Oct
17 Oct
16 Oct
15 Oct
14 Oct
13 Oct
12 Oct
11 Oct
10 Oct
9 Oct
8 Oct
7 Oct
6 Oct
5 Oct
4 Oct
3 Oct
2 Oct
1 Oct
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006