Archives of real estate blog entries for October 3, 2010

Featured blog posts


ActiveRain points as best as I can understand. A must read! - 05:50 PM
Active Rain seems to give points for

Profile Points: Invite Points: Blogging Points: Blog Comment Points: Linking Points: Bonus Points: Other Points: adding description to profile I received 35 points uploading an image 200 points activating my profile 100 points updating photo 1,080 points daily login 100 points   blog - this is important 200 points minimum for each blog over 50 words.  If you blog is very short you might get as low as the 12 points I did on a blog. if you blog over 10 times a week you will not get 200 points for the 11th. … (32 comments)

Negotiating Rule #1: Limit the back and forth - 07:24 PM
Texas Realtor magazine Sept./Oct. 2010 issue has an article by Rich Levin titled How to improve your negotiation skills. The article lists 10 rules to get the contract to closing. The sub title goes on to say, "...with deals that make you and your clients happy." I love that last part!
We, as professionals, have not done our job 100% well and will not get return clients if we only do the minimum. If we get the deal done, but fail to get it done in a way that makes all parties happy, then we fail. If the joy isn't there, but the … (30 comments)

Do Me A Teensy Weensy Little Favor - 11:06 PM
I still love helping buyers. I don't do it as much as I used to because I am running the company and most buyer requests are given to my very good team of agents who give great service. Our buyers get their own Listingbook account for MLS home searches, automatic email updates when a home that fits their criteria hits the market, and of course many of my buyers look on other websites also.  
There is one thing that perplexes me about some buyers that I haven't been able to quite figure out. In speaking with colleagues I am not … (94 comments)

Celebrating a Local Legend! Jennie Chiccola - 05:27 PM
Happy 95th Birthday Jennie Chiccola!
Jennie Chiccola, owner of Jennie Chiccola Realty started her career in real estate when it was male dominated and has been a force to reckon with ever since. 
Jennie  is  "mom" and friend to so many of us.  Sharing her wisdom, knowledge and love both inside and outside of the real estate arena.
At 95 Jennie still drives to the office every day where she manages and nurtures the agents at her Jennie Chiccola Realty Company.
You'll also find Jennie attending local board and Women's Council of REALTOR events and State events.  She is a staple in … (15 comments)

Social Media: 25 Tips to Get In the Game and Off the Sidelines - 11:52 PM
Are you sitting on the sidelines of life? Do you sit on the bench as you watch others jump ahead of you? Are you watching others capture the mindshare, the hearts and the loyalty of the customers that could have been your clients for life?
What is holding you back? Why are you sitting on the sidelines? Why do you think people won't listen to you? Why can't that "someone" you are listening to on a social media or business webinar be you?
What is sitting on the sidelines going to do for you, your business or your life? Does it … (68 comments)

Foreclosures: Frustration, Fear...And Now Fraud? - 03:59 PM
Fraud? This week's news about delaying foreclosures and evictions in 23 states due to bank officials' admissions of fraud has been astonishing. If you've been involved in a foreclosure or a short sale, you have almost certainly experienced frustration with the banks involved. But are those frustrating or even inexplicable processes the same as fraud? They may be related. Fraud is intentional deception designed to harm an individual. States that require judicial foreclosure have lengthy and detailed processes for repossessing a home due to payment default...but if those procedures aren't strictly followed, the foreclosure could be fraudulent.
Coming at a time when housing sales have slowed and election rhetoric is heating … (60 comments)

I'M CALLING MY OWN SHOTS! Plus a Few Others that the AR Gods Missed this Week - #11 - 12:53 PM

 
I love surfing in the rain!  I love hanging out with my subscribers and supporting their blogs but most of all, I love finding newbies who are writing some really good posts. 
These are actually some of my fave bloggers right now.  There are so many newbies here who are working really hard to build some great blogs and I love coming across their good posts and supporting their efforts.  This week was no different. 
 
First and foremost, I want to give a big shout out to Cynthia Larson for her post The Chicken and the Egg of … (38 comments)

The Spirit of Offense - 04:34 PM
We get offended too easily. Can't find a lockbox on the door, instead it's hidden in a bush somewhere. Someone sat on your favorite seat at church. Someone ticked you off in traffic. Someone wore the wrong T-shirt. Or even someone said something to you that offended your beliefs. These are just some of the examples how we could be offended quickly.
Most of the time, if we have an opportunity to get to the bottom of a situation, it's not what it seems.
Don't be too quick to judge unless you want to be judged the same way.
The next … (42 comments)

My journey back - 08:45 PM
As many of you know I lost my lovely wife Marianne in July after a 21 year battle with breast cancer.  After her death I have re-examined my life, and our life together.  I have learned a lot, and over the next 12 months I would like to share what I have learned.
In some ways it is my way of working through my grief, but I would like to point out some of the things we miss as get so busy with making a living.  Who knows I might be able to improve another families life.  So here goes with … (64 comments)

Do not expose your fruit of the loom. - 07:11 AM

Even if you wear the granny or grandpa size white wide load undies, rinsing them and leaving your smalls hanging for visitors to see is just bad taste.  Make sure your hand laundry and line drying does not expose you to the viewing, judging eyes of Buyers. 
Keep your smalls hidden
I bet you think that no one does this - leave underwear out when there are people coming to view a house.  Wrong!  The Sellers may have been vigilant at the beginning of a sale but the longer the house stays on the market, the more the owners / … (82 comments)

Selling Your Home In A Tough Market -- Know The Game And Play By The Rules - 11:44 PM
Sometimes in the world of real estate sales, we have to be cruel to be kind.  The current market can be challenging for all of us, at least on Long Island.  Many of the old rules no longer apply.  For the seller, the sale of their home could be a once in a lifetime experience, or perhaps they've sold a few times in the past, over a period of many years.  In either scenario, their experience is limited.  As the experts in our field, it's our responsibility to educate them about the process and about the realities of the selling environment in which they find themselves. 
If we're unattached … (17 comments)

What Really Works For Us? - 08:48 PM
I just read a very good blog by Debe Maxwell Are You the Cruise Director or the Ship's Captain?
She wrote "What works for you?" is a frequently asked question pertaining to social media”
Actually we see this question everywhere: in blogs, comments, on RainCamp...
When this question is asked I often sense impatience. It is like “give us the tool which works and leave all the crap aside”. But a tool is only a tool. In the hands of a skilled craftsman it is different than in the hands of a child. It is the “crap aside” which makes it work…
You … (52 comments)

Going FSBO Louisville KY Style! NOT A ‘How To’ Guide! - 08:31 PM
FSBO Louisville KY! It Can Be Done...But Know Your Chances
Coming from your Louisville REALTOR®, you may find my words of encouragement a bit odd. Truth is, I don't take t issue with a homeowner wanting to first try selling their home ‘For Sale by Owner', or FSBO. It's all a matter of motivation and what supports the goals you have established for you or your family. This is not a ‘How To' FSBO Louisville guide, nor will you find any tips on ‘How to Sell Your FSBO Home Quickly'. What you will find are some statistics and commonly shared difficulties from those who … (12 comments)

OK, ActiveRain Peeps. You ALL need to read this! Former Ebay VP starting a 1% Real Estate Online Sales Venue?! - 11:17 AM
I came across a site called Auction.com.
On the site, they have a blog section.  This is an excerpt from from a blog on the auction site:
 
(San Diego, Calif.) -- Auction.com, the global leader in real estate auctions, is set to launch a unique California homeowner program that will change the real estate sales process forever. For the first time, homeowners can sell their house on Auction.com and pay only a 1% listing broker commission upon sale. This innovative opportunity opens first in San Diego on September 25, 2010.
Auction.com receives millions of online visitors, the most in … (125 comments)

Are You the Cruise Director or the Ship's Captain? - 12:46 AM
 
Are You the Cruise Director or the Ship's Captain?  Much has been written about social media and the time in which we spend participating in order to procure business.  I recently read an article by one of our own members who proclaimed to remove herself from the social media rhelm as she discovered, after a lengthy recovery process following hospitalization, that she really didn't need social media to the extent in which she was participating.  Many of us find ourselves flying by the seat of our pants where social media is concerned.  It seems that on a daily basis, we are … (59 comments)

Last Week's Favorties: September 26th - October 3rd - 09:02 AM
It was a fun week on Active Rain, and for me it included a couple of days of writer's block.  Yes, even I get it.  However, the following bloggers seemed to have no such problem:
1.  Nona Swann:  Are you addicted?  This cute little post will bring a smile to the face of any seriously addicted Active Rain blogger. 
2.  Alan May:  You, too, could find yourself in multiple offers.  This is one we should share with the people who think they have all the time in the world to get an offer together.
3.  Sally Cheeseman:  Lack of Perception and … (37 comments)

If You Could Only Hear Your Buyer's Agent When He's Talking to Me, The Listing Agent - 10:27 AM
The Fall is a great time for a Northern Virginia home owner to be on the market.  A home priced right and in great condtion will draw buyers like flies, especially when the potential buyers are able to see a maximum amount of pictures in the listing, but I digress. 
The Sellers of my one of my latest Short Sales weren't expecting the phone to be ringing non-stop with Buyer's Agents scheduling showings.  One magical day we had one offer at 11am and Buyers lined up all day long to see the place.  That offer didn't stop other Buyers from writing offers.  We ended up with a … (69 comments)

Being a better listing agent in this challenging market. - 07:39 PM
Being a better listing agent in this challenging market. Going the extra mile to sell a house.
I made appointments on Thursday to see four homes in Catonsville, MD on Friday. Later the same day I received an e-mail from the listing agent of one of the homes that I was going to show.
Here is the letter.
Ellie-
 Thanks for scheduling a showing for my listing in Catonsville tomorrow.  There is not a sign in front of the home, so in case you're not familiar with the street, the home is toward the end of the street on the right.
Also, … (31 comments)

Aren't we working together? - 06:27 PM
Are we not supposed to be working together to make transactions close escrow?  I sure thought we were...to make it a win-win.  But every now and then you run into an agent.....in this case the broker of record for the entire real estate company with probably 200 agents, 5-6-7 offices.  And they turn out to be everything you despise in working with other agents.
You know the kind.  Always pleasant when you see them.  Always ask how things are going.  Always ready to answer any question on one of thier listings or get the agent to answer.  Just seem so nice, … (16 comments)

When is the Line Between Puffery and Misrepresentation Crossed? - 06:32 PM
This will probably be one of my shorter posts, because I am really not sure what the answer is to “When is the Line Between Puffery and Misrepresentation Crossed?”  Lately, I have noticed more and more agents advertising and promoting themselves on their blogs, websites and printed materials as the “Top” real estate agent or the “Best” real estate agent in their respective market.  Some even go so far as to claim that they are the “#1” real estate agent.
Where do agents come up with these accolades and claims?  What are they based on?  I recently checked out an agent … (33 comments)

Open HOuse Sign IN Sheets Good or Bad? - 08:21 PM
I never use sign in sheets. My feeling is that if I do not have a conversation with a visitor at an open house and ask them if they want to be contacted about anything then I do not ask for their contact information.  I would never want to give out my information at an open house for anything unless I established a relationship.  I know that many agents do find these sign in sheets useful and do contact people who actually put the correct information down, but I am not one of them.  Again, I think it is intrusive and … (54 comments)

Average Prices, not a true measurement! - 05:20 PM

Average prices have little relevance to your home
 
Let's face it, nobody wants to be average. It's the terrain of the unremarkable-the realm of the safe middle ground. But while "average" is by its very definition nothing to brag about, it does have its place in our world. It shows us the big picture. It reminds us where we stand, right?
 
Well, to a point. In real estate, average prices in the form of market statistics help us establish broad market trends. These figures convey the lay of the land, and help homeowners compare, at-a-glance, the overall market … (28 comments)

Why do real estate agents want everyone to like them ? - 09:52 PM
I would rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I'm not. After lot's of years in the business don't you feel like everyone is trying to take a small piece of us? From The buyer who wastes our time, to the seller who wants open house every weekend. Oh, how about the broker who has weekly sales meetings that are just a waste of time? How about the tech handicaped agent in the office who's always in need of something ?
Do you have some strategies for dealing with these time suckers ? Maybe we have to just hide … (44 comments)

Why I Really Dislike Discount Companies, Zillow & Realtor.com...... - 10:23 AM
 
1. I hate being mocked. Especially by corporations that do not walk in the same trenches that I do. I resent that Zillow has turned my home values assessment into a local carnival ride for consumers.
2. I have sold more houses in my market than any executive for Zillow, Realtor.com or Buyowner.com. That makes me the expert, not them. I resent that they take my listings and then turn around and try to sell the information back to me as if they are doing me a big favor.
3. Real estate is a full-time gig. Especially if you want … (52 comments)


Blog posts


Sunday Funnies - 06:19 PM
As the Sunday School teacher is nearing the end of her class she ask, "How many of you kids want to go to heaven?  Raise your hands!"
Twenty-nine kids raise their hands; all but little Johnny setting in the back.  So the teacher says it again, "Raise your hand if you want to go to heaven." 
All of them but little Johnny are waving their hands in the air and the teacher is a little frustrated, "Little Johnny, don't you want to go to heaven when you die?"
"Oh, when I die, I thought you were getting a bus load up … (4 comments)

400,000 Points in the Blink of an Eye! - 06:23 PM
400,000 Points in the Blink of an Eye!
I follow my points but not too close.  I do make sure to log in every day, post 10 times a week, and make comments 10 times a day.  I also reblog quality post that will be important to consumers (I do not reblog everything to rack up cheap points) in my area.  I also enter most of the contest to get bonus points.
What I follow is my rank in the state and county (I am # 1 in my city by far). 
Well without much fanfare this morning I crossed the … (10 comments)

Check Out Nigro Law in Worcester! - 08:06 PM
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Jan Horn and Dan Nigro of Nigro Law in Worcester.  Nigro Law specializes in providing high quality legal and title services in all areas of real estate.  They were founded in 1996 by sole proprietor Daniel Nigro.  What makes Nigro Law different?  Besides the fact that they are top notch guys focused entirely on the service they are providing, they are also up to date with technology and social networking.  They will provide your clients with competitive service and rates that will have them thanking you later!  You can check out their fan page on Facebook as well … (1 comments)

Sellers - Cleanliness is next to Godliness ! - 02:02 PM
Thinking of selling your home? Please make sure it is market ready and clean. Especially be sure the kitchen and bathrooms sparkle and shine, ceiling fans are clean, get rid of the dust bunnies all around the home, and be sure to make the home smell clean too!
Via Dominic Godfrey (Intero Real Estate Services):
Prospective Sellers often ask what they can do to make their home as appealing as possble to buyers. As my mother used to tell me, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" !  - And it's definitely cost effective.
Without doubt, cleanliness is one of the most important 'subconcious' criteria … (4 comments)

A Good Eye + A Good Buy = A Good Baltimore Condo Home! - 05:14 AM
A Good Eye + A Good Buy = A Good Baltimore Condo Home!
 
 
This past year I sold a condo 3601 Clarks Lane Baltimore, Maryland 21215 The Imperial Condo #422   for a gentleman, in his nineties. He was the original owner, loved his home and was now moving to assisted living.
With no need for the furniture, we decided to include it all along with a rock bottom price.
The special buyers saw the value in the building and knew they were making a deal! This couple made it easy for the seller. Just leave everything and what we don't want, we … (10 comments)

Is This A Five Star Prospect? - 11:46 PM
This market is quite interesting. It is a wonderful market for buyers who can qualify for loans or have saveed up some cash for a purchase. Some of the homes in our market are actually priced low enough that people can pay cash. What a wonderful position to be in. Of course they had to have years of preparation to be in that position.
Then we have the buyers that make requests and then do it as a "dare" to us. I had one buyer that had been on a drip campaign from some time. He raised his hand today and … (4 comments)

Selling Your Home In A Tough Market -- Know The Game And Play By The Rules - 11:44 PM
Sometimes in the world of real estate sales, we have to be cruel to be kind.  The current market can be challenging for all of us, at least on Long Island.  Many of the old rules no longer apply.  For the seller, the sale of their home could be a once in a lifetime experience, or perhaps they've sold a few times in the past, over a period of many years.  In either scenario, their experience is limited.  As the experts in our field, it's our responsibility to educate them about the process and about the realities of the selling environment in which they find themselves. 
If we're unattached … (17 comments)

10 Recommended Blogs for the 1st of October - 12:17 AM
Chances are, you may have missed a couple of these & I wanted to point out some good content by highlighting these posts:
10 Recommended Blogs for the 1st of October
The Only People Who Fit In Boxes Are Mannequins And Cartoon Characters  Gary Woltal
Make Your Own Opportunities   Lou Ludwig
What I Learned Today at "The Google Academy" Blew Me Away!  Patsy Overton
Polling all realtors - a sold sign or not?  Juli Vosmik
I Like a Buyer with a Clipboard  Jeff Dowler
Need To Balance Your Time?? Listing Agents Can Do That !!!  Barbara Todaro
Are You On … (10 comments)

At the end of a Dirt Road.... - 12:17 PM
Inspired by Jeff Dowler's recent post: Rural Mail Boxes - A Fact of Life for Many in Parts of Southern California, it made me think of this story.  
Now that harvest time is here, lock your car & watch for extra zucchini in the front seat. Dirt Roads By Paul Harvey
What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have been paved.
There's not a problem in America today, crime, drugs, education, divorce, delinquency that wouldn't be remedied, if we just had more Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character.
People that live at the end … (3 comments)

Idaho Real Estate Market for 3rd Quarter 2010 - 04:02 PM
Idaho Real Estate Market for 3rd Quarter 2010  Home Sales in Canyon and Ada County, Idaho
Canyon County Real Estate Market as of October 1, 2010:
1932 active single-family homes in Canyon County ID were available as of October 1st. 49% of these homes are "distressed properties" 298 are REO by banks (foreclosures)  649 are short sales (34%). Canyon County ID SOLD Data:
As of 9-31-2010, 2421 Canyon County Homes have SOLD. 67% of these Canyon County homes were "distressed properties" 1209 Bank owned REO's 423 Short sales (17%). There is approx. 7 months of inventory available for Canyon County Home Buyers to choose … (0 comments)

40 Tools of the Trade Part 8 - 08:55 PM
40 Tools of the Trade Part 8:
 As I mentioned before, these are in no particular order, just random tools that I use in my business. Here are Tools of the Trade 36 - 40:
36. Air Quality-I have one Ozone air purifier that I randomly use at different listings to clean up bad smells. It works great! It takes a majority of smoke smells out, some pet odors and makes the house feel very fresh!  I also purchased a half-dozen automatic air fresheners from our office janitorial service. They are a commercial product and can be purchased relatively inexpensively. They … (6 comments)

What's in your toolbox? - 09:01 PM
I always find it handy to have a few tools in the car, just in case. I think the step ladder is a great idea, especially after helping so many new buyers reset their garage door keypad codes.
There's nothing like a good roll of Duct Tape and a can of WD-40. Duct Tape is good for something that moves and shouldn't. WD-40 is good for stuff that doesn't move & should!
Be sure and check out our new Agent's Toolbox Group!

Via Bea Lueck (Rox Real Estate):
.  Do you carry a toolbox in your trunk? I do.  Not only would … (12 comments)

Looking Back 5 Years at Boise and Nampa Home Prices - 09:30 PM
Looking Back 5 Years at Boise and Nampa Home Prices
Average SOLD Nampa Idaho Home Prices:
Sept. 2005    $139,118 Sept. 2006    $184,308 Sept. 2007    $183,180 Sept. 2008    $162,844 Sept. 2009    $131,962   (59% Distressed Properties) Sept. 2010    $108,840   (68% Distressed Properties) About a 22% drop in Nampa Home Prices in 5 years.
___________________________________________________________________
 
Average SOLD Boise Idaho Home Prices:
Sept. 2005    $215,505 Sept. 2006    $262,068 Sept. 2007    $252,949 Sept. 2008    $232,901 Sept. 2009    $195,621   (29% Distressed Properties) Sept. 2010    $178,431   (41% Distressed Properties) About a 17% drop in Boise Home Prices in 5 years. 
Is this the bottom? If we wait to … (4 comments)

The Chicken and the Egg of Real Estate - 10:25 AM
Great post, Cynthia.  If all Realtors would use your "Chicken and egg theory" we would all make more money , save more time and have happier customers.  We are starting to ask for pre-approval or proof of funds letters for our listings prior to showings if they are not on a lockbox.  Why would I allow another agent to waste my time just because they are willing to waste theirs?
Via Cynthia Larsen - Sonoma County Real Estate (Safe Haven Realty):
The chicken and the egg. Which comes first? When a potential buyer calls and wants me to show them a home, one … (0 comments)

10630 Stonington St - 03:19 PM
… (0 comments)

Anyone Creating A Wide Panoramic Real Estate Slideshow using GarageBand - 08:47 PM
I am curious if anyone has created a 180 degree to 360 degree style real estate podcast using GarageBand?  I realize that this is fairly easy to do in iMovie but I hadn't considered doing this in GarageBand.  For those of you who have actually done this in GarageBand using wide panoramic images and the Ken Burns Effect...was the motion nice and smooth?
Thanks,
Sam Miller 
Knox County Ohio
… (0 comments)

Speechless Sunday: Awesome Cathedral of Saint John the Divine - 07:39 PM




Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, an awesome landmark in Morningside Heights.
Located at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10025 (between West 110th Street, which is also known as "Cathedral Parkway", and 113 Street) in Manhattan's Morningside Heights, the cathedral is claimed to be the largest cathedral and Anglican church and third largest Christian church in the world.
 
iPhone photos courtesy of:
Mitchell Hall, Associate Broker, The Corcoran Group
Apartment and Townhouse listings by email
How much is your Manhattan apartment or townhouse worth in today's market?
©Mitchell Hall 2010
 
… (15 comments)

Attention Investors and Property Owners - 02:34 AM
My name is Dominique Pryor-Anderson and I am a Realtor with Superior Property Management, in Bartlett, TN.  I specialize in real estate rentals and lease purchases, as well as traditional purchases and sales.  I have a database of over 1,000 eager individuals interested renting and/or lease purchasing homes in the following areas (right now):
•·         Hickory Hill area
•·         Perkins, Getwell, Knight Arnold Areas
•·         Summer, Jackson, National areas
My typical client is looking to pay between $400 and $700 per month. They generally have no problem with down payments or deposits, will pay on time, and will have a … (0 comments)

Roselle IL Homes - Market Update September 2010 - 02:53 PM
How to describe this market for Roselle IL Homes?  Unbelievable! A now retired agent in my office used to say this to encompass every conceivable change or option and still stay positive!  I'm going to loudly reiterate that phrase to update you on recent Roselle IL Home sales.Over the last 3 months, inventory for Roselle IL Homes is down substantially from 20.7 to 8.5 months.  Where did these homes go?  I think that sellers have taken their homes off the market and decided not to move or the sellers have become 'reluctant' landlords in order to continue with their future plans.  The … (1 comments)

Smooth Sailing to a Successful Home Purchase - 10:12 AM
 
As a buyer, you want your offer to be accepted and your contract to close on schedule.  However, in today's climate, you should expect some negotiation, and submit your offer with the following advice in mind. The financing contingency in your offer will state your loan total and anticipated interest rate and approval date.  Strongly consider locking in that rate with the lender, as rates are still very low, and you'll avoid any future fluctuations in the market. Reserve funds now for your settlement costs at closing.  Anticipate anywhere from 2% to 6% of the amount you're financing, plus your … (5 comments)

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