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COMMENTS anyone????? Help! My BLOG's too young to die! CLICK "comment" NOW! Please? Voila! You've created a Blogging MASTERPIECE!You poured your heart and soul into creating a helpful and informative blog post. Then POOF! In the blink of an eye it disappears into the abyss, never to be viewed, not a comment to be had, unable to inform or help those many people you wished it would reach. Buried in it's youth under a heaping pile of blogs, blogs, blogs! It's off Page 1 in seconds, on page 2 in less than a minute, now Page 3 at just … (115 comments)
Ever had a ‘short’ short sale? The very thought may bring rolling eyes, laughs of complete and total sarcasm or perhaps just a sigh. OR maybe it brings up a ‘Yes, we have!’ Well we had one albeit with some bumps at the end! We contracted a property to buy not too long ago which was short sale approved. Not just approved but approved and fell through three times prior. Lucky us? Well we got it under contract and the warm and fuzzy start began. Six weeks pass and bank approval was in. Not bad and time to close was two … (111 comments)
Yes, you read that right. I'm thankful for closed cell foam insulation. Of course, I'm thankful for my family, health, and all that other jazz, but this is a blog about home inspections and home related topics, so I'm going to stay focused on that. To fully explain why I'm so thankful for closed cell foam insulation, I first need to complain about my house a little bit.
Did you know that only 3% of all businesses on line use video in their marketing and that includes the real estate industry? Most people don't realize that since YouTube is the second largest search engine and when you visit YouTube it seems to be nothing but a sea of endless videos. But most of the videos that are on YouTube are not business directed videos. Did you know? More video is uploaded to YouTube in 30 days than the top 3 networks ever created in the last 60 years? Over 3 Billion videos are viewed EVERY day! In 2010- over 13 … (29 comments)
Small Business Saturday had its debut last year. But they are upping the publicity and ante this year. In my opinion – a program like this is a step in the right direction. In Washington they jawbone about supporting small business – but talk is not action. Yet small business, including bricks and mortars have traditionally been the backbone of American exceptionalism and success. They need and deserve our patronage and support.
It's inspection day! The last last thing you want to do is leave the buyer or their inspector with questions about how the home has been maintained and cared for over the years. It's time to put your home's best brick forward, so here are 10 things you'll definitely want to avoid!.jpg?1369339869)
If you have a product to sell, would you close your doors on a busy, holiday shopping day? If you're a home seller with their house on the market for sale, doesn't that mean you're living in your product? Just because it's a holiday, does that mean you should "close your doors" for the sale?
My Fence is Gone! 
Santa's Elves Babysitting Services Offered Through New Lenox Park District (IL) on December 2nd and 16th Are you a busy parent with lots to accomplish this holiday season? Holiday parties to attend? Shopping to complete? Do you live near New Lenox, IL? Then wow ... do I have some great news and information for YOU! On December 2nd and December 16th, the Santa's Elves at New Lenox (IL) Park District will be available to babysit for your child between the hours of 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm. The elves will serve pizza for dinner, … (21 comments)
There are 39 Days left in 2011 What will you do with them? 
Lately, I've been thinking about Focus. And the way our focus impacts our lives. Focus is a magnifier. It enlarges whatever it is directed towards. Focus also is an attractor. It brings to us whatever we pay attention to. 
Sun City Grand Colonnade Appraisal Extravaganza 11am to 2pm November 29, 2011 
Fun Off-the-Beaten-Track Museums for Kids It's now officially holiday time again - that joyous, tiring, and raucous time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I've been noticing that kids seem to have a lot more days off and sometimes the energy levels at this time of year are overwhelming. Try a little quiet time by visiting some local museums that are geared to children. Except for one, they are off the beaten track and will surprise and delight. "Lake Forest Wildlife Discovery Center" 1401 Middlefork Drive, Lake Forest, IL 847-614-4388 More of a wildlife sanctuary than a museum, this facility is located in … (21 comments)
I got my real estate license in 1992. I started at Century 21 . It was a small office but I loved it. I used to take floor time .
The One That Got Away...A Costly Lesson in Humility
Today I read a post that showed a significant resemblance to one of my own. While the post was not copied or ‘plagiarized’, I recognized the sentence structure, the tone, and the phraseology as mine.
What are the ups and downs of changing companies?
Last week, I made an appointment to show a listing in a very nice part of Pensacola. The listing agent let me know up front that the seller was offering a $3,000 "allowance" to replace the handicap tub in the master bathroom, so I knew up front that we were going to have a few mental "hurdles" to get over on this one. 
It's a Good News Day!
During the holidays it's easy to let the holidays run you! You hear all the excuses why it's slow at this time of the year...no buyers are out looking...November and December customers are busying with the holidays...You have many holiday activities to plan and events to attend...You'll get back to real estate after the holidays. Then January rolls around and more excuses...first quarter is always slow...there are football playoffs...no buyers are out looking...the weather is nasty and before you know it first quarter is coming to an end before you decide to ramp up again! Last week I took time to … (70 comments)
So this is going to be one of those dear diary sort of entries. I really need to get this off my chest and hopefully a few of you out there will understand. I've been selling real estate for almost 6 years now. I was born and raised in Portland so I know the area very well and have lived in most parts of it myself. I am married and have been with my husband for 7 years. My husband's family is nice and we get along well. When we got married they were very helpful with the whole event (not … (73 comments)
Super 8 - Proximate to Orlando Area … (0 comments)
I have continued to add neighborhood pages to my Austin real estate website. I am adding by region and today added a number of Dripping Springs Neighborhoods. I also added a couple that are between Bee Cave and Dripping Springs with two actually straddling the county line. As such, some of the kids in these neighborhoods attend Dripping Springs Schools and others attend Lake Travis schools. One of the neighborhoods is West Cave Estates.
I have found a free place to post your listings.
More Than How Many Bedrooms and How Many Baths! A Unique Contemporary located at 2301 Velvet Ridge Drive 21117 This contemporary has 3 bedrooms on the main level and another master bedroom and possible 5th bedroom in the lower level. It also has 3 full baths. But... this home is so much more than how many bedrooms and how many baths. 
We hear it almost daily....when an agent wants to write a half price offer on one of our already well priced short sale listings...they know better how to price it....why their offer should be accepted by the Sellers and the bank....that the banks will take whatever they write...after all....."It's the Market...."....of course it is...It is the market where it is smart to observe, educate, learn and adapt to the conditions that are prevalent now...that were not a while ago.
Joe Jackson makes a really great point about the difference in home values relating to similar homes that are located in different school districts. I agree with his position! We have experienced similar situations with appraisers and most have been willing to look at additional comparables that we have provided and most "get it" when they can see the difference in neighborhood values but they need to be able to support it with factual data. 
Great job Sam...i love the pictures, the deed information and all the ancillary input that you and your team provide.....I will share with a client who is looking out your way and hopefully I can match you up with them...thanks again....
As bad or sad as it may be agents just for the most part don't think it is worth the effort or realize how important feed back it to the seller. I am amazed at the agents that will not even let the sellers agent know the little things that could lead to a sale such as a price reduction or concessions that the seller may give etc.Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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