Archives of real estate blog entries for December 19, 2011

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"BUYERS REMORSE" AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.....AND DEFEAT IT! - 05:55 AM
"BUYERS REMORSE" AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.....AND DEFEAT IT!
I spoke to an agent today who is going through losing a deal because her buyer is having second thoughts....Buyers Remorse is so common that most agents have a way of handling it and pushing beyond it with the buyer. But there is still a lack of understanding about this phenomenon. This particular agent is new so I felt the need to help her out with it.
Many think it is only women who suffer this angst...Not so! I have had men experience it as well and it is not any easier to … (69 comments)

UH OH! Your Las Vegas Real Estate Listing Expired! What Happened? - 07:20 PM
Selling Your House in Las Vegas:  OUCH Your Listing Expired!
I am putting a postcard campaign together for reaching out to Las Vegas sellers who attempted to sell their home but their listing expired!  I have found a lot of reasons why potential listings expired and am putting them right here in a nifty list for you:
Agent Related to Seller:  I was actually shocked about this one.  Almost 30% of our 1400 ish expired listings in the last three months were listings where the agent was related to the seller in some way.   Maybe if your Las Vegas listing expired and … (70 comments)

Do Kitchen Appliances Sell a Home? - 07:04 PM
Do Kitchen Appliances Sell a Home? A short time ago I listed a house that was 20 years old with original kitchen appliances.  Very clearly worn and quite frankly a bit grungy, these appliances were a distraction from the rest of the kitchen which was remarkably in pretty good shape by contrast. When a home buyer sees older appliances that show considerable wear and tear and appear poorly maintained, reliability fears will surface. So, this seller was faced with a kitchen marred by appliances that had seen better days.  What were the options? Advice:  Use some serious elbow grease to degrease … (113 comments)

What Will the Seller Take? Answer - Probably the Asking Price - 09:30 PM
Two questions I get asked by other agents and buyers that amuse me:
Why is the owner selling What will the seller take - what is their bottom line Yesterday I had a buyer tell me if they knew why the owner was selling it would help them decide how and if they wanted to make an offer. I can understand that. As my fiduciary responsibility is to the Seller, unless I have permission to disclose the reasons for the sale, then I won't pass on this information. Most times I just answer because they are moving.
The question about what … (83 comments)

Top Five Buyer Questions that I Can't Answer - 10:18 AM
Top Five Buyer Questions that I Can't Answer

There are times, when I'm asked certain questions from buyers that if I didn't have my REALTOR® hat on, I could probably give you my opinion, but since I AM a REALTOR® in the Portland Metro area, I have a Code of Ethics and Fair Housing rules and guidelines that I need to  follow. So when you ask me the following questions, please know that some of your questions are subjective to your needs and there is no way I can know the answer. They also fall under the Fair Housing or … (77 comments)

The Age Factor in Homebuying - 01:00 PM
 
While the age of a home denotes how long the structural members have been in place, the actual number of years means little or nothing.  As with humans, age is relative; and sometimes a fifty-year old home is in better condition than one that is only a couple of years old.  Rather than age, the important aspects are determining whether or not the home meets your needs, confirming its condition and having it in a convenient and desirable location. 
 
There is one area where age may help to point out potential problems and that is in being aware … (53 comments)

What Color is your Blogging Belt? - 09:18 PM
It's that time of year again. Yes, I am thinking.What am I thinking you may ask yourself, or not, whatever takes your fancy? Well, it suddendly struck me that there has to be some kind of a blogging level at which you arrive in your blogging career where you can actually sit awhile, relax, and enjoy the view, because you know you have arrived.It hit me that it would seem that we can never do that.  There are days where I just don't feel like blogging.  Or I have not one idea in my head. But I feel driven to write … (107 comments)

Visiting the Silversmith in Colonial Williamsburg - 01:49 PM
Visiting the Silversmith in Colonial Williamsburg
In the 18th century in Colonial Williamsburg, buyers had to plan ahead for their jewelry and silverware purchases since they all had to be hand made to order.  During our recent visit to the silversmith, they were demonstrating the crafting of a silver goblet.  This is a very interesting place to visit on your next trip to Williamsburg.
Please share photographs from your favorite places in the comments for this post. Be sure to have your camera in hand to capture those special moments. 
Best wishes to all for a Very Merry Christmas and a … (52 comments)

In the hour on Active Rain EARLY this Morn, what did this Real Estate Agent LEARN? - 07:46 AM
In the hour on Active Rain EARLY this Morn, what did this Real Estate Agent LEARN?
I can see my times on my home page so lately I have become curious about my TIME return on investment for Active Rain.
I started at 6:51 and will easily have this post wrapped up in way under twenty minutes.
My one reblog a day and ten comments a day are already zapped out on my iPad.
Well, I learned that...
Meetingburner is a cool tool that is Free for online meetings.
I also learned that there are other agents who streamline their showing … (63 comments)

I say Merry Christmas! I say Happy Holidays!! - 01:15 PM
It has become an important topic to discuss what we say to people during this time of the year, it seems to someone that the only greeting should be ” Merry Christmas!” as we are celebrating Christmas as nation’s holiday. To others, “Happy Holidays” would be proper greeting since many other holidays are during the same time, such as Hanukkah (the Hebrew word for dedication), Kwanzaa (first fruit of the harvest).  We are a country with muti-culture tradition, we are pride to have freedom of speech, freedom of expressing our religion’s believes. We respect each other for who they are, this … (63 comments)

This Commercial Inspection Was A Commercial For Unprofessional Work - 06:36 AM
I knew when I was walking around the outside of the unit that this commercial inspection was a commercial for unprofessional work.  The corrolary to this is that the "management" company might need consideration also.
My client was buying a doctor's office condo in a building of office condos.  The seller said the condo "management" did lots of work in anticipation of the sale.
Apparently many spots on the attractive 2x4 trim needed to be "shored up" with some straps.  How did "management" do that?  Of course, with drywall screws!  This had been done just a couple of days before our … (26 comments)

My automated feedback request. - 12:51 PM
You were kind enough to show my property at 1234 Main Street yesterday. I wonder if you'll also be kind enough to share with me, and my client, how your client LOVED the property.  Anything you can share would be most appreciated.
Please select from the choices listed below and feel free to fill in any additional comments you might have.  Thank you so much.
Do you think your clients have any interest in this property?
Yes, they liked it very much.  In fact they felt so at home, they settled in on your couch and watched Tim Tiebow praying in … (98 comments)

2011 December Blogging Challenge - Day 19 - Finding lost gems for buyers - 05:12 PM
Every so often I'll get a buyer who can't find what they want in the current market.  We'll look at what is available and find something close but not quite right.  Depending on the motivation of the buyer, I'll do an in-depth search of the expired listings as far back as a year.  As with any normal search, you put in the right parameters and find a possible match.  Then, it's all about legwork and homework.  So, today I...
Reviewed all the possible expired or cancelled listings back 1 year Checked to eliminate any that eventually sold Looked at Google StreetView … (34 comments)

Conversations with a FSBO - 04:03 PM
Mary recently showed a FSBO to our buyer clients, and they were interested enough that they decided to think it over, but felt, as did Mary, that the home was significantly overpriced. A bit of research indicated that at $350,000, the home was at least $50,000 over market.
The following is, first, a phone discussion between the seller and Mary, initiated by the seller about two hours after the showing.
Your buyers seemed to like our home. Will they be making an offer?
They did like the home and thought it had some great potential. However, they feel, and my … (132 comments)

Sometimes you just have to ask for the business... - 05:05 PM
Downside...they want to look at 20-30 homes this weekend.  Upside...they will probably buy this weekend.
And so it goes with relocating clients.  I love working with relocating clients to Indianapolis.
As luck would have it...actually I am sure it was devine intervention...I received a website lead on a rental I have and it turns out she is in the first wave of folks being relocated here by a company down South.  Not only did she end up renting my house, she also told her HR people about me and I got to work with these folks. 
I worked hard to find … (45 comments)


Blog posts


USA 1.12 Acre Wooded Lot - Very Quiet, Peaceful Location - Price Improvement - Sylva NC Real Estate - 05:24 PM
Very Quiet "Get Away", Peaceful and Cool Location … (0 comments)

ActiveRain / EchoSign Challenge: What Does Trust Mean to You? - 07:07 PM
Wow, 2012 already? Can you believe it?
Adding a new sponsor to ActiveRain is always rewarding for us. We get a chance to have a company jump on board ActiveRain and contribute to an already thriving community and you get a chance to take a look at a product that you may consider implementing in your business plan. At the very least, you get a chance to see how others may chose to implement it.
Whenever I have a chance to be the person discussing how an advertiser is going to engage with our members, I always try to stress one … (0 comments)

2011 December Blogging Challenge ~ Day 19 - 11:13 PM
 
December 2011 Blogging Challenge Day 19 ~  Real Estate in Southern New Hampshire.
It is another beautiful day in Southern New Hampshire. 
There still is no snow and the temperature reached 45!  I love it! 
 
    The morning started off looking at all of the papers on my desk.  November was a productive month.  I think it is high time to close some files and start getting organized.  Filing, throwing stuff out and putting away closed files this morning was very productive.
    The next project, was filling out my application for the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce.  … (6 comments)

2011 December Blogging Challenge - Week 4 - Post 1 - 10:55 PM
2011 December Blogging Challenge - Week 4 - Post 1
It is a challenge to do this stuff (Hence the term Blogging Challenge) while getting ready for Christmas and dealing with a sick kid.
However, today I spent time talking with one of my lending partners about getting the web site set up.  Making some check list, and starting to get things organized there.  
Other than that I dealt with varies crises and deadlines on my escrows.  I could panic, but I am teaching myself to trust.  I also played around with the new contact management system.  
… (6 comments)

Worst Christmas Movies of All Time - 07:09 PM
Worst Christmas Movies of All Time
 
The movie website Fandango has released their 10 Worst Christmas Movies of all time list. 
And here are the losers winners:
1. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
2. Silent Night, Deadly Night
3. Jingle All the Way
4. Jack Frost5. Santa with Muscles
6. Ernest Saves Christmas
7. Home Alone 3
8. Deck the Halls
9. Surviving Christmas
10. Christmas with the Kranks.
How many of these movies have you seen?   I think the only one I have seen (or will admit to seeing) is Jack  Frost.  It probably deserves to be on … (12 comments)

2011 December 31 Day Posting Challenge - Day 19 - 11:36 PM
Today was spent actually working at real estate, showing a first-time buyer and her mother (her husband is currently deployed) homes for the first time.  By the end of the afternoon I was pretty sure I had a handle on what she's looking for and what goals she's trying to accomplish.   All in all a day well spent, even if it did mean driving around in the rain.  (Which, around here, is a Good Thing, as we've been without for way too long!)
 
 
… (1 comments)

Winter Wonderland - 11:31 AM
In nearby Silverthorne, Colorado there is a Castle under-construction for the  next few months.  Many people are working on it day and night even though it is temporary.  Right now when the temperature is cold the Castle grows, but in a few months when the warm wind blows the Castle will melt away.
What a wonderful sight this Castle is.  Children and adults smile in appreciation  of its wonder.  The entire Castle is made only of ice.  Ice and ice alone transforms into the shape of a magnificent site.
The Ice Castle is open daily.  For more information please visit the … (22 comments)

And As 2011 Comes To A Close . . . - 12:44 AM
I won't be the least bit sorry to see it pass into the annals of history.  For me, on a personal level, it was a time of change, certainly a time of reflection and sadly a time of loss.  One of my dear friends left this planet quite unexpectedly earlier this year, taking a piece of me with her, and leaving a huge hole in my life.
As I look forward to 2012, I face it with hope, with plans for the future and with a renewed determination.  As I prepare to cast this ship afloat, I pray the winds and weather propel it … (11 comments)

14728 DAY LILY CT, ORLANDO FL 32824 Forest Ridge - 01:26 PM
14728 DAY LILY CT, ORLANDO  FL 32824                                                                             $$$ 104,000 $$$
HUD Case#094-536659. Property is HUD owned & subject to HUD rules. FHA eligibility- Insured w/Repair Escrow $2970 (FHA ok). Sold As-Is, no post-contract repairs or credits whatsoever; Lien/Code violations may or may not exist; Mold issues may or may not exist.           Buyer to independently verify all measurements, condition and HOA info if any. Buyer responsible for activating utilities for inspection. Investors must complete inspections prior to bid. Buyer to pay doc stamps, title ins and HOA transfer fees. 
For the latest status on this property and many more in the Orlando … (1 comments)

O5077817 11928 ATLIN DR, ORLANDO FL 32837 Whisper Lakes - 01:39 PM
O5077817 11928 ATLIN DR, ORLANDO FL 32837                                                              $$$ 117,900 $$$
This house has everything you have been looking for in a home.  Your family room is spacious and bright and adds to the charm of you being the ideal host.  Your galley kitchen provides an abundance of countertop space with room to mingle and you refresh your guest drink without having to squeeze by anyone.  The stairs to the second floor lend itself to a hallway where multiple bedrooms are located.  Out back you have set up a fire pit and lounge area to have your guest relax and enjoy all … (1 comments)

10406 SPARKLE CT, ORLANDO FL 32836 Diamond Cove - 01:53 PM
10406 SPARKLE CT, ORLANDO FL 32836                                                                    $$$ 325,000 $$$
Great opportunity to own a 4 bedroom 2.5 bathroom lakefront home in Diamond Cove.  This home has so much family fun space including a formal living room, formal dining room, a spacious kitchen, a great family room with soaring ceiling and a 2 story two faced wood burning fireplace.  The Master bedroom is on the 1st floor and is an owners retreat.  The master bathroom is like a trip to the spa with a garden tub, separate shower and two sink vanities.  The three additional bedroom and a loft are all located on … (0 comments)

161 ALAMEDA DR, KISSIMMEE FL 34743 Buenaventura Lakes - 01:58 PM
161 ALAMEDA DR, KISSIMMEE FL 34743                                                             $$$ 79,900 $$$
Check out this charming 3 bedroom, 2 bath home.  Greet guests from your foyer, and welcome them into your spacious living room.  Around the corner, you'll have your dining room decked out in your finest table service.  The galley kitchen makes it a breeze to get dinner on the table, while keeping an eye on the action in the family room.  Better yet, throw open the slider and take the party out to the grill on your patio.  Plenty of room here in your large fenced yard for a game of ball … (1 comments)

2509 BALMORAL DR, KISSIMMEE FL 34744 Remington - 02:04 PM
2509 BALMORAL DR, KISSIMMEE FL 34744                                                                        $$$ 119,900 $$$
Your new home waits!  You found this gem in a quaint community and the curb appeal and roof line had you at "Hello!"  A great lawn that answers your desire to landscape exactly the way you have always wanted to.   Inside you discover great architectural angles and ceilings that add to the charm of your abode.   Multiple niches and ledges display your personal effects that make your house a home.  Your spacious kitchen is bright and provides ample cabinet and counter space.  Enjoy quiet afternoons on your screened patio while overlooking your … (1 comments)

3017 MANDOLIN DR, KISSIMMEE FL 34744 Turnberry Reserve - 02:07 PM
3017 MANDOLIN DR, KISSIMMEE FL 34744                                                                       $$$ 209,900 $$$
Start sending out those housewarming invitations!  Imagine the reactions of friends and family as you greet them in the foyer, and they catch sight of your formal living room and dining room dressed in its finest.  Their eyes will travel up the grand staircase to the loft above.  Lead them through to your large kitchen where the punch awaits on your center island.  The family room is buzzing with the sounds of the game, while laughter drifts in the sliding door from the ball game in the backyard.  The out-of-town guests have … (2 comments)

December IS Challenging Day 18 and 19 - 06:47 AM
    Sunday is never a day of rest until sometimes after 7pm ...no exception ...a showing which will become an offer tomorrow...
an offer that required drafting a counter.  We often get offers on Short Sales where either the buyers or the agents....and sometimes both...believe that whatever number they choose to write as a price is of course what the bank will accept.
     Much of this agents tell us if from the "educational internet".....and both agents and buyers believing everything they read.  People will always believe what they want to believe. I feel it is our "educational duty" to explain  … (7 comments)

Super Affordable $45,000 Mount Vernon Ohio Home For Sale - 08:08 AM
It is spectacular when someone can purchase and own a home for a lower monthly payment than what they would pay to for a small 2 bedroom apartment which is what makes this home so appealing especially at only $45,000.  If you like the looks of this home be sure to check out this link and view the extra listing details 104 Columbus Road in Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050.
You can also view all of our available Knox County Ohio homes for sale that are priced from $100,000 and under by clicking this link.
Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty (740) … (5 comments)

Apple Valley Lake Affordable Lot For Sale at 281 Floral Valley Subdivision for $4,000 - 10:49 AM
One of the nicest and most affordable lots available at the Apple Valley Lake for $4000.  if you like the looks of this lot feel free to conpare it with any of our other available Apple Valley Lake lots for sale.
Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty (740) 397-7800  AppleValleyOhio.com
… (1 comments)

Lot 589 Grand Valley View at the Apple Valley Lake - 10:50 AM
Super affordable $3,499 lot for sale at 589 Grand Valley View subdivision at the Apple Valley Lake.
available Apple Valley Lake lots for sale and organized in price order from highest to lowest prices.
Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty (740) 397-7800  AppleValleyOhio.com
… (1 comments)

Mount Vernon Ohio Country Home with Acreage and Big Garage Space for $150,000 - 03:40 PM
If like the looks of this home, acreage and the large garage space be sure to check out the additional listing details by visiting 19475 Bone Road in Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050.  We have also created a specialized real estate listing link so that you can view all of our Knox County Ohio homes with acreage.
Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty (740) 397-7800  KnoxCountyOhio.com
… (3 comments)

Huge Price Reduction at the Apple Valley Lake - 08:20 PM
This home is one of the best values available at the Apple Valley Lake and it was just reduced to $100,000. 
If you like the looks of this home be sure to check out the additional listing details by visiting 639 Greenbriar Circle at the Apple Valley Lake
If you would like to view additional homes for sale and compare be sure to check out all of our available homes for sale at the Apple Valley Lake.
Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty (740) 397-7800  AppleValleyOhio.com
… (5 comments)

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