Archives of real estate blog entries for February 1, 2011

Featured blog posts


You are adding a buyer's agent, why do they always seem to want to leave the team? 10 Ideas to help - 12:21 AM
A lot of agents have dreams about adding members to their teams.  They add administrators, marketing experts, transaction coordinators, Social Media gurus, you name it...  Then they add a buyer's agent, and it seems to all go to heck in a hand basket...  The admins are a bit easier to keep on the team, but the buyer's agents seem to come and go.
You spend countless hours training, and mentoring to get the buyers agents up to speed.  You have visions of sugar plum fairies...Wait, that is a different story...  You have dreams of building this huge team with many many … (135 comments)

Recessed Lights Are Evil - 06:25 AM
I love recessed lights, but even the best ones create a ridiculous amount of heat in attics, which can lead to ice dams.  Until I started performing infrared inspections in attics, I never quite grasped how much heat recessed lights contributed to attics, but now my eyes are wide open.  The main problem I find with recessed lights is that they’re not insulated well enough; on a recent home inspection in Maple Grove, I found a home with forty-six recessed lights sticking up in to the attic, along with some wicked ice dams on the roof.
A standard recessed light will stick up in to … (65 comments)

Do you have your name & company plastered all over your car? - 06:58 AM
Many times when scheduling an appointment to see a future seller's home they ask me if I have my name and company plastered all over my car.  They don't want their neighbors to know I'm coming to talk with them.  I always answer NO! I DO NOT make my name & company visible on my car.
Sometimes I'm meeting with  clients that want my advice on what projects they should be working on to prepare their home for sale in a year or two.  They want to know where to be investing their dollars and get some enjoyment out of the … (276 comments)

Our Realtor® left us hanging at the closing table! - 10:56 AM

I'm sure that this post will have some controversy and I'm sure that there will be some that agree and some that don't.
I still firmly believe that sometimes we have to be there for our clients. Whatever floats your boat and works for you is the most important thing.
I know that some of you are going to say..." We have qualified people to go in our place" or "We're too busy to go" or "Our clients don't care if we're there or not" or "the property is a short sale and vacant and there is no need to be there"  I've heard … (171 comments)

Why Today's Homeownership Numbers Could Change Your Life - 12:08 AM
Homeownership rate hits a 10yr low.....Today The Census Bureau released its survey of residential vacancies and homeownership for the fourth quarter of 2010. Every quarter the census bureau releases it's backward looking report to give us some information on homeownership in the country and how it compares to a year over year number. The report covers data by region, age, race, and income levels.
 The report covered the following:
The total of all housing units for the 4th Quarter of 2010 was 130.85 million, up slightly from the same time period of 2009
The number of owner occupied units: This total number came in … (32 comments)

Active Rain Anonymous...are they coming for you next? (An animated movie!) - 10:24 PM
Active Rain Anonymous...are they coming for you next?
OK...I think I had way too much fun with this contest. And why not? I am so completely addicted to Active Rain.
The following movie is based on a true story...yes...the story of an addict. A story far too familiar in the households of my fellow friends in the rain. If you can relate to what you are about to see...
...Look OUT!!! They may be coming for you next!!!!
(Click on image below to view movie)


 
 
 
… (64 comments)

How Active Rain Made Me A Top Producer. - 10:34 PM
 
 
How Active Rain Made Me A Top Producer.
I really cannot believe it, but I managed to finish my 2nd year as a full time broker/agent in the top 10% of all agents in the 2 counties that I service.  I bet that many AR members are in the top 5% but I am very happy and I honestly started from scratch.  I never had the opportunity to work for a big time real estate brokerage and I received my real estate license initially for personal deals.  I stayed very busy managing my families retail business and real estate was somewhat of … (120 comments)

I am not a toaster - 07:50 PM

 
You asked.
We gave you what you wanted, but the power of the dark side was just too great for the wanna be Darth-Vader-Home-Seller.
It isn't a big secret that real estate agents have really low entry standards into a profession that helps people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a purchase.  I swear going to toaster selling training is often more intense than the classes that real estate agents have to do to sell homes to people.
We're special that way.
Consumers know this not-so-well-hidden industry secret, and so you do what you should do.  Try and … (34 comments)

Cheap Tips #1... Getting Ready to Sell. - 10:20 PM
Image via Wikipedia For many sellers, there isn't a bottomless pit of money to get the house ready to go on the market.  Simply put, between pressure to get to market, the need to pay sales fees, buyers needing concessions like closing costs and even the cost of moving expenses, there isn't enough money to go in and make major renovations to the house before selling...
In fact, it is seldom worthwhile to make major changes to the home prior to going on the market.
But there are some inexpensive and relatively simple things that can increase the sales price of … (23 comments)

The Do's and Don’ts When Preparing to Sell from a Morris County Stager - 09:42 PM
The Do's and Don'ts When Preparing to Sell From a Morris County Stager
                                                   First the Don'ts:
1. Think you'll have more negotiating room if you list your home above fair market value - big mistake!  There's a good it chance it will sit on the market and become stale. A good realtor will tell you this and you need to listen!   
2. Put scented candles in every room or use air fresheners. Buyers aren't stupid and it's the equivalent to skipping a shower and putting on perfume or aftershave - you're not fooling anyone!  Clean, clean, clean  - it's … (144 comments)

Mea Culpa - 06:16 PM
We're (very) aware that ActiveRain has been unreliable over the past few weeks. It's incredibly frustrating when viewing a blog post, leaving a comment, catching up on your Social Blog, or perusing your favorite groups takes minutes, not seconds. It's also frustrating for us — like you, we spend countless hours on ActiveRain, and every instance of downtime means that we've failed to provide a reliable platform for you and your business. We're sorry.
I'm posting this message from my personal blog because my responsibilities at ActiveRain include managing infrastructure and product development. Ultimately, the distribution of our technology resources (programmers, … (197 comments)

SEO Tip: Don't Use the Term "CLICK HERE" For Anything! - 10:53 PM
SEO Tip: Don't Use the Term "CLICK HERE" For Anything!
I always want to prefice my blogs by saying, yes, maybe you knew about this for years... but many don't. This blog is for you.
I see it everywhere. On every type of website, blog, email, comment, script, etc... the phrase "click here" with either the here hyperlinked or the entire phrase linked to where ever the author wanted the user to go. The problem with this is, this brands that URL with the term "here" or "click here". This means nothing to your site or blog or whatever it is … (78 comments)

She’s so young; I can’t believe she needs a facelift! - 07:29 AM
She was blessed with a strong build, not only milky white cement and steal headers but she’s pure of 4x6’s too! 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
She’s considered queen of her castle, and at first glance perfection. Only 3 years have passed and she’s in need of a facelift!
Ask any builder, he’ll tell you that all new girls change over time, and especially once she gets comfortable and settles in.
Her furniture is going through some rearranging like a Facelift.
Her nails pop like acne in need of a Retin A.
Her wood swells and shrinks … (57 comments)

ActiveRain & Kodak Contest: A challenge to go paperless - 12:12 AM
 
What does your office look like?  Take a good look around.  My bet is that there are mountains of paperwork flowing like a river out of cabinets, file folders, binders and anything else we use to "organize" our lives.  There's stacks of paper on your desk that rival Mount Everest and the chair, well, forget about sitting in it. Face it, you're engulfed in a paper world.
With our industry, paper is a given and sometimes even a necessity.  For this month's ActiveRain & Kodak contest, we don't want you to go completely paperless, because that's not necessarily a realistic thing.  Instead, … (221 comments)

Local Real Estate Agent Could BE a HERO! Not a ZERO to his/her Clients!!! - 06:31 AM
Dear Local Real Estate Agent I just wanted to drop you a note to say THANK YOU for........                                                Choose the answer most appropriate ........for allowing your WITHDRAWN * EXPIRED * TERMINATED listing and clients to languish; ........for NOT suggesting that they talk to your brokerage firm's in-house property manager/leasing agent; for NOT referring them to an outside professional property manager OR for NOT referring them to ME and collecting my $250 property referral fee; ........for taking 3 days to locate the property key that you took from the lockbox; ........for finding the key and waiting another 3 days to leave … (22 comments)

What the Font is Going On Here? - 06:42 AM
What the Font is Going On Here?
Admittedly ActiveRain is at the top of my reading list on any given day.  With so much to choose from, it's hard to decide what to read particularly if I'm short on time.  But here are a few things that make it easier for me to decide what NOT to read:
Text to small that I either need to press my face against the screen or use a magnifiying glass.  No matter how well written this post is, I'm not going to read it if I can't see it. Sorry. Text written in font … (131 comments)

Builder Becomes Real Estate Broker, Warns Realtors Not To Say Anything Negative About His Company - 12:42 AM
A builder who had widely publicized problems became a real estate broker. The builder now claims that it is a violation of the NAR code of ethics if a Realtor says anything negative about his company.
The name of the real estate brokerage is very similar to the name of the construction company. His contention is one Realtor is not allowed to negatively comment about another Realtor.
What happens if a buyer wants an opinion about that builder’s homes or development?
What happens if a seller asks their listing agent about the marketability of their home built by that builder?
Interesting … (119 comments)

Is Your Inner Manager a Control Freak - 11:23 AM
For you outside readers this post is destined for Mike Perry's Real Estate Sales group as part of our Real Estate Sales class.  While incorporated classic sales techniques we are also exploring the great frontier that is social networking, blogging, and in my opinion about 50% of what real estate has become.  The other 50% is relationships which are important in any business whether real estate or otherwise. 
We constantly fight a battle between what we know we should be doing and what our inner manager has deemed safe and in our comfort zone.  The inner manager provides valuable insight when … (24 comments)

Giving away your hand at negotiation...would you admit that you're new? - 01:45 PM

 
Ok, so we've all been there, all bright an eager to get a client, elated when you get to take that client out and use that lockbox..show property. Yes! Now we are professional right? Can you remember that feeling?
The buyer turns to you and then says those magic words "We want to make and offer"..and then you have that excitement with a tinge of nervousness.
Here's that moment, can I really explain the sales agreement? Will my verbiage be correct to represent this client to the fullest? Go ahead..take that moment to remember what it was like to … (56 comments)

Should a Seller have to pay for being "Old Fashioned"? - 08:14 PM
Should a seller have to pay for being "Old Fashioned"?
My Brokerage is pretty strong in the technologies, we all are very active on line and the entire office is nearly paperless, digital signatures are my best friend and the majority of my marketing is online... so what to do when a Seller is unable or unwilling to make use of any of the labor/time/money saving tools I have put in place?
Mailing time sensitive documents can be very expensive and time consuming (seen the line at the Post Office lately?), and will not necessarily result in a commission check. It … (44 comments)

Checked your "STATISTICS" recently ?? - 10:58 PM
For the newer agents - or those who aren't aware of the feature - there is a great tool on AR for tracking the statistical success of each blog you write !

... funnily enough, it's called ..... STATISTICS !!!

You can find the feature on your HOME page in the left channel near the bottom.

Once you click "Statistics" you will be taken to a page that will list ALL your posted blogs since the history of time you started blogging on AR !
The interesting part is what these 'Stats' can tell you !
The "Comments" … (75 comments)


Blog posts


NCRealEstate - Property in Waynesville NC - Real Estate in Waynesville North Carolina - 09:29 AM
Private Home or Retreat LakeViews & Mountain Vistas … (0 comments)

ActiveRain & Kodak Contest: A challenge to go paperless - 12:12 AM
 
What does your office look like?  Take a good look around.  My bet is that there are mountains of paperwork flowing like a river out of cabinets, file folders, binders and anything else we use to "organize" our lives.  There's stacks of paper on your desk that rival Mount Everest and the chair, well, forget about sitting in it. Face it, you're engulfed in a paper world.
With our industry, paper is a given and sometimes even a necessity.  For this month's ActiveRain & Kodak contest, we don't want you to go completely paperless, because that's not necessarily a realistic thing.  Instead, … (221 comments)

Some of the great reasons you'll love living in Dripping Springs, Texas - 11:38 AM
February is a busy month in our sleepy little town of Dripping Springs.  It all gets started with the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce's "Suits and Boots" community award dinner.  Held this year at the Salt Lick Pavilion it's going to attract everyone who's anyone and a few like me who just like great BBQ.  Be sure to wear your best boots and suits to what promises to be a great event and a fun night.  That is coming up February 5th.
A few weeks later on February 20th is the Dripping Springs United Methodist Men's WILD GAME DINNER.  Serving over 700 … (2 comments)

Super Bowl Sunday Tips - 09:42 AM
The state of Wyoming may not have an NFL Football team, but that doesn't mean you can't throw a great Super Bowl Party.  Whoever you will be cheering for this Sunday for Super Bowl XLV, here are some great tips to make your Super Bowl party a success.

Stick with traditional Sunday football food items;  chips, cheese dips, chili, salsa, cheese balls, pizza, wings, mini franks, anything that screams unhealthy for you, but we all love. Set up as many televisions as you have available around the party.  This will prevent people from having to crowd around one television to … (3 comments)

Banks Committed Fraud on Investors of Mortgage Backed Securities - 07:39 PM
If you want to get an idea about what is really going on in this country you should read the following post. 
Another book I would recommend is Michael Lewis "The Big Short."
Via Tim Maitski (RE/MAX Greater Atlanta):
Forget about troubled homeowners trying to stop the foreclosure with a "show me the note" defense.  It's kind of a David vs. Goliath battle.  That's kind of small potatoes compared to what's shaping up to be massive lawsuits between  two Goliaths: banks vs.  large investment houses.
It looks like it is likely that we'll be seeing investors of MBS(mortgage backed securities) ie. pension funds … (3 comments)

Real Estate - Austin TX - How Do Closing Costs Really Work? - 01:48 PM
When you're an Austin TX home buyer, what does it mean to put closing costs into a contract? I hear all the time from sellers, "I'm not going to pay the buyers' closing costs! If they don't have money to buy my house, they shouldn't be buying it!!"  And buyers say, "I was told to make sure the sellers pay my closing costs. My friend did it so I want it too!"
Neither the sellers nor the buyers are looking at this closing costs thing in the right way.  When a buyer is buying a house, what seller in their right … (9 comments)

PODCAST: Four new 9-11 plotters revealed… by Wiki Leaks! - 10:54 PM
It is almost ten years since 9-11 and today we find out via the UK’s Daily Telegraph and Wiki Leaks, that there were four more plotters. Don’t we as Americans have a right to know? Should we not recognize their names in a heartbeat? Should we not be seeing their faces on network news shows every night while we try and hunt them down?
Then why has the Government been so secretive about them and why is it Wiki Leaks and a foreign newspaper that is breaking this story?
To hear my take, click here!
 

____________________________________________________________________________________________

(Copyright © 2011 By Simon … (6 comments)

Sellers Grow Impatient Waiting for a Buyer - 09:06 PM
http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2011020103?OpenDocument
 
Sellers Grow Impatient Waiting for Buyers
I read this article online with realtor.org and I understand where it is coming from, but yet I thought this is a bit of a nutsy article, at least in my opinion.
There are a couple of sellers that say that some Realtors don't call before coming to show the house. Is that true? I'm not going to say that may not happen, but I will say that should never happen. In our board it is proper to call before showing a property (you can't assume it is vacant and even if it … (0 comments)

Back when we could actually get away... - 09:57 AM
I absolutely HAVE to reblog this ... watch the video!  They are discussing how to say a web address ... "that little mark, the a with a ring around it"  .... and trying to figure out what the internet is in general.....  
Via Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Northern VA (Momentum Realty,LLC):
Once upon a time, we used to leave the office and leave our work behind.Yes, there were occasional late-night phone calls, and the occasional assignment that required a beeper, but for the most part, we were either at home, or at work.
If you haven't already seen this clip … (0 comments)

Thinking of Selling Your Home? Call Margaret Rome! - 12:15 AM
 If You Are Thinking of Selling Your Home...Call Margaret Rome 410-530-2400
As the broker/owner of HomeRome Realty in  Baltimore, Maryland I have qualified buyers right now with specific needs.
                         
 
 
  Take a look at these three situations. Do you have a home that might work for any of these ready, willing and able buyers?
Buyers #1 are ready to purchase a home in the Fort Garrison School System and would like a 4 bedroom, two story home with garage and private lot... up to $500,000.
Buyers #2  would like a home in the West Towson or Anneslie zip codes 21212 or 21204. … (14 comments)

Appealing Your Anchorage Property Assessment - 02:32 PM
The 2011 property assessment notices for Anchorage homes were mailed out on January 14th.  You have until February 13th to appeal your Anchorage property assessment if you find errors or think there may have been a mistake made.
Appealing Your Anchorage Property Assessment ValueAnchorage homeowners must fill out a written appeal form that specifies the reason for the appeal and pay a filing deposit within 30 days of the assessment notice mailing (in this case, 30 days from January 14, 2011).  In addition, you must provide evidence that supports the reason for your appeal within 45 days of the notice's mailing.  … (0 comments)

Selling Your Home -- Preserving Your Memories - 10:13 PM
Whenever I prepare to list a home for sale on Long Island, I walk through the house, room by room with the owner or his/her representative and make mental notes.  Often, especially in the case of a property long inhabited by someone whose life is closer to the finish line than the beginning of the race, I get an emotional sense of the space.  Feelings get all jumbled up with the furnishings and knick-knacks that proclaim the presence of a family no longer in residence.
Such is the case with a property we're readying for sale. Filled to the brim with … (10 comments)

Real Estate on the Moon? ...A Fun Video - 09:34 PM
Have you ever thought about buying real estate on the moon?
 
Though it may not be the best investment now, since there is no current geological survey or land descriptions, the moon is for sale!
 
http://www.lunarregistry.com/
 
 
I hope you enjoy this great little video from Xtranormal.com.
 
Idaho Real Estate is a much better investment opportunity now! If you or someone you know, is interested in buying or selling Idaho Real Estate, please visit sellidaho.comor contact Don Wixom at (208) 880-5039.
 
Nampa Area Weather
Search Nampa Idaho Homes for sale
Search Boise Idaho Homes for sale
Idaho Short … (11 comments)

A Shovel Full of Kindness...Pay It Forward... - 07:58 AM
First of all, on behalf of all of those folks in the midwest who thought we would not have the joys of extra thick white winter snow blankets...I want to extend a shovel full of gratitude to our East coast friends for sharing their good fortune...it was the thoughtful, considerate, kind thing to do for the skiers, hookey from school players, snow tire dealers, plowing contractors, sidewalk salt manufacturers and others who love the "four seasons" we hold dearly or fearly in the midwest....you have given us much to be thankful for as I hear the plows and salt trucks while … (15 comments)

Do I have to move as soon as I list my home as a short sale ? - 08:23 PM
  A question that potential short sale sellers often ask is "Do I have to move as soon as I list my home as a short sale ?"  The short answer is no.  The lender would soooo much rather that the house is occupied....heat in some parts of the country...stays on, walks shoveled or grass cut.  We keep our short sale sellers, tuned in to what is happening with the offer, the progress with the lender, discussions we have with them and when we believe that the potential closing will take place.   A short sale may be the very best … (2 comments)

Mount Vernon Ohio Classic Home Located at 120 Mansfield Avenue (SOLD) - 09:49 PM
View additional details and view the virtual tour slideshow by visiting 120 Mansfield Avenue, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050.  View other available Knox County Ohio homes priced at $100,000 and below.
Contact Sam Miller of REMAX Stars Realty (740) 397-7800  Knox County Ohio Real Estate
… (4 comments)

Condos..take a look..good sign Counties Here in Greater Boston..... - 02:30 PM
… (1 comments)

The Great Whoopie Pie Debate...... - 11:20 AM

… (6 comments)

Dighton Massachusetts house and property prices quick market analysis from MLS - 09:41 AM
 
Dighton  MA house prices and market analysis from MLS
Currently there are 35  single family homes on the market in Dighton- just 1 of them is bank owned or short sale home.
There is just 1  Multi-family home on the market in Dighton 
1 homes sold in January 2011 in Dighton-$400,000 colonial- not enough to create an average for this month
5 homes sold in December 2010- Average sales price of $229,440.
January 2010- there were 2 homes sold in Dighton-the average sales price of $309,950
From January 1,2010-December 31, 2010 there were 55 homes  with an average sales … (0 comments)

Local Prince William County Statistics - 02:00 PM
The Real Estate Market in Prince William County  is still doing well.  The Average SOLD price is up since last year at the same time.  Remember Real Estate is LOCAL so what you hear on the National News is not indicative of our local market.  
This year promises to be even better than the last. 
… (0 comments)

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