Kevin Corsa (H.I.S. Home Inspections)'s Blog

OUT OF STATE REAL ESTATE INVESTORS- TAKE NOTE

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:30:17 -0600

Pictures of the front of houses are nice, but they don't tell the whole story... NOT EVEN CLOSE!

Many out of state property investors are now springing up, due to the recent foreclosure crisis, and the seminar gurus who are teaching people how to do this. This is great news for the market, generally.

The thing is, how sure can you be that you are getting enough information... and accurate information about the property you intend to purchase, without seeing it for yourself?

This is the very reason that I recently started a new service primarily just for this type of investor, and this situation. Investors can now call on me in the greater Northeast Ohio area, and I will perform a pre-buy inspection, which will inform them of the current condition of the house, the approximate costs involved for any major repairs, and an analyisis of the general neighborhood as well, noting things like vacant or boarded up houses in the vicinity, traffic flow, businesses, schools, and anything else that can affect the value of the home being considered.

Negative and positive aspects of the home will be adressed in the report. A total for major repairs figuring local average prices is also included, along with extensive digital picture files.

All of this to help the investor make an informed, wiser purchasing decision.

I have 37 years of construction & rehab experience behind me, as well as over 22 years inspecting homes. I also rehab homes for re-sale myself. Cost estimates are always up to date with current market prices.

If you are considering purchasing in this area, put my expertise to work for you. You will have more confidence in your purchasing for investment when you know all the facts. ( I have saved many investors thousands and thousands of dollars to date).

You can call me for a free consultation, and pricing for your specific needs at 330-644-3000, or

toll free 800-860-6909 any day up to 9 PM EST.

Twitter for Business: Plan of Action (Part IV in a series)

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:56:43 -0500

Here is the essential Twitter guide SERIES from Paul Chaney!

TONS of GREAT INFO HERE! Be sure to follow the links provided to the other 4 parts of this series... it is VERY ENLIGHTENING! Had to share it with you again! Thanks again to Paul for the priveledge of re-blogging this!

Do yourself a favor and review both resources.

And now...

My Twitter Business Plan of Action

I'm going to begin by outlining a simple, workable social media marketing strategy that applies to any form of social media engagement, including Twitter. So simple, in fact, it consists of only two words, listen and engage.

Listen

My mother always told me, "Paul, God gave you two ears and one mouth. He did that for a reason. Listen twice as much as you speak." (Bet your mom told you the same thing, right?)

You cannot become an effective in social media marketing if you don't first listen to what's being said about you, your company, brand, service, industry and competition. Listening is the new marketing, someone said, but it's not something we're prone to do. Still, that's where it begins.

There are two ways to listen via Twitter:

Search - Complete searches using Twitter search and other such tools - Tweetscan and Twemes are two that come to mind - on relevant keywords, including those related to your geographic area.
Follow - Start following others where it makes sense to do so.

Keeping in mind that Twitter is just another marketing channel, go back to the basics and ask yourself the same questions you'd ask when considering any other form of marketing: "Who is my market?" "Who am I attempting to reach?" "What niche am I seeking to penetrate?"

Is it a certain demographic? The average Twitter user is 35 and older, is likely male (60% of users are) who has between 100 - 500 followers. Is it a certain geographic area? Find those people and start following them. Many will return the favor.

(That's not to say you don't follow others who don't exactly fit your target market criteria. It's just to suggest that you be very intentional and purposeful in your selection.)

Not being a Realtor, I'm working under a set of assumptions regarding where your business comes from:

Buyers/sellers in your geographic market (and occasionally from outside your area)
Referrals from other Realtors.

If that's the case, it's as important to build relationships with others in your profession as it is prospective clients.

(One group it makes sense to follow are those you already know, some of whom might be using Twitter. If you use a Web-based mail program such as Gmail, the platform will search your list of contacts to find them. You can also send invitations to those in your database not currently using Twitter.)

In addition, if you're connected to fellow Realtors and prospects via Facebook or LinkedIn, connecting on Twitter will only serve to strengthen and personalize your relationship even more.

Engage

Once you see what people are saying relative to the keyword searches, the next step is to jump into the Twitterstream and respond.

Years ago, my father took a rather "direct" approach at teaching me to swim. One summer's day we boarded in our small boat and paddled out to the middle of the pond on our property. Dad grabbed me up, threw me in the water and stated matter-of-factly, "swim or drown."

Looking back, I'm sure he would not have allowed the latter. At the time, however, I determined the best course of action was to make for the shore, which I did with all haste. And, guess what, in the process I learned to swim.

I'm a bit like dad when it comes to Twitter in that I think the best approach is to joining or starting conversations is "swim or drown." Just jump in and start conversing.

OK, for the faint of heart, here are some "rules of engagement":

Respond to what others are saying by adding your "two cents." Remember to use the "@" symbol when addressing an individual.
Provide information those in your target market would consider valuable. It could be links to other sites, answers to questions, advice or opinion. Position yourself as a trusted resource. You're already doing that on your Web site and/or blog. Do it via Twitter as well.
Engage in casual conversation with your followers. There are some who would suggest that, for business purposes, you shouldn't share the minuitia of your daily life or engage in casual conversation. To that I say, "Phooey." Social media marketing is as much about getting to know you on a personal level as it is professionally. Not only that, how are you going to get to know others if you don't converse with them. I think it's a matter of balance.
One thing you don't want to do is solicit business or "pitch" people. You know the type: "Thanks for the follow. Check out my blog at _________." It's okay to let people know what you do, but Twitter is a medium for conversation, not solicitation. Include a link to your Web site in your bio. those who have an interest will check you out.

When Does the "Magic" Happen?

I was afraid you were going to ask that. You see, by participating in the conversation, the magic is happening -- but you have to give it a chance.

Social media marketing does not lend itself well to formulas. "Markets are conversations" and "participation is marketing" is the only formula I know that works. You have to win the right to be heard. By participating in the ongoing conversation, you turn strangers into friends and friends into customers. But, there is no "X times Y divided by Z" equals a lead or conversion.

That's true with a lot of advertising, is it not? Can you easily factor the ROI of a billboard, newspaper ad, or TV commercial? One thing is for sure, conversing on Twitter is a lot less expensive than a television commercial!

Keep in mind, you've been selective and purposeful in choosing those you follow. And, you've concentrated your efforts on providing valuable information and, as a result, have become a resource others trust. And the longer you do so, the more trust you'll earn.

So, let me challenge you to try Twitter and join the conversation. Over the past several days I've given you the insight, resources and ideas needed to get started. The only thing I can't give you is the impetus. That has to come from you.

If and when you do become engaged with Twitter, I'd be honored if you'd follow me. My handle is @pchaney.

Happy Twittering!

Via Paul Chaney (Social Media Handyman):

Here's the "money post" I promised. It outlines my thoughts on how to use Twitter to network, make connections and generate leads. (Here are links to Part 1, 2, 3 and 31/2) But first...

Resources from Ogilvy PR

Over the weekend I came across a couple of resources from Ogilvy PR that present the best business case for using Twitter that I've seen, hands down. The first is a PPT slide deck and the second a list of best practices.

Ogilvy PR 360 DI Twitter Webinar
View SlideShare presentation.

The Creation of Twitter Best Practices - This post contains a list of dos and don'ts for using Twitter.

Do yourself a favor and review both resources.

And now...

My Twitter Business Plan of Action

Listen

My mother always told me, "Paul, God gave you two ears and one mouth. He did that for a reason. Listen twice as much as you speak." (Bet your mom told you the same thing, right?)

There are two ways to listen via Twitter:

Search - Complete searches using Twitter search and other such tools - Tweetscan and Twemes are two that come to mind - on relevant keywords, including those related to your geographic area.
Follow - Start following others where it makes sense to do so.

(That's not to say you don't follow others who don't exactly fit your target market criteria. It's just to suggest that you be very intentional and purposeful in your selection.)

Not being a Realtor, I'm working under a set of assumptions regarding where your business comes from:

Buyers/sellers in your geographic market (and occasionally from outside your area)
Referrals from other Realtors.

If that's the case, it's as important to build relationships with others in your profession as it is prospective clients.

In addition, if you're connected to fellow Realtors and prospects via Facebook or LinkedIn, connecting on Twitter will only serve to strengthen and personalize your relationship even more.

Engage

Once you see what people are saying relative to the keyword searches, the next step is to jump into the Twitterstream and respond.

I'm a bit like dad when it comes to Twitter in that I think the best approach is to joining or starting conversations is "swim or drown." Just jump in and start conversing.

OK, for the faint of heart, here are some "rules of engagement":

Respond to what others are saying by adding your "two cents." Remember to use the "@" symbol when addressing an individual.
Provide information those in your target market would consider valuable. It could be links to other sites, answers to questions, advice or opinion. Position yourself as a trusted resource. You're already doing that on your Web site and/or blog. Do it via Twitter as well.
Engage in casual conversation with your followers. There are some who would suggest that, for business purposes, you shouldn't share the minuitia of your daily life or engage in casual conversation. To that I say, "Phooey." Social media marketing is as much about getting to know you on a personal level as it is professionally. Not only that, how are you going to get to know others if you don't converse with them. I think it's a matter of balance.
One thing you don't want to do is solicit business or "pitch" people. You know the type: "Thanks for the follow. Check out my blog at _________." It's okay to let people know what you do, but Twitter is a medium for conversation, not solicitation. Include a link to your Web site in your bio. those who have an interest will check you out.

When Does the "Magic" Happen?

I was afraid you were going to ask that. You see, by participating in the conversation, the magic is happening -- but you have to give it a chance.

If and when you do become engaged with Twitter, I'd be honored if you'd follow me. My handle is @pchaney.

Happy Twittering!

A GREAT Social Media Marketing VIDEO! (Reblog- Paul Chaney)

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:38:10 -0500

Here is a GREAT video on Social Marketing, and why it is sooo important in this day and age to understand and USE it....

Via Paul Chaney (Social Media Handyman):

Terri Murphy asked me to do a video for a panel she moderated at NAR. What she didn't mention was that she also uploaded it to YouTube. Though I'm no Gary Vaynerchuk, I do have incredible passion for social media marketing. If you have 9 minutes, 10 seconds, take a listen. You might learn something.

Via Paul Chaney (Social Media Handyman):

Terri Murphy asked me to do a video for a panel she moderated at NAR. What she didn't mention was that she also uploaded it to YouTube. Though I'm no Gary Vaynerchuk, I do have incredible passion for social media marketing. If you have 9 minutes, 10 seconds, take a listen. You might learn something.

Fifteen Twitter follow dos and don'ts

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:27:01 -0500

Here's some Great Twitter advice from an Expert, who also has a book on the subject...Check It Out!

Via Paul Chaney (Social Media Handyman):

There are two schools of thought pertaining to who to follow on Twitter. One is what I refer to as the Guy Kawasaki method which says, "forget the influentials," "defocus your efforts," and "get as many followers as you can." It's more of a mass marketing approach.
Up and until Twitter imposed limits on the number of people that I could follow in a given 24-hour period, that's pretty much the school to which I subscribed and just about anyone and everyone qualified (minus the spammers of course).
Since then, I've had to be more discerning and have actually found that to be a good thing. So, here are fifteen suggested Twitter follow dos and don'ts based on my current Twitter follow modus operandi:
Dos...
1. Focus your efforts - If you're in sales and marketing, hopefully you've outlined specific target markets based on demographic, psychographic and technographic profiles. Maybe you've even created a persona of the ideal client or customer. Find those folks and follow them.
One good way to do that is by using Twellow, which is a Twitter "yellow pages." It categorizes Twitter followers based on geography and industry and covers everything from aerospace to Web development.

For example, a search on my city, Lafayette, LA, brought five pages of returns totaling 100 people. Not a lot, but consider that a) Lafayette is a small city by comparison and b) it's in the deep south which is often the last to catch on to new trends. If you're in a more metro area, chances are your returns will be manifold times this.
What might be more relevant is search by category. For example, Bizzuka, the company I serve as marketing director, is targeting the legal industry. A search for lawyers brought over 930 returns. We are also targeting healthcare. A search returned almost 100 hospitals.
Apply that same methodology to your own situation and see what comes of it.
Twellow defaults to ranking returns based on number of followers, but you can also sort by
recent activity and/or whether the person has verified their Twellow account.
Each person listed has a profile associated with their entry which, depending on whether they've verified their account or not, could contain lots of information, including a bio, latest Twitter updates (good for knowing whether they're an active user or not), and link to their Web site or blog.
2. Follow those with real names - That's one way to know it's a genuine account. (It's always a good practice when setting up a Twitter account to use your real name.)
3. Follow those who follow you - In most cases it's a common courtesy. Chances are they're in the same industry or have some relevance to you.
4. Follow those following the people who are following you - Same rationale as #3, just once removed.
5. Follow those following the people you are following - If you've chosen to follow a particular individual for whatever reason (maybe they fit the profile mentioned in #1), there's a good likelihood at least some of the people following them would be relevant for you as well.
6. Follow those in your industry - Obviously, one of the best uses for Twitter is as a vehicle for networking, gathering feedback and getting advice. It's a great tool for meeting others in your industry or discipline.
7. Follow those you find interesting and/or entertaining - In all the mad rush to turn Twitter into a business communications and marketing tool, leave a little for pure fun. If you find someone's posts interesting, maybe they're worth following as well.
8. Follow those who use the same hashtags (ex. #nms08) to follow a conversation - Again, if they're interested in the same things as you, consider following them.
9. Follow those who @reply you - @replies can be sent into the public timeline addressed to people you're not following. If a user has addressed you in that way, might be fruitful to add them.
10. Follow those interacting with people you follow - If you see a tweet with an @reply addressing someone you're following that comes from someone you're not, they may be worth following. Check em out!
Don'ts...
11. Don't follow those with numbers behind their names - This is a technique often used by spammers (Twammers) due to the fact that have multiple accounts. It's a dead give-away. (One word of caution: When setting up your Twitter handle, don't use numbers. Your real name will do nicely.)
12. Don't follow those with no avatar - If you can't see their face, company logo or some sort of avatar, don't follow.
13. Don't follow those who only broadcast - Unless you know it's an account set up strictly for that purpose - a news, shopping or "tips" type account - don't follow. If they don't participate in conversations with anyone else, they won't with you either.
14. Don't follow those who aren't active - I don't know the number or percentage, but I bet the number of people who've subscribed to Twitter and aren't actively using it is sizable. If a user is not actively maintaining the account, chances are it's dead.
15. Don't follow users based on their follower count - In social media, it's not necessarily how many eyeballs that count but who those eyeballs belong to. There are some very influential people who may not have huge numbers of followers.
There you have it - 15 tips for know who to follow and who not to. That's my list at least for now, though I'm sure I'll add to it. BTW, you can too! What criteria do you use in determining who to follow. Please share it in a comment. Thanks!
Finally, if you're not following me, please do. My Twitter handle is @pchaney.

Get the Complete Guide to Twitter for Business, only $9.95. This 35-page ebook equips you with everything you need to know to begin using Twitter to grow your business. Order today!

Post UP!

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:58:53 -0500

Got any interesting Facebook or other Social Networking articles or blogs you would like to share?

Re-blogs are also welcome!

Your Blog - Reuse and Recycle!

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:08:46 -0500

Here is some very good practical advice I found from Ross Hair. Recycling blogs in this way makes a lot of sense for those of us who are already very busy, and trying to get the most out of our time on the web, and social media/marketing. Check it out...

Via Ross Hair (Real Estate Advocate):

Writing content for the web is time consuming so here's a great tip to help you leverage your time - you can reuse and recycle your blogs.

I reuse every single blog post by converting it into an article and then converting the article into a report or an ebook. I use the same core content and then add more detail for each new format.

As an example, my blog posts are usually 300 to 500 words so I take the blog post and extend it out as an article of 1000 to 1500 words. I then create a report of 3000 to 5000 words out of the article.

I always change the header and first few paragraphs of the blog so that they're clearly not the same and then "spin" the article by interchanging similar words like "rehab" instead of "fix and flip" and "mortgage" instead of "loan". The reason that I do this is so that the search engines view each piece as original content and credit me for two documents.

By creating three pieces of content you can publish your work in multiple forums.

You can publish your blog on your blog or Active Rain

You can publish your articles on article directories like eZine Articles or HubPages.com.

You can add graphics and create a very professional report to give away to your customers, colleagues and press sources.

Your reports will look very professional and will immediately make you look like a credible expert. It's a great way to establish yourself as the local expert and earn the trust and confidence of your clients.

And it all starts with one little blog post ....

Top Three Social Networks to Join and Why

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:02:01 -0500

This is an origial post by Paul Chaney, social marketing expert. I'm hoping he joins us here to help enlighten our new group. Thanks for letting me re-blog this one Paul. You have many more that I would like to re-blog as well!

Via Paul Chaney (Social Media Handyman):

Most of my social media handyman posts will be in response to questions asked by Realtors and others. Today's comes from Irina Netchaev, a Keller-Williams Realtor in Pasadena, CA. She asks, "What are the top 3 social networks that you recommend joining and actively participate in and why?"

First, let me say that "three" is the operative word. There is an old proverb that says "a cord of three strands is not easily broken." I think that's applicable where social networking is concerned as well. It's a matter of strengthening your social graph. Being networked with a given individual in three different places makes for a strong connection.

Here's my pick for top three:

LinkedIn - That's your business suit. While LI is not very conversational in its orientation, having a profile there has become expected. LI lends a degree of professional credibility. It is also the site that requires the least amount of upkeep.

Facebook - That's business casual. FB allows more of a 360 degree view of you, combining both professional and personal sides. Plus, it's a more conversational platform.

Twitter - This is the cocktail hour. Think of after hours social networking events and you've got Twitter. It's the most informal of the three and allows for the greatest degree of conversation.

Keep in mind my focus here is on creating three-fold connections to individuals. It's not enough that you have a presence on each of these sites, but that you leverage your presence to connect with others who are also present on each.

Social media is about being "social." Each platform offers its own distinctive advantages, but it takes all three to build the strongest connection. Plus, it gives you ubiquity. You're everywhere!

Tomorrow, I'm going to talk about three real estate specific social networks where you need a presence. Later in the week I'm going to dig down into Twitter and share how it's being used for business purposes. I'd like to hear your Twitter story as well. Please leave a comment.

Finally, if you have a question for the "handyman," email me at pchaney [at] gmail [dot] com. Or simply leave a comment.

Social Media Edge Radio is Happy to Welcome Tara Hunt, Author of "The Whuffie Factor"

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:49:37 -0500

This post is a re-blog from Jason Crouch, and it tells us how to link to his social media radio talk show, so I thought it would helpful to re-blog it here. Thanks Jason!

Via Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) (Austin Texas Homes, LLC):

Ever since we started the Social Media Show on BlogTalkRadio back in late November of 2008, we have had some amazing guests. This next week, on August 18th, we are VERY happy to welcome Tara Hunt, author of "The Whuffie Factor".

If you don't already know what "whuffie" is, consider this next show of ours to be a learning experience. Suffice it to say that whuffie is what makes it possible for social media to exist and thrive as a business tool. Tara should have a terrific perspective to share for our audience about how to be successful in this arena. I am in the middle of reading her book and it is simply awesome.

As always, you can access the show at http://blogtalkradio.com/jckc - be sure you join us in our very active chat room, where the magic happens. ;) Our show airs at the same time and place every week (Tuesdays at noon Eastern, 11am Central, 9am Pacific). We will have a giveaway again this week - come win a shirt, hat, or another special prize thanks to our gift sponsor, Clint Miller of Real Estate Client Referrals.

Recently, we engaged the services of Cathy Browne, PR specialist extraordinaire, to be in charge of booking guests for our production. The upcoming weeks should be terrific, with Tara, Shel Israel, and Sarah Evans all slated to join us soon.

If you haven't listened lately, we have had some terrific episodes. In fact, our last show was one of the best ever, in my humble opinion: http://budurl.com/h7wl.

Our regular crew continues to grow. Along with me and Ken Cook, we always have great tech segments with Mike Mueller and Jeremy Blanton, and we now have added T.S. Elliott, who brings a bubbly enthusiasm and a much needed dose of femininity to the program.

You can check out our Facebook page and become a fan here: http://facebook.com/socialmediaedge.

Our show archives are at http://budurl.com/bestofjckc.

Thanks for listening - we remain one of the top shows in the Social Networking category on BTR!
If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me in these other communities?

SIGN UP! Fill Out YOUR PROFILE!

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 06:56:28 -0500

If you don't have a Facebook page or account, the first thing to do of course is... SIGN UP! It's FREE!

Secondly, I think the most important thing is to creat your profile, and be as thorough, complete, and precise as you can. Include pictures of you, your business, associates, etc. Try to give a brief history of your business.. and yourself.

Let people know what you do, and what you like to do.

Start trying to find friends, associates, colleagues, and family to link with.

Blog a few lines daily about your status, or what you are doing, because this is what keeps your page and presence updated with search engines.

I'm by no means an expert at this, but these are the basics that can get you started in the right direction.

I'm sure if you keep coming back here, we will have many people who ARE experts, who will be telling us how to tweek and maximize our Facebook, and other social media platforms in the near future.

So, what are you waiting for,... Go fill out that profile!

New Group FACEBOOK BLOGGERS!

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:09:37 -0500

I would like to invite everyone to a new group called FACEBOOK BLOGGERS

This is a place where anyone can come to meet new Facebook friends, blog about Facebook, learn more about social networking, and utilizing it's benefits to your advantage. Links to your own Facebook page are also encouraged.

Hopefully, we will have members soon that will be able to help us gain more useful knowledge about Facebook, and social networking in general. Come join us now... there is strength and knowledge in numbers!

FACEBOOK BLOGGERS New Group!

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 07:52:35 -0500

Join us and let's discuss Facebook, and other relevant networking issues that can be helpful and relevant to all of us!

Link us in your blogs to your facebook page. Tell your AR friends to join us too!

TALES FROM THE ATTIC: WHERE'S "RALPHIE?"

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 06:32:14 -0500

Hi everyone! It's been a while since I have been here, and I may be a little rusty at this, so bear with me.

I was thinking the other day, and thought... who gets into more crawl spaces and attics than a home inspector? Not many people get to have these lovely experiences daily, so I'm thinking, why not share some of these wonderful exploits with those of you who do not get the opportunity to be gnarled up in tight, hot, dirty, and sometimes damp spaces.

Thus, a new series is born...

So, let's begin with one of my all-time memorable attic exploits:

It was a hot day in mid July when I pulled up to this monstrous 3 1/2 story converted 3-unit apartment house. From the outside, I could see that it was going to be one of those rather lengthy inspections, since the outside revealed peeling paint, unkempt yard, and cracked windows (just for starters, before I had even exited my truck).

Well, my gut feelings were not far from wrong. Two of the units were vacant, with abandoned belongings left behind, and the third was occupied by a single gentelman, who lived on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

Although the basement was dark and damp, there was not much else remarkable there, other than wiring which was in great need of updating. Since the property was largely vacant, most of the rest of the inspection was fairly easy, except for having to move some of the belongings left behind to get a better look.

By the time I got to the 2nd floor, I was very hot, and dreading what I knew was yet to come...yep- the dreaded attic, where temperatures were certain to be around 140 degrees or so on a day like this.

As I finally got my ladder brought up to the third floor, I stopped for a short rest, and then prepared myself for attic entry (coveralls & filtered mask). As I was standing there on the 3rd floor, I noticed this very large aquarium in the living room, with nothing in it but some gravel, and a large branch. I remember thinking to myself "Wonder what used to be in there?" Hmm.

Well, no matter, duty called, and at this point I really didn't care much what used to be in that aquarium; I just wanted to get this attic inspection over with. So, I set up my ladder in the closet where the attic access was located. I climbed up, poked my head through the access, fumbled for a second finding my flashlight on my belt... ahh there it is!

I turned on the flashlight to get a better look at the nearly pitch black attic space. As I panned around the attic with the light.... uhh... yikes! Something big, long and spotted is staring back at me... from about 4 feet away! I think I let out some kind of girlish scream... and then just froze. After a paused moment, I managed to yell... "There's a big snake up here!"

I heard someone running up the steps... and then he said... "Ralphie! You found Ralphie!"

Panick-stricken and afraid to move, I manage to say "Ok, now what do I do?"

The voice replies "Oh, he won't hurt you, it's just Ralphie, my pet 8 ft boa". "You can just come down, and I will go up and get him".

Still trembling, I manage to slide back down the ladder, and collapse in the chair. The tennant calmly goes up and slowly brings all 8 ft of "Ralphie" down, and deposits him back in his 300 gallon home.

He tells me "Ralph has been missing for almost 3 days. I had no idea he could get way up there!"

Hmmm.. NEITHER DID I, BUDDY! NEITHER DID I!

Well, needless to say, after this unique experience, I am now a little more "wary" of empty aquariums.

OK LET"S PLAY "NAME THAT DEFECT"

Thu, 07 May 2009 08:15:42 -0500

Ok, I searched my computer picture files to come up with this mostrosity of an electric panel. I thought we could make a game of it. Let's see how many different defects you can come up with for this one picture. I wrote over a page on it originally. Whew! I'm too tired to list them again, so you guys do it, ok?

Happy defect finding!

Kevin

Wordless Wednesday in Seattle

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:04:36 -0500

Here is a very interesting spidey pic posted by Charles Buell, just had to re-blog it so you could see it.

Kevin

Via Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com):

Inspect in Advance to Get Better Offers & Save Grief for Everyone

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:19:52 -0600

Here is a great informational post about the importance of getting pre-inspections when selling your home. Thought it was worth re-blogging for those of you who have not seen it. THANKS, REGINA!

Via Regina P. Brown Real Estate on the California Coast:

Eliminate surprises and hurdles during escrow by ordering Home Seller Reports when first listing your property on the market. Listed below are the advantages of ordering each type of report in advance.

1. Appraisal

· Price your property correctly at the very beginning, when most qualified buyers are viewing it.

· Help buyers see the value of your property.

· Demonstrate a better value in the market.

· Increase showings of your property.

· Give you and your agent confidence.

· Other agents are eager to show your property.

· More likely to get full price offer.

· Reduce surprises and pricing problems in escrow.

· Guarantee a faster, smoother closing.

· Make seller feel secure during escrow.

· Stimulate buyer confidence.

Once in escrow, if the appraisal comes in low, the buyer will probably cancel the sale.

2. Pest Control Inspection

· Buyers know exactly the condition of the property.

· Help seller disclose material defects in writing, limiting liability.

· Seller knows the cost of repairs in advance.

· Repairs can be completed early, reduce surprises (work needed) during escrow.

· Guarantee a faster, smoother closing.

· Make seller feel secure during escrow.

3. Home Building Inspection

· Buyers know exactly the condition of the property.

· Help seller disclose material defects in writing, limiting liability.

· Seller knows the cost of repairs in advance.

· Repair can be completed early, reduces surprises (work needed) during escrow.

· Guarantee a faster, smoother closing.

· Make seller feel secure during escrow.

These reports are well worth their cost, saving both money and stress!

Oh, how I wish it was MANDATORY for sellers to complete HOME BUILDING INSPECTIONS before listing their house for sale here in California! Then buyers could make more informed offers. It would save a lot of "later" negotiations in which sellers lose control of their transaction and the whole thing quickly unravels. If sellers completed an inspection in advance, and handed it to each prospective buyer, it would save everyone a lot of grief.

Join my new AR group and post your blog at http://activerain.com/groups/virtualoffice

Regina P. Brown
Broker, Realtor®, e-Pro
Author of eBook "Stop Foreclosure Fast: Solutions to Save your House"

Text copyright © 2009 R.P. Brown, All Rights Reserved

Home Maintenance is Always Easier (and cheaper) than Repairs

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:45:00 -0600

Many homeowners fail to realize the VALUE of a good Home Maintenance Schedule, and the long term benefits that almost always save money and aggravation. "Deferred Maintenance" as the real estate industry likes to refer to it, not only ends up costing more money and time, but also may either Prevent you from selling your home, Slow Down the process, and can cause the home to be "Reduced" in price.

There are many homeowners on the market for a home that shy away from homes that have deferred maintenance, or have not been maintained well. The ones that don't care about how well a home has been maintained, are usually the "Bargain Hunters", and are equipped to deal with deferred maintenance (as long as the price is right).

But even if you are not currently selling your home, you can avoid more costly repairs by performing periodic maintenance. I'll give you a couple of good examples:

1. WATER HEATER: If you have a water heater tank, it pays to drain 5-10 gallons of water out from the bottom drain every few months. This is because in most water supplys, there is a certain amount of "sediment" in the water, which settles to the bottom of the tank. This creates "hot spots" in the bottom of tank, which then creates corrosion or rust, thus causing the tank to fail. Simply draining out that little bit of water (quickly) will help preserve your expensive water tank much longer, and prevent eventual failure of the unit.

2. CAULKING: The exterior of most homes, usually around windows, doors, and any other protrusions through the siding, have a caulking sealant around those areas, where one material (siding) stops, and another material begins (windows, doors, pipes, wires, etc.). Most caulking lasts between 3 and 10 years, depending on type, and where it is used. The general tip here, is to take a slow walk around the perimeter of your home at least once a year, noting all the areas where there is caulking. If you can see gaps on either side of the caulking bead, or cracks in the caulking, then it is time to remove the old caulking, and replace it with fresh caulking that will adhere to both materials. (Just going over old caulking usually just creates more problems sooner or later, and is not a good idea). The purpose of caulking is to generally seal out water, and air, so that they do not hidden damage to wall structures that are not designed to be exposed to weather. Doing this simple bit of maintenance can save you THOUSANDS of dollars in repairs.

There are many other areas of a home that also require maintenance, but I don't want to overwhelm you with them all at once. I will write several more blogs in the near future, that will give you more hints on routine maintenance... so stay tuned!

This picture graphically illustrates an example of poor caulking "caulking over existing caulking" that has caused extreme damage. The repair pictured here will cost thousands, because there is hidden damage behind the siding and brick 1/2 wall.

A NEW FACE IN THE CROWD

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:02:06 -0600

Sorry to have been away from AR for so long. I guess sometimes life gets in the way. But anyway, this is part of the reason for my absence... my new grandbaby!

He was 7 lbs. 3 oz. Born 12:45 PM Feb 6, 2009.

I wonder if he has any idea how spoiled he's going to be. :))

AHA! I FOUND YOU!

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 06:52:17 -0600

At last.. a group for those of us who are dumfounded by the fact that blogs don't just happen...you have to create them, so others can share in your experience. Nobody does that better than Mr. Charles Buell. He has become a "blog guru" of sorts, and has somehow managed to give me a few "AHA" moments already.

This group looks like it has the makings of a group headed for the big time... right up there with Jason Crouch and the big dogs. Here's to success, and a lot of AHA's along the way.

Separation Anxiety?

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:42:30 -0600

This chimney has been caulked, and re-caulked several times over the years. the gap between house and chimney now measures about 1 1/2 inches, and as you can see from the picture, looks like it needs caulked again, since there is another space between the house and all that caulking/mortar.

What do you think has been happening to cause this?

First of all, this is a very old chimney and house, and if it originally had strap ties to fasten the chimney securely to the house structure, they are probably now rusted or entirely broken loose. The chimney has had leaking in between the house and the chimney, and when it freezes in the winter, the expansion of the trapped water has acted kind of like a jack or lever, prying the chimney further and further away from the house, and it's original position. Instead of addressing the cause of the problem (probably a leaking flashing located at the roof level), they have instead opted to just continue to try to caulk the ever widening gap.

I put a probe in between the wall and the chimney, and found that there was also some hidden wall and siding decay damage. Unfortunately, now the only way to fix this damage properly, is to tear down the chimney, and repair the rot damage. Although it can't be seen, it has become a major issue for the new homeowner to deal with.

I show all of you this, so that you will know that it is an improper repair to just keep caulking over a chimney that has been moving away from it's original position, and most generally, ther WILL be more damage that is hidden if this type of repair has been done.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ACTIVE RAIN!#$%&*

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:41:20 -0600

Well, here we are again at the end of another year. For those of you who had a good, successful year... congratulations.... and may you have continued success throughout the coming year as well.

As for the rest of us... who may have had a tough year, or rougher going than normal,... the good news is... we are only hours away from a BRAND NEW YEAR! Hopefully, it will be a brand new year filled with hope, new promise, and lots of prosperity! We have a brand new President to help lead us in a new direction. We have a government and leaders who are at last, now more focused on this nation and it's continued welfare than ever before, or at least since "The New Deal" was implemented.

With God's help, (am I allowed to say that?) and our own dilligence and perserverance, we will come out of all this a stronger, and more focused nation. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!

Realtors, Your Input Is Needed!

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:37:43 -0600

In the past few months, it seem that I have been hearing realtors tell clients that they "really don't need to have a radon test performed". I have had at least 7 clients actaully schedule a radon test with me, and then consequently, call me back to cancel it, because their realtor had advised them that "they really don't need one".

Well, I am certainly not a lawyer, and by no means a legal authority, but simple deduction tells me that these realtors appear to be sticking their necks way out on the chopping block. Since radon can ONLY be detected by properly testing for it, and the ONLY way to know if you have a high concentration of it and need to have it mitigated is by testing, then WHY would any realtor want to risk telling a client that they do not need to have it tested? Especially when the general fix for most houses is less than $1000?

Suppose that the realtor suggested to a client that he need not have a radon test, and it is discovered at some later date (after the family has moved in), that indeed, there is a very high concentration of radon, and mitigation is definitely warranted. Who do you think that client is going to look to first to pay for it? And possibly other damages as well?

Even if you think you are in an area where the radon concentration is usually low, it may still be a very bad idea to advise your client NOT to have it tested. Are you prepared to guarantee the occupants safety, and warrant that they will never have any ill effects????

I would really like any and all opinions on this from the real estate community. Pleas feel free to elaborate on any opinion you may have, and if you think I'm all wet on this one, please tell me why you have that opinion.

Has something happened in the real estate community concerning radon that I am not aware of?

Still TRIPPin" On Wednesday! Beatiful Pics of Stan Hywet

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 06:54:50 -0600

The picture made me start remembering the great weather we enjoyed this year in the fall around here. It was exceptionally clear, warm, and mostly dry (not a lot of rain). If you are ever in Akron, be sure to visit Stan Hywet Mansion and grounds. It is spectacular inside and out.

There is a lot tot see, including an aviary with hundreds of live butterflies.

This is a view as you walk through the vineyard.

Lovely garden shaded path that leads to the Quarry, and retention ponds. This estate at one time was entirely self-sufficient from outside sources, growing its own food, cattle, producing its own electricity and water.

One of the beautiful butterflies rsting ona a plant leaf.

And finally, this is one of the terraces that overlook the Japanes Gardens.

Wordless Wedsnesday...COME ON IN!

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:25:32 -0600

A little TOO Neighborly for me

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:14:30 -0600

I Gotta Know- What is Your Worst Christmas Gift EVER??

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:58:12 -0600

Besides the 25 lb FRUITCAKE, somebody, somewhere has sent you a gift that you would probably NEVER EVER USE if you lived to be 150!

So let's HEAR IT ACTIVE RAIN.... WHAT IS YOUR WORST GIFT EVER? (Or maybe you gave the worst gift ever to someone else?? Hmm...is it ok to RE-GIFT THE WORST GIFT EVER??) What a dirty trick that would be...

I once got a garden hoe, I guess as a reminder that I should plant a garden in the spring. Hmph! (Never happened... uhh the garden that is).