this is as good an article with as decent an explanation as I've yet seen, regarding the new potential Home Buyer Tax Credit.

I work in one of the largest (and most successful) offices in Evanston.  We have over 100 agents who hang their shingle here and practice real estate in Evanston and the surrounds.  And we don't really have private offices, all the desks are out in one ginourmous room, divided by half walls and file cabinets.

I like the bullpen-style office, where we can interact with other agents easily... and we have several private conference rooms, for meetings that need to take place in privacy, as well as two small offices, that can be used for privacy when necessary.

I like this style, I've grown accustomed to it, and enjoy it.

There are several land-mines, however, in our office, that I have learned I must avoid.  There are some agents, with whom I try not to make eye-contact.  I know if eye-contact is made, I can kiss a good chunk of time goodbye, as they will engage me in conversation, and become a true time-suck, from which it will take great effort to extract myself.

If eye contact is made, I know that I will have to endure a handful of real estate horror stories, some bad jokes.  I particularly like to avoid the Eeyores... (or Debbie Downers)... they can ruin an entire day.

I can lose an entire day's productivity if I don't tread carefully through the office.

I have been told by a whip-wielding-leather-clad blogger, here on AR, that I should really stick to real estate related subjects in my posts.

I happened across the Mark Twain Awards last night on the television.  And there were honouring one of my all time favourite comedians Bill Cosby, so I had to stay and watch.

Many celebrities and comedians dropped by to say a word or two on his behalf, and talked a bit about Mr. Cosby's barrier-shattering part as the half of a espionage team in I-Spy (with Robert Culp)... which was originally designed to be two white spies, but Rob (then 13) and Carl Reiner decided that Bill Cosby has the chops to play that role, after seeing his "Noah" routine on the Tonight Show (with Jack Paar).

Fellow comics, Jerry Seinfeld, Sinbad, Chris Rock as well as actors who'd worked with him over the years, came to pay tribute to a great comedian.  Rita Moreno dropped by to sing him a song.  Rita was his opening act for many of his Las Vegas performances.  She's still got chops... check this out.

Here's Malcolm, talking about "Mr. Cosby" and his time on the Cosby Show.

And Here's Phylicia Rashad discussing the same show.

Okay, yesterday I saw my first episode of "Million Dollar Listing".

Chad, Madison & Josh attempted to relate to real estate clients... they were boorish, cloddish and immature, and I am humbly embarrassed to be a member of the same industry.  These prepubescent pretty-boys were driving expensive cars, mishandling mult-million dollar clients and their listings, and giving surprisingly bad real estate advice.

If the public believes half of what they see on MDL, they're totally destroying the already battered reputations that Realtors enjoy. This is a PR disaster.

My daughter walked into the room while I was watching it... and besides the "Don't you get enough of that stuff all day long?"  her first question to me was "which one do you hate the most?".

I had to think about it, but I decided that I hate them all... some of them I hate less than the others, but that changes with each different scenario.

I'm thinkin' that my first episode of MDL is also my last episode of MDL.

I used to eat lots of natural foods, until I learned that most people die of natural causes.
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The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.
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When looking for something, it's always in the last place you look.  Duh!  Once you've found it, you stop looking!
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There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead.
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Life is sexually transmitted.
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"Health" is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
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The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
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Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.
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Have you noticed since everyone has a cellphone with a video recorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?   I know, stop and think about THAT for a minute.
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Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.
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All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.
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In the 60s, people took acid to make the world weird.  Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.
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How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes the whole freakin' box to start your grill?
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Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?" 
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And who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there? I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes outta its butt.
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If quizzes are quizzical, are tests testicles?
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Do illiterate people get the full impact of Alphabet Soup? 
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Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle? 
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Do you ever wonder why you read my blog?

This morning, on the news, they were discussing the H1N1 virus.  There was some heated discussion as to whether children under the age of 12, and adults should get 1 shot, or 2 shots.

The general consensus seemed to come down to the availability of the shots.  If they were available, they should take two shots... and if in short supply, only one shot.

I can't believe it took a brain trust to come up with that plan.  That's the same plan I've always practiced ever since college. The more alcohol you digest, the less likely the virus is to find a receptive body.  D'uh!

I guess I just don't understand modern medicine.

Okay all.  As the weather begins to turn toward Winter, here in the Midwest, I thought it might be an appropriate time to remind agents how to view/show their homes during the colder months.  A few reminders of things that are important to note during the winter months.

As the Listing Agent:

1) If you use a lock box, please make sure that the lock box is "protected" from the elements... so that they don't "Freeze".  Placed on the door knob is okay, if protected by a storm door.  Placed outside on the water spigot (where drips of water will encase it in a coffin of ice) is not.

And please make sure that the promised key is actually IN the lockbox! Check it occasionally.

2) If your property is vacant...

    a) check your property frequently... make sure that mail is collected

    b) make sure the walk is clear of snow/ice (have your seller pay to hire a neighborhood kid, if necessary)

    c) provide a nice mat in the foyer for wet shoes/boots. It will serve as a 2nd reminder (aside from the note that says "kindly remove your shoes") to remove their dirty/wet shoes and boots.

    d) make sure that the temperature in the house is sufficient to prevent pipes from bursting, and pleasant enough for buyer's comfort.

    e) keep property clean / neat ... vacant houses tend to collect dirt in the foyer, and dust bunnies throughout...

    f) make sure there are enough lights in each room to view, if viewed later in the evening.

    g) protect your property from vandals and thieves by using a few timed-lights to mimic someone is at home

3) Make sure there are plenty of printed materials (listings, flyers) in the house to provide the buyer's agent with good sources of information.  You want to make your listings sales-pitch "idiot-proof"... cause you and I both know... that there will be some "idiots" showing your property.  Even though they've opted not to be informed... you can supply them with all the information they need to sell your listing through flyers, and well-positioned note cards.

4) Make sure the key/remote for the garage is available, and clearly visible

As the Buyer's Agent:

1) If the weather outside is "frightful" (rain / snow)... please, please, please, remove your shoes/boots, whether asked to or not.

2) Please make sure to leave the lights, as you've found them.  If they were on when you arrived, leave them on.  If they were off when you arrived, return them to the off position.

3) Do not mess with lights that are on a timer.

4) Please leave the window blinds/drapes as you found them.  If they were closed when you arrived, return them to closed.  If they were open... well, you get the idea.

5) If the house is vacant, and you find a problem there (piles of magazines at the door, lots of dirty footprints in the foyer, or tracked through the house, the prior agent left the back door wide opened, or perhaps leaking water pipes...standing water in the basement... maybe a strong gas-odor in the house).. please make sure to track down the listing agent to let them know... immediately.

6) If you accessed the house with a lockbox key... please, please, please return the key to the lockbox as found.  Do not leave the property with the key in your pocket.  If by chance you DO leave the house with the key... return as soon as possible!!  If you are called by the agent or their office... don't be rude and belligerent about returning the key... YOU were the one who screwed up... do whatever you can, as quickly as you can to make it better.

Above all, be courteous and thoughtful.  You're in someone's home, whether it's occupied or not.  Treat it as you would your own.

Those of you located below the frost-line, can sit back, relax and have some sweet-tea.

It's that time of the year again; time to set our clocks back an hour, return to standard time, and "gain" an extra hour. That means this Sunday, November 1 at 2:00 am, Daylight Saving Time officially ends until its return on the second Sunday in March, 2010.

Since 2007, Daylight Saving Time has actually been four weeks longer, thanks to the passage of the Energy Policy Act in 2005 (which my car hasn't yet caught onto). The Act extended Daylight Saving Time by four weeks in an attempt to save 10,000 barrels of oil each day through reduced use of power by businesses during daylight hours. Unfortunately, the Department of Energy (DOE) says that it's difficult to determine actual energy savings, if any, as a result of Daylight Saving Time. But, there are definitely some easy steps you can take to save significantly on your household energy bills.

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Did you know that water heating can account for 14%–25% of the energy consumed in your home, especially in the coming months? According to the DOE, it's true. With this in mind, I thought I'd share with you a few of the DOE's energy-efficient water heating strategies to help you save throughout the holiday season.

    * Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
    * Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120° F.
    * Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time.
    * Install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads. Select a shower head with a flow rate of less than 2.5 gpm (gallons per minute) for maximum water efficiency.
    * Consider natural-gas on-demand or tankless water heaters. Researchers have found savings can be up to 30% compared with a standard natural-gas storage tank water heater.
    * Consider installing a drain water waste heat recovery system. A recent DOE study showed energy savings of 25% to about 30% for water heating using such a system.
    * Install heat traps on the hot and cold pipes at the water heater to prevent heat loss. Some new water heaters have built-in heat traps.
    * Insulate the first 6 feet of the hot and cold water pipes connected to the water heater.

Have a safe and happy Halloween – and enjoy your "extra hour" of standard time.

Here are a few more random thoughts that cross my mind, while I sit floor-time in our office, waiting for the phones to ring.

Why does the sun lighten our hair, but it darkens our skin?

Why can't women manage to apply mascara with their mouth closed?

Why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"?  C'mon, if they were truly psychic.

Why is "abbreviated" such a long word?

Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"?  Shouldn't they have perfected it by now?

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavors, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?

Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

Shouldn't there be mouse-flavored cat food?

And when dog food tastes new and improved, who tested it?

Is it really necessary to sterilize the needle used for lethal injections?

You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they just make the entire plane out of the stuff?!

Do sheep shrink when it rains?

Why are they called "apart"-ments when they are all stuck together?

If con is the opposite of pro, is CONgress the opposite of PROgress?

If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

You use your lower back when you...

____ raise your hand to use the remote to change the channel.

____ turn to look over your shoulder.

____ sneeze. (small sneeze, big sneeze... doesn't matter)

____ get in and out of the car.

____ wipe your behind. (that's right.. I said it)

____ laugh. (titter, or belly laugh... doesn't matter)

____ walk up stairs. (one or two, or 3rd floor walk-up, d.m.)

____ walk down stairs. (more stairs?)

____ walk at all. (oh, yeah!)

____ reach across a table. (can you hand me that?)

____ hand a client a pen. (here!)

____ hiccough. (hic,    hic,    hic,)

____ yawn.

____ all of the above, and then some more I haven't thought of.

You tend to notice that you use your lower back, more, when you have lower back pain.  There's nothing like a back spasm, to point it out, each and every time you move. Then you notice each and every occurance of using that lower back.  Hiccoughs suck.

(ouch).