Williamsburg native, Bruce Hornsby received his 13th Grammy nomination last week.  The nomination is for the collaboration on "Family & Friends: Rambling Boy" by Charlie Haden.  Pat Metheny and Jerry Douglas also took part in the collaboration.  It has been nominated in the Best Country Instrumental Performance.

Bruce Hornsby has won 3 Grammys in his career of more than 30 years.  Bruce was born in WILLIAMSBURG, VA and he and continues to reside here with his family.

The Grammys air in February.

Courtesy of Yvette Smith, SRES® REALTOR®
WILLIAMSBURG REAL ESTATE
757-753-7472
Long and Foster, REALTORS®
Williamsburg, VA  23188
YvetteSmith@AtHomeInWilliamsburg.com

Upon reading the article from Inman News - Death of a Listing Presentation, I have put to rest the presentation portion of the listing presentation and adopted EDUCATION.   Managing a seller's expectation is done through preparation.  We are better able to do that if we give them the (as Lenn Harley would say) Hard Core Real Estate Talks!  I've come up with some things that should be explained during your education process:

1.  You should let the seller know HOW they can contact you.  Is it email?  What's your response time for replying to emails?  What is your response time for a phone call?  How soon can they expect to hear from you after leaving a voice mail?  This is important, you're setting the stage for the entire relationship.  TELL THEM NOW what they can expect!

2.  Explain to them a BUYER'S MARKET versus SELLER'S MARKET.  Then SHOW them facts.  Show them the current inventory and explain how many months of inventory there are in the area.

3.  Give them numbers!  But at the same time, don't OVERWHELM with too much data.  

         a)  Average days on market - overall market and their sub-division (if applicable).

         b)  Number of homes for sale in their price range - overall market and their subdivision.

         c)  Number of homes that have sold in the last 6 months/1 year.

         d)  Homes comparable to theirs that are currently on the market - high price/low price

This will kill many birds with one stone.  A seller can gage how long their home will be on the market, at a minimum.  A seller would know how many listings their up against.  A seller would know where their asking price will be in comparison with the others. They will know (if they don't already), what's been going on in their neighborhood.

4.  What is being OFFERED on homes that are selling?  Seller assistance on closing costs, home warranties, bonus' to selling agents.  A seller should know if/what other sellers are doing to make their home more appealing  to buy.

5.  Here's a big one.  What will the BUYERS SEE when considering their home?  Provide the seller with printouts of active listings and go over details of the features of those homes.  Everyone usually (almost always) thinks their house is BETTER than the others.  A good way to show them that is to take them on a tour of the competition's homes.  

Ask the seller questions.  Find out their motivation.  

Are you willing to sell your house at fair market value?  (Typical response:  "But I'm not willing to give it away.")  At what price would you consider you were giving it away?"

Sellers must know that this is a TEAM effort.  Everyone is working toward a common goal. That goal is to get their home SOLD!                    

Courtesy of Yvette Smith, SRES® REALTOR®
WILLIAMSBURG REAL ESTATE
757-753-7472
Long and Foster REALTORS®
6610 - J Mooretown Road
Williamsburg, VA  23188
YvetteSmith@AtHomeInWilliamsburg.com

When you decorate this holiday season, consider going au naturel - without lights!  You can make or buy wreaths and garlands of natural materials that can be composted or will naturally decompose.  Natural greenery can be found at local farm stands throughout your town.

Yes, an artificial tree can be used for years, but it will eventually end up in a landfill somewhere.  A cut, live tree from a tree farm is better because tree farmers are continually replacing harvested trees.  And, because live trees can be recycled after Christmas.  Williamsburg-James City County Recycling allows residents to drop off live trees until February 29, 2009.  The trees are then mulched or composted by the Virginia Peninsula Public Service Authority.

But, if you must have Christmas lights, consider exchanging your incandescent tree bulbs for LED (Light Emitting Diode) ones.  They cost a little more, but LED lights use more than 98 percent LESS energy and can last up to 10 years and stay cooler.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 25 percent more trash than usual is generated between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Buy gifts without a lot of packaging or that require minimal wrapping.  RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE!  Use your own reusable shopping bags for your purchases when you shop.  Place gift boxes and wrapping paper tubes in recycling containers for weekly pickup.                  

You will find that it's the little things that mean so much and make a big difference!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

Courtesy of Yvette Smith, SRES® REALTOR®
WILLIAMSBURG REAL ESTATE
757-753-7472
Long and Foster, REALTORS®
6610-J  Mooretown Road
Williamsburg, VA  23188
YvetteSmith@AtHomeInWilliamsburg.com

Today, December 1, is World AID's Day.  A day when individuals and organizations from around the world come together and bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic. 

December, the last month of the year, is a month of many fun occasions.  The more obvious is Christmas (25th) and New Year's Eve (31st).  As you shop this month, whether on the Internet or in the stores, be aware of thieves.  This month is Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month.  As we round out the year and ponder on the New Year to come, you can begin your business plans.  It's not too early to start thinking about what camp to send the children to.  December is National Write a Business Plan Month and Choose a Summer Camp Month!  December is also Bingo's Birthday month for those of you who love B-I-N-G-O the way I do! 

There are a number of Weekly Observances this month that I will celebrate.  First,  Tolerance Week (1-7), I shall strive to have lots of tolerance during the shopping season!  National Handwashing Awareness Week (7-10) - I have two boys, need I say more about handwashing?!  It's About Time week (25-31), time to make those resolutions.  There is also Chanukah/Hanukkah (22-29) and Kwanza (26 -1/1).

Here are more special days in December:

2        Special Education Day    

Holidays can be hectic.  There's shopping, cooking, traveling and of course the every day details of life.  During this time of the year, people's minds are not focused on donating blood. That can mean area blood supplies can reach critical levels.  Winter months, just like the summer months, especially around the holidays, are tough times for blood collection.  

According to the Red Cross website, blood types O-positive and B-negative are at critical levels.  Blood types including A and B-positive and O and A-negative is the most needed and most requested by hospitals because it is the universal blood type.

According to the American Red Cross, only 5% of people who could give blood actually do. Blood can be donated every 56 days, and is used in a variety of health and trauma situations.  

To give blood:

• You must be at least 17 years old (or 16 with a parent's consent).

• Minimum weight of 110lbs.

• You must have not donated whole blood in 8 weeks (56 days) or double red cells in 16 weeks (112 days).

• You must be healthy, well enough for normal activities. 

During the holiday season, the need for blood actually goes up because of the increased number of people on the roads, which can lead to more traffic-related incidents and accidents.

THE GREATEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE IS THE GIFT OF LIFE...DONATE BLOOD!

If Thanksgiving did not get you into the holiday spirit, try a little music!  The College of William & Mary is sponsoring a number of holiday concerts that will surely get your sleigh bells ringing!

Wednesday, December 3, 8 p.m.
William & Mary Symphony Orchestra
        Akiko Fujimoto, conductor
        "Carmen" Fantasy by Saraste featuring Renowned violinist Charles Castleman and Johannes Brahms' Symphony
        No. 4 in E minor
        $8 general/$2 students/free for children under 12

Thursday, December 4, 8 p.m.
William & Mary Wind Symphony
        Angela Holt, conductor
        Holiday musical journey from America, around the world and back to America, with a special appearance by the             W&M Middle Eastern Ensemble.
         $7 general/$3 students and seniors

Friday, December 5-6, 8 p.m.
William & Mary Choir, Women's Chorus & Botetourt Chamber Singers
        Brian Bailey, conductor
        Choral Holiday Concert of music by Mendelssohn, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Duruflè, Vaughan Williams and more!
        $10 general/$5 students

Saturday, December 20, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. & December 21, 2 p.m.
        The Virginia Regial Ballet and Heidi Robitshek presents:
        The Nutcracker!  A Spectacular Williamsburg tradition for over 30 years!
        

All at the Phi Betta Kappa Memorial Hall, 601 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg.  Call 757-221-2674 for more information.

Happy Holidays to All!

Courtesy of Yvette Smith, SRES® REALTOR®
WILLIAMSBURG REAL ESTATE
757-753-7472
Long and Foster Realtors®
6610-J Mooretown Road
Williamsburg, VA  23188
YvetteSmith@AtHomeInWilliamsburg.com