Add Washington DC to your "Bucket List" - 03/30/08 02:44 PM
 
If you have never spent time in Our Nation's Capital as a tourist, you need to add it to your bucket list.  I live in the DC suburbs of Montgomery County Maryland and I admit that I do not visit the City nearly enough.
Yesterday, Saturday, was the start of the Cherry Blossom Festival.  It one of the most beautiful sites you can see.  It started when the Japanese gave the United States the gift of the Cherry Blossoms and they were planted around the Tidal Basin.  Several years later the Parks service has planted many more and several different species. If you didn't make … (19 comments)

Groups; is it better to belong to more or less? - 03/28/08 11:15 PM
 
So, I joined Active Rain about the middle of January.  I have been hooked ever since.  I admit it I have spent more than my fair share of time here on AR. 
When I first joined I looked through the groups and thought what groups do I join?  There are only about 3400 to choose from?  Where do I start?  I went down the list.
REALTOR(R)- yep, I am a REALTOR(R)-joined that.
RE/MAX Rainer yep, I am a RE/MAX agent- joined them.
Positive Attitude, well, I am all over that, click.
Dogs, yep, got a dog - in there like swimwear!
ePro - shoot they are going to … (36 comments)

Darnestown Spring Social, Don't miss it! - 03/27/08 09:43 AM
 
Welcome all Darnestown residents it is time for the Darnestown Civic Association's 9th annual Spring Social!!  It is a place to meet your neighbors, bring the kids and enjoy the afternoon! 
 The Spring social will be hosted and sponsored by Smokey Glen Farm.  It will be Wednesday, April 23th, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:00.
Smokey Glen Farmis the one of the metro area's best picks for everything from wedding receptions to corporate BBQ!  Great food and plenty of activities! Darnestown is its own "town".  We are located 20 minutes from Washington DC, but have a small town feel.  The spring social brings this part … (0 comments)

Isn't that what you buy a home for anyway? - 03/25/08 07:38 PM
  Isn't that what you buy a home for anyway?
When I talk to my husband in the evening and we exchange the happenings of our day, we listen and exchange points of views from different perspectives.
He works in the Biotech industry. Yes, HE is finding a cure to save lives - real life and death stuff - even though I think that is my department.
I told him I had a settlement the next day and my client is really excited about her new home.  The client and I feel that she got a really good deal on her new … (9 comments)

My most unique marketing plan . . . - 03/22/08 11:51 AM
This is not web based marketing, this was good old belly to belly stuff!
Another agent and I would go on Wednesday mornings to the local bagel shop, buy bags of bagels with different cream cheeses.  We would drop these bags of bagels ( about 20 to 30 in a bag) off at different local business in our area once a week.  We would leave our business cards, magnets, brochures, contact information, and the like with the bagels for the employees to read.  It took a bit of effort, but it really paid off.
We did this for about 3 months and go leads from … (74 comments)

We had "Show and Tell" at the office - 03/20/08 09:19 PM
 
We had "Show and Tell" at the office yesterday.
Well, not REALLY, but it was close.   About twice a month our office has a "Group Think".  It is a very casual meeting.  We meet in our computer room, which is a sizeable area, pull up a chair and brainstorm about different ideas.
I don't usually go to this meeting.  I just get other things on my schedule and usually skip it.  Last week my broker asked me to come and be one of the "Group Leaders" for the most recent session.  I said I would, but wasn't sure what I was getting myself … (13 comments)

Trends, they sure are different now a days! - 03/20/08 02:18 PM
I just came from one of my listings.  I was there with my stager trying to figure out what we can do to give this listing some umph!  It is a single person who travels a lot for their work and they don't spend much time in the house, therefore it is pretty basic.  It has very nice features, just needs some pizazz!
We moved furniture around,  put knick knacks here and there and we cleaned the house.  It was not terrible, but we found the wall paint touched it up vacuumed, cleaned, reorganized the pantry etc.  It looks amazing.  Thank God for … (3 comments)

Kill your television - 03/16/08 08:39 PM
KILL YOUR TELEVISION!
Today our society is bombarded with bad news that the media spews out everyday.  If you really believe them, you are in for a battle of wills.   We all know bad news sells and gets our attention, but at some point we all have to turn the television off.  If you listen to the media and believe them, they will have you hiding under the covers and not to come out until they give you the all clear.  I don't think so.  The media is not going to run my life and my thoughts!
I am guilty of having it … (36 comments)

Stronger than you think - 03/16/08 08:07 PM
 
I have a listing.  It is my dear friend who has been an agent for 20 some odd years.  She used to be one of the top ten agents in my association.  She has sold her fair share of real estate.  It was a total compliment that she would ask me to help her.  She has now slowed down a bit.
She lost her beloved mother last year after taking care of her in the most loving way a daughter can love a mother.  While my friend belabored and loved her mother, she neglected herself.  She skipped her mammogram.  The next year … (21 comments)

Do you do the "Two Step"? - 03/09/08 12:56 PM
Do you do the two step?
Over the years I have gone back and forth as to whether I was being more effective in doing a one appointment listing appointment or a two step style listing appointment.?
I feel the one step is just that, one time to make your impression on the sellers. You have to be everything at that appointment. You have to be the listener, the teller of get your stuff out of the house person, and you have to sell your services as to why your are the end all get all agent of the world and they should … (19 comments)

Buyer Information Package content - 03/07/08 03:10 PM
 
This is to help some of you newer agents or agents that just dont have a good support system.  I am not as tech savvy as most of you, but my "hard marketing" materials help me out a bunch.  My return rate of a buyer choosing to work with me is well over 90% once I have had my initial appointment with them. 
Thank all of you for helping me with techie stuff, here is my help from my side of the transaction.  Over the years I have put this package together and this is currently what I have for my buyer clients.  I … (38 comments)

Yes I am Relevant!! - 03/07/08 08:35 AM
 Yes I am  Relevant!
With technology coming at us from every angle, it makes me wonder, am I relevant to the transaction?  Of course I am!! 
There have been many posts about how the real estate agent will soon go the way of the Dodo bird.  Gen X and Gen Yers are so tech savvy that they don't really need us.  They have the internet and all of its information needed to purchase or sell a home.
Not so fast.  I will tell you that I am not the most tech savvy person, far from it, but a majority of my clients … (8 comments)

Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival 2008 - 03/06/08 09:22 AM
If you have never seen the Cherry Blossoms along the Tidal Basin in Washington DC, you are missing one of nature and man's most breathtaking  sights!!  Every year the parks services work at trying to predict the peak of the blossoms.  This year they are anticipating March 29th!  If you have a chance you should try at least once in your lifetime to come to Washington during the early part of Spring to see it. 
Not only is it just viewing the blossoms, it is an entire festival the Official Cherry Blossom Website .  There are walks, and tours, there is also a big … (6 comments)

Choosing your first REALTOR(R) - 03/05/08 08:05 PM
So you are thinking about buying your first home and you are not sure where to start?   The first thing you should consider is the agent. This is the person that is going to be your advocate and will represent and guide you through the transaction. Get referrals from friends and family that have purchased and sold real estate.  Look on the internet; see if anyone appeals to you. 
When you make your initial call to the agent ask them if they do a buyer consultation prior to looking at houses.  You will want to work with an agent who does … (2 comments)

Keeping your momentum - 03/05/08 07:02 PM
  Your Real Estate Momentum
Keeping your momentum going is important in anything you do.  When you are in a groove and things are going well, doesn't it seem like no matter what you do, it is smooth sailing?  It all falls into place?  When you get a couple of deals cooking all of the sudden everyone wants to do a deal with you?  I love that! 
I believe your clients and potential clients sense this from you.  I think it is very important to be up and be as positive as possible during these times.  I know it can be difficult … (22 comments)

Cool Radio - 03/05/08 05:58 PM
 
We just found this really neat website for music.  It is www.Pandora.com .  You sign up, it is free, it feeds through your computer.  The really fun thing about it is if you want to listen to a certain genre, then it play music from different artists of that genre.  So if you are in the mood for Jack Johnson, then you will get a mix of Donavan Frankerieter, or Matt Costa.  If you like Country, that is what it plays.  No commercials that I heard? Really cool.
I know you youngsters have known about this, but for me this is really great. Thought … (5 comments)

Now What are you going to do? - 03/01/08 10:11 AM
 
Now what are you going to do?
This is a question that several people asked me back in 1990-1991. You see, I had joined the real estate forces back in 1987- 1988, during a seller's market at the ripe age of 24.  I thought," Wow, this is the easiest job on the earth - a lamp post could do it!"  Then the market shifted and did I learn why not everyone did it.  Even in my struggles, and there were many, I guess I just sort of was "blissfully ignorant"?   The thought of doing something else never occurred to me?  I … (19 comments)