This summer is one of the most extreme temperature summers I can remember. We had a 30 degree drop yesterday and it felt "cold." Today is predicted to go back up 25-30 degrees. All this change reminded me I got distracted from my blog.
Does this happen to you? There really is only one solution; put it on your calendar as an appointment. Include the topic you will write about and actively be aware of this, always looking for material that can be used in your upcoming post. Be conscious of photo opportunities. A photo you … (3 comments)
Thank you Websitebox for this contest. The top three things I wish my website would do:
Have a live Twitter feed that continually updates. I would like the ability to access my Twitter account from the website; posting updates, re-tweets, etc. A “Hot Sheet” feature that continually updates, like the MLS system offers. I could select the criteria for the updates and it would happen automatically and at least update every 15 minutes with a date and timestamp. Customers and clients can check in to automatically see what’s new. This may … (5 comments)
I find it interesting that Facebook is such a huge source of information, information on all subjects. Now there is a 'vibrant' page for Realtors® and Facebook is trying to keep us engaged on their site. I thought long about this over the weekend. Social media, social networking, social marketing, all things 'social' but are we getting lost in cyber space? How are we engaging with others? Is there a time a place for one-on-one personal interaction? What creates trends; or is the question who?
Yes, a lot of questions presented. I am … (3 comments)
This post is introduce you to a very exciting site called iPhoneography.com Now I'm not recommending that you use an iPhone for professional level photographs but there are some major advantages. First, the phone is always with you. There are very many apps coming out now that help you enhance your pictures and actually create artwork out of them. This site is wonderful for getting new ideas and finding out what apps are available and how they will help you. And for a limited time there's a link to an offer from Flickr where you can get an upgraded pro … (3 comments)
I spent another rainy day working on my photography and the thought occured to me, "What do you do when you get the listing and need the photographs to post online?"
Instead of trying to take the front of the house, stage something that protrays the
mood of the neighborhood. This is a great shot for a beach home. You can also take a picture of the front door. Turn on the outside light and light the interior hallway if the door has a window or … (6 comments)
This will be a quick photo comparison post. It shows two pictures taken from two different perspectives. It is a table setting, not a house, but the concept is clearly demonstrated. It's all about angles and distance from your subject. In September, I was in Miami working on the sale of my father-in-laws house. After a very long, hot, rainy day, I finally got to dinner around 8:30pm. I was dining alone at a very eclectic cafe, The Peacock Garden Cafe, next to my hotel in Coconut Grove. By the way, if you are in the area, this … (4 comments)
I am ready to announce the new direction Catherine Cornelia Real Estate will take - I am going to specialize in real estate photography. For those agents that want to “take their own pictures” I am offering classes. They will be affordable, hands on, real world scenarios. I offer live, onsite consulting. I believe we need to have better pictures of our listings. There is a way to portray the interior of a property that is in the process of being prepared for sale, another offering. If it involves real estate … (4 comments)
catherine c capasso: Multi-tasking - The Risks and Rewards?
- 11/29/12 01:02 AM
Multi-tasking - It’s Not The Best Use of Your Time We have been led to believe there is virtue in multi-tasking and that women are much better at it than men. The truth of the matter is multi-tasking shifts your focus. Instead of concentrating on one thing and getting it done, you are pulled in multiple directions and everything ultimately takes longer. What does this mean in real estate? For agents, we have a lot of parts of a transaction going on at the same time. If you focus on each one, you will get more done in less time and … (0 comments)
What a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays. This annual event is sure to delight young and old alike.
Located in The Bronx, the New York Botanical Garden is easy to reach by car or train making this an ideal adventure for the kid (or the kid at heart.)
Plan your trip to this wonderful event, the Holiday Train Show, which runs from November 17, 2012 through January 13, 2013. This is open to everyone and tickets are required. Click here to go to the site and more information. … (3 comments)
Something magical has happened this month. I have been blogging daily here on ActiveRain because of a 30 in 30 Challenge. I admit that I missed my post on Thanksgiving Day, which I posted today in the hopes that it will still count. I have become hooked on blogging again.
The best things about this platform: I am required to write original content. This forces me to think, to plan and to write from my experience. In previous posts I have mentioned my struggle with real estate in today’s market. And here is … (9 comments)
catherine c capasso: It's Only Tuesday
- 11/20/12 08:40 AM
It's only Tuesday and I feel like the week should be over. I guess I wish it was. We've all had them but I have never had one fall around a holiday. This makes me more sensitive to the scenario. I was going to make this a Members Only post but I think buyers and sellers can learn something too. I went to Florida in mid-September to help sell my father-in-laws house in Pinecrest, FL; a suburb of Miami. I did everything right and got the house under contract with a backup in 12 days. The house was suppose to close on … (4 comments)
Why write this post? I want to be more creative in the look of my blogs that I write on ActiveRain. While searching for a way to add pictures when writing a post from my iPad, I came across a help topic using HTML code. It seems, according to the topic, I can use Google Docs, format my text here and when I copy and paste it into ActiveRain, it will look as it does here (here being Google Docs).
Here goes! It works, hurray!!! Now, for a final test, … (2 comments)
I got back into the practice of effective listening, a skill that I was taught when working for Xerox. This best practice has always served me well but it takes extreme discipline to implement in my business. At the end of the day it is so worthwhile. When I listen to my client I hear what they are telling me and … (3 comments)
catherine c capasso: Indian Summer and Veteran's Day Weekend
- 11/11/12 08:14 AM
Indian Summer Veteran's Day, 11/11/12 Reflections It has been a weather roller coaster here in New York. First Hurricane Sandy left our shoreline unrecognizable. Utility crews came from all over the United States and Canada to help restore power to hundreds of thousands of people. As we began to settle into a new normal, a Nor'easter deposited six inches of snow on our doorsteps, taking down trees and disrupting power once more. The colors of fall! Why does any of this matter? Today is Veteran's Day and we celebrate with a three day weekend. It is a tradition to think of … (1 comments)
To give you a flavor of what is to come, the streets are all located in Eastchester, NY with homes, town houses and cooperative apartments built around Lake Innisfree; also known as Lake Isle. The detached homes are in Lake Isle Estates and many are located directly on Lake Innisfree or the golf course at Lake Isle Country Club. The … (2 comments)
All the information is included on the flyer - Friday, Saturday 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:00pm. Join us at Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main Street, Irvington, NY visit the website at http://irvingtontheater.com or call 914-591-6602 … (0 comments)
catherine c capasso: How Are You Recovering from Hurricane Sandy?
- 11/02/12 12:26 AM
In the aftermath.... Hurricane Sandy left major problems in New York City and the surrounding communities. Although we have power, WiFi started acting up yesterday. Thankfully, my iPad has 3G and I am connected on a screen larger than my iPhone. What is all this doing to real estate? I am concerned the holiday slow down will begin even sooner than usual. I have created a very exclusive niche working to help buyers find their dream home but others are not as focused and I truly hope Hurricane Sandy doesn't bring market interest to a screaming halt in the Northeast until … (2 comments)
catherine c capasso: September-A Time of Change
- 09/01/12 01:43 AM
Each calendar month carries a distinct meaning. September has a few; Back to school. Labor Day Weekend, the last three day weekend of the summer and a signal that the laid back days of summer vacation are over; time to get serious about work again. Days begin to get shorter, nights are cooler and trees begin to rustle more as they dry out and prepare for their winter sleep. Wardrobes begin to change. We exchange our flip flops for closed toes; tanks and tees for long sleeves and cardigans; too cool for shorts we head out in slacks. We soak in every … (5 comments)
The Blogging Train
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