richard weisser: Sucked into the vortex of “Social Media Presence.”
- 04/19/12 10:44 PM
Social media is all the rage. And for whatever reason, it appears that when it comes to disseminating information, the consuming public prefers chaos to any semblance of an orderly structure.
Most SEO conscious information specialists are spending the bulk of their time just keeping up with the whims of the Social Site de Jour and NOT on updating critical information that could actually lead to more business.
Getting “out there” is one thing. Getting the message across is another thing entirely.
The vortex of online failure has pulled more than a few thrashing entrepreneurs down for the count. The “little … (6 comments)
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richard weisser: Has the train already left the station in Real Estate Bargain Land?
- 04/18/12 10:53 PM
I have read many articles in the last few weeks about the recovery of the real estate market. And even our own local numbers suggest a significant improvement in both consumer confidence and property values.
But is the current frenzy of activity a trend or an anomaly? There are still plenty of distressed properties out there, and the waves of default have not subsided.
Perhaps it is a result of the overall slowdown in processing foreclosures due to litigation and pressure from the Feds.
Perhaps it is due to the fact that many borrowers are allowed to remain in their homes … (12 comments)
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richard weisser: Can it be possible? Do we have more buyers than properties? Problems for first-time home buyers in Newnan Georgia,
- 08/27/09 12:01 AM
It seems lately that we have a dearth of sellable properties in the Newnan Georgia area. It's not that there are not a lot of houses on the market, as there are plenty! However, there are not enough of the types of homes that buyers are seeking.
Here in Newnan Georgia, that's a decent, move-in ready house for under $100,000. We have qualified buyers, ready to go, but the selection is diminishing daily.
Add to that the fact that most of the best properties that are moving are selling over and above list price. The net result is that many buyers … (21 comments)
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richard weisser: A complete step-by step guide for purchasing HUD Homes in Georgia. Part Seven of Seven: Closing on a HUD home.
- 08/26/09 10:25 AM
In Part Six of this series Taking the HUD contract through to closing. we learned about what happens between the time a HUD contract is executed and the time of settlement.
In this chapter, we will discuss the closing or settlement process.
Once the title work has been completed and the buyer's loan is approved, it's time to close on the property. All HUD properties are assigned to a law firm or title agent that is responsible for closing the government owned property.
Buyers need to be aware that the attorney or agent is representing HUD and not the purchaser. If … (3 comments)
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richard weisser: Are we living in the land of the self-fulfilling prophecy? Why incentives may be sending the wrong message.
- 08/25/09 11:34 PM
Perception is everything! We often hear the words "consumer confidence" bandied about, but what does that really mean? Is there some impetus that could change the way a buyer thinks?
Because if the economic ship can be righted by just implementing the simple act of inspiring confidence, the powers that be may be taking the wrong approach.
The endless stream of bailouts and buyouts and incentives actually sends the message that times are so desperate and consumers should only consider a purchase that involves some sort of governmental rebate.
Conversely, what would happen if the following concept was conveyed to the good … (20 comments)
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richard weisser: The rationalization of the creative process. Is giving in to commercial concerns selling out?
- 08/24/09 12:19 AM
The debate about the reasons that one creates is as passionate as the reasons that one chooses a spouse. Everyone expects to get something different in return for their efforts!
But in a world of instant information dissemination, the balance between art and function is usually tipped one way or the other. And it's up to the creator of the work to decide the manner in which their craft will evolve.
But true creativity is NOT the rehashing of readily available facts and figures. While academic treatises usually contain useful summaries of empirical data, they are rarely considered art and are … (18 comments)
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richard weisser: Building blogging steam takes time ...but once you get rolling you're on your way to success!
- 08/23/09 12:23 AM
Blogging for business is not a shortcut to success. Rather, it can be an effective tool for those seeking to maximize their Internet exposure and that are willing to continually fuel the fires of the blogging engine.
And don't expect to leave the station at full speed. The blogging train starts slowly, and gradually builds up momentum as lumbers along. It takes a long time to get up to speed.
And most importantly, the blogging firebox must constantly be replenished with fresh fuel or the engine will eventually wind down to a grinding halt.
It's all a matter of putting everything … (29 comments)
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richard weisser: A complete step-by step guide for purchasing HUD Homes in Georgia. Part Five of Seven: What happens after you place a bid on a HUD home?
- 08/22/09 01:05 PM
In Part 4 of this series How to bid on a HUD home we learned how to enter a bid on a HUD property in Georgia. Now we will examine what happens after the bid is submitted:
Once you have entered a bid on a HUD home, you must wait until the offer deadline expires before you will know whether or not you have been successful and your bid has been accepted.
Usually, within a few hours of the deadline, one of three possibilities occurs:
No bid is accepted by HUD, and the property goes to a day-by-day bid process. When … (5 comments)
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richard weisser: Sometimes what you don't know CAN hurt you ... and cost you!
- 08/21/09 10:50 PM
I had an interesting thing happen this week. My wife asked me if I thought her 2000 Honda CRV needed a new timing belt. I told her that the car didn't have a timing belt, it had a timing chain which would not need regular replacement.
When she asked how I knew that the car had a timing chain instead of a belt I responded that since the car had 160,000 miles on it, that a timing belt would have broken some time ago!
It turns out that I was wrong. Not only does the car have a timing belt, but … (24 comments)
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richard weisser: A complete step-by step guide for purchasing HUD Homes in Georgia. Part Three of Seven: How do you find a HUD home in your area that is for sale?
- 08/18/09 08:09 AM
In Part 2 of this series Why should you purchase a HUD home? Many of the reasons for purchasing a HUD home were identified and listed.
Now we'll discuss how to go about finding a HUD property for sale. First and foremost, you should engage a good buyer's agent that is experienced and knowledgeable about HUD properties in your area. These agents understand the idiosyncrasies of HUD sales, and can help you find a suitable HUD property that is available in your area that is suited to your needs.
After entering into a brokerage agreement, your agent can assist you with … (6 comments)
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richard weisser: Where does all of the stuff that we used to know go when we're finished using it?
- 08/16/09 11:45 PM
Over the weekend, I started a little project at home. Over the years, our bonus room has become more of a warehouse than a usable room, and I have made it my mission to convert it back to usable space.
So I began sorting through the piles of unfinished art, old papers and books when I came across all of my high school and college textbooks. I began looking through the math and science books, and I thought to myself:
"Wow, did I ever really know all of this stuff?" There were a lot of complex formulas and scientific and mathematical … (19 comments)
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richard weisser: A complete step-by step guide for purchasing HUD Homes in Georgia. Part Two of Seven: Why should you purchase a HUD home?
- 08/16/09 11:28 AM
In part one of this series: What is a HUD Home? we discovered that a HUD home is a foreclosed property that had an FHA loan associated with it that was guaranteed by the United States government. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) actually takes title to the property.
Now in part 2 of the series we'll discuss the reasons as to why a HUD home may be a good purchase opportunity for a buyer:
First and foremost, HUD homes are priced in such a way as to encourage competitive bidding on the property. So many are priced below … (3 comments)
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richard weisser: When a house shows the tell-tale signs of entering the twilight zone, it can be a long wait before it shows up on the "other side!"
- 08/15/09 12:21 AM
You can spot them right away by the "natural" look of the lawn. As the beautiful wildflowers appear where there was once green grass, it becomes very apparent that something about this property has changed.
It is neither motivated by the embracing of the notion of "going green" and getting back to nature nor by a desire to save the planet. Rather, it is the after effect mandated by a true lack of the "green" that is necessary to maintain a mortgage, let alone a manicured lawn.
There is a "twilight zone" of time that occurs between the time a house is abandoned, … (63 comments)
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richard weisser: The secret to growing a business may be as simple as giving up some control and delegating responsibilities!
- 08/13/09 11:56 PM
I did something this week that I have never done before. It was hard for me to do, but I decided to throw caution to the wind and take the plunge and just do it.
I actually hired a service to mow my lawn. A neighbor left a flyer at the house and I gave him a call. He's a local fireman that has decided to venture out on his days off and start his own little enterprise.
It was extremely hard for me to give up control of my own landscaping. I worried about it all day. But it sure … (43 comments)
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richard weisser: I got a call from Afghanistan yesterday, and I think I have an idea that's a win-win for America! Let's give returning veterans something more than a handshake.
- 08/12/09 11:42 PM
I got a call yesterday from a national guardsman currently deployed in Afghanistan. He was calling about one of my listings, and asked for more information.
First of all, I thanked him for his service. Second of all we talked about the purchase of his first home. I excitedly began to tell him about the $8000 first time homeowners tax credit.
Oops, there's only one problem. He won't be on leave until it's too late to qualify for the credit. Now here's a fellow laying his life on the line for his country and he will miss out on the tax … (34 comments)
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richard weisser: The Hollow Restaurant has been a Coweta County Favorite since 1994.
- 08/12/09 03:35 PM
The Hollow Restaurant originally was opened as "Catfish Hollow" restaurant in Tyrone Georgia in 1986. The name was derived from the house specialty, light and flaky catfish friend to a golden brown.
In 1991 the restaurant was moved to its current location at Thomas Crossroads in Coweta County. As the menu has expanded over time to offer dishes other than seafood, the name was changed to "The Hollow Steak and Seafood."
The signature dishes are delicious, such as the grilled grouper sandwich, the lobster stuffed grouper, and the red snapper. If you prefer a nice steak, the grilled sirloin is an … (7 comments)
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richard weisser: Is it the world we live in or just old age? When the LCD becomes a window to the world, something has to be lost in the translation.
- 08/11/09 11:55 PM
I have been doing a lot of thinking today about how much time I spend sitting in front of a computer. With all of the social networking and online research that I do, I really don't venture out into the "real world" as often as I did when I was a younger man.
Being cooped up inside was like being in a prison back then. There was whole world outside to explore, and I was bound and determined to see and do "everything!"
And I did my share of experimenting. Well, probably less than my share because I'm pretty conservative by … (62 comments)
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richard weisser: Today I undergo a simple procedure and a simultaneous test of loyalty, and I think that I am wavering!
- 08/10/09 11:34 PM
A lot of my problems are of my own making. I have to go to the dentist this morning and have a tooth repaired. It's no big deal, and it's something that has to be done.
But the real annoyance is that my dentist's office is fifty miles away, in the heart of Downtown Atlanta, so I have to negotiate rush hour and construction traffic to get there. It's an arduous journey that I do not look forward to undertaking.
Common sense says that I should just change dentists, but I have been going to the same place for twenty-five years, … (28 comments)
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richard weisser: Ronnies Variety Store is the place for live bait and tackle in Newnan Georgia. A Coweta County convenience store with a twist!
- 08/10/09 02:16 PM
There are convenience stores and then there are stores that are convenient. Ronnies Variety Store in Newnan Georgia is an excellent example of an old-fashioned filling station combined with a small corner market and a bait and tackle shop!
And while this combination seems unusual at first, it makes perfect sense to those that are heading to Georgia's Lake West Point for a pleasant day of fishing and relaxation. Here anglers can fill their car with gas, their coolers with ice and beverages, and their bait wells with live minnows or night-crawlers!
The store also offers tackle if every size and … (9 comments)
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richard weisser: This battle weary blogger needs a break, so here are some nice Great Smoky Mountain photos for the day!
- 08/09/09 12:16 AM
It has been an interesting and controversial weekend. I have engaged in mental sparring with a lot of people that are much smarter than me, and it has taken its toll!
My ability to move quickly on my feet has diminished with each passing year. It is a new world, completely different from the one I grew up in so many years ago.
The best part the passing of time, though, is that each year the Great Smoky Mountains revert one year more back to a more pristine state. In the nearly forty years that I have frequented the park, the … (28 comments)
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Social media is all the rage. And for whatever reason, it appears that when it comes to disseminating information, the consuming public prefers chaos to any semblance of an orderly structure.
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