north carolina: Hot Water in the Toilet. Oh My!! (Buyers and Sellers Beware.) - 04/21/08 11:33 AM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
As a Buyer, what would you do if you purchased a home and later discovered that there was hot water in the toilet?
OR
As a Seller, would you feel that you even would have to disclose this Buyer - because after all, … (82 comments)
|
north carolina: Please Give Loved Ones Their Flowers While The Can Still Smell Them! - 04/08/08 07:41 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.comWebsite: http://www.DarleenMc.com
The other night, while watching Oprah's Big Give, something occured to me. The Big Givers conducted acts of kindness for those who the doctors say will soon depart this Life soon - and I thought:
Why is it that we often … (14 comments)
|
north carolina: Raleigh, NC Real Estate: The Village at Umstead Park (Umstead Village) - 04/06/08 04:20 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
The Village at Umstead Park (also known as Umstead Village) is located in Northwest Raleigh, less than 1/4 mile from Highway 70.
This town home community is in an ideal location, as it is easily accessible to major highways including I-540, I-440, I-40, and I-85 … (12 comments)
|
north carolina: Raleigh, NC Real Estate: Sterling Park Subdivision (NCSU Area) - 04/03/08 12:06 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
In early February, I sold a listing in Sterling Park, a town home community, just minutes from Downtown Raleigh. I fell in love with the community - which is why I'd like to share it with you.
The community, located in zip code 27603, is convenient … (4 comments)
|
north carolina: What 5 Things Are You Grateful for Today? Let's Begin the Day with Gratitude. - 04/02/08 08:42 AM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. … (37 comments)
|
north carolina: Raleigh, NC: Double-Check Your Registration Status for the May Primary - 03/26/08 06:34 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
If you are planning to vote in the upcoming North Carolina Primary, you may wish to make sure you're actually registered to vote.
The Primary will be held May 6, 2008 - with the last day to register to vote in this election being … (6 comments)
|
north carolina: Raleigh, NC Buyers: Buying New Construction? Call a REALTOR® FIRST! - 03/21/08 11:11 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
Did You Know...
As a Buyer, often, without paying one dime out of pocket, you can have access to the knowledge, skills, and expertise of a REALTOR®? So...why leave the largest purchase of your life to "chance"?
Just One Catch...
Consider … (7 comments)
|
north carolina: Raleigh, NC: Want to Learn About Social Media? Read on... - 03/16/08 01:43 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
Do you know everything you'd like to know about social networking? No? Well, Raleigh, help is on the way...
Last week, at a networking event, I met Lisa Bledsoe, director at Calvert Creative in Cary, North Carolina. Lisa's company helps organizations understand and implement the … (0 comments)
|
north carolina: Meet Penny Robinson, A Bright Spot in the Rain - 03/14/08 01:26 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
Penny Robinson - "Penny Is Your Agent"When I joined Keller Williams (KW), I had the pleasure of meeting Penny Robinson, an outstanding real estate agent with KW North Raleigh (North Carolina). She and I became fast friends.
Have you ever met someone - and felt as … (10 comments)
|
north carolina: Thinking of Switching Careers? You Need a Plan! - 03/13/08 10:19 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
Do you love real estate - and dream about one day leaving your 9 to 5 job to make it a full-time career? Are you trying to figure out exactly how to make it happen financially? Here are a few tips to help propel you … (10 comments)
|
north carolina: It Is What It Is... - 03/10/08 11:18 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
Sometimes in life, we're in a hurry to make things happen. We want things NOW!
In early 2000 to 2001, I had quite a bit of stress in my life and decided to sign up for a class through Duke Integrative Medicine called Mindfulness-Based Stress … (3 comments)
|
north carolina: Suspect Mortgage Fraud? Would You Do Anything About It? - 03/10/08 10:31 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
If you suspected a mortgage loan officer of fraud, what would you do about it?
With all the talk about mortgage fraud today, here's a true story that happened to to me some years ago - before the mortgage meltdown.
The Seller was offering closing … (26 comments)
|
north carolina: Home Inspections: Should They Be Required by the Lender? - 03/07/08 09:51 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
The Big Question of the Day: Do you think Home Inspections should be required by lenders - just as hazard insurance is?
This particular question popped in my head today as I was out driving around in the rain.
I tend to solve quite a few of … (35 comments)
|
north carolina: Buyers: Should You Save Your Cash for Furniture OR Should You Purchase an Inspection? - 02/28/08 03:46 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
Dear Buyer:
You may be wondering if you should actually spend your money for the home inspection that your real estate agent advises you to have - OR save it for the furniture and flat screen television?
As a REALTOR®, I advise all of my clients … (8 comments)
|
north carolina: Do You Go Above and Beyond for Your Clients - OR Are You Just an Average REALTOR®? - 02/26/08 08:58 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
Do you find that you go beyond the Call of Duty for your clients - or are you just average - and do "just enough" to get by to get your clients to the closing table?
I would venture to say that most Buyers and … (7 comments)
|
north carolina: Do You Have a Real Estate Coach? - 02/20/08 09:13 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
I am pretty disciplined and am definitely a self-starter. (One would have to be in this business, right?)
But I'm considering a real estate coach to help propel me to the next level.
I have heard some of the Mega Agents in my office talk … (10 comments)
|
north carolina: A Smile Can Literally Change Someone's Day - 02/19/08 10:03 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
As I go about my daily life, I make a conscious effort to smile at and say a cheerful "Hello!" to everyone I make eye contact with.
A long time ago, I realized that some days, that may be the only smile that someone … (15 comments)
|
north carolina: Do You Encourage Other Agents - Even If They Aren't with Your Firm? - 02/18/08 09:14 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
I had something really nice happen to me today. About a year ago, I had switched real estate firms, but still kept in touch with many of the wonderful people I met at the other company.
One agent I befriended was really struggling to get … (31 comments)
|
north carolina: Should REALTORS® Take Monetary "Incentives" from Sellers? - 02/18/08 08:40 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
Should REALTORS® Take Monetary "Incentives" from Sellers?
I really struggle with this one. Today, with the housing market suffering the way it is, many sellers are offering Agent Incentives. I've seen everything from flat screen television to $10,000 in cash to Caribbean cruises.
We work hard, … (12 comments)
|
north carolina: Saving for a Home? Start by Lowering Your Food Bill! - 02/02/08 06:22 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
I am saddened when I hear from individuals who dream of owning a home, but they're having trouble saving an adequate down payment.
These days, it seems that each time I turn on the television or read the news, there's doom and gloom … (21 comments)
|
north carolina: Raleigh, NC: Celebrating Valentine's Day. Where to Go, What to Do... - 01/29/08 11:49 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
Do you love holidays as much as I do? One of my favorites is Valentine's Day.
Could it be that it seems okay to deviate from my "diet" and eat as much chocolate as I like? Hmmm... My mouth is watering just thinking about … (5 comments)
|
north carolina: Solomon's Restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina - 01/23/08 06:11 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
I just love seeing small businesses succeed,and from time-to-time on my blog, I've decided that I will profile businesses that I think are cool.
Last night, I discovered a wonderful eatery called Solomon's Mediterranean Restaurant in Raleigh's Brierdale Shopping Center, near the popular Brier Creek shopping … (5 comments)
|
north carolina: Fallen Real Estate Comrades - Let's Have Some Compassion for Them - 01/21/08 10:06 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
I think a lot. And today I started thinking about all the folks getting out of the real estate business.
We keep seeing these blog posts about failing real estate businesses and how slow the market is. I don't know about you, but it makes … (7 comments)
|
north carolina: Buying a New Home? Consider Its Future Resell Value NOW! - 01/20/08 11:16 AM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
I was out for my morning walk earlier this week, and for the first time really "looked" at a set of new town homes near my residence. They're nice homes, but they back up to a busy street!
I thought to myself:
What were these … (8 comments)
|
north carolina: Mega Foreclosures in Wake County, North Carolina? Think Again! - 01/19/08 09:05 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
I don't know about you, but it is sooooo depressing to turn on the television or read about the record number of foreclosures in the United States.
I'm happy to say that the Sky is NOT falling in Wake County, North Carolina (where the 12 municipalities of … (9 comments)
|
north carolina: First Time Buyers: Not Using A REALTOR®? You May Wish to Reconsider... - 01/14/08 08:55 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
I see it all too often when I walk into the model at a new construction site ... Trusting Potential First-time Home Buyers who are not represented by a Buyer's Agent.
Inside my head, I'm screaming, "Run away from the on-site agent. S/he is … (15 comments)
|
north carolina: My Bucket List: Things I'd Like to Do Before I Kick the Bucket - 01/12/08 08:28 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
Earlier in the week, I watched The Early Show where actor Morgan Freeman talked about the movie "The Bucket List" - which well, is about things the main characters (played by Jack Nicholson and Freeman), would like to do before they kick the bucket.
It's strange, … (7 comments)
|
north carolina: The Politicians Are Saying "Health Care for All Americans." Do You Currently Have It? - 01/07/08 09:13 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
I haven't really been watching much of the news about the upcoming 2008 Presidential elections because I have come disenchanted with most of the folks running for office.
Some promise "health care for all Americans." When I hear this, I begin thinking about all of my … (17 comments)
|
north carolina: A Big THANK YOU to the Person Who Introduced Me to ActiveRain! - 01/05/08 06:29 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
Early last year, I had lunch with Kristin Little, a loan officer, who introduced me to the ActiveRain Network. That day, I had no idea how much of a blessing being here would be to my business!
Words are not enough to describe what … (17 comments)
|
north carolina: A Little Inspiration to Keep You Going... - 01/03/08 02:30 PM
Posted by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
For quite some time, I have been inspired by quotes and have been known to put them in the signature portion of my emails. It's amazing how many comments I received from email recipients.
Here are some quotes that have moved me:
"Mediocrity is a … (8 comments)
|
north carolina: Just Got Your License - And You're Ready to Go, Right? Hold Your Horses! - 01/01/08 01:27 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
You've taken the classes and passed the real estate exam. And now you'd like to jump feet first into a real estate career. Hold your horses, my friend! There are some things you may may wish to consider first.
From the outside, real estate … (34 comments)
|
north carolina: Why Do You Do Real Estate? (What's Your Big 'WHY'?) - 12/22/07 05:53 PM
My Team Leader at Keller Williams posed an interesting question recently, "What's YOUR Big 'Why'?"I started thinking about why I really get up each day to do thiswork versus something else, and wanted to pose the question to everyone here on ActiveRain.
Some REALTORS®, would say that they "do" real estate because they … (9 comments)
|
north carolina: Durham/Triangle, NC: A Great Place to Live and Get Educated! - 12/20/07 06:17 PM
It's nothing new that the Triangle area of North Carolina (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, and the surrounding towns) has long been known as a great place to live and work - and recently, Forbes.com named Durham, North Carolina as one of the Top 20 Places to Educate Your Child (#20).
The … (2 comments)
|
north carolina: A Closed Mouth Equals a Closed Business! - 12/02/07 10:15 PM
I absolutely love quotes. And I am always reading them and looking for little bits of inspiration as I go through my day.When I am having a less than stellar day (we all have 'em occasionally, right?!), I draw from these quotes.
I remember something that my mentor said to me once … (17 comments)
|
north carolina: Do You Follow Up with Clients After Closing? OR Drop Them Like a Hot Potato? - 11/25/07 09:27 PM
I often hear complaints from clients and potential clients that they liked their former real estate agent but never heard from the agent after the transaction. I wonder why?
Could it be that the agent is more focused on the next transaction - rather than building a long-term relationship with current clients? This doesn't make … (64 comments)
|
north carolina: We Owe So Much to Our Veterans! - 11/09/07 01:00 PM
Of course, there continues to be so much controversy about the War , BUT no matter what your political feelings and beliefs, one thing is undeniable: WE OWE SO MUCH TO THOSE WHO CHOSE TO SERVE.
I don't talk about it too often, but I often think about those individuals, including my … (20 comments)
|
north carolina: Want to Make a Difference? Join Keller Williams North Raleigh (N.C.) in Supporting Local Non-Profit Organizations! - 11/02/07 04:35 PM
Greetings!
Keller Williams North Raleigh is having its first Red Charity Ball on November 17, 2007 at the Velvet Cloak Inn in Raleigh, NC. Our goal is to raise $30,000 for the following charitable organizations...And you can help!
Please visit the Red Charity Ball Website to see how you can sponsor or attend … (2 comments)
|
north carolina: Should a REALTOR Have a 4-Year Degree in Real Estate? - 10/09/07 05:15 PM
During a recent Buyer interview, the Buyer asked me if REALTORs are required to earn a 4-year degree in real estate. I told him "no" but then explained the training that real estate agents go through in North Carolina, and that a good agent is continuously taking classes, reading, etc., to increase his/her … (113 comments)
|
north carolina: You Want to Flip A House? Educate Yourself First! - 09/10/07 09:25 PM
If you're like me, you love those Flip It television shows. They're addictive, aren't they?? And, unless you've been living under a rock, you've seen the media coverage about the record number of foreclosures in the United States. These shows, coupled with the increased foreclosure rate in this country, have prompted … (6 comments)
|
north carolina: Raleigh, NC: Nice, Affordable Housing (Under $200,000 available!) - 08/05/07 03:49 PM
Recently, I had the good fortune of meeting a general contractor who works for a non-profit organization called Builders of Hope in Raleigh, NC. This organization moves homes that ordinarily would be torn down to other locations where they can be designated as affordable housing. (In Raleigh and surrounding areas, housing … (0 comments)
|
north carolina: Mold Inspection: Should You Have One? - 07/31/07 11:30 AM
Buyers have heard time and again from their real estate agents that they should have a general home inspection before purchasing a property. But what about a mold inspection?
Recently, one of my buyers made an offer on a home with a finished basement. (Because basement homes are not common in North … (3 comments)
|
;)
Links;)
Tags (Tag Cloud);)
Archives
