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real estate: Raleigh, NC Real Estate: In Public, Are We Always on Your Best Behavior? - 09/07/08 11:33 AM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
I had something really cool happen to me on Friday morning. I was sitting in Camille's Sidewalk Cafe in Brier Creek having breakfast, and my phone rung. (I try to make it a point to not have extended phone conversations in public, as I find it quite annoying when others do it. However, I was sitting at the back of the restaurant on the couches - away from most patrons so I picked up.)
The person who phoned was the Listing Agent responding to my phone call regarding my questions about the … (10 comments)
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real estate: Raleigh, NC: Richland Run - Light & Bright Condo in Great Location - 06/19/08 06:28 PM
… (4 comments)
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real estate: Why Can't "Professionals"Do What They Say They're Going to Do? - 06/01/08 07:39 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
WARNING: This is a RANT- because I'm frustrated with the total lack of professionalism amongst some in this industry! (Not all - but some!)
I'm not sure why I continue to be surprised when speaking with clients and potential clients - and they say things to me like:
"Thank you so much for calling me back when you said you would."
OR
"You have a high level of professionalism."
OR
"My last real estate agent stopped returning my calls after we closed the sale."
OR
"If you don't know the … (19 comments)
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real estate: Stream Running Underneath a House. Unbelievable! - 05/01/08 10:54 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
Do You Know...
What Was on Your Property Before You Owned It?
I would venture to say that many of us do not know what existed on our property before lived there. Do you?
A friend and I were chatting yesterday about real estate and things that sometimes go wrong (and they unfortunately, they do!) - and she reminded me of the following TRUE STORY.
A couple built a home in a new subdivision - but had no idea that a stream had originally run through the neighborhood, which for years was wooded before development began in the area. … (3 comments)
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real estate: 50 Free Newsletters Update: They Arrived Today - 04/09/08 07:38 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
Recently, I wrote a post about 50 Free Newsletters. They arrived today, and I like them. They're simple - but will serve the purpose: Getting my name out in front of clients for free. The newsletters are in color - and have my picture displayed in color on the front and back.
The only missing component is the price ... I guess the company wants to "Wow" recipients - and then follow up with pricing later. It should be interesting...
If you place an order, please let us know what you think.
… (37 comments)
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real estate: 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. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~ Melody Beattie
Instead of complaining about how terrible the real estate market is - or how something didn't go quite the way that we wanted it to today or yesterday, or whenever - let's … (42 comments)
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real estate: Keep Away from People Who Try to Belittle Your Ambitions... - 03/20/08 09:55 PM
Written by:Darleen McCullen, REALTOR®, BrokerKeller Williams RealtyPhone: 919.454.8864Email: darleen@darleenmc.com
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." ~ Mark Twain Unfortunately, there will always be those people who will try to tell you what you CAN'T do! Don't listen to them. Be like the Little Engine that Could.
"The Market is slow - so you can't be successful in real estate right now." Does that sound familiar?
What some people don't realize is that even in a "down" market, there will always be … (16 comments)
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real estate: 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 forward towards your goal.
Save, Save, Save, Save...and SAVE!
Did I mention S-A-V-E? You know how squirrels put away food for the winter? The same principle can be applied to humans (hence the term "squirreling".) It's wise to put away money - and lots of it, because in real estate, one never … (10 comments)
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real estate: 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 the world's issues - and think of lots of questions while I'm having what I refer to as Windshield Time (i.e. spending lots of time in the car.) For me, Windshield Time gives me time to think and mediate on things relating to my business, as well as my life … (36 comments)
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real estate: 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 receives. They could be having a great day or one that is a little challenging.
Even if there are language barriers, a smile is the Universal Language. Everyone understands it.
I have had people ask me why I am so happy. The truth is, I have:
A great life, complete with my health … (15 comments)
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real estate: 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, right? And sometimes, we don't see the fruits of our labor (i.e. the sale doesn't close for whatever reason!)
So, why not accept an incentive when it comes our way?
I recently overheard an agent talking about the fact that she received a significant bonus, which of course is disclosed to the … (12 comments)
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real estate: 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 everywhere! If it's not a report on how Americans are being squeezed at the gas pump, or at the grocery store, it's a story on how unemployment is on the rise.
Are we heading into a recession? Some folks seem to think so. Hopefully, they're wrong!
I thought it would … (21 comments)
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real estate: 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 me really sad when I think about it.
I feel so sorry for those individuals who have worked hard and are now facing the fact that they may have to shut their doors. These folks had hopes and dreams for their businesses.
I know they didn't go in thinking they were … (7 comments)
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real estate: 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 Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Zebulon) are located!
In North Carolina, foreclosure rates are almost certain to climb. However, we are quite fortunate in Wake County. In 2007, fewer than 1,400 homes actually made it to the Courthouse steps as foreclosures, according … (9 comments)
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real estate: 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 working for the Builder and NOT you. The on-site agent may/may not be a licensed real estate agent!"
Don't get me wrong - I have nothing against on-site agents - and as a real estate agent, they treat me quite well. However, I, too, was once a First-time Buyer, and back then, … (15 comments)
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real estate: 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 blogging has done for me.
It:
Enables me to do something I love to do: Write!I am a journalist by training, but since I began my real estate career, I had gotten away from the thing that I love to do most outside of real estate. Write for fun! And believe … (17 comments)
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real estate: 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 seems like a glamorous industry filled with monstrous commission checks and living large. Here are 5 things I wish someone would've told me:
1) Have at least 6 to 12 months of living expenses saved. You may need it! Since real estate is a 100% commission business, there will be up … (34 comments)
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real estate: We Work Hard, Let's Take Time to Relax! - 12/19/07 09:47 PM
With only a few days remaining in 2007, it's time to review what we've accomplished this year, and set goals for 2008, right? Right! But it should also be a time for taking some time out for ourselves, as well as our families.
A few months ago, I wrote a blog called "We Take Care of Our Clients, BUT... " where I talked about the things I've committed to do more of such as exercising, massage, yoga, and eating right. Recently, I discovered a new place, Massage Envy at Brier Creek, in Raleigh, NC - and I just HAD to share! (When I find a … (6 comments)
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real estate: 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 (which is applicable to any business): "A Closed Mouth Equals a Closed Business." This is oh so true!
Shannon Lefevre, reminded me of this in her post: Do I Know You? No, But You Should! She started talking about her business to a stranger on the phone and could potentially have $2.5 million … (17 comments)
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real estate: 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 too much sense to me!
After a closing, I always follow up with my clients either on moving day or the day afterwards to see if there is anything they need. (Chances are, they may have questions about something in the house once they've moved in.)
I also follow up periodically to … (64 comments)
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Darleen McCullen, Broker-Raleigh, NC Real Estate
Raleigh,
NC
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