Schuylkill County Fair: August 2-7, 2010 - 07/31/10 08:37 PM
It's that time of year again! Schuylkill County Fair 2010 opens on Monday for a week of fun and entertainment.
Here is the schedule. Admission price includes entrance to the Fair, all the rides, admission to the Agricultural Museum, and all the entertainment. No tickets are available or are required for the entertainment.
FAMILY DAY - Monday August 2nd Twitty Fever Band - Country Music 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM Only $6.00 Fairgrounds Admission
KIDS DAY - Tuesday August 3rd The Return (Beatles Tribute) 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM Only $6.00 Admission for Youth 12 years and younger $8.00 Regular admission.
… (2 comments)

Tips to New Agents: It's Not As Easy As It Looks - 07/31/10 07:13 PM

Via Jamey & Ognjen Prezzi Miami Beach Luxury Condos & Homes (Keller Williams~Luxury Renters, Buyers & Sellers):
After reading quite a few discouraged agent posts over the past few weeks, I spewed out the following post just for you…  and to anyone else who may need a  hug.
At one point last year I had a young lady working with me part time.  She was a neighbor and wanted to find out what it was like to work in Real Estate.  She thought that she may like the job but wasn’t sure so she hung out in our office for a few … (1 comments)

Short Sale Listing Agents: Appraisal Question - 07/31/10 05:41 PM
What do you think of this idea?
We listed a potential short sale and the seller asked if he could speed the process up if we get an appraisal before we set the home's price, and then list it for exactly the number the appraisal comes in at.
If we prepare a short sale package and INCLUDE a current appraisal, will that speed up the bank approval process?
Will it streamline things?
Or is it a waste of the seller's money?
I do not mean to get an appraisal and NOT run a CMA. I always run a CMA. I mean … (8 comments)

Real Estate is Constantly Evolving. Are You Considering an Agent Who Hasn't? - 07/27/10 09:19 PM

Via Craig Rutman North Carolina (Raleigh Area) Realtor (Home Buyer and Seller Specialist):
Real Estate is Constantly Evolving.
Are You Considering an Agent Who Hasn't?If you're thinking of selling your home, especially in today's market, the agent you choose can make a huge difference between having a sold sign in your front yard or having your home sit on the market for an eternity.
With nearly 90% of potential home buyers beginning their home search online, shouldn't the agent you trust to list your home have a strong internet presence?
 
Shouldn't that agent know how to utilize the technology available to them?And … (1 comments)

So tell me...Is it safe to live here? - 07/26/10 04:13 PM

Via Wanda Kubat-Nerdin (Prado Real Estate, St. George, UT 435.632.9374):

So tell me...Is it safe to live here?
When out-of-town clients ask about particular neighborhoods and crime statistics, what do you tell them? And if they ask you to look up the area web sites for crime statistics, do you help them or just turn them loose with a web site address?
This just happened a week ago and instead of answering with an opinion, I stated that I was not able to answer that question but could provide information for them regarding our local area through the city of … (1 comments)

Shenandoah Home for Sale: $19,000 - 07/25/10 03:45 PM
This home is ready for you to move in. Owner recently remodeled kitchen, including new flooring. First floor laundry off kitchen. Attic could be fourth bedroom or home office. Electric baseboard heat. Cute fenced yard. Yes, in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania you can buy a home for $19,000 ready to move in now. Amazing! … (4 comments)

Schuylkill County Sheriff Sale August 13, 2010 - 07/25/10 01:05 PM
The next Schuylkill County Sheriff Sale is Friday, August 13, 2010 At 10:00 o’clock in the Forenoon, in Courtroom No. 1 at the Court House in the City of Pottsville.
For information on how to bid, go to the Schuylkill County Sheriff Sale page here. Information is there about how to bid, and there is a link on the page to all the properties currently on the Sheriff Sale list. There are 87 properties scheduled for the auction that day (some may be removed if their debt is cured before August 13).
An important note is that the properties CANNOT be … (0 comments)

Penn State Schuylkill Offers Real Estate Courses - 07/25/10 12:22 PM
Ready for a career in real estate? Then you need the right credentials on your resume. Show the world that you have what it takes to achieve, to innovate, to go further, and to do more.
ENROLL NOW FOR FALL REAL ESTATE PRE-LICENSING COURSES at PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL
Real Estate Fundamentals (R EST 5016A)
September 1 - 25, 2010 Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Real Estate Practice (R EST 5017A)
September 29 - October 23, 2010 Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
The registration fee for each … (0 comments)

How to pick a Schuylkill County builder for your new home - 07/25/10 11:16 AM
How to pick a Schuylkill County builder for your new home
At Realty Executives, we work with buyers who want to build their own custom home in Schuylkill County. Do you want to build your dream home in Pottsville or surrounding areas, but don’t know where to start? Here’s some quick advice on how to begin. 
1. DECIDE ON YOUR BUDGET. How much do you want to spend on the land, and then the home? Some builders have land/home packages, while others will build on your land or land you find independent of them. Start with knowing how much you can … (2 comments)

Top 10 Credit Don'ts When Buying a Home - 07/23/10 05:50 PM
Are you buying a home in Schuylkill County, PA right now?
If so, pay attention to this blog post on what NOT to do.
 
 
Via Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate):
Oh, the perplexing world of credit.  I must confess that there are times that the rules of what raises and lowers your credit score baffles me.  The one thing I am certain of is that you should guard your credit score with righteous fervor, at least until you win the lottery and can afford to buy everything with cash.  Your credit is part of … (4 comments)

High Tea at the Partridge House - 07/22/10 09:23 PM
Rose Partridge & Cathy Repp announced tonight thaty they are having another "Sunday High Tea" on Sunday July 25th and still have some openings. Seating is limited.
If you would like to have High Tea at The Partridge House Bed & Breakfast in Pottsville, PA, reservations are required. You may call 570-622-8388.
The Partridge House Bed & Breakfast is nestled in the heart of the Historic District in downtown Pottsville, PA. Visit their "Events at The Inn" page for their complete High Tea schedule through the end of September.
Other Tea Sundays include August 8 & 22nd and September 12 & … (4 comments)

2010 Great Pottsville Cruise - 07/22/10 09:14 PM
The 2010 Great Pottsville Cruise is headed our way, the first week of August, for the 17th year.
I am not a cruiser, but I can tell you that Pottsville ROCKS each year with almost a full week of events, organized in large part by Jerry Enders and the Pottsville Lions Club.
The 8th is the official CRUISE DAY, but for the week before the event you'll see a sock hop, sound off, and various cruise events.
The website invites you to join the cruise at Martz Hall, 16th & Laurel Blvd, Pottsville on August 8. Staging starts at 10am and … (0 comments)

Credit Report - How long will information remain on the report? - 07/21/10 07:51 PM

Via Diane Osowiecki Greater Nashville Real Estate (Diane O and Friends - Benchmark Realty):
HOW LONG WILL INFORMATION STAY ON A CREDIT REPORT?  With so many questions about credit and credit reports here is some helpful information.  The best answer, ask your lender.
BANKRUPTCY CHAPTER 13: (Often called a debt reorganization. A Chapter 13 Bankruptcy is generally appropriate for those individuals who have non-exempt property they wish to retain and who have enough income to reasonably pay the reorganized debt after covering reasonable living expenses.) 10 years from the date filed. If discharged it is reportable for 7 years from the date … (5 comments)

Schuylkill County Tax Appeal Appraisals - 07/16/10 09:01 AM
Schuylkill County Tax Appeal Appraisals
It's that time of the year again! Every summer we get tons of phone calls from Schuylkill County property owners who want to appeal their property taxes. If you think your taxes are too high, or neighboring properties have lower taxes, you may want to pursue a tax appeal.
The first step, is to hire an appraiser to appraise your property. You need a licensed appraiser to document what the fair market value of your home is. What is your Schuylkill County tax assessment? The tax assessment is a tool local governments use to exact a … (5 comments)

10 PRICE REDUCTION TIPS - 07/09/10 10:31 PM
Pricing is KEY to selling your Schuylkill County home right now.
See this article on pricing, below
 
 
Via Ken Tracy Naperville Illinois Real Estate (Keller Williams Naperville):
After 15 years of selling financial products, I am very comfortable talking numbers with people...
Pricing is the key to selling homes.
Yes, you want the home staged correctly...
And yes, the home needs to be marketed properly...
But if it isn't priced right, you have no chance.
Period.
With that in mind...
10 TIPS FOR GETTING MORE PRICE REDUCTIONS: 
Have a pricing reduction system and explain it to your clients up front.It is best to price … (5 comments)

The Top 17 Features Generation Y Looks For When Buying A Home - 07/08/10 07:11 PM

Via Bea Fields (Bea Fields Companies, Inc. ):
I want to start this post by saying that, as with all demographics, not all Generation Y home buyers are going to want the following list in a home.  But, the trends with this age group seems to be leaning in the  direction  for certain amenities and features when buying or renting a home.
I also will just add that as Generation Y begins to marry and have children, a few of these desires may change, but we still have 5-10 years to get to that point.  Generation Y is marrying later in life, … (2 comments)

Is anyone using Decisions, Inc / Broker Unlimited for Accounting? - 07/08/10 02:47 PM
Help! I have been using Quickbooks with a plug in since 2008. The plug in is just for real estate offices, and is produced by Decisions, Inc. The program is called Broker Unlimited.
Until a week ago, I was thrilled!
Then I went on vacation, and came home and was unable to log into my accounts. That didn't worry me because I have to change my password there regularly, and I thought that it expired while I was away.
Now I've been calling the company for over a week, with no response. Their 800 number doesn't work, the local number seems … (3 comments)

To use flash or not to use flash on a website re-do - 07/08/10 08:20 AM
I am in the midst of redoing my website and I am stuck.
I hired a company to do a custom site, and they want to do a flash intro with rotating photos. That sounds good.
But I started thinking -- what about iPad users? If Apple doesn't handle flash, what will my opening page look like? Will users not get the flash, or will they just get a static opening shot?
I called the design company and they said my choices are to do it with flash and ignore the iPad problem, or don't use the flash and instead use … (14 comments)

The perfect number: 416,000 points - 07/07/10 09:43 PM
Okay guys, here is a simple little post bragging about my "perfect score" that I just hit tonight.
416,000 points. An even triple digit number. I couldn't have done this if I had tried!
So hooray for me... and yippee!
I am now at my 3 year anniversary this month on Active Rain!
Woo hoo! A perfect number.

… (10 comments)

Are You Up for Selling Your OWN Real Estate? - 07/07/10 09:05 PM

Via Debe Maxwell - Search Charlotte Homes for Sale - Charlotte NC Neighborhoods (Helen Adams Realty):
Are You Up for Selling Your OWN Real Estate? As I’m sure you are aware, the real estate industry is experiencing one of its worst down markets in history—at least locally it is.  The last thing you want to do is pay commission to a real estate agent, right?  Not to mention the fact that you’re nearly positive you can sell your own home just fine without having had any experience in doing so—it’s EASY! 
 
Before sticking a “For Sale by Owner” sign up, however, … (2 comments)

You cannot always predict what will engage your readers -- or featured posts! - 07/07/10 07:57 PM
This is going to be a short, lighthearted post tonight. I write blogs here several times a week, and also post on other sites. I write for AgentGenius as well, and have 4 other blogs of my own on wordpress.
The funny thing I noticed is sometimes you work your tail off on a blog post -- you spend hours formulating your thoughts, writing it, finding the perfect photo, and making it perfect. You agonize over it, make it public, and ...
CRICKETS
Nothing.
You have a few responses from your best buddies, and online friends. But other than that ... … (8 comments)

How hard are you to find? - 07/04/10 07:51 PM
Are you an invisible agent? Not just a secret agent (meaning nobody knows you sell real estate) but an INVISIBLE agent?
If I wanted to call you right now, and just had your name and/or company name, could I find you?
"WELL OF COURSE!"
Not so fast. Before you answer, google your name. What comes up? I hope a website dedicated to you (as in your own personal site). Or at the very least, your company's website with your contact info.
Think that's a ridiculous request? Read on for a #FAIL moment.
An out of town agent called the office Friday … (73 comments)

My Favorite 4th of July memory - 07/04/10 02:11 PM

Via Marte Cliff (Marte Cliff Copywriting):
About a dozen years ago I was operating a real estate agency in our small town of Priest River, Idaho and I was bothered by the fact that the 4th of July celebration I remembered from childhood had somehow fallen by the wayside.
So I went to a Chamber of Commerce meeting and suggested that it might be time to bring it back. They said "Sure, go ahead and do it."
OK then - was anyone going to help? Heck no!
So I started out on my own to find out where to buy the fireworks, … (3 comments)

Soci@l: Don't be the loudmouth with the bullhorn - 07/03/10 11:00 PM
I just finished the ebook, Soci@l: Attract Friends, Followers and Connections to Your Business
I have been blogging here on ActiveRain since 2007 and can personally avow that the principles in this book are SPOT ON. From beginning to end, it is chock full of solid advice.
Starting in the very beginning, one of the first pieces of advice is NOT to be the loudmouth with the bullhorn, spewing your message to everyone around you.
Think about the last time you went to a business meeting or chamber of commerce mixer, or some other similar function where you're there to network … (5 comments)

Blast from the past: door to door salesmen - 07/02/10 09:28 PM
When I was growing up I remember every summer college kids would knock on the door selling encyclopedias or magazines. So today I was just shocked to have a young man from out of the area knocking on my door selling books door to door. I didn't look too hard at them, but they were educational books meant to help your child succeed in school. They weren't exactly encyclopedia sets, but the next generation maybe. IT was more like a compendium of summary texts all in one volume to help your child pass math, science, etc.
Wow. What a strange experience!
… (5 comments)

Be Professional: Proofread! - 07/01/10 08:31 PM
When you're blogging, or writing ads, or creating signs here's a free tip: PROOFREAD!
I know it sounds nitpicky (and I used to be a magazine and book editor) but it's not. If you read something and a typo jumps out at you, don't you do a double take? I know I instantly think twice about the writer's credentials, especially if he/she is holding themselves out to be a professional.
Today I was on a company website. The company is in a neighboring county, but hires agents from our area. Granted our county is not easy to say or spell (Schuylkill … (76 comments)

Homes don't pass or fail home inspections - 07/01/10 01:59 PM
This is a great post on the frequently misused "pass" or "fail" terminology when we're dealing with home inspections.
If you are buying or selling a home in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, you should be familiar with how home inspectors work and the process.
We have a list of Schuylkill County home inspectors we recommend, if you need one.
 
Via Jim Frimmer, Realtor, Mission Valley, CA DRE #01458572 (Century 21 Award):
I worked as a home inspector from October 2001 to August 2005.
One of the questions that we often were asked, both by our Clients and by their real estate agents, … (1 comments)

 
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Erica Ramus - SchuylkillRealEstate.com - Schuylkill County PA Real Estate

Pottsville, PA

More about me…

Erica Ramus - Ramus Realty Group - Pottsville, PA

Address: 300 Mauch Chunk St. Suite A, Pottsville, PA, 17901

Office Phone: (570) 622-6006 x 301

Cell Phone: (570) 449-2131

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