Hank Perry's Blog

The Future of Search?

Hank Perry — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:13:04 -0700

We knew it happened - the ultimate purpose of the internet arrived, quite sometime ago, and it is search. Search is an appliance - ubiquitous, not device-centric, able to be triggered from the simplist of mobile phones. Now -- the question is, what does this mean to real estate search?

Well, it has to mean something more than, due respect, Realtor.com.

When I look at the future of search, i think of Pandora.com - internet radio that pushes songs to you based on a sophisticated "music genome project" where hundreds of attributes were catalogued. I type in a song, and it begins to play other songs with similar attributes.

What's the connection? If we are stuck as an industry on the notion that people simply buy bricks and morter, then look at Amazon.com - selling a commodity over the internet, yes - but also, looking at other things you might buy based on your history of search. I know you and I get prickly about privacy when it comes to things like that - but there may be a day where you don't care - because time is short, and you follow the recommendations and they end up with a cross-sale. In real estate, if we don't sell bricks and morter, then we sell lifestyle - all those "intangible" qualities which are kind of like describing music.

I wonder what it would take to build a "housing genome" with thousands of lifestyle attributes - what it's like to play t-ball at the park 2 streets down, or roller blade on the path nearby, or to sit in sunlit rooms in the winter time under sycamore trees, or any other of the literally hundreds of psychological elements that people see and "buy" when they decide to purchase a house.

I also wonder if consumers would subscribe to such a notion - the way they do with, for example, internet radio.

MLS - your future is short. Personally I think Google might have a chance at building something like what i mention - but we as an industry of thousands of different Boards, MLS rules, alliances - it just doesn't seem likely.

3 Fabulous Bay Area Hikes

Hank Perry — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:08:30 -0800

Ok, we know it's finally raining in the Bay Area - so where can you go when you want to be outside, and you don't have much time?

Here are three top picks:

1. Mt Diablo State Park

a. enter off Diablo Road, south entrance. Just after the "gate" is a sign on the left with a walking trail called "Dan Cook Trail." Park anywhere nearby, walk up a single-track trail which is usually ok in wet conditions. You will see a stream with a bridge and you can continue to the right all the way to picnic areas near the public road. There are beautiful Oak and Buckeye trees along the way! Distance: as far as you want, but probably under 2 miles gives you the idea!

2. Shell Ridge recreation area

a. enter off the "Sutherland Road" entrance in Walnut Creek. Walk to the right and down a hill to a nice single track trail which winds its way up hills and through Oak trees. At this time of year in the evenings, you will see great horned owls beginning their family cycle. Distance: once you connect up with the Mt Diablo/Briones trail you have walked up and down for about 2 miles. One can either continue to the right on Mt Diablo/Briones, or turn around and go down (left) the same trail, or return roughly to where you began by using the wider Mt Diablo/Briones trail.

3. Pt Reyes National Seashore

a. After driving from Contra Costa County toward "Drake's Estero" (google maps picks it up) - you can find a number of walking trails that will either take you down to the divine Drake's beach, or you can choose the dry boardwalk walkways either at Limantour Beach or Abbott's lagoon. Various migratory birds abound, so be sure to take your parka and your binoculars!

Do you have other ideas? Let me know what your favorite hikes are - and get outside!

Hank

KITTY COLE OFFERS EXCLUSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR EMPIRE REALTY ASSOCIATES

Hank Perry — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:52:18 -0700

DANVILLE – Kitty Cole and Associates are offering an exclusive training program for Empire Realty Associates. This 10 week course will focus on communication, coaching, and consulting strategies that are necessary components to being a successful real estate agent. The training seminar will begin on October 13, with a maximum of 20 agents in each class.

“We are very excited to have been able to partner with Kitty Cole,” said Hank Perry, President, Empire Realty. “Kitty brings a dynamic training and coaching program to our team that is unlike any other in this area. We are thrilled to have her working with our associates!”

One of Cole’s agents that she coached has said, “Over and over again, Kitty demonstrates the notion that setting goals and defining a plan is the most important cornerstone for success. Kitty’s training begins with your individual business (and personal) objectives. She breaks down the key success factors contributing to our business and systematically coaches her students to optimize each of them. The systems we learn implement with Kitty’s training have will drive my business for years to come.”

Kitty Cole is the Founder and President of Kitty Cole and Associates since 1993. They are a communications consultancy that helps a wide range of individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations. Kitty conducts training seminars to learn how to better manage your attitudes and behaviors. Some topics discussed in this real estate training seminar are; working on a business portfolio, listing presentations, business development, marketing, conflict resolution, negotiation, plus many more useful topics that will help set goals and ways to achieve them.

For more information please contact Hank Perry at (925) 217-5084 or HPerry@EmpireRA.com.

Empire Realty Associates supports Relay for Life 2008

Hank Perry — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:11:06 -0700

Empire Realty Associates supports the American Cancer Society Relay for Life (tm) for the Third Year

Realtor Angela Fitzgerald and Empire Realty Partner, Tracy Pisenti (shown) are leading the team at Empire this year. Empire Realty

Associates has been the number one local fundraising team for Relay for Life for the past 2 years.

Personally touching the community- Tracy Pisenti

"Having recently lost my father and grandmother to cancer, and being a cancer survivor myself, Relay for Life is a wonderful time to honor their memories," says Pisenti. "It is also a time to celebrate life and to do what I can to help raise money toward cancer research and support."

My comments and thoughts about this year's event:

I will be on hand for the weekend's events. This year, it's even more important for people to come together to support our communities in this regard. I'm especially thinking about my sister this year, who is a breast cancer survivor and still in the fight of her life. When we think about it, virtually everyone in our communities has been touched by cancer in one way or another. This is but one way the Associates at Empire work to support their respective communities.

If you have an interest in participating, or if you are someone who wants to financially support this year's team - please feel free to reach out to me personally, and I can discuss how you can get involved. Our communities are large - but they are networked in such ways through events such as Relay for Life -that living here, one can feel connected in ways we wouldn't think possible.

The Five Best Bike Rides in the SF Bay Area!

Hank Perry — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:41:48 -0700

When we're not out selling homes - one of the best parts of living in the San Francisco Bay Area is that there are a lot of really cool places -to bike! There are more cyclists in our part of California than practically anywhere! -and with gas rapidly approaching $5 a gallon, now's the perfect time to think about taking a local ride on your bike to enjoy your day in a brand new way. You'll feel better and you'll be outside! Here are my fabulous five:

Ride #1:

Mt Diablo State Park

http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=517

Map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=mt+diablo+state+park,+walnut+creek,+ca&sll=37.831751,-122.136555&sspn=0.062638,0.149689&ie=UTF8&ll=37.912784,-121.935196&spn=0.125139,0.299377&z=12&iwloc=D

Ride description: 3700 foot gain over 12 miles to the summit

Best bet: Begin at North Entrance (see map). Ride at dawn when the temperatures are cooler

What you'll see: wildflowers in spring (photo), golden eagles (photo) wildlife (bobcat, coyote, rabbit, eagles, red tail hawks, migrating birds of all kinds), views (San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge)

photos by hank

Ride #2:

Danville Boulevard to Peet's Coffee

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=danville+boulevard,+walnut+creek,+ca&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=32.197599,76.640625&ie=UTF8&ll=37.88256,-122.051067&spn=0.007824,0.018711&z=16

Ride description: Mellow, flat tree-lined street with bike lane, little or no elevation gain over 25 miles

Best Bet: Ride early or hook up with other riders at the parking off South Main (see map)

What you'll see: cool places to live, lots of other riders, homes for sale, downtown Alamo and Danville, CA

Ride #3:

Redwood Highway to the University of California, Berkeley

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=pinehurst+rd,+moraga,+ca&sll=37.801511,-122.13192&sspn=0.062664,0.149689&ie=UTF8&ll=37.831751,-122.136555&spn=0.062638,0.149689&z=13

Ride description: hill climb through redwood forest and eucalyptus groves

Best Bet: Ride early, take a vest for morning fog at the top!

What you'll see: old-growth redwood forest in metropolitan area, climb to top of ridge and look toward the Golden Gate Bridge

photo by hank

Ride #4:

San Francisco to Muir Woods

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/SF-Muir-Woods

Ride description: cross the Golden Gate Bridge on your way to redwood forests extraordinaire!

Best bet: There will be wind after 11am so, as always, start early! Think about lunch in Sausalito

What you'll see: Unsurpassed views, cool redwood forests, ocean views

photo by hank

Ride #5:

Napa Valley Wine Country Tour

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Wine-Country-Century

Ride description: 100k ride through Russian River Valley and Wine Country of Northern California

Best bet: Take a lunch and 2 bottles of water

What you'll see: You will cross the Russian river 4 times and roam 62 miles of wine country back roads! There is a course map on the roads beginning at the Santa Rosa High School - just follow the small yellow arrows and you're in for a fun ride!