Picture this.  Earlier in the week, the sun is shining and the air is crisp.  You decide to do a Open House.  You advertise, you let people know, you prepare for the open house.

Fast forward to the day of the Open House.  It is raining. What do you do?

On the best of days, it is challenging for me to handle directional signs.  I'm a small person.  Putting out signs on a given day is difficult enough.  So...run out with no umbrella and get wet or struggle with an umbrella in one hand and a sign in the other?

Do people come to open houses when it is raining out?  Just curious...

I enjoy doing Open House.  I meet great neighbors and others just walking through.  I enjoy seeing the different houses and learning about the feedback from the people that walk through.

What are your thoughts and experiences?

I grew up in San Francisco, CA where the locals think that 70 degrees is hot.  And in San Francisco, it IS!

But I no longer live in San Francisco.  I live in the East Bay area where for the last week or so, it has been over 100 degrees.  Thank God for air conditioning and double paned windows! 

I did visit San Francisco today.  I walked around in shorts and a t-shirt and was a bit cold...even though it was 68 degrees.  Locals probably think I'm nuts.  I probably would have agreed with them 6 years ago!

My friend was kind of enough to take a picture from his window this evening.  He's probably less then a mile from SF but I asked him for a picture of the fog so I could think about the cool for a little bit.

Don't get me wrong, I love my suburban life here.  I'm just a bit drained from this constant heat.

For you folks that LOVE the hot weather.  Contact Joanna Quan @ 510-374-8240 to find your next home in the East Bay.

I should have been a boy scout because I like to be prepared for different situations.  However, I don't like the outdoors, so I'll stick with being a Realtor.  :)

I'm doing a mental inventory of things that are in my car/trunk that have come in handy to me as I go about my business.

1)  Febreeze -  I found a small container that fits in the glove box.  Perfect for when your car smells like food and you need to take clients out.  Or if you are in a home with a not-so-fresh smell.

2)  Hand sanitizer - Great for when soap/water are not available.

3)  Toilet Paper - How many times have you or a client needed to go and there is no TP around???

4)  Camp Chair - For doing Open Houses in those vacant homes and not wanting to stand the entire 3 hrs.

5)  Emergency Kit - Because that is just good to have.

6)  GPS - Because I get taken off track easily and even with my trusty machine, I miss turns!

7)  Paper/Pen - I use those paper pads that banks/title companies stick in my mail box at the office.  Great for jotting notes when checking voicemails.

There are probably other things I have or should have...What are some of the things that have come in handy in for you?

On July 9th, I had the opportunity to listen to Joyce Cooling and her band.  This free concert was held in downtown Walnut Creek's Broadway Plaza.  More specifically, it was in the parking lot of Stanford's Restaurant.

The parking lot was packed.  Some were able to get a seat, others brought lawn chairs and still others stood in various locations.  Fans even got up and danced by the stage.

The website shows that there will be two other free jazz concerts for the next two Thursdays from 6:30pm - 8pm.

Walnut Creek is a great place to live with it's culture, events and activities such as this. 

To find your next home in Walnut Creek, contact me at 510-374-8240.  I look forward to walking with you to your next home!

I read an article in the Contra Costa Times Online in the beginning of June about an elderly lady that couldn't get out of her bathtub for days.  She survived by keeping the water warm and drinking out of a rubber duck with a hole in it. 

She is close to her family and is very active and no one found it odd not to hear from her for a couple of days. 

I can relate to how scary it is to live alone and have something happen to you.  I once lived alone for 5 years and anything could have happened to me. 

I wonder if I am alone in procrastinating to update my key.  So many electronics in my purse...mp3 player, gps, blackberry, additional cell phone and lockbox key.  This is not to mention the number of cords running out of my computer and desk area to keep said items charged!

Therefore, the key gets neglected.  Till I get a call at 9 am the day my key expires from someone who absolutely needs to get in to a home yesterday.  I scramble to connect the cords and power supply to resynchronize my key and, of course, it is unable to find the hardware!  Cable connected?  check!  plugged in?  check!  key set to manually synchronize?  check! 

OK.  Deep breath.  Turn everything off, unplug and replug things and restart the machine. 

Why, oh why didn't I just update the key earlier?

On May 14, 2009, Keller Williams agents across the US and Canada will donate time to their communities in honor of our Vice Chairman, Mo Anderson who founded KW Cares.

R - Renew

E - Energize

D - Donate

Stay tuned for what Keller Williams Realty East Bay based in Walnut Creek has planned.

In the meantime, enjoy this announcement about RED Day from Family Reunion 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGy4kpHRDWo

I was browsing through my MLS and saw a property that a client of mine might be interested in.  When I looked at the CSO, it was 2.25%!? 

The average in my area for short sales is 2.5%.  This one is an REO. 

Curious about how other agents handle these.  Thanks.

This afternoon I was in an older area of Concord, CA.  I was sitting in the dining room of a sweet elderly couple.  I looked around the paneled living room and realized that the door was of the same paneling as the rest of the room!  The only way you could tell it was a door to get out of the room is because of the deadbolt lock and door knob.

Thought this was interesting as I've not seen homes with such concealed doors.

How often do you ask a person "Do you know anyone that is looking to buy/sell a home RIGHT NOW?"

With the number of people that are underwater or close to being underwater in their homes and not knowing that there are options available to them, is the better question to ask "Do you know anyone that is at risk of losing their home right now?"

What can we do as agents?

                        Point the client in the right direction -  Speaking to their lender.

If they are able to save the home, great, you are their hero for helping them to avoid foreclosure.

If they decide they are unable to keep the home, be their listing agent to short sale on the home.