Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary's Blog

Holding an Open House in the Rain. How do you do it?

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:59:55 -0800

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?

Lovers of Hot Weather, Come to Concord, CA

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:20:09 -0700

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.

What's in Your Trunk/Car? Mine has...

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:24:39 -0700

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?

Free Music Concert Event in Walnut Creek, CA

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:09:11 -0700

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!

A Almost Tragedy but Saved by Grace

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:05:39 -0700

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'm Guilty of Procrastinating in Updating My Lockbox Key. Am I Alone?

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:34:53 -0700

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?

RED Day, May 14, 2009

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:53:57 -0700

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

Listings with Low Commission: Do You Show?

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:13:07 -0700

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.

Chameleon of a Front Door

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:36:36 -0700

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.

Are You Asking For Short Sale Referrals? Should You Be?

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:58:30 -0800

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.

Volunteering in the Community

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:52:43 -0800

I was a later bloomer in driving. I didn't get my license till I was 33 years old because I lived in an area that didn't require a car. It was actually worse to have a car because there was no parking!

Anyway, I know what it's like to not be able to get around and that's why I chose to volunteer some of my time to Meals on Wheels in Contra Costa County.

I asked to be a floater instead of having a fixed day/route because I'm still relatively new to the area and would like to get to know it better.

This week I drove two different routes.

The first one was pretty crazy because it was POURING rain outside and I had to run back to the trunk to get the food and then find which homes I was supposed to deliver the meal to. The second route went much better because I had done a Open House in that area so I was more familiar with the streets.

I really enjoyed my time delivering the meals and wished that I had time to stand and chat to the people that I was delivering meals too. On my first day, one participant sang to me. I also saw a family of dear running across a golf course.

I'm sure as time goes by and I do these same routes again, I will be more efficient and will eventually have time to chat with these homebound seniors. Till then, I'm feeling more confident about my area and look forward to learning about more areas to come.

Realtor or Balance Beam Walker?

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:20:36 -0800

I was showing homes in Walnut Creek, CA the other day. Most of the ones that I was showing were REO's as my client only wanted to see fixers. Well, here was definitely a fixer. Basically it's a frame of a house. Listed as four bedrooms and three baths, 2900 sq ft on a 17k sq ft lot. The homes in this area sell for about 1.5M and this one is listed at $574,500.

First of all, to get to the lockbox, you have to be balanced on a grassy area on a downslope to reach the lock box. Try doing this in ladie's shoes! Next, to get to the front door, instead of walking up a couple of stairs, you need to walk up a 2x6 board. Try doing this or getting to the lockbox if it has been raining and you are wearing ladie's shoes!

Luckily the day I went the ground was dry, but it was still scary to walk up and down a 2x6 ft beam.

What are some of the awkward things you have needed to do to get in to a home?

Good Deal on a HP Printer

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:08:42 -0800

I've been on a not-so-serious search for a new printer to print loan documents.

Came across this machine at Costco.com for under $200!

It's a limited time offer, till 2/22/2009.

My first printer was a HP4P and that machine lasted over a decade and I'm looking forward to using this machine.

Blessings from God

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:39:50 -0800

I've been wanting to try this resaturant in the next town for a while now. Today I was in the neighborhood at lunch time so I stopped in.

There was a customer talking to the order taker and we got to chatting while we waited for our food. I asked what he did for work and he asked me. I told him that I am a Realtor.

He may be in the market for a home, wanting to take advantage of all the short sales and foreclosures in town 20 minutes from his work.

It HAS to be God's hand at work to work that out this afternoon.

Have a blessed day!

Where to get a mailing/calling list?

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:59:28 -0800

I would like to market to the Assisted Living, Retirement Communities and Long Term Care facilities in my area. Short of going through the phone book, is there a way I can a list of places to call/mail to? I had thought about using the phone book and free publications that cater toward the 55+ age range but would prefer a centralized list to reduce duplicates. Thanks.

To Widget or Not to Widget

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:16:55 -0800

A colleague of mine has been working on his website and was asked to show some of us things he has done to improve his site.

I'm a pretty technologically comfortable kind of gal but my colleague taught us something that I didn't know how to do. Add widgets!

I think they're helpful because clients can use a mortgage calculator, daily rates or see what is available in your market.

Now I just have to figure out how to move it from the bottom of the page to the top right of the page where I want it.

The phrase "Make It A Great Day!" has new meaning for me.

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:12:18 -0800

I've heard this often at the end of voicemail messages. Moreso now that I joined Keller Williams last year.

Today it had new meaning for me as it created an "AHA" in my mind.

Lately I've been tired and not in the greatest of moods.

Today I felt pretty good. Energized. Ready to tackle the daily activities that needed done. I noticed that those around me were nice. Store clerks greeted me, asked me how I was doing. I was offered a cart at the grocery store. Even the courtesy clerk asked how I was doing.

Making it a great day starts with me. If I'm not great the rest of my world is not great. If others are great, they might be able to pass some of that greatness to me, as I had hopefully done for others today.

Thank you for reading, and make it a GREAT day!

The phrase "Make It A Great Day!" has new meaning for me.

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:07:52 -0800

I've heard this often at the end of voicemail messages. Moreso now that I joined Keller Williams last year.

Today it had new meaning for me as it created an "AHA" in my mind.

Lately I've been tired and not in the greatest of moods.

Today I felt pretty good. Energized. Ready to tackle the daily activities that needed done.

I noticed that those around me were nice. Store clerks greeted me, asked me how I was doing. I was offered a cart at the grocery store. Even the courtesy clerk asked how I was doing.

Thank you for reading, and make it a GREAT day!

Senior Housing Community Gets Permit to Shoot 50 Woodpeckers

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:57:39 -0800

Rossmoor is a retirement community between Walnut Creek and Lafayette, CA. It primarily houses active seniors who have access to a golf course on site, swimming, planned activities and a bus shuttle to take you outside of the community.

For the last seven years, the community of Rossmor has had a challenge with woodpeckers destroying their property. Several methonds have been used to discourage the woodpeckers, but none have been successful.

Now, Rossmoor has been granted a permit to hire a sharp shooter to destroy up to 50 woodpeckers.

For the full article, follow this link:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/14/BA5U1449PD.DTL

Gung Hay Fat Choy, My New Year's Gift to You

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:13:44 -0800

Year of the Ox falls once every 12 years. If you were born in the years of:

1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997

This is your year.

What I remember most about Chinese New Year growing up in San Francisco is the mini-carnival that was set up in Portsmouth Square. Back then, my grandparents lived in Chinatown and we would walk down the street to try the games and spend some of the "lucky money" that received from friends and relatives of the family.

Last year, Year of the Rat, was my year and I collected some cute things with the rat on them.

Joanna Quan, You're Fired!!

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 11:18:39 -0800

I guess it is a bit difficult to fire yourself, huh? Well, I did that this morning.

I haven't been happy with my performance at work since the year started. I had these plans, these goals. And they haven't gone very far.

So what's an employer to do? Move out the unproductive and replace with the motivated.

My motivation to "fire" myself actually came from Barry Owen's post http://activerain.com/blogsview/871035/OH-I-think-this-is-gonna-require-a-REBOOT.

Particularly this part.

"FIRE YOURSELF Odds are good that if you were hiring an employee - and you applied for the job - you wouldn't hire yourself anyway. So . . . Tomorrow is Friday your last day on your job - Yes - Sad, but true! You have all day to think about all the things you coulda or shoulda done to be more successful and keep your job. There's no point in doing any "REAL" work because you were just fired, but you do have an assignment. Monday morning, your replacement will be sitting at your desk. She will have trepidation and excitement at her new job. I want you to write a letter to her and tell her all those things you would have done differently. Make it from the heart - Make it thorough . . . after all, you have ALL day to do it. At the end of the day, pack your things up and leave the note on the desk. Leave the building. Guess what? It's Monday and you are SO excited. You have a NEW job! You are SO committed to doing well in your new position and can't WAIT to get started. Your goal is to IMPRESS everyone in your new office and WOW every client. You KNOW what to do and are committed to LEAD GENERATE 3 hours EVERY day. You are very passionate about learning your scripts . . . Securing appointments . . . and being the quintessential Customer Service Professional. and when you get to your new desk, there's this great note sitting there. It's from your predecessor . . . and it is a veritable GOLDMINE of information with many great lessons."

I meet with my mentor Monday morning. Time to face the music and confess that I haven't done what I said I would do and I'm not happy with myself because of it. Then after that, I will move on and start all over with a new MINDSET to lead generate and produce.

What's Your Big Why?

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:41:39 -0800

Why are you in real estate? What's your motivation?

I can tell you a big motivator for me.

This afternoon, I became the owner of my first brand new automobile. Thanks to friends who helped me negotiate over the internet, I was able to purchase a reliable, economic vehicle to take me around.

Now when I ask myself why I should do my lead generation time? Why should I go to another networking meeting? Why should I keep my information updated on the social networking sites?

I have answer. Because that car will need to get paid for, and my aim is to pay it off as soon as possible and not string along the financing.

I Need a Referral for an A-Frame Manufacturer

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:51:53 -0800

One of my goals in 2009 is to do two open houses a week. For that, I will need to buy some directional signs.

I've looked at the Keller Williams Preferred Vendor list but wanted to see where others were getting their signs from.

Some things that I need to consider are plastic vs metal. How long before the color fades? Weight of the sign.

I've been seeing prices that range from $38-$50/sign for 6.

Thanks for the help!

Angels Watching Over Me This Morning

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:53:59 -0800

For sure there must have been angels watching over me this morning as I drove on the freeway.

I was driving 65 mph in the #2/5 lanes when from the corner of my eye I saw something fall off a car in the #4 lane. It hit my car at an impact so hard that I heard a crunch and I lost control of my car for a bit, but I think I stayed in my own lane for the most part.

Praise God that there was no cars beside me while I straightened out my car. Praise God that there was actually NO DAMAGE to my car. Not even a scratch.

I still don't know what I did or how I avoided an accident. It was just a blur and it happened SOOO fast.

Blogging Styles

Joanna Quan, Realtor, SRES, Notary (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:55:57 -0800

When you write a blog, is it after much research and deliberation in your mind? Or do you have an "A-HA!" moment and decide to write about it?

I personally come from the latter category of bloggers.

This post was an "A-HA" inspired post.

One of the great things about working at Keller Williams Realty is the support that I get from other agents in the office. I like to hear/share my "A-HA" moments and I got to do that with a colleague and got a positive result from the experience.

Active Rain is like that for me to. It's where I can share my "A-HA" moments and hear of others.

Thanks for reading and have a happy blogging day.