When I write a blog article, that's not the end of that story. Whenever possible, that blog becomes a marketing piece, a thank-you note, an "I was thinking of you" reminder to a prospective client, and another opportunity to remind clients and prospects of my service and expertise.
Here's one example: There was a buyer who came to Baltimore from the British Virgin Islands to find a place for her college student daughter. She found me through the Internet and was interested in one of the condos I had listed. She was a delight to work with, and bought one of the condos for her daughter. I did a follow-up post on that which helped to reinforce what was already a good relationship. I pointed to the story again in a post that reminded folks that many young people – singles and young families – are finding Baltimore condos to be an affordable choice with great convenience features. My listing inventory of condos is at an all time high, and I find that younger buyers are looking at my high-rise buildings and thinking of buying.
Something else I do is use a blog article as a reminder gift for a person or business. For example, when I write about a restaurant like Tio Pepe in Baltimore, or a dairy with great ice cream in HarfordCounty, I print copies of the article in color and then laminate them. I take them to the owner the next time I visit - one always goes on the wall, and the other is for them to show off. It takes just few minutes and a few cents, but the impact is huge.
Blog articles also are a source for my print advertising. When I have great feedback from a client, like the cient from the British Virgin Islands, I use excerpts in my print ads to reinforce to both clients and prospects the level of service they can expect.
And of course the great benefit of having a large collection of blog articles is that you have taken the time to think and write about many aspects of the real estate business. After a few hundred thousand words, you have the core of a book that you can publish and use to promote yourself to prospects and clients. No magnet or mug can compare with the impact of a book with your name as author when it comes to proving that you are the expert in your market.
You have found the perfect home ...it is even in the shape of an "H". Take a look at this very special custom contemporary brick "H" shaped rancher with four bedrooms and 2 full baths all on the first level.
Easy to care for and pretty to look at, the entire first level has "wood" laminate flooring.
The slate foyer welcomes you into this very bright open living room with cathedral ceilings.
Notice the brick wall with the wood burning fireplace... now being used with a gas insert. You have your choice wood or gas.
There is a "sliding" divider that separates the formal dining room and kitchen from the main living area. Cathedral ceilings and glassed window walls bring the beauty of the seasons to you.
Inside or outside, your patio is surrounded on three sides (remember the shape of the house). You can enjoy this space year round while in the living area or right outside your sliding glass doors. What a pleasure to have this private area...the perfect setting for your morning coffee, a quiet afternoon of reading and later a perfect spot for a Baltimore cookout! The kitchen also has big bright windows, an abundance of cabinets and a bright laundry area in the ideal spot...right where you need it.
The lower level is finished for use as studio or workshop and has abundant storage a half bath, a cedar closet and is also accessed from a door leading to the driveway.
Wood stairs leading to the lower level.
Rear of Rancher showing the patio area
Rear of H Rancher showing the private patio
Front of H shaped Brick Rancher
Finished lower level has outside access
Abundant storage in lower level
Brick wall and cathedral ceilings
Private patio with sliders from large dining room
Hardwood stairs leading to the finished lower level.
Bright living room has wall of glass
Easy care wood laminate flooring
Brick wall with wood burning or gas fireplace
Contemporary Living room
Open floor plan allows flexable furniture placement
Slate foyer can be separated with sliding wall
Bright sunny kitchen windows
Electric cook top bit you have a choice of gas
Convenient laundry between kitchen and bedrooms
Kitchen has lots of storage cabinets
Patio access from dining room's sliding glass door
When is a three car garage a four car garage? Let's begin to count.
First, there is the cute little metallic light brown 1974 Excalibur convertible. It has only 4,000 miles on it, but I bet they were all fun miles.
Next is the 1964 red convertible Lincoln Continental with the "suicide doors." (Front-opening doors are called "suicide doors" because, if the door becomes unlatched while the car is moving, the air pressure will pull the door open and make it impossible to close.) This is the same model car, but black of course, that Kennedy rode in on that fateful day in Dallas.
Number three is a 1992 six-door Cadillac Superior stretch limousine. There are two TVs in the back, facing opposite directions. Two of those six doors open only from the inside.
The last is a 1967 Cadillac, also a red convertible. Each of these beauties has been restored with all new leather, new tops and custom paint. I am sure others could give a lot more details on these toys, but these four certainly remind us that the only difference between men and boys is the size of their toys!
This oversized three car garage actually has all four of these autos inside. The garage is a beauty by itself. Built 10 years ago, it has heat and air conditioning, windows, electricity and automatic doors that can also be controlled from inside the home. An insulated attic and finished walls make this four-door garage a wonderful space for a home office, art studio, workshop, hobbies and maybe even for some lucky person... a place to house a special auto or toy collection. Security is maintained by the lighting and surveillance cameras. This freestanding structure makes a nice addition to the custom built home at 3317 Old Post Drive.
My friend and speaker , Umar Hameed, will be hosting this forum Tuesday Morning November 3rd
Having the opportunity to listen to Umar, if only for a short time is worth every minute!
Event Details
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 8am-9:30am
Highly Effective Ways to Get Past the "Gatekeeper"
You will never make the sale if you don't get to the decision maker. Each time the gatekeeper stops you from reaching the decision maker it costs you MONEY! Come to this week's forum and learn highly effective techniques that get the job done.
Host:Umar Hameed, international speaker, author and consultant, and Founder of No Limits Selling and Productivity Cubed.
Sales Pro:Stacey Lynn Munsell, Senior Account Executive with Baltimore Magazine, former sales manager at Chef's Expressions Catering, and former director of sales and marketing at Planet Hollywood.
The Sales Experts Forum will be held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month. At each forum we'll feature a hot sales topic and a lively discussion led by Umar. Sales pros who are at the top of their game will share some of their most effective ideas, techniques, and secrets with you. In addition to breakfast and networking, you'll get a chance to learn from your peers specific ways to
overcome your challenges
sharpen your sales strategies
improve your performance
When
Tuesday, November 03, 2009 from 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM (ET)
Where
Cromwell Valley Park 2002 Cromwell Bridge Road Baltimore, MD 21234
Hosted By
Productivity Cubed ,Umar Hameed, international speaker, author and consultant, and founder of No Limits Selling and Productivity Cubed. Umar specializes in getting salespeople unstuck so they can make a ton of money and live happier lives.
Cromwell Valley Park 2002 Cromwell Bridge Road Baltimore, MD 21234
Now, back to the main house... sitting on a beautiful level landscaped lot at the corner of Winterset and Old Post..just minutes from Exit 21 of the Baltimore Beltway 695.. such a convenient location. Close but not too close!
This custom, well built mid-century, brick and stone residence has so much to offer that you could call it a ‘forever' house with complete accessibility... no steps, other than the ones leading to the 4th bedroom!
This is a home for entertaining with the long double driveway...parking for lots of guests.
When you drive up, notice the ‘3317' on the brick mailbox custom made for the long time owners.
There are many unique custom features such as a curved wall, stone planter, pocket doors between the family room and dining areas, and a bricked in gas grill in the spacious eat in kitchen.
Need a home office or den? There is a room for you on one side of the kitchen. Another bonus room houses the extra freezer, refrigerator, washer, dryer, large storage area, and has its own door to the covered carport area.
The grand stone fireplace, a focal point of this special residence, can be enjoyed from the living room, dining room, foyer and family room.
The generous open spaces allow for creative placement of furniture.
The kitchen has a storage wall of custom wood cabinetry, a breakfast area, gas grill, loads of cabinet space, a salad sink with disposal and another deeper sink. Pantries on each side of the oven.
The amount of storage and the design is a functional work of art.
Take a look and you may be asking: "what's behind door # 1, door # 2 etc.
Do you see the elegant "jewelry" hardware on these doors?
The house is transformed when this "wall" opens for entertaining, giving easy access to the open bar into the kitchen.
The dining area is defined by the elegant fireplace, with matching custom wood, the custom wall of cabinets and the adjacent family room. The owners took a great deal of pride choosing the 'art deco' dining room chandelier.
This entire space is opened by a full wall of glass containing two sets of sliders to the patio areas. Another set of sliders from the large paneled family room, again, give access to the patio, level yard and storage shed.
Abundant storage throughout the home and don't forget about the enormous space, now housing four cars. Completely finished with attic insulation, windows, heat and air conditioning. Not a car enthusiast?...how about using for a studio, office or recreation area. Bet you could come up with many ideas for this separate but close to the house structure.
The three, first floor, bedrooms on the other side of the house, are separated by a door and boast rich dark parquet floors.
Look at the main bath room with double sinks, a slight corner tub and seating area. Check out the custom designed tiles of this delightful home built in 1959.
Stairs leading up to the large fourth bedroom.. measuring 19' x 19'..has a large bright window, walk in closet plus a good old fashioned cedar lined closet. This upstairs space has its own heat and air conditioning.
The master bedroom, with dressing room, mirrored closet with built in drawers and stall shower, has plenty of space for designing the most luxurious bath/spa.
With a bit of TLC, this home could be spectacular again.
I watched the hourly weather the night before, and the forecast was rain all the way through 1:00 p.m., then sunshine and only a 10% chance of precipitation. Would the book signing, we had scheduled from 2:00 to 3:00 last Friday, be soggy or bright?
The day turned out to be one of those absolutely glorious gems, cool but sunny, no longer summer, but not quite fall either. A perfect day, and well deserved after last year's "Liquid Sunshine." The planned book signing of Real Estate the Rome Way was scheduled for an hour at 2:00. That hour turned into four, did not leave until after 6:00PM.. just too much going on.
The MidAtlantic Book Publishers Association booth was at the hub of the festival, near the Washington Monument, right in front of the Mt. Vernon Place United Methodist Church with its gingerbread spires. We heard the sounds of bands from the nearby stage, saw colorful people, pets, neighbors and friends.
Students from the Institute of Notre Dame strolled the festival escorting characters from children's books like the hippos George and Martha, and Frogger.
Right across the way was the LiveBaltimore booth (last year they were easy to find with their bright yellow umbrellas.) The people-watching was excellent!
My publisher and friend, Peg Silloway,was there to volunteer with me, and we had a great time talking with the MBPA President, Sheila Ruth. Last year, Sheila's husband Nick – author of The Remin Chronicles series – and her son, David, where with us, and we missed seeing them this time.
But we met and enjoyed talking with Lucinda Clark of P.R.A. Publishing who came from Georgia to help at the booth and attend the National Book Festival in Washington the next day. Bill McAllen came by with his book, Spirit of Place: Baltimore's Favorite Spaces, a wonderful collection of essays and photographs (Bill is the photographer, Sarah Achenbach is the writer.)
There was so much to see, but I was not able to take my eyes off the church that stood behind our booth.The plaque commemorates the Charles Howard mansion that stood here before the church; it was in that home that Frances Scott Key died.
A news helicopter kept circling overhead and I tried so hard to get a shot of the helicopter over the church and in between the Washington Monument column. It was tough holding the camera in the moving crowd -so eventually gave in and just took the chopper!
Camaraderie, new friends, great weather, book characters, and magnificent architecture all around. A perfect day of books and blue sky in Baltimore.
A year ago, I went to the very soggy Baltimore Book Festival and had a great time even though the liquid sunshine was intense. Back then, I was a soon-to-be published author. This year, I have a book and a book signing slot!
This Friday through Sunday (September 25-27) at Mt. Vernon Place, the 14th annual Baltimore Book Festival will spread out from the 600 block of North Charles Street with books, authors, food, performances, and fun.
Again this year I'll be volunteering with my publisher, Peg Silloway of The Silloway Press, at the MidAtlantic Book Publishers Association booth. And, on Friday afternoon at 2:00, I'll be meeting visitors and signing my book!
Last year as we sloshed around in the rain, Peg and I said, "Next year we'll be here with a Margaret Rome book." It was a big goal, and we've had adventures along the way, but we did it! Thanks to friends and supporters, the book is a success. This year, we'll be checking out booth locations for next year's festival. By then, Peg will have her Cat Lover's Book of Daysalong with the second in the Book of Days series available.
This year's list of authors at the festival is long and as varied as astronaut Buzz Aldrin, mystery writer Donna Andrews, and political commentator Gwen Ifill. There are readings, panel discussions, and great weather forecast. So if you are near Baltimore and want a fun afternoon, come to the Baltimore Book Festival this weekend. Please stop by and say "Hi!" on Friday between 2:00 and 3:00!
Several mornings a week I go to Lifebridge Health Center and workout-at-the-gym This is where my trainer, John Vargo, helps me focus on Physical Training. John's clearly a fitness fan, and here's more proof: he recently competed in an Ironman marathon in Louisville, KY, and shared some photos.
What struck me about this was that while John was doing the running and riding his bicycle, he had a team supporting him. Dana Gaither, his girl friend, was there to hold up signs, run beside him for a while, and help him celebrate at the end. Besides Dana, other friends cheered him on and served as his support team. When it was over, John placed 320th out of 2,435 participants – that's in the top 15%!
No matter how good we are at what we do, no one does it alone, not even a marathoner. We need other people to cheer us on, to run with us, and to be there when we finish no matter whether we win or lose.
This holiday weekend I'm thankful for all the people who are there for me every day. To each of them and you, I say what John said to close his email: "All the best and make it a promising week."
Not long ago I talked with Ylan Q Mui, a staff writer at the Washington Post, who was writing an article on the things sellers do to help sell their houses. She wasn't interested in decluttering or staging. What she wanted to talk about was lucky charms, totems, and other magical devices.
Her article, "Lady Luck Lounges on A Red Couch," ran on August 9, but you can still find it online (http://tinyurl.com/nkmher). She interviewed some agents in the area and included this about me and my lucky number:
"Margaret Rome, a real estate agent in Baltimore, has established her own lucky tradition. When she started selling houses about 20 years ago, she said, she was scooting around in a brown Porsche 944. She loved the car and decided to claim the number as her own. So on her very first listing, she ended the price in '944.'
"It sold within a week. Rome tried it again with her second listing, and it sold within two weeks. She did it again for her third listing, and it also got snapped up.
"I said, 'There's something to this,' she recalled.
"Rome has since used the number for every property, though she now drives a convertible Lexus. ("I didn't want to jinx it," she said.) Only once did she stray, when a family instead asked to use a number that is auspicious in Asian traditions, an eight. So Rome priced the house to end in '988.' Luckily, she said, it sold."
The thing is, I believe luck really has very little to do with selling houses. I believe it's much more the total of how you become known in your community, how you build your referrals over time, and how you treat people. As the saying goes, "The harder I work, the luckier I get!"
This story was picked up and ran on the front page of The Baltimore Sun's Real Estate section. Two calls from friends who read it in the Boston Globe.
Jason Crouch, one of the most admired and adored ActiveRainers, took time from his busy schedule to write the following review. Subscribing to Jason's blog is a must!
Not too long ago, while speaking with my friend Margaret Rome, award-winning Baltimore Realtor, I asked how I could get a copy of her book, "Real Estate the Rome Way". She replied, "You give me your address and I will get it sent out to you soon."
Well, that was easy.
I finished reading her book after a few short sessions, and I felt rejuvenated. Margaret inspired me to look into even more networking opportunities, and to work toward getting a couple of real estate designations as well. Margaret is a power networker, and a Renaissance woman. I was a little dizzy after seeing how much real estate education she has under her belt. :)
This book is an easy and fun read, with plenty of real life anecdotes to punctuate her ideas. You can learn more about Margaret's use of a signature color (brown), price (all of her listings end in 944), and even a particular candy that helps to make her marketing message more memorable (hint: there are a lot of "m"s in that last sentence).
In a brisk, easy-to-understand fashion, "Real Estate the Rome Way" covers all of the basics, so it's definitely suitable for beginning agents who are trying to evaluate real estate as a career choice. However, she doesn't stop there, as I found some pertinent reminders for myself as a broker/owner, and I have been an agent for almost 13 years.
Since I am a pretty prolific blogger, Margaret inspired me in another way. She and her friend Peg Silloway formed Silloway Press in order to get the book published. I am working on a book project (or two) myself, so holding Margaret's book in my hand made my own goal seem more attainable. In fact, I have wanted to be a published author since I was a kid. I plan to make this happen, and hopefully soon.
This book is a must-read if you are just getting started in this challenging business. The perspective from a top-producing agent will also help if you are established and looking for new ideas. I recommend picking up a copy for yourself.
EDITED: I corresponded with Margaret after writing this review, and she is offering FREE shipping and an autographed copy if you order the book directly from her. Email her at mrome@homerome.com and get yours today!
Thanks, Margaret!
If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me in these other communities?
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Posted by 
No matter how good we are at what we do, no one does it alone, not even a marathoner. We need other people to cheer us on, to run with us, and to be there when we finish no matter whether we win or lose.
This holiday weekend I'm thankful for all the people who are there for me every day. To each of them and you, I say what John said to close his email: "All the best and make it a promising week."
Not long ago I talked with Ylan Q Mui, a staff writer at the Washington Post, who was writing an article on the things sellers do to help sell their houses. She wasn't interested in decluttering or staging. What she wanted to talk about was lucky charms, totems, and other magical devices.
"It sold within a week. Rome tried it again with her second listing, and it sold within two weeks. She did it again for her third listing, and it also got snapped up.
real estate designations as well. Margaret is a power networker, and a Renaissance woman. I was a little dizzy after seeing how much real estate education she has under her belt. :)
;)
;)
