New To Me From Jennifer: “Patricia, are you SERIOUS?” - 12/31/07 03:56 PM
“…Well, ARE you?
“If you’re serious about improving your real estate success. Serious about producing a real income and serious about bettering yourself in 2008 – then why haven’t I heard from you?”Well, gee, Jennifer You see, I’ve already got my business plan together for 2008, and I’ll getting my leads from … (24 comments)
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Has The TV Writers’ Strike Fed Our Blogging Addiction? - 12/30/07 10:02 PM
At this very moment, I would normally be watching Desperate Housewives, and then Brothers & Sisters. But there is nothing on. Well, there’s football or “The Sound of Music” (which I’ve seen a bunch of times). But even Masterpiece Theater is a rerun. So what to do? Blog, of course!But I … (35 comments)
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It's About That Wallpaper - 12/29/07 04:56 PM
There is a house that I previewed about twenty years ago, and every time I drive past it, I still get this image of the carnivorous wallpaper that previous owners hung on the dining room walls.The background was jet black. And there were colorful tropical plants depicted against the dark background … (24 comments)
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Have You Heard From Jennifer? - 12/29/07 10:57 AM
I’ve gotten several emails a day for the past few days from Jennifer. Like is she my new best friend or something?It looks like she wants to be!She wants to send me referrals. She wants to make me the Numero Uno agent in Columbia Heights County in the District of Columbia. … (14 comments)
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You Just Can't Hide The Elephant In The Living Room! - 12/29/07 09:42 AM
We all get those listings from time-to-time. You know,
The house overlooking a twelve lane highwayThe place that smells like an all night poker game at the National Zoo's lion houseA demon seed teenager is living in the attic with his bug zooThe basement has an unintended swimming hole with eighteen … (14 comments)
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While The Cat's Away - Whose Minding Your Business? - 12/26/07 06:12 PM
It seems that every real estate agent I know is out of town. Well, it is Christmas week after all. And when we go out of town now, many of us stay connected, at least tentatively, with some pretty fancy technological tools of the trade.In the old days, before cell phones, … (57 comments)
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Is SAFEMLS Making You Crazy, Or Is It Just Me? - 12/25/07 09:18 PM
For most of my life, keeping track of my keys has been a challenge. If it weren’t for the intervention of my favorite saint, St. Anthony, I’d waste even more time looking frantically through my house or office for the darned keys.One of last year’s New Years resolutions was to get … (57 comments)
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Christmas at Pat's House - 12/24/07 05:33 PM
Tis the night before ChristmasAnd Pat is ablog!Not a present is wrappedAnd there is no yule log.Her family is coming From near and from farAnd in just eighteen hoursThey’d be at her door!All through the houseThere is such a clutter.And yet, there she writesWith just barely a mutter.So on Christmas morningShe’ll … (18 comments)
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Takoma Park, Maryland - Back To The Sixties - 12/23/07 10:29 PM
When the 60’s turned into the 70’s and we re-elected President Nixon, most of the hippies in the Washington, DC area moved to Takoma Park, circled the wagons, and declared the place a nuclear-free zone. Then they elected Sammy Abbot, a leftie who was blackballed during the McCarthy era as their … (10 comments)
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The Irrevernt Christmas Poem - 12/23/07 07:15 PM
When my siblings and I were young children, my parents worked hard to give us an appreciation for literature and poetry beyond what the nuns taught us at Assumption of the Blessed Mary Elementary School. To that end, my father introduced us to his favorite poet, Ogden Nash. The Golden Trashery … (11 comments)
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Please! Please! Get Clear About Showing Instructions - 12/22/07 06:13 PM
It was one of those days. When I got home, I realized I'd been walking around all day with my sweater inside out and nobody said anything to me.
But there was more!
I was trying to preview a whole bunch of houses, like 20 in two hours. In, out, and … (27 comments)
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Sometimes They'll Accept An Offer Because They're Sick Of Keeping The Beds Made! - 12/21/07 12:24 PM
Today, I got one ratified. I have a sneaking suspicion that it was because they were sick of living like Martha Stewart.
The husband is already half a continent away at his exciting new job. The wife is in the listing with the children. When I showed the place, it looked … (18 comments)
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Showing In The Dog House - 12/20/07 08:05 PM
We've all seen the showing instructions on the Multiple Listing Service:
"Fido, the family dog, is friendly. He might lick you, but he won't bite."
OK, that's reassuring.
So you and your clients get to the front door and hear the welcoming bark - or is this the bark usually reserved for the … (29 comments)
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Your Snow Shovel Is Your Friend - 12/20/07 02:05 PM
OK, here in Washington, DC we do not have a molecule of snow on the ground. but from weather reports from other parts of the country, it looks like many of your listings will enjoy a white Christmas, and maybe New Years. Even around here we can expect one or two … (36 comments)
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To All You Blood-Sucking, Bottom-Feeding, Low-Ballers Out There! - 12/19/07 09:30 PM
Tis the season to make low balls!Let me start of by pointing out that in most of Washington, DC, we are not experiencing the strong buyers’ market that you see on Nightline or CNBC. Neither is it a sellers’ market by any stretch. But it is one where, in some instances, … (34 comments)
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Real Estate Is a Contact Sport - 12/18/07 09:32 PM
Tonight, I taped a radio interview with Fred Buehler, a RE/MAX Preferred agent in the Philadelphia area. Fred has a weekly real estate program, and the interview was about my book, The Irreverent Guide to Real Estate.
At the end of the interview when the tape stopped running, we started to … (18 comments)
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Me and Devil Blogger - 12/17/07 07:10 PM
Last week was pretty grueling for me, and I began my Monday and new week reading some of the posts that I missed last week.Now, one of my favorite Rainers is Sarah Cooper, an agent from Hurricane, West Virginia - like I have to remind anyone? Anyway, about three blogs down, … (24 comments)
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Comfort Food At The Colorado Kitchen! - 12/16/07 10:11 PM
Late Thursday afternoon, I needed comfort food. And I found it at the Colorado Kitchen - one of the few real restaurants near my home in Northwest Washington.
It's located on Colorado Avenue just east of 14th Street. A friend and I pulled into a parking space at the front door at … (6 comments)
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When Does the Real Negotiation Start? - 12/16/07 09:37 AM
While I do some work with sellers, most of my transactions are as a buyer broker. And this is some advice – albeit unsolicited – to all of you listing agents to help make it easier and more fun for the buyer brokers to sell your listings.It’s all about negotiations, and … (20 comments)
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Updating Listing Exterior Shots - 12/15/07 08:36 PM
In many parts of the country, your new listings are going onto the local Multiple Listing Services with photos showing ice on tree branches and snow on the ground. And many of these homes will stay on the market for the next several months - or longer.
And months from now, … (17 comments)
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Getting Your Listings To The Settlement Table - 12/15/07 08:20 AM
Getting our deals ratified and to the settlement table involves a whole new skill set. Last week, I wrote an offer on a house in Takoma Park, Maryland. It started off at about $50,000 below the list price. Yesterday, we finally closed the gap and ratified the contract. It took about … (19 comments)
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My Car Is Across Town And I'm At Home - Managing Holiday Festivities - 12/15/07 12:28 AM
Tonight, I noticed a lot of police cars pulling people over on the way home from some major festivities. 'Tis the season to be jolly, and perhaps a bit tipsy as well. And tonight I could have been one of those cars pulled over, except that I asked a friend who … (11 comments)
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How Careful Are You With Confidential Information? - 12/13/07 11:22 PM
A few years ago, some of my sellers were sitting in their family room watching television on a quiet Sunday night. Then they heard their fax machine go off in the den. Hmmmm. They weren't expecting anything.
The husband got up, walked into the next room, and lo and behold! Their fax … (14 comments)
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Extreme Prospecting - 12/13/07 10:05 PM
When you go through your real estate training, they tell you about chasing down FSBOs, expired listings, door knocking and your center of influence. I’m about to share some secrets on some old pros, many of whom went into early retirement from the big bucks they make using these techniques:Helping out … (16 comments)
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Old Wisdom Out the Double Paned Windows! - 12/12/07 11:55 PM
My father used to say it was better to live in the smallest house in a neighborhood of larger homes. Maybe that’s because we did – at least in their “move up” house. While that was supposed to be better than living in a mansion in the midst of dinkers, I … (11 comments)
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Too Busy To Blog! - 12/12/07 11:28 PM
My tree's not up!The halls are not decked!My bells are not yet jingling though my nerves are jangling! I have two in counter, one being presented tomorrow and I'm booked for the weekend.Fortunately, I shop for Christmas presents throughout the year, but I still have to go through everything, decide who gets … (17 comments)
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Remembering My Friend, Cheryl Hanks - 12/10/07 12:12 PM
Since last week, four of my friend, Cheryl's, close friends have been making arrangements for her memorial service, which we prefer to think of as her "going away party". And it's going to be amazing, complete with a spiritually eclectic service, flute and string music, wonderful food, and lots of good … (15 comments)
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Too Bad They Couldn't Stage The Neighbor's Yard - 12/10/07 07:55 AM
Yesterday, I almost did not show a wonderful house.
The information on the MRIS listing made it look perfect for my buyers.
Big fenced back yard – check Renovated kitchen – checkTwo baths on the main level – checkHardwood floors – checkFireplace – checkSeparate dining room – checkGood family room – checkA … (18 comments)
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How To Really Say "Thank You" To Your Agent - 12/08/07 10:37 PM
There are a couple of ways to say "Thank you! Thank you!" to a real estate agent who has found you Dream House and used her skill and smarts to make it happen.
Think of all she did for you and your family.
She watched as new listings came on the … (14 comments)
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Does The "Celebrity" Factor Help Sell A House? - 12/08/07 10:04 PM
Early in my career, I listed a house that belonged to Ralph Nader's chief litigator. A young couple came to the Open House and recognized a photo of Alan Morrison and his wife, Anne. They asked if the photo was the Alan Morrison, I said yes, and they said, "We have … (12 comments)
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My Favorite Newbie of the Week - Week 3 - 12/08/07 12:41 PM
This week, it was a difficult call. There are some terrific new bloggers showing up on Active Rain.
So this week's favorite is Meyer Leibovitch, who works for RE/MAX Realty Group in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
I enjoyed watching the progression of his posts - starting with four pretty informative posts with no graphics, … (9 comments)
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Flying First Class In Coach! - 12/08/07 10:55 AM
Yesterday, I had my first coaching session with Jacques, my ClubNet coach.
It was a "5 Wow" conversation.
To prepare for our time over the phone, I prepared a business profile and a first draft of my 2008 business plan. That alone put me way ahead of where I was this time last … (22 comments)
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Agents, Do You Make A Move Or Stay Put? - 12/07/07 02:14 PM
One important job of a real estate manager or broker is to recruit agents for his or her office. And this is the time of the year when agents start getting calls inviting them to have lunch and a chat about possibly making a move.If you’re an experienced agent or a … (65 comments)
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Rembering Cheryl Hanks - Real Estate Agents' New Patron Saint - 12/05/07 06:15 PM
This morning, while I was getting the buyers' final initials on the contract negotiations that wouldn't end, my Blackberry rang. It was my friend Monica, and as I excused myself and answered it, I knew it might be really awful news. And it was.
Washington area Rainers might know Cheryl Hanks. My … (68 comments)
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Please, Please! Put The Seat Down! - 12/02/07 01:55 PM
I have a cute condo listed. It's downtown a couple of blocks from Dupont Circle.
For the first two months of my listing period, it was a pain to show - there were tenants. Now they are gone, and the instructions have changed to "Show any hour of the day or night! … (17 comments)
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It's the Net, Stupid! - 12/01/07 10:27 PM
A few years ago, I met a guy on Match.com who was the self-proclaimed Real Estate King of one of the Washington, DC suburbs. On our second date, he took me to dinner, with cell phone turned on. Oops. I left mine home. His rang. He answered and conducted a bit … (23 comments)
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My Newbie of the Week - Week 2 - 12/01/07 09:48 PM
On November 2, California Realtor, Norma Toering posted her first Active Rain Blog. It was about her picks as “best buys” in her market area, Palos Verdes. Since her first post, Norma took a lot less time than I did to figure it all out.
Her blog about the new Trump … (10 comments)
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In Search Of Newbies - 12/01/07 12:09 AM
When I decided it would be fun to acknowledge a newbie blog every week, it seemed like an easy post that I wouldn't have to think up a new idea for.
WRONG!
All week, I've been looking for newbies. With every list of comments on one of my blogs, I'd click on … (27 comments)
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