Chris Rooker & The Harrisonburg Homes Team's Blog

Harrisonburg and Rockingham County Real Estate Market Report: September 2011

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:27:40 -0700

We’re one-third of the way through the third quarter of 2011. Can you believe it?! Last month, we reported in the August Market Report that the gap in residential sales was closing from last year to this year (in July, the difference in YTD sales was -6%, in August it was -2%). Well, we have great news… September’s numbers are in, and that gap has closed and moved into the positive! Sales in 2011 are up 2.2% over 2010 so far. Lets take a look at some of the other stats below.

[Click any image below to view larger version]

See that statistic in the top right corner of the chart above? It says 2.2%. That is a positive number in the YTD change in residential sales over last year! We’ve seen the same number of sales occur in September as we did in August, so the YTD stat reflects a higher number of sales this September over last September. Price per square foot (or home value) is down by 7.4%, unfortunately. As of now, it rests at $101.76, whereas last year at this time, it was $109.93. This number is down because sales prices are down. Buyers aren’t having to pay as much for homes this year as they did in 2010, so sellers are getting less, and values are still declining.

Above is a graphic showing how sales have occurred thus far in 2011, starting with just 39 sales in January, and moving up to 79 sales in September. We’ll likely see about the same number of sales in October as this past month, and then a decline in November and December as the holiday season sets in.

Contracts are also way up from last year at this time. We’ve seen an increase in contracts by 15.3%! This bodes well for the coming months as most of those contracts will close and be reflected in the sales charts later on. Comparing month-to-month, though, contracts are down quite a bit (21.2%). Folks are looking to buy larger homes this year, and those homes are sitting on the market for an average of 16 days longer.

As you can see in the graphic above, contracts held steady throughout the summer, and dropped in September. This is to be expected as fall usually comes with less production. The “busy season” for real estate is coming to a close, but we suspect we’ll see about the same number of contracts in October as we did in September, maybe a little less.

Stay tuned for next month’s market report! Until then, check out some other posts we’ve written about Market Trends…

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

National Flood Insurance Program Update

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:55:37 -0700

According to our last post about the National Flood Insurance Program, the temporary extension ended yesterday. So, Congress has now passed (and the President signed) a bill reauthorizing this program prior to the program’s expiration. The Travelers Insurance Flood Team states, “The bill contains a short-term reauthorization that extends the statutory authority to issue flood insurance policies pursuant to the NFIP until November 18, 2011.”

So, if you need a flood insurance policy written up, now would be a great time to do so. Your insurance agent should have no problems writing new policies until November 18th.

Of course, many folks are working together to get this problem resolved once and for all. Stay tuned for more updates!

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Mama's Caboose: Food Truck in Harrisonburg Serving Home Cooked Meals

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:53:21 -0700

Have you ever seen Mama’s Caboose driving by, or stopped on the side of the road in Harrisonburg or Rockingham County? Established just weeks ago, this cheery red mobile kitchen serves up home cooked meals like Chicken Parmesan, Ham and Green Beans, and Steak and Cheese Sandwiches. The owner, Diane Roll, features one selection each week — a $20 meal for four — and is available for pick-up on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

Mama’s Caboose can also be found at Monger Park in Mount Crawford serving the public from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM on Wednesdays. (This park is located on Route 11, just North of what used to be Mrs. Rowe’s.) Lunch anyone?

Roll also caters from Mama’s Caboose, and serves meals to factories in the area. Flexibility is part of Roll’s business plan. She takes orders by any means — text, phone call, email, Facebook — and advertises the week’s menu (and future menus) on the Mama’s Caboose Facebook page.

Those who appreciate a good home-cooked meal can also take relief in knowing that all of the food prepared in Mama’s Caboose is minimally processed. Potatoes are cut by hand, meatballs are made by hand (no mystery meat here!), and everything is fresh.

Contact Info for Mama’s Caboose
540-908-0029 (call or text)
mamascaboose@gmail.com
Facebook

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Block Party in the 'Burg: College Students, Meet Harrisonburg

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:28:21 -0700

Another fantastic annual event hosted by Downtown Harrisonburg is coming up on October 21st — Block Party in the ‘Burg! This party is focused on introducing college students to Downtown Harrisonburg, and will be located at Turner Pavilion and the adjacent grassy lot. Time? 5:00 - 9:00 PM.

Students will have the opportunity to find out what Downtown Harrisonburg is all about and what the community has to offer, including restaurants (along with food samples!), entertainment options, and cultural offerings. Also during the event, local college bands will be showcased in “Battle of the Bands,” and attendees can vote for their favorites online.

Like scavenger hunts? Block Party in the ‘Burg is offering students the ability to participate in a scavenger hunt around Downtown using Foursquare. Bonus: there will be prizes!

Block Party in the ‘Burg
Turner Pavilion in Downtown Harrisonburg (where the Farmer’s Market is normally held) [map]
October 21, 2011
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Mount Jackson Harvest Festival Next Weekend!

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:02:47 -0700

Mount Jackson is located about half an hour north of Harrisonburg in Shenandoah County (near the Shenandoah Caverns). During the weekend of October 8 - 9, it will be well worth the drive to visit the Harvest Festival this year! This festival will take place in the Town of Mount Jackson, and will feature over 60 fine crafters, children’s activities, delicious food, and live entertainment.

The Harvest Festival is fun for the whole family! Admission is FREE and there is plenty of parking throughout the town during the event. Festivities begin at 10:30 AM on the 8th with a performance by the Stonewall Jackson High School band.

Event Details:

Mount Jackson Harvest Festival
Town of Mount Jackson, Virginia
October 8 - 9, 2011
Admission: Free
Parking: throughout town

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Kline May Company Surpasses $100 Million in Sales Volume

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:59:04 -0700

If you’ve worked with a Kline May agent in the past few years, you know that after each transaction, the client receives a satisfaction survey. Kline May takes very seriously the opinions and feedback received from clients in these surveys. To date, Kline May Company (which includes Kline May Realty and Cottonwood Commercial) has over a 98.9% satisfaction rate for both buyers and sellers.

Our team, The Harrisonburg Homes Team, is part of Kline May Realty, and we also take very seriously the needs and wants of each of our clients — both buyers and sellers alike.

Because of this extreme care in customer satisfaction, the Company has surpassed $100 million in sales volume for 2011! (In 2010, this milestone was not met until 72 days later.)

Just a little tidbit, allowing us to toot our horn, for just a little while. Toot, toot!

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Harrisonburg Soon Providing Electric Car Charging Station

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:23:10 -0700

Harrisonburg residents have long been known to hold the view that taking care of our environment is very important. As such, many have started using rain barrels, compost bins, solar energy, electric cars, etc. Well, the leaders of Harrisonburg have taken notice, and in October, Harrisonburg Electric Commission (HEC) will be providing a charging station to those with electric cars!

The new charging station will be located behind HEC in Downtown Harrisonburg, and yet again, Harrisonburg will be “on the map” because according to the press release from Downtown, it “will become the first city in the Shenandoah Valley and one of only a handful of cities in the state with a public, Level II electric car charging station.”

An unveiling ceremony will take place on October 5 at 10:00 AM in the HEC parking lot. There will be electric cars to test drive (including the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt), as well as demonstrations of how the new charging station will operate.

This whole operation came together through a community effort, including a variety of Downtown businesses and organizations: HEC, City of Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, David Miller on behalf of the Downtown Dining Alliance, Virginia Main Street, Eaton Corporation, Virginia Clean Cities, and Rexel.

*image credit: Scooter the Photographer

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance Grants Businesses with Facade Enhancement Funds

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:26:45 -0700

Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and the City of Harrisonburg have granted several businesses with facade enhancement grants this year. This grant program supports property improvements and has been able to stay in place, despite the state of the economy. In 2011, eight grants were awarded for a total of $20,000 in improvement funds.

These businesses will use the money to enhance the exterior of their businesses, which adds to the overall aesthetic of downtown Harrisonburg.

Want to learn more? Visit Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance or the City of Harrisonburg.

Image Credit: allisonmseward12 on Flickr

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Take a Tour of Dayton Virginia's Willow West Neighborhood

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:53:40 -0700

Willow West is located in Dayton, Virginia, which is a few miles south of Harrisonburg, actually, but many residents commute the short drive to Harrisonburg for work. This neighborhood is tucked away on the northwest side of the Town of Dayton, and consists of two quiet streets — Willow Drive and Northview Street — each ending in a cul de sac.

Homes in Willow West are typically large Colonial or Cape Cod style homes, constructed with either brick or vinyl (or a mixture of the two). Most of these homes are situated on lots from about 1/3 to 1/2 acre in size, contain maturing trees, have garages, and several have front or wraparound porches. This neighborhood was established in the early 1990’s and there are still a few vacant lots left for those who would like the opportunity to build their dream home.

Some homes in Willow West have the most amazing views of the countryside and western mountains, and some even have views of Massanutten Peak!

In Willow West, you can find homes ranging in price from the mid $200,000s to the mid $400,000s, depending on the features included and how many upgrades the owner has made.

Quick Stats:

Average List Price*: $300,950
Average Selling Price*: $291,688
Average Home Size**: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, 2601 square feet
2011 School Districts: John Wayland Elementary School, W S Pence Middle School, Turner Ashby High School

Links of Interest:

Map of Willow West:

* This data is for homes sold from 9/14/09 - 9/13/11. Pulled from the HRAR MLS.
** This data is for any homes ever listed in this subdivision. Pulled from the HRAR MLS.

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Massanetta Springs Neighborhood in Harrisonburg, Virginia

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:44:26 -0700

Massanetta Springs was established in the early 1920s. The community arose out of the Presbyterian church’s desire to house families attending the Massanetta Springs Conference Center. Gradually, the homes were sold to private individuals and in 1999, the community incorporated as a separate residential entity. Today, residents may still enjoy the amenities the conference center has to offer. They can also make use of the swimming pool, basketball court, ball fields, walking trails, and boat rentals.

A couple weeks ago, I hosted an open house in this community and met some residents who were very friendly and they just couldn’t stop raving about living in this retreat-like community that is located so close to city conveniences. One lady who stopped by the open house (who was not a resident) described this cottage community as Massanutten Resort on a smaller scale, but located more conveniently to Harrisonburg.

During the summer months especially, Massanetta Springs is filled with campers who travel from all over to experience the conference center and other amenities. The residents that I met at the open house love the laughter they hear and the activities they see when the variety of camps take place. (No worries about noise late into the night because there are rules for keeping it quiet after a certain hour!)

Here are a few photos that I took while in the neighborhood…

Quick Stats:

Average List Price*: $154,900
Average Selling Price*: $121,000
Average Home Size**: 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1674 square feet
2011 School Districts: Cub Run Elementary School, Montevideo Middle School, Spotswood High School

Links of Interest:

Map of Massanetta Springs:

* This data is for homes sold from 4/6/10 - 4/5/11. Pulled from the HRAR MLS.
** This data is for any homes ever listed in this subdivision. Pulled from the HRAR MLS.

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Free Money? A Look Into Homeowner Tax Credits and Tax Breaks

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:01:11 -0700

Do you remember how you felt when you did your taxes after you bought your first home? It was probably a great feeling with all those tax credits and tax breaks you received! Is owning a home really all that grand? Is it really worth it? Can homeowners really get "free money?"

An Inman article was recently published about 5 bright spots in today's real estate business, and we couldn't agree more with their synopsis. There are still great things about purchasing real estate, even in this -- dare we say -- recovering economy. One of the "bright spots" they highlighted was upgrades in energy-efficiency, rather than the past home improvements, like installing granite and stainless appliances. Home owners are more likely, these days, to make changes based on reducing monthly or yearly bills, rather than on updating the "look and feel" of their homes.

This is where tax credits and tax breaks come in... is installing an energy efficient system or appliance really more valuable than installing something like granite countertops, or even a swimming pool?

YES.

Folks are much more aware now of their monthly expenses. Many Americans have been living paycheck to paycheck for many years, and it gets stressful and overwhelming. Installing energy-efficient systems can cost more up front, but the overall outlook is that monthly bills are reduced, and the value of the home increases. (It is a positive selling aspect to be able to state that a home comes with energy-efficient appliances, or a high efficiency HVAC system. Buyers typically love that!)

Now that we've established the value in efficient systems, lets take a look at what the tax credits actually are, and how you can get them.

2011 Federal Tax Credits from Energy Star

Tax Credit: 10% of cost up to $500 or a specific amount between $50 - $300 (depending on which of the above you install)

Expires: 12/31/2011

Details: Must be on an existing home and primary residence. New construction and rentals do not qualify.

Biomass Stoves
Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Insulation
Roofs (Metal & Asphalt)
Water Heaters (non-solar)
Windows and Doors

Tax Credit: 30% of cost with no upper limit

Expires: 12/31/2016

Details: Existing homes, new homes, principal residences, and second homes all qualify. Rentals do not qualify.

Geothermal heat pumps
Small wind turbines (residential)
Solar energy systems

Tax Credit: 30% of the cost, up to $500 per .5 kW of power capacity

Expires: 12/31/2016

Details: Existing homes, new homes, and principal residences qualify. Rentals and second homes do not qualify.

Fuel Cells (residential fuel cells and microturbine system)

The Energy Star website explains in detail how to apply for the above tax credits.

Looking to buy a home? Contact us or check out how we help home buyers navigate the process of purchasing a home.

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

FHA Loan Limit Changes Likely Won’t Affect Shenandoah Valley Home Buyers

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:26:40 -0700

You may have heard about loan limits changing on FHA mortgages starting October 1st. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Shenandoah Valley — at least at this point — will not experience any changes in FHA loan limits. There is a full document on HUD’s website with the counties that will be affected, and neither Harrisonburg nor Rockingham County are on the list.

For those of you who are curious about this impending change, here are some details:

The FHA (Federal Housing Administration) is home to the largest mortgages the government is willing to back.
If this change does indeed take place, many home buyers will no longer be able to get reasonable financing. (In Richmond, for example, the loan limit will drop from $300,000 to $271,050.)
These changes, unlike the MID issue we’ve described previously, don’t affect just higher priced homes, as we can see from the changes taking place in Richmond.
There is a bill currently in the works called the Conforming Loan Limits Extension Act, which would allow Fannie, Freddie, and the FHA to continue to buy or back mortgages up to the current maximum.

If this change occurs, according to math done by the National Association of Home Builders, roughly 17 million homes would instantly be out of federal backing. We understand that this is supposed to get the nation to move toward a less-government-dependent society, but this may not be the best way to go. It just doesn’t seem like the greatest timing for a monumental change in the housing market to occur.

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Rockingham County Earns Strong "AA" Rating from Fitch Ratings

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:59:56 -0700

Fitch Ratings, a research and data analysis company headquartered in both New York and London, did some comprehensive studies on Rockingham County and gave an “AA” rating to our locale. This grade is second on the rating scale — from “AAA” to “D” — and means Rockingham County has very high credit quality. In fact, according to Fitch Ratings, “‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.”

Here are some key drivers of pinning Rockingham County with such a high rating:

Strong manufacturing presence: our area is heavy in manufacturing, but there is a lot of undeveloped land in the county and being located so close to Harrisonburg, there is a promise of future growth and development. We also have low unemployment rates.
Low debt profile: Rockingham County has a plan in place for pay-as-you-go capital funding and no additional debt.
Strong financial profile: our area’s financial management is excellent, maintaining high reserve levels and controlled expenditure growth.

Rockingham County has an interesting economy, ranging in employment sectors from manufacturing (Cargill, MillerCoors, R.R. Donnelly, etc.) to higher education (JMU, EMU, Bridgewater College). Did you know that 4,566 area jobs have been established as a result of university-related spending?

Location also plays a part in this. Rockingham County is situated two hours from Washington, DC, Richmond, and Roanoke, all three of which are larger metro areas. Rockingham County is the third largest county in Virginia in terms of land size (853.65 square miles).

Thinking of moving to the area? Check out our online Relocation Guide, which provides even more stats and information about the area, or search homes for sale.

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Harrisonburg Area Real Estate Market Report: August 2011

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:34:18 -0700

For the past few months, we’ve been reporting that the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County real estate market is on the verge of some positive movement. In July, we saw that most of the June contracts hadn’t closed yet, and that sales year-over-year were down 6%. Well, the August numbers are in, and this month’s sales were up, and the year-to-date sales significantly increased as well, bringing that -6% to -2%. (The gap is closing!) Lets take a look at this month’s stats below.

Sales were up this month from last by 2.6%, and average days on market also improved from 230 days in July to 178 days in August. Average sales price was down 10%, but median sales price remained the same. For a broader look, the year-to-date change in sales from 2010 to 2011 is -2.1% (remember, last month’s year-to-date sales had been down 6%). Prices this year are down about 5% from last year, and home values this year compared to 2010 are down 7.3%. Folks are buying larger homes this year, but with a decrease in prices, they are still getting more “bang for their buck.” The buyer’s market continues… and probably will for some time.

Above is a simple chart showing the number of sales as they occurred from month-to-month in 2011. As is typical, sales have increased during the spring and summer months, and we’ll likely see a decrease in sales as fall and winter set in.

Contracts increased by one, or 1.2% in August compared to July, which is great, but contracts year-over-year increased by 18.39%! This is a major positive for our local real estate market. More contracts lead to more sales. The list prices for the homes that went under contract this month are higher than they were last month, but year-to-date, they are down (-6.14% average list price, -2.76% median list price). Overall, homes are sitting on the market longer, too, this year.

The above chart shows the contract activity for this year, with June set far above the rest at 104 contracts. Those contracts are turning into sales, which bodes well for our local economy! July and August both showed relatively strong contract months, and we look forward to seeing most of those close in the next couple of months to come.

We’re seeing positive changes in the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County real estate market, and suspect that more will come.

Note to buyers: Fall is still a great time to buy! You could be in a new home by the time the holiday season arrives, there are lots of homes to choose from, and interest rates are still very low.

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Following Through is Imperative to Good Business

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:30:17 -0700

The other day I went to a Realtor Open House in our area. The listing agent sent advertisements about this open house stating that attending agents should leave their cards because there would be a cash drawing. I was going to attend this particular open house regardless because I have a client that might be interested in the property, but the cash drawing was also an incentive. I emailed this listing agent the same afternoon that I went to the open house, saying that it was great to meet her and that I hoped the home would sell soon. (I truly do. It is a very cute house!) I was also curious about who won the cash drawing, not at all expecting to win, because I rarely do! No response... even three days later. WHAT?!

Okay, so follow through from Realtor to Realtor isn't as important -- especially in this case -- as following through with a client, but my belief is that it is not only respectful, but also good business to get back to someone -- anyone -- who requests something of you (and sometimes even when they don't). Our real estate team puts a time limit on responses. We pride ourselves in getting back to folks right away, and try not to delay a response by more than 12 hours. There should be no excuse in NOT responding.

So when a client calls and leaves a message, or emails you, or texts you, or comments on your blog... respond! If you don't have an answer to their question right away because it requires some research on your part, let them know that you will find out and send a more detailed response later. Your reputation is on the line! One simple act of not responding could equal thousands of dollars in lost business because one person can cause a chain reaction, telling their friends and neighbors about how disappointed they were in you. Many times, it is the bad stuff that folks remember and pass along, which means we need to pay full attention to our actions, and following through is imperative to good business.

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Like Mama Used to Say, "Use Your Words!"

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:56:41 -0700

In most cases, when Mama used to say, "Use your words," she meant, "Don't swear." In this case, however, I am pointing out the importance of real estate agents to use correct spelling and grammar in every day life... blog posts, Facebook posts, emails, face-to-face conversations, etc.

Our team recently listed a property with a number of details throughout the home that would be attractive to buyers (you know, one of those listings where every bell and whistle has been accounted for, and there are just too many details to list in that small space in the MLS!). In our property website for this listing, I accidentally made a typo, and it was caught by one of our past/current clients. Oops! How embarrassing! We promptly fixed this, and became even more aware of how our marketing can affect our brand.

Using abbreviations without explanataion, wrong spellings, missing capitalizations or commas where appropriate... you get the idea... can completely hinder your business. People will see the typos. They'll notice when you use "i" instead of "I" when talking about yourself. These types of mistakes might turn potential clients away, thinking that you don't know what you are doing, aren't taking time to read and re-read what you've posted, and therefore aren't a quality agent.

Thankfully, our typo was caught, and this client of ours chuckled over it. But who knows how many folks saw this before she did, and turned away from us because of it?

Even in comments we make on blog posts and Facebook, we are representing ourselves and our brokerages. Keep it professional!

Posted by Lisa Oates, Marketing Director for The Harrisonburg Homes Team, proud to be a part of Kline May Realty, 1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. Licensed in Virginia.

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Staying Up-To-Date with The Harrisonburg Homes Team's Listings

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:28:47 -0700

At most times throughout the year, The Harrisonburg Homes Team has a lot of listings, so to keep up with our listings, we have made it easy for you to find out about updates, price reductions, new listings, and more!

Click any number of the below links to see our current listings:

A channel of our video tours

A channel featuring our property websites

Our Facebook Page

Our Twitter Page

Our Trulia Profile

You can also stay updated on people, places, events, and issues in Harrisonburg (with an emphasis on real estate) at our blog -- Harrisonblog.

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Freddy Flapman, Flychert Real Estate Agent on Sesame Street

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:23:13 -0700

I recently watched an episode of Sesame Street with my toddler, and on it was a bird real estate agent, Freddy Flapman, doing business with Big Bird. The show was all about habitats, and this bird real estate agent was trying to sell Big Bird on moving to a different habitat than Sesame Street.

Watch this clip on Sesame Street's website to see what I'm referring to.

To sum it up, Freddy Flapman was showing Big Bird different habitats that birds live in, and trying to convince him to move away from Sesame Street. The beginning of the clip shows Big Bird having fun and enjoying his day on Sesame Street. He was then approached by the bird real estate agent, Freddy Flapman. At first, I was put off by how the agent was portrayed... as a pushy salesman. But later, I realized that he was just not getting the point from the beginning.

Big Bird was not interested in moving from the beginning, but because he was a bird, the agent approached him and tried to sell him on moving. Later, Big Bird was almost convinced to move to the rain forest, but then realized that he was making a mistake in leaving what he loved.

Do we, as real estate agents, really pay attention to our clients and what they are searching for? Do we listen to what they want in their next home purchase? Are we pushy? Or are we understanding? Do we work hard to find the right home for the client? Or do we just try to find any home for the client?

Being a real estate agent isn't just about sales. It is about building relationships, doing what is right for each particular client, and understanding their needs and wants. Of course, if we don't make sales, we don't survive as agents, but sales will come with hard work and dedication to quality service to each client.

Take a look at how you do business. Are you a Freddy Flapman? Or are you a top notch real estate agent? (Bird) food for thought!

Posted by Lisa Oates, The Harrisonburg Homes Team

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Harrisonburg Food Guide Now Available

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:22:09 -0800

Normally here on ActiveRain, we like to post about issues geared towards agents, since that is a large portion of the audience here -- for our local commentaries, statistics, and musings, go to Harrisonblog -- but this local tidbit couldn't go unpublished!

For those of you who don't know all the restaurants in Harrisonburg like the back of your hand, especially those who have just relocated, you will find this restaurant guide extremely helpful. It is filterable, too, which makes it so easy to find the restaurant of choice on any given day. In the mood for Greek food on a small budget? Fine dining in Downtown Harrisonburg? Fast Food by the Mall? The possibilities are endless, and the developer of this tool is continually adding more to it.

We're impressed.

Check out the Harrisonburg Food Guide here!

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Buyers and Sellers: When Searching For An Agent, Do Your Homework!

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:05:24 -0800

It is amazing how relatively easy it is to get a real estate license. Okay, so there is a lot of studying and testing, but then what? When you pass, are you automatically qualified as a good agent? In a word... NO!

Agents should have systems in place for gathering referrals, leads, forms to use (and when to use them), checklists for getting things done between contract signing to closing and beyond, listing presentations, advertising campaigns, social networking, blogging, the list goes on. Not all agents have these systems in place, and those that do, aren't always able to implement them well.

So if you are looking to buy or sell a home, do your homework! Search for the right agent for you. Make sure they "know their stuff," have some experience in working with both buyers and sellers, and have a plan for working with you. Do they have a buyer's agreement? Did you read it? Do they have a listing presentation with a step-by-step plan for marketing your property? After your home is listed, what will they do for you? Are their past clients happy with the work they did? How is their web presence? Can you find them easily? Are they available? These are all important factors in choosing an agent.

It is easy to call a real estate brokerage and start working with the first person that answers the phone, but if you want great customer service and a smooth, pleasant experience in working with your agent to bring you through the process of selling or purchasing a home, make sure you "interview" a few agents and find out what exactly they can do for you.

**********

Shameless plug...

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in the Harrisonburg, Virginia, area, contact us! We have step-by-step plans for working with each individual client.

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

REALTORS Adhere to a Strict Code of Ethics

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:31:55 -0800

Ever wondered what the difference is between a real estate agent and a REALTOR? A REALTOR is held to a strict code of ethics and standards of practice, which means he or she will follow guidelines and rules for doing business ethically and rightfully, both with clients and other colleagues. To read the Code of Ethics for REALTORS, click here.

We often read and re-read the section dedicated to advertising and marketing. It is important that we as REALTORS hold fast to the Code so that we don't get fined, and so that we are doing business correctly and fairly.

Here are the key sections of the Code of Ethics that mention advertising. Refer to this often! It is a great refresher.

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Article 12
REALTORS^® shall be honest and truthful in their real estate communications and shall present a true picture in their advertising, marketing, and other representations. REALTORS^® shall ensure that their status as real estate professionals is readily apparent in their advertising, marketing, and other representations, and that the recipients of all real estate communications are, or have been, notified that those communications are from a real estate professional. (Amended 1/08)

[...]

Standard of Practice 12-3

The offering of premiums, prizes, merchandise discounts or other inducements to list, sell, purchase, or lease is not, in itself, unethical even if receipt of the benefit is contingent on listing, selling, purchasing, or leasing through the REALTOR^® making the offer. However, REALTORS^® must exercise care and candor in any such advertising or other public or private representations so that any party interested in receiving or otherwise benefiting from the REALTOR^®’s offer will have clear, thorough, advance understanding of all the terms and conditions of the offer. The offering of any inducements to do business is subject to the limitations and restrictions of state law and the ethical obligations established by any applicable Standard of Practice. (Amended 1/95)

Standard of Practice 12-4

REALTORS^® shall not offer for sale/lease or advertise property without authority. When acting as listing brokers or as subagents, REALTORS^® shall not quote a price different from that agreed upon with the seller/landlord. (Amended 1/93)

Standard of Practice 12-5

REALTORS^® shall not advertise nor permit any person employed by or affiliated with them to advertise real estate services or listed property in any medium (e.g., electronically, print, radio, television, etc.) without disclosing the name of that REALTOR^®'s firm in a reasonable and readily apparent manner. (Adopted 11/86, Amended 1/10)

Standard of Practice 12-6

REALTORS ^®, when advertising unlisted real property for sale/lease in which they have an ownership interest, shall disclose their status as both owners/landlords and as REALTORS^® or real estate licensees. (Amended 1/93)

[...]

Standard of Practice 12-8

The obligation to present a true picture in representations to the public includes information presented, provided, or displayed on REALTORS^®’websites. REALTORS^® shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that information on their websites is current. When it becomes apparent that information on a REALTOR^®’s website is no longer current or accurate, REALTORS^®shall promptly take corrective action. (Adopted 1/07)

Standard of Practice 12-9

REALTOR^® firm websites shall disclose the firm’s name and state(s) of licensure in a reasonable and readily apparent manner.

Websites of REALTORS^® and non-member licensees affiliated with a REALTOR^® firm shall disclose the firm’s name and that REALTOR^®’s or non-member licensee’s state(s) of licensure in a reasonable and readily apparent manner. (Adopted 1/07)

Standard of Practice 12-10

REALTORS ^®’ obligation to present a true picture in their advertising and representations to the public includes the URLs and domain names they use, and prohibits REALTORS^®from:

engaging in deceptive or unauthorized framing of real estate brokerage websites;

manipulating (e.g., presenting content developed by others) listing content in any way that produces a deceptive or misleading result; or

deceptively using metatags, keywords or other devices/methods to direct, drive, or divert Internet traffic, or to otherwise mislead consumers. (Adopted 1/07)

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For more information about the Code of Ethics, visit www.realtor.org.

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team is proud to be a part of Kline May Realty, 1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. Licensed in Virginia.

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Looking for Up-To-Date News and Events in Harrisonburg?

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:59:07 -0800

The Harrisonburg area is blessed with lots of online activity, meaning that highly tech savvy folks in our area have devoted much of their lives to providing locals with up-to-date news, happenings, issues, events, etc. in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. If you are looking for this type of information at your fingertips (instead of, say, waiting around for the evening news), head on over to www.hbblogs.com (Harrisonburg Blogs) -- a real-time feed of a variety of blogs in the area. When someone puts up a new blog post in the area, it will feed into this site!

A very small sampling of blogs that feed into Harrisonburg Blogs:

Harrisonblog - The Harrisonburg Homes Team blog
HburgNews - Harrisonburg News
We Will RockDem - A discussion page for free-thinking individuals throughout the Shenandoah Valley
All Things Valley League - Tracking teams and players from the Valley League

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Influential and Inspiring Real Estate and Marketing Folks to Follow on Twitter

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:39:09 -0800

Whether you've been using Twitter for a few days, or a few months, or a year, you know that it is important to strategize who you follow on Twitter. Why follow people that will offer you no benefit? Here are some folks that we follow on Twitter, and we've found them to be extremely helpful, influential, and inspiring in one way or another.

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@mashable: The hottest Twitter news, Twitter tips and Twitter help. Plus, the best social media links around!

This Twitterer is constantly sending out helpful blog posts about social media, networking, and the latest news with both. The posts are written by different experts in the social media field, and every post is helpful and informative in one way or another. You will get lots of great tips and tricks for using social media with @mashable.

@mizzle: Mom, Wife, Daughter, Friend, Blogger, Real Estate Agent, Trainer and Coach.

It is always refreshing to "listen" to the thoughts of a busy mom, real estate agent, and blogger. @mizzle is down to earth, honest, and real. She is, well, refreshing!

@SocialMediaComm: Social Media Tips and Tricks

Every day, @SocialMediaComm tweets about tips and tricks in the social media world. These are different tips and tricks than @mashable tweets, so follow both, and you'll get a wide variety of helpful ways to boost your social networking efforts!

@unmarketing: Stop Marketing, Start Engaging.

Amazing, short and sweet, easy, to-the-point tweets about engaging people through social networking (specifically, Twitter), rather than marketing to your followers. Social networking is about building relationships, not the "hard sell." @unmarketing reminds us of how to engage every day.

@problogger: I blog about twitter and tweet about blogging. Sometimes I blog about tweeting about blogging and tweet about blogging about twitter.

If you are searching for great blogging tips, exceptional blog posts, and anything else that has to do with blogging (and tweeting), follow @problogger. You won't be disappointed!

@nik_nik: Sassy Real Estate Tech Blogger, aka Technowoman and that's not cause I fall at the disco!

Her bio says it all. She is sassy, she is a real estate tech blogger, and a technowoman who is a pro at social networking. Our team has attended some webinars hosted by @nik_nik and each one is full of helpful, new information about the social media world -- i.e. new ways to use Facebook, what to Tweet about, how to build relationships through social networkings, the list goes on.

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So there you have it. A short list of folks to follow. We find them wonderfully helpful, and you will too.

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

A List of Marketing Blogs that Every Real Estate Agent Needs To Read

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:08:57 -0700

Whether you are a seasoned real estate agent or a newbie to this exciting field, you need great marketing ideas. Set yourself apart from the rest, market yourself in ways other agents are not, target your niche, and make sure you are "top of mind" for all of your contacts. This list of marketing blogs is very valuable, and we have gotten a lot of ideas from these professionals. Every agent will get something different out of these blogs, so read on, and get ready for some amazing marketing food!

Duct Tape Marketing: Simple, Effective, and Affordable Small Business Marketing

This blog provides a plethora of informative marketing solutions for small businesses. They focus a lot of attention on social networking, which is a major plus because most real estate agents don't have time to research all of that for themselves. It provides cutting edge marketing ideas and tools on a daily basis.

Cyberhomes: Real Estate Listings and Real Estate Advice

Cyberhomes is a real gem for real estate agents and consumers alike -- but mostly for agents. They also focus a lot on social media and provide a number of quality tools to use in your marketing research. They have a huge database full of national real estate information, including homes for sale, statistics on specific neighborhoods, and market watch reports. They've also recently started producing "green" tips. I appreciate this blog because they are focused on the real estate market, and have a great spin toward social media and networking. I can't get enough!

The Future of Real Estate Marketing

This blog is valuable because it provides a wealth of marketing tools and advice to real estate agents on a national level. If you want to stay in tune with what national real estate companies are doing, what new technologies are available for real estate marketing, and up-to-date information on real estate conferences, read this blog!

Real Estate Tomato: Juicy Blogging Advice for Realtors

You are a member of Active Rain, which means you probably blog on a regular basis. The Real Estate Tomato is a great resource for real estate bloggers. They provide advice on content, marketing, participation, do's and don'ts, lead generation, syndication, and more. Keep your blog alive and kicking! Read this blog!

Inman News: Where Real Estate and Technology Connect

If you want a quality updated resource for real estate news, this blog is for you. It focuses on news, but also incorporates some marketing ideas and social networking opportunities while keeping a focus on technology. I follow this blog on Twitter as well because they are constantly updating their site with news articles and commentary. A very valuable blog!

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

How to Use Twitter to Get Clients and Referrals

Chris Rooker (Kline May Realty) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:28:31 -0700

Twitter is the fastest growing social networking site on the web today. It is a great resource for real estate agents because there are certain to be users in your geographic area that are using Twitter religiously, plus you can gather ample amounts of news, marketing ideas, articles, tools, and general intelligence. If you aren't using Twitter yet, you best sign up today. You won't regret it. I'll even give you some tips on how to gain clients and referrals...

TWITTER SEARCH IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

Ah, the Twitter Search. An amazing tool. We are based in Harrisonburg, VA, so I'll use our city as an example. Once logged in to Twitter, agents can go to http://search.twitter.com and type in various search terms to see what other Twitterers are saying. You can use this to your advantage!

For example, we want to know when folks are talking about Harrisonburg. So, I type "Harrisonburg" into the search box. In 0.2 seconds, there is a list full of recent tweets with the word "Harrisonburg" in them. Sweet! Now what?

Use this list to your advantage! In the past, I've followed someone and replied to someone because they tweeted about moving to the Harrisonburg area, or mentioned a job interview in Harrisonburg. They'll likely need a real estate agent like myself when moving. If I can't help them with a home purchase, I can get them in contact with a property manager. I can make a new contact. I can put them on my mailing list and keep them informed of what I'm doing in the local real estate market.

With every connection you make on Twitter with a local resident, you'll make hundreds more. You'll be the friend-of-a-friend, the follower-of-a-follower, and with all of those connections, you'll have created a large network full of potential clients and referrals. Please one, and you'll likely get more.

Twitter isn't about following random people for the sake of following someone. You should have a strategy with each follow. As real estate professionals, we need to be constantly looking for new ways to market ourselves, and Twitter is a fantastic resource for gaining new clients.

Go. Tweet. Search. Success!

Chris Rooker and The Harrisonburg Homes Team
is proud to be a part of
Kline May Realty
1962 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Licensed in Virginia

www.HarrisonburgHomes.com
www.Harrisonblog.com
www.facebook.com/harrisonburghomes
www.twitter.com/hburghomes

Chris Rooker & The Harrisonburg Homes Team's Blog

Harrisonburg and Rockingham County Real Estate Market Report: September 2011

National Flood Insurance Program Update

Mama's Caboose: Food Truck in Harrisonburg Serving Home Cooked Meals

Block Party in the 'Burg: College Students, Meet Harrisonburg

Mount Jackson Harvest Festival Next Weekend!

Kline May Company Surpasses $100 Million in Sales Volume

Harrisonburg Soon Providing Electric Car Charging Station

*image credit: Scooter the Photographer

Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance Grants Businesses with Facade Enhancement Funds

Image Credit: allisonmseward12 on Flickr

Take a Tour of Dayton Virginia's Willow West Neighborhood

Quick Stats:

Links of Interest:

Map of Willow West:

* This data is for homes sold from 9/14/09 - 9/13/11. Pulled from the HRAR MLS. ** This data is for any homes ever listed in this subdivision. Pulled from the HRAR MLS.

Massanetta Springs Neighborhood in Harrisonburg, Virginia

Quick Stats:

Links of Interest:

Map of Massanetta Springs:

* This data is for homes sold from 4/6/10 - 4/5/11. Pulled from the HRAR MLS. ** This data is for any homes ever listed in this subdivision. Pulled from the HRAR MLS.

Free Money? A Look Into Homeowner Tax Credits and Tax Breaks

FHA Loan Limit Changes Likely Won’t Affect Shenandoah Valley Home Buyers

Rockingham County Earns Strong "AA" Rating from Fitch Ratings

Harrisonburg Area Real Estate Market Report: August 2011

Following Through is Imperative to Good Business

Like Mama Used to Say, "Use Your Words!"

Staying Up-To-Date with The Harrisonburg Homes Team's Listings

Freddy Flapman, Flychert Real Estate Agent on Sesame Street

Harrisonburg Food Guide Now Available

Buyers and Sellers: When Searching For An Agent, Do Your Homework!

REALTORS Adhere to a Strict Code of Ethics

Looking for Up-To-Date News and Events in Harrisonburg?

Influential and Inspiring Real Estate and Marketing Folks to Follow on Twitter

A List of Marketing Blogs that Every Real Estate Agent Needs To Read

How to Use Twitter to Get Clients and Referrals

* This data is for homes sold from 9/14/09 - 9/13/11. Pulled from the HRAR MLS.
** This data is for any homes ever listed in this subdivision. Pulled from the HRAR MLS.

* This data is for homes sold from 4/6/10 - 4/5/11. Pulled from the HRAR MLS.
** This data is for any homes ever listed in this subdivision. Pulled from the HRAR MLS.