Avon and Plainfield Indiana Real Estate Blog

Expired listings

2008-03-19T17:55:22Z

So, what are your thoughts on expired listings? I personally am starting a expired listing campaign. I am going to do a 8 week touch campaign. Every week I will send them a letter or some kind of information that will be helpful for a expired to know. I know of a Realtor in our area, well a little ways away from us but close enough that I am familiar with what she does. Anyway, she runs a pretty good expired campaign and from what I understand she is pretty successful. I personally have seen some of the listings she has picked up from her campaigns.

I think if you are diligent enough it will pay off. I have been a expired myself, a while back prior to becoming a Realtor. My experience with that was alot of Realtors sent me letters the first week and then more then half of them stopped by the second week, by the third week I had one person left sending me things and even he, after 5 week, gave up! IF someone had continued to mail me I would eventually have started reading their stuff. And I would have listed with them if they had continued.

I mean, if they can be persistent enough to continue to send me information after 6 or 7 weeks then maybe...just maybe...they can be persistent enough to sell my house in this market? They have already proven to me that they are different then quite a few other Realtors in the area.

Also, I LIKED it when the Realtor hand wrote my name and address on the envelope. That is how I opened my first letter, after my personal listing expired. I was routinely throwing the other letters away when I received one with a hand written address, it caught me off guard...I opened it. So, I make sure that I take the time to hand write the addresses AND put a personal note inside.

Just things I have been thinking about today as I get into this new campaign!

Have an awesome day!

Christine

http://www.christinemartinhomes.com/

http://profile.yuwie.com/indychristine

Wow.........

2008-03-11T23:30:47Z

I have been on vacation and am just getting myself back into things!!

I REALLY need to BLOG!!

Last Blog, Feb 27th!!! Shame on me!

Okay, note to self...NO!!!! PROMISE to self....I WILL BLOG by the end of this week!

THINK BLOG.................

Open Houses....the good the bad and the UGLY!

2008-02-26T16:19:03Z

That title sounds like I have some great,bad and HORRIBLE stories to share about Open Houses...sorry for the mislead!! I do not!!! I just liked the title!! ;)

I remember when I was in training at my first Real Estate company which was RE/MAX, I went through their training program, Fast Track, and learned all about holding Open Houses and their importance to my business. The instructor had us all "attend" 10 Open Houses before the end of classes so many weeks later. I went to them, walked around, asked questions and filled out my papers, which I had to turn into the instructor. I can remember as a new agent thinking how exciting to hold open houses for other Realtors until I had listings of my own! I remember how excited I was waiting for my first open house! Oh my goodness, all the potential clients I would meet! All the leads I would get! I was all set to get all of their pertinent information so that I could get them on my mailing list to receive my newsletter and I could cultivate them into becoming my clients.

I had so many ideas! I was going to build me a HUGE list of leads with whom I would have many transactions with! Exciting stuff!!

Hmmm...ya know, it never quite happened the way I imagined it would. I held the open houses, at first for other Realtors, then for my own listings. Ya know, you think, put up the sign and they will come, right? Wrong! I think out of all of the open houses I held that first year in Real Estate I had, maybe 3 that I would consider successful. I have gotten a couple of good buyers leads and that is it.

ONE of these Open Houses was very successful. I sold the listing 2 weeks later to someone that attended and because of the timing I was able to close the house that my sellers were moving into on the same day. And the house that they bought was a upgrade of over $200,000. That was good. But it was ONE ( well 3).

I am just wondering if this constitutes a feeling that Open Houses are a good business move? I wonder if it is as great as the instructor made it out to be? I mean, as I recall, she said it would be much more lucrative then this.

Maybe I am doing something wrong?

Realtor Feedback

2008-02-22T15:45:58Z

Question- Do you have a hard time getting feedback from Realtors? Do you GIVE feedback on the properties that you show?

I have such a hard time getting feedback on my properties. Isthere a special way of asking that I am not aware of or what? I have tried phone calls and emails, but never do I get a reply. Well, NEVER is a strong word and inaccurate, I get a rare VM reply. For the most part I do not hear back from Realtors on feedback.

Why is that? Don't other Realtors care what a buyer thinks or their property and better yet isnt anyone giving feedback to their sellers?

Just curious how others deal with this...if indeed they have the same problem. I have talked to quite a few Realtors around Indy that seem to have the same problems but NO ANSWERS!

Feedback welcome and appreciated!

Christine Martin

www.christinesellshouses.com www.christinemartinhomes.com

The end of Feb already here....and then there is that groundhog!

2008-02-19T14:48:23Z

So, did the groundhog see his shadow or not? I do not recall hearing if good ol Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow or not? As long as were on the subject I have a few questions. IS that the original Punxsutawney Phil?? or is it a relative? And do his predictions always come true? Anybody know for sure? I am really curious to know. I am originally from San Diego, and I have to tell you that in California we do not really pay much attention to all this groundhog stuff. I mean, come on, it is sunny and 75 all year long in San Diego!! LOL. For me, Groundhog day is just a funny movie that Bill Murray played in.

Did you know that the town of Gobbler's Knob ( I did not make that up!) actually has a website where you can go..here... go here... NO NOT YET , AFTER you read my blog...... http://www.groundhog.org/ and you can read all about the history of Groundhog day(not the movie)and you can see pictures of good ol Phil or you can even.....OKAY......this is pretty amazing stuff here...okay....if you are not sitting down go ahead and do so now cuz this is going to knock you off of your feet! They have teeshirts,hats,plush toys,cookies and a BEANIE BABY!!!!ALL commemorating Groundhog day or Phil!!! Did ya think you would ever see such a thing?

I do not know about you but I had no idea! The things you learn surfing around on the internet when you have nothing else to do.

Did I mention that I just got back from Florida? My license was in referral for 1 year! Having just reactivated it I am spending alot of time online updating my website and doing marketing and mailings....I think I really need a client! A referral will do. Can you take sympathy on a poor lil Indiana girl who has so much time on her hands that she is writing blogs about Punxsutawney Phil!!!

You can take a look at my testimonials, people loved me before I left to Florida! I'm sure they can love me again.

Go on, take a chance on me. :)

I LOVE REFERRALS!

Okay, so this is just my LIGHT hearted attempt at letting you all know that I would LOVE to help any of your clients looking to relocate to Indiana ! I am all about GREAT customer service and look forward to getting back into real estate full swing real soon!

PS- I checked and he did see his shadow...6 more weeks of winter, right? But I think we are 2 down, yippee!!

Christine Martin www.christinesellshouses.com www.christinemartinhomes.com

Realtor Designations

2008-02-14T13:07:56Z

Designations......oh designations, what do I think of you? LOL I think ALOT of you! I think of getting as many as I can. I also wonder which ones are most important and what other Realtors think about them. I have heard other Realtors say that they believe that you need the GRI or CRE before anything else. Alternately I have heard other Realtors say that getting their Brokers license first and foremost before anything else is the most important thing to do!

Questions,questions...WHO has the answers?

So what do Realtors consider the most important designation they can obtain? I KNOW we are all here on the internet, so it stands to reason that maybe we would all agree that in this day and age the e-Pro is the most important designation or certification. But, maybe not. There are so many other designations to consider that have always been very sought after. I mean, do you think that a Realtor should have their CRE designation or ABR,GRI ,ALC???? OR do you think having your Broker license before starting all of these designations is more important?

I would like to take a poll on this subject someday! Seems to me that there are a variety of opinions out there. Maybe I need to do a survey or write an article on the subject. So, maybe this is my next project?

Or maybe I will just go get my e-Pro certification. I will be on top of how to be successful and serve my clients as best as I can in today's real estate market here in the internet!

If you have an opinion, I would LOVE to hear it!

Have a prosperous day!

Christine Martin www.christinesellshouses.com www.christinemartinhomes.com

The library is not JUST for reading anymore!

2008-02-13T11:46:17Z

I know it is COLD outside! There are many things to do in Plainfield even though it is cold and sometimes snowy, although this year we have been on the low side of actual snowfall,is that a good thing or not? Anyway, from a previous blog post you might be aware that I am a advocate of the Library system. It just so happens that the Plainfield/Guilford Library is a *wonderful* library and did you know that there are many events that you and your children can attend? Or just you.... :)

I thought that it would be a nice idea to let you in on this "well kept secret" in the heart of Plainfield. Our beautiful library located at 1120 Stafford Rd. has a venue that would suit most tastes as far as something to do on a cold day goes! Some of the things that you can do at the library include things like - listening to LIVE music or join a reading program. You can view art or watch a movie, I happen to know that the library is showing The Producers with Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane on March 4th 5:30 to 8pm.

I am just going to name a few of the things that you can do at the library...

Here goes, help with taxes,read a book,watch a movie,browse some art, learn a craft, take guitar lessons, discuss a book, play a game, learn rubber stamping, learn Basic Massage, learn about the Peace Corps, learn your family genealogy......oh my goodness, what CANT you do at the library?! I feel like I should keep going and sing this to the tune of the William Tell Overture! LOL

There is so much more on the calendar at the Public library! You should just take a look. www.plainfieldlibrary.net I don't know about you but I had no idea that you could do this many things at the library!!!

Have fun and remember.... THE LIBRARY IS NOT JUST FOR READING ANYMORE!

www.christinemartinhomes.com www.christinesellshouses.com

The Plainfield/Guilford Public Library

2008-02-12T21:59:38Z

The reading of all good books is indeed like a conversation with the noblest men of past centuries who were the authors of them, nay a carefully studied conversation, in which they reveal to us none but the best of their thoughts Rene Descartes (1596 - 1650)

I have a LOVE for BOOKS! I have passed this love on to my children and they have passed it on to their children. Books....what can I say about books? Writing is a gift that I do not possess but I CAN read! And I do! Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life-Mortimer Jerome Adler.

With this thought in mind- Have you visited the Plainfield public library lately? No you say??? Well, let me tell you just a little bit about the library and how it serves it's community.

First things first, if you would like to visit the library's website you can do so at http://www.plainfieldlibrary.net/indiana/plainfield_history.html Okay, now that is out of the way, let me tell you about this outstanding library!

I have to acknowledge that the reason I know this library is outstanding is because my grandchildren's other grandma works there. Her name is Laura Appleby. She has introduced our grandchildren to the library and how it works. I think it is important for children to grow up using libraries. And the Plainfield/Guilford Public Library is a good example of a library.

The Plainfield public library opened its doors on June 4, 1901. at 120 East Main St. it was started with 414 gift books for public use. The current location at the corner of Simmons Street and Stafford Road opened on October 4, 1968. It has undergone renovations and expansions over the years with its most recent being dedicated on Sept 30,2000

The library holds many events that serve the community. It is not just a building full of books, as good as that is! The people that work at this library care about its visitors and the children. I have attended ONE of the events that I refer to. The one that I attended was held this last Christmas,it was their annual Gingerbread making event. The kids come with their parents and spend a few hours decorating gingerbread houses that are provided by the library, you bring the candy!! a great time is had by all that attend! The children love it and you get some great pictures of the kids as they build their gingerbread houses. Besides this fantastic annual event there are other events held monthly at the library. Events such as "Shaking the Leaves of Your Family Tree" a Genealogy expert holds a "session" if you will, to help you understand how to trace your family tree! And then there is "Top 10 Gardening Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)" a expert gardener holds a seminar of gardening tips!! These are just TWO of the events to be held in upcoming months. There are many more, many interesting classes or seminars that will be held. To see what events will be held in the months to come visit the library on the web.

Well, what are you waiting for? Go visit your library and hopefully you are blessed to have a library in your town as good as the one in Plainfield!

Good reading!

Plainfield, Indiana. A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE,WORK,WORSHIP & PLAY!!!

2008-02-12T20:53:27Z

Plainfield, Indiana is located in Hendricks County,it's population as of 2006, was 24,734 up from the 18,000 that it was when I moved here in October of 2000. I love Hendricks County! Although I grew up in San Diego, California. You might say, as most people do upon learning this fact, "why in the world would you move here from California?" well, it was for a man! Yes, it was not for the beauty that is Indiana! Since getting here though I have learned about Indiana and have grown to love it as have my 3 children.

There are so many reason to love Plainfield! I can name a few............Plainfield is home to Metropolis,the largest mall on the west side of Indianapolis. I watched as Metropolis was being built, waited in anticipation for the boutiques that were going in. Boutiques like Ann Taylor and Victoria's Secret to name a couple. This IS a outdoor mall but it is NOT a outlet mall or a stripmall. These are, for the most part, higher end stores and the atmosphere is wonderful! There is always music playing on the speakers, the tone of the mall is fun and exciting! There are alot of sounds,lights and ACTION! In the winter time, there are many beautiful lights and music and outdoor fires are lite around the mall, like little outdoor fireplaces. There is a RAVE theater playing all of the latest movies and there are several dining venues including Claddaughs and Stone Creek. They even have valet parking! If you have not visited Metropolis yet, please do so, soon. There is so much more that I could say but I will leave it to you to come on over and discover the wonders that are Metropolis for yourself.

Plainfield is also home to a beautiful aquatic center, with pools and water slides as well as outdoor basketball courts and a gym! There are walking and riding trails that interconnect through out the town.

Needless to say my family enjoys Plainfield! We now call Indiana "home" and Plainfield is one of the towns that we enjoy spending our time in. We live about 20 miles East of Plainfield yet we go to Plainfield for most all of our daily needs. We also enjoy going to Humble Park for fireworks every 4th of July.

Plainfield is home to 2 major Business parks, Plainfield is a great place to start a new business!

Plainfield also has a large spiritual community. Whatever your choice of worship is you are bound to find a place of worship to accommodate you and your family. If you choose to serve the Lord Plainfield is a great place to do it!

Plainfield is indeed, a "Community of Values", a great place to live, work, worship, and play. On top of all that, it is just a short 15 minute commute to downtown Indianapolis.

What do you have to lose? Come on over for a visit, stay awhile, visit Metropolis and get some shopping done,see a movie or dine in a excellent restaurant! Whatever you choose to do you are likely to have a wonderful time doing it!

Hope to see you around Plainfield soon!

If you are interested in relocation information you can visit my website at www.christinesellshouses.com . at my website you will find more information regarding Plainfield as well as other Hendricks and Morgan County towns.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing more about the towns I LOVE in Indiana!

www.christinemartinhomes.com www.christinesellshouses.com

Recently activated license

2008-02-12T12:17:44Z

I recently moved back to Indiana from Florida and reactivated my license I have placed my license with Chris Castetter and the F.C.Tucker Company. While away I really did not keep up on the market back here in Indiana. I was in Florida for heavens sake!!! I was only to be there for 7 months or so and I knew that when I went down, so it didnt make sense to me to get my Florida license, I was not going to be there long enough.

I found this site with the help of Chris and just want to say that so far it has been a wealth of information. I am enjoying it and finding the information very useful in getting re-acquainted with the industry. I hope to become a avid contributer and look forward to continuing to browse the site and read the blogs!

Thanks for the site and good luck to all!

Christine Martin www.christinemartinhomes.com www.christinesellshouses.com

Looking for a lease in Morgan or Hendricks county

2008-02-12T12:09:35Z

I have clients who are needing a 3 bedroom lease in Morgan or Hendricks Counties. They have 3 children. No pets. Preferrably in the Eminence school districk. Price range up to $1000 per mo. Rural preferred.

If you know of anything, please contact me!

Thank you!

Christine www.christinemartinhomes.com www.christinesellshouses.com