miami: 10 Basic Tips to drive in Miami - 01/05/08 03:08 AM
One of the main complaints we hear from people relocating to Miami is that they can't deal with Miami drivers so Rick and I came up with the perfect solution......If you can't beat them, join them!
 
 
 
Here are some basics you'll need to learn to be able to drive in Miami without loosing your mind. These should make the transition  much easier and once you start practicing, you will feel right at home.
1.   Never, under any circumstance, drive with both hands on the wheel.  (2 hands on the wheel mean "weakness" and they will spot you a mile … (40 comments)

miami: Holiday Wishes from Rick & Ines - Real Estate Shows Style! - 12/12/07 05:22 AM
For those of you that don't know Jeff Turner, you should check him out.  We call him all kinds of things, from "tool boy" to "gadget man" .....and other terms of endearment that are so fitting.
The truth is that he owns a company called Real Estate Shows which puts out an incredible product for Realtors and others in the industry.  Jeff is technically a vendor, but never, NEVER comes out as one and NEVER tries to sell his product.  He has loyal customers like us to do it for him.
Just last week he announced a new feature for Real Estate Shows … (39 comments)

miami: Miamism Holiday Fun - with all your help - 12/02/07 02:58 AM
Hi everyone!! It's time to ask for your help again....especially because I had so much fun with your Halloween entries. You will get link-love in return, so send me your stuff! Whether it's a beautifully decorated home in your neck of the woods a family tradition, even recipes.....if you dare!

This is my favorite part of the year! The decorations, the holiday spirit, the sharing, the shopping, the gifts!
I hope you saw what fun we had with Halloween entries, but now I want to ask for you to send me anything that has to do with The end of … (52 comments)

miami: Real Estate Sellers do have Options - 11/19/07 12:08 PM
We work with a lot of real estate sellers that are not understanding that they need to be flexible.  As Realtors, it is our job to make them understand that the real estate market currently favors buyers and although this doesn’t mean they have to give the property away, it does mean they have to be open to different scenarios that will ultimately sell their property.
We recently prepared a purchase contract for some Miami Shores buyer clients and the deal never materialized because the sellers were being stubborn and wanted things done their way. It was a very strong offer and … (29 comments)

miami: Miami Real Estate Models for everyone - 11/14/07 07:23 AM
There are many different real estate models in Miami and as much I would like to say that one is better than the other, the fact is that different people (whether buying or selling Miami Real Estate) will have different preferences.
The idea is that each particular customer should study their options and identify their needs. Telling you that our full-above-and-beyond real estate services are your best choice would not be right since this may not be what you are looking for.

Just recently we were working with a Miami real estate buyer that was pre-approved, very motivated and ready to go. We had … (23 comments)

miami: Miami Real Estate in the open - 11/10/07 04:04 AM
Miami Real Estate is changing everyday and those of us blogging are at the forefront and are viewed as “trendy”.
Robert Scoble and Shel Israel shared a breakthrough quote (in their book "Naked Conversations") by The New York Times editorial (August 5, 2005) which really puts blogging into perspective:
“It’s natural enough to think of the growth of the blogosphere as a merely technical phenomenon. But it’s also a profoundly human phenomenon, a way of expanding and, in some sense, reifying the ephemeral daily conversation that humans engage in. Every day the blogosphere captures a little more of the strange … (31 comments)

miami: Use of awnings for your historic house - 11/09/07 05:27 AM
Just last week, a real estate customer asked me to explain the correct and incorrect use of awnings for Mediterranean Revival architecture.   I'm sure this will be an eye-opener for a lot of you, but the reality is that it is not rocket science.  There are basic rules and some NO NO's (like anything else), and if I leave any stones unturned, I'm sure some of you will let me know.
First take a look at the previous articles I've written about elements of Mediterranean Revival homes:
Historic Cuban Barrel Tile Lime Paints - another important element for historic homes … (35 comments)

miami: Home Sellers Can't Handle The Truth - 11/04/07 06:45 AM

If you are in the market to sell your Miami home, how do you interview Realtors? What questions do you ask and ultimately, what’s the most important factor when choosing a Realtor?
When we asked random people what qualities are important when choosing a Miami Realtor, the response was: Ethical, Loyal, Truthful, Professional, Aggressive, and Experienced.
But when we ask home sellers how they choose their Realtor, it comes down to one single factor: PRICE.
Here are different scenarios we wanted to present. In the 3 scenarios, sellers interview 3 well known Realtors in their area who appear in local … (39 comments)

miami: Miami Country Day School Walk for Cancer - Miami Shores, FL - 10/27/07 01:47 PM
The goal for this year's Miami Country Day School Walk for Cancer  was $50,000.  As of the preliminary tally, Miami Country Day School had raised over
$112,000!!! 
Can we say wow!  I was helping The Heidi Hewes Woman's Cancer Association with the counting of the money and we all had goose bumps!
Those kids worked so hard and everyone should be so proud!  You could hear the kids cheering in the loud-speaker "Do it for Harry!"  The walk this year is dedicated to Harry Greenberg, a senior at MCDS who has recently lost his leg to cancer.
To think that all that money … (24 comments)

miami: BUH BYE Orange Bowl - 10/23/07 02:23 PM
The news came out at the beginning of this year's Hurricane Football season, that this would be the last year they play at The Orange Bowl. 
Yes the Orange Bowl is in shambles, yes it is in need of major repairs, but it is THE ORANGE BOWL!!  To think of all the games I watched from the student section, from all the times we had to pay exorbitant prices for a parking space to one of the nearby home owners, the fights, the screaming, the canon, the cheerleaders, the band, the beer, the cheering, the laughing....oh the memories.
It had not really sunk … (21 comments)

miami: Miamism Halloween Fun - 10/17/07 04:31 AM
Hi everyone!!  To keep in spirit with October celebrations and upcoming Halloween fun, Rick and I have decided to post Halloween related photos all this month and www.Miamism.com
We are asking our readers and Active Rain friends to send us your Halloween related photos to be featured in Miamism. (and of course you can expect some link love for the trouble). From kids and adults in costume, to your Halloween decorations, to crafts.   I expect some to be real estate related and others that won't....that's OK.
Be creative, send them in (info@miamism.com) ......we would like to see what you have in store for … (29 comments)

miami: Blog Action Day - Green Designer Finishes for your Kitchen - 10/15/07 03:58 AM
For those of you that don't know it, today is BLOG ACTION DAY! Bloggers around the world are writing about the environment, how we can help to make our world better, from materials to recycling to volunteering, and more. Make sure you take a look at the incredible articles that are floating around the blogosphere.....over 14,000 bloggers signed up! There are many ways you can help the environment without thinking of yourself as a "gung-ho-green-extremist". "Green" is the new "cool", the new "hip", the new "hot". Everyone can make a difference and no better way to start than with your own … (66 comments)

miami: Miami Country Day's Walk for Cancer Assembly - 10/10/07 12:09 PM
I had the pleasure of attending Miami Country Day School's Walk for Cancer Assembly.  We were invited to attend because the proceeds from this walk are given to The Miami Shores Heidi Hewes Chaper of the Woman's Cancer Association of U.M. (To which I am co-president together with Tammy Austin).

Last year Country Day raised over $45,000 and this year their goal is $50,000.  All funds raised go directly to cancer research.
The whole school attended the assembly.  The Spartan Cheerleaders kicked off the assembly and were followed by numerous speakers including Walk Chairs and 2 cancer survivors.  They even had a … (20 comments)

miami: Please don't use the wrong window - 10/06/07 03:21 AM
You are going to think I am crazy for writing an article about the correct use of windows.  But you need to know that windows are my pet peeve.  Windows are a key element in a building's architecture, and the incorrect use of a window can ruin a building's facade.
I drive around every day looking at Miami Architecture shaking my head.  You see Spanish Mediterranean homes with Colonial windows, Colonial homes with casement windows, or Mid-century modern homes with single-hung windows.  This drives me absolutely crazy, so instead of complaining, I'll try to explain some basics.
Vitruvius, known as the first … (55 comments)

miami: Florida Home Inspections - will they protect you? - 10/02/07 02:52 PM
Did you know that home inspection companies are not regulated in the state of Florida? This means that anyone can call themselves an inspector, no matter what their qualifications are.  Did you also know that there are a lot of home inspectors that make themselves look good by printing out  really pretty reports that do nothing to protect a real estate buyer?
As a home buyer, you want to protect yourself by hiring a good home inspection company that gives you a thorough report detailing the condition of the property.  The whole inspection process is designed so that you, as a buyer, … (22 comments)

miami: Real Estate Branding - Rick and Ines Style....Part III - 09/23/07 03:44 PM
Geesh!! it took me a while to get here!  Sorry for the long and drawn out explanations, but I HAD to give you some history before I got to the good stuff.
Just in case you missed them, here are the 2 previous articles:
Real Estate Branding - Rick and Ines Style Real Estate Branding - Rick and Ines Style .....continued So Miamism was born after I had already started playing with colors - orange, grey and white will be carried to everything we do - from website, to business cards, brochures......and more.
I'm not going to bore you with the details of how we chose … (57 comments)

miami: Working without a Realtor has more advantages - 09/08/07 11:36 AM
We went to show one of our listings today to a buyer not working with a Realtor.  Of course our goal is primarily to sell them that house, but it is also to gain that buyer as a customer.  This buyer is different - she has done her homework, she knows the inventory, the price per square foot, the recent sales and how long properties have been on the market.
When we asked why she is not working with a Realtor, her answer was that she thought she would have a negotiating advantage if a second Realtor was not involved.
We all have ways to respond … (87 comments)

miami: Miami Green Architects from the past - 09/07/07 06:41 AM
To say that mid-century architects were more practical is an understatement. Yes we've seen a sudden "Green Movement" taking over, and NO, I don't think this is bad, quite the contrary, it's something everyone should be aware of. But looking at Miami's architecture, I have to admit that I have a soft spot for those buildings of the 50's and 60's. I have a special soft spot for certain architects like Wahl Snyder, Marion Manley and Alfred Browning Parker.

When I walk into a house designed by either three, I feel it! My heart starts racing and there's an unquestionable … (36 comments)

miami: Bimini, Bahamas - another vacation for Miamians - 07/22/07 09:50 AM
Everyone knows Miami is a great vacation spot.  You have beaches, you have entertainment, you have great hotels and shopping, and you can't forget dining!  But the question here is, Where do Miamians go on vacation?  The first article to this series, Vacations for Miamians....and others, talks about 3-day cruises taking off from our own Port of Miami. 
Now, I want to tell you about our boating vacation to The Islands of Bimini, Bahamas which are located just under 50 miles East of Miami.  This was our second time going and we crossed the Florida Straits with our dear friends The Rubios.  … (33 comments)

miami: The Football Sandwich Shop in Miami - 06/04/07 04:28 PM

Have you ever driven by a really ugly looking place and you see that it is packed with cars and wonder if it is any good?
I mean absolutely no offense to the owners of The Football Sandwich Shop in Miami but they know that their pink building is everything but pretty - one thing is for sure though, everything I have ever eaten there is delicious!  The outside has no reflection on the taste of the food.
 
READ THE FULL STORY AT MIAMISM.COM .....
… (28 comments)