I have had some great success of shooting video for my clients. I started shooting the Broker Open House on every Tuesday here in Palos Verdes. I go into the property and ask the agent for permission, then go through the home describing what I see. It has been tricky at times with lighting, and people, and understanding the floorplan - but with my committment and passion, I feel that this is just getting better.

Here is a link to the video:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Bucks-Real-Estate-in-Palos-Verdes-Worldwide-Properties/167153416629039

I used to speed up the footage to go through a home faster. Many people told me they felt they were getting sea sick by watching, so I've changed that. I still think that an 11 minute video is kinda long, but we will see. What do you think?  Some others mentioned that they would like to see the backsplash, or tile in kitchen or appliances, so I do try to get more detailed parts in certain spots of the home. What are some of the most important aspects of the home to shoot?

Wow -

I was sooo impressed with the activity, comments, and support from Active Rain. Thanks soo much for the words of positive encouragement and recognition that it takes to get to this point. With that said, here is another video that I shot today with my friend Darren Pujalet.

Darren is a good friend and a hard worker. This was his first time, no rehearse, lets see what it looks like shoot and go. Only one way to get better and thats by doing it...

I closed the biggest deal of my carreer last month by shooting video of a home and sending it to my client in China. 

I received an email from a client looking for a large safe home in a good school district. I sent him 17 listings around the $3.4 million markin Palos Verdes.  My client liked a home in Oceanfront, however it sold. We looked at a larger home down the street which was more expensive yet had more features the client desired. He bought the home after watching the video I made for him.  I personalized the video for him explaining the attributes I liked, the flow and floor plan, and some of the parts that need work. My client is extremely satisfied, and we have a great relationship that started at my website, www.jasonbuck.com.

I have posted the video in youtube, and share it with other sites.  One of the challenges with this client was his location in China. The government blocks many sites and we had to use dropbox to transfer the large file. Thanks to many Real Estate associates who have helped me learn how to use these valuable tools.

http://youtu.be/dI5lQQKuclg

Please let me know if there is a home you are interested in and how I may assist you.  Have a great day, and check out my live streaming cam of Palos Verdes at www.PalosVerdesWebcam.com

Wow - its like summertime in the Winter here in California. The last month has been amazing - just incredible gorgeous weather. Here in Palos Verdes there have been multiple whale sightings and crystal clear days where one can see for miles out towards Catalina Island. Such a treat.

I have set up a live streaming webcam so that anyone can check out the view live - go to www.PalosVerdesWebcam.com

My provider recently created a link for the ipone or ipad as well so you can see it anytime -go to http://www.microseven.com/tv/apple/jason.html

Hello,

I have been shooting video of a few of the open houses that I visit on the Broker Open House Tour in Palos Verdes. Here is a video from this week, July 19, 2011  I visited three homes in Rancho Palos Verdes.

If you would like me to take video of your property and you live in the Los Angeles area, just give me a call and I would be happy to work with you. I speed up the video in order to make the entire video not too long. It causes a bit of drowsiness for some viewers, and I am working on finding a better way to do this. I have a vision of being able to show the flow of a property from room to room, and not just be a bunch of still photos. Its always a process and it also takes several hours to render the video and get the music in - but its coming along.

The music is performed by SundaySkool, a live jam band that I host at my studio called www.theSeaPalaceStudio.com  We get together on the weekend and communicate through the notes and just make up songs on the spot. Its all improvisation. The fun part is being able to turn on a dime and follow someone's lead into a new feel ro style and the music has been a big blessing in my life.

For more info on local real estate, please contact me through www.jasonbuck.com

Have a great day.

In the U.S. alone, over 410 billion gallons of water is used every day.  The average household uses about 350 gallons daily, adding up to over 120,000 gallons a year.  Not only does this high water usage deplete our global water supply, it costs money in heating and utility bills.  By switching to water saving technologies and implementing simple conservation measures, households can reduce their daily water use by up to 35%, saving billions of gallons per day nationally. 

 There are numerous measures you can take to help reduce the amount of water used in your home.  One of the easiest ways to save water is to turn off faucets when you aren't using them.  This includes while you are shaving, shampooing your hair, washing dishes, or soaping up.  Just turning off the water while brushing your teeth can save you over 25 gallons of water every month.  Instead of running the water while doing dishes, consider filling up the sinks with soap on one side and rinse water on the other.  This will save you gallons of water every time you clean.  If you have to use the dishwasher, be sure and run full loads.  The same applies to your clothes washer and dryer.  By doing so, you can save thousands of gallons of water every month and minimize the amount of soaps and detergents you use.  Don't do laundry unless you have to.  Reuse towels multiple times before washing them to prevent unnecessary water usage.  When preparing meals, defrost food in the fridge or microwave instead of running hot water over them.  This will prevent you from literally watching water go down the drain without truly serving a purpose.  Finally, dispose of spiders and tissues in the trash can instead of flushing them down the toilet.  Since toilets (even low-flow models) use between 1.5 and 6 gallons per flush, unnecessary flushing is a direct drain off your water supply.

 In addition to implementing water conservation methods inside your home, there are some things you can do outside to help minimize water use as well.  Consider using a commercial carwash that uses recycled water instead of washing your car yourself.  Cover pools, spas, and hot tubs to prevent evaporation, especially in off-seasons when you rarely use them.  Also, use a broom instead of a hose to clean porch, driveway, etc.  Both serve the same purpose, but using a broom can help save gallons of water every time. 

 It is important to know that every little bit makes a difference, start by taking action yourself.  Its as simple as turning off the water while you are brushing your teeth.

We had a cocktail party at our office last eve and I wasn't sure if I was going to attend. I did, and was very thankful to meet some wonderful people. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet and greet agents that I thought I knew and see them in a completely different perspective. All for the better. I was able to spend some quality time with a woman that I used to be terrified of and completely changed my perspective.

So, I thought about the many ways that we work, and all the opportunities in front of us daily. I am going to go up to Venice today to have a burger by the beach and meet a few other agents. I am pretty busy and have a bunch of tasks to complete, however, there is something to be said about "keeping the wheel greased" and I believe that your fellow agents have a lot to do with flow.  You just never know who you may meet and have some commonalities with, and therefore, get out there and talk to people, even if they are part competition.

After working with a small boutique I have decided to join Re/Max in Palos Verdes. I will be working in the Malaga Cove office and very excited about the opportunities. I was very inpressed with all of the clasees and help that Re/Max offers. Are you familiar with some of the new designations that assist in working with investors? The market is changing and its nice to have a lot of input when making core business decisions.

I was also impressed with the number of offices and outreach that Re/Max has. I recently had a short sale transaction, and it was so nice to get some support from some agents that had been though the changes in our industry.

Also, have you seen how many Re/Max offices are along the coast? I am excited to network with other agents in Hollywood and Santa Monica. Here we go....

Its soo special to be with family at Thanksgiving. I was very lucky to be able to go to Atlanta and stay with my brother. What was extra special, was that both my parents, after a divorce 12 years ago, were able to come as well.

Everything has gone very well, the food was fantastic, and above all, spending time with everyone has been very special.

Winterizing your home-

With the end of summer approaching and the windy cold season around the corner, many homeowners are starting to prepare for the winter season.  With the cost of gas and other utilities on the rise, conservation methods are gaining popularity and many people are starting to look for “green” incentives for alternative energy utility production.  There are several new sources for alternative power including solar panels and wind turbines. The technologies are becoming more efficient, less obtrusive, and more affordable especially with government rebates.

There are several factors in protecting your home from unwanted energy loss. Windows are one of the biggest culprits for radiant heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. Checking the seal of your window is the first and easiest way to reduce air leakage and keep the warm air in your home for comfort in the wintertime.  There are also a series of well insulated windows especially for energy conservation; however, without the extreme temperatures in mountainous regions, we Coastal Californian’s have a fairly moderate temperature range.

It is also a great idea to check your rain gutters for debris and to clean them out.  Visually inspect your rafters for chipping paint and make sure you have a fresh coat everywhere. Paint is the best protector from termites and dry rot.  Check your fireplace for blockage or debris as you may want to cuddle in front of a fire on the next cold windy night. It is highly recommended that you have a roofer check the structure for loose shingles and the flashing is properly installed.  Trees or shrubs that are touching your home may also add to dry rot, termites, and unwanted moisture that may deteriorate the structure of your property.

It is also very wise to check your forced air heater. Many heaters have become almost obsolete; however, I use mine maybe a few times a season. All the more reason to check all of the connections clean the air filter and inspect the ducts.  “Duct” tape was first created to seal the ducts in a heating system, and unfortunately is not the best seal. The tape decomposes after several months, or faster with excessive temperature and new methods for connecting ducts are more efficient and less wasteful.

If you are considering remodeling I would highly recommend speaking with a contractor who is knowledgeable with alternative fuel sources. There are so many new products to help a home run more efficient and use the natural fuel sources readily available. Insulation, radiant floor heating, solar water heating, and energy efficient windows and appliances all help to protect our environment and save the homeowner money.  As our natural resources in the world diminish, it will be fruitful and prosperous for everyone to start conserving more and utilizing the sun, and wind as our power partners.