Jim's blog

Living Green - Eight Ways to Cool Your Home, Naturally!

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:26:56 -0600

Here is a great post by Brien Berard over in Laurel, Maryland, but its message is relevant to all areas of the country.

Comments about his message that I reblogged here have been disabled, so if you like Brien's message, click here to visit his blog and tell him so.

Via Anthony Stokes-Pereira (Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty):

With energy costs climbing annually, keeping your house cool in summer can be a wallet-emptying exercise. Finding natural ways to keep cool can save you hundreds of dollars in a single season.

Plant deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your house where you receive the most sunlight. Their leaves will provide cooling shade in the summer, and, when they shed in the winter, allow the sun to help warm your home. According to the USDA Forest Service, trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save 20 to 50 percent of the energy used for heating.

Use trees or shrubs to shade your air conditioning unit, windows or the sides of the house receiving direct sunlight.

Open your windows at night when it's coolest and shut them during the day to keep the cool air in and the hot air out.

Place a fan at the open basement door to bring cool basement air onto your main living level. Likewise, ceiling fans set to blow down provide exceptional cooling. Oscillating fans will also mimic tropical breezes, and, combined with some Hawaiian music and a cool fruit drink help remind you of why you waited all winter for summer heat.

Install white (reflective) window shades, blinds, or curtains and keep them closed during the days to keep the heat out.

Check out the latest green "air cooler," such as mini eco-ice coolers and ice air coolers. They use up to 75 percent less energy than air conditioners and can cool up to 150 square feet.

Realize that up to 60 percent of the heat entering your home comes through the ceiling and walls. If your attic insulation isn't up to snuff, upgrade it. Moving from three inches of insulation to 12 inches can cut cooling costs by 10 percent.

Finally, check into the feasibility of outdoor awnings over windows, and window tinting such as 3M Scotchtint^TM which reflects up to 79 percent of the heat that would come through windows. Strategic investments today can pay for themselves in months and make summer much more enjoyable. Also, any upgrades you make to lower cooling costs will be beneficial when listing your home.

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For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you.

Anthony Stokes Pereira

Office: (845) 770-2188

Cell: (845) 538-7021

Fax: (845) 624-7137

Email: anthony.stokespereira@randrealty.com

www.anthonystokespereira.com

The ActiveRain Symphony Station: One of our own (me!) performs Claude Debussy at Pacific Regent in La Jolla

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:03:14 -0600

For those coming into town for the 2009 Convention of the National Association of Realtors, I will be performing in my chamber music group on Friday afternoon, November 13, at 4:00 p.m., at the Pacific Regent in La Jolla, 3890 Nobel Drive.

The concert should last about 1½ hours, and the public is welcome, so if anyone wants to come up to La Jolla, enjoy a bit of classical music, and then go out to
tour La Jolla afterwards and possibly have something to eat, call Russel Ray at 619-341-0173 (he also happens to be my page turner for the concert). Keep in
mind that the best touring is during daylight hours, and darkness gets here around 6:00 p.m. now, but there are lots of good places to eat in La Jolla, especially if price is no object.

Following is the concert program:

Claude Debussy: Flower Child, Impressionist, Revolutionary

Joanne Regenhardt, Narrator
Janelle DeStefano, Mezzo Soprano
James Frimmer, Piano

C'est l'Extase - Janelle and James
General Lavine - James
Clair de Lune - James
Chevaux de Bois - Janelle and James
Sarabande - James
Pagodes - James
Serenade for the Doll - James
Sarabande Excerpt - James
Nuit D'Étoiles - Janelle and James
Beau Soir - Janelle and James
Il pleure dans mon coeur - Janelle and James
Pour Les Arpeges Composes - James
L'isle Joyeuse - James

About Claude Debussy

Claude Debussy (1862-1918), a French composer, one of the most important impressionist composers (even though he himself disliked the term), is also one of the more prominent composers from late 1890s and early 1900s.

Debussy began piano lessons at the age of 7, and at the age of 10 was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire where he studied for 11 years. In 1884 he won the prestigious Prix de Rome with his composition L'Enfant prodigue. His win resulted in a scholarship to the Académie des Beaux-Arts, which included a four-year residence at the Villa Medici, the French Academy in Rome. Much of his later music displayed harmonies and chords featuring dissonances that were never musically resolved. His harmonies, considered radical in his day, were influential to almost every major composer of the 20th century.

Performer Biographies

Joanne Regenhardt, narrator, has been known to San Diego audiences since 1955 when she represented San Diego in the San Francisco opera auditions and began signing with Starlight Opera. She has sung concerts throughout Southern California both in oratorio and in solo peformances withy symphony orchestras and in recitals. Her book of poetry, "Soundings," was published in 2002. Joanne is currently integrating narratives of musicians' lives into programs of their music, choosing aspects of the lives and musical selections which can be nejoyed in an intimate setting. She has done this with the lives and music of Johannes Brahms, Frederic Chopin, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and, of couse, Claude Debussy.

Janelle DeStefano, mezzo soprano, has been praised for her passionate delivery and rich, seamless voice. She has sung on regional operatic orchestral and musical theater stages throughout the United States. Recent roles have included Romeo in "I Capuletti e I Montecchi," Mrs. Winemiller in "Summer and Smoke," and the title role in Benjamin Britten's "The Rape of Lucretia." Janelle has a special interest in Spanish song and Zarsuela, and has performed at the Zarzuela Festival in Napa, California, as well as with the acclaimed early music ensemble, El Mundo. Janelle has won several vocal competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, San Diego District; the National Association of Teachers of Singing; and the Musical Merit Foundation. She currently is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

James Frimmer, piano, received his Bachelor of music and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Redlands in Redlands, California. While at the University of Redlands, James served as staff accompanist and was a winner of the University's concerto competition, the Redlands Bowl Young Artists Auditions and the Young Artists competition. He has performed in master classes of Daniel Pollack, John McCabe, and José Feghali. In addtion to being an active chamber musician in the San Diego area, James is also a Realtor with Century 21 Award in Mission Valley and the Operations Manager at Borders Books and Music at Plaza Bonita in National City.

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If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

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ActiveRain Convention Channel
ActiveRain Guerrilla Marketing Channel
ActiveRain History Channel
ActiveRain Library Channel
ActiveRain Nature Channel
ActiveRain Symphony Channel
ActiveRain Travel Channel

Wordless Wednesday: I have amnesia. Can you tell me who I am?

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:41:02 -0600

Let me know if you need some clues.

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If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

My favorite ActiveRain Groups:

Before you go By Owner or use a Discount Agent and offer a very low commission...

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:25:18 -0600

I thought this was a great post by Ben Giordano over in Boca Raton, Florida, that is probably relevant to every place else in the nation.

Comments have been disabled for this reblog, so if you like the information, click here to open a new window to Ben's post and tell him how much you appreciate it.

Via Ben Giordano (Realty Associates):

Some sellers in an attempt to save real estate commissions use various systems of FSBO (For Sale By Owner). Traditionally, FSBOs were not allowed in the MLS because no agent was involved and therefore did not benefit from Realtor.com.

With the emergence of Discount Brokers who offer flat fee MLS exposure, and therefore Realtor.com presence, FSBOs now had a platform that allowed them to save 50% of the commission since they did not pay a commission to the listing broker.

Then things got a little hairy when discounters started taking lots of listings and traditional agents started complaining to their MLS. Some MLS systems started restricting discounters which caused the Feds to get involved and make it illegal to restrict access to the MLS for discounters because of their business model.

Then sellers and discount brokers got a little craftier to save the seller 100% of the commission. Here is how it works: under most MLS rules you have to offer a co-broke to list in MLS but there is no minimum % as that would be a violation of antitrust laws. I have seen in my MLS some listings (over $200k) offering $250 total commission to the buyer's agent. These were listings from discounters who charge the sellers $200 to $500 to list in the MLS and allow exposure to Realtor.com. The seller's goal is obviously to have all the benefits of a FSBO (For Sale By Owner) with the big plus of Realtor.com exposure and pay close to nothing in commissions.

The interesting thing is that these sellers who think they can do it all by themselves and avoid commissions end up in most cases cheating themselves:

- anti-trust laws or not, no buyer's agent or brokerage can live on $250 or some other ridiculously low amount of co-broke. Do you know how long it takes to get a buyer in this market to make an offer ?

- if the buyer's agent is smart, they will have a Buyer-Broker agreement that would specify their min acceptable compensation. So guess what Mr not so smart seller, the offer you will get will be lower because the buyer is paying the commission now.

- most buyers today are working with agents. These buyers are educated in real estate thanks to all the good info available online, and they tend to pick experienced agents.

- the discount broker cannot offer any of the time consuming services a full service agent will offer when they are only charging a few hundred dollars to list. That may include any or all of the following: talking to you when you have questions, doing CMAs (Comparative Market Analysis), taking pictures, recommending staging or repairs, showing and selling the property, marketing it, negotiating, advising you...

- NAR (National Association of Realtors) statistics have shown that on average FSBOs sell for over 10% less than Realtor listings.

- Lastly, most of these FSBOs are way overpriced and will end up going back through the full service channels eventually as sellers come to their senses after a long frustrating time as FSBOs.

In a buyer's market, sellers need to put all of the advantages on their side and that includes paying a decent commission and working with a full service agent.

Ben Giordano, MBA, MILHM, CDPE, REOS, Realtor

Waterfront Specialist

www.EliteWaterfront.com

Selling the Best Waterfront Homes and Condos from Palm Beach to South Beach

Ocean, Intracoastal, and Canal Homes and Condos in the Following Coastal Cities: Palm Beach, Manalapan, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Lighthouse Point, Hillsboro Beach, Pompano Beach, Lauderdale by the Sea, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Golden Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, Bal Harbour, Surfside, Miami Beach, and South Beach.

10 things to remember (& Practice) when meeting with the Appraiser.

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:07:47 -0600

This is a great list for working with Appraisers, but much of it can also be applied to home inspectors and, in certain cases, can be relevant for listing agents to help Realtors show their properties.

Comments have been disabled on this post in my blog, so if you like what Greg has to say, click here to go to his post and leave him a comment. I'm sure he'll appreciate it.

Via Gregg Wynn, Broker/Appraiser, CA DRE# 1186381 (Absolute Real Estate & Appraisals):

During my 18 years as a Residential Appraiser, I've met with many different Real Estate Agents; some of whom knew what they were doing, and many who didn't have a clue. I found them all making a lot of the same mistakes about how they approached me. Here are just a few recommendations.

1)   Have the property ready for inspection, with all utilities on and keys to all areas.

2)   If the Appraiser shows up late, don't blow your top, at least not until the report is completed.

3)   Don't follow them around like a little puppy dog, if they were Felons they wouldn't be appraising.

4)   Try to be nice, even if you're not a nice person, they're not there to evaluate your persona, but rudeness won't help your cause. If you feel that you have to question their ability, be witty about it.

5)   Don't tell them "the buyer is going to fix that after the close of escrow," they couldn't care less.

6)   Don't try to hide deferred maintenance, like covering it up with a rug, it will only make them look closer for other possible defects.

7)   If you're going to provide the Appraiser with sale comps, take the time to go over them with them, not just to shove them at them. If you know what you're talking about, they'll likely appreciate it.

8)   Don't quote what another Appraiser said, period. Whether it's about value or otherwise.

9)   Don't promise them future business if they do you a favor. This won't likely apply now that HVCC is in effect, but Realtors and Loan Officers alike have used that one to death.  I never bought it, ever.

10) Be patient. Calling them 1 or 2 days after the inspection will only push their button. Call them on the 3rd day, and be polite.  As with any person you have to deal with, be professional, and polite.

If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Orange County, La Habra, La Habra Heights, Whittier, Brea, Fullerton, Anaheim, Placentia, Yorba Linda, La Mirada, Buena Park, Cypress, La Mirada, Hacienda Heights, or Norwalk. Feel Free to give me a call at 714.441.1987 (USA) or email me at wynng@roadrunner.com or visit my website at http://www.SoCalRealEstateBrokers.com

Are you missing a great opportunity to reach out to past Clients?

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:46:19 -0600

Are you missing a great opportunity to reach out to past Clients?

Even though any time is a great time to contact past Clients, there are some times that are just naturally better than others, and now is one of those times.

I take advantage of the end of daylight savings time to send a little postcard to my past Clients reminding them to check their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, change the batteries, and add them to their bedrooms if they don't have them there.

I'll also reference my ActiveRain blog, too, of course.

Feel free to modify and adapt for your use, but certainly don't miss out on this great opportunity to reach out to your past Clients with a valuable safety tip.

If you haven't reminded them about the ending on November 30 of the Federal Tax Credit for home improvements, now is a good time to do that, too!

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If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

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15 recent blog posts:

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.

Remind your buyers and sellers about the home improvement tax credit

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:03:13 -0600

Our various home improvement stores, plumbers, electricians, door and window installers, garage door installers, and everyone else who works in and on real estate is inundating us with notices, advertisements, phone calls, and emails reminding us that the $1,500 federal tax credit for home improvements expires at the end of this month along with the $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time home buyers.

Wow. That's a long sentence. I'm tired, now, but I go on....

Along with reminding your past and present Clients to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, remind them of the home improvement tax credit as well. Money is money, and every little bit helps!

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If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

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15 recent blog posts:

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.

Four great posts about mold

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:47:47 -0600

I've read a lot of posts about mold.

I've been over to the EPA web side to read what they have to say about mold.

I've read various Internet web sites about mold.

But tonight I found a series of blog posts by Eragorn Northe, a home inspector in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, that I thought were really good and seem to bring so much information into just four posts that can either be reblogged to your own audience or referenced via a link when someone has a question.

Here they are:

Fighting mold - The homeowner's guide from CMHC

Hope you find them useful.

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If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.

A different kind of team

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:52:44 -0600

I've noticed a lot of Featured Posts lately that have the word TEAM in their titles.

Some apparently like the team concept, while at least one didn't, although that one person likes to DO A LOT OF YELLING IN HER POSTS, so I rarely get past the first paragraph in any of here posts because I don't like people who yell and reading so many sentences done in ALL CAPITAL letters is just too tiring on the eyes.

Nonetheless, the posts I've read seem to be talking about teams in a traditional sense of having everyone be Realtors, Transaction Coordinators, phone clerks, etc.

My team is totally different, and I do believe that my team can easily be compared to medical teams, at least the medical teams that my PPO sends me to.

My general practitioner doctor has as members of his team a pediatrician, an OBGYN, a heart surgeon, a brain surgeon, an ear/nose/throat specialist, a dermatologist, etc. So when I go to him with a problem, and he determines that I need to see a throat specialist, he sends me to the one who is on his team.

My team includes my Power Partners. Power Partners are people whom you would call if you need their services for yourself. Mine for my real estate team include:

Other Realtors
Mortgage lenders
Home inspectors
Plumbers
Electricians
Roofing contractors
Landscapers
Heating and cooling professionals
Chimney sweeps
Door and window installers
Etc.

If you are not part of a traditional real estate team, and even if you are, create a team of professionals to help your Clients with any of their needs. It's a win-win-win-win-win-win-win for all involved.

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If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.

You have to go here when you come to the NAR Convention in November

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:14:43 -0500

When you come to San Diego in a couple of weeks for the 2009 NAR Convention, put Cabrillo National Monument on your schedule of things to do.

It doesn't matter whether the day is sunny and clear, cloudy and raining, or just some good ol' Los Angeles haze, the views of North Island Navy Base, downtown San Diego, the Silver Strand, the Hotel del Coronado, and Tijuana are unmatched from anywhere else in the area.

Yesterday was, perhaps, the most beautiful day at Cabrillo that I've ever seen in the 31 years I've lived here, so I got some great pictures to share with you. If you slide show here doesn't work on your computer, simply click on "View All Images" to watch it at slide.com.

Most of my blog posts in November before the Convention will be about San Diego: restaurants, tourist traps, etc., and I'll post everything to the 2009 NAR Convention San Diego Group, so check in there regularly.

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If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

Using your ActiveRain blog to establish relationships
It's pansy digging time at Weidners Garden!
Are you making it fun for your Clients?
Recent San Diego Zoo renovations featuring young flamingos
Public art along San Diego's Embarcadero
A guide to Balboa Park in downtown San Diego
Hotel safety tips for those coming to the NAR Convention next month
Speechless Sunday: Need a costume for Halloween?
Need free tickets to the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park?
Mission Valley condos: If you spend too much time looking....
Before you pull the plug on Grandma....
Need a roommate for the NAR Convention next month?
Water conservation resources
News You Can't Use, Vol. II: What's your definition of financial ruin?
News You Can't Use: I don't want to be rich and famous....

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.

It's Pansy digging time at Weidners Garden!

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:27:59 -0500

One of the most unique plant nurseries in all of San Diego County is Weidners Garden at 695 Normandy Road in Encinitas.

Weidners Garden is not your ordinary run-of-the-mill garden nursery.

They are not always open, closing at specific times of the year to replenish their stock, and when they re-open, it's always fun. You often get to dig your own plants directly out of the ground, they often have free food and drinks, and their educational chats with the owners are not to be missed if you have a question that no one else can answer.

Weidners Garden has the greatest selection of my four favorite flowers: fuchsias, cyclamens, begonias, and pansies.

In the Spring each year, they have a special dig-your-own-begonias day featuring tuberous begonias:

Ah, but it's not Spring, you say. That's right! It's Fall! And in the fall, Weidners Garden has a special dig-your-own-pansies day:

This year, pansy digging day is Sunday, November 1. Gates open at 8:30 a.m., and the official pansy digging bell rings at 9:00 a.m.

Wear your old clothes and shoes because the pansy field is usually wet, soggy, and muddy, but a lot of fun. Take the family with you!

The best selection of pansies is the first day they open for the Fall, so get there early. They have digging tools and boxes to put your selections in, but it can never hurt to bring your own.

The first week is "Family Digs Together Week." Bring your children because each child who digs with you gets to dig one free pansy.

You can see Weidners pansy pictures by clicking here, and you can find winter coupons at their winter coupons page.

Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and 8, are free hot dog day. You've never had a hot dog until you've had a Weidners Garden hot dog!

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

Are you making it fun for your Clients?
Recent San Diego Zoo renovations featuring young flamingos
Public art along San Diego's Embarcadero
A guide to Balboa Park in downtown San Diego
Hotel safety tips for those coming to the NAR Convention next month
Speechless Sunday: Need a costume for Halloween?
Need free tickets to the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park?
Mission Valley condos: If you spend too much time looking....
Before you pull the plug on Grandma....
Need a roommate for the NAR Convention next month?
Water conservation resources
News You Can't Use, Vol. II: What's your definition of financial ruin?
News You Can't Use: I don't want to be rich and famous....
A tour of Cancer Survivors Park in downtown San Diego
ATTENTION: Don't eat those pumpkin seeds!

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.

Are you making it fun for your Clients?

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:46:59 -0500

Some readers might remember that I play the piano in a chamber music group here in San Diego, so I'm always excited when classical music gets a nod on television, in the movies, or even on YouTube.

My good Canadian friends, Al and Peggy Cunningham, recently sent me a YouTube link that has a lot to do not only with piano but the psychology of what people do and why they do it.

Check it out:

I believe that making it fun to hunt for, buy, or sell a home relieves the stress of everyone involved -- Realtors, home inspectors, mortgage lenders, etc.

As an example, I love having open houses, and people who come to my open house get an Open House Survivor Kit full of goodies, including a San Diego neighborhoods word search game that both adults and children can play.

If you're not having fun, and if it's obvious that your Clients are not having fun, do something fun with them, even if just for a few minutes. Take a short break from those intense negotiations and do something unexpected and fun.

Who knows? By making things fun, you just might alter some otherwise interesting behaviors from others involved in the transaction.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

Recent San Diego Zoo renovations featuring young flamingos
Public art along San Diego's Embarcadero
A guide to Balboa Park in downtown San Diego
Hotel safety tips for those coming to the NAR Convention next month
Speechless Sunday: Need a costume for Halloween?
Need free tickets to the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park?
Mission Valley condos: If you spend too much time looking....
Before you pull the plug on Grandma....
Need a roommate for the NAR Convention next month?
Water conservation resources
News You Can't Use, Vol. II: What's your definition of financial ruin?
News You Can't Use: I don't want to be rich and famous....
A tour of Cancer Survivors Park in downtown San Diego
ATTENTION: Don't eat those pumpkin seeds!
Watch those square feet numbers!

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.

Trick or Treat Safety Tips!

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:14:36 -0500

Some great Halloween safety tips from Sharon Senger up in Seattle, Washington. With all the strange people running around lately, make sure your children are safe on Halloween, and at all times, really.

Via Sharon Senger (Sharon Senger & Associates, LLC Virtual Assistant Services):

Wondering what to send out in your newsletter for this month? Here are some safety tips for Halloween that you may want to include:

Always set rules for the night out and make sure each of your children understand them thoroughly.

Make sure children are accompanied by an adult (if very young) or are walking in groups of 4 or more.

Check all flashlight batteries before they leave and give them an extra set.

Set a return time, if possible give them a watch with an alarm on it set to that time.

Make sure that at least one child in the group has a cell phone for emergencies and it is fully charged.

Put reflective tape on their costumes, as many are dark.

Instruct them not to eat any candy until they have come home and you have been able to inspect it.

Make sure they know not to enter any house. They should only accept treats at the doorway.

Give them street boundaries for their route and drive it with them before they go out.

Instruct them to walk on the sidewalk at all times and to not cut across yards or take shortcuts.

Do not let them run. Yard props and darkness make it easy to trip and fall.

For small children, make sure they hold your hand at all times and walk to the front doors with them.

Dress in layers, temperatures can drop fast.

Make sure your children's costumes are not dragging on the ground, making it easy for them to trip and fall.

Carry bandages (for falls), umbrellas and a spare bag, in case one rips.

Have a save and fun Halloween.
I can do everything that an in-house assistant can do, except bring you your morning cup of tea!

SHARON SENGER

Real Estate Virtual Assistant

Specializing in Transaction Coordination | Marketing | Database Management

Sharon Senger & Associates, LLC | PO Box 1564 | Woodinville | WA 98072

Business: (206) 497 2826 |Email: Sharon@SharonSenger.com

www.TheBritishVirtualAssistant.com

Recent San Diego Zoo renovations featuring young flamingos

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:33:57 -0500

Now that the new Elephant Odyssey is open, the Zoo is renovating the old exhibit areas where the elephants and some other large animals were being kept.

The giraffes now have a larger exhibit area, and some rhinoceroses have moved in as well.

Towards the back of what was once called "Hoof Mesa" is a new Flamingo Lagoon.

The Flamingo Lagoon at the main entrance is one of the most visited areas of the Zoo because flamingos are pretty and fun to watch.

To have another Flamingo Lagoon halfway across the Zoo is nice. The new Flamingo Lagoon features eleven flamingos born earlier this year.

I had wondered where all the baby flamingos had taken off to.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

Public art along San Diego's Embarcadero
A guide to Balboa Park in downtown San Diego
Hotel safety tips for those coming to the NAR Convention next month
Speechless Sunday: Need a costume for Halloween?
Need free tickets to the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park?
Mission Valley condos: If you spend too much time looking....
Before you pull the plug on Grandma....
Need a roommate for the NAR Convention next month?
Water conservation resources
News You Can't Use, Vol. II: What's your definition of financial ruin?
News You Can't Use: I don't want to be rich and famous....
A tour of Cancer Survivors Park in downtown San Diego
ATTENTION: Don't eat those pumpkin seeds!
Watch those square feet numbers!
Controversies? Or building people and businesses?

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.

Public art along San Diego's Embarcadero

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:50:25 -0500

The San Diego Port Commission is in charge of just about everything related to the San Diego waterfront.

That means that the Port Commission gets to decide on what public art is appropriate along the waterfront.

Sometimes they hit a home run, other times they strike out.

I'll let you decide on the newest crop of public art that has shown up on the waterfront. If the slide show here doesn't work on your computer, simply click on "View All Images" to watch it at slide.com.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

A guide to Balboa Park in downtown San Diego
Hotel safety tips for those coming to the NAR Convention next month
Speechless Sunday: Need a costume for Halloween?
Need free tickets to the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park?
Mission Valley condos: If you spend too much time looking....
Before you pull the plug on Grandma....
Need a roommate for the NAR Convention next month?
Water conservation resources
News You Can't Use, Vol. II: What's your definition of financial ruin?
News You Can't Use: I don't want to be rich and famous....
A tour of Cancer Survivors Park in downtown San Diego
ATTENTION: Don't eat those pumpkin seeds!
Watch those square feet numbers!
Controversies? Or building people and businesses?
It's summer time!

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.

A guide to Balboa Park in downtown San Diego

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:15:41 -0500

Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in America and the second largest in North America behind Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia.

With over 1,200 acres, there's lots to do -- picnicking under the majestic eucalyptus trees, watching volleyball games on weekends, visiting museums, taking in a live performance, visiting the world-famous San Diego Zoo, and much, much more.

If you're going to spend some extra time sightseeing in San Diego, you can't go wrong with Balboa Park. The Park offers a Passport for $39/$21 (adults/children) that gets you into fourteen of the Park's Museums, a savings of over 50%:

Japanese Friendship Garden
Mingei International Museum
Museum of Photographic Arts
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
San Diego Air & Space Museum
SDAI- Museum of the Living Artist
San Diego Automotive Museum
Museum of San Diego History
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
San Diego Museum of Art
San Diego Museum of Man
San Diego Natural History Museum
San Diego Hall of Champions
Veterans Museum & Memorial Center

If you want to add the Zoo in, you can get a Zoo/Passport Combo for $65/$36 (adults/children). Note that many of the Museums are closed on Mondays, and some of the Museums offer free admission on Tuesdays.

For more information about Balboa Park, log on to balboapark.org. Meanwhile, here is all that Balboa Park has to offer. Not all events occur year-round.

Family friendly

San Diego Zoo-both an internationally recognized zoo and botanical garden
Butterfly ride at the Zoo
Carousel at the Zoo
Miniature railroad at the Zoo
El Prado walkway
Pepper Grove Playground and Picnic Area
Morley Field-golf, tennis, swimming, and more)
December Nights
International Summer Organ Festival
Twilight in the Park-free concerts under the stars
Summer camps
Balboa Park Tram

Gardens

Botanical Building
Japanese Friendship Garden
Alcazar Garden
Australian Garden
California Native Plant Garden
Casa del Rey Moro Garden
Desert Garden
Old Cactus Garden
Florida Canyon Native Plant Preserve
Marston House Garden
Palm Canyon
Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden
Trees for Health Garden
Veterans Memorial Garden
Zoro Garden
WorldBeat Center's Children's Ethnobotany Garden

Restaurants

The Prado at Balboa Park
Albert's Restaurant
Galileo Café
Time Out Café
Village Grill
Waters Café
Café in the Park
Lady Carolyn's Pub
The Tea Pavilion

Museums

Mingei International Museum
Museum of Photographic Arts
Museum of San Diego History
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
San Diego Aerospace Museum
San Diego Art Institute
San Diego Automotive Museum
San Diego Hall of Champions
San Diego Junior Theatre
San Diego Model Railroad Museum-the world's largest operating model railroad museum
San Diego Museum of Art
San Diego Museum of Man
San Diego Natural History Museum
Timken Museum of Art
Veterans Museum and Memorial Center

Cultural

Centro Cultural de la Raza
WorldBeat Center
House of Pacific Relations
Spanish Village Art Center
United Nations Building
American Indian Cultural Center and Museum

Theatre and performances

Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre
The Old Globe theatre
Spreckels Organ Pavilion-the world's largest outdoor organ.
Starlight Theatre at Starlight Bowl
San Diego Civic Youth Ballet
San Diego Youth Symphony

Miscellaneous

House of Hospitality
Marston House
Lawn bowling
Balboa Park Food and Wine School

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

Hotel safety tips for those coming to the NAR Convention next month
Speechless Sunday: Need a costume for Halloween?
Need free tickets to the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park?
Mission Valley condos: If you spend too much time looking....
Before you pull the plug on Grandma....
Need a roommate for the NAR Convention next month?
Water conservation resources
News You Can't Use, Vol. II: What's your definition of financial ruin?
News You Can't Use: I don't want to be rich and famous....
A tour of Cancer Survivors Park in downtown San Diego
ATTENTION: Don't eat those pumpkin seeds!
Watch those square feet numbers!
Controversies? Or building people and businesses?
It's summer time!
33rd Annual Fall Home Decorating & Remodeling Show coming up

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.

Hotel safety tips for those coming to the NAR Convention next month

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:22:47 -0500

Anytime one is in an unfamiliar location, especially an unfamiliar city and state, safety is a paramount concern.

Here are some safety hotel safety tips for those coming to the 2009 National Association of Realtors Convention here in San Diego next month:

Check-in clerks should write your room number down on your card-key sleeve or your room receipt but should never announce it to everyone within earshot. While I think this is standard practice now, if you get a newbie, or if you ask "What room am I in?", you might get a verbal answer. If so, it's prudent to ask for another room.
If you're traveling alone, ask the front desk or the concierge for an escort to your room, especially if it's very busy and the elevators are crowded.
Make sure that your purse and other valuables are secure on your person or in your luggage.
It's always best when out in public in an unknown area to be conservative in the type and amount of jewelry you wear.
If you're away from the convention facilities, take your name tag off. No need to let everyone who sees you on the street know that you're probably a tourist attending a convention.
Don't let anyone into your hotel room until you're absolutely sure who they are. If room service or housekeeping knocks, and you didn't order room service or housekeeping, call the front desk for verification.
Last summer there were reports throughout the nation of prank calls to hotel employees and guests reporting emergencies such as fires. If you don't hear a fire alarm -- and virtually all hotels have them -- hang up and call the front desk for confirmation.
As I tell my Clients when they move into their new homes, devise an plan for quickly and safely exiting the hotel in the event of an emergency. That means knowing where the emergency exits, stairs, elevators, and possibly even openable windows are. Have an outside meeting place for those in your room or group.
Keep your doors and windows locked, and drapes and blinds closed when you are not in the room. Before leaving, check bathroom windows, sliding glass doors, and adjacent room doors to be sure they are locked.
Lastly, keeping in mind the recent case of an ESPN reporter being videotaped through a peephole in her hotel room door, hang something over the peephole so that people can't see in.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

Speechless Sunday: Need a costume for Halloween?
Need free tickets to the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park?
Mission Valley condos: If you spend too much time looking....
Before you pull the plug on Grandma....
Need a roommate for the NAR Convention next month?
Water conservation resources
News You Can't Use, Vol. II: What's your definition of financial ruin?
News You Can't Use: I don't want to be rich and famous....
A tour of Cancer Survivors Park in downtown San Diego
ATTENTION: Don't eat those pumpkin seeds!
Watch those square feet numbers!
Controversies? Or building people and businesses?
It's summer time!
33rd Annual Fall Home Decorating & Remodeling Show coming up
Speechless Sunday: Sunset at the beach

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.

Speechless Sunday: Need a costume for Halloween?

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:42:31 -0500

Once again my dear old mom comes through for me in trying to help find a Halloween costume:

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

Need free tickets to the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park?
Mission Valley condos: If you spend too much time looking....
Before you pull the plug on Grandma....
Need a roommate for the NAR Convention next month?
Water conservation resources
News You Can't Use, Vol. II: What's your definition of financial ruin?
News You Can't Use: I don't want to be rich and famous....
A tour of Cancer Survivors Park in downtown San Diego
ATTENTION: Don't eat those pumpkin seeds!
Watch those square feet numbers!
Controversies? Or building people and businesses?
It's summer time!
33rd Annual Fall Home Decorating & Remodeling Show coming up
Speechless Sunday: Sunset at the beach
If this is in your front yard, call The Orkin Man (before Halloween)!

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.

2009 NAR San Diego Convention Schedule of Events

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:13:34 -0500

If you haven't seen the schedule of events for the 2009 NAR Convention next month in San Diego, here it is:

Wednesday, November 11
Habitat for Humanity volunteer build day
Thursday, November 12
Spouse and Guest Tours
Inaugural Celebration
Friday, November 13
Spouse and Guest Tours
Conference Sessions
Entrepreneurial Excellence Series with Dr. Daniel Shapiro
Realtors Expo Grand Opening
Saturday, November 14
Spouse and Guest Tours
Conference Sessions
Entrepreneurial Excellence Series with Paul Martinelli
Realtors Expo
General Session with Condoleeza Rice
International Night Out and Awards Ceremony
Sunday, November 15
Spouse and Guest Tours
Inspirational Program
Conference Sessions
Realtors Expo
Entrepreneurial Excellence Series with Tara Hunt
Realtors Celebrity Concert starring Reba McEntire
Monday, November 16
Spouse and Guest Tours
Conference Sessions
Realtors Expo
Entrepreneurial Excellence Series with Sugar Ray Leonard
Tuesday, November 17
Spouse and Guest Tours

More detailed information to come about the Convention, so stay tuned to the NAR 2009 Convention San DiegoGroup.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

Need free tickets to the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park?
Mission Valley condos: If you spend too much time looking....
Before you pull the plug on Grandma....
Need a roommate for the NAR Convention next month?
Water conservation resources
News You Can't Use, Vol. II: What's your definition of financial ruin?
News You Can't Use: I don't want to be rich and famous....
A tour of Cancer Survivors Park in downtown San Diego
ATTENTION: Don't eat those pumpkin seeds!
Watch those square feet numbers!
Controversies? Or building people and businesses?
It's summer time!
33rd Annual Fall Home Decorating & Remodeling Show coming up
Speechless Sunday: Sunset at the beach
If this is in your front yard, call The Orkin Man (before Halloween)!

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.

Need free tickets to the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park?

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:59:16 -0500

If you're coming to the 2009 Convention for the National Association of Realtors next month, Russel and I have various coupons available for both the Zoo and the Wild Animal Park.

The Zoo is not too far from the Convention Center, but the Wild Animal Park is about 30 miles north near Escondido.

Here is what we have available:

Two guest passes good for free entrance to the San Diego Zoo.
Two guest passes good for free entrance to the Wild Animal Park.
Four "2 for 1" tour coupons. Buy one adult ticket for the Bus Tour at the Zoo or the Journey into Africa Tour at the Wild Animal Park and receive a second ticket free.
Two coupons for $5 off an Adult Zoo Best Value ticket or $3 off a Child Zoo Best Value ticket. Best Value tickets online currently are $35 (12 or older) and $26 (3-11) and include unlimited use of the Guided Bus Tour, Express Bus, and Skyfari Aerial Tram.
Two coupons for $5 off an Adult Wild Animal Park Best Value ticket or $3 off a Child Wild Animal Park Best Value ticket. Best Value tickets online currently are $35 (12 or older) and $26 (3-11) and include unlimited use of the Journey Into Africa Tour and the Conservation Carousel.

I'm not going to make these first come, first serve because it's a weekend, so if you'd like to be considered for any of these tickets, let us know via a comment. On November 7 we'll put the names of all those who have interest into Zoey the Cool Cat's basket and have a drawing.

In order to be eligible for the drawing, you must not live in San Diego County because if you live in San Diego County, you should have an annual pass to the Zoo and Wild Animal Park to begin with!

We will also be visiting various tourist traps between now and the Convention to find those little booklets and magazines that have various discount coupons in them so that you don't have to. We'll let you know when we have them and you can just contact us for your tourist guide and coupons. Stay in tune with everything by checking the NAR 2009 Convention San Diego Group.

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

Mission Valley condos: If you spend too much time looking....
Before you pull the plug on Grandma....
Need a roommate for the NAR Convention next month?
Water conservation resources
News You Can't Use, Vol. II: What's your definition of financial ruin?
News You Can't Use: I don't want to be rich and famous....
A tour of Cancer Survivors Park in downtown San Diego
ATTENTION: Don't eat those pumpkin seeds!
Watch those square feet numbers!
Controversies? Or building people and businesses?
It's summer time!
33rd Annual Fall Home Decorating & Remodeling Show coming up
Speechless Sunday: Sunset at the beach
If this is in your front yard, call The Orkin Man (before Halloween)!
Want a piece of sports memorabilia?

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.

Whose House Are You Competing Against

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:58:07 -0500

This is a very good post by James Barath over in Indiana that has relevance in all other areas, too.

Via James K Barath, CMPS - Serving Northwest Indiana (Benchmark Mortgage):

When ever I have an opportunity to speak with Realtors throughout Northwest Indiana about real estate market trends, there is always confusion about the value of their listings relative to the competition. The first evidence that is always presented is the comparative market analysis that if done correctly addresses the direct competition. This direct competition is generally based on the style of home, age of the home, square feet, amenities and of course location.

Is this the only competition that impacts the saleability of a home? Absolutely not!

Here is a chart of the existing inventory of all single family homes in my local market identified as Porter County Indiana. I have not broken down the numbers based on price point, amenities or location. It should be noted that the growth of inventory shown above is another competitive force in the value of a home. Housing inventory has recently trended downward, but not enough to overcome the surge from earlier in the year.

What do you think will happen when the shadow inventory steps out of the shadow and onto your MLS? How about all those for sale by owners, non-MLS listed homes and direct builder sales? Don't those still have to be accounted for in the overall evaluation of a home's potential market value.

Another form of competition that is overlooked on a more routine basis is called substitute or indirect competition. A good example of this would be apartments, shared housing and extended family living. This is especially important if you are working with first time home buyers as they are more alert to these alternative options.

As a Certified Mortgage Planner and a valued member of your real estate team, Whose House Are You Competing Against?

Like what you see? Fantastic! I welcome your connection at any of these online communities.

Looking for more specific real estate and mortgage advice for Northwest Indiana and/or the greater Chicago land area please visit my Welcome Home NWI website at www.WelcomeHomeNWI.com.

ESTATE PLANNING FOR YOUR OTHER CHILDREN – YOUR PETS

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:53:14 -0500

If you have a pet but have not made plans for that pet should something extraordinarly bad happen, now's the time to do it. They deserve to be in our wills just like our property since they are much more than just property.

Via Sharon Richards (Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida):

I have been thinking about this for awhile but with the passing of 2 kitties - one this week and the other last Christmas, I am not ready to implement a plan for I am surviving my pets. So, what will happen when your pet survives you?   Do you have a plan? Do not assume you're good friend or relative will step up to the plate. This is an unwise assumption. This is the checklist I have come up with and maybe, you can add a few other pointers.

•1.       Designate someone to assume ownership

•2.       Keep in touch with this person to see if they are still willing

•3.       Authorize payments for food, veterinary care, grooming, etc.

•4.       Ask an attorney how to include language that will protect our pets in estate planning

•5.       Name a Trust Protector to oversee a pet's new owner and any funds set aside for the pets care

•6.       Carry a pet alert wallet card

The best news the SPCA Tampbay offers "The Pet Owner's Guide to Estate Planning for Pets" a pet alert wallet card and pet profile forms. To request any of the FREE materials call 727-581-3249 or visit www.spcatampabay.org

10 Commandments Home Buyers Must Follow

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:42:00 -0500

This comes to us from Dr. Chantal Saucier over in Louisiana. If you like it, click on the link to visit her blog and tell her so. Comments on her blog post here in my blog have been disabled.

Via Dr. Chantal Saucier (Keller Williams Realty Acadiana):

These 10 Commandments home buyers must follow may seem like common sense to many. Buyers, however, can sometimes forget with all the excitement surrounding the buying of their new home. In the past couple of weeks, I have heard of two separate buyers who saw their home loan turned down, and their dream shattered, a few days before closing because they had bought furniture for their new home before it actually became their home. Both of them now have beautiful furniture with no home to put them in.

These two buyers were not my clients but it always hurts when I hear of transactions falling apart for reasons that could have been avoided. These 10 commandments are part of the buyer packet I give all my clients when we first meet and I always stress that once they get pre-approved and the process is started, they can't do anything that might affect their credit.

1. Thou shalt not change jobs, become self-employed or quit your job.

2. Thou shalt not buy a car, truck or van (or you may be living in it)!

3. Thou shalt not use credit cards excessively or let your accounts fall behind.

4. Thou shalt not spend money you have set aside for closing.

5. Thou shalt not omit debts or liabilities from your loan application.

6. Thou shalt not buy furniture.

7. Thou shalt not originate any inquiries into your credit.

8. Thou shalt not make large deposits without first checking with your loan officer.

9. Thou shalt not change bank accounts.

10. Thou shalt not co-sign a loan for anyone.

If you are in the process of buying a home, remember that your credit must not change or be affected in any way until you actually sign the paperwork and get possession of your new home. Lenders will not only look into your credit when you first get pre-approved, they will check it again (and sometimes again and again) before they let you sign the mortgage. If you want to buy new furniture for your home or change jobs, just be patient. There will always be time to do it after the closing.

The days are getting shorter.....

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:54:34 -0500

....and that means that we start lighting up our homes earlier and earlier.

The time between Halloween and New Year's Day also happens to be the time of the year when a great many home fires occur since it's also the heating season and a lot of cooking gets done for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and those New Year's Day football games.

The National Fire Protection Association ranks cooking as the #1 cause of home fires, which surprised me since I don't cook. I knew that cigarettes, candles, heating equipment, and extension cords were high on the list. Let's take a look at cooking, though, and what we can do to prevent cooking fires:

A major cause is simply the lack of cleanliness. Not only can a heavy accumulation of grease catch on fire, but it creates a health hazard since all sorts of bacteria and other micro-organisms live in the grease. Clean the air filter on your kitchen vent hood, as well as the surfaces of your stove, microwave, and nearby cabinets, drawers, and countertops.
Don't wear clothes with loose-fitting sleeves, or roll the sleeves up when cooking, especially with an open-flame gas appliance.
Paper towels, hot pads, towels, and curtains at that kitchen window should be kept well away from hot surfaces such as the countertop toaster oven.
San Diego Gas & Electric recommends having all gas-using appliances inspected annually to help prevent gas leaks or other problems during this time of heavier-than-normal usage.
Many people install microwaves above the stove and below the cabinet. Sometimes, though, it doesn't leave enough clearance between the bottom of the microwave and the top of the burners, causing heat damage to the bottom of the microwave and forcing you to reach over hot pots or burners to get to those rear burners. If you don't think you have enough clearance, you probably don't. Move the microwave, get a different microwave, or have the microwave raised.
If a fire starts in your microwave, do not open the door. Instead, unplug the microwave and the fire should go out on its own due to lack of oxygen. Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher in your kitchen that is ready to use, and call the fire department if there is any doubt whatsoever. It is better to call back and cancel the alarm rather than call too late.
The same goes for a fire in your oven. Keep the door closed and turn off the oven off.
If you have a grease fire in a pot or pan, you can usually snuff it out by carefully sliding a lid over the pan. Make sure you turn the burner off and resist moving the pot or pan to the sink. Just leave it alone until the pan cools. Baking soda is also a great way to suff out a grease fire. Whatever you do, never, ever throw water on a grease fire because the grease will splatter and possibly cause the fire to spread.

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If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

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Mission Valley condos: If you spend too much time looking....

Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor (Century 21 Award) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:41:08 -0500

There was a top-floor, ocean- and golf course-view condominium in Mission Valley that came on the market a couple of months ago.

My Buyers fell in love with it but told me, "We want to look around some more" even though it was exactly what they told me they were looking for, and the price was right -- more than right actually.

Unfortunately, top floor condominiums with ocean- and golf course-views in Mission Valley that are priced right -- or wrong! -- don't stay on the market for any length of time, and this one didn't either.

Late that night I noticed that the MLS had been changed from ACTIVE to PENDING. Ooops. Now I had to send that heart-wrenching email to my Clients telling them. They were so heart-broken that they quit looking for a new home.

Remember that I told you these top-floor condominiums with ocean- and golf-course-views in Mission Valley don't come along very often.

The unit they were looking at has fallen out of escrow and is back on the market. I guess you know that I already sent my Clients an email.....

AND GOT A POSITIVE REPONSE!

**********

If you're looking for a great condominium in Mission Valley,
the heart and soul of San Diego, please give me a call.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

**********

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

**********

15 recent blog posts:

Join me in the following ActiveRain Groups:

Out and About - Share specific events, places, and things to do with your target audience.
NAR 2009 Convention San Diego - Coming to the Convention in November? Check in here.
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics - Marketing that requires mostly ingenuity, creativity, time, and energy.
Inspired By Nature - Where you can come to relax among Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora.
Classical Music - Share classical music events with your target audience.
Active Rain Book Club - A great place to find information on books of all genres.