Richmond, Virginia Homes, Real Estate & Property Management Blog

Zillow.com Joins Forces with Newspapers; Richmond Times-Dispatch is One of the First.

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:53:58 -0500

Zillow - heard of it?

If not, you're definitely still in the stone age when it comes to advertising your listings on the Internet. You should already know that according to NAR (http://www.realtor.org/library/library/fg006) 81% of buyers are using the Internet to search for homes (and that number has been and will be increasing every year), and the more we know about how our prospects are finding us and real estate, the better off we will be. However, if you still use the "old way" of advertising your listings in the real estate or classified section of the newspaper, Zillow has a new deal for you.

Zillow.com has teamed-up with some 280 newspapers throughout the U.S. Their goal: to add features that allow the ads of agents in local newspapers to be listed as "featured" real estate listings on Zillow.com. Lloyd Frink, president of Zillow, says "reading the weekend real estate section is a ritual that many enjoy and to brokers and agents, the paper is a core marketing tool. Now, the process of real estate discovery will be further integrated into the online world." Partnerships like this, between Zillow.com and local newspapers, will allow home searchers to see more available properties in their local market.

What's interesting is that Richmond, Virginia is one of the few "pilot" markets and the Richmond Times-Dispatch will be one of the first local newspapers to introduce the listing ability to its customers. Other markets include the Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News.

For the complete article referenced above, please follow this link to EditorandPublisher.com: http://www..editoriandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/ad_circ/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=10033820070

Richmond Makes the Short List for Home Bargains

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:24:33 -0600

It's a great time to live in Richmond!

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Richmond is among the top 10 metropolitan areas in the U.S. to find a real estate bargain. According to Realtor.org and Forbes, these metropolitan areas are "...markets where the damage from risky lending hasn't been as dramatic as in some parts of the country and where employment growth will burn off an over-abundance of inventory quickly." With Richmond's growing inventory of unsold homes, Richmonders who are trying to sell are having to price their homes more competitively. Since rates low and there is plenty of inventory to choose from, this recipe makes for a great time to buy real estate in Richmond, Virginia. Many Richmond home-sellers are offering concessions and flexible closing dates for buyers. Sellers need to understand that this is a trade-off; they're having to sell for less, and they'll buy for less, too.

Richmond's job market is strong and its job growth has helped stave off potential pitfalls in the housing market.

Of course, where there' smoke, there is fire. Richmond is no different that any other city in the U.S. - it has its fair share of recent foreclosures. However, according to Realtor.org and Forbes, "there is only one foreclosure per 1,103 households [in Richmond] (compared to 1 in 33 in Detroit)."

Did I mention it's a great time to live in Richmond?

For the complete article referenced above, please follow this link to Realtor.org

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008021101?OpenDocument

Stovetop Fires - How to Prevent a Loss

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:14:32 -0600

"Property Management".

What's the first thing you think of when you hear those words? For you veteran property managers, investors or principal brokers, it ought to be RISK, or, better yet, RISK MANAGEMENT. And, as property managers, investors or principal brokers, I am sure you will agree that we need to limit the amount of risk that we and our clients realize. One of the easiest (and cost-effective) ways to do this is to install and encourage the installation of StoveTop FireStop cannisters in all of your properties.

Several months ago, my property management company changed insurance companies. We had been with our previous company since "God made dirt" and another local property management company referred us to a new insurance company that specifically focuses on the apartment niche. So, when we changed insurance providers, this new provider sent one of their agents to our property for a risk assessment. One of the suggestions that this risk assessor made was for us to install the StoveTop FireStop in every apartment.

How can StoveTop FireStop limit your risk as a property manager, investor or principal broker?

Let's say that one of your tenants leaves something heating on the stove surface and it catches on fire. When flames on the stove top reach the device installed above each pair of burners, an extinguishing agent is released. Please note that this product is not intended for fires caused by deep-fat frying.

The damage from a stovetop fire can cost thousands of dollars to repair. Stovetop fires are a leading cause to, large, uncontrollable house fires, and, without question, a key factor in the upward spiral in the cost of insurance premiums. In addition, stovetop fires are probably the most difficult to control of all types of residential fires. By installing Stovetop Firestop in your investment properties and encouraging your clients to use them in their properties, these small canisters can can ultimately prevent a disasterous nightmare.

The StoveTop FireStop system is:

Automatic

No risking your safety by fumbling with a fire extinguisher as flames race higher. StoveTop FireStop works automatically 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Effective

Senses a fire and releases its smothering agent onto the flames without putting yourself or your family in harm's way by having to operate a fire extinguisher.

Inexpensive

Other systems that perform similarly to StoveTop FireStop cost hundreds of dollars to install and require regular maintenance.

Maintenance-free

Requires no maintenance. Simply replace every five years.

Safe

Uses harmless but effective bicarbonate of soda as a smothering agent.

Easily installed

Simply attach the magnet to the underside of your vent hood.

Alerts

Emits a 146dB sound upon releasing the smothering agent.

A set costs around $50 and has a 5-year shelf life.

Help reduce your RISK. Visit http://www.stovetopfirestop.com/ for more information.

Here are some testimonials of property managers who have used StoveTop FireStop from Louisville Fire & Safety.