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real estate: Build Relationships -- Talk to Your Client - 01/31/09 03:37 PM
Many agents today are looking for ways to differentiate themselves from the competition. I know some have come up with catchy slogans, spent thousands on glossy magazine ads, walked many miles knocking on doors, etc. I'm here to tell you those things work the agents have received a decent return on their investment and I encourage them to keep doing it. However none of those things will retain a client. Those things are your foot in the door. In order to stay in the house you have to develop a relationship and a big part of any relationship is communication (just … (2 comments)
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real estate: A New Year – Fresh Start, New Outlook - 01/01/09 02:13 PM
I have to admit it; these past few months have been very trying. The house values are tumbling, foreclosures are rising, more and more people are losing their jobs -- the picture is bleak. I have let it get to me. I lost my drive, I stopped posting to my blogs, I stopped prospecting, I haven't taken floor duty, and more than once I thought about giving up my license.
My mind went "out of business." I was tired of hearing the ads stating "it's a great time to buy a home." Even though it is a great time to buy … (5 comments)
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real estate: Lake Idamere Park -- A Hidden Gem - 08/12/08 08:55 AM
Located at 12335 County Road 448 just on the shores of Lake Idamere sits a boundless playground and dog park. The 43-acre lakeside park was officially opened in December 2006.
I only discovered this park during the summer of 2007 when a friend set up a play date for our children. I have to say I was impressed the first time I went and we have been back often. Last year when we first went there was an issue that the only restroom facilities were port-a-potties. I am happy to report I discovered restroom facilities had been added when we visited … (5 comments)
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real estate: Going Green; Our Parents Are Trendy? - 07/30/08 06:51 AM
I was having a conversation with a friend the other night lamenting the ever increasing prices of groceries. As we delved into the various steps we had been taking to save a few pennies here and there we got onto the topic of the latest trend of "Going Green."
We both have been a little more vigilant about turning off the lights when not in use, pushing the A/C up a degree or two and impressing upon our children the need to not be wasteful. We have grouped errands together to conserve gas and we spend a little more time at … (3 comments)
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real estate: Back to School! and how it compares to house hunting - 07/29/08 02:01 PM
Was that a collective groan I heard? Do you remember a few short months ago when you wondered what you were going to do all summer? The end is near...
Lake County Florida School is back in session August 18, 2008.
It is time to go hunting for those incredible deals on school supplies. This is my children's favorite part of back to school. (That is until I inform them that they do not need a new backpack, pencil box, lunch box, or pair of scissors because last year's is still perfectly good. - there are needs and there are wants.)
… (0 comments)
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real estate: Hello, You didn't return my phone call to show your listing! - 07/29/08 08:11 AM
As I was setting appointments to show homes the other day I had to leave messages on several agents' voicemails. No big deal as most returned my call within 30 minutes and got the appointment set. However one agent didn't return my phone call.
Normally I would have persistently called him back until he responded. However I had pulled the listing for my clients several days prior and in the time between me pulling it for them and them deciding to look at it, the listing had expired. I made the assumption that this agent may have lost the listing and … (9 comments)
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real estate: I've been away... - 07/28/08 05:12 PM
It seems like an eternity ago I put off writing and commenting on Active Rain. I found myself spending a lot of time here and as luck would have it I ended up taking on some new clients and a couple other obligations. Something had to give.
I've checked in regularly and have been reading others' posts without comment. Did you know Active Rain is a great place to research issues related to real estate? In working with my most recent clients I used several tips regarding FHA loans, short sales and bank owned properties. I successfully closed the transaction and … (8 comments)
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real estate: Why I have decided not to preview properties for my clients - 06/19/08 10:18 PM
I have always been an advocate of previewing properties prior to having my clients tour them. However I believe I am going to stop this practice. (And it has nothing to do with gas prices!)
Let me explain why...
Three times over the past year I have worked with buyers who were very specific in their wish lists for their new home. I had extensive conversations with them regarding the style, location, size and price of their dream home.
Each time I took them to tour homes I had narrowed the lists down very efficiently by previewing homes. Although each tour … (5 comments)
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real estate: Active Rain, Outside Blogs and Content - 06/13/08 01:13 PM
Am I here for the consumer or other professionals?
I joined Active Rain a few months ago. And it wasn't long (about one week) before I realized that creating a blog was going to be in my best interest.
I started my blog here on Active Rain with the consumer in mind but as I posted I began to feel I wasn't getting it. I was reading posts about SEO, market opinions and photography yet I was contributing posts about Eustis, listings, and Faith Lutheran's golf tournament. These posts, albeit important to the consumer, were contributing nothing to the real estate professionals … (13 comments)
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real estate: Who do you write your MLS descriptions for? - 06/05/08 10:15 PM
When I worked for a Realtor® as a listing manager about fifteen years ago things were a little different. Home searches were not done on the internet. As a matter of fact it was at the end of my tenure there when the national franchise developed a web search for properties. It was not met with open arms; agents grudgingly submitted their listings, usually at the prompting of their client.
One aspect of my job entailed writing all the ad copy for each listing. The Realtor I worked for would write the MLS descriptions but I was responsible for the flyers … (8 comments)
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real estate: Holy H E Double Hockey Sticks: I've been MeMe'd! - 06/04/08 03:38 PM
I'm going to forgive Teresa Berry for not realizing that this is recital week, the last week of school and the week of other endless deadlines.
Despite these entire goings ons I have been MeMe'd. I can't tell you my first thoughts when I received the tag.
Suffice it to say they weren't entirely pure.
So here goes. I apologize at the outset for the nothing fancy bare bones post but if you go back to the first paragraph you will understand.
Who is my favorite musical artist? It's always nice to start out with an easy one... I'm … (3 comments)
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real estate: My Secret Hobby -- The MLS - 05/20/08 12:08 PM
I love reading through MLS listings. Not only do I get a feel for the area inventory and pricing I get a pretty good laugh out of this practice. Here are some of this week's favorite MLS property descriptions.
•1. $2500 flooring allowance, $5000 landscaping allowance, seller will look at any reasonable offer - motivated. I never would have known this seller was motivated without the agent telling me this. I also have to wonder on a ¼ acre lot where is that $5000 going?
•2. Three bedroom/ really 2 - seller will add closet if buyer desires. I don't know … (46 comments)
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real estate: Sure I'll help you out... and expect nothing in return - 05/07/08 04:11 PM
I do many things as a professional real estate agent for which I am never compensated. And you know what, I am not complaining.
I love talking real estate. (Actually, I love talking and real estate just happens to a subject everybody is interested in right now.)
That being said, I can't count the number of times I have been asked for my professional opinion and then left to wonder.
For instance, last summer I spent several afternoons working with a couple who were relocating to the area. Somewhere along the line they found a home for lease purchase on their own. It … (0 comments)
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real estate: Now we can blame the appraiser... - 04/13/08 05:12 PM
This morning's Orlando Sentinel has a front page, above the fold article titled
"Did Appraisers Juice The Market?"
You can read the full article for yourself: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/realestate/orl-appraise1308apr13,0,7462240.story
A highlight to the story is a guy who purchased a condo and later checked the public records. He found out his new condo was over 200 sqft. smaller than the appraisal stated. Now I sympathize but I have to ask, "Why not verify the square footage before you close?"
The second situation mentioned is an appraisal done long-distance. Now this appraiser should be drawn and quartered. What he did was blatantly wrong and he knows it, yet … (6 comments)
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JoEllen Stranger-Thorsen, Lake County, FL
Eustis,
FL
More about me…
Catherine Hanson Real Estate, Inc.
Cell Phone: (321) 228-7676
Email Me
Northeast Lake County Real Estate Information including market conditions, homes for sale, buyers and sellers guides, local interests and events in Eustis, Mount Dora, Tavares, Howey-in-the-Hills, Sorrento, Astatula and Mount Plymouth
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