JT Prevatte - Thinking Fayetteville, NC? Think JT!

Thinking of giving an allowance to a buyer when listing your home?

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:40:39 -0500

At ERA Strother Real Estate in Fayetteville, NC we are very proactive in the training of our agents. Today we had a two hour block of training on the subject of appraisals presented by Dennis Chew, Appraiser.

Dennis was very thourough in his coverage of the subject and it's apparent that he has been conducting appraisals for quite some time and has quite a vast knowledge of the subject. The subject matter was put forth in a very straightforward manner that was both entertaining and educational.

One of the subjects he spoke of was that of "allowances" often made by seller's when listing a property for sale. For those not familiar with this term it refers to things such as carpet allowance or painting allowance, where the seller is not going to actually be the one making the repairs, yet allows the buyer some monies, recorded on the HUD statement, for the repairs.

In essence, the allowance actually lowers the bottom line of the total due on the house, not often does a buyer actually recieve cash money for the repairs. Everything given to the buyer must be recorded on the HUD statement for legalities.

The essence of the talk involving the allowances was in reference to how it effects appraisals.

Dennis explained it like this: Even if a seller allows a buyer an allowance of money to make a repair, the appraiser can still deduct for the item that needs repair, thus the seller is basically losing twice. For instance: the house needs new carpet. The seller offers a $2,500 allowance for the carpet to be replaced. The buyer is going to see a credit on the HUD statement that shows the total credits to them went up $2,500 and the seller was debited it. No cash money will actually change hands in this situation.

Next, the appraiser arrives at the home to gather the information for the appraisal process to be completed. The appraiser notes the carpet that needs to be replaced and, unfortunately in this situation, the appraiser subtracts from the value of the house the amount that he consider the carpet will cost to be replaced.

Now, if it had been written into the sales contract that the carpet would be replaced before closing, the situation could have turned out different. The seller may very well have spent $2,500 for the carpet to be installed, but the appraiser would not have shown that subtraction on the appraisal. There would have been a "re-inspection" fee from the appraiser but not the big loss of value because the appraiser considered the carpet that needed to be repaired.

If the seller elects to not replace the carpet and only offer the allowance, the seller could very well be giving up the $2,500 to the buyer as a credit and losing a monetary amount on the appraisal due to the appraiser noticing the bad carpet.

Something to think about, definetely. If you are going to sell a house, don't lose twice. Be sure and talk with a real estate professional, such as myself, in regards to the options available before making any quick decisions. Being able to counsel sellers in matters such as these requires a knowledgable real estate representative.

New listing - 119 Windsor Lane, Raeford, NC 28376

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:34:24 -0500

Just Listed	$139,500


I wanted you to be one of the first to know that one of my latest listings has just been added to ERA.com. I felt like you would enjoy seeing this listing in detail. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to find out more information about this listing or other similar listings. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Countrywalk Subdivision - Hoke County
119 Windsor Lane
Raeford , NC 28376

Description:
3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom with formal dining room that features real hardwoods stained in a dark finish. Huge unfinished bonus room upstairs with additional storage. In the family room there is a fireplace complete with remote controlled gas logs and ceiling fans are located throughout the home. Many upgrades have been completed, most appliances new, dishwasher, range, microwave stay as gifts. Outside storage building custom built by Home Depot and ready to be wired for electricity and is well placed in the spacious backyard. Come enjoy watching the sun set or rise from the beautiful, oversize deck. Many upgrades completed to this home and the love for it really shows. Do not wait, this home will not last long! Call JT today to see this home @ 494-5570 (119W)

Click here for more information on this listing

"JT" Prevatte
ERA Strother Real Estate
2931 Breezewood Avenue Suite 200
Fayetteville, NC 28303
Cell: (910) 494-5570
Office: (910) 864-2325
Fax: (910) 323-1198
MyNewNCHome@gmail.com
http://www.erastrother.com

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ERA Real Estate - Striving to serve the WHOLE family!

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:47:46 -0500

ERA Real Estate is on the leading edge of the real estate business. In an effort to serve our clients well we understand that everyone in the family needs to be remembered.

ERA Real Estate now introduces ERA KIDS!

An area that is specifically designed to cater the the little ones during the home buying process. With activities such as coloring, connect the dots, and printable stickers, ERA Real Estate has not forgotten the little ones during such a busy time in thier parents lives.

Go ahead, visit my website, www.MyNewNCHome.com and you will see a link for the ERA Kids page, give it a try!

ERA - on the cutting edge of real estate! ERA Strother Real Estate proudly serves those who serve our country covering the Fayetteville, Ft. Bragg and Hope Mills areas of NC.

ERA.com Mobile - Search for homes on your cell phone!

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:34:09 -0500

Never seem to have time to sit down in front of the computer but still wanting to search for a new home? Trying to get your non-ERA real estate agent on the telephone but no one will answer leaving you unable to search for a new home?

Well, not anymore. ERA Strother Real Estate along with ERA.com have made it easier than ever to search for that new home that you have been looking for.

Introducing ERA.com Mobile.

Now by simply entering www.ERA.com in the browser of your cellular phone you can search all of the homes that are currently on the market in any area that ERA Real Estate serves.

Once your mobile browser lands on www.ERA.com, simply enter the city that you are interested in and the state and in just a second you will be shown the listings for that area.

Interested in a demonstration of the service? No problem!

Follow this link: http://www.era.com/eramobiledemo/xhtmlbrowser/index.html

ERA Strother Real Estate....serving the needs of the Fayetteville, Ft. Bragg, Hope Mills areas of NC.

A new brand for the MyNewNCHome Team!

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:55:15 -0500

The MyNewNCHome Team is making some changes! In an effort to always serve our clients with the best possible real estate services, the MyNewNCHome Team is making a change in the company they affiliate with.

Starting Monday, July 7, 2008, the MyNewNCHome Team will begin a new affiliation with ERA Strother Real Estate in Fayetteville, NC. Our new home will be located at 2931 Breezewood Avenue, Fayetteville, NC 28303. The MyNewNCHome Team can still be reached at the same number as before and our website address will remain the same.

In order to bring our clients the latest and most convienent real estate services, it was time for a change!

Have a real estate need? Contact the MyNewNCHome Team today and let us show you how easy working with the MyNewNCHome Team and ERA Strother real estate can be!

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We proudly serve the Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Harnett, Moore, Spring Lake and surrounding areas.

Home Inspection Services - 10 ways to help your home inspector during the inspection

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:25:27 -0500

Top 10 ways to help out your inspector

Confirm with your Realtor ® that the utilities are on and pilot lights are burning.
Make sure the inspector has access to any keys, alarm or entrance codes.
Tell the inspector about any areas of concern or things that you may be "worried" about.
Make certain to give accurate information during the ordering process. Receiving your report on our web site is easy unless the supplied email address for you is incorrect.
Read the Inspection Agreement carefully. Misconceptions about what the inspector will, and won't do can often be taken care of by just reading this agreement. Also be certain to sign this, while you are with your agent, or just ask your agent to sign it.
Allow yourself a little time to look at the inspector's web site. As a home Buyer, and inspection Client, you will be better informed, more knowledgeable and this tends to enhance your overall satisfaction with the inspection process
If you have directions or comments on how to find the home, tell the inspector. Even he has a hard time finding an address every now and then!
If you choose to attend the inspection, ensure that children and pets won't hinder the inspection. It takes a great deal of focus, and concentration to professionally inspect a home; help the inspector by letting him do his job. Also, tell inspector about animals to be kept outside.
Although the inspector is happy to print your report on-site, if you are short on time, or just want to "save the trees" just check your email that evening! The entire report will be at your fingertips in seconds for you to print or view as many times as you would like, for as long as you wish.
Know ahead of time who should receive a copy of the report. If you want any assistance from the seller on repairs, inevitably your agent, the sellers' agent, and even the seller will want to see your documented fin dings.. If you inform the inspector of whom should receive the report, he can do that in a few seconds. This saves A LOT of faxes, paper, phone calls and wasted time for everyone. But, if you choose to not let anyone see the report but you, that's OK too! Just remember to tell the inspector.

Take these actions and your home inspection will go faster and will result in a cleaner inspection report!

HomeCheck Home Inspection Service - Fayetteville, NC

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:14:52 -0500

Imagine your first home purchase, your next home purchase or you last home purchase. What an exciting time, a time of anticipation and stress. A time of worry and intense dreams. You want the process to go as smoothly as possible and the closing to come quickly and painlessly.

What could possibly go wrong?

Believe it or not...a lot of things. Something going wrong is the last thing the seller and especially the buyer wants to happen, especially if there are short time lines on either side for the move.

What can be done to find the problems before they become major issues? That's right...a home inspection. I always suggest a home inspection be done by a seller of a home prior to listing a home to discover any problems that might possibly cause the transfer of the property to be delayed.

One of the companies I use is HomeCheck Home Inspection. HomeCheck home inspection has a reputation, at least locally, of being one of the best home inspection companies.

With thorough reports which include pictures and descriptions of any problems found, the home owner and buyer can be assured of the condition of the home that they are buying or selling.

In today's world, buying a home without a home inspection is a risky endeavor. You just never know what problems you may be buying without employing the services of a home inspection service. The cost is negligible, usually no more than $300 in my area, and can be worth much more than that if major problems are found with the home that you are on track to purchase.

Need more information about home inspection services? Contact the MyNewNCHome Team today!

Hope Mills Lake, Hope Mills, NC - It won't be long now!!!

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:45:21 -0500

The dam is about finished and the water is starting to pool! Soon, the Town of Hope Mills, NC will have the cherished lake that the town was named after to enjoy once again! This event has been long awaited by the residents of Hope Mills, NC and the surrounding areas. It's been a long time since the sun has set on the beauty of Hope Mills Lake.

Five years ago on Memorial Day 2003, a sudden and very heavy rainstorm centered itself over the Fayetteville, NC and Hope Mills, NC areas. The storm dropped a deluge of rain resulting in the eventual demise of the earthen dam that once held back the water of Hope Mills Lake.

The new dam is quite a concrete creation. With the bill totaling around $9.8 million dollars, the Town of Hope Mills has began filling the lake and everyone that remembers what it was before is waiting in anticipation. During the dry time, many trees and bushes have sprouted in the lake bed causing the Town of Hope Mills to send in cleanup crews to cut down the trees and get the lake bed ready for refilling.

The new dam is 750 feet in total length and was created in a zig-zag pattern. This dam is 600 feet longer than the old one to meet the new regulations in holding back the massive amount of water.

When completed, the dam will be named in the honor of former Hope Mills, NC Mayor John Henley.

If everything goes as planned the lake is scheduled to be filled by August 2008 and town officeials plan an October dedication ceremony of the new dam.

For those that remember the former swimming area, it is being increased in size along with adding paddle boats and kayaking.

I was born in Fayetteville, NC...about 20 miles from Hope Mills, NC but I can remember the old Hope Mills Lake very well. The days of the 4th of July fishing tournaments, the water skiing and the "old swimming hole" are very fond. I for one look forward to the lake making a comeback and once again being a place of family enjoyment.

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The MyNewNCHome Team is proud to serve the Hope Mills, NC area of North Carolina and surrounding areas!

Keller Williams Realty of Fayetteville, NC gets new home!

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:14:56 -0500

Fayetteville, NC -The only Keller Williams Realty office located in Fayetteville, NC is moving to a new building. Moving from the original home where the Keller Williams office was started around four years ago, Keller Williams is making it's mark on the Fayetteville, NC real estate market.

The new and completely modern office is located at 639 Executive Place in Fayetteville, NC. While the office is not being moved far, just across the street so to speak, the agents are looking forward to getting settled in their new home. Much planning and hard work has gone into the creation of the new office.

Come experience the new office with it's beautiful ceramic tile floors, dark hardwood entries and spacious signing and children's entertainment rooms. The new office space brings all of the agents to a more centralized style with all the agents located on one floor instead of being split into two.

Not familiar with Keller Williams Realty of Fayetteville, NC? Be sure and stop by and say hello! Come see how Keller Williams of Fayetteville and the MyNewNCHome Team are growing to serve the Fayetteville area's real estate needs! This is the beginning of something great for the Fayetteville, NC community!

Activerain Designer...Look at all the colors..is it a good thing?

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:18:57 -0500

Apparently I am behind the times....

I read several blogs a day and have been noticing a new trend. That trend being blogs decorated using the new Activerain Blog Designer.

I, for one, tend to think my plain old basic blog background is just fine, maybe a little boring for some but it is what I want. Now I understand that some people change the backgrounds and use it for more advertising but, really, some of the designs people are coming up with are getting a little carried away.

I have clicked on a few blogs today and while the content was good and the blog was well written, the backgrounds and multiple clashing colors were actually distracting.

So my question is.....

Is the plain old black and white so bad...really? To me it is much easier on the eyes and has a professional appearance, after all...if something is working, why go and change a good thing?

Ok, ok.....my view is to each his own, but I challenge you to look at the "beautiful creation" that you have made from a consumers point of view and ask yourself..."is this helping or hurting my bloggin image?"

Happy blogging!

My baby boy has reached a milestone....turning 1 year old and what I have learned

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:51:44 -0500

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Jacob....Happy Birthday to you....

Well, on this date one year ago at 9:03 am I had just become a new father for the first time. I can still remember the events as if I were standing there right now.

Here we are, one year later. My son has changed so much and grown into a little boy, leaving the, what I call, "infant stage" behind. Now, yes, I am aware that he is reaching toddler and is no longer the little baby that he was, but you must understand, he is so independant, wanting to do everything himself and for himself.

So what have I learned you are asking....

1. I learned to never be afraid to smile at someone you do not know.

We, as adults, tend to grow into a creature that keeps to themselves and doesn't go out of our way to make a friend like we did when we were children. Sometimes something as simple as a smile can make a world of difference in someone's day. I mean really, have our lives become so mudane that we no longer want to associate with new friends?

2. I learned that a giggle, is EXACTLY how we shold approach life.

Now granted, my son being only 1 doesn't have really anything to worry about. His biggest worries are "when am I going to eat, can someone change my diaper, and someone give me a hug when life rears it's ugly head in a way I don't like". But, there are times when he looks at things around him and gives off a giggle, a giggle that takes the reality of life and turns it into something not so harsh.....maybe we all need to GIGGLE a little more....

3. Enjoy life and by the way, take a nap....

Everyday my son has fun. He really has no worries and my question is why do we. So what if we don't get that buyer or seller today, another one will be along pretty soon. The other thing my son does everyday is take several naps.....are you like me, are you exhausted most of the time? Guess what that means....yep, not enough rest. To preform at our best we must be rested and ready to go, so I encourage you....SLOW DOWN AND GET SOME REST....your business will benefit from it.

Super 8 MeMe...I have been officially tagged....

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:45:31 -0500

After getting done this morning in the weight room of my local YMCA and returning to the locker room, I did as I always do and checked my phone for any messages or missed calls. This morning was going as most mornings do as there was a missed call from an agent with a counter for an offer I submitted yesterday, a call from the wife, and a couple of email messages.

Upon opening my email, I encountered a message from a young lady in a city near me named Penny Hull that was informing me that I had been "officially" tagged with a MeMe in the ongoing Super 8 MeMe.

Let's just say I was confused. I have been here at ActiveRain for quite some time now and have heard about the MeMe's but had always "flown under the radar" so to speak. I really didn't even know what a MeMe was...believe it or not, I had to do some research...

So, without furthur a-do.....

Here is my submission to the Super 8 MeMe:

1. In what order do you place importance on things in life:

1. God (need I say anymore?)

2. Family (My wife and son and two furry sons...then the extended family)

3. My career.

2. What big events are coming up in your life?

My son, Jacob, is about to turn one! June 22nd will be his first birthday and I, as well as the rest of the family are very excited, although he is growing a little fast for my tastes. It has been an amazing ride over the past year. To see him change and grow and develop his personality, it is truly a blessing.

3. Have you met any famous people during your lifetime?

I have. I have met a few. I have met Kyle Petty, Robbie Knievel, and from the television show American Chopper, Paul Sr. and Paul Jr, Vinnie, Cody, and Rick and from my company, Joe Williams....you know of Keller Williams......oh...and I met, gosh, I cannot remember his first name, but he was one of the older Rockefellers....they owned land near Ft. Bragg and had a private retreat there.

4. What did I want to be when I grew up.

Interesting question....I am not sure I even have that answer today. I still have a picture I drew as a young child of me being a cop (funny thing is that my brother is a Sherriff's deputy, not me), I was a Firefighter/EMT for 18 years, ran my own business and now am a Realtor. I don't know that I have ever admitted to growing up, so I guess I cannot really answer this question in entirety.

5. What do you do to rid the stress of the job?

Oh...this is easy. There is absolutely nothing better than pulling my camper to Jordan Lake near Raleigh, NC and spending the weekend on a waterfront campsite. Nothing. The peace, the quiet, the water. That is the best, the second best....well, they are tied, I would say....is riding my 1999 Harley Davidson Superglide. Talk about stress relief. The world just goes away as you ride down the road and listen to the beautiful music, which is that Harley rumble.

6. Can you say that you enjoy what you do?

I can and do....OFTEN. I actually enjoy every facet of this profession. I am a people person of sorts, I like to figure out what makes people tick. Kinda of psycological, kind of psciological....

7. Do you owe credit to anyone in this business for being where you are today?

Yes. Several people. I owe it to the real estate agent who sold me my house 10 years ago. He did nothing for us...we basically did everything, he was a paper filer. I said to myself...if HE can do it ANYONE can do it. Interesting thing is that he is still in the business...wouldn't know me from Adam if I walked up and introduced myself...what a shame.

The other person I owe it to is Eric Anderson. When I came to Keller Williams we were going through a change and did not have a team leader...Eric stepped in and took the reigns...and what a marvolous job he did do. He was always there for that one piece of advice or word of encouragment whenever it was needed. He definetely made an impact on my career, rather he knows that or not.

AND FINALLY....

8. What is the best piece of advice you can give someone either just starting or working currently in this business?

NEVER GIVE UP and ANSWER YOUR PHONE!!!!!! Life is about challenges. The way that we handle those challenges determines our outcome. If you say you can't...you are absolutely right, you can't. When you have nothing in the "pipeline" so to speak, just hang on...your next one is right around the corner.

And remember.....Coencidence is just God's way of staying anonymous.......

Hope you enjoyed my MeMe and it has opend up a little about my world to you. Hey, it's a fun world I live in....come join me!

Now...8 victims....hmmmmm...let's see....who's next?

Wilmington NC Real Estate Ginger & Roger Sala Keller Williams - Real Estate Agent
Score: 148514
Wilmington, NC
Wilmington NC Real Estate Relocation Specialists serving Wilmington, Hampstead, Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, Carolina Beach, Surf City and Topsail Beach. Coast Home to North Carolina With Us!

Latonia Parks - Real Estate Agent
Score: 35330
Fayetteville, NC
Realtor/Broker servicing your needs in Fayetteville and all surrounding areas with special emphasis on Ft. Bragg and Pope AFB.

Ron Allen~Fayetteville NC real estate - Real Estate Agent
Score: 18946
Fayetteville, NC
Ron is a Fayetteville NC real estate agent specializing in residential sales. Search all area homes in the greater Fayetteville area at www.favoritehomefinder.com

Stu Barnes - Real Estate Agent
Score: 10616
Fuquay Varina, NC
I am the Broker/Owner of Barnes McQuade Realty and our Firm's policy is to list homes in the Raleigh/Cary area of NC for 3.5% Commission at a Full Service Level. The only thing discounted is rates.

Marvin Thomas - Loan Officer
Score: 8774
Fayetteville, NC
North Carolina Loan Orginator located in the Greater Fayetteville area. Specializing in CONV/VA/USDA/FHA, first time home buyers, creative financing.

Jennifer Castillo/Fayetteville/Fort Bragg NC - Real Estate Agent
Score: 8686
Fayetteville, NC
Serving the Fayetteville, Fort Bragg area. My Commitment to you will be to provide excellent services, be someone you can always count on to keep my word and exercise utmost care, integrity, honesty,

Shannon Stites - Real Estate Agent
Score: 7840
Seven Lakes, NC
My Personal Mission Statement: "to exceed your expectations and solve your real estate problems in a personal and professional manner"

Coastal Carolina Lifestyle Inc. - Real Estate Brokerage
Score: 6877
Holden Beach, NC
"Helping You Find Your Coastal Carolina Lifestyle" Buying or Selling in Brunswick & New Hanover & NOW Horry County South Carolina! Yes Myrtle Beach! I can help you buy or sell the Carolina Coast

There they are...the next 8 finalists in the, "Who got Super8 MeMe'd today" contest. Looking forward to reading what they have to say about themselves and things in their daily walk of life.

NorthCarolinaGasPrices.com

Fri, 30 May 2008 22:02:17 -0500

Here is an interesting site. It is a site where consumers, playing the part of "Watchdog", can report the lowest gas prices they find in the area they are in around NC.

With today's ever soaring gas prices, 24th day in a row that prices have risen, this site makes finding the cheapest source of gas possible without wasting that precious supply in your tank.

When you visit the site you can search for your area by zipcode and it will show you what has been entered and at what time of the day it was entered.

I can see these type sites gaining alot more traffic in the near future because of the state of the fuel prices.

When visiting the site, you will notice near the top on the right side that you can add a link of sorts to your site for this. I have added it to my site and figure it is just one more way of providing service to the community.

Go ahead...check it out, your gas tank depends on it.

Could you sell a home if.......there was no Internet?

Fri, 30 May 2008 21:27:56 -0500

I read a blog earlier that made my mind intriqued.

The blog was entitled, "If the internet went away, could you still sell a house?"

That is really an interesting question. I don't know about you but at least for me, on the buyer side of things, I depend on my website heavily for new leads. I do get sellers that inquire from it but as we all know, buyers are more apt to begin a search online than are sellers. Sellers are more touchy-feely kind of clients.

I am making a challenge to myself for the next week and I encourage you to do the same. Let's get back to the basics. I am going to do my best to pretend, although I am not going to abandon my current clietns or any major leads, that the Internet has dissappeared and get out there and do things....."old school" style.

This being a contact sport....I think it is time for a refresher.

Vehicle signage.....let's open our minds a little....

Wed, 28 May 2008 10:36:14 -0500

Ok....while reading another blog I ran across a comment that sparked some thoughts in my head. The blog was talking in reference to vehicle signs and using them or not.

While reading the comments I ran across this one:

I had magnetic signs when I first started in the business. An uninsured, unlicensed driver hit me on purpose with an unregistered car just to collect insurance money - and of course I got the ticket (I was more likely to pay.) That turned me off magnetic signs permanently.

I agree that they can help get your name out there, but what is the quality of the lead you are generating? Are they:

qualifed
committed to the process
loyal to you

Usually the answers are, in order, "No.", "No.", and "No!". I don't want to work with everyone - my specialty is luxury homes, and luxury homeowners do not drive around with notepads looking for people with magnetic signs on their cars so they can do business with them. Instead, they depend on their referral networks. Skip the signs, and the bumper stickers - get out there and meet people face to face.

05/28/2008 07:30 AM

by Real Living Signature Properties

Now the part that was really interesting to me was not the "somebody ran into me" part, rather the three questions that were posed about the quality of lead being generated by vehicle signage.

Now I do own magnets...but I think they spend as much time stuck to the side of my refrigerator as to my truck. I, too, have been down the road of vehicle signage.

I think as a new agent we are immediately inclined to go and spend a lot of money to plaster our faces and names on the side of our vehicles and I sometimes wonder if this is not an example of "ego marketing" as I like to call it. Do people really care who you are? Is the signage on the car going to make them call you to buy thier next house? Probably not. I can say that in the time that I have ran magnets and even the time when I had my vehicle's windows lettered....not once, NOT ONCE did I recieve a call from someone wanting to buy or sell. I did recieve a few others though...LOL.

I have long thought about this since a buyer once said to me...."some real estate people go to such extremes to letter their vehicles that it really makes them look desperate...not someone that I would call"...that stuck, that stuck hard. Thinking about it, I think the buyer was right, after all, who better to tell us what advertising works than the population we are trying to serve.

Like, I said, I do have magnets...I do put them on once in awhile...but funny as it seems, everytime I peel them off, business goes up!

Anyway, back to the response that I wrote this blog about. Read through the 3 questions that are posed in the response and ask them of your vehicle advertising. Is your advertising sending the message you would like? Is it time for a change?

Now...read the last line of the response again...commit it to memory. That is the most important line you will ever read when it comes to this business.

GET OUT THERE AND MEET PEOPLE! QUIT LETTING YOUR SIGNS TRY TO DO THE JOB. THIS IS A CONTACT SPORT! NEVER EVER FORGET THAT!!!!!

Stuck in a rut.....my own personal recession...

Wed, 28 May 2008 09:14:59 -0500

Recession. That is an ugly word. Unfortunately, it is one that we as a public are facing in today's times.

In my thoughts there are many different types of recessions. The one that most focus on is the one involving the economy...I guess you could say that my personal recession is affecting my personal economy...

2008 has started off pretty good. Had a buyer in the first part of Janurary close a home and has since referred several other buyers to me with those buyers making referrals as well. So times are not bad, I have done good business so far this year, ranking as one of the top 10 in my office in sales so far this year.

My recession lately has been with listings. Not a listing to be had in the past few months. Maybe it is due to the stream of buyers that have been coming my way hurting my marketing efforts, maybe it is the "comfort factor" kciking in....feast or famine, we do only what we have to in order to survive....I don't know.

I do know that we are in a pinch right now. What do I mean? I mean it is hard to be either a buyer's agent or a listing agent right now. Let me explain....

Buyer's agent: As we all know gas is rediculous! I joked with my mortgage team member the other day and told him I was going to have to come see him for a loan....he thougt I was talking about for a house...then I said I need to buy a tank of gas..LOL. You really MUST pre-qualify your buyers, both in mortgage terms and level of commitment, now to make sure your dollars are being invested, notice I did not say spent, wisely.

Seller's agent: Seller's are really having a hard time. I suggest to other agents in my office to complete a CMA on any property they have listed on a WEEKLY basis until things turn around. I can tell you that some of the buyers I have been having all have wanted to live in the same neighborhood for some reason. I will be closing on #3 in that neighborhood in June and possibly working on #4 - SO I KNOW THAT NEIGHBORHOOD and what the houses are appraising at. This has benefited my buyers twice....making offers that seem low, countering and then having the appraisal come back in the range I selected thereby resulting in the seller lowering the price. If the listing agents are not doing CONSTANT CMA's then they are not on top of what is happening in this area and the sellers are not going to be happy.

Anyway....I am back at my FSBO efforts hard and heavy as I see new signs popping up almost daily. So hopefully the recession, at least my personal one, will subside soon....but you can rest assured my CMA software will get a workout when it does.

Johnathan Washburn.....who is this guy anyway?

Wed, 28 May 2008 09:01:11 -0500

A big congratulations goes out to one of our favorite people here at ActiveRain!

Mr. Johnathan Washburn is featured in this months issue of Realtor magazine for being selected as one of the famous "30 under 30" in real estate. You can read a little about Johnathan on page 33 of this months issue.

Even though it is just a short piece, it is quite interesting to finally put a face and some history to one of the people who are responsible for making this "machine" what it is today!

In one part of the article it says that while Johnathan was in E-Commerce in the mid 90's....boy that sounds like a long time ago when you say it like that...they would write a new business plan everyday! What a feat that is alone...most in this and many other business have trouble writing one at all...let alone multiple times over.

Another interesting fact is that at the early age of 19 he founded a website called YNotOwn.com (Great name!) in direct relation to his father building spec-homes and having a hard time selling them. His father actually told him that if he could generate two or three leads a week, he would come work for him....well his dad got quite a surprise. His site was generating over 10 a week!

That's great for such an early time in Internet technology!

It really is an interesting read and I personally congratulate Johnathan for his efforts and accomplishments!

Keep up the good work!

Marketing to all parties involved....

Tue, 20 May 2008 22:04:34 -0500

Ok...I might hit a nerve with this one, but hey, do your job and you will have no problem...

I make it a common practice to market to my customers after a sale closes. Well, duh....doesn't everyone? NO, NO they don't.

So here is the meat of this blog. Do you ever market to the party that was represented by another agent in the transaction?

I do. Go ahead...complain all you want, but the odds are Mr. or Mrs. or even Ms. real estate agent, that you will NOT follow up with your representated party after the sale closes. In fact, most agents get paid and seem to "get gone".

This blog topic started from a phone call I recieved from a buyer that was not represented by me, as I was representing the seller. Now this deal closed last year, just to set the stage.

I put them on my newsletter list. That's it, no phone calls, no visits, nothing but a newsletter. Harmless in my opinion. BUT....the buyer called and because I missed the call and I guess people feel bold when they don't actually have to talk to a live person, left a message on my voicemail telling me how unprofessional I was and that I had better stop immediately and that there was no need to call him back...just do what he said. What? Sounds like he really wouldn't have said these things had I not missed the call.

So, how am I unprofessional?

Let me see....I have phone service through Time Warner Cable...does that means that Embarq is unprofessional because I am not their customer when they mail me advertisments?

I drive a Ford F-150 Supercrew....does this mean that when any other auto manufacturer mails me something that they are unprofessional?

Nope...not in my opinion. It means that they are indeed doing the job of marketing and progressing towards gaining a new customer.

Real Estate Professionals.....if you are not doing your job...I am going to be. Period. Please, don't be upset when I sell your past customer a property. And please.....please..don't call your past customer and have them call me and complain on your behalf....how weak.

Outlook 2007 and Eureaka Ware real estate add-in

Tue, 20 May 2008 21:47:57 -0500

Finally....

Finally Eureka ware's real estate add-in for Outlook is compatible with both Microsoft Vista and Outlook 2007. A feat that I was afraid they would not be able to complete. I have installed the trial version and it works very well.

Eureka ware's add-in is a cheaper alternative to the many high priced one time and monthly installments (see: make me go broke and hold my information hostage..LOL) contact relationship managers out there.

If you are accustomed to using Microsoft's suite of office products you will be able to use this with ease. It adds new fields to the contact records to cover buyers, sellers, listings, campaigns and other functions with ease.

I recommend that you take some time to learn about this add-in...visit http://www.eurekaware.com/ and see just what they have to offer!

Outlook 2007 - Mobile notifications....Cool!

Tue, 20 May 2008 21:30:48 -0500

Having recently acquired Outlook 2007, I am constantly amazed with the small improvements that Microsoft made over the previous versions.

Once you first start using Outlook 2007 you may feel a little overwhelmed but this is short lived. It really only take a few minutes to maybe a couple days of use to become familiar and comfortable with Outlook 2007. I was up and running shortly after first exploring the new program. Now I am not going to say that I don't find anything new from time to time....and that is the purpose of this blog, to maybe inform you of a new feature I found that is proving itself quite useful.

Outlook 2007 has incorporated some neat features for mobile devices. Sure, like all other previous copies, I have the ability to syncronize my Treo 650 with my Outlook making it's functionality unmatched by some competitors...most people don't realize the ability to syncronize a device is a MAJOR plus to any contact management program.

But....I found something that is REALLY COOL!

You can set Outlook 2007 to automatically, at a time you select, send your activities on your calendar to your phone via text message. Now while that might not sound like a huge thing...it is to me. Every night around 11pm, because I do tend to make changes throughout the night, my Outlook sends me a text message with the item and time due without fail.

How do I make my Outlook 2007 do this you may ask....simple!

Open your Outlook 2007. On the top toolbar click the TOOLS tab. On the dropdown menu click OPTIONS. At the bottom of the box that opens you will see an option for MOBILE. Click NOTIFICATIONS. Look in the middle of that option box and you will see REMINDERS AND CALENDAR SUMMARY. First, enter your mobile number in the box, click SEND NEXT DAY'S SCHEDULE TO MOBILE PHONE AT and enter a time at which you want it to be sent. Now remember, your computer must be working to make this happen. In other words, if it's a laptop it must be turned on and Outlook running. Clcik APPLY and the click OK.

Wa-La! Done.....give it a shot. Microsoft Outlook really can do a lot more than most people give it credit for and with a simple real estate add-on it can be a one stop shop for contact management.

I encourage you to explore your Outlook and if you are looking to upgrade or make a first-time purchase...I highly recommend Outlook 2007.

Oil and gas prices...what is going to stop this madness?

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:31:11 -0500

Well, we are here. Rediculous gas prices and getting worse almost daily and it seems that our government doesn't want to help us do anything about it.

I don't know about you but the current gas prices are affecting every part of the local economy around here and even though most don't want to admit it, they are hurting. The government is still denying that we are in a recession but the signs are everywhere. Spending is down, prices are up and people are struggling to survive.

I am an avid Craigslist fan. I peruse the pages of the local areas daily just to see what is out there. An insider's tip is that if you have the means to buy something you want, now is the time to do it. People are needing to liquidate items for the cash and the deals are there, BUT that is NOT the point of this blog.

The point is....people need help. Sure, most people got themselvess in the situation that they are in, there is no denying that. Years of using credit cards and living either at or beyond their means have made a recipe for disaster and that disaster is becoming a reality...QUICKLY.

But, putting that aside, we should come togther as a country and help one another instead of letting the "feast or famine" mentality take over.

Take for instance...oil prices. Here is a chart that shows the history of the price of a barrell of oil. Is the picture a little clearer now? Still think we are not either in, or rapidly heading towards a recession?

That red line is an ugly thing to look at.

We as consumers are being robbed by the gas stations and oil companies. They are all laughing all the way to the bank at the expense of our pocket books. And, of course this high price will land at the grocery store, department store, etc real soon too, so it's just not filling my gas tank - it's an entire trickle down effect. Maybe it's time the oil company executives and gas station owners start fearing facing some prison time for the activities they are participating in, robbing the people of this country and our economy.

We currently are in a credit crunch with all of the foreclosures out there because of all of the creative financing that was offered to individuals. Will we have another wave of foreclosures because people cannot afford to pay their mortgage and put gas in their tanks so they can go to work, put food on the table, clothes on their backs, etc? Eventually people will need to make choices - what or WHO is going to suffer?

It's time our government do something about this. If record profits are being made, then why do I have to be so broke because of the price at the pump and it's trickle down effect. It's time to put regulations on the oil companies and gas stations.

A mobile office? Yea, I thought about it, but this person did it!

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:50:30 -0500

Sometimes my mind wonders. Sometimes my unbridled imagination goes back to a care-free childhood state and just takes off and discovers new ideas and the possiblities of each.

With today's gas prices, I am working from home more often as are some other real estate professionals in my area. Driving into the office without a definite "something needing to be done" seems to be a waste of the precious and getting really expensive fuel.

Today is one of those days. Weatherman is calling for rain and nothing absolutely pressing on the schedule so, I decided to work from my home.

Having two large dogs in the house on a rainy day can become a work challenge to say the least. Not only that the constant "give me a treat or play with me" barks can really slow work. So after dropping my son off at Grandma's for the day I came back to the house and thought...."I can work in my travel trailer." Only made sense...I have power, a bathroom, water, comfortable seating, a television and a radio (for background noise) and the most important thing...piece and quiet.

Got me thinking. Has there been any mobile real estate agents? Not the ones who work from the car, but truly a mobile office. Self contained and able to host clients in comfort and effciently.

So off to the wonderful world of Google. A little searching did, in fact, turn up at least one agent out in the western part of the US that is doing just this. A completely mobile office setup.

Here is the information on her page about her "mobile office":

http://www.maryryan.com/mobile.htm

Here is a story written about her:

http://www.maryryan.com/kelly.htm

I did find this quite interesting and do see the possibilities, but is it feasible with today's high fuel prices?

I could definetely see the possibilities and the instant accesibility benefits to the client.

Think I will go and invite her to AR!

"You didn't see me".....

Wed, 07 May 2008 13:32:26 -0500

I know this is kind of off topic when it comes to real estate, but since I am "The Real Estate Biker" I felt it was an important reminder.

Every year come winter, motorcycles slowly dissapear from the roadways of our towns and cities not to reappear until the warmth of spring arrives.

Now that it is May, the riding season is in full swing. Motorcycles are everywhere! Be sure and take a moment to look and then LOOK AGAIN to make sure that the person who is riding on the motorcycle has an opportunity to go home to their loving family at the end of the day.

The video is entitled, "You didn't see me"

Please take a moment and watch and let the message settle in....after all, it could be me on that motorcycle...You didn't see.

Want to show my listing? Sure! Oh.... but......

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:22:28 -0500

Interested in showing my listing? Sure! I would love for you to show it....BUT....it can only be shown at (insert exact specific time here) and I MUST be there to open the door! This is non-negotiable...

WHAT? EXCUSE ME?

That is exactly what I heard from an agent Friday morning when I was setting up some appointments to show some houses for buyers who were arriving from out of town.

Yep, I said out of town....now as anyone knows there are no "specific times" when someone is coming form out of town.

So what happened? That listing did not get shown by me and probably won't. Making it hard ot almost impossible to show a listing is a sure-fire way to have a hard sell.

I will show anyone's listings. Just don't make it hard for me to do it. Want to sell your property? Make it work for me and my clients and there is a good chance that we will be there....

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE get the bugs worked out...

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:00:49 -0500

Just learned a lesson the hard way...

I wrote a nice blog about a program that converts your Windows XP and makes it look and perform as nicely as the Windows Vista system and "poof" it's gone.

Went to post it and it came back and said I had to be logged in...dang, I was logged in.

Just learned to write it somewhere else and copy and paste it into ActiveRain...a lot of time lost....a lot of effort gone.

If you want to see the program, here is the address... http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-tools-to-make-windows-xp-look-like-vista/

I have both a Vista computer and a XP computer....I like Vista...now my XP looks and performs like Vista.

If you say you don't like it you probably have either not tried it or do not understand it because we are so used to XP. Vista has a lot of promise...

Anyway....off to rewrite the blog...