Central Oregon Fall 2008 Calendar

Business Events

  

October 1

1:00-4:00pm Powerful Practices for the Small Business with Peter Marsh, Central Oregon Association of Realtors, 388-3236

October 2

5:30-7:00pm Young Professionals Network, Java Crew, 306-7611

October 7

5:30-7:30pm Opportunity Knocks Annual Meeting Celebration honoring Lindsay Stevens, The Point at Shevlin Corporate Park, 318-4650

October 8

8:00-10:00am Opportunity Knocks: Shared Ownership, Central Oregon Association of Realtors, 318-4650

October 13

4:00-6:30pm Opportunity Knocks: Now's the Time: Making the Most of Today's Economy, Phoenix Inn, 318-4650

October 15

5:30-7:30pm Young Professional Network, Clear Choice Health Plans

October 16

12-4pm Super Charge Your Sales Performance, Riverhouse Resort & Convention Center, 306-4908

5:00-8:00pm Bend Venture Conference Networking Event, Broken Top Club, tickets at http://bendvc.eventbrite.com

October 17

8:30- All Day Event 5^th Annual Bend Venture Conference, Tower Theatre, tickets at http://bendvc.eventbrite.com

October 18

Saving Grace "Groovy 70's 2008", 7^th Mountain Resort, Kelly, 382-9227 ext. 102

October 30

6:00-8:30pm EDCO Annual Awards: Serious Business. Serious Fun! Inn at 7^th Mountain Resort, 388-3236

November 12

5:30-7:30pm Young Professional Network, Central Oregon Builders Association

  

Workshops

  

September 17-October 22

5:00-7:30pm Living Well With Chronic Conditions, Deschutes County Services Center, 322-7430

October 1

6:00-8:00pm How to start a Business, COCC, Bend Campus, 383-7290

October 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29

6:00-8:00pm "Green Building & Remodeling Class", COCC, 383-7270

October 1 and 2

8:00-4:00pm and 8:00-4:30pm, "COBA College", COAR, pre-register @ 389-1058

October 2

9:00am-2:00pm Work Zone Flagger Class, COCC, 383-7270

7:30-12:00pm Creating an Organization with Staying Power, Riverhouse, 617-7179

6:00-9:00pm Live Contractor Education Course, COCC, 383-7290

October 3

8:15-3:15pm "Grow Your Business with Blogging", COCC campus, 383-7270

8:30-5:00pm Live Contractor Education Course, COCC, 383-7290

October 4

8:30-5:00pm Live Contractor Education Course, COCC, 383-7290

October 7

8:00-12:00pm  OSHA Safety Committee Basic Training, COCC, Redmond Campus, Room 306, 503-947-7443

1:00-5:00pm OSHA Lockout/Tagout and Machine Safeguarding, COCC, Redmond Campus, Room 306, 503-947-7443

2:00-3:30pm  Exploring the Deschutes Public Library Catalog, Bend Public Library, 617-7080

6:00-7:30pm  Creating a Budget Sheet with Excel, Bend Public Library, 617-7080

6:00-8:30pm Basics of Business Plans, Midstate Electric in La Pine, 383-7270

October 7, 14, and 21

6:30-9:00pm Search Engine Strategies, COCC, pre-register @ 383-7270

October 8

8:00-12:00pm What to Expect from an OR-OSHA Inspection, COCC, Redmond Campus, Room 305, 503-947-7443

1:00-5:00pm OSHA Fall Protection, COCC, Redmond Campus, Room 305, 503-947-7443

3:00pm Oregon Building Codes Regional Forum, Redmond Senior Center, 503-378-4133

October 9

8:30-11:30am "Leading from Possibility" presented by Guy Smith, Cascade Healthcare Community, preregister at 383-7270

8:00-12:00 pm Leadership Series presented on the 2^nd Thursday of each month, COCC-Bend Campus, 383-7290

October 9- November 20

6:00-8:30pm Human Resources 101, COCC, pre-register @ 383-7270

October 10

10:00-4:30pm Nonprofit Grant Writing, Sisters Public Library, pre-register @ 383-7270

October 11

9:00-4:00pm Intermediate Quickbooks Pro, COCC-Bend Campus, 383-7270

October 13

4:15-6:30pm Now's the Time: Making the Most of Today's Economy, Phoenix Inn, 318-4650

October 13 and 20

6:00-9:00pm Website Marketing & Moneymaking, COCC-Bend Campus, 383-7270

October 14

2:00-3:30pm Searching the Internet, Bend Public Library, 617-7080

4:00-6:30pm Design for Change: Goals and a Willingness to Adopt a New System of Care, register at 633-7163 8:00-12:00pm

October 14, 16 and 21

8:00-12:00pm MS Project 2007, COCC Senior Center, pre-register at @ 383-7270

October 15

3:00-5:00pm High Performance Workplace: The Modern Office Environment, Bend Public Library, Brooks Room, 388-3236

October 16

8:00-4:00pm The Toyota Way Leadership: A Comprehensive Management System for the Enterprise, McMenamin's, Father Luke's Room, 388-3236

11:00-1:00pm Business Start Up, Redmond COCC Campus, 383-7290

2:00-3:30pm When the Web Won't Work, Bend Public Library, 617-7080

October 21

8:30-10:00am A Culture of Empowerment: The Nature of Participation in Tomorrow's Consumer Economy, Tower Theatre, 383-7270

October 22

10:00-11:30am The Other Kicker Check: How to Take Advantage of Overlooked Tax Credits, Bend Public Library, Brooks Room, 388-3236

6:00-8:00pm Business Start Up, La Pine Midstate Electric, 383-7290

October 23

3:00-4:30pm Building a Culture of Safety, Community First Bank, Redmond, 388-3236

6:30-8:30pm "Progress in Urban Environmental Design: Revolutionary Stormwater Systems", St. Charles Medical Center, 815-3951

October 28

9:30-11:00am Tips on Acquiring or Selling a Business in this Economy, Central Oregon Association of Realtors, 388-3236

2:00-3:30 pm Advanced Topics in Internet Searching, Bend Public Library, 617-7080

6:00-8:00pm Business Start Up, Sisters Maida Bailey Old Library, 383-7290

November 15

9:00-4:00pm Intermediate Quickbooks Pro, COCC-Bend Campus, 383-7270

 

 

 

  

Community Interests

  

September 15-November 14

Varied Hours, The Artful Beauty of Science, COCC Library, Rotunda Gallery, 383-7515

September 30-November 4

4:00-6:30pm Living Well With Chronic Conditions, St. Charles Medical Center, 322-7430

September 30- November 4

6:00-8:00pm Professional Bookkeeping Class, COCC, 383-7270

October 1

8:30-10:00am Managing your G-Mail Account, Sisters Public Library, 312-1072

October 2

6:00pm Americana Students Showcase, Sisters Public Library, 312-1032

October 3

9:00-2:00pm Aging Well, Living Well Flu Shot Fest & Health Fair, Bend Senior Center, Brenda, 388-1133

12:00-1:30pm Bend City Council Candidates Forum, County/State Building, 1300 NW Wall Street

Keep A Breast Event, Oxygen Tattoo, 1002 NW Bond Street, 647-0888

October 4

9:00-4:00pm "Beginning Excel 2003", Prineville COIC building, 383-7270

2:00pm The Making of the President: 19^th Century Style, Redmond Public Library, 312-1032

3:00pm Soccer and Globalization in Latin America, Bend Public Library, Brooks Room, 312-1034

October 5

2:00pm Running as a Woman: Female Political Ambition and American Politics, Bend Public Library, Brooks Room, 312-1032

October 6

8:30-10:00am When the Web Won't Work, Sisters Public Library, 312-1072

12:00pm Good Chair, Great Reads: Water for Elephants, Bend Public Library, Brooks Room, 617-1039

7:30pm OPB's Think Out Loud, Cascades Theatrical Company

October 7

8:30-10:00am Advanced Topics in Internet searching, Sisters Public Library, 312-1072

2:00-3:00pm Exploring the Deschutes Public Library Catalog, Bend Library Computer Classroom, 617-7080

6:00-7:30pm Creating a Budget Spreadsheet with Excel, Bend Library Computer Classroom, 617-7080

October 7-November 11

10:00am-12:30pm Living Well With Chronic Conditions, Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration-Sisters, 322-7430

October 8

6:00pm Café' Libri with Dennis Alan, Redmond Public Library, 312-1032

6:30pm State Ballot Measure Forum, La Pine Public Library, 312-1034

6:30pm Open Adult Computer Lab, La pine Public Library, 312-1090

6:30-7:45pm How to Prosper During a Bear Market, Bend Public Library, Brooks Room, 617-7080

October 8- November 12

1:30 pm - 4:00 Living Well With Chronic Conditions, Bend Senior Center, 322-7430

October 9-12

2008 Bend Film Festival

October 9- November 13

2:30-5:00pm Living Well With Chronic Conditions, St. Charles Medical Center, 322-7430

12:00-1:30pm Deschutes County Commissioner Candidates Forum, County/State Building, 1300 NW Wall Street

6:30-7:30pm Making your Home More Energy Efficient, Bend Public Library, Brooks Room, 617-7085

October 10-12

9:00-5:00pm Commissary & Health Fair, Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, High Desert Activity Center, 383-0954

October 11

9:00am Project Homeless Connect, Hooker Creek Event Center, Dina Barker, 408-7991

October 11-12

Central Oregon Green and Solar Homes Tour, 617-9013

October 12

3:00pm Second Sunday with Brad Tisdel and Americana Project Students, Bend Public Library, Brooks Room, 312-1034

October 13

5:30-7:30pm State Senate 27^th District, State Rep. 53^rd District, State Rep. 54^th District Candidates Forum, Deschutes Public Library, Brooks Room

October 14^th

12:00-1:30pm State Treasurer Candidates Forum, County/State Building, 1300 NW Wall Street

2:00-3:30pm Searching the Internet, Bend Library Computer Classroom, 617-7080

6:00pm Wag the Dog, McMenamins Old St. Francis School, 312-1032

October 15 & 22

1:00-4:00pm Beginning Excel 2003, Bend Senior Center, 383-7270

October 16

10:00am Open Adult Computer Lab, La Pine Public Library, 312-1090

5:00pm All the Presidents Men, Sisters Movie House, 312-1032

5:30pm Read! Watch! Discuss! "House of sand and Fog", Bend Public Library, Brooks Room, 617-1039

7:00-9:00pm Bend 2030 Town Meeting, Bend Senior Center, 617-9701

October 17-19

12:00pm Friday, 10:00am Sat. & Sun 2008 COBA Fall Home Show, Deschutes County Fairgrounds & Expo Center, Sonia Burns, soniab@coba.org

October 18

8:00am Skyliners Winter Sports Swap, Mt. Bachelor Bus Barn, 388-0002

10:00-3:00pm 1^st Annual Informed Family Fair, Kiddoz, 280-2356

5:30pm The Center Foundation "Toast to Rock n Roll" fundraiser, Riverhouse, 322-2399

6:30pm Saving Grace "Groovy 70's 2008", 7^th Mountain Resort, Kelly, 382-9227 ext. 102

October 21

11:30am  PEO Chapter GC 2^nd Annual Fashion Gala & Luncheon, Bend Golf & Country Club, 617-1013

2:00-3:30pm "When the Web Won't Work", Bend Library Computer Classroom. 617-7080

6:00pm Art Envy with Paula Bullwinkel; Frida Kahlo, Bend Public Library, 312-1034

October 22

6:30pm Good Chair, Great Books: Memory Keeper's Daughter, 312-1074

7:00pm Resilience 08 Mentor Research Fundraiser, Tower Theater

October 23

10:00am Open Adult Computer Lab, La Pine Public Library, 312-1090

5:30pm Read!Watch!Discuss! "House of Sand and Fog", Bend Public Library, Brooks Room, 617-1039

6:30-8:30pm  Progress in Urban Environmental Design: Revolutionary Stormwater Systems with Bruce Ferguson, St. Charles Center for Health and Learning, 815-3951

October 25

9:00-4:00pm Beginning Excel 2003, Madras COIC Building, 383-7270

11:30am "Digital Politics: How New Media Have Changed Presidential Campaigns", Bend Public Library, Brooks Room, 312-1032

3:00pm Covering Campaign 2008: A Report Card for the Press, Sisters Public Library, 312-1032

October 25-26

11:00-6:00pm Central Oregon Tour of Remodeled Homes, ticket brochures available thru COBA and the Fall Home Show, 389-1058

October 28

2:00-3:30pm Advanced Topics in Internet Searching, Bend Library Computer Classroom, 617-7080

October 30

4:30pm Open Adult Computer Lab, La Pine Public Library, 312-1090

6:30pm Spooky Stories for Grown Ups, Bend Public Library, Brooks Room, 312-1032

October 31

7:30pm Human Dignity Coalition's Annual Drag Show and Halloween Party, Midtown Ballroom

November 1

6:30pm 11^th Annual Comedy Benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon, Tower Theatre, 312-6047

November 15

6:15pm Camp Fire Flames vs. Harlem Globetrotter Ambassadors, Summit High School, 382-4682

November 21

6:00pm First Annual Gala Fundraiser to benefit High Desert Chamber Music, 306-3988

February 13-15

LibertyBank Bend WinterFest, Old Mill District

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Evening Everyone,

A short time ago, Active Rain lost one of its most significant contributors to breast cancer. I am not going to go into what an incredible person Karen was or how many lives she touched here. Suffice it to say those of us who knew her will never forget her.

You should know that the Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day. This mammogram goes to an underprivileged woman. Making the donation takes less than a minute and is absolutely free. Just go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram'.

Again, this doesn't cost you a thing. The site's corporate sponsors and advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/ Click on the pink window in the middle. That's it.

Go now! Save a life.

Thank you for honoring Karen and the millions of women fighting breast cancer everywhere!

Based on the successful children's novel "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie"..... 

I have a friend who does daycare. One of her clients is a grandmother who is the sole custodian of her granddaughter.

At the end of the year, my friend (a sole proprietor) sent a 1099 form to her client who inadvertently left it on her table..... when the mother of the child came for a visit and .....took the Social Security number and name listed on the 1099 back home with her to the valley..... where she opened a Fred Meyer credit card in the amount of $8,000 and with an APR of 22.99%. She of course put in a false address and ....goes what else ?........ shopping.

My friend goes to refinance her home... when the loan officer tells her......"there's a problem. You have a seriously delinquent account on your credit report". My friend's impeccable credit history has been marred and is now preventing her from refinancing her home. She begins the long, somewhat difficult process of getting this unauthorized account removed from her credit. She calls the police..... they start the investigation, they stall.... she calls, she writes, one agency and then the next.....  when finally, one year later, she gets Fred Meyer and all three reporting agencies to remove the account from her report. In the meantime.........

It gets better....... my friend's credit card "B" had a universal default rate clause. Ever hear of one of those? A universal default rate says that company B can raise your interest rate if you default on any other credit card obligation, including company A (in this case, Fred Meyer).  For my friend, this became the worst of all scenarios as her credit report became a consumer and loan officers worst nightmare.

Now, she not only had to prove that she was unjustly the victim, she also had to prove to her creditors that she did not "DO" anything to warrant the "universal default rate" charges being imposed to her account. Credit card company B then had to "try" and remove the interest upon interest charges now added to her account balance. YIKES! All in all, it took 2 years to undo the damage done and bring the responsible party to justice. She is now finally able to proceed with refinancing her home, although at a higher rate than she could have secured two years ago. 

WOW........ as I have said before, protect your identity and your social security number at all costs. People are desperate and there are those that will not blink an eye when manipulating someone elses  identity. A mistake, even one you are not aware of (or responsible for)  .... can be costly. Be careful out there and check your credit report annually.

 

Note: For those of you unaware, you are entitled to ONE free credit report from each of the three reporting agencies each year. To get yours, click on https://www.annualcreditreport.com and sign up today.

I am beginning to wonder......is it just another urban legend? Where is the AR newsletter I keep reading about? There are plenty of vague references to it, how great it is and even co-conspirators vowing that it REALLY does exist. I can't find it though, not one link to it, not one shred of hard evidence proving that it's real.

I even tried to email Brad Andersohn and guess what happened? My browser shut down. Coincidence? I think not. There's definitely a conspiracy going on here but the fact remains......

I need to know. Is such a wonderful thing as an AR newsletter possible or is it just a figment (albeit a wonderful one) of my imagination? A daily newsletter complete with featured blogs and members and articles of interest? It can't be. It's not possible.

But if it is (I secretly really do believe), can someone send me the link or better yet, evidence? I think there's a few others here that would like to see it for themselves. 

Cutting through the crap, straight to the chase. Times are tough, the economy sucks and everyone is struggling to keep things together. There are two things you can do. ONE, increase your revenue and TWO, cut your expenses. 

My short list here should save you at least $200 per month, hopefully more:

RENEGOTIATE your office fee or split. 100% of nothing is still NOTHING. Now is the time to negotiate everywhere you can, your goal is 0 out of pocket expense.

CANCEL subscriptions to all magazines, periodicals, business journals, and around the office reading material that does not bring $ $ $ $ to you. (This is just about everything).

CELL PHONES....time to evaluate. Check to see if you are under contract and if so, when it renews. As soon as you are able, shop for a better deal. Companies are hurting, and inclined to offer huge incentives for new business.

PARK the Lexus. Start driving the Honda that gets a billion miles per gallon. Looking cool is overrated anyways. On that note, make EVERY trip count for something.

ROLL HIGH INTEREST CREDIT CARD BALANCES to a lower, fixed rate card. There's plenty of companies in on that action. Juniper Card and Capital One both have some great deals going right now.

RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS should be off limits but desperate times call for desperate measures. You may be able to borrow against it or withdraw it altogether. There will undoubtedly be a penalty .... check with your accountant first.

LIFE INSURANCE policies usually allow for low interest loans against accrued value. Make sure this is something you can afford to pay back if you do borrow against it.

LIQUIDATE your unwanted & unused items. Post your unwanteds on Ebay, Craigslist, Amazon or Shopzilla. Even some private companies will post your items for sale for a portion of the profits when they sell.

RENT out that extra bedroom. This is not for everyone but in certain situations, can provide that much needed extra income.

DINE OUT LESS, eat at home more. Home cooked is always better anyways, right?

PUT SHOPPING on the back burner for now. Chances are you already have enough purses, shoes and God knows, clothes, to last a lifetime. 

WANT vs. NEED Honestly choose only what you need. Now is not the time to buy just because you want it. 

JOB .... Find one, real estate related or not.

"WATCH THE PENNIES AND THE DOLLARS WILL TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES"

 

Everyone's nervous these days and with good reason. Big businesses are closing daily, the real estate market is in the toilet, stock values are plummeting and we are now facing the highest nationwide unemployment rate in years. Couple that with a "difficult" mortgage market, a historic election year and the soaring cost of living and it becomes painfully clear. This is not a prosperous time in America, it's a flat out scary time in America.  

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Now more than ever, we all need to evaluate our team participation. The team I'm referring to might be you and your in-office partner or the team might be your entire office. On a larger scale, the "team" is your community, your city, your state and yes....thinking of the big political picture, your country. The point is, that consumers have more choices than ever. While we are all distracted by the current market conditions, we still need to be team players, giving the best to those dependent on our services, including each other.  

SMALL actions, BIG difference. Poor financial conditions often predicate the ME syndrome  and keep people from being TEAM players (It's all about me, I need to get more for ME, I'm in it for ME, What's in it for ME?). However, there is no I in TEAM. Embrace the team attitude and work together. Network, in your office, in your city, here in the Rain. Come together to support your communities, the struggling businesses in your area, the builders, bankers, the buyers and sellers. WORK to bring people together for the good of the masses, rather than to benefit yourself.

You'd be amazed at what a little TEAMWORK can do. Buy LOCALLY whenever you can, and if not locally.... definitely from this COUNTRY. Remember that we enjoy freedoms here that few other countries have. It's important that we stand behind each other now, through the difficult times we are ALL having. It's not about you or me or anyone else. It's about us coming together and working together to overcome the obstacles ahead. Small steps together will take us out of this recession much more quickly than anything else we can do.

I'm on TEAM USA. Who's team are you on? 

What are Googel Alerts? Google Alerts are a tool provided by Google to allow users to find out when a particular subject matter has been "picked up" by Google.

Why do I need them? You can use Google Alerts to keep you privy to news in your area, your interests, your blog, your website, your articles, your name, your competition, anything you deem worthy. This is exceptionally useful in finding new content for your blog. I have several Google Alerts set up with topics including Bend, Oregon, Bend Oregon real estate, NAR, Real Estate News, kellisellsquick.com and Kelli Fronabarger.  

How will Google Alerts help to show who's reposting my blog? When someone reposts your blog, Google picks it up through your selected search terms and show you where it is being published and by whom. With all the concern over plagiarism, I would suggest everyone sets up at least a couple of alerts.

Where do I get them?  Go here: http://www.google.com/alerts and sign up for 1 alert or 100...it's up to you! Check your email, click on the links and verify the Google Alert. You will begin to receive alerts within a few hours, depending on your settings.

There you have it folks. It's not really rocket science but it can be incredibly valuable to your business and your blog. I can't say for sure but I think the Google Alerts can be used as evidence of copyright infringement in court. Be aware that you too are being watched. If someone does not grant you exclusive permission to repost their blog, DON'T USE IT! If they do, make sure they are fully credited for the writing and or photos and art. Copyright infringement is serious.

In the meantime, this amazing service is FREE ! Check it out !

This is the NAR alert I received last night. Scroll down and look at the three Active Rain bloggers and blogs that showed up.

Google News Alert for: National Association of Realtors

Home sales outlook continues to be bleak
Boston Globe - United States
The National Association of Realtors posts existing home sales for July. They're expected to have teetered near a 10-year low -gaining 1 percent to a 4.9 ...
See all stories on this topic

Halter named to national Coldwell Banker board
Anderson Independent Mail - Anderson,SC,USA
Halter is a member of the South Carolina Association of Realtors board of directors, Greenville Hospital System Advisory Board, Bank Greenville and the ...
See all stories on this topic

VanMeter named lifetime member of OAR
Durant Daily Democrat - Durant,OK,USA
Also, he is eligible to receive the title of realtor emeritus in the National Association of Realtors®. VanMeter said the term "Realtor" has become a ...
See all stories on this topic

Clayton schools accreditation vote this week
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
18-21: Georgia NAACP, Georgia Association of Realtors, Clayton Student Coalition and the county's largest teachers' union ask for board resignations.

· Feb. ...

See all stories on this topic

 

Evans Report: Palm Beach condo sale prices fall, but homes rise
Palm Beach Daily News - Palm Beach,FL,USA
And on the national level, June sales of existing single-family homes were down 15 percent year over year, according to the National Association of Realtors ...
See all stories on this topic

National real estate slump hasn't hit NS
TheChronicleHerald.ca - Halifax,Nova Scotia,Canada
Robert Wambolt, president of Nova Scotia Association of Realtors, said Friday that while national prices have slipped, provincial prices have held steady ...
See all stories on this topic

Foreign buyers like US home prices
Chicago Sun-Times - United States
The National Association of Realtors estimates that between 150000 and 190000 homes were sold to foreign nationals from May 2007 to May 2008. ...
See all stories on this topic

Realtors group promotes home buyers' tax credit
Chicago Sun-Times - United States
BY FRANCINE KNOWLES The Illinois Association of Realtors is working to get the word out about a new tax credit for first-time home buyers worth up to $7500. ...
See all stories on this topic

Google Blogs Alert for: National Association of Realtors

TRIANGLE VA Real Estate - POTOMAC HIGHLANDS: Real Estate Market ...
By Keith Elliott Jr -"Prince William County...(Keith Elliott Jr -"Prince William County...)
I am a Candidate Member of the CCIM Institute, Member of the National Association of Realtors®, Virginia Association of Realtors®, and the Greater Piedmont Area Association of Realtors®. I hold several real estate credentials; ...
Prince William County Virginia... - http://activerain.com/blogs/kelliott5264

GA REALTOR® Earns ABR® What is ABR®? | Home Buyer's Benefit!
By Michelle Miller, REALTOR®, ABR®
This coveted designation is awarded to real estate practitioners by the Real Estate BUYER'S AGENT Council (REBAC) of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR)who meet the specified educational and practical experience criteria. ...
Woodstock, GA Real Estate | Michelle... - http://youragentga.wordpress.com

7 Reasons to Own Your Home
By John Elwell (CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc)(John Elwell (CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc))
Online resources: To calculate whether buying is the best financial option for you, use the "Buy vs. Rent" calculator at www.ginniemae.gov. Source: National Association of REALTORS Reprinted with permission.
John's Florida Real Estate Blog - http://activerain.com/blogs/jte777

Always something to do when you live at The Reserve At Woodside ...
By Gene Mock (The Carolina Real Estate Company)(Gene Mock (The Carolina Real Estate Company))
Search the entire Aiken MLS right here! Find your Aiken realty today. Gene Mock, Realtor. Gene is a proud member of The National Association of Realtors, South Carolina Association of Realtors, and Aiken Board of Realtors. ...
Gene's Blog - http://activerain.com/blogs/genemock

Condos Keep Selling : Many Opt for Condos Due to Price and ...
By joseph1031
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Code of Ethics provides that "REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. ...
Austin Texas Realtor Blog - http://jasonljoseph.com/blog

So, you can see how it works and what you might expect from your Google Alerts. Google is not partial to any subject in any way so if you're blogging to get noticed.... this is a great way to track your progress.   

 

I know times are tough and many brokers are having a difficult time staying afloat. I think the key in any market is to stay VISIBLE. With so many agents to select from, buyers are often overwhelmed with their choices. 9 out of 10 are going to choose someone they recognize. Since so many of us have extra time on our hands, here's some ideas to help you stay in front of your customer and busy wtih real estate.

Here are ten tips and tricks to keep your phone ringing, in no particular order:

1. Blog EVERYDAY ! We've all heard it, fresh content is key. Use your local newspaper, news, MLS stats, ribbon cuttings, chamber reports and local calendars to find subject matter. Always, always make sure your content is your own. My last 4 clients found me through the Web.....don't underestimate what it can do for your business, for free.

2. Utilize every opportunity for free advertising that you can. This would include Active Rain, local papers, Craig's List, your local association of Realtors, etc. Don't be shy. If you complete a certification or educational accomplishment, announce it. If you are offering a new service, announce it. If you change offices, announce it.

3. Attend public events in your local area and.....ALWAYS carry your business cards! Find at least one function to attend EVERY week. Visiting out of the area events can also be a great way to secure new clients. 

4. Real Estate.....chat it up. Seize opportunity, at the dr., the dentist, the grocery store, the Saturday trip to Costco. Use every opportunity to chat up real estate, what the market's doing, where prices are, what's moving and what's not. You'd be surprised at who's listening.

5. Network, Network, Network. Join your area Chambers, Rotary, visitors associations, Realtor groups including PACS and focus groups. Involve yourself with your church, children's schools, sports events, local fairs, workshops and education opportunities.

6. Continue to Advertise. Cut the frills, reduce the size, opt for black and white rather than color but DON'T stop your advertising. Look at the distribution numbers and spend where you are getting the most value for your dollar.

7. Volunteer in your community. United Way, Family Access Network, Food Banks, Humane Society, Ronald McDonald House... I could go on and on. Find something that interests you and GIVE BACK to your community. Outside of the obvious benefit to others, this is a unique and rewarding way to meet new people and open opportunities for business. 

8. Call on your clients, past present and future. Time to review those client files...make a list of folks you haven't talked to in awhile and just check in with them. Make sure they know you're still ACTIVE in real estate and that you are AVAILABLE to help them.

9. Evaluate your marketing strategies. Lots of things work. Don't be afraid to try something new or different. Cold-calling, prospecting, farming, blogging, radio ads, tv ads, for sale signs, new business cards and/or branding. Get creative. You may be able to do an insertion with a local publication advertising your services or co-op with another business that offers services a homeowner/buyer might utilize. Think outside of the box. A local Realtor uses a picture of her and her dog on all of her signs. Guess what? Every time I see it, I think of her and know it's her listing.

10. Utilize the LAWS OF ATTRACTION. Ask, Believe, Receive. Those of you who know what I'm talking about know that this works. For those of you who don't, get the book, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. 

Are you doing everything you can to stay in front of your customers?

Feel free to contribute more ideas for this list in the comment section below. Good Luck !

In this type of market, there's plenty to speculate about. Unfortunately, some of that speculation tends to lead to unfounded rumors. Recently, I've heard everything from which bank/restaurant/mortgage lender is folding to which builder isn't paying their bills to which suicide was over money troubles. Sadly, some of what I've heard has come from the local media. While reporting mistakes can be made, a retraction after the fact does little to remove the damage done or to squelch the rumor mill.

I don't profess to know everything, far from it actually. What I do know is that rumors can be incredibly damaging and hurtful. I know that they are usually started from misinformation, or from spite or vindicative motives. I want to remind all of us that outside of the fact that we should all know better, there are some legal ramifications as well. Be acutely aware of the definitions or both SLANDER and LIBEL and how they may affect your business.

SLANDER as defined by Merriam Webster is:

Main Entry: 2slander Function: noun Etymology: Middle English sclaundre, slaundre, from Anglo-French esclandre, alteration of escandle, from Late Latin scandalum stumbling block, offense - more at scandal Date: 14th century 1 : the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another's reputation 2 : a false and defamatory oral statement about a person - compare libel - slan·der·ous \-d(ə-)rəs\ adjective - slan·der·ous·ly adverb - slan·der·ous·ness noun

 

LIBEL as defined by Merriam Webster is:

Main Entry: 1li·bel Pronunciation: \ˈlī-bəl\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, written declaration, from Anglo-French, from Latin libellus, diminutive of liber book Date: 14th century 1 a: a written statement in which a plaintiff in certain courts sets forth the cause of action or the relief sought barchaic : a handbill especially attacking or defaming someone2 a: a written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression b (1): a statement or representation published without just cause and tending to expose another to public contempt (2): defamation of a person by written or representational means (3): the publication of blasphemous, treasonable, seditious, or obscene writings or pictures (4): the act, tort, or crime of publishing such a libel

Be a professional. Do not engage in conversations that in any way could be construed as gossip, rumor mongering, slander or libel. Do not participate in the circulation of slanderous EMAIL correspondence either. Most people are not aware that "email" is considered public property, not private. Once you hit send, you have put "whatever" content out for anyone in the world to see.

Complaints for SLANDER or LIBEL can be easily proven and extremely difficult to defend. If you are found guilty, the repercussions can be financially devastating. You may also become the "victim" of SLANDER or LIBEL of sorts when it appears in the local paper. Obviously, this is not the kind of press anyone would want for their business. Do yourself a favor: Pretend there's a little judge hanging out on your shoulder. If he wouldn't approve of what you're about to say (or write).... don't do it. And as the old addage goes......if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all !

 

 

I'm sure this blog is going to get lots of folks up in arms but I am tired of reading over and over again of how agents are refusing to WORK without:

1. an agency agreement

2.   a buyer prequalification letter

This seems absolutely CRAZY. In this economy, I don't know how anyone can honestly make such demands when buyers are seemingly scarce and there are so many HOMES for sale. What are you thinking? I recently met with buyers from So. Cal. and they turned out to be wonderful people, well-qualified and ready, willing and able to purchase. I did not ask them for a letter of prequalification or to sign an exclusive agency agreement with me. There is absolutely no way that I would have made these types of demands on our first meeting and if I had, they likely would have walked out. Consequently, we spent 9 1/2 hours together, looking, talking, and establishing a relationship in which they feel comfortable and confident that I am the right broker for them. 

Ironically, my brother was looking at condos in Portland at the same time. He found a neighborhood he was interested in and went to the sales office to inquire. The first words out of the listing broker's mouth were "Let me introduce to you to our mortgage dept. As soon as we get you qualified, I'll start showing you the listings we have available". My brother promptly told him he just wanted to see if this property was a good fit for what he was looking for and that he wasn't ready to sit down with a mortgage broker. The agent REFUSED to show him anything. Again, my brother (ready, willing and able) would have likely bought from a broker who did not push, did not demand but showed him that his business was valued and that he was thought of as more than a paycheck.  

Don't get me wrong, I understand about protecting our business, our sellers and not letting buyer's waste our time. A skilled broker should be able to ascertain loyalty and qualifications to purchase from simple conversation rather than dictating a protocol for the industry that is frankly, giving the impression that we are only interested in serving our needs rather than the needs of our clients. Not all clients are ready to make the leap on day one. Does that mean that they don't deserve our time?

I remember when I first became licensed, deals could take months and the entertaining of clients through multiple weekends of showings. It involved an investment of time and energy from the agent/broker and an established relationship of trust. Buyers didn't just show up, decide you were the one and start signing away on the most important investment of their lives. Occasionally, you would get one that did waste your time and you learned from it. You learned what questions to ask and when to ask them. You had to WORK to get deals and clients, they weren't handed to you. And you know what, the buyers that were serious remembered you and how you treated them and they came back, over and over again. 

I personally think that making these types of demands on new clients is like putting a "Closed for Business" sign in your window. It's kinda like refusing to show someone a menu until they have agreed to use you for their order and also opened the contents of their wallet, to prove to you they can pay. Doesn't seem like very good customer service to me. Do what you need to do, but know that all those "unwilling, unqualified clients" are coming to brokers like me and getting the service they deserve. I'll take my chances that most of them have better things to do with their time than waste mine.