And "They" Say Realtors Are Paid Too Much... - 04/29/09 10:07 AM
Depending on who you listen to (an I try not to listen to any of them), Realtors are paid way too much.  Yep. That's right.  Too much. It doesn't matter what the number is....it's too much.
I've seen it in Seth Godin's Blog, Jeff Jarvis writes about it in his book, What Would Google Do?, there's a whole chapter about it in Freakonomics, the runaway bestseller by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt
It seems that we (i.e., Realtors) really don't do much for the money we do get. Heck, I was joking around with some buddies at a social event recently … (85 comments)

eBooks...Wave of the Future or Ego Gratification? - 04/22/09 07:53 AM
Has anyone noticed the proliferation of eBooks hitting cyberspace lately? 
It has been said that everyone has at least one book in them.  It seems that with the advent of superior desktop publishing tools and Adobe Acrobat that, yes, everybody, indeed, has a book in them and sometimes two or three or four.
Don't get me wrong.  Some of the information conveyed in the eBooks is timely and useful. Some are even written well.  However, I find eBooks to be even more difficult to read than "real" books that come with paper and binding and everything.  Sure, I know I can … (3 comments)

A Newbie in the Twitterverse - 04/20/09 09:00 AM
Many months ago I wrote a blog post about why I didn't Twitter (or tweet or whatever).  I couldn't understand the appeal.  I mean, what can you say in 140 characters or less and who cares?
Well, since then I've been to my first REBar Camp in Fredericksburg, VA and got introduced to Twitter and why I should be there.  So I signed on and started.  Soon it almost became like a Facebook or Active Rain. It wasn't so much the content as it was the amount of information....and how many friends or points or, in the case of Twitter, followers … (9 comments)

What is it with this GREEN stuff? - 04/20/09 08:33 AM
I admit it.  I'm a bit on the cynical side.  Lately, I've been overwhelmed with all this GREEN stuff that is floating all around and I'm not talking about money. I know Earth Day is coming up sometime this month but, geez, give me a break.
I'm really beginning to think this whole GREEN thing is taking on a lot of the aspects of the now debunked and defunct Adkins Diet.  You remember that, don't you?  Everybody and their brothers were on the thing.  Companies were falling over one another to affiliate themselves with Adkins.  The Adkins name was licensed to … (8 comments)

She said, "Jump!"...I forgot to ask "How High?" - 04/11/09 03:18 PM
This really falls under the category of "What were they thinking?"
Here's the chronology:
I get an e-mail late Friday night through Realtor.com on one of my listings. (Yay! Realtor.com seems to work).  The e-mail is short and sweet.  "Is the house [this address] still available?"  I write back and say, "Yes, it is still available.  DO you have any other questions I could answer?" Silence  -- that's OK.  Lots of people e-mail and then vaporize. Fast forward to Saturday (the next day) 3:20pm.  I get a call from a woman who says she's the one that e-mailed me last night … (12 comments)

A Customer Service Love Note - 04/09/09 01:27 PM
Every so often I run into a situation where the customer service is so good, I just have to write about it. So here's today's story:
Right around the end of last year, my old cell phone contract with Verizon Wireless was ending and I had grown tired of (really tired of) the Motorola Q I had been using.  I had been hearing a lot about this new-fangled iPhone. Of course, the catch was that, if I wanted the iPhone (which I did), I would have to use AT&T as the service provider.
I took a big gulp (not the Seven-11 … (3 comments)

Upper Marlboro, MD: 9114 Midland Turn, Ranch in Marlton, $219,900 - 04/08/09 11:35 PM
Great Home! Great Location! Great Price! This well maintained single-level home has an upgraded kitchen and updated baths. The master bedroom is big enough for a king-sized bed plus dressers and includes its own bath. A contemporary 2-sided fireplace is perfect for those cool evenings and there is a spacious yard and patio for grilling or relaxing in the warm months. Close to golf, pools and other community amenities.
… (3 comments)

Do Virtual Tours Make The Difference? - 04/05/09 07:23 PM
I generally believe that Virtual Tours are a good thing.  They are an especially good thing if the house is in great shape or has been staged to look great.  In fact, I've heard from lots of buyer clients and people who never turned into buyer clients that if there aren't interior photos or a Virtual Tour they can look at, the house is crossed off the list.
This seems a bit extreme and it got me to wondering how widespread this type of mindset is.  In fact, I have a listing that's been on the market awhile and I had … (9 comments)

The Realtor Dress Code - 04/04/09 04:30 PM
When I first started in real estate I was being told by my manger and early company trainers that real estate was a profession.  Sort of like Doctor, Lawyer, Accountant.  I never figured out why so many Realtors put their photos on their cards since I never saw one from a Lawyer or Accountant that had a photo and never saw a business card, period, from a Doctor.
But I digress.
I figured since I was a professional in a profession, I should probably dress like one.  After all, I was being told, buying a home is the single largest financial … (20 comments)

When Staging Doesn't Work - 04/02/09 02:51 PM
Hey don't get me wrong.  I certainly believe staging works for some people some of the time.  Hey, and I certainly don't want to piss of my good AR, Facebook and Twitter buddy, Juliet Johnson, but here is what I'm learning:
Staging may be good for the high end  or maybe the, er, higher end because those are the folks who can afford to keep a staged house staged.  The house cleaners com in on a regular basis and tidy things up, make the beds, etc. and the place is kept looking great.  In fact, it doesn't matter how long the … (15 comments)

Greenbelt, MD: Immaculate Condo in Greenbelt Lake Village Condos, $244,999 - 04/01/09 06:57 PM
This is an immaculate condo with plenty of space. There is a large family room perfect for the big screen TV, a large master bedroom with a large walk-in closet with plenty of room for all your clothes and shoes.  There is a whirlpool tub in the master bath for that nice, soothing soak, a sunroom to relax with your morning coffee, a screened balcony for lazy evenings with your favorite book and beverage. Close to the swimming pool and community building with tons of amenities. Close to METRO, shopping and parks. You'll love it!
… (1 comments)