There are not many nature centers that are housed in a home that is on the National Register of Historic Places but that’s exactly what the Sandoway House Nature Center is.
The structure was built in 1936 and located just across from the Atlantic Ocean in Delray Beach. There are shark feedings, nature walks, educational programs, astronomy nights, summer camp and other special events.
Upstairs is a private shell collection that is the largest (10,000 museum quality shells) in Southeast Florida, a Florida Reptile room and another room devoted to historic Delray. And to get a better view of the ocean, you can step out on the observation deck!
Kimo Stowell of JDS Consulting has written an excellent post about the Art of Storytelling as relates to Real Estate and selling a house. In my brief (1 year) career as a Realtor 25+ years ago I was so lucky to have been taken under the wing of a seasoned Realtor who really knew her market. We went out almost every morning previewing houses and she knew the history of so many of them.
What a great layer to your sales presentation! Please hop over to Kimo's post and if you haven't seen any of his work, take a look. He is one of the most creative people I've seen.
A good story doesn't cost a thing...so what's your story?
Lets face it just about everyone enjoys a good story, even the potential buyers looking at your property for sale. In Hawaii we call it Talking Story which colloquially means both story telling and social conversation. When it comes to Real Estate Merchandising and Marketing, storytelling or in this case Story-SELLING is more than just anecdotal ice breakers or idle gossip but a highly evolved art of association that casts the potential buyer as the protagonist in the drama that is your property for sale.
In the antiques and diamond selling business it's called provenance. Similar to a chain of title in Real Estate terms the provenance of a unique and valuable asset is the history of it's ownership from it's creation to it's current owner. Sometimes it is the very history of the object that closes the deal for the purchaser and not so surprisingly it is the emotional connection to the narrative that often motivates the purchase. Case in point the infamous Hope Diamond has an astonishing and storied provenance and a purportedly notorious curse. The large blue diamond was first introduced to Evelyn McClean, Washington socialite and owner of the Washington Post by renowned French jeweler Pierre Cartier. Knowing the power of storytelling, Monsieur Cartier cleverly presented the diamond wrapped in paper and did not reveal the stone until he told it's storied and colorful past, at which point Mrs. McClean demanded to see it. Although, Cartier did not make the sale that day, Mrs. McClean did purchase the legendary gem shortly there after and it is said she did so largely because of it's story and curse.
Ok so your property is more diamond in the rough than big bling. No worries, not all properties for sale have an interesting back-story with famous inhabitants, scandalous events, or momentous occasions but you would be surprised to find out just how many actually do. All you need to do is little research and you might be pleasantly pleased by some of the interesting gems of local history and colorful characters that potential buyers are eager to hear about, giving some "personality" to your property for sale. Start with the chain of title and go from there, the more flesh and blood details the more interesting the brick and mortar. Ask neighbors and long time residents what they know of the property, they often are eager to share what they have witnessed and heard especially if it's interesting or even better scandalous.
Talking story to potential buyers can instantly push the purchase potential from luke warm to hot to trot and the reasoning behind this is: consumers like to feel emotionally connected to their environments. If you have ever walked into a home that is several hundred years or older there is often a revelation of the humanity associated with the space and the many generations that have lived there. It is here that the story teller turns wear and tear into nostalgia; an empty room into the birth place of a dynasty; a dank basement into a former speakeasy; and a cool consumer into a burning buyer. The narrative should of course be truthful but it doesn't have to include famous people, major events, or end happily for that matter. It just has to convey emotion in a way that is relatable to the buyer. Granted you will probably want to leave certain information as a discreet disclosure as necessary. It doesn't take a Stephen King to know that horror as a genre may sell movies and books but not necessarily homes, obviously discretion should be used.
So how do you create a narrative for your property for sale? Find out who designed and built the property; who's owned it; was the property used for purposes other than what it was intended; were special events held there i.e. weddings, party's, civic meetings, musical performances, movies filmed, etc. Did anyone famous "sleep" there. When showing the property to potential buyers use it's features and details in the story itself and include the buyer too; So and so used this room to write their memoirs aren't you writing a book? What elements of the property were specifically created to meet the needs of it's inhabitant. i.e. the original owner had polio so he built the in-ground pool, the first in the neighborhood. Just about everything and anything can be woven into an informative and interesting story giving your property for sale a life of it's own; ready to embrace a new chapter and buyer.
and the story continues... Selling Real Estate and the Art of Storytelling: adding narrative to your sales pitch!
National Pizza Pie Day is Today, February 9!! Celebrate the Day!
It’s National Pizza Pie Day for there’s no excuse for not indulging yourself in one our country’s favorite dishes... Pizza.
It doesn’t matter if you buy, make or have it delivered, we Americans eat approximately 46 acres of pizza a year. That’s about 5.75 pizzas a year.
I have no idea when I had my first pizza... however I have a feeling it was one my mother made from Chef Boyardee... you know the one in the box. When I was growing up there were no pizza delivery places and I doubt there were any Pizzerias or Pizza Parlors and certainly Dominos or Papa John’s were just seeds being planted in some entrepeneur’s head.
And today.... there are Friday night pizza nights with the family.... pizza by the slice... special pizza ovens and stones.... and much more.
Delray Beach Green Market- Saturday February 11, 2012
There’s still time to catch the Delray Beach Green Market in Downtown Delray Beach just off Atlantic Avenue. What better way to support our local growers and vendors (Think Buy Local) than to do some of your weekly marketing at Delray Beach’s Green Market.
In 1996 the Delray Community Redevelopment Agencystarted the In-Season weekly Green Market to encourage the community to Buy Local. Besides your typical fresh produce, you can purchase “AWA approved heritage breed, hen, duck and Japanese quail eggs from Heritage Hen Farms, raw milk, fresh butter and yogurt.” And....... fresh honey fresh cut flowers handmade soaps fresh Italian cheeses Florida grass fed beef (hormone and antibiotic free) baked goods And more! Music Visiting Farm animals Organic pet treats
Home Staging Tips in Palm Beach County- 4 Things To Do BEFORE Your Home Staging Consultation. (and 4 Bonus “Don’ts)
Congratulations, you are taking the right steps you need to take to help get your home sold. Investing in a Home staging consultation will give you the tools and information you need to prepare your home for sale.
To help you make the best use of your time with your professional home stager, here are 4 things YOU can do before your Home Stager arrives:
1. Step outside the front door of your home.. take a few Yoga breaths... then open the door and step back in. Only now.. tell yourself that this is a house that you are soon going to market. From this point on you want to look at your house as something you are marketing for sale.
2. Remove all distractions... if you have young children at home that will need your attention, enlist a relative or your babysitter for the few hours that the stager is with you. The same can be said for your pets. It’s hard to concentrate when your dog is demanding your attention.
3. Allow for time. Most staging consultations can take about 2 hours, sometimes more depending upon the size and condition of your house. Neither one of us wants to feel rushed.
4. We don’t need you to pack everything up before we come but help us see what we have to work with. Laundry that needs folding, dishes in the sink, personal papers on your desk and counter tops will only take up your consultation time as we try to see what’s under everything.
And now.... 4 Things NOT to DO
5. Put the Paint Brush DOWN! You’re hiring a Stager to give you their expertise on how you can best prepare your home. Painting everything white or painting the exterior of your house a fresh bright blue color will only add to your expense when we suggest you repaint.
6. Just for now... put the staging and design cable shows you’ve been watching on the back burner. These shows have been helpful in educating the public on the need to prepare your house to sell; but the reality show is in your home not on television.
7. DON’T give everything away.... yet. Let us see what furniture and accessories you have and what we can use. Tell your children, neighbor or relatives they’ll have to wait until after the house sells for that piece they’ve been wanting for their home.
8. If you want support during the consultation for note taking or to lend another ear.. that’s ok but make sure they understand that you want to hear what the Home Stager has to say. Every time they open their mouth to tell me what they know from watching HGTV is costing you money.
My friend and fellow Stager, Janet Jones, has given us 10 Reasons NOT to Stage your home! What that you say? Reasons NOT to Stage your home?
If you are planning on selling your house and not sure whether or not you should stage it.... be sure to read this first. Staging is not always what you think it is nor does it cost even a portion of what you might think. The investment you make in staging... and that's what it is.. an investment in your future in your new home... is a drop in the bucket compared to your first price reduction.
1. We want to test the market for 90 days. And on the 91st day? Price reduction--and 90 days worth of potential buyers who have already eliminated your property.
2. It costs too much money. I have never seen a home where the staging costs would have exceeded the first price reduction. And that doesn't even factor in the monthly carrying cost of the home.
3. We can't stage the house, we're living in it. One common misconception is that staging is only for vacant homes. Every home/condo can be staged, and you can actually live in it after staging.
4. We didn't have to stage any of the other properties we sold over the years. Yes, once upon a time you could generate three offers by 5 p.m. on the same day your Realtor put the For Sale sign in your yard. Not now. Buyers are picky and they have a lot of homes to choose from.
5. Everyone loves our house so buyers will love it, too. What you, your friends and relatives love about your house may not be what today's buyer wants. Sellers are often baffled by the feedback they get after showings--amazed that buyers have found things they don't like about the property.
6. We can clean the carpets and declutter without someone telling us how. Yes, you can (and should) do this, but it is a tiny piece of staging. Do you know what separates "clutter" from "asset"? And what about all the other things that staging encompasses, like traffic flows, highlighting architectural features, updating, and appealing to your target market?
7. We have no desire to remove/change our _______________ (wallpaper/mirrored tile/gold faucets/paneling/dated light fixtures . . .). And neither do buyers. Better to keep your home or be ready to sell at a deep discount.
8. The view alone will sell this place. Then why many months later are these great view homes/condos still on the market? Could it be that buyers want something to go with the view--like a comfortable, move-in ready home?
9. We would rather let the buyers makes their own paint/flooring choices. And that equals a price reduction. If buyers do make an offer on your home they will double or triple the cost of these items and reflect that in their discounted offer price--which includes a deduction for the inconvenience.
10. Our home is professionally decorated. A professionally decorated home is tailored to the owner's particular needs. Does it work for the new buyer's needs? You could see #1 above . . . .
These are all great reasons--
for price reductions
for extended time on the market
for buyers not coming to look at your home
for buyers not coming back for a second look
There are dozens of reasons not to stage, but only one good reason to stage--getting your home sold faster for the highest possible price. Staging is preparing your home for sale and creating a home that buyers want to buy. If you want to be in the best competitive position in this market today, consult with a professional home stager before listing your property for sale.
Today is My 4 Year ActiveRain Anniversary... DON’T Do What I Did!
Well pass the cake and hold the candles.. today is technically my 4 year anniversary at ActiveRain. That’s right... four years ago today I had the foresight and good sense to join ActiveRain.
By “technically” that is the date I signed up and began my lurking. You know what I mean and I bet there are still some lurkers out there. I read the blogs and may have even commented on a few. Who knows. I wasn’t exactly sure why I was here. No one suggested I join. I have a vague recollection of seeing the ActiveRain symbol at the bottom of someone’s website, clicked on it and Ta-Dah found myself here... kind of like Dorothy clicking her heels in the Wizard of Oz.
I wanted to ask someone about ActiveRain before fully immersing myself in the water so I decided to play it safe and call a fellow Texan... after all if you can’t trust a fellow Texan who can you trust..... thus I found Karen Otto. Karen gave ActiveRain the thumbs up and with that I joined.
However, if you were to look at my Archives (down the right side of my blog page) you’ll see that I didn’t write a post until June of 2008; wrote 2 more in December of that year and probably got off to the slowest start in ActiveRain history.
So, on this my 4 year ActiveRain Anniversary... I encourage any of you newbies or even semi-newbies... don’t do what I did.....
Don’t
-wait to read the Community Guidelines. There’s very helpful information in there that you need to know (don’t spam your fellow Rainers, for example)
-wait months to write your first post. Jump on in.. no one’s going to bite! And the comments you get and in some cases emails will be very helpful.
-wait to take advantage of the free ActiveRain University (in fairness, I’m not sure they had them when I joined)
DO - read, post and comment every day - take advantage of some of the ActiveRain challenges which for the most part are designed to teach you how to improve your blogging
-reach out to your fellow ActiveRain Members
So, Happy Anniversary to Me!
Thank You ActiveRain for all that I’ve learned!
Thank you to my fellow Bloggers for subscribing and reading my posts.
I know many of you can’t relate to this but I am now in full football withdrawal. I have gone through the Lock out last year... fewer exhibition games.... a year offootball without my favorite player Peyton Manning..... Tebow Talk (go Tebow).... helmet hits, where Peyton will end up and finally the Super Bowl.
Many of you may say... well now you can get out and do other things.. take a walk, read a book, blog.. get a life. But you see I do all of that AND watch football. It’s not all that time consuming.. just from August until late January or early February. But having been born in Texas, football is a way of life for me.
My cousins and I tossed around footballs every weekend. Thanksgiving meant televisions set up to watch multiple games. I even remember going to 2 football games in one day.
I love listening to Mike & Mike on ESPN every morning and my guys Howie, Terry, Jimmy and the crew at FOX on Sundays before the game.
So fellow Rainers... bear with me. This happens every year. I’ll get through it.
And.... I hear we’ll have more Thursday night football games next season!!!!
I've Always Said I Learn Something New at ActiveRain Every Day and It's Time I Showed You.
You know the old phrase “Put your money where your mouth is.” Well I’m not offering any money but I did decide it was time to see if what I keep saying..you can learn something new every day at Active Rain... was actually true.
Last Sunday I set out to find at least one post each day that taught me something....
.....It may have been about something techie... about blogging and SEO.... anything having to do with Staging or Real Estate... about the world or even about a fellow Blogger.
Each day I found a post that gave me the same “Ah Ha” moment you get when you discover something new about some thing or some person.
I thought I’d share them with you and perhaps you can find your own this week that give you the same “Ah-ha” moment!
January 29- Susan Emo reminded us that Sunday was World Leprosy Day and there are still 6500 people in the U.S. with leprosy and at leat 200 additional cases each year.
January 30- Janet Jones -I’d heard of shaved ice but never knew what it was. I thought it was a sno-cone but after I read Janet’s blog I was ready to find some here in Florida.
January 31-The ActiveRain Staff- We’ve all seen the “new” ActiveRain and it does take some time to figure out where things are, especially your new Home page. This post shows the ways you can filter through your list to see comments only, messages and more.
February 1- Michael Thornton- Michael teaches us so many things but this one is about something we all need to read.. dryer vent safety. Make sure you read this and pass it on.
February 2-Marilyn Boudreaux- I’ve been on Pinterest for several weeks but wasn’t sure what to do with it. But Marilyn’s post gave me some ideas on how to use it. There’s even a great link to 21 Must Follow Pinterest Users.
February 3-Mike Mueller is always bringing us information that is useful but this particular post about Groups and Facebook was all new information for me. It seems like Facebook changes almost daily and often I have the feeling I’m just part of a herd of cattle being led off a cliff. Read this to learn more about the Groups you join.
February 4- Cindy Jones- I love this one. How many times have we thought to ourselves... “Self.. you need to write a book on this!” Well Cindy shared a site with us where we can create and store a publication and send it out to prospects. I’ve already gone to the site and registered. Gather your old posts and put them to good use!
Thank you for letting me do what I love to do each day... learn something new!
Please read and pass on Michael Thornton's excellent post on house fires and electrical wiring. With so many "gadgets" we have now that need to be charged at night... cell phones, iPods, iPads etc...please make sure you have the right equipment.
Check your wiring and if you use extension cords make sure you're not overloading what you have.
The Most Dangerous Item In Our Homes... 53% of household fires can can be traced back to electrical problems. Fire deaths are generally higher when portable heaters and other small appliances are used. Many of these fires can be traced back to the misuse and abuse of extension cords.
Extension cords are one of the most dangerous items we bring into our homes. Overloaded circuits, poor maintenance, improperly sized for application, trip hazards and overheating are a few of the many among perils associated with these items.
The attached photo is a classic example why insurance companies classify extension cords as a fire safety hazard. The home owner used an extension cord that was designed and rated for light duty use such as lamps and other "light duty" appliances to run the air conditioner unit. Depending upon the size or tonnage of the unit, these can pull any where from 12 - 15 continuous duty amps which severely overloads the capacity of this light duty cord which is rated for 5-7 continuous duty amps.
For Your Own Safety • Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring. • Frayed or cracked wires cause fires. Replace them immediately. • Replace any electrical tool if it shocks, overheats, shorts out, or gives off smoke or sparks. • Keep electrical appliances away from wet floors and counters. • Be mindful of electrical appliances in the bathroom and kitchen. • Only buy electrical products evaluated by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or other Nationally recognized lab. • Keep clothes, curtains, and other potentially combustible items at least three feet from all space heaters. • If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord. • Don't allow children to play with or around electrical appliances like space heaters, irons, and hair dryers. • Use safety closures to "child-proof" electrical outlets. • Use electrical extension cords wisely; never overload extension cords or wall sockets. • Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.
This posting and the contents herein are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Brentwood, Nashville, Davidson and Williamson County TN. This post is a contribution to the ActiveRain Real Estate Network.
For all your inspection needs in the Brentwood, Franklin & Nashville TN real estate markets
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
1. Step outside the front door of your home.. take a few Yoga breaths... then open the door and step back in.
on how you can best prepare your home. Painting everything white or painting the exterior of your house a fresh bright blue color will only add to your expense when we suggest you repaint.
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Well pass the cake and hold the candles.. today is technically my 4 year anniversary at ActiveRain. 
have gone through the Lock out last year... fewer exhibition games.... a year of football without my favorite player Peyton Manning..... Tebow Talk (go Tebow).... 
January 29- 
January 30- 
January 31-
February 1- 
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