Lisa's Blog

Comission fees

2008-11-13T08:43:09Z

I just read an article that was done by Consumers Report: It states that's of the 11,000+ people who sold or tried to sell their home over 70% were successful in negotiating the agents fees. Some fees were as low as 3 or 4 %. Most of the sellers were just as happy as if they had paid a higher rate of commission.

I pose two questions wrong with this article, one, How quickly did this home sell and Two, As agents how do you feel about cutting you commission's?

Mulch and Firewood

2008-11-13T07:31:52Z

This Saturday November 15th, from 8 a.m until 2 p.m. the city of San Luis Obispo will be giving away mulch and firewood! This will be available at their corporate yard at 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo.

This is for residential use only, so please no retailers or contractors.The wood rounds and chips are made generated from tree trimmings. For more information contact Ron Combs at 781-7023 or Keith Pellemier at 781-7022.

What qualities do you look for in a Real Estate Agent?

2008-11-11T20:40:00Z

This was worth Posting again. www.centralCAliving.com

Via Endre Barath,Jr.:

If I was in the Market to a buy Real Estate Today, I would look for the following:

•1.      How responsive is this agent in the initial Contact?

•2.      How quick is the response via e-mail or telephone

•3.      How is the agent's Geographic knowledge of the area?

•4.      Does he/she have the Market knowledge, i.e.: number of listings on the market, number of homes pending, number of homes sold in the past three months.

•5.      Does he/she seem comfortable, relaxed, and confident and has a pleasant demeanor?

•6.      What is the real estate agent's philosophy toward the market conditions?

•7.      Is he/she a Realtor?

•8.      Does this Realtor have the skills to properly represent my interests?

•9.      Does this Realtor ask questions about my likes, wants and needs?

•10. Does this Realtor try to find out what my budget is and how will I pay for this home?

•11. Does this Realtor offer suggestions based on the answers he/she receives?

•12. Does this Realtor understand the Economic Principles and Condition of today's Financial Market?

Once I have a comfortable feeling to the above questions, inquiries on my part, then I know I have found the Realtor, who I want to represent me in the Buying, negotiating and ultimate closing of my home.This is just as important if I know the area or if I am relocating from some where else, then it is even more important.

If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Beverly Hills ,Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 (USA) or email me at EndreBarath@TheMLS.Com or visit one of my websites http://www.endrebarath.com

What Is Your Most Successful Marketing Strategy in THIS Market?

2008-11-11T17:56:08Z

This is sound advice in a tough market. email is Free and its a quick easy way to stay in touch.

www.centralCAliving.com

Via Leander McClain Realtor, Burlington County, NJ Real Estate & Luxury Homes:

First let me say

I LOVE ACTIVE RAIN & I LOVE REAL ESTATE

We all want to see the sold sign hanging outside of our listings. One of the things that I love about Active Rain is that we are a community of like minded people. We are Real Estate Professionals that are looking to succeed. Why else would we spend so much time populating a blog with information that is beneficial to our clients and Real Estate Professionals all across our country.

We are in a different market. It is a market that none of us has ever seen before. Some have seen a market similar, but not the same. So here is my question.

In 2008, What Has Been Your Most Successful Marketing Strategy?

I believe that the response may be helpful to others in the industry. I will give you my strategy first. It is pretty simple. I keep in touch with my potential clients and maintain a web presence. How do I do this? I blog just about every day. My blog comments are picked up within an hour by Google. Second, I send out a newsletter to my sphere of influenced and have been sending this for the past two years. When things got a little slim, I cut down the number of subscribers or I send every other month, but I stay in touch. I talk to everyone I meet and let them know that i am a Real Estate Consultant.

The Result

When I see those I have been in contact with, they will make comments like "we really appreciate the newsletter, your are still in real estate right?, I am going to have my friend call you, what do you think about the market, we are thinking about selling our house". I have gotten several listings as a direct result of blogging and my newsletter.

Now I NEED Your HELP

I need to know what you do to draw attention to a listing that is not getting the "looks" it deserves. We are priced competitively, the house is in good condition, but we are not getting the traffic I would like.

Thanks Again Active Rain Family

I Love You Guys

Leander McClain, Burlington County's Top Realtor & Real Estate Consultant 609-505-6578

Vine Street Victorian Showcase, Paso Robles, California

2008-11-10T14:46:48Z

This is the 22nd Vine Street Showcase. It will be held on Saturday December 13th from 6P.M. to 9P.M. Many of the homes and merchants between 8th and 21st on Vine Street will be participating with many decorations and costumes as well as music and refreshments. If you have never been this is something to see. People travel from out of town just to be a part of this fun filled night.

Paso Robles 47th Annual Christmas Light Parade

2008-11-10T14:36:07Z

The Parade is from 6-7 P.M. and Begins at 10th and Spring. The Parade will go directly by our Keller Williams office and I can extend private seating to a few people who call or email me ahead of time. We will be providing free refreshments as well as prime reserved seating to a few of my clients. I hope you can make it.

www.centralCAliving.com

Paso Robles Elegant Evening DownTown

2008-11-10T14:25:58Z

Free Open House, Refreshments and Entertainment. There will be Trolley Rides and a drawing for a John Partridge painting.There will be singers and Musicians including the Belle Voce Choir. This Event takes place on November 15th from 5 to 8. The Paso Robles Main Street Association does a great job every year, with too many participating merchants to list.

Relocating or Visiting Paso Robles, California

2008-11-10T10:16:11Z

Relocating to Paso Robles, California

Just off the Central Coast along the mountain range is the quaint town of Paos Robles you will find a welcoming community. With 29,000 people and growing there is plenty to do. We are located near beaches, mountains and the deserts. We are know for our great wine tasting and vineyards as well as our hot springs. Paso Robles has plenty of housing available for family, seniors and those first time home buyers. We build these homes near parks, shopping, the veterans center, senior center and the community college. Visit my web site today for information on finding your home. http://www.centralcaliving.coml

If you would like a FREE book of things to do and places to stay in the Paso Robles area, please call or email with your name and adress and I will get that right out to you.

(805) 610-4314 OR lisalong@kw.com

Its Not Just another Monday Morning!

2008-11-10T09:54:17Z

HAPPY BIRTHDAY USMC!!!!!! I guess I have a very special place in my heart for the Marines. My Dad was a Marine. "Once a Marine always a Marine." I sleep a little better knowing women and men like the USMC and all the other Service Men and Women are protecting our Beautiful Free Country.

What the heck is "Mello-Roos"? - Answers for California Home Buyers

2008-11-09T20:15:24Z

This is very Popular is Southern California. Don't be surprised to see more of this closer to Paso Robles and all along the Central Coast.

www.centralCAliving.com

Via Vicki Pedersen - Riverside CA Realtor:

I've seen the term "Mello-Roos" come up in looking at houses, what is that?

These special assessments are pretty common in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. A Mello-Roos district is an area where a special property tax on real estate in addition to the normal property tax is imposed on the property owners. These districts have chosen to seek public financing through the sale of bonds for the purpose of financing certain public improvements and services. You won't find Mello-Roos on older homes. They are pretty common in newer neighborhoods. Usually the areas with Mello-Roos have some wonderful community amenities that really benefit the residents of the community, like new schools, or a park, like in the photo here.

Where did Mello-Roos Come From?
When Proposition 13 passed in 1978, it severely limited the ability of local governments to use property taxes to construct public facilities and services. As a result, Californians were forced to find new ways to fund public improvements. The Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 was enacted by the California legislature. It enabled “Community Facilities Districts” (or CFD’s) to be established by local government agencies as way of obtaining this crucial community funding. Today the common name for the Facilities Act of 1982 is simply “Mello-Roos.”

What Projects are Funded by Mello-Roos?

School districts are the most common beneficiaries of Mello-Roos. State funds are not always available to provide the quality or quantity of facilities necessary in California. In addition, other community needs such as construction and maintenance of public roads, traffic light systems, storm sewers, water mains, police stations, fire stations, ambulance services, public libraries, and parks. All proceeds raised from Mello-Roos assessment must be used only to finance the specific public facilities and/or services that were authorized in that CFD.

How Much Will I Be Assessed?

This will vary from one Mello-Roos district to another. Typically, a formula that relates to the square footage or lot size of the home is used to determine the amount of an individual assessment. In general, the special taxes and assessments do not usually exceed 1.5% of the market value of new homes. Moreover, the total amount of all annual taxes (including property tax) usually does not usually exceed 2.5% of the home’s market value. Mello-Roos assessments are typically a set amount - vs. the property tax that is a percentage of the price paid for the home.

How Do I Pay My Mello-Roos Taxes?

This tax is normally added to your property tax bills. Click here for more information about Mello-Roos assessments.

This is just one example of information that you need as a home buyer to help you in this exciting and often stressfull time. Be sure to find a good realtor to represent you - you need someone on your side. Don't just go with the agent whose name is on the sign at the house you like - they are representing the seller's best interests. Your realtor can find out if the house or houses you are considering buying has Mello-Roos assessments or not.

Visit my website.

Events in Paso Robles, What every Realtor® Should know

2008-11-06T11:52:08Z

I'm guessing a lot of agents are like me. As I'm browsing through my local magazines tonight to check out the months current events I realized I must add tour guide and travel agent to my list of job descriptions.Please Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining I'm fortunate enough to live in a community that has something going on ewww.centralCAliving.com

Paso Robles Realtor® Helps Home Buyers With Credit

2008-11-06T11:11:43Z

Our In-House lender is available to help you with all your finace questions. There is no obligation to use her when you use a Keller Williams agent. She is here to make life a little easier. In fact she will encoourage you to shop around and bring your questons and concers to her.

Recent changes in both conventional and FHA loans now mean that your
FICO score and report will influence what you will pay on a mortgage
even more than before. This makes understanding your credit report
vital.

It isn't just having "no late payments". Often there are things we can
do which will change your credit report and improve your score
dramatically.

If you have family or friend with credit or Real Estate questions please have them give me a call or email and I would be happy to help FREE of charge see what can be done to improve their credit score to get them into their dream home

www.centralCAliving.com

Kevins Praise Report-via the Kay Family

2008-11-05T12:25:24Z

Hello All,

Just wanted to let everyone know Kevin is Cancer Free! His PET CT Scan came back clean with no Cancer showing in his spine, hip or Lymph Gland. There was a small spot that showed up in the lymph gland and after further review it was determined to be scar tissue. His is currently at USLA to finish the last part of his third round of chemo. His blood count was a little low so he had to wait a couple days and have another transfusion before he could start. He should be home by the end of the week and will most likely be home for two or three weeks as long as he stays healthy and then will finish his fourth and last round. Each time he has the chemo he needs a little more time to get his blood levels back up. Kevin has been a real trooper and has stayed very positive throughout this whole thing and I am sure is looking forward to this being over with soon!
Thank you all again for all your support and prayers, they have worked their miracle!

www.carepages.com/login

Love,

The Kay Family

Realtor® in Paso Robles California here to Help!

2008-11-04T15:15:00Z

I'm an agent with Keller Williams Realty North County in Paso Robles, California. My Name is Lisa Long and I can be reached at (805) 610-4314. Visit my website to find out more about me and the great community I live in.

One thing all my clients notice about me is I will go that extra mile. I strive to have every client feel as if they are my only client. I'm a believer in strong communication and I always use a Transaction Coordinator because I feel I should be using my time to do what I do best and that's Real Estate and caring for my clients.

If your looking for a local Real Estate agent in Paso Robles, San Miguel, or Templeton and I sound like the kind of agent you want to referrer your clients to please give me a call.

http://www.centralcaliving.com/

Paso Robles is a Great Place to Retire.

2008-11-04T14:28:36Z

Paso Robles Is a Great Place to Retire.

Most people have an age where they think they might want to retire. Mine is 55, but I'm only 40 and I still have three kids at home so I'm still just a dreamer. There are two questions you should ask yourself WHEN and WHERE should I retire? If you know the when then you start researching Where: different states, climate, tax laws and penalties, and for my husband and I where our kids will end up is most important. Make sure the area meets your medial, religions and social needs. For more information on retiring to a new area contact your local Real Estate Agent. For information on the Paso Robles area contact me, Lisa Long with Keller Williams Realty, North County.

www.centralCAliving.com

Why Keller Williams Realty in Paso Robles?

2008-11-04T14:16:29Z

Why Keller Williams Realty in Paso Robles?

I was looking for some guidance, maybe a few classes to pull me through when I came back into the work force, but what I didn't realize is Keller Williams is much, much More. The majority of agents here are caring and go out of their way to help. We have Top Producers come over from big RE companies. So it proves that its just a myth, that KW is only for the "new unseasoned agent. Most agents stay for the long haul. If you ever have any questions about Keller Williams or Real Estate in the Paso Robles area please call or email, I would love to hear from you.

pasorobleshomesblog

centralCA living.com

Search Engines, Networking, Blog Groups What Really Works?

2008-11-02T20:00:14Z

Search Engines, Networking,What Really Works? (edit/delete)

In this market where services can be competitive it helps to have the upper hand. Yahoo and Google are great search engines, but there is so much more. Everyone should be on Craigslist and Realtor.comThere is Your Company site mine is www.KW.com Every agent needs their own website, see mine at centralcaliving.comBut there are hundreds you can choose from. Make sure you have pictures and video it will attract more buyers. I started a blog group on Active Rain called "You Blog". Networking is so important and you meet some really great people. I have actually referred someone from AR, so it does work.

Are doing Home Repairs worth the Return?

2008-11-02T19:53:24Z

centralCAliving.com

By Dian Hymer

In a perfect world, houses wouldn't deteriorate over time. In reality, the wear begins as soon as a house is built. Older houses tend to have more maintenance issues. But even new homes can develop problems within a few years if they were poorly constructed.

Most homes are inspected for damage caused by wood pests -- such as dry rot, termites, fungus, decay and wood-boring beetles -- before they are sold. Who pays to correct the damage -- buyer or seller -- is often subject to negotiation.

In a hot seller's market with a high percentage of multiple offers, buyers frequently buy "as is" regarding known defects to better their chances. This was common several years ago when home prices were rising rapidly. At that time, owning a home was more important than the condition of the property.

One problem with buying "as is" with respect to pest work is that it's easy to overlook the fact that the work needs to be done. Many buyers who bought "as is" in recent years have not taken care of the pest repairs.

These buyers who are trying to sell in today's market may find they have less equity than they thought they had. Not only have home prices declined in many areas recently, but today's home buyers are unlikely to buy "as is" regarding a large pest bill that was passed on from the previous owner.

HOUSE HUNTING TIP: In soft markets, buyers are more prone to factor in the cost of curing deferred maintenance into their price. Ideally, sellers should have pest work done before they put their homes on the market. This removes the need for negotiation over pest repairs. Plus, the houses in the best condition that are priced right for the market are the ones that sell.

It's not always possible for sellers to have pest work done before marketing their homes, either due to shortage of time or funds. In this case, make sure that you have presale inspection reports done before you market the property and price it to take into account the cost of the repair work.

Also, you should make every effort to have the house looking as good as possible. In a soft market, sellers have a lot of competition from other sellers. Even if you can't replace a shower or a rotted mudsill before you market the property, at least have it showing at its best. This will get buyers interested in the property, particularly if the list price reflects the work that needs to be done.

There is nothing wrong with buying a property in its "as is" condition as long as you have complete knowledge of the work that needs to be done. But, it is essential that you factor in the cost of the necessary work and ongoing maintenance. Many buyers overlook this and later discover that they can't afford to continue to own their home.

It's rare that every item on a pest report needs to be done immediately. But, at some point the deferred maintenance needs to be corrected.

Ask your inspector to prioritize the items on the report in terms of urgency level. A deck that's rotted to the point that it's unsafe should be replaced as soon as possible. However, if the bathroom floor needs replacing, but poses no danger, you might want to hold off having this work done until you remodel the entire bathroom, if that is in your game plan.

THE CLOSING: In fact, in this case, replacing the floor would be a waste of money.

6 MLS Photo Tips to Attract Buyers

2008-11-01T13:12:41Z

This is worth repeating. It is something all agents should know.

centralCAliving.com

Via James Wexler, Scottsdale AZ Luxury Homes (Coldwell Banker):

The new AZ Regional Multiple Listing Service has launched the FlexMLS system which vastly improves the ability to view listing photos and virtual tours.

Good Phoenix area Real Estate agents will do well by their clients if they take advantage of this system to layout pictures/virtual tours to get them inside your home.

Ultimately, (i think) the goal of MLS Listings is to advertise (quickly) a snapshot of your home so buyers want to go see more for themselves and ask why they should buy your home (hopefully).

Here are 6 important tips to best showcase your home to prospective buyers.

Front View Elevation pictures - make sure you take pictures past noon with the sun at your back to provide the best lighting

Do Not have the Realtor for sale sign in the front yard when taking the MLS photos

Take the elevation so it takes up the majority of the photo - no one cares about the driveway and street in front of the home

All interior lights on and windows open - think bright and cheery

Remove unnecessary furniture to add size and space in the rooms

Leave something to the imagination so people will come look for themselves.

I do highly recommend you ask your real estate agent to spend the $79 to hire a true professional who prepares a virtual tour and provides the MLS photos.

Though, make sure you are at the home and instruct them with the above important tips to best showcase your home.

There is one extra step that statistics do prove that help homes sell more quickly and at better prices. That tip is professional staging.

The tips may sound the same as how you layout the MLS listing photos and is why I mention them that can help ensure your home stands out from the others on the market.

Focus on the front entry. This is literally the "first impression" a buyer has to your home.

Clean and clean and Clean. A clean home smells good - think new car smell

Remove personal items like family photos and unique collectibles. You want the buyers focused on your home.

Please contact one of the mnay excellent professional staging company here on Active Rain in your area, to stage your home:

_______________________________________________

Copyright © James Wexler *6 MLS Photo Tips to Attract Buyers*

Contact James Wexler (480) 221-8080 for your Phoenix AZ| Scottsdale AZ Real Estate needs

If you are listing your home as a short sale in Phoenix Arizona or Scottsdale Arizona make sure you hire a Phoenix Realtor or Scottsdale Real Estate agent who is experienced with short sales and bank owned transactions.

IT'S TIME FOR THE 10% REFERRAL FEE

2008-11-01T13:01:56Z

This is worth following. The site I got it from had some great posts! There are so many points brought up. If you want more information about me, Lisa Long with Keller Williams visit my site at: centralCAliving.com

Via Michael Daly:

I think that 25% referral fees between agents is too high.

Sure, during the hey-day when you took 'em out, showed 'em a few houses or took the listing and waited for it to sell and went to the closing, no one complained. I have always had an issue with a 25% referral fee and have made it my own policy to only ask for 20%, as an incentive to the agent I was referring to. After all, if you have two referrals, one at 25% and one at 20%, what does human nature lead many to do?

Another thing that lead me to believe that 25% is too high, has been all the out of market agents who had put websites together, fishing for "Hamptons" buyers and sellers - JUST so they could capture them and turn them around and refer them to a Hamptons Agent. With an average sales price of $1,500,000, that turns into a referral fee of $11,250 JUST for passing on a name - no thanks...

Now, with business being more challenging and both buyers and sellers requiring more time and effort (and expertise) to put a deal together, I am going to be requesting a 10% referral fee. As an Exclusive Buyers Broker, the clients who have listed with me over the years are going to get assistance in finding the absolute best fitting listing agent for their properties, and I want that agent to be motivated to do a bang-up job for them - 10% is fair.

In addition, I always tell my referral clients that I am getting a fee for referring them - it's part of transparency and full disclosure, folks. There have been a number of times where buyers or sellers (in the days I was a listing agent) were never told by the agent who referred them to me that they would be getting a referral fee. They JUST made it out like they were doing their relative, friend, etc a favor.

Let's be open, honest and generous with each other.

What do you think?

Michael Daly

True North Realty Associates

www.beachamptons.com

"These Times are a Changin"

2008-11-01T12:33:56Z

"Times are a changin" The Time Change that isDon't forget to set your clocks Back one hour before you go to bed on Saturday Night, that way on Sunday the 2nd when you wake up you will be ready to go! Its hard to believe that fall is upon us and with Halloween over and Thanksgiving on the way its a great time to come home early and enjoy the family. Happy Fall. centralCAliving.com

Totally Useless Facts!

2008-10-31T12:38:35Z

Via Molly LeBlanc:

Totally Useless Facts...
For your procastinationing pleasure!

The "pound" key on your keyboard (#) is called an octotroph.

The only domestic animal not mentioned in the Bible is the cat.

The "dot" over the letter "i" is called a tittle.

Table tennis balls have been known to travel off the paddle at speeds up to 160 km/hr.

Pepsi originally contained pepsin, thus the name.

The original story from "Tales of 1001 Arabian Nights" begins, "Aladdin was a little Chinese boy."

Nutmeg is extremely poisonous if injected intravenously.

Honey is the only natural food that is made without destroying any kind of life. What about milk you say? A cow has to eat grass to produce milk and grass is living.

The most common name in the world is Mohammed.

The volume of the Earth's moon is the same as the volume of the Pacific Ocean.

Cephalacaudal recapitulation is the reason our extremities develop faster than the rest of us.

Spiral staircases in medieval castles are running clockwise. This is because all knights used to be right-handed. When the intruding army would climb the stairs they would not be able to use their right hand which was holding the sword because of the difficulties of climbing the stairs. Left-handed knights would have had no troubles, except left-handed people could never become knights because it was assumed that they were descendants of the devil.

Ham radio operators got the term "ham" coined from the expression "ham fisted operators," a term used to describe early radio users who sent Morse code (i.e., pounded their fist).

The slogan on New Hampshire license plates is "Live Free or Die." These license plates are manufactured by prisoners in the state prison in Concord.

Chinese Crested dogs can get acne.

Hydrogen gas is the least dense substance in the world, at 0.08988g/cc. Hydrogen solid is the most dense substance in the world, at 70.6g/cc.

Each year there is one ton of cement poured for each man woman and child in the world. The house fly hums in the middle octave key of F.

The only capital letter in the Roman alphabet with exactly one end point is P.

The giant red star Betelgeuse has a diameter larger than that of the Earth's orbit around the sun.

The longest place name still in use is: Taumatawhakatangihangaoauauotameteaturipukakapikimaungahoronuk- upokaiwhenuakitanatahu--a New Zealand hill.

Los Angeles's full name is: "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Poriuncula" and can be abbreviated to 3.63% of its size, "LA.".

Only 1 in 2,000,000,000 will live to be 116 or older.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.

According to Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity, it is possible to go slower than light and faster than light, but it is impossible to go the speed of light. Also, there is a particle called tackyon which is supposed to go faster than light. This means if you fire a tackyon beam, it travels before you fire it.

When you tie a noose, the rope is wrapped twelve times around because it's the same length as a persons head.

Hummingbirds are the only animal that can fly backwards.

A cat's jaw cannot move sideways...

The House that Jack Built...

2008-10-31T12:08:17Z

Always use good judgment and get everything in writing when using a licensed contractor.centralCAliving.com

Via Debra A. Brooks Lake Livingston Waterfront Specialist:

When you have a home built or are dealing with CONTRACTORS...

Or, cleaning up after a storm....

Getting a JACK OF ALL TRADES can be devastating. With so many "iffy" contractors pouring in to help clean up after IKE, we must all be very, very careful.

1. Interview a minimum of three licensed contractors.

2. Get everything in writing.

3. Remember the specifics like quality of tile and paint.

4. Require them to provide you with a copy of their license.

5. Check references.

6. Agree on the time-line in writing.

7. Agree to a maximum of 10% overage.

8. Make sure the contractor will oversee the workers.

9. If you are living in the property place all valuables in the bank.

10. Plan to spend time watching the men too. If they dawdle you're paying for it.

11. Plan for rain days or sick days for the men.

12. Never, ever, give them money up front. A good contractor has credit.

13. Require all clean up be mandatory each day. Don't allow them to leave garbage.

14. Require your contractor be responsible for disposing of any debris.

15. Make sure to pick up any left behind nails.

16. Verify quality of all products as they come in. Windows, paint, tile and so forth.

17. Make sure all warranties are turned in with each product. Ceiling fans, appliances etc.

18. If there is major work like tearing out walls or using glue, plan to stay somewhere else.

19. Be prepared for a little trauma...it just is.

20. Hire a licensed inspector to review all work before work is totally complete.

21. Never hand over the final check with work still needing to be done. EVER...they won't be back.

Be very sure of the contractor you hire...don't get in a hurry. It could get worse!

Later in the rain~Deb

Please LOOK - Have You Seen These Missing Teens? Sherwood Oregon, October 2008

2008-10-31T11:51:33Z

Via Jason & Amber Gardner:

ATTENTION... Missing Teens. Have you seen these boys? If you have ANY information, please call the Sherwood Oregon Police Department at 503.629.0111

As a parent my thoughts, heart and prayers go out to these families in our Sherwood Oregon community who are desperately seeking any information on the whereabouts of their children.

Santiago Javier Trejo "Santi" and his friend Kyle Thomas Bridges "Clyde Bridges or Kyle Lowe" both students in Sherwood Oregon went missing this week in the early morning hours on their way to school. They have not been seen since.

If you or anyone you know may have seen these boys, please call the Sherwood Police, 1-800-RUNAWAY or simply have the boys call home. They are very missed and loved and the families and community would just like to see them come home safely.

Thank you for your time, attention, taking a good look at their photos, taking down a couple seconds of information and spreading the word. It's people like you who can help to make a very big difference in the lives of others. The Sherwood Oregon community THANKS YOU, we just want to bring these boys home safe and sound!

The Gardner Team will post any updates on this very blog page... Please feel free to leave your comments, check back or subscribe to our blog. As Realtors, we spend more time out in various communities and neighborhoods than most do... We encourage other agents to please use this opportunity to keep your eyes open for these kids!

You can also read Breaking News: OregonLIVE or Breaking News: Salem-News or watch Breaking News: KPTV

ActiveRain 101 - A Wealth of Tips for Newbies and Veterans Alike

2008-10-31T11:24:47Z

This is great! It answered many questions and and was easy to understand. "You Blog"is a new blog group for those of you looking or visit my website for more info on Real Estate

Via Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate:

This may not be new ground for most veteran members, but if you are new to the site, you will probably find this information very helpful.

I first started blogging back in 2004 on another website, although it was not for business at all. Rather, it was just an assortment of personal stories and opinions. I guess not all that much has changed since then - I still write plenty of personal posts here on ActiveRain. I rarely wrote anything over there, but I have made a habit/hobby out of writing since joining AR.

JUST TO CLARIFY...

BLOG vs. POST - The term "blog" is actually short for "web log", since blogs were originally intended to serve as a type of online diary. I have seen a lot of new AR members mentioning that they read my "blogs" when they really mean that they read the posts on my blog. I have almost 600 posts on this blog. I only maintain two blogs. See how that works?

POST vs. COMMENT - So, a "post" is an article of sorts; it's an entry appearing on my blog. A post and a comment are different. Almost daily, I see someone say, "You have a lot of posts on this blog." Well, yes, but what they mean to say is, "You have a lot of comments on this post."

"HOW DO I GET POINTS?"

You get 200 points per post, with a limit of 10 getting the automatic points each week (25 extra points per post if you select an "ActiveRain Channel"). The week ends at 11:59pm Central time Saturday night, and a new week begins at midnight. Extra points come with getting featured on the main dashboard, and/or getting comments on your post. There is no hard and fast rule for the maximum number of points per post, but I think it caps at around 750-800 or so. I have one that exceeded this, but perhaps it was an anomaly.

If you write more than 10 posts during the ActiveRain-defined week, you will not get the base points, but you will still get points for comments or getting featured. No extra points are issued for getting featured in the network groups - those simply give your post more exposure.

You receive points for comments of at least 10 words (or thereabouts) that you leave on someone else's post(s). Comments receive 25 points each, and you are limited to 10 comments each day that will receive points. After the first 10, you can still leave an unlimited number of comments daily, but not for points.

"HOW DO I GET FEATURED?"

Usually, the featured posts are those that are well-written, and those that stimulate discussion, provide valuable real estate tips, interesting real estate experiences, AR tips and tricks, SEO information, etc. If you want to learn how to gain a big following, I would encourage you to spend time perusing the featured posts each day (there are currently 13 at a time that are displayed on the main ActiveRain.com page, and you can see the older ones by clicking the "More Featured Posts" link at the bottom of that page).

Often, the featured dashboard will include information on changes taking place around here, or new features that are being launched, such as the recent re-design of Localism, which is ActiveRain's sister site for consumer-related content.

If you see a post that you think should be featured, you can click the red flag icon at the bottom of the post and check the "Featured" box. This will alert the AR staff, and they can consider it for inclusion on the main dashboard.

"WHERE DO I FIND MORE HELP?"

At the bottom of EVERY AR page, there is a link that says "HELP/FAQ", which will take you to a bunch of helpful tutorial posts (currently just over 100) written by ActiveRain staff and veteran members including me, Brad Andersohn, Jeff Turner, Rich Jacobson, Bob Stewart, Brad Carroll, and more. It is a wealth of information, believe me. Most of the more frequently asked questions have answers within this group.

Additionally, you will see a link at the bottom right of every page that says "CONTACT ACTIVERAIN". This will enable you to create a ticket for an AR staff member to assist you if you have questions or technical issues.

Lastly, you will find that most members who have been around here for any length of time don't mind helping to answer your questions. This is a kind and caring community for the most part. All of us were new here at some point, and the functions and features of the site are numerous and a bit overwhelming at first.

MY OWN PREVIOUS TUTORIALS

These are the previous tutorial posts that I have written for ActiveRain members:

A couple of Active Rain tips for newbies (and perhaps some veterans, too)

Are you a Google Juicer? ActiveRain Offers You Some Incredible SEO Power

How to generate and track backlinks for your Active Rain profile - A few basic SEO tips

How to Insert and Align Photos in Your ActiveRain Posts - Not Just for Newbies!

How to Insert YouTube Videos into your ActiveRain Posts - Attention Newbies!

How can you determine who runs an ActiveRain group? A brief lesson

How to Navigate the "Blogs" Page

What's all that stuff at the bottom of the post? - An Active Rain Tutorial

How to Use Your ActiveRain "Statistics" Page - Viewing Your Subscriber List and Blog Entry Stats

If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email me anytime. My cell phone number is 512-796-7653 and my email address is jason@austintexashomes.com. Also, you will find that Bob, Rich, and Brad (all mentioned above) are easy to reach if you have an issue or question about the network. I hope you enjoy your time here as much as I have!