If you know me, you know that I love food and I love to cook. Here is a great recipe that I made up one day. It turned out pretty good, so I decided to share it.
5-7 cloves garlic diced
½ -1 large onion diced small
1 small carrot shredded
1/8 green pepper dice small
2 tbs olive oil
1-2 stalks celery diced small
2 heaping tbs flour
2 cups water
seasoned salt
pepper
•1-1 ½ pounds of shrimp
Mix flour in 1 cup of water and reserve (put on the side for later use)
Sprinkle 1 ½ tsp season salt & ½ tsp pepper on the diced onions
Heat oil in a stir fry pan.
Add onions, carrots, green peppers and celery. Stir fry until onions are wilted.
Add Garlic and sauté for approx 1 ½ minutes. Careful not to burn the garlic.
Add shrimp and water with flour. Add additional cup of water.
Simmer until thick as desired. Taste and adjust seasoning (add more salt & pepper if you like).
If not enough sauce, adjust recipe to include more of the water flour mixture.
Bon Appetite
Have a Great Day
Make This YOUR Best Year Ever
Leander McClain, Burlington /Camden County, NJ Realtor & Real Estate Consultant, Keller Williams Realty, 1814 Route 70 E Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 856-685-1677 Direct
Week of 11/09/09- Real Skillz Freebie Picks- Free Online Reads and Real Estate Marketing Resources for Real Estate Agents and Real Estate Companies
Fr.ee- A website where you can search for free things online
Key in your search query and this website will produce results for your free stuff. You can also sign up for an account and this website will allow you to suggest websites that provide free stuff. Pretty simple, pretty cool, and a pretty good opportunity for savvy real estate professionals who provide free data to consumers to share this online on a website where consumers are searching for freebies.
Why Slideshare Is An Uber Cool Way To Reach Out To Your Customers
A blog post from Neil Sequira of buzz factory that provides four easy to understand reasons why adding a slideshare presentation helps to increase the value of your online content . This method should be added to your real estate marketing mix.
They are on-demand viewing
They are very sharable
They show up well in search results
They are engaging & educational
Important to note that slideshare also is a way to mix up your content and provide visual learners with the information they are seeking via the method they are seeking to learn it.
Facebook Announces Roadmap for Developers
Read Write Web's Jolie O'Dell' blog post on Facebook's publication of a developer roadmap takes the guesswork out of seeing what direction Facebook is moving in and how to use Facebook for your business in the future.
Facebook is an extremely important part of an effective social media marketing strategy. The developer's roadmap should leave you with a good sense of what your next marketing move on Facebook should be.
Trulia's E-Newsletter from November 5, 2009
A good template you can use as a guide on how to create better timely content. There are two things that I want to bring your attention to on this newsletter that you can make over for your own newsletters and/or website content:
Question of the week section should be easy to pull from any phone calls or emails you have received.
Remember to respect privacy rights.- on 2009-11-05 - RemoveThe section about interest rates makes good space for you to insert a local advertiser. Make sure to add the proper disclaimers.
Make sure to keep an eye on national players in the real estate vertical who are seeking to blow out the local vertical. They are already working hyperlocal avenues and will provide you with fodder for your hyperlocal online marketing plan. Add them to Google Alerts and study and track their latest moves. Then pull out your local expert trump card and go to work.
Your local strategy is increasingly important in your SEO(Search Engine Optimization) and SEM(Search Engine Marketing) maneuvers. Studying national companies who are alredy doing this and realizing you can do it too is crucial.
You can read more about the importance of creating a hyperlocal marketing strategy here and here.
Real Skillz Freebie Picks- Free Online Reads and Real Estate Marketing Resources for Real Estate Agents and Real Estate Companies is a weekly online newsletter provided by Rebecca D. Levinson, Real Estate Marketing Consultant. If you like what your reading come join my Business Page on Facebook.
Rebecca D. Levinson is a real estate marketing consultant with 17 years of experience serving real estate industry professionals.
If you need assistance with online marketing, offline marketing, social networking, or blogging contact Rebecca D. Levinson at #262-203-5231 or email rebecca@bloggingintherain.com.
Give me 90 seconds and you will see where I am going with this one J
Readers of my blog know that I am a musician and a music fan. My wife and family know that I am a HUGE music fan. From day to day, my Ipod plays classic rock, rap, gospel, classical, r&b, blues, jazz, salsa, etc. I have written and played music for the past 30 years. My second love in life is real estate. I love the practice of real estate. In what other field can you help someone acquire an asset that will appreciate in value and provide a higher standard of living?
That being said, it is not unusual that my eclectic taste in music and my love of real estate would collide.
On to the lesson:
Prior to March 2007, almost no one had heard of a rapper with the stage name Soulja Boy Tell Em (Soulja Boy for short). That year, he recorded and produced (in his bedroom) a song titled Crank That. I am not here to debate the greatness of the song. Even though it was very popular, I thought it was cheesy and amateurish. But here is what Realtors can learn from Soulja Boy.
1. Attitude Is Key. Even though no one had ever heard of Soulja Boy, he displayed the attitude of a seasoned veteran. In his mind, he was the best rapper alive. He displayed that attitude wherever he traveled. When talking about his music, it was the best ever made (according to him). Realtors should also display that same attitude. Do you act as if you are a SUPER REALTOR, or do you act like someone who is a realtor because you have nothing else better to do? Are you a Realtor because you like to look at houses? Is being a Realtor a hobby to you? If you do not display an attitude of confidence, why should a client hire you?
2. Marketing is King. Soulja Boy says his name 49 times in this song which lasts less than 5 minutes. Forty Nine Times. If you didn't know who wrote the song, by the end of it, you would have a good clue. In addition, he released this song to the internet using YouTube & MySpace. Soulja Boy was everywhere. You may not like Soulja Boy or his music, but he is known. Realtors....Are You Everywhere? Are you known? If your name is Googled, do you show up? When you do show up, do your potential clients know that you are a Realtor? Do your potential who you are and what you stand for?
3. You Need To Say Affirmations. Soulja Boy talked with confidence about his ability to rap. He talked about his empire before it came into existence. What he was doing was using positive affirmations. Soulja Boy is good, Soulja Boy is the best, Soulja Boy has money, etc, etc, etc. Realtors, you need to say affirmations daily. I am the best Realtor. My clients gladly refer others to me. I am comfortable being uncomfortable. I am a money magnate, I am the best realtor, etc, etc, etc. Your unconscious mind does not know the difference between fiction and reality. So rather than fill your mind with negative thoughts, fill it with positive thoughts.
That's the end of the lesson.
If you read this far, congratulations. Maybe you will pick up a point or two that will help your career. You will certainly be much better off than those who stopped reading once they read the word rapper. May you have much success and make lots of money.
Have a Great Day
Make This YOUR Best Year Ever
Leander McClain, Burlington /Camden County, NJ Realtor & Real Estate Consultant, Keller Williams Realty, 1814 Route 70 E Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 856-685-1677 Direct
Excellent advice from My buddy Lou via Dale Carnegie
Have a Great Day
Make This YOUR Best Year Ever
Leander McClain, Burlington /Camden County, NJ Realtor & Real Estate Consultant, Keller Williams Realty, 1814 Route 70 E Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 856-685-1677 Direct
Don't worry about what people will say about you; instead invest your time and energy in creating the things you want the people to say.
Have them speak of you as a person of integrity, someone who can be counted on.
What people will say about us is our choice, and created through our decisions. We choose who we are and the way we want people to see us and speak about us.
Live a life of purpose and achievement. Be a giver to those around you and you will find that people will speak in glowing terms about you and admired by many.
®2009, Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant Executive Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author
November 14, 2009 9 am - 3 pm Hartford School 397 Hartford Road, Mt. Laurel, NJ
This free expo will feature exhibits, seminars, shopping, pampering, makeovers, hands-on demonstrations, health screenings, authors' forum, samples from local caterers and chefs, and live entertainment
In addition, my friend Jill Banks, Owner of Happily Ever After, Room Designing and Home Staging will be demonstrating her services.
Join Happily Better After at this FREE expo to see live room makeovers at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm, sample some great food, do a little shopping, and get helpful info while you're there!
Women's Expo Exhibitors:
AAA Mid-Atlantic • Advantage Therapy Centers • AFLAC • Always There in Home Health Care • Ameriprise Financial • Arbonne • Associates in Hearing HealthCare • Avon • Bath Fitter • Beeluxe • Bidwell Chiropractic • Brendenwood • ByNatureProducts.com • Cadbury at Cherry Hill CCRC • Camp Bow Wow, Cherry Hill • Capital Wealth Advisors, LLC • Cathy Ann's Domestic Service • Center for Specialized Gynecology: Susan Kaufman, D.O. • Christine Foster Photography • Collingswood Manor • Compassionate Care Hospice • Comprehensive Cancer & Hematology Specialists, P.C. • Cookie Lee Jewelry • Crossroads Programs • Culinary Express • Diet-To-Go • Donna Vitale Tax Preparation, LLC • Dr. Insana's Wellness Center, LLC • Drop 10 Fitness • Emerald 2000 Salon & Hair Replacement Center • Esio Beverage System • Family Service Specialized Foster Care & Treatment Homes • Fessenden Hall Incorporated • Future Fitness Centers • Garden State Obstetrical and Gynecological Associates a Division of Regional Women's Health Group, LLC • Genesis Healthcare • Good Foods To Go! • GSPP - Penn Therapy & Fitness • Happily Better After Room Redesign & Home Staging • Healthy You, Healthier Planet • Holy Redeemer Home Care & Hospice • HomeStyleBoarding.com • H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Evolve) • Karen S. Harkaway, M.D. - The Center for Skin Refinement • Kuzina by Sofia • Lakewood of Voorhees • Lia Sophia • Lighthouse Hospice, Inc. • Lourdes Medical Associates • Lutheran Care at Moorestown • MacKenzie's Family Karate • Mary Kay • Masonic Hospice Services • Metzler DeSantis, LLP • Moorestown Visiting Nurse Association • NJ MENTOR • Omega Institute: School of Medical Careers • Organized Jewelry • Pasta Pomodoro • Performance Health & Chiropractic • Premier OB/GYN of South Jersey, LLC • Primerica Financial Services • Princeton House Behavioral Health • Protocall Homecare • Providence House Domestic Violence Services • Prudential Financial • Rizzieri Salons & Spas • Rooms in Bloom Interior Re-Design & Real Estate Staging • Samaritan Hospice • Scarlette's Infrared Bodywraps • Scent-sations, Inc. • Sciacca's Upholstering & Design Center • Scotch Bonnets Catering • SeniorWise Care Management • Sensational Host Caterers • Silpada • Slumber Parties • Snapple Beverage Corp. • South Jersey Health & Wellness Center • Sun National Bank • Take Shape for Life • Tastefully Simple • Teal Talk on Tour 2009 • The Court Reporting Program at Orleans Technical Institute • The Cove Bridal Dress Salon • The Manor at St. Mary's • The Mona Leeza Spa • The New Leaf Tea Room & Gift Shop • TLC HomeCare Services • Transformations Holistic Learning Center • Upright MRI of Cherry Hill • Vemma • Women's Opportunity Center • Visiting Angels of Central Burlington & Mercer Counties • and more!
November 14, 2009 9 am - 3 pm Hartford School 397 Hartford Road, Mt. Laurel, NJ
Directions to Hartford School: Hartford School is located at 397 Hartford Road in Mount Laurel.
From Route 295 North - Take Exit for Route 38 East towards Mt. Holly.
From Route 295 South - Take Exit for Route 38 West towards Moorestown. Stay to right; take jug-handle for Route 38 East.
From Route 38 East - Right on Hartford Road. Left into Hartford School.
Route 38 West - Take jug-handle for Hainesport-Mount Laurel Road (from Mt. Holly area).Go behind Wolfington Bus Company. Left on Hainesport-Mount Laurel Road. Right on Hartford Road. Right into Hartford School.
For further information, please call 877-403-4334
Have a Great Day
Make This YOUR Best Year Ever
Leander McClain, Burlington /Camden County, NJ Realtor & Real Estate Consultant, Keller Williams Realty, 1814 Route 70 E Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 856-685-1677 Direct
Sometimes it is hard to find the one phone number you are looking for. I decided to post these important phone numbers to help out my fellow Cherry Hill, NJ Residents.
The most important number to remember is 9-1-1. If you have a police or fire emergency, diall 9-1-1
Municipal Building:
Office of the Mayor 488-7878
Cherry Hill Twp Council 488-7892
Animal Control 488-7892
Barclay Farmstead 795-6225
Building Inspections 488-7855
Planning and Zoning 488-7870
Drug & Alcohol Alliance 488-7889
Ombudsman for Disabled 488-4279
Recreation & Adult Ed. 488-7868
Tax Assessor 488-7899
Tax Collector 488-7880
Township Clerk 488-7892
Violations 488-7850
Vital Statistics & Licenses 488-7892
Fire Department:
To report a Fire 9-1-1
Board of Fire Commissioners 795-9805
Administrative Office 795-9805
Fire Prevention Division 795-1340
Logistics 795-1071
Police Department:
Police Emergency 9-1-1
Non-Emergency Dispatch 665-1200
General Police Information 488-7828
Central Records 488-7822
Community Relations 488-7813
Internal Affairs 488-7815
Municipal Court/Violations 488-7850
Investigative Division 488-7833
Services Division 488-7829
Uniform Division Operations 488-7812
Traffic Safety 488-7820
Chief of Police 488-7818
Public School Services:
Administration 429-5600
Diagnostic Services 429-7881
School Health Services 429-7985
Special Education 429-7890
Kingston Elementary 667-0986
Knight Elementary 428-0830
Richard Stockton Elementary 424-1505
Rosa International Middle 616-8787
Sharp Elementary 424-1550
Thomas Paine Elementary 667-1350
Woodcrest Elementary 429-2058
School Age Child Care 429-6564
Superintendent 429-5600
Transportation 489-5851
Public Schools:
Barclay Early Childhood 429-7283
Beck Middle School 424-4505
Bret Harte Elementary 795-0515
Carusi Middle School 667-1220
Clara Barton Elementary 667-3303
Cooper Elementary 424-4554
High School East 424-2222
High School West 663-8006
Horace Mann Elementary 428-1144
James H. Johnson Elementary 428-8848
Joyce Kilmer Elementary 667-3903
Have a Great Day
Make This YOUR Best Year Ever
Leander McClain, Burlington /Camden County, NJ Realtor & Real Estate Consultant, Keller Williams Realty, 1814 Route 70 E Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 856-685-1677 Direct
Applebees will be serving a free meal on Veteran's Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2009 to anyone who served in the military. If you did not serve in the military and know someone who did serve in the military please pass the message on, thanks in advance. The menu for the free meal is on Applebees website, http://www.applebees.com/vetsDay/default.aspx
Available during business hours on November 11, 2009 at participating Applebee's only. Dine-in from limited menu only. Beverages and gratuity not included. Veterans and active duty military simply show proof of military service. Proof of Military serice include
U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card
U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card
Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)
Veterans Organization Card (i.e., American Legion and VFW)
Photograph in uniform
Wearing uniform
To all my fellow Veterans;
Thank You For Your Service
Have a Great Day
Make This YOUR Best Year Ever
Leander McClain, Burlington /Camden County, NJ Realtor & Real Estate Consultant, Keller Williams Realty, 1814 Route 70 E Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 856-685-1677 Direct
When: 22 October 2009 ( Don't worry if you missed the first sessions, you can catch up)
Where: Keller Williams, 1814 Route 70E, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 (No this is not for KW agents only, in fact our group includes agents from several well know firms.)
Time: Thursday Evenings 7-8pm
Why: Keep Reading
If you are willing to ask the question, “How do I take my realestate business to the highest point possible?” ...
THIS SERIES OF ENERGIZING WORKSHOPS IS FOR YOU!
The focus of each sixty minute session is how to apply the life-changing concepts of Gary Keller’s book, The MillionaireRealEstate Agent, to achieve the business and personal results you want.
Join us this Thursday, October 22, 2009 in the Keller Williams Realty Cherry Hill Training Room from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and continuing for 10 weeks.
Please call Dan Magee at 856-321-1212 or email danmagee@kw.com to reserve a spot (space is still available and the book club will be repeated when we get to the end of the 10 weeks).
Required Text: The MillionaireRealEstate Agent. *Copies will be onn hand for purchase.
If you missed the first week and plan on joining us, the required reading is pages 1-46. I hope to see you next week.
Have a Great Day
Make This YOUR Best Year Ever
Leander McClain, Burlington /Camden County, NJ Realtor & Real Estate Consultant, Keller Williams Realty, 1814 Route 70 E Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 856-685-1677 Direct
Can You Please Sell My House For $65,000 More Than My Neighbors?
This weekend, I decided to preview homes for sale in the Point of Woods neighborhood in Cherry Hill, NJ. In order to not be biased, I made appointments without viewing the listing price. Here are some of my general observations of one of the homes I previewed.
The front yard was landscaped with tall grasses. The right side of the yard had a tree stump that was 5 feet in diameter. I later read in the listing that this was "unique" landscaping. The landscaping hid the house and decreased its curb appeal. Many buyers will not get of the car if they don't like the house from the car (trust me; I have had more than my share of buyers in this category). My advice to sellers:
Tone Down Your Landscaping.
Simple and clean is better. What is unique to you may be considered a disaster to buyers.
As I toured the home (circa 1970), it had some wonderful features. The home featured new windows, a remodeled kitchen, 2nd story deck, 5 bedrooms and a dry basement. However, what struck me in a negative way was the amount and placement of the furniture. The formal living room was packed with furniture. It was very difficult to move around the room. The dining room had a very large table (with 2 leaves inserted). The family room also had a lot of furniture plus a treadmill and several other pieces of exercise equipment. Two of the bedrooms on the second floor were being used as offices. The offices were stuffed to the gills with professional journals, the desk was messy and again there was a lot of "stuff" in the rooms. The bedrooms were clean and neat.
My advice to home sellers;
If You Are Moving, Then Move Already.
What I mean is this. The home you are selling is no longer your home. You are showcasing this home in order to find its new owners. The best thing sellers can do is rent a storage unit and move 25-40% of the items out of the home. The formal living room does not need a sofa, loveseat and two chairs. Put the couch in storage. Use only the love seat and maybe 1-2 chairs. You want the room to feel open and spacious. Take the leaves out of the dining room table. Again, you don't want the room to feel cramped. Exercise equipment - In most homes I visit, the exercise equipment is covered with 6 layers of dust. So for the sake of selling your home, put it in storage. The same thing goes for magazines, books, knick knacks, your kid's trophies, pet toys and miscellaneous stuff.
When I walked around this house, I noticed that it had been painted badly. If you are going to sell your home, fresh paint goes a long way towards finding a buyer.
If You Can't Paint, Hire Someone Who Can.
There are plenty of unemployed painters on craigslist looking for a couple of days work.
Now, let's get to the point of this whole story. The listing price of this home was $65,000 more than comparable homes in the neighborhood. Did you hear me?? $65,000 more than comparable homes in the same neighborhood. This home was in one of the worst locations (backed up to a main street and it was noisy). Even though the condition was decent, homes in much better condition were listed for $65,000 less.
Sellers, in today's market, your home will probably not sell above market value. If homes in your neighborhood are selling for $300,000, you will not get $400,000 for your home (I don't care how much you spent in improvements). First of all, buyers will go around the corner and look at the less expensive homes (everybody wants a bargain). Secondly, $400,000 buyers will be shopping in a $400,000 neighborhood.
Finally, as your Realtor and Real Estate consultant, I would refuse to list your house at $65,000 above similar homes. What would that accomplish? How would I be looking out for your best interest? Several months later you home will more than likely not be sold. You will be frustrated and certainly will not want to entertain a $65,000+ price drop. My job as a Realtor is to explain to you the current market. We will get in the car and go look at our competition before we decide at which price to list your home.
Good Luck to all home sellers during this unique market. If you are looking to sell in Burlington or Camden County, NJ, call me and let me explain how I as your Realtor can help make your dreams come true.
Have a Great Day
Make This YOUR Best Year Ever
Leander McClain, Burlington /Camden County, NJ Realtor & Real Estate Consultant, Keller Williams Realty, 1814 Route 70 E Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 856-685-1677 Direct
Learn the In's & Out's of Trulia to help your business and enhance your social media skills. Rudy Bachraty III is the public face and voice of Trulia. If you have followed @trulia on Twitter, you are following Rudy. He is the social media guru at Trulia.com. He also manages Trulia's corporate blog (Social Real Estate Chicago)
Hot buffet & drink specials. Networking & socializing (bring business cards).
All Realtors Welcome
Free workshop ending with Q&A and Neworking Opportunities
$5.00 donations accepted at the door for Chapter With A Heart
Where: Cafe Aldo Lamberti's, Route 70, Cherry Hill, NJ
Time: 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Have a Great Day
Make This YOUR Best Year Ever
Leander McClain, Burlington /Camden County, NJ Realtor & Real Estate Consultant, Keller Williams Realty, 1814 Route 70 E Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 856-685-1677 Direct
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.
What Realtors Can Learn From Soulja Boy Tell Em
Cherry Hill, NJ Important Phone Numbers
Free Veterans Day Meal
Can You Please Sell My House For $65,000 More Than My Neighbors?
Truila.com Workshop
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