Gayle's Blog

Please Vote Help this Little Girl with Cancer and Her Poodle Win!!!!!

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 21:31:22 -0500

Your friendly evening reminder to vote for Mandy and Electra http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/vote.cfm?h=B18298D7A53A5D717D6A1730FB52DE91 Let's make this little 8 year old dealing with cancer a bit happier by seeing her dog's numbers go up like a shooting star !!

See my older blogs for the whole story.

Please Help this Little Girl and Her Poodle It's free!!!!

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:17:06 -0500

Could you please go to the link and vote for this little girl and her Poodle. The Poodle is Electra the mother of my Marilyn but more importantly the family needs the help and the little girl is thrilled with people voting for her Poodle. This is the little girl that I have been trying to help that has brain cancer. Please ask anyone that you know to vote too. Thanks Gayle Bed time for me -- it would be WONDERFUL if all ya'll would take a moment and go over and vote for Mandy & Electra - Please - it only takes a moment and doesn't cost you anything but a moment of your time http://www.cutestdogcompetitio...n.com/vote.cfm?h=B18298D7A53A5D717D6A1730FB52DE91 I'd love to wake up and see her with 2000+ votes in the morning !!!!Read More

Most of you know that I have tried to help this family for a while now. Just go back to last year in my blogs and you will see the full story of the this precious little girl who is fighting brain cancer. This week's contest ends at midnight and you can only vote once per day. If she wins they will get $5000. I dare you to follow the link and look at their picture and not vote. Thanks ahead of time.

Sunshine Cottage on Tellico Lake Vonore, Tn. 37885

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:35:39 -0500

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$349,900 For Sale
Lake: Tellico
MLS # 671962
451 Lakeside Road
Vonore, Tennessee 37885
County: Monroe

(MAP IT with Google)
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These maps may not show the correct location. Contact seller for specific directions.

Escape to this wonderful cottage style home bathed with sunlight. Bright, fresh, with tons of room for the kids and in-laws. Caasual living with a hint of elegance. Great access to the main channel of Tellico lake, a navigable waterway from here to the coast. . The small dock will adequately meet most needs now but special permit in place for extension into the harbor and larger dock. Recent, professional remodel complete with granite, hardwood and tile. Let the sun wash over you as you relax by the lake in this very private setting. Ready for shopping? Dining out? Area flavor is casual and you will still be close enough to Knoxville to do some high stepping or rumaging through the mall. The square footage is deceptively blended to allow this home to feel cozy and yet have plenty of storage and room to breathe. New kitchen apppliances including nice cook surface and separate oven. Multiple decks on quiet part of lake yet so convenient. Escape to your dream. This is it! Everything you could ask for at an unbelievably affordable price. Serenity from every room. Walk out to your private terrace from the family room/theater room downstais. Kids will have their own space or you can have a great entertainment area with private sleeping quarters. Very little needed to add third bath down and a little kitchenette to have a complete in-law suite. Great retirement home or vacation get-a-way. AHS home warranty included. Several marinas and boat ramp close by. Close to Rarity Bay and Tellico Village. 1/4 mile from main channel. Area of expensive homes at an affordable price. May purchase furnished or unfurnished. May offset cost by placing on a rental program. Don't wait on this one. A MUST SEE!

Type:	Home
Bedrooms:	5
Bathrooms:	2
Garage:	Carport
Stories:	2
Sq.Ft.:	3500
Lot Size:	100x300
Year Built:	1986
Fireplaces:	no
Heat/AC:	central electric
Siding:	vinyl/block
Roof:	metal
Yard:	andscaped
Utilities:	100
Property Taxes:	600
Water View?	Yes
Waterfront?	Yes
Water frontage:	100
Virtual Tour:

185 Bat Creek Road, Vonore, TN 37885 LP: $429,000.00

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:46:06 -0500

REDUCED TO SELL! Don't miss out on this beautiful 4 bedroom 3 bath maintenance free ranch offers a open floor plan. Lakefront serenity in a country setting, located minutes away from Rarity Bay & Tellico Village. Two car garage, boat dock, deck, patio & fenced in yard. House comes fully furnished.

Call today to see this great property!

The Best Spot Realty

(423) 785-7768

marinabroker@aol.com

1105 Big Creek Road, LaFollette, TN 37766 LP: $1,195,000

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:22:40 -0500

"The Chalet" Beautiful lakefront home in Big Creek! This house is ideal for a bed & breakfast, multiple family home, or vacation rental has 14 rooms, 7 bedrooms, and 7 baths. Features additional living quarters, basement rec room,handicap accessible & equipped, master bedroom on main level, office/bedroom on main level and more...

Two car attached, off-street parking, on-street parking,boat dock, covered porch,deck,hot tub, patio, sun room, professionally landscaped. This property is a must see!

Call today to view this magnificent property!

LN: 635569

(423)785-7768

The Best Spot Realty

marinabroker@aol.com

135 Fox Lane, LaFollette, TN 37766 LP: $695,000

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:29:55 -0500

The "LIGHTHOUSE" has been updated in the last few years and is absolutely gorgeous. This wonderful 9 room, 3 bed, 4 bath home has one of a kind views of the lake from most rooms. Features picture windows in all rooms facing the lake. Basement bunk-room has sleeping capacity for 6. Decks, sun-room, and over-sized boat dock with 2 slips. Two car attached and carport.

LN# 635593

Call today to view this wonderful property!

The Best Spot Realty

(423)785-7768

marinabroker@aol.com

0 Columbus Landing, Delano, TN LP: $249,000

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 18:19:57 -0600

On Hiawassee River 900' of frontage. Excellent building sites. Driveway is deeded access to subject and neighbor. Also, boat ramp is for common use of subject and neighbor. Park like setting. Scenic water front view. Electric is available.

MLS #1115777-LAN-Rural

Call for your appointment today!

The Best Spot Realty

(423) 785-7768

marinabroker@aol.com

$79900 8 Plus Acres Available- 0 County 875

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 18:00:01 -0600

8 acres surveyed from larger 620 acre tract with a great mountain view. More acreage available @ $9000 per acre. Buyer selects property and it will be surveyed prior to closing. This property adjoins Cherokee National Forest. Land is partially cleared and graded. Would be great for a ranch, vacation property, or primary residence. Would also make a great mini farm. There is electric and city water at the street. Also cable and telephone. Location is close to a winery, white water rafting, and hiking and is 1/2 mile from Hwy.

LN: 641867 Call to see this great piece of property today!

The Best Spot Realty (423) 785-7768

marinabroker@aol.com

$269000 700 SHANGHAI LANDING LN Lafollette, TN

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:49:48 -0600

This lovely 2 story 5 room, 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo in The Pointe at Shanghi gated community has beautiful lakefront views in well established community minutes from several marinas. There is 2 covered steel and concete slips, concrete boat ramp, swimming pool and clubhouse. Below market value fees of $175.00 per month paid bi-annually. Rental history approximately $14,000 per season. 30 year roof in 2003, painted in 2007 completely turn key with all furnishings including tv's, linens, utensils, and gas grill. No upcoming assessments. These condos are very sought after and most do not make it to market! Call to view this wonderful condo today! LN: 633277 The Best Spot Realty (423) 785-7768 marinabroker@aol.com

Hiwassee River Ranch -- River front property at it's best!

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:34:41 -0600

UPDATE: Hiwassee River Ranch will be comprised of all 5 acre tracts with paved roads and gated entrance. After much consultation, consulting and consideration, what has been decided is that the Hiwassee River Ranch property would be best utilized and more consistent with customer demands, if it were to be a total community of 5 acre tracts. A well will be included in the sales price and provided by the developer. It continues to have an equine theme; however, there will be more limited common amenities. It has been public consensus that people would rather have a small acreage tract where they would be able to keep horses and construct their own facilities to their liking. In consideration of that, the developer will provide riding trails and one smaller common area for the homeowner's association to use as they see fit. There are some outstanding tracts in this community, however, there is something special on every tract in the community. Whether you wish water front, water view or Mountain View, you will not be disappointed! Prices start at $99,000 for off water tracts and range to $249,000 for the prime water front spots. Many very nice units will be available in the $125,000-$150,000 range. There will also be two cabin builders available to provide you with a complete land/home package if you choose that option. Homes and structures will be restricted to log, log siding or stone facade. This will be a great place for a second home or to retire. For more information, please call me. There will be a 10% discount for those who purchase prior to the road being paved. In the meantime, please enjoy the scenery.

Call The Best Spot Realty today!

(423)785-7768

marinabroker@aol.com

8513 W Crabtree Rd, Soddy Daisy, TN LP:144,000

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:56:04 -0600

Nice 9 room, 3 bed, 2 bath ranch is move in ready with new paint, carpet, and hardwoods refinished. Gas log fireplace in the livingroom. Property has over an acre of land with an extra acreage available. There is a large electrified workshop 28x36 2 bays 9' and 13'. Under market value!!

MLS # 1120785-RES-res

Call for a showing today!

The Best Spot Realty

(423) 785-7768

marinabroker@aol.com

9129 Rocky Point Road, Lakesite, TN LP $349,000

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:58:25 -0600

This gorgeous 11 room, 4 bed, 3 1/2 bath with winter water view in a waterfront community is priced to sell at $349,000. Kitchen has all the amenities along with beautiful cherry cabinetry and granite counter tops. There is a spacious dining room and work out room with den. Master bedroom is on the main level. Master bath has separate shower and walk in closet. Oversized 2 car garage with storage space. Fresh paint throughout the house. Community launch, tennis courts, and swimming pool. Great location and schools. Close to boating, fishing, and several golf courses. This brick front beauty with a nice screened in porch and oversized lot is move in ready.

Call Gayle today for your appointment to see this wonderful home!

Gayle Babalan,Best Spot Realty, (423) 785-7768

10 Things You Will Notice After the Real Estate Market Has Bottomed

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:22:27 -0600

You've asked, he's answered!

Via Marc Rasmussen - Sarasota FL Real Estate (Michael Saunders and Company):

1. Lower supplies

Real estate isn't rocket science. If you have too much inventory without an increase in demand prices will fall. That has been the case the last 3 years. In order for a bottom to occur we need lower supplies. After the bottom has hit supply and demand graphs will resemble the markets prior to 2003.

2. People stop talking about real estate

Foreclosures, the housing bubble and collapse won't be the topic of so many conversations. You won't go into the gym or a restaurant and overhear real estate horror stories.

3. Real estate isn't as newsworthy

You will be able to listen to the nightly news or read a newspaper without seeing or hearing "foreclosure."

4. Optimism

You will see more people smiling because they are more optimistic about their future.

5. Investors will be looking to buy real estate again

Real estate prices will be low enough to attract long term investors back into the market. The numbers will make sense again. Rental income in relation to prices will become more attractive. In Sarasota, Florida I am getting more calls from investors.

6. Lending guidelines will have loosened a bit

Most people need to borrow money to buy homes. If we can't borrow we can't buy. I have heard stories recently about people with 700+ credit scores and plenty of assets who are having trouble getting financing. That won't be the case forever.

7. The bulk of foreclosures have already hit the market

Foreclosures won't end. We had them before the boom and we will always have them. The problem we have now is a foreclosure snowball. It needs to stop before the bottom will set in. The market will either do it for us through lower prices or the government will get their bailout plan right and get it stopped.

8. Greed will come back

More people will have the hope and optimism that real estate prices will increase and that they can actually make money on real estate again. Greed will resurface and you will see more people taking risks. People won't forget about the real estate bust so the greed won't get out of hand.

9. Stability

You probably won't see such wild swings in the stock market. Things will be a bit more stable.

10. Wiser

Everyone will be a little bit wiser because of this real estate bust. It will be a long time before people forget (or ignore) what happened. Perhaps it will take a generation. We will all come out of this a little more cautious.

New York Feng Shui--What IS Mt. Misery on Long Island? (LOCALISM FEATURED)

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:20:19 -0600

Another great post from Carole, Feng Shui Long Island.

Via Carole Provenzale Owner, Feng Shui Long Island & New York (Feng Shui Long Island & New York City):

A New York Feng Shui Consultant Explores “Hauntings”

Whenever people think of “A Haunting” in relation to Long Island—just 45 minutes from New York City they automatically think of The Amityville Horror House. Made famous by a book and movie of the same name, it claimed that a house located in Amityville Long Island was haunted due to the terrible incident in the home.

An entire family murdered—it later revealed that one of the sons, Ronald DeFao had killed his entire family while they were sleeping. Although most New York Feng Shui Consultants believe very much in Predecessor Energy, I believe this later turned out to be a hoax.

There IS one place on Long Island New York that I have visited once before and tend to stay away from. It was the earliest stories of Hauntings I’d ever heard as a child. I went once at night and found the place SO eerie, I had never traveled the road again. Until recently.

I am speaking of Mt. Misery Road located in Huntington New York. Mt. Misery did NOT get it’s NAME from the Haunting, it was actually called that from earlier settlers who found the roads too difficult to travel on. Some people say there are UFO’s there. Many have seen ghosts wandering around in the darkness. The road at night is completely dark and very narrow---actually there is nothing to indicate the END of the road except a piece of wood---pretty easy to miss.

There are also reported to be “Men in Black” there. Residents report seeing these men quite often, and they are always spotless….even in the rain they are reported to be dry. History says there was a hospital on the grounds at one time. Some say it was a psychiatric hospital that burned down, reportedly taking the residents with it. In the end, Mt. Misery is best known for “MARY’S GRAVE.” The ghost of Mary who is buried nearby and died a tragic death on the road, she now refuses to leave. She is said to be a being who is earthbound. Say what you will, Long Island has it’s share of Haunted Areas. It’s interesting that many of my photos from that day DID not come out…..hmmmm.

These are the ones that did:

The Long and Winding Road...

Cheery Sign Post

Three Sixes--Painted on the poles

Shoes?

The Woods...

The End...No Warning and No Lights.

If you're ever inclined to visit Mt. Misery Road in Huntington Long Island--bring your GPS. And lights!

http://www.FengShuiLongIsland.com

Carole Provenzale and Laura Cerrano founded Feng Shui Long Island & New York in 1997 and provide Feng Shui Consultations onsite for New York City - Manhattan - and all of Long Island for Homes, Offices, Retail, Businesses, Renovations, Studios & Condos, Renovations and New Construction. Also available for workshops and lectures and works closely with Realtors to assist in the sale of homes.

Corporate Evasion of Minimum Wage Standards

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:27:36 -0600

You know the type. No menu. Pay one price. Eat all you want. I am sure that there are several chains no matter where in the country you happen to be and they all operate similarly. You stand in line, pay, get a tray and a drink and then find a table. A waitress comes and takes your tray and checks your ticket. There are multiple food bars set up around the place. Some have desserts, some entrees, some fruits and some specialty items. You are treated more or less like cattle going through a corral. Hey, that's the name of one of them here, Golden Corral. I was there today. I seldom go, but, just was there and it was easy. I regretted it the minute I walked through the door. My biggest objection?

These places are so obviously set up as self serve by design. That is the draw and they are not cheap either for those that tend to eat normal portions. They have waitresses, but, not what I would truly consider servers. To me they are more like busboys in dresses. There are never males doing this job. Their primry purpose I believe is to restock and clean much like the one sweeping dust into the air at the table next to me while I was trying to eat.

These people are not well paid by any means, of this I am sure. They make waitress wages which are less than half of minimum wage. But are they truly waitresses? I think not. Although I feel sorry for them I refuse to enable the corporations that run these places to get by with paying cheap wages. If the public stops leaving tips for next to no service, then the places won't attract anyone to work at $2.50 or so an hour. This would force them to pay at least minimum wages to keep help. These people make meager tips when they are left and they truly are kitchen help not servers. I refuse to tip at these places on principle and I am usually a generous tipper. Yes I feel torn and feel sorry for the poor person, however, usually they are not well trianed, do little in the way of serving, and by leaving a tip I am merely subsidizing the restaurants payroll for kitchen help. Not me. No way. This, in my opinion, is just a clever way for the corporations to evade minimum wage standards because they arrange for the "girl" to take your tray away. What say you?

Real Estate Diner

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 05:08:29 -0600

O.K. A while back I wrote about some of my new inspirations for my business and I alluded to a far out new concept that I was trying to formulate. Here goes the rough draft. The pieces aren't filled in yet.

What would anyone think of a 50's era commercial building, I envision an old roller skating rink, movie theater or bowling alley, configured to be a consortium of zones 50's style with a modern twist. A small town, Mayberry feel. An old fashioned malt shop with counter and few tables, a juke box, maybe a barber's chair in one corner, arcade games; just a few. A desk with a small informal work area. Maybe some local art work or craafts placed and hung about. A small boutique type section with unusual items. An old phone booth or two. All of this would be open, accessible and be configured to provide wi-fi and would be free except for merchandise and refreshments. I would give someone else the right to operate all of the revenue generating centers except of course, the real estae part. That would be the desk in the corner. People could come and hang out. read. Play checkers, get a cold drink or a cup of coffee. Of course it would be my primary real estate location and would lend itself to small toen meeting type seminars or larger classes. I am certain discussions would take place and it would give old timers a place to hang. I would decorate the place in 50's decor with local memorabilia and maps, photos etc. I think that it would be a warm, friendly and inviting plce for people to come and to of course discuss real estae. I am still formulating this one, but, I like it nd I definitely believe that it has promise. What do you think of this concept?

ActiveRain Mission Statement: Help us create it

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:40:48 -0600

I guess that this means you!

Via Jonathan Washburn (ActiveRain Corp):

I asked our team to come up with a mission statement today. Although they were not very happy with the short deadline, on a Friday no less, they all pitched in and came up with some good ideas. Now I am taking these ideas to our membership to help us refine what we currently have and hopefully eventually derive at the perfect statement that crystallizes where we will take our network.

The only parameters that I established was that it must be shorter than 30 words.

Here are some of the possibilities our team came up with:

1. ActiveRain is the Leading Social Network for Real Estate Professionals whose primary goal is to provide an effective platform that allows its member to generate quality consumer-oriented content, establishing their role as a knowledgeable local expert, and connecting them with potential clients.

2. To allow real estate professionals to connect with consumers by highlighting their real estate expertise and local knowledge while learning techniques that will make them successful in today's market.

3. ActiveRain is a Social Network that enables real estate professionals to connect with consumers and exchange ideas with peers through dynamic conversations about their local markets and personal expertise.

4. As the largest and fastest growing Professional Real Estate Network in the Country, it's our mission to provide a secure and professional platform for our members, and to be the Industry Leader in the markets we serve.

5. To help real estate professionals grow their careers, connect with peers and customers, and become respected local experts.

6. ActiveRain: for when life moves you to connect, share, and grow.

Mike, one of our developer's, offered this note along with his mission statement submission. I think he is very insightful so I am passing it onto you as a bonus of sorts:

"Our members clearly believe participating in ActiveRain is good for their careers. They're right. When they take an active part in our service (ActiveRain), they establish relationships with others in the industry, create a body of work through their blog entries, learn occupational tips and tricks, receive encouragement, get inspired, establish a reputation, even get occasional leads. As long as we help them to achieve these things for themselves, we'll be successful and well-regarded.

Maybe everything else is just a means to an end."

Another Rescue-Teddy Bear's Story and C.P.R.

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:36:56 -0600

A little mini Poodle named Teddy Bear ended up in the Carolina Poodle Rescue a few years back through no fault of his. Now, sadly, at 91/2 years old he is returning; again, through not fault of his. It seems tha this adopted mother died and he found himself homeless again. Poor baby sitting in a shelter in Missouri. Well once again C.P.R. www.CarolinaPoodleRescue.org is coming to his rescue as they would do for any of their own. A long and intricate journey involving more than 10 volunteers will be taking him from the shelter back to a safe place in Pacolet, South Carolina, tomorrow. The tireless volunteers would never see him whither way in a far away shelter, especially the director Donna or the transportation coordinator Bunny who work tireless hours for no pay. The C.P.R. is a federally registered non profit. Any donation is tax deductible. I know these people and on occasion have helped them with transportation and through direct donation of cash. If you have it in your heart to help a wayward Poodle, why not call or email them and offer to be put on their transport list or donate some cash or other items to them. Their name is deceptive; they have rescued other breeds frequently and they are not limited to South Carolina. I have known of rescues that they performed that reached to all the corners of the country. If you are in the area, they love visitors too.

Blog Tips for Rain Drips

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:52:31 -0600

Need I say more?

Via Rich Jacobson ~ ActiveRain Community Builder (ActiveRain Corporation):

The following archived articles are from a series I began a while back entitled "Blog Tips for Rain Drips" and were designed to provide needed instruction in the finer points of blogging/social media, and to help our members derive the most benefits/value from their involvement here on ActiveRain.

"And the Password is!".....

"When I Search My Name, Nothing Comes Up!"

"Don't Turn Your Blog into a Refrigerator Magnet!"

"Would You like a Side of SPAM with those Comments?"

"How to Balance Your Blog"

"When in Doubt, Read the Instructions!"

"Rain-Vitations: Your Ticket to a Higher Score"

"Bring Back that Loving Feeling: Building Community"

"How to Kreate Kwality Kontent"

"How to Engage Your Blog Readers"

"Forgive me, Father, it's been 3 weeks since my last blog post!"

"Is Your Blog a Brick Wall?"

"When is Your Blog like a Toxic Waste Dump?"

"The 3 Powerful 'P's' of Posting"

"What is Comment Junk Mail SPAM?"

"How to Sabotage Your Own Blog"

"But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express"

"Roxanne, Glamor Shots, and Casper the Ghost"

"Is it possible to be TOO Transparent?"

"Monsters in the Blogosphere"

"What is a Straffing Run Blogger?"

"Playing Fair in the Blogging SandBox"

A Feng Shui Consultant's JOURNEY to 300,000 Points on Activerain

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:50:24 -0600

A beloved friend and member. ALways has something to contribute.

Via Carole Provenzale Owner, Feng Shui Long Island & New York (Feng Shui Long Island & New York City):

Activerain: A Feng Shui Consultant's Journey to 300,000 Points

If ANYONE had told me in October, 2006 that I would EVER reach this milestone (or still be on this site), I would have NEVER believed them. NEVER! This post should be dedicated to my friends but the group specifies it has to be about the JOURNEY....and what a Journey it has been!

Although I signed on at that time, having found a blog and going to the source to "check it out" I stumbled on JUST ANOTHER SITE. So I thought. I signed up and didn't think about it again for a few months. I had a big presentation for The Long Island Board of Realtors on both Feng Shui and Home Staging to present-and I put all my Energy into putting it together.

Coming back, I decided to just introduce myself; With something PROFOUND of course. I believe the title of my first post was "Hi All." Suffice to say it didn't go over very well. Neither did my next post about Home Staging and Feng Shui. I did get one comment from our very own Val Allocco who welcomed me to the site and lived nearby.

While Feng Shui is commonplace in New York, I didn't realize it wasn't even KNOWN elsewhere-or that there were some very serious misconceptions about it-AND the Consultants that practice it.

After posting for a while, I seriously considered getting off Activerain. I'd had no comments (although I DID have a few not very nice emails asking me to leave). I don't know why I persisted to be honest. Maybe just because I hate giving up---or maybe it was more. IF I could GET PEOPLE TO READ ME, MAYBE I COULD CLEAR UP SOME OF THOSE MISCONCEPTIONS.

I started posting to other groups-and started getting comments. I was stirring an interest with just a few people-and then a few more. When my posts got featured is when people noticed me-many wrote they didn't even KNOW a Feng Shui Consultant was on this site.

Business picked up--and up. But that isn't what keeps me here. As big as Activerain has gotten, we are FAMILY. Who help each other out and truly DO care about one another.

Through UPS and DOWNS I have received support, encouragement and help. And have sent lots of blessings and continue to do so to all those that have helped me along the way. Bless you all, each one of you is Precious to me.

There IS a Feng Shui Consultant on Activerain! My advice to anyone just starting out on here---it can begin as a lonely road but DON'T GIVE UP. Those who are meant to find you will. And remember some of my mother's favorite words:

"If you want to HAVE A FRIEND, YOU HAVE TO BE ONE."

Blessings to every SINGLE one of you who has helped me along the way....I would not be here if it weren't for you.



I thought I'd leave a few of my favorite posts during the last two years on ActiveRain.

FUN Feng Shui in New York City: What ELSE does a Feng Shui Consultant do?   What incredible things you find in New York City!

Let's Talk About Predecessor Energy: A Feng Shui Post from Feng Shui Long Island   What you SHOULD know about Energy in Homes.

Can LOCALISM Posts Actually HURT You? Today I got my answer.....   Why I belive in being REAL.

Mirror, Mirror----WAIT! Don't Hang Me Yet!! by Feng Shui Long Island   Any questions about Mirrors?

Some Posts Just HIT You REALLY HARD By Feng Shui Long Island

FENG SHUI EYES by Feng Shui Long Island, New York City   Another way to see the World

What's in the HEART of Your Home? UPDATED! A Feng Shui Home in Pictures..... Health issues in a home---You Can SEE them.

Activerain: BENEFITS VS. RISKS   Just because it was so much FUN to write :)

http://www.FengShuiLI.com

*Carole Provenzale has been a Certified Feng Shui Consultant since 1997 and is the Founder of Feng Shui Long Island providing Feng Shui Consultations for all of New York City and Long Island and Online/Phone Consultations for those at a distance for homes, offices, businesses, corporations, renovations, and new construction.

Facebook Friend Status Updates RSS Feed

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:36:16 -0600

Via Renee Crabtree (My Assistant):

I can't get the time to log in to Facebook throughout the day but I want to know what my friends are up to. Logging in at the end of the day requires me to browse through perhaps 100 updates. I get lost. I get behind.

Well what did I find today?

Facebook provides an RSS feed for your friend statuses. This allows you to see all updates to Facebook without having to log in or keep Facebook open.

Log in to Facebook.
Click on ‘Friends'.
In the left-hand column you will find a ‘Subscribe to this feed' option.
Click on the link and you will be taken to the feed page.
Click on the subscription link and voila, you've got a feed.

Now how do you view your feed?

There are several ways but probably the easiest will be through Internet Explorer. You know how to access your favorites? That's how you get your feeds as well. Click on your little Favorites star and then click on the orange ‘Feeds' icon. That will display the feeds you are subscribed to. Click on the Facebook Status Feed and you will be taken to the list of all updates.

Stage It BEFORE You List It

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:31:35 -0600

Via Claudia Jacobs, Decorating, Staging (Claudia Jacobs Designs LLC, Goshen, NY):

Quick tips from Claudia Jacobs

Stage It BEFORE You List It

Listing a house before staging is like going to a business meeting in your bathrobe and slippers.

The first 5 to 10 days a house is on the market is the time of the most foot traffic between buyers, agents and brokers. More people will tour the property in the beginning so why not show the property at its best.

Gary Keller may be a familiar name. In his book The Millionaire Real Estate Agent, Gary states the first step in the "Basic Fourteen Step Marketing Plan for Listings" as staging and pricing strategies.

Sure staging will help if you wait 30, 60, 90 or more days to help market the house but the house is no longer a fresh listing. A house for sale draws most of its potential buyers during the first ten days on the market. Why gamble by not making a great first impression?

Ideally the best time to stage is months before the house goes on the market and that is my typical staging client, the homeowner who is going to sell in the near future. As a realtor, including staging in your presentation, just as you would a home inspector is smart marketing and sets you apart as someone who has the best interest of your client. It also shows you are up to speed on current marketing strategies which will help you get the listing.

Claudia of Claudia Jacobs Designs is a decorator specializing in Real Estate Staging. Read Claudia's Corner every Sunday in the Times Herald Record. Contact info: 845-294-8993, www.claudiajacobsdesigns.com.

January is Radon Awareness Month in Michigan

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:30:19 -0600

Be wre! Explain to your clients.

Via Tami Vroma~~ Greater Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate (~~Five Star Real Estate~~Your West Michigan Specialist):

January is radon awareness month in Michigan. How do I know? Because I just had one of my buyers perform a radon inspection on their potential brand new house . . . . and guess what? The levels were at 15.7 which is almost four times the legal limit.

What does this mean? It means the builder will have to install a system of venting the gas out. It is a relatively easy fix but it MUST be done. Much like your furnace that emits carbon monoxide and is vented out, the radon gas can also be safely vented out. Check out this cool animation that explains radon and how it is vented out HERE.

Many don't even know what radon is. Simply put, radon is a gas by-product of the breakdown of uranium. The gas gets into the soil and it comes up through the foundation of a home. Be aware that radon could care less if your home is 100 or newly built. Every home should be tested before purchase. If you have never done a radon test on your home, HERE is a list of agencies who provide the kits for free.

Take radon seriously. The EPA estimates that 21,000 people per year die from lung cancer caused by radon gas. Would you allow your furnace to run and emit that CO2? Of course NOT!! So if your test comes up positive, just get it taken care of! So how do they do it? This website HERE has some great pictures that explain how the venting system works.

My clients asked an interesting question with regard to radon that I had never heard asked before. How does radon effect your water if you have a well? Hmmm good question I had never thought of. What did cross my mind right away was the fact that radon is a gas so I didn't think it would have anything to do with it. But I want to watch out for the best interest of my client and my thoughts on the this matter don't really count! I wanted to talk to a professional on the subject!

So my first call was to the Kent County Health Department. I talked to sanitarian specialist, Steve Petrides who told me that in some areas of the world, radon is a concern in the water--Michigan is not one of them!!! He went into a long explanation which was way over my head but what it came down to was that the concentrations are extremely small. For further explanation you would need to call him!

Here are some more Radon Links

Radon FAQ

Radon Spotlight

Disclaimer: This blog is written by a real estate agent and is no way intended to be used to make serious decisions regarding radon. It is recommended you call your health department and speak to them directly.

Pictures used by permission of RadonGrandRaids

There's Attraction & Then There's Action

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:04:55 -0600

This is it! Tamara has nailed it. heed if you want to thrive!

Via Tamara "The Real Estate Therapist" Dorris (Top Producing Techniques ):

After so many years of research, study, teaching and counseling in things very much related to how our powerful minds play such a fundamental role in our daily performances, I've got a bone to pick. Hence, I thought I would write this post (the accompanying video below) to air my grievances for all to see.

I'm being general here, but essentially there seems to be two schools of thought when it comes to today's topic.

School One:

"Hog wash."

"Yeah, right."

"You heathen!" (yes, I really did have a Los Angeles broker say that to me when he read a review copy of my new book)

School Two:

"Coooooool! I can just sit and meditate on buyers dropping into my lap from the universal powers that be."

"Hey, I just visualized a million bucks in the bank, you want fries with that?"

So what I'm saying is that when I mention the "Law of Attraction" which I try not to anymore, people either think I'm an ariy-fairy-meditating-head-case who just wants to make folks feel good, darn it. (not) OR, they assume I am the Messiah teaching them magical tricks to manifest millions. (not).

But here's the skinny:

Napoleon Hill wrote "Think and Grow Rich" way back when my mom was in diaper, and businessmen the world over sang his praises. Have you read that book? Hill talks about his "invisible" friends and discusses how he masterminded with dead folks. And I'm weird? Okay, DEFINITELY not knocking Hill. His book changed my life and eventually led me to write my most recent masterpiece, "Think & Get Rich in Real Estate Sales." However, some still don't take it seriously...and I'm not saying this is a gender thing (or is it?). Allow me to explain the TRUTH behind how all this works, as far as I understand it.

First of all, let me clarify that I've got a masters degree in communication, an undergrad in psychology, worked with the California Association of Realtors for several years, and am a college professor. And for 20 years I have studied the power of the mind, human behavior, the science of success & motivation, quantum physics and brain biology (how many of you know what your amagdyla does?) so that said, I am NOT a woo woo heathen (a trouble maker at times, granted).

The law of attraction works on subtle energy fields in part, on via the subconscious mind the rest of the way. Our subconscious mind determines our behavior, and the Asian cultures have been studying and applying subtle energy fields for approximately 4,000. If it didn't work, dontcha think they'd stop it?

BUT HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!!!

You cannot WISH yourself rich or healthy or thin. You cannot sit on your duff all day and expect it to rain prospects. You cannot Twitter for ten hours a day and expect leads will fall into place. You MUST TAKE ACTION.

Lights, Camera...

You have to take action. Intelligent, positive, productive action. Nothing happens until something moves. You can create vision boards, meditate, say affirmations till your tongue falls off, and guess what? Without some kind of action, you will NOT get the results you want. Period. End of story.

The Good News

The good, no make the GREAT, news is that when you understand how all of this works together, your powerful mind with your well-intended actions can literally create miracles. Okay, so you won't necessarily be able to move mountains or walk on water, but c'mon, I'm going for dramatic effect here. Your mind and emotions are veritable magnets. Like attracts like. You get what you think about. What you focus on expands.

But Ya Gotta Take Action!

Watch this video I made, just for your viewing pleasure!

ActiveRain from 97 feet up

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:40:22 -0600

Via Jonathan Washburn (ActiveRain Corp):

ActiveRain moves fast. So fast that I know of only a few people who really have a clear picture of everything that ActiveRain has to offer. AR is now averaging a site upgrade at least once a week. To put that in proper context, most software companies are on a quarterly or 1/2 yearly deployment schedule.

We've done five separate deploys in the last 10 days alone, so I thought it would be beneficial to do a high level overview of the different products and services available on ActiveRain, while focusing on our core business components.

1. Blogging: There is a major shift from the traditional way real estate is marketed and blogging represents this new paradigms epicenter.

In the past advertising options included post cards and newspaper advertising with canned messages, listing magazines with latent information, nothing that provided any real testament to who the real estate professional really is. ActiveRain continues to evolve a social media publishing (or blog) platform where real estate professionals can share their expertise and knowledge while creating a conversation with potential clients.

Our blogging platform will focus on empowering our members to syndicate their data to as many consumers as possible, involving integration with other highly trafficked sites. Some of the sites I would like to see us work close with this year include: the major real estate brokerages, Zillow, Trulia, Yahoo, and Microsoft.

(This feature of ActiveRain is Free)

2. Referral Exchange: Best ActiveRain resource that you haven't heard of.

The basic premise behind the Referral Exchange is, you guessed it, a marketplace where real estate professionals can exchange referrals with ease and efficiency. We launched it over a year ago without much fanfare as a fix for the frustration I experienced when needing to personally refer business out of state. Finding a hard working and appreciative professional was a lot harder than it should have been. The Exchange recently reappeared on my radar after I heard a series of fantastic success stories.

Using the Referral Exchange is simple and free.

Once a referral is added to the system an email is sent to all members on ActiveRain that have an alert set up that matches the parameters of the referral. New members are setup with a basic referral alert at registration. To change your alert settings click here

(This feature of ActiveRain is Free)

In the next few months we plan to implement a new element to the Referral Exchange product that will require all outbound referrals to be screened before it hits the board to eliminate any spam.

3. Profile: You don't get a second chance to make a first impression...

For those who don't believe in the power of the ActiveRain profile, take a moment and Google your name. Unless it's Brad Pitt, (or you've been on ActiveRain for just a short while) you will likely find your ActiveRain profile on Page 1 of your search results. And even if it doesn't show up on page 1, it's information that consumers are highly interested in. Take time to make your profile read and look beautiful. When I practiced real estate I always considered myself unemployed and on a never-ending quest to find a new job. Your profile is your resume. Treat it with the respect it deserves.

(This feature of ActiveRain is Free)

4. Individual & Team Blogs: Almost 10 years ago I created the first Search Engine Optimized IDX website that used listing content to generate long tail search results. This innovation eventually allowed my team of real estate agents to generate over 5,000 leads a month and sell well over $100 million dollars in real estate a year.

I believe our new ActiveBlogs are as powerful today as my SEO IDX website was back when I first created it. If used correctly, ActiveBlogs have the potential to revolutionize personal, team, office, and/or niche real estate production.

The core value proposition of our blogs is an infrastructure that we call RAIndexing, or "Real Area Indexing". Simply put, your blog turns into a long tail Search Engine Optimized website. Similar in nature to the SEO IDX website, the primary difference being the IDX website uses static listing content whereas ActiveBlogs utilize much more potent unique, fresh content.

We have a giant office whiteboard full of improvements that will continuously be released for the ActiveBlog platform. For example, we just added the ability for people to add a Listing Router search widget to ActiveBlogs. In the next few weeks look for "New Theme Friday's", and a widget integration. To sign up for an ActiveBlog click here.

(ActiveBlogs cost $19/mo and $79/mo for an Individual and Team license respectively)

5. Localism: Localism is designed to be the worlds most complete Neighborpedia.

Members may sponsor communities, cities and even sub-divisions on Localism. The concept is based on a verb we call "localised", which is the process of adding location based meta-data to content, whether it be text, pictures or video. The website is designed to exclusively feature 'hyper-local' real estate information for consumers. Focused hyper-local content from an established and trusted website ranks inherently high on search engine result pages, like Google

Localism thus becomes a powerful resource for real estate professionals because it allows them to leverage their very local knowledge of a given area to potential clients that otherwise wouldn't know about unless they visited the area personally with a seasoned guide in tow.

The long overdue feature of making Localism open for consumer and local merchant contribution is scheduled on our internal project board for completion in the next 30 days. Relative content from local neighbors and businesses coupled with real estate professionals knowledge and expertise will benefit all participants, providing an engaging and comprehensive experience. I'm confident that the sponsoring professional will reap the substantial rewards Localism was meant to provide from conception.

(Localism sponsorships are less than $10/mo per sponsorship. Price breaks are available with multiple sponsorships)

6. Listing Router: Leads are dead; 2009 is all about the "click".

Early in the decade well-funded companies utilized marketing budgets and technology that was largely out of reach to individual real estate professionals to generate huge quantities of 'leads' at a much lower cost than an individual was able to. Many real estate professionals felt that they got burned by these lead generation companies as a result of excessive long term contracts and poor conversion rates. As a result the concept of buying a lead conjures up a foul taste for most practitioners in the industry.

Today, many of these lead capture technologies have become cost effective and subsequently made their way into the hands of individual practitioners. As these points have crossed, a fast growing alternative to 'lead reselling' has manifested called click marketing. Our entrance into this field is a product we call Listing Router. Foundationally Listing Router is very simple: ActiveRain members can buy clicks from ActiveRain consumer traffic and route them to specific locations (web-pages) of their choice. We've taken a novel approaches with Listing Router by sharing a portion of the click revenue with the member who's post and content drove the traffic.

In the future we hope to become the central market place where real estate professionals buy clicks, and Search Engine Marketers sell clicks. To set up your Listing Router account click here.

(Clicks range in price from $.89 to $3.89 per click. AR members with high point total are automatically given discounts on the per click price.)

Bonus: Spellcheck: This has been the cause of almost as much headache to ActiveRain members as has been the dreaded Proxy Errors. In the future we plan to add the words: blog, Localism, Raindex, and ActiveRain, to our dictionary. It irritates us as well. For some reason this is not an easy technical fix.