Blue60 Blog & IllinoisHouseHunter Blog

VOTE - IT'S YOUR RIGHT!!

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:41:29 -0600

It's amazing how a little thing like checking a box can feel so good. Today is the day that we can choose those politcians that will screw up our lives even more. Wait, did I say that out loud? I mean...it's the day we can choose who will represent us. And if we don't like them - we can vote them out in the next election! Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's the media hype - but I can't help but feel excited about voting today. I was so excited, as a matter of fact - that I decided to walk to my polling place. Okay, i'ts less than a mile away - but it's the symbolism of taking charge of my rights as an american. Whether your a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or Greenie (is that what they're called?).... MAKE SURE YOU VOTE!!!

I heard the builder is going bankrupt - is it true?

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:10:25 -0500

It's the ultimate American Dream. Build a house from the ground up and create a home that is uniquely yours. Pick out the model, the trim, the paint colors, the carpet. As if there weren't enough to think about - now there's another wrench in the works. Builders are going bankrupt.

Big or Small - no builder is immune from the crunch of our current economic crisis. But not all builders are created equal. Just like homeowners -some are fine and some have overextended themselves. They have too many homes built, too much money out on materials, too many loans. Last year one of Illinois Biggest Builders "Newuman Homes" went bankrupt. Reading the headlines is like watching a soap opera. What happens to the earnest money? What about the the warranty? The Parks? The Roads? Yes - who will finish building the roads.
So what can you do protect yourself as a prospective home buyer? Now more than ever - it's time to do your homework - or let your REALTOR do it for you ;) - here are a few tips:

Cruise the public notice section in the local paper and see if any foreclosure listings or liens are listed against any local builders.
Ask the builder if he will put your deposit in an escrow. One prospective buyer I spoke to asked for this - and the builder said no. Check out this blog from Phil Hutson in Austin Texas who gives some great tips on what you can expect when you put down that deposit.
Work with a Realtor who knows the area. Sure, sounds like a blatant REALTOR plug - but that's part of what we do. We tour new homes, read the real estate section - and gossip! So we know what's happening - and what might be happening.
Read the blogs. Whether it's fact-or-fiction you can bet someone is writing about it on the web. Search the builders name and see what comes up.
Check Builder-implode.com and BuilderOnline.com which have been regularly reporting on the financial status of builders.
Read the contract before signing it. THE ENTIRE CONTRACT! That's right - no skipping over the fine print. Read every detail and know what you're getting yourself into.
Get legal advice. Many homeowners never think to use an attorney for a new construction purchase. Now more than ever it makes sense to talk to an attorney and discuss the "what ifs" before you take the leap.
Last, but not least - check out this builder punch list from Trey Langford in Boise, Idaho. After finding this blog on the web - I decided I couldn't say it any better than he did!

Bo Buchanan, Kettley Realtors 58 Chicago Rd, Oswego IL. 60543 (630) 846-4663

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WebHomeOfTheWeek.com - Amazing Yorkville Custom Brick Ranch!

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:29:46 -0500

It's time for another Web Home of the Week! Actually, way overdue - it's been awhile since I've done one. But once you see this house - you'll know why I can't resist. Yes - it's my listing this time. I've actually sold a house for this couple once before. MAN - they know how to build a house! Want n example? Take a look at the picture below:

Okay...you're saying to yourself "it's a bathroom, big deal" right? Well, this is the basement bathroom. It has marble floors, marble countertop, tub and shower combo w/tiled surround. There's even a chandelier - yes, a chandelier in the basement bathroom. That's just an example - but here is a list of some of the detailed upgrades done by the homeowner/builder (the builder is in the contruction trades):

2x6 construction instead of the standard 2x4 - that's an extra 2 inches of insulation
Ceullulose blown insulation instead of fiberglass batts - more efficient because it traps more of the heat loss.
Hot water returns to all the faucets. That means there is a copper pipe leading to the hot water faucet in the sink and then a copper pipe leading back to the hot water heater. Hot water is constantly circulating in the pipe so you get instant hot water. Twice the amount of copper!
6 inch deep concrete driveway - the standard driveway pour is 3 1/2 inches deep.
Separate electric panels for the house, garage and basement
Trex decking is screwed down from underneath the deck so no screws show

That's just a sample of what has been done. I won't even get into the custom bar, pillared columns, wine cellar and more! You get the idea. So if you're looking for quality - check out the full details of this house at http://www.5643Schmidt.com - including over 100 photos, a virtual tour and a floor plan.

Short Sale Haiku - Play-By-Play Illinois Short Sale

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:32:05 -0500

Real Estate Short Sale

Up And Down And All Around

End Becomes The Means.

REAL ESTATE SHORT SALE

Real estate agents - we either hate them, love them - or don't understand them. Short Sales are a necessary evil in todays market - another way to generate leads and close sales. But unlike a traditional sale - we often find ourselves deeply involved in someone elses financial matters. It means gathering very detailed info about how much homeowners make, what they owe and to whom. It means working with people at one of the toughest points in their lives. No matter what you think - there is no "One Size Fits All".

Homeowners - the short sale is seen as as a life raft.....a last ditch effort to stop the bleeding. Again - it's a necessary evil. It is usually just one domino in the financial picture - with other problems lurking beneath the surface. It seems the more of these I do - the more questions I get asked. The answer is always the same "It Depends". Depends on the lender, the homeowner, the loan, whether Pluto is rising...the list goes on.

If you've got the stomach for a roller coaster - perhaps you can survive a short sale. Whether you're a homeowner or a real estate agent - it won't be easy. Perhaps one of the most common questions I get asked is "How long will it take". Well.....it depends. Here's a timeline of a short sale I closed last week.

UP AND DOWN AND ALL AROUND

Feb 20th, 2008 - received a short sale lead, started contacting homeowner.

March 3, 2008 - Foreclosure Proceedings started at county.

March 17, 2008 - Preliminary Title Search done.

March 27, 2008 - Listed the home for sale at $149,900, Completed Short Sale Documents

March 28, 2008 - Short Sale package sent to negotiator.

March 31, 2008 - Additional Short Sale Docs. Sent to negotiator.

April 9, 2008 - Authorization to release info sent to lender

April 10, 2008 - Price reduced to $139,900

May 07, 2008 - Price reduced to $129,900

May 31, 2008 - Price reduced to $119,900

June 6, 2008 - Court date - lender receives foreclosure judgement for $168k .

June 09, 2008 - Price reduced to $99,900

June 13, 2008 - Multiple Offers Received

June 17, 2008 - Cash Offer Contract Accepted, contingent upon 3rd party approval (lender)

June 18, 2008 - Signed contract sent to negotiator.

June 19, 2008 - Negotiator prepares HUD with all closing cost figures

June 25, 2008 - Short sale Package sent to lender, waiting game begins.

July 7, 2008 - Loan Rep. Assigned by lender

July 7, 2008 - Approval postponed due to previous Loan Modification started.

July 15, 2008 - Appraisal Ordered by Lender.

July 19, 2008 - Appraiser visits property.

Aug 18, 2008 - Property Appraises at $99,900

Aug 18, 2008 - Conditional Approval of Short Sale Received from Lender

Sept 5, 2008 - Property closes & funds same day.

MEANS BECOMES THE END

For both homeowner and Realtor - closing is the goal. For the lender - it's all about numbers. As a general rule - it seems like lenders are looking for 80-85% of current market value. Again, it depends on the lender. In this scenario - after closing costs, commissions, etc. the lender ended up receiving a little over $83k - that's about 83% of market value (according to the appraisal). But compared to the judgement - the lender received only about 50% of the judgement they received/amount owed. From the very beginning - I thought that $99k might be a good motivating price. But there were no comps for this house. It was a 1 bedroom home, backing to the railroad tracks in a small town. If I had put the property on the market at $99k and sold it in a week - I'm not sure the lender would have accepted the deal. In this scenario I was at least able to show that we tried to sell it at a higher price.

Because I was using a third party negotiator in this transaction -these are the dates as best as I can reconstruct them from faxes, emails, contracts, etc. So many speedbumps appear in the process that you can't pin the blame on one person. It took over a month for the homeowner to agree to list the home for sale. It took nearly 3 months just to get an offer on the table - and that took multiple price reductions. It took just under 2 months to get an acceptance of a CASH DEAL from the lender.

Bottom Line - we got it done. Bring on the next one ;)

Bo Buchanan, Kettley Realtors 58 Chicago Rd, Oswego IL. 60543 (630) 846-4663

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Model Closeout at "The Townes"

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:42:30 -0500

This weekend I had the opportunity to tour "The Townes at Creekside" in Romeoville. This is a new construction community just off Weber Rd. that is in the final stages of completion. The Townnes is a Pasquinelli community of nearly 200 townhomes arranged around a central circular drive.

As with most builders, Pasquinelli is offering some great incentives if you use their preferred lender Washington Mutual. In some cases - the discount is over $30,000!!!

One of the great deals they have their is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhome with a basement.

There aren't a lot of upgrades in this unit but it's one of the few in the community with a basement. The regular price is $239,514 - but if you use their lender you can purchase it for $207,000. That's a savings of over $32,000 dollars!

If you'd like more information including floor plans and pricelists give me a call at 630-846-4663 or just drop me an email.

Bo Buchanan, Kettley Realtors 58 Chicago Rd, Oswego IL. 60543 (630) 846-4663

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Web Home Of The Week - 104 Cedar St, Sandwich

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:29:35 -0500

The web home of the week this week is......104 Cedar St, Sandwich IL. Listed for just $70,000 - an unheard of price in Sandwich! Here's the catch - it's a wreck! That's right - this house is not for the timid....not for those purchasing with FHA. The roof is leaking, the property is overgrown, the garage is full of garbage - and it all needs work!

This property is only for the experienced rehabber or flipper. It is a bank owned property and the bank is looking for a quick sale. So - take a look, wear a mask (there is water and mold) - and bring us an offer! MLS#06978000 - email me for more photos!

Supra -vs-Sentrilock - the madness continues!!

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:43:34 -0500

If you're selling real estate in Chicago's western suburbs - I feel your pain. The Supra/Sentrilock fiasco continues making life difficult for the average REALTOR. A few months ago -a majority of the Chicago area Realtor Associations switched to the new REALTOR owned Sentrilock lockbox system. But a few associations, such as Aurora Tri-County and Fox Valley Association of Realtors re-upped their contract with Supra.
Towns like Aurora, Naperville & Oswego were caught in the middle. With Realtors from many different boards selling in those areas - it's a coin toss as to whether you'll find a Supra or Sentrilock lock box on a listing when you go to show it.
I was out showing houses yesterday and of the 5 listings I encountered - there were 2 sentrilocks, 1 supra and 2 combination keylocks. Hard to believe there can be so much difference in one market. So, to work effectively - REALTORS in this part of the Chicago burbs now have to license both a supra and a sentrilock system. Fork out the $$$$ boys and girls. Trying to decide which lockbox to put on that new listing is a crap shoot. Just to be safe - I put a combination on every listing in addition to a Supra keybox.
Neither system is perfect - but if I had to pick one I would pick the Supra System. Both systems require you to update your key on a daily basis (synchronizing over the inernet) - but what if you head out for showings and forget to update your key? Supra has an 800# you can call to update your key 24 hrs a day. Sentrilock has a phone number that is only available until 5pm. That doesn't help much. Supra allows you to download a showing history for your keyboxes via the internet. Sentrilock requires to to visit each keybox and punch in a series of codes to download the showing history for the keybox to your smart card. Carrying 20 listings? Have fun - it's a little cumbersome.

Bo Buchanan, Kettley Realtors 58 Chicago Rd, Oswego IL. 60543 (630) 846-4663

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Ever Sold an REO before it hit the MLS?

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:49:02 -0500

It's an exercise in futility I'm sure....but for the second time I've decided to pursue the purchase of a bank owned property for a client BEFORE it hits the MLS. Why would I willingly submit msyself to such punishment? Well, my clients asked. And I'm curious.

I am working with buyers who are pre-approved and they have signed a buyers agreement with me. They are good solid buyers. They have been driving by this house and keeping an eye on it for months. It's vacant - the grass is overgrown. And now the roof is leaking.

Today I went to the County Recorders office and the county courthouse to get as much information about the property as possible. The foreclosure took place June 9th, 2008 and a sheriffs order of possession was filed June 23rd. According to the order of possession - the owners had 30 days to vacate. I've told my clients this is a long shot but we are going to try.

I am trying to track down who actually owns the mortgae. According to the county records, the mortgage was provided by Countrywide. While visiting the property - there is a tag on the front door that says the property was serviced by Countrywide on June 8th, 2008. But in October of 2007, the lis pendens was filed by "Bank of New York as Trustee for the certificate holders CWABS, INC. Asset-Backed Certificates Series 2006-6". And in November of 2007 an assignment of Real Estate Mortgage was filed by MERS on behalf of Countrywide saying "MERS as nominee for Countrywide Home Loans INC. hereby sells, assigns and transfers to Bank of New York as Trustee for the certificate holders CWABS, INC. Asset Backed Certificates Series 2006-6 its successrs and assigns, all right, title and interest in and to a certain mortgage....for borrower"

I'm assuming this means that the property mortgage was sold as part of an investment instrument. My question is - who actually owns the loan now and who will be handling the property as an REO? Will it still be countrywide? Is countrywide stil servicing the loan on behalf of New York Bank/CWABS? And who is CWABS, INC.?

Bo Buchanan, Kettley Realtors 58 Chicago Rd, Oswego IL. 60543 (630) 846-4663

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Who owns thos images? In your blog? Of your listings?

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:11:17 -0500

I spend a lot of time reading real estate blogs - But I always wonder where those great images come from. Are people just grabbing images off a google image search? Snagging photos or comics from other websites? If you are - they are probably copyrighted images.

If you didn't personally take the photo - you don't have the right to use it.

That's right - if you didn't take it personally. That includes the photo of that new listing. It's an easy to remember rule of thumb. If you start from that premise - there is less of a chance you'll get in trouble. But it doesn't mean you can't use images on the internet. If you find an image you like on the web - you'll need to look for the copyright info attached to that image.

That being said -there are plenty of places you can find free images on the internet. Some sites will require you to pay a membership fee to use their photos. Others will require that you deposit money into an account - and then download photos that use up "points" that equal dollars

Rather than try to "Be The Expert" I always like to point people to an authority on the subject.

PhotoLaw.net - out of Boston, great Q&A tips for photographers, writers, etc.
Lenn Harley - her very first Active Rain post way back in 2006 was about - COPYRIGHT! Read her post to find out first hand how she collects royalties from people who have stolen her copyrighted images!
Larry Lohrman, Photography for Real Estate - Larry wrote an interesting article back in 2007 about who owns the photo of that house you are selling? Do you own it? Your Client? The Builder you took the photos for? Larry's take on the issue is worth a read.

Most STOCK or FREE photos on the web will give you the right to use the photos on your blog, website etc. But if you plan to reprint those images on brochures, tshirts, mugs or the like - a different license and fee is usually required. Here are a few great resources you can if you want images for your blog or website. Read the copyright section of each to determine how you can use the photos:

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All the resource related links in this post are available at the Blue60.com Directory of Resources for Real Estate Professionals. Blue60.com is a human edited diretory of links for real estate agents, loan officers & appraisers. If you're looking for anything related to the business of Real Estate - you'll find it at Blue60.com

The Bubble, The Bottom And Media Literacy in Real Estate

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:00:04 -0500

Have you ever heard of the term "Media Literacy"? The concepts been around for a while - it's a way of teaching people that you have to question the media, not take things for granted. You need to do your own research - and consider the vantage point of the person presenting the story. I worked in Television for some time - and I'll tell you first hand - anyone can get on television. If you're good looking and you can hold a conversation - you're in! The more off the edge you are - the better.

Now, more than ever - it's important for people in the real estate profession to question the sources of information. Every day I hear another story on the radio or TV that we've hit the bottom. Or the market is rebounding. This sector or that sector is doing better. Then I read economical pundits telling us that we are in for an even deeper recession. Everyone can't be right. No wonder the consumer is hesitant to buy (at least that's my perspective -but who am I!).

Case in point - I was crusing the internet last night and I landed at Inman News. I came across a blog entitled "Take it from an agent - sell by owner". Of course, as a good title does - it caught my attention. In the article, Danielle Babb says that commissions are the reason why we aren't seeing a recovery in the market. She also goes on to tell consumers not to waste time or money with agents. I'm sure that comment alone will be enough to raise the ire of many in the real estate industry. But here's the kicker. Not only is she a real estate agent - but she has a website and a book entitled "Commissions-At-Risk.com" in which she counsels real estate professionals on how to use technology to survive the changing market.

After reading apparently conflicting statements I did a little research on the web and found this interview on YouTube with Peter Schiff & Danielle Babb at FOX News. I think the interview speaks for itself. Danielle Babbs has a list of credentials at the end of her name - MBA, DR, Investor, etc. On the other side is Peter Schiff - President of Euro Pacific Capital. Now, both pundits sell or work for companies that will obviously profit off their comments. Danielle Babb promotes HousePad.com - a flat fee listing company. I am unable to find out if she has some sort of affiliation with this brokerage - but I she mentions it Inman and Entrepreneur.com . She also promotes teaching online and seems to be heavily focusing on her foreclosure finding book. Peter Schiff is president of a Euro Pacific Capital - a company that promotes the sale of foreign stocks.

Whether you're watching TV, reading the newspaper or reading blogs - it's important you consider the motives of the source. What do they have to gain by promoting their particular opinion? What are their affiliations? What are their credentials? It doesn't mean you must distrust everyone in the media - just consider the source, ask questions and make up your own mind.

That's my two cents -but who am I?

Get Your Free Profile At Inman.com

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:35:39 -0500

I was reading a afew stories at Inman.com when Idecided to comment on one. As I was registering to comment - I discoverd that agents could create a free profile and make it available to the public. Before I created my profile - I decided to do a search in my area and see how many agents were listed. Searching a 500 mile radius in Chicagoland I only came up with 17 agents. SEVENTEEN!!! I believe this is a new feature implemented with the Inman redesign in March of this year - but I was still amazed that so few agents had registered so I jumped at the opportunity.

According to the Inman About US Section - "The company's content is syndicated on more than 150,000 web sites and in more than 200 newspapers". Seems like a no brainer to create a profile on the site for free.

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Foreclosure Widget - Cool, Customizable - So What?

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:31:14 -0500

Foreclosure Widget - Cool, Customizable - So What?

Once again, an innocent evening in front of the computer turns into an obsession. I spent the afternoon listening to talk radio and it was all about politics. Telling you how I got from politics to the foreclosure widget is another blog entireley! For now, let's just say even the web adheres to the six degrees of separation.

After crusing the web for about an hour, I landed on ForeclosureWidget.com. This widget is for consumers - and it's not you're typical web based widget - but a desktop widget. Created by the folks at Foreclosures.com - it allows consumers to search foreclosures from a widget on their desktop. Consumers see Foreclosures as "A Good Deal" even if they aren't - so a large number of advertising dollars are being spent to lure them in to whatever product someone is selling. That includes Real Estate Agents. What buyers are really looking for is a good deal.

That lead me to search for other foreclosure related widgets - when I found an article at Inman News about ForeclosureRadar.com ForeclosureRadar is putting a little twist on foreclosures and creating a widget - for Real Estate Agents. This new tool is really a combination of foreclosure listings, IDX and a widget. ForeclosureRadar has created a widget that pulls Foreclosoure listings froma database and lets a Real Estate Agent display them on their webpage. They do not try to sell data to consumers - only agents. It's refreshing to see a new tool of value directed towards agents and not the general public. Currently ForeclosureRadar is only available in California but they have plans to roll out a national FLX (Foreclosure IDX) for all real estate agents.

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Agents Treating Agents w/Respect - It Sells More Homes!

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:35:45 -0500

A DIFFICULT TRANSACTION

I recently completed a rather difficult real estate transaction with another agent. I was the listing agent on a bank owned property. The buyers agent worked with buyers that stuck with the process for over 3 months. The property had multiple problems - water in the basement, cracking drywall, holes in the walls. At one point - the bank gave the potential buyers a counter offer which the buyers accepted. The bank then backed out of the deal. That's right - they "verbally" gave me an acceptance which I conveyed to the buyers agent. But when I sent in the contract to be signed, the "higher ups" at the bank refused to sign it. So the buyers walked away. A few weeks later - they came back and accepted the new counter offer from the bank. I had never seen this before and I didn't blame the buyers for walking away.

WHY THE AGENTS MADE THE DIFFERENCE

Buying or selling a bank owned property can be a difficult process. Trash outs, utility problems, liens on the property. Not to mention the obvious whiplash caused by the lender. But throughout the process the other agent and I always managed to stay calm and rational - being upfront about what was occuring. When the buyers expressed concern about the water in the basement - I provided them with a quote from a contractor that I had ordered on the banks behalf. Turns out - the buyers inspector knew this contractor and said he does great work. I think this gave the buyers a sense of assurance that it was a legitamate and accurate portrayal of the problem.

SO WHY DOES IT MATTER

Throughout the process I was honest and upfront with this agent. We did not know each other before the transaction and the fact that we were both respectful and honest while representing our clients made the difference in getting this deal closed. I have all the confidence that, should I have the opportunity to show her property in the future or vice-versa - we can both assure our clients that what the other agent is representing to be the truth is, in fact - the truth. What do other agents think when they schedule an appointment to show your properties? Could your professional repuatation with other agents help you sell more property? Absolutely.

Bo Buchanan, Kettley Realtors 58 Chicago Rd, Oswego IL. 60543 (630) 846-4663

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Foreclosure Bus Tours - How do they work?

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:38:58 -0500

Foreclosure Bus Tours - How do they work?

I've recently been obsessed with the idea of foreclosure bus tours. I've been concentrating my business on short sales lately - and doing a foreclosure bus tour seems like a great way to get connected with buyers. There are several going on in my area and I wanted to know how to get involved. Here's what I've learned:

Rent a Bus - rental rates for a bus that holds around 50 people will range from about $500 - $900. You can rent the bus for 5 hours or an entire day. Sometimes a per mile fee is also added on.
Charge Participants - Foreclosure Bus Tours Operators are charging participants anywhere from $25.00 a person to $100.00 a person. Even more for higher end property foreclosure tours.
Feed them - Breakfast and/or lunch is usually provided for participants.
Teaming Up - Agents are teaming up with Attorneys, Inspectors, Appraisers and title companies to spread the cost around or get the tour sponsored completely.
Pre-Requirements - Some agents are requiring that participants be pre-approved and sign a buyers agreement before taking the tour. Some are not.
Choose Homes - most agents I know that have REO or Pre-Foreclosure properties want to know how they get their homes on the tour! If you don't have your own REO or Pre-Foreclosure properties, most agents would be thrilled to have a bus load of people pull up in front of their listings!

FORECLOSURE BUS TOUR SERVICES:

ForeclosureBusTours.com

HIRE YOUR OWN FORECLOSURE BUS:

If one of these links don't work for you, look for local limosiousine service. Larger limo companies will usually have the small mini buses available for rental. Or you could go for the strech Hummer!

ACTIVE RAINERS BLOGGING ABOUT FORECLOSURE BUS TOURS:

AGENT WEBSITES - FORECLOSURE BUS TOURS:

ColumbusBusTours.com - Ohio Agents Donna Carstens and Michelle Foster with Coldwell Banker King Thompson.
VegasRepoBus.com - James Wedewer with O48 Realty and his lending partner Anand Goundar of evofi ONE Mortgage in Las Vegas.
RepoHomeTourChicago.com - sponsored by Re/Max of Barrington, Illinois
DenverForeclosureBusTours.com - Debbie Salek, RE/MAX Professionals, Inc. and Dana Dziagwa, W.R. Starkey Mortgage in Denver, Colorado.
SacramentoREO

Overall, the foreclosure bus tour seems like a way to get buyers exicted and involved in the process. Jerry Murphy of Anthem, Arizona raises a good point. Are foreclosure bus tours actually a good idea for buyers? Everyone looking at the same property - maybe more than one person bidding on the same house? Sure - every agents dream. Has this happened to anyone?

Questions I have for agents doing bus tours:

What about liability during the tour? Do you need extra insurace?
Do you tour with more than one agent? If so - how do you handle leads?
Are you requiring buyers agreements?

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Chicagoland Lock Boxes - 2 different systems?

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:35:42 -0500

Chicagoland Lock Boxes - 2 Different Systems?

Today I traded in my old Supra e-key for the new ActiveKEY. I was happy to get this new key - until I got home and started doing some research. It appears that, while 3 Associations in Chicago's far west suburbs (including my own) are upgrading to this new SUPRA Lockbox from GE - the rest of Chicagoland is upgrading in May to the Sentrilock Lockbox System owned by NAR. One key system is accessed through a wireless device the size of a small phone - the other with a smart card. Just when two of our local MLS boards merged - it seems contradictory to discover that two different lock box systems are being implemented.

SUPRA ACTIVE KEY LOCKBOX SYSTEM

According to NAR, Supra controls 83% of the lockbox market. The New ActiveKEY, as well as the old e-key, work with the blue i-box(pictured to the right). The ibox works with the key by infrared. The new ActiveKEY by Supra (below and to the left) is about the same size as a small flip phone and updates via cellular technology. No more plugging a keypad into a phone line for updates every day. Updates happen automatically through cell synchronization.

COOL ACTIVE KEY FEATURES

email - ActiveKEY can email you when a keybox is opened. This means no more calls from the seller "Did that 2:00 appointment show up today?

Updates automatically - no more plugging the key into a cradle to update. Updates occur automatically via cell technology.

Built in LED flashlight - how cool is that?

Backlight for the screen - the previous ekey was not backlit.

SENTRILOCK KEY SYSTEM

Sentrilock is owned by NAR. This REALTOR lockbox (pictured to the right) was developed with input from REALTORS. The Sentrilock system is controlled by using a smart card (pictured below and to the left) to access the lock box. Since I haven't seen or used this system, I don't know as much about it as I do the ActiveKEY. The two largest REALTOR Associations in the Chicago area are both upgrading to this new system. MORE - Main Street Organization of Realtors (Formerly RWSCC) is the 2nd largest Association in Chicagoland and the 5th largest in the nation. MORE is upgrading to the Sentrilock system in May. CAR - Chiacgoland Association of Realtors, the largest Association in Chicagoland and the 4th largest in the nation, is also upgrading to the Sentrilock system in May.

The one differentiating feature seems to be that the key holding portion of the lockbox drops open from the front, rather than being accessed from under the box like the Supra ibox. Essentially - the Sentrilock puts the opening mechanism on the front of the box rather than in a separate device.

Overall, it seems like SUPRA is more on track. The new iBoxes can now be accessed by compatible smart phones. That's right - you won't even need the new ActiveKEY - just download some software to your phone. I like this extension of the phone technology and it seems on track with the way phones are becoming multi function devices. But, the sad thing is - my blackberry won't work. I spoke to a SUPRA rep during the key exchange - and he said each compatible phone must have infrared and a touch screen. My Blackberry Pearl does not have a touch screen.

If you're a REALTOR in the Chicagoland area and, like me, you're wondering how you are going to access two different keybox systems - check out this PDF Q&A file from MORE

Bo Buchanan, Kettley Realtors 58 Chicago Rd, Oswego IL. 60543 (630) 846-4663

IllinoisHouseHunter.com|OswegoHouseHunter.com|MontgomeryHouseHunter.com|YorkvilleHouseHunter.com

Active Rain Top 10 - Top 10 Lists

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:14:17 -0500

Active Rain Top 10 - Top 10 Lists

I recently blogged about the Top 10 things for a FSBO Seller to consider when going it alone and got a great response. Seems like everyone likes a good top ten list - so I thought I'd troll Active Rain for the Top 10 of all Top 10 Lists! I am shamelessly putting myself in first position!

For Sale By Owner Top 10 - 10 Things any For Sale By Owner seller should consider when they are deciding whether to continue the FSBO route or list with an agent. A good summary of the value we real estate agents bring to the transaction, if I do say so myself.
Top 10 Realtor Myths - Real Estate According to Drew. For the last few weeks, Drew has been counting down the top 10 Realtor Myths- We are now waiting for #1. You'll have to cruise through his blog to find each individual post. I have linked to the first myth - Myth #10.
Top 10 Free SEO Web Tools - Mary from RSS Pieces always has great information.
Top 10 Things Realtors Waste Money on - yeah, I'm guilty of a few of these. Check out Patrick Harfst for this post and the following.....
Top 10 Ways for Realtors to Spend Money Wisely - Thanks for two great posts Patrick!
Googles Top 10 most searched terms for 2007 - short and sweet with great insight. Thanks Kelly!
Top 10 Agent Marketing Mistakes & how to fix them -WOW! Awesome post! Great layout, use of graphics and a presentation that really hits home.
Top 10 Internet Marketing Scams - from Justin Smith who works for the Real Estate Tomato, one of my favorite blogs!
Top 10 Favorite Active Rain Blogs - two listings for this topic that are both a trip in the way back machine to 2007! Check out Rick & Ines Top Ten Favorite AR Blogs and Jeff Turners Top 10 Favorite AR Bloggers
Top 10 Internet Skills you need as a REALTOR - Welcome Vic Bassey to AR By reading his first post!

I hope you enjoy this list of top ten lists! Feel free to post links in the comments to other blog top ten lists on Active Rain

Bo Buchanan, Kettley Realtors 58 Chicago Rd, Oswego IL. 60543 (630) 846-4663

IllinoisHouseHunter.com|OswegoHouseHunter.com|MontgomeryHouseHunter.com|YorkvilleHouseHunter.com

What Are Real Estate Professionals Searching For On The Web?

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:56:30 -0500

The results are in! For May, 2008 here are the top resources real estate pros are looking for at Blue60.com -the resource directory for real estate professionals.

Top 10 keywords searched for in May, 2008:

Marketing
Real estate tools
Real estate
Mortgage leads
Marketing leads
Leads
Domains
Fsbo leads
Bpo
Postcards

Top 5 category viewings for May, 2008:

Lead Generation
Education & Training
Services
Resources & Supplies
Financing

If you'd like to add your service to our directory - you can do so for free. There are also a variety of advertising options available to help you target your niche. Check us out at Blue60.com

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Blue60.com is a human edited diretory of links for real estate agents, loan officers & appraisers. If you're looking for anything related to the business of Real Estate - you'll find it at Blue60.com. If you're interested in targeting your advertising to real estate professionals - advertise at Blue60.com

Cool Closing Gifts - Top 10

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:06:07 -0500

Cool Closing Gifts - Top Ten

Early in my career, I ran into a client at Home Depot a couple months after closing. We had a quick chat and I thought we had made a good connection through the sale process and beyond. Then, just before leaving - he turned to me and said "You know, my wife was surprised we never got a closing gift". I was stunned. I had never really thought a lot about it. I worked hard to find them a good home at a great price. But I thought closing gifts just weren't my style. He said his wife was still talking about it months later. I guess I blew it, but I learned my lesson. So here is a Top Ten list of Cool closing gift ideas!

Name Frames - cool real photos that spell out a name.
Custom Home Sketches - provide a photo and give your clients a custom sketch of their new home!
Personalized Door Mats - a door mat with your clients name or initial.
Custom Candles - definitely a unique idea. They offer custom soy candles and will mail one every month for a year after closing.
Personalized Wine - wine, champagne & water with custom labels you create!
Custom Moving Boxes - not the most personal touch, but a unique idea. Custom moving boxes imprinted with your logo & information.
Custom Coffee & Chocolate - create custom labels for gourmet coffee or chocolate. Use your marketing info or put pictures of your clients on the labels!
Photo Throw Blankets - have any picture knitted into a throw blanket.
Custom Bath Towel - monogramed personal bath towel, but that's not all.....read on
Meat Branding Monogram Iron - this is just too weird to pass up. Sold by the same folks as #9 - the Custom Bath Towel, you can get a monogrammed meat branding iron to put your initials into everything you cook on the grill. Serious BBQ'ers only please. Offered by The Personalization Mall, they have hundreds of personalized products you can order for cool closing gifts (Chef hats, carving knives, door knockers, address plaques & more!)

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Active Rain - 20 Suggestions For Raising The Ceiling & Being More Than It Is!

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:01:44 -0500

Active Rain- 20 Suggestions for Raising The Ceiling & Being More than it is!

As I participate more and more at Active Rain, I find myself wanting more from Active Rain. Jonathan Washburn recently asked the question "How Can Active Rain Be More Than Itself". If you haven't read it yet - I suggest you do. It certainly sparked debate (Which I'm sure was the intent). But then, just a week later- Anthony Clark asked the question "Has Active Rain Hit The Ceiling"

I have to admit - it wasn't hard seeing Anthony's point of view. I've only been here a few short months but I find msyelf wanting more from AR. One of the most compelling aspects of Active Rain is the availability of AR Staff. Did you know you can view all their profiles in the About Us Section?

Earlier this week I submitted a question through the Contact Us section at the bottom of the page. I was surprised to get a call (voicemail) from Bob Stewart asking me to expand on my suggestion. Before Calling him, I checked out his AR profile, read a few of his blogs and even looked for him on a couple of the social networks. When I called - Bob answered the phone directly. It was a pleasant surprise. He made the mistake of asking if I had any other suggestions - so I burned his ears for 15 or 20 minutes. The active interest Bob showed in understanding to implement my suggestion should be a model for how all companies should respond.

Even during the short time I've been at AR - I've seen improvements roll out. Auto populating the blog tags, Active Rain Blog Customization, Google search of blogs, etc. For people who have been here since the beginning- it may be hard to look at the big picture. Active Rain is still becoming. Whenever I read the posts by AR Staff I can see that they are searching for ways to improve, engage and create a more compelling user experience. 2 years may seem like an eternity in web time - but things are changing at a rapid pace. Many of us here may take "Widgets" for granted. But in the political arena - this is really the first year of the political widget.

So, in response to both Johnathan & Anthony's posts, I have created a list of specific improvement suggestions for AR. Some may be pie in the sky - some are probably already being worked on behind closed doors.

Favorite Blog Widget or RSS Feed. Create a widget that allows AR members to share their favoite blogs with others on their website, in their blog, etc.
Truly Private Real Estate Conversations. I love talking to people at AR. But I tend to hold back on asking those very personal business questions related to customers, specific situations, etc. I don't want those to exist forever out there in cyberspace. What if we had a truly private space where only licensed real estate professionals could chat with other licensed professionals. Ask questions, get answers. And then have the conversations disappear.
Article Libarary. Sorting through all the posts to find information can be daunting. What if AR created a library of some of the best blog articles about specific issues that are always top of mind for RE Professionals.
Tool Ratings. Allow members to rate different tools/services available to Real Estate Professionals. Honest advice and opinoins about the services offered to us.
Some sort of live conversation. Are chat rooms dead? How about a twitter room?
Bookmark Blowout. The ability to bookmark articles is great. But get a few dozen articles in there and now it's hard to find that favorite article. Create a more robust bookmarking tool that allows users to categorize posts. Maybe even add our own tag. Then, reader tags could be compared to Author tags. You could even display a "Tag Targeting" percentage that shows what percentage Authors actually tag articles the same way their readers do.
Separate the voices. I maintain two blogs on AR. One for consumers (My Realtor Identity) and one targeted towards Real Estate Professionals (My Blue60 Identity). It's a pain in the butt. The reaon I did this is because I knew that RE Profesionals reading my blog would not want to see all the listings I post and content targeted toward localism/consumers. Good Idea? Bad Idea? I don't know. But what if we had a way of separating those identities in our Blog? Maybe it's two different blogs under one proflie. Maybe it's the abiliity for Active Rainers to subsribe to the professional posts or consumer posts - or both, for each author.
Get rid of the ads in email. It's annoying!
Richer Contact/Email Experience. This is one of the suggestions I made via the Contact Us tool and later discussed with Bob Stewart. I want to have the ability to reply to AR members through that "Contact Received" message in my home page. I get too much email - I would rather maintain those AR Conversations with members through the AR Contact interface. Let me click on reply in the message panel. Make Hyperlinks clickable. Let me keep track of an email conversation with a member.
Robust Q&A. As it is, the Q&A section just isn't good enough. I'm sure it was rolled out quickly based on a suggestion. But it has a lot of potential. This section could also benefit from a cagegory structure of questions - allowing consumers to easily search through questions already asked to first see if their question has been answered. Currently, when the consumer is in Localism - and clicks on "View Recent Questions" it takes them to active Rain. I think this should stay in localism like the blog content does.
Syndicated Content. Every Real Estate website is now launching blogs for Realtors. Are we really taking advantage of promoting the content here at AR other than SEO? What about syndicating content to other real estate portals? Of course, this brings complexities like getting authors permission. What if Authors received free services for sites that featured their blog? Or giving authors the ability to check boxes in their profile that shared their posts with other sites.
Follow Web Standards. If you guys haven't already read "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug, buy everyone in the office a copy! Simple things- like when you are crusing through the full blog posts, make the links at the bottom like they are on google. links to 10 pages, forward & back.
More Blogging from AR Staff. I think every AR Staff member should be required to blog at least weekly. That's right. Blog about what's happening at Active Rain. What are you doing, how are you interacting with members, talk about your interaction with members.
Improvement of the Week/Month. I see so many people saying "What's Going On With Active Rain" and I hear AR staff keep saying "You folks don't see what's happening behind the scenes". Well, show us. Are you making small changes every week? Month? Why not highlight the best suggestion/improvement of the week/month. How about an Active Rain Team Blog "What's New" that keeps us informed on improvements.
Associations -vs- Associates. Put member photos in the association section. I don't always recognized the names, but I always recognize the faces. And why are there 2 separate Association sections? I know that one is for people who have made an association with us - and one is for people we have made an association with. It's a little confusing.
Localism. Localism. Localism. I know that a new improved Localism is already in the works and I'm anxious to see what it will become. Localism already has some great ways for consumers to drill down to neighborhood levels in most cities. I think Localism needs to have an even more separate identity than Active Rain. What about consumer blogs? I guess they can already do this. But maybe they could be orgainized by town/neighborhood. What about letting Active Rain Authors build community info. Links to the the village, neighborhood association, etc. This would have to be edited so every agent doesn't submit the same thing. A link or piece of content gets added only once. How about an easier way for consumers to pull up market reports by agents? I'm sure some will hate this - but Look at the Way Trulia displays Market Trends on their front page. Current Posts should be near the top. I realize now it is probably by points. But in many cities - the top posts are a year old. That's just embarrasing. Articles by topic is being neglected. If I click on Staging - two articles come up. Both are from early in 2007. Is anyone actually updating these articles? I know there are a lot of great articles on staging- I'm reading them every day!!
Organize Blogs by City & State. Yes, I realize this is already available. Have you ever tried to get there from the front age? Other than clicking on the city/county/state next to your name? For the life of me - right now I can't figure out how to do it. For Consumers -starting with a map of the US is great. But then it takes me 3 more clicks to drill down to the neighborhood level.
Add RainDrops. Why not have a widget on the front page of AR that shows the most popular tags being used? Or a Tag cloud for the entire site? Maybe just the top 10 or 20. Give us an idea what the most popular topics/conversations are on any given day/week/month. Let members click on the tag to get a list of blogs with those tags - I know this is already used elsewhere in the site and could probably be easily adapted.
Organize Groups. Just how many groups are there? I started going through and subscribing the other day but it's cumbersome. Can't these be grouped into relevant categories? Give group leaders a list and an other category. Give them a month to categorize, let them suggest new categories, then put anyone into the other category who doesn't make a choice.
Organize Messages - when I subscribe to comments from a popular blog, my message list becomes overwhelming. Why not organize these messages. A tab for blog comment subscriptions, a tag for comments by group, a tab for contacts, a tab for comments made on my blogs.

Okay, I'll stop there. I could go on and on brainstorming. Overall, I think many of my suggestions fall into the category of 1)Imroving Usability, 2)Adding features, 3)Leveraging the wealth of content. If you haven't already posted suggestions at Johnathans blog or Anthony's blog - please post them here!

Bo Buchanan, Blue60.com Resource Directory for Real Estate Professionals

Short Sales make the Chicago Tribune Front Page!

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:31:57 -0500

I've been blogging a lot about short sales lately. It seems everywhere I turn I am meeting people who have lost a job, fell ill or just can't afford their home anymore. Everyone has an opinion about why we are in this situation. It's the lenders fault. It's the homeowners fault. It's the Feds fault. Regardless of how we got here - there is work to be done to fix it.

I processed my first short sale over 2 years ago. Like many agents, I stumbled through the process. Anyone who knows me will tell you I don't give up easily. Once I set my mind to doing something - it gets done. While it was probably one of the harder sales I ever completed - it didn't scare me that much. Truth is - I liked the challenge. And I was good at it. So over the years, I have continued to look for homeowners in a short sale situation.

So why do banks do short sales? Banks are looking to minimize their losses. Foreclosure costs the bank a lot of time and money. Court costs, attorney fees, etc. Then - once they have the property they have utility costs, liens to pay off, repairs, sales commissions, etc. And with a downard trending market - the property may be worth less by the time they forclose.

If you are in a situation where you owe more than your home is worth - there is hope. Banks will let you sell your house for less than you owe. And in many situations - they will forgive the difference or "deficiency" between what you sell it for and what you owe on your mortgage. But you need to make sure you partner with someone familar with the process. Banks want everything in a tidy package -according to their needs, not yours. Think of it as an obstacle course. Lenders are overwhelmed with the huge number of potential short sales hitting their desks. It can often take weeks, even months to get a short sale approved by a lender.

My goal is to make things easy for the bank. That's right. I'm going to make everything easy for the bank that is trying to foreclose on your home! I'm going to make sure all those forms they want are completed. I'm going to make sure I send them everything before we even have a deal on the table. And I'm going to bring them a deal that will close. Why? Because It's the best way to make sure we sell your home and you avoid foreclosure.

For buyers, short sales offer a tremendous opportunity to purchase real estate at a discounted rate. But it can mean waiting long periods of time not knowing if the deal will go through. These homes are also usually in better shape than bank owned foreclosures. Homeowners are still living there and taking care of their house. Working with someone who knows how the process works will help you find a good home at a great deal.

Earlier this week, a reporter from the Chicago Tribune found my blog on the internet and interviewed me for a story on short sales. Read the Chicago Tribune story - Break For Sellers: Banks Settle for Less

Bo Buchanan, Kettley Realtors 58 Chicago Rd, Oswego IL. 60543 (630) 846-4663

IllinoisHouseHunter.com|OswegoHouseHunter.com|MontgomeryHouseHunter.com|YorkvilleHouseHunter.com

Memed from the birthplace of Route 66!

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:05:15 -0500

When I first heard about meme's I dreaded the inevitable blog chain letter! Yes, that's how I thought of it. But now that I've been Memed by Anthony Clark - I think it's kinda cool. Did you know there is an actor named Anthony Clark who was in the movie Killing Cinderella? The first thing I did was read the memes of other people he tagged. Then I researched Meme on google. Yes, I spent way too much time on this! You could say - I lost my head!

I decided to have fun with it. I googled the offending memer, Tulsa oklahoma and memes. I researched other AR members I thought would enjoy getting memed (now I'm guilty too!). Overall, I thought it was a great way to spend a little time just having fun with Active Rain. It's a nice diversion.

1. Who is your favorite musical artist?

One of my more obscure favorites is Ralph Covert. A friend ( in college turned me onto him and I absolutely love the album Eat At Godots. Until researching him for this meme - I didn't even know I could buy Ralph's albums online! He does a lot of childrens music but Eat at Godot's is definitely an adult album. You can here some of his music at Ralph's myspace page. Plus Van Halen, Indigo Girls, Simon & Garfunkel, and David Lanz. I also have to plug my friend John Maslan in the Chicago group SoundFrame. Check out their video:

2. Who is your favorite artist?

Mark Kostabi. He paints by committe - and uses this "everyman" figure. Something about his art speaks to me. I have two of his paintings on my living room wall (pictured below). I also like Sadao Watanabe who created woodcarving prints of biblical scenes. Two very different artists - who represent the very different parts of me!

3. Who is your favorite blogger?

Hmmm....I don't really have one particular favorite. If I have to pick one, it would be Brad Andersohn here at Active Rain. He always seems to be right on target blogging about things that interest me.

4. . If you could meet anyone (alive or dead), who would it be and what is the most interesting thing about them?

Wow. Anyone? Well, I'm sure I could think of a lot - but the one at the top of my mind lately is Ben Franklin because I just watched an A&E Biography about him and he always fascinated me. Franklin was an amazing inventor and a brilliant man. He knew how to adapt to different situations in a very troubling time in our country's history. At the same time - he was a man of some bad habits. I would love to hear his analysis of his own life - as I'm sure he was keenly aware of his own shortcomings.

5. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A garbage man. Seriously. They had first shot at all the cool stuff people threw away. Our garbage man always had stuff strapped to the top of his truck that he was taking home. But after that wore off - I wanted to be a veterinarian. I even helped with a couple surgeries in highschool. I still love animals (I have two dogs) but never pursued it. I'm not sure why........

6. What is the most interesting piece of trivia you know?

Did you know Thomas Edison failed more than 1000 times when trying to create the lightbulb? He only needed to succeed once. A good lesson in persistence..........

Did you know Tulsa, Oklahoma is known as the birthplace of Route 66? And Cyrus Avery is known as the father of Route 66?

7. If you could live in any point in history, what would it be and why?

I would live now. Seriously, so much is happening -so many big changes occuring. We have all the modern conveniences and all the opportunities. I love discovering new technology - I love seeing the American people become more attuned to the international scene. If I could pick another time - it would be in the future. I want to see where America is in 100 years -and what kind of cool technology we'll have!

8. What is the most interesting job you have ever held? Paying or non-paying?

I spent a summer at a relatives farm in Bend, Oregon. I was bailing hay, moving watering pipes and shooting gophers. Most of the time I missed. It was hard work and a lot of fun.

That was painful! I started doing this two days ago and tried to embed a video post - and it kept crashing! Aarrrgghh...........

Now I am going to pass the pain on. I hope I'm not hitting anyone who already got memed....

Christine Donovan

Justin Williams

Bob & Carolin Benjamin

Bob Cumiskey

Van Halen ROCKS!!! In Real Estate???

Fri, 30 May 2008 15:06:12 -0500

Tonight I am going to see VAN HALEN! I am so excited, I can hardly contain myself! I've always been a big fan of Van Halen since high school. Now, David Lee Roth is back with the band! Unfortunately, Michael Anthony is not - but Eddies son Wolfgang will be taking his place - 3 Van Halens and a Roth!

Since I couldn't resist blogging about the Van Halen Concert - i thought I should at least TRY to connect it to real estate. But I never thought it would be so easy! After googling Van Halen Real Estate - I found that Kelly Van Halen (ex wife of Alex Van Halen) is selling her 5 bedroom, six and a half bathroom estate in Encino California for $4,495,000 How Cool is that?

Thanks to Deidre Woollard at Luxist who blogged about the house and led me to Bob Goldsborough of Big Time Listings & Berg Properties who first reported about the property. There - have I given everyone full credit ;)

Oh Yeah, Check out the full listing sheet from the listing agents Michelle Hall & Carol Wolfe. Of course, Carol Wolfe is a member of Active Rain!

Did you know there is a Van Halen Lane in Las Vegas, Nevada? I'm dying to know how that came about. Check out this Trulia Listing at 9459 Van Halen Lane.

Bo Buchanan, Kettley Realtors 58 Chicago Rd, Oswego IL. 60543 (630) 846-4663

IllinoisHouseHunter.com|OswegoHouseHunter.com|MontgomeryHouseHunter.com|YorkvilleHouseHunter.com

Real Estate Logos

Fri, 30 May 2008 04:58:38 -0500

Looking for a fresh start -a new image, an exciting logo? One of the easiest ways to get variety of logo options is to post a project at Elance.com Elance is a place where business people post projects that need to be completed - and service providers bid on the job. I have used elance twice to create the logos at MyPumpGuy.com (my brothers company) and GolfGorilla.com (a custom google search engine). Both of these logos were created for less than $150.00.
If you're looking to go the more traditional route of purchasing a pre-made logo or hiring a company that will create a logo for you - here are a few resources:

elance.com - post a project for free and get bids on logo design.
biz-logo.com - a library of pre-designed real estate logos for $125.90
LogoDesignGuru.com - wow. Very cool set of "packages" to get a logo created. For $199 they will give you 4 logo concepts and 3 revisions.
1800mylogo.com - great samples of other real estate logos they've designed.
TheLogoCreator.com - this is a new one. Software for thirty bucks that lets you mix and match pre-created pieces to create real estate logos.
CMYKCards.com - $129 for complete logo design. Excellent step by step layout of how the logo creation process works.
LogoMaker.com - create your own logo online and try it on your site for free!
Real-Estate-Designers.com - offers logo design and other web related marketing.
LogoWorks.com - $99 to start your custom logo design.
LogoYes.com - another service to create your own logo online.

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Dead End At Active Rain - Put a Reply Link in the contact page!

Fri, 30 May 2008 00:21:11 -0500

Have you ever gotten an incoming contact/email from someone on active rain and clicked on it from your home page? It's a dead end. You can't do anything with it. You are stuck in the mud, lost in the wilderness - within a few hours you might die from starvation!

When you read an incoming contact/email from someone on Active Rain - there is no way to reply. Here is what it looks like from your inbox:

Once you click on this link, the contact page looks like this:

To reply to this message, you need to copy the email, exit Active Rain, Open your email client, paste the email address, then write & send the message! Of course, you also get a copy by email - and you can reply directly to the person from your email client. I don't know about you - but I like to keep track of my conversations at Active Rain inside Active Rain! This is a fairly common practice at most social networking sites! So here are my suggestions:

Make the email address a clickable link and it can pop up in our email client. Quick and easy.
Link the persons name to the contact form that pops up if you click "email me" from someones profile.
Add a "Reply" button at the bottom of the message that pops up a contact window inside active rain.
Create a full blow email utility inside active rain -so I can keep track of my conversations!
IP Address? Do we really need this?
Make the hyperlinks inside the contact clickable - I've got to copy and paste this!

If you like the idea - click on the "Contact Active Rain" link in the lower right corner and send in the suggestion. I already have. Blog about it - make some noise!

I know everyone at AR has their hands full, thanks for working so hard at AR to bring us all the improvements coming in June. I'm hoping this will be one of them!!

Bo Buchanan, Kettley Realtors 58 Chicago Rd, Oswego IL. 60543 (630) 846-4663

IllinoisHouseHunter.com|OswegoHouseHunter.com|MontgomeryHouseHunter.com|YorkvilleHouseHunter.com

Social Networking - Where And Why?

Thu, 29 May 2008 09:11:08 -0500

Lately I have been obsessed with Active Rain. My obsession didn't take hold at first, I was a member for a couple months before I even realized what to do with it. But once it took - I was hooked. But why? I've joined other social sites and never really been interested to the degree I am at Active Rain. Perhaps it was a matter of timing. In a business that is changing, whether it be real estate or health care - everyone is forced to examine how they are doing business. During my own self examination, I re-discovered my interest in all things technology. Until now, incorporating those interests into my real estate career never really took off. Then, one night as I began blogging - I had an epiphany. Suddenly my worlds of Real Estate and the Internet/technology came together.

But this life changing event was more than an isolated incident. I discovered my online "persona" so to speak. The advent of social networking brings a new level of transparency to the business world. People we do business with now have photos online, profiles at myspace or have their names listed in membership lists on the web. Suddenly, it has become easier to know more about the people behind the titles. This level of transparency brings with it questions of privacy, personal responsibility and the obvious benefits of networking. Even now, I am still discovering how to connect all these different online aspects of my life. I use myspace to connect with friends, LinkedIn to do business and Facebook for family links. But why keep those different areas of my life separate? I've done plenty of business with both friends and family. The challenge is learning how to use each of these tools in different ways.

So, I arrive here - tweaking and adding to my various online profiles at different social networking sites. Below is a list of different networks available and how they see themselves or how I am using them:

MySpace - gained its notoriety with teens. I mostly use this site for connecting with friends - a profile of my more personal life. Because of the inherent personal nature of MySpace you need to connect on a more personal level. MySpace has a heavy music component and has helped launch many musicians.
LinkedIn - a monster of a business networking site I am just learning to use. Here's a great article by Mario Sundar "10 ways to use LinkedIn"
FaceBook -Facebook has brought privacy online! Due to its lack of public profiles (someone must be approved before reading details about you), my brothers, sisters, nieces & nephews have latched onto Facebook. I am mostly using Facebook for family connections.
ActiveRain - THE social network for Realtors. Need I say anything else?
Twitter - a service that lets you keep friends and family up to date on "What you are doing". I don't think I want to be that responsible to everyone I know!
Jaiku - a social networking site that was recently acquired by google. It is similar to twitter - you keep friends up to date on what you are doing. Right now, you have to request an invite - probably because they are going through changes related to the acquisition.
MeetUp - a way to connect to people locally who are interested in similar activities. Looking for someone to jump out of a plane with? Find them at meetup.com
Lyro - similar to linkedin. A business community - but not as robust as linkedin. I found out about linked in after googling an old boss I was trying to connect with. I found his lyro card and sent him an email. He called me the same day!!
Plaxo - just discovered this one tonight and joined. Their tag line "Connect your personal and professional life in one place". I basically copied and pasted everything from my linkedin profile.
Pownce - unless you have friends on here already, I'm not sure why you'd join. Seems like a well designed site, but I just don't have the energy to join one more site tonight!

There are a lot more sites out there. A great resource is this list of social networking sites at wikipedia. Enjoy!

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