Heather Jackman View My Video Card's Blog

Simple Photography Tip - How to make your modest listing look like a mansion

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Wed, 19 May 2010 11:56:00 -0700

Remember when you were a child and the world seemed so much bigger?

Much of that grandeur had to do with our perspective. The average 5 year olds eyes are only a few feet off the ground.

They look up and see more sky in their frame of view. This perspective is much more open.

TIP: Take your home standing up as normal, then go back and take them on 1 knee.

The change in perspective will make a smaller room "open up" and appear much bigger.

Try it! good luck.

PS: I got this tip from my husband who is a professional real estate photographer ;)

His website is www.OpenTourVideo.com if you would like to see more samples.

Are you mobile? Great new tool I used for the first time: It's called a "Smart Phone Tour"

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:01:51 -0800

I've always been "online" but I've never been "Mobile" unti now! Lets face it, over the last few years, online marketing is where it has been. After all- we're all here on Active Rain right?

Its 2010! time to take the next step, and the next step is in mobile marketing.

Although creating video tours for my sellers will always be a part of my online marketing, Its not new to anyone anymore. Video is everywhere.

Sellers in our area almost expect this as a standard now. When I'm in a listing presentation...i want as many tools to help set myself apart from the competition. I'm constantly looking for the latest and greatest, its in my blood I guess from shopping at outlets ..lol;).

I want to be able to present something fresh & "Out of the Box" to show the sellers I'm not part of the pack.

I recently found a whole new angle to get peoples attention... Its called a "SmartPhoneTour"

Best $99 I ever spent because i showed it during a listing presentation and I know for sure it helped me win the listing.

Smart Phones like the Iphone & Blackberry are everywhere right now, and if you're an active realtor- i bet you have one too. I started thinking about it....I read about 50-60% of my email off my IPhone- but none of my online marketing was geared for that mobile experience.

We all would like those Million Dollar listings from the most affluent clients. Affluent clients are busy people. One thing they don't have a lot of is-is "time". They are "multi-taskers" and most that I know, use a smart phone to help out with that busy scheduale.

So thats when i discovered "Smart Phone Tour.com" They create a mini mobile web page that is designed specifically for smart phones. They write something into the web page that makes it play properly on 100's of different phones to make sure when someone sees it on their phone its hassle free. My iPhone shows any web site, but i personally hate zooming in and out and sliding the page all over the place. The regular website never looks like it does on a desktop.

The company sends me a mobile rider that even has a barcode that can be scanned with a free software app- i'm not going to get into exactly how it works- just know its cool, easy, different and impressive to your client. it makes me look like i know what i'm doing, even though i am not really a "techy" person at all.

Things are changing very quickly, I know sometimes its hard to "keep up" with all the changes..But if you just keep taking steps forward and trying new things, you find there is really nothing to it once you jump in.

Happy marketing my friends!

Heather jackman

http://www.HeatherJackman.com

Heather is a multimillion dollar real estate producer in Yardley PA
A Relocation Specialist
and winner of the Executive Award for Coldwell Banker Hearthside for 2008 & 2009

$8,000 For First-Time Buyers.* $6,500 For Move-Up Buyers.*

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:56:10 -0800

Incredible Values. Great Financing.
Unwavering Stability And...
A Newly Enacted Federal Tax Credit!*

$8,000 For First-Time Buyers.* $6,500 For Move-Up Buyers.*
Low Monthly Payments. Historically Low Interest Rates.
Welcoming Families Home for Over 45 Years.
THE HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT AT A GLANCE...

Nothing to Pay Back - This is Direct Stimulus to You!
The $8,000 credit may be available to First-Time Buyers, and to Buyers who have not owned a primary residence in the past three years.
The $6,500 credit may be available to Move-Up Buyers who have maintained the same principal residence for any 5-consecutive year period during the 8-year period ending on the date of the settlement.
Single taxpayers earning up to $125,000 per year and married couples earning up to $225,000 per year may qualify for the full tax credit.
Single taxpayers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000, and married couples who earn between $225,000 and $245,000 are may be eligible to receive a partial credit.
Purchase price of home cannot exceed $800,000.
Credit available on homes under contract on or before April 30, 2010 and settled by June 30, 2010.

This is a unique opportunity for all homebuyers to capitalize on today's exceptionally low interest rates and low prices. Perhaps more than ever it is a great time to buy. The program ends April 30, 2010 and is not expected to be extended again. For further details and answers to Frequently

For more information and help finding your first home call Heather.

Go to http://www.HeatherJackman.com

New Magazine coming for Home Owners! "www.WelcomeToYardley.com"

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:40:17 -0800

I wanted to let everyone know that a new online magazine for homeowners is coming to Yardley!

http://www.WelcomeToYardley.com

We will feature the very best of our community. We hope to launch our first addition this April!

OOpps Sorry about that Tammy - Free Sites are back online now :)

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:13:32 -0800

Here are three free sites my husband and i wanted to share that helped us grow our business.
We originally posted this a few weeks ago and it was a big hit - but we accidentally deleted the link so here it is again by popular demand ;) Thanks for the heads up Tammy!

Click the link to view a short multimedia presentation: http://linktrack.info/3ydex5z

Heather Jackman
Homes for Sale in Yardley PA

Three Free Websites That Helped Me Grow My Business- Work Like A Charm!

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:40:56 -0800

Here are three Free web sites that helped me grow my business.
View a short multimedia presentation on why I think they would be good for your business too.
Hope you enjoy this short presentation http://linktrack.info/6gg66si

Heather Jackman
Yardley PA Real Estate

Green Printing to Save Money in Yardley Pa 19067

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:34:44 -0800

Just about everyone I know in Yardley PA Real Estate Market is trying to save money on home expenses.

I just saw this free green printing software on CNN and thought I'd share it with the group for those who missed it....saves, paper, INK!, and carbon
pretty cool and it works like a charm Green Print is free software that allows you to select what color images to print or not, I now have it after seeing Miles O'Brien do a story on the product
It is pretty cool Here is where you can check it out:

Click on the "home" page to get the Free Version
http://linktrack.info/mxbyfrf.

Great "Financial Melt Down" Tool for Your Buyers Who Can't Get A Mortgage

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:13:58 -0700

I just had buyers who could not get a mortgage because of their credit History and this crazy financial bailout mess we are all in.
They were right on the edge of the score that they needed and a new Mortgage broker
suggested a great tool that allowed them to monitor their credit situation and make corrections
its called MyFico and it saved the day for them. There is a video on the site that explains it.

Hope it helps

Heather
www.HeatherJackman.com
Yardley PA Real Estate Bucks County

I just fired my web guy! Great website tool...every listing now gets a website!

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:48:55 -0700

I used to think websites could only be created by computer gurus- Times have changed...If I knew it were as easy as this I would have saved a ton of money. Now I create a site for every listing...my clients love it

and it is as easy as it gets....the company has a video and free trial. Here is the link...give it a try and let me know what you think??

Build a website in minutes. Free trial!

I found a Great Free Ebook about Search Engine Optimization:)

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:37:03 -0700

My husband and I were considering hiring an SEO company to boost our ranking in Google.

Then we came across IBP's free SEO ebook which really helped us make sense of how Google works.

Here is a free link- It Is VERY GOOD...AND easy to read
I was pretty surprised how easy it really is...granted there are a lot of things that need to be looked at-but none of it is really that complex

They even gurantee a top 10 ranking within a year!...so they are pretty sure of their methods.

Good luck

Tips For Home Buyers

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:55:08 -0700

Buying a home in Yardley or anywhere is a big step in your life and should be a very exciting time. Unfortunately, many individuals rush into buying a home without considering the implications it has on their future. If you're considering making the move to own it's important you weigh all the options, and consider what, if anything, will affect the feasibility of you're purchase. If this is you're first time in the housing market consider the following before you make your big move.

Get Your Finances in Order
Have a lot of debt racked up? If thats the case, you may want to play catch up before you even think about buying a home. Bad credit is bad news for those who want a buy a new home. In most cases you will need to get a mortgage before you buy and this means your credit will be under scrutiny. Start getting acquainted with your credit score and begin to fix the problems well before you apply for a mortgage.

Think about the Future
If you have a job or other obligation that may require you to move or travel for extended periods of time you want to think twice about rushing into the housing market. Buying a house is a commitment that will tie you down to a particular location for at least a few years. It's not easy or economically feasible to pack up and sell your home at the drop of a hat.

Educate Yourself
As a first time home buyer one of the worst things you can do is go into the market unprepared. Familiarizing yourself with words and phrases that are used will allow you to better comprehend the market. A better understanding of the home buying process will enable you to make a well educated decision when it comes to you're final purchase. Entering the market blindly can turn you're home buying dreams into a nightmare.

Be Rational
We all want to live in the home of our dreams. Unfortunately, like most things in life, the housing market must be approached from the bottom up? Renting is the start of the home owners journey. With your dream home serving as the final destination you will most likely need to take a few stops on the way there. The logical step is to buy a house you can afford not one that lands you in economic turmoil. Consider your first home an investment that you can improve upon over time. Once the home is improved you can sell it and bring yourself one step closer to your dream home. Buying out of your league can be a huge problem so set a budget and find a home within your means.

Ask For Help
Don't be determined to have a "go at it alone". Buying a home is a complicated process and sometimes it really helps to have someone walk you through it step by step. Agents are more than willing to help you look through home listings, find what your looking for, and ultimately take you from start to finish. If you would like help in Bucks County Pa

I'm here to help you

Click here for a Free copy of my Yardley Real Estate
180 POINT ACTION PLAN for sellers

Page 1 Page 2

Buyers! I Have a Proven Track Record of Saving My Clients THOUSANDS of Dollars at the Negotiating Table

I specialize in representing Buyers. "I actually love what I do"
and when you love something...you can get pretty good at it.

FIRST: We'll find you the right home that is perfect for YOU.
I'll prepare you for the process of buying a home and then we'll negotiate the best possible price with the seller.

You're on an exciting journey and I'd like to help you arrive with a smile on your face and some extra money in your bank account :)

Home Buyers Tips

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:22:16 -0800

Tips for first time home buyers- Yardley Pa Homes

Buying a home in Yardley Pa or anywhere is a big step in your life and should be a very exciting time. Unfortunately, many individuals rush into buying a home without considering the implications it has on their future. If you're considering making the move to own it's important you weigh all the options, and consider what, if anything, will affect the feasibility of you're purchase. If this is you're first time in the housing market consider the following before you make your big move.

Get Your Finances in Order
Have a lot of debt racked up? If thats the case, you may want to play catch up before you even think about buying a home. Bad credit is bad news for those who want a buy a new home. In most cases you will need to get a mortgage before you buy and this means your credit will be under scrutiny. Start getting acquainted with your credit score and begin to fix the problems well before you apply for a mortgage.
Think about the Future
If you have a job or other obligation that may require you to move or travel for extended periods of time you want to think twice about rushing into the housing market. Buying a house is a commitment that will tie you down to a particular location for at least a few years. It's not easy or economically feasible to pack up and sell your home at the drop of a hat.
Educate Yourself
As a first time home buyer one of the worst things you can do is go into the market unprepared. Familiarizing yourself with words and phrases that are used will allow you to better comprehend the market. A better understanding of the home buying process will enable you to make a well educated decision when it comes to you're final purchase. Entering the market blindly can turn you're home buying dreams into a nightmare.
Be Rational
We all want to live in the home of our dreams. Unfortunately, like most things in life, the housing market must be approached from the bottom up? Renting is the start of the home owners journey. With your dream home serving as the final destination you will most likely need to take a few stops on the way there. The logical step is to buy a house you can afford not one that lands you in economic turmoil. Consider your first home an investment that you can improve upon over time. Once the home is improved you can sell it and bring yourself one step closer to your dream home. Buying out of your league can be a huge problem so set a budget and find a home within your means.
Ask For Help
Don't be determined to have a "go at it alone". Buying a home is a complicated process and sometimes it really helps to have someone walk you through it step by step. Agents are more than willing to help you look through home listings, find what your looking for, and ultimately take you from start to finish. If you would like help in Bucks County Pa
Click here if you need help in yardley pa

Watch This Great Video: How to Improve Your Search Engine Ranking

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:09:02 -0800

watch this great video about search engine and online marketing from our friends at Hubspot

Presented by OTV Online Media & Hubspot

www.OtvOnlineMedia.com

VIDEO-Learn How To Create a free e business card for prospects and clients to keep your info

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 13:11:48 -0800

Hi All,

Here is a Video tip for using e business cards in outlook express.

Its easy and free and allows you to give a lot of useable info to prospects and clients

Free Video For the Group-Using E Sig Cards in Outlook Express Email

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:03:41 -0800

Hi Guys...I will be posting videos from time to time of useful
tips that we can use quickly and at no cost...hope you like...

Here is tip #1

Watch what you say in public....Even if you are right!

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 06:43:41 -0800

True story: Yesterday I was coming out of a big box store and walking back to my car across a painted pedestrian cross walk. A lady quickly turned the corner out of the parking lot -missed me by inches and almost ran my foot over because she was "in a hurry" She then had to quickly jam on the brakes for another car and I had a chance to let her know "how i felt"

As a father with kids I always consider "what if scenarios" I told her at the top of my lungs [and not nicely I may add] to "slow down-you're going to kill someone yada yada" She quickly pulled over and with a smirk rolled down her window and said "save it for the cops"

"Oh boy- I thought- Now I can't leave "The Scene" But..I can't wait for this. I'm the pedestrian, she's in the car..I just yelled at her - She just about ran me over and she called the cops on me... I can't wait to see the police come and tell her how "right" I am" I sat down on the curb and waited with eager anticipation to "Watch the law get thrown back in her face" I was sure of it.

The parking lot has three entrances clearly visible from where we were. Like Broadway musical I watched three cop cars speed through each entrance like it was timed to a Broadway musical. "hmmm" I thought....why such the big deal? Queue cop cars: enter stage left, right, center. Three cop cars surrounded me within seconds of each other in a triangle formation. The same formation you see on TV show cops or one of those Helicopter shots when they don't want the "Criminal" to escape.

The cops got out of their cars quickly-doors slamming almost together. No guns drawn but hands on their hip....I instantly felt that big "utt oh" gut check "Hmm this is not right" Something was very serious about this...being Valentines day..many shoppers were around and the shoppers now turned into gawkers and formed a large human half circle around the reality TV show "come to life".

The Fun Fact That I learned after the cops arrived: When she called the cops on me She said I threatened to "kill her" That part- I did not know...... After 15 min [felt like 15 years] I was able to talk my way out of it- But it took a lot of effort and re explaining my position...the police were constantly challenging my version of events. At some point...I made my case and won their logic over.

You see these crime shows where an innocent man gets convicted and you think it happens once in a blue moon... I now think it happens every day. Not because of the police-the police were just "doing their job" But because of all the crazy people out there.

The cops pulled up to the scene ready to kick butt and take names later. Our town is fairly small with not that much going on...so by the reaction of all the cop cars...this was a big event in their day. They were there to earn their pay... I could feel they were itching to have something to talk about and almost disappointed that I was able to make a clear and logical argument on why I would not make such a statement. I could almost see their wheels spinning in their mind "Damn- he's right...why would he do that?- Its the lady"

Ultimately I ended up joking with the police about "some people" But I had to use every verbal persuasion tool I had in my bag of tricks.... When I replay the ladies "smirk" in my mind- I now see it as something cold and caulculating. I feel like its not the first time she did this..its her little "power trip" Her little "drama of the day" I do know this: I know I am really changed from the whole experience... "Guilty until you prove yourself innocent" is something I lived yesterday its not fun at all..... Moral of my story: Watch what you in say in public and how you say it- even to people who are totally in "the wrong".

Some people are hell bent on making your good day- their bad day.
In our line of work we are out "All the time" and therfore have a higher chance of these kinds of "encounters" So thats why I'm sharing here with you.

Food for thought.;)
Have a good one ....

Mike Jackman
www.GoToMyVideo.com
Video Business Cards for Realtors
"The next step in online communication"

Tough Times? Weed Your Garden

Heather Jackman View My Video Card (Coldwell Banker Hearthside Yardley PA) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:04:45 -0700

Life Lesson: Weed The Garden

I remember when I was 9 years old we lived in Georgia and that summer my father had decided that I start taking more responsibility around the house. He came into the kitchen every morning and would bark stern orders for chores that day. "Michael! today I want the entire basement cleaned up! take all the boxes out to the trash. remove all the furniture-scrub the floor! and move it all back!"

He would go to work and upon his return there would be a "military like" inspection of that days chore. Whether I passed or not would set his mood and attitude towards me for the rest of the evening.

One particular hot Georgia day [120 degrees in the shade like day]
he came down to breakfast and barked "Michael! - today I want the entire backyard pine beds weeded! - Roots and all! Not one green weed should be in those beds when I get home!"

My jaw dropped wide open. You see. We lived on a very big lot [in the eyes of a 9 year old] Our entire back yard backed up to woods and we had huge Pine straw [Like Mulch in the South] around huge pine trees. We had more Pine Beds than grass and more weeds than you could imagine. It was overwhelming to me at 9.

It had been a particularly hot summer and what made it worse is that the weeks before, we had rainstorm after rainstorm. When you left the cocoon of air-conditioning and would open your door to a hot Georgia oven. You would get smacked in the face with a smothering pillow of moist hot air. This was not humidity -this was an invisible suffocating blanket of steam.

For two hours after my father left -I sat in the family room looking out our sliding glass door at all the weeds. I dreaded going out there in that hot work zone. I kept my mind thinking of how long it was going to take. How much work there was. How hard it was going to be to get those weeds out of the ground. How I didn't think I would make it- after all -weeds are tuff & nasty and I was a nice kid. Would the weeds kick my butt?

For two hours I put myself through a kind of mental beating. I did not want to do it. But I had to do it. At 6pm- there was going to be an inspection. At around the two hour mark I reached my tipping point- time was running out- there was a lot of work to do and I just burned two hours thinking about it. I had to move NOW.

I opened the door and allowed the hot steamy moist air to rush over me. When I got under the shade of the Pine trees it was not as bad as when you were on our deck in the sun.

I put my hand on the first weed and mentally braced myself for the first tug of war that I would be enduring for long hours.
to my surprise-the weed came out with the greatest of ease. It literally slid out of the earth as if some little weed elf had rubbed the weed's roots in butter.

NO it can't be that easy? I must have done something wrong? Do I have the whole weed?! I quickly looked down at my hand to make sure I had the entire plant. Yep- there it was, roots-stem-leaf. amazing. I slid my hand into the small hole it made upon exit. The soil was moist from all the rain we had over the last weeks and the soil itself was based on years of rotting pinestraw. it was loose and fluffy and was never walked on so it had nothing to compact it and make it hard like the ground in our yard. I became excited at my new found labor windfall and declared war on the weeds right then and there as though I were Attila the Hun sacking Europe.No weed was safe from my wrath and I pillaged the entire bed in about an hour. My day completed in a fraction of the time I thought it would take.I had the entire afternoon to do what ever I felt like. When my father came home I passed inspection with flying colors and my mother added to my glory by telling my dad how fast and hard I must have worked because I did not come inside once. I "got it done"

Life was good.

Life Lesson: Things might not be as bad as they seem. When you think something is going to be hard- maybe it is- maybe it is not. Why go through the hardship twice?
Once in your mind- the other in the physical world. Control your thoughts about hardships. . Do you have any gardens in your life that need to be weeded? Go ahead -Take it one weed at a time...it might not be so bad.