During my daily 'Expireds Watch' I came across a perfect example of just how inept some Realtors have become within the current world of Real Estate.

This simply blows my mind.

Property Description:

Roomy, updated cape cod home on over an acre. Large ultra modern eat in kitchen. Huge LR/DR area plus extra LR/FR. 1st floor bath & bedroom. Air conditioning and furnace 2 years old. In ground pool off of kitchen. Replacement windows, 2 car detached plus 1 car detached garage, plus an attached carport. Country living at an affordable price.

The home was on the market for 190 Days.

And...*drumroll*... the pictures with the listing at the time it expired:

TADA!!!!

Surely...once it's relisted, they'll add more photos??? The description SCREAMS out in despair for more pictures!!!  They MUST get it right second time around??? RIGHT??? Let's see what's there now!!!

24 Hours Later...relisted...by the SAME agent:

WOW...what a change!

Where are the pictures of the LARGE ULTRA MODERN kitchen????  How about the HUGE LIVING ROOM AND DINING ROOM???  Let me see the EXTRA LIVING ROOM AND FAMILY ROOM!?!?!?!  What about the 2 DETACHED GARAGES?!?!!?!  What about BEDROOMS????  Umm..most people want to see them too, right???

Looks like another 190 days awaits.    I tell ya, if it wasn't relisted immediately, it would have been a primary target in my books.

How this type of stuff continues is mind-boggling.   Open your eyes if you are looking for new business, especially with expireds.  Sometimes all you need to do is look for photos, or should I say, LACK OF PHOTOS!!!

What do you think the first thing to go through the consumer's mind will be when they see this???  

'Hmmm...the house must be a total MESS to not show the inside.'

I know I would definitely come to that conclusion and I've heard many people state the same exact thing when they are telling me about properties they have looked through.  I can't believe how many experienced agents still let this stuff happen.  This example is from someone with close to 30 years in the business.   It is quite amazing....and quite sad.

If you can get to a listing like this, before it relists...you've got one helluva advantage right at the door.  Explaining the need for photos should be a no-brainer.  Documentation is all over the Internet about the importance of photos and Real Estate listings. Find those sources, use them, and wake up these sellers!!!!

Finally, all I can say, from what am seeing in our MLS,  I can only assume it's a national example as well.   Keep your guns ready, and spot these targets...because you're going to have plenty of opportunities coming your way if this trend continues.

That's right, # 2.   It's time to focus on what I believe is the SECOND biggest reason homes sit on the market.   We all should know what # 1 is, PRICE, and there's already plenty of explanations out there concerning why price is numero uno.  Find some of those HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.  So instead of shooting a dead horse, I hope to make a case for 2nd place!  And who might be the winner of a fabulous NUMBER 2 prize??

 MARKETING!!!!

To help you understand the power of reason # 2, let's take a good look at a recent list of expired listings that popped up in the wonderful ole MLS system.    This chart will help explain the first of three powerful reasons marketing is so important.

1. PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES - Without a doubt the single biggest reason, outside of price, that your property doesn't move.  It should be crystal clear to a trained eye, that within this small list above, there is one shining example of how to almost GUARANTEE your property will generate ZERO interest.   I don't even know where to begin when I see this occur, DAILY....but let's try:

You should immediately spot three listings with a whopping 1 picture.   I'm sorry, but there are absolutely no excuses for this.  NONE.   I don't care what the seller says, what the property looks like outside, what the price is, or if inside it looks like World War III just ended.    A one picture listing doesn't even compute in the mind of today's online buyer. Your seller needs to understand that fact clearly.   When the consumer hits that listing online, on the MLS, wherever, that one picture yells, in their own mind, a HUGE negative word:

If you can't convince the seller to clean up their mess (which is USUALLY the reason for a one picture listing), or at the very least ORGANIZE the mess into a big heap, you should seriously consider whether or not the listing is worth taking in the first place.  Even if the place is empty, but a total disaster internally, you still TAKE THE PICTURES.  Consumers are more likely to look at the house, even if it's a slop heap...if it has more than one photo. You at least generate the possibility someone will view the home and it's structure with an open mind.   They will see the innards, mess and all, damage, etc., and true buyers will envision the house as what it COULD be.

When you show buyers nothing but a single picture, the entire emotional experience, the dreaming about this room and that room, is gone in an instant, and I don't care if you write a 18 paragraph description that could win you a Pulitzer.....no extra photos...and crickets is what you are going to get.

Finally, for the love of Pete don't think that teasing the buyer is smart.   That is taking only 5 or 6 pictures hoping to entice someone to see more.   Are you kidding me?  Those days are over.   The mind set of a consumer is they'll get in their GPS enabled car and drive to the listing FIRST before they call you. 

Yes they will do that.

TAKE THE PICTURES!!!  Nothing disturbs me more when I see a $400,000+ listing with less pictures than a $90,000 listing.  If you can't take 20 pictures of a house, what the heck are you doing???  Do you know how to use a digital camera???  A safe number is 15-20, maybe even pushing 30 if the house demands it, specifically via different angles, outside features, etc.

Put yourself in the shoes of a consumer.   You would want lots of pictures, wouldn't you?

2. THE MLS IS ALL THAT MATTERS - It strikes me as stunning when I hear other agents state that as long as their listing is in the MLS system, there's no other need for marketing online.  Most of the time I find out that they simply have no desire to expand their online exposure or more than likely, literally have NO IDEA how to expand their marketing.  

If you're a consumer one of the first questions you should ask your agent BEFORE you list with them, is SHOW ME where my home will appear online once you list it.    If the agent cannot sit down at a computer and either show your personally or EMAIL you at least 5 EXTRA sites, outside of the MLS, company website, and national website......you need to move onto another agent. 

Here's just a FEW websites you should be in touch with. 
(If these don't look familiar, it's time you re-invent yourself.)

It's critical that a listing gets exposure in as many online spots as necessary.   If you can't deliver that to the consumer, you're in the wrong business. 

3. USING OUTDATED TECHNIQUES - It blows my mind to no end how many agents continue to push for and continue to believe in dated marketing techniques.  Newspaper ads still run rampant in the papers, agents are still mailing out 4000+ holiday magnets, and many continue to ignore the need to embrace things like Facebook, blogging, or personal e-marketing.  Sure, some of these 'old' techniques still turn up a golden nugget from time to time, but you'll find less of these shining star stories popping up than in years past.

Newspapers are legitimately dying...and i predict that 2009 will be a telling year for their overall decline.  Many have already made drastic changes or gone almost completely under.  Magazines are starting to turn to digital editions and newspapers have already stopped home delivery in some states.   If you're still hooked on newspapers, it's time you wake up.  

• Detroit Newspapers to End Home Delivery
• LA Times Kills Real Estate Section
• Tribune Announces Major Cuts and Now Down to 4 Days
• Oklahoma Newspaper Ends Tulsa Home Delivery
• Decline of Newspapers Accelerating
• End Times - The end of the New York Times by May 2009?

Sure there are still people who would explode without their daily coffee and back porch relaxing moment with the dead tree in their hands....but anyone younger than 35 still reading the newspaper is an enigma.  It is important for you to realize that these younger generations are the people who will be your largest customers in less than 5 years, if not sooner.

Relying on old methods and not expanding your knowledge into the need to be online savvy, into social networks like Facebook, or keeping in touch with your customers with an e-newsletter...not doing those...will eventually put you in line with the dinosaurs.

Adapt or die.  It will eventually be that simple and focusing only on marketing the 'old' way will guarantee your eventual extinction.

It may not be sudden, it may not be a killer newspaper asteroid that wipes you out, but it will be a slow menacing walk into the shadows if you don't come out of the dark ages and embrace what's only now just starting to drastically shape this industry.

I would love to know why so many Realtors feel its "ok" to send flyers, open house notifications, broker's opens, new hire announcements, and other such email nonsense to other Realtors.

Last time I checked, unsolicited email that I or other agents DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY ASK FOR...is lawfully S P A M.   The fact the Realtor you are emailing is related to your business field as another licensed Realtor has no bearing on your ability to send people this garbage.  The CAN SPAM LAW doesn't recognize that little tidbit so many agents thinks should apply.

"Well they are a Realtor too, they should WANT my emails!!!" 

I mean for Pete's sake, am I missing something?   I've been to our NAR site, PAR (Pennsylvania Association of Realtors), and every other site I could find....I read the law, their policies...etc.  Is there some exception for Realtors spamming other Realtors??? 

As the company I.T. guy working for our brokerage, it never fails...about once every month or so I get cornered by an agent who gets an emailed flyer or announcement from some other Realtor in our area....and they look at me and say, "Hey...the company should be doing this....for me...for us...." Etc..etc...etc.

It's never, "Hey Nick, can you show me how these people are sending me these announcements?  I'd really like to learn how to do this." At least not where I am.

Why is there this unbelievable assumption that the company should be doing the individual marketing of an agent's business, especially when it comes to certain technology?  Aren't you all INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS????  The email marketing technology that is available now for your use is MIND-NUMBINGLY easy in many cases and, wake up for this one, isn't made for an entire agency to use in the manner you want it used.....FOR SPAMMING.  

These services, when used properly, are MADE FOR INDIVIDUAL USE ONLY.  I'll bet many with this mindset think the broker should just have a single staff member post every new listing on Craigslist???  Under one account???

How is this so hard to understand, that in the case of spamming your entire local Realtor MLS membership, it's ILLEGAL without gaining each and every agent's permission??? And cmon, working with these professional email marketing services via their point and click websites, if you use the system correctly, is PAINFULLY easy.  Especially if you have 15 minutes to spare, can use a computer mouse, and have the ability to sit at a computer.

Oh...I know...no one has any free time any more. The market is just so busy.

What was I thinking?

What I find staggering about the email flyer mindset that I encounter, is when I explain the CAN-SPAM LAW to the Realtor and how as a company we can't get involved in this effectively, I might as well be speaking in some other language.   There is no care or concern for what's right or wrong with spamming...because, "Hey, XYZ Realty and Agent SoandSo is constantly sending me open house and price reductions!!    The company needs to be doing this!!!"

NEVER MIND the fact that 99% of these emails are sent out via harvested email lists (that site should be F'ing ILLEGAL) or agents who scour the MLS rosters sucking up all of the publicly printed email addresses.  Never ONCE have I received an email from any ‘said' agent in our area because I signed up (OPT-IN) for a list of theirs. NOT ONCE.

...but isn't amazing that when you get the flyer or announcement, at the bottom is some un-subscription request to unsubscribe to the list you are a member of???  WHHHHAT?

How many of you are constantly signing up for email announcements lists from your other Realtors in your area?   I bet about .07% of you.

I know for a fact these people and brokers are either buying lists or using some service to proliferate the crap via harvested data.   It is truly amazing.   Especially when, as the I.T. guy, it gets shoved down my throat that this form of marketing is "NEEDED" and we "HAVE TO BE DOING THIS" as a company.

How am I supposed to sit there and argue can-spam laws when local agents or BROKERS are doing the same nonsense????

How am I supposed to explain how sending emails to other Realtors without their explicit permission is agains the law when sites like this, this, and THIS, are allowed to operate??!?!?

Again...is there a LOOPHOLE in the CAN-SPAM LAW that allows those sites legal rights to do what they do???

Someone, please enlighten me if there is!

It's a true joke and while it's gotten much better over the years, virtually any legitimate service you now see available to agents, legitimate services such as ICONTACT.COM and CONSTANTCONTACT.COM all have STRICT rules against sending email to someone who didn't opt-in to your list.

These services are fantastic, but the proper way to email market is to gather email addresses of people who have specifically requested to receive your email.   To provide a method for them to actually want your announcements.

I can sit here and think of a few ways each and every realtor could do this....but of course, that would mean you had to sit and work and create a way to gather permission....

...whoops..I forgot...the market is on fire and there's no time for an agent to do such work.

Just find the I.T. guy and he'll make it all better. 

One of the simplest ways to keep your computer running effectively is to keep it clean of crap files.  If you haven't ever heard of the program CCLEANER, go and get yourself a copy now. 

GET CCLEANER

Download, install it, and run it.  In it's basic form it's a potent system cleaner.  Keep in mind it's not a virus or spy ware protector or cleaner.  It's primary purpose is to clean system cache, cookies, history, temporary files, and other such important system locations that gather crap files which may slow your PC down.   CCLEANER also functions as a basic registry cleaner and has a nice uninstaller tool as well.

But that's not what this blog is about.  It's about using the power of CCLEANER to automatically clean your computer without you lifting more than a finger...if at all.  Ok..so you downloaded and installed it, right?? If not..go!!

Ok..with it installed, you now have a CCLEANER SHORTCUT icon on the desktop.  Follow me.

1. COPY the original shortcut, leaving the original one for running the program manually.

2. RIGHT CLICK the newly copied shortcut, select PROPERTIES from the menu that appears.  You now see the below:

3. Click in the TARGET field and place the cursor at the end of the command line, after the quotes.

4. Hit the SPACE BAR and add (as shown below): /AUTORUN   

5. Click APPLY and then OK

What you have essentially done by adding /AUTORUN is when you now click that shortcut, CCLEANER runs with all of it's basic cleaning settings.   You need to look quickly in your task bar at the bottom right to catch the program running, as you will see nothing else other than the small red CCLEANER icon appear briefly (depending upon how much crap you have to clean it may stay there for a while).  What's nice is while it's cleaning, you can go about your business without the program window being open.

So how about automatically cleaning your PC???  That's EAZZZZY!

6. Take that modified shortcut and drag it to your STARTUP FOLDER!!!!  (see image below)

Now when you bootup and sign onto your PC, CCLEANER automatically runs and cleans up all of your garbage! It's without a doubt a very nice little way to keep your PC free of crap without lifting a finger.

Another tidbit of information about this AUTORUN feature is that many people have told me that they do not like it when their web history is wiped or their "recently typed URLS" (websites) are cleaned with CCLEANER.  To prevent AUTORUN from doing this, simply open the program manually, uncheck the boxes of those items and then perform the Run Cleaner function.   When you do that it keeps the settings and future AUTORUNs will use those settings.  To get AUTORUN to again clean those features, you must go back and reset those boxes, followed by running the cleaner manually one time.  After you close the program, those settings stick.

Finally, for those who really want to go crazy and don't like leaving their PC online, there is a /SHUTDOWN switch as well.   Create yourself a icon with /AUTORUN /SHUTDOWN and as soon as the autoclean is finished, your PC shuts down.  Get even crazier and add a scheduled task...say 2am!!!  At 2am your PC runs CCLEANER and SHUTS DOWN when done!!!

Hope this helps everyone and get those PCs CCLEANED!!!! 

I recently read a great blog post by technology expert Matthew Ferrara titled: "Five Reasons Realtors are Losing Market Share"

Matt makes an argument that many Realtors in today's market are disconnected from today's consumer.  He points out five key statistics in his blog that may be to blame for this overall issue:

The statistics are telling, but overall he points finally to the fact that most Realtors, whose average age is now their mid-fifties, aren't adapting to the needs of what is soon to be coming...and that is a major wave of "first time" Y buyers and "move up" X buyers.  Buyers who expect instant communication and speedy replies and whose information demand has the possibility to bury any agent who can't keep up.

Matt's blog is a good one, and I agree with his major stance on the issue, but I also think there's an unseen aspect to what many are failing to realize is going on and what really needs to be looked at, especially for the future:

I think it's important to note that in order for "Real Estate" to catch up to what Generation X and Y are bringing to the table, Brokers need to be hiring the X's and the Y's, and finding out how best to train them as sound and professional agents.  Agents who can make it, who can motivate their own minds, and become successful, not only for themselves, but for the companies and franchises they work for.

X and Y agents would have NO problems keeping up with needs of X and Y consumers.  Quite frankly because they easily understand the overall fact of technology today and how it is mandatory to survive in the business world.

Unfortunately, the recruitment of young people in this business is dying in my eyes and right now, it's simply not happening to any great degree, at least in our neck of the woods.  It's not due to a lack of recruiting attempts, believe me.  Over the past 5-6 years I did see quite a few young people enter the business, even a few recently...but sadly, virtually all of them have ended up leaving due to not having the motivation or the ability to generate enough business.  

We live in a time of expensive EVERYTHING.  More so now than ever before people need stability, especially with income, and especially if you are a 20 or 30 something trying to make it out in the world.    If those X's and Y's trying to become a Realtor don't have a stable cash reserve or a spouse who can support them, at least initially, they are usually doomed within 2-3 months as a Realtor.  Bills and life responsibilities don't stop in a down market, let alone any market.  New agents, especially young tech savvy ones, without a monstrous circle of influence and absolutely phenomenal sales skill usually cannot find a strong way to compete in today's business world of Real Estate.  Sure, there are always a few exceptions here and there, but it sure isn't the majority in my opinion.

The agents that are surviving, in our market, are mainly the ones that have been at this business for many many years, who I see continue to tap their R&R (repeat and referral) business.  They may not be keeping up with the latest technology, but they have the experience and skills that are key to keeping the growing market fear off the table with a old or new client.

Overall I do agree intensely with Matt's post, but in the same breath I don't see how the industry as a whole is going to manage to revitalize this career field without young tech savvy blood.  Again, as Matt states, the average age of a Realtor is roughly 50+ years old....the key question the entire industry needs to ask is how do we change that? 

If motivated young new people don't enter this business to affect that statistic of age, we're looking at a major dying off of not only agents, but entire franchises and companies who sooner or later will have to face the fact that there's no agents left in their company.

So I pose a final question...is your company managing to hire these young fresh 20 and 30 something X and Y agents?  And more importantly are you keeping them?  Are they becoming successful?  Or are they being stampeded out of the business due to lack of experience?  

As a X'er myself, making my way in this Real Estate world...I'm all ears.

Late last night, to the horror of my eyes, I discovered that our beautiful new kitchen granite countertop had somehow become stained in multiple areas with what appeared to be some form of red color!

It took me a few minutes to calm down, but I realized that the previous day we had strawberry dessert with our dinner.  Somehow the darn mess must have eluded my wife and I once we cleaned up and went to bed.  So, there, in front of my eyes, roughly 24 hours later stood this bright red cluster of red spots sunken into our beautiful new kitchen counter, hideously laughing at me as I attempted all I knew trying to clean the redness away.

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, we attempted to use managed to even budge the stain away.  The professional granite cleaner, soap and water, and hardcore rubbing of the sponge or towel.  NADDA.  Hell, I even SPIT on the damn stain.  YUCK!   (yeah, that didn't work either)

After about 20 minutes of head pounding frustration I thought of only one possibility, GOOGLE.   I went ballistic online searching for tips on cleaning granite, specifically stains related to wine or fruit.

What I found was astounding, and it worked like a CHAMP!!

What could this miracle cleaning cure be you ask????

PLASTER OF PARIS (molding plaster) and BLEACH

THAT"S IT!!!  Simply mix a little bit of the Plaster of Paris, available at any hardware store, with a little bit of bleach until you get a good paste.  You don't want the paste too watery and you don't want it too thick.  A little runny will do, but not so thin it doesn't scoop up with a spoon.  I'd recommend using an old glass dish for mixing, as you can easily clean it afterwords with warm water, even if the plaster hardens.

***IMPORTANT!!!!  DO NOT THROW THE UNUSED PLASTER MIX DOWN THE DRAIN OR TOILET.  I highly recommend just dumping it into a garbage can bag or tossing it some other way that doesn't not involve your plumbing.***

Once you have enough to cover your stain, just plop some on and wait approximately 30 minutes.   After 30 minutes, take a very wet sponge and wipe away the hardened plaster.  I held my breath during the first application, but I must admit, this literally cleaned up everything!!!   One of our stains took 3 applications to get up, but low and behold eventually the red stain was gone!!!

There you have it!!!  According to what I read this works great on wine stains and fruit stains. Hopefully this comes in handy for anyone who may have an unfortunate granite countertop spill of this nature to deal with.  The sheer ease of cleaning it was astounding and I would have never guessed it would work!

I finally took the plunge about 2 months ago and upgraded my personal home desktop computer to Windows Vista. The term "upgrade" isn't entirely accurate in this case though, as I actually built myself a new computer. While my existing PC was almost 5 years old, a Windows XP monster of a machine, and more than sufficient for all of my basic needs, I really was overdue, especially as an I.T. professional who prides himself on staying in touch with all the latest techie stuff.

Buying a new computer from a major dealer isn't an option for me, as I pride myself in building my own, part by part. Building a PC from scratch is definitely not for everyone, but I've always done so and this time was going to be no different. Personally, it's a hobby I enjoy, and more importantly, I love knowing exactly what is being placed inside my PC in case something goes wrong.

So..Being in the I.T. field I figured I finally better see first hand what all the hub-bub was about concerning Vista, as well as put the system through my own tech-gauntlet to see if all the of the negative hype was truly justified.

I'm happy to report that my Vista experience has been phenomenal.

This new behemoth of a machine literally blows through anything I throw at it, specifically multiple tasks. The bootup time is lightening fast, the slick nature of the visuals is extremely impressive, and the overall aspect of the changes definitely raised my eyebrows.

I sat and wondered, "how can this be? shouldn't it have crashed or screwed up something by now??"

I mean we all probably have seen the numerous negative reviews online, the many personal comments from people we know who have "tried it", or read the magazine articles comparing Vista to Microsoft's horrid Windows ME operating system. You start to wonder at this point, am I just a lucky one?

Frankly...I don't think I was lucky. I just think I was smarter than the average retail company or user....and I think my method of building a system from scratch proves why it's been so bad for Vista and for so many others.

Ya see I researched. I read. I scoured the online forums and websites trying to figure out how to avoid such a potential disaster with Vista. How? Simple, very simple:

I specifically built my machine with known VISTA compatible parts. That's right, I sought out and made sure to buy parts that were Vista Certified. One other MAJOR key so many manufacturers get wrong with Vista is MEMORY.

Windows Vista is a HOG, a GIANT 800lb PIG, when it comes to system resources. I am constantly amazed when I run across a laptop or personal computer of someone who bought a shiny new Vista computer, only to discover it shipped with 512MB of MEMORY. 512MB!?!?!? Windows VISTA?!?!!?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!? 512MB?!?!?! WINDOWS VISTA?!?!?!

Companies SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED to manufacture and sell Vista machines with less than 2GB. That's right, 2 GIGA-BYTES!!!!! It's a travesty that Vista machines are being sold with less.

I literally just worked on a laptop, manufactured by a major brand name, that only had 512MB of memory. IN-SANE. I turned that thing on and I might as well have come back 24 hours later, as that's when the desktop would come up. Disgusting.

So, to come full circle, what should you be concerned about if you are considering an upgrade to Vista? Maybe your XP machine has seen it's day, maybe you just need a new toy, or maybe you just have no other choice?

Here's a few simple hints on how to properly convert yourself to the "Vista Experience":

1. CHANGE IS HERE - You must first accept the fact that Windows Vista is going to be a change from what you have been used to. It's not entirely different than previous version of Windows, but believe me...it's different in ways that will drive you loony if you are not prepared. For example: the START BUTTON is gone, replaced by a simple logo. Windows Explorer looks eerily like Apple's OS. Catch my drift? Little nuances like that will unglue your brain if you are not willing to accept that Microsoft changed a few things here and there. Overall, if you face that fact, and enjoy learning something new, you will find Vista quite appealing.

2. MEMORY...REPEAT AFTER ME...MEMORY....2 GIGA-BYTES OR MORE OF MEMORY!!! If you want any chance at a successful experience with Vista, throw as much memory as you can at it. 2GB, 3GB, or even 4GB. The sheer performance increase going from 512MB or even 1GB to 2GB or more is astounding.

3. FORGET ABOUT UPGRADING an old machine, including a fairly new Windows XP Machine. Save yourself a headache and don't attempt an upgrade. Either buy a new machine or, if you are a techie, build your own. First off, upgrading a machine is sometimes a death sentence. There's too many intangibles that could render your PC useless or you may fudge the upgrade and wipe everything....I've seen it, believe me. Personally, I think this is the # 1 reason Vista failed at launch. Too many people thought they could upgrade an old PC with a shiny new version of Vista and didn't realize their HARDWARE was outdated or didn't have enough MEAT to properly run Vista (the way it was meant to run). If your XP machines does what you need it to do and is fast enough for you, STICK WITH IT. If you still want to upgrade, trust me, give the old XP machine to a family member and buy a new computer that's already Vista ready.

4. PROCESSOR(CPU) - Get yourself a QUAD-CORE processor. You future proof yourself, even if only for a few years, and you WILL notice the difference while multi-tasking. Having multiple windows, browsers, programs, etc, will be almost instant. If you can only find a DUAL-CORE cpu, that's ok too, but again, shoot for a PC with integrated QUAD-CORE technology.

5. VIDEO CARD - If you want all the shiny bells and whistles, make sure the PC has video that can handle the Vista Aero Interface. While they do sell Vista in a "BASIC" version....ask yourself, why the heck even upgrade? If you want the true VISTA experience, make sure the video solution for the PC can handle Vista's slick new interface.

Other key items which may not be entirely necessary to enjoy the Vista experience would be a nice decent sized hard drive for all of your data, maybe a 19 inch or higher LCD monitor, and why not a cool surround sound set of speakers? While not entirely necessary, you can truly benefit from such additional considerations.

There you have it. If you do your homework, whether you build your own machine or buy from a vendor, make sure to feed Windows Vista LOTS of memory. Also, prepare yourself for some "change" and a bit of a minor learning curve in getting used to the new features. But once you do, moving over to Vista is quite a refreshing breath of fresh air. It's been a great experience for me so far and I would recommend Vista to anyone.