Reese's Pieces

Shawnee real estate market doesn't reflect national news

Steve Reese (Prudential Carolyn Harris Realty) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:13:24 -0500

Today there was an article in the Shawnee News-Star about more layoffs at a local manufacturing plant. One of the reasons given for their problems was "prolonged weakness in housing." Im afraid that readers may see the statement referring to Shawnee's housing market. With everything we see and read in the national news, it can be hard to see that Shawnee's housing market is healthy and has a positive contribution to our local economy.

It's true that other parts of the country - most notably California, Florida and Nevada - have seen steep declines in housing sales recently. It's the natural course after enjoying spectacular increases in their property values over the past ten years.

Oklahoma, and Shawnee in particular, don't seem to experience sharp inclines in the market, so on the other hand, there is no drastic correction in the market to offset it. Our trends are much less extreme. Overall, our property owners see a modest appreciation in their values over time.

National TV news programs captivate audiences with sensational stories about real estate foreclosures and market downturns around the country, but it's crucial to keep in mind that real estate is local.

The housing picture in Shawnee cannot be painted with the broad strokes from the national scene. If local citizens think the real estate problems in other areas are a reality here, then their reactions will have a perpetuating negative effect on our local economy. If the local real estate market is portrayed more accurately, then our local economy will benefit from the positive effects of an optimistic community. The sooner our local media gets on board with that thinking, the better and more realistic our local economic outlook will appear.

How to Hold a Successful Garage Sale

Steve Reese (Prudential Carolyn Harris Realty) — Sat, 23 May 2009 14:09:36 -0500

Garage sales can be a great way to get rid of clutter - and earn a little extra cash - before you sell your home. But make sure the timing is right. Garage sales can take on a life of their own, and it might not be the best use of your energy right before putting your home on the market. Follow these tips for a successful sale.

1. Don't wait until the last minute. You don't want to be scrambling to hold a garage sale the week before an Open House. Depending on how long you've lived in the home and how much stuff you have to sell, planning a garage sale can demand a lot of time and energy.

2. Get a permit. The City of Shawnee requires you to obtain a proper permit from City Hall in order to hold a garage sale. The permits are very inexpensive, but still require you to register with the city. You're allowed to hold three sales a year.

3. See if neighbors want to join in. You can turn your garage sale into a block-wide event and lure more shoppers if you team up with neighbors. However, a permit may be necessary for each home owner, even if it's a group event. Check with the Action Center at City Hall to get clarification.

4. Schedule the sale. Sales on Saturdays will generate the most traffic, especially if the weather cooperates. Start the sale early, 8 a.m. is best, and be prepared for early birds.

5. Advertise. Place an ad in free classified papers and Web sites, and in The Shawnee News-Star newspaper. Include the dates, time and address. Let the public know if certain types of items will be sold, such as baby clothes, furniture or exercise equipment. Contact TeamShawnee to loan you some pennant flags to string across your front yard. We'll deliver the day before and pick them up afterward!

6. Price your goods. Lay out everything that you plan to sell, and attach prices with removable stickers. Remember, garage sales are supposed to be bargains, so try to be objective as you set prices. Assign simple prices to your goods: 50 cents, 3 for $1, $5, $10, etc.

7. If it's really junk, don't sell it. Decide what's worth selling and what's not. If it's really trash, then throw it away. Know where a nearby electrical outlet is, in case a customer wants to make sure something works.

8. Check for mistakes. Make sure that items you want to keep don't accidentally end up in the garage sale pile.

9. Create an organized display. Lay out your items by category, and display neatly so customers don't have to dig through boxes.

10. Stock up on bags and newspapers. People who buy many small items will appreciate a bag to carry their goods. Newspapers are handy for wrapping fragile items.

11. Manage your money. Make a trip to the bank to get ample change for your cashbox. Throughout the sale, keep a close eye on your cash; never leave the cashbox unattended. It's smart to have one person who manages the money throughout the day, keeping a tally of what was purchased and for how much. Keep a calculator nearby.

12. Prepare for your home sale. Donate the remaining stuff or sell it to a resale shop. Now that all of your clutter is cleared out, it's time to focus on preparing your house for a successful sale! Steve and his team will be happy to offer advice about furniture placement and general staging ideas to put your house in its best light!

13. Hand out property fliers. If your home is already listed with TeamShawnee, arrange ahead of time to have an ample supply of property fliers to hand out to all your customers. You never know where your buyer could come from. TeamShawnee will also provide some attention-getting flags to display on their listed properties during garage sales. If a garage sale shopper wants to see the inside of your home, ask them to call one of the TeamShawnee agents to make an appointment at another time. You've been concentrating on getting ready for the garage sale, so your home may not look its best. Also, for security reasons, you don't want someone wandering through inside or left outside unattended.

Technology Class Notes

Steve Reese (Prudential Carolyn Harris Realty) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:43:55 -0600

I took these notes from Randy Templeman's technology class:

Recite: "I don't list houses for sale; I manage the sale and marketing of your property."

Remember: SOLD (# sales in a geographical area over a period of time, divide by number of listings they had = success ratio)

Resources:

Snagit ($25) www.tech-smith.com
www.Expresscopy.com
Google "Oklahoma GIS" (mapping system)
www.realtor.org
Google: AOL Radio (free Internet streaming music--use for open house, etc.)
www.live.com (maps)
Youtube: What is a blog?
http://talk.realtor.com (free blog through realtor.com)
www.realtownblogs.com (free blogs)
www.archive.com
www.godaddy.com
www.realtor.org ("real estate facts")
http://faq.fha.gov
www.hud.gov
www.NewBidSelect.com (marketing and management company) subcontractor for HUD
http://www.livejournal.com/tools/textmessage.bml?mode=details
www.realestateshows.com ($125/yr, unlimited shows) Use promo code ce9d89150583, and your first year is $99.

Construction and Diversity Class Notes

Steve Reese (Prudential Carolyn Harris Realty) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:40:27 -0600

I took these notes from Chandra Hall's classes:

Construction 101 with Chandra Hall

At Home With Diversity Certification Course with Chandra Hall

census.gov
- State Housing Unit Estimates
Since the closing of the Fannie Mae Foundation's day-to-day operations, their online resources appear to have been transferred to KnowledgePlex.org. It also looks like FannieMae has relinquished their publication copyrights to the public domain.
Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight

Certified Home Marketing Specialist Designation Course at Oklahoma GRI

Steve Reese (Prudential Carolyn Harris Realty) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:27:53 -0600

Students learned a great deal about how to talk to their sellers about positioning their homes to really beat their competition! Instructor Amy Chorew did a great job. Everybody left with a workbook full of information, a CD and two DVDs to help them showcase their knowledge to the sellers.

I love having this CRS elective in the GRI program. I feel strongly that the students be exposed to a variety of specializations and other designations on their GRI journey. This staging course is just terrific and meets an important goal of training agents to market their listings with more skill and authority.

In this photo, Instructor Amy Chorew (center) joins students Hope White CRS (2008 Oklahoma CRS President and OAR Secretary-Treasurer) and Barbara Harris CRS during a break from the class. They're a wild bunch, aren't they?!!?

It's Not Your Mother's GRI

Steve Reese (Prudential Carolyn Harris Realty) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:29:16 -0500

The Oklahoma GRI program continues to grow and evolve into an essential component for the career development of real estate professionals. GRI 202 October 22-23 is all about the numbers:

Financing Techniques
The recent economic bailout has turned the financing end of our business on its ear, so a substantial portion of this class will be devoted to bringing everyone up to speed. Tulsa-area lender Mickey Shannon leads this course.
Resi-mercial Basics & Property Management
In many communities, REALTORS® are expected to provide services in many different areas - including some commercial transactions. Norman broker Brad Worster provides you with some basic tools, formulas and inside tips for handling many commercial transactions. You'll also get a primer on property management, which many times goes hand-in-hand in the real estate office.
Taxation Toolbox: Basic Tax Tools for Real Estate Professionals
One of our national speakers, Chandra Hall from Colorado Springs, brings a wealth of taxation and business know-how to this essential course. The tax information you'll add to your toolbox will not only help your clients but add to your credibility as a resource for important information. This class won't make you an accountant but will show you when to refer to one!
Weighing In on Capital Gains
Chandra Hall continues with this weighty topic of immense imporance to your buyers and sellers. IRS laws change constantly, and Chandra has all the latest. It seems complicated on the surface but Chandra's light-hearted delivery makes it all understandable!
Tax Write-offs for the Self Employed
REALTORS® spend so much time helping their clients make wise financial decisions, isn't it time you as a self-employed professional minimize your tax liabilitys and maximize your income potential? Chandra has so many ideas, you'll want to prepare your taxes before April 15th!

The first four GRI modules also satisfy the state's post-license education requirement. Remember, you can start your GRI with any module--in any month! Make it this month have all the hard stuff made simple!

Go to the Oklahoma GRI Web Page to read more about GRI and register online! If you have any questions, drop me a line or call me @ 800.375.9944.