Emilie's Blog

Old Town Pittsburg Farmers' Market

Emilie Cueva, REALTOR®, SRES, AHWD, QSC (Prudential California Realty) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:40:42 -0500

I have been aPittsburgresident for 8 years now although I have visited the area quite for quite a few times before moving to this beautiful city. Contrary to what I have previously heard about Pittsburg, pretty much the negative things about it, I haven't had any negative experiences so far. In fact, there are a lot of things to like about Pittsburg. I begin to wonder how and where those negative comments originated. Well, thinking again, perhaps some have had negative observation or experiences encountered while in Pittsburg, which probably had been shared to others and as a result had spread out.

The City of Pittsburg actually is bouncing back, it boasts a picture of growth. The old downtown is being rebuilt, some traffic-drawing business establishments had already embarked in this desirable city, a number of new communities had been built as newer ones begin to proliferate. It is pure joy that I feel as I see my home city improve and grow day after day.

Our Farmers' Market for one, had been existing for years but all those years that I've been a resident here that I've only been there once, just two Saturdays ago. This may be a shock to some. Honestly, I was the one who was shocked the most! I didn't expect that my very first Farmers' Market experience would be so much fun and nostalgic! Not only that vendors sell their freshest produce, but the people in general were so nice, accommodating, just being friendly! It felt as though we really are a community! It felt so different but in a very pleasant way--the environment evoked a true homelike feel to it. It almost was like that show on TV, "Cheers", where people know each other by name sort of thing. I know I'd be going there more often now and I'm sure I will spread the word about our Farmers' Market and the City of Pittsburg that I am happy to be a part of it!

Hope to see some of you there!

To All the Dads on AR:

Emilie Cueva, REALTOR®, SRES, AHWD, QSC (Prudential California Realty) — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 02:51:23 -0500

That includes my husband... (he's a Rainer, too, btw). Happy Father's Day!

May you all continue to do the many wonderful things you like doing, first and foremost on the list being the provider and the rock that you all have always been.

I know it's a little early for this greeting but just wanting to make a little bit sure that you'd get it as I wonder if our AR dads would really be reading posts on Father's Day. So again, happy father's day!

'Realtor on the Rise’ Nominations

Emilie Cueva, REALTOR®, SRES, AHWD, QSC (Prudential California Realty) — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:09:29 -0500

I thought you'd be interested in submitting an entry to RISMedia's 3rd annual competition for nation's best 'up and coming' agents showcases Top 50. Here's the link:

http://www.rismedia.com/wp/2007-06-08/last-week-to-submit-realtor-on-the-rise-nominations/

Today's the last day for entry submission, to my understanding so hurry now! Just got this info... I'm sure we all know someone who deserves to be in the Top 50 Realtors on the Rise...

Designations/Certifications

Emilie Cueva, REALTOR®, SRES, AHWD, QSC (Prudential California Realty) — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:29:18 -0500

I had a disheartening encounter with a broker yesterday about REALTOR® designations and certifications. I couldn't believe that I would hear such a comment.

I guess I was irritated about that insensitive comment because I' have already taken advanced classes in real estate. Perhaps if I hadn't yet engaged myself into taking the next step into acquiring more knowledge about the real estate industry that I wouldn't feel as bad.

Obtaining designations or attending seminars to help enrich one's desire to learn just a little bit further more is a personal choice. I think it shouldn't be viewed by others as a waste of time, money and effort, after all you'd always come out of the seminar more armed, having had acquired another tool you can use to better market or promote yourself and your services to your target market. Besides, to me, designations and certifications add value to the services you already offer. How so?

For instance:

with SRES, most of things you learn in the class are things you won't really find in the real estate principles book. It helps you position yourself to better serve the seniors population and their real estate needs because you get to be equipped with tools that work best should it be your plan to target the seniors market.
With the AHWD (At Home With Diversity), you begin to understand the differing segments of our society, therefore; enabling you to relate more effectively to each group. The strategy-building exercises reinforce what you learn in the course, and I see that very helpful. It also is a good step to take when you are considering advancing to the international real estate market.
The QSC (Quality Service Certification), this is a wonderful tool to have because you are giving your client the last word in the transaction you've just completed for them. It's a total guarantee at that because clients, upon completion of the transaction have the chance to evaluate you and the service you just provided them, and the survey result administered by an independent company compiles the survey results for you and post them into a consumer website, no bias there or whatsoever.
The ASP Real Estate Agent certification which is about staging homes, is a bonus value you could offer your potential sellers and buyers alike especially in this slow market.

If you'd ask me, all the other certifications available to agents were created for good reasons. I think it isn't a good thing to say that designations and certifications don't really help. They're only useless when not put to use, I would say.

I put extra effort and careful thinking to excel in this profession. Wouldn't it be better see it that way rather than insist that what I've just accomplished is pointless?

I hope I wasn't wrong after all about my decisions...

Blogging- A.K.A:Support System!

Emilie Cueva, REALTOR®, SRES, AHWD, QSC (Prudential California Realty) — Sun, 06 May 2007 18:32:54 -0500

The more I log on to AR to see what's happening and what members have been blogging about, the more that it excites me about the many benefits one can get out of blogging.

For the most part, I joined AR to get a better feel of this profession. As a new agent I know there's just so much to learn out there, and what better way to get to know this industry but to join a blogging site such as AR? The insights from other members continue to amaze me. It's just so much fun reading the posts and comments! Just tremendous information one can get from the various experiences of those members who find time to share with the rest of the AR community, both their old and recent encounters being in real estate.

Yesterday and most of all today, I found out that there are other benefits I could enjoy being a blogger, things that I did not know could actually arise from blogging like obtaining leads, exposure to search engines, and now I just found out that any member who actively participate in blogging may even get a chance to be recognized even outside of AR.

I would like to say that support system is a perfect A.K.A for AR and blogging! It's always worth the time spent here.

Talking House- How Effective Is It Really?

Emilie Cueva, REALTOR®, SRES, AHWD, QSC (Prudential California Realty) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 15:02:45 -0500

As a new agent, I really wanted to jump start my career. I have been on the look out for ideas that could possibly help me achieve this goal, such as a catchy marketing approach to help me gain the much needed recognition to effectively promote the services I offer.

I have heard about Talking House, I was interested in it for a while and though it is a little hefty for a starter like myself, price-wise, I was willing to give it a try. However; after reading some negative comments about it from those who have already tried it, that I am having some reservations to go ahead and go for it. Though the company offers a 90-day free trial on on their product, I know it would still turn out to be a waste of my time and effort should I find it of little value to my marketing system. Most of my hours are already spent in improving our website, enhancing our marketing tools and presentations, added to that time I have to give to my family and my studies as well.

I live in a hilly area where cell phone's reception signal isn't always reliable that I had to switch to another wireless provider when my family moved to this location. I am wondering if the unit would work efficiently as to my understanding it utilizes radio frequency/ies.

Perfect Market

Emilie Cueva, REALTOR®, SRES, AHWD, QSC (Prudential California Realty) — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 02:25:52 -0500

I would say that my entry into this real estate profession isn't something many would consider timely as we are in a market perceived as a "slow market". However; leaning onto the positive side of it, a lot of productive things can be done with just a little bit of initiative on the person.

How I take advantage of this market, and being new in this career, I keep myself busy learning ways to better my chance to make it in this industry that can really be lucrative when taken to heart. I take classes both online and live, not just for the designation or certification per se, but to gain that knowledge that I know I would need to make it big as a real estate agent in California. It takes some degree of effort there on my part as I am married and have two sons, and add to that the nursing classes I am taking up in Los Medanos College.

In general, I look at this market as in fact an opportunity to get all the required learning. To me, the timing and the market are both perfect for me as I get to efficiently balance my time and enjoy learning. I know that when the next "wave" is here that I have already positioned myself perfectly and be able to look back what a perfect market that was when I chose to become a real estate agent!