Deb Salkeld-'s Blog

Have a lead for a REVA to help Realtor with mortgage f/u, paperwork, etc.

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 19:10:45 -0600

Hey guys. I just received a call from Latisha Patterson - according to the reverse directory, she's from Royal Oak Michigan. I've got her phone number. What she wants is a Virtual Assistant who can help her with tracking progress of mortgages, make calls, handle paperwork, etc. That's not my forte and I'm pretty booked up, but I told her I'd be happy to refer her to a good VA.

Anyone interested? She needs an answer ASAP. Drop me an email at dds586@sbcglobal.net if anyone is interested. She wants to know your rates, and if you can do the things she is asking. I think it would be best for you to talk to her directly.

Deb

Are you prepared to stand out from the crowd next year?

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 01:24:39 -0600

By virtue of you reading this post, I know you are aware of the importance of the Internet. But are you aware of how important it is to constantly update your site and graphics? Graphics you say? Yes - people will see the same old tired graphics and will assume your content is no better.

The idea is not only to have a website - but to have it work for you. Now is the time to work with your Real Estate Virtual Assistant to devise a game plan on updating and maintaining that copy that's never been changed since you began the site, and fixing those old outdated links. I can't begin to tell you how many real estate websites I've seen that have bad links. I think it stands out even more for real estate sites because these types of sites almost always have local attractions, or local information. At the time you put them in, they were working, but guess what? Your clients are clicking on them now, only to get an error message. If you got their curiosity up about that attraction, or that location, it's entirely likely they'll leave your site completely to go looking for a good link.

I've seen several sites with more bad links on these types of pages, than good. I've seen several sites that are still full of the generic content provided as part of the hosting service. Search engines are searching for updated sites. When no changes are made, your site is dropped - imagine if they kept every site ever built. It would be impossible to wade through them all.

This article isn't about scolding those who haven't had time to do anything about updating their websites. It's simply a caution that now, and the first part of January is an excellent time to review your site, identify bad links, and get new custom content written.

The good news? The good news is that once you've developed a plan of action and hired one or two professional virtual assistants for their special areas of expertise, you can relax and let us do the work. You don't have to do it all yourself. That's what Real Estate Virtual Assistants are here for - to make you look good and to help you grow your business so we grow ours. You work by referrals - we do too.

To summarize, the things you should be thinking about:

A marketing plan for the new year
Going through your website and updating broken links at the very least.
Adding a special page or two on a specific location or landmark
Updating your Home page to add copy with the most popular keywords and pertinent information and graphics
Thinking about "branding" yourself to make you stand out from the rest - make YOUR website the one stop shop for your area.

Good luck with everything, and let me know if I can assist you. As I stated in a previous post, Virtual Assistants are specialists - you can get your letterhead, postcards and business cards updated by one REVA, developing a branding strategy - and have your website updated by another. My specialty is updating and maintaining websites - I know several excellent PREVAs with other specific areas of expertise. In fact, since I don't accept competing clients for any given selling area, I can recommend other qualified Virtual Assistants with website experience if I already have a client in your area. That's what's great about a network - we know and recommend each other and you don't have to do the "shopping" - we know who will do the right job for you!

Just make yourself a list - call it a New Year's Resolution if you will - and give yourself a fresh start - a whole new look for a whole new year! You'll stand heads above the rest!

Those thinking of living on the shady side - come back out in the sun with the rest of us!

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:53:34 -0600

I believe most professionals understand that you may get away with something once, but at the cost of future business and credibility. My thoughts today are triggered by Mary Ann Daniell who posted about not letting ethics slide during slower periods.

I think it would behoove everyone in the real estate industry and ANY other industry with clientele, to think long and hard about ethical behavior and the cost of slipping before they even start their career. You hear of these scams - do you really want your name linked with scams rather than your business?

No "bending the rules" during slower times are worth an entire career. No "fudging" your ethical behavior will increase your future business. You'll always be found out, and you'll always be remembered. Do I remember every fellow co-worker in my career? Nope. A lot, but not every one. Who sticks out in my mind the most? The unethical few, because those are the stories told over and over, and their behavior is paraded for everyone to see, as a deterrent. But you always get those few, who think they can slide one by.

Mary Ann Daniell had a good point, and during these slower times, a very relevant point. But I like the posts who turn it around, and encourage people to step up their marketing during these times, not lower their standards. Thanks to Mary for bringing up the topic.

Those thinking of living on the shady side - come back out in the sun with the rest of us!

Macomb County Michigan - A Great Place to Live Part II of Series

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 14:48:50 -0600

About Macomb County, Michigan (Information gathered from Wikipedia® - last updated November 19, 2006)

Named for an early U.S. Army Commander, Alexander Macomb, Jr., Macomb County is part of Metro Detroit. The County Seat is Mt. Clemons, Michigan.

As mentioned in Part I of this series, Macomb County is known for its lakes and recreation areas. Of its 570 square miles, Macomb County consists of 89 square miles of water according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Cities, Villages and Townships of Macomb County

Cities	Villages	Townships
Center Line	Armada	Armada Township
Eastpointe	A small part of Grosse Pointe Shores	Bruce Township
Fraser	New Haven	Chesterfield Township
Memphis	Romeo	Clinton Charter Township
Mount Clemens		Harrison Charter Township
New Baltimore		Lake Township the portion of Grosse Point Shores that is in Macomb County
Richmond		Lenox Township
Roseville		Macomb Township
St. Clair Shores		Ray Township
Sterling Heights		Richmond Township
Utica		Shelby Charter Township
Warren		Washington Township

Bibliographic details for "Macomb County, Michigan"

Page name: Macomb County, Michigan
Author: Wikipedia contributors
Publisher: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Date of last revision: 19 November 2006 21:22 UTC
Date retrieved: 26 November 2006 20:25 UTC
Permanent link: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Macomb_County%2C_Michigan&oldid=88875332
Page Version ID: 88875332

Information gathered from Wikipedia®

All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.)

Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.

Macomb County Michigan - A Great Place To Live

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 21:29:53 -0600

This begins the first of a series of several articles about my neck of the woods - Macomb County Michigan.

Macomb County, besides being less crowded than its neighboring counties, is most often noted for its lakes and recreational opportunities. Lake St. Clair, spanning three counties, is large enough to aspire to be one of the Great Lakes. Lake St. Clair offers swimming beaches, boating, fishing and sailing among its many features, and taking a boat ride down the Detroit River never fails to delight our guests - they are able to view the beautiful waterfront homes and the majestic skyline of downtown Detroit and the Renassaince Center on one side and the scenic waterfront of Ontario Canada on the other. Large freighters are a common sight, as Lake St. Clair is part of the international shipping channel from Michigan through the Great Lakes and Canada - but there is so much interesting information about Lake St. Clair that it deserves an entire article of its own, coming soon.

One of my personal favorites of the four major Macomb County Parks is Stony Creek Metropark (586) 781-4242. I must admit Stony Creek has the advantage of being within 10 miles of my home and I take my grandchildren there often in the summer months. For a nominal charge - even less if purchasing a season pass, you can enjoy over 4400 acres of recreational fun - there are nine spacious picnic areas, and 18-hole championship golf course, a nature center, two swimming beaches - one of which almost always has a lifeguard on duty, and a 24-hole disc golf course. Other amenities of this metropolitan park include numerous play areas, basketball courts, a boat launch and boat rentals. While swimming, we often see canoes and kayaks out on the water. Ten miles of paved roads and over six miles of hiking and biking trails offer residents opportunities for exercising while enjoying nature. Not just for summer sports, Stony Creek also offers cross-country skiing, sledding and ice-skating, weather permitting.

Of the other four major parks, Metro Beach Metropark (586) 463-4581, is probably the most popular since it is located right on Lake St. Clair. This park of 770 acres offers one and a quarter miles of Lake St. Clair frontage, and has a large sandy beach area, a swimming pool with water slides, a "Squirt Zone" spray park that kids absolutely love, three marinas, several picnic areas, a day sail area, nature center, a paved hiking and biking trail, boat launch, and 18 hole par 3 golf course and an 18-hole adventure golf course. Metro Beach Metropolitan Park is also well known for it's annual boat shows, its open-air pavilion offering day and evening concerts during the summer, and winter sports such as ice-fishing, ice skating and cross-country skiing.

Next summer, I hope to visit the other two parks - Freedom Hill County Park (596) 979-7010 located in Sterling Heights and home to many special events such as outdoor festivals, car shows, markets and much more, and Macomb County's new linear park - Macomb Orchard Trail (586) 979-7010, which is a 24-mile linear park starting at 24 Mile Road and Dequindre in Shelby Township, continuing north to the City of Richmond. The first phase of 7.5 miles through Shelby and Washington Township is now open, and the entire project, once completed, will link to 180 miles of trails in Southeastern Michigan!

To read more about Macomb County Attractions, click here

There is so much more to tell you about Macomb County, Michigan! Stay tuned...

What's the single best thing you can do for your business?

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 17:33:32 -0600

I talked about education in one of my last blogs - http://activerain.com/blogsview/21063/Will-the-Real-Estate

This is obviously a topic that all agents struggle with as they balance the demands of paperwork versus clients. Managing their business versus growing their business. Devoting the time for further education versus selling or listing real estate.

Mary McKnight wrote "I don't think every Realtor should become a web designer, but becoming tech savvy is a must."

Toby Boyce wrote "Real Estate is very similar to any other "venture". Those that are truly interested in making it, will do what they need to do to make it. I am fortunate, I have a Web background. But, as a new agent, I think there are a lot of things that are more important to know than how to market myself on the Web. How about marketing myself period?"

Pierre Calzadilla wrote "We take it upon ourselves to teach and provide these classes because it is important to teach agents/brokers how to market on-line"

Lenn Harley (sorry Lenn - your comment didn't provide me a link for you) wrote: "Web design and SEO are complicated. Why do folks think they have to do it themselves??? Sell some real estate, but some good web site design services and let the experts do what they do. Selling real estate is more profitable."

Randy L. Prothero (R), CRS, GRI wrote: "The question should not be when is the Real Estate Industry going to teach new agents. The question is when will new agents wake up and get training?"

Tony Marriott, Associate Broker, CRB, CRS said it the best, in my opinon: "I think a team of specialists is the answer. Someone with the skill set to quickly, accurately and efficiently keep the web marketing aspect of the business in high gear may not have the skills needed to close a Seller on a listing, or work with a Buyer. It's important that the agent knows how to drive the car, but doesn't need to know how the engine works."

To the rest of you who felt strongly enough to comment, thank you - you can read their comments at: http://activerain.com/blogsview/21063/Will-the-Real-Estate

I applaud those of you who feel it's important to take the time to become knowledge about all facets of the real estate industry. I also applaud those of you who would rather focus on their clients and hire someone to handle details. The wonderful thing about this world is that it takes all kinds of thinking and of styles to make the world go 'round!

Whichever tenet you prescribe to, remember there is one single answer to when you need answers and no time to find them. Real Estate Virtual Assistants - think of us as your virtual "dictionary" or "encyclopedia", or better yet, your virtual "right-hand". Even if you don't have time to read through the following list now, please print it out for later reference - you'll be glad you did.

Top 20 Reasons for Utilizing Real Estate Virtual Assistant Services

You save time and money by having your Real Estate Virtual Assistant handle details so you can focus on your clients.
They have their own office, supplies, equipment - no overhead for you.
Professional Real Estate Virtual Assistants, by virtue of their chosen profession, have the necessary technological skills and self discipline to successful manage a business.
You get expert, experienced professionals ready to step in with very little learning curve, if any, to conduct business focused entirely on building YOUR business.
Real Estate Virtual Assistants quickly become your "virtual" right hand.
Because we are self-employed, we work hard - providing premium service is the ONLY way we stay in business.
Because we are self employed contractors, you do not have the overhead such as health insurance, payroll, vacation benefits, etc. you would have with a staff employee.
Rather than maintaining more staff than you need, or worry about interviewing and training new employees if you happen onto a business period, you utilize Real Estate Virtual Assistants only when you need them.
Should you need additional help for any given project, experienced Real Estate Virtual Assistants will already have proven reliable assistants to step right up to the task. No hiring/firing/layoff worries.
As opposed to a Virtual Assistant, who may spread their time between several different industries, a Real Estate Virtual Assistant works only in all matters regarding Real Estate.
We are interested in your business success - as noted in my own motto for my company, Diversified Data Solutions, L.L.C. - "If You Don't Succeed, I Don't Succeed".
We love what we do, so we do it well.
Real Estate Virtual Assistants often become "specialists" which allows them to step in and work productively from Day One.
Because they are specialists, you can use more than one Real Estate Virtual Assistant and cover every aspect of your business.
Because Real Estate Virtual Assistants network with each other, we can refer you to other reliable REVAs who have the specialties you need.
To create or enhance your online presence
To handle your lead management program
To act as your marketing director
To write articles to further publicize you and your business.
For Transaction Coordination

Will the Real Estate Industry Ever Teach New Realtors Sound Web Marketing?

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 22:00:57 -0600

This is actually in line with my previous blog today - I ran across this later tonight. Realty Times columnist Bill Koelzer asks the above question - Will the Real Estate Industry Ever Teach New Realtors Sound Web Marketing? What do you all think?

In the article Bill supports the point I was trying to make in the earlier blog - even if you have someone else design your website, it is always a good idea if you know something about the process yourself. You may ask - why? Why should I spend good money to have a website built, and then turn around and have to work on it myself? Maybe you don't - it's always just handy to have a resource in case you do.

Another point Bill makes, and I'll paraphrase here: The newbies know nothing about how to market themselves on the internet, and the Associations of Realtors do little to teach them. Where do you feel the responsibility lies for education? Are we all responsible for learning our own craft? Do you feel you should be offered more Internet Marketing classes, or would you even have the time to go if they did?

A client of mine made it a point to take the necessary courses in order to become an expert in real estate marketing online - she felt it was necessary to keep up with the times. To her mind, it was another certification she could offer to her potential clients - another reason they should use her services over another realtor's.

I personally made a choice to educate myself in my own craft - but then I'm a person who just likes learning new things. From my clients, I do know this - real estate agents work HARD for their clients and to build their business. Where is the line drawn between obtaining knowledge that will help you in your business, and the time you must spend to learn?

How time flies

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 21:19:28 -0600

Have you ever wondered how you got from Point A to Point B?

I find it fascinating how much my life has changed since a little less than two years ago when I took an early retirement package from a Fortune 500 corporation. I had worked 18 years and wasn't sure I should retire - after all - I was only 51 at the time. After much consideration I decided to start my own business. I felt my history with training and my insatiable interest for all things new would be valuable assets for this new venture.

It took a while to think about the direction I wanted to take, the various options open, and the niches I could target. Over the past two years, I've had times where I devoted much more of my time on personal matters than in business. That in itself is one of the perks - and drawbacks - of being self-employed. You can do as much or as little as you want or need. I was fortunate enough to be able to take the time for getting married, selling two homes, buying another, caring for a sick family member, and spending time with family as I started my new business. The benefits are obvious, but it would be folly to underestimate the drawback of being self-employed. If you're busy elsewhere, no one else is tending to your business.

During the period of time I was busy with personal matters, I kept my business active by continuing work for my first client and sub-contracting for other Real Estate Virtual Assistants as I gained knowledge and expertise in my chosen field. The day finally came when I was able to devote my attention on my new business. It didn't take long to build up a client base once I had time to devote to networking. It's been an interesting ride. I now have several clients and have made many new contacts and friendships throughout the industry.

It's great now to have proven ability to provide premium real estate virtual assistant services to Realtors throughout the United States and Canada. It's a hard but extremely satisfying business. My past employment experience, my never-ending curiousity and my ever increasing experience in writing copy and in web design enables me to target the best use of the internet for you, my clients, and to work with you to build content-rich, productive websites geared to gain new business.

If you want to start your own business, be prepared to:

· Find something that interests and challenges you.

· Find a niche.

· Choose your target audience.

· Work hard to get your name and domain in front of your target audience.

· Decide your goals - Financial independence? Satisfaction of owning your own company? Freedom and flexibility? Ability to be your own Boss?

· Write a business plan with those goals firmly in mind. Your plan will be drastically different if you want financial independence than it will be if you simply want flexibility and freedom, or to indulge a passion or hobby.

· Whether or not you want to be financially independent, a business cannot sustain itself from the beginning. Be prepared to work a lot of hours, and not necessarily from 8am to 5pm - for the planning stage, implementation, and finally, the day-to-day running of your business.

I've listed many steps for beginning your own business. There are many books written on the subject. If you are a self-learner as I am, you'll read a little, experiment a little, and work a lot. I chose not to spend a lot of money on the "schools" that would certify me for a price. I've been successful and busy. You may choose to get the certification. In the end, your business will be what you put into it.

Welcome to my blog - I hope you learn something from me, and in turn, I KNOW I will learn something from you!

Real Estate Professionals - Not a 9-5 job

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 12:50:19 -0600

Working 9 to 5. Banker's Hours. Regular hours. I've been thinking about this subject a lot lately as my husband and I have been trying to develop some sort of schedule in our lives now that he is retired. Since taking early retirement from a fast-paced Fortune 500 corporation myself almost two years ago, I have spent that time deciding to strike out on my own, starting my own Virtual Real Estate Assistant company. The first year after retirement was a wild and happy combination of trying to handle the myriad of details of starting my company and working on our new home. I then began to be extremely busy as I focused more on my business, developing my marketing strategy, building my website, deciding how and when to advertise, focusing on a niche (real estate agents and their needs), and all the details starting a new business entails. I began to sub-contract out to get my work known, and then began to get my own clients.

Fast forward now to the time two months ago when my husband decided to go ahead and retire. I suppose it should be mentioned that during this time, his mother was diagnosed with metastatic cancer, and has spent almost the entire past year in hospitals, rehabilitation, and now in an assisted living facility. Needless to say, there were numerous times when I was available to take her to the Dr appointments, run errands, etc. while my husband and his sister were at work. That is a value beyond calculation when you are self-employed - to be able to attend to personal and family matters when it is important. He is now home, and able to assist his mother with those same appointments - another priceless opportunity to spend more time with her.

Let's get back now, to the logistics of running a successful business from home when neither spouse works outside the home. First, I was pleasantly surprised when after hearing horror stories about newly retired husbands driving the wife crazy, that it has not been bad at all! There are a few things, I admit - when he was working full time "outside the home" I made it a point to do all of the housework, shopping, bill-paying, and cook and clean up every meal. Don't get me wrong - he's an enlightened male - he was willing to help - I just felt that since I was "home all day", it was the least I could do. I have since come to recognize that as a previously corporate mentality struggling to justify staying at home.

Now that he has been home, it took him a few days to realize that this dynamic might just change. He has taken over a few of "my" (admittedly self-imposed) chores - running errands, doing laundry, and occasionally preparing dinner, though more often it is us preparing together, which is nice in itself. We now both clean up from dinner, than back I go to work.

I've gone from the socially acceptable supervisory position, to being "unemployed", to being "self employed". Now that I've become successful with my business, I'm being told that I "work too hard" since I often work into the evening. Every real estate agent, broker, mortgage broker, and virtual assistant here can probably relate. When you are in charge of your own business, you do not work 9-5. You do not keep regular hours at all.You work your business around your family and your family around your business. Have laptop - will travel - that has become my motto.

The need to work outside of 9-5 is two-fold - first, I have commitments to my clients. I will get the work completed on time, even early if possible, so if it means more hours, so be it. Second, I enjoy my work and have discovered that it's just as fun to work as it is to sit and watch TV. Go figure!

I'd love to hear from other real estate professionals, mortgage brokers, virtual assistants, or anyone else who has discovered the many trials and tribulations, and wonderful rewards of being self employed............How do YOU plan the 24 hours each of us is alloted in one day?

Active Rain Networking - Does it net results?

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:36:37 -0600

I'm a newbie blogger. I admit it. I'm even fairly new to Active Rain, but I like what I read. I find myself wondering, however, if you as a community find this type of networking to be valuable, and if so (I'm assuming everyone does), in what context? I'm an ex-training administrator of a corporation, so I know the value of attending meetings, and networking within the corporation, etc. I can see how Active Rain could become addicting and certainly very educational. What I don't know is how to go about actually making the contacts that would enable me to help someone and mentor them, or to find someone who would be a good mentor for me.

Do you feel that's what this kind of networking is about? Or is it just a friendly format for the exchange of information.? I know I've learned a lot just in the past few days, reading the posts and looking at profiles.

It's late and I'm probably not making much sense. Bottom line - what do you expect from Active Rain, or any other blogging community? Or do you "expect" anything? Is it more networking in a social sense among peers, or do you view it as a way to gain contacts?

Just some random thoughts as I'm trying to make my brain slow down after a busy day and myself tired enough to sleep.......... All you experienced pro's - feel free to add your two cents worth!

Can we only look good if we make the other guy look bad?

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:08:01 -0600

I know you are never supposed to talk politics or religion, but I just couldn't help but notice that no matter whether it's in the gubernatorial race, this Active Rain community, or our jobs and careers, there is always someone who thinks it improves themselves in the public (or peers') eyes if they can point out faults of the "other guy". Why do some people need to be adversarial? Is that just a character trait? Nature or Nurture?

I'm sure we've all experienced, or seen, this phenomenon before. I once suffered through it for 6 years, laboring under a supervisor who felt it made her look good to make her subordinates look bad. At the time, I was two levels under her. It was extremely satisfying, when she was finally transferred to another department that she stayed with the corporation long enough to see me promoted twice, getting to her level of management in less than two years after she left the department. Hmmmm. 6 years a mediocre employee, just to have me become management in less than two years? That wasn't the first time something like that had happened, but it certainly was the most obvious.

I saw it this past few weeks in the political climate - I actually changed my vote because of the mud-slinging. I couldn't justify voting for someone who couldn't proudly stand on their own accomplishments without putting their opponent down.

I've never figured that out. If you supervise employees, and they are awful employees the entire time, how can that possibly make you look good? What does that say about your management skills? If you slam someone, whether in casual conversation, at work, or in a community such as Active Rain, how can that make you look good? What does that say about you?

I would think that in a networking community such as this, it would be obvious that we all need to stand on our own qualifications, knowledge and skills and just appreciate the wealth of information we share on a daily basis. Everyone has something to give to this community. To every community, actually. We all have something to give to everyone whose lives we touch.

Well, I certainly didn't intend to get preachy about it. Here's hoping that novices like me can speak up along with the "big guys", and maybe we can all learn something from or about each other, with every post.

The election is over! Yea!

Helping To House A Nation - a Michigander to lead the National Assoc of Realtors

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 22:02:29 -0600

I read an article today about one of our own (a Michigander) Pat Vredevoogd-Combs, becoming the next president of the National Association of Realtors. Congratulations to her! In the article, referring to the high-inventory market in Michigan. she is quoted as saying that "there's more than ever reason to use a Realtor in those transactions". Her reasoning was that the seller needs the best advice they can get. Made sense.

According to Vredevoogd-Combs, on a national basis, "2006 is on track to be the third-best year in terms of sales numbers" and goes on to say that the good news translates to Michigan. That part surprised me - has your experience for this year made you feel as if it's on track for the THIRD BEST year?

She also had an interesting perspective on our currently soft market. She called it "great affordability". I thought that was a great way of describing a buyer's market. According to the article, she said sliding prices are not to be confused with a bad market, and that during these times, agents must take a glass half full perspective because their skills are more valuable than ever. That goes back to her statement that the sellers need the best advice possible. It again certainly makes sense to me, though admittedly, I was among the other Michigan homeowners, thinking we are presently in a very bad market, and that our agents' careers are at risk.

My purpose for this blog was to first, share the article, and second, to see what you think of the three goals she has set for her upcoming term: First is increasing the nation's stock of affordable housing. Second is making health insurance accessible for all Realtors,and her third main goal is to promote and encourage minority agents and minority home ownerships. Since I am not a realtor, I can't speak for everyone else, but these goals all seem worthy.

If anyone is interested in the article, they can access it through the Detroit Free Press at www.freep.com

Happy sales!

Deb

Building still going crazy despite the Big Three's woes

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 16:26:19 -0600

As I look around Macomb County, Michigan, I detect no slowdown in the building of new homes. Several new developments in my area are still going strong in their building, with new developments cropping up every week. I also see many beautiful homes going on market because of lost jobs or relocations. These two visions do not jibe.

Do others find it as curious as I do that the building continues while For Sale signs increasingly pop up, not only in my neighborhood, but any other surrounding neighborhoods in Southeastern Michigan? My realtor friends tell me that times are tough here in Michigan - a fact fairly obvious in the number of homes that are not selling. That makes me fear for not only my realtor friends, but for those poor people who in many cases, are moving out of their homes, either because they were forced to relocate before their home sold, or because they simply could no longer afford their house payments. By moving out sooner, in many cases, the lawns then become neglected and weed-ridden, making it even harder for their homes to sell. A vicious cycle.

That could answer my own question about builders continuing to build. They are offering homes in the low $200,000s while the homes in the area are asking much more. Is that why builders are still building? Because they know they can sell their homes for less than the selling prices of existing homes? I'd like to hear from other realtors - not only in Michigan, but in other states as well. How is the economy affecting your particular area, and have you found yourselves selling new construction more?

I just have a curious nature, and this subject interests me. How about you?

Just curious - how many realtors use Virtual Assistants? Which states?

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 15:15:20 -0600

I've found this to be an interesting topic. My personal experience has been that I have more clients from out of state than I do Michigan, but I do know a very successful Michigan REVA (yes, you, Kandra!). I'd love to hear from agents from various states - I know many Florida, Colorado and California agents utilize us - how about you successful agents from other states? How do you handle the myriad of details that go along with being a successful agent?