Stop by your local schools now!

When I was in the attendance office of my son's school to give them my new phone numbers, the conversation turned to real estate and I told the woman helping me that I am a Realtor.  She also handles all new registration for the school and said that she is often asked for the name of a Realtor by parents moving to our area.  I volunteer in my son's school, so my face was familiar to her and she knows at the very least I passed the background check, so I think she will be willing to refer people to me without really knowing if I am any good at the real estate thing.  Visit every school in your area now - while administrative staff might still be in the building - and pass out those cards!  Don't miss out on all of those families moving into your school district this summer.  Stop by the schools periodically with updated information and more business cards.  Bake some brownies and take them in as a way to thank them for keeping you in mind.  I am amazed at the doors I can open with baked goods.          

Escaping TO the office!

It's Summertime, which is pretty dead here in Naples.  Our seasonal visitors are gone and the heat drives the residents to cooler locations for their own vacations.  You would think that I would spend less time in the office, but it is just the opposite.  I have to use this slow time to focus on my contacts, marketing, research, etc, and I just can't do that at home during the Summer.  My 13 year old son is home - out of school for less than a week and already bored - what I wouldn't give to be bored!  My Bichon, Zelda, is buzzing around the house - a trait of Bichons where they run, full speed, in circles around the house.  I can almost tune that out, except the mommy dog and puppies that we are fostering for the Humane Society like to bark at her when she goes zipping by their crate.  Then my son turns up the television, which of course keeps the puppies awake and sets of the whining to get out of the crate and play.  That will lead to kibble crumbs, paw prints and puppy puddles that need to be cleaned.  I could go on and on.  Instead I make sure I get up and get going and hide in my office.  Am I clever, or cowardly?  Does this make me a worse mom or a better Realtor?  Whatever I am, I seem to have a lot of company this Summer in an otherwise rarely used office.  I am meeting agents that have been with the company for years for the first time - and they all have that guilty look of running away from home.  

How do you focus when working from home?  Do you find yourself making excuses to go to your office more frequently when the kids are home for the Summer?  Come on, confess - we'll both feel better.          

MeMe Triple Threat, part two (maybe three)

This is the first time I have been tagged to write a MeMe - by Shannon Lefevre,  who also tagged Shannon Gilmore.  We are the three Shannon's from John R Wood - the Triple Threat! 

Ok - here it goes:

1.  Favorite artist?  I love Dale Chihuly's blown glass.  We are fortunate enough to have a nice collection of his here in Naples.  Funny sidenote - Chihuly has an eyepatch (not the funny part, of course) and I once heard a comic say that he met Chihuly in New York and wondered why the best glass artist in the world couldn't make himself a glass eye.  Something to think about.

2.  Favorite musical artist?  Impossible to answer.  It depends on my mood, as I love so many different kinds of music.  I dig Muddy Waters (and all the blues artists who copy him), Black Sabbath still rocks my world, Vivaldi is always in my CD changer at home (The Four Seasons is absolutely transcendent), Neil Diamond takes me back to my childhood, and Tom Petty is just plain awesome. 

3.  Favorite blogger?  I like to keep up on Naples by reading Shannon Lefevre, Jason Crouch is an excellent writer, and Jessica Horton is pretty funny.  I know it's not fair that I name more than one, but this is my post and I'll cheat if I want to.

4.  If I could meet anyone, alive or dead?  Man, hard one - would I go with cool and meet Elvis, or would I go with intellectual and go with Montaigne?  I think Montaigne - I know his mind would keep me impressed, whereas so many "stars" are disappointing when you realize they are just people, too.

5.  What did I want to be when I grew up?  My father is an attorney, so I thought I would be an attorney AND a Solid Gold dancer (yes, Solid Gold, the cheesey tv show).  I was ambitious and had dreams of sequined headbands in the courtroom.    

6.  What era did I want to live in history?  I love history, but I love modern conveniences even more.  I have always thought I should have lived through the 30's.  I love old movies and think life would be perfect in red lipstick, heels, hats and gloves. 

7.  Most interesting job I have ever had?  I have done a couple of things that don't need to be mentioned now that I am a respectable Realtor.  I did train tigers, though - until my cat allergy put an end to it.

I don't know too many people here on AR, so I am going to be lazy and tag two gentlemen, also from John R Wood, that I find entertaining and would like to learn more about - Spencer Haynes and Al DiNicola.  Spill it, guys!  

No, really - I live here

As we all know, in real estate we are selling a lifestyle, not just a home.  This is especially true in certain areas, such as Naples, Florida.  I am the agent on site at the Naples Harbour Yacht Club, so I have had to learn all about yachts and our local waters.  Now, this may sound easy, but for a girl from Kansas City thay is used to being landlocked and driving to a lake to float on a pontoon, it is totally foreign.  I am reading magazines, asking questions, trying to learn and sound like I know what I am doing.  I find, though, that despite my wealth of knowledge, my skin color works against me in Florida, at the yacht club and in my residential business.  You may be wondering how I can say this when you look at my picture and see blonde hair and blue eyes.  Let me tell you - I am too pale for people to believe that I live in Florida!  When I talk about our beaches, boating, golf courses, etc, they look at me like I am a complete liar, since they think I must only venture out after sunset to keep my whiter than white complexion.  I have had many people ask if I have just moved here, as they don't think I have been here long enough to get a tan.  My lack of pigment makes me look like a complete outsider.  I have to explain, time after time, that I just don't tan.  I burn, I peel, and it's back to white.  I actually burned in the shade last week at a boat show.  I thought I was smart by sitting under the canopy all day, but I learned later that the reflection from the floor was enough to blister me.  Would I be taken more seriously in Minnesota?  Would I blend in more in rainy Seattle?  What's a pale girl to do?      

Have you ever fostered?

My son and I are new volunteers at our local Humane Society and we are going to foster, but I am concerned that my 13 year old son doesn't fully understand that some of the animals may not make it, as they are special needs and all of them cannot be saved.  I have explained it to him, of course, but he is so excited about having a puppy at the house that I don't know if I am setting him up for heartache or merely exposing him to the facts of life.  Have any of you been a foster home for a shelter, and if so, have you had to deal with the loss of the animal?   

Naples is back!

One of my first blogs was about the Naples market being on the upswing, seeing the price of some homes actually increase.  Don't take my word for it, take Jim Cramer's!

http://cnbc.com/id/24600543

 Although it will take time for the market to stabilize everywhere it's nice to see some positive media coverage of the housing market at all, but it's especially nice for all of us Neopolitans!

If only everyone wore a nametag

I have to admit that I rather shamelessly wear my name badge around town, just in case.  It does start conversations, but I have noticed it does something else - it makes me more conscious of my public behavior.  Now, I'm not saying that if I couldn't be identified I would throw all manners aside, but when someone knows your name and where you work just by looking at you, you are on your best behavior.  I would love to see a name tag on the guy that lets his dog poop in my yard without picking it up.  I would like to know how to contact the guy that leaves his grocery cart in the disabled parking spot because it is more convenient than the cart corral.  How about that woman at the next table that is berating the waitress?  I would like to give her a visit at her place of business and work out my emotional issues while she is forced to smile and take it.  It would be a different world if everyone wore a nametag, or at least acted like it.     

Movin' on up

Aside from situations where people are forced to downsize or sell their home due to financial concerns, sellers can profit off of the buyer market if they are selling to move up in home size (and price).  If they are selling their home that was once $400,000 for a 10% decrease at $360,000 and buying a home that was once $600,000 for a 10% decrease at $540,000, they are paying $180,000 to upsize when they would have had to pay $200,000.  If you can get your sellers who are upsizing to look at all of the numbers, rather than just what they have "lost" in the value of thier house they will be much happier.  It can be a great time to not only buy, but sell and buy!  

Who is Sharon?

In the last 24 hours I have been addressed - twice - as SHARON - my name is SHANNON.  Now, in conversation I can understand how someone might hear Sharon and I wouldn't sweat it, but when you are reading my name, I can't understand where the mix up occurs.  The really ironic thing is that the people that called me Sharon pride themselves on customer service and "attention to detail".  Really?  I hope your attention to the detail of your clients' names is better, because if I was your customer and your service consisted of calling me by the wrong name, I would not be happy.      

open house videos

Does anyone have experience with making home tour videos or self promotional videos?  Does this bring in business?  Does it increase your SEO at all?  I read an article about another agent that does them and was wondering how many others use this medium.  I am married to a film maker so I can keep costs down, just wondering if it is worth my time.  I would like to hear about your experience with your own videos or others you have seen.