Simon Smith's Blog

MeaningFall just short of a successful outcome and get nothing for your efforts. OriginThe phrase, and its variant 'nice try, but no cigar', are of US origin and date from the mid-20th century. Fairground stalls gave out cigars as prizes, and this is the most likely source, although there's no de...

MeaningA paradox in which the attempt to escape makes escape impossible. OriginThe title of Joseph Heller's novel, written in 1953 and published in 1961, (properly titled 'Catch-22' - with a hyphen). The first chapter was also published in a magazine in 1955, under the title 'Catch-18'. The parad...

Know your local market stats and use them to help educate buyers and sellers. Revamped listing presentation to provide fresh new emphasis on pricing.  Incorporated up-to-the-minute market stats into that presentation.  Prices are adjusting to meet our current market conditions. Sellers are seeing...

No Problem or You're Welcome !What ever happened to YOU'RE WELCOME" as a courteous response to "Thank  You ?"Have you noticed that it seems that "You're Welcome" has become rare in the English language? Actually, it is almost non existent these days. "Thank you so much."  Response "No Problem" Go...

Negotiations for the sale of a home can be affected by emotional factors. For example, it is easy to be offended by someone who is making an offer on your property. Even if the buyers love your house, they are trying to negotiate the best possible price and terms. They probably will not let you k...

 You have found the perfect house with everything you wanted--and then some--but the price is more than you want to pay. You decide to go for it anyway, and ask the agent to submit what real estate agents call a "low ball" offer.Low ball offers sometimes work. If the market is fluctuating and the...

      Your family has outgrown your home but you have roots in the community that make it difficult to leave. Is remodeling the solution?      Get professional advice before you jump into a major renovation project. Decide what changes you want to make, and get bids from several contractors. When...

 The better your home in looks while it is on the market, the more likely it is to sell quickly, and for the best price. When you have a listing appointment with a real estate agent, the agent will provide a detailed market analysis along with the advantages of listing with their company. He or s...

 Sometimes a real estate agent will walk into a home that is basically attractive, yet communicates the feeling that something is lacking. Then the agent notices that all of the drapes are closed, interior lights are off and there is a lot of overgrown shrubbery blocking the sunlight that might o...

Q What is the largest home in Hollywood? A The largest home in Hollywood is currently "The Manor" at 36,500 square feet, built by T.V. producer Aaron Spelling for $37 million.