got features: Be a friend first, then an agent. <3 - 02/15/08 12:56 PM
She came with a story. A 50 year old recovering alcoholic, tormented by anxiety and depression coming out of her shell. How excited she was and how excited she is. A beauitful woman robbed of so many years due to fear and the bottle. A wonderful photographer she was and a … (45 comments)
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got features: How to generate and track backlinks for your Active Rain profile - A few basic SEO tips - 02/15/08 12:56 PM
The first comment I made on Active Rain was August 5th, 2007. Since then, I have amassed 7404 comments made over the past 182 days. That means that I am averaging 40.68 comments daily here.
I could write (and have written) posts about the friendships that began as stray comments on AR, or the referrals that … (333 comments)
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got features: "Daddy, Make Him Stop!" Why Uncle Sam Isn't the Answer in a Free Market - 02/15/08 12:55 PM
Where is uncle Sam? Why isn't he watching this [short sales] and have control on it? Why allow the lending institution to do whatever they feel like giving crazy mortgages or short sales why is it up to them?
This question was posted by a young woman (a real estate agent) bemoaning the effect of short … (79 comments)
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got features: When greed overrules common sense....one real estate story - 02/15/08 12:55 PM
Early in my career I worked for a real estate attorney. There was a real estate buyer named Lisa I was working with whom I will never forget. She was a single mom and was looking to make her first real estate purchase with her mother.
The road to approval
Lisa's desire to … (37 comments)
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got features: Got Features Contest: "How to Solve the Great Igloo Inventory Glut!" - 02/15/08 12:54 PM
(We did this one before, and it seemed right to submit it to this contest. It's our most favorite post we've done. It is very serious, don't you know!)
This is a story of the Emperor who wears no clothes. That would be the Emperor Penguin, of course, and they never wear … (31 comments)
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got features: The Importance of Details - 02/12/08 10:41 AM
As real estate professionals, it is essential that we pay attention to details. Failure to do so could end up resulting in trouble for our clients and for ourselves. Of course, we are human, which also makes us fallible. It's one of the reasons why we are required to carry errors … (35 comments)
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got features: Is It Necessary for the Government to Subsidize Mortgages? - 02/10/08 12:49 PM
THE REAL PROBLEM IS THE ECONOMY, BUT, MOST OF ALL, THE HOUSING MARKET, STUPID!!
Many articles are being written stating that the stimulus package may have the “unintended” consequence of raising mortgage rates. Let's get it over with and move forward... this is slow torture.
Higher mortgage rates would make it … (21 comments)
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got features: Using Historical Data ~ - 02/08/08 03:46 PM
In Bill Roberts’ blog today, Prices – Up or Down, he makes some very good points. Bill says If I wanted to buy a house in Bay Park right now I would compute how much I would be willing to pay based on historical data (the cost per square foot … (0 comments)
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got features: Are We Going to Have to "Pay The Piper"? - 02/08/08 10:33 AM
The last time I looked, America is still a free market society. Markets are created where buyers and sellers can come together, bargain on a price, and make the sell or buy on agreed price.
One argument that we have today is about securitization… whether it’s a healthy process … (0 comments)
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got features: We need a plan. I need a plan. How 'bout a business plan? - 02/07/08 07:32 PM
It's been in the back of my mind screaming at me, "Wake up fool, time to get it together"! As usual I try to ignore it because basically it's just means I have to take time to sit down and gather my thoughts. Why do I see it as a chore? … (11 comments)
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got features: Global Warming, Tornadoes & Bizarre Weather - 02/07/08 02:11 PM
Super Tuesday turned out to be more than just politics… the weather turned on us with a vengeance. Today there are reports that 57 people were killed by the deadly storms.
My home state of Tennessee was the hardest hit with 24 deaths, making this the worst storm to hit … (5 comments)
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got features: YOU are Your Brand! - 02/07/08 09:27 AM
Are you affiliated with a large brokerage? Are you affiliated with a local brokerage that is known for its focus on a specific geographic area? Are you affiliated with your brokerage because of a niche that you specialize in? No matter how you answered these questions, you must realize that you … (32 comments)
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got features: This Is Why I Do What I Do - 02/04/08 07:10 PM
Many of us have had that one transaction or moment in real estate that we can look back upon as the reason that we joined the real estate profession. While there are many transactions that support the choice that I've made, they would all pale in comparison for my real reason … (49 comments)
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got features: Industry: Rock 'n Roll and the MLS - 02/03/08 12:11 AM
There is an old saying that Rock 'n Roll will never die. Some people still believe it, even though today's versions of rock 'n roll are dramatically different from the music of Elvis and the Beatles. I still remember the day legendary bay area radio station KOME switched from the dated … (16 comments)
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got features: ~~ So You Want to Buy A Home ~~ - 02/02/08 09:39 AM
I need a bigger home… everyone in the home is on top of each other and I need an office and each of my children needs their own bedroom.
I need a smaller home… too much house, too much upkeep, too expensive. I’m a slave to the landscaping and it … (5 comments)
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got features: Asphalt Shingle asked his dad, do I weigh to much? No son. Home Buyer's Home Owner's - 02/01/08 02:25 PM
Welcome to Baker Home Inspection and Consulting Blog!
Feel free to take your time to browse my blog posts!
Knowledge is the Power for Your Freedom to a Worry Free Home!
The weight of Asphalt Shingles
When thinking about the weight of asphalt shingles, all of these components will add to the weight of a … (10 comments)
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got features: Don't Forget Valentines Day ~ February 14th - 02/01/08 01:47 PM
This is one of my favorite days of the year and ranks #2 behind Christmas. It’s a holiday honoroing love and lovers. This is a day for Cupid and hearts.
Curiously, the day flourished in the days of Geoffrey Chaucer. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early … (12 comments)
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got features: The Consumption Bubble - 02/01/08 12:59 PM
We, as a society, have turned into risk-taking fools… and the biggest risk of all may be the use of the credit card. The banks are reporting that the credit card mess may be worse than the sub-prime mess. I'm calling this time in our history "The Consumption Bubble". This … (7 comments)
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got features: Attention Rainers! Do not forget to post a disclaimer when you blog. - 02/01/08 06:11 AM
The August 2007 issue of Realtormagonline had some great tips for blogging. The one tip I decided to use right away was the one about having a disclaimer when we post our blogs.
We are not offering legal advice and the information may not be applicable to all states. We do … (10 comments)
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got features: Strategy: Choosing Real Estate Blogging Topics - 01/31/08 05:19 PM
In response to my posts on the objectives of real estate blogging and getting organized to blog consistently, a couple of readers have asked for advice on choosing real estate blogging topics.
The first step for any author or publisher (bloggers are both) is to identify the intended audience.
Who are you trying to entertain, … (11 comments)
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got features: Explaining Pre-Paid Interest - 01/30/08 09:38 PM
I read the musings of a brilliant, but young mortgage man that was having trouble explaining pre-paid interest, which is line 901 on the Good Faith Estimate and HUD-1, closing statement. I discuss this in my book "Get The Money / A Consumers Guide To A Successful Mortgage Application" but let … (2 comments)
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got features: Dollar Stretching & other amazing feats! - 01/30/08 03:59 PM
The holidays are over. Do you find yourself looking for ways to stretch every dollar?
You are not alone! After enjoying time with family and friends, many people are now looking to the future in this new year. If you find yourself worrying about how to make ends meet or how you … (1 comments)
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got features: Attention Sellers! Are you having fun yet? - 01/30/08 03:36 PM
That's right. I said are you having any fun?
OK, call me crazy. I guess I'm just one of those irritatingly cheerful people who like to have fun with whatever mundane task I am tackling. I am guilty of playing loud funky music while I vacuum, singing while doing the dishes, and dabbling … (1 comments)
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got features: Software: WINForms® Guide - 01/30/08 02:01 PM
Welcome to my WINForms® Guide!
WINForms® is California Association of REALTORS® contracts on computer. WINForms® is provided as a C.A.R. member benefit, meaning C.A.R. members do not have to pay extra to use WINForms®.
If you are new to WINForms®, click on the WINForms® Everywhere! post to decide which version of WINForms® … (3 comments)
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got features: It's About Time - 01/30/08 08:13 AM
It's about time. And it's about timing.
The clock ticks off the seconds. You watch 60 go by and you've got a minute. Minutes become hours, and hours turn into a day. Such is the passing of time.
Over thousands of years, man's measurement of time has become ever more precise. From sunrises … (34 comments)
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got features: Shut- Up And Start Making Money / Every One Is A Salesman - 01/30/08 01:13 AM
Everyone is a salesman, some are just better than others. I write about real estate investment, but salesmanship is a lesson in life! The only reason most people make, for not investing in real estate, is they don't think they can make the sales necessary to buy and then sell an … (6 comments)
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got features: A Consumers Guide To Mortgage Brokers And The Evil Yield Spread Premium - 01/30/08 01:00 AM
Kick backs, hidden cost, back points, HUD (Housing and Urban Development) calls it "Yield Spread Premium" (YSP), money paid by the a lender to mortgage brokers outside of closing. Money paid by the lender to the broker because you got a higher mortgage interest rate. Mortgage brokers are suppose to show … (3 comments)
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got features: Standing Before The Bar / Why I Hate Applying For A Loan / Nothing Has Changed - 01/30/08 12:46 AM
I was 21 and out of the Marines just ten days when I went to work for a small loan company, a week later I was making loan decisions affecting peoples lives. Just two weeks more and I was in the field making collection decisions that could literally destroy peoples lives. … (7 comments)
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got features: Strategy: Objectives Of Real Estate Blogging - 01/29/08 06:06 PM
Why should real estate professionals have a blog?
Here are five objectives of real estate blogging:
Reduce publishing costsReal estate professionals traditionally market themselves by mailing out newsletters, flyers, and postcards. That type of marketing is limited by the expense of printing and postage, while blogging is limited only by time and ideas.Increase relevance of … (6 comments)
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got features: A Website Time Machine - Oh, How Far Online Real Estate Has Really Come! - 01/29/08 04:44 PM
Ever feel like you keep hearing about the same real estate topics in the media over and over again. And wonder, why are we stuck talking about this subject. Has any progress really been made?
Sometimes if you step back and look in the rear view mirror, you can see just … (6 comments)
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got features: How to Avoid Foreclosure in Crofton and Anne Arundel County Maryland - 01/29/08 10:25 AM
If you're a Crofton or Anne Arundel County resident and behind in your mortgage payments, the #1 piece of advice I have for you is this: OPEN YOUR MAIL!
Avoiding notices from your lender is one of the surest ways to find yourself in foreclosure, because you may overlook proposals from your … (27 comments)
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got features: Psst.....Ask for the business! What do you have to lose? - 01/28/08 10:11 PM
I had a sign call for one of my listings in north Austin yesterday, and we set up an appointment to take a look at the home today at 3:00. He sounded like a nice young guy on the phone when we spoke, and we had a great rapport during the … (40 comments)
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got features: When Choosing Roof Shingle's! Home Owner's, Home Buyer's ( GOT FEATURES ) - 01/28/08 09:15 PM
Welcome to Baker Home Inspection and Consulting Blog!
Feel free to take your time to browse my blog posts!
You should work with your roofing contractor, when you are needing a new roof!
Because until there are new standards set and they are enforced, there is a real need to be careful when choosing your roof … (10 comments)
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got features: Testimonial In The Rain- Active Rain Is The Place To Be! - 01/26/08 11:39 PM
Rich Jacobson asked the Active Rain Community members to write their testimonial in the rain.
My testimonial in the rain is that Active Rain Is The Place To Be! I have written several testimonials about what Active Rain means to me and what it has helped me to achieve from friendships … (52 comments)
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got features: All Pre-Approval Letters Are Not Created Equal - 01/26/08 08:52 PM
Your client has received a full price offer on their home after several months on the market and can't wait to sign the Offer of Purchase. As their Listing Agent, you are required to present the offer to them as soon as possible, but you will want to recommend to them … (22 comments)
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got features: Have you ever Wondered about the Anatomy of Asphalt Shingle's! Home Buyer's (GOT FEATURES) - 01/26/08 08:24 PM
Welcome to Baker Home Inspection and Consulting Blog!
Feel free to take your time to browse my blog posts!
A Shingles Anatomy
Asphalt shingles consist of a fifer mat coated with asphalt. This fiber mat, gives the shingle most of it's strength is made either from an organic cellulose material ( that can be up … (11 comments)
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got features: Father and Son Bonding - 01/24/08 02:44 PM
When you live with someone and see them everyday, you don't always notice the changes that others with an outside perspective may see, although on occasion you might. Lately I've been noticing that my son has been trying to be like me as much as possible. The most notable sign is … (33 comments)
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got features: Replacing Asphalt Shingles on a Shallow Slope Roof! ( GOT FEATURES ) - 01/23/08 07:20 PM
Welcome to Baker Home Inspection and Consulting Blog!
Feel free to take your time to browse my blog posts!
You should always use Special Care when Reroofing a Shallow Slope Roof!
Whether your using felt paper or using abituminous membrane a Shallow Slope roof requires special care to be taken.
Asphalt shingles. The CABO sets … (6 comments)
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got features: Childhood Baseball Memories - 01/16/08 07:01 PM
Baseball has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around playing baseball in little league and going to major league games with my dad. Baseball always was a great father-son bonding moment for me as a kid, and … (36 comments)
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got features: Part 3 of New Construction and Trees! Home Buyer's, Home Owner's ( GOT FEATURES ) - 01/12/08 08:18 PM
Welcome to Baker Home Inspection and Consulting Blog!
Feel free to take your time to browse my blog posts!
Serving New Hampshire and Vermont Home Buyer's and Home Owner's
Links to Part 1 and Part 2 of New Home Construction and Trees! Home Buyer's, Home Owner's
Part 1: http://activerain.com/blogsview/315601/New-Construction-and-Trees
Part 2: htt://activerain.com/blogsview/320822/Part-2-of-New
Tree Protection
No matter the size of … (0 comments)
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got features: "I am a People Person. Right?" - Some Red Flag Phrases - 01/08/08 12:28 PM
Disclaimer: This post is not meant to be taken too seriously.
I have noticed an odd and somewhat disturbing trend in my real estate career, both when dealing with clients and with fellow agents. If you do not agree, that is certainly your prerogative. This is not a hard and fast … (78 comments)
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got features: Nashville Housing Projected to Increase More Than 4% - Clarksville more than 6% - 12/28/07 09:28 AM
In the nation, only five markets showed projected appreciation of more than 4 percent - two of them are in Tennessee.
Albuquerque was first, followed by Seattle; Nashville; Lancaster, Pa.; and Knoxville.
Most of the nation will see at least a 5 percent drop in home values.
Experts said … (2 comments)
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got features: Time-Traveling Real Estate Broker Visits 1987! - 12/20/07 06:03 PM
I was ready at last. Time to fire up the DeLorean. The flux capacitor is working properly and fully charged. I have to get it up to 88 miles per hour in the mall parking lot before I slam into the department store. Let’s set the dial here…DECEMBER 20, 1987I was … (28 comments)
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got features: Can You Predict The Real Estate Market? I Met Someone Who Can! - 12/20/07 03:35 PM
Economists pour through reams of statistical data and draw conclusions based on history. Surely they must be the ones that can tell us what is going to happen with the real estate market going forward, right? No. Unfortunately, they can't. They can use their data to make sweeping generalizations about the … (37 comments)
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got features: A Couple of Tips when dealing with Difficult Personalities... - 12/04/07 01:03 AM
Your cell phone rings. You check the caller ID. Oh, great. It's that agent you are working with trying to get that luxury home under contract. Uh oh. Although you want to get the deal done, you already don't like talking to him, since he is almost invariably rude and abrasive. … (53 comments)
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got features: No Day Trading in the Real Estate Market - 11/13/07 06:09 PM
Constantly looking at home prices in your area? Time to give it a rest.
There's no day trading in the real estate market.
Remember the day traders? During the height of the technology boom on Wall Street, these were the folks buying and selling hundreds or thousands of shares of tech … (44 comments)
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got features: READ THIS & You Will Continue Blogging - Active Rain works! - 11/08/07 03:30 PM
Last night around 10pm, I received an email via my AR account on the "My Home" page. I wanted to share it publicly in an effort to encourage anyone who happens to read this post, especially if you are new to this community.
Here is the email I received (in a very … (139 comments)
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got features: Mythbusting Our Industry - Myth #1 - "Real Estate Agents and Brokers are Greedy" - 11/06/07 12:55 PM
One of my favorite shows for the past several years has been "Mythbusters" on the Discovery Channel, starring Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman. If you haven't seen it, I would highly recommend checking it out sometime. The premise is simple: the hosts and their crew of helpers test myths to see if … (66 comments)
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got features: This is the Time - 11/05/07 10:04 PM
"This is the TimeBut time is gonna changeYou've given me the best of youAnd now I need the rest of you"
In 1986, artist Billy Joel released his album "The Bridge." My class at Kennedy Middle School chose Track #2, "This is the Time" as the class song. For the last 20 … (68 comments)
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got features: How to Get Sued Quickly! - 11/04/07 10:13 PM
I thought the headline above would get your attention. Basically, the quickest way to get sued is to utterly ignore this article.
I have been selling real estate full-time in the Austin area for almost 11 years now, and I am happy and thankful to report that I have yet to … (53 comments)
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got features: Staging Can Help Protect Your Nut(s)! (Got Features) - 11/03/07 02:55 PM
Yes, you heard it here first, folks. Staging can help protect your nut(s).
We are, of course, talking about nut(s) as defined by Roget's New Millennium Theasaurus: a noun; a "posssession" and synonomous with "bankroll, capital, equity, estate, funds, goods, holdings, nest egg, reserve(s), resources, riches, stock, stake, valuables & wealth". Based upon … (39 comments)
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got features: The "Secret Seven" to Success! - 11/02/07 05:52 PM
I have had the "SECRET SEVEN F's to SUCCESS" hanging on the bulletin board above my desk for years. It's on a small 3 x 5 card that has turned yellow (showing it's old age) But this little list never gets covered up on that board.
Lots of times, while on the phone....it … (24 comments)
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got features: What would happen if you weren't there to help? Some food for thought - 11/02/07 05:24 PM
"It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed is probably my favorite movie of all time. I try to watch it every Christmas season at some point. Sometimes I get around to it, and sometimes I don't. It always helps me to put things in perspective very quickly. The way … (45 comments)
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got features: Cake in One Hand, Eating it in the Other Hand - You Must Choose! - 10/19/07 01:03 PM
I have had some interesting and frustrating experiences with sellers in our market lately. It seems that clients just don't seem to "get it", sometimes. We are still in the slower winter season (at least it is slower here in Austin typically).
At any rate, it seems logical that if they are buying … (56 comments)
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got features: The ER Nurse and the Convenience Store Employee - Where do you see yourself? - 10/17/07 02:21 AM
My wife and I both had a rather long day today. I took care of our three kids and ran various errands with them, and visited a friend of mine who is in the hospital with a second bout of cancer (this will probably be a separate post of mine soon). … (58 comments)
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got features: Don’t Give Up, Don’t Ever Give Up - 10/11/07 03:55 PM
There is so much passion in the world of sports and there are so many lessons to be learned from real-life sports stories. This is why I often use sports analogies and relate them to life and real estate. How often are we determined to give everything that we have until … (41 comments)
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got features: Are you handling your clients like a phone company handles customers? - 09/22/07 04:52 PM
About five years ago, I was working with a buyer who was considering building in a prestigious golf course community in west Austin. My business partners and I had already taken a number of people to the community, as it is pretty unique. In fact, here is a photo of a home … (44 comments)
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got features: How Much Influence Should Outsiders Have on a Real Estate Transaction? - 09/17/07 02:58 AM
It just happens sometimes. It's nothing you've done wrong. You get the sellers to agree to a reasonable price, then their neighbor says, "Wow! That sounds really low to me. Is your agent just trying to get the house sold quickly so they won't have to work at it?" The seller … (47 comments)
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got features: Please Don't Read This Post! - 09/11/07 01:57 AM
I was wondering how many views I would get with a title like the one above. I think it is human nature to go against the grain on things like this. "You can't tell me what to do. I will read it if I want to. What is it anyway?" I will … (36 comments)
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got features: Your Chance to Make a $135,000 Referral Fee! - 09/08/07 11:17 PM
Finally, here it is. The opportunity that you have been waiting for for your entire career. Yes, it's a chance to make a gigantic commission with very little effort on your part. This is not a gimmick, but a true business proposition from me. Yes, perhaps my touch is firmly in … (64 comments)
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got features: How to Present and Use Buyer's Representation Agreements - 09/07/07 11:39 PM
As the broker and owner of a company with almost 20 agents, I have mulled over the topic of buyer's representation agreements with fellow brokers and Realtors for years. Not to toot my own horn (well, maybe a little), but I have represented buyers in almost every area of Austin and … (43 comments)
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got features: How to Avoid Getting Sued - My Humble Opinion - 09/03/07 02:41 PM
In marketing, as you have probably heard many times, perception is reality. In real estate, this is certainly no different. I have always tried to view this career as a service business, rather than strictly as a sales job. To be sure, I use my sales skills every day. I even … (45 comments)
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got features: Active Rain - Where everybody knows your name (or do they?) - 09/01/07 03:29 PM
I was thinking about this phenomenon that is Active Rain, and I have heard stories of agents getting business from consumers reading their blogs, finding their listings, etc. I have also seen successful referrals occurring, which motivates me to continue writing and "paying it forward" to help others here.
I have an … (50 comments)
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got features: The Power Of Being A Good Negotiator - 08/31/07 04:51 PM
Do you ever find it amazing when you come across REALTORS® that shy away from negotiations? What is it about this simple process that makes some people weak in the knees? Is it the fear of not knowing what to say or do? Perhaps it's because sometimes people try to be … (37 comments)
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got features: Survival Skills You Need For Your Business, Hone In On Them Now! - 08/31/07 12:40 PM
Imagine you take a flight on a small plane from sea to shining sea and in the middle of nowhere you get dropped out of the plane. You have no idea where you are except that you are in the U.S. All you have is the business suit you are wearing. … (37 comments)
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got features: A Brilliant Sales Technique – So Simple, Even A Child Can Do It - 08/25/07 09:05 PM
We like to think of ourselves as smart, creative people, with good minds for marketing and the ability to negotiate a deal. After all, these are the character traits of a good REALTOR®, right? But sometimes we tend to get so caught up in the latest and greatest things that can give … (135 comments)
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got features: Benjamin Franklin and Buildind Codes ( GOT FEATURES ) - 06/14/07 11:46 AM
Franklin's first attempt to safeguard the public through building codes came in 1735 with his call for minimum standards in the design of fireplace hearths, hearth extensions, and combustible material clearance. The principles Franklin proposed are codified in all the modern building codes, which prescribe these clearances in detail. A main … (2 comments)
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got features: An Unusual Aspect of Benjamin Franklin ( GOT FEATURES ) - 06/13/07 01:01 PM
An unusual aspect of Franklin's personality, at least by the standards of the 18th century, was his concern for personal hygiene. From his youth he was an avid swimmer, and in his adult life he bathed as often as once a week practice considered seandalous at the time. Franklin not only … (0 comments)
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got features: Of all Benjamin Franklin's scientific accomplishments ( GOT FEATURES ) - 06/12/07 05:25 PM
The best known is his lightning rod. After correctly hypothesizing the nature of lightning in 1750, his famous kite experiment in 1752 confirmed that lightning is a form of electricity and can be directed to the earth through rods and conductors, The principles of grounding all date back to Benjamin Franklin. … (0 comments)
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