High Speed Social Media Networking - Better Fasten Your SeatBelts

If I'm away from this Blog for any length of time, it's possible you might find me over on one of these other sites, I make my rounds every so often because I know that if you're not here, you're probably over there too! :-)

                                                 

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The Importance of Carefully Reviewing the HUD Statement

You have found the house you want to purchase; you’ve gone through all the negotiations, loan requirements, inspections, appraisal, etc.  Weeks have gone by and now you’re at the closing table – the key is just a few minutes away, but wait, there’s one more hurdle - the HUD Settlement Statement.

The HUD statement (Department of Housing and Urban Development) is a document that itemizes all debits and credits to the Buyer and the Seller.  It’s a list of what you are paying, to whom and for what, and what credits are being given to you.  You really should receive your HUD statement at least one day before closing; but in real life, that usually doesn’t happen.  Most times you will see the HUD statement a few hours before closing and sometimes not until you get to the closing table.  In the anticipation of closing and the excitement of moving into your new home some folks don’t take the time necessary to really look over the HUD statement; and that can be a costly mistake.

Fees such as processing fee, post closing fee, scanning fee, image fee, research fee, negotiating fee, signing agent fee, etc. all are questionable.  Have the person conducting the closing go over every line of the HUD statement and explain it clearly to you and your real estate agent.  I saved a client of mine $350.00 this week because I knew there was a fee on her HUD statement that was no longer legal and the title company was collecting it.

So, go over your HUD statement carefully, and if everything looks good to you sign away – and congratulations!

 

 

Marie Story

Broker Associate, ABR,CIPS,GRI

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

                                                      12155 South Dixie Hwy., Pinecrest (Miami), FL 33156

                                                   (305) 776-0010

Click Here To Search For Your Home

or

Click Here to Visit Me At My Website

Who Let The Dogs Out? (Woof Woof!)

Dogs.  You either love them ... or not. 

When you are selling your home - you don't want to lose a potential Buyer - or even risk that a Realtor won't show the home because they or their clients are afraid of dogs, have aversions to them, don't like the way they shed, etc.

Here are a few things "not to do" if you own a dog:

Don't ask your Realtor to add "Dog Friendly" to the MLS description.  To some Real estate agents, that translates to, "Don't show this home." No one wants to deal with a dog they don't know, nor do they want to control the dog; and buyers are afraid that the dog will bite because they remember the last article in the paper they read: "pit bull mauls child" even though the family reports the dog never harmed anyone.  Also, as cute as your dog is, do not add photos of the dog to the MLS listing. 

Don't assume your home "doesn't smell like dog".  If you're a dog owner, go with knowing that there are dog odors even if you can't smell anything. It happens - people get used to smells and often, don't even know "they" smell. Clean your home - everyday! Place dog toys, crates, pillows, etc., outside away from view; vacuum daily and leave apple cider or lavender smelling scents out that absorb odors.

Don't forget the backyard.  Nothing discourages potential buyer faster than stepping in dog poop or seeing a backyard laced with droppings. Clean up the back yard everyday and make sure the grass is trimmed back so people can see what they are stepping on.


Don't opt to be home during property showings.  Legally, you have to disclose there is a dog in the home.  You'll get calls from agents that come right out and ask, "What about the dog - my clients don't like dogs?"  So, you decide to just stay home during the showing to help out.  DON'T.  If you are able to stay home, take your dog for a walk during the showing.  Staying home is a sure way for Buyers to rush through your home and make them feel awkward about looking through your closets, etc.

Don't leave your dog running free if you are at work all day.  I've had this happen and the Buyers wouldn't set one foot in the house.  Unless you can come home and quickly remove or contain your dog, it's better to ask a neighbor to dog sit, crate your dog, etc. 

Here's hoping these few tips will help successfully show and sell your home!

Gabrielle (Kamahele) Rhind - 2009. If you want to reprint parts of this - just email me for my permission rhindohana@msn.com. Buying or selling Tucson Arizona Real Estate? Click info@gabriellerhind.com and let me know how I can help you! Or visit www.BuyMyTucsonHome.com. 

If you'd like more info about  Mt. Lemmon homes, Tucson bank owned homes, Tucson lease option to purchase homes, Tucson rental homes, buying or seling your Tucson home or the Tucson real estate market or real estate news, email or call me at (520) 245.0242.

 

Confessions of a Tweetaholic!

Ok...I have a confession to make: I am a Tweetaholic. 

More than that, I'm a BAD Tweetaholic.  I don't mean that I'm highly addicted to social networking (although that is certainly true).  I mean that I am guilty of using Twitter incorrectly. 

Yup.  I'm a bad tweeter.

Twitter was originally designed as a micro-blog - a short snip-it of what is occurring in your life at this exact moment stylized in 140 characters or less.  So...nothing worth of a full-blown blog...but, a snapshot of what is happening right now.

"I'm at Starbucks meeting with clients"

"Just closed on a $372,000 home! Party time!"

"Working on a blog post about being a bad Twitter user"

"Just washed the dog and now my house smells like wet St. Bernard"

You know....that kind of thing. 

But, what it has turned into is something so much more for me.  And, I am guilty of being a bad tweeter.

I am guilty of using it as a way to communicate and establish relationships with agents across the country and around the world like some kind of wordly rolodex.  I am guilty if using it like a giant global chat room; a resource center that I would never had been able to tap without using Twitter. 

Yup...I'm guilty alright.  Guilty of using Twitter to my FULLEST advantage!  I have learned more and met more supremely qualified people on Twitter than I had ever hoped to when I started this experiment.  I have relationships with some of the industry's top dogs and have developed friendships with some of the best, most qualified people I have ever had the opportunity to meet. 

I'm guilty of talking to my friends daily and knowing what is going on with their kids, their dogs, their farms, their commutes on slick roads, their caffeine addictions, their blogging habits, their successful attempts at becoming a blogging coaches, their followers and un-followers, their radio shows, their peculiar habit of wearing a tux to their closings, their work habits, their successes, their failures, their favorite foods, their favorite music, and even what color of underwear they have on currently.  And...I share mine as well. 

Oh...and the crimes get worse!

I am guilty of tapping into the business power of Twitter as well!! 

Yes, I said business power!  (And if you don't think there is business power in Twitter, you are very wrong...)

I have used Twitter to access agents (my customers) and am currently working with many of them on www.recr.com SOLELY because of my involvement with Twitter.  In fact, since I joined Twitter over a year ago, I can attribute nearly $30,000 in COMMISSIONS for myself alone just to Twitter and the people I am working with on it.

Yup.  I'm guilty. 

I'm a bad Twitter user.  I'm a bad tweeter.  I'm a bad ‘Twit'.

But, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

 

If you would like information on www.recr.com and how we can get you more closings, you should contact Clint at 800-977-7058 or follow Clint on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TheRealClint

Widgets: How to Add Them to Your Blog

How do you add "Widgets" to your Active Rain Blog?  You can only add them to either your profile page, your posts, or in the right side column on your main Blog page.  These instructions are to add a Widget to your Blog under your photo, the same as you see on mine.

The first step is to select a "Widget" that you'd like to add to your blog.  All Widgets will require you to use the HTML code provided by that Widget, and then paste it into Active Rain.  If you would like to see some samples of the Widgets I have previously used, you can click here .  All these Widgets are FREE.  You just need to register with them to get the HTML codes.

***WARNING:  Be careful using too many Widgets, they can cause your Blog to load slower on older computers "Blogging them down", therefore, causing readers and members to not come back and view your posts.  Too many Widgets can do more harm than good.  See: "Widgets can be hazardous to YOU and your readers!"  DETAILS>>>

To add a Widget, I am going to use the TopBlogArea widget as a sample:  It looks like:          This is a just a little Widget that is used to track your Blog, and see what position you are in on the web.  It's also known as a chicklet.


_________________________________________________________________________________________

STEP 1:   INSTRUCTIONS FOR  WIDGET REGISTRATION 

Go to the Widget Website TopBlogArea to sign up, register, and get the HTML code:
(open the link in a new window so you can still read these steps)

a. Click on "Register an Account" 

b.Add your information about you and your Blog

c.Complete other information IE: Blog Category, Blog Name, Blog URL, Blog Description etc.

*NOTE:(Your URL is http://activerain.com/blogs/YourUserNameHere ) Your RSS Feed will be the same.

d. Click on "Get HTML Code" It will look something like below:

<!-- TopBlogArea.com START --><a href="http://www.topblogarea.com/real_estate/" title="Real Estate blogs"><img border="0" src="http://www.topblogarea.com/tracker.php?do=in&id=8242" alt="Top Real Estate blogs"></a><!-- TopBlogArea.com END -->

e. Highlight and select ALL the HTML code with your mouse, and then press  CTRL + C to copy.

Now you're ready to paste into your Active Rain Blog!

__________________________________________________________________________________________

STEP 2:  INSTRUCTIONS TO ADD YOUR WIDGET IN ACTIVE RAIN

Now that you have copied the HTML code, you need to paste it into the proper place on Active Rain.

a. Click on "My Profile" in Active Rain (that means your profile, not mine) LOL!

b. Next, Click on "My Settings"

c. Now paste the HTML code by using the CTRL + V on your keyboard in the "Blog Description" box just below the
Blog Title box as shown below:

 

                                           

d. Now click on "My Blog" to review your Widget.  It should be on the right hand column, just under your photo.

THAT's IT! You're Done!   ~  Now you can use this same process to add "ANY" Widget to your Active Rain Blog. 

Here are some others "Widgets" and links you may be interested in:
GIZMOS  |  MYBLOGLOG  |  BLOGLINES   |  GRAZR  |  POLLDADDY  |  SLIDESHOW  |  JAXTR  |  MEEBO  |  CLUSTER MAPS  |  FEEDBLITZ  |  MEEZ AVATARS  |  WIDGET BOX  |  GCAST  |  WUNDERGROUND  |  TECHNORATI  |  BLOGFLUX  |  SONIFIC

For Hundreds of Widgets, GO TO WidgetWorld or WidgetBox.  See  Missy Caulk's  post: "Why I Love These Little Guys"

________________________________________________________________________________________

*TIP:  You can adjust the sizes of your Widgets and graphics in the HTML code.  Height="350" and Width="500" can always be changed to any size you like.  Just change the number between the quotations "   ".  Be careful of the LARGE Widgets, they'll run your photo and Blog right off the screen. I use around "150" max width to be safe.

*TIP II:  If you want your Widgets to be centered, you'll need to use an HTML code <center> at the beginning and </center> at the end of your HTML code.  This will center ONLY the widget, and NOT everything else, like your links, your tags, or anything else above or below your widget. 

See the sample HTML below...
<center><!-- TopBlogArea.com START --><a href="http://www.topblogarea.com/real_estate/" title="Real Estate blogs"><img border="0" src="http://www.topblogarea.com/tracker.php?do=in&id=8242" alt="Top Real Estate blogs"></a><!-- TopBlogArea.com END --></center>


You can also use Widgets on your profile page.  If you do use Widgets, be selective.  They can be fun, cute and even entertaining, but they can also be distracting, annoying and irritating.  Always use moderation and good judgement.  Change them around and update them often.  There are some great Widgets out there and I am sure that with Apple leading the Widget and Gizmo way, there will soon be many more to choose from.  Good luck, and good Widgets! 

This post is for Seth Callen, a new member on Active Rain who specifically requested this.
Paying it forward, "Active Rain Style!"

 

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If I'm away from my Blog for any length of time, it's possible you might find me over on one of these other sites, I make my rounds every so often because I know that if you're not here, you're probably over there too! 

                   

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A Detailed Lay Out Of My Social Media Marketing Plan

I often say that social media can be overwhelming if you don't have a plan.  However, sometimes without specifics, this might not make sense.  So instead of blogging about the theory of planning, I am just going to lay out my personal plan.  This is just what works for me, I am sure others have very different strategies and I would be interested in hearing them. 

My goals:   1) Reach and educate real estate professionals about Zillow and internet advertising in general.   2) Keep in touch with my sphere of influence 3) Keep abreast of current real estate topics and 4) Keep abreast of local happening in my neighborhood. 

Target: Real Estate professionals and Locals

Twitter- This is turning into my favorite business tool because of my short reading and writing attention span.  95% of my tweets are business related and 5% personal.  I'll follow back anyone who is in the real estate industry.  I won't follow anyone that hasn't uploaded a picture or whose profile description isn't real estate related.  I use TweetDeck to sort out those who are particularly interesting to me and any direct messages or replies.  I also use TweetDeck to follow these keywords: Zillow, Wicker Park, and the combination of "anyone know" & "Chicago".  Finally use the service to follow the hash tags for any conventions that may be happening.  (One exception to this is I have a column in TweetDeck that I track Celebrity Tweets, guilty pleasure).  I have TweetDeck on constantly throughout the day and just consider it an extension of my email.  I believe the quality of the people you follow and who follows you is more important than sheer numbers.  I also use Twitter to broadcast my new blog posts. 

Facebook- I use Facebook mostly because I personally enjoy it.  If I never got business off of it, I would still use it because I enjoy knowing what people I don't regularly hear from are up to and seeing their pictures.  90% of my status updates are personal, about 10% are business or cause related.  I don't post anything I wouldn't want my mom to see (she is now a friend of mine!).  Since the "groups" function on Facebook is so easy to use, my policy is that I'll follow anyone that has uploaded a picture and some information about themselves and we have at least two mutual friends.  The "groups" function then makes sure I don't miss any of the people I really care to know about.  I have groups for: good friends, work friends, high school, college years, and family.  The main reason I'll 'friend' anyone is that I will use Facebook to broadcast new blog posts and I want to make sure I reach as far as possible.  (tip: don't auto post your blogs to facebook, go create a custom link and message).  On average, I check Facebook 5 times a day for about 5 minutes each time. 

LinkedIn- I probably could do more here, but I use the site in a very passive way, mainly as a Rolodex or resume.  I will only connect with people that I would feel confident giving a personal recommendation about.  In other words, I must actually know you.  I keep my profile as up to date and complete as possible.  I occasional will check my Inbox, but not regularly, as most of the stuff that comes thru this site isn't time sensitive.  I probably spend an hour a month on the site. 

Blogging- Blogging is my home base to get information out.  When I first started I thought- I want to reach real estate professionals, where are they hanging out online?  So having my blog hosted by Active Rain was an obvious choice.  With so many other professionals using the site, it was an automatic audience.  Writing for me doesn't come easy and it takes effort for me to post, which is why I don't post as much as I like.  My goal is twice a week.  I will also occasionally blog on the Zillow Corporate Blog, when there is something to say that affects the real estate community. I guess I average 3 hour a week here.

Commenting on Blogs- Google alerts here are priceless.  Whenever my name is mentioned in a blog post, I will leave a comment.  I also try to leave at least one comment a day within the Active Rain community.  This is an area I wish I was better at because I think commenting can be a huge play.  Without commenting on other people's blogs, authoring your own loses something I feel.  I guess I average about 2 hours a week leaving comments.

Reading Blogs- As blogs become more popular, there is so much more to read.  I have about 40 blogs to which I subscribe to their RSS feeds and new posts go straight into my Inbox in an RSS folder.  This way I don't have to constantly go to blogs to check for updates.  I can also catch up on my blog reading when I am on planes by setting these feeds up, as I can read them offline.  I will scan the featured blogs on ActiveRain daily and just do a few random searches each day.  Finally, I find myself more and more just reading blog posts that people Twitter about. Reading blogs takes up about 45 minutes of my day. 

Forums- Again, think about where the people you want to reach are hanging out online, and get there.  For me, this means Zillow Advice (obviously!).  In the Professional section of Zillow Advice, many professionals leave posts about things they need help with, so this needs monitoring if I am going to be of help.  I am also interested in what is happening locally, so I subscribe to get alerts whenever anyone leaves a post that is tagged to my neighborhood and Chicago in general.  I like to interact with these people as well.  The auto alerts are great because I can just click on an email, and give an answer that usually takes me about 2 minutes to type. 

YouTube- My goal this year was to get more into video and I am starting to creep into it.  At Zillow we have been working this year to create training videos for various parts of the site, we now have about 25 that are hosted by YouTube.  I then use all the tools mentioned here to get these out. 

Yelp - 100% personal.  I admit, I am more of a taker than a giver here.  I read reviews for just about any place I go to eat and professional service I use.  I try to do a review here about once a month, more because I feel guilty about not giving back because I use the site so much!

This post was a little long, but I hope it gives some meat around how I personally have crafted my social media plan.  There isn't a one size fits all this!  Sites that people have a lot of success with, that I don't use, for example FlickR and blip.fm and fan pages on Facebook.  Any other good tools out there? 

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