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Links I Love - A Look Around Real Estate

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with ActiveRain

I probably read just as much real estate content as anyone in the industry. I spend a good portion of every single morning (weekends included) just reading about what is going on in the industry. Most of what I enjoy is focused on the business of being a real estate agent. But if it has anything to do with real estate, I probably come across it during my browsing throughout the course of a week.

So I plan on starting a new series where I share a few of the articles I come across each week that I think you might find valuable. I'll give you a link to the article and then a little bit of my own commentary of why I found the article interesting. 

If you ever come across something in your own reading that you think other people would find interesting, please feel free to pass it along. So, without further ado, here is my first week of 'Links I Love'.

 

Why Pricey Camera Gear Doesn’t Guarantee Good Listing Photos - Inman

It doesn’t matter how many thousands of dollars an agent spends on their camera and camera equipment, if they don’t know how to actually use their camera, they won’t be able to take anything approaching professional-grade listing photos (not to mention get a good ROI on the purchase of their expensive camera equipment.)

Read this article to learn how to rethink your approach to taking listing photos (and who knows, maybe you'll just decide at the end of the day it makes sense to start paying a professional)

 

 

20 Fresh Fall Ideas for Generating More Leads - Trulia Pro Blog

If the beginning of the off-season is making you nervous about hitting your lead generation goals, fear not! Read through this guide of 20 fresh and seasonally-appropriate lead generation tips maybe you'll find one or two ideas that really fit your business. There are an infinite number of ways to meet new people in this business and not every idea is going to fit every personality or business plan, but with 20 pretty decent ideas I'm sure you'll find something that makes you think "I could totally do that"

 

 

The NAR Code of Ethics is Illegal (Probably) - Notorious Rob

Warning: Controversial

If you have never had the privilege of reading anything from Rob Hahn, you are severely missing out. He may very well be one of the smartest guys in our industry and this thought provoking post about a recent FTC (Federal Trade Commission) ruling that could make a certain provision in the REALTOR Code of Ethics illegal. And it's a provision that if it needs to be rewritten could totally change the way REALTORS are allowed to advertise and potentially go after each others clients. 

I have to warn you though, you'll need your morning coffee before you dive into anything Notorious R-O-B has written, it's usually always that cerebral. 

Lani over at Realuoso.com had a nice follow up to Rob's post where she gets the NAR to chime in about how they view the ruling from the FTC

These two articles are must reads in my opinion for any agent or broker in the business.

 

 

Reign Over Germany's 'Most Beautiful' Castle For $22M - Curbed

If you have $22 million burning a hole in your pocket, consider purchasing this centuries-old German castle located in the Rhine river valley. Besides having 10 bedrooms and 21,528 square feet of living space, this castle features a movie theater, pub, painted ceilings, an 11th-century watchtower and is located on a beautiful 32 acre wooded plot.

The listing photos for this historic estate are definitely worth a look! I'm now convinced that if I ever win the lottery I'm buying a castle somewhere in Europe

(I'll call this my real estate porn entry. Who doesn't love looking at ridiculously lavish homes and dreaming of where your furniture would go? Spoiler alert.....you'll need more furniture than you currently own to furnish this place!)

Posted by

Bob Stewart
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Comments (36)

Robert Hammerstein -
Christie's International Real Estate - Hillsdale, NJ
Bergen County NJ Real Estate

Bob Stewart  thanks for this post. It will give some new reading for the week. 

Sep 24, 2014 05:58 AM
Pat & Wayne Harriman
Harriman Real Estate, LLC (203) 672-4499 - Wallingford, CT
Broker/Owners, Wallingford CT Real Estate

Good stuff, Bob. I have only read the article by Rob Hahn (and the other side of the coin from Lani Rosales) and I agree Rob really makes you think - or swear like a pirate, depending on which POV you take! I often wonder what it would be like to get Rob Hahn and Marc Davison (of 1000Watt) in the same room and let them go to town. The resulting conversation could probably be a best-seller if published!

Sep 24, 2014 05:59 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Bob there are some great links in here.  I actually agree with the FTC ruling, but also agree it does not apply to the NAR.  We often need to work in concert with other agents; there needs to be a level of trust in those situations.  But who knows what our wacky government might do.

Sep 24, 2014 06:20 AM
Bill Reddington
Re/max By The Sea - Destin, FL
Destin Florida Real Estate

The NAR thing sounds like attorneys to me. Be interesting to see if anything happens with this.

Sep 24, 2014 06:26 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

I am going to love these posts and look forward to the next.  Loved the links in this one

Sep 24, 2014 06:28 AM
Pamela Seley
West Coast Realty Division - Murrieta, CA
Residential Real Estate Agent serving SW RivCo CA

This looks like a good idea for a real estate series. I agree, Notorious ROB is not casual reading. I emailed him once, and he emailed me back. I'm keeping that email. 

Sep 24, 2014 06:35 AM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

This is a pretty cool blog. Some good articles here...heading to read some of them now. Thanks. 

Sep 24, 2014 08:10 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Thank you for taking the time to post relevant, current articles about the industry.  Great info!  Definitely going to 2 of your links above!

Sep 24, 2014 02:12 PM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

This is an interesting blog post idea.  We see the weekly highlight posts from Kathy Streib and others so this is a natural extension. Thanks!

Sep 24, 2014 11:00 PM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...

Bob Stewart ~ Now this is a nice way of sharing links with commentary! 

Trulia Pro Blog is spot on with the industry as well as KCM's blog.

Sep 25, 2014 12:19 AM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

I too love that Curbed site!  Amazing to see the various pricing, features, etc around the world re: real estate!

Sep 25, 2014 07:12 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Great idea, Bob. I will look forward to more of these recommended links to come.

Sep 25, 2014 07:31 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Hi Bob, thanks for the links. I use my iPad and smartphone to take photos.  Bookmarked to read the links tomorrow.

Sep 26, 2014 12:26 PM
MaryBeth Mills Muldowney
TradeWinds Realty Group LLC - Braintree, MA
Massachusetts Broker Owner

Thank you Bob, it is just so important to keep up with the changes in our industry, many thanks!

Sep 28, 2014 10:14 AM
Melissa Stone
Lipply Real Estate - Trinity, FL
Sparkling Gulf Coast From Tampa to Clearwater

Thanks for sharing! I have this saved for my morning read tomorrow.

Sep 28, 2014 12:12 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good afternoon Bob,

Some really valuable stuff. We all need to keep up with the changes in our industry..thanks for supplying some great articles. Off to do some reading!

Sep 30, 2014 06:18 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

So we will be getting additional inspiration from the big fellow as well. Thanks

Sep 30, 2014 12:27 PM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

 Excellent Reads Bob, and I still have more to go.

Sep 30, 2014 01:21 PM
Jon Kolsky
Kolsky Realty & Management - Long Beach, CA
Licensed California Real Estate Broker

Bob Stewart ~ thanks for providing valuable links, all of the ones you've listed are great! I especially love "Notorious Rob" he provides an inside look into what's happening around the horn in RE, and he's brilliant at doing it. 

Oct 02, 2014 06:00 AM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

Hey, Bob. I think this is a pretty good idea for a weekly blog. I'll send anything I think might be worth to you.

Oct 30, 2014 05:16 AM