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What have I learned this week?

By
Real Estate Agent with BAIRD & WARNER, NAPERVILLE

Odds and ends...so here's a round-up.

1) Can't do a radon test if there's NO heat. Never knew that. We tried to do an inspection on a property with the temperature at 10 degrees. But, with NO heat, according to the radon specialist, it won't work.

2) Selling real estate in below zero wind chill, driving snow and biting wind is no fun. They call them snow days for a reason. If the schools can close, then so can I. Actually, our Administrative Supervisor made a command decision. She made it to the office and closed it down. Good move as the snow got worse along with the traffic.

3) When your old computer dies, give it a burial. There's nothing harder than trying to find 7 year old software and wasting time re-loading it. I think I'll just donate the machine and buy another. And, yes, this was a back-up machine. Nothing really important lost.

4) My first "localism" click thru appeared on my site today. Getting about 2 Active Rain(er)s daily. Just don't know if it's agents or consumers. Now that there are so many agents blogging on AR, I find that many of the blogs are repetitive...and who has time to read them? I don't.

5) Why do internet/web/seo sales people think we'll fall for all their appeals: You must buy this. You must have XYZ to increase your web presence. Guys, don't try to sell me something when you don't know what you're talking about. You're just wasting my time and yours.

6) Why is the concept of DESIGNATED AGENT so hard to understand. Lots of discussion this week on RealTalk with agents professing to know Illinois law better than we Illinoisians. Just incredible. Always remember: REAL ESTATE IS LOCO...ops, LOCAL.

7) Tomorrow is for doing my taxes. Well, not quite. It's for getting everything together for the accountant. Ya know, like cleaning the house before the cleaning crew gets there.

Carole Cohen
Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office - Cleveland, OH
Realtor, ePRO

I love you Eileen, this was awesome.  Ok, #3; I bought a new Dell a year ago; now my raspberry iMAC is sitting in my closet; I don't really want to go out and bury it, what do I do with it? I tried to donate it to a school but apparently all the schools that were Apple users have sold out er, switched too (yes I still feel guilty about it)

And thank you about that radon and heat correlation! I had no idea!  

Feb 16, 2007 11:00 AM
Carole Cohen
Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office - Cleveland, OH
Realtor, ePRO
and....I thought your RT answers were quite succinct :-)
Feb 16, 2007 01:51 PM
Eileen Landau
BAIRD & WARNER, NAPERVILLE - Naperville, IL
ABR, CRS, e-PRO

Hey Carole,

You can use your Imac as a CD player. Works great.

And, why write a paragraph when a sentence will do?

Shoulda have added: Saw a picture of Terry Murphy as a blonde...and Danielle Kennedy who used to teach real estate with Tommy Hopkins, was on Grey'a Anatomy last night. Makes for interesting viewing.

Maybe I just audition for Boston Legal?

Feb 16, 2007 03:01 PM
Carole Cohen
Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office - Cleveland, OH
Realtor, ePRO

You are a genius!

And Danielle Kennedy was on Gray's? As herself? I have one of her books. NOW i am smiling, yes, go for Boston Legal.  Or my favorite show, Brothers and Sisters :-)

Feb 16, 2007 03:24 PM
Eileen Landau
BAIRD & WARNER, NAPERVILLE - Naperville, IL
ABR, CRS, e-PRO

Dani was playing a grief stricken mother. I recognized her distinctive voice.

Think that I'll do a weekly what have I learned blog...should be interesting.

Feb 17, 2007 08:45 AM
Ann Cummings
RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH
Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Eileen - we deal with radon all the time here in NH, and I have to say that's the first time I've ever heard you can't test for it if there's no heat on.  I do find it annoying on RT, and elsewhere, when others think they know things about your own state better than you do - gets really old on RT especially.

Ann

Feb 17, 2007 12:06 PM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Lenn was nice enough to credit your blog and I can say that I can relate to #3 where I recently purchased a new hp lap top and will be donating my e-machine to my dear 82 year old neighbor who can't see her email pictures...this has been a bone of contention for some time for her.

The other one I highly relate to and have been taken so many times is #5. Don't you hate that? Wish I had a $1 for everyone that calls me with their "I'll put you #1 on the search engines!"

#7 is stapled with a running tape on each category and awaiting distribution for my accountant.l...so glad that part is OVER!

Can't relate to the snow, radon, expounding on someone else's City...but I feel for you!

Feb 18, 2007 03:17 AM
Eileen Landau
BAIRD & WARNER, NAPERVILLE - Naperville, IL
ABR, CRS, e-PRO

Thanks for the comment. And, thanks Lenn for the mention.

I think I'll do a weekly what have I learned post.

And, the truth...my tax stuff is still sitting. If you remember my Realtor's Daughter blog, and if you don't, just know that we have a wedding coming up in '08. And being the wonderful mother that I am, I spent the entire day with "the kids" and my future in-law Carole at a Bridal Faire. So, what's more important? The bride or my taxes.

 

Feb 18, 2007 08:56 AM
Carole Cohen
Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office - Cleveland, OH
Realtor, ePRO

It has to be the right thing to do if you are spending time with someone named Carole :-)

I was going to ask you about the wedding! Plans are moving forward I see, good. I love the idea of a weekly post.

Feb 18, 2007 09:08 AM