realtor: The evolution of a charming house into a thriving business in Searcy Arkansas.
- 10/23/09 12:39 PM
This picture of 916 E Race shows it as it was when Race Street was a quiet little street with residential properties still on it. The builder/draftsman who drew it up had saved pictures and floorplans of some of his creations. His wife was throwing them away and I, being a saver, kept them. I had to do a lot of driving around to find some of them.
The house was added onto and turned into a business by Helen Holder who had a drapery business. Back when folks loved heavy window treatments, she did a fantastic business.
Then it changed … (21 comments)
|
realtor: Georgetown, Arkansas. You've gotta be going there because you can't drive by!
- 10/22/09 12:15 AM
Georgetown Arkansas in White County is the oldest continuously settled area in Arkansas, according to Wikipedia. It was settled in 1789 and overlooks the White River. As of the census in 2000 there were 126 folks who lived there. There were 55 households and 33 families.
Now, more down to earth into.....when I taught school I had a few West Point kids in class and they rode a bus to school. When we had flood weather, the road to Georgetown became completely covered in water. If the kids got to school they had to come on a boat or get outa … (55 comments)
|
realtor: This is Arkansas. It is a good picture of country enjoyment.
- 10/20/09 01:12 AM
I used to drive my kids to a place called Slippery Rock Ford and they'd wade in the water on the slippery rocks. This little bridge was a favorite. It gets underwater at times but evidently it holds up pretty darned good. In fact, the water looks a bit high for wading at the time of this picture.
A friend sent me these pictures of his little Volks at the bridge. He and his wife had gone for a drive and ended up here. They are great pictures showing some of the beauty of our state. The Volks, however, shows a little reluctance to … (18 comments)
|
realtor: Introducing my selected Heir Apparent (HA) but I'm not gone by a long shot!!
- 10/19/09 04:07 AM
A few months ago I asked what we should look for if we select an heir apparent. My blog was sorta high-jacked by two friends named Nutsy and Raven but I had some feedback. My requirements were.....
Honesty......this certainly would be a must. Energy......if I get tired, they shouldn't! Intelligence......street smarts wouldn't hurt. Education.....must know proper communication in writing and in person. Computer literate......know their way around for emailing, scanning and actually be better at this than I am! Personable.....get along well with people. Ambitious.....aims for success but not by stepping on people. After careful thought, I called up this gentleman who'd done … (13 comments)
|
realtor: Arkansas had an earthquake! I didn't notice. But I noticed this clever writeup in our state newspaper.
- 10/17/09 01:36 AM
How does a newspaper cover an earthquake that no one feels? That does pose a challenge. Our state newspaper, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette on October 17, 2009 ran the following editorial. I read it this morning while drinking coffe and loved it. I loved the large letters that got smaller and smaller. The humor was there and the earthquake got plenty of coverage. I hope they don't mind that I scanned it and am letting you read it.
… (21 comments)
|
realtor: A four-chimney house? That must have been a real luxury in old Searcy Arkansas.
- 10/16/09 12:50 AM
This historic house is barely on the East side of Searcy on a corner lot with huge trees. So many trees, in fact, that pictures are difficult. I believe it is called the Margaret Pope house. Correct me, Searcy readers, if I'm wrong.
I drive by it daily and wonder why it didn't sell a few years back when listed for close to $80,000. It has been through a lot, however, in the years since it exited the Pope estate.
The Pope estate had a big sale. My friends attended even though I was working and couldn't. They bought the mirror that … (24 comments)
|
realtor: Now this is a B--I--G tree.....beside an old Searcy Arkansas home.
- 10/14/09 02:11 PM
Each time I drive by this house and it is almost every day, I drive a little faster thinking that if one of those limbs comes down on me, I'm a goner!
Well, not really. But I always think that the tree is as historic as the house. This house is known, I believe, as the Deener house. I once had it listed and was fascinated by the features that dated back so far. Reportedly it was built in 1912.
The house is on Center Street in Searcy Arkansas, White County. In fact, here's the way it looked … (30 comments)
|
realtor: Well, where'd the Pergo go?
- 10/10/09 12:35 AM
This is the second home that I've had listed as a foreclosure property from which the Pergo flooring has been removed. It was kinda funny on the first one but this second one makes me wonder if it's easily transportable, sorta like a rug, and can be installed in a minute in someone's new house.
The first picture shows how the house looked when it sold for around $80,000.
The second one shows how it looks now as a foreclosure.
There had been lots of work done with replacement windows and siding and updated cabinetry and bath.
Now we're back to the … (30 comments)
|
realtor: Ode to a mentor. Mentors are very important when you start in real estate.
- 09/21/09 12:55 PM
My old friend called me today. She said it just as she always did.
"This is Lill [pause] Williams."
For the hard of hearing, the slow to catch on, the busy person....it was definite who was calling. There was never a quick, hard to understand, "ThisisLill," with the person on the receiving end of the call wondering who the devil this was. [Don't we get annoyed when someone calls and says, "This is John." Well, John who???]
Lill was my mentor when I started in real estate. We were on the phone each night comparing the day's events. She was a top-producer. … (58 comments)
|
realtor: Big Sister Little Sister dressed up and looking great! Note house in background.
- 08/27/09 02:11 PM
This picture was loaned to me by my friend Ludean.
It brings back old memories. Let's count a few.
Note the house foundation. I remember as a kid crawling under those houses with piers but no underpinning. It was cool and fun. Now it gives me the shivers to think of going under there with all the spiders and other things that might be there.
Note the bobbie sox with the dress shoes. I can't tell whether the shoes were high heels or not but the toe was definitely open and the strap showed fashion flair.
The hem length was a definite each … (8 comments)
|
realtor: The person at this number is not accepting calls at this time. How extremely rude!
- 08/26/09 02:22 PM
Last week I had a request from a lady to see property in a city that was some distance away. Upon trying to call her back for a day or two I kept getting this extremely annoying and rude message, "The person at this number is not accepting calls at this time."
Again and again I heard it. When she called me back she said she'd had phone problems and we tentatively had a time to look. But for two more days when calling her I got that message. "The person at this number is not accepting calls at this time."
I finally said, … (24 comments)
|
realtor: If you don't know the inventory, you can't sell the inventory.
- 04/09/09 12:47 AM
Over 25 years ago our Multiple Listing Service started a Wednesday tour of new listings. We tour in the small city of Searcy Arkansas each week, the county in quadrants, and try to have something educational at our meetings on the 5th Wednesdays when they roll around.
I've been a faithful tourer until about a year ago. Something happened. I messed up.
Yesterday an agent dragged me out to ride on the tour with him, even ones that I'd already shown and thought I knew.
"Look at that new house over there!! When was that built!"
"OMG, I haven't been down … (7 comments)
|
realtor: Share my desktop? I didn't know I could share my desktop, did you?
- 03/13/09 01:10 AM
I was having trouble pulling something up that I needed from the FannieMae website that's called AMN. It's where we put in all of our expenses, reports, etc.
I found the number for help and dialed and got a very nice man. Young, I'm sure, because you have to be young to keep up with all the new stuff!
He, however, couldn't find what I needed either. So he said, "I may need to share your desktop."
Of course you can share my desktop but how long will it take you to get to Arkansas?
He sent me some kind of … (18 comments)
|
realtor: I'm beginning to hate my cell phone! It is so intrusive!
- 03/11/09 12:04 AM
Remember when we went out to show property and if we needed a phone we pulled up to a pay phone?
Remember when YOU first decided to get a car phone? That's what we called them because they came with a box too big to lug around.
Remember when we used the land line to call friends or family on SUNDAY because the rates were cheaper on the weekend and holidays?
Now think of today.
Cell phones are convenient but mine is getting on my nerves. The receptionist seems to find it easier to put calls through to my cell phone … (26 comments)
|
realtor: We get taught some things at our weekly MLS meeting.
- 02/25/09 11:14 PM
Most of us don't know how to use our MLS to its fullest value. I asked an agent this morning if she used the "rubber band" search.
"What's the rubber band search?" she responded.
Up until two weeks or so ago I also didn't use it because it was not something I had to have. Searching in one area of our Searcy AR town, however, is difficult because it is not composed of one subdivision but it is considered an area. Using the rubber band to search I could pull up everything in that area, so I called one of our … (7 comments)
|
realtor: Is he dead, alive, or just playing possum?
- 02/15/09 01:28 PM
Going to a new foreclosure property is always an adventure. Walk softly and carry a big stick....didn't someone famous say that?
While getting a shot of the foreclosure house from across the street, I did a double-take when I saw this animal under a tree beside the side walk and actually in the front yard of a well-maintained home.
I didn't use a stick to prod him but he sure looked healthy to be so dead. I've heard that opossums play dead! Perhaps he wasn't dead, just playing possum?
… (46 comments)
|
realtor: Do you know Barbara Duncan, the Realtor?
- 02/06/09 12:51 PM
I was inspired by another AR member bragging about Barbara Duncan. Barbara IS a great agent to work with. I worked in the same office with her several years ago and she has always encouraged me and even though I have my own office today, she is still someone to bounce things off of. She has even mentioned me in several of her blogs so if you know her by AR then you have read about me.
But this blog is about her. She is a stickler about details and if you have ever had to deal with the real estate … (15 comments)
|
realtor: Aerial view of old Searcy Arkansas in the 40's. Some landmarks still stand.
- 01/24/09 08:44 AM
Lots of Searcy readers have been commenting on old Searcy Arkansas and the things they used to do, the places they visited, and the way the streets were laid out. One of the readers, Harold Gene Sullivan, sent me this photo with some landmarks already labeled! Look at all the old trees and the space between houses. He thinks this was approximately 1948. Still standing are the Courthouse, the post office building, the Mayfair Hotel, Methodist Church and there is a new First Baptist on the spot of the old one.
He also included this old Searcy map which shows … (36 comments)
|
realtor: Have you experienced land-line text messages? I had not and was surprised!
- 12/29/08 01:21 PM
The phone rang and this computer voice said, Customer 7065047600 has sent you a text to landline message.
Hello from Value.
To send a voice message in reply press 1.
To send a text message in reply press 2.
To disconnect press the star key.
To hear this message again press .....
The first time I got this message I hung up thinking it was some kind of telemarketing trick. That was last night.
Today my daughter called me and said she'd accidentally sent me a text on my landline. Did I get it? I got scolded for hanging up.
I confessed … (23 comments)
|
realtor: Pickled eggs for Christmas? Do you think that is equal to a lump of coal?
- 12/26/08 06:16 AM
I've heard of pickled eggs.
I don't remember ever getting any for Christmas until now and I hope they are not for punishment like St. Nick's putting coal in your stocking.
You usually hear about pickled eggs that are in a big jar on the bar at some honky-tonk and when you get hungry you just buy one of those eggs rather than quit drinking and go home. I thought they were a thing of the past and read that "Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book," the red-and-white plaid standard for home cooks, has dropped the recipe for pickled eggs from its pages.
But all … (30 comments)
|
This picture of 916 E Race shows it as it was when Race Street was a quiet little street with residential properties still on it. The builder/draftsman who drew it up had saved pictures and floorplans of some of his creations. His wife was throwing them away and I, being a saver, kept them. I had to do a lot of driving around to find some of them. 
;)
;)
;)
