realtors: Manatee Association of REALTORS To Join The Mid-Florida Regional MLS (MFRMLS) - 11/06/07 01:14 AM
All I can say is YAHOOOOO!!!!!!  I am so happy to hear this news!  It's about time!
Our association is one of 5 that will be joining MFRMLS within the next year.  Currently the MFRMLS includes the following:
Bartow Board of Realtors®East Polk County Association of Realtors®Greater Lake County Association of Realtors®Greater Tampa Association of Realtors®Lakeland Association of Realtors®Orlando Regional Realtor® AssociationOsceola County Association of Realtors®West Volusia Association of Realtors®.  The new member associations will include the following: 
Englewood Area Board of Realtors® (joining April 2008)Manatee Association of Realtors® (joining July 2008)Punta Gorda - Port Charlotte - North Port Association of Realtors® (joining June 2008)Sarasota … (0 comments)

realtors: What's your funniest story? - 08/13/07 11:35 AM
I was doing some reading online tonight and came across a link on Realtor.org for people's funniest real estate stories.  I never knew this page existed on the site until tonight.  I decided to check it out and got a laugh out of some of them.
There are quite a few of them for your enjoyment, and you can even submit your own if you like.
Feel free to check them out here.
I don't have any funny real estate stories to share, but do you?  Anything strange happen to you at an open house or while out showing properties or maybe just a funny … (3 comments)

realtors: Anyone Notice The New "Referral Exchange" Button? - 07/24/07 12:17 AM
I noticed it right away on the home page of ActiveRain this morning when I signed on.
What I also found interesting once clicking on it, was to read the "fine print" sort-to-speak.  "The referral exchange is provided to ActiveRain members as a free service at this time.  At a later date the service will include a flat monthly subscription fee."  So this must be the first of the "paying type" of services ActiveRain will be offering.  People wanted to know how they were making money, looks like this is the first step.
I am curious what are everyones thoughts on this?  Will you … (18 comments)

realtors: Excuse me, but what exactly do you think you're doing? - 07/23/07 01:12 AM
I was just reading a few blog posts here this morning on ActiveRain about unethical agents and a similar situation that has happened to me a couple times came to mind.  It has to do with another agent passing out their business cards to someone else's buyers!
Can someone PLEASE explain to me why another agent would hand one of my buyers their business card in front of me?  Please tell me your reasoning behind this.  I sure would like to know!
You know....the listing agent that shows up to let you in for the showing and when leaving they hand your buyer … (12 comments)

realtors: What Kind Of Camcorder Is The Best For Creating Video Tours? - 07/20/07 11:24 PM
I've been hearing more and more mention that Video Tours are better than Virtual Tours.  What do you think?  Do you agree or not?  With Video Tours, you don't have to spend the time stitching the photos together and they can also be uploaded to more places, like YouTube.
We are considering switching from Virtual Tours to Video Tours, but also don't own a Camcorder and the digital camera we have doesn't really take great video recordings.
So what kind of Camcorder are you using?  How good is the quality of videos it creates?  How much did it cost?
I know there are places that you can … (8 comments)

realtors: Facebook - 07/19/07 07:13 AM
Ok, so I joined Facebook and have no idea what to do with it.  I figured out how to create my profile, add some photos and some other applications.
I also figured out how to search my address book to find people that belong to Facebook and send them a friend request.  However, I can't seem to find any easy way to search for people in general.  Am I missing something along the way that allows you to search new profiles, or people in certain career categories?
I found how to add groups....but there are thousands of them, and a lot of them … (9 comments)

realtors: Do you Wufoo? - 07/13/07 07:08 AM
Do you have a website, but no way to create customizable forms to capture your buyers and sellers information?  If so, then you might want to try giving wufoo a whirl!
You can create all kinds of different types of forms to use on your website or blog for that matter.  Listing notifier forms, Customer Satisfaction Survey, Contact forms, Registration forms, CMA request forms, information request forms and just about anything else you could imagine to gather their contact information.
Wufoo allows you to create and customize your forms, so you can create the questions and answers that will show on your forms.
Once … (5 comments)

realtors: Ziki? What the heck is a Ziki? - 07/11/07 12:46 AM
Ever hear of Ziki?  I certainly hadn't.  With so many websites out there, it's hard to keep track of what's new and which one's I should be joining. 
So what exactly is a Ziki and why should you have one?  "Ziki enables users to create an official webpage (a ziki) which is guaranteed to appear as a top search result on Google, Yahoo! and MSN. This allows our members to create, manage and optimize their online presence & identity."  Click here for a better explanation.  There's even a Ziki Blog.
This was pretty easy to set up.  You basically set up a profile … (11 comments)

realtors: 310 more REALTORS® bite the dust in Manatee County - 07/02/07 08:07 AM
The Manatee County MLS (MARMLS) is now 310 more REALTORS® lighter.  The semi-annual MLS dues were due again by July 1st.  If you didn't pay your dues by that date, they terminate your membership.  I knew more people were going to be dropping out, so I searched to see how many it was going to be this time around.
As of June 30th, there were 2,102 REALTORS®Today on July 2nd, there are 1,792 REALTORS®310 less REALTORS® in my area now.  That's nearly 15% of the membership.
When I first got licensed and joined the MARMLS a little over 3 years ago (in the height of the … (14 comments)

realtors: 2 New Groups Have Been Added To ActiveRain - 07/01/07 09:37 AM
Anyone in Manatee or Hillsborough County in Florida, feel free to join these 2 new groups.  I created one for each County. 
Manatee County and Hillsborough County.
Feel free to post anything having to do with either of the counties.  Listings, market stats, market conditions, neighborhood info, mortgage news & trends, area info, area trends, events, things to do or anything else that has to do with that particular county.
Even if you don't live in the area, but you would like to read information on the area, feel free to join!  Everyone is welcome here!!
  
(3 comments)

realtors: The fern and the bamboo - 06/27/07 01:33 AM
Someone just forwarded this to me in an email.  And I thought it was pretty cool!!
One day I decided to quit.... I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality..... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
'God', I said. 'Can you give me one good reason not to quit?' His answer surprised me...'Look around', He said. 'Do you see the fern and the bamboo?' 'Yes', I replied.'When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern … (2 comments)

realtors: It's So Easy, Even A Caveman Can Do It!! - 06/26/07 12:06 AM
Ok, so have you ever noticed in some of your blog posts, the double spacing sometimes of things that shouldn't be double spaced?  You have no clue on how to fix it, because every time you hit enter, it just automatically double spaces it?  It's annoying and it makes the post look kinda weird sometimes, because there are extra spaces in between things that shouldn't have extra spaces!
Well I have the solution for you!!
After then end of the word that you want to have a single space after it, instead of hitting the enter key, hit the "Shift" key and the … (14 comments)

realtors: Where's the beef??? - 06/25/07 02:39 AM
Ok, I know most of you remember that commercial with the little old lady in a fast food restaurant and when she gets the burger, it's a great big bun with hardly any meat on it and she yells out "Where's the beef?"
She was expecting a big burger with a big meat patty and extras like lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, cheese, mustard & ketchup and instead she was disappointed to have a big fluffy bun and barely any meat.  Nothing else!
So what's this have to do with real estate?
How many of you have contacted an agent to inquire about listings and then to only … (6 comments)

realtors: Just wanted to give everyone some inspiration - 06/21/07 09:16 AM
I hope you enjoy this video! May it inspire you to become an even better person than you already are! Remember to be kind to others, be thankful for what you have and to thank others for things they do for you! Live every day like it's your last, and tell the people in your life you love them and are grateful they are in your life! And when the going gets tough, don't ever give up. You can make it. You can do it!
(1 comments)

realtors: Here's My Blogroll - 06/17/07 12:34 AM
Ok, I thought I would share my blogroll, since a couple of you have shared yours, like Cheryl Johnson & Sarah Cooper.  It's a never ending, growing list of people. 
I try to read a lot of people's blogs that are in Florida, so I can see what else is going on around the state.
I've been getting better about leaving comments on the posts I read.  So I promise, I'll try to start leaving comments on your blogs!!  LOL...
There are a lot of great people here in AR that share a ton of invaluable information, and I am grateful to all of you!  … (17 comments)

realtors: Are you really that busy? Or are you just plain lazy? - 06/08/07 02:31 AM
Are you really that busy that it took you 3 days to respond to my email about a referral and it's another 3 days later and I still have yet to receive the signed referral form back from you?  Do the math, it's been almost a week!  Or are you just lazy?
Are you really that busy that you can't return my phone call about some questions my buyer has about one of your listings until the next day or two?  Or are you just lazy?
Are you really that busy that I have to look for the Condo Doc's on the Clerk of Courts … (9 comments)

realtors: 35 Reasons You Need To Fire Your Current Buyer’s Agent And Hire ME! - 06/06/07 07:35 AM
You hired a real estate agent and not a REALTOR®.  Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of great real estate agents out there that aren't REALTORS®, but if you don't have a REALTOR®, then you don't have access to the MLS.  Having access to the MLS is a huge must have when shopping for a home.Your agent doesn't return your phone calls or emails in a timely manor.  How many times have you tried calling or emailing your agent for something and you don't hear back from them for a day or two?  Once?  Twice?  Have you lost count?  Once … (2 comments)

realtors: The Critical Role of the REALTOR® in the Real Estate Transaction - 06/02/07 12:41 AM
(3 comments)

 
Becky Troutt (No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.)

Becky Troutt

Bradenton, FL

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No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.



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