alexandria louisiana real estate: What Beverage/Snack Gets You Through The Day?
- 08/18/10 08:47 AM
ActiveRain and a Route 44 Cherry Limeade from Sonic. Would real estate practice be possible without the two? I dare not ponder such a world! With the temperature hovering around 100 degrees folks here in Louisiana are drinking constantly (and not the type drinking we do the month of Mardi Gras). One of the neat aspects of visiting other offices is seeing what other people drink/ snack on. If the rest of the population mirrors Realtors stock in Sonic is a sound investment! My broker gets a diet coke with imported ice or something crazy along those lines. What … (5 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: Stop The Madness! Enough of the Earn Money in your Spare Time Posts!
- 08/17/10 07:45 AM
Can we cease with the great way for Realtors to earn extra income posts? No sir I choose not to make a small investment in your thinly veiled pyramid scheme. And of course these "health care products" sell themselves. Can't sell enough 3 bedroom ranch homes this month? No problem, go out and sell these health bars to your friends and family! I wonder how many heavy hitters in our field spend ten hours a week selling protien shakes? My guess would be zero. And that's the point of this post. Want to do make a living in real … (5 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: Dear Seller, Roadblocks are for the Interstate!
- 08/13/10 08:36 AM
Selling a house can be a stressful life event. With the ups and downs of the market, crazy lending rules, and even more government regulation the sale of your home can be an emotional roller coaster. If this were not enough, sometimes sellers build roadblocks that can make the transaction even more tough to close. Here are some common seller roadblocks that need to be addressed. 1) I am not paying any closing costs. If the buyer cannot cover closing, perhaps they should rent-- The zero down loans are few and far between. Odds are your buyer is putting … (2 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: Your Social Media Makeover
- 08/11/10 08:30 AM
Social Media such as Facebook is a great tool for reaching out to your sphere. After all, those 565 "friends" probably need a place to live right? Salespeople, especially agents are well represented on my friend list. Some of them could definitely use a "social media makeover". While not perfect by any means, here are some lessons I picked up along the way. 1) Mix Business With Pleasure---2/3 of my posts deal with personal things (kids, yard work, musings). Doing so allows you to remain friendly with your friends. 2) Steer Clear of Political Issues--Hate George Bush, Obama, … (2 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: Take It To The Limit is an Eagles' Song, Not a budget Strategy
- 08/11/10 04:40 AM
Nothing gets people running to the bank faster than a shiny new home. The granite counter tops, large rooms, and large patio all scream BUY ME NOW! But what happens when that home is a little more than the consumer can afford? Keep in mind if someone purchases a home at the top of their limit (as most do), their monthly budget is going to be tight! Such a transaction is going to have a profound impact on the family's financial health. Here are some buyer justifications I have heard for "taking it to the limit". 1) … (5 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: Tough Times in Real Estate Survival Kit
- 08/10/10 07:45 AM
Times are tough. Sellers expect 2007 level deals and buyers expect to pay pennies on the dollar. Got a few deals under contract? Good for you! Now navigate an increasingly crazy escrow period. If we are going to Stay afloat, much less thrive, we need a well stocked survival kit. Here is my "Tough Times in Real Estate Survival Kit". 1) A reliable investor-- In these days cash is king! I have an investor who is happy to buy any deals I can send his way (we are closing on one this afternoon). About half the stuff he … (6 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: Have You Sponsored Your Community?
- 08/05/10 07:58 AM
Yesterday I received an interesting email from ActiveRain. It seems that the time was right for me to "claim my community". Honestly I did not have a clue what that meant. After a little digging, I found that for the princely sum of 19 bucks I could sponsor my own community. Sadly, after fiddling with the system for a few minutes I can't figure out if mine is still available or not. What is the consensus of the peanut gallery? Are you going to sponsor your community? Why or why not? … (3 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: Beware of the Dog
- 08/04/10 08:23 AM
Selling your home is stressful for the entire family, even the four-legged members. While most people spend hours prepping the house to sale, few spend enough time considering what to do with the pets during a showing. Here are some common misconceptions sellers have when deciding how to handle their furry family members. 1) People are here to look at the house, not the pet-- As such, buyers will ignore our pet. Ever been to a pet shop? Animals very quickly become the center of attention. 2) Our dog is calm--When people are home they are in charge of … (2 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: The Joy of the Expired Listing
- 08/03/10 10:07 AM
This week I have been concentrating on expired listings. In scanning the MLS I have been amazed by the sheer number of expired properties. Many of these were never renewed, they simple fell off the radar. Did the people suddenly decide not to sell? While each listings has its own tale of woe, here are a few themes I have picked up on. 1) It's the price silly--- This is the most common one. In fact most in this category cause a WTF moment. What was that agent thinking listing this home at that price? Six months to a … (8 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: Even A Small Rain Shower is a Blessing in the Summer
- 08/03/10 03:33 AM
This is not a blog describing how ActiveRain made me a million bucks. Heck this deal won't even fund my Thanksgiving trip to Destin! But sit right back and read how ActiveRain will make a couple of Jeep payments for me this fall. One of my past clients is relocating to a small town in South Louisiana. This town is JUST far enough away that I did not feel comfortable helping her myself. So time to find an agent! I did not begin my search with ActiveRain. I first contacted our sister office in the city. That's … (4 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: Deposit Money Should Be Non-Refundable
- 08/02/10 04:25 AM
Lately I have been working with buyers. One of the many pleasures this opportunity affords is guiding them through the escrow process. As if the strict lending, crazy appraisals, and media reports of a dead housing market were not enough add to the mix wimpy deposits. In the fair state of Louisiana, deposits are almost meaningless. During the inspection period a buyer may back out for any reason without cause. Guess what happens when a "better" home hits the MLS in this period? I have had clients back out in the inspection period not due to the … (4 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: How Are You Cutting Expenses?
- 07/30/10 09:51 AM
One of the things this economic downturn has forced me to do is put a lid on expenses. If a product/service is not providing a good return on investment out the door she goes! While this process is a little scary, the outcome only works to make my business stronger. Here are a few of the areas I have either scaled back or eliminated this year. 1) Phone Book Ads- Nope, no more, gone. I have dropped this one cold turkey (as has my broker). I just can't imagine that too many QUALIFIED buyers begin they agent hunt in … (3 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: Secrets Clients Should Not Keep From Their Realtor
- 07/30/10 04:09 AM
Selling a home is a complicated endeavor. With the ups and downs of the market, nervous buyers, and mountains of government regulations getting to the closing table can take a Herculean effort. In order to maximize your chances, it is critical to work closely with your Realtor. Trust is the cornerstone of this relationship. As a Realtor, we are here to protect our client's best interest. When life throws your family a curve ball, it is critical to keep your Realtor informed. When bad things happen often times clients will attempt to shield their agent from the information. … (3 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: What's Your Favorite Season to Sell?
- 07/28/10 04:58 AM
Yesterday I showed properties in the afternoon. In Louisiana this time of year that means super muggy and ninety plus degrees. As luck would have it, we were also encountered a nice mid-afternoon thunderstorm. On the way back to the office I wondered why anyone would be out and about in this weather. Then I thought back to last winter. Freezing temperatures and sleet were the order of the day. Nothing like trying to plant a giant Century 21 sign when you can't feel your fingers! For me Spring and Fall are the best times to be on … (79 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: A Good Broker Makes The World Go Round!
- 07/27/10 04:04 AM
This morning I received the dreaded call from the lender. Even though the appraisal was completed two weeks ago (along with the mandated repairs), the underwrites thought it would be "cool" to have a structural engineer's report as well. The problem you ask? Closing is scheduled for this Friday! Well Doug, sounds like you have a MAJOR problem on your hands. Why are you blogging on ActiveRain and consuming Chex Mix? Because I have the best broker in the word, that's why! Before starting the blog I gave my broker, Paige Walker, a call. Even though she … (4 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: Dear Client, do you plan on living in your truck?
- 07/26/10 07:17 AM
When meeting with a first time buyer, I always make note of the type vehicle they pull up in. No, you cannot judge a person's wealth by the car they drive. I know plenty of wealthy people that drive average, plain jane automobiles. I do think you can tell a lot about a person's financial maturity based on their car. Too many times I have witnessed entry level buyers pull up in trucks like the one above. One young family earned approximately 45k as a dual income couple. Their truck had more bling than P Diddy! … (37 comments)
alexandria louisiana real estate: When Pennies Cost a Business Dollars
- 07/26/10 04:04 AM
Continuing my recent stream of good luck, my wife was able to find a stray nail in her front tire this weekend. After a closer look, it appeared to be a prime candidate for a plug. So Sunday afternoon I increased the air pressure and headed to a certain "Mega Store". After a nice wait I was greeted by a young man that resembled Billy Idol. Perhaps he thought it was a tricky nail, because he needed to get advice from his manager. Coke Zero in hand, the manager shuffles out of the office. He was the … (4 comments)
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