I had a deal go up in flames! (See how the picture to the left really fits this post? I'm so clever!) Debbie Reynolds posted a contest which asked about a Really Big Deal or No Big Deal. Mine was the Big Deal that was No Deal. I had a client who wanted to move into a larger home. We had their home sold and it was set to close the day before the replacement home was to close. All seemed well! The new home was around the corner and owned … (17 comments)
active rain challenges: Theme Song For 2013, Business And Beyond!
- 12/07/13 02:05 AM
In thinking about the Contest by Kathleen Daniels about a Theme Song for 2013, it occurred to me how difficult it is to separate my personal life from my business life. I don't go to an office from 8-5 and THEN have a personal life; my clients become my friends, my weekends and "off hours" are sometimes Wednesday afternoons, I have sleepless nights worrying about deadlines and move in dates. My real estate business is an integrated part of my life, and I wouldn't want it any other way. So with this in mind, I gave some thought to my theme … (6 comments)
I just realized that it's the 16th of October! I'm half way through to my October Challenge. I'm looking forward to that glass of wine in Laguna. It's amazing how quickly we can get back into the habit of blogging when we "force" ourselves. I had really gotten lazy and forgot how much I love to write every day. Not every post has been fascinating or even interesting...this one included....but I've been doing it. Once again, I wake up and think about what I will post today. That's the point! The best part is that I feel … (11 comments)
First....I'm going to leave people out, I just know it! And I already feel horrible about it! There is no way to list completely everyone that I would want to see on a trip around the country. I'm hoping to be able to take lots of time and see lots of people. Nope....still haven't bought the teardrop. I'm actually hoping to find a vintage wood one. But I'm finally ready to start watching for them online, and that's exciting! So back to my road … (22 comments)
Oh I'm having such a tough time limiting my list of Active Rain people to just 3. This post is #2....and as with Anna Banana, Alan May is a no-brainer. No, wait....I'm sure he has a brain, I didn't mean it like that. I meant that it took no brains on my end to want to meet him live and in person. Oh, you probably understood that already, since you clearly have a brain. See? This is what Alan does to me. I get all a-fluttered and unfocused … (16 comments)
active rain challenges: How To Showcase California? Whew....Big Task!
- 10/08/13 03:09 AM
How to Showcase California? Now THAT is a Contest! The picture to the left is one I took from one of my favorite walks in Laguna Beach. This path takes you from Main Beach up about 2 miles along the water and cliffs. There is nothing better for putting things in perspective as watching the waves come over the rocks. California is at it's heart a contradiction. It's trite to talk about it's varied beauty....but let's go ahead and do it anyway! It will be fun! You all know that it's been said that you can drive from the beach … (7 comments)
active rain challenges: There Is No Place Like Home, And Home Is Not A Place
- 10/07/13 04:15 AM
The Active Rain Contests this month are very personal. I love the theme! I'm writing about which Active Rain members I'd like to meet, details about the state I live in, and now.....my home. I love my house! But I've loved all the houses I've lived in....that's the "house" not the home. The picture to the left is from my deck off my master bedroom. My husband and I bought this house and our cabin the same year, 1999. This house looks out toward Lake Mission Viejo and that is Saddleback Mountain in the background. You can't tell, but right about … (16 comments)
I read the Active Rain October Challenge asking who we would like to meet in person. The set up is that we either live too far away to make a meeting practical, or that we are just to intimidated....I don't have either excuse for not meeting Anna Banana! Now, Anna Kruchten is an amazing person...but there is nothing about her personality or aura that would lead anyone to find her unapproachable. In fact it's quite the opposite. Read her blog posts and you see her welcoming spirit and warmth come through … (10 comments)
My October Challenge.....And Already Starting Late
I love the contests and challenges we get here at Active Rain. They are fun. They are motivational. They are silly. They are informative. In short...they are great! This month, I need some motivation. I have lost a step with my online presence. I just haven't been able to get my groove back....like I used to have. I love starting my day with an Active Rain blog post. It keeps me sharp and gives me a great outlet for my creativity, frustration and I hope...humor. So! Time to kick myself in … (63 comments)
active rain challenges: Mastermind Challenge: Foreclosures
- 05/31/11 10:22 AM
This month the Masterminds of Active Rain were asked to consider the Foreclosure Epidemic facing the Real Estate Market. Each member of the Gold Standard had different experiences with this based on their own personal market. Allen lives and works in the San Joaquin Valley of California, as he put it "Ground Zero" for foreclosures. . 60 Minutes, the Wall Street Journal, and Forbes magazine have all documented it. This is an agriculturally based area with many farm worker and seasonal food manufacturing incomes. Some developers saw the Central Valley as the last frontier in California. The recipe for disaster that … (11 comments)
I've been preaching that blog posts are pretty easy to write...and consistency is key. So I joined the 31 Day May challenge and today is the challenge. My son graduates today and I'm out the door in 15 minutes....so this is going to be fast. How? I'm just writing the conversations which pops in my mind. Ironically one of my first Active Rain leads came from a quick rambling post I wrote that had nothing to do with real estate. Today? Off to intimidate meet my ex-husband's fiance and see my dear son graduate Law School....I'm sure this will … (9 comments)
Kodak/Active Rain Challenge: The Closing Gift I love this challenge idea. I'll be curious to see what others do for closing gifts. When I first started in real estate, I tried a few different things. The first was a basket which had in it scented candles, a hand towel, pleasant soaps/dish soap, a fuzzy bath mat...things to immediately make a house more like a home. Then I went to a more impersonal Lowe's gift card. If you are a member (free) of the Lowe's Realtor Benefits you can buy them at a discount. But I found that these things … (32 comments)
Kodak Paper-Less Challenge What a great idea! But....I don't need the Challenge to go Paper-Less, I've already done it. The picture to the left is my Samsung Galaxy Tab. If you've followed my blog for the past month or so, you know how I feel about this tool. At Rain Storm last weekend I was touting the benefits to the AR Gods-that-be. (Hoping the CTO will follow up on his promise to get the comments on Active Rain work for me...but that's another story....hint, hint :)) This is similar to an I-Pad, but it's only 7 inches, which means … (16 comments)
My No Big Deal Was No Deal At All
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