ar: Foreclosure Assistance for Agents in California
- 12/06/07 06:21 AM
I don't know the laws in other states, but here in California there are several regulations that come into play with pre-foreclosure and foreclosure properties that can significantly impact us. I suspect there are some regulations that exist in your state that dictate what you, as an agent, can and cannot do. And which might also protect consumers from being harmed by investors seeking to capitalize on their bad luck.
The Foreclosure Consultant Law protects sellers from jeopardizing their equity due to fear of foreclosure. If you, as agent, say you can help someone avoid foreclosure or hint that you can, or … (15 comments)
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ar: The Power of Your Profile
- 12/03/07 05:18 PM
There have been many stories of business success as a result of blogging on ActiveRain, and elsewhere as well.
Indeed, much has been written about our profiles, how to improve them and keep them updated and appealing (just for starters, check out Colleen Kulikowski (and another of hers here, too), George Tallabas, Karen George, and Brad Andersohn) and how to grab a bit more of Google's attention (who doesn't like that?). They did a far better job than I could on telling you what to do and how to do it successfully.
The power of your profile cannot be ignored for other reasons. … (45 comments)
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ar: Are You Ready for Your FIRST OPEN HOUSE? My 10-point Checklist
- 12/02/07 08:50 AM
You have a signed contract on a terrific listing in a super location, priced well for the market. You've done all the research and in your expert opinion the property is ready to sell quickly and for top dollar.
You are going to have your first open house - ARE YOU REALLY READY?
Is the home free of clutter, with all personal stuff packed away, and appealing to a broad set of potential buyers?Better yet, has the home been staged?Have all the needed repairs been taken care of, both inside and out?Does the front of the home shout "come on in" or is … (26 comments)
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ar: A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Story - Is This You?
- 12/01/07 11:47 AM
Some traditions go on for years in my family. Watching the Charlie Brown Christmas story is one of them. Such a classic. Who cannot help but feel good inside when viewing this wonderful cartoon seen by millions and millions over the years.
Another tradition is our annual trek to cut down our tree - others may order on-line, buy fake trees, or grab one at one of the many Christmas tree lots. Not me. And I love doing this in California - last year it was 80 when we hit the tree farm (in shorts and sandals), and I remember not so … (44 comments)
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ar: Gobble Gobble
- 11/21/07 01:34 AM
I visited my Mom back in eastern Pennsylvania a couple of weeks ago where she lives in a huge stone house in the country (reportedly about 7000 SF!!). Parts of the home were built before the Revolutionary War, and rumor has it that the home was part of the underground railroad. Supposedly there is a secret room or sorts in the basement but I have never ventured down.
It was fun to see the fall leaves, but the house is always cold in the fall and winter and I was pleased to get back to the warmer San Diego weather. The red … (35 comments)
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ar: WARNING - Bathroom Talk: It Will Turn You Green
- 11/16/07 01:55 AM
… (34 comments)
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ar: May I Text Message You?
- 11/13/07 11:06 AM
We have a number of communication options in this age of technology. We can write emails, send text messages (most popular with Gen Y but gaining usage with other generations, too), talk on the telephone (and often leave voice mail) or have face-to-face meetings. We can even fax, but that seems reserved more for sharing documents. (pic courtesy of Mikeon Flickr)
There are pros and cons of each of these methods, and some are better suited to certain types of information and time frames.
As agents we may use some or all of these methods to maintain communication with our clients. And they, … (90 comments)
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ar: Tale of a General Contractor in Carlsbad
- 11/08/07 11:37 AM
This is about a general contractor in Carlsbad. But it's not what you are probably thinking.
(that's not his work, just a pic courtesy of JAGwired on Flickr)
Many of us have had either personal experience with general contractors or other professionals in the trades that make us snarl, wring our hands, utter profanities, and otherwise engage in behavior atypical of our normal selves. We tend to expect it so often because of past experience.
And in our business we likely know at least one seller or buyer who has suffered the same trials and tribulations with a contractor where things have gone awry, … (24 comments)
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ar: What Lens are YOU Looking Through?
- 10/24/07 08:35 PM
Each of us looks at things through a different lens...our perspective, our viewpoint. And at times even several different lenses.
Those of us who are parents look at our children's behavior through a different lens than does our child. We might wonder "why did they do that?" Or we make assumptions about their behavior, or ignore it. The child, of course, has a very different view on the situation - they are upset, or scared, or something else.
If you have been employed in the corporate world you have likely had a variety of lenses to look through in different situations...as an employee, … (98 comments)
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ar: San Diego Fires - Oct. 22 to Oct. 26, 2007
- 10/22/07 11:33 AM
UPDATE Wednesday 10/24/ 11:00 AM For more updates on local news, photos and vides (especially for those out of the area where news covereage is not as complete, visit the San Diego NBC site.
There are various updates over the last couple of days in the comments themselves, rather than here in the post itself.
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OCTOBER 22:
I have been pondering what to write. It was an easy decision to focus on much more important things, the significant fires burning here in San Diego. All else pales in comparison.
What many have feared for months is occurring - the Santa Ana winds have blown … (194 comments)
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ar: Are You Asking Your Buyers the RIGHT Questions?
- 10/19/07 12:54 PM
Determining the needs of our clients in paramount in order for us to be effective helping them find the home that meets their requirements. While experienced buyers may have a much better idea of what they are looking for, first time buyers often do not.
It is critical that we ask the right questions to make sure we obtain information that will be helpful to us so we can, in turn, assist our clients. And certainly it is true in other areas of our business (mortgages for example) that the right questions must be asked.
I think many folks assume that buyers … (26 comments)
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ar: YOUR "Fresh Air" is Ruining MY Fresh Air - BLog Action Day Plea
- 10/15/07 04:28 PM
Stop it right now. Please.
All that fancy air freshener stuff you are spending billions on is ruining my fresh air...and may be causing other problems as well.
Americans spend over $1 billion on purchasing air fresheners to make their homes smell good, and cover up nasty odors (yeah, some of you agents do that too, don't you, so your listing will sell).
It is probably all innocent, which is due to the last of regulation by the US FDA and lack of communication about harmful effects. The problem is that these products contain products that degrade indoor air quality and potentially affect hormones … (22 comments)
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ar: We Have Seen The Enemy and it is Technology! Or IS It?
- 10/12/07 05:07 PM
Do you ever feel this way? That technology and you are in a constant battle? And technology is winning?
I know I do from time to time.
Sometime everything goes along as it should, there is no battle, and life is good. Other days, I am on the losing side. I expect it, so for the most part I can get past it. But there are those days when my laptop and I (or some other techie thing) are worst enemies. But I refuse to throw up the white flag.
Drinking helps. So does cussing. Sometimes I must resort to a call to … (75 comments)
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ar: Agents Helping to Build Homes
- 10/01/07 06:00 PM
Real estate agents around the country participate in different ways to give back to their communities, either as individuals or as a group.
I'm proud to be a member of our Southern California Chapter of the CRS (Council of Residential Specialists), in part because of the great learning and networking that occurs at our quarterly membership meeting, but also through our fund raising.
Part of the mission of the national CRS organization is community service, and the local chapters can choose what they wish. Our chapter, known as SoCalCRS, has chosen to support Habitat for Humanity for the last several years and … (14 comments)
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ar: Click Here, Please
- 09/30/07 01:50 AM
Hah, gotcha!
These words (click here, please) must be the mantra of most real estate agents in the 21st century. If not a specific request, then certainly an implied one. Believe it or not, though, there are still some agents who do not have websites. Perhaps they have plenty of referral and past client business so a website is not needed. Hmmm, I wonder, though.
Anyhow, we all want consumers coming to our websites, don't we? Otherwise, why spend the money to buy a template site, or even bigger bucks to have a custom site designed? More traffic means more leads and potentially … (102 comments)
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ar: Ten Reasons Why I Hate Blogging
- 09/22/07 11:00 AM
I don't like blogging. Am I taking a risk by saying that here, on ActiveRain, THE real estate blogging mecca? Probably. But I don't care. It has to be said.
Here are my 10 reasons why:
It ruins my morning coffee. First things first - make the coffee. I like my coffee (Peet's, by the way, ordered from their store in Berkeley; no Starbuck's for me). I can't tell you how many cups of coffee have been ruined by blogging. Either I get engrossed in reading or writing and forget about it so it's ice cold, or I end up spewing it all … (218 comments)
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ar: 9-11 Forever Etched in my Memory
- 09/11/07 04:40 AM
Like many, I imagine, this day represents a painful memory of one of the most significant tragedies in the US.
No, it does not compare to the tsunami in Asia from Christmas time a few years ago, nor to other events that have occurred elsewhere in the world. But it was, and still is, a significant milestone in our history, with ramifications far beyond what any could have imagined at the time.
The memories of that day are often triggered by small things - a mention of 9-11, a photograph of New York, another story of a terrorist act somewhere in the … (24 comments)
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ar: My Media Meme...My Oh My
- 08/15/07 05:24 PM
I was memed by Carole Cohen a number of weeks ago. After reading her article I left a comment that it might be a bit before I wrote my post. And that has proven to be true...actually far longer than I intended. I didn't forget, I simply wasn't sure what to write about, and despite starting, I'm still not sure. We'll see what transpires. Stream of consciousness...
Carole's article, because of her being memed by Bonnie Ericson (our blog mother, as Carole says), is about technology and media. Don't laugh at this, but I'm old enough that technology used to refer to … (40 comments)
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ar: What Did I Learn at Bloggers Connect? (Part 1) But First the Tragedy in Minneapolis
- 08/02/07 09:48 AM
Like a bunch of other Rainers, I attended Bloggers Connect in San Francisco yesterday - a meeting of some of the top blogging minds in the country. It was an inspirational event, with opportunities for learning, exchanging ideas, meeting up with old friends, making new acquaintances, and much more.
However, before launching into my musing on what I think I learned, I feel compelled to comment on the tragedy in Minneapolis, which certainly put a damper on my spirits last night.
I learned about this in a voice mail from my wife, currently in Michigan, which I picked up on the … (29 comments)
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ar: The California AR Crowd Celebrates in Long Beach!
- 06/10/07 06:05 AM
The California AR Crowd Celebrates in Long Beach!
It WAS the party to be at last night, and about 30 Rainers from near and far gathered in Long Beach to celebrate the 1st birthday of the greatest network on the planet.
Do Californians know how to party? YOU BET!! Check out what Laurie Manny had to share...she says so much, I'm not sure what else to add and I'm scrambling to get ready for another client so just not enough time...
Rain Gods Jonathan Washburn (absent his wife...we MISSED you, Sara) cruised in from Laguna Beach and Matt Heaton flew in from the Seattle area … (49 comments)
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I don't know the laws in other states, but here in California there are several regulations that come into play with pre-foreclosure and foreclosure properties that can significantly impact us. I suspect there are some regulations that exist in your state that dictate what you, as an agent, can and cannot do. And which might also protect consumers from being harmed by investors seeking to capitalize on their bad luck.
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