technology: Using Video to Market Investment Properties
- 06/03/08 03:16 AM
Selling investment real estate in some areas has become increasingly challenging due to pricing issues – higher prices and rents not keeping pay to provide sufficient cash flow unless the investor is putting down a large chunk of cash.
And marketing these properties can be difficult when there are tenants in the units.
Often the property cannot be shown unless there is a signed acceptance of an offer Or perhaps one of the units can only be viewed with 24 or more hour notice Buyers should be pre-approved (they normally should anyway but I find some agents show clients to properties … (43 comments)
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technology: What Pops up on YOUR Cell Phone?
- 06/02/08 03:04 AM
The cell phone (smart phone, whatever you use and want to call it) may be THE tech tool of our industry, at least in terms of the number there are in existence. Heck, some folks have more than one. And telephone numbers are running out in some locations because of the sheer number of phones (we are getting a new area code for this very reason).
The real estate business has always thrived on communication between agents and potential clients (and of course that is true of mortgage brokers, escrow folks, inspectors, staging professionals and so on), and despite the advent … (22 comments)
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technology: How Do I Find Out About The Schools When Relocating
- 03/31/08 02:06 AM
Area schools are often one of the major criteria buyers are concerned about when searching for a new Carlsbad home (and elsewhere), and it’s not only those with school-age children.
This is particularly important for those who are relocating and are not familiar with the schools in the community. So how do you find out about the schools in the communities you are thinking about for your new home?
School Digger is a great website which provides a wealth of information for families with school-age children (test scores, ethnic information, student/teacher ratios and other metrics). Schools are ranked by a number … (9 comments)
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technology: Want to Map Your Photos?
- 12/13/07 01:02 PM
I learned about a new application the other day (thanks to Gregg Franklin)...well, new to me, that I thought was pretty cool and I tried it out on my newest listing. Check out the listing blog to view it in action (www.3002lacostaavenue.com) or view it below.
This application is new for me and I am no expert, but I thought I would share it, as I see several ways you could use it.
Map My Pix seems like a pretty cool site - you might want to try it out. And there are some other features that I have not yet explored. I … (51 comments)
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technology: Is It Fake or Real?
- 11/26/07 03:35 PM
This post reminds me a little of the classic commercial - "Is it live or is it Memorex?"
I suppose that's a bit dated; we have so many more options in fakery these days.
Why, there are fake teeth, flowers, fingernails, a variety of prosthetic devices, breasts (well, at least implants), seasonings, colorings, paintings which are forgeries, fireplaces, synthetic fabrics, synthetic stone, cakes, jewelry, gemstones, and so on.
And here in California (and I'm sure elsewhere) we have fake grass appearing more and more frequently at residential properties. Sure, there was the horrible (my opinion) bright green carpet-like stuff many put on their porches, … (36 comments)
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technology: 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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technology: 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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technology: What I know and Like about Text Messaging
- 07/11/07 03:14 AM
Alright, I'll admit it. I am not an expert at this, nor do I expect to be. But I have learned a few things, some of them yesterday during the Mastermind meeting in Orange County (fellow Rainers Lynda Eisenman, Marlene Bridges, Ron Pickett, Heidi Franklin and husband Gregg are members).
Whether you embrace it, accept it, or avoid it, text messaging (TM) is here to stay, in full force among a good percentage of the population, many of whom are buying, or selling, homes. For some it is the preferred mode of communication as opposed to the phone or F2F, and IMO … (39 comments)
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technology: The Buyer Presentation: What To Expect (Part 2 of 2)
- 03/19/07 12:08 PM
In my last post I talked about why you should have a Buyer Presentation and how it can benefit you. Think of it as another hoop to jump through in the process.
Now let's talk about what to expect. What should you find out?
Here are some things to consider:
Experience - years in business; homes sold; experience working with buyers, especially first time buyers (or buyers who are relocating, if that is you)Knowledge of the market - types of homes, different communities and neighborhoods, market conditions, pricing in different areas, inventoryPersonal style - find out how this person likes to work and communicate … (8 comments)
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technology: The Internet, Water, and Our Environment
- 02/24/07 09:01 AM
Sounds like an odd mix of stuff, doesn't it? It's actually a pretty cool idea.
I'm talking about Hydroearth, some new technology that I thought other Rainers would be interested in hearing about. Given California's issues with water conservation, and the massive irrigation systems we have here (I imagine Florida is similar, and some other states as well) this technology seems right on target. (pic to the left is my current "old" system - I plan to look into this technology)
Hydroearth operates a water management system over the Internet. It enables homeowners to modify their irrigation system in accordance with scientifically-based need, … (1 comments)
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technology: Carlsbad REALTOR - How To Search for a Home On-Line
- 12/10/06 02:17 AM
For those of your who are looking for a new Carlsbad home, searching on-line is probably the most efficient strategy you can employ. Recent studies by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in 2005 found that about 79% of buyers were using the Internet to search for a home, and many do this even before they contact any agent. It is likely that this percentage has grown since that study was done. (While my focus here is on Carlsbad, the strategy is the same no matter what area you are looking in).
The advantages to searching on-line are many. Most properties that are … (4 comments)
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Selling investment real estate in some areas has become increasingly challenging due to pricing issues – higher prices and rents not keeping pay to provide sufficient cash flow unless the investor is putting down a large chunk of cash.
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