suburb: Open houses, do they work?
- 06/25/08 02:24 PM
They have for me! A few minutes ago I was answering that blog question and I felt my answer was informational enough to post. I sold 2 houses last year at my own open houses. One of them, was a lovely home and the seller called 10 min before I was leaving and we had had no lookers. Five minutes later she was knocking at the back door. I didn't answer so she banged louder. I excused myself from the people looking at the house and let her in and told her I had a customer there.They bought the house. I had … (17 comments)
suburb: Did you give away a car today?
- 06/03/08 07:01 AM
When you price a home, you should try your best to price it correctly from the outset! When we ask someone for a price reduction very often we think of it as a percentage of the sale. A $20,000 reduction is only 5% off the selling price of a home for $400,000. BUT, $20,000 is the price of a modest new car today! Just be aware, when you are negotiating that it's not just 5% to a real estate seller, it is real money. I am not saying that you don't sometimes have to recommend price reductions in listings and in negotiations, … (15 comments)
suburb: What do you love about Active Rain?
- 05/29/08 09:26 AM
Things I love about Active Rain... The Community Spirit, all the friendly, helpful people are amazing. The fact that you can get to know a little about agents from other areas so you can refer buyers and sellers to them. The technology and Internet information. Much of my information traditionally came from involvement with the local and state Board of Realtors. The information here is up to the minute and presented in a clear and fun manner. The widgets, learning what they do and using them.… Seeing how people work. What is important to them how they network and how they … (12 comments)
suburb: Memorial Day
- 05/23/08 01:43 PM
According to Wikipedia... This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action. It was originally known as Decoration Day. PLEASE.... DURING YOUR HOLIDAY WEEKEND, TALK TO YOUR KIDS AND FAMILIES, AT LEAST MENTION THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUGHT & DIED FOR OUR COUNTRY. THEY MATTER. If you know a vet thank him. If you know family members of a vet … (3 comments)
suburb: Follow the market...or sell!
- 05/21/08 06:19 AM
The people who say a house is worth what someone will pay for it are really clued in to the market.The newspapers, the internet, TV, all the media have been beating up Real Estate for the past year or two.The prices went too far, too fast. There is a nationwide price correction going on.Some say Realtors want to make a fast buck. The truth is Realtors would like you to sell your house and have nice things to say about them and buy and sell through them again and refer people to them because they were good.One of the biggest parts … (8 comments)
suburb: New York City or Close By...White Plains
- 05/19/08 03:20 PM
Westchester, the secret to an easy life if you are working in NYC. I was talking to a prominent New York City broker the other night and we were talking about the market and pricing and comparisons. We talked about how expensive it is in NYC right now and I mentioned that people could live an easier life by moving to Westchester County, especially with todays prices. If you have children Westchester County is a terrific choice. As a proud native of New York City and a Westchester resident for over 20 years the advantages to both are obvious to me. … (2 comments)
suburb: Please welcome Roseann Paggiotta Century-21 Mancuso
- 05/15/08 12:15 PM
Please welcome Roseann Paggiotta to Active Rain. An experienced Broker Manager and a member of our Board of Directors. Roseann is a personal friend as well. I have been lucky enough to have been on the Board of Realtors or the Board of the MLS here for many years so I have met many wonderful people, including Roseann. All the best! http://www.century21mancuso.com/rpaggiotta … (14 comments)
suburb: A great day... Hang in there and it can happen for you!
- 05/15/08 10:39 AM
I have to admit, I have been a little goofy since I started on Active Rain. It has brought a lot of enthusiasm back to Real Estate for me. Having only been on Active rain for about a month I still consider myself a NEWBIE! There is so much great information and the people here are AMAZING! My week didn't start great, I lost a deal earlier this week that was supposed to close in JUNE! So I sign on today and I have my first FEATURED POST! Very Cool! Then I get back to my office and find out my deal … (15 comments)
suburb: Make time for yourself! or Burnout...
- 05/15/08 08:39 AM
You need to schedule time for yourself. As a Realtor people expect you to be at their beck and call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Write down on your calendar 1 or 2 days off a week. If someone says I would like to make an appointment on Tuesday and that is your day off, you say, "I am sorry, I am totally booked on Tuesday, How is Wednesday or Friday." They might say oh, couldn't you cancel someone and take me instead. Your answer: "I would never do that to you, I would hope that you wouln't … (3 comments)
As I read the responses I was seeing that in some areas they are really effective and some areas they don't seem to be. An idea came to me that might help your business in terms of open houses in a different way. Try doing the open house as a social function. Do all the things you would ordinarily do for an open house. Signs, Newspaper ads, internet ads etc. Then do something a little different. Invite 10 neighbors to the Open house for lemonade and … (12 comments)
If you can make it now you'll make it any time! It is much harder to start in an easy market and go into a difficult market, than to start in a hard market and go into an easy market. I opened my office in October of 1987, twelve days after the stockmarket crash and the year many disadvantageous tax law changes came into effect. It was TOUGH! but I was new, ignorant and enthusiastic. Looking back, I learned a tremendous amount … (19 comments)
suburb: Are you Involved or do you just complain?
- 05/12/08 06:17 AM
Committees, Board Meetings, even open meetings at your local Board of Realtors, are you there supporting, contributing and learning or do you just complain about those people, what are they doing now? It has been my privilege and pleasure to be involved with my local board for over 20 years and the NYS Associationn of Realtors for several years. It is so interesting to me that the Boards are always looking for new blood. Conversely, many agents not involved often say it is an "Old Boy's Club" that doesn't listen or doesn't want new blood. The first time I got involved, … (4 comments)
suburb: Please welcome Leah Caro to Active Rain
- 05/12/08 05:31 AM
Leah Caro is owner broker at Bronxville Ley Realty. She is currently Vice President for the Westchester County Board of Realtors. She is one of those great people that I had the privilege of meeting in the past couple of years through the Board of Realtors. She has an independent brokerage in Bronxville, NY. I'm sure that she will do great here at Active Rain, both getting information and giving us the benefit of her great Real Estate experiences. Welcom Leah! … (22 comments)
suburb: Is this your first Mother's Day without your Mom?
- 05/11/08 06:42 PM
If it was, my heart goes out to you. I lost one of my best friends, my mom 16 years ago, she died the end of May in 1992. She was one of the first people I would call when something good or bad happened to me. A lot of water under the bridge in 16 years. I would hope that she would be proud of me. I learned a lot from my mom. Not just the everyday stuff. She knew people well. She was kind, knew how to talk to anyone. She had a great sense of humor. She had … (7 comments)
suburb: Back to the basics?
- 05/09/08 09:18 AM
If you are a little slower than you would like to be in real estate it may be time to go back to the basics. 1) Send out poscards. Just listed, just sold. Happy holiday, change your clock (Cheap easy get your name out there.) I hate to tell you this, but if you aren't going to send them at least 8-10 times a year they probably won't work unless you get very lucky. 2) Spend a day calling all your friends and relatives, see how they are, mention a new listing in your area that you like so you can gently … (11 comments)
suburb: Kindness in Real Estate?
- 05/07/08 02:30 PM
Look around - Some of the kindest people in Real Estate are on Active Rain. I just read Melody Botting's post "Open the door then get the heck out of the way!" It made me think about kindness in general in Real Estate. My feeling is that being kind to people as a regular habit in Real Estate makes sense in both a humane and a practical sense. Most of the time it really isn't that difficult to be kind. When a client isn't feeling well or is having a bad day, sometimes a phone call can make a huge difference. Hi, I heard you … (7 comments)
suburb: Tips for Sellers - Cheap-Easy ways for Sellers to Help Their house look better and sell more easily.
- 05/03/08 06:47 AM
1) Light & Bright. Open or Remove the Drapes. Higher wattage lightbulbs. All the lights on when the house is being shown. In 25 years I have only had 3-4 people ask that the lights be turned off to see the natural light. 2) Get rid of the clutter. This one makes the house look better and helps prepare the seller for theo move. 3) Put everything you aren't using now in boxes. Even the Off season clothes, (Makes your closets look bigger) Have a tag sale or Donate the useful things you don't want anymore. Store them in the attic or the garage or the basement. … (16 comments)
suburb: Valhalla, NY Home of the Kensico Dam.
- 04/29/08 08:31 AM
The name Valhalla comes from Norse Mythology. It means The Hall of the Chosen or Slain Warriors. A Heaven-like place. Valhalla NY enjoys a beautiful topograpy with lovely hills and wonderful homes. Quite appropriately there are 2 beautiful cemeteries in Valhalla, Kensico Cemetery with Sharon Gardens and Gate of Heaven Cemetery. The hamlet of Valhalla is about 28 Miles North of Times Square in Manhattan. There is a train station so it is about 35 Min. from Grand Central Station in NYC in the town of Mount Pleasant. The population is about 5,500. Kensico Dam is one of the most famous features in … (0 comments)
suburb: Elmsford A small yet very convenient village.
- 04/23/08 10:36 AM
Elmsford is 1.1 Square mile village with less than 5000 residents. Located in the Town of Greenburgh in Westchester County it is about 25 Miles north of Grand Central Station in NYC, about half way between White Plains and Tarrytown. There is plenty of shopping and nightlife along rte 119 and rte 9, as well as the proximity to White Plains and NYC, With a Dinner theatre, SAMS Club A multiplex theater and all kinds of restaurants and fast foods and several diners there are plenty of places to go out to eat and socialize. There is a large animal shelter. The convenience of this village is amazing, … (3 comments)
They have for me!
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