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Social Networking the Old Fashioned Way - Get out and walk around your town!

By
Real Estate Agent with Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers HRE# 58089 - RS

walking up Baldwin Ave in Paia Maui Hawaii

 

Social Networking at Street Level - Paia Maui HI

Sometimes it's good to get out and walk about your town.  Yesterday I was in our Paia Maui office and decided to walk up to the Post Office to check the mail, even though it was hot and sunny and I could have cruised up in air conditioned comfort (but how lazy is that?).

I'm glad I did.  I ran into a friend who is a property manager and learned of a cute home coming up for rent in the North Shore Village subdivision - at a good price too.  I'll keep that in mind for any clients who are looking for a nice 3 bedroom home to rent in Paia, for $1,900/month.

I noticed a new coffee shop has opened, actually HAZ BEANZ relocated from a few doors down.  They have a much bigger space now, and will soon be offering free wi-fi internet access.  This is always popular in Paia.  I had a chance to schmooze with the counter person and give her my card and let her know I'll be blogging about their new location soon.  "Brilliant" she said!

On my way back I popped into Mana Foods for a couple of spring rolls and bumped into another Realtor I know.  She told me about her upcoming price reduction on a really sweet house and ohana in Makawao - only $599,000!  I had shown it to a client and I'll pass it on that the seller is more motivated... keep her updated.  I informed her of my fresh new listing, before it was even entered into our Maui MLS system.  We both benefit from the chance encounter.

I noticed plenty of smiling tourists walking about town, and could have started a conversation with any one of them, inquiring about their melting gelatos, or where they might have had their lunch.  Today I chose not to, but what a good opportunity to meet people who are visiting and will possibly end up here when they retire.

So take a break from the keyboard, get out there and mingle - you'll get some hot tips about other properties for sale or rent, see some things to blog about, and get some exercise too.  What's wrong with that?

the Hunter

When  buying a home on Maui, please contact a North Shore Maui Realtor - Georgina M. Hunter R(S)

SEARCH MAUI LISTINGS ~ EMAIL ~ http://www.eastmaui.com/ ~ 808 283-0635

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Comments (64)

Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Ellie - You got it, thanks for coming by.

Sharon - I almost always post to Localism, thanks!

Apr 18, 2008 06:40 PM
A S
Salt Lake City, UT

Georgina,

 

You couldn't be more correct!  Get to know your neighborhood and the people in it.  Funny story, I listed and sold a neighbors home in just 20 days because of my contact with my neighborhood   A neighbor across the street and two houses down from me has lived there for 5 years and I never got to know them, put there home up FSBO and then listed with a competitor. My fault for never getting to know them and they were right aross the street! 

Apr 19, 2008 01:51 AM
Jackie - computer-training-atlanta.com
770.498.7333 - Atlanta, GA
Learn to leverage technology to get more done.
Georgina - Fresh air, exercise, human interaction? What's not to love about the "real" social networking. Great post!
Apr 19, 2008 10:47 AM
Christy Powers
Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners - Pooler, GA
Pooler, Savannah Real Estate Agent
I agree, sometimes the fingers need to stop doing the walking! hehe. It's a nice refreshing break to get out into the land of the living and not electronic.
Apr 19, 2008 11:35 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

I can't keep up with the responses - THANKS EVERYONE for coming by and commenting!  I had no idea this would connect with so many of you.         (I'm trying to get some work done today)

Apr 19, 2008 12:45 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info
Katerina - Paia is north of Kihei and east of Lahaina - it's just about 10 miles east of the main airport and town, along the Hana Highway.  It is a historic town that is experiencing a revival.
Apr 19, 2008 09:43 PM
Frank Schulte-Ladbeck
Frank Schulte-Ladbeck Professional Real Estate Inspections - Houston, TX
Even though Houston is not a friendly city for walking, I do walk quite a bit around my neighborhood. I do not know why, but my son was inspired to create a survey at school with another friend. At dinner, he told us with stark amazement that most people do not know their neighbors. My wife told him that he should feel lucky.
Apr 19, 2008 10:58 PM
Debra Kukulski, Broker Associate
RE/MAX Suburban - Cary, IL
SRES;SFR,CDPE;GRI;ABR;e-PRO Realtor, Northern IL
Georgina, it is amazing how much you see when you are not driving a car!  Hot and sunny weather sure sounds great!
Apr 20, 2008 12:12 AM
Larry Brewer - Benchmark Realty llc
Benchmark Realty LLc - Nashville, TN
I like it. Now that weather is better, I'll be doing some walking myself.
Apr 20, 2008 02:34 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Frank - wow that's a sad result... that's what happens when you put high walls around the yard of your air conditioned homes.  We have become isolated inside, with all the conveniences of "modern" life.  On the other hand, I wish I didn't know some of my neighbors.... hahaha.

Debra - Hot and sunny is wonderful

Larry - Don't forget to take your camera with you.

Apr 20, 2008 10:37 AM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals
And here I always walk in the forest - no people just trees and the dogs. A Haz Beanz at about the half way point would be nice, tho.
Apr 20, 2008 04:11 PM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker

It IS great to get out and just walk an area.  You never know who you'll meet or what you'll see and you can refresh those brain cells with a break from the virtual world we tend to get lost in!

Apr 21, 2008 02:07 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Kathleen - I like to walk in the country too, but don't meet many people on the way.

Lisa - I have been taking a break, now that spring is here and we have a garden started.

Apr 21, 2008 04:26 PM
Alex Mordas
EarthSTEPS - Tallahassee, FL
Green Building Consultant

Hi Georgina,

This is definitely good advice..! Not only is it the easiest way to get eye to eye, face to face contact, but it also gets you out and about and feeling apart of the community. thanks for the post. 

Apr 22, 2008 03:40 PM
Carol Lee
Dilbeck Real Estate - Oak Park, CA
Realtor - Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake CA Homes
I love to walk my neighborhood, and meet lots of people.  I walk with my dog, and we are quite a sight- I am on the petite side, and Gus is a huge, 120 pound rottweiler- we make quite a sight!  And he is very friendly, and always wants to say hello to eveyone!
Apr 22, 2008 03:56 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Alex - You're welcome - I hope it will inspire you to get out into the fresh air too.

Carol - I bet you can meet some buyers and sellers that way... especially other dog lovers.

Apr 23, 2008 02:48 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro
Georgina, It sounds like you had a wonderful walking tour.  That is hard to do where we live as everything is spread out.  One thing we have a lot of is land. 
Apr 24, 2008 04:15 PM
Danny Baize
Prudential Indiana Realty Group - Indianapolis, IN

Couldn' agree more. Most of us probably don't just get out wander enough. The author Kurt Vonnegut used to type his manuscripts and hand deliver them to the post office, he could e-mail or have them picked up but said standing in line helped him find things to write about.

There is a nice book title Hello, My Name is Scott. The short version is Scott wears a simple name tag the kind you will see at social gatherings. The author claims to meet 3 new people a day this way. I have done this and he is correct, excuse me I must go put on my tag and go out for a while.

Apr 25, 2008 08:39 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Marchel - Paia is so small I could walk around very quickly, especially if I avoid going into any of the cute boutiques.

Danny - that sounds like a good idea - put yourself right out there and be available.

Apr 26, 2008 07:31 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Is it wrong to boost your own post up to the top?  Please let me know if it is.

May 25, 2008 01:24 PM