Aim at Everything, Hit Nothing!   Have you tried everything you know to do, and your business still isn't working enough to support you in the style to which you would like to become accustomed?  If so, go back to the beginning of this sentence and reread 'have you tried everything'. I've become convinced over the years that practically every single idea out there works....if you give it time.  Being human in the years 2000, however, means try something once or twice then move on. Another way to think of this is "aim directly at your target and you are most assured of hitting it'.  Over and over and over.       Written by Randy Morrow, Realtor in Arlington, VA http://RANDYMORROW.INFO           http://ArlingtonRealEstateGuide.com 07/11/2011

This evening, a visiting fox caught us by surprise!  My mother and I were doing a skype call to my soon-to-be 3 year old grandson when out of the corner of my vision, I saw a red streak across the backyard. On second look, I focused in on a very small and thin brownish red fox as he climbed up the stairs to my mother's back patio. For over 15 minutes he rested, scratched and groomed himself. I grabbed my camera, a Nikon 3000, and shot a few photographs through the back door. Shortly thereafter, he scampered to the neighbor's yard.  This is Arlington, Virginia, a mile from the Pentagon!     07/08/2011

Watch Out for the Footsteps You Leave. "We will be known forever by the tracks we leave." --Native American Proverb   Many people do not realize, or care, that their actions affect other people more than realized.  Everyone we meet in life is touched by us in large and small ways.  Perhaps that one chance meeting is the one time you make such an impression on them that they change for the better.  Or, for the worse.   No, you cannot walk through life thinking your actions affect only you.               Written by Randy Morrow, Realtor in Arlington, VA  http://ArlingtonRealEstateGuide.com   and http://RANDYMORROW.INFO 07/05/2011

The real estate market here in Northern Virginia is doing pretty well.  Median Home sales prices in Northern Virginia are up over last year 7%.  However, there are still isolated incidents of specific sellers being sabotaged by a neighbor/seller who is not clever enough to see that if you just stage your house and make minor improvements, then market it well, you can sell your home for market value and don't need to slash the price 10% in less than one month. This is happening to some of my listings right now.   There are comparable properties that are slashing their prices drastically with not that many days on the market.  There are recent sold comps that are higher.  These are not short sales, not distressed properties.    They have been on the market less than one month.  As a selle... 06/30/2011

Success is Built on Relationships.   Over the years I heard many people say "Work harder" if you want to get ahead.  As time and experience                                        have show me, working harder just isn't near enough.  Quite often you need to work smarter, be more efficient. BUT (and this is a huge BUT, no pun intended) Relationship Building is what you should always be working hard at.                   Constant and continuous relationship building.  A relationship with someone is that crack in the door that allows you                          to get inside and meet the decision makers. And one last thing:  You Can NEVER Meet Enough People!!!! 06/29/2011

I'm Going to Work AND Play with FERVOR!   What are you doing this summer?  Tell you what I'm going to do....I'm going to work like a madman to see that I keep the income coming in.  I'm going to play like a madman to see that I keep my fervor and my family happy and balanced!   Okay, Randy, just how are you going to do that?  My wife and I are going to sit down this saturday with a calendar.  We are going to write in the dates where something HAS to be done.  Then we are going to plan at least two 3-5 day vacations--one immediately and one toward the end of the summer.  In between, we will plan at least one fun activity each weekend.   The business will continue to be treated like a business.  Plans will not be dropped.  I have a realtor I trust with whom I trade coverages.   YEP, IT'S ... 06/28/2011

Not once, but twice in this past week, the media came my way asking for information about the real estate market. Not to toot my own horn (okay, I am tooting my own horn, but sometimes it is warranted), but this has become a regular occurrence over the last several years. Take a look at my Press Page to view all the articles in local and national media outlets as well as watch clips of my television appearances. Last week, I was interviewed in person by Nicholas (Nick) Horrock at my office. He's now a reporter with the Connection Newspapers, a string of local papers covering various cities and towns throughout Northern Virginia. We spent about half an hour discussing Northern Virginia real estate. During the conversation I also learned that Nick used to cover the White House, had flown ... 06/25/2011

I know the subject of feedback from showings has been discussed and debated ad nauseum, but I have to get a few more examples off my chest. Please take me off your auto email showing request service if we have had a phone conversation about your listing!   Please don't write me a personal email asking for feedback when we had a phone conversation a few days ago in which I gave you candid, helpful feedback. Please don't call me for feedback when I've already filled out your auto email feedback request. In short, if I gave you feedback, quit stalking me already!  I'll call you if we are writing.   06/24/2011

Really, How Bad is the Economy?  Perspective!   Let's keep things in perspective..............   The Great Depression of the 1930's is even scarier in statistics than in legend. Industrial production fell by 45% between 1929 and 1932. Homebuilding dropped by 80%. 1,000 of the nation's 25,000 banks failed. US GDP fell by 30%. On “Black Tuesday,” October 29, 1929, the market lost $14 billion, making the loss for that week an astounding $30 billion. This was ten times more than the annual federal budget and far more than the U.S. had spent in WWI.e Thirty billion dollars would be equivalent to $377,587,032,770.41 today.i Scholars estimate that nearly 50% of children during the Great Depression did not have adequate food, shelter, or medical care. Many suffered rickets.g THINGS DON'T LOOK S... 06/22/2011

I am currently prepping an awesome new listing to come on the market this weekend.  The clients have been absolute A + gold star sellers.  They did everything I asked them to do for staging, turned down my offers to run around and do it for them, agreed with me on pricing and showing instructions.   Did not complain and got it done fast.  Showing instructions could have been a big deal with them as they have a toddler who goes to bed early.  We talked about how to handle this and I said you really never should turn down a showing.  I am a mom, and I know the rule you never wake a sleeping baby too, but selling your home is all about short term sacrifice for long term goals.     We agreed she would let people come past the baby's bedtime, but she'd just tell them that the baby was asleep... 06/21/2011

June 20 - ShipShape Sells! Do your sellers know that buyers have the upper hand in this market? Especially among move-up buyers, willingness to purchase a fixer upper has been reduced to a slim margin of the market. That means the homes that sell will be those in shipshape condition. A recent KW Research study revealed that 49% of move-up buyers bought a home in excellent condition with another 40% going for good condition. The most common updates among sellers: ·         Paint – 44% ·         Flooring – 25% ·         Lighting Fixtures – 20% How much did they spend? Half of sellers spent at least $100 on updates in preparation to sell and a quarter of sellers spent at least $2,000.   http://RANDYMORROW.INFO            http://ArlingtonRealEstateGuide.com   Randy Morrow Arlington VA 06/20/2011

Sellers, if your house is on the market and you have not gotten any offers for a few months, there are things you need to do to keep it current, fresh and continue to encourage an offer.    1)   Update the photos.  Sometimes listings pass between seasons.  If you listed in February and are still on the market and there's snow in your pictures, ask your agent to take new ones.  Everything looks better in bloom.  Even a condo surely has some outdoor shots that will add some green and life to your house and broaden its appeal. 2) Lower the price.   This is obvious, but it is a hard reality to grasp.  There are only so many things to do to spur interest in a house, and lowering the price makes it look better. 3)  Tweak the MLS remarks.  Owners, you can't read the agent remarks online, so as... 06/19/2011

Focus and Purpose Are a Powerful Combination     Focus and purpose Effort alone does not create achievement. Somebody can put forth a lifetime of effort and not have much to show for it. What counts is focused effort in the service of a meaningful purpose. Get that, and you’re really getting somewhere. Just being busy is not going to make you successful. Instead of merely using up time, find a way to create real, desirable value with the time you have available. Don’t comfort yourself with being aimlessly busy. Challenge yourself to get meaningful results from your time and effort. Outstanding achievement and disappointing mediocrity are both built from the same twenty-four hours in each day. The difference is not one of time or even effort, but of focus and authentic purpose. As long a... 06/18/2011

Photo GalleryDescriptionSpacious, Open floor plan, Beautiful Hardwoods, Exposed Beams, Built-ins, Fireplace, SS Appl., Solid Wood Kit. Cabinets, Granite counters, Main Fl Mstr, Spa Bath, 2 Mstr., Sunroom, Library, Rec.rm, Exer.rm, Sep.Laundry & Mud rm. 3 Zoned w/Passive Solar, Dual W/H. Extra Storage at every turn! Overlooking lush gardens, scenic foliage, & stone patio. This home has it all! A must see! FeaturesBedrooms: 5Bathrooms: 4Year Built: 1952Subdivision: Bellevue ForestLot Size: 13953Garage Size: 1School District: YorktownSquare Footage: 1872Agent Name: Jane JensenBroker: Century 21 New MillenniumMLS #: AR7576177Location3134 Pollard St. Arlington VA 22207Powered by vFlyer.comvFlyer Id: 52455000 06/17/2011

There are many reasons to buy and sell homes.  The reasons vary individual by individual, it could be due to being overextending and facing a short sale or foreclosure, children have grown up and it is time to downsize or one of many other reasons.  Below are some of the most common reasons people sell in the market today. 1.       Job relocation.  People change jobs for a better one or their job gets transferred to another city or state thus selling one’s home is necessary.  2.       Downsizing.   Children have grown up and moved away, thus the three bedroom (+)  house is just too big for one’s current lifestyle or needs. 3.       Job loss.  Rather than get into a short sale or foreclosure it is better to sell than to fall behind in payments and have that negatively affect your credit ... 06/16/2011

I shun QR codes.  I admit it.  I think they are silly.  I think they are over used and over hyped on Active Rain and other Real Estate forums.  I've talked to many friends/clients/prospective buyers and sellers about them and most just get a blank stare when I bring them up.  Once I explain what they are I don't hear passion or excitement, just more of like a 'eh, okay?  Can we be over teched and gadgeted up?  I think so.  Jon Stewart had a fantastic rant last night on how CNN was encouraging the use of them during the Republican Debate and how maybe you shoud NOT draw viewers away from your show to get online.     The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10cIndecision 2012 - Second Republican Debatewww.thedailyshow.comDaily Show Full EpisodesPolitical Humor & Satire BlogThe Dai... 06/15/2011

   Ladies and Gentlemen, this is just part of what we do for the community!  What a great office of which to be a part.  randy  morrow                                                The Keller Williams Arlington real estate office was honored twice this month for its extraordinary efforts to help the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) pay off the mortgage on its distribution center and warehouse. On June 1, Rep. James Moran, D-VA, went to the floor of the House of Representatives to praise the Keller Williams agents’ fund raising for AFAC’s Permanent Home Campaign. “No community partner has worked as tirelessly on this effort as the Community Outreach Committee of Keller Williams, Arlington,” Moran said. He noted that the KW office has become the largest donor to the food assistanc... 06/15/2011

Get Over It.   How many of you have gone to someone with a problem, usually personal, and their advice was 'just get over it'!!  Thanks, problem solved!!! However, there is a small grain of truth in the statement.  We do have to get over; or better yet, get past it and move forward.  The world is moving and we have no choice.   Regardless, we won't be going back to those people for advice, will we????     06/14/2011

You will hear "bad news" regarding real estate every where you turn these days, because the national news media focuses on national sales figures.  National sales figures for real estate are pretty much an oxymoron - all real estate is local.  Yes, you've heard it a thousand times, but it does not stop reporters from glomming on to misleading indices like Case-Schiller and convincing us that real estate nationwide is bad.  MRIS just wrote a great blog article on why. Why is this a problem?  Many reasons, one big one that MRIS did not mention is that psychology is important.  Emotions rule the mind when convinced that things are "bad." It gives home buyers in a market like Arlington, Virginia, the false impression that they are in the driver's seat.  It gives would-be sellers pause about... 06/12/2011

It Was Just Cancer, Not Divorce! Posted on June 11, 2011 by Randy Morrow This is a letter I wrote a couple of years ago to the head of my company.  I thought it worthy for you to read it….for perspective.  I’m no heroic figure; but I’ve survived a vicious, long drawn divorce; a disgusting divorce; massive depression and panic attacks; horrible business downturns; and other things. But here is what I want you to take away from this:  We (You & I) are fighters and survivors.  We take these things in stride and we keep our eyes on improving ourselves and our lives.  WE DON’T QUIT!! fyi….today I have a thriving business; wonderful marriage; and cancer-free.  I never quit. (    by the way.....I found fighting cancer to be 10 times easier than divorce!!)   IT’S JUST CANCER Hello Gary, I want ... 06/11/2011