SeeClickFix.com

Today is Tues 2/8 and we are talking about seeclickfix.com which is a wonderful free service that allows individual and community groups to report non emergency issues at a central location, seeclickfix.  The issue is publicly broad-casted to appropriate government agency for correction or at least notice.  I have had success with garbage, potholes, trees down and electric lines down.  You can also track the reports you/others make and sometimes get a response from seeclickfix.com when the issue is resolved.  Its a great way to engage in your community and let the appropriate people know what where when of issues affecting us.  Please go seeclickfix.com or email me for more details

Staging to Sell

Today we are talking about staging your property to sell.  There a  3 main components that decide whether your property is IN the market or just on the market. They are price, condition and marketing.  Condition is related to staging .  NAR statistics show that a staged property will sell 49% quicker and for 7-11% more money.  That should be enough to compel you to get staged.  Some people think they cant afford a professional stager, I say just have the free consult from the stager and see what happens.  Almost always the price they thought was much less than what is quoted.  At the very least they get some good ideas.  We work with some amazing stagers that are gentle yet firm with suggestions and they make all the difference.  If you want so ideas about staging or references please call me or email with the link on this page.

Wash West Civic

Good morning, today is Wednesday Feb 2, groundhog day..punxsutawney phil did not see his shadow so an early spring is predicted. He also predicted that the Steelers would win the super bowl..

Tuesday is Civic association Tuesday....the other night the wash west civic honored Judy Applebaum for her 10 years of service as president..Judy did amazing work during her tenure the most notable of which is the new street lights you see around the civic. While Judy is no longer president she is staying on the board to continue the street lighting project. Many neighbors, friends, council people and other civic and park leaders joined us in the celebration. And we had cake ACCOLADES to Judy!

The civic is thinking about a farmers market in the spring and we need help, if you are interested please contact me.

Previewing Foreclosures

Good morning to Feb 1, Tuesday, icing streets and sidewalks......today we are going to look at 7 properties that are just in foreclosure, they are not listed for sale yet. We are previewing the properties to see if any of them fit our investors parameters. If they do, our buyers are going to get a deal....do you want a deal?

Previewing Properties

I preview 5 properties a day for a few reason.  First is that this is a vital aspect of lead generation at Keller Williams Realty. It is one part of the 10-5-15-5 challenge in Camp 4:4:3.  This challenge outlines how to build a database worth of business and everyone knows that your database IS your business. 10-5-15-5 is as follows: collect 10 business cards, make 5 phone calls, send 15 notes/letters and preview 5 homes every week day.  If you were like me you are thinking this sounds like too much work...who would do such a thing? Well as it turns out, I thought the same things in the beginning of my real estate career I had nothing to do all day except make objections to anything that would get me business.  I decided that I would build a real estate career on my own, not taking any direction or instruction from anyone.  That got me $0.00, zero, nada, zilch in 6 months.  No listings, no leads, no nothing.  Then I decided to start applying some of this 10-5-15-5 challenge and viola, it worked, don't you hate when that happens? Of course like any good Realtor, as soon as something starts working I immediately stop doing it.  And again I ended up with no business.  It was a roller coaster ride, lots of business, no business.  I was getting sick to my stomach form all the up and down motion throughout the year. And besides, how would I get 10 business cards a day..that's just stupid......and who writes thank you notes these days? And who exactly was I supposed to call?  Stupid stupid stupid.  Then I watched a co-worker doing all these things and his business was soaring...SOARING...I finally got sick of him doing so well.  I had to have a little contest in my head..just try to get the business cards.  Guess what?.....its no where near as hard/scary/stupid as I thought.  People started saying, oh he's the guy that writes those thank you notes.  I was starting to stand out....among a city with over 2000 agents.  I started to attract business.....again, I was a little peeved that the system that was laid out in front of me was working...but you simply cannot argue with the results.   But I digress....
I preview the properties for the primary reason of getting to know the inventory....sure the internet is great and we even tell clients that the Internet is the starting ground for all realty searches.  But on the ground, in the neighborhood, touching and feeling the product..there is nothing like it.  I get a feel for the street, the area, the neighborhood, and see changes as they occur.  I get to feel connected and in the know. These things in and of themselves would be enough to get out there. And I especially love the people I get to meet, neighbors, contractors, builders, developers, grocery store owners, These people all have information about the area that can be vital either as a lead or to impart to clients.  Maybe a new school is being built or a church or a supermarket.  But the greatest reason is that the act of doing something like previewing properties was the push that I needed in the beginning of my career that made me feel like I was actually doing a tangible act to further my career.  The side effects of all the other things that I just wrote about were so great that I just keep doing it...except when it works then I stop doing it all.