Archive for the 'Odds and Ends' Category
Merry Christmas From Raleigh
December 19th, 2008 Categories: Odds and Ends
I know. It’s been a while since I wrote anything. In case you’re worried, Raleigh Real Estate Talk isn’t going anywhere. I’m still here and going to be writing more than ever in 2009. But until then…
I thought I would offer my very best wishes to all my readers for Christmas. What makes Christmas special for you? The thing that makes it special for me is the birth of Christ. A celebration of the moment that Love so pure, almost beyond our ability to comprehend, entered our world.
Regardless of my circumstances, the world economy, the state of the real estate market, etc… the celebration of Christ’s birth always causes me to become overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude. I’m glad he came. And I’m grateful for the blessings He pours out each and every day.
Merry Christmas to everyone!
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Saturday Perspectives - The Real News Is Better Than You Think
October 25th, 2008 Categories: Odds and Ends
I hate to sound like a broken record. Actually, I don’t mind so much. But some of you might not be too crazy about it. What the heck. Here goes anyway.
The news is just too darn depressing and I can’t take it any more! I have not watched or listened to the news, or read the newspaper since last Wednesday. And I feel great. Before, when I was hooked on trying to be sure I was up to date with which political candidate said what about the other one, or how bad the economy was, or which company was laying off workers, I was getting pretty depressed.
During my little hiatus from the news, I find that I have been very productive. I’ve definitely had a better attitude. If all goes well, I will even sell a house tomorrow!
Do I feel disconnected? Not really. I run into plenty of people who are tuned in. I’m sure that if anything major happened, someone would tell me. If you’re worried about me, feel free to call or email me if you think I’ve missed something important.
Now don’t think that I’m not keeping up with what is going on in the local Raleigh area real estate scene, just because I have turned off the news. I live and breathe real estate in Raleigh, Cary, and Wake Forest every day. And guess what. The news here isn’t so bad.
For instance, did you know that…
…there are 9,172 homes for sale in Wake County
…there were 1,078 closings last month
…there are 1,503 homes under contract
Hey. That’s not too bad. If you are a buyer, the selection has never been better. And mortgage rates are under 6%. Did I mention that builders are offering deep discounts on finished inventory homes?
If you are a seller, remember that people are buying homes every single day. Lots of them. Yours could be next.
I’ll probably give in at some point and turn the news back on. I hope I can make it until after the election. Until then, I’m just going to enjoy the break and keep on selling houses.
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Friday Funny - Foreclosure Trick Or Treet
October 24th, 2008 Categories: Odds and Ends
Just couldn’t resist posting this. Sometimes it’s good to try to find a little humor in an otherwise not-too-funny situation.
Many thanks to fellow blogger Chad Lariscy at www.TheFrontPorchView.com for the original post on his blog.
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WCPE FM - A Classical Respite From All The Noise
October 22nd, 2008 Categories: Local Businesses, Odds and Ends
Do you feel like there is just too much noise in your world sometimes? I certainly do. And sometimes I just want to turn it off. Take a peaceful little break.
For instance, I have not listened to the news for two days. Let’s just call it doom and gloom overload. I really don’t need another so called expert telling me how bad our economy is, or who they think I should vote for. I especially don’t need to hear or see a panel of experts arguing and talking all over each other trying to convince me that their opinion is the correct one to have.
If what I just described is you, try tuning to WCPE FM at 89.7 on your radio dial. WCPE broadcasts commercial free classical music 24 hours a day right here in Wake Forest. And an added bonus is they do not do the news! That’s right. Just beautiful classical music all day without commercials or news broadcasts. Ahhh, the answer to the noise problem!
In addition to the local Wake Forest, NC broadcast on 89.7 FM, WCPE is heard around the world on their internet stream. You can tune in from their website at www.theclassicalstation.org. I recommend WCPE to all of my clients relocating to Wake Forest, or nearby Raleigh or Cary. And I get lots of thank yous for turning newcomers on to such a great treasure.
Even if classical music isn’t your thing, I would like to encourage you to give WCPE a try. My wife wasn’t particularly interested at first, but WCPE has definitely grown on her. We listen together quite often now. This music allows you to enjoy conversation with someone while filling the background with wonderful soothing sounds. Be warned though, WCPE’s music is highly addictive!
And as you begin to listen, you will be amazed at how many tunes you will recognize. Great classical music has filled the soundtracks of many famous movies and makes up the theme songs of tons of events (the Olympics, etc) and even some commercials (the beef commercial). So you can have all this familiarity without the noise (think commercials) that sometimes accompanies these great musical pieces.
You are probably wondering how WCPE does all this without the support of commercial sponsors. They do it with a wonderful staff of volunteers and the financial contributions of listeners all over the world. Even the voices of the mostly volunteer announcers is soothing and relaxing. If you tune in and find WCPE to be a welcome relief from all the noise that surrounds all of us, please consider supporting what they do. No gift is too small or too large.
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2008 NC State Fair Under Way In Raleigh
October 17th, 2008 Categories: Events, Odds and Ends, Why Move to Raleigh?
| October 16, 2008 | to | October 26, 2008 |
The NC State Fair is officially under way at the fairgrounds in Raleigh. It actually started yesterday, a day early. North Carolina remains a big agriculture state and the State Fair showcases this in a big way.
There are a quite a few events that I tell my clients who are relocating to the Raleigh area not to miss, and this is at the top of the list. The bottom line is, if you’re new to the area, be sure to go to the fair this year. You will learn much about your new state and have some fun too. In addition to the agricultural exhibits, there are nightly concerts, a full blown midway complete with rides and junk food, livestock exhibits and contests, horse shows, and much more.
Here is the nightly lineup for concerts:
Thu Oct 16 - Josh Turner ($22)
Fri Oct 17 - Jason Aldean ($15)
Sat Oct 18 - Toby Mac ($10)
Sun Oct 19 - Antebellum/Heidi Newfield ($8)
Mon Oct 20 - Bobby Flay ($22)
Tue Oct 21 - Bucky Covinton ($5)
Wed Oct 22 - Rodney Adkins ($11.50)
Thu Oct 23 - Mario ($16.50)
Fri Oct 24 - Skillet/Leeland ($8)
Sat Oct 25 - Joe Nichols ($11.50)
Sun Oct 26 - Montgomery Gentry ($31.50)
The concerts are held at the Dorton Arena, a relatively small venue with great acoustics, and the shows start at 7:30 each evening. I assume Bobby Flay will cook something, rather than sing?
Oh yeah… be sure to eat something fried while you are there. That will not be hard to do. Each year the vendors seem to push the possibilities of all things fried just a little further. The hot thing a few years ago was fried candy bars. No that’s not a typo. There’s no telling what fried goodies you might find this time around.
For more info about the 2008 NC State Fair visit www.ncstatefair.org
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A Day Off And Giving To Other Agents
October 14th, 2008 Categories: Odds and Ends
Sorry I missed posting an article yesterday. But it was Columbus Day after all. My wife had the day off and I decided to take it off with her.
Unfortunately I won’t have a real estate related article for you today either. I’m teaching a class on doing business on the internet for any Keller Williams agent who is interested. This happens to be something I know a little about and our market center gives agents the opportunity to share their areas of expertise with other agents in this way.
Teaching is the best way to learn. Even if you know a subject fairly well, I find that there is always some concept or idea that at the very least becomes clearer when I teach.
I’ve been doing serious business on the internet for about four years now. About half of my clients come from the Web and the other half from referrals. I love referrals. But my internet clients are pretty cool too.
I get to met some really great people that I would otherwise not have the opportunity to get to know. Teaching agents does that for me too. I get to know some of my fellow agents in a way that would not be possible outside of teaching classes. And hopefully I can give them something that will help with their businesses too.
I’ll be back bright and early tomorrow. Until then, click through some of the categories that might interest you and check out some past articles you might have missed. And if there is anything in particular you would like to read about here, that you don’t find already written about, drop me a note and I’ll be glad to put an article together for you real soon.
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October Item of Value - Home Remodeling Trends
October 9th, 2008 Categories: Odds and Ends, Selling a Home
So you just bought a fixer-upper and are anxious to get started with a remodel project. Or maybe you’ve decided to make some improvements rather than move. In either case it is very important to understand the impact a remodel job can have on the price of your home, as well as the return on investment you should realistically expect.
Now if you watch the home selling shows on HGTV, you might think there are a whole bunch of remodel projects you can do than will add more to the value of your home that they cost. I’m sorry to be the one to break this to you, but that just isn’t the case, most of the time.
The thing to remember about any remodel project is that it should primarily be for your enjoyment. There are a few that can almost recover their cost when you sell, but none that will bring you more than they cost.
This month’s Item of Value is all about the latest trends in home remodeling. There is a handy chart on the back that lists the cost vs value of the most popular projects. And there are several ideas for creating a new look for under $50.
As part of the full service I provide my clients, I maintain a list of trusted service providers who can help you with anything you need done around your house. When you’re ready to start a home improvement project, give me a call and it will be my pleasure to connect you with a qualified professional who can turn your ideas into finished projects you can be proud of for years to come.
If you’re ready for a change, I’m here to help that dream become a reality!
Download Home Remodeling Trends
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Saturday Perspectives - Having Fun and Giving Back
September 13th, 2008 Categories: North Raleigh, Odds and Ends
Today was a really big day for lots of people. Most importantly, it was a big day for the countless number of families whose lives will be touched by North Raleigh Ministries in the coming year. North Raleigh Ministries is a faith based organization whose mission is simply to make sure no family in our community ever goes hungry.
It was a big day for lots of runners, serious and recreational. They got to compete and have a blast on a beautiful day.
It was a big day for kids who participated in the little guys 100 yard dash. They had a ball!
And it was a big day for a bunch of volunteers who got to see months careful planning and hard work come to fruition. I was one of those most fortunate people.
There is something to be said for doing something for another. It just plain makes you feel good. And it makes you feel good about the people you did it with too.
There is always something worth getting involved in going on in the Raleigh area. The North Hills 5K was held at Trinity Baptist Church today. I’m glad I was blessed with the opportunity to be part of it.
There are things happening every day all over our wonderful area. Things that help others while giving individuals a chance to do something of lasting value with their time. I hope all of you get a chance to be a part of something like this real soon. You’ll be glad you did, And I can guarantee there will be someone, somewhere, who will be grateful you did too.
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Realtor Helps Tree Frog Relocate To Cary NC
July 14th, 2008 Categories: Odds and Ends, Relocation
Yep… I took my real estate relocation business to a whole new level this weekend. I know. You may think I’ve finally gone too far by making the jump from humans to animals. Hey the frog gave me no other choice.
It started out as a normal Saturday morning. I had a 10:00 appointment to show my latest clients some homes in the Cary area. The fact that I was also helping my little green friend relocate became apparent when he jumped on my hood after showing the first home to my clients.
We were driving along at about 35 miles per hour, right in the middle of the street, and to my surprise a little green tree frog suddenly appeared on my hood. The first thing I thought was where the heck did he come from? I mean we were not near any trees, or a wooded area where he could have fell on the hood from a tree. The second thought I had was that he was not going to make it riding on the hood of my car. So, I decided to rescue him.
I pulled off on a side street and my clients and I agreed that the best thing I could do was to coax him onto the stack of MLS sheets I had with me and to take him over to a park area where we had stopped. I got out and did my best to get him on to the MLS sheets. He had another idea. I must have looked a bit like a tree because instead of jumping on the papers, he decided to jump on me.
I looked down and he sort of had his little suction cup fingers hanging on to my shirt. Apparently those things aren’t designed to stick to cloth because he immediately began to slip and started jerking around. I screamed. I think he did too. All this was enough for him to attempt a sideways, twisting back flip right up by my face. I screamed again. By now he was off my shirt, but in all the excitement I didn’t see where he landed.
A lady was walking by the park with her dog. I had to take a moment to assure her that I was not deranged in any way and then I resumed my search for the frog.
I spotted him over by the curb. Well at least he was now headed in the right direction. At this point all I had to do was walk towards him and he gleefully hopped into the grass and started making his way to the park. I think he was glad to be off my shirt (and the hood too) and back on the more natural materials he was accustomed to.
As I walked back to the car, I noticed my clients laughing hysterically. As a matter of fact we laughed together about the frog incident for quite a while. See, buying a house from me is a barrel of fun. What other Realtor includes this level of entertainment?
When I got back in the car and the laughter settled down a bit, I recalled for my clients a story of how there was a little green tree frog, just like the one that appeared on my hood, that hung out at my house in Wake Forest. They immediately speculated that perhaps it was the same frog. If so, the story gets even better. If this was true, then somehow the little guy had managed to hang on to my car while I drove 65 miles per hour down I-540. I knew that the luggage rack on my SUV would come in handy for something.
All this happened on Saturday. The frog at my house has not been seen since.
If you want to buy a new home AND be entertained in the most unpredictable way, then give me a call at 919-602-7000, or send me an email and we can set something up.
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Why Do Realtors Have So Many Phone Numbers?
June 6th, 2008 Categories: Odds and Ends
Hello everyone. Sorry for the lack of articles this week! It has been such a busy week with new listings, closings, and some really great new buyer clients whom I’m helping find their next home. I know, it’s no excuse.
You want to know what really slows me down when things get busy? Having to dial way too many phone numbers to reach one of my fellow agents! As a member of a cooperative real estate community here in Raleigh, I pride myself in being helpful to other agents when they need to know something about one of my client’s homes listed for sale. And for the most part, my associates are very helpful when I need to know something about one of their listings. But I wish someone could explain to me why some of the other Realtors in the Raleigh market need so many phone numbers!!!
With the proliferation of mobile phones, and many agents doing what I have done, which is to simply use my mobile phone as my primary communication device, it is getting a little better. But there are still way too many hold outs from the old school who have 3 or more phone numbers listed on their business cards and websites. This confuses me. Just think what it must do for any potential client trying to reach them.
I recently had the need to contact a very successful agent in our market, so I Googled his name to find his website. Once I found his main page, I was presented with no less than FIVE PHONE NUMBERS! This is insane. I froze in my tracks for a few minutes. I started reading through all the numbers and trying to figure out which one to start with. Did he list them in the order of highest probability that I would actually get him on the phone? He even had a separate number for his voice mail!
After the initial fear of having to dial five phone numbers had abated a bit, I came to my senses and just dialed his mobile number. Of course he didn’t answer. I left a message and got a call back within a few hours. Nice guy. He was very helpful and got the answers to my client’s questions right away. How did such a seemingly successful, smart guy end up with such a confusing hodge podge of phone numbers?
I started to ask if I had messed up his system by leaving a message on his mobile number rather than dialing the one he had clearly marked on his website as voice mail. Does this guy have five different voice mailboxes? Does he check them all?
If you are one of my fellow Raleigh Realtors who reads my blog on a regular basis, and you have more than one phone number, do yourself a favor and get rid of the excess numbers. You only need one!
I have won business from clients precisely because I’m so easy to reach. There’s just one number. And I answer it if at all possible. Don’t make it too hard for someone to get you on the phone to discuss the possibility of buying or selling a home.
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