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Carlsbad, NM Real Estate News

By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
Tornados everywhere. Here are a few photo's of some of the damage to the Little Rock Air Force Base. With all the damage, it's hard to imagine the feelings of those who lost their homes. I hope their home owners policies were paid up. I want to send out a "Prayer of hope" to the Joplin Mo. families that have lost someone in the latest storms and tornadoes. I know help is there as they search for love ones still missing. I know all members of Active Rain are prating for you all involved in the recent storms across America.
Comments 20
By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
Buying a home, (a poem on Active Rain)   It was a warm summers evening When the wife and I started believing We could now own our own abode Three bedroom 2 bath and a little more We don't need too much But we do need room for the "hutch" So Monday morning nice and early, we started Owning our own home, we felt light hearted We looked everywhere even on the net To see what type of house we could get I talked to the bank and they told me  I need to get qualified with a "PRE" So I got them all the numbers  And found out I had a blunder My credit was "weak". What are we to do We are good people, were no fools The banker said not to worry He could help us out, in a hurry We found a Realtor with all the experience we needed A well dressed man with pants that were pleated With his help we got ...
Comments 20
By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
First time home buyers take note. There are a lot of "incentives out there for the "first time home buyers". The first thing to take note on is you don't have to actually be a first time home buyer. By this I mean that if you have not owned a home in the past "three years" then you can qualify for a                               "first time home buyer incentives". The good thing is that there is even down payment assistance available for the first time home buyers. Contact your local Realtor offices and see how you can get these incentive for your advantage and let the local Realtors help you make your home ownership come true. And when you do decide to buy a home. Don't forget to get a "Home Inspection". This is for your own peace of mind and to help you make the right decision for the...
Comments 12
By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
I was at the gas station yesterday when a man came up to the truck and asked if he could               "borrow a dollar". I'm thinking about "yeah right" he probably want to but beer with it. So I asked "If I give you a dollar, what are you going to buy with it"? His reply was " I'm a little short to get my daughter a sandwich to eat", "Your daughter"? "yes" then he pointed back to the side of the store where she was sitting. Now this man had looked like he was in need of a bath and a lot of "other things" too. I asked "Where do you live" He said around the corner with his mom. I told him to "wait there and I would get some change".   I went inside and purchased three sandwiches and three drinks. I gave them to the man an told him to give one to his mother as well. As if here was a "par...
Comments 26
By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
Subscriptions on Active Rain. There are 207,395 members on Active rain A place to blog, a place to play Members are from far and wide Don't come here if you want to hide With members here from coast to coast You can list a home or post about a goat If you subscribe to me and my posts You can rest assured I won't gloat I have info. you may need to read I will keep you informed about inspection needs So subscribe to my blog, you can add me I even post about some funny things  
Comments 13
By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
Finding the time. With all there is to do everyday, it's hard to "find time" to add a couple new things to do. I go to bed about 10:30 and am up at four AM. But even trimming the amount of sleep i get still doesnt "find time" to do what I need to get done in a day. My #1 priority is to follow Craig's advice on how to post pictures. I have been inspecting a long time but there is just some things that seem to be "out of reach". I've been inspecting for a nationwide company, now they want to add major responsibilities to my "portfolio".    They want me to work for them "full time". I still would be able to service the "local market", but the challenge is a good one. And I'm always up for a challenge. Any "advice" for the "perplexed" on what to do? Thank's Clint McKie 
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By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
Smoke detectors HMM. These little life savers are often overlooked when you show a home. Even when we live in a home we don't pay that much attention to them. That "little beep from time to time" is telling you that you need to "replace the batteries". These are the most important things for safety in the home. Next time when "showing a home", look for the smoke detectors. They have and will continue to save lives. Even the "hard wired units" need to have the batteries replaced from time to time.  So change those batteries and check the next home to see if the smoke detectors are in place. Have a wonderful day.    
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By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
Are you a member of Active Rain The "other sites" can be such a pain With advice here for all to see You can list a home, or talk to me From coast to coast the members are  Some members local, some from afar Like James with his words and Roy with his flowers Barbara in Texas by Dallas with all it's towers I like Rob's pictures from the past He's from Tennessee, and brings memories back There's Toni with her recipe's, Gina with her stats Wayne with his "Quote of the day" This is why I am a member Active Rain If you have a question ask it, if you have an answer leave it I like the answers that have little "quip it's" If I didn't mention you, don't get offended It's five am, and this needs to be ended 
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By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
How much time do you spend on Active Rain? I think this is a very good question. There are bloggers that have a numerous amount of listings they add to their posting. Then there are members like me that try to post something at least a couple times a week. Right now I am into the first week of the "May challenge for 31 days". This means I need to post "something for 31 straight days". It seems like a monumental task. But in all reality, It can be done. I spend about 2-2.5 hours a day on Active Rain. I leave comments on the "subscribers list", and I check out the rest of the blogs. How far back in the blogs do you go to just "keep looking"? As you know early in the morning the posts get "pushed lower and lower with every new post. That's why we need to subscibe to others we feel are new ...
Comments 12
By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
Try a little simplicity. I have and I liked it. I did an inspection for a new client. They said they did not want all the "bells and whistles" in my "report". He told me "I have had three inspections done over the years, the best inspection report I ever got was a three page report that outlined the defects in a summary page".   "Why's that I asked". He said " I looked at a report that had about twenty five pages, I couldn't make any sense of it. A lot of information I already had". "Like what" I said "You know, like how many bedrooms ,baths and how many square feet the home is, just stuff". "I think it was a lot of wasted paper and reading, after all I go straight to the summary page anyway". "So What would you like from me"? "A simple outlined report that adresses the defects if any" ...
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By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
The six milloin dollar seller here in Carlsbad, New Mexico is none other than our very own Jo Scheel, she works for an ERA office here in town and has closed on over six million dollars in sale for the 2011 year. She tries to focus on customer service. I did send her a E-Mail asking her to join Active Rain. But to date she has not accepted the offer. She is probably toooo busy, LOL If you want to drop her a line congradulating her on the sales for this year here is her contact info joscheel@era.com  What a great job she is doing. Thank you, Clint McKie
Comments 12
By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
Non invasive inspections. That's what I call them. When I do a home or business inspection, I try to get all the fact's I can. This means looking and touching all you can. "Without tearing anything apart". I was inspecting a home a long time ago and was "unsure what was behind curtain number one" It was a one square foot cut out. Reinstalled with trim as well. it looked like they did some repairs of some sort and wanted to "not take down the paneling", so they just cut it out and then trimmed it out. I do a "non invasive inspection". This means that "I will not destroy things to get a look". If I damage the home then the client will not like it nor will the seller like it at all. I was sure it was an electrical repair but was still unsure. I would have removed the "panel" but it looked ...
Comments 9
By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
Decorating advice anyone? I did an pre drywall inspection on a $250,000 home, believe it or not the home passed. The owner was there and she wanted my advice on what exactly to do with the kitchen flooring. She had not decided what type of flooring she wanted. So I recommended to her she install some "bamboo flooring" She looked at me like I was crazy. I told her she needs to look at some samples to see what I'm talking about. She then called me back last week to say she went to a home improvement store and looked at the "bamboo flooring". "I liked it", I didn't know such a thing existed".  Who are you wanting to use for the flooring in your new home? I asked. I'm using "R*&^(&* Interior design". She said she asked them about the bamboo flooring and they said they would not recommend it...
Comments 10
By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
   31 days of may challenge. I just joined the group. I don't have a clue what I will write about for 31 straight days but I will try to keep it entertaining to say the least. I try not to blog about "nothing". Although there might be some out there that think I do.  But that's o.k., I try to keep you (the readers) informed and advised about current situations going on within my company and around the world of home inspecting and the general Real Estate market locally. It's a big undertaking, trying to post for 31 days in a row. I will start with todays telling you what I'm up to. More to come every day in May. Have a great day. Clint McKie  
Comments 10
By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
How far will you go to please a client? I have had requests to do inspections far and wide. The only problem is, when I get the call or request by E-Mail, they say "We can pay $ x amount for this inspection".  I try not to take on inspections that involve "overnight trips". Or the ones that take up the entire day traveling. I pride my self with the way that I can "in most cases" get it done very quickly for the client. For instance I recieved a request to inspect a freight shipment in Deming New Mexico. Great, but it's 250 miles from here. So that's 500 miles round trip. And it's only about $50.00 more than a                 "regular inspection" I E-mailed them back and asked for more money. They were not happy with the request. I want to serve my client's with the prompt service. but t...
Comments 13
By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
Sure I can fit you in. I think. At Least that's what I thought when a customer called for an inspection. I have my mornings filled with all sorts of inspections. I have a "major client" that relies on me to "get it done" for them. So when I got the call the do an unscheduled inspection I was not sure I could fit them in.  I had set the appointment for around four P.M. and was there at four ten, I hate to be late. The first thing that was said after the introductions was "we are closing tomorrow". Wow, tomorrow I thought. "That means you want the report in hand tonight"? " Yes if at all possible". We are all anxious to close and get the sale done"  "O.K. lets get the inspection done then" After the paper work I did the inspection. And yes low and behold there were "issues". Not enough to...
Comments 12
By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
Just smile and say you like it, this is what the wife had told me when we went to a friend's home for a Easter dinner. We had eaten earlier in the day with my side of the family. But when we got the "call' we couldn't refuse the offer. We were sitting at the dinner table telling jokes and talking about "what's up in our lives" Then I hear it, "O.K. let's eat".  I was sitting next to the host and the wife next to me. The hostess was starting to serve and I saw something I was curious about. "What's that" I asked. She said this. "Oh that's my family recipe for the greatest rice ever". I'm not too sure what was in it but she gave everyone a large helping. When I tasted it, I was unsure what to do. Now she was eating now and she was downing it like she was starved. She liked it very much. I...
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By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
I just wanted to say Happy Easter to all of my friends on Active Rain. With all tht's going on in our lives we need to take a moment and reflect about what this day really means. I won't get into all the religous meanings. But it is a day to be greatful for our many blessings and to look forward to the future. We need to the bidding of the almighty and then we will be blessed. Thank you for reading. Clint McKie
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By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
I fired a client over $15.00. This is true. I had gotten a call one day last month with a sad story about needing an inspection completed. They really needed this one done. I told them I could possibly get it done for them but I wanted a "little" more. With the price of gas and my time going up, I needed a little more for my efforts. I was feeling pretty good that I had gotten a better price for the inspection "albeit only $15.00" but better than nothing. I did the inspection and then it was kicked back saying that I needed a lot more information. After spending about two hours on their web site and then sending it in for the second time. It was accepted. Then Today I received the check. You got it. It was for the original amount they had first called offering. I e-mailed, then called t...
Comments 13
By Clint Mckie, Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586
(Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections)
Carma, what goes around comes around. After a lifetime of struggles I have seen the best and the worst of people. Carma, I believe plays a big part in how people get ahead in life. If you mistreat, mishandle, or generally be mean to people.  The "Carma" will find you. I know a person that has been a "jerk" for a long time. This same person can't find a reason why he is the recipient of the flat tire, the bank getting the statements wrong "right" I thought, etc, etc, etc.. I suggested this person needs to be a "better person" and stop treating people like they owe him something. There are a lot of people out there that are like this. Instead of helping others that really need it, he simply dismiss their needs as a "greedy want" by the needy person. Sometimes being a needy person is O.K. ...
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Carlsbad, NM Real Estate Professionals