Just over two weeks ago, I decided that enough was enough and I black-listed all forms of news media in an effort to reduce stress in my life. I was addicted to the news on TV, on the internet and in my car, everytime I drove. I found myself constantly feeding this type of information into my brain and processing all of the latest "important" information. However, at the end of the day it was all negative, doom and gloom, "the sky is falling" type of information. The mass news media is a relentless, 24 hour a day engine that runs and runs and drives this stuff into your brain. So, after about two weeks of having watched no news, or logging onto the internet to read news websites, I can tell you it has been absolutely wonderful! I have enjoyed watching old re-runs on the TV Land channel ... 10/25/2008

If you've read my blog for long, you know that I'm crazy about Active Rain. I am convinced that this is one of the greatest tools that I have ever decided to utilize, and I'm constantly glad that I jumped into blogging with both feet back in August of 2007. I have been tweaking my listing presentation lately, and I'm trying to decide how to add my Active Rain association and blog to it. I can see some obvious benefits for my sellers, in the fact that I have a referral network well over 100,000 people strong.  I can also advertise their listings on AR, which gives one more place to expose them to potential buyers. What other benefits can you think of?  Are any of you using AR in your listing presentations?  What ideas might you have for me and the rest of the Active Rain community who wo... 10/25/2008

This safety tip may be one of the simplest for you to implement, but as I drive around at night, I see that many people don't. Statistics say that houses with lights turned on are much less likely to be burglarized.  Those same statistics also say that cars are less likely to be broken in (in the driveways or out front), and outbuildings are less likely to be broken into. Motion lights are one great item to have on your home. I have a motion light on each corner of my home, so that if anyone approaches, they get illuminated.  They are great tools to have to discourage a would-be burglar. The front porch light is the easiest light to turn on.  Motion lights can be fooled if the area of the motion detector can be determined, but keeping the front porch light on at night is a great way to ... 10/25/2008

Many agents are tempted to slash their commissions when they are confronted by a seller who objects to paying all but the barest of fees.  These agents are often so attached to the outcome of gaining a listing that they forget or fail to learn how to convey their true value to their clients. Consumers and many agents alike need to consider that in markets that are predominately buyer's markets, sellers truly need full service agents who are creative and well versed in technology to sell their homes.  Consider the fact that there are generally multiple properties for each qualified buyer in the market, so the seller who wants their property to sell for a reasonable price and in a reasonable time needs that above average agent. I am a firm believer in providing value to my clients, and I ... 10/25/2008

I have been a faithful member of Active Rain for over a year now, and have absolutely enjoyed it.  I have gained knowledge, friends, and even commission dollars from my blog and the associations I have created in our family.  Joining Active Rain has been one of the greatest decisions I ever made in my career. Because of everything I have gained and learned from this community, I have invited many people to join.  When I encounter a new agent, I encourage them to try their hand at blogging.  When I describe the benefits they can gain, they inevitably join.  What discourages me a bit is that many of them join, but never blog much more than their "introduction" blog. To help my new invitees along, I wrote a couple of blogs to give them a little insight on how Active Rain points work, and w... 10/25/2008

Real estate is a dinosaur.  Don't be one! This has nothing to do with your age.  It has EVERYTHING to do with your paradigm.  Paradigm is defined by Webster.com as a philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind.  Your paradigm is the way you process information - it's the way that you operate, the way you do things. Here's the issue.  Many agents have a paradigm that is based in the twentieth century.  Which PART of the twentieth century varies, but the ideas usually flow from certain general idioms.  This often is frighteningly clear with marketing.  For example, typical agents all over the country run ads with big pictures of themselves smiling, with statements like "Work with me, I'm Number One!"  I hate to break it to you, but consumers don't respond to that.  Why?  They've se... 10/25/2008

If you don't list, you don't last.  This concept is driven into our skulls by real estate trainers year after year, but I would like to go one step further and make the argument that if you don't generate leads, you don't list, and therefore you don't last.  Now this may sound quite simple to most of you, and I am quite willing to concede that it doesn't take a doctorate in Realestateology to figure it out.  Unfortunately, the big, ugly truth is that even though 100% of you may understand this, we have an 80% failure rate in real estate!  So what is the underlying problem in the quest for making a real estate career work?  I often find that it is a lack of understanding the basics of lead generation, and even more prevalent is a lack of DOING some sort of lead generation activity.  I ca... 10/25/2008

At some point in an agent's life, they will deal with a couple who is getting divorced and must sell a home.  These are not the easiest situations to deal with, and should be handled with some care.  Emotions can run high, and many times husband and wife have different agendas. For example, June lives in the house, and Joe has moved elsewhere.  Joe is the primary wage earner, and the house payments are still in his name.  Who's motivated to sell?  Joe wants the house sold, because he doesn't want to make those payments.  June may not be so motivated to sell, because when (IF) the house sells, she will be forced to move.  If there are kids involved, the motivations may be even further apart.  I've seen the roles reversed.  If one party doesn't want to sell the home, and they live in it, ... 10/25/2008

Many agents fail to lead generate because they feel daunted by the task.  Lead generation instructors tell them that they need two or three hours per day MINIMUM if they want to succeed.  While this number is preferable, I think it's more important to establish the habit of actually DOING lead generation first.  When I coach a new agent, I try a slightly different approach.  My recommendation is to set aside six to eight hours per week for lead generation and follow-ups.  Why six to eight? This number is a manageable amount of time for a new agent to wrap their minds around.  If they do an hour or two each day, it makes the task seem to be  lot easier. Once an agent establishes a regular routine of lead generating, it is easy to increase the number of hours per week.  At the same time, ... 10/25/2008

I recognize the need for instant response to email and leads that are generated by my internet systems, but I have a big gap in my technology: a smartphone. The ability to instantly check email while in most locations without the need of a laptop and wi-fi connection is important to the 21st Century agent. I have decided to purchase a smartphone, but I'm still going back and forth over which one to purchase.  My current favorite is a 8330 Blackberry Curve, but I'm considering an iPhone.  The biggest disadvantage to me for an iPhone is that I would have to switch from Verizon to AT&T.  Anyone have advice or opinions in this regard?  Any experience using an iPhone or Blackberry in your business?  Also, I'm curious just how your business changed (improved or ...) once you integrated that t... 10/25/2008

Who do you know that needs to buy or sell real estate? Please feel free to contact DAVE EDWARDS at 864.275.7250 or email at daveedwards@kw.com. These approximate figures are deemed accurate as of October 15, 2008. Median Price of Residential Homes, Condos, and Villas Sold   Sep. ‘07 Sep. ‘08 % Change '07 Median '08 Median % Change Greenville 149,000 147,000 -1.34% 148,000 153,000 3.4 % Spartanburg 123,000 120,000 -2.44% 125,000 126,000 0.8 % Greenwood 111,000 114,000 2.70 % 111,000 114,000 2.7 % Columbia 148,000 135,000 -8.78% 146,000 146,000 0.0% State Average 160,000 155,000 -3.17% 160,000 155,000 -3.2% 10/25/2008

Who do you know that needs to buy or sell real estate? Call DAVE EDWARDS at 864.275.7250 or email at daveedwards@kw.com. Nearly 15% to 25% of all listings do not sell. The market rejects them. In other words, the market did not accept the Marketing Effort, the Price, the Condition, the Location, or a combination of these areas-perhaps all four of them! The good thing is that you control two of these areas: Price and Condition.   Condition A hundred dollar bill is a great metaphor: they all look good, but people will always choose the nice, clean, crisp one over a dirty wrinkled one. How does your house look to others?  This is the crucial important difference between Showing condition and Living condition. Price Being overpriced is usually the reason a home did not sell, but condition w... 10/24/2008

As the year winds down and we head into winter the reality of why my family and I moved to Greenville SC reveals itself once more. We relocated here from a very small town in NH in January 2005. When we left it was about 25 degrees out and there was maybe 14 inches of snow on the ground. When we arrived in Greenville two days later it was warm, really warm (even for SC standards) about 70 degrees. We thought, ok this could work. I remember calling friends up north to brag about going out to supper in January in sandals. Then I started to think about how freeing it was. Winter up north means shoveling sometimes two times a day from October till April, driving in everything from snow, ice and slush and dressing in so many layers you can hardly move. You can't plan anything because the wea... 10/23/2008

Who do you know that needs to buy or sell real estate? Contact Dave Edwards at 864.275.7250 or email at daveedwards@kw.com. How to stage the Living room and Family room: •       Make these rooms spacious and inviting. •       Discard or repair chipped furniture.  Replace worn rugs and pillows. •       Remove magazines, games, toys and so on. •       Make sure the entertainment center sparkles. •       Vacuum upholstery, drapes, pillows, etc. 10/23/2008

Who do you know that needs to buy or sell real estate? Contact Dave Edwards at 864.275.7250 or email at daveedwards@kw.com. Lets continue to see how we can improve the interior of our home for sell: •       Clean and organize your closets.  Add extra space by storing or giving away items. •       Add a fresh coat of paint in light, neutral colors. •       Shampoo the carpet.  Replace if necessary.  Clean and wax the floors. •       Vacuum the window blinds, shades and drapes.  Wash or dry clean curtains.  Wash all the windows, frames and sills. •       Add dishes of potpourri. •       Remove all valuables, such as jewelry, artwork, knick-knacks, medications, cash, coin collections and so on. •       Open all the window shades to create a spacious and bright look. •       Put pet supplie... 10/22/2008

It is a known fact that you have a higher conversion rate if you are able to meet with the potential buyer in the office. You have a higher rate of buyer agreements and you are not wasting time driving to view homes that they are not interested in or qualified to buy. You shorten the process by getting their real criteria and showing less homes. What methods do you use to get a potential buyer who called on a yard sign, advertising mag, internet etc to come in to meet? Thanks for the help! 10/21/2008

Who do you know that needs to buy or sell real estate? Contact Dave Edwards at 864.275.7250 or email at daveedwards@kw.com We are going to look at getting the interior of the home ready for sell: •       Walk through your home.  Store, give away, throw, or donate anything that you won't need until after the move; e.g. furniture, knick-knacks, clothing, toys, equipment, appliances, worn rugs, papers, books, cosmetics, jewelry, games, CDs, etc. •       Walk through your home again, this time with some tools.  Fix loose door knobs, cracked molding, leaky faucets.  Remove cob webs. •       Replace worn or broken door knobs, cabinet fixtures, light fixtures, light switches, outlet plates, faucets and vent covers. •       Clean the fireplace. •       Clean the vents. 10/21/2008

Who do you know that needs to buy or sell real estate? Contact Dave Edwards at 864.275.7250 or email at daveedwards@kw.com. •       Make sure the spa and pool sparkle. •       Go around and touch up the exterior of your home with putty and paint. •       Clean or paint the front door and mailbox. •       Hose off the exterior of your home, especially around entrances.  Use siding cleanser. •       Wash the windows. •       Wash your garbage can and put it in a place where it's not the first thing potential buyers see when they drive up. •       Stack the woodpile neatly. •       Mow the lawn. •       Trim the trees and shrubs. •       Weed the gardens. •       Add colorful plants or foliage to fill in bare spots. •       Edge the gardens and walkways. •       Sweep the walkways and driv... 10/20/2008

Bill Kennedy | Keller Williams Realty | 864-990-1224 303 Savoy Court, Greenville, SC Spacious Townhome Close to Shopping, Restaurants and Downtown!!! 3BR/3.5BA Single Family House offered at $149,000 Year Built 2004 Sq Footage 1,854 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 full, 1 partial Floors 3 Parking 1 Car garage Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Spacious townhome close to shopping, restaurants and downtown. New paint and carpet thru-out, large kitchen with maple cabinets and granite-look countertops, gas fireplace, separate laundry and more! The main level Bedroom and bath is perfect for guests or in-laws, and each bedroom on the third level has its own bath. Lots of closet space and private deck, plus finished garage add to this awesome package! If this property isn't perfec... 10/18/2008

Bill Kennedy | Keller Williams Realty | 864-990-1224 9 Pacific Avenue, Greenville, SC Nearly New Home @ a Great Price!!!! 3BR/1BA Single Family House offered at $55,000 Year Built Unspecified Sq Footage 912 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 1 full, 0 partial Floors Unspecified Parking Unspecified Lot Size 14,418 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION This home is perfect for an FHA203(B) rehab loan! The interior has been completely stripped down to the walls. Builder/owner estimates about $6000-$8000 to finish. Bathroom has already been started with new drop-in tub. If you want a nearly new house at a great price, this home would be perfect for you! Seller has appliances to put in the home. When completed, this home will be beautiful, and can be finished to your specifications! Sold as-is. If this... 10/18/2008