Lake Arrowhead Real Estate

I wrote about this a while back, but thought it was worth repeating after seeing the topic  on INMAN  this morning. ELECTRONIC signatures are becoming more and more popular. I began using DocuSIGN   last year and haven't looked back.  Before choosing this company, I checked out many others after Googling GoogleElectronicSigs  .    Now I don't feel the "Electronic Signature" replaces good-old-fashioned person-to-person contact, but with so many clients out of the area, it is a wonderful tool.  Fast and easy! And in this business, fast and easy can be a blessing!  Check it out. You have nothing to lose, but plenty to gain.

I think when we stop learning we're DEAD. And, in Real Estate, there are always new things to learn:  from  technology and new gadgets to contracts and forms. BUT what about all the "designations" we have at our disposal? Do we need them? How important are they?  How helpful have they been to your business? 

I have MUCH to learn (thankfully, it means I am still kicking)!! Maybe my business card will one day be full of them...

 Here are just a few below:

e-PRO® (this is one I want!!):  INTERNET TRAINING PROGRAM REALTOR e-PRO® Web site.

ABR, Accredited Buyer Representative focuses on all aspects of buyer representation REBAC Web site.

CRS®, Certified Residential Specialist® You may benefit from nationwide referrals, a professional image that attracts clients, and sales and marketing support  CRS Web site.

GRI Graduate REALTOR Institute  A BIGGIE. Members take this course in residential real estate who want a solid base of information for their business.   new GRI site

THERE are MANY more. http://www.realtor.org/runivers.nsf/pages/designation
 Happy studying.

You know that song "On the Radio?" by Disco Diva Donna Summer? Well, I was singing it last week. Not all of it, because I don't know all of it, but I do know...Whoa, oh, oh On the radio.....Whoa, oh, oh On the radio. WHY was I singing?   I won a six-minute radio gig from the last Chamber Mixer I attended.  At first, I was scared to death at the thought of being on the radio. What the heck would I have to say? Would I sound like a blubbering fool? Who would be listening to a talk show on Sunday morning?   Turns out, it was a piece of cake. FUN, in fact.  I had plenty to say--about my business. I didn't sound blubbery at all (if I do say so myself). AND, people were listening, and several folks at our MLS meeting this AM mentioned it.    The moral of this story: TAKE a CHANCE and SING about it!

Yesterday, I had floor time, but really wasn't expecting much business since this is Memorial Weekend. I was waiting for a client, however, to show up so I could show her a new listing our office has. While waiting...in comes a nice couple wanting a little local real estate information.   The MR. gave me his name and e-address. He spelled out his last name; D-I-M-A-G-G-I-O.   I said, "Like Joe???"  He said YEP.  I thought he was pulling my leg and said so, since he loves to tease.. I glanced up at his wife and she nodded.  The nephew of Joe Dimaggio. All-be-darn!  Everyday is an experience in this business. 

 Who have you met. Any interesting people?  

Remember when Barbara Walters used to ask her guest "If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?" I think it was BW. Anyway...

As several of us sat in the office today: one working on a listing, another on a hopeful listing and the other playing solitaire, we started discussing what kind of houses we ARE. "Well," I said, right off the bat. "I have an attached two-car garage and my foundation is questionable," I added.

One of my Realtor buddies smiled. "You're traditional."

Traditional? ME?   It's a wonderful design, very nice, but I just don't feel like one.

No, I think I'm more Country-style   .  You know, with the cute front porch--wider than it needs to be--but warm and welcoming.  Plus, a little chipped paint here and there....Yeah, that's me. 

Now, Rainers...what about you?  What kind of house are YOU?

Just a little piece of Tuolumne County.... go to the visitors center for more fun  TuolumneCountyVisitorsCenter

What did you think this post was going to really be about??? 

 I thought so!     BUT actually,   I just want to remind everyone to EXTRA be careful when you're out showing property this time of year (and at your own home). SNAKES are out and about, enjoying the weather, munching after a long winter and, most important to them, finding a "mate."   In my area of the Sierra Foothills, they are all over. Thankfully, for me, I have not come across one. NOR do I want to.    Now the snake experts (there's a speciality I would not want) say rattlers will not hurt you unless you startle them. All I can say is, "They may not hurt me (unless I startle them), but they could sure make me hurt myself."

So, while out showing property, WATCH  where you step, especially in grassy, weedy spots that have not been mowed. Don't move rocks or other objects without care--those critters may be under something. 

Adorable and Affordable 2 bed, 1.5 bath in Willow Springs. New roof, newer painted ext. Dual pane windows, ceiling fans throughout, deck out back perfect for morning coffee or star gazing evenings. TONS of storage, attached garage and Soulsbyville School. Community Lakes, Park, Tennis and Clubhouse.   $279,000

This is not about Real Estate, though it CAN effect ALL of us. It is about a citizens duty. 

I had a strange event happen to me today that made me think "What is wrong with people???"  First, let me set-up the scene: My office has a BIG picture window facing the parking lot and its also connected to a little country store.  Okay, here goes: I was sitting at my desk and glanced up in time to and see a car pull up. A man opens the door (nothing strange about that, right?), then nearly falls out. This creep was so drunk he stumbles and almost takes a dive three times before getting to the sidewalk in front of the office/store.   I gasped and another Realtor in my office looks up and spots the drunk.  "I'm calling the cops," I say. "Should I dial 911 or what?" He says 911.  I do and tell the dispatcher to get someone out here ASAP and relay the situation.  Plus, my co-worker is giving me the car lic# for the lady on the phone.

Several minutes later, the drunk staggers out of the store towards his car with a bottle of something wrapped in a paper sack.  I tell the other Realtor to go out and stall him, and he TRIES.  No luck.  There go the car and drunk down our little country road, just after the school bus has dropped of a load of kids.

However, the police do show up at my office about 10 minutes later and tell me they FOUND the drunk at his house, but that his kids were "covering" for him. You know, the same old story.  The cop says, PLEASE call every-time you see him! WE'LL try and nail him.   He says this because we've just learned  from someone  in our little area that this jerk does this quite OFTEN!!!  

I "guess" people get nervous about repercussions IF you call the police when you've seen a WRONG like this. And in this society, I KNOW we need to be VERY careful... but how careful? Don't we have a duty? 

http://www.madd.org

It amazes me how many small businesses (like ours) do not belong--or haven't thought to join--their local Chamber of Commerce. My local Chamber, Tuolumne County Chamber--Tons of Info has been extremely helpful to me and my business. If you haven't checked out yours, you SHOULD. The costs is usually very small compared to what you'll get in RETURN. Here's just a few things YOUR Chamber can do for you:

1.Member Discounts: from local business who are members, and offer discounts on anything from restaurants to printing services.

2. Networking: The Chamber holds a monthly "Mixer" for members and guests to meet and network.  The host firm must be a Chamber member in good standing at the time of the event. This MIXER provides business contact opportunities for members and invited guests in a relaxed setting on a regularly scheduled date each month. We normally have yummy food provided and raffle drawings.

  3.ADVERTSING with The Chamber offers you an opportunity to position your company's name and  message on The Chamber of Commerce business website. With over thousands of individual "visits" per month, your chamber website is a super place to let people know about your business or service.  

These are just a FEW!!! things your local Chamber of Commerce can do for you! 

Wow--I saw how many featured posts Bryant Tutas (BB More about me...) has had and have decided that I want to be SUPER BLOGGER, just like him, when I grow up! No kidding. This guy can write a post about cracks in a sidewalk and keep us hooked on every word. He's GOOD. Out of 275 posts, he's had about 225 featured. NOW that's a lot of great writing, storytelling and helpful tips. Not to mention the laughs. IF there were BLOGGING TROPHY'S, he'd have one. 

All kidding aside, I admire his posts and hope to someday be a teeny-weeny bit as good as he.  

I am NOT a newbie! I mean, I am NOT a newbie Realtor. I'm an oldie but goodie Realtor. But I am a NEWBIE AR-er (I feel really new).  All I can say is that I have MUCH to learn in this Worldof blogging. Thankfully, though, there are so many helpful Hanna's and Henry's in AR that I hope to keep learning. 

What made me write this post was the fact that I kept viewing other (A+ARer's) AR Blog home pages and saw all these cute little goodies on the right side of their page. Like: "Recent Readers" with their pic's, and flying photos, special LINKS, etc.  So I asked   Colleen Kulikowski (see photo)  and she told me "where to go" to get all the instructions I need.  ActiveRain Community Resources - Updated 05/18/07 .  What a HELP she has been. THANK YOU COLLEEN!

This is an easy one for me; LOVE.  You can turn a piece of junk, fallen-down shack into a mansion. In YOUR heart, when the home is full of love.   

The farmhouse above is a listing of mine. It  is "similar" to my great-grandparents old farmhouse in Kentucky-- one that is no longer there, as they are no longer there. But I still have the memories--they will always be there...with me. Memories of sitting on the front porch in the hanging swing   next to my great-grandmother (who named me "Kat"), while the the men-folk played fiddles, violins,guitars and sang old familiar songs. Katydidssang along, as Fireflys lit the night.  And this was only the evenings...

Days began with a huge array of food to feast upon; ham from the smoke house, eggs from the chicken-coop out back, milk from the cows and giant, warm, homemade biscuits. What am I saying--everything was homemade!  This meal got your day going really well....and it only got better...cause this house was full of love! 

 What Makes a House a Home

Gosh, I hope this doesn't make me look very silly--BUT I've got to take the chance...what is the difference between CLICKS and VIEWS? Besides the meaning of each word. Under our "Home" page on AR, and then at "Stats," you can see how many COMMENTS, VIEWS or CLICKS you've received from folks who've taken a peek at your post/s.  When we CLICK on a post, isn't it to VIEW?  Someone tell me I'm not the only one who is in the dark on this one....please

1. Contact your lender and get Pre-qualified: Tell him/her your budget, then he/she will tell you what price range you are in. Go over terms and interest rates
2. Sit down with your Realtor and go over your criteria-what you're wants and needs are: area, price, property type, etc
3. Preview homes with your Realtor
4. When you find the "home of your dreams," tell your Realtor you're ready to "write it up" and decide what price you want to "offer," and terms of offer: closing date, etc.
5. Get your check book out so that you can write an "Earnest Money Deposit." This will go into escrow once an offer is accepted and toward your purchase price at closing.
6. Have your lender send your Realtor a Pre-qual letter.
7. Realtor will present your offer to the listing agent and, or, Realtor and sellers.  "Wait" for response from seller/s.
8. Once all terms (or counter offers) are accepted, we go "into escrow."
9. The clock starts ticking: You get inspections (unless you have a contingent offer that states you are selling your home. If so, we wait until your home/property goes into escrow.
10. Review all "Disclosures" seller supplies you.
11. INSPECTIONS: Pest, Well, Septic, Home; Regardless who is paying for the reports, once they are done, a buyer can then ask seller to make any, and all, repairs. Seller does NOT have to fix any items (except Water Heater Bracing and Smoke Alarms). In CA, at least. However, at this time, a buyer can "cancel" escrow if they do not accept inspections or disclosures. All inspections and reports are a part of your contingencies.
12. Lender will be preparing your loan, have appraisal done and submit loan documents. Near the close of escrow, the loan documents will be sent to escrow officer and you will go in and sign loan and escrow documents (I WILL be there with you). Once this is done, it is usually two days for closing to occur and, if there are no "last minute hiccups," we close escrow and YOU get the KEYS.
13. Congratulations Homeowner/s!

You know, it just hit me as I was strolling through todays posts and the features; The TITLES always draw me in...like a movie preview. A HOOK. What took me so long to realize this? I am, after all, a writer (aren't we all in one way or another?). I'm not a full-time freelancer (anymore), but a "wanna-be" when I am day dreaming of retirement. Do Realtors ever retire?

So... the next time you begin a post, think WHAT'S GONNA DRAW THEM IN?