What are barcodes doing on my yard sign?

If you read anything about real estate marketing, you probably can’t miss all the buzz and hype surrounding QR codes. They’re popping up on business cards, home flyers, for sale signs, even on webpages. If you don’t know what a QR code is, it is basically a bar code that you can scan with a smart phone application and it will take you off to the internet to view a web page, play a video, show images, text you a message or whatever. QR stands for “Quick Response” and they were originally created by a Japanese company to be used in distribution logistics. “Back in the day”, when I was involved in distribution for a major regional retailer, bar codes were a necessity to keep track of inventory for the thousands of stock items we had on hand. This technology has now found its way onto your real estate yard sign!

I think QR codes are great. They are pretty amazing little pieces of technology.

The image you see above is an example of my QR code used in some of my marketing materials to send clients to my webpage. For consumers to benefit, however, usually requires a “smartphone” with an application used to read the code and forward the phone’s browser to wherever the code directs. How many people are willing to go through the steps required to get the information when they see a code is yet to be seen. My take is that it is just one more tool which help clients gain additional information which they may otherwise not have been exposed too! As an aggressive REALTOR why not use every selling tool that is available? I thrive on cutting edge tools and technology to deliver results.

The QR code is a bit “gimicky” and is still in the infancy stages of development for use in real estate. Will it survive the test of time? I’ll let you know……………

There Comes A Time For Change

Change is inevitable….. at least that what the experts say and in my case they were right. I recently changed my Broker Affiliation. I’ve been asked many times as to the “why” for the change? I spent some time thinking about my broker, my career, and my direction over the past few weeks and it was rough on me. Hints of self-doubt and questioning “am I doing the right thing” were common place, but I knew something was missing from my current position. I wasn’t comfortable. I didn’t feel right. I was uneasy and therefore not as productive as I could be.

I was working with knowledgeable agents, an expert office manager, a friendly and accommodating staff and broker who has a true love of the real estate business. The company remained on the cutting edge of technology and fostered an encouraging atmosphere. For some reason that was still not enough. It then occurred to me what I felt was missing………..Most real estate companies operate on a dependent model where the broker provides some tools, some education and a great deal of encouragement to salespeople and then offers them a commission, or they operate on an independent model where agents receive minimal support from the broker but keep more of the commission.

In contrast to these traditional models, I found, after researching major real estate franchises, the Keller Williams model which fosters a synergistic environment where both parties (agents and broker) seem to succeed through teamwork. By encouraging agents and brokers to share their best practices with each other and reward associates who help the company to grow both parties are rewarded. It is a WIN-WIN situation! It is these industry-changing philosophies that have fueled the recent growth of Keller Williams Realty past older, more established companies to claim a top-four spot in the real estate industry. I thought this would be an interesting and challenging framework to work within. Selfishly, I do need someone to recognize the value of what I do right and is willing to correct what needs improvement. Teamwork, rather than a management led self-contractor business, I believe is going to be a “better fit”.

If you, any of your family, your friends or acquaintances are ready to buy or sell any real estate please give me a call. My cell phone is still the same…..985-778-1903. My office is now located at Keller Williams Real Estate Services 1522 West Causeway Approach, Mandeville LA 985-727-7000.

What is that “cartoon character” doing on my screen?

An avatar is a computer user’s representation of himself/herself or alter ego whether in the form of a three-dimensional model used in computer games, or a two-dimensional icon (picture) used on Internet forums and other communities. It can also refer to a text construct found on early systems such as MUDs. It is an object representing the user. The term “avatar” can also refer to the personality connected with the screen name, or handle, of an Internet user. Put into simple wording……….. “A graphical or “cartoonish character” used by folks who have a large appearance on line rather than using a traditional photograph or head shot picture”.

I chose this avatar because it was a surreal representation of the many things I find myself doing every single day! I am always in the car. I drink several cups of coffee a day (I’ve seen more of my clients in the local Starbucks than any where else in town). I often wear hats. I wear eyeglasses (hate to put up with the hassle of contact lenses). Lastly, I am constantly reading everything I can get my hands on. The scary part of having an avatar is eventually someone coming along and commenting “it even looks like you”… yikes!

If you are interested in securing an avatar for yourself, point your browser to www.gravatar.com and have some fun.

Home Sales Starting To Rebound?

Strong Rebound in Pending Home SalesPending home sales jumped in October, showing a positive uptrend since bottoming in June, according to the National Association of REALTORS. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator, rose 10.4 percent to 89.3 based on contracts signed in October from 80.9 in September. The index remains 20.5 percent below a surge to a cyclical peak of 112.4 in October 2009, which was the highest level since May 2006 when it hit 112.6. Last October, first-time buyers were motivated to make offers before the initial contract deadline for the tax credit last November. The data reflects contracts and not closings, which normally occur with a lag time of one or two months. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said excellent housing affordability conditions are drawing home buyers. “It is welcoming to see a solid double-digit percentage gain, but activity needs to improve further to reach healthy, sustainable levels. The housing market clearly is in a recovery phase and will be uneven at times, but the improving job market and consequential boost to household formation will help the recovery process going into 2011,” he said. “More importantly, a return to more normal loan underwriting standards and removal of unnecessary underwriting fees for very low risk borrowers is needed and could quickly help in the housing and economic recovery,” Yun said. Recent loan performance data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac clearly demonstrates very low default rates on recently originated mortgages, much lower that the vintages of 2002 and 2003 before the housing boom.

Patience is Key When Looking For and Purchasing Rental Property

As today’s economy continues to struggle, homeowners across the country are looking for ways to make ends meet, and many are taking on the role of landlord. While jumping into the rental scene may seem enticing, it is important to make sure you are prepared for the task before you get started.

According to the experts at AllBusiness.com, the following tips will help homeowners looking to buy rental property find success, no matter what the market.

Do your homework and find a reputable agent or broker. Taking the time to find a reputable real estate agent or broker before you begin searching for a rental property is crucial. The agent or broker that you ultimately choose to work with should know the neighborhood(s) where you are interested in buying, in addition to helping you choose properties that fit your needs.

Make sure your finances are organized. Going through your finances and making sure everything is in order is a crucial part of the purchasing process that shouldn’t be overlooked. If there is any chance that you will be taking out a mortgage in order to finance your rental property, it is important to do your research early to make sure there are no discrepancies on your credit report. If you find that your credit report is inaccurate, report it immediately so you can get the problem resolved quickly.

Set a maximum amount you can afford to pay. Before you even begin looking at properties, you should carefully examine your finances and your current situation to establish the maximum amount of money you can afford to spend. By not coming up with a number beforehand, it is easy to get carried away and spend more money than you should have.

Schedule a home inspection. Before you buy a rental property, be sure to call in a professional home inspector who will come and evaluate the home. Home inspectors will be able to tell you if the home is safe to live in, and if there are any problems that need to be addressed. This is a great way to avoid expensive repairs down the road.

Take a close look at the neighborhood. Once you have found the property that will best suit your needs, be sure to take the time and get to know the neighborhood. It is usually a good idea to visit the neighborhood during the day and at night so you can get an accurate feel for what the area is like.

Stay up-to-date. If you are looking to purchase a rental property in an area in which you aren’t familiar, you should do your homework and get to know the local real estate market. The agent or broker you are working with will be able to provide you with current information about the area as well.

Ask around. These days, people are turning any situation into a networking opportunity, so be sure to take advantage of those around you when looking for a rental property. It doesn’t hurt to ask friends, family, business owners and individuals who live in the area whether there is anything available or if they know of anyone who may be leaving the area at some point. Initiating this dialogue will keep you top of mind when something does come along.

Don’t settle. Just like you wouldn’t settle if you were in the process of buying your primary residence, it is important to treat the rental property search the same way. It may take a while to find the perfect rental location, so be patient with the process.

Ask for comparables. Your agent or broker can provide you with information regarding comparable properties in the area. It is important to take notice of the rental income, sales price, square footage and other relevant information to be sure you are getting a good deal.