Mesa, Arizona Real Estate - Teri Ellis - Homes Arizona Real Estate: December 2009

 

 

1.  Sign up for a writing course! One of my favourite Christmas gifts this year is a 10 week writing course taught by  book editor, writer and creative writing instructor Brian Henry .
The course starts in February and for a few hours per week of my time, I'll be polishing up my writing skills and learning new ones. I can't wait to start!


2.  Make it a habit to carry your camera with you everywhere you go. Of course, many of the new phones have fairly good cameras built right in so you can always be at the ready if you see a photo with a story for your blog attached.


3.  Take a photography course!  Readers love to see pictures of the subjects we are writing about and professional looking pictures add to a blog immensely. This is an area I need to work on this coming year.


4.  Subscribe to your local papers so that you'll always be up to date on local news. Some of the items you read may lead into a blog post so you're sure never to run out of ideas!


5.  Spice up your blog!  If you're in the habit of consistently writing the same kind of blog, vow to mix it up a bit for the coming year. Spicing up your blog keeps it interesting and has readers always coming back for more.


6.  Give your  blog a more personal touch with the odd blog about you and your family. This is how our readers get to know the real us, the us that goes beyond the computer screen.


7.  Review this list of blog ideas and pick a few off the list every day so that you keep your blog updated regularly :

'On the Move'~ Write a post outlining the steps/things a home buyer/seller should be aware of or do leading up to moving day and on moving day itself. You could include 'making special provisions for pets', companies to notify of your move, etc.


Explain the 'essentials of the listing agreement' to the client in your area. Each area has it's own type of listing agreement and it may be helpful for a client to have a chance to review the listing agreement in advance of listing day and to understand what they will need to have ready, what questions will be asked, etc prior to the day they meet with you to do the actual listing.


Choosing the right neighbourhood is a very important aspect of the home search, if not the most important. Write a post guiding your client through questions and considerations they should acknowledge when considering the kind of neighbourhood they would like to live in.


Write a post about 'closing the deal' ~ ie. a post that outlines the steps, once a buyer has signed a contract to purchase and it has been accepted, that take place between then and closing day. Advise the buyer of his/her responsibility and things they'll have to remember to do along the way to make sure that everything goes smoothly.


Write a post about some of your favourite places to shop in your area outlining what is exceptional or special about each one.


Write a post about the company you work for and the benefits to the consumer of dealing with you and this company.


Write a blog about one of your community libraries (perhaps it could be the first of a series on the libraries in your area) detailing the history, what it offers, weblinks with special events and services offered, etc.


Write a blog post that incorporates the use of a google map that you have created. For instructions and ideas read Angie Vandenbergh's    10 Ideas for Localism Posts Using Google's New "My Maps" Feature.


If you live along or near a water body, write a blog about one of your local marinas.


Write a blog about special activities and events that are available/occurring in the coming week (eg. from this Friday to next Friday) in your area (this kind of post may require regular updating once you start it, or if you don't want to be updating it regularly, you could give various links to sites that tell of upcoming events for future reference ).


Write a blog that outlines the steps a first time buyer should take when they have decided to purchase a home in your area.


Write a post detailing things to watch for when buying a country property. eg. wells, septic, etc.


Write a post 'spotlighting' a certain interest group in your area.


Pick a heritage/historical area or building in your region and write a post about it. Make sure and post it to the Heritage Properties, Historic Sites and Antiques Group while you're at it!


Write a post outlining the initial steps a seller should take when considering selling their property.


Write a post about the local flora and fauna of your area, in particular, bring to the reader's attention any dangerous/poisonous plants or animals that a newcomer should be aware of.


Continue on in a series that you've started in one of the previous weeks. For instance some people are writing about 'buying your first home' and would write another article in that series for one of this week's posts.


Choose a community within your area and do a post outlining what it offers, average property prices, etc. Perhaps you could include a google map where you've overlaid the community (please see previous category posts to learn how to create and embed google map).


Write a post about things to watch out for when buying an older or heritage home.


Write a post outlining the annual festivals your area is known for.


Write a post about home inspectors and reasons buyers should use one when purchasing a home.

Write a post about buying a cottage or waterfront property and all of the things the buyer should be aware of before making a decision. Many things, such as shoreline property rights, are particular to each geographic area and it's a wise buyer who researches and finds out about these things before buying.


Write a post about purchasing a condominium and include relevant information a purchaser should be aware of (eg. common elements, etc).


Write a post about the prominent sports teams in your area. (ok, Jeff Safrin, I know you've got this one nailed!).


Write a post about the climate of your area and when the various seasons arrive and what the average temps are, etc.


Write a post detailing the costs a seller can expect to incur when they decide to sell their property, starting at the point of pre-listing and taking them through to closing day.


This idea comes from a search someone recently did on google and ended up accessing one of my blogs. Their search keywords were 'kind of garden soil in Oakville, Ontario'.  Write a post detailing the growing season in your area and the types of produce that are available.
Perhaps you could include something about the festivals that pertain to the fruit/vegetable that your area is known for.


Write a post detailing the best places to go swimming or fishing  in your area. Include directions, features, costs, etc if you are able and also things that a new community member should be wary of when bringing their family there to swim or fish.


Write a post about the basics of preparing your property for sale. What improvements give the best payback and what things buyers are most concerned about when looking at a property.


Write a post about insurance issues in your area and things that buyer's/seller's should be aware of when considering selling/buying (since these may affect whether or not the property will be insurable by a new owner). These could include things like concerns over galvanized plumbing, aluminum wiring, wet basements, etc.


Write a post about service clubs and groups in your area complete with contact information. This post could cover groups like the Lion's Club, the Rotary Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Chamber of Commerce, etc.


Write a post for sellers with guidelines on how to prepare their house each time there will be a showing. This could include the reasons why it is better if they are not home during showings, things they can do such as turning on lights in advance for sales representatives and their clients, leaving summer pictures out for viewing, perhaps baking banana bread prior to a showing, etc.


Write a post detailing what takes place during an offer presentation and negotiations for either a buyer that you are representing, or for a seller.


Write a post that outlines the main features of a mortgage and talks about the types of mortgages available.


Write a post about your town or city's city hall, including it's history, what functions it serves in the community and perhaps a bit about the present city council/mayor, etc. Include pictures.


Write a post about septic systems including things to watch for when purchasing a property that is on a septic system and how to care for a septic system.


Write a post that details the conservation and recycling efforts that your community has undertaken to preserve and clean up the environment.


Write a post about the wildflowers that can be found within your region and when their blooming periods are. Perhaps you could include some traditional uses that the plants had in pioneer days and also some pictures if they are spring time flowers.


Write a post that details all of the bookstores in your region, including off the beaten track sources for books like The Salvation Army store or any used book stores and flea markets that newcomers might not be aware of.


Write a blog about the different kinds of mortgages and the advantages or disadvantages of each. Include links to your favourite mortgage companies or banks along with a rate table that updates regularly.


Ideas for blog articles are only limited by your imagination. Being a member of Active Rain gives the business writer a wealth of ideas and knowledge to utilize when planning a blog and keeping it stocked with fresh material daily.

Make sure to incorporate a business blog into your 2010 business plan!

 

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©2009JoSmith

 

Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Brekland Realty Group, Oakville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.Oakville-BurlingtonHomes.com

How to put listings in your ActiveRain blog sidebar -

I have had many emails from AR folks asking me how I put the listings in the sidebar of my blog.  I know there is another post out there in AR land saying how to do it because that is how I learned, but rather than go look for it, here it is, my way.

I use www.postlets.com for my sidebar listings, plus I use postlets to post listings as a blog post and to syndicate my listings to many other websites. I use the free version of postlets (I always use the free version in everything I do on the net if one is available).

Create an account if you don't have one, then walk throught the steps to create a listing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the last page, postlets gives you the HTML to paste your listings in various venues.  I use the medium HTML code pictured here. Copy this code, be sure to scroll all the way over to the right to get it all...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on the "My Home" link in the top right hand corner of any AR page.  Scroll down the page and on the left hand side you will see the settings link. Click that link.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are going to paste the postlet code in the "Blog Description" box.  As you can see here I have several in my box because I have a lot of listings in my sidebar.  I put a space between them so it is easier to add and remove listings as needed. 

You have to go to the postlets website periodically and renew your listings or your sidebar will have some error messages in it where the listing should be.  Also, if you change a postlet listing,  for instance, add new pictures, postlets automatically updates your sidebar listings, so you do not have to repaste this code after you update a listing.

I hope I made this tutorial easy to understand. If you run across any problems, please do not hesitate to email me. 

Thank you.

       

Thank you for stopping by. Your comments on this post are welcomed and appreciated.

Brought to you by Fran Gatti at  No one works harder for you!  Bus: 707-464-5400, Cell: 707-218-8162 Email: frangatti@remax.net Website: FranGattiHomes.com My Blog: Fran's Blog RCDPro®

 

Hi guys, this morning I looked out my window and saw that...

 

 So to ease us into the holiday season, I put together a new Rain blog header that will fit perfectly on your standard and/or outside Rain blog.

preview image

 You can see the full size version or download it here. Now I better go and make some hot chocolate. Enjoy...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

 

 To save you time, here are some of my favorite resources that I found on the web this week. Unless otherwise indicated, these are all freebies!

How to Tap Into the Power of Social Networks... A conversation with the authors of Trust Agents: Chris Brogan & Julien Smith

Date: December 15, 2009
Time: 11:00 a.m. EST
Price: Free for all friends of Chris Brogan & Julien Smith  ...register here

 

Create a font from your handwriting with FontCapture

 

Maximize uptime with BinaryCanary.com  a free website monitoring service

 

 Do you have a sense of humor? Icons to comply with new FTC blog disclosure rules at LouisGray.com

 

 

 Finding all the cool, useful stuff on the web can be a major pain. Here are some of my favorite reads from the past few days.

 

Debunking Common SEO Myths  @ Website Magazine

 The process of SEO has changed, and quickly. Buying keyword-rich domains, writing a few articles and tweaking the titles will no longer net a top position on the search engine results pages.  read...

_________________________

 

Lessons From Twitter Spam  by Brian Kelly

 On Saturday morning I received a number of Twitter messages informing me that my Twitter account had been hacked, with a number of spam messages being sent from my account. The message (which I deleted as soon as I spotted it) read "see if your iq is higher than mine. take the iq quiz here".  read...

_________________________

 

Twitter Japan to introduce micropayments  by Emma Barnett

 Twitter Japan has acted like a testbed for the company and operates differently to other versions of the site around the world. The Japanese version of the site is understood to be introducing a tiered payment model that will charge audiences to view tweets from premium Twitter accounts. read...

_________________________

 

How To Create the Perfect Facebook Fan Page  by Jesse Stay

 Marketers love Facebook. With 350 million+ users, a self-promoting and natural way to have people promote your product. If you had any doubt, just go on over to their stats page and see for yourself why it is something you want as part of your marketing strategy.  read...

_________________________

 

 

 

 If you have ??? about marketing YOU, blog design/graphics or building web presence, let me know and I'll try to answer them in a future post!

 If you'd like to participate in any of our upcoming marketing partnerships or to stay on top of all the new graphic goodies we'll be giving away . . .

 

You can also connect with me at... 

                             

 

 For more info about how we can help you stand out from the crowd, contact GiselleStCyr@garaughty.com

garaughty.com          TheBlogArtist.com

 

Bob and Mabel gave me a new Gateway NetBook (THANK YOU!) model LT2044u.  Teresa Boardman convinced us this netbook is a good choice because of the eight hour battery life.

This netbook is great!  I love it!  But there was an issue while setting up the AT&T Lightning USB Connect card.

I am posting this information, to save anyone else with the same issue some grief  (This all took place December 23, all is fine now):

Although Los Angeles is a Big City, good wifi hotspots are not always available.  So I bought an AT&T USB air connect card.  Should be simple, right?  Plug it in, go online. It didn't work.
 
Spent about 2  hours on the phone with AT&T.  The rep had me uninstall and reinstall the AT&T communication software a couple times.  She had me take out the SIM card and try it in a cell phone.  She had me plug the air card into a different computer, where it worked fine.  Wouldn't work with the netbook.  Nothing.

The AT&T rep set up a conference call to Gateway tech support.  As you know, Gateway's first level support center is based in India.  The first Gateway rep worked down her script screen to asking about the communication switch in the front of the keyboard case.  She was clueless when I told her that the switch slides only to the right, and then it moves back when I release it.  I finally hung up to find out what I could online.

After finding some diagrams of the netbook's communication switch online, and exchanging emails with Teresa, I called Gateway tech support back. 

This time, the Gateway rep in India told me the netbook did not have G3 wireless capability.
 
Somewhere around 5:30 PM I finally put up the $59 to talk with the U.S. based Answers-by-Gateway and spoke with a young woman, Laura, who ACTUALLY knew what she was talking about. 

She was a little shocked to learn that the support rep in India had said that the LT2044u did not have G3 capability.

She had me plug the network into a hardwired broadband connection, so she could access my machine with shared connection software.
 
We kinda poked around together until she realized that the driver for the air card included with the air card was not functioning with the starter version of Windows 7 installed on the netbook.  Solution:  Poking around the card manufacturer's (Sierra's) web site until we located a compatible driver.
 
7:00PM:  Netbook and air card finally working sweetly together.
 
I would like to call AT&T back and tell the solution for the benefit of other customers.  I figure that would be useless.  And I think the off-shore support centers that most of these big companies like Gateway employ probably do more harm than good.  I could have broken that little communication switch trying to force it to move further to the left. 

And if I would have listened to the second guy in India, I would have probably decided to send the poor little netbook back.  :-)

All is fine now.  All's well that ends well.

 

I recently enjoyed a post by Michael Thornton in which he gave some useful tips for creating better holiday photos. Like many shutterbugs, Michael shoots with a D-SLR. I personally love the quality of my photos from my Canon 50D.

But what if you're like most people, and just have a regular ol' point and shoot? Are you doomed to poor photos? Of course not!

Here are a few quick tips that anybody can apply to their photography and have pictures that live up to their memories of the moment.

1. Be prepared!

Kind of obvious, but before an important photo event (especially one that cannot be repeated), charge up the batteries . . . how about having extra batteries . . . re-format your memory card, and have all other bits of equipment at the ready in your camera bag (lens cleaner, anyone?).

2. Get Down

Why do we get in the rut of just taking pictures from where we happen to be? Most often, this is from a standing position. But when photographing kids and pets, taking the picture from way above creates a disconnect with the subject. Move your self to an angle that is flattering to your subject, bend your knees, get to eye level with your subject, zoom in, and then press the shutter! The results will be much more intimate and pleasing.

3. Move your Subject Off-center

Placing the subject of your photo dead center in the frame, is, well . . . kind of boring . . . static. Start to think about composition in a new way by moving your subject off-center and balancing it with other things in the environment.

But, to ensure that your point and shoot camera focuses and meters correctly, keep your subject in the center of the viewfinder while pressing the shutter only half way down. With your finger still lightly holding the shutter, move the camera slightly to the side and then release it. This will create a more dynamic composition.

Here's an extra tip on this point . . . most cameras can display a grid on the LCD screen that helps you compose your photos using the "rule of thirds". It is most often accessed by pressing the display button and cycling through the options, or in a menu related to display options.

4. Keep 'er Steady

Often holiday photography involves low-light conditions. The quickest way to ruin a great photo-op is to blur the picture with camera shake! It doesn't matter how many mega-pixels your camera has if you don't hold it steady. Instead of "free-handing" it, rest the camera on a piece of furniture . . . or what about that tripod collecting dust in the closet? If neither of these options are available, the least you can do is tuck your elbows in against your body, jam your camera up against your face if you have a view finder to look through, and snap the shutter after you have inhaled, but before you exhale.

5. Use fill flash . . . Outdoors!

Yes, especially on a bright sunny day! This seems really counter-intuitive, but in harsh lighting conditions, your subject will have really harsh (and dark) shadows, while other areas will be too bright. Bring balance to the lighting conditions by manually forcing your flash to come on. You may need to shoot in a "Program" mode (P mode) in order to be able to do this.

 

6. Make use of your Camera's Features!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. No matter what kind of camera you have, read the manual! You have the ability to choose from many built-in scene programs that will help the camera determine the best settings to choose. Among these settings is choosing the correct White Balance, helping the colors in your photos look more true. Learn it, know it, use it!

 

Lastly, the best way to ensure that you have great photos of your special events is to also take lots of them! Digital cameras make it so easy to take tons of pictures, and sort through them later. When in doubt, just click it!

 

Happy Holidays!

 

Deena Cottingham

GreenApple Staging & Images
Serving Calgary and Okotoks, Alberta