Castro Valley, CA

NAR is stepping up pressure on Congress to extend the $8,000 home buyer tax credit. Their strategy includes a nation-wide call-for-action which more than 450,000 REALTORS® have answered by either calling or emailing their elected officials. NAR is also placing ads in Washington D.C. newspapers and on the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post and Google websites.

Finally, NAR officials are meeting directly with congressional leaders. Earlier this week NARs First VP Ron Phipps testified in front of the Senate Banking Committee about the impact the Tax Credit has had on home buying activity in 2009. You can read Mr. Phipps testimony by clicking here.

Remember .... "Dream Green"

Considering Moving to the East Bay Area? ~ Do you want to Buy or Sell a home?

Do you have clients with needs in the East Bay?

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Visit my website at http://pamwinterbauer.com

This wasn't our client's first Rodeo, as my assistant Maya likes to say. The homeowner has been through the staging process before with another Realtor/Staging team in 2008. He thought he knew what was coming and was prepared when we met for our consultation.

He had cleaned out the clutter, painted a few walls and worked on the garden a bit. He was a bit surprised when we asked for a few additional items in our report, but after lots of discussion and a few photos from our website he did agree to about 80% of recommendations and committed to staging while staying on a strict budget. Wallpaper came down, fireplace was painted and some of the dated furniture went into the garage.

The day of staging arrived and the client left his home expecting to return to a few additional touches and hoping for the best. We could tell he was not really convinced Staged to Sell could possible make that much of a difference from the Staging company who worked on his house in 2008.

When he returned from his day long excursion he was surprised, delighted and completed amazed at what he saw. "It's not the same house and completely different than it was when it went on the market last year." he said. Not only was the homeowner happy but the Realtor almost danced down the sidewalk after seeing the finished product. "The same Realtors will be coming to the Brokers Tour on Thursday that saw it last year...they won't even know its the same house" she said, smiling from ear to ear.

Result - multiple offers.

It's not just about staging, its about hiring the right Staging Company and Realtor to really make the most of the property and the market.

FAMILY ROOM BEFORE

FAMILY ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL AND A LITTLE PAINT

MOST OF THE FURNISHINGS USED IN THE STAGING WERE THE HOMEOWNER'S

FOYER AND LIVING ROOM BEFORE

FOYER AND LIVING ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL

DATED DRAPREY AND DARK FURNISHINGS BEFORE

BRIGHT, WARM AND INVITING NOW

COFFEE TABLE FROM FAMILY ROOM REALLY LIGHTEN AND BRIGHTEN THIS SPACE

GUEST BEDROOM BEFORE

USING HOMEOWNER'S FURNISHINGS WITH A DASH OF COLOR

GUEST ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL

For more information on Staged to Sell's services go to www.staged-to-sell.com. Staged to Sell services Castro Valley, San Leandro, Walnut Creek, Dublin, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Danville and the entire Alameda and Contra Contra Counties

Guest Post from Nate Hennings

After an exhausting Inman RE Conference I was only too happy when Nate offered to write a blog post. Not quite what I was expecting but you have to love the originality…..D.L.

Back from another great Inman RE Connect conference and of course have a mile high stack of cards to sift through. Many good memories to recount, thought-provoking conversations to reflect on, and possible business development deals on which to follow up. Pouring over this stack I’m reminded of several do’s and don’ts that I think of after every conference, but that I’ve never catalogued in an organized format. I don’t mean to impress my opinion as authoritative, but rather offer some tips that could prevent you from becoming this guy. In true Inman style, I thought I’d enumerate them in a numbered list. Here are my 7 Do’s and Don’ts of business card etiquette:

1. First, the “unique shape” of a business card doesn’t mean you’re unique, but usually the opposite.

   If you want to be creative, take up painting or go join the circus. Business card sizes are standardized for a reason (although there is a slight difference between our cards, and those of employees from UK companies, for example). But rounding your corners, making your card a square (okay, I’ll give a pass to Square 1 Bank…they have a lot of schwag that is in fact, square, and they’re great people), or if god forbid making it a CIRCLE, just ups the chance that I’m going to look at it, not be able to fit it in my rolodex or binder, and say “what a jerk” before chucking it in the trash. And here’s why I feel this way: A “uniquely” shaped business card is an admission that you’re not memorable enough for a normal business card, and that you need a gimmick. Rather than resorting to this, say something during our chat that blows my mind, makes me think, or intrigues me in some way, and I’ll remember you.

   
   However, on the gimmick note, I must admit that if you ever handed me one of these (with a real card to follow it, of course), I’d think you were pretty badass. And, I’d get my protein for the day.

2. No bling

   By “bling,” I mean a glossy card. While I don’t personally write notes on the back of cards, many people like to jot down a few notes relating to people they’ve met, especially when they’re collecting several at a conference. This is tough with a glossy card.

3. Take your face out of my face

   This also relates to the “memorability” issues addressed earlier; if you’ve made me think, I’ll remember your face. Personally I don’t think pictures should be included on cards; however one exception may be with Realtors. With Inman Connect being a real estate technology conference, as I look at my pile of cards right now I’ve got quite a few ear-to-ear smiles gazing up at me. I know that Realtors hold self-promotion near and dear as it represents their livelihood, so I’ll give them a pass. All that I ask is for it to be a classy mug and not a cheesy pose, pic of you superimposed in a meadow, or some 80’s prom shot (I have cards with all of these).

4. Don’t just shove it in my face

   Too many times I get cards jabbed at me Rocky-Balboa-style before I’ve even met the person. The purpose of mingling at a conference is to have meaningful conversations with people that you can help make successful, and whom in turn can help make you successful (notice the order there….you have to give before you receive!). It’s not all about “getting all of your cards out” so you can feel that you’ve marketed yourself. If you have my card, I can assure you that at least one of the following is true 1.) we’ve had a conversation about something meaningful, 2.) I value you as someone I’d like to stay in touch with, 3.) one of us can help the other out in the future, or sadly 4.) you face-jabbed me with one, and I felt obligated to reciprocate.

5. Do stash backups, and backups of backups

   I’ve been guilty of running out of business cards at mixers a few times and it can be a bit awkward, especially if a solid connection is made. To counter this, I’ve gone overboard and stashed backups in my wallet, coat pockets, two places in my briefcase, and a bunch in my car.

6. Don’t leave them in a cradle in conference rooms or on your assistant’s desk

   Unless you’re a member of the front-office staff, I wouldn’t leave your cards laying around unattended. I’ve seen many companies do this, including a few very prominent VC’s in the valley. They stash the top dogs’ cards right there in conference rooms, thereby circumventing the required exchange (conversation, mutual agreement upon being in contact, etc. etc.) that should take place before contact information is given. I can guarantee you that [Insert name of VC with legendary status] is not going to return your call/email/smoke-signal unless you’ve already met, in that case you should have his/her card already. It’s not that it’s “dangerous” to let your email address get out (because if you’re high profile, your assistant might check it and filter for you anyway), there’s just no reason to. It’s not a flyer for discount at the car wash, it’s your professional reputation printed on a piece of paper.

7. Do put your Twitter handle on your card

   I’ve found that DMs on Twitter are more effective than both phone and email (for the time being, at least, until Twitter becomes overrun as a spammer’s haven). I’m guessing that contact management systems (Outlook, Plaxo, etc.) will gradually move to support a contact’s Twitter handle as well, in a dedicated field. To that end, include your Twitter handle on your card so people can easily follow you. I even saw one card with a hashtagged phrase (#twitterqueens for @heyamaretto’s card); very forward thinking. To access her Tweets, and find out who is twittering on that topic, you just search for that hashtag.

So that’s my two cents on the do’s and don’ts of biz cards; hopefully they help. Or, you can always take some cues from the legendary business card connoisseur: Patrick Bateman.

Use these green tips for keeping your landscaping (and watering) on the eco-friendly side!

Just one leaky faucet or spigot can waste approximately 2,000 gallons of water each year. Repair or replace old or damaged fixtures indoors or outdoors. If you suspect a leak, try this method to help you verify the problem: check the water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.

Research the various shading strategies that will work best in your regional climate and your microclimate. To block solar heat in the summer but let much of it in during the winter, use deciduous trees. To provide continuous shade or to block heavy winds, use dense evergreen trees or shrubs. For more information on regional and microclimates, visit the Energy Savers Web site. Planting shrubs, bushes, and vines next to your house creates dead air spaces that insulate your home in both winter and summer. Plant so there will be at least 1 foot (30 centimeters) of space between full-grown plants and your home's wall.

Remember .... "Dream Green"

Considering Moving to the East Bay or Tri Valley Area? ~ Do you want to Buy or Sell a home?

Do you have clients with needs in the East Bay?

Search East Bay Area Properties

Visit my website at http://pamwinterbauer.com