Hank Williams

So, we've all heard by now that if your not on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter then you're not in the game. What I want to know is how many of you are still not active on these "oh so addicting" sites?

I'm no technology genius but I do understand that you have to change with the times and re-invent yourself if you want to survive. Especially in this market it is survival of the savviest. Well darn it, I'm going to get savvy if it's the last thing I do.

I have to admit that I find some of these social networking sites a little pointless. Who really cares what my current status is and if I'm sitting on the couch or playing golf? Personally, I cant figure out why anyone would be interested in my personal life but I guess the Big Brother aspect of these sites is the main draw. Someone will always know what your doing or not doing as long as your updating.

-Hank Williams

I don't know about you but here in Charlotte, NC there is the first real feeling of fall in the air. Our weather is exceptional this time of year and the leaves are just beginning to change colors.

Currently it is about 74 degrees and sunny. There is little to no humidity and at night the temperatures are dropping into the 50's.

With the subtle chill in the air, it started to make me think about Old Man Winter right around the corner. Now I have never been a fan of Winter. Fall, yes. Spring, Yes. Winter however, I can do without.

We need to start preparing our homes and notifying our clients about how important it is to winterize your home and yard. It can really add some valuable life to the longevity of your property.

Perhaps in your next newsletter include a few of these winterizing tips:

1. Trim Tree Limbs- Fall is the best time of year to trim up those unruly trees. In the winter, heavy snow and ice can settle upon these limbs and cause great damage to the tree itself, your yard or property. Take a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon to get these guys back in line. You will thank me when winter is over!

2. Replace Broken Seals or Windows- Notice that fogged up window. That's not just condensation but a good indicator of a broken window or seal. Insulation is very important in our homes and energy is more expensive than ever! By getting these things fixed it can drastically reduce your homes energy bill.

3. Clean Your Gutters- This is probably one of our least favorite chores but nonetheless, has to get done. Now you can buy gutter guards or things of that nature but the Fall time is one of the most important times to clean your gutters. Otherwise come Spring, you will be looking into much bigger costs of replacing your gutters.

I hope everyone takes a moment to winterize their homes and get ready for Old Man Winter.

-Hank, www.hankwilliamshomes.com

Glamour shots are especially popular in the real estate industry. How many of you have viewed another agents business card or picture and then saw that person live only to think "is this really the same person?" It can be the same way for houses.

I'm sure everyone out there has viewed a house on the MLS, looked at the pictures and thought "this could be a real contender for my clients." However, when you arrived it looked as if a bomb went off in the front yard, wild bandits had invaded, completely destryoed the order and decor of the home and left with no further notice. I'm sure I'm not alone.

I know it can be hard for some clients to keep a tidy home but it is extremly important. Not only in a good market but especially when it is harder than before to sell houses. It makes you wonder do some of these sellers even want their house sold??

Curb appeal is more important than ever! Make it imperative to your clients to have the front lawn in order. It really can make or break the first impression and when it comes to houses, first impressions are everything!

Hank Williams, www.hankwilliamshomes.com

Today was an exciting day! I had the privilage of participating in helping build a habitat house right here in my home town of Charlotte, NC. Of course Habitat for Humanity is open to all volunteers but today just agents from my office all pitched in and helped the cause.

We had a fabulous turn out! It was a gorgeous day and thankfully not to hot. When we first arrived at the crack of dawn everyone was in great spirits. There is just something about getting your hands dirty for a good cause that makes you feel great.

Sometimes it is so easy to get completely wrapped up in this business that you lose sight of everything. I've noticed myself getting back into a real estate rut where I'm constantly working and barely have time for anything else. I'm sure the majority of you can attest to that!

So, for the first time in a long time I stopped thinking about real estate and turned my thoughts to brighter things. Helping build that house made me think about all the generations of families that would come to enjoy it's shelter and warmth. Those are the kind of things that make life worth living.

In the end, I think it is safe to say that it is not only the families that benefit from Habitat for Humanity but the volunteers get a lot out of it too!

For more about Habitat for Humanity and where to find your local Habitat Houses please visit:

http://www.habitat.org/

You can learn more about me and my business at www.hankwilliamshomes.com

In a recent blog post of mine, I talked about how I became a member of the Luxury Homes Institute. This institute or designation if you will is not a local company to company thing but offered to all agents from all different companies. The only criteria is that you have to have sold a home above $500,000 in the past year, take a two day class and pay a membership fee. I decided this would be a good fit for me because that is the market I wanted to target. In today's economy this market is not really affected by the crunch. After all, who would not want to be selling million dollar listings?

It seems a harder task to complete here in Charlotte, NC. Now how many of you have been watching Million Dollar Listing on Bravo? These kids are incredible. I know the market and home values are completely different on the west coast but kudos to those guys for going after their dream, making it happen and being darn good at it! Even though I am twice their age we could all stand to learn a few tricks from these guys. Now I think they need to learn a few things in terms of manners and broker etiquitte but they are top producers and there is a reason for it.

Today at my local real estate company I taught a class. The class was to educate my fellow brokers about the luxury homes market and what they would have to do to join me in becoming a member of the institute. So far, my marketing has been in one of the local luxury magazines that is only sent out to homes with rather above average household incomes. The ad just came out and it seems to be working. Only time will tell if it pans out. I was excited to see how many of my fellow agents had an interest in this market and learning more. My mission is to think bold and aim high and that is exactly what I am doing. Wether it works or not is still to be seen. I'll keep you posted.

For more information about me an my business please visit:

www.hankwilliamshomes.com

704-953-1199