Joshua Jarvis

I've been given the wonderfully awesome opportunity to guest blog for Truliablog. Rudy is going out of town or something and I, along with many other top community contributors will be guest blogging for Trulia. I guess I get to go first. I'm excited about the opportunity.

There's a lot of discussion about Trulia's motives and I agree with some that question Trulia's practices, specifically the SEO practices. However, right now, it's all about the consumer and Trulia has the best information and displays it in ways that I can use to educate my buyers and sellers.

Now with Trulia blogs, it stands to reason should I even be here or there or anywhere other than Trulia. No, keeping a balanced portfolio of blogs is good. I would say that I've gotten pretty specific about what I blog about in each one.

Thanks for reading and I just wanted to share with you the opportunity I've been given.

First it was JD Power and Associates and now it's the Consumer Choice Award from 2008. Keller Williams Realty is truly one of the best companies to be associated with. I'm having a year that's 35% over last year and last year was the best. I owe it all to the Lord and then Keller Williams Realty (Atlanta Partners) philosophies and culture. If you're interested in finding out more, contact me anytime!

Coles Pond, located in Hoshcton, GA, is a 77 Estate home gated community. With lot sizes up to 3 acres, this community offers all the luxury trappings of living in a Chateau Elan-esque community without all the strings that come attached.

For instance, although there is an active HOA there is no hardline person measuring your grass height. Oh and if you ever decided to sell your home in Coles Pond, your agent could represent you easily by putting a sign up (not the case in Chateau Elan).

Although not the best selling community in Hoschton or Atlanta for that matter, Coles Pond offers something unique. A gated community with Acre plus lots under 1 million. Sure you could spend more than 1 million on a home in Coles Pond, but the point is, that you don't have to.

You can bring your own builder for new construction, choose one on site or buy one of the few homes for sale available.

To Search all the Coles Pond Homes For Sale visit www.gahomesdigest.com or visit the community page at www.gahomesdigest.com/coles-pond.htm.

Move over Grayson, Hoschton is now Gwinnett's best kept secret. If you do a search online for Hoschton Homes for sale, you'll likely be told all about how it's in Jackson county and your kids will go to Jackson County schools, even Wikipedia in all of it's wisdom has it wrong.

Hoschton is located in 4, yes, 4 Counties. Hall, Jackson, Barrow and Gwinnett all have some land in Hoschton. What many don't realize is that on of the best school districts in the state, the Mill Creek High School cluster actually has a Hoschton address.

The city itself, the capital and municipal buildings are located in Jackson. Downtown there is a very nice square complete with gourmet coffee shops and country cookin' restaurants. You'll find business people as well as locals meeting here for networking opportunities.

Back to Gwinnett County, All Homes for sale in Hoschton that are in the Gwinnett County side go to Mill Creek High School Cluster. This includes, Frank Osbourne and Duncan Creek Elementary.

Neighborhoods that are located in Hoschton that are also in Gwinnett County are:

• Trilogy Park (High 200's to 400's New and Resale Homes)
  
• Mulberry River Plantation (High 200's to 400's Mostly Resale, 1 New Home and 1 Lot Available)
  
• Chateau Forest (Mid 400's to High 800's This neighborhood is in Two Counties)
• StoneWater Creek (New Homes 600's to 800's)
  
• Sierrra Creek (New Homes 500's)
  
• The Gates of Braselton (New Homes Mid 400's)
• Mineral Springs Manor (New Homes 400's)
  
• Ashbury Park (New Homes 400's)
• Milcrest Manor (New Homes 300's)
  
• Holman Place (Resales High 100's to low 200's)
  
• Chimney Springs (Resales High 300's to low 400's)
• Hamilton Springs (Resales High 100's to low 200's)
• Brentwood Place (Resales High 100's to low 200's)

Almost as if on cue, our MLS sent out an e-mail blast alerting us to the following:

This happened over the last weekend in DeKalb County.

"I wanted to let you know that twice in two days two people have come by and lied, to get into the house. There was a man yesterday who did all the talking and a woman who did none. I was in the front yard and they approached trying to engage me in conversation by indicating he knew you, (the listing agent). He asked to go in the house. I asked if he was a REALTOR and he said yes and gave me some name rather quickly. I asked to see a card and he said it was in his car. I told him - as you had instructed me - that he would have to open the door using his REALTOR key. He said that too was in his car. I told him he would need to go get it. He got huffy and said that if I wasn't interested in showing the house then I must not want to sell it. He indicated that you (the listing agent) had sent him, which was surely a lie. I indicated again that he could not enter without a key and turned my back on him.

They left.

oday two men were shaking my front door. Not knocking. Not ringing the doorbell. They were seeing if they could force the door. I asked them what they were doing and they said they wanted to see the house. I asked if they are REALTORS. They said yes. I asked to see a card. They said no they had been sent by a REALTOR to see the house. I told them to come back with a REALTOR. And I shut the door.

I'm sure that many more desperate clients would fall for these tactics. I was a but frightened. I'm here alone and the situation was always two against one if I had let them in. This is scary stuff!"

So how do you protect yourself from predators:

1. If it's listed with a Realtor, then ALWAYS make the Realtor access the lockbox (assuming it's an electronic one and not one of those combo locks), this is not only for tracking and follow up for feedback but it's also gives the police a list to call (and they will call) in the event something happens.
   
2. If you are home, ask for a business card. Every agent has a business card.
   
3. If they don't have their business card ask for their pocket license (In Georgia). State law requires that we carry a small version of our license with us.
   

If you are selling on your own, please refer to this article about For Sale By Owner

This isn't meant to be a scare tactic, quite the opposite really. Do a search and you'll find that there are many instances of attacks on Real Estate professional, people posing as Realtors or on For Sale By Owners / Open houses.