Karin Elliott

I just read an article on MSNBC.com that not only astounded me but somewhat inspired and disgusted me all at the same time. The article is about the William Clark Family who although lesser known was amongst the Vanderbilt's and the Rockefellers in the Guilded Age. He started off as a minor and ended up a billionaire. The article is mainly about the only survivor, his daughter, Huguette who is about to turn 104 years old! She has a monopoly of estates in the United States simply sitting vacant, furnished, with art collections that do not come from Prints Plus! The problem is that nobody aside from her attorney knows where she is right now! All her mansions are vacant.

I am including the link to the story, because it's quite scandalous and frankly a good read. There you can see these properties that are 10's of thousands of square feet, including the Fifth Avenue penthouse. Imagine telling your potential buyers that the estate has not been lived in since 1957 and will need a kicthen upgrade, but the home was already reduced by 10 MILLION DOLLARS! (said with "Austin Powers" voice).

Enjoy the article: I home you were as intrugues as I was. What a soap opera!!!

Here it is:

Just a gal trying to sell some homes.....

Karin Elliott, IBA Mountain Homes. Serving the Big Canoe Community and the North Georgia Mountains

I'm sending out a Big Wave of GOOD LUCK to all of the agents out here on the East Coast so that they may have a sunny weekend full of good clients and full price offers! Down here in the north Georgia mountains we have been bombarded by icy and snowy weekends for over a month! Looking at the sunny weekend weather forecast today makes me want to BURN my GALOSHES!!!

Cheers to all of you! Lets make some NEWSWORTHY SALES this weekend!

I can hardly remember 1981 as I was 11 years old and so consumed in being a pre-teen that my recollection would not relate to adult life by any stretch of the imagination. I do remember that our little elementary school in Park Ridge, New Jersey introduced their first computer right around then. I think it was probably a TS80 or something similar. Although I was excited about it I was far more interested in the latest and greatest Sony Walkman and Tattoo You by the Stones. Today my husband sent me this YouTube video and it blew my mind how far we have come since 1981. I think if you will enjoy it.

As I watched it a few times I started thinking about all the information we now have at our fingertips. My last few blog posts were about my "primitive" new phone, but in 1981 our cellphones were for the elite and were attached to our cars. Remember the term "car-phone"? That's an oldie! here are some more eye openers:

• We now have and use MLS daily. This is my personal favorite.
• We all have websites! Mine is http://ibamountainhomes.com
• Even my grandmother has a cell phone!
• All portable music is now digital and you can just buy the song rather than the whole album.
• We have GPSto guide us through all our journeys. No More aslking the creepy guy on the side of the road. That's how all the old 80's horror movies started.
• We even have microchips for our dogs if they get lost. Living in Big Canoe, 8,000 acres is a lot of space for a dog to explore.
• Fuel efficient cars now run better and cleaner that my mom's old 1981 Olds Cutlass. I don't have one yet but will get one the next time I buy a car.
• Most of us get our TV from cable or satellite rather than the old 5 channel rabbit ears antenea. Hundreds of channels are now just a click away.

Just some food for thought. If you ever have a day where you think everything is going slow, be happy you don't have to wait 2 hours for the news paper to load on your computer. Enjoy the video!

Just a gal trying to sell some homes.....

Karin Elliott, IBA Mountain Homes

More snow is on the way for Friday so it looks like it's time to stock up the pantry for chili again! Here is a great listing that would be perfect for an investor.

If you or anyone you know is looking for an investment property in Big Canoe, this home would be perfect. Fee Simple and fully furnished, this home is centrally located in the Big Canoe Community. Walk to golf, tennis, clubhouse, swim club, fitness center and hiking trails. Very successful rental as there are over 200 weddings per year in Big Canoe. It will need some updating including new carpet, siding, decks and a few fogged windows but the rest of that section is selling up to 300K. This home is currently rented on a month to month basis for $1,400 per month. Renters would love to stay. Here is the link:

Thank you for previewing.

Just a Gal trying to sell some homes,

Karin Elliott, IBA Mountain Homes

If you know me you know that I am ANYTHING but anti-social. Facebook, Twitter, AR, LinkedIn.....etc, ad nauseum! But I'm about to become anti-social.....or some may call it more personal! (What's she up to now?)This is crazy and it is an experiment that I will commit to for 3 months. In a nutshell: I am dropping my Crackberry and moving down to a basic phone. NOT EVEN A FULL KEYBOARD! All my social networks will be addressed at home during my down time.

This all started with somewhat of an intervention! My husband and my family told me I was neurotic about my phone and nervously checked it all the time. Of course I denied it but after drinking in these harsh words I left my phone at home and went to meet a friend in a crowded restaurant to see how I would handle it SANS the phone. My friend was late and I wish I had a video of me fidgeting. I padded my pocket and purse about 10 times forgetting I left the phone home. God will only know how much lipstick I nervously put on because I know it was more than 3 layers and then something odd happened..... I started to look around at the whole room feeling like I was in slow motion. There was at least one person at every table fondling their phone. I would have been one of them. I then shifted to the other diners without phones in their hands. They were talking comfortably and having a great time without shifty eyes looking for the red flashing lights..."You've Got Mail"!

Agents I must disclose that my husband works with me side by side from home here in the Big Canoe Communityand I have him cc'd on all my business email. So he would call me with anything important like a lead or a contract. BUT I think I'm ready to look my clients in the eyes, and not insult them with constant email checking or even worse Social Networking while I'm with them.

Has anyone else out there actually tried this? Am I truly nuts for wanting a more personal connection to my clients, giving them 100% of my time while I am with them. They deserve it and I deserve it too! Three months starting as soon as the phone arrives. I will document it and keep you posted. Wish me Luck!

Cheers to Good Old Fashioned Eye Contact!

Just a gal trying to sell some homes!

Karin Elliott, IBA Mountain Homes