Robert Kenmore

Do you remember when a trip to your mailbox yielded the possibility of more than just bills and advertisements?

Do you remember what it feels like to get a real greeting card, unexpectedly, in the mail from someone special?

Do you remember what it feels like to send someone an unexpected, heartfelt card?

Do you remember special dates and contact information ahead of time? Before it’s too late?

Do you remember to listen to those special “inner promptings” that tell you to reach out to someone special?

Remember all of those special people in your life? Your friends, family, customers …

They feel the same way you do.

Think of the impact one, heartfelt card could make in the life of someone you care about. The impact from sharing your love, friendship, and kindness with another human being.

At The Card Senders Online, we want to show you how easy and inexpensive it is to remember those you care about.

We want to help you be remembered as someone whoalways remembers.

Please, enjoy the site. Check out some of our many wonderful products and services. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

http://www.YourEasyFollowup.com

Twenty unsold condos in downtown Birmingham's City Federal building will go on the auction block.

Gadsden-based National Auction Group Inc. plans to sell the condos to the highest bidder at an auction May 12. The tower's Atlanta-based owner and the auction company may agree to sell all 48 of the available condos if there is enough demand.

Even the penthouse, once listed for $1.85 million, could be sold at auction.

It is a move the developer and owner, Atlanta's Synergy Realty Services LLC, hopes will speed up sales in the high-profile condo project.

Synergy has sold 36 of the 84 condos since tackling a $20 million renovation of the 27-story former bank and office building, starting in 2005. The two- and three-bedroom units have been listed for sale from $239,000 to $935,000, depending on the size of the condo and what floor it is on.

Two condos in the building sold this month, said Randy Herron, principal with Synergy, a sign there still is interest in City Federal.

But the auction is designed to sell more condos at a faster pace, which is worth the risk of reduced sales prices, he said.

"This is not distressed auction selling, this is accelerated marketing," Herron said.

"We've had a lot of traffic over the past few months, even in a tough economy," he added. "A lot of people come in, look around, say they like it and they're interested but they want to wait a little bit. We decided we want everybody to know we want to sell some units now and they can set the price when they come to the auction."

Many slow-moving condo markets, including Atlanta, Charlotte and Memphis, have turned to auctions to move sales along.

Herron noticed the success of the Atlanta auctions and spent the past few months studying the idea for City Federal.

"At first I was concerned thinking about how it could turn out," Herron admitted, "but there is a lot of data on how auctions have gone in different markets."

William Bone, president of National Auction Group, said his company has sold units for a total of $87 million in condo auctions in Alabama and Florida since last May. He said property owners like the idea of moving several condos at one time, even if at discounted prices.

Bone said the auction will take place at the City Federal building and will include a party with food, music and drinks served by a bartender in a tuxedo.

He said would-be bidders can get more information on the auction and the bidding requirements at the company's Web site at www.national-auction.com.

Michael Calvert, president of Operation New Birmingham, said Birmingham has only 80 or so vacant condos, a figure that pales compared with the 6,000 or so available in Atlanta. He believes sales have slowed because of a "deflationary psychology" that's making would-be buyers scared to pull the trigger on major purchases out of fear prices will continue to drop.

"I think the owners of the City Federal see an opportunity to expedite sales and battle that deflationary psychology with an auction," he said.

From www.al.com / Birmingham News.

Considering the current market conditions, I have to say our office has spent time concentrating on some aspects of the business that will tremendously help us in the future once the market turns around. One of those aspects is a solid client follow-up system for client retention and client referrals.

I have to say (and I know agents here will agree) that one of the best systems is Send Out Cards. We are so happy to found such a great system for client follow-up. We have developed the system even further from just after the close follow-up to incorporate Expired Listing & FSBO Listing campaigns. What better way to market to expireds and FSBOs than using a system that you think about one time and then forget.

We've set up several different campaigns depending on the use and the potential client or existing client and have gotten nothing but great feedback about the cards.

I'd be more than happy to talk with anyone who isn't already using SOC but would like to step their business up to the next level. I'm more than happy to share a couple of our existing campaigns with anyone who decides to sign up for Send Out Cards and to assist you with a few ideas on additional campaigns and marketing concepts using SOCs.

What better time to enhance your business model and office systems than when the market is slightly slower than it's been in years. Take time and invest in your business NOW for the future.

Robert Kenmore

(www.YourEasyFollowUp.com for your free gift account with Send Out Cards)

First of all, welcome and be sure to bookmark this page.

This will be the online source for all things real estate in the Leeds/Moody, Pell City and surrounding St. Clair/Jefferson County Area. Check back often for market updates on various areas, recent sold information for the area and metro, marketing tips and tools & much more.

And always remember, for ALL your Real Estate needs, call Webb & Company Realty at 205-699-7001 or visit us online at www.WebbAndCompanyRealty.com.

Thanks,

Robert Kenmore

REALTOR/Office Manager