Scotti Jowers, Realtor® West Monroe, Louisiana Homes for Sale

I've been a little lax on my training blog lately. Maybe all this running has gotten to me. Maybe I've just been consumed with other things. Whatever the case, I am still training and I am still learning alot about myself and about how chasing a goal persistently relates to pretty much everything in life.

Since beginning my training, my 10 year old daughter has taken an interest in running and has been participating in Cross Country at Claiborne Christian School. She recently placed 9th in a 2 mile junior varsity event; a 5th grader among 7th-8th graders! I'm so proud of her achievement. I've also recently been asked to be an assistant coach for the cross country team for the remainder of the season. This from a guy who couldn't even run 2 miles the second week of August!

One thing that I have discovered is that any run is very difficult for the first 1/2 mile to 1 1/2 mile. After that, however, something pretty amazing takes place. I don't know how to describe it other that using an old cliche. The first bit that is so difficult is "the wall". I know you've heard the phrase "I've hit the wall". It seems that if you endure for a short time, you can push through this "wall" and get a "second wind" (ok, that's another cheesy cliche, but it's the best way to describe the feeling).

Once in this state, it seems almost as if you can run for an undetermined amount of time. There's a certain rhythm to the pace and breathing is completely under control. Everything seems to be hitting on all cylinders. It's awesome!

It's the same way with many things in our businesses. You know those things that you really don't like to do, but you know you should do because they can lead to the things that you do like, namely profits! I realize that what I've always been told in this regard is very true. You're more likely to finish if you actually start!

What are you putting off doing because you're not particularly fond of the activity? Just start and push through the unpleasant part (the wall). That's the only way to finish strong!

Perhaps you've noticed that listings aren't just flying off the market these days. Price is usually the first place we look when a listing seems to be languishing, but there are also other things that we can look at to improve the chances of a quicker sale.

Tips To Move That Listing

1. Encourage your sellers to offer to pay buyer closing costs and prepaid items such as taxes and insurance. This can make a major impact for buyers who are trying to scrape up a downpayment or who are very close to their loan limit. Other incentives could include paying for inspections or providing paint or flooring allowances. Perhaps your seller is in the position to owner finance. These such incentives can help push buyers off of the fence.

2. Make your listings easy to show. Too many listings have too many stipulations such as 24 hour notice or no showings on weekends or during certain hours. Buyers want to see your listing and they want to see it now. Every showing that gets turned down is a potential buyer walking away.

3. Get it EVERYWHERE on the internet! This cannot be overstated. Besides the old faithfuls such as Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow, and the like, get your listing on your Facebook business page. If you don't have one, get one. Get it on craigslist and youtube, as well. There is no such thing as overexposure when marketing real estate.

4. Take good photos. Make sure they are the best quality possible. Try to take outdoor photos on a bright sunny day. Make sure the lights are on when taking interior photos. When photographing bathrooms, please make sure the toilet lid is down!

5. Make sure that your advertising language isn't dull and boring. Try to tell a story in a way that makes buyers want to see your listing. Change it up every other week or so to keep it fresh and inviting. The phrase, "This one is a must see" is WAY overused!

What types of tricks and tips do you use to keep a listing fresh and in the faces of the buying public?

8 Tips to Protect Your Home While
Away on Vacation
By Kelly O'Ryan

Many lucky families are planning holiday trips to cure their winter blues. Here are some important things to remember if you leave your home for several days.

There are currently 181 West Monroe, LA homes for sale under $200,000. They range in price from the investor friendly fixer upper at $19,900 all the way up to some very nice homes at $199,900.

A standout in the upper end of this range is this home on Henderson Road in West Monroe. This 3 bedroom, 2 bath home built within the past 5 years is priced at $195,000. It features 1655 heated square feet and is located in the highly desirable George Welch Elementary School zone. Other schools in the area include Good Hope Middle School and West Monroe High School.

There are currently 17 homes in the $180,000 to $199,900 price range. This range features newer homes like the aforementioned Henderson Road home all the way to larger, but older homes closer to the center of town.

Another obvious standout in the next price bracket is this new construction on Kendallwood Dr. A 3/2 with 1680 heated square feet, this one is priced at $178,000. In this neighborhood, this might be considered a steal! Schools include Claiborne Elementary, Westridge Middle, and West Monroe High School.

There are currently 33 listings in the $160,000 to $179,900 price range. There are still newer homes of decent size in this price range, as well as larger, older homes.

There are currently 34 listings in the $140,000 to $159,900 range. This home located at 120 Susan Drive is definitely a highlight. It is an older home, but at just under 2,000 heated square feet this home features 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a saltwater swimming pool! This is unheard of in West Monroe! This home is just begging for a new owner at $159,900.

There are still 97 homes left after covering the highlights from $140k to $200k! For the sake of time and space, I will point out one more property. This one is an investors special to be sure!

Located on Coleman Avenue, this home may not be in the most desirable school zone for the owner/occupant, but at $34,900 and just over 1700 heated square feet, this home could be a landlord's dream. One of the larger homes in this particualr area, this house features 3 bedrooms and 2 baths; also a rareity in this neighborhood.

If you are interested in West Monroe homes for sale under $200,000, please contact me for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION consultation. Your may also SEARCH HERE.

Well, I must say that I did enjoy my "down week" last week. I ran a total of only 12 miles for the week. No runs were longer than 3 miles and I only ran that distance twice. I discovered a website that helps you plan your routes without having to use your vehicle and odometer. It's at www.mapmyrun.com just in case you're interested.

This week, it's back to the grind and a decent increase from 2 weeks ago. My 3 mile run on Tuesday has increased to 4 miles. I will run a total of 15 miles this week with that total increasing by 1 mile over the next 2 weeks before having another "down week".

I am, so far, very encouraged with my progress. Week 1, I could not run 3 miles without stopping. This week, my 4 miler on Tuesday was very comfortable and I averaged 10:31 per mile. My shorter runs of 2 miles have been much faster as well at 18:50 on Monday and 18:17 on Wednesday.

Was it just persistence and determination? Quite possibly, but I genuinely feel that backing off for a week helped me to come back stronger and faster this week. I just simply feel better overall. Sure, I have some aches and pains, but for pete's sake, I'm 41! Yeah, I feel like going to bed around 8:30 every night, but what's so wrong with that?

Could it be that we could all benefit greatly for more "down time" in our schedules. Yes, I do believe that we have to schedule it! I think we all have good intentions, but when we actually set aside time to take care of our own psyce's, the benefits are all positive.

Will you die if you don't answer your phone EVERY TIME IT RINGS? I doubt it. Should you make every effort to follow up on missed calls? Certainly. Don't neglect your business, just don't be held hostage by it.

Traditional, conventional wisdom tells us to be available 24/7. I we truly are available to that extent, we will burn out.

Take some time every 5 or 6 weeks to take care of you. It doesn't have to be a week. It doesn't have to be a whole week end or even a whole day. The point is, take some time. You will come back fresher and better than ever!