Trevor Elliott

I am selling a home with smoke detectors in the sleeping areas but the appraiser and lender came back with a condition stating a smoke detector is needed in each room of the home except the bathroom. Then it got me thinking about the kitchen. Why would you have one in the kitchen? Does anyone know what the law states?FHA or Conventional?

I guess in the kitchen could be good if you have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder. But in all seriousness I would suggest placing like the image below. This is from a Fire Department and I have kept it as a reminder.

I know it is not professional to use four letter words but I do not like the New GFE or the new HUD1. The idea behind them is good but the implementation stinks. I know I am not the first to speak on this subject but I can't help but rehash how bad these are. When I first saw it I confused it with The No Child Left Behind Report Cards that me 1st grader gets. Then I could not figure out why HUD simplified everything but still uses "settlement charges" I thought that is what you got in a lawsuit or in divorce court. Why didn't they simplify that and say "Money to close". Confusing as it is where is the payment and why do we care what the seller pays for the Title Insurance Policy or should we as a buyer? What about the Home Owners Insurance is $40 a month versus $32 that big of a deal that it needs to be in a Good Faith Estimate?

I understand the HUD wants to protect buyers but why do think that this form can do so. It will confuse buyers, it will decrease the amount of "shopping" because of frustration and time.

Am I right on this? Do we need more headaches and frustration for our buyers? Can this GFE protect them?

I like gauges. In my car, on the oven, clocking computer speed and now online. This gauge is a very cool one because it helps you determine what rent should be for a specific area and size and condition of the rental.

I like it because it is simple. I like it because it gives averages. I like it because it is national. I like it because it works. I encourage you to try it.

No, I did not receive any compensation for writing this post. I do not have any interest in rentometer.com.

If you are like me you are always thinking about cell phone minutes. I often end up texting my cleints and most seem to respond positively to it. They are some though that thinks it lacks a personal touch.

Is it polite and professional? Is it okay to text prospects as well?

I am not a hipster cool texter that is super fast or uses acronyms but I do have some friends that won't answer the phone but instead text.

Have we lost our personal touch? This profession is about PR but can we conduct business by texting and still be professionals?

Foxtrot has a good spin on it.

If you have ever been to Oregon or specifically the Willamette Valley you know what I am talking about. It rains and rains. Not buckets but a constant light sprinkling. And you know a true Oregon because they don't use umbrellas but hoods if that.

You'd think this post might be a negative one but instead I write to remind all of us that even when we think rain is bad it is really good. We all learned in Science class that it fills our rivers and waters the crops so we have food and drinking water.

Rain is alot like Real Estate. When it's raining we may not be as busy but we are preparing for the sunshine and the harvest. We are working for the payoff.

Rain is also good because it shows us were we have leaks or weaknesses. Without it we can't grow and learn.

I say bring the rain!