Tim Ludemann

We have 2 fax machines in our office and one scanner (that can fax) but I believe it won't be long till scanning is the only way. Here are some of the advantages of scanning:

-Clean clear copy

-Fast

-Paper Filing reduced

I like the fact that getting a clean copy to the title saves them a headache, sending back and worth between client and agent is smooth (I can forward from my Blackberry). I love how fast it gets to the destinations no worries of busy tones or people not receiving your fax.

You can send conformations of date sent, some fax machines clocks go on safe mode when the power goes out.

The main reason I like scanning and saving the files to our company server is any time I need a copy I can access them. Even if I'm outside the office I can remotely dial into our server and view the necessary docs. Nothing more convenient than that.

The last factor is we,as Real Estate agents, are using more paper than any other human being.

Scan and save the Earth... c'mon...how are you going to fight that!

It was One year ago I joined active rain. My friend and marketing expert Elayna Fernandez (shes giving away a free ebook) recommended I join. I started out like all rainers like a ball of fire and eventually slowed down. I did it for a few more months and then decided to stop. I mean no comments no logging in and so forth.

Fast forward a couple of months later and I began to receive calls from buyers looking for more info on certain communities and so on. Now I was like how did they get my info. So I typed in the community and sure enough there I was. It works for small communities that didn't have much web presence but those are also RV resorts and mobile homes. I was pleasant and treated each one as if they were million dollar buyers. Nothing really came of it but at least a few more people know my name and how I operate.

Looking forward to getting more calls.

The main benefit I get out of Active Rain is all the professionals and there helpful insight. I read blogs and come away with ideas and thoughts that I wouldn't have encountered without being apart of this community.

Thanks and looking forward to reading more blogs.

Check out Elayna website: Design 2 Impress

I wanted to mention a question I answer every day, which is what is the difference between a Short Sale and a Foreclosure. Here in the Estero Real Estate market we have a had our share of speculators that have decided to let their Investment go back to the bank. What that means is they no longer are making their payments on their property. Before we had the clients letting their homes go back typically the bank could foreclose on the property in reasonable time (3-5 Months). At the present time, it can take at least 12 months and in some cases even longer! Because of the reason being the astronomical number of clients not making their payments, the bank can't foreclose on them in a timely manner.

Thus the short sale is put into place and basically it is when the bank allows for the seller to sell their property for less than the owed amount.

Examples:

Seller owes bank $200,000 for the home the seller can only get a buyer willing to pay $125,000. The seller typically has ramifications for this i.e.: Credit is effected, possible 1099, or personal note taken out for the difference owed.

Foreclosure is when the Bank now owns the Property and is responsible for Power, Taxes, and other responsibilities that comes with owning the home. The bank hates to be in the property management business so they prices these to sell and sell fast they do.

This is a brief explanation should you want to discuss further in depth please contact me.

Stock Paseo Fly & Buy

A developer in South West Florida is willing to pay for your plane flight down to Sunny Gulf of Mexico coast. The only thing you have to do is purchase one of their inventory homes.

Paseo is a Brand new community located off of Daniels Parkway minutes from Fort Myers airport, shopping and, of course, the white sandy beach. But with the amenities Paseo offers, you won't want to leave:

• 90 people Movie Theater
• State of the art fitness center with a dance and aerobics studio
• Resort style pool with pool side tiki bar
• Spa offering manicures, pedicures as well as facials and message therapy
• Paseo Pub and Bistro offering a gourmet meal and great place to watch sports or play a game of billiards.
• Internet Café and Coffee shop
• And... they didn't forget your sweet tooth with an ice cream shop.

Paseo offers fewer than 1200 residences that range from casitas to traditional series. The Casitas are a pleasant change from normal townhome of southwest Florida. The Casitas are connected by a small Trellis opposed to the typical norm a shared wall. Casitas are completed and begin in the low 200's.

The other unique construction is the village residences that offer multifamily homes, town homes and split-level townhomes.

The community also has single family detached homes ranging 1,649 sq. ft to 3,000 sq. ft. and prices range from the low 300's and up. All these homes are brand new, never lived in and ready to move into. Don't wait till the market jumps to buy, buy at the bottom of the market.

The step to loading up the iPod use to be buy cd download onto ITunes and off you go jamming out. If going to Target is out of the question head to the ITunes store online and download. Now I have began to try to become more frugal.

I have discovered a great way to load up my iPod while saving a ton of money. I headed to my county library my tax dollars help support. There, I discovered that the library has every audio book I ever wanted. I love to listen to Chopra, Dyer, and another guru that inspires me to be the best person I can be but buying them was out of the question. So I headed to the library, low and behold they had everything I was looking for.

They also have movies that I no longer need to go to Blockbuster to get. As long as I can patiently wait for them to come available there is an endless amount available. I love to save money.

Then I said maybe they will have old cds that I don't have on my iPod. To my surprise they not only had The Eagles Greatest Hits, they also have the newest album I was looking for.

Great way to Load up the iPod without spending a ton of cash.

Please contact me if you need more information!