As with being a new real estate agent, some things are only learned by doing. Sure, you can read about selling homes but you need to be out there with buyers and sellers trying to work a deal. Nothing beats real life experience.

Now, I know that the same holds true for going to a NASCAR race. Sure, from the television it all seems wonderful and oh so interesting - you know cars going around a track 320 times. So, last week, while in Arizona, we had tickets to go see my first NASCAR race. Here are some of the lessons I learned:

• Arrive early, really early, to get that close parking and have time to walk the midway and buy lots of hats and t-shirts and other paraphernalia. Each driver seems to have his and her own semi with staff flogging the wares.
• Be ready to eat some treats. The race is in the afternoon but, having arrived early, several bottles of water, an Italian sausage in a bun and a Dove ice cream bar were needed.
• If it is hot, and yes 84 in the blazing sun is hot, wear a hat and sunscreen and be prepared to stand in line for 30 minutes just to have the chance to win a cardboard fan from Banana Boat - take lots of the free samples as you are going to need to spray yourself a couple of times with sun block.
• Bring ear plugs. What? Sorry, I didn't hear you. You can buy some at the track for $2.00 and you are going to need them.
• Look at the seating. If it is stadium bench seating you know that your derrier is going to get sore so think of investing in air cushions. It was the best $25.00 I have spent in a long time. Bad back? Maybe rent the seats that fit over th bench and have a back. Now that I have two cushions, I am ready for the next race.
• If you have a good budget, rent or buy the earphones so that you can hear the announcer on the wireless. After round 50, I just didn't see or know who was who and could not even keep track of what car was in the first place. Thank goodness for the placement tower (which I finally discovered about 2 hours into the race).
• Get someone to tell you the name of a driver and then find he or her number on their car. At least when #16 (Greg Biffle) drove by I could spot one car and cheer for someone.
• If your budget allows, try to sit in the shade. Sometimes you will be cool but then you won't need that fan from the Banana Boat. At the very least, take a break in the shade under the stands.
• Be sure to be back for the final 30-50 rounds just so that you can be there at the end. Seems like cheating to check off NASCAR from the bucket list if you were not there at the finish.
• Get a pit pass. It is interesting to see how the cars are prepared for the race.
• Be amazed that you are in a crowd of 70,000 or more people and still cannot hear anyone talking.
• Absorb the atmosphere and the fun.

Sometimes you provide advice to friends and relatives and never know if they wanted it or not.

Last night I was out playing cards with friends, one of whom is going to sell her home in a few months. About three weeks ago we talked about her hiring an agent and I stressed the importance of interviewing two or three and finding out some answers to, what I believe, are important questions. I told my friend that the internet is now the biggest screening tool that Buyers use for deciding to see a home. I also said that some Buyers have purchased homes (usually from overseas) without ever stepping foot in the home. It is all based on the photos and videos. Given the importance of good photos and videos, I suggested that she ask each agent:

• Who takes the photos that will be used in the listing?
• Will there be video?
• How many photos will be used?
• Do I, the Seller, have a say in which photos will be used?
• Where will the photos be posted (websites)?

Photo credit: Ace of Spades Card Trick Macro 10-19-09-02

Continuing on the theme of things that people have written or said, here is another autograph. Now, you might wonder why an adult would write something like this is a nine year old's autograph book. I bet he never considered that what you say or write will live longer than you and that children tend to remember what adults

say about them.

May you always live

So that after you are dead

Your name will never be listed under

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

What the heck? I wonder why Roses are Red wouldn't do. It took me some growing up to realize that little poem is just nasty. Now, when you write something in a post or a note or a letter, I hope you remember that it will likely live longer than you will and you may want to consider how you will be remembered. I know I didn't like this person after I realized what he said. The person who wrote this is now deceased and this is what I remember about him. Sad, isn't it?

Last night we went out for Valentine's Day (okay, a few hours before the stroke of midnight but so close to the 14th as not to count). One of my favourite restaurants a few years ago was Allium on Holland Avenue. For some reason, time passed and we had not been back. In looking for a place to celebrate Valentine's Day, I suggested Allium. Monday night is tapas night and that allows me to taste a few things without ending up with a huge plate of only one type of food. I was not disappointed! We had great service, wonderful tapas and then for only $4.00 a half of a Banoffee pie (see the photo from the Allium website above to realize that this was not a huge serving but JUST RIGHT. I saw a Jamie Oliver television show where he made one of these pies and it stuck as something that I would like to taste. Mission accomplished. It is made of graham crumb crust, toffee, bananas, whipped cream and shaved chocolate. Not something for every day but a treat.

Part of what made the evening was the variety of patrons in the restaurant. There were a couple of families with school aged children, women out with their girlfriends, couples, and groups. The atmosphere was lively and upbeat.

I highly recommend a meal at Allium or (if you are like me and like variety) the Monday tapas evening. Make a reservation just to be sure to have a spot.

Allium 87 Holland Avenue; Ottawa, Ontario;

613-792-1313

Now that I am in the mood to shop for a house, I am learning all kinds of things from a Buyer's viewpoint. While being an agent, I told all of my clients of the importance of lots of good photos. I would now add the importance of good panoramic video. Once this is taken care of, then a house needs to be listed on as many websites as possible.

• The local Board that manages the MLS system for the area. In Ottawa, there are restrictions on the local Board to how many photos can be loaded into the listing. However, the Board has provided space for agents to link the listing to other sites.
• My former brokerage had its own site for Royal LePage agents
• The listings were loaded on the national site MLS.ca
• I have/had my own site plus the ActiveRain site
• My photos, description and panoramic videos were loaded on a site specific to the address of the house.
• Agents and home Sellers also have the opportunity to list on Kijiji and Craigslist.

Just a couple of reminders:

• Make sure that you have excellent photos. Hire a professional photographer to get the best results.
• Avoid the 'fish eye' lens where possible as the distortion is hard for some people to understand. While you get to see 'more' of the room, it also looks bigger, wider, longer and just off kilter.
• Don't forget to update the sites that are in your control, during the sale and after the home is sold. Nothing looks as bad as an interior shot of the living room with a Christmas tree when it is July and sweltering hot.