Realtor Diane Bell's Hilton Head and Bluffton Real Estate Blog

Today is Earth Day, and where most of the world chooses to focus on recycling and global warming today, I am focusing on something much, much more important. 

My great-grandmother used to say to me, "Red, use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.  That's the way we did it during the Depression, and that's the way you should do it now.  Any other way is wasteful and does a disservice to your family and neighbors."

Growing up, that's exactly what we did.  My great-grandmother was big on finding deals and discounts, using something until it was dead, and extending the life and quality of the things we already have.  This, of course, was from back before being "Green" was in style, before global warming was even on our social radar, and before people thought frugality was just a fad.

It was sometimes amazing to hear her stories about a time that was simpler, a time where community was so much stronger, and a time that money wasn't everything.  She lived simply even in her old age when money was more plentiful and she could do more than play Bridge with her friends or go down to the Bingo Hall. 

Sadly, my great-grandmother is no longer with us today, but every Earth Day, instead of rolling my eyes at the harping on recycling or buying into the "Green" products that stores are touting, I think about what I could do to live more simply.  What could I use up? What could I wear out?  How can I make do?  Can I do without that XYZ item at the store?

Many don't know this about me here on the Rain, but in my off-time, I'm also a Frugality Blogger.  I teach classes to those who want to live a simpler life, to those who either want or need to make do for a while.  I run articles at least three times a week about how to simplify.  What's my point?  My point is that I'm not trying to talk out of my *** here, but to pass on a very valuable lesson from my dear ol' great-granny and those days so long ago where they didn't have the choice to follow this advice.

Here's some simple things you can do to simplify today, and every day:

1.  Instead of running to the store (wasting time, gas, and money) for one ingredient, find something to substitute in your meal.  Use AllRecipes.com's ingredient search to try a new recipe, or if you're brave enough, swap your asparagus for the broccoli that will die a horrid death in three days.

2.  If you have barely used clothing that is still in style or that you love, but it's a size too big or too small, learn how to sew.  For those of you who aren't handy, invest in a tailor; generally, alterations are much less costly than new clothes, and you're not tossing perfectly good clothing into the black hole that is Goodwill.

3.  If you're out of shaving cream, use conditioner (this is one of my favorites!).  Use lemon and baking soda to clean wooden cutting boards.  Vinegar and water cuts grease in the kitchen (especially that awful black stuff that comes from cooking there for a year)!

4.  Use used dryer sheets to dust off electronics.  They're soft enough for the screen (after use) and they eliminate that awful static cling that attracts dust!

5.  Use those single lost-mate socks to help clean up spills on the rug.  You're not going to wear them anyway, so spray your spot cleaner on the spot, pull the sock over your fist, and use twisting motions to sop the stain right out!

The main lesson here is to really think about what you're throwing out, donating, giving away, or leaving behind: Can you repurpose it?  Can you substitute something else in its place?  Can you use it up before you have to throw it away?

Happy Earth Day 2009, everyone!  Here's looking forward to a simpler life.

I just feel the need today to blog about the top 10 things I love about real estate.  I am sitting here in the aisle of our church sanctuary watching my daughter dress rehearse for her weekend performance, and enjoying my wireless (yet again!).

I'll go backward in true Letterman style:

10-I can update my files while eating ice cream and sitting on the floor!

9--I can market my listings in the middle of the night, giving new meaning to flex hours:-)

8--I was at my son's Special Olympics Torch Run today, when most were working, discussing strategy with my Team Leader!  We really do have great tools----

7--I told my husband I needed a new laptop with tablet that would fit in my purse, so I could take it with me everywhere---and he bought it for me (I love you honey:-))!

6--Commission checks ROCK!

5--I get to go into the most fantastic homes, and NO ONE assumes I am burglerizing!  And I'm not, so it's all good.

4--Did I mention that commission checks ROCK!

3--Passive income through referrals.  Having a lazy week?  No issues--refer away!

2--I can write off my mileage and gasoline expenses--for the most part!  Love that!

AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON----

1--I always have a reason to start talking to total strangers!  And they always have something new to chat with me about!  AND--I call that prospecting, and so does my Team Leader (does that mean I can write off my gym membership?)

But really, I do love what I do, and I hope it shows.  As I have never known another type of market--this one is working for me, and successfully.  So, I am joyful and it is good!  Just thought I'd share.  Now, check out my new One Team-Keller Williams First Coast fan page on Facebook and let me know your thoughts!

Respectfully---Christa

(who is watching the choir leader slowly lose her mind----too many kids, not enough parents)

Last Thursday I wrote about Why Twitter Follower Counts Mean Nothing.

The post touched off some interesting public and private discussions. The number huggers are everywhere and their logic, in a very comfortable, that-sounds-like-something-i've-done-before, kind of way, can certainly appear sound. They ask questions like, "Why broadcast to 10 people when you can broadcast to 10,000?" Who could argue with that, right? <raises hand> The clue to the answer lies in the question itself.

Broadcasting?

Is that really what we're doing in the social media space? Some think so.  I don't. I received a direct message from Matt Rathbun this morning that contained a link to a page selling a Twitter Mini-Course Book. I'm not sharing his site. I'm not giving Snake Oil salesman link love. Matt wasn't kind in his analysis.

The people who will succeed by treating Twitter, Facebook and other social networks like electronic direct mail are people who are selling “magic” solutions for growing your business to people looking for “easy” “I want results now” answers. And those successes will be short lived. Because that’s not how effective social media marketing works.

Engagement Is The New Marketing Metric.

Engagement through Social Media is aligned with how trust is built, how real relationships form and transactions result. "Working to build relationships (over time)" is not as easy to sell as "attract more customers now!" But those who see its wisdom will profit in the long run.

In 2008, Forrester Research rightly stated that "engagement" was the new marketing metric. "Using engagement, you get a more holistic appreciation of your customers' actions, recognizing that value comes not just from transactions but also from actions people take to influence others. Once engagement takes hold of marketing, marketing messages will become conversations, and dollars will shift from media buying to customer understanding."

All the numbers that really matter are related to engagement. Forester proposed a four "I" concept for measuring engagement.

• Involvement tracks site visitors, time spent, page views and more (old-school stuff)
• Interaction measures the contributions to blogs, photo and video creation and uploads, and purchases
• Intimacy tries to understand consumer attitudes, perception, and feelings about a brand through surveys or monitoring technology as well as applications providing an interactive environment between brand and consumers
• Influence measures the likelihood that consumers will recommend or advocate products or brands

I'm not against numbers per se. But the numbers must mean something. Would truly engaging with 10,000 be better than truly engaging with 10? Of course. But the key to the value in that statement is the word "engaging." How many people can YOU truly engage? It's going to be a different number for you than for the next person stumbling onto this post.

YEO (You Engaging Others) is not focused on YOU. It's focused on OTHERS. YEO is about communicating in a way that allows you to be heard above the noise. It’s about listening more than talking. And it's impossible to listen when all you're doing is broadcasting.

 

There's a play in baseball they call the 'squeeze play'...rather than explain it with Xs and Os...Let me just say that it contains elements of surprise, bunting, quickness, timing, and a whole lot of luck...  

When it works (about half the times it's tried) it looks impressive and ingenious and results in a run scored...when it doesn't work, however, it looks awful, stupid, too risky, bush league, and desperate...  

Now, let's look at real estate...  

Real estate is often like that...there are many 'squeeze plays' in real estate...when the risks seem to outweigh the advantages...but a lot of real estate results are unpredictable...that's why we don't get paid by the hour...  

Trust is very important in a 'squeeze play'...the runner at third must trust that the batter will make contact with the pitch, otherwise the runner will be tagged out foolishly at home...  

How often is 'TRUST' misplaced in a real estate transaction...or how often is someone, just learning, made to look like an expert, but, in reality, is a novice at best...  

I can think of many 'squeeze play' stories in my career in real estate...some are funny, and some are not so funny...  

Personally, I love the 'squeeze play' in baseball, but when it comes to messing with someone's largest life investment or tinkering with some family's American Dream, I'd rather not take the risk...!!!  

'SAFE', is the only call for a true Real Estate Professional...!!!

 

 

 

Today I used a new technical defense to successfully defeat a motion for summary judgment for foreclosure and I wanted to pass it on to other attorneys (or those who know attorneys) helping homeowners in foreclosure.

This happened in Florida, but other states' rules could provide the same type of relief.

The bank filed its foreclosure some months ago and the homeowner tried to represent himself and did a poor job of it because there were several deficiencies in the pleadings filed by the bank.  Then I came into the picture just 8 days before a scheduled court hearing to grant the bank's Motion for Summary Judgment of Foreclosure, at which time the public sale date for the house would have been set.

As with most foreclosure suits the promissory note could not be produced so the bank was going to produce at the hearing an Affidavit of Lost Promissory Note.  This is permitted under a special state statute that creates a mechanism to prove up a financial instrument that was lost by the holder.

However, the Rules of Summary Judgment say that any pleading to be used by the moving party (here, the bank) must be filed with the court and provided to the other parties at least 20 days prior to the hearing.

The bank complied with the lost note statute (they had the lost note affidavit to give to the judge), but not the court rule about the 20 days, I argued -- and the judge agreed and denied their Motion for Summary Judgment.

This whole exercise was not to create a delay so the client can live in the house for free -- it was obtained so the client can complete a short sale (he still needs a buyer) and avoid a foreclosure deficiency judgment that will haunt him for the next 20 years.

I pass this on in the hope that this customary practice by the lenders will be recognized by attorneys and used to help out those needing more time to find a better solution  than foreclosure.

Copyright 2009 Richard P. Zaretsky, Esq.

Be sure to contact your own attorney for your state laws, and always consult your own attorney on any legal decision you need to make.  This article is for information purposes and is not specific advice to any one reader.

Richard Zaretsky, Esq., RICHARD P. ZARETSKY P.A. ATTORNEYS AT LAW, 1655 PALM BEACH LAKES BLVD, SUITE 900, WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA 33401, PHONE 561 689 6660  RPZ99@Florida-Counsel.com - FLORIDA BAR BOARD CERTIFIED IN REAL ESTATE LAW - We assist Brokers and Sellers with Short Sales and Modifications and Consult with Brokers and Sellers Nationwide!  Shortsales@Florida-Counsel.com  New Website www.Florida-Counsel.com.  See our easy to find articles at Need Short Sale Information? - These Articles Probably Answer Your Question