Inspired Real Estate For Today

Today's real estate market requires innovative thinking.  With inventory levels at an all time high in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area, (2X as many homes for sale now as there were 5 years ago) home owners, prospective home buyers and agents have to think outside the box to make transactions work. 

Add to the mix the mortgage crisis, which effectively axed a large number of "would be buyers" out of the market, and you have a really interesting jigsaw puzzle when it comes to figuring out how to put a transaction together.

But, there is one area of the housing market which is seeing some increases in activity.  This is occurring in the rental market for homes! Over the past several months, our office has received a number of calls inquiring about homes for rent. We've fielded calls from different parts of the country as well as the local Grand Rapids, Michigan area. With the glut of housing in the market, you'd think that it'd be easy to find homes to rent.  Not at all!  In-fact, the opposite has proved to be the case.  It has often required an exhaustive search to find suitable homes...or a sprint to the finish line to get an offer in before 3 other offers have been tendered on the nicest properties!

I often wonder if home owners desperately trying to sell their properties are aware of this emerging dynamic in the housing market. When I see homes VACANT on the market for 236 days or 359 days, I wonder if these home owners know they could have been earning income while they waited for their homes to sell? 

There are so many tools available to real estate agents in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area to assist home owners who need a little support while they wait to sell their home. These include the ability for homes to be listed "For Lease" in the Multiple Listing Service.  This increases the exposure of the home for rent to prospects who are serious about buying a home...generally a higher quality lead pool than prospects who are only interested in leasing.  In addition, a web savvy agent can significantly enhance a listing and chances for a Sale or Lease by uploading the data to a number of websites such as craigslist and rent.com and advertising on their website or blog.

When our office gets these calls, we begin to mine the MLS database looking for prospects who might be interested in making money while they wait for a home sale.  In addition to assisting our prospective clients in locating suitable homes, we will also approach the Listing Agent and ask them to inquire about the possibility of renting with an option to purchase.  We're surprised by how often this has not been discussed and how many sellers, who have vacated their homes, are open and grateful to engage in negotiation if the renter has a good rental and credit history.

This highlights one of the most Value Added Services that a good real estate agent can provide.  While mortgage companies are tightening standards which would have enabled many prospective buyers to purchase homes a scant 6 months ago, real estate agents can facilitate solutions which enable both the home owner and home buyer to accomplish their goals in a reasonable manner.

When submitting offers for lease to purchase options, a prospective clients full credit report is checked and made available to the prospective landlord.  In addition, we facilitate the completion of the lease documents and arrange for the closing to be held in a title escrow office which ensures proper accounting for earnest money deposits and any other agreements which are in place. 

We have found that this Value Added Service is truly appreciated by home owners because it protects their interests through a careful review of the prospective tenant.  It is also greatly appreciated by home buyers who can take the first steps towards home ownership and in some cases even begin to build home equity through their rental payments. 

If you're interested in knowing more about how to obtain some relief while you try to sell your home or want to explore purchasing your home through a lease with option to purchase, please contact our office for a FREE, Value Added, No Obligation review of your specific situation.  We specialize in creating WIN WIN scenarios. 

Copyright 2007 Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

 Click Here to Read More about Grand Rapids, Michigan

They say that Deja Vu comes upon you when you least expect it.  It may whisper a bittersweet remembrance in your ear reminding you of a cruel irony...or it may appear as the masked partner in a ballroom dance revealing itself through the drumbeat of a ironically familiar misstep.  But however, it barrels back into your life..you never miss it.  You've been here before.  That you know. 

But the urgent question is Why?  Why do you find yourself back in this space in time, peering through the mist of confusion and regret?  Why are there some experiences which just don't seem to want to go their way and die a quiet death of unambiguous remorse?

There have been many wise sages who have tackled this question with far greater skill and wisdom than I could ever muster.  And, as the experience of deja vu seems to startle all of us at different times, perhaps the answers ultimately are going to be private and personal.  However, I think one thing can be said about a deja vu experience...it comes to teach us something if we will examine it long enough to learn.

Deja Vu is not always associated with negative experiences. When deja vu revives beautiful memories, it's lingering familiarity feels like one is tenderly wrapped in a warm,comfortable cloak.  However, brief and fleeting...a positive deja vu experience can inspire a feeling of calm and peace.

Nevertheless, it's the unsettling moments of deja vu that perhaps contain the keys for some of life's most teachable moments. I've found that my real estate career has afforded ample opportunity for many of these.  Moments when I've been involved in a transaction that was going south in a hurry.  Moments of painful clarity when I know I've been dealt with dishonestly...and the thought occurs to me...haven't I been here before? 

It is only recently that I've begun to understand an important component of deja vu. One of the reasons why certain patterns and circumstances continue to occur in life and business is because although we've been in certain situations before, we've failed to gain the depth of understanding that enables us to walk through and beyond. 

You see the prophet Jonah's first pity party wasn't held miles below the coastline in the stomach of a huge fish.  Jonah had been having many a temper tantrum before he found himself in the belly of a smelly whale.  And in the same way, Daniel's three companions had been the subject of a lot of jealous contention before they found themselves in the roaring fire-pit of consuming enmity. 

But, the powerful theme  in these ancient stories is that the protagonist don't stay parked in their dire circumstances...they learn from them. There must be something truly profound, albeit stinky, about reflecting in a swimming pool of whale slime. There's definitely something tremendously powerful about being refined through a trial in a fiery furnace. These moments of clarity afford an opportunity to put things in proper perspective.  Can jealously ever hurt in the same way if you know that it's most targeted firebrand will eventually reveal a greater brilliance and purity in your soul? 

I think that this is what  deja vu experiences are supposed to do.  Life is a patient teacher, sending it's lessons out to us over and over again until we hopefully get it.  Deja Vu experiences clear the mind through the visitation of a scenario that is all too frighteningly familiar.  Deja Vu experiences are the beckoning call; inviting us to look at the cold hard truth about who we are and what we are becoming. 

I believe that deja vu experiences are sent to to challenge us to remember what is worth fighting for.  And to expose the cruelty of costly efforts and deep disappointments which wreck havoc at the core of our lives.  These need to be released into the sea of total forgetfulness so we can move decisively into the future... undeterred by unwelcome intrusions from the past. If we are willing to receive and embrace the lessons masked within the reappearance of a deja vu, we may experience a unexpected gift of peculiar grace.

*Full versions of the incredible stories of Jonah & Daniel can be found in the books by this name in the Bible. 

Photo courtesy of Gucciano's photostreamon flickr.com

Copyright 2007 Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

 Click Here to Read More about Grand Rapids, Michigan

OK, I'll admit it. I've been a Landlord 3 times.  This is not my chosen occupation.  You see, I'm not really constitutionally set up to be a good landlord.  I don't enjoy being mean, nor do I like making reminder calls for over due rent. 

I entered the land-lording business because I had bought a house.  My first home came with a tenant.  The tenant was actually a model tenant....neat, orderly, considerate and on time with the rent payments.  If this was my sole experience, I'd be enthused about owning homes which other people live in.  But it wasn't.  I became a landlord two more times and those experiences were markedly different from my first entree into the industry.

The second time, not unlike many home owners, I had bought another home and had been unable to sell my current home.  Since, I had one good tenant, I thought that having two tenants would be great.  It was certainly better than having two house payments!

My prospective tenants told me that they had lived in military housing and had their home checked out all the time.  The inference being they were very neat people...or so I thought.  I'll never forget the day I walked into the kitchen to check on my home.  There was a narrow pathway barely visible through the piles of junk, paper and garbage on the floor.  These tenants also didn't like to pay for trash pick up, so they used my one stall garage as a trash dump.  There were literally pizza boxes up to the ceiling. I ended up paying the tenant to leave the home.

Over the past 24 months in Grand Rapids, MI many homeowners are becoming reluctant landlords.  When you've moved or bought another house prior to your home selling, this may be the only option to deal with the looming possibility of 2 huge payments every month.  Unfortunately, this solution sometimes creates unforeseen difficulties. 

I've learned some lessons through these experiences which I can now pass on the clients who are investors or need to rent their homes like I did. Taking these steps can reduce the risk of moving from the frying pan of a difficult financial situation to the hot fire of a home with renters who are ruining it AND not paying you!

1.  Check our references.

• In my eagerness to collect rent, I didn't ask for or check out rental references.  This is a big mistake.  You can learn a lot from a call.  Even if no negative information is shared, the reluctance to say anything about a renter may be cause for further investigation.

2.  Obtain a Credit Check

• This is very important.  Prior payment history will reflect what is likely to happen to you.  If a tenant did not pay a previous landlord, there is a high likelihood that eventually they will stop paying you.  Sometimes, a situation occurs which has a valid explanation  and an exception may be made.  But this should be done only after taking into consideration the entire picture including previous rental history.

3.  Take A Drive in the Neighborhood.

• If you're renting out a home which is your primary residence and you intend to sell it, it may be wise to ask to drive by or ask to see the home that the person who wants to rent your home is currently living in.  Their upkeep there will mirror what you may anticipate in your home.  While this should not be the only criteria, it can be helpful.  If they refuse to clean up now where they are...well they're unlikely to start when they move.

4.  Join the Rental Property Association.

• In Grand Rapids, Michigan, this association is worth every cent of the $200 or so yearly fee.  This organization gives landlords access to legal advice, excellent lease forms, seminars and teachings and the opportunity to network with other landlords.  You can learn a lot from other people's experiences and avoid a lot of heartache.

5.  Be Very Clear and Concise in the Terms of Your Lease Agreement.

• A clearly and concisely written lease can save you a lot of grief.  Be clear about when a late fee kicks in and for how much.  Be clear about how many tenants can live in the home and how many cars can be parked on the premises.  Be clear about whether you will allow pets and what the fee will be if you have to repair damage.  Be clear about the reasons why a security deposit will be forfeited.

6.  Collect a Security Deposit.

• This should cover at least one months rent.

7.  Detail the Current State of Your Home WHEN the new tenant takes possession.

• Make sure you fill out a detailed checklist of every room in your home and have your tenant fill out any issues which they observe as well.  This written document will substantiate the state of the home.  In addition, you may want to take pictures for posterity.

This list of 7 items provides steps which can significantly reduce the risk of having a bad experience...especially ifyou find yourself in the role of a reluctant landlord.  If you're considering offering your home for rent, you may want to contact us.  We can assist you in evaluating if this option makes sense for your specific situation.  We can also place your home for lease on the local Multiple Listing System and increase the potential of getting a good tenant.

Photo courtesy of Thomas Hawk on flickr.com

Copyright 2007 Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

 Click Here to Read More about Grand Rapids, Michigan

Over the couple of weeks, I've had the distinct pleasure of talking and/or meeting several individuals from the Active Rain blogging community.  Missy Caulk, who is just a couple of hours away in Ann Arbor called me because she was going to be in Grand Rapids, Michigan for a convention.  When we met for lunch at the Amway, it was like sitting down with a good friend. We brought her a bouquet of flowers to celebrate her being named one of the "Twelve Top Female Real Estate Bloggers" by the widely read Sellsius blog. The conversation flowed easily and we laughed a lot.  We didn't want it to end.  So, when she invited us to join her and her team at the convention, we tagged along. 

Later on, I got a call from Steve Volkers, an agent in Grand Rapids who was inquiring about the upcoming Blogging Seminar.  Steve is very progressive in his thinking and I appreciated hearing about how he is connecting via Facebook and other Web 2.0 platforms in addition to Blogging.  Steve's blogging efforts have yielded tangible results in leads and successful transactions.  Upon reflection about my conversations, I realized that the volume of commissions from leads within the past year from 3 real estate agents related blogging efforts alone was well over $100,000.  That's not small change...particularly in Michigan.

More recently, I spoke on the phone with Amber Riviere.  The first time I read a blog Amber wrote was when she won the Prime Time Contest hosted by Mark Flanders with her article entitled "Drive." The reason I was calling Amber was because I had received a call from Jeff Dowler.  Jeff was calling me about a creative NEW newsletter that Amber has launched called the 411 Newsletter.  This on line newsletter is Amber's answer to expanding the reach of excellent blog posts to real estate clients all over the country. 

You see, consumers are just beginning to grasp the gold mine of information available through real estate blogs. The phenomenon has not yet reached the critical mass which will will create a Tipping Point. But, it's a movement which is gaining members and momentum very quickly. 

Amber's idea...give agents the opportunity to subscribe to an online version newsletter created from Blog Posts which can be e-mailed to hundreds of clients.  As the agent you don't have to do a thing...just contact Amber to subscribe to the service.  Not only is this expanding the reach of well written blog posts, it's giving agents another way to add Value to their clients without even having to write a Blog! 

It is crystal clear to me now why this is going to be an extremely powerful aspect of marketing.  The explosion of blogs in every arena, 109 Million as tracked by Technorati, will eventually make blogging another mainstream source of news and information.  Think of how often you hear blogs quoted or see their authors on Fox News and CNN...something you rarely saw 3 years ago.

Looking back...a year ago, I couldn't understand why my kids wanted to be on Facebook and Xanga.  Nor, would it have made sense to me that one of the most eagerly anticipated rites of passage, entrance into a prestigious university, would be celebrated with almost the same level of exuberance as being eligible for an e-mail address that allowed you to join the school's Facebook network.  But when we took our son to college, students seemed to know each other.  They settled into an easy camaraderie...not as strangers but friends who had already met and were eager to delve deeper into relationship. Seeing this first hand, in tandem with my own experience was a watershed moment for me.

When I've met potential clients who have been reading my blog, it a very different sort of introductory process.  Sitting down with someone who has read your blog is like meeting a friend...one with whom you have some delightful catching up to do.  The barriers of mistrust have been broken down.  The true work of service and counsel can begin unhampered by lingering suspicions and misplaced apprehension. Clients have told me, they "feel they know me."

I just finished reading an interesting blog post  entitiled "Lead Generation Paradigm Shift" by Pat Kitano author of theTransparent Real Estate Blog. Pat's insights about how the shift from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 are going to change consumer relationships is intriguing.

According to Pat Kitano:

"Web 1.0 was about buying leads sourced from sites that collected contact info, usually as a toll for the consumer to see additional information. Web 2.0 promotes the free exchange of information with the presumption that the good will of such exchange would lead to a business relationship. The newest paradigm is just beginning to appear. Web 2.x will promote the free distribution of data as currency to attract leads" (I really encourage you to read this article in full context...)

If Pat is right...and I think he is, this paradigm shift will yield a blogger increasingly expanding returns through the interconnectivity of relationships realigning potential leads back to source authors in exchange for the attraction power of their ideas. Those who have already started to build this database by blogging are literally investing currency in the bank of ideas.  Are you Building a Deposit which you can withdraw from tomorrow to fund your future by writing posts that consumers will WANT to read?

Copyright 2007 Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

 Click Here to Read More about Grand Rapids, Michigan

Every Monday Morning, real estate agents at Audu Real Estate congregate at the companies' corporate office for a weekly ritual. Bolstered by cups of coffee and armed with notepads, they wait in expectation for the games to begin.  You never know what will happen at an Audu Real Estate weekly meeting!

On any given week agents can be found engaged in an animated discussion about the Code of Ethics, obtaining indepth knowledge about short sales &  foreclosures, reading and discussing a well regarded author, or taking a field trip outside the office to view Parade Homes.  It's 2-3 hours of power packed learning which agents say leaves them feeling not just informed but also inspired!

When I developed a Mentoring Program for new agents, I divided the course work into 3 major components.  Business Skills, Real Estate Skills & Personal Development Skills.  On a surprisingly practical level, the Inspiration Component which is part of the Skills & Personal Development section has yielded some of the Mentor Programs most memorable "teachable moments."

Recently, I shared with our agents about my experience with a Gratitude Journal which I kept for several months last year.  It was simply a notebook in which I recorded, on a daily basis, the variety of blessings and "happy coincidences" that occurred on any given day. There was just so much negativity in the press about real estate that I decided to find out what would happen if I decided to apply a disciplined approach to recording "good news" as it happened in my life and business.

During a recent review of my journal, I was struck by the wide gamut of happenings that seemed to show up in my daily entries over a 3-4 month period. From a few dollars off on an item or a coupon for something I was just about to buy... to thousands of dollars being earned at an especially opportune time.  The more time I spent being grateful...it seemed that there was more to be grateful for.

After our training, I went out for a late lunch with my husband.  As we sat down to eat, we noticed a $10 bill on the floor next to us.  He picked it up and headed over to the lady at counter to keep in-case someone came back to look for it.  I sat down with my lunch somewhat stunned by yet another "coincidence."  I NEVER just find money! 

That $10 bill was a message to me that opportunities and provision are all around us if we choose to look for them. There were several dinners sitting at nearby tables, but no one had noticed that there was money lying on the ground in plain sight! 

I'm struck by the picture of the mossy undergrowth around the trunk of the tree.  I wonder what may be hidden just beneath our feet? Perhaps, something as elegant and simple as the rare fall leaf that retained it's brilliant color in-spite of the blanket cover of snow. It's  easy to be so busy anxiously peering over our shoulders at the past or focusing on the looming obstacles ahead that we inadvertently miss the beauty underfoot!  It's even easier to ignore the myriad of ways that blessings emerge inspite of life's many challenges.

I think that opportunities tend to occur when we are tuned in to receive them. Capturing them has a lot to do with living in grateful expectation that they will appear and then being open to receive them when they do.

Click Here to Tour the Audu Real Estate office...

Copyright 2007 Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

 Click Here to Read More about Grand Rapids, Michigan

A recent story in the Grand Rapids press, (Saturday, October 13,2007) caught my attention.  The title of the article by Chris Knape was "Amway Sues Bloggers" with a subtitle that said..."company alleges fired distributor is behind negative web posts, videos." 

The paper reports that the suit has been filed by Quixtar, the on line version of Amway also known as Alticor Corporation.  Quixtar is asking the court for an injunction and $25,000 in damages against 30 alleged anonymous bloggers classified in court documents as John Doe's. 

In addition, the corporation is asking the court to approve subpoenas for IP address from companies such as godaddy and Youtube  (owned by Google) to reveal the identities of the alleged offenders. 

Apparently, the derogatory posts regarding the company were filed anonymously.  But the company alleges that it believes that the posts are a concerted effort by a former disgruntled distributor to undermine a court order in which he agreed not to disparage the company.  The article indicates that Amway is not seeking to restrain an individuals right to free speech or criticism. Rather, they are seeking to ferret out any attempts to circumvent restraints imposed by the courts.

This may turn out to be a true battle of the giants vs 30 mini Davids!  It will be interesting to watch how this case proceeds. The nature of Web 2.0 platforms creates a real dilemma for corporations.  On the one hand, tools such as blogs can greatly enhance the reach of information about products and services. The flip side of the coin is that negative information can be magnified with astonishing speed and pervasiveness as well.  Every public relations specialists knows that managing a deluge of negative publicity can be worse than trying to harness the wind.

As blogging encompasses more of the business community, real estate companies will also need to consider the implications for their business models. Managing risk will rise higher on the agenda and insurance companies will eventually consider the potential implications from an Errors and Omissions standpoint. On line posts have a shelf life of...well, you might say...Forever! 

Today, certain types of public discussions within the real estate industry are highly regulated.  We cannot, for instance, discuss commissions unless we want to run the risk being accused of collusion and price fixing.  Federal law and the Code of Ethics subscribed to Realtors® precludes us from discriminating in any medium in a wide variety of ways which include: race, familial status, sex, handicap, marital status, place of origin, etc. 

There are no simple solutions here.  The reality today is that some of the most effective new mediums of information about homes are not controlled by real estate associations. But, these companies are providing forums which the public wants in the form of quick, readily available complete information which allows for easy interaction between the buyer and the seller on line.  This emerging dynamic will impact the discussion in many ways.  Organizations such as Google, Zillow and Trulia are not bound by the dictates of NAR. 

Within the context of a challenges which have defined the recent real estate market, the knowledge that the competent broker brings to the table with reference to strategic counsel and negotiations remains vitally important.  The nature of blogging and other forms of Web 2.0 marketing can greatly enhance the potential impact and reach of intelligent opinion.  This will be where the rubber squeals against the pavement.  How does one balance this incredible potential with the enormity of the associated risks?  AND...live with the knowledge that if you sit this one out...your competitors probably won't!

The challenge for real estate brokers will be figuring out how to manage the risk and create the accessibility which the consumer craves.  The problem for NAR will be figuring out a comprehensive policy which adapts to a future wave of such enormous consequence that it is scarcely possible to predict how it will crash against the shoreline.  Failure on either count is a high stakes game...perhaps, literally the survival of our industry as we know it.

Picture is courtesy of noizyboy's photostream on flickr.com

Copyright 2007 Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

 Click Here to Read More about Grand Rapids, Michigan

One of the most unfortunate consequences of "easy money" is that it makes otherwise healthy, and intelligent people lazy...just plain lazy. I'll be upfront with my position on easy money. It's a myth, a trick...an exercise in smoke and mirrors that produces financial hallucinations. It doesn't exist...and never has.

The myth of hitting the easy money jackpot or reaching the easy money Nirvana persists for a number of reasons. Most notably, our intense desire to wish it to be so. Deep within the human spirit there exists this relentless drive to make things easier.

I think it started when Adam was driven out of garden of paradise and had to toil and sweat to make a living. Ever since then, it seems that mankind has been trying to figure out a way to reduce sweat and toil by any means possible. We're constantly inventing gadgets to make our lives easier and faster...and usually succeed in simply giving ourselves more to learn how to do!

Easy money could more aptly described as "Lucky money", Lazy Money and even sometimes Stolen, Dirty Money. Money that just seems to materialize without much effort on the part of the receiver. Money that arrives by virtue of the eternal lotto system of good fortune. Money that has us continuing to stand in line; putting life on hold while we hope that fate will smile our way and dump easy money into our laps.

Many practitioners jumped into real estate because of the lure of Easy Money. Stories of real estate fortunes captured the ears, eyes and minds of millions of Americans. The final result was 1.4 Million real estate agents nationally. Local Boards exploded in membership and dues receipts. Companies that promised to help you create the magic spell by buying the latest gadget or product to help agents capture the Easy Money Market experienced exponential growth. Home owners also jumped on the Easy Money bandwagon and raked in oodles of money. Most turned around and bought homes they could scarcely afford because money could be made effortlessly.

I remember talking with someone who was literally salivating at how cheap this Easy Money was. Rubbing his fingers and literally smacking his lips in anticipation of future profits. But that's the thing about Easy Money. It's a Mirage...a desert mirage. Glistening in the distance, the promise of fulfillment waits...beckons. Upon arriving at the mirage, one finds that all that is left is sand...just plain, old ugly sand.

The truth is that what looks like Easy Money was never an easy catch. Yes, we all love to talk about the overnight success...exclaiming "When did he get that?'" or Where did she come from?" The question which is rarely asked and even more rarely answered is HOW. How does Lady Luck smile on an individual. The hard truth is she rarely does! Every "over night success' story can tell you that from their perspective, it was one LONG, LONG Night. Hard work, tears, failures, start overs, discouragement and sometimes penny pinching extraordinaire. If you listen and delve deep enough, you'll learn the truth. There was nothing easy about the process. Often, it wasn't quick either.

As a child, I scrubbed floors, learned to cook, do laundry, sew, and run a little kiosk business. My parents showed us, by example, what it took to earn money. And then, they allowed us to give it a try. These are lessons I treasure to this day. They always reminded us that "Hard Work never killed anyone." There were days, I was sure they were lying. Today, I am grateful. Perseverance and Hard Work will deliver what Easy Money never can. A sense of accomplishment.

Today, the Easy Money real estate days are long over. No longer is it possible to simply stick a sign in the yard and load up a listing on the MLS and expect 2-3 offers to magically appear. Home owners who persist with the delusion that they can over price their homes and skimp on cleaning and sprucing up are discovering that buyer's hard earned cash will not be parted with easily. And...the most annoying thing about easy money is that it seems to develop wings. Like a lottery winner loosing all his earnings...most of the easy money aficionados are not in good financial shape today. Easy come...Easy Go.

The good news is that Hard Work is still paying Big Dividends! Real Estate agents who are willing to work hard, to update their skills and to continue to learn and grow will prosper. Gone are the days when it will be possible to rest on past laurels. Hard Work is no respecter of persons. It pays dividends to who ever is willing to earn them. In our increasingly transparent world, the illusion of Easy Money is doing a Fast Fade...into lights out. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

Copyright 2007 Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

 Click Here to Read More about Grand Rapids, Michigan

There's an interesting quiet revolution going on around the Active Rain network. A simple notification showed up on my e-mail server. I had totally forgotten about the fact that I'd signed up for this website....probably after reading a recommendation to do so.

After a few submission, I gave up. It seemed my efforts had dropped into a fathomless dark hole. I was the only one it seemed digging my stuff...embarrassing. It was worse than being ignored...this was the ultimate snub...the fate accorded to articles deemed utterly irrelevant. If you haven't figured it out...I'm talking about digg.

Recently, I started getting e-mail  notifications...sometimes several a day... from bloggers here at Active Rain who for whatever inexplicable reasons were re-connecting with digg. I did a search Active Rain to see what was going on...it was as though this long forgotten networking forum was experiencing a Resurrection. At this point the miracle of the resurrection seems limited to bloggers simply refreshing their digg profiles, poking around to see who else is there, dropping a few shout outs and perhaps becoming a fan or friend to another member.

Most of the folks are not doing a lot with their profiles probably for the same reason I dropped out after initially registering mine. We're all a little sqeemish about being ignored! But...we may be missing a unique opportunity here. Roberta Murphy's post about driving traffic to Active Rain is well worth reading. So are these:

Need Help from Everyone at Active Rain by Ken Smith

Digg.com by Maureen Francis

Did you know that there's even a New Digg-LIKE service for real estate professionals?

If you're perplexed by all the DIGGING going on...read Elizabeth Chris Griffin's article and the comment thread about feeling as though she was suddenly being digged to death!

I just completed a search to see what was popular on the topic real estate on digg. With the Exception of an article on "Real Estate in Dubai" which had over 1400 diggs, most other blog posts on real estate looked a little lonely and forlorn...1-2 diggs. And...the guy who wrote the fascinating article on Dubai is NOT even a real estate agent. It seems like we may be missing a huge opportunity to get our own stories out! What do you think? Do you Digg?

Other Digg Notable Mentions about Real Estate

New Commercial Real Estate Web 2.0 Start-up - 11 diggs

Article by RIS Media on Launch of Zolve.com  - 2 diggs - I found this low number surprising as RIS is a major Internet media outlet.  Digg obviously has different rules about what is considered popular and worth reading.  But the fact remains, this medium is shaping the context of the conversation about a number of topics...real estate included. 

After going through page after page of real estate related digg submissions...there were more than 500 in all with 1,2 or 3 diggs...it became depressing.  I'm wondering, why aren't real estate professionals supporting ourselves on this forum, yet we continue to submit articles.  It seems to me that we've chosen to allow other people to tell our story on a forum which has tremendous amplification potential. 

The photo in this post is from my experimentation with a new photoshop program.  It's unfinished. Is this what we're doing by submitting hundreds of articles to digg without supporting other real estate writers...particularly bloggers who we know write good stuff from Active Rain?  To me it feels like we're posting an unfinished picture...not entirely committed to what it will take to be truly relevant in a Web 2.0 world.  Hey, I'd digg your thoughts...

Copyright 2007 Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

 Click Here to Read More about Grand Rapids, Michigan

Recently, I attended a fabulous Birthday Party. The Celebration wove it's festive strands throughout the grounds of the lovely home. The deck & gazebo were festooned with brightly colored streamers and guests could catch the strains of the jazz band playing whimsical sets below. A large tent was the setting for  the buffet stations which featured traditional favorites from Europe, North America, North & West Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. 

As I meandered through the grounds, savoring the visual artistry with which items were arranged, I was struck by some playful and elegant twists. Lo Mein noodles were being served on the Asian display; the stir-fry was ladled and dispensed into miniature take-a-way containers. The dessert table featured crepes which had been prepped in advance and were seared on a skillet and then filled with a colorful  bouquet garni of fresh, tropical fruits.

From the African table, the succulent scent of savory meats & fish wafted into the air. A sizzling burner nearby was deep frying a hot pastry style puff served with a delicious shrimp paste. The display featured tropical fruits and flowers against a backdrop of authentic African masks!

Now, No party would be complete without burgers...yet the twist on the traditional American burger was miniature buns and burgers served with regular sized chicken wings complimented with an assortment of dipping sauces! An artful display of fruit and cheese encircled the Brie on the European table where guests could also enjoy Polish specialities like perogies and kielbasa. All the dishes were traditional favorites but the presentation was artfully staged!

Later that evening, I had an opportunity to speak with the chef. He has recently retired after two decades of service with the Hyatt Regency and is exploring several options which include setting up his own catering business and a restaurant. I was fascinated as he described his vision...for which he used the term "FUSION"...a blending of flavors & traditional regional specialties in flavorful and interesting combinations which allows diners to experience something NEW within the context of a familiar menu item.

For instance, the Lo Mein noodles are served in Chinese restaurants every day, but most party goers don't expect to be able to watch them prepared fresh and then served to them in miniature take away containers. Creative Presentation is a skill set which has many applications in business.

Often, it's the little unexpected twist which can deliver the most bang for the buck. It can also create raving fans from a 'ho hum seen it all before audience." At a time where cynicism about the real estate transaction is at an all time high, the door is wide open to incorporate a New Twist in the ways we serve our clients. Making real estate fun and engaging is something that every professional in the industry can do with just a little effort, creativity and imagination.

A few years ago, our team went to the dollar store. We had about $250 dollars to spend. We bought laundry baskets, several yards of inexpensive gauze netting, and everything that we could think of which a new home owner might not be able to find during the first few days of their move...paper plates & cups, napkins, utensils, toilet paper, tissue, detergent, dish soap, screw driver, extension cord, pencil and paper, flashlight, cleaners, small broom set etc. We arranged these items in the laundry basket and delivered this to our client at the closing. This gift continues to give rave reviews...clients still refer to it and refer others to us because they remember it. A simple twist on what could be considered the mundane and dull aspects of moving.

Another meaningful gift that I have given over the years is a Brand New copy of a book which I've read and enjoyed. Giving someone a book in which you highlight specific areas which have been meaningful to you with a brief note in the book cover transforms this gift into a special memento.  I have been surprised by how this simple gift has been so deeply appreciated.  A handwritten note, a call of appreciation or encouragement...these simple touches are the elements which elevate a routine transaction into an experience that people remember and cherish.  I'm curious...I'd love to hear some of the simple ways in which you are elevating the Ordinary into the Extraordinary.

Copyright 2007 Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

 Click Here to Read More about Grand Rapids, Michigan