Today’s post is not entirely about real estate, but the underlying issue is definitely real estate related. Everyone who knows me on here and in the professional realm knows that I do short sales. Everyone who knows me a tiny bit more knows that I am an animal lover, and I try to do as much as I can (fostering, volunteering my time, etc) to help these poor animals that have nowhere else to go.

The other night I came across this story on our ABC affiliate, Local 10 WPLG (click here or on the picture below to read and watch this story). Abandoned animals have become a huge issue in South Florida lately, but now people are deliberately abandoning these poor animals into the Florida Everglades…which are full of alligators and snakes. Since all the shelters are filled to their brim and can’t take many more animals in, people are getting desperate. The group of women highlighted in the story have full time jobs, yet are taking the time out of their lives to go into the Everglades to rescue these poor abandoned dogs. This is heartbreaking. I try to do as much as I can to help distressed Sellers, but I need to do all I can to help these animals too.

 

The relation to Real Estate is this: the reason why the abandonment has gotten so out of hand is because 1 out of every 5 homes in Miami-Dade County is in foreclosure. People can’t afford their pets anymore, and they feel like their only option is to leave the poor animals in the Everglades to starve and die.

 

 

Last month, one of these ladies slept in her car with 4 dogs and nursed them all night because no vets were willing to take them in due to ticks. I am sure vets all over the country are getting hit hard with all these abandoned animals, and I don’t expect anyone to work for free, but if each vet took just 1 or 2 cases and shared the responsibility, we would have a win-win situation. I realize that not all of you will know vets who can help, but maybe we all can help pay for the vets. If a bunch of us gave just $1 to these women who are fostering these animals in order to help pay the vet’s fees, it would be a great help. Please contribute if you can, there is no amount too small: Chip-In link or click on the Chip-In Logo below:

 

 

 

In my case, I do work for free in hopes of getting a short sale approval and a closing, sometimes for over a year. There have been times where I have taken money out of my pocket just to close a transaction so that the Sellers can move on with their lives. I sincerely hope that whatever good I’ve done (not for any other reason other than wanting to help my Sellers) is paid forward, and some of you will please help these animals somehow. Thank you!

 

 

Help lots of people and have a great day!

Patty Da Silva, CDPE©, RESS®, AHWD®, e-PRO®, GREEN, CFS, TRC, RSPS

BROKER - REALTOR® Serving South Florida ::: 954. 667. SALE (7253) ::: Green Realty Properties®

Visit www.PattyDaSilva.com &www.GreenRealty.net for SouthEast Florida's best properties.

 

Copyright © 2008 - 2011 By Patty Da Silva, CDPE©. All Rights Reserved.

Legal Stuff: This article (Contents) reflects the opinion of the author and it is not to be considered legal advice. The author is not an attorney or a CPA. If you are in need of legal or tax advice, it is recommended that you to contact a trusted professional advisor.

Why did you leave me? 

I'm scared without you.   I love you.  I thought you loved me too.

It seems like it was just yesterday that you brought me home.  You were so excited.   You just bought your new house.   You said a cat made it feel more like a home.    At that time, I was just a little kitten.   I remember, you always told me that I was so cute and playful. You said that I had the pinkest nose you have ever seen. 

When you started bringing in boxes, I enjoyed exploring them.  I thought they were FUN.   I heard you talk about moving.  From listening to you, I thought moving was a good thing. 

However, as I sit here in this cage, I'm not so sure that I like moving.  This cage isn't as comfortable as the bed was.  I can't look out the window.   There are 80 other cats here with me right now.   One said I will never see you again.   Another said that I must have been a bad cat. 

An animal shelter employee told me it wasn't my fault.  She said some owners view their pets as disposable property.  Another said that the bad economy may be part of the problem. 

WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME?

__________________________________________________ 

Additional Remarks:

• On this given day, this picture could have been any one of 81 cats or 94 dogs that was at the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region here in Colorado Springs.  

• The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak region estimates that only 8% of "lost" cats are reunited with their owners.  The nationwide average is 2%. 

• I believe this particular kitty was adopted out over Mother's Day weekend. 

• As real estate professionals, we need to take the time to ask sellers about their pets.   Discourage sellers from leaving their cat behind to fend for its self. 

• If you know someone that is looking for a new cat or dog, recommend your local animal shelter. (Here in Colorado Springs, we are lucky to have a very nice.)   

  

Photographed,

written and posted by

Sondra Meyer CPA/Real Estate Broker

Star View Ranch, Real Estate & Financial Advisory Services

979-575-2700

  

It seems as though every single day I hear another story about pets being put into shelters as a result of the sour economy.  These may not even be foreclosures, but may be families forced to scale back from a single family home to a condo or coop.  You guessed it – the condo or coop nixes the pet.  This is particularly hard on our canine friends and I’m getting e-mails and pleas almost daily begging people to spare their beloved pet from the animal shelter.  Most of the time it is to no avail and many of these wonderful companions are put to sleep.

In the meanwhile – I’m seeing condo after condo and coop after coop nixing dogs.  Complexes that were once an oasis for those in need of a home that will take their beloved dog have put up MORE restrictions not less.  The same holds for rental complexes.

Westchester Condos & Coops & Pets:

I’m going to be very blunt.  Westchester condos and coops  are about the MOST pet UN-FRIENDLY places imaginable.  Manhattan, Riverdale, most of the Bronx, Queens and Fairfield county are ALL more flexible than Westchester are all more pet-friendly than Westchester.  Personally, I’m sick to death of seeing – “no restrictions” chaining to “restricted weight” or “no dogs.”  We already have a crisis I think it is unconscionable  that complexes are making this matter worse.

Dogs are not filthy dirty creatures that are going to turn a complex into a slum.  But it seems as if it only takes one disgruntled resident to turn a complex from pet-friendly to “no dogs” in an instant.  And the places that allow pets….some ban specific breeds in an almost random way, some will let you have a bull mastiff but God forbid someone brings in two Yorkies.  The ban on more than one dog is counterproductive because two dogs together are more likely to be quiet when an owner is absent.  (Dogs are social – so canine company will keep them happy and quiet).  In other words, it would be helpful if those who made the rules about pets actually understood something about dogs.

About one year ago I got an email from a newly elected board member from a complex on Garth Road in Scarsdale.  She was crowing about how she was the new head of the coop board and noticed that I had written a blog back in 2007 about “her” complex being pet-friendly.  She wanted me to rewrite the blog to reflect the new rules – because the complex no longer allowed dogs and offered to send me the offering plan about the rules of the house – so I could be more accurate in future.   She was very proud of these  new rules and felt they would make the complex more “upscale.”

She got a very chilly response from me:

First – my interest in “her” complex began and ended with the pet-friendly factor as I had a lot of clients who have dogs.  I would not be promoting or writing about the complex in the future since had nothing more to offer than any other complex on Garth Rd. and in fact less -since there were far nicer complexes on that Street.

Second -  this new rule was nothing to be proud of.  The dogs were disturbing no one in that building.  I had been in and out on many occasions and hardly heard a sound.

Third – The dated carpeting and wallpaper in the common spaces  (c.1985) was a huge turnoff to my buyers who would tolerate it because they could have their beloved pets with them.  So I suggested that they were on the wrong track if they thought that banning dogs would take care of this issue.

And no – I wasn’t editing blogs like that.

The point is that we have a desperate situation.  Dogs have been a part of my life since I was a small child and they are amazing companions.  In this hard economy, Westchester condos and cooperatives that allow pets – with the appropriate rules in place – will have a real edge in attracting buyers – which is good for EVERYONE including the pets…It’s time to rethink the draconian rules.

© 2011 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com – All rights reserved.

 

Pets and the economy – A Plea to Westchester’s Condo and Coop Boards…..

How To Copyright Protect Your ActiveRain Posts? Questions Answered!

I recently wrote two posts about copyright:

1. How To Automatically Copyright Protect Your ActiveRain Posts
2. Speaking of Copyright Infringement: Lawsuit Dismissed

I am very fortunate that both posts were well received, and even more fortunate that both posts had lots of comments... and a few excellent questions.

I answered those questions in my original posts. Nonetheless, I thought it would be useful to share my answers in a new post.

I hope my fellow ActiveRainer’s find this info useful:

Q: A person identified as “Observer” noted, “...you don't have to do anything to obtain copyright protection for your work. The mere act of creating or authoring it gives you copyright protection.”

A: Thanks for the info, Observer. I found the following on the U.S. Copyright Office - Definitions (FAQ) website:

What is a copyright notice? How do I put a copyright notice on my work?
A copyright notice is an identifier placed on copies of the work to inform the world of copyright ownership that generally consists of the symbol or word “copyright (or copr.),” the name of the copyright owner, and the year of first publication, e.g., ©2008 John Doe. While use of a copyright notice was once required as a condition of copyright protection, it is now optional. Use of the notice is the responsibility of the copyright owner and does not require advance permission from, or registration with, the Copyright Office.

For further information see Circular 1, Copyright Basics, and Circular 3, Copyright Notice.

______________________________________________

Q: Phil Porter pointed out that "...if someone does 'lift' the material without your permission then you would have had to register the copyright in order to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work. Registering costs are around $35 - $50 and requires a lot more work and effort."

A: Hi Phil.  Here’s a snippet from United States Copyright Office’s Circular 1, Copyright Basics, under the “Copyright Registration” section (pg. 7):

1. Before an infringement suit may be filed in court, registration is necessary for works of U. S. origin.
2. Registration may be made at any time within the life of the copyright.

______________________________________________

Q: Lynn B. Friedman wrote,"Thanks for the clear explanation. When I went to your link, I saw this extra point, 

"'What is mandatory deposit? Copies of all works under copyright protection that have been published in the United States are required to be deposited with the Copyright Office within three months of the date of first publication. See Circular 7d, Mandatory Deposit of Copies or Phonorecords for the Library of Congress, and the Deposit Regulation 202.19.'

"To 'really' protect - if what you did might be worth a law suit to protect - wouldn't you have to follow the above regulation?"

A: Hi Lynn. Thanks for sharing  the info. Regarding your question, I found this statement in the United States Copyright Office’s Circular 7D, Mandatory Deposit of Copies or Phonorecords for the Library of Congress, under the “Published Electronic Works Available Only Online” section (pg. 2):

Effective February 24, 2010, the Copyright Office adopted an interim regulation governing mandatory deposit of electronic works published in the United States and available only online. The regulation establishes that online-only works are exempt from mandatory deposit until the Copyright Office issues a demand for deposit of copies or phonorecords of such works.

Hope that provides some insight.

______________________________________________

Q: Dörte Engel addded, "Did not know that the copyright symbol was theoretically no longer necessary and never thought of in connection with a blog post. Good topic."

A: Hello Dörte. According to these snippets from the United States Copyright Office’s Circular 1, Copyright Basics, under the “Notice of Copyright” section (pg. 4), the copyright notice was no longer required on new published works starting March 1, 1989:

1. The use of a copyright notice is no longer required under U. S. law, although it is often beneficial.
2. Notice was required under the 1976 Copyright Act. This requirement was eliminated when the United States adhered to the Berne Convention, effective March 1, 1989.

______________________________________________

Bonus Tip: How to insert the copyright © symbol into your post.

For Windows users from Susan McCall:  “When it is time to insert the copyright symbol, learn the following key stroke on your keyboard: Hold down the ‘Alt’ key and then press the numbers 0 1 6 9.”

 

 

For Mac users from Brenda & Ron Cunningham:  “Good food for thought.  ©   (option g on a MAC).”

 

A special thanks to all those who asked questions, and provided useful info.

---

Content provided by Bill Burchard  

Bill the Murrieta Broker specializes in Murrieta homes for sale, foreclosures (Bank REO‘s), and short sales. Serving the real estate needs of Murrieta home buyers and home sellers.

Bill Burchard, Broker, REALTOR®, LIC: 01864774
Cell: 951-347-3818 / Email: Bill@my3BRealty.com

I took a drawing course a long time ago where the instructor based
her course on Betty Edwards book: Drawing on the Right Side of the
Brain.  I went from drawing stick figures that was totally awful to drawing things (boxes, flowers, faces, etc.) that looked at least like they somewhat resembled the object being drawn.  Technique is one thing, talent is another.  Each of us has our own unique talents in varying degrees. 

The premise of this course was to allow the student to shift from drawing on memory (ie. what their brain thinks they see) versus what the student actually saw in front of them.  The goal was to get the student to shift from the former to the latter, from the left brain (logical, analytical, etc.) to the right brain (artistic, creative, intuitive, etc.)

The shift is gradual but profound, and I realized slowly when I was in it, time became irrelevant and the moment was totally in focus.  When basic techniques were learned, coupled with the right side of my brain taking over, then I was "mostly" free to draw what I saw, not what my left brain had stored and said to draw.  In other words, if someone says, draw a hand, most people who haven't had this basic level of training and brain-shifting will draw a flat hand with four fingers and a thumb, no depth, no context, no foreshortening, no anything.  That was me as well. 

To make a long story short, it was probably one of the most fun and engaging classes I ever took, and while I don't think I have much in the way of the talent department, compared to some of my peers and friends who are artists, I really enjoy doodling, drawing what I see if I have a few moments, and experimenting.

How can this concept benefit a home buyer?  I can see the skeptical looks in full gear already.  To me, the underlying concept that relates to home buying is: 

Intuition.

I encourage buyers to really slow down and let the house speak to them and see how it makes them feel. 

 

How does the home REALLY make you feel? 

 

There are both intuitive things to assess as well as the practical, and both are important.  It is so easy to get wowed with a staged home, well decorated or designed home, modern colors, and the like, that one must envision the home completely bare and imagine how you will utilize the spaces in the home.  We live in such a fast-paced, information-overload, wired society, that sometimes it's hard to see the forest for the trees.  There is so much to soak in about a home -- size of the rooms, condition, windows, basement, adjoining properties, facts sheets left in the home, smells, furniture, artwork, temperature, etc., that it is so easy to focus on all these things but not imagine the various intuitive and practical:

• How does the home make me feel?
• How would I really envision living in this home?
• What do I do most of the time in a home and will this home accommodate it?
• What kind of views does this home afford?
• Does the home have a sunny southern exposure or is it surrounded by mature trees with only indirect sunlight?
• Will the one step-down family room grate on my nerves after a while?
• Does the yard and/or neighborhood really support the types of activities you or your family enjoys doing, such as walking, biking, scootering, sunbathing, shooting baskets, etc.?
• Does the home provide the level of privacy I desire?
• Is the home at the head of a T intersection that will cause car headlights to shine into the living room where we gather each evening?
• Is the home located such that when the windows are open, the level of noise is acceptable?  Sounds are much more amplified during the evening and night-time hours.  Eg. Is the home at a 4-way stop sign where cars will be starting and stopping all the time or with the windows open, will the sound of tires on a wet highway not allow sleeping with the windows open in the summer months?
• Does the kitchen window provide a view?
• Are the rooms more compartmentalized or open?
• Does the home make me smile? Feel good? cold? indifferent? claustrophobic?
  
• Is the kitchen large enough to support 2 cooks if that is commonly done? Are there two ways in and out of the kitchen?  Is there enough kitchen counter space for food preparation?  Is there a kitchen pantry?  Does the range/cooktop have ventilation to the outside?
• Is the driveway level that will support playing basketball or using it in general?
• How far is the home from the majority of places you go?
• How well kept are the immediate neighbors homes? Both on the sides and in the rear.
  
• Etc.

I try to encourage buyers when they first enter the home to really slow down and see how the home makes them feel when they first enter. 

Home staging experts suggests many buyers make up their minds within the first 90 seconds of being inside a home.  I have found a lot of truth to that from observing buyers I have worked with.

Sometimes, I will see buyers trying to talk themselves into a home, trying to justify many things in order to make it work.  This is almost always a bad idea.  Never talk yourself into a home.  While I'm not sure there exists a perfect home for a given buyer, there are definitely a wide spectrum in how a given buyer will interact with a single home.  No two buyers are alike.  One buyer may absolutely love a home, while another may have an opposite experience. 

 

 

It's wise to really listen to your inner self, your intuition, as well as your logic.

I always recommend:

• Never purchase a home after just one visit
• Durng the second visit, really spend some time, at least an hour so you can get a really good understanding and feel for the home
• If you aren't sure after the 2nd visit, schedule a third visit.  After all, this is a HUGE decision, and it's not like Target where all you have to do is whip out your receipt and return it!
• Know that if you are only part way through your home search, some homes that you really, really like, may be sold before you are ready to decide, that is part of the process
• When you are far enough along the home search process and you are on the home stretch, if you find a home that you are almost certain is the one for you, don't delay, act quickly and make an offer based on both your level of desire for the home as well as what the market is saying about it (new listing on the market, stale -- on the market for a long time, tired shape, mint condition, recent sales comparisons, market trends, etc.).  Unfortunately, I have seen many a buyer lose out on their dream home because they wanted to see what else was going to come on the market in the next 1-2 weeks, or there were multiple offers because they delayed their decision by even 1-2 days sometimes, thereby causing them to pay a premium that they would not have had to otherwise, had they acted quickly.
  
• Take photos (with permission)
• Make another impromptu visit to the neighborhood, park nearby the home in question, get out and explore the neighborhood (okay, harder to do in Cleveland winters, but not impossible either) and talk to as many neighbors nearby the home as possible.  Ask lots of open ended questions. Follow up responses with: Why's that?  It's amazing what you can learn about the neighborhood, etc.  There may be a block party every summer, a book club, a huge weekly play date gathering, golf outing, tons of babysitters, or a host of other things that makes each home, street and neighborhood unique.
• Ask for utility bills, monthly averages, over the past year.  You may be positively or negatively surprised. 
  
• Is someone in the home 6'5" and the main-level ceilings 7' as it was built in the energy-crises 1970s by Ryan Homes?  Is the reverse true?  Are you a cozy, nook, warm and intimate spaces type of person and your main family room area is two-story where it never really gets warm-warm in the winter?

Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up with excitement on a particular aspect or two that it's easy to miss forest for the trees.

Slow down...take your thinking cap off for a minute...take a fresh look at things...keep an open mind...it's amazing what you can sometimes uncover what's right in front of you that you otherwise may not have noticed.

As a personal note: My wife and I once bought a home.  We moved in.  I had no recollection that the master bedroom in this 1920s home had two double-door closets PACKED FROM END TO END with California Closets.  My wife sure noticed, but I was focused on other things.

Every house has a story to tell -- are you listening?

Every drawing also has a story to tell as well (just don't read too much into mine! Wink...wink...LOL)

---

Chris Olsen, Broker, Owner, REALTOR
Olsen Ziegler Realty
Cell: 216.702.0537
Serving the Greater Cleveland, Ohio Residential Real Estate Marketplace

Search the Greater Cleveland MLS like an Agent!

                 

Peter Horn Master Violin Maker and Restorer of Stringed Instruments - Greater Cleveland Ohio

Greater Cleveland, Ohio is home to one of the most experienced (56+ years) master violin (and all stringed instruments) maker, repair and restoration specialists in the country.  Peter Horn is a master violin maker, repairer and restorer.

I had the opportunity recently to visit Peter in his shop in at 10269 Barr Road in Brecksville, Ohio 44141.  My daughter's viola bow had a serious stress fracture so I took it to Peter to evaluate.  Peter explained that the crack was running with the grain and could be easily repaired.  Peter also explained that if the crack was going across the grain, the repair would have been more involved.

 

I sat and visited with Peter, swapping stories about our kids, the local music program, life in general, but mostly about Peter's history as a violin maker and restorer.  These are the kind of stories and people you only meet once in a blue moon, as Peter graduated from the famous Mittenwald Violinmakers School In Germany back in 1955.

 

Peter described to me some of the "art" that goes into making a violin (or any stringed instrument).  How a violin maker cannot just use a template and go just by the book when making a stringed instrument.  A violin maker must be able to really see, visually, aesthetically and be able to produce not only a top quality violin, but one that is very pleasing to the eye.

 

As an example, Peter told me about the violin he had to make and be judged by the top 5-6 violin makers around Germany in order to graduate from the Mittenwald Violinmakers School.  See the last photo below for the violin he made.  Peter's grade was an A.  Peter described how there was one minor, cosmetic defect that kept him from getting an A+.  Peter showed me how the scroll/curve on the neck on one side was perfectly round and pleasing to the eye, whereas on the other side, there was a small section that was not completely round.  While I never would have seen that minor blemish, it goes without saying that the art and science of violin making has been passed down through the generations, and it's quite a treat to have one of the best violin makers and restorers right here in Greater Cleveland.

Peter Horn can be reached in his studio at 216.526.2606 or via e-mail at info@peterhorn.net.

I hope you enjoy the photos of my recent visit.  Feel free to stop in and say hi to Peter and chat about all things stringed!

---

Chris Olsen, Broker, Owner, REALTOR
Olsen Ziegler Realty
Cell: 216.702.0537
Serving the Greater Cleveland, Ohio Residential Real Estate Marketplace

Search the Greater Cleveland MLS like an Agent!

                 

 

 

Today,everyone has a mobile phone.  If you are like most, you LOVE TO TEXT!  I will admit that I had not really enjoyed texting until this past year but found out convenient it is!

My teenager daughter texts all the time, to my frustration!   Recently her phone stopped working and we had to get her a new phone. Unfortunately...the phone that we got her, an IPhone did not transfer the contacts saved on her SIM card.  She took the phone to school and at lunch ask all of her friends to re-enter their information into her phone.  (NOTE:  She is a senior and he has gone to the same school for 13 years with the pretty much the same kids since kindergarten).   So one by one they entered their information.  Horray...now she was back up and running without much interruption.

A couple of days later, she was...as usual texting all morning...even caught her texting during church (I knew I should have taken that darn phone)!  After church she continued texting all afternoon.  Early evening she planned on going to the Rodeo with friends....they had made plans via text.  One friend said that he was at a friends house and really wanted to go but had no ride. He offered to give her gas money if she would pick him up. 

This also happens all the time within this friend group.  She agreed, even though she knew that he lived about 25 minutes away in a neighborhood that alot of her classmates live.  He told her his friends address and we mapquested it.  She told me she was headed to pick him up and I questioned why she had agreed to go so far.  Unfortunately, he did not tell her he was a bit further away and infact the address was over 35 minutes from our house. 

With Directions in hand, she headed out telling us she would pick him up and head to the rodeo and be home around 11p.m.  About an hour and half passed and she appeared at home hysterically crying....

WHATE HAPPENED NEXT TERRIFIED ME!!!!  She went to the address he had supplied, when she pulled into the neighborhood, she realized it was a neighborhood under construction and several homes were vacant, including the one that she pulled up to.  She stated it looked finished but she knew it was vacant because there were no window treatments (Must be the daughter of a realtor) and she could see there was no furniture in the home. 

 

Once in the driveway she received a text from her friend and he said, "I gave you the wrong house, I am down the street at the last house on the right".  She followed his directions and went to the house as directed.  When she pulled into the driveway, she received a text "I'm out back...come back here". 

 

Well, this is where my daughter had a Bit of Stupid.....she got out of the car and headed to the back of this vacant, secluded home....BUT!!!!  She got irritated and decided she was not going back there afterall and got back in her car and texted him...."I'm here....quit playing around and get out here or I am leaving you!"  He again requested she come to the back of the secluded house.  She refused and told him again she would leave if he did not come out.

Irritated she left and headed home!

She was so mad when she left that she texted her friends to tell what he had done.  To her surprise, he was with them....YES!   He said that he had been with them all day and that HE HAD NOT BEEN TEXTING HER.  They argued and finally they realized.....he had put in the wrong number in her phone.  When he typed it in he was off by one digit. 

SHE HAD BEEN TALKING TO A STRANGER ALL DAY!  THE STRANGER HAD ASK HER VERY VAGUE QUESTIONS AND WHEN WE WENT BACK TO HER TEXT HISTORY...HE HAD FOUND OUT QUITE A BIT ABOUT HER INCLUDING HER ADDRESS....HE WAS SMOOTHE...HE HAD GOTTEN HER ALMOST TO THE BACK OF THE VACANT HOME! 

We called the Police and they gave me this valuable advise:

NEVER AGREE TO MEET ANYONE VIA A TEXT MESSAGE UNTIL YOU CONFIRM THAT THE PERSON YOU ARE TEXTING IS ACTUALLY THE PERSON YOU PLAN TO MEET.  ANYONE CAN GET AHOLD OF SOMEONE ELSES PHONE...FOR EXAMPLE...SOMEONE GETS MY HUSBANDS PHONE AND TEXTS ME....I THINK I AM TALKING TO HIM WHEN INFACT IT IS NOT HIM. 

Folks, this is dangerous stuff..  The person who lured my daughter did not know her, was obviously watching her as he knew exactly when she pulled up at each home.  I shutter to think what may have happened.  I am so thankful that she told me later, she had a bad feeling about going to the back of the house and that is why she got back in her car.

OUR NEW RULE:  VOICE CONFIRMATION THAT YOU ARE TALKING TO WHO YOU ARE TEXTING!

Be safe and remember, texting has dangers especially in our business.

Sarah Moore, Broker/REALTOR

RE/MAX SIGNATURE PROPERTIES  ~  7752 Gateway Lane, Suite 200  ~  Concord, NC   ~  28027

www.WeOpenMoreDoors.com

I recently read a post by Lina Robertson on linking from comments, and I wanted to divulge into the topic a little more. I have been researching this topic quite a bit lately, and I think I can add to her conversation.

What is a NoFollow Link?

A nofollow links main purpose is to tell Google not to follow a link.  That means Google does not pass PageRank,  or the anchor text for those links. Which means, Google does not count nofollow links, does not follow them, and no-following a link let's you tell Google that you don't trust a certain site. 

Examples:

NoFollow link: <a href="www.activerain.com" rel="nofollow">ActiveRain</a>

DoFollow link: <a href="www.activerain.com"> ActiveRain</a>

The difference is pretty obvious, and it's really easy to add the nofollow attribute to any link you want.

 

Google's Suggestions For NoFollow Links

Untrusted Content - It's good practice to put the no-follow attribute on links you don't trust. ActiveRain adds the no-follow attribute to your comments section, because you never know who is going to comment on your blog, you can't really trust people you don't know, and that makes comments a good place to use no-follow.

Paid Links - It is widely known that Google frowns upon paid links, such as when a webmaster pays another webmaster for a link to increase their PageRank, this is Black Hat SEO, and could get you banned form search engines. However, links that are purchased for advertising should are ok, but you should add the no-follow attribute so Google doesn't think you are buying links for PageRank.

Read: Google's Webmaster Page On NoFollow Links

How do you tell if a link is nofollow?

There are two ways to tell if a link is nofollow that I know of.

#1. If you don't use Firefox you will need to look at the code of a webpage. This is the hard way, and I wouldn't recommend it, but I will still show you how.

Fiirst you need to go to your toolbar on your browser, click "view," scroll down to "page source" or "Source" and look at the coding on the page.

 

Then you can search for the links anchor text by hitting "Ctrl F" on your keyboard, and search for nofollow or the anchor text of the link.

 

If that seems diffucult for you, your right, it is. There is an easier way, and here's how:

#2. First, you have to use Firefox, if you don't use Firefox, you can download it here: Download Firefox

Now that you have firefox, you need to get a plug in that will highlight nofollow links, you can download it here: SearchStatus Downlaod

Now that you have downloaded your plug in, you should see something like this on your browser toolbar. (Sometimes it shows up at the bottom of your browser, or the top.)

Now just right click the little @ button next to the left arrow, and you should get a drop down menu, click the "Highlight NoFollow Links" and voila! All nofollow links are then highlighted on your web pages. 

 

 

And this is what a nofollow link looks like:

 

 

What's the big deal of all this?

The main benefit of knowing whether links are nofollow or not is for SEO purposes.  If you know anything about SEO, you know that links are the #1 determining factor for search engine rankings. But it does no good to go after links for your search engine rankings, for Google anyways, if they are nofollow.  Nofollow links are still good links to drive traffic to your websites, like if people click on them to go to your site, but from a Google stand point, they aren't going to pass any weight for your search engine rankings.

 

MUST KNOW!

NoFollow is for Google only, Yahoo! and Bing do not use nofollow linking techniques. This is important to know because even though a link is nofollow, it still may be a good link in Yahoo! or Bing, and I would recommend that you don't only  go after nofollow links for your SEO strategy.

 

Here's Why NoFollow Links Are Good

If Google notices that you only have dofollow links pointing to your website, it's going to throw up read flags. Google knows that having nofollow and dofollow links is natural, and if all of your links are dofollow, that doesn't look natural to Google. If you don't look natural, your site could get penalized.

Yahoo and Bing do not care about a nofollow link or a dofollow link, they count all links. Because they count all links, the more high quality links you have, even if they are nofollow, the higher you are going to rank in those search engines.

 

If you have any questions, let me know and I will try to answer them to the best of my ability. It would also be nice to hear some of the experts around Active Rain on their input of the nofollow link.

Lisa Udy

Platinum Real Estate Group

View My Other Blog @ Homes For Sale Logan UT

Search --> Logan Homes And Logan Real Estate

When starting out in the blogging world I didn't have a clue about SEO. I soon began to realize, in order to take my blogging to the next level, I needed to start understanding a little more about the science of search engine optimization.

So, I did what anyone would do when they wanted to learn something, I started studying the experts around the web. And when I say experts, I mean some of the very best of the who's who in SEO.

I will give you the names so when you're ready to really get into SEO, you can be sure to learn it the right way. (Bruce Clay - Aaron Wall - Webmasterworld - Search Engine Land - Seo Design Solutions - Matt Cutts - Sugar Rae & Outspoken Media) 

 

There are a lot more out there, but these blogs/people I have found to be the best of the best. And, as I have been going along the past 2 years, I have learned and grown quite a bit, which brings me to my first mistake.

SEO Mistake #1:  Content is the king to ranking for any search phrase.

When I first started, I didn't understand the importance of content creation. I thought it was a good idea to blog, but I didn't understand the importance of creating enough content related to a subject to be worthy of a top ranking in Google.

I soon learned, Google rank's web pages based on authority (content) and trust (links). In order to be an authority on a subject (top 3 ranking), you must have enough content to constitute authority status. 

To truly understand the importance of creating enough content to become an authoritative figure in Google's eyes, you can do a simple test. For example, I want to rank for the term Logan real estate. 

In order to rank for this keyword, I must have enough content to support a top ranking. To determine how much content I would need to rank for that keyword, I can ask Google. In this example, I went to Google and typed in "Logan real estate." Once I had the results, I went to the first result in the organic rankings and did a site:command search + the key phrase in quotes like this: 

Google Search: site:http://www.lisaudy.com/ "Logan real estate"

This tells me how many pages the top result has related to that keyphrase and how many I need to have on my own site to gain an "authority status".

When doing this with my website, I get 166 results and I am ranked #5 for that keyword. The #1 spot only has 52 pages related to this keyword, yet they still out rank me. Why? They out rank me mainly because of links. Which brings me to:

 

SEO Mistake #2: Understanding the importance of link building. 

I had no idea how important links are to an SEO campaign when I first started blogging. But, I soon realized links are so important, in fact, that if content is the king, link building is the queen.

However, you can't just link a million times from your Activerain blog to your website and expect to rank for highly competitive key phrases. 

In order for me to take over the top spot for my key phrase "Logan real estate" I am going to need to get better links. I know I have enough content, the only problem is getting the right links.

If you find yourself in the same struggle where you feel you have enough content to rank for a keyword, but can't quite get to where you want to be, the problem is most likely your links.

Links, and how search engines react to those links, is a very complicated and tricky science. And, depending on what search engine you're trying to rank for they react differently to links. For example a no-follow link doesn't pass link juice like a do-follow link does in Google. Bing, on the other hand, doesn't recognize the no-follow tag.

Confused? So was I, but I wrote a post on what the difference between no-follow and do-follow is here, and I think it's extremely important for you to understand the difference, so please read it!  But, watch out, you can't just spam a whole bunch of links to a page and expect it to rank where you want it to. Which brings me to my next mistake:

 

SEO Mistake #3: All links are not created equal.

Not only does it matter what type of link you're using, Google has implied that they nullify links from the same domain name after a certain amount.

For example: If you have 3000 links coming from Activerain, you can bet Google has nullified most of those links, and they don't count much towards your rankings.

You can link until you're blue in the face from one domain (Activerain.com), but eventually, search engines will stop counting those links and you're fighting a losing battle.

Search engines also look at where the link is on a page to determine it's importance. For example, a link in the first paragraph of your blog might be more important than a link at the bottom of the page.

Or, a link in your sidebar or a "blogroll link" may not be as important as a link within the content itself. Confusing? You bet it is. However, at a recent conference, Matt Cutts from Google gave a hint as to what you should be doing when linking. This is quoted directly from the horse's mouth:

"Users are more likely to click on the first link in an article as opposed to a link at the bottom of the article so you should put your most important links at the top of the article." - Matt Cutts

This is a hint to SEO's that Google determines the importance of links based on where they're located on a page. They may also give more importance to links not only by the location, but how many people click on that link.

Again, very complicated, but keep in mind; a link at the top of your article is probably more important than a link in your signature at the bottom of your post. So, I would recommend you put your most important link within the first couple paragraphs to pass more weight. And did I mention anchor text? No? Well, you need to be aware of your anchor text. 

 

SEO Mistake #4: The importance of Anchor Text.

Anchor text are the words used to link to a web page and using the correct anchor text is extremely important for search engine rankings.

If you link to your website with the phrase "click here" as compared to a more descriptive phrase such as "Logan Realtor," you're shooting yourself in the foot form the very beginning. 

When linking to a page from your blog, or anywhere else, use the correct anchor text. If you want a page on your site to rank for Logan Realtor and related phrases, you need to use anchor text related to that theme and mix it up a little or it doesn't look natural. 

For example, what phrases do you think about when you think of a Realtor? I think of Realtor, real estate agent, agent, selling agent, buyer's agent, seller's Realtor, buyer's Realtor, etc. And, since ranking for the term Realtor would be all but impossible, you need to add location to that phrase. Such as Logan Realtor, Logan real estate agent, Logan buyer's agent, and so on. 

Focus on keeping your anchor text pointing to the right pages. You can rank your website with laser precision by following this simple tactic. If you want a page to rank for Logan Realtor, use your anchor text correctly and keep adding links gradually over time. Eventually you will start to notice a bump in rankings if you keep at it. 

Also, one mistake I found when linking was, I tried to get to complicated with the anchor text. I was using long phrases and I found I was diluting my anchor text. Search engines are machines and really just want to know what your page is about, so make sure you're sending the right signals. If you want a page to rank for a certain keyword, keep that keyword in all your links pointing to that page. Simple!

If you have any questions about anything here, please don't hesitate to email me or leave me a comment. I will do my best to answer to the best of my ability. Thanks for reading and good luck with your search engine optimization efforts! :)

 

Lisa Udy

Platinum Real Estate Group

View My Other Blog @ Homes For Sale Logan UT

Search --> Logan Homes And Logan Real Estate

CNNMoney has published a piece entitled It Doesn't Pay to Remodel Your Home. Overall, I couldn't agree more, and I have banged this drum for a while. Am I against home remodeling? Of course not. I am against the expectation that you'll cash out handsomely in the current economy. One of the toughest jobs I have had the past few years is convincing home sellers that their improvements did not raise the value of their home, and that their value often declined.

For example, if the going rate for a raised ranch in a given market area is $450,000 and someone bought their home in 2003 for $425,000 and put $75,000 in improvements, they simply won't get $500,000. Why? Because the buying public is skimming the cream off the top, and the homes that sold for $450,000 are by and large well matched to their place. Many improvements don't raise value as much as they shorten market time. Equally priced homes will see the nicer one sell first. The article has a useful chart on the dollar for dollar return on improvements, and the top upgrade, cement fiber siding, only paid back 80 cents on the dollar.

In the example sited, the return on the improvements was only 33 cents on the dollar. The reason? The property the home rests on lost value for most of their ownership. Improvements seldom to never outrun property value declines. In the rock/paper/scissors of real estate, land value trumps everything. This is especially the case in fully developed New York, where land is scarce and land values are so relatively high. If the land goes down 20%, there is no improvement upon that land that can reverse the tide. As a result, many sellers who poured a ton of money into their home are understandably depressed.  

Should people shun improvements? Not necessarily, no. If you have a 1962 kitchen, upgrade if you want. Just don't expect to cash out as a result, and don't splurge on every upsell thinking it will pay you back. It won't for a long time, probably when styles have changed. The same goes for new roofs, furnaces, and other mechanical improvements, because buyers already expect roofs that don't leak and furnaces that heat for their consumer dollar.

The idea is more in expectations. As I blogged recently about master bedrooms becoming absurdly opulant, improve your home for your quality of life, hopefully with an eye toward resale. But don't expect the prospective buyers to appreciate your personalized amenities with their checkbook. In the current economy, dollar for dollar return on investment is negative until values get bullish again.   

   

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