The Wonderful World of Wendy

Why I can't give up my SIRIUS satellite radio

2010-03-04T18:56:00.000-08:00

I got my MINI in April 2003, and Steve bought my MINI Sirius for Xmas that same year. Gabbing on the radio by DJs drove me nuts and so did the ads, and weather every 10 minutes like it had changed? Stupid. To have a radio where all I did was listen to music? What a concept. Happy to pay for that ability.

In 2004 we drove across a large part of the country and never had to change the station. What a concept.

At gas stations people would see the sticker on my car (or the magnet) and ask me about it. I sounded like a salesman. I wished I had money to buy stock. I was an enthused fan for sure.

Tonight I just spent 70 minutes on the phone with Sirius since I got a phone call last night after they tried to charge the bank card for annual renewal and the bank account had been closed (oops forgot to tell them). So we owed them money and they were going to cut me off if I didn't call right away.

I'd been meaning to call for weeks to wheedle a free receiver out of them since mine is over 5 years old and I've decided they must have a 75k mile limit on their solder connections. Whenever I hit a pothole, bump, or railroad crossing my receiver would cut out and it would take 10-15 seconds for the signal to get picked up again.

Seems bold to ask for a free radio when you owe money. But since I had been a customer for probably almost $2k worth of service over the last 6+ years, I felt I was warranted.

After talking to Mister "K is for Kilo" about my problem (I asked after he said that and found out he was from Egypt), the money I owe, and how much it was going to cost to renew for another year, I bought in to getting the all new Starmate 5, being advertised for $129.99 plus only $4.99/mth for 3 months service. But I was going to get the receiver for only $39.99.

To just renew the two lines and not change anything was $273.81. It seemed like a good deal to me.

So I authorized a charge for $52.83 for a new radio to be shipped to me, and in a couple days' time there will be another charge for $42.20 for service and activation. After my receiver arrives I can call up and activate it and switch to something new that they have, called "a la carte" service. Never had heard of it. He was prompted to tell me about it when I said look, I just listen to 5 stations, I don't need anything fancy (like a new radio).

Evidently "a la carte" service lets you pick up to 50 stations to listen to and the receiver screens out the rest. And it's only $8.99 + .97 music royalty fee, instead of $14.99 plus $2 something or other.

I am glad Sirius got smart and figured out who their customers are. And what we are right now is financially challenged. After arranging for this deal I was transferred to the Cancellation department to cancel the old receivers. I knew Steve would be willing to listen to his iPod rather than pay $98.89 for his 2nd receiver, after paying $164.24 for the first. $273.81 right now for something that other people get free out of the air just wasn't going to fly.

Of course, Cancellation told me they could have just sent me a free replacement for my current bare-bones receiver. It seems Sales doesn't know that replacement for receivers as old as mine are free. But I admit the thought of actually being able to read the song artist and title sold me. My current receiver is not readable unless it is dark out. And you're not moving.

So I was still going to cancel Steve's receiver. Then she told me I could keep it active for 5 months for only $20. This is essentially half price, and they're not making me pay for the whole thing up front. This I could do.

Steve will be so happy. After he gets his car back from repairs. He hasn't been in his own car for weeks. Luckily he's in a borrowed vehicle. It's weird parking next to a green Jeep Cherokee in the garage. It takes up too much room for sure!

And I taught Mister "K is for Kilo" that for us it's K is for Kangaroo or Kit Kat bar, no kilos around here.

The Starmate 5 radio has a blue wide-screen display, sleek black finish, push-button navigation and advanced features to maximize the SIRIUS experience in your vehicle. Effortlessly move your radio from your vehicle to docking kits or audio systems for the home, office or other vehicles.

What consumers need to know about 2010 license law changes affecting real estate practitioners

2010-03-02T20:56:00.001-08:00

Actually this should be called "what agents need to know", but consumers do too and the headline sounded more intriguing this way.

I took a "core" clock hour course recently. Every license renewal period real estate agents are required to take this course, which is updated annually. Licenses renew bi-annually, tho, so you could miss important updates if you don't take the class every year.

There are some big changes happening this year - July 1st to be exact. These changes affect agents AND consumers in a big way so I wanted to do a public update so real estate customers know what changes effect them the most. (Please keep in mind this update is for Washington state only.)

John Hanson of Olympus Real Estate School from Olympia taught the class. Below are my notes only from the class. The instructor handed out a very nice take-away packet with all of the important information in detail for attendees. It was a full class!

John started with a motivational/humorous story but my takeaway was this: "Real estate agents are catalysts, they make things happen."

License Law Changes
There are some big changes coming this year for Washington real estate agents. The biggest change is that every agent will be licensed as a Broker, it will no longer be called "Salesperson". The levels are broker, managing broker, and designated broker. Agents won't have to do anything to begin using the new title July 1st. There is no new authority given to the licensee, just a name change. Associate Brokers become Managing Brokers. Any real estate company in WA state must be licensed as a "firm" and every "firm" must have a Designated Broker (a Managing Broker from that office).

Agent teams require the lead agent to be licensed as a Managing Broker. This provides an added layer of qualified and educated supervision between the Designated Broker and the individual agents who might make a misstep. Anyone who has a supervisory position over another (say an agent who as an assistant) will have to be licensed as a Managing Broker.

Agents (brokers) with less than 2 years experience will have to have every transaction reviewed by the Managing or Designated Broker and the supervisor's initials and date must be on the first page of the contract within 5 days of mutual acceptance..The State Audit department will be looking for this.

Distressed Properties and Short Sales (SS)
Did you know it costs the lender $50k to go through a foreclosure?

Advising a Seller on whether they should go the route of a SS is perhaps overstepping your expertise. Being knowledgeable as to who is appropriately licensed and prepared to handle the situation is often the best service that we can give. There are some lingering possibilities that you should not have been doing what you were doing (helping with a SS).

First ask them if they can work something out with their lender.

Maybe they should be renting the property out?

We have a statute duty (not fiduciary) to put the sellers interests ahead of our own - which may mean we don't get paid.

New Carbon Monoxide Statute
Do you remember the December 2006 Wind Storm of the Century? I do, because I got caught in a flash flood shortly before the wind storm hit and my MINI Cooper ended up blowing its engine because it "snorkeled" on West Marginal Way when I drove through maybe two feet of water for 30 feet - twice - in my attempt to beat the storm home. We were without power for over 24 hours but were fine because we had installed a wood stove fireplace insert with a cooktop and had oil lanterns. We were warm, we were able to cook, and although the 100 year old cedar tree that "made" our property split and hit the neighbor's house, we suffered no other damage.

Some people, though, lost their lives during the recovery period of that storm from cooking indoors with a barbecue or running a generator to provide electricity to the house from an attached garage and fumes being sucked in to the living areas. Eight people died and over 1,000 people went to the emergency room as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Washington State has enacted legislation that is effective January 1, 2011 requiring all new construction to be equipped with state mandated carbon monoxide detectors. By January 1, 2013 all residential dwellings must be equipped with the alarms. Owner occupied single family residences legally occupied before the effective date of this act are exempt. But for anything that is sold thereafter must have the alarms installed when going on the market - otherwise it is a material defect that must be disclosed on the Form 17 (Property Condition Report by Seller).

As an agent I am responsible to make my clients aware that to list their home for sale they need to install the alarm. And as a buyer, my client needs to be sure a state certified alarm is installed before closing.

Labor and Industries Requirements
Even though real estate agents are independent contractors. real estate firms are required to set up an account with Washington State Labor and Industries. All real estate licensed affiliates are required to be covered by and it is important for them to know that. It is paid for by the for by the broker (and often the expense is passed on to the agents in office costs). The amount of hours each agent works in their business determines the rate the firm pays for that agent. If an agent is injured while in the office or while touring a property, then there is worker's compensation available through L&I. Become more familiar with your coverage at http://www.lni.wa.gov/

Referrals of Title Insurance Providers
A new RCW 18.85.053 says the real estate licensee can not give any fee, kickback, payment, or other thing of value to any other real estate licensee as inducement or reward to use a particular title insurance providers.

It goes on to say that real estate licensees or a person who has a controlling interest in a real estate business is forbidden to solicit or accept (or both) anything of value from a title insurance company or agent while the title insurance company or agent is not permitted to give anything.

It further states that a licensee (assume broker in control of an office) is prevented from stopping a title insurance company or agent from delivering printed promotional material to other licensees so long as the material is legitimate.

So, a real estate licensee cannot:
1. Give gifts, kickbacks, or money
2. Accept money, or things of value
3. Deny access to competing title companies, or
4. Require consumers to obtain title services from a title company where the licensee has an interest.

Home Inspector Referrals
Effective 1/31/09 designated brokers were to have a written policy in place that establishes a procedure for the referral of home inspectors to buyers and sellers. WAC 308-124C-050 requires full written disclosure by the licensee of any previous relationship with a home inspector that is being referred to a client, prior to the service being performed.

It is always better to over-disclose than under-disclose. It is good policy to disclose, disclose, disclose.

Property Management
Evidently sales agents have been engaging in property management activities without the broker even knowing it was going on. That has been changed with WAC 308-124D-215 which states there must be a written management agreement and it must be signed by the property owners and the designated broker. At a minimum the management agreement must state:

The firm's compensation
The type and number of units in the project, or square footage (retail or commercial space)
Authorization to collect and disburse funds and for what purpose
Authorization to hold security deposits and the manner of disbursement
The frequency of furnishing summary statements to the owner

All properties rented or leased by the firm must be supported by a written rental or lease agreement.

Loan Modification Program Isn't On Track Yet

2010-02-17T15:58:00.001-08:00

You should read this article if you or someone you know is in the loan modification process. (Or pass it on.)

We are in the 13th month of our loan modification process and finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our March payment should be our final "trial modification" payment, and should convert to a "permanent modification". It has been a harrowing experience - which is why I put my husband in charge. I found it too frustrating, because every time I got on the phone with someone I would want to yell at them, call them an idiot, and demand to be transferred to a supervisor. Which would not have gotten me anywhere.

Sometimes you really can not influence or change something no matter how hard you want to. Evidently it just takes time to let the - idiots - get the paperwork pushed through.

~Wendy

Loan Modification Program Isn't On Track Yet
--------------------------------------------

It would be unfair to say that the Obama administration hasn't been trying to restore the health of the housing market. Unfortunately, it would be inaccurate to say that its programs are having much success. The loan modification program is a worrisome case in point.

Full Story

Simon's Cat "Snow Business"

2010-02-10T13:00:00.000-08:00

Two minutes of pure laughter. This guy knows cats.

Is it your time to become a Native Plant Steward?

2010-02-10T11:54:00.001-08:00

I completed my training in 2001. I may not remember the Latin names of all of the plants (shoot, I barely learned them to begin with an only remember the name of my favorite flower from childhood anyway, Dicentra formosa, the bleeding heart) but the other skills and training will stay with me for life. I still use what I learned particularly to help homeowners trackle problems in the yards and gardens.

This year the Washington Native Plant Society is partnering with the cities of Bellevue, Issaquah, Sammamish, Kirkland, and Redmond, along with King County DNR and Parks to train local volunteers to be Native Plant Stewards.

Learn native plant ID, ecology and restoration skills, and then volunteer with a small team from the class restoring a local natural area.

Fridays, Beginning April 16-June 25th
3 Saturday Field Trips
Lewis Creek Park, Bellevue

The training is free, but in exchange, Native Plant Stewards commit to providing at least 75 hours of restoration and 25 hours help to WNPS with skills you’ve learned. Teams of stewards will get to design and implement their own restoration management plans for a specific site within East King County.

To Apply:
View current program information and download an application from http://www.wnps.org/npsp/king/program, contact Stewardship Coordinator, Deborah Gurney at 206.200.3310 or email npsp_kc@wnps.org

Interviews will be held on March 5th and March 19th. Apply Today!

Hey teacher, what can you teach me?

2010-02-09T01:25:00.000-08:00

I've been being told for awhile that I should be teaching or coaching people in some way. I've considered getting certified to teach clock hour courses to real estate agents since I made a connection with the owner of a local clock hours school this fall. And as a real estate agent I know most of the material.

One area I have really been learning the past year that has made me attractive as a possible instructor for clock hours for agents is Social Media Marketing. It is something I have been experimenting with for my own real estate business, doing video tours of my listings and other short educational pieces, usually around the environment.

So I was given the opportunity to try my hand at teaching/presenting when I was asked by a colleague to come to her weekend marketing class at Antioch University to talk about social media marketing.

I managed to sleep the night before just fine amazingly enough - I must finally be getting used to being in front of people after the speeches and presentations I have made in front of various groups over the last few years.

After a siccessful hour of presenting, I take a moment to share what I've been reading to learn and understand the art and business of "social media marketing".

The Salmon Dance

2010-02-03T10:00:00.001-08:00

This song popped up on my iPod the other morning, and it made me smile. Wanted to pass it on.

See the original video by The Chemical Brothers

@home: a fresh look

2010-01-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

We seriously rearranged the furniture for the first time since moving to our townhome in August 2007. This is the front room, which we use as the formal dining room (the table for 7 is inside the hutch on the far left). The love seat is on sliders so can be easily moved for dinners or meetings.

We use the "family/dining room" as one large living room. There's more furniture here now but since it's not positioned as "square" it seems cozier. And I finally got to use the pine sofa table I got on CL for staging a house in 2008, giving the lucky bamboo better morning sun.

And this is a picture of Sophia, taken by Ron Jelen, my father-in-law, while we visited family in Oregon over New Year weekend. He has great camera equipment, and does fabulous wildlife photos in Alaska every summer. Sophia's breed, Italian greyhound, has a need to "burrow", and one of our IG friends makes these SnuggleSax for all size dogs (and cats).

The "most divine" condos I have ever seen

2010-01-06T13:53:00.002-08:00

Yesterday my company had its bi-weekly team meeting at The Sanctuary on Capitol Hill, and then took a tour of this historic landmark church-turned-condo. The model is now open, and the 4 and 5 story homes all have striking architectural features - many of them have the dome of the church as the ceiling in the individual homes.

Salvage and restoration was the primary goal of the new owners/builders, and he told us of the "Seattle seagrass" insulation that they found in the floor (albeit it was from NY), that they moved to the attic. It was impressive!

Most of the homes have private garages within the common garage, and two units also have private elevators. Most of the homes have some stained glass windows, and the sculpute work is just amazing. Oh, so are the bathrooms!!

For more information or a private tour, send me an email! I can't wait to show this building to to my husband...I think we are going to go over there this weekend.

Photo: See photo gallery and read "Capitol Hill church now 12 new homes"

The Santuary's web site has several other articles linked to it in addition to some artsy photos, but nothing can do it justice other than a real-life viewing.

Celebrating 12th and 13th anniversaries at the same time

2010-01-06T13:45:00.001-08:00

Just a quick note that Steve and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary on December 31st, and the 13th anniversary or our meeting on January 1st. We met sitting outside of a Starbucks in Southcenter, drinking coffee and smoking. If it were today we would never have met since they don't allow smoking within 25 feet of the door.

We went and saw the movie "Nine", which we loved, followed by decaf coffees at Starbucks, where we also picked up the movie soundtrack to "Nine". We ran a few other errands and then had a steak dinner at home, followed by watching the ball drop in Times Square live on one of the cable channels (just like we did when we actually visited NYC for our 10th anniversary - Steve couldn't stand the thought of being in that crowd), then watching the fireworks at the Space Needle (also on TV - we have a 50" plasma so it's almost better than being there, which we also did one year).

Over the weekend we went to Warren, Oregon for a family gathering. I posted some cute pictures via mobile upload.

Happy new year to all! 2010 is going to rock!

Merry Christmas every one

2009-12-24T23:48:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to everyone - thank you for being a part of my life this past year. My husband Steve and I enjoy the company of all we cross paths with. Best wishes for a wonderful day!

Blogging finally pays off - over on my green blog

2009-12-21T23:32:00.000-08:00

I have to thank the hummingbirds - last year we posted hummingbirds in the snow and ice photos and blog posts and because of it I was contacted by a couple on the Oregon coast who needed help selling their home - that was on the hummingbird migratory route from Mexico to the Northwest. I am not licensed to sell real estate in Oregon (only Washington), but I put together a team of professional agents Joanna Flippin and Joni Biron with regional leader Emerald Coast Realty. And these ladies got the job done. The sale of the home closed last week and I received a paycheck for 33 months of blogging by way of a referral fee.

I am referring to Green Spaces Real Estate, which I intend as a resource and educational tool but I do want people to know I am in the real estate business and am looking for new clients. I am a cutting-edge marketing agent in addition to an experienced professional who looks out for my clients interests by watching for weird little things that might pop up and cause a snag.

Special thanks to Jorrie and Ken, Joanna and Jori (my 'J' team), and of course the hummingbirds, for making this post possible.

And here is a new entry in the hummingbird category - now that I am vlogging you can expect to see hummers in flight - I will set up the video camera outside on a tripod and just leave it running and put together some interesting footage!

It's All About Avatar Today

2009-12-21T23:31:00.001-08:00

Must-read from TreeHugger:

Avatar: Big Movie with Big Environmental Themes

Image: 20th Century Fox

Good article and lots of links to reviews and scientific information.

This is a Must-See Movie.

Holiday Decorating and Greetings from the Hughes-Jelen Household

2009-12-18T15:01:00.000-08:00

2009 was a scaled back year all around. Here is our scaled back holiday decorating. Christmas greetings to friends and family far and near.

An Evening on the Water with Friends

2009-12-18T11:12:00.000-08:00

Here is today's post from my husband Stephen's blog - since he already wrote it up I just asked if I could steal it and he said sure!

An Evening on the Water with Friends

Last night Wendy and I were fortunate enough to be able to take a tour of Lake Washington on The Way Home, a 42 foot cabin cruiser that belongs to Laurie Way. Wendy met Laurie at RE Bar Camp earlier this year, and after the Bar Camp Laurie took us for a short cruise around Lake Union. I offered to help decorate her ship for the holidays, and that’s how we ended up there last night.

We brought along the Hochalter family, and Misha St. Lorant, and were also joined by a couple that had just purchased a home here in Seattle through Laurie, as well as Laurie’s friend & First Mate Cary.

It was a fun cruise, the weather ended up perfect. Not too cold, and clear. Not windy. We headed through the Mountlake Cut along with a couple of other decorated boats, and then headed south to Leschi under the SR-520 bridge. There we met up with a larger group of Christmas Ships as well as the main Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship that has the carolers on board. Last night’s group was The Dickens Carolers.

I took some pictures, but with the boat moving and everything, my old camera just couldn’t really keep up… they are all a “little” blurry… If you’d like to see them, follow the link below…

http://pensandpixels.com/stephenhj/images/ChristmasShips1/index.htm

Simon's Cat

2009-12-17T00:05:00.000-08:00

Just trust me on this. Watch all of them. It is uncanny how he gets cats spot on. And how unoriginal our own cats apparently turn out to be.

Dominic the Donkey makes me smile

2009-12-15T15:17:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite Christmas tunes that I just discovered last year just came up on the holiday channel I am listening to on Sirius (Ch 3 seems to be the best one so far). I don't know why I find this song so charming, maybe it has something to be with my happy memories of Italy, but it just makes me smile whenever I hear it. So I went and hunted down the least annoying video of this song, since it was recorded before the 80s and a lot of people have done some silly image editing on YouTube.

Enjoy!

Another art party done with and boy was it cold out!

2009-12-11T16:46:00.000-08:00

I hosted artists for the December Art Walk in West Seattle last night. I think it was about 25 degrees out. We still had a lot of shoppers although we've decided turnout was definitely effected by the cold temperatures. We spent the evening sipping strawberry apple cider from Rockridge Orchards and eating "Cuties" (California Clementines). And telling bad penguin jokes.

Artists Michael Eric Dennett (potter), Delores Johnston Peck (jewelry artist) and Guy LP (painter, mixed media). Delores and Guy have been married for 16 years. Guy specializes in "Affordable Original Art".

Paintings by Guy LP.

Mixed media/collage/painting by Guy LP.

Pottery by Michael Eric Dennett.

Bracelet by Delores Johnston Peck.

Please visit her online store, Lella Rae Designs.

Earrings by Delores Johnston Peck.

Please visit her online store, Lella Rae Designs.

Mixed media artwork by Guy LP.

Paintings by Guy LP.

Christmas just got “Gleeky.”

2009-12-11T16:45:00.001-08:00

For all of my fellow "Glee" fans. I guess we are called "Gleeks".

Happy holidays!

Wine, nibbles and art! We're throwing a party tonight!

2009-11-12T00:04:00.001-08:00

As the self-styled "resident green agent" of High Point and West Seattle, and as a long-time blogger here, there and including Green Spaces Real Estate.com, I have opened a small operations center for my GreenWorks Realty business,on Harbor Avenue. My spiffy and eco-fashionable office has taken up residency in Suite 104 of the ActivSpace building (on the Alki Trail at 3400 Harbor Ave SW).

We are throwing a "cocktail party" via a Facebook event page to show off the new office, which has been taken from a blank-slate "white wall & concrete floor" space to a showcase of small-space usage of green building materials. Steve has put a ton of work in to space planning, painting, and moving along with some other people (as orchestrated by me). It's been painted using Devine low VOC paint (Hosta and Macadamia), has salvaged bamboo flooring, and the custom-built furniture is made of wheatboard.

The cocktail/grand opening party is running in conjunction with Thursday evening's art walk from 6-9 pm. I am featuring two different artists - Michael Eric Dennett, a talented potter I took a wheel throwing class from a few years ago,

and Delores Johnston Peck, aka Lella Rae of Lella Rae Designs, a West Seattle jewelry artist.

We also will be collecting food donations for the West Seattle Food Bank as this is a major effort of this month's art walk.

Steve and I plan to share some of Rockridge Orchards' berry wines from our private stash, along with cheese from Mt. Townsend Creamery and other organic nibbles. If you stop by to say "hi" you may even find you stay for awhile. It is a very "zen" place!

Note: This is a dog-friendly event, as this is also the daytime hangout of Sophia, the Italian greyhound featured on the Spring issue of Seattle's
CityDog Magazine (based in West Seattle). Sophia may or may not be in attendance, depending on weather (since she is very clothing-dependant in the winter!)

This rocks - I want this in America! "Mexico's pink taxis cater to fed-up females"

2009-10-20T11:01:00.000-07:00

Found on MSNBC.com from Associated Press

MEXICO CITY - "Each pink taxi comes with a beauty kit, a GPS system and an alarm button."

Read the story

Front Porch Report: Tomatoes and Lemons

2009-10-18T16:54:00.001-07:00

Wendy put together a short video for her sister, Allison, so she could see the Roma tomato start she gave Wendy actually produced fruit. Then Wendy has a quandry regarding her Meyer lemon tree: to pick or not to pick? That is the questions. And is her dream right?

I just wanted to mention

2009-10-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

I have been working very hard on developing my real estate business - and that of the entire firm - this last year. Recently I added video to my marketing mix and launched GreenSpaces TV on YouTube.

In the process of growing my own business I also have birthed a new company that will focus on managing social media presence for real estate agents and other small businesses or nonprofits. I have many sleepless nights (or wakeful mornings) churning out new ideas and concepts for where to go with this new venture - or something new to do a video about.

My biggest challenge has been trying to find time to sit behind my computer at home after sitting behind one at the office all day to get new videos posted. I am learning Windows Movie Maker and am getting more comfortable with it but it has been slow going. It's not something I can sit down and slam out so I feel like I don't have enough time in the morning to do it before heading out for the day and when I get home at night (sometimes after 7 PM) I just don't feel like doing it. All of this is going to change come November 1st.

I work with a great team of specially educated professionals at my company, GreenWorks Realty.I am very committed to this firm. This year I took over the operations management and marketing strategies for the company in addition to being a full time agent. We are going through a diversification process and I will be opening a small Operations Center in West Seattle at the end of the month. I am very excited to be working closer to home while expanding the social media presence of the company, starting with our fan page on Facebook.

My personal life and my professional life really merged a year ago when I joined GreenWorks Realty. Since 2001 Steve and I have been "going green", long before there was even a term like that in existence. In an effort to eat healthier, be healthier, and live longer, we have fine tuned our lifestyle to be mostly organic and with our thoughts going to "how will this impact the environment?" before every purchase or every action (except for purchasing the 50" plasma TV in 2007 - there just was no arguing its quality superiority over LCD and it was a compromise we made). It has been great to reduce our consumption, an added benefit is saving money, and even better is we send little to no packaging to the landfill these days.

Please check out my green blog since that is where I am most. On the right hand side you will also find links to my Twitter and Facebook activity, where I spend a lot of time also, connecting with old friends or making new ones.

Have a fabulous day!

Wendy

Step Off coming this fall!

2009-09-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

Taking my creative expression - and coaching tendencies - to a whole new level

2009-09-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

My reward for getting up hours before the sun rises.

I woke up again way too early with vlogging on my mind after my first attempt was botched by old technology and the wrong equipment. So I’ve stepped in to my home office and just logged 27 awesome topics, with notes of what to include in each one, to share with my readers - who will now become "watchers".

As you know, my "green" blog is called "Green Spaces Real Estate", but the tagline is: Pacific Northwest Life and Living: Pocket parks and open spaces ~ OLAs and other pet places ~ Real estate and home graces. I specifically structured it to be a lifestyle blog so I could write about anything I am passionate about. I have been, for two and a half years. Going to video lets me teach SO much more. http://www.greenspacesrealestate.com/index.html

Categories so far: Eat Local, "Open Spaces" Series, Off-Leash Area locations, Native Plants and their benefits, Grow your own food (p-patch locations), Great reading materials (books and mags), Green tip of the day, Walkable Communities. Most vlog posts will include a link to homes for sale in areas related to the video.I've been sharing information on my "green" blog since Earth Day April 2007. Starting this blog was in response to a session called "Real Estate 2.0" taught by Jillayne Schlicke at the 2007 Independent Brokers Association conference. And a request for a business plan by my former broker, Linda Lane.

Experiencing 2 real estate barcamps this year again catapults my business to a whole new level. Rhonda Porter, "The Mortgage Porter", has been a great example of consistency using technology to enhance her clients' home buying experience. She has encouraged me and been very open with her knowledge and I really appreciate and respect that. I need people like Rhonda in my life, I need mentors and people to look up to.

As is my tendency, I share what I learn with the people around me, including all of my colleagues at GreenWorks Realty, and my broker Ben Kaufman. It's as if I am trying to drag them all kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Since I have joined the firm and started talking about blogs and using social outlets to build meaningful relationships four of my colleagues have started blogs. I was grateful for the barcamp last week since it was an opportunity for my colleagues to go and hear first-ear about everything I have been trying to explain all year (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) Now I can rest and stop harping on it.

Admittedly sometimes I, and people I encounter and have lengthy and enjoyable conversations with, question my choice of profession. At the February real estate barcamp I was able to share all of the things I do for my business (barcamp focuses on using technology) and even the "experts", people who have been doing this sort of marketing for a long time and have been successful with it, can't figure out why it is that I am "doing all the right things" but still can't take my real estate business volume to a sustainable level. It’s a nagging issue that just causes financial stress in my household. But the activity of blogging and sharing with others is rewarding in and of itself, and I have made some great connections and tapped in to some opportunities to attend conferences for free as a “live blogger”.

And actually, I DO have some business as a direct result of being at the Built Green conference in March (for free as a live blogger, over $300 value) and chatting up the gentleman next to me, who once he asked what I did for a living switched chairs with his companion so we could talk. My $1,095,000 listing in Monroe, Woods Creek Preserve, is a result of this. And this 37.8 acre listing intended as a sustainable community also has its own blog. http://woodscreekpreserve.blogspot.com/ Now if it would only sell so my work translated in to some income. My sister Allison lives near my listing and I have employed her as "marketing support" having her check the flyer box for me so I don't have to make the one hour and 20 minute drive to check it myself. Because there is nothing more lame and annoying than an empty flyer box.

I have been told 4 times this summer that I should be a life coach, to include professional career advice along with how to live a greener lifestyle. I have met and become friends with two fabulous women this summer after they wandered in to my real estate office because of the name of the company (GreenWorks) with questions not necessarily related to real estate. We have had the most enjoyable and mutually enlightening conversations. The most recent challenge to my profession came about 2 weeks ago from a woman named Gwen, who is interested in working for a green company. I asked her if she *needed* an income. When she said yes, I said real estate sales wasn’t it, then, but I had a lot of other suggestions. Her homework was to get on to Facebook and friend me. I am still waiting for her but I expect it to happen!

As for blogging, I started this personal blog in 2005 (the "pink" blog) in response to my friend Kristine's too-high Outlook security settings, where her computer refused to download photos attached to email messages. We were headed to Italy for our 8th anniversary and Christmes/New Year holiday and I wanted to share my experience and photographs with her and my other friends and family. I am grateful to her for being a motivating factor for me - we share a passion and appreciation for art history and I wanted her to see what I experienced through my eyes. I have had trouble keeping up my pink blog this past year since my husband Stephen and I are not traveling (due to finances) AND my green blog really is where my heart is. It has to be infinitely more interesting than my walk around the neighborhood with the dog.

I am a lifelong learner and I love sharing what I have learned and experienced with new people. If anyone can think of a way I can translate that into a sustainable profession, I am all ears. Maybe I should have a travel show?