Archive for the 'Fun Fridays' Category
Confessions of an Un-Geeky Annapolis Real Estate Blogger
April 25th, 2008 Categories: Fun Fridays
If you’re a regular reader of this blog – and finally, I think there are a couple of you – then you know that Fridays are for fun. I didn’t invent the idea of fun blog Fridays; I stole it from fellow blogger Teresa Boardman. She hasn’t sent her lawyers after me yet, so for now I guess I’m okay.
People like confessions so I thought it would be fun today to tell you one of mine: I’m not a geek. That may come as a surprise to some of you, since I do have a blog, but my computer literacy is probably on par with that of your average Golden Retriever.
What knowledge I do have of blogging can be attributed directly to a neat group of actual geeks called The Real Estate Tomato. See that tomato icon in the upper left margin over there? It has the word “graduate” it in, but I can assure you that in my case the designation is applied ever so loosely. I was one of those students they graduated just to prevent a mutiny. I think I was the reason some of the staff left and opened bagel shops in Vermont.
The ”tomato guys” have a specialty: taking non-geek Realtors like myself and teaching us how to become bloggers. The training consisted of many once-weekly sessions where I would put on my headset and listen to someone half my age and twice as smart explain why Google would like me if I created something called back links, posted profiles of myself on social networking sites, and didn’t stuff by blog articles with too many key words, in which case Google would smite me and banish my blog to the equivalent of blog purgatory. Much remedial training ensued.
The most amazing thing about blogs and all this internet stuff is the way it all talks to one another - or is supposed to, if you’re doing it right. What you see here on the finished page, so to speak, is only a gazillioneth of what’s really going on. You may think you’re just reading an article about buying or selling a home, but the cyber world is positively abuzz about it. It’s like one of those ads you see on TV where they show you your kitchen counter-top, then zoom in and you see billions of germs crawling around just under the surface.
Zoom in, and you’d see Google is somehow calculating how much you like this blog, where you came from, what you’re reading, and what you ate for breakfast. They do this by means of a mathematical formula called an algorithm, invented by guys with brains the size of cantaloupes who haven’t seen the light of day for years. It’s one big online popularity contest, the results of which somehow infiltrate the entire cyber universe.
Frankly, if I had to worry about all this and how it works, I wouldn’t have a blog. I wouldn’t have the time: we’re in the business of helping people buy and sell homes, and that keeps us nice and busy, thank you. Writing a blog is fun, for someone who likes to write. But it’s primarily a tool, a way to deliver useful information to our constituency, get feedback from you, and build an online community that’s accessible to almost everyone.
Just don’t ask me how it all works. I haven’t a clue.
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Meet The Moss Haedrich Team: The Raining Realtors of Keller Williams, Annapolis
April 18th, 2008 Categories: Fun Fridays
On The Surface, This Photo Would Appear to be Nothing More Than Six Foolish Keller Williams Real Estate Agents Standing in an Annapolis Rain. But There’s More Here Than Meets the Eye.
Fridays - you may know – are for fun on our blog, and this photo qualified nicely.
A little back story: For a couple of months now we’ve been talking about the idea of an official team photo for this, our new blog, something we can park permanently on our “About” page. Much discussion has ensued. Should we do this in a studio? Or outside, in front of our sign, for a more “natural” look? Do we color coordinate, or sort of do our own thing, dresswise? Ties or no ties?
These are not easy choices, especially when you are a business and you want to project a certain image. Image is important, as you know. Just look at what the presidential candidates are going through at the moment. Hillary Clinton is trying her darnedest to look like a regular Jane, knocking back whiskey with the boys. Obama has taken to bowling and cracking jokes on late night television, doing his best to show voters he’s non-elitist. It’s all about image.
Which is why I’m posting this photo without the consent of my team, knowing full well that the ladies on our team would not approve. To be sure, it is starting to rain; look at Jeremiah’s jacket, to the far right. We did not, by the way, wait for the rain to shoot this; it simply followed us to the appointed hour. Anyway, there we are seconds away from bolting for the door of our office, and doing our best not to look like it.
The ladies – Kathy, Bev, Carol and Nikki – would tell me the rain has ruined their
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This Is Not a Video From The Closing We Had Yesterday, But It Almost Could Be
April 11th, 2008 Categories: Fun Fridays
Sometimes, Everything Just Goes Right on the Way to the Settlement Table. Yesterday Was One of Those Days Here in Annapolis
Fridays are for fun on our blog, and nothing is more fun in this business than a home sale that goes smoothly from start to finish. This was one of those times.
Our sellers had a ratified contract in 39 days – that was lots of fun for them, because protracted showings are decidedly NOT FUN. The home inspection went well, too. The buyers’ agents – whom we’ve worked with before – were a dream. It was just one big textbook example of the pefect closing. No meltdowns, no funds lost in cyberspace or suprises during the final walk-through, either.
We try not to call them closings, by the way. We like the word “celebration” because there’s a lot to celebrate and, if everyone has done their job well, this isn’t a closing so much as an opening, the starting point for what could be a lifelong relationship between a Realtor and a client.
Anyway, we have the best clients in the world. They’re so appreciative of the work we do on their behalf and this video sort of reminded me of some of the warm and fuzzy settlements we’ve had over the years, some of them unexpectedly so. Enjoy, and have a great weekend.
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Bad News for Annapolis Area Home Sellers: 5,000 People Won’t Be at Your Open House on Sunday
April 4th, 2008 Categories: Fun Fridays, Sellers
They’ll Be Hanging Out with Us at the 34th Annual Running of The Marlborough Hunt Races at Roedown, in Davidsonville. Maybe You Should Just Join Us.
It’s one of our favorite rites of spring: put on the boots, pack up the tailgate party, and head out to the rolling meadows of historic Roedown Farm for a spirited afternoon of steeple-chasing. (The name goes back some 300 years, the story goes, to when a couple of Irishmen set up a race between two church steeples.)
The big draw may be the races, but it’s the tailgate parties that set the festive tone for the day. Groups large and small fill the hillside flanking the race field, the aroma of barbecue and beans hanging over the assembled like a cloud. It’s awesome.
We – Bev and I – have the good fortune to belong to a select group of locals who judge the tailgate party food and award ribbons for the best in several categories. It’s a tough assignment, especially when the entrants stoop to bribery with double-strength mint juleps and choice wines when we show up. Rest assured, we are beyond reproach. Usually.
So try to make it if you can. The festivities don’t wind down until late in the afternoon, so tell your Realtor she can do an extra-long open house if she likes.
Meanwhile, here’s a classic clip from the annals of horse racing that I thought you’d enjoy. I look at this from time to time to get in touch with my inner 13-year old.
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What Marcey D and tomwilliams102 Reminded Me About Being a Good Realtor
March 28th, 2008 Categories: Fun Fridays
We keep things fun around here on Fridays and only tackle the lite stuff. It’s a nice way to end the week…
Given all the hardship in the world, I should probably just shrug this one off. But I wasted an entire hour this week, a victim of one of those frustrating episodes that have become all too common in the computer age.
It all began with a bill in the mail for Internet service from a provider I don’t use, for services I never ordered. I tried phoning to clear up the mess; a recording informed me that they had a higher than usual call volume and hinted that I would probably turn into petrified old coot before they picked up. Would I prefer to try their ”easy online chat support?”
Why not? Five minutes later I was instant messaging with “Marcey D.” As best as I can recall, the conversation went like this. (You’ll just have to imagine the 2 to 3 minute delay Marcey needed to type each 10 word response.)
Me: Hi. I’ve just received a bill in the mail for services I’ve never ordered. Can you help?
Marcey D: I’m sorry to hear that. Would you please provide your password for the account? Our records show it is your pet’s name.
Me: No, you don’t get it, Marcey. I don’t have a pet and don’t know the password because I didn’t set up the account. Someone named tomwilliams102 did.
Marcey D: I’ll be happy to assist you tomwilliams102. Please provide the last 4 digits of the credit card you used to start the account.
Me: Marcy, please listen: I’m not tomwilliams. I’m Ken Haedrich and I just want to clear this up! Am I talking to a real person?
Marcey D: (Extended delay)….Yes.
Me: Then you’re dumber than dirt, Marcey, and I hope your boyfriend runs off with your best friend and empties your bank accounts, too!
Okay, maybe I didn’t really type that last one. But I sure felt like it after this went
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