mdrealestateblog.com

The mail just keeps coming. Soliciting business by snail mail is a tried and true method, even if the take rate is pretty low. 

I recently received a mail solicitation from a home inspection company (name withheld), touting their unique business concept for conducting a home inspection. They inspect homes using a team of inspectors.

The literature didn't say how many. Whether it was two or three or ten, it didn't really specify. Looking at their website didn't provide any additional information.

I'm guessing it was closer to two because they did say that they can conduct inspections in half the time of a traditional home inspection.

I've never felt that cutting the time of home inspections in half was high on my buyer's list of what a home inspector should be doing.

As an agent, I've been to a lot of home inspections but never one where there was more than one inspector working. On occassion, an inspector would bring an apprentice, but they were never off in different parts of the house doing their own thing.

A second benefit somewhat alluded to in the letter, was that their inspectors have expertise in different areas of home inspection. I guess this makes sense, but the home inspectors I've always recommended have always been able to inspect the entire home. I know there are specialists in many areas like mold, septic, termite, etc., but I don't think they were talking about them when referring to team inspections.

Is there really a benefit to using a home inspection company that operates in teams, or is it just a marketing niche and a way to try to break out of the pack from your competition?

 

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

For those of you who were ever in the service you know what that means. Of course, I never knew a drill sergeant who ever stopped at ten. Twenty or fifty were more the order of the day. 

Commenting on just 10 posts a day to get in your point quota? You're in good company, because I suspect that there are a lot of members in that club. There have been a number of posts on how to get your ten comments in quickly and get out. That 250 points is enticing and doesn't take a lot of work.

Somedays I comment on ten, somedays less and somedays more. It all depends on time availability and interest level.

What I don't do is say to myself, you've already commented on ten posts today, time to quit.

Why not? Because Google doesn't quit. Those Google Bots are crawling Active Rain and indexing those comments 24/7. You may not be getting any more Active Rain points for your comments, but you sure are getting Google juice.

I know it works because, like a lot of you, I have set up several Google alerts. Not only are posts indexed by Google but so are my comments on other people's posts. It all adds up.

If you're stopping at ten comments a day you could be missing out.

P.S. Oh yeah. I can still drop and do twenty. Of course it takes two days but who's counting?

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2008 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

 

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2008 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

You hardy stock from the snow producing states probably won't understand this post fully. Today, in Maryland we're experiencing our first "snow" of the winter. Around here, two to three inches and it's going to paralyze the entire area. Schools are already closed.

I'm OK with the safety aspect because we're probably going to get some ice along with the snow later.

We're also going to experience another phenomena that might be unique to our area here. That is, a grocery store run on the staples of life; bread, milk and toilet paper. 

As soon as they forecast any snow whatsoever, everyone suddenly realizes that they don't have enough bread, milk and toilet paper. I guess that's the first aid kit for home snow situations.

It doesn't matter that we were at Sam's Club over the weekend and bought the 36 pack, you can never have enough toilet paper in a crisis.

I'm going out now and I hope they still have some of that nice soft double ply left.

 

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2008 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

I'm not a fan of tax increases and really don't know anybody who is. I understand the need for increases from time to time but when they come, they always seem to double down on the poor taxpayer.

When taxing authority budgets get strained they all seem to have troubles at the same time. We frequently see Local, State and Federal increases going on simultaneously.

Sometimes they "hide" the fact that they're getting a revenue increase by calling them something else, like "service fees, instead of taxes." Government doublespeak, and we keep re-electing them.

That being said, I live in Crofton, Maryland and the section of Crofton where I live is in a "Special Tax District." Those of us in the Special Tax District end up paying a couple of hundred dollars extra each year. Similar to an HOA, except that we also have a small, but professional police force, recreation, maintenance, and a town manager. The budget is constructed once a year, and like all other taxing authorities, expenses are increasing.

I would like to applaud the efforts of the Crofton Community Association's Board of Directors, who kept this year's increase to .3%. With additions to the total assessable base, it's estimated that this increase will be about $1/year for an average home in the $300K range. That's an increase I can embrace. No revenue grab, no increase in services we don't need, just good management keeping expenses down to an affordable level.

Now, I can only hope with the Maryland legislature in session now, they can accomplish the same thing for their constituents. It can be done when you take politics out of the process and put common sense back in. Sensible and effective spending. Keep up the good work Crofton. 

E-ZPass is a system that actually works pretty well. In the Northeast you can drive from Maine to Virginia and not have to stop at a toll booth.

By using an E-ZPass transponder you can drive thru the toll booth without stopping and the toll will be automatically deducted from your account.

When your account falls below a dollar threshold, they automatically recharge from your credit card.

This is obviously a tremendous time saver for commuters but it's also been very effective for people who use toll booths on an infrequent basis. Any time a driver can save time by not having to stop and pay a toll, it's a good thing.

The system isn't free, you do have to keep a balance in your account. I'm assuming that the States can use the float on this money because they sure don't credit me with any interest.

The actual expenses for the State Transportation Autorities to provide toll collecting is less than providing a toll collector and having to handle a cash transaction. It's also been estimated that an E-ZPass lane handles 4 - 5 times more traffic than a lane with a toll collector.

All in all, its a good system so why make any changes? Because revenues for the Maryland Transportation Authority are down as I'm sure it is for all other States as well.

States are quickly learning that they don't have to raise taxes, which causes a furor, instead, call it a service fee and slip it by when nobody's looking.

The Maryland Transportation Authority is proposing a $1.50/month service charge on the E-ZPass account. No additional benefit, just an additional fee. Yep, charge the user for using a system that's more efficient. Call it what you will but it's just another tax. $18/year, no big deal.

Our State legislature is in session for the next three months and we should all be scared because they're looking to tax just about every service to increase revenues. 

Here is a quote from one of our State Senators (Capital Newspaper, January 21, 2009). How arrogant is this statement from Sen. John Astle, D-Annapolis? "If you don't want to pay the buck-fifty, you can go through the gate. No one is being forced to take E-ZPass. A buck-fifty a month, some people spend that much on soda every day."

I'm sure most people will keep their E-ZPass if the increase goes through. It really is that good. We'll wonder some days though, where did all our money go.

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2008 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

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I received this email this morning from the owners of a home in Edgewater, MD who are auctioning off their house. While they have had to delay the sale for a couple of weeks it does appear that they're going to pull it off, and the charity will be the big winner.

Interesting to note...the winner will receive a 1099 for income reporting purposes. The house was appraised for over a million dollars.

You are receiving this email because you have been identified as someone involved with Real Estate and we would like your input. My name is Tom Walters and my wife and I are selling our home in a unique way…we have partnered with a local Maryland-based charity and we are raffling it!

Tickets are selling well and we have sold quite a few tickets to people involved in real estate, which is why you are receiving this email.

People are more likely to invest in what they know, and you know real estate. We need to sell at least 27,000 tickets to have the drawing on the 23rd and we are getting close but we have a few more to sell, so we are asking for two things:

   1. Buy a ticket. Your odds are much better than the lottery! Just go

      to http://www.fiftydollarhouse.com/

      You may buy as many as you like.

   2. Please give us your ideas/changes. We have learned quite a bit

      during this process and will definitely make some changes the next

      time, but getting input from those that know real estate (and more

      importantly, how to sell real estate) would be a tremendous help.

There have been many studies done and papers written on the “Wisdom of Crowds” and this crowd has a great deal of real estate wisdom. If you purchase a ticket and note in the “Company” box of the payment page “please send me ideas and changes”, I will compile all of the input and forward it to you. We have received quite a few emails and phone calls from homeowners and agents who would like to do the same thing, and there is no reason to reinvent the wheel. If you have already purchased a ticket, just email the request for the ideas and changes.

To purchase tickets, and for more information go to http://www.fiftydollarhouse.com/

Thanks and Good Luck!

 

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2008 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

 

It's been forecast that the budget deficit that Maryland legislators will be grappeling with this session is something around $2 billion dollars. Unlike the federal government, which can print money, states actually have to balance their budgets.

One of the projects that are unlikely to make the next budget are improvements to Rt. 3, in Crofton and Gambrills. The Rt. 3 improvement project has been studied for decades and work never seems to begin because the State runds out of money.

With President Elect Obama's stimulous package directing some money to State infrastructure projects, it's possible that the Rt. 3 improvement project could be revived. After all, its been studied to death and should be ready to go.

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2008 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

Anybody who wants, can purchase a brick for the terrace surrounding the proposed, "Welcome to Crofton" sign, which will be built on Rt. 3.

The Crofton Civic Association, Crofton Chamber of Commerce and Crofton Service Clubs are all sponsoring the new sign for the community.

Bricks can be engraved with a name or message and can be purchased for $100, $250 and the Corporate Brick for $500 or more.

Contact the Crofton Town Hall at 410-721-2301 or email:ccatownhall@comcast.net for further information.

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2008 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved