Working and the Holidays

With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching and the December holidays around the corner...or already here, if you believe the newspaper ads...Realtors and their clients are planning for vacations, family visits, and lots of shopping, decorating and cooking.
We are also working on plans to start off an exciting real estate sales year in the Bay area. The purchase of the Cashin Company by Coldwell Banker is an indicator of the optimism we're seeing in our offices. There are signs that 2011 will be a stronger year than any in recent history. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic, but I'm not basing my opinion on positive vibrations alone. I've had more contacts from past clients, referrals, and homeowners in my "farm" area recently than in the past several years. It's about time.

Real Estate Agents are Aging

A close friend and associate is retiring next year...at age 83!
Many fellow Realtors are in their 60's and 70's, and a recent speaker at the Council of MLS Services reminded us that the average age of real estate agents is over 50, and that in 2010, the number of agents over 40 exceeds those under 40, two to one.
The older agent brings a lot to the table: years of experience in the field, understanding the market, and most importantly, good old fashioned customer service.
However, very few are able to continue doing business in today's market and competing with tech-savvy younger agents without adopting the new technologies.
This is especially true for those of us working here in Silicon Valley, where we are surrounded by social media, the Internet blogosphere, and other technology.
But the non-tech basics still remain...hard work, good service, and continuous prospecting.

Roof Maintenance for the rainy Season

My home computer is back in service, thanks to Woody Satta my computer Guru, and my site is up and running.
With rain expected tomorrow, I thought some roof maintenance tips would be in order.
All roofs and gutters should be checked annually, preferably in September/October before the rainy season is fully upon us. With trees growing around many houses, the house movement we experience on the adobe soil in this area, and the general wear and hardening of sealants suggest a general inspection of the roof and before the rains.
Tree debris blocking the water flow, either in gutters or downspouts will cause damage by rotting out the wood in back of the gutter. Additionally, with steel gutters the tree debris will create an acid with the water (this will also happen with wood roofs due to the tannin leached from the fire retardant chemicals used) and erode the steel. Aluminum gutters will not erode but have a tendency to sag since they are not as strong as steel. Most 1st story gutters can be checked and cleaned easily. A garden hose can be used from the top, inside the gutter to clear out clogged downspouts. In extreme cases, a metal snake can be used. Seams and corners should be observed/checked during the first rains for leakage. Leaks can be fixed or retarded with caulking, however, long term you may have to call a professional for repair.
Depending on your gardener and roof type, paying your gardener a little more to keep your roof and gutters clean can be of great help to you.