Happy Halloween

Our first whole week in business has been absolutely crazy, but good.  We stayed extremely busy trying to don the "normal" things you would need to do in a real estate company, but had to also do the things that don't happen except when you open one.

We finally received 11 yard signs today.  We ordered 20 that were supposed to be here on Tuesday, but it all worked out just fine.  Jeri, our sales rep, has been working real hard trying to get things done for us.  Anyway, we placed our signs in the yards of the three listings we have and they really look sharp. 

Tomorrow night is the annual Halloween parade here in Defiance.  We have a cart all decked out and ready to go.  It's a big deal here.  If the weather cooperates there will be a few thousand people there.  I can't think of a better way to start getting out the news that we are open than our parade.  We'll be the talk of the town as people try and figure out who we are.  We made 500 flyers to pass out and I have to give big props to Hill Top Printing as they pulled off a small miracle today in getting them done for us.  I'd recommend them if you need something done.

I'll post after we get the pictures from the parade and I think you'd agree our cart looks GREAT!  Dawn and Brittney Carpenter worked on it for several hours yesterday.  Thanks you two!

If not too busy tomorrow night, come out to the parade and say hi.  We'd love to see ya.
scott

Realtyfive.com Is Up and Running

It took some time and effort but our website is finally up and running.  It's only running on about 70% of what I would like it to be doing but we couldn't wait forever. 

The site's address is http://www.realtyfive.com/.  I hope you mark it as one of your favorites and visit it often if nothing else than just to see what the changes are.

If you subscribe to this blog, the Realty Five Fan Page on Facebook or to our Twitter page you can receive the updates as soon as they happen.

The team is going to be sharing posting duties on this blog and you will soon be hearing from Dawn Carpenter and Karol Yeager.  I feel blessed to have them as part of the team and am looking forward to our future.  If you want to see our new pictures you can see them on our Facebook Fan Page.  I think they turned out great. (Thanks Bob!)

Oh yeah, this post is supposed to be about our website.  When you visit it you may be asking, "where's the home search tool?"  Well, it wasn't forgotten it was just delayed.  As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, the Toledo Board of Realtors is in the process of getting a new multiple listing service for us.  Because of that, we are stuck in the transition and cannot get the search tool until they get transitioned over.  When we do, however, we have a great home search tool that we will be implementing on the site.  I think you will really like it.

Anyway, take the website for a spin and let me know what you think.  I'm looking for imput and ways to make it better. 

Thanks,

Scott

623 Henry St., Defiance, Ohio

Here is our third listing this week. It's a wonderful 2 story home on a dead in street. This home has a lot of room and many updates. You can see more of the house and all the pictures of it by visiting our website www.realtyfive.com.

We would love to show you this home in person if you would like to see it contact me at scott@realtyfive.com

2nd Listing

110 Main St. Defiance, OH 43512

Here's the second of many new listings to come!  This house has lots of updates and is in move in ready condition.  It has new siding and fresh paint.  To see all the details go here.

Have questions contact me at scott@realtyfive.com

Our First Listing

134 Main St. Defiance, Ohio

Well here it is, our very first listing with our new company.  This is a nice 2 bedroom home with original woodtrim, hardwood floors, a full basement, new windows and siding.  It's a nice opportunity to get started in or downsized.  You can see more here.

If you have questions contact me at scott@realtyfive.com

 

Now Open

I'm certain that some of you have been wondering what's been going on with this blog and me. First, if you haven't noticed, I've changed the name of it to Realty Five Blog. I've done so because I have opened up a new real estate brokerage here in Defiance named appropriately, Realty Five of Defiance.




I'll try and answer some of your questions that I've been asked by others who have already heard the news. First, we are located at 23257 Watson Rd. in Defiance. We have secured some office space above Kristi's Kanine Kuts the dog grooming shop. It's out of town a little, but that's ok as we are not really planning on bringing clients to our office as we are going to try and be as mobile as possible. In addition to our "home base" we have secured office space at the Defiance location of Sherwood State Bank. When we need to meet with a client in town we can meet there. Other than that we will be meeting in people's homes and at showing appointments. It's actually quite functional.



The second question I've heard was how come you left Butler Mohr GMAC? I left Butler Mohr GMAC for only one reason and that was to open up my own company. When I originally contracted in, I discussed with the owners that I would be eventually opening up my own real estate company and now is that time. Butler Mohr GMAC is a good company and they were always good to me.



The third question is who is joining you? Joining me is two great real estate sales agents Dawn Carpenter and Karol Yeager. Both have several years of real estate experience and have a lot to offer clients and a real estate company. I feel blessed to have them as teammates.



Fourth, what's the "Five" stand for? There have been all kinds of guesses as to where the "five" comes from. The main thing it represents is our team. Real estate sales agents are predominantly on there own when it comes to real estate. The are considered "independent contractors" so, they are in all reality in competition with all the other agents in the market area including those within their own company. The "five" represents a team concept where we work together as a team. We are not in competion with each other for clients, instead we work together for each client. We feel we can accomplish much more as a team than any one agent can accomplish alone.



"Five" also represents our philosophy of giving. We feel it is our responsibility to be active participants in our community and to make it a better place. In order to help accomplish that we choose to give 5% of all of our gross commissions to the charity of our client's choice. We figure that our clients are passionate about helping others and we want to help them help others.



What's next? Well, unfortunately, we've run into a couple snags with our website. The main one is that we will not be able to have all the market area listings on our site right away because the local multiple listing service is switching over to a new company and we just happened to catch the middle of the switch. Because we've been waiting on this service our website has been in a holding pattern. Now we'll get it up this week, but without the search tool for now. We will, however have a great home search tool coming as soon as the switch is made. I can hardly wait, but we have to be patient.



Other than that we are getting our office in order and have begun getting some listings in place. I will post about them here shortly.



Keep watching as the excitement is just beginning.







scott

Possible Tax Credit Extention

Being reported today is the possibility that the $8,000 tax credit will be extended.  As you know per my previous post the tax credit is set to expire on December 1, 2009.  Well, some senate leaders are trying to get the program revived and extended until June 2010.  The new proposal, however, calls for the tax credit to be extended to all home buyers not just first time homebuyers and would also increase the income requirements for those who qualify. 

Just remember, none of this is final yet and if you had planned on buying a home this year and you are a first time homebuyer then you had better get moving as time is running out on the current tax credit.

I'll try and keep you posted on any new developments.

Scott

Time is Running Out!

If you haven't owned a home in the past three years and you've been thinking about getting one, you better act fast!  The $8,000 tax rebate is going to expire on December 1, 2009.  Good things eventually end and this is one of them.  You say you haven't heard about this.  Well, our rich uncle, Uncle Sam, decided to stimulate home purchases so he set it up for people to get a tax rebate for purchasing a home.  The rebate is in cash and is 10% of the purchase price of the home up to $8,000.  A buyer has to be a first time homebuyer as defined as someone who hasn't owned a home in the past 3 years. 

Don't wait any longer time is of the essence.  If you have questions just ask your favorite real estate agent.