This information is deemed accurate from 1/1/08 to 12/22/08. Carisbrook subdivision market data. Average Sold Price $403,377 Average Days on Market 59 Average dollar per total finished square foot:  $118 When its time to buy or sell real estate you need to call a professional. We know the market!! Call Dave Edwards at (864) 275-7250. Email: daveedwards@kw.com We are realtors with the best real estate company in Greenville-Keller Williams Realty. 12/23/2008

As Realtors, we are supposed to understand and then uphold the code of ethics that is a part of becoming a member of the National Association of Realtors. One of the biggest duties to both our clients and customers, as stated in Standard of Practice 1-3, is that "Realtors, in attempting to secure a listing, shall not deliberately mislead the owner as to market value." We could discuss what exactly is meant by "deliberate misleading", but agents have a vast amount of market data to study so there should never be any misleading. The market information should speak for itself and it should be clearly explained to your client. If a home is not priced right it sits on the market. Is it possible that the average days on market for an agent tells us how "misleading" they have been to their cli... 12/22/2008

Now that I have become the irrefutable expert on Active Rain featured posts, I feel that I must share my knowledge with the 'Rain community at large, to help expand and improve upon the number of bloggers who will attain that fabled rank of "Featured" one day. Why am I the expert?  Well, come now, if you haven't heard, I have had MULTIPLE featured posts on Active Rain.  Well, two.  But two is better than one, and it's infinitely better than none, right?? Why are you smirking?  No bother, just continue reading, and I will help expand your mind so that YOU may attain the GLORY that I did... both times. Here is my fool-proof method for attaining featured post-dom: 1) Write a blog 2) Wait and see if it gets featured 3) If it's not featured, email several AR friends to go and check it out. 4... 12/20/2008

I am a huge fan of stupid jokes.  I love one liners that can bring a laugh when I'm giving a presentation, or a joke to tell at a party. The stupid jokes are the best, because anyone can laugh at them. Here's an example of one. I was driving with my friend Scott through Greenville when we came to a railroad crossing. I said, "I wonder how often trains come through here."  He replied, "Well, I don't know how often, but you can tell one's been through here pretty recently." I looked but couldn't see any lights, so I asked, "How do you know that?" He grinned and said, "Well, it left its tracks." Please, comment, and leave a good one that I can borrow for my next occasion. :) 12/20/2008

I decided that billionaires have got to have it easy.  See something you want - buy it.  Find something you want to do - do it. There aren't a lot of things in the way of someone with a billion dollars in the bank. It might be a bit hectic earning the money, true. I can see how that might impact one's life for a while.  But think about the freedom a billion dollars would give you! I think it would be awesome to be able to contribute to many people and places in our society that could use philanthropic help. I also know that I'd enjoy being able to go anywhere and do anything. I guess I have a new goal to set.  Time to start selling! 12/20/2008

Many of you have read my blogs about my struggle with a very difficult decision.  This decision was one that would affect my business, my personal life, as well as my overall well being. It was a decision that I could not take lightly, and I approached it the way one might approach a fight with a wild boar - very carefully! Which decision was that?  Whether or not to buy a smart phone, and what type to buy! A couple weeks ago, I broke down.  I went full force, and bought a Blackberry. I got the Curve, and it's been great!  I decided against the Storm, because I wanted to let someone else work the bugs out of it. Now I'm addicted to it.  I can't decide if it's a good thing or a bad thing.  On one hand, I have instant contact with any lead that comes into my business via the internet, whi... 12/20/2008

In South Carolina, the contracts that real estate agents use are prepared by attorneys, with blanks to be filled in by the agent at the time the contract is written for a specific property. By utilizing these contracts and only filling in the blanks, we minimize our own liability, and we also do not fall into the pit of practicing law without a license. If you have to fill in things, such as seller paid closing costs, be careful how you word it.  You might want to have your attorney tell you how to word it so that there are no loose ends.  I have seen some wordings that could have been exploited if one party wanted to, such as "Seller to pay up to $5000 in closing costs".  Well, it doesn't say purchaser closing costs, does it?  The seller will probably pay more than that in their own cl... 12/20/2008

Many of you know that I came from a law enforcement background.  During many of my 11 years in law enforcement, I had many close calls with people driving past me while I was near the roadway.  As I drove down the road yesterday, I saw a patrol car working a wreck.  There was light traffic, yet no one was getting over into the left lane to give room to the patrol car. This irked me, because I have chased people on the side of the road, fought people on the side of the road, and been shot at on the side of the road. In all of those situations, I could have easily have moved or been pushed into the traffic lane. Please think about the safety of the emergency workers on the side of the road as you approach them.  The side of the road is a cramped place to work, especially if there are guar... 12/20/2008

About two months ago, I started drinking a functional beverage known as Mona Vie. I was told all of the wonderful health benefits that it would supposedly have, but I was a little skeptical. I figured that it would be something I tried, and stopped, within a week or two. The funny thing was, I started feeling better.  I slept through the night (which was rare for me). I began to have more energy.  Then, about a week into drinking it, I suddently realized I wasn't feeling the throbbing ache in my right knee that I had been feeling for years (an after-effect of 11 years of police work unfortunately). Now I'm a believer! It has really made me feel great, and I have given it to my father as well, who is drinking it regularly. Sometimes those scams turn out to be good!  I don't intend to sel... 12/20/2008

It's time to plan for another holiday time, and along with that, time to plan for how to manage a business from out of town. I am taking time out of my schedule to head to Colorado on a trip to visit family, yet I can't put my business behind me completely. It's important to have plans in place for how to run your business when out of town.  I have an assistant who will remain in SC to do all of my "running around" for me, such as letting inspectors into properties, or getting signatures on paperwork.  I have buyers agents who are standing by to take care of any buyer leads that come into the system.  I also have lined up the local Keller Williams office near where I'm staying in CO, in case I need access to a fax or scanner. With technology as it is, it's much easier to go mobile than ... 12/20/2008

This information is deemed accurate from 1/1/08 to 12/19/08. Camden Court subdivision market data. Average Sold Price $263,000 Average Days on Market 137 Average dollar per total finished square foot:  $97 When its time to buy or sell real estate you need to call a professional. We know the market!! Call Dave Edwards at (864) 275-7250. Email: daveedwards@kw.com We are realtors with the best real estate company in Greenville-Keller Williams Realty. 12/20/2008

This information is deemed accurate from 1/1/08 to 12/17/08. Dellwood subdivision market data. Average Sold Price $181,385 Average Days on Market 56 Average dollar per total finished square foot:  $97 When its time to buy or sell real estate you need to call a professional. We know the market!! Call Dave Edwards at (864) 275-7250. Email: daveedwards@kw.com We are realtors with the best real estate company in Greenville-Keller Williams Realty. 12/18/2008

This information is deemed accurate from 1/1/08 to 12/17/08. Lake Hartwell subdivision market data. This year there has only been one sale by a licensed realtor with the Greenville Association of Realtors! With the lake levels being so low it has hurt the resale value of the lake community. Average Sold Price $750,000 Average Days on Market 252 Average dollar per total finished square foot:  $168 When its time to buy or sell real estate you need to call a professional. We know the market!! Call Dave Edwards at (864) 275-7250. Email: daveedwards@kw.com We are realtors with the best real estate company in Greenville-Keller Williams Realty. 12/17/2008

This information is deemed accurate from 1/1/08 to 12/16/08. Kilgore Farms subdivision market data. Average Sold Price $356,280 Average Days on Market 115 Average dollar per total finished square foot:  $127 When its time to buy or sell real estate you need to call a professional. We know the market!! Call Dave Edwards at (864) 275-7250. Email: daveedwards@kw.com We are realtors with the best real estate company in Greenville-Keller Williams Realty. 12/16/2008

This information is deemed accurate from 1/1/08 to 12/14/08. Spaulding Farm subdivision market data: Average Sold Price $548,714 Average Days on Market 60 Average dollar per total finished square foot:  $133 When its time to buy or sell real estate you need to call a professional. We know the market!! Call Dave Edwards at (864) 275-7250. Email: daveedwards@kw.com We are realtors with the best real estate company in Greenville-Keller Williams Realty. 12/15/2008

This information is deemed accurate from 1/1/08 to 12/14/08. Pheasant Ridge subdivision market data: Average Sold Price $154,916 Average Days on Market 46 Average dollar per total finished square foot:  $97 When its time to buy or sell real estate you need to call a professional. We know the market!! Call Dave Edwards at (864) 275-7250. Email: daveedwards@kw.com We are realtors with the best real estate company in Greenville-Keller Williams Realty. 12/14/2008

Many people remember the great book All I Needed To Know I Learned In Kindergarten, but when I started contemplating business, I realized that I have learned the most important business lessons from my son Jak. Lesson One: We Must Be Ready To Wear Many Hats                 So frequently our jobs switch from subject to subject without a moment's hesitation.  We have to be ready to work in the moment and take care of our customer's needs, even if it's simply providing the phone number of someone who will have the answer for them. Lesson Two: Be Prepared To Look At Things From A New Perspective                 When problems come our way, sometimes it's best if we try to look at them from a new angle! Lesson Three: Insulate Your Business Against Problems You can never have enough protection... 12/14/2008

The agent of today has got to be a technology coordinator.  There's just no way around it.  Real estate has joined the internet age, though part of it did so through kicking and screaming and a lot of hair pulling.  Marketing and lead generation are all strongly influenced by technology now, and any agent who wants to survive has got to pick up the techie ball and run with it. The traditional agent who advertised in the newspapers and homes magazines is becoming extinct. Without an internet presence, an agent can't hope to find many customers, much less convert viable leads to clients. Here are some examples of technologies that should be in use: Social Networking: Sites such as Facebook, myspace, twitter, linked in, ning, and so forth. Call Capture / IVR Phone Systems: Popular systems ... 12/13/2008

I have often found agents who feared to do something.  They failed in some part of their business, simply because fear overcame them.  The phone is often a culprit of this - they are fearful of making lead generation calls because they think they'll "bother" someone, or get yelled at because they interrupted dinner, or a whole host of things. Courage isn't something that comes in a bottle, a pill, a package, or through osmosis.  Courage most often comes from doing - or taking ACTION.  Confidence is born of the same thing. Nike has perhaps the BEST slogan of any shoe or sports company.  "Just Do It". That should be the motto for all real estate instructors and practitioners! Think about it - when you were about to do something for the first time, you might have been nervous or scared abo... 12/13/2008

Albert Einstein once said "Imagination is more powerful than knowledge."  What an awesome statement!  If you think about it, seemingly all of the improvements and innovations we've ever had in our lives have been through the imagination of someone.  What people once thought impossible, technology has now made an every day occurrence.  For instance, think about cell phones.  In the 1960s, the only people with communication devices that flipped open, could be used nearly anywhere, and didn't need cords were the characters in Star Trek.  Imagination gave us all of our great inventions.  Things that we take for mundane were once the brainchild of a person and the far-fetched fantasy of others. The Disney empire was created entirely on the imagination of one man and those who came to work wi... 12/13/2008